Skip to main content

Full text of "History of Coos County, New Hampshire ."

See other formats 


Viihv<xvv  *xt 


Itibsrul  HrU 


BEQUEST  OF 
ARTHUR  STANLEY  PEASE 


HISTORY 


r\ 


-OF- 


Coos  County, 


New  Hampshire, 


(ILLUSTRATED.) 


Land  of  the  Forest  and  the  Rock! 

Of  dark-blue  Lake  and  mighty  River! 

Of  Mountains,  reared  aloft  to  mock 

The  storm's  career,  the  earthquake's  shock. 

Our  own  Coos  forever! 

— Adapted. 


SYRACUSE  : 
W  .    A  .    F  E  R  G  U  S  S  O  N    &    Co. 

L888. 


Copyright,  1888, 

By  W.  A.  Fergusson  &  Co. 

All  Rights  Reserved. 


1111    JOURNA1    CO., 

i-KIN  I  liKS   AND    BINDERS, 

SYRACUSE,    N.   Y. 


TO  those  who  have  secured  the  preparation  of  this  history:  to  those 
who  have  so  generously  and  liberally  furnished  the  illustrations;  to 
those  who  have  contributed  their  time  and  labor  to  make  this  a  reli- 
able repository  of  valuable  information  of  the  days  of  "auld  Jang  syne"; 
to  those  well-wishers  of  the  enterprise  whose  cheering  words  and  willing 
assistance  have  ever  been  at  our  service;  to  these,  and  those  unnumbered 
ones  who  have  extended  manifold  courtesies  to  us,  we  hereby  express  our 
hearty  thanks,  and  trust  that  the  perusal  of  this  volume  will  be  a  pleasure 
and  a  satisfaction  to  them  during  long  years  to  come.  To  compile  even 
the  history  of  a  single  county  requires  much  time,  research,  watchful  care 
and  discrimination  in  order  to  record  facts  and  not  hearsay.  "  Out  of 
monuments,  names,  words,  proverbs,  traditions,  records,  fragments  of 
stone,  passages  of  books,  and  the  like,  we  doe  save  and  recover  somewhat 
from  the  deluge  of  time." 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

I.     "THE  COUNTY  OF  COOSS." 17 

Organization— Towns  Included—  Extent- 
Boundaries  —  Population,  Agricultural  and 
Manufacturing  Statistics.  Etc.,  1880— Loca- 
tions, Grants,  and  Purchases— Altitudes. 

II     Geology 20 

Rock  Formations— The  Age  of  Ice— Glacial 
Drift— Upper  Till— Lower  Till— Champlain 
Drift— Recent  or  Terrace  Period— Modified 
Drift  of  Connecticut  River,  Connecticut 
Lake,  to  West  Stewartstown — Upper  Con- 
necticut Valley — Karnes— Deltas. 

III.  Topography 26 

The  Water  Sheds— Carriage  Roads— Lumber 
Roads— The  Water  Basins— The  Streams, 
Connecticut.  Magalloway,  Androscoggin — 
Source  of  the  Connecticut— Description  and 
Scenery — Second  Lake,  Connecticut  Lake — 
Tributaries  of  the  Connecticut — Lake  Ma- 
galloway —  Magalloway  River  —  Androscog- 
gin River— Their  Tributaries— Ci  >untry  along 
the  Maine  Line— Bogs  and  Peat  Swamps. 

IV.  Scenery  of  Coos 34 

Pittsburg  —  Crown  Monument  —  Megantic 
Mountain —Headwaters  of  St.  Francis  and 
Chaudiere  Rivers— Along  the  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Quebec  Boundary— Third  Lake— 
Mt.  Carmel— Mt.  Agizcoos— Cascades— Little 
Diamond  Falls—  Huggins  Branch— Dixville 
Notch— 'The  Old  Man  of  Dixville"— The 
Flume— Cascade  Brook— Huntington  Cas- 
cade—Scenery of  Errol—  West  Stewartstown 
to  North  Stratford  — Groveton— Stark— Mi- 
lan—Lancaster— Jefferson — Randolph— Dal- 
ton — Shelburne — Gorham. 

Y.     Indian  History 40 

Aboriginal  Indians  —  Iroquois  —  Mohawks  — 
Algonquins  —  New  England  Tribes  —  Wig- 
wams—Social Life,  Government,  and  Lan- 
guage—Food—Religion—The St. Francis  In- 
dians— Gen.  Amherst  —Rogers'  Expedition — 
Destruction  of  St.  Francis  Village— Retreat 
and  Sufferings  of  tin-  "Rangers." 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

VI.  White  Mountains 46 

Topography— Mt.  Starr  Kin-  Group— Mt. 
Carter  Group— .Alt.  Washington  Range- 
Cherry  Mountain  District— Mt.  Willey  I. 
—History— Mythology— First  Yisited—  Win- 
throp's  Account—Darby  Field's  Route  up 
the  Mountains  —  Josselyn's  Description  of 
Scenery— The  Crystal  Hills— Eater  Visits- 
Western  Pass,  or  •'Notch"— First  Settlemenl 
— Scientific  Visitors — Sceneryofthe  Notch 
Nash  and  Sawyer's  Grant— "A  Horse  through 
the  Notch"— Sawyer's  Rock— First  Articles 
of  Commerce— Tenth  New  Hampshire  Turn- 
pike—Scientific Explorations— First  Settlers 
Among  the  Mountains— Nancy's  Rock  and 
Brook— First  House  in  the  Notch— Craw- 
ford's Cabin  on  the  Summit — Summit  House 
— Tip-Top  House  —  Carriage  Road — Glen 
House — Mt.  Washington  Railway— Mountain 
Tragedies— ••Among  the  Clouds" —Signal 
Station— Summer  Hotels. 

VII.  Flants 58 

Trees — Shrubs— Grasses— Introduced  Plants 
— Alpine  Plants. 

VIII.  Game  of  Coos  Counts 60 

Beaver — Dams— Moose— Description,  I 
Etc. — Deer,  Caribou,  Etc.  — Horns — Bear — 
Wolverine  —  Lynx — Otter-  Fisher  Sable — 
Raccoon — Gray  Squirrel — Wild  (feese  and 
Ducks — Ruffed  Grouse  or  Partridge  Canada 
Grouse  or  Spruce  Partridge— Wild    Pigeons. 

IX.  Early  History 72 

Early  Trappers  and  Hunters  -Indian  Threats 
— Capture  of  Stark  ami  Eastman  Powers' 
Expedition — Extracts  from  Journal  —  Fort 
Wentworth  first  Settlers  Townships,  and 
Date  of  ( rrants     Earlj  Population. 

X.  Early   Settlers 77 

Character  of  Early  Settlers  of  New  Hamp- 
shire— characteristics  of  Pioneers  of  <  loos- 
Hardships  Endured  Religion  ami  Educa- 
tion Traditional  stories  —  Improvement  in 
Condition    -Primitive    Houses.    Furniture, 


Contents. 


CHAPTER 


XI. 


XH. 


XIII 


XI\ 


XV. 


xvi 


PAGE. 

Etc.— Manners,  Customs.  Labor,  Dress,  Fare, 
Etc.— Description  of  Early  Homes,  Kitchens, 
Utensils,  Stoves,  Etc. 
Bevolutionar?  Period  and  Early  Roads.  . .  85 
"War  of  the  Revolution— Frontier  and  Scout- 
ing Parties— Proposed  Expedition— Conven- 
tion of  Towns— Orders.  Receipts,  Etc.— Early 
Roads— Petitions  Concerning  Roads  and  New 
County  — Roads  in  1797  and  1803  — Tenth 
New  Hampshire  Turnpike— Jefferson  Turn- 
pike, Etc. 
Survey  and  Marking  of  New  Hampshire 

and  Maine  Boundary 93 

Boundary  Surveys— Smuggling,  Etc.,  1812- 
1815  —  Boundary  Commissions  —  "  Indian 
Stream  Territory"— Indian  Stream  War- 
Musters  and  Militia. 

Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions. 
Sports,  and  Policy  of  Coos  Concern- 
ing Fish  and  Came 106 

Upper  Cohos— Coos— Abenaquis— "Captain 
Joe"    and    "Captain   John—  King  Philip— 
Metallak—  Robbins  and  Hinds —Mountain 
Ranges— Lakes— Rivers— Fish    and   Game— 
Si  „  ,Se~-W(  lives— Deer— Bear— Fox—  Salmon 
—Trout— Summer  Travel-Railroad  Facihties 
—  Protection    of    Forests  —  Sports  —  Game 
Laws— True  Legislation . 
The  Timber  Interests  of  Northern  Coos .  123 
Spruce  Belt— Hard  Wood  Timber— The  Sugar 
Maple— Other  Woods— Resources  and  Man- 
ufacture—Opportunities for  Investment. 
Coos  County  Press:  Agricultural  Socie- 
ties; Railroads •  131 

White  Mountain  3Egis— Coos  County  Demo- 
crat— Coos  Republican  —Prohibition  Her- 
ald—Independent (now  Lancaster)  Ga- 
zette— Coos  Herald.  Etc.— Northern  Sentinel 
— Colebrook  Weekly  News— News  and  S 
nel— Whitefield  Blade  —  Coos  Advertiser— 
The  Mountaineer.  Etc.— Coos  Agricultural 
Society— Coos  and  Essex  County  Agricultural 
i  ity— Railroads:  Atlantic  and  St.  Law- 
rence—White Mountains —Portland  and 
Ogdensburg— Upper  Coos. 

Masi  >nry  in  Coos 139 

North  Star  Lodge,  Lancaster  —  Templar 
Masonry  in  Northern  New  Hampshire- 
North  Star  Chapter,  Lancaster —  Evening 
Star  Lodge,  Colebrook  — Gorham  Lodge. 
Gorham  -White  Mountain  Lodge,  Whitefield 
—Officers  of  Grand  Lodge,  Grand  Chapter 
and  Grand  Commandi  >s  County. 

Tin.  Soldiers  of  Coos 16° 

Public  Buildings 195 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

XIX.  National  and  State  Officers 199 

Early  Representatives  —Classed  Representa- 
tives— Senators — County  Officers. 

XX.  Bench  and  Bar 207 

History   of  the   Courts— Bench    and    Bar- 
Northern  Judicial  District. 


CONNECTICUT   VALLEY, 
DIVISION. 


-LOWER 


XVII. 
Will. 


XXI.  LANCASTER ....261 

Origin  of  Name — Charter— Names  of  Grant- 
ees —  Situation  —  Scenery.  Etc.  —  Climate, 
Reason  of  Its  Pleasantness— Change  of 
Boundaries  and  Location. 

XXII.  Lancaster.— (Continued.) 268 

First  Settlements—  Corn  planted  —Frost — 
Difficulty  of  Travel  — Canoes  — First  White 
Woman  — Supplies  from  Portsmouth  or 
Haverhill  —"Samp  Mortar"— ••Cars"—  First 
Mills  —  Revolution  —  Emmons  Stockwell 
•would  stay"— Major  Jonas  Wilder— Rich 
S,,il— Manure  thrown  away— Village  Plot- 
First  two-story  house  in  Coos  County— First 
Bridge  —  First  Schools  —  Early  Prices  — 
••Alarms  During  the  War"— Early  Settlers- 
Residents,  Polls,  and  Stock,  1793— David 
Page  petitions  for  more  Land— Why  '-Upper 
Coos"  did  not  elect  Representative— Edwards 
Bucknam  granted  mill  privilege  at  North- 
umberland Falls— Petition.  Etc.,  Concerning 
Taxes. 

XXIII.    Lancaster.— i  Continued.) 276 

Lancaster  in  1795  and  1804  —  Lancaster 
Bridge  Co.— Extracts  from  Joseph  Brackett's 
Diary,  1799  to  1801— Gen.  Moses  Hazen— 
South  Lancaster  or  "Cat  Bow"— Lancaster 
in  1810  —First  Sabbath-School  —  1820  - 
1830  —  Stores,  Articles  of  Traffic,  Etc.— 
Freight  —Mail.  Vehicles.  Etc.  —  1810  —  Ex- 
tracts from  A.  N.  Brackett's  Diary  — The 
Great  Hail  Storm— Climatic  and  Weather 
Records— Hon.  John  W.Weeks  on  Lancaster 
in  1839—1840  to  1850— J.  S.  Brackett's  Sum- 
mary from  1850  to  1876— Village  Streets— 
1870  to  1887— Real  Estate  and  Personal  Prop- 
erty—1886. 

XXIV.     Lancaster.— (Continued.) -287 

Brief  Extracts  from  town  Records.  1769  to 
1834— First  Town  Meeting— First  Town  Clerk 
—First  Representative  of  "Upper  Coos"— 
Burying  Field— Pound— Vote  for  President 
and  Senator— Assessment  for  Roads  payable 
in  Wheat— Standard  "half  bushel"— Preach- 
in-',  Etc.— Concerning  building  Mills— Em- 
mons  Stockwell,  Inn   Keeper— Town  Meet- 


Contents. 


CHAPTEE.  PAGE. 

ings,  where  held— School  Districts— Meeting 
House— Rev.  Joseph  Willard  -Early  Taverns 
—Prices  of  Produce  paid  as  Minister's  Salary 
— Licenses  Granted  -Barker's  Location  An- 
nexed -First  Fire  Wards— Miscellaneous 
tracts  from  later  Town   1;  Action  of 

Town  in  the  Rebellion,  Etc.  —  Centennial 
Celebration — Freshets. 

XXV.  Lancaster. — (Continued.} 29 1 

The  Old   Meeting    House,    Description  of— 
Pews  — Pulpit— "Singers  Seats"     Dr 
Foot  Stove — Location  of   Meeting  Hoi 
Parson  Willard— Members  of  the  Congrega- 
tion, Description  of— Choir,  Eti  . 

XXVI.  Lancaster.— (Continued.) 299 

Ecclesiastical  —  Early  Pre  a  c  h  ing  —  First 
Church — Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant — 
Original  Members— First  Pastor— "Parson" 
Willard's  Letter— "Parson"  Willard's  Dis- 
missal— Other  Pastors. — Orthodox  Congre- 
gational Church — Organization — Faith  and 
Covenant— Original  Members  -Pastors — New 
Articles  of  Faith,  Etc.— First  Unitarian  So- 
ciety— Church  Covenant — First  Members- 
Pastors — Prominent  Men  in  the  Church- 
Officers — Ladies'  Benevolent  Society — Sun- 
day-School— Rev.  J.  B.  Morrison. —  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church — Early  Methodism — Or- 
ganization— Pastors — Financial  Condition. 
—  Baptist  Church,  Formation— Original  Mem- 
bers— Church  Building.  -St.  Paul's  Episco- 
pal Church — Confirmation— Church  Edifice 
— Rectors.-— Catholicity  in  Coos  -First  Pub- 
lic Service  at  Lancaster— Priests— Church 
Building — Missions. 

XXVII.  Lancaster.— (Continued.) 323 

Chronicles  from  B.  I'.  Kent's  Diary. 

XXVIII.  Lancaster. — (Continued.) 333 

Early  Education,  Etc. — The  Public  Library 
— Schools— Union  Graded  School— Lancaster 
Academy — Sketch  of  the  First  Principal— 
••  Raising  Men." 

XXIX.  Lancaster. — (Continued.) 342 

Merchants  —  Manufacturers  —  Physicians, 
Apothecaries  and  Druggists — Hoti 

XXX.  Lancaster. — (Continued.) 350 

Civil  List.  Town  Clerks.  Selectmen,  and  Rep- 
resentatives—  Mails.  Postoffices  and  Post- 
masters— Lancaster  Bank — White  Mountain 
Bank — Lancaster  National  Bank  Lanca 
Savings  Bank — Siwooganock  Savings  Bank— 
The  New  Cemetery— Societies,  Grand  Army, 
Belief  Corps,  Etc. 

XXXI.  Lancaster. — (Continued. ) 359 

Brief  Personal  Sketches— Miscellaneous. 


i  II  upter.  paq 

XXXII.  JEFFERSON 

Name  and  Territory  Embraced—] 
Second  Grants    Second  Charter — Petition 
Incorporation— Record  of  First  Town   Meet- 
ing—Names lit'  Voters  — Roads  —  J: 
Taverns      i:<  sidi  uts,  Polk  -  and  Im- 

provements  in  1812. 

XXXIII.  Jefferson.— i  Continued.) 40  I 

Population  in  177.")  1790-1800— Scenery 
ferson  Hill  —  Traditions   -Early  Propri 
—Col.  Joseph  Whippli — Early  S  First 

Child— Pond  of  Safety— First  White  Woman 
—Deborah  Vieker  or  "Granny  Stalbird" 
First  Communication — First  Cows — Firs! 
Barrel  of  Rum— Adino  N.  Brackett's Descrip- 
tion of.  Jefferson  in  1821 — Boundaries — Pop- 
ulation -Valuation. 

XXXIV.  Jefferson.— (Continued.) 11" 

Civil  List  —  Representatives,  Town  Clerks. 
Selectmen.  Supervisors. 

XXXV.  Jefferson.  —  i  ( lontinued.) 113 

Educational  Interests— Action  of  th<  Town 
in  Relation  to  Schools  1798-1827— "Old  North 
School-House"  -School  Officers— Superin- 
tending Committee — Board  of  Education. 

XXXVI.  Jefferson. — (Continued.) U5 

Ecclesiastical  History— First  Sermon  -Bap- 
tist  Church-  -Names  of  Early  Members-  Pas- 
tors—Free Will  Baptist  Church— Mem1 
Pastors  —  Elder  Morse  —  Methodism— Prog- 
ress Leaders—  Class  —  Members —  Church 
Organized — Pastors— Sabbath-School. 

XXXVII.  Jefferson.— (Continued.) 117 

Miscellaneous— Cherry  Mountain  Slidf — Jef- 
ferson   Meadows       Postoffices —Lumber  — 

Merchants— Physician  — Summer  Hotels  and 
Boarding  Houses  -Benjamin  Hicks— Benja- 
min H.Plaisted— Daniel  Austin— A  goodstory. 

XXXVIII.  KILKENNY 

A.N.  Brackett's  Description  —  Settled  Por- 
tions Attached  to  Jeffi  i  -on. 

XXXIX.  ( IARROLL 427 

Carroll,  location  of  —  Boundaries  -Bn 
Woods    Soil— Pioneers,  Etc.-    I  Early 

Mills. 

XL.    Carroll—  (Continued.  | 130 

First  Town  Record—  Bretton  Woods— First 
dents    Inventory  —  Non-resident    Land 
Owners  —  Highway  Districts  Established  — 
School  Mi  larly  Births  Recorded. 

XLI.    Carroll.     (Continued.) 134 

Civil  List— Action  in  the  Rebellion— Popula- 
tion    Relii  Valuation  —  I 

ness  Interests  —Hoi 


8 


Contents. 


CHAPTER. 


PAGE. 


XLII.     WHITEFIELD 447 

Whitefield's  Petition  for  Grant  — The  Grant 
— Charter  of  Whitefields— Considerations  for 
Land  Granted  —  Paul  and  Benning  Went- 
worth  —  Other  Grantees —  Gerrish  Survey — 
The  First  Moderator— Capt.  Jonas  Minot — 
Samuel  Minot. 

XLIII.     Whitefield.— (Continued.) 455 

Organizing  under  the  Grant — First  Recorded 
Civil  Officers — Important  Sale  of  Lands,  1795 
— Col.  Joseph  Kimball— Proprietors'  Meet- 
ing, December  3,  1800 — Committee  and  its 
Powers— Abstract  of  Proprietors'  Records — 
First  Draft  of  Lots— Names  of  Grantees  with 
Number  of  Lot. 

XLIV.     Whitefield.— (Continued. ) ...  .460 

"What's  in  a  Name" — Rev.  George  Whitefield 

—  Whitefield  —  Petition  for  Incorporation, 
Etc.— First  Town  Meeting  and  Officers,  1805 
— Major  John  Burns  —  Capt.  David  Burns, 
Etc. — Col.  Josepli  Kimball — John  McMaster 

—  First  Innkeeper,  Asa  King  —  Col.  Joseph 
Colby  —  First  Merchant,  William  Dodge  — 
First  Inventory — Early  Roads. 

XLV.     Whitefield.— (Continued.) 469 

Ecclesiastical.  Provisions  for  Religious  Wor- 
ship— Free  Will  Baptists — Congregationalists 
— Adventists— Union  Meeting-Honse — Meth- 
odism— Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
— Catholicism — Temperance — Schools- -Soci- 
eties. 

XL  VI.     Whitefield. — (Continued.) 479 

lit  cords  Concerning  School-House,  Indian 
Stream  Soldiers  and  Town  House — Action  of 
the  Town  Concerning  the  Rebellion — Repre- 
sentatives—Town Officers. 

XLVTI.     Whitefield.— (Continued.) 482 

Physicians — Lawyers,  Etc. — Merchants,  Man- 
ufacturers, and  Mills— White  Mountain  Lum- 
ber Co. — Present  Business  Interests — East 
Whitefield  Farmers'  Club  and  White  Mount- 
ain Grange — White  Mountain  View  House. 

XLVIH.     DALTON 506 

Grantees  —  Name,  Apthorp  —  Dalton — Tris- 
tram Dalton — Petition  for  a  Division — Moses 
Blake  Petitions  for  a  Ferry — Recommenda- 
tion of  Bloss — Petitions  for  Taxing  Non- 
i;(  sidents — Petitions  for  Tax  for  Repairing 
Roads — Petition  of  Walter  Bloss  for  a  Ferry 
— First  Settlers. 

XLIX.     Dalton.— (Continued.) 512 

Art  Authorizing  First  Town  Meeting — First 
Town  Meeting  —  Dalton  —  Lands  and  Live 
Stock,  1809— Town  Officers— Town  Expenses 
— First  Three  School  Districts — John's  River 
Bridge — Extracts  from  Town  Records,  1810- 
1884. 


chapter.                                                                  page. 
L.     Dalton. — (Continued.) 519 

Early  Births— Early  Marriages— Early  Resi- 
dents—Ear  Marks  —  Dalton  in  1821  —  Early 
Inn  Keepers— Whitefield  Road— Bridge  across 
the  Connecticut  —  Carriages  —  Mills  — Resi- 
dents' Names,  1849— Civil  War,  Action  of  the 
Town,  Etc.  —  Mines  —  Murder  —  Personal 
Sketches. 

LI.     Dalton.— (Continued.) 529 

Ecclesiastical.  Organization  of  Congrega- 
tional Church  —  Original  Members  —  Addi- 
tional Members  —  Action  in  Relation  to  a 
Church  Building— Erection  of  Church — Dea- 
cons —  Ministers  — Meeting  House — Parson- 
age— Methodist  Church. 

LH.     Dalton. — (Continued.) 535 

Civil  List,  Representatives,  Selectmen,  Town 
Clerks. 

LIU.     NORTHUMBERLAND 539 

Origin  of  the  Name  "Northumberland" — 
Township  first  Granted — Regranted — Incor- 
porated— Soil — Rivers— Cape  Horn  Mountain 
— Scenery — Early  Population — Early  Build- 
ings —  Charter  — ■  Names  of  Grantees — Diffi- 
culty with  Woodbury. 

LIV.     Northumberland. — (Continued.) 542 

Early  Settlers  —  Thomas  Burnside  —  Daniel 
Spaulding  —  Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames  —  Early 
Proprietors — Proprietors'  Meetings — Action 
of  the  Same — First  Bridges — Last  Meeting  of 
the  Proprietors,  1810. 

LV.     Northumberland. — (Continued.) 546 

Petition  for  Road  from  Couway  1780 — Report 
of  Committee  relative  to  said  Road  1780 — 
Petition  of  Enoch  Bartlett  1780— Petition 
for  a  Ferry  1785— Petition  for  a  Lottery  1791 
— Petition  for  a  New  County  1791 — Petition 
to  Tax  for  a  Bridge  1799. 

LVI.     Northumberland. — (Continued.) 549 

Town  Officers — Selectmen  —  Town  Clerks  — 
Treasurers  —  Representatives  — -Action  of 
Town  on  Various  Matters. 

LVII.     Northumberland. — (Continued.) 554 

Ecclesiastical— Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
— Present  Members— Ammonoosuc  Lodge,  I. 
O.  O.  F.  —Members— Lodge  of  Good  Templars 
— M  ember  s— S  c  h  o  o  1  s — Physicians — Fort 
Wentworth  and  Revolution — Soldiers  of  the 
War  of  1812  and  Mexican  War — First  Judge 
of  Probate — First  Register  of  Probate — Bus- 
iness Interests,  Etc. 

LVIII.    STARK 562 

Stark— "Devil's  Slide"— "Devil's  Hop-yard" 
— Christine  Lake  and  Percy  Summer  Club— 
Soil— Minerals— Percy— Boundaries  —  Legis- 
lative  Acts— Petition  for  Incorporation — 


(  lONTENTS. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

N;unes  of  Grantees— Proprietors'  Meeting — 
Records,  Etc. 

LIX.     Stark.— (Continued.') 570 

i  arly  Setters— Residents  in  1803— E a r  1  y 
Births  and  Marriages— First  Town  Meeting 
—Extracts  from  Records  in  Relation  to 
Schools,  Roads.  Etc.— Civil  List. 

LX.     Stabk. — (Continued.) 575 

Union  Church — Missionaries— Schools  and 
Districts  —  Town  Hall  —  Town  Library  — 
Action  of  Town  in  the  Rebellion — Lumber 

— Business  Interests— Brief  Sketches. 

CONNECTICUT  VALLEY,— UPPER 

DIVISION. 

I. XI.     (  OLEBROOK 583 

Location,  Size,Topography  and  General  Feat- 
ures —  Soil  —  Productions  —  First  Settlers- 
Indians,  Metallak  and  Wife— Petition  for 
Incorporation— Sketch  of  Petitioners. 

LXII.     Colebrook.— (Continued.) 587 

Colebrook  from  1796  to  1815— Road  through 
Dixville  Notch— Whiskey  Manufacture— Con- 
tract of  Smith  &  Pratt— Their  Various  En- 
terprises —  McAllaster  Mills  —  Dagway  — 
Amount  Invested  by  Smith  &  Pratt. 

LXIII.     Colebrook. — (Continued.) 590 

Invoice  of  1816— Residence  of  Tax  Payers- 
Number  of  Polls,  Horses  and  Cattle— Taxes 
of  1816— Cold  Seasons  of  1816  and  1817— 
Burning  of  Cotton  Factory— Rebuilding  of 

the  Same  — Roasting  Pigs  — John  Whitte- 
more. 

LXIV.     Colebrook.— (Continued  ) 594 

Education  in  Colebrook  —  The  Common 
Schools  —  Colebrook  Academy  —  Original 
Grantees— Grant  of  land  from  the  State- 
Mercantile  Interests  —Traders  of  former  Days 
and  Now— Fire  of  July  24,  1870 -Rebuilding 
of  Village— Odd  Fellows— Physicians. 

LXV.     Colebrook.— (Continued.) 600 

Postoffices  and  Postmasters  in  Colebrook — 
Saw-mills  —Grist-mills—  Starch-mills— Man- 
ufacture of  Potasli  and  Pearlash. 

LXVI.     Colebrook.— (Continued.) 604 

The  Churches  of  Colebrook— Organization 
of  Congregational  Church— Creed  and  Doc- 
trine -Pastors  of  the  Church— The  Metho- 
dist Church— Sketches  of  Members  of  the 
Churches— East  Colebrook  Church. 

LXYII.     Colebrook.— (Continued.) 616 

Early  Settlers— old  Documents. 

LXYIII.    Colebrook.— (Continued.) 626 

Civil  List  —  Selectmen,  Treasurers,  Town 
Clerks  and  Representatives—*' lusion. 


PAGE. 

.649 


CHAPTER. 

LXIX.     DIXVILLE 

Roads     Boti  Is     Scenery,  i 
LXX.     STEWARTSTOWN 651 

Grants  and   Grantees  —  Pi  tition   i  1795)   to 

Assi  ss  Tax  on  Non-Residen1  Lands  -Petition 
to  Amend  Acl  of  Incorporation— Call  for 
First  Town  Meeting— Action  of  Said  Meeting 
—  Boundaries  —  Second  Town  Meeting  — 
Election  of  First  Representative  First  In- 
ventory—Settlers before  1800— Early  Times 
— Hardships  Endured— First  Licenses— War 
of  1812— Historic  half-bushel— First  River 
Road  —  Earmarks  —  Taverns  and  Hoi 
Corporations  -Diamond  and  Nathan  Ponds, 
how  named— Metallak— Janus  Miner  Halliard 
— The  Great  Hail  Storm— Bridges  across  the 
Connecticut. 

LXXI.    Stewartstown.-- (Continued.) 659 

Description,  Lots,  and  Settlement— West 
Stewartstown  -Settled  and  Unsettled  Terri- 
tory— Ponds  and  Streams— Soil  and  Minerals 
— Game— Horses,  Cattle  and  Sheep— Grasses 
— Grass  Seed — Journeys  to  Portland — Roads 
and  Sleighs—  Clothing  — Potatoes  — Wheat, 
Oats,  and  other  Products. 

LXXII.     Stewartstown. — (Continued.) 664 

Settlers  prior  to  1800— Non-Resident  Land 
—Settlers  Early  in  this  Century— Settlers  in 
1856 — Extracts  from  Records  giving  Action 
of  Town  on  Roads,  Soldiers.  Etc. --Civil  List: 
Representatives,  Selectmen,  Town  Clerks  - 
Votes  for  Governor. 

LXXHI.     Stewartstown.— (Continued.) 669 

Salts  and  Pearlashes— Flax — Brick— Leather 
— Shoes  and  Harnesses — Blacksmiths — Saw- 
Mills— Grist-Mills-Starch  Factories-Shingle 
and  Clapboard  Mills— Planing  and  Wood- 
turning — Machine  Shops  —  Wheelwrights  -- 
Furniture  and  House  Furnishings— Woolen 
and  Carding  Mills — Foundry  and  Tinsmith— 
Merchants  and  Traders— Physicians,  Etc. 

LXXIV.     Stewartstown.-  (('ontinued.) 674 

Ecclesiastical--  Congregational      Church  — 
Organization— Names  of    First   Membi 
Pastors — Sunday-school.  Christian  Church  - 
Organization        Action     of     the     Church 
Original  Membership— Extracts  from  Records 
Organization     of     "Union"     Church  — 
Membership   and    Dal   -   oi    l;<  ci  ptior     E 
tracts  from  Records  and  other  Bistorj  -Ed- 
ucational Intel .  3ts-  First  School  District.  I  .:■■. 

LXXV.     CLARKSVLLLE 689 

Boundaries-  Origin  <<i'  Xante-  First  Propri- 
etors   Early  Settlers-  First    Town    Meel 
—Early  Man 


10 


Contents. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

LXXVI.     PITTSBURG 696 

Pit1  sburg  —  Boundaries  —  First  Explored — 
To] » tgraphy  —  Lakes  —  Streams  —  Ponds  — 
Rocks — Minerals. 

LXXYII.     Pittsbdbg. — (Continued.) .700 

Exploration  in  1789  —  Resources  —  First 
Settlers  —  Permanent  Settlers  —  Ebenezer 
Fletcher — Growth  of  the  Settlement. 

LXXVIII.    Pittsburg.— (Continued.) 705 

Action  and  Report  of  Legislative  Com- 
mittees in  1824  Concerning  Titles  under 
King  Philip's  Deed. 

LXXIX.     Pittrburg.— (Continued.) 707 

Progress  and  Growth  for  the  Next  Decade — 
Independent  Government — Blanchard's  Ar- 
rest—Incorporation— Kimball  B.  Fletcher — 
Tornado. 

LXXX.     Pittsburg. — (Continued.) 712 

Legislative  Action  Concerning  Pittsburg, 
is  if  1867— Action  of  Town  in  the  Rebellion 
—Civil  List. 

LXXXI.     Pittsburg.— (Continued.) 717 

The  First  Church — Religious  Societies  - 
Schools  —  Agriculture  —  Connecticut  River 
Lumber  Co.— Business,  Etc.— Upper  Con- 
necticut River  and  Lake  Improvement  Co. — 
Upper  Coos  Railroad — Advantages  to  Pitts- 
lmrg. 

LXXXII.     COLUMBIA  721 

Grant  of  Township — Signers  to  Petition — 
Wales's  Location — Boundaries — Lime  Pond- 
First  Town  Meeting-  Resident  Tax  List — 
Polls  and  Ratable  Estate  in  1810— Valuation 
of  Buildings  in  1824— Schools— Town  Offi- 
cers' Fees— Politics— Cemeter 

LXXXIII.     Columbia.— (Continued.) 725 

Pioneers.  Abel  Larnard — Abel  Hobart— 
The  Wallaces  —  Noah  Buffington — Philip 
Jordan — Benjamin  Jordan. 

LXXXIV.    Columbia.— (Continued.) 731 

Mills— Pearlashes  and  Potash— Tanning  and 
Shoe-making —  Cloth    Dressing — Pot- 
Distilleries    and    Starch-Mills  —Ferry     and 
Toll  Bridge— Merchants-  Stores. 

LXXXV.—  Columbia.— (Continued.) 735 

Civil  List — Representatives,  Town  Clerks 
and  Selectmen — War  of  tl  llion— -Sta- 

tistics of  1S8G. 

LXXXYI.     Columbia.— Continued.) 738 

Church  History— Early  Services— Columbia 
Church — Christian  Church— Profession  of 
Faith— Preachers— Church  Edifice— Deacon 

John  Annis. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

LXXXVII.     STRATFORD 744 

Introductory — Woodbury — Names  of  Gran- 
tees— Difficulty  Concerning  Boundaries — 
Transfers  Prior  to  1772— Proprietors'  Action 
— Call  for  Meeting — Gov.  Wentworth's  De- 
cision. 

LXXXVIII.     Stratford.  -( Continued. ) 748 

Stratford — Conditions  of  Charter — Grantees' 
Names,  with  Number  of  Lot — First  Settlers 
— First  Woman  Settler — Contest  of  Skill- 
Brief  Description  of  Settlers  and  their 
Families— Description  and  Topography  of 
Town— The  First  Settlements — Pitches  Al- 
lotted— Extracts  From  Proprietors'  Records; 
Concerning  Mills,  Town  Plot,  Lots  and 
Roads,  Trouble  about  First  Grist-Mill— First 
Settlers  have  First  Pitches. 

LXXXIX.     Stratford.— (Continued.) 754 

The  Revolution— Soldiers'  Claims  and  Orders 
—Condition  of  Matters,  Taxes,  Etc.,  in  1778 
— Petition  for  Abatement  and  Incorporation. 
1778 — First  Settlers,  Improvements  and 
Stock,  1777— Petition  for  a  Guard,  1780— 
Certificate,  Burnside's  Ferry,  1786— Petition 
for  a  New  County,  1791— Petition  for  Abate- 
ment of  Taxes. 

XC.     Stratford. — (Continued.) 759 

Development,  Growth  and  Population  — 
Early  Officers— First  Marriage— The  Town 
of  Stratford— Call  for  First  Town  Meeting, 
Etc.— Survey — Extract  from  Town  Records 
—War  of  1812— Great  Civil  War— Stratford 
Hollow;  Business,  Etc.— Methodist   Church. 

XCI.     Stratford.— I  Continued.) 765 

Civil  List:  Clerks,  Selectmen,  Treasurers, 
Representatives. 

XCII.     Stratford.— (Continued.) 7G7 

North  Stratford;  Business  Interests,  Rail- 
road, Postoiliec— Hinman's  Island— Baptist 
Church  —  Education  —  Hotels— Societies — 
Granite  State  Stoek-Farm— Mills—  Physi- 
cians— Lawyers — Brief  Personal  Sketches. 

ANDROSCOGGIN   DIVISION. 

XCI1I.     BERLIN 783 

Intrc idue tory— T  o  p  o  g  r  a p  h  y— S  c  e  n  e  r  y— 
Mountains.  Streams,  Etc.— Tinkers  Brook. 
Minerals,  Etc. — Act  of  Incorporation— Call 
for  First  Town  Meeting— Action  of  First 
Town  Meeting  -Residents'  Names  and  Ages, 
1829— Residents,  Stock,  and  Improvements 
in  1830— Name*  of  Voters,  by  Decades. 

XCTV.     Berlin.— (Continued.) 788 

Early  Settlers  -First  House  (William  Ses- 
sions) —  Second    House     (The    Lowes   and 


( '( INTENTS. 


11 


CHAPTER.  PAGE, 

Cates) —  Simon  Evans  —Joseph  Wheeler  — 
The  Thompsons — Samuel  Blodgett — Th< 
Wheeler  Daniel  Davis— The  Bean  Family — 
Joseph  Blodgett-  Hazen  and  John  chand- 
ler- Merrill  C.  Forist  John  V.  Dustin- 
Lorenzo  Mason— Past  and  Present  Business 
Interests — Thomas  Green  -J.  D.  Horner  & 
Co. — Daniel  Green — Ira  and  Oliver  H.  Mason 
and  other  Early  Traders  and  Manufactur- 
ers— Railroad,  Station  Agents,  Ere. 

KCV.     Berlin.— (Continued.) 795 

Civil  List:  Town  Clerks,  Selectmen,  Treas- 
urers. Representatives — Extracts  from  Town 
Records — Berlin  in  the  Rebellion — Action  of 
the  Town. 

XCVI.     Berlin.—  (Continued.  > 799 

Ecclesiastical:  Church  of  Christ  —  Forma- 
tion—Original Members  —  Confession  of 
Faith  —  Action  of  Church  Meetings —  Pas- 
tors— Progress  of  the  Church— Young  Peo- 
ple's Society  of  Christian  Endeavor — The 
Sunday-School  —  Organization  of  Parish  — 
Church  Structure — Origin,  Etc.,  Universalist 
Church — Meetings— Articles  of  Faith— Par- 
ish Society  Organized— Church  Building — 
Sabbath-School— Catholic  Church — Priests — 
Church  —  Parsonage — St.  Paul  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  Parish  —Member s — Pas- 
tor—Second Advent  Meetings. 

XCVII.     Berlin.— (Continued.) 804 

Education— First  School— First  Teacher — 
School  Districts— Amos  Mann — Berlin  High 

School. 

XCVIII.     Berlin.— (Continued,  i 808 

Early  Roads  and  Bridges— First  Church  Or- 
ganization— Unusual  Phenomena  — Hotels — 
Burial  Places— Societies— Berlin  Mills — For- 
est Fibre  Company — Glen  Manufacturing 
Compauy—  White  Mountain  Pulp  and  Paper 
Ci  impany  —  Physicians  —  Lawyers — Mercan- 
tile and  Business  Houses.  1887 — Report  of 
Selectmen,  1887. 

XCIX.     MILAN 830 

Introductory — S  u  r  f  a  c  e— S  o  i  1— G  rant  — 
Boundaries  —  Pioneers  —  Character  of  Set- 
tlers— Inventory  for  1825— Early  Convey- 
ances. 

C.    Milan.— (Continued.) 835 

Act  of  Incorporation — First  Town  Meeting- 
Extracts  from  Town  Records— -Action  in  the 
Rebellion— Civil  List:    Town  Clerks,   s 
men,  Treasurers,  Representatives. 

CI.    Milan.— (Continued.) 838 

Mills— Milan  Mine— Business  Interests. 


CHAPTER.  PAi 

CH.    Mii.av.    (Continued.) 842 

( Ihurch  History    Mi  thodism    Pasti 

ent  Society    Original  Members  of  Methodist 

Church    Church  Building    Calvinist  Baptist 

Society      Free-Will    Bap;  ty      Civil 

War. 

CHI.     Milan.    (Continued.) 

Physicians,  Past  and  Present  A  Model  Mar- 
riage Certificate. 

CIV.    DIMMER 

B  lundaries      Origin  of   Name      1 
Granted    Surveyed— Early   and     Late] 

Inventory  of  Polls  and  Personal  Prop- 
erty, 1849. 

CV.     Dcmmeu (Continued.  1 859 

Petition  for  Incorporation— Civil  List:  Town 
Clerks,  Treasurers,  Selectmen,  and  Repre- 
sentatives   Schoi 

CVI.    SHELBURNE 867 

Name  -Scenery  and  Attractions  —  Bound- 
aries— First  Grant  Names  of  Grantees  De- 
scriptions of  the  Original  Grant. 

CVII.     Shelburne.— (Continued . ) 871 

Early  Settlers:  Hope  Austin  —  Daniel  Ox- 
galls—Stephen  Messer— Thomas  Green  Sam- 
uel Wheeler  — Jonathan  Evans  —  Benjamin 
Clemens— Bazeleel  Gates— Simeon  E\ 
Jonathan  Peabody— Jonathan  Lary— Peter 
Poor— Nathaniel  Loiter.  Etc. 

CVHI.     Shelburne.— (Continued.) 876 

Industries      "Peggy"     Davis's     Mittens 
Transportation  —  Mills  —  First  Merchant 
Early  Business  Interests  -Loads -Taverns- 
Bridges. 

CIX.     Shelburne.— (Continued.) 880 

Religion— Church  of  Christ-  Original  Mem- 
bers—Free Chinch  -Free-Will  Baptist 
Church  Reform  Club  —  Union  Mei 
House  Schools-  Teachers  White  Mount- 
ain Stock-Farm  Judge  Burbank 
Mine-  Hotels  Soldiers  Town  Clerks  and 
ctmen  from  1839. 

CX.     GOL1IAM 

Scenery  and  Attractions -Boundaries    Shel- 
burne Addition    Survey    First  Set: 
Permanent  Settler    Other  Settlers. 

CXI.     Gobham.    (Continued.) 

Early  Difficulties  in   Way  of    Settlement 
The    "Addition"    in  1821   and   lal 
School     \n  icdote    Tl  shet    In- 

crease   in    Population-   Commencemen 
Prosperity    Andrew  G.  and  Jonathan    I 

First    Mills    Village    Site   in  1835    Trade, 
Traffic  and  Boti 


12 


Contents — Index  to  Towns. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

CXII.     Gorham.— (Continued.) 900 

Act  of  Incorporation  of  Gorham— First  Town 
Meeting— Town  Officers— Tax-payers  in  1836 
School    Districts  Formed— Extracts   from 
Records  and  Civil  List. 

(  XIII.     Gorham  — (Continued.) 906 

Ecclesiastical  History  —  Free-Will  Baptist 
Society  —  Congregational  Church,  Society, 
Pastors— Methodist  Episcopal  Church— Uni- 
versalist  Society— Catholic  Church— Schools. 

CXLV.     Gorham.— (Continued.) 911 

Railroads— Grand  Trunk  Railway,  Shops, 
and  Employes  —  Gorham  Village  —  Hazen 
Evans— Valentine  L.  Stiles— Progress  of  Gor- 
ham—Fires— Buildings— Lawyers  and  Phy- 
sicians—Business Interests,  Manufacturers, 
Bank,  Merchants  and  Tradesmen. 

CXV.     Gorham.— (Continued.) 921 

Hotels  —  Societies  —  Postmasters  —  Mascot 
Mine — Thirty  Years  Changes. 

CXVI.     RANDOLPH 935 

First  Grant  —  Location  —  Scenery—  Hotels- 
Lots,  Ranges,  Improvements— Early  Settlers. 


chapter.  PAGE, 

CXVH.     Randolph.— (Continued.) 941 

Act  of  Incorporation— First  Town  Meeting 
Called  —  Representatives— Town  Clerks— Se- 
lectmen—Town  Treasurers. 

CXVIII.     Randolph.— (Continued.) 943 

Schools—  Church  History  —  Organization  of 
"Union  Congregational  Society  "—War 
Record— Pond  of  Safety  —  Prominent  Citi- 
zens. 

CXIX.     ERROL 948 

Grantees  —Lumbering—  Soil— Boundaries— 
Umbagog  Lake  —  Androscoggin  River  Im- 
provement Company— Errol  Dam  Company 
—Old  Families  — Petitions  of  Proprietors, 
Action  of  Town,  Etc. 

CXX.     Errol.— (Continued.) 951 

Application  for  Call  of  a  Town  Meeting- 
Call,  Notification  and  Action  of  First  Town 
Meeting— Act  of  Incorporation— Warrant  for, 
and  First  Town  Meeting  after  Incorporation 
—List  of  Voters,  1837— Civil  List. 


INDEX  TO  TOWNS. 


PAGE. 

BERLIN 783 

CARROLL 427 

CLARKSVILLE 689 

COLEBROOK 583 

COLUMBIA 721 

DALTON 506 

DIXVILLE 649 

DUMMER 854 

ERROL 948 

GORHAM 888 

JEFFERSON 399 

KILKENNY 426 

LANCASTER 261 


PAGE. 

MILAN 830 

MILLSFIELD 955 

NORTHUMBERLAND 539 

PITTSBURG 696 

RANDOLPH 935 

SHELBURNE 867 

STARK 562 

STEWARTSTOWN 651 

STRATFORD   744 

SUCCESS 955 

WENTWORTH'S  LOCATION 95& 

WHITEFIELD 447 


BIOGRAPHIES  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

ABBOTT,  CARL 239 

ALDRICH,  HON.  EDGAR 254 

ALGER,  L.  W 683 

ARMINGTON,  W.  N 237 

BALDWIN  FAMILY 776 

BALDWIN,  W.  L engraving  778 

BARKER,  ALBERT 248 

BARNARD,  LEVI 211 

BEDEL,  COL.  HAZEN engraving 637 

BENTON,  HON.  JACOB 217 

BERLIN  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH engraving 802 

BERLIN  HIGH  SCHOOL engraving 806 

BROWNS'  LUMBER  COMPANY 492 

BROWN,  A.  L engraving 493 

BROWN.  W.  G engraving  194 

BROWNS'  LUMBER  MILLS engraving 496 

BUGBEE,  DR.  FRANK 397 

BURBANK,  JUDGE  R.  1 884 

BURKE,  EDMUND 213 

BURNS,  HON.  WILLIAM engraving 218 

BURT,  CHAS.  W : 247 

CARPENTER,  PHILIP 237 

CHAMBERLIN,  R.  N engraving 237 

COOPER,  S.   W 247 

COOS  COUNTY  MAP Facing  16 

COSSITT,  GEO.  A 217 

CRAWFORDS,   THE 439 

DALEY,  D.J 240 

DREW,  HON.  A.  W engraving 

DREW,  EDWIN  W 682 

DREW.  HON.  I.  W engraving 

DUDLEY.  J.   II   engraving 252 

EATON,  GEO.  R engraving 

EVANS.  A.  1!    233 

EVERETT,  R.  C 209 

FARRAR.  WM 

FLETCHER    II.  A 215 

FLETCHER,  JUDGE  EVERETT 

FLINT.  L.  T 247 

FOREST  FIBRE  MILLS   

FURBISH.   II.  II Qgraving. 

FURBISH,  H.  H.,  RESIDENCE  OF 

GOVE,  DR.  GEO.  S engravin 

GOSS,  II.  I 


14:  Biographies  and  Illustrations. 

PAGE. 

GRAY,  HOSEA engraving 385 

GREEN  FAMILY 817 

GREEN,  DANIEL   engraving 819 

GREEN,  S.  D 821 

HANNAFORD,  S.  G engraving 686 

HARTSHORN,  G.  W 257 

HASTINGS,  M.  A 230 

HAZEN.  L.  T engraving 498 

HEYWOOD.  HON.  WILLIAM engraving 214 

HEYWOOD.  HENRY 229 

HINDS,  ABRAHAM 210 

HITCHCOCK.  J.  II engraving 927 

HUTCHINS,  F.  D 237 

HUTCHINSON,  HON.  L.  H 853 

HUTCHINSON,  T.  H engraving 931 

JACOBS.  F.  C engraving 687 

JORDAN,  HON.  C.  B engraving 233 

KENT,  R.  F engraving 366 

KENT,  HON.  H.  O engraving 372 

KEYSAR,  JOHN engraving 694 

KING,  CHARLES  W 498 

KING.  THOMAS  STARR 424 

LADD,  HON.  W.  S engraving 227 

LANCASTER  VILLAGE  IN  1826,  MAP  OF 282 

LARY,  A.  G engraving 926 

LOMBARD,  DR.  LYMAN engraving 635 

LOWE,  PROF.  T.  S.  C 425 

LUND,  H.  W 257 

MARSHALL,  A.  J engraving 394 

McGREGORY,  JOEL engraving 502 

MERRILL,  HON.  S.  R engraving 640 

MERRILL,  S.  S engraving 646 

MORRISON,  REV.  J.  B 317 

NO  YES,  CAPT.  WARREN engraving   929 

PAINE.  HON.  S.  E 815 

PARSONS  FAMILY 627 

PARSONS,  HEZEKIAH   engraving 629 

PARSONS,  HEZEKIAH engraving 633 

PARSONS,  JAMES  I engraving 251 

PEARSON,  S.  A 210 

PERKINS,  HON.  N.  R engraving 421 

PEVERLY,  THOMAS,  JR 210 

PHIFPS,  JAMES  M 851 

PHIPPS,  P.  A.  G.  W 852 

PICKARD,  I.  H 687 

RAMSAY,  IRA  A 249 

RAY,  HON.  OSSIAN engraving 222 

RAY,  O.  P 250 

REMICK,  S.  K 648 

REMICK,  D.  C 256 

REMICK,  J.  W 256 

ROGERS,  D.  A 248 

ROSEBROOK  FAMILY 443 

ROSEBROOK,  PH1NEAS engraving 444 

SCRIBNER,  E.  W engraving 827-828 

SHEAFE,  JOHN  L 246 

SHURTLEFF,  W.  H 250 

SMITH,  FRANK engraving 392 


Biographies  and  [llust ration; 


Pi 

SOULE,  CAPT.  GILBERT  engraving     559 

SPAULDING.  J.  II engraving 387 

STEPHENSON,  TURNER 212 

STUART,  C.J     21] 

THOMPSON,  ALEX engraving 396 

TRUE,  DR.  N.  T 934 

TWITCHEL,  ADAMS engraving 848 

TWITCHELL,  GEN.  A.  S 229 

TWITCHELL,  V.V 

VANDYKE,  GEORGE engraving  390 

WEEKS  FAMILY :;7s 

WEEKS.  HON.  J.  W engraving 382 

WELLS.  JOHN  S 212 

WHEELER,  DEXTER  , engraving 822 

WHEELER,  R.  H " engraving B24 

WHIDDEN.  HON.  B.  F 220 

WIGHT,  I.  C engraving 

WILLIAMS.  GOV.J.W 212 

WILLIAMS,  GEO.  C 221 

WILLIAMS.  J.  1 221 

WISWALL,  B.  C engraving 692 

YOUNG,  GEN.  IRA 245 


HISTORY 


OF 


COOS  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  I. 


"the  county  of  cooss." 


Organization  —  Towns  Included  —  Extent  —  Boundaries  —  Population,  Agricultural  and  Man- 
ufacturing Statistics,  etc.,  1880  —  Locations,  Grants,  and  Purchases  —  Altitudes. 

THE  act  establishing  ' '  The  County  of  Cooss "  was  approved  December 
24,  1803,  and  took  effect  March  5,  1805.  It  contained  the  towns  of 
Dalton,  Whitefield,  Bretton  Woods,  Bartlett,  Adams,  Chatham,  Shel- 
burne,  Shelburne  Addition,  Durand,  Kilkenny,  Jefferson,  Lancaster,  Mills- 
field,  Northumberland,  Stratford,  Wales'  Gore,  Cockburne,  Colebrook, 
Stewartstown,  Piercy,  Paulsburg,  Mainesborough,  Dummer,  Errol,  Cam- 
bridge and  Success,  with  a  population  of  about  3,000  in  1803. 

The  General  Court  had  a  defective  knowledge  of  the  line  they  under- 
took to  make  the  southern  boundary,  for,  in  describing  it,  it  is  made  to  go 
to  the  northwest  corner  of  Tamworth,  and  from  thence  on  the  line  of  the 
county  of  Strafford  to  the  Maine  line.  To  reach  the  northwest  corner  of 
Tamworth,  it  had  to  follow  the  west  line  of  Albany  south  the  whole  width 
of  the  town,  and  then,  to  reach  the  north  line  of  Strafford  county,  which 
it  was  to  follow,  it  had  to  go  back  north  on  the  same  west  line  of  Albany 
without  including  any  land. 

June  18,  1805,  Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location  was  annexed  to  Coos  county, 
and  January  5, 1853,  Bartlett,  Jackson  (Adams),  and  Hart's  Location  were 
annexed  to  Carroll  county.  Not  long  after  the  formation  of  Coos  county, 
Chatham  was  annexed  to  Strafford  county,  and  upon  the  erection  of  Carroll 
county,  Chatham  was  included  in  that  county. 


18  History  of  Coos  County. 

Coos  was  taken  from  Grafton,  one  of  the  five  original  counties  of  the 
State — Eockingham,  Strafford,  Hillsborough,  Cheshire.  Grafton — and  com- 
prises all  New  Hampshire  north  of  the  present  counties  of  Grafton  and 
Carroll.  Its  western  boundary  is  the  western  bank  of  the  Connecticut 
river,  and  it  extends  from  latitude  4S°  58'  to  the  extreme  north  part  of 
the  State,  being  seventy- six  miles  in  length,  with  a  mean  width  of  about 
twenty  miles.  It  contains  about  one  million  acres  of  land.  The  distance 
by  traveled  highway  from  the  north  line  of  Grafton  county  at  Littleton  to 
the  Canada  line  at  West  Stewartstown  is  about  sixty -two  miles.  On  the 
Maine  line,  it  is  seventy-three  miles  from  Carroll  county  to  the  iron  post 
on  the  highlands,  in  the  wilderness  on  the  northern  boundary. 

It  is  bounded  north  and  northwest  by  Canada,  east  by  Maine,  south  by 
Carroll  and  Grafton  counties,  and  west  by  Vermont. 

The  census  of  1880  gives  the  total  population  of  the  county  as  18,580. 
By  the  same  census  we  learn  that  in  that  year  Lancaster  has  a  population 
of  2,721;  Whitefield,  1,828;  Colebrook,  1,580;  Gorham,  1,383;  Berlin, 
1,114  ;  Northumberland,  1,062  ;  and  Stratford,  1,016.  Jefferson  only  wants 
49  to  make  a  round  1,000,  while  Stewartstown  only  42.  The  other  towns 
exceeding  500  are :  Milan,  892  ;  Columbia,  762  ;  Stark,  690  ;  Carroll,  632 ; 
Pittsburg,  5S1  ;  Dalton,  570.  The  remaining  towns  and  grants  give  the 
following  :  Dummer,  464  ;  Clarksville,  328  ;  Shelburne,  252  ;  Eandolph,  203  ; 
Errol,  161;  Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location,  101;  Millsfield,  62  ;  Wentworth's 
Location,  55  ;  Cambridge,  36  ;  Martin's  Location,  33  ;  Dixville,  32  ;  Craw- 
ford's Grant,  28  ;  Thompson  and  Meserve's  Purchase,  20  ;  Second  College 
Grant,  18  ;  Green's  Grant,  8  ;  Dix's  Grant,  4  ;  and  Sargent's  Purchase,  2. 
There  are  in  this  county  1,939  farms,  having  a  total  of  139,089  acres  of 
improved  land  ;  aggregate  value  of  said  farms,  including  buildings,  fences, 
etc.,  $4,350,042  ;  implements  and  the  machinery  thereon,  $192,544  ;  stock, 
$774,838  ;  estimated  value  of  annual  farm  products,  $943,427.  The  vege- 
table productions  :  potatoes,  623,183  bushels  ;  barley,  1,8^3  ;  buckwheat, 
43,431;  Indian  corn,  10,129;  oats,  228,698;  rye,  923;  wheat,  3t,164;  tobacco, 
1,000  pounds;  hay,  49,734  tons;  orchard  products,  annual  value,  $3,979. 
The  number  of  horses  raised  in  the  county,  3,941;  mules  and  asses,  4; 
working  oxen,  1,615;  milch  cows,  6,47-1;  other  cattle,  10,723;  sheep,  16,832; 
swine,  2,784;  wool,  71,504  pounds;  butter,  632,822;  cheese,  36,795.  The 
assessed  valuation  of  real  estate  and  personal  property  is  $5,911 ,  552.  There 
are  194  manufacturing  establishments,  using  $2,107,250  capital,  paying 
$336,010  annually  to  1,262  operatives,  and  turning  out  products  valued  at 
$2,490,356.     The  next  census  will  show  a  change. 

Locations,  Grants  and  Purchases. — In  addition  to  the  towns  which  are 
organized  in  this  county  there  are  the  following  unorganized  grants,  pur- 
chases, locations,  etc.,  which  contain  between  three  and  four  hundred  inhabi- 
tants, and  lie  mostly  among  wild  mountains,  and  whose  chief  value  is  in  the 


Organization  —  Altitudes.  l ! » 


timber  they  produce  and  the  incentive  they  present  of  romantic  scenery  to 
the  summer  traveler:  Bean's  Purchase,  Carlisle,  Cambridge,  Hubbard, 
Webster,  Chandlers  Purchase,  Crawford's  Grant,  Craw  lord's  Purchase, 
Cutt's  Grant,  Dix's  Grant,  Ervin's  Grant,  Gilmanton  and  Atkinson  Acad- 
emy Grant,  Green's  Grant,  Lowe  and  Burbank's  Grant,  Martin's  Location, 
Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location,  Odell,  Pinkham's  Grant,  Sargent's  Purchase, 
Second  College  Grant,  Thompson  and  Meserve's  Purchase,  Wentworth's 
Location.  Millsfield  and  Cambridge,  after  being  organized  as  towns  for 
some  years,  gave  up  their  organization. 

Altitudes.—  Mt.  Washington,  6,293  ft.;  Mt.  Adams,  5,794  ft.;  Alt.  Jef- 
ferson, 5,714  ft.;  Mt.  Clay,  5,553  ft.;  Mt.  Monroe,  5,384  ft.;  Mt.  Little 
Monroe,  5,204  ft.;  Mt.  Madison,  5,365  ft.;  Mt,  Franklin,  4,904  it.: 
Mt.  Pleasant,  4,764  ft.;  Mt.  Clinton,  4.320  ft.;  Mt,  Jackson,  4,100 
ft.;  Mt.  Webster,  4,000  ft.;  Mt.  Crawford,  3,134  ft;  Giant's  Stairs, 
3,500  ft.;  Boott  Spur,  5,524  ft.;  Boott  Deception,  2,448  ft.;  Carter  Dome. 
South  Peak,  4,830  ft,;  Carter  Dome,  North  Peak,  4,702  ft,;  Mt.  Moriah, 
4,053  ft.;  Mt.  Wildcat,  4,350  ft.;  Mt.  Kearsarge,  3,251  ft,;  Mt.  Moat, 
North  Peak,  3,200  ft.;  Mt.  Moat,  South  Peak,  2,700  ft.;  Mt.  Starr  Kin-. 
3,800  ft.;  Mt.  Pilot,  3,640  ft;  Boy  mountain,  2,278  ft,;  Mt.  Prospect.  2,090 
ft.;Mt.  Percy,  North  Peak,  3,336  ft.;  Mt.  Percy,  South  Peak,  3,140  ft.;  Cape 
Horn,  2,735  ft.;  Twin  Mountain  station,  1,446  ft.;  White  Mountain  House, 
1,556  ft.;  Fabyan's,  1,571  ft.;  White  Mountain  notch,  1,914  ft.;  base  of  Mt. 
Washington,  2,668  f  t. ;  Cherry  mountain,  3,500  ft.;  Kandolph  mountain, 
3,043  ft.;  Pliny  mountain,  2,1-00  ft.;  Mt.  Eoyce,  2,600ft.;  Pond  of  Safety, 
1,973ft.;  Lake  of  the  Clouds  (Blue  Pond),  5,009  ft.;  Jefferson  mills,  1,180 
ft.;  Whitefield,  931  ft. ;  Jewell  hill,  1,467  ft.;  Connecticut  river  at  Dalton 
(high  water),  832  ft.;  Dalton  station,  866  ft.;  South  Lancaster,  867  ft.; 
Lancaster,  870  ft. ;  Groveton  depot,  901ft.;  Stark,  972  ft.;  Milan  summit, 
1,087  ft.;  Berlin  falls,  1,035  ft.;  Gorham  812  ft.;  Shelburne,  723  ft.;  Mt. 
Ingalls,  2,520  ft.;  Mt.  Forest,  1,950  ft.;  North  Stratford,  915  ft.:  Stratford 
Hollow,  877  ft.;  Sugarloaf,  est,,  3,47o  ft.;  Mt.  Lyon,  2,735  ft,;  Dixville 
Notch,  1,858  ft.;  Table  rock,  2,454  ft.;  Colebrook,  1,030  ft.;  West  Stew- 
artstowm,  1,055  ft.;  Mt.  Carmel,  3,711  ft  ;  Crescent  mountain,  2,700  ft.; 
Connecticut  lake,  1,618  ft.;  Mt.  Dustan,  2,575  ft.;  Half  Moon  mountain, 
2,526  ft.;  South  hill,  2,000  ft.;  South  peak,  Kilkenny.  3,827  ft.;  Green's 
ledge,  2,708  ft. 


20  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GEOLOGY. 

Rock  Formations— The  Age  of  Ice — Glacial  Drift — Upper  Till — Lower  Till— Chaniplain 
Drift — Recent  or  Terrace  Period — Modified  Drift  of  Connecticut  River,  Connecticut  Lake,  to 
West  Stewartstown— Upper  Connecticut  Valley — Karnes— Deltas. 

*7~\OCK  FORMATIONS.— The  groups  of  rocks  of  Coos  County,  com- 
r*A  mencing  with  the  lowest,  are  the  Acidic  and  Basic  of  the  unstratified, 
X  and  the  Azoic,  Eozoic,  and  Paleozoic  of  the  stratified  rocks.  The  oldest, 
or  bed  rock,  a  very  coarse  granite  or  gneiss,  conceded  now  to  be  of  eruptive  or 
volcanic  origin,  which  varies  its  name  with  a  different  arrangement  of  the 
same  constituents.  Ledges  of  these  rocks  present  large  quadrangular  patches 
of  light-colored  feldspar,  varying  from  a  fraction  of  an  inch  to  three  inches 
in  length.  Quartz  and  feldspar,  with  black  and  white  mica,  and  some- 
times hornblende,  are  the  constituent  elements  of  these  primitive  or  acidic 
rocks,  which  are  known  as  sienite,  granite,  and  porphyry.  These  funda- 
mental unstratified  rocks  form  the  vast  volume  of  the  White  Mountains, 
and  are  the  oldest  rocks  in  the  State.  Nowhere  in  New  England  is  there  a 
better  opportunity  to  read  extensively  in  the  "  Book  of  Nature  "  than  on 
the  granite  pages  of  our  wild  mountains  and  precipitous  gorges.  A  mere 
mention  of  the  rock  formation  is  sufficient  for  our  purpose  here,  but  those 
who  desire  to  pursue  the  subject  from  a  love  of  science,  will  find  that  Prof. 
Hitchcock  and  his  co-laborers  have  thoroughly  and  exhaustively  treated  it 
in  that  great  work,  "Geology  of  New  Hampshire." 

The  Age  of  Ice. — It  is  of  great  importance  that  the  Glacial  and  Modi- 
fied Drift  periods  be  treated  in  detail,  for,  during  the  xYge  of  Ice,  the 
removal  of  the  great  ice-sheet  which  extended  above  the  top  of  Mt.  Wash- 
ington, and  the  subsequent  period,  the  surface,  soil,  and  water-courses  of 
the  county  were  formed,  and  the  conditions  for  civilized  occupancy  were 
prepared.  It  is  well  that  all  should  become  conversant  with  the  causes 
which  have  brought  about  these  conditions,  and  we  make  no  apology  for 
the  space  we  have  devoted  to  this  purpose.  The  indications  of  a  glacial 
period  arc  probably  as  well  shown  in  New  Hampshire  as  anywhere  in  the 
world.  Underlying  the  modified  drift  are  often  found  masses  of  rocks  and 
earth  mingled  confusedly  together,  having  neither  stratification  or  any 
appearance  of  being  deposited  in  water.  These  are  the  glacial  drift  or  till. 
This  drift  frequently  covers  the  slopes  or  lies  on  the  summits  of  the  highest 
hills  and  mountains.  It  contains  bowlders  of  all  sizes,  up  to  thirty  feet  in 
diameter,  which  have  nearly  all  been  carried  southward  from  their  native 
ledges,  and  can  be  traced,  in  some  instances,  for  a  hundred  miles,  south- 
ward or  southeastward.  Wherever  till  occurs,  the  ledges  have  mostly 
been  worn  to  a  rounded  form,  and,  if  the  rock  be  hard,  it  is  covered  with 


Geology.  21 


long  scratches  or  strice,  in  the  direction  of  the  course  taken  by  the  bowl- 
ders. Geology  now  refers  these  to  amoving  ice-sheet,  which  overspread 
this  continent  from  the  north,  and  had  formed  of  sufficieni  thickness  to 
cover  even  Mt.  Washington.  This  ice-sheet  was  so  much  thicker  at  the 
north  than  in  this  latitude  that  its  great  weight  pressed  the  ice  steadily  out- 
ward to  the  south-southeast.  The  termination  of  this  ice-sheet  in  the 
Atlantic,  southeast  of  New  England,  was  probably  like  the  great  ice- wall 
of  the  Antarctic  continent,  along  which  Sir  J.  C.  Ross  sailed  450  miles, 
finding  only  one  point  low  enough  to  allow  the  smooth  white  plain  of  the 
upper  surface  to  be  seen.  This  extended,  dazzling  white,  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  see.  There  was  a  long,  continuous  period  of  glacial  action,  with 
times  of  retreat  and  advance,  but  never  a  complete  departure  and  return 
of  a  continental  ice-sheet.  The  motion  of  this  ice  being  caused  by  its  own 
weight,  must  have  been  very  slow  indeed  Over  the  highlands  between 
the  St.  Lawrence  river  and  Hudson  bay  the  ice-sheet  was  three  or  four 
miles  in  thickness,  over  Greenland  very  much  thicker,  and  over  the  White 
mountains  it  reached  nearly  or  quite  to  the  line  of  perpetual  snow.  The 
till,  or  coarse  glacial  drift,  was  made  by  the  long-continued  wearing  and 
grinding  of  the  ice-sheet.  As  this  slowly  advanced,  fragments  were  torn 
from  the  ledges,  held  in  the  bottom  of  the  ice,  and  worn  by  friction  upon 
the  surface  over  which  it  moved.  This  material,  crushed  below  the  ice 
into  minute  fragments  or  fine  powder,  is  called  the Loiver  Till.  While  this 
was  being  made  below  the  ice,  large  quantities  of  coarse  and  fine  matter 
were  swept  away  from  hill-slopes  and  mountain-sides,  and  carried  forward 
in  the  ice.  As  this  melted  much  of  this  matter  fell  loosely  on  the  surface, 
forming  an  unstratified  deposit  of  gravel,  earth  and  bowlders.  This  deposit 
is  called  the  Upper  Till.  This  usually  is  found  above  the  Lower  Till,  the 
line  of  separation  being  at  a  distance  of  from  two  to  twenty  feet.  The 
departure  of  the  ice-sheet  was  attended  by  a  rapid  deposition  of  the  abun- 
dant materials  therein  contained.  The  retreat  of  the  ice-sheet  was  toward 
the  northwest  and  north,  and  it  is  probable  that  its  final  melting  took  place 
mostly  upon  the  surface,  so  that,  at  the  last,  great  amounts  of  its  deposits 
were  exposed  to  the  washing  of  its  many  streams.  The  finer  particles  were 
generally  carried  away,  and  the  strong  current  of  the  glacial  rivers  trans- 
ported coarse  gravel  and  bowlders  of  considerable  size.  When  these  streams 
entered  the  valley  from  which  the  ice  had  retreated,  or  their  currents  were 
slackened  by  less  rapid  descent,  where  the  channel  wasstill  walled  by  ice, 
a  deposition  took  place,  in  succession  of  coarse  gravel,  fine  gravel,  sand  and 
fine  silt  or  clay.  These  deposits  filled  the  valleys,  and  increased  in  depth 
in  the  same  way  that  additions  are  now  made  to  the  bottom-land  or  inter- 
vals of  our  large  rivers  by  the  floods  of  spring.  They  are  called  the  Modi- 
fied Drift,  and  geology  gives  this  name  to  the  period  from  the  departure  of 
the  ice  sheet  to  the  present.     This  modified  drift  occurs  in  almost  every 


22  History  of  Coos  County. 

valley  of  New  Hampshire,  and  comprises  the  intervals,  which  are  annually 
overflowed,  and  the  successive  terraces  which  rise  in  steps  upon  the  sides 
of  the  valley,  the  highest  often  forming  extensive  plains.  Dr.  Dana  has 
given  the  name  of  Champlain  Period  to  the  time  of  the  deposition  of  the 
modified  drift  during  the  melting  of  the  ice-sheet.  During  the  Champlain 
period,  the  ice  became  molded  upon  the  surface,  by  the  process  of  destruc- 
tion, into  great  basins  and  valleys;  and,  at  the  last,  the  passages  through 
which  the  melting  waters  passed  off,  came  gradually  to  coincide  with  the 
depressions  of  the  present  surface.  These  lowest  and  warmest  portions  of 
the  land  were  first  freed  from  the  ice;  and,  as  the  melted  area  slowly 
extended  into  the  continental  glacier,  its  vast  floods  found  their  outlet  at 
the  head  of  the  advancing  valley.  (In  the  Connecticut  valley  this  took  place 
by  a  single  channel  bordered  by  ice- walls.)  In  these  channels  were  depos- 
ited materials  gathered  by  the  streams  from  the  melting  glacier.  By  the 
low  water  of  winter,  layers  of  sand  were  formed,  and  by  the  strong  cur- 
rents of  summer,  layers  of  gravel,  often  very  coarse.  These  layers  are 
irregularly  bedded,  here  sand  and  there  gravel  accumulating,  and  inter- 
stratified  without  much  order  with  each  other.  These,  the  oldest  of  our 
deposits  of  modified  drift,  are  long  ridges  or  intermixed  short  ridges  and 
mounds,  composed  of  very  coarse  water- worn  gravel,  or  of  alternate  gravel 
and  sand  irregularly  bedded,  a  section  of  which  shows  an  arched  or  anti- 
clinal stratification.  Wherever  the  ordinary  fine  alluvium  occurs,  it  over- 
lies, or  partly  covers,  these  deposits.  To  these  ridges  geologists  give  the 
name  of  Karnes.  The  extensive  level  plains  and  high  terraces  bordering 
the  New  Hampshire  rivers  were  also  deposited  in  the  Champlain  period,  as 
the  open  valleys  become  gradually  filled  with  great  depths  of  gravel,  sand, 
and  clay  (alluvium),  which  were  brought  down  by  the  glacier  rivers  from 
the  melting  ice-sheet,  or  washed  from  the  till  after  the  ice  had  retreated,  and 
which  were  deposited  in  the  same  way,  as  by  high  floods  at  the  present 
time.  During  the  recent  or  terrace  period,  the  rivers  have  cut  deep  and 
wide  channels  in  this  alluvium.  The  terraces  mark  heights,  at  which,  in 
this  work  of  erosion,  they  have  left  portions  of  their  successive  flood- 
plains.  The  Connecticut  river,  along  the  greater  part  of  its  course  in  this 
state,  has  excavated  its  ancient  high  flood-plain  of  the  Champlain  period 
to  a  depth  of  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  feet  for  a  width 
varying  from  one-eighth  mile  to  one  mile. 

The  exploration  of  the  modified  drift  in  this  state  was  principally  made 
in  IS 75,  under  direction  of  the  state  geologist,  C.  H.  Hitchcock,  by  War- 
ren Upham.  Esq.,  from  whose  valuable  report  we  have  condensed  the 
above  and  extract  the  following  : — 

Modified  Drift  of  Connecticut  Biver,  Connecticut  Lake  to  West  Stew- 
artstown. — For  the  first  four  miles  below  Connecticut  lake  the  river  has  a 
rapid  descent,  with  a  southerly  course.     It  then  bends  to  the  west  and 


Geology.  23 


winds  with  a  sluggish  current  through  a  narrow  swamp  three  miles  in 
length,  which  is  the  first  aJluvium  seen  on  the  river.  Its  lower  end  is  at 
the  mouth  of  Dead  water  stream.  One  half  mile  farther  down,  at  the  out- 
let from  Back  lake,  the  road  passes  over  a  sand  and  gravel  plain  thirty  feet 
above  the  river.  This  is  material  deposited  in  the  Champlain  period  by  the 
tributary  stream.  Much  of  it  has  been  excavated  during  the  terrace  peri<  ><  1 ; 
and  till  extends  to  the  river  on  the  opposite  side  in  a  very  gentle,  regular 
slope. 

On  Indian  stream  there  is  a  large  extent  of  low  alluvial  land,  compris- 
ing several  valuable  farms.  This  consists  mainly  of  a  wide  interval,  from 
ten  to  fifteen  feet  high,  which  is  bordered  on  the  east  by  a  narrow  lateral 
terrace  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  above  the  river.  In  the  next  four  miles 
scarcely  anything  but  glacial  drift  and  ledges  is  found.  The  scanty  por- 
tions which  may  be  called  modified  drift  consist  of  very  coarse,  somewhat 
water  worn  gravel,  in  terraces  from  ten  to  forty  feet  above  the  river,  which 
has  probably  in  many  places  cut  its  channel  to  this  depth  through  the  till. 
About  the  mouth  of  Bishop's  brook  considerable  low  alluvium  occurs, 
partly  brought  by  the  main  river  and  partly  by  its  tributary.  Thence  we 
have  a  narrow  width  of  modified  drift  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  to 
Hall's  stream,  which  is  bordered  by  an  interval  from  five  to  ten  feet,  and 
two  terraces,  twenty  and  thirty-five  feet,  above  the  river.  On  the  south 
side  here,  and  on  both  sides  for  nearly  two  miles  below,  the  river  is  closely 
bordered  by  hills,  and  no  modified  drift  is  seen. 

The  portion  of  the  river  which  we  have  now  described  extends  south- 
westerly about  eighteen  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Connecticut  lake.  The 
descent  in  this  distance  is  583  feet.  High  wooded  hills  border  the  valley, 
which  is  destitute  of  modified  drift  for  half  the  way.  The  largest  alluvial 
area  is  on  Indian  stream;  and  the  highest  terraces  are  from  thirty  to  forty 
feet  above  the  river. 

Upper  Connecticut  Valley. — Below  West  Stewartstown  the  course  of 
the  river  is  southerly,  having  a  descent  in  nearly  fifty  miles,  to  the  bead 
of  Fifteen-mile  falls,  in  Dalton,  of  only  205  feet;  one-half  of  which  takes 
place  in  nine  miles  between  Columbia  bridge  and  North  Stratford.  Along 
this  whole  distance  the  modified  drift  is  continuous,  and,  including  both 
sides,  is  usually  a  half  to  a  mile  and  a  half  wide.  It  is  very  simple,  having 
two  heights,  and  consists  of  the  present  flood-plain,  bordered  by  remnants 
of  that  which  filled  the  valley  in  the  Champlain  period.  The  former  is 
about  ten  feet  above  low  water,  being  annually  overflowed  by  floods  of 
spring.  This  would  be  called  bottom-land  in  the  western  United  States. 
In  Xew  England  it  is  commonly  termed  interval;  but  along  the  Connect  i<  ut 
river  it  is  frequently  known  as  meadow.  On  all  our  large  rivers  this  low- 
est terrace  has  a  firm  and  well-drained  surface,  much  different  from  the 
marshy  areas  bordering  small  streams,  to  which  the  name  meadow  is 


24  History  of  Coos  County. 

restricted  in  other  parts  of  the  state.  It  is  the  most  valuable  portion  of 
these  alluvial  lands,  having  a  more  finely-pulverized  and  more  fertile  soil 
than  that  of  the  higher  terraces.  The  ancient  flood-plain  is  here  repre- 
sented by  a  lateral  terrace  from  forty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  above 
the  river,  usually  remaining  at  both  sides,  and  in  many  places  forming 
considerable  plains. 

From  West  Stewartstown  to  Colebrook  the  only  alluvium  of  import- 
ance on  the  New  Hampshire  side  is  the  interval;  but  small  remnants  of 
the  upper  terrace  are  found,  especially  where  there  is  a  tributary  stream. 
On  the  Vermont  side  the  upper  terrace,  composed  of  sand  or  fine  gravel,  is 
usually  well  shown,  having  a  nearly  constant  but  small  elevation  of  forty 
to  sixty  feet  above  the  river,  with  which  it  slopes.  It  appears  that  this 
formerly  had  possession  of  the  whole  valley,  and  that  the  channelling  of 
the  river  has  swept  it  away  from  the  area  now  occupied  by  the  interval  or 
meadows.  Portions  of  it  still  remain,  entirely  surrounded  by  the  low 
flood-plain.  Such  a  plateau  may  be  seen  in  Canaan,  nearly  opposite  the 
south  side  of  Stewartstown.  The  upper  terrace  and  its  isolated  remnant 
have  both  a  height  of  forty  feet  above  the  river,  while  the  lower  level  is 
only  fifteen  feet  in  height.  Northeast  from  this,  in  Stewartstown,  a  rivu- 
let has  effected  a  like  result  on  a  small  scale  in  the  meadow,  cutting  a  chan- 
nel wholly  around  a  small  area  which  still  preserves  the  height  of  the  rest 
of  the  meadow. 

Karnes. — At  Colebrook  we  find  an  interesting  gravel-ridge  or  kame 
portions  of  which  remain  north  of  the  junction  of  Beaver  brook  and 
Mohawk  river,  but  most  noticeably  west  of  the  village,  extending  nearly 
a  mile  parallel  with  the  river.  Its  height  is  about  seventy  feet  above  the 
river,  and  fifty  above  the  low  alluvium  on  each  side.  Its  material  is  the 
same  as  that  of  the  long  kame  farther  south  in  this  valley,  being  princi- 
pally coarse,  water- worn  gravel,  with  abundant  pebbles  six  inches  to  one 
foot  in  diameter.  This  ridge  was  deposited  in  the  glacial  channel  of  the 
river  which  flowed  from  the  ice-sheet  at  its  final  melting. 

We  must  refer  to  a  similar  cause,  the  slightly  modified  drift  in  Leming- 
ton,  just  northwest  from  Colebrook  bridge;  in  Columbia,  the  high  gravel 
terrace  north  of  Sims'  stream;  thence  for  a  mile  southward  the  moraine- 
like, level-topped  or  irregular  drift,  slightly  modified,  at  about  100  feet 
above  the  river;  and  the  coarse  drift  ridge  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  a 
half  mile  above  Columbia  bridge.  The  last  is  a  distinct  ridge,  one-third 
of  a  mile  long,  parallel  with  the  river,  and  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  feet 
above  it,  being  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  feet  above  the  adjoining  lowland. 
This  may  have  been  a  medial  moraine.  It  contains  many  angular  rock- 
fragments  from  two  to  three  feet  in  size,  and  seems  scarcely  modified, 
appearing  like  portions  of  the  kames  along  Merrimack  river. 

Between  Columbia  bridge  and  North  Stratford  the  descent  is  rapid  and 


Geology.  25 


the  terraces  are  irregular.  At  Columbia  bridge  the  highest  alluvial  banks 
are  forty-eight  feet  above  the  rive),  at  North  Stratford,  119.  Where  the 
river  now  descends  101  feet  the  stratified  drift  of  the  valley  shows  a  slope 
of  ouly  thirty  feet,  or  about  three  feet  to  a  mile.  After  we  pass  this  steep  and 
narrow  portion,  and  enter  a  wide  valley  again  where  the  river  is  compara- 
tively level,  we  find  the  upper  terrace  falling  much  more  rapidly,  or  nine 
feet  to  a' mile.  At  Groveton  it  has  again  descended  to  a  height  fifty  feet 
above  the  river.  As  we  approach  Fifteen-mile  falls  the  upper  terrace  slopes 
very  slowly  down  to  the  lower  and  they  can  scarcely  be  distinguished  as 
separate  heights  below  South  Lancaster.  The  wide  river-pJain  here  rises 
gradually  from  five  to  ten  to  perhaps  twenty  or  thirty  feet  above  the  river. 

In  Stratford  and  Brunswick  both  heights  of  the  alluvium  are  well 
shown,  the  highway  being  on  the  upper  terrace  and  the  railroad  on  the 
meadow.  The  former  is  about  100  feet  above  the  river,  and  at  Brunswick 
springs,  and  for  much  of  the  way  through  Stratford,  is  from  one  fourth 
to  one-third  of  a  mile  wide.  At  Stratford  Hollow  depot  the  railroad  has 
cut  through  a  narrow  spur  of  this  terrace,  which  escaped  erosion  by  water. 
Here  the  alluvium  of  the  main  valley  has  been  excavated  into  secondary 
terraces  by  Bog  brook.  In  the  south  part  of  Stratford,  and  in  Northum- 
berland, the  meadow  or  interval  occupies  more  space  than  the  terrace, 
which  has  its  greatest  extent  in  the  level,  swampy  plain  west  of  Groveton 
Junction. 

Deltas. — At  Lancaster  the  upper  terrace  of  Connecticut  river  is  only 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the  interval.  The  only  higher  modified  drift 
has  been  brought  down  by  tributaries.  Part  of  Lancaster  village  is  built 
on  one  of  these  deltas,  formed  by  Israel's  river  on  its  south  side,  fifty  feet 
above  the  terrace  of  the  main  valley.  This  delta  sloped  rapidly  westward, 
and  formerly  occupied  the  whole  area  of  the  village;  a  portion  of  it,  twenty 
feet  lower  than  the  former,  remains  at  the  cemetery,  opposite  the  court- 
house. Similar  deposits  also  occur  two  miles  southwest  from  Lancaster, 
and  on  John's  river. 

Between  South  Lancaster  and  Fifteen-mile-falls  the  broad  river-plain  is 
unterraced.  It  seems  probable  that  a  lake  existed  here  while  the  original 
high  plain  northward  was  being  deposited.  * 

When  this  was  channelled  out  by  the  river,  so  as  to  leave  only  terraces 
as  we  now  see  them,  the  materials  excavated  were  sufficienl  to  fill  up  the 
lake.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  the  depth  of  the  stratified  drift  in 
this  basin;  it  is  probably  deeper  than  the  height  of  the  highest  modified 
drift  northward  above  the  rivar 

Kame-like  materials  of  small  extent  were  noticed  at  North  Stratford, 

*The  Connecticut  river,  geologists  consider,  left  this  lake  by  a  channel  which  passed  up  the 
present  valley  of  John's  river  to  Whitefleld,  from  there  across  to  Lower  Ammonoosuc  below  \Ving 
Road,  and  struck  its  present  bed  at  Wells  River,  by  following  down  the  Aimuonoosuc  valley. 


26  History  of  Coos  County. 

forming  the  high  bank  on  the  east  side  of  the  railroad,  one-fourth  mile 
southeast  from  the  station,  and  in  Guildhall,  about  two  miles  north  from 
Lancaster  bridge.  A  remarkable  moraine  of  granite  bowlders  occurs  in 
Stratford,  covering  a  large  area  of  hillside  just  above  the  upper  terrace, 
one  mile  south  from  what  was  Beattie's  station.  Two  miles  northwest  from 
Groveton  a  ridge  of  till,  from  sixty  to  100  feet  above  the  river,  projects  half 
a  mile  westerly  into  the  valley,  or  half  way  across  it,  appearing  like  a  ter- 
minal moraine.  Horse-shoe  pond,  on  the  northwest  side  of  this  ridge,  occu- 
pies a  portion  of  a  deserted  river- channel.  These  ancient  river-beds  are 
frequently  shown  by  such  ponds,  commonly  called  sloughs  or  moats,  of 
which  Baker's  pond,  near  Lancaster,  is  another  example. 


CHAPTER  III. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

The  Water  Sheds — Carriage  Roads— Lumber  Roads — The  Water  Basins — The  Streams,  Con- 
necticut, Magalloway,  Androscoggin— Source  of  the  Connectirut — Description  andScenery — Second 
Lake,  Connecticut  Lake — Tributaries  of  the  Connecticut— Lake  Magalloway — Magalloway  River 
—  Androscoggin  River  —  Their  Tributaries— Country  along  the  Maine  Line — Bogs  and  Peat 
Swamps. 

FROM  Professor  Huntington's  elaborate  description  we  extract :  The 
extreme  northern  part  of  New  Hampshire  is  covered  by  a  continuous 
primeval  forest;  and  the  surface  of  the  country  is  broken  by  undulat- 
ing ridges,  which  here  and  there  rise  to  mountain  heights.  In  these  forests, 
almost  on  the  boundary  of  Quebec,  is  the  source  of  the  Connecticut  river; 
and  in  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  the  state  is  a  small  lake,  which  is 
the  principal  source  of  the  Magalloway  river.  Scarcely  anything  more  is 
known  to  the  dwellers  on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut  as  to  its  source, 
than  they  know  of  the  source  of  the  Nile.  Hence  a  somewhat  minute  de- 
scription  will  be  given. 

Water-Sheds  — Along  the  water-shed  that  separates  the  headwaters  of 
the  Connecticut  and  Magalloway  from  those  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  runs  the 
boundary-line  between  New  Hampshire  and  Quebec.  Although  its  general 
direction  from  Crown  monument  to  the  head  of  Hall's  stream  is  a  little 
south  of  west,  yet  so  crooked  is  it  that  in  its  course  it  runs  towards  nearly 
every  point  of  the  compass,  making  the  distance  nearly  twice  as  great  as 
it  is  in  a  direct  line  between  these  points.  At  Crown  monument  the  height 
of  the  water-shed  is  2,568  feet.     It  descends  gently  for  a  short  distance  as 


Topography  27 


we  go  west,  but  soon  rises  again,  until,  near  Lake  Magalloway,  it  has  an 
elevation  of  2,812  feet.  The  summit  of  the  ridge  here  is  587  feel  above  the 
lake  just  mentioned.  Then,  northwest  of  the  lake,  there  is  quite  a  gap, 
but  it  soon  rises  again  into  a  mountain  ridge.  But  two  miles  west  of  the 
lake  is  another  depression:  in  this  rises  the  most  northwesterly  branch  of 
the  Magalloway.  West  of  this  the  ridge  rises  again,  and  forms  a  moun- 
tain range  which  extends  west  two  miles  to  the  gap  near  Third  lake. 
Extending  south  from  this  height  of  land  is  the  water-shed  between  the 
Connecticut  and  Magalloway.  The  gap  at  Third  lake  has  a  height  of  2, 140 
feet.  Then  there  is  a  slight  rise,  and  again  a  depression  of  about  the  same 
height  as  the  last.  Then  the  water-shed  rises  again  to  the  summit  of  Mt 
Prospect,  and  an  elevation  of  2,62!)  feet.  It  then  descends,  but  continues 
with  varying  undulations,  until,  near  the  head  of  Hall's  stream,  it  spreads 
out  into  an  immense  plateau. 

The  water-shed  that  separates  the  waters  of  the  Connecticut  from 
the  Magalloway,  Androscoggin,  and  Saco  rivers,  runs  as  follows:  Starting 
from  the  boundary  of  Quebec,  five  miles  southwest  of  Crown  monument, 
and  not  far  from  three  miles  east  of  Third  lake,  the  line  runs  nearly  south 
four  miles;  then  it  turns  almost  directly  east,  and  extends  to  Mt.  Kent, 
on  the  boundary  between  New  Hampshire  and  Maine;  thence  it  follows 
the  boundary  to  Mt.  Carmel;  thence  it  runs  a  little  south  of  west,  to  a 
point  two  miles  south  of  Second  lake;  thence  south  to  the  Magalloway 
mountain;  thence  it  follows  a  ridge,  west,  nearly  a  mile;  thence  it 
runs  southwest  to  Mt.  Pisgah ;  then  it  bends  still  to  the  west,  and  reaches 
its  western  limit  near  the  Diamond  ponds  in  the  eastern  part  of  Stewarts- 
town;  thence  it  runs  southeast  to  Dixville  notch;  thence  a  little  east  of 
south,  through  the  western  part  of  Millsfield;  thence  south  through  Milan, 
Berlin  and  Randolph;  thence  over  the  White  Mountains  to  the  Notch. 
Along  this  water-shed  is  some  of  the  highest  land  in  New  Hampshire;  but 
there  are  occasional  gaps  where  roads  are,  or  can  be,  constructed.  Some 
of  these  passes  are  well  known.  Going  north  from  the  Net  eh.  the  first  is 
in  Randolph:  the  next  is  where  the  Grand  Trunk  railway  passes;  then 
there  is  the  road  through  Dixville  notch;  but  north  of  this  no  carriage  road 
has  ever  been  constructed,  — and  there  are  only  three  winter  roads,  and 
these  for  lumbering  purposes.  The  first  of  these  roads  crosses  the  Con- 
necticut three  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Connecticut  lake,  and  runs  south- 
east. After  passing  the  height  of  land,  it  strikes  one  of  the  brandies  of 
the  Swift  Diamond,  and  following  this,  it  extends  down  to  the  Magalloway. 
The  second  road  begins  at  the  last  settlement  in  Pittsburg,  crosses  the  Con- 
necticut one  mile  north  of  Connecticut  lake,  and  strikes  the  Magalloway 
four  miles  south  of  Parmachenee  lake.  It  is  several  }rears  since  either  of 
these  roads  was  used,  but  through  the  evergreen  forests  they  are  as  dis- 
tinct as  when  first  made, — yet  through  the  deciduous  trees  the  underbrush 


2S  History  of  Coos  County. 

has  so  obstructed  the  way  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  pass,  even  on  foot. 
Along  either  of  these  routes  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  the  construction  of 
a  carriage-road,  and  probably  along  the  most  northern,  one  will  never  be 
called  for;  but  it  may  be  opened  again  as  a  "tote"  road  when  lumbering 
is  carried  on  along  the  Upper  Magalloway.  The  third,  a  "tote'1  road  to 
the  Magalloway  by  the  way  of  Second  lake,  is  the  one  latest  used,  and 
strikes  farther  up  the  river.  (The  supplies  now  are  mostly  taken  from 
Berlin  up  the  Androscoggin  and  the  Magalloway.)  The  water  shed  itself, 
and  the  country  east,  is  broken  up  into  irregular  groups  of  mountains  and 
hills,  but  no  two  groups  have  exactly  the  same  kind  of  rocks.  The  axis  of 
all  the  higher  groups  is  either  gneiss  or  schist. 

The  Water  Basins. — The  northern  portion  of  the  water  basin  of  the 
Connecticut,  the  Magalloway,  the  Androscoggin  and  the  Saco  is  embraced 
in  this  section.  North  of  latitude  45°,  it  embraces  nearly  the  whole  of 
that  of  the  Connecticut.  West  of  the  Connecticut  river,  and  north 
of  latitude  45°,  there  are  three  nearly  parallel  ridges.  The  first, 
going  west,  is  somewhat  irregular,  and  is  cut  off  where  Perry's 
stream  turns  east  and  flows  into  the  Connecticut.  But  two, — one 
between  Perry's  and  Indian  streams,  and  the  other  between  Indian  and 
HalFs  streams, — are  more  uniform,  and  they  have  a  mean  height  of  about 
600  feet  above  the  streams.  South  of  latitude  45°,  and  east  of  the  Con- 
necticut, the  ridges  are  everywhere  irregular.  North  Hill,  in  Clarksville, 
rises  1,971  feet  where  the  road  crosses.  South  Hill,  in  Stewartstown,  is 
2,000  feet,  ascending  to  Jackson.  In  Colebrook,  and  below,  the  high  ridges 
branching  from  the  water-shed  have  generally  a  westerly  trend.  South  of 
Sims'  stream,  the  ridge  extends  nearly  to  the  Connecticut,  as,  also,  the  one 
in  Stratford,  south  of  Lyman  brook.  Below  North  Stratford  the  ridges 
run  more  to  the  south.  In  Northumberland,  south  of  the  Upper  Ammo- 
noosuc,  they  again  run  more  nearly  west,  and  continue  thus  until  we  reach 
Dalton,  where  the  principal  ridge  runs  north  and  south. 

Seven  miles  south  of  Crown  monument  the  water-shed  touches  the 
boundary  line  of  Maine.  The  portion  of  the  water  basin  of  the  Magallo- 
way north  of  this  is  a  level  tract  of  country,  penetrated  by  spurs  from  the 
boundary  line  towards  Quebec.  South  of  the  point  mentioned  above,  the 
water  basin  of  the  Magalloway  occupies  a  large  tract  of  country  in  New 
Hampshire.  It  is  everywhere  broken  into  irregular  mountain  ridges,  but 
these  have  generally  a  southern  trend  until  we  reach  the  Swift  Diamond 
in  Dartmouth  College  grant.  South  of  this  stream  there  is  a  high  contin- 
uous ridge  from  Dixville  notch  to  the  Magalloway;  then  there  is  a  high 
ridge  that  runs  south,  parallel  with  the  stream  last  mentioned.  The  tri- 
angular area  embraced  by  the  Swift  Diamond,  Clear  stream,  and  the 
Magalloway  and  Androscoggin,  is  a  succession  of  hills  and  mountain 
ridges.     The  high  point  north  of  Dixville  notch  forms  the  apex  of  the  tri- 


Topography.  29 


angle;  and  Mt.  Dustan  is  in  the  northeast  angle.  South  of  Clear  stream 
the  hills  are,  if  possible,  more  irregular  in  their  contour  than  those  north- 
ward. 

The  Streams. — The  principal  streams  are  the  Connecticut,  the  Magal- 
loway,  and  the  Androscoggin.  Almost  on  the  very  northern  boundary  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  nearly  on  the  very  summit  of  the  dividing  ridge  that  sep- 
arates the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  from  those  that  flow  southward,  there 
is  a  small  lake  containing  only  a  few  square  acres;  and  this  is  the  source  of 
the  Connecticut  river.  It  has  an  elevation  of  2,551  feet,  and  is  only  sev- 
enty-eight below  the  summit  of  Mount  Prospect;  and  so  remote  is  it  from 
the  habitations  of  men  that  it  is  rarely  seen.  A  place  more  solitary  is  not 
known  in  northern  New  Hampshire.  Surrounded  as  it  is  by  dense  forests 
of  evergreen,  you  can  see  only  these  and  the  waters  of  the  lake.  Almost 
the  only  sound  that  relieves  the  monotony  of  the  place  is  the  croaking  of 
the  frogs,  and  this  must  be  their  paradise.  A  few  steps  to  the  summit  of 
Mt.  Prospect,  and  we  can  overlook  thousands  and  thousands  of  square 
miles  of  forests  in  Quebec,  while  in  the  extreme  distance  to  the  northwest 
can  be  seen  the  habitations  of  men.  Southward  the  view  is  not  extensive. 
This  lake  is  half  a  mile  directly  south  of  the  boundary,  and  has  an  area  of 
three-fourths  of  a  square  mile,  and  its  height  is  2,038  feet.  It  is  trapezoidal 
in  shape,  and  has  its  greatest  width  in  the  south,  while  its  northern  shore  is 
not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  length.  Its  outlet  is  at  the  southeast 
corner,  and  its  width  is  eight  feet,  and  its  depth  six  or  seven  inches. 
Besides  the  spruce  and  firs  and  cedars  of  immense  size,  it  has  a  sub- Alpine 
vegetation.  Labrador  tea,  the  led  inn  pahtstre,  is  found  in  abundance 
along  its  shores.  In  early  summer,  before  the  swarms  of  insects  come,  it 
is  charming  to  stand  upon  its  border,  when  not  a  ripple  disturbs  its  placid 
waters,  and  the  trees  are  mirrored  along  its  shores.  On  every  side  except 
the  south,  the  hills,  which  rise  to  mountain  heights,  approach  almost  to 
its  very  shores.  The  Connecticut,  which  is  its  outlet,  is  nowhere  remark- 
ably rapid.  About  five  miles  from  the  lake  it  receives  a  tributary  from  the 
east,  the  principal  branch  of  which  rises  near  the  boundary.  This  stream 
is  nearly  as  large  as  that  into  which  it  flows.  A  mile  and  a  half  from 
where  it  receives  this  tributary,  it  flows  into  Second  lake,  lis  area  is  about 
oneand  three-fourths  square  miles,  and  it  is  two  miles  and  three-fourths  in 
length,  and  in  the  widest  part  is  a  little  more  than  a  mile,  and  I  he  heighl 
above  the  sea  is  1,882  feet.  It  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  our  northern 
lakes.  The  graceful  contour  of  its  shores,  the  symmetry  of  its  projecting 
points,  the  stately  growth  of  its  primeval  forests,  (he  carpel  of  green  that 
is  spread  along  its  border  and  extends  through  the  long  vista  of  the  woods, 
the  receding  hills  and  the  distant  mountains,  presenl  a  combination  of  the 
wild,  the  grand,  and  the  beautiful  that  is  rarely  seen.  Near  its  northern  bor- 
der, besides  the  Connecticut,  it  receives  two  t  ributaries,  one  from  1  lie  north- 


30  History  of  Coos  County. 

east  and  one  from  the  northwest.  Its  outlet  is  on  the  west  side,  near  its 
southern  limit;  it  is  forty  feet  in  width,  and  has  a  depth  of  eighteen  inches. 
Twenty  rods  from  the  lake  it  has  a  fall  of  eighteen  feet  or  more;  then  its 
descent  is  quite  gradual,  but  forms  here  and  there  deep  eddies.  A  mile 
from  the  lake  it  becomes  more  rapid,  and  rushes  down  between  precipitous 
walls  of  rock  in  a  series  of  wild  cascades,  which  continue  for  half  a  mile. 
It  receives  two  tributaries  from  the  west  before  it  flows  into  Connecticut 
lake.  Here  we  find  a  sheet  of  water  exceedingly  irregular  in  its  outline. 
Its  length  is  four  miles,  and  its  greatest  width  two  and  three-fourths,  and 
it  contains  not  far  from  three  square  miles.  Its  general  direction  is  east 
and  west,  but  near  its  outlet  it  turns  towards  the  south.  None  of  these 
lakes  contain  islands  to  any  extent.  Second  lake  has  only  one,  and  this 
has  two,  but  they  are  very  near  the  southeast  shore.  On  the  west  shore 
of  this  lake  the  country  is  settled,  and  the  grassy  pastures  extend  down  to 
its  border;  but  for  the  most  part  it  is  still  surrounded  by  a  primeval  forest. 
As  many  of  the  neighboring  hills  are  crowned  with  deciduous  trees,  par- 
ticularly the  maple,  in  autumn,  when  the  frost  comes  and  these  have  put 
on  their  crown  of  beauty,  of  crimson  and  scarlet,  of  yellow  and  gold,  and 
mingled  as  they  often  are  with  the  dark  foliage  of  the  spruce  and  fir,  we 
have  a  scene  which,  in  brilliancy  and  beauty,  is  rarely  if  ever  excelled. 
There  is  another  element  characteristic  of  this  high  elevation,  for  the  lake 
is  1,619  feet  above  the  sea.  It  often  happens,  when  the  forest  has  put  on 
this  robe  of  beauty,  that  all  the  neighboring  heights  are  of  immaculate 
whiteness  from  the  frozen  mist  that  clings  to  every  spray  of  the  evergreen 
foliage.  Embraced  in  the  picture  are  the  blue  waters  of  the  lake,  the  belt 
of  deciduous  forests,  with  their  brilliant,  gorgeous  colors,  the  dark  bands  of 
the  evergreens,  and  the  snow-white  summits-  The  water  at  the  outlet  flows 
over  a  rocky  barrier,  the  stream  falling  abruptly  nearly  thirty  seven  feet. 
The  fall  is  quite  rapid  for  two  miles  and  a  half;  then  the  flow  is  more  gen- 
tle for  about  four  miles;  then  it  becomes  more  rapid  again,  and  continues 
thus  until  after  it  passes  West  Stewartstown.  It  is  then  nowhere  a  slug- 
gish stream,  and  has  rapids  in  many  places  until  it  gets  below  the  falls  of 
Northumberland;  then  it  is  the  most  placid  of  streams  until  it  reaches  the 
Fifteen-mile  falls,  which  begin  in  Dalton.  The  fall  from  Connecticut  lake 
to  Lancaster  is  785  feet.  In  Pittsburg,  below  Connecticut  lake,  the  Con- 
necticut river  receives  three  large  tributaries, — Ferry's  stream,  which 
rises  near  Third  lake,  and  has  a  rapid  descent,  including  two  falls,  three 
and  five  miles  from  its  confluence,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  lake;  Indian 
stream,  which  rises  on  the  boundary,  has  a  very  rapid  descent  for  five  or 
six  miles,  when  it  becomes  a  very  quiet  stream  until  it  flows  into  the  Con- 
necticut about  eleven  miles  from  the  lake;  Hall's  stream,  which  also  rises 
on  the  boundary,  and  is  the  dividing  line  between  New  Hampshire  and 
Quebec.     Besides  these  there  are  several  smaller  streams.     The  principal 


Topography.  ;:i 


streams  from  the  east  ai^e  Cedar  stream  in  Pittsburg,  Labrador  brook  and 
Dead  Water  stream  in  Clarksville,  the  Mohawk  in  Colebrook,  Sim'sstream 
and  Lyman  brook  in  Columbia,  Bog  brook  in  Stratford,  the  Upper  Ammo- 
noosuc  in  Northumberland,  Israel's  river  in  Lancaster,  and  John's  river  in 
Dalton. 

The  Magalloway  has  its  principal  source  in  Lake  Magalloway,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  Crown  monument.  This  lake  is  one  of  the 
most  romantic  in  New  Hampshire.  It  has  an  elevation  of  2,225  feet  above 
the  sea.  Its  area  is  not  far  from  320  square  acres,  and  is  surrounded  by 
hills  that  rise  to  mountain  heights,  the  elevation  on  the  northeast  being  587 
feet  above  the  lake,  and  from  its  summit  we  look  immediately  down  upon 
it.  The  stream  which  is  its  outlet  forms,  a  few  steps  from  the  lake,  a 
beautiful  cascade  some  twenty  feet  in  height.  Of  all  the  men  who  have 
hunted  in  these  forests,  I  have  found  only  one  who  had  ever  seen  this  lake. 
If  it  were  within  the  reach  of  travel,  it  would  no  doubt  attract  many  per- 
sons, for  in  wildness  and  grandeur  it  is  not  surpassed.  Its  outlet  is  soon 
augmented  by  streams  both  from  New  Hampshire  and  Maine. 

The  Magalloway,  soon  after  it  enters  the  state  of  Maine,  forms  one  of 
the  peculiar  streams  in  this  northern  country.  It  flows  for  a  time  with  a 
rapid  current,  and  then  for  a  long  distance  it  is  the  most  sluggish  of 
streams,  often  deeper  than  it  is  wide,  while  on  either  side  there  are  numer- 
ous ponds  and  bogs.  Parmachenee  lake,  into  which  it  flows,  is  about  the  size 
of  Connecticut  lake.  For  four  miles  below  Parmachenee  the  stream  is  very 
rapid,  and  then,  for  almost  the  entire  distance  to  Escahos  falls,  the  descent 
is  slight.  Upper  Magalloway  settlement  lies  above  the  falls.  The 
Magalloway  enters  New  Hampshire  in  Dartmouth  College  grant. 
It  flows  about  a  mile  and  then  goes  into  Maine,  but  enters  New 
Hampshire  again  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Wentworth's  Location, 
and  flows  into  the  Androscoggin  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  Umbagoglake. 
Although  the  river  is  very  crooked  yet  the  water  is  of  sufficient  depth  so 
that  a  steamer  runs  up  nearly  to  the  Maine  line,  and  down  the  Androscog- 
gin to  Errol  dam;  below  this,  the  Androscoggin  is  for  the  most  part  quite 
rapid,  and,  in  the  sixty-six  miles  of  this  river  in  New  Hampshire,  the  fall 
is  464  feet.  The  tributaries  of  the  Magalloway  and  Androscoggin  from 
New  Hampshire  are  the  Little  Magalloway,  four  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
Parmachenee  lake,  and  the  Swift  Diamond,  which  has  its  source  in  the 
Diamond  ponds  in  Stewartstown,  and  has  a  tributary,  the  Dead  Diamond, 
which  rises  two  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Second  lake,  and  flows  into 
the  Swift  Diamond  a  mile  and  a  half  from  its  confluence  with  the  Magal- 
loway in  Dartmouth  College  grant.  Clear  stream  flows  into  the  Andros- 
coggin in  Errol.  In  Gorham  the  tributaries  are  Moose  and  Peabody  rivers, 
the  latter  of  which  rises  in  the  Great  gulf  between  Mt.  Washington  and 
Mt.  Adams.     A  considerable  tributary,  Wild  river,  rises  in  Bean's  Purchase. 


32  History  of  Coos  County. 


but  flows  into  the  Androscoggin  in  Maine.  Besides  these  from  the  west, 
the  Androscoggin  has  three  tributaries  in  New  Hampshire  from  the  east, 
the  Molichewort  in  Errol,  and  the  Chick walnepy  and  Stearns  brooks  in 
Milan. 

Country  Along  the  Maine  Line.  -  -  The  northern  extremity  of  New 
Hampshire  is  a  mere  point  of  upland — sterile  and  comparatively  destitute 
of  lumber  of  value.  In  those  townships  formed  from  the  Carlisle  grant 
large  spruces  are  now  standing,  and  the  different  branches  of  the  Magal- 
loway  are  so  located  as  to  afford  for  them  egress  without  excessive  expense. 

The  tracts  on  Stearns  brook  and  Chickwalnepy  river  in  Success,  afford 
good  settling  land.  Considerable  pine  is  still  standing  upon  the  township. 
Standing  upon  Mt.  Ingalls  the  eye  takes  in  a  valuable  tract  of  this  land  and 
the  adjoining  town  of  Riley  in  Maine,  which,  situated  as  they  are,  near  the 
Grand  Trunk  Railroad,  and  possessing  the  advantages  of  the  Androscoggin, 
besides  excellent  water-power,  must  at  no  distant  clay  be  of  increased  value. 
No  better  land  can  be  found  than  some  of  that  in  the  towns  of  Chatham 
and  Stowe,  while  more  northerly  the  farms  in  Errol  and  Wentworth's 
Location,  possess  natural  advantages,  which,  together  with  those  of  the 
rich  bottom  meadows  on  the  Diamond  in  the  second  grant  to  Dartmouth 
College,  are  of  a  high  order.  Although  the  general  surface  of  the  ground 
along  the  line  is  uneven  and  broken,  yet  there  are  large  tracts  of  fertile 
lands  which  must  at  some  period  yield  a  handsome  remuneration  to  their 
holders.  The  eastern  portion  of  New  Hampshire  lying  north  of  Mt.  Royce, 
is  drained  by  the  Androscoggin  and  Magalloway  rivers,  the  former  of 
which,  after  serving  as  the  outlet  of  those  great  lakes  extending  from 
Umbagog  far  into  the  wilderness  to  the  northeast,  debouches  from  this  lake, 
receiving,  one  mile  below,  tribute  from  the  Magalloway,  a  stream  equal  in 
size  to  the  Connecticut  at  Hanover,  which,  taking  its  rise  on  the  boundary 
range,  drains  that  whole  water-shed  north  and  west  of  Umbagog. 

The  soil  along  the  valley  of  the  Magalloway.  Androscoggin,  Diamond 
and  their  branches,  is  rich  and  alluvial.  The  highlands  are  characterized 
by  an  argillaceous  formation  entirely  different  from  the  granitic  structures 
of  the  White  and  other  mountain  ranges  in  our  State.  Mineral  wealth 
exists  in  the  township  of  Riley,  Success  and  Shelburne,  and  probably  along 
that  portion  of  the  line  lying  between  Lake  Umbagog  and  the  Androscog- 
gin, at  the  latter  town.  Spruces  of  fine  proportions  were  frequently  met  in 
large  tracts  north  of  Umbagog,  while  the  maple,  the  birch,  the  beech,  and 
those  other  forest  trees  indigenous  to  our  latitude  flourish  in  regal  lux- 
uriance in  the  forests  north.  The  cedar  is  found  in  great  quantities  on  the 
low  lands  around  Umbagog.  In  fine,  the  country  and  its  natural  charac- 
teristics are  such  as  to  warrant  the  belief  that  it  will  be  at  some  time 
reclaimed  from  its  present  state  and  yield  ample  remuneration  for  the  labor 
bestowed. 


Topography.  33 


Bogs  and  Swamps. — Bogs  and  peat  swamps  are  very  numerous  in  the 
northern  part  of  this  county.  These  are  often  of  greal  extenl  and  found 
in  every  town.  Sometimes  they  present  a  broad  surface,  without  a  tree  or 
shrub,  except  along  their  borders,  the  whole  surface  being  covered  with  a 
luxuriant  growth  of  grass.  One  of  the  largest  of  these  bogs  is  at  the  head 
of  Bog  brook,  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Second  lake,  and  has  an  area  of 
fifteen  or  twenty  acres.  West  of  Perry  stream  there  is  another  extensive 
bog,  directly  west  of  the  one  previously  described.  Near  the  head  of  Perry 
stream  there  are  several,  more  or  less  occupied  by  shrubs  and  trees;  here 
and  there  a  hackmatack  or  larch  rises  from  the  surface  covered  with  lau- 
rels, Labrador  tea,  and  other  swamp  plants.  North  of  Second  lake  is  a  very 
extensive  swamp  where,  besides  the  laurel,  Labrador  tea  and  larch,  we  fre- 
quently find  the  cedar  and  alder.  A  short  distance  south  of  Connecticut 
lake  are  two  small  open  bogs,  on  which  cranberries  grow  abundantly.  The 
peat  here  is  not  more  than  six  feet  in  depth.  One  of  the  most  extensive 
swamps  in  the  State  is  in  the  Dartmouth  College  grant.  The  distance 
across  it,  north  and  south,  is  about  three  hundred  rods,  and  the  distance 
east  and  west  is  much  greater.  Several  interesting  peat  deposits  exist 
along  the  Androscoggin.  One  in  Milan  contains  many  well-preserved 
trunks  of  fallen  trees,  principally  tamarack.  In  Shelburne  the  reclamation 
of  a  peat-swamp  has  been  quite  successfully  carried  on. 

These  bogs  when  drained  and  dressed  with  sand  or  sand  and  lime  are 
excellent  soils,  very  productive  in  hay  and  oats.  Many  of  them  may  in 
this  way  be  reclaimed,  for,  in  time,  the  peat  will  be  used  as  fuel  and  as  a 
fertilizer.  Peat  makes  a  valuable  fertilizer.  It  absorbs  and  retains  water 
and  ammonia,  promotes  the  disintegration  of  the  rocks,  renders  light  soils 
more  productive,  and  acts  valuably  in  other  ways.  Those  who  have  experi- 
mented with  it,  and  compared  its  properties  with  ordinary  stable  manure, 
find  that  it  gives,  in  a  certain  quantity,  an  equal  amount  of  lime  and  nitro- 
gen and  one-third  more  organic  matter,  but  is  deficient  in  magnesia,  potash, 
phosphoric  and  sulphuric  acids.  These  elements  may  be  given  by  add  i  ng  to  one 
hundred  pounds  of  fresh  peat  one  pound  of  commercial  potash,  or  five 
pounds  of  unleached  wood  ashes,  one  pound  of  good  superphosphate,  or 
one  pound  each  of  bone-dust  and  gypsum. 

In  view  of  the  small  amount  and  the  cheapness  of  the  materials  to  bring 
peat  to  the  fertilizing  standard  of  stable  manure,  it  would  appear  as  if  our 
farmers  could  greatly  enrich  their  lands  at  small  expense. 


34  History  of  Coos  County 


CHAPTER  IV. 

SCENERY   OF   COOS. 

Pittsburg — Crown  Monument— Megantic  Mountain— Head  waters  of  St  Francis  and  Chaudiere 
Kivers— Along  the  New  Hampshire  and  Quebec  Boundary— Third  Lake— Mt.  Carmel— Mt  Agiz- 
coos — Cascades— Little  Diamond  Falls— Hoggins  Branch — Dixville  Notch— "  The  Old  Man  of 
Dixville" — The  Flume — Cascade  Brook — Huntington  Cascade — Scenery  of  Errol — West  Stewarts- 
tow  n  to  North  Stratford — Groveton — Stark — Milan — Lancaster — Jefferson — Randolph — Dalton — 
Shelburne — Gorham. 

PROFESSOR  HUNTINGTON  says  that  the  lovers  of  the  grand,  wild 
and  picturesque  in  nature,  will  especially  delight  in  the  primeval  for- 
ests of  Coos  county.  A  journey  of  a  day  and  a  half  in  Pittsburg, 
from  Connecticut  lake  through  an  unbroken  forest,  will  take  one  to  Crown 
monument,  which  is  at  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  the  state.  It  is 
on  the  water- shed  between  the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  streams 
running  south  into  the  Atlantic,  and  it  is  so  called  because  a  monument 
was  placed  there  by  the  commissioners  who  established  the  boundary 
between  the  states  and  the  provinces.  From  a  ridge  of  land  2,568  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  where,  looking  northward,  the  land  slopes 
toward  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  southward,  toward  the  Atlantic,  the  view 
must  be  extensive.  In  either  direction  we  look  over  only  illimitable  for- 
ests, except  that  in  the  dim  distance,  a  little  to  the  east  of  north,  there  is  a 
small  settlement,  probably  at  the  north  end  of  Megantic  lake, — otherwise 
the  view  embraces  a  boundless  forest.  Immediately  north,  the  slope  is 
quite  gradual,  and,  as  it  stretches  northward,  the  country  seems  like  a 
plain  extending  to  the  horizon.  To  the  northeast  is  Saddle  mountain,  with 
hills  and  ridges,  to  the  north wrest,  Megantic  mountain  rises  as  from  an 
immense  plain.  Embraced  in  the  view-  northward  are  the  headwaters  of 
the  St.  Francis  and  Chaudiere  rivers,  while  east  and  west  is  the  high  ridge 
that  forms  the  water-shed.  The  view  directly  south  is  limited,  for  a  moun- 
tain ridge  runs  from  the  Magallow^ay  directly  west  into  New  Hampshire. 
To  the  southwest,  the  high  ridge  that  encircles  the  basin  where  the  many 
branches  of  the  Magalloway  have  their  source,  obstructs  the  view  in  that 
direction.  To  the  southeast  there  is  nothing,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  see,  but 
high  ridges  and  mountain  peaks,  which  follow  each  other  in  rapid  succes- 
sion until  in  the  far  distance  they  seem  to  pierce  the  sky. 

If  we  should  follow  along  the  boundary  between  New  Hampshire  and 
Quebec,  there  w~ould  be  many  points  where  wre  should  wish  to  stop  and 
view  the  grand  panorama  spread  out  before  us.  Two  of  the  most  remark- 
able outlooks  we  will  notice.     Not  far  from  three  and  a  half  miles  south- 


Scenery  of  Coos.  35 


west  from  Crown  monument  there  is  a  point  of  land  2,812  feel  in  height. 
The  distant  view  is  not  unlike  that  from  Crown  monument,but  the  immedi- 
ate surroundings  are  much  more  grand;  among  the  attractions  is  a  moun- 
tain lake,  which  lies  in  a  depression  to  the  west  800  feet  below  the  sum- 
mit, and  it  is  so  near  that  we  seem  to  look  directly  clown  upon  it.  Another 
point  of  interest  is  in  the  vicinity  of  Third  lake.  The  view  northward 
embraces  a  continuous  forest,  extending  fifty  miles  or  more;  and  in  the 
distance,  Megan  tic  mountain  stands  massive  and  alone.  The  only  habita- 
tions to  be  seen  are  one  or  two  houses  in  Ditton  (Canada). 

South,  half  a  mile  distant,  we  look  down  on  Third  lake.  On  a  bright 
day  in  early  summer,  when  the  stately  forests  are  mirrored  in  its  clear 
waters,  it  presents  a  scene  of  quiet  beauty  that  cannot  be  surpassed.  Gen- 
erally the  view  southward  is  not  extensive,  but  on  some  of  the  higher 
points  we  can  overlook  the  nearer  hills,  and  some  of  the  peaks  of  the 
White  Mountains  can  be  seen. 

Mt.  Carmel. — Mt.  Carmel  rises  3,711  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It 
is  on  the  line  of  New  Hampshire  and  Maine,  and  consists  of  a  long  ridge, 
on  which  there  are  two  points  of  nearly  equal  height,  half  or  three-quar- 
ters of  a  mile  apart;  from  the  point  east  there  is  a  gradual  slope  for  half  a 
mile,  then  the  descent  is  almost  perpendicular  down  to  the  debris  formed 
from  the  fallen  rocks.  Before  we  reach  this  precipitous  height,  there  is  a 
ridge  that  branches  off  and  runs  towards  the  northeast;  and  along  the  east 
side  of  this  there  are  perpendicular  walls  of  rock.  As  Mt  Carmel  is  some- 
what isolated,  the  view  from  the  summit  is  extensive. 

Immediately  northward  is  the  great  basin  where  rise  the  many  streams 
that  unite  to  form  the  Magalloway.  Beyond  is  the  ridge  that  forms  the 
boundary  between  the  states  and  the  provinces,  and,  through  gaps  in  this, 
we  can  see  a  peak  far  to  the  northeast.  To  the  east  the  view  is  fine,  while 
near  at  hand  you  look  down  into  the  valley  of  the  Magalloway.  Here  you 
catch  glimpses  of  the  stream,  and,  save  here  and  there,  where  the  water 
reflects  the  sunlight,  the  valley  is  a  dark  forest  of  evergreen.  Eastward 
from  the  summit  of  Mt.  Carmel  we  can  see  far  beyond  the  valley,  and  such 
an  array  of  hills,  ridges,  and  mountain  is  rarely  seen.  Hero  a  mountain, 
irregular  in  outline  and  broken  abruptly  off ;  there  two,  similar  in  shape, 
while  beyond,  and  farther  south,  is  a  mountain  summit  that  has  a  grace- 
ful contour  in  its  curving  lines  of  beauty.  Southward  for  twenty  miles  the 
view  is  unobstructed  down  the  Magalloway;  then  from  the  east,  Mt.  Agiz- 
coos,  with  its  bare  summit,  extends  partly  across  the  valley.  Southward, 
sixty-five  miles  distant  from  our  view-point,  wo  can  see  the  dim  yet  per- 
fect outline  of  the  White  Mountains.  In  some  respects  the  view  to  the 
west  and  southwest  is  the  most  interesting.  Here  is  a  succession  of  undu- 
lating ridges  and  hills,  which,  with  their  shadows  and  ever-changing  color, 
give  a  peculiar  charm  to  the  scene;  then,  in  the  midst  of  the  forests  we  can 


36  History  of  Coos  County. 

see  the  Connecticut  lakes.  There  is  not  probably  another  mountain-peak 
in  New  Hampshire  of  this  height,  where  oue  feels  so  entirely  away  from 
the  habitations  of  men.  In  every  direction,  the  whole  country,  embracing 
thousands  of  square  miles,  is  one  vast  wilderness,  except  at  the  outlet  of 
Connecticut  lake.  From  the  summit  of  Magalloway  mountain,  three  miles 
east  from  Connecticut  lake,  there  is  a  fine  view  of  mountains,  hills  and 
lakes. 

Cascades. — Though  not  numerous  in  the  northern  part  of  Coos  county, 
there  are  two  or  three  cascades  that  should  be  mentioned.  On  one  of  the 
western  branches  of  Indian  stream,  near  the  north  line  of  the  Colebrook 
Academy  grant,  there  is  a  cascade  which,  on  account  of  its  rare  beauty, 
deserves  especial  notice.  It  is  in  a  deep  ravine,  and  on  either  side  there  is 
a,  dense  forest  of  evergreens.  Here  the  extreme  heat  of  summer  is  unknown, 
for  the  coolness  of  the  water  tempers  the  atmosphere.  The  cascade  has  a 
height  of  forty  feet, — the  first  twelve  feet  the  water  is  broken  by  jutting  rocks; 
for  the  remaining  twenty-eight  it  flows  over  a  ledge,  which  has  a  descent 
of  sixty  degrees.  At  the  top  the  stream  is  four  feet  wide,  and  at  the  base 
twenty  feet.  The  pure  water,  the  white  spray,  the  dark,  moss-covered 
rocks,  the  cool,  delicious  atmosphere,  the  shimmering  light  through  the 
trees,  the  mossy  banks  of  the  stream,  the  perfect  stillness,  broken  only  by 
the  music  of  the  waters  and  the  songs  of  birds,  form  an  attractive  combi- 
nation. 

East  from  Connecticut  lake,  and  southeast  from  the  summit  of  Magal- 
loway mountain,  the  Little  Diamond  falls  in  a  series  of  rapid,  wide  cascades. 
The  rapids  extend  for  half  a  mile;  and  the  fall  in  that  distance  is  150  feet, 
with  perpendicular  falls  of  from  three  to  ten  feet.  Southwest  of  the  same 
mountain  there  is  a  fall  on  Huggins's  branch.  There  are  rapids  for  half  a 
mile  before  we  come  to  the  falls;  then  a  slope  of  fifty  degrees  and  a  fall  of 
fifteen  feet;  then  a  fall  of  twelve  feet  perpendicular;  then  a  slope  of  forty- 
two  degrees  and  a  fall  of  about  forty  feet,  confined  between  nearly  perpen- 
dicular strata  of  rock,  and  the  water  finally  rests  in  a  great  basin  at  the 
base.  Just  below  the  stream  turns  east,  with  a  fall  of  ten  feet.  This  is  a 
beautiful  cascade,  and  well  worthy  of  a  visit. 

Dixville  Notch  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  exhibitions  of  natural 
■scenery  in  the  state,  equaling,  if  not  surpassing  the  White  Mountain  notch 
in  picturesque  grandeur.  The  angular  and  precipitous  appearance  of  the 
rocks,  rising  hundreds  of  feet,  almost  perpendicularly,  on  either  side,  is 
strikingly  different  from  the  rounded  and  water  worn  appearance  of  most 
of  the  crystalline  rocks  throughout  the  northern  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  seems  to  come  nearer  to  the  scenery  of  the  Alps  than  anything  else  in 
New  England.  This  notch  is  easy  of  access,  being  only  ten  miles  from 
Colebrook  village;  and  although  the  highest  point  in  the  road  through  the 
notch  is  830  feet  above  that  village,  yet  the  ascent  is  so  gradual  that  few 


Scenery  of  Coos.  37 


would  believe  they  had  reached  so  great  an  elevation.  It  surpasses  most 
other  notches  in  the  vertical  height  of  its  walls,  one  point  being  560  feet 
above  the  highest  part  of  the  road.  Sonic  of  the  highest  precipitous  masses 
stand  out  in  bold  relief  from  the  sides.  Table  rock  projects  167  feet,  while 
the  ragged,  serrated  edges  every  where  form  projecting  points.  One  can 
easily  imagine  that  he  sees  here  the  turrets  and  spires  of  some  ruined  cathe- 
dral, or  the  battlements  and  towers  of  castles  of  the  medieval  age;  or,  as 
one  stands  on  Table  rock,  he  can  imagine  that  a  bridge  once  spanned  the 
chasm  below,  and  that  these  masses  of  rock  standing  in  the  debris  are  the 
ruins  of  piers  on  which  it  might  have  been  built.  The  rock  here  differs  in 
cleavage  from  that  of  similar  composition  elsewhere  in  New  Hampshire. 
It  splits  in  huge  longitudinal  fragments;  and  Nature  has  here  quarried 
posts  that  equal  in  just  proportion  those  wrought  by  human  hands. 

On  Table  rock  the  view  embraces  a  wide  sweep  of  country.  One  can  see 
quite  a  distance  in  Maine,  a  part  of  Vermont,  and,  when  clear,  places  in 
Quebec  can  be  recognized;  and  from  Table  rock  the  view  down  through 
the  Notch  is  always  grand.  After  passing  the  height  of  the  Notch,  going 
east  on  the  right,  we  can  see  a  profile,  — ''  The  Old  Man  of  Dixville," — which 
has  very  fair  proportions.  On  the  left,  still  farther  east,  there  is  an  excel- 
lent representation  of  the  walls  and  turrets  of  a  ruined  castle. 

The  "  Flume  "  shows  itself  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  thirty  or  forty 
rods  back  in  the  forest.  It  is  a  chasm,  in  granite,  about  fifteen  feet  wide 
and  fifteen  rods  long;  and  the  stream  running  through  it  falls  about  thirty 
feet  in  cascades.  In  one  place  there  is  a  pot-hole  seven  feet  deep,  with  a 
diameter  of  four  feet.  The  granite  is  divided  try  two  vertical  sets  of  seams 
or  joints,  so  that  large  columnar  blocks  could  be  taken  out  without  quar- 
rying. The  excavated  rock  seems  to  have  been  a  trap-dyke,  part  of  which 
may  still  be  seen.  Nearly  opposite  the  Flume,  but  farther  down  the  val- 
ley, is  "Cascade  brook,"  a  branch  of  Clear  stream.  Upon  this  may  be 
seen  a  series  of  cascades  for  more  than  half  a  mile.  They  were  named  ' '  Hunt- 
ington cascades"  by  the  New  Hampshire  Press  Association.  The  top  of  the 
most  interesting  cascade  is  274  feet  above  its  base.  Here  the  stream  is 
divided  by  a  trap-dyke  two  feet  wide;  and  the  water  falls  on  each  side  a 
distance  of  forty  feet.  The  rock  here  is  the  same  argillaceous  schist  as  in 
the  Notch;  besides  there  is  an  interesting  trap-dyke,  containing  glassy 
feldspar  and  basaltic  hornblende,  which,  Dr.  Jackson  says,  resembles  more 
a  volcanic  rock  than  any  other  found  in  the  state.  Most  other  notches 
we  can  see  a  long  distance  before  wereach  them,  hut  here  we  have  scarcely 
any  intimation  that  there  is  such  a  vast  rent  in  the  mountain  until  we  are 
almost  in  the  very  gap  itself. 

Errol. — In  Errol  there  is  one  of  the  grandest  outlooks  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, which  can  be  seen  while  driving  along  the  road.  In  the  distance  are 
the  grandest  of  mountain  summits.     After  crossing  the  Androscoggin. 


38  History  of  Coos  County. 


from  Errol  Dam  to  Upton,  Me.,  the  road  winds  along  and  over  the  ridge 
of  land  between  that  river  and  Umbagog  lake.  As  we  ascend  the  hill  the 
grandeur  of  the  scenery  begins  to  unfold  itself.  On  our  right,  and  a  little 
south  of  west,  is  the  Androscoggin,  which  pours  along  over  rapids  until  it 
rests  in  a  quiet  bay,  where  the  river  widens  to  receive  the  waters  of  Clear 
stream.  After  leaving  the  bay,  the  river  becomes  rapid  again,  and  pours 
along  between  the  hills,  and  soon  is  lost  to  sight.  Westward,  among  the 
hills,  is  Aker's  pond,  and,  following  up  the  valley  of  Clear  stream,  the 
view  is  limited  by  the  high  ridge  running  through  Dixville.  A  little  farther 
south  we  look  over  the  hills  in  Errol  and  Millsfield,  and  we  can  see  a  few 
peaks  in  Odell.  To  the  southwest  there  is  nearly  thirty  miles  of  unbroken 
wilderness.  For  a  distant  view,  I  know  not  where  the  White  Mountains 
can  be  seen  to  such  advantage  as  just  south  of  this  height  of  land;  neither 
do  I  know  of  any  distant  point  where  they  appear  so  high. 

On  the  Connecticut  there  are  many  places  where  the  scenery  is  enchant- 
ing. At  almost  every  turn  in  the  road,  from  West  Stewartstown  to  North 
Stratford,  there  is  something  that  attracts  the  attention, — a  mountain  of 
grand  proportions,  a  hill  with  graceful  outline,  the  trees,  the  forests,  or 
the  river,  as  it  runs  through  grassy  meadows  or  along  a  wooded  hillside. 
There  is  some  remarkable  scenery  in  the  vicinity  of  Groveton.  Coming 
from  the  south  towards  the  village,  Percy  peaks  will  attract  the  attention 
for  their  symmetrical  form  and  color.  The  village  itself  is  surrounded  by 
mountains.  The  summits  of  those  that  are  farthest  away  are  scarcely 
more  than  ten  miles  distant,  while  Mt.  Lyon,  on  the  south,  is  not  more 
than  four.  Although  the  hills  and  mountains  are  so  near,  yet,  on  account 
of  the  broad  interval  of  the  Connecticut,  we  do  not  feel  as  though  the  out- 
look had  too  narrow  limits,  but  rather  that  in  the  whole  view  there  is  a 
beautiful  symmetry.  It  is  especially  grand  to  watch  the  moon  as  it  rises 
above  the  Pilot  hills,  breaks  through  the  passing  cloud,  and  throws  its 
gentle  light  across  the  forests.  There  are  hills  on  every  side,  climbing 
which  we  have  distant  views.  From  Percy  peaks,  northward,  we  have 
forests  and  wooded  summits;  southeast,  the  White  hills  rise  in  all  their 
grandeur;  south,  we  have  the  long  line  of  the  Pilot  hills;  and,  a  little  west 
of  south,  we  look  down  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut,  and,  in  the  distance, 
Moosilauke  rises  against  the  sky. 

The  summit  of  the  south  peak  is  easily  gained  from  the  southeast,  but 
the  western  slope  of  this,  as  well  as  the  north  peak,  is  so  steep  that  it  would 
require  an  expert  in  climbing  to  be  able  to  reach  the  summit  of  either  peak 
from  that  direction. 

Stark  is  a  town  of  mountains  and  hills.  Approaching  Stark  station, 
either  from  the  east  or  the  west,  the  points  of  the  mountains  from  the 
opposite  sides  of  the  valley,  project  by  each  other  so  that  there  seems  to  be 
an  impassable  barrier  across  the  valley;  but  we  know  that  the  stream 


Scenery  of  Coos.  39 


must  pass  through  the  mountains,  and  Stark  station  is  in  the  gap  of  1  lie 
mountain  through  which  it  passes.  On  the  north  is  a  perpendicular  wall 
of  rock  forming  a  vast  amphitheatre,  while  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  val- 
ley, and  a  little  east,  is  Mill  mountain.  Although  in  every  other  din  ction 
surrounded  by  high  mountains,  yet,  looking  a  little  west  of  south,  we  can 
see  in  the  distance  some  of  the  high  peaks  of  the  Pilot  range. 

West  Milan. — Here  the  peaks  of  the  White  Mountains  begin  to  appear, 
and  besides,  there  is  quite  an  array  of  mountains  westward.  In  the  south- 
east part  of  Milan,  near  the  line  of  Berlin,  and  about  a  mile  east  of  the 
Androscoggin,  we  have  one  of  the  most  striking  views  of  the  White 
Mountains. 

In  Lancaster  the  view  is  always  grand.  Mt.  Lyon  to  the  north,  and 
thence  eastward  the  broad  sweep  of  the  Pilot  range,  and  the  group  of 
mountains  of  which  Starr  King  is  the  culminating  point,  are  so  situated 
that  every  fine  sunset  gives  to  them  that  deep  coloring  which  is  the  charm 
of  mountain  scenery.  Most  of  the  White  Mountain  peaks  can  be  seen 
from  the  village,  but  two  miles  east,  on  the  road  to  Jefferson,  to  a  point 
between  three  and  four  hundred  feet  above  the  Connecticut,  brings  them 
out  in  bolder  relief,  and  at  the  same  time  gives  a  charming  view  of  the 
Connecticut  valley  and  the  village  of  Lancaster.  FromMt.  Pleasant,  which 
is  easv  of  access,  the  view  is  more  extended,  and  embraces  the  mountains 
southward. 

From  Jefferson  hill  and  thence  on  the  road  to  Randolph,  we  get  a  nearer 
view  of  the  mountains.  At  the  Mt.  Adams  the  broad  sweep  of  forests,  reach- 
ing from  Israel's  river  almost  to  the  summits  of  the  mountains,  gives  us 
one  of  our  grandest  views.  From  Dalton  mountain  we  have  the  sweep  of 
the  whole  horizon;  westward,  the  mountains  in  Vermont;  the  Connecti- 
cut valley  northward;  the  mountains  of  Stratford,  Mt.  Lyon,  the  Pilot 
range,  Starr  King,  all  of  the  White  Mountains,  the  chief  of  the  Franconia 
mountains,  and  Moosilauke,  southward. 

Shelburne. — The  scenery  is  varied  and  lovely  to  those  artistic  enough 
to  appreciate  it.  Artists  say  that  nowhere  have  they  seen  such  rich 
autumnal  coloring  as  in  Shelburne.  Several  picturesque  spots  may  be 
found  on  the  Lead  Mine  brook,  and  the  little  flat  called  The  ( rarden  is  used 
as  a  camping  ground  by  tourists.  On  the  north  side  of  Mt.  Winthrop  is 
Moses1  rock,  so-called,  sixty  feet  high,  and  rising  at  an  angle  of  fifty 
degrees.  In  the  winter  water  trickles  over  it,  forming  a  beautiful  ice  cas- 
cade. Near  by  was  the  Granny  Starbird  rock,  where  the  old  doctress  held 
her  horse  by  the  bridle  through  a  stormy  night.  It  has  since  been  split  up 
for  railroad  bridges  and  underpinnings.  On  Peabody  brook,  between  Ked 
hill  and  Baldcap,  are  Shelburne  falls.  In  the  spring  they  can  be  seen  two- 
thirds  the  length  of  the  town,  appearing  like  a  great  drift  of  snow.  The 
Falls  are  one  of  the  objects  of  interest  to  summer  visitors. 


40  History  of  Coos  County. 

Baldcap,  as  its  name  implies,  is  a  bare  ledge  at  the  top,  and  in  height 
ranks  next  to  Moriah.  It  is  easy  to  ascend  and  affords  a  delightful  view. 
A  little  pond  of  clear,  cool  water  near  the  summit  was  christened  Dream 
lake  by  some  romantic  visitor. 

Gorham. — The  mountain  scenery  here  is  not  surpassed  in  the  whole 
mountain  region.  At  the  southeast,  distant  but  a  few  miles,  stand  Mounts 
Moriah  and  Carter,  each  about  5,000  feet  in  height;  at  the  west  can  be  seen 
Mt.  Madison;  at  the  northwest  the  Pilot  range,  while  at  the  east  are  the 
Androscoggin  hills,  the  most  prominent  of  which  is  Mt.  Hayes.  It  is  only 
eight  miles  to  the  Glen  House  at  the  base  of  Mt.  Washington. 


CHAPTER  V. 

INDIAN  HISTORY 


Aborigiual  Indians  —  Iroquois  —  Mohawks  —  Algonquins  —  New  England  Tribes  —  Wigwams 
—  Social  Life,  Government,  and  Language  —  Food — Religion  —  The  St.  Francis  Indians  — Gen. 
Amherst  —  Rogers'  Expedition  —  Destruction  of  St.  Francis  Village  —  Retreat  and  Sufferings  of 
the  "Rangers." 


WHEN  the  Europeans  first  landed  on  the  Continent  of  America,  the 
Indians  who  inhabited  the  Atlantic  slope,  and  dwelt  in  the  valleys 
of  the  Connecticut  and  St.  Lawrence,  in  the  basin  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  the  fertile  valleys  of  the  Alleghany  region,  were  composed  of 
two  great  nations  and  their  sub-divisions.  These  were  soon  known  to  the 
whites  under  the  French  appellation  of  Iroquois  and  Algonquins.  These 
nations  differed  in  language  and  lineage,  in  manners  and  customs,  in  the 
construction  of  their  dwellings  and  boats,  and  were  hereditary  enemies. 

The  Iroquois  proper,  who  gave  their  name  to  one  division,  the  ablest 
and  most  powerful  of  this  family,  were  the  Five  Nations,  called  by  them- 
selves the  Ho  de-no-sau-nee,  "the  people  of  the  long  house.''  They  com- 
pared their  union  of  five  tribes,  stretched  along  a  narrow  valley  for  more 
than  two  hundred  miles  in  Central  New  York,  to  one  of  their  long  wig- 
wams containing  many  families.  Among  all  the  Aborigines  of  America 
there  were  none  so  politic  and  intelligent,  none  so  war-like  and  fierce,  none 
with  such  a  contrasting  array  of  virtues  and  vices  as  the  true  Iroquois. 
All  surrounding  tribes,  whether  of  their  own  family,  or  of  the  Algonquins, 
stood  in  awe  of  them.  They  followed  the  war-path,  and  their  war-cry 
was  heard  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  on  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of 


Indian  History.  4t 


Mexico,  and  where  the  Atlantic  breakers  dash  in  Massachusetts  Bay. 
"Some  of  the  small  tribes  were  nearly  exterminated  by  their  ferocity  and 
barbarity.  They  were  more  cruel  to  the  Eastern  Indians  than  those  [ndians 
were  to  the  Europeans. "  The  New  England  tribes,  with  scarce  an  excep- 
tion, paid  them  tribute;  and  the  Montagnais,  fai  north  on  the  Saguenay, 
called  by  the  French  "  the  paupers  of  the  wilderness, "  would  start  from 
their  midnight  slumbers  at  dreams  of  the  Iroquois,  and  run,  terror-st  ricken, 
into  the  forest.  They  were  the  conquerors  of  the  Mew  World,  and  justly 
carried  the  title  of  "The  Romans  of  the  West."  The  .Jesuit  Father. 
Ragueneau,  wrote,  in  1650,  in  his  " Revelations  des  Hurons, "  "My  pen 
has  no  ink  black  enough  to  paint  the  fury  of  the  Iroquois."     The  tribe 

which  guarded  the  eastern  door  of  the  typical  long  house,  was  the  si 

active  and  most  blood-thirsty  one  of  this  fierce  family,  the  dreaded  Mo- 
hawks, to  whom  the  Connecticut  River  Indians  gave  the  appellation  of 
Ma-qua  hogs,  or  Maquas— "Man-eaters."  The  Mohawk  country  proper 
was  west  of  the  Hudson  river,  but,  by  right  of  conquest,  they  claimed  all 
the  country  between  the  Hudson  and  the  sources  of  the  north  and  easterly 
branches  of  the  Connecticut,  and,  by  virtue  of  this  claim,  all  the  Indians 
of  the  Connecticut  valley  paid  them  annual  tribute. 

The  few  tribes  of  the  Iroquois  were  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  much 
more  numerous  Algonquins,  to  which  family  all  the  New  England  trib<  - 
belonged,  Along  the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  dwelt  the  Algonquins 
proper,  the  Abinaquis,  the  Montagnais,  and  other  roving  tribes.  Th 
tribes  were  often  forced,  during  the  long  Canadian  winters  when  game 
grew  scarce,  to  subsist  on  buds  and  bark,  and  sometimes  even  on  the 
wood  of  forest  trees,  for  many  weeks  together.  From  this  they  were 
called  in  mockery  by  their  bitter  enemies,  the  Mohawks,  "Ad-i-ron-daks" 
tree-eaters.  The  New  England  tribes  of  the  Algonquin  family  dwelt  along 
the  sea,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  larger  streams.  The  Et-it-che-mi-as 
dwelt  farthest  east  in  the  St.  Croix  region.  The  confederation  of  Abina- 
quis, and  their  kindred  tribes,  the  Taratines,  had  their  hunting-grounds  in 
the  valleys  of  the  Penobscot,  Saco,  and  Piscataqua,  and  held  possession  of 
Northern  New  Hampshire.  The  Anasagunticooks,  a  powerful  tribe,  con- 
trolled the  territories  of  the  Ameriscoggin  (Androscoggin).  Savage,  and 
given  to  war,  they  dwindled  away,  until  in  1747.  they  could  number  but 
160  warriors.  The  Pequawkets  (Pigwackets)  occupied  the  Saco  valley.  In 
the  southeastern  part  of  New  Hampshire  and  northeastern  Massachusetts 
dwelt  the  Penobscot  or  Pawtucket tribe;  while  the  Massachusetts  occupied 
the  lands  around  the  bay  known  by  their  name,  and  the  neighboring  islands. 
In  what  is  now  the  state  of  Vermont,  no  permanent  home  existed  of  any 
Indian  tribe.  It  was  the  beaver- hunting  country  of  the  [roquois,  but  also 
claimed,  and  at  times  occupied,  by  the  Abenaquis. 

Wigwams. — The  Algonquin  Indians  made  their   wigwams  small  and 


42  History  of  Coos  County. 

round,  and  for  one  or  two  families  only;  while  the  Iroquois  built  theirs  long 
and  narrow,  each  for  the  use  of  many  families.  The  Algonquin  wigwam 
was  made  of  poles  set  up  around  a  circle,  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  across. 
The  poles  met  at  the  top,  forming  a  circular  frame- work,  which  was  cov- 
ered with  bark-mats  or  skins;  in  the  center  was  the  fire,  the  smoke  escap- 
ing from  a  hole  in  the  top.  In  these  wigwams  men,  women,  children,  and 
dogs,  crowded  promiscuously  together  in  complete  violation  of  all  our 
rules  of  modern  housekeeping. 

Social  Life,  Government,  and  Language. — The  government  of  the  Indian 
was  completely  patriarchal.  The  only  law  was  the  custom  of  the  tribe; 
conforming  to  that,  he  was  otherwise  as  free  as  the  air  he  breathed  to  fol- 
low the  bent  of  his  own  wild  will.  In  his  solitary  cabin  he  was  the  head 
of  his  family,  and  his  "squaw"  was  but  his  slave  to  do  the  drudgery. 
Over  tribes  were  principal  chiefs  called  sachems,  and  lesser  ones  called 
sagamores.  The  direct  succession  was  invariably  in  the  female  line.  The 
war-chiefs  were  only  leaders  in  times  of  war,  and  won  their  distinction  only 
by  their  valor  on  the  war-path.  The  Indian  language,  in  the  language  of 
modern  comparative  philology,  was  neither  monosyllabic  like  the  Chinese, 
nor  inflecting  like  that  of  the  civilized  Caucasian  stock,  but  was  agglutin- 
ating, like  that  of  the  northwestern  Asiatic  tribes,  and  those  of  south- 
eastern Europe.  They  express  ideas  by  stringing  words  together  in  one 
compound  vocable.  The  Algonquin  languages  were  harsh  and  gutteral; 
not  euphonious  like  that  of  the  Iroquois.  Contrast  the  Algonquin  names 
A-gi-o-cho-ok,  Co-os,  Squa-ke-ag,  Am-os-ke-ag,  Win  ne-pi-se-o-gee,  Waum- 
bek  meth-na,  with  Hi-a-wath-a,  O-no-a-la-go-na,  Kay-ad-ros-se-ra,  Ska- 
nek-ta-da. 

Food. — The  Indians  had  fish,  game,  nuts,  berries,  roots,  corn,  acorns, 
squashes,  a  kind  of  bean  called  now  "seiva  bean,"  and  a  species  of  sun- 
flower, with  roots  like  an  artichoke.  Fish  were  speared  or  taken  with 
lines,  nets  or  snares,  made  of  the  sinews  of  deer,  or  fibres  of  moose- 
wood.  Their  fish-hooks  were  made  of  the  bones  of  fishes  or  of  birds. 
They  caught  the  moose,  the  deer,  and  the  bear  in  the  winter  season  by 
shooting  with  I  tows  and  arrows,  by  snaring,  or  in  pitfalls  They  cooked 
their  fish  by  roasting  before  the  fire  on  the  end  of  a  long  stick,  or  by  boil- 
ing in  closely  woven  baskets,  or  stone  or  wooden  vessels.  They  made 
water  boil,  not  by  hanging  over  the  fire,  but  by  the  constant  immersion  of 
hot  stones.  The  corn  boiled  alone  was  "hominy;"  with  beans,  "succo- 
tash." 

Religion. — The  aborigines  had  but  a  vaguely  crude  idea,  if  an  idea  at 
all,  of  religion.  They  had  no  priests,  no  altars,  no  sacrifice.  They  had 
"medicine-men  "  -mere  conjurors— who  added  nothing  to  the  mysterious 
awe  and  superstition  which  enveloped  the  whole  race.  The  Indian  spirit- 
ualized everything  in  nature;  heard  ' k  aery  tongues  on  sands  and  shores 


Indian  History.  i:; 


and  desert  wildernesses,"  saw  "calling  shapes  and  beckoning  shadows 
dire"  on  every  hand.  The  flight  or  cry  of  a  bird,  the  humming  of  a  bee, 
the  crawling  of  an  insect,  the  turning  of  a  leaf,  the  whisper  of  a  breeze, 
all  were  mystic  signals  of  good  or  evil  import,  by  which  he  was  guided  in 
the  most  important  undertakings.  He  placed  the  greatest  confidence  in 
dreams,  which  were  to  him  revelations  from  the  spirit-world,  guiding  him 
to  the  places  where  his  game  lurked,  and  to  the  haunts  of  Ins  enemies. 
He  invoked  their  aid  on  all  occasions  to  instruct  him  how  to  cure  the  sick, 
or  reveal  to  him  his  enemies. 

Three  centuries  of  contact  with  our  civilization  has  unchanged  him, 
and  he  is  still  the  wild,  untamed  child  of  nature.  "He  will  not."'  says 
Parkman,  "learn  the  arts  of  civilization,  and  he  and  his  forest  must  per- 
ish together.  The  stern,  unchanging  features  of  his  mind  excite  our 
admiration  from  their  immutability;  and  we  look  with  deep  interest  on 
the  fate  of  this  irreclaimable  son  of  the  wilderness,  the  child  who  will  not 
be  weaned  from  the  breast  of  his  rugged  mother.*' 

St.  Francis  Indians. — The  central  metropolis  of  the  Abenaquis  Indians 
was  situated  on  the  St.  Lawrence  river  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Francis. 
This  was  midway  between  Montreal  and  Quebec,  and  in  easy  communica- 
tion with  the  New  England  frontiers.  These  St.  Francis  Indians  were 
strong  in  numbers,  power,  and  enterprise,  and  the  staunch  allies  of  the 
French.  Here  was  planned  expedition  after  expedition  against  the  border 
English  settlements,  and  here  was  paid  the  bounties  offered  for  scalps  and 
prisoners.  Here,  too,  was  a  city  of  refuge  for  all  the  outlawed  savages 
driven  from  the  English  country.  Among  these  were  what  remained  of 
the  followers  of  Philip,  Paugus,  Mesaudowit,  Kancamagus,  and  Wahawah. 
From  this  strong  protected  citadel  for  many  years  went  out  war  parties, 
thirsting  with  revenge,  to  glut  it  in  the  blood  of  the  New  Englanders. 
"Hundreds  of  people  had  fallen  by  the  rifle  and  hatchet,  burnished  and 
sharpened  at  the  hearth-stones  of  this  village  "  These  Indians  claimed  the 
"Cowasse"  country  as  their  own.  They  enjoyed  the  rich  profusion  of 
game  and  fish  of  the  upper  Connecticut.  The  bear,  moose,  and  feathered 
game  were  of  a  superior  quality,  while  from  the  clear,  cold  waters  of  the 
streams  they  brought  ample  supplies  of  those  delicate  fish— salmon  and 
trout.  The  fertile  soil  yielded  large  crops  of  corn  wherever  their  rude 
planting  covered  the  kernels.  It  was  a  select  and  paradisaical  country, 
this  "Cowasse"— and  no  wonder  that  they  stoutly  resisted  all  encroach- 
ments of  the  English  or  their  attempts  to  occupy  their  last  hold  upon  New- 
England.  Here  the  Indians,  during  the  strong  rule  of  the  French  in 
Canada,  and  blest  by  their  aid,  grew  fat  and  uumerous.  Through  this 
country  passed  their  trails  when  they  carried  death  and  destruction  to  the 
frontier  settlements  of  lower  New  Eampshire,  and  their  jubilant  cries,  as 
they  returned  laden  with  spoils,  scalps,  and  prisoners,  resounded  along  the 


44  History  of  Coos  County. 

"Notch,"  and  other  defiles  of  the  White  Mountains,  and  among  the  tall 
white  pines  of  the  upper  Connecticut.  Until  the  power  of  the  French  was 
broken,  and  while  the  St.  Francis  Indians  preserved  their  strength,  no 
paleface,  except  a  captive,  was  allowed  even  a  lodging,  or  an  occupancy  in 
the  "Coos." 

After  the  fall  of  Louisburg,  in  17T.S.  Gen.  Abercrombie  was  recalled  to 
England,  and  General  Amherst  made  commander  of  the  British  forces 
warring  against  the  French  and  Indians  in  America.  He  took  personal 
command  at  Lake  Champlain,  brought  order  out  of  confusion,  called  for 
seventeen  hundred  more  recruits  from  the  already  depleted  numbers  of  the 
colonists,  and  gained  success  by  the  excellence  of  his  judgment,  his  circum- 
spection, and  other  needed  qualities  for  winning  conquests  and  preserving- 
acquisitions.  In  1750  Gen.  Amherst  ordered  two  measures  of  great 
importance  to  New  England.  One  was  the  construction  of  a  military  road 
from  Crown  Point  to  Number  Four  (Charlestown)  on  the  Connecticut 
river.  This  improvement  was  of  great  value,  and  opened  a  large  territory 
to  immediate  settlement.  The  other  measure  was  of  full  more  importance. 
It  was  the  destruction  of  the  chief  village  of  the  St.  Francis  tribe.  The 
daring  Indian-fighter,  Major  Robert  Rogers,  with  two  hundred  of  his  fam- 
ous Rangers,  was  selected  for  the  undertaking.  A  large  part  of  this 
detachment,  both  of  officers  and  men,  was  from  New  Hampshire,  and 
chosen,  by  Rogers  himself,  for  their  bravery  and  experience.  Starting 
from  Crown  Point,  they  passed  down  Lake  Champlain  to  Missisquoi  Bay, 
and  there  left  their  boats  in  charge  of  two  Indians,  who  were  to  remain 
until  the  party  returned,  unless  the  enemy  discovered  the  boats.  In  such 
case  the  guard  was  to  follow  and  inform  Rogers  of  the  fact.  Major  Rogers 
and  his  party,  reduced  by  casualties  to  one  hundred  and  forty-two,  the  23d 
of  September,  left  the  bay  and  struck  boldly  into  the  wilderness,  but,  on 
the  25th,  were  overtaken  by  the  Indians  left  in  charge  of  the  boats,  with 
the  disheartening  intelligence  that  the  enemy  had  discovered  them  and 
were  in  pursuit.  There  was  no  alternative  but  to  push  on,  outmarch  the 
pursuers,  destroy  the  fated  village,  return  by  Lake  Memphremagog  and 
the  Connecticut,  and  thus  accomplish  their  object  and  elude  their  pursuers. 
Lieut.  McMillen  was  sent  back  across  the  country  to  Crown  Point,  to 
inform  Gen.  Amherst  of  their  situation,  that  he  might  order  provisions  to 
be  sent  up  the  Connecticut  to  the  Lower  Coos  for  the  use  of  the  party, 
should  they  live  to  return  that  way.  The  Rangers  then,  nothing  daunt- 
ed, continued  their  march  through  the  wet,  marshy  ground  for  nine  days; 
sleeping  nights  upon  a  sort  of  hammock  made  of  boughs  to  keep  them 
from  the  water.  The  tenth  day  they  arrived  within  fifteen  miles  of  the 
doomed  town.  The  place  was  reconnoitred  by  Rogers  and  two  of  his 
officers  on  the  6th  of  October,  and  the  Indians  were  discovered  in  the  great- 
est glee,  celebrating  a  wedding.     Rogers  returned  to  his  part}',  and,  at 


Indian  History.  i:. 


three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  Rangers  advanced  to  within  four  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  village.  Before  sunrise  the  attack  was  made  by  an 
advance  in  three  divisions.  The  surprise  was  so  complete  thai  the  [ndians 
had  no  time  to  rally,  defend,  or  escape.  Two  hundred  were  killed  upon 
the  spot;  twenty  of  their  women  and  children  were  taken  prisoners.  I  ^ay- 
light  revealed  to  the  victors  the  horrible  sight  of  more  than  six  hundred 
scalps  of  both  sexes  and  ail  ages  floating  from  the  lodge-poles  of  the  wig- 
wams. Nothing  can  give  us  a  more  vivid  picture  of  the  honors  of  an 
Indian  war,  or  the  dangers  besetting  the  early  days  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
country.  If  the  massacre  of  this  village  of  surprised  savages  seem  a  cold 
and  blood-thirsty  deed,  the  discovery  of  these  dread  trophies  of  savage 
atrocity  showed  it  to  be  but  a  just  reprisal.  All  of  the  houses  were  burned, 
except  three,  and,  it  was  supposed,  many  Indians.  Upon  roll-call  it  was 
found  that  seven  were  wounded  and  one  killed.  They  then  commenced 
their  march  for  Connecticut  river.  It  was  Rogers'  intention  to  occupy  for 
a  time  the  fort  he  had  built  in  1755,  in  what  is  now  Stratford.  After 
marching  eight  days  their  provisions  failed  upon  the  shore  of  Lake  Mem- 
phremagog,  and  they  separated  into  parties,  the  better  to  obtain  game, 
and  made  for  "  the  mouth  of  the  Ammonoosuck"  as  best  they  might.  It 
was  a  march  for  life.  Twenty  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  Rogers 
took  one  party  with  him  by  the  way  of  Magog  lake  and  the  Passumpsic 
river.  Another  party  was  to  gain  the  upper  Connecticut  and  follow  down 
that  stream.  Other  parties  took  independent  courses. ;:  Some,  after 
months  of  weary  journeying,  reached  the  settlement,  while  others  perished 
in  the  wilderness.  A  Toledo  blade,  found  on  Meeting  House  hill,  Lancas- 
ter, no  doubt  belonged  to  one  of  the  "Rangers."  In  the  early  settlement 
of  the  country  gnus  were  found  on  the  Fifteen-mile  falls,  and  it  is  sup- 
posed one  of  the  parties  was  overtaken  by  Indians  here,  that  a  tight 
ensued  in  which  several  were  killed,  that  the  whites  were  victorious,  and 
that  they  put  the  guns  of  those  who  were  killed  in  the  river  so  they  would 
not  be  found  by  the  Indians.  One  historian  says  that  many  died  at  the 
head  of  the  Fifteen-mile  falls  from  exhaustion  and  hunger.  They  had  in 
vain  tried  to  appease  their  hunger  by  boiled  powder-horns,  bullet-pouches, 
leather-aprons,  bark  of  trees,  ground  nuts  and  lily  pads.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  some  of  them  even  ate  human  flesh. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  relics  of  Rogers'  "  Rangers"  have  been  found 
on  the  north  side  of  the  White  Mountains.  (See  Jefferson.)  The  party  which 
arrived  at  the  Lower  Coos  found  the  fresh  embers  of  the  tires  Left  by  the 
party  which  Gen.  Amherst  had  sent  there  with  provisions,  which  had.jusl 
a  few  hours   before,  returned  to  Charlestown  without   leaving  supplies. 

*  According  to  James  W.  Weeks,  the  old  settlers  of  Co5s  had  a  tradition  thai  most  of  the 
parlies,  with  Major  Rogers,  met  at  Fort  Wentworth,  and  waited  three  days  foi  stragglers  to  come 
in,  before  starting  down  the  river. 


46  History  of  Coos  County. 

Months  elapsed  before  the  scattered  men  were  reunited  at  Crown  Point. 
Fifty  of  the  gallant-band  were  reported  lost.  From  this  time  the  St.  Fran- 
cis Indians  were  scattered  in  small  bands,  and  in  different  localities.  Their 
spirit  was  broken,  their  prestige  gone.  Major  Rogers  and  his  ''Rangers" 
had  humbled  them,  and  as  the  war  had  made  them  British  subjects,  "  they, 
with  silence  and  sorrow,  permitted  new  coming  whites  to  live  among 
them,"  and  the  whole  extent  of  the  "Cowasse"  was  ready  for  English 
occupancy  and  settlement. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


WHITE    MOUNTAINS. 

Topography  —  Mt.  Starr  King  Group  —  Mt.  Carter  Group  —  Mt.  Washington  Ratige  —  Cherry 
Mountain  District  —  Mt.  Willey  Range— History — Mythology — First  Visited— Winthrop's  Account 
—Darby  Field's  Route  up  the  Mountains  —  Josselyn's  Description  of  Scenery  —  The  Chrystal 
Hills  —  Later  Visits — Western  Pass,  or  "  Notch'"—  First  Settlement  —  Scientific  Visitors— Scenery 
of  the  Notch  —  Nash  and  Sawyer's  Grant  —  "A  Horse  through  the  Notch  "  —  Sawyer's  Rock  — 
First  Articles  of  Commerce  —  Tenth  New  Hampshire  Turnpike — Scientific  Explorations  —  First 
Settlers  Among  the  Mountains  —  Nancy's  Rock  and  Brook  — First  House  in  the  Notch — Craw- 
ford's Cabin  on  the  Summit  —  Summit  House —  Tip-top  House  —  Carriage  Road  —  Glen  House  — 
Mt.  Washington  Railway  —  Mountain  Tragedies  —  "Among  the  Clouds  " —  Signal  Station  —  Sum- 
mer Hotels. 

THE  White  Mountains  cover  an  area  of  1,270  square  miles,  bounded 
by  the  state  line  on  the  east  ;  the  Androscoggin  river  and  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railway  on  the  northeast  and  north  ;  the  Connecticut  river 
valley,  or  an  irregular  line  from  Northumberland  to  Warren,  on  the  west  ; 
the  region  of  Baker's  river  on  the  southwest  ;  the  Pemigewasset  river  and 
the  lake  district  on  the  south.  The  Saco  river  cuts  the  White  Mountains 
into  two  nearly  equal  parts.  Prof.  Huntington  groups  the  mountains  in 
ten  sub-divisions  :  1.  Mt.  Starr  King  group.  2.  Mt.  Carter  group.  3.  Mt. 
Washington  range,  with  a  Jackson  branch.  4.  Cherry  mountain  district. 
5.  Mt.  Willey  range.  6.  Mt.  Carrigain  and  Osceola  group.  7.  Mt.  Pas- 
saconnaway  range.  8.  Mts.  Twin  and  Lafayette  group.  9.  Mts.  Moosi- 
lauke  and  Profile  division.  10.  Mt.  Pequawket  area.  The  first  five  em- 
brace all  really  connected  with  this  county.  These  mountain  groups  differ 
much  in  geological  character,  age,  and  topographical  features. 

1.  Mt.  Starr  Kin'/  < ! roup  is  embraced  in  the  remote  portions  of  the  towns 
of  Gorham,  Randolph,  Jefferson,  Lancaster,  Stark,  Milan,  Berlin,  and  the 


W'niTK  Mountains. 


whole  of  Kilkenny.  It  is  bounded  by  the  Upper  Ammonoosucand  Andro- 
scoggin  rivers  on  the  north  and  east,  by  Moose  and  [srael's  livers  on  the 
south,  and  the  Connecticut  slope  on  the  west.  The  longest  diameter  of 
this  group  is  sixteen  miles  ;  the  greatest  width  thirteen  miles.  The  shape 
of  the  area  is  oval  elliptical,  more  pointed  at  the  north  than  south,  and 
comprises  about  150  square  miles.  The  Upper  Ammonoosuc  river  Hows  in 
a  broad  valley  in  Randolph  and  Berlin,  and  thereby  divides  the  group  into 

two  parts.     The  source,  called  the  "Pond  of  Safety,1'  is  nearly! feel 

above  Milan  water-station,  and  there  is  a  depression  in  the  ridge  in  the 
south  towards  Jefferson.  Geologists  state  that  the  northern  portion  of  the 
Starr  King  region  was  once  a  large  plateau  through  which  water  has  cut 
the  numerous  valleys  now  found.  Not  less  than  seven  streams  have  cut 
notches  into  this  plateau, — the  three  most  prominent  ones  being  from 
Berlin,  Stark  (Mill  Brook),  and  Lancaster.  There  is  a  central  ridge  through 
Kilkenny,  the  Pilot  mountain  range,  connected  by  a  valle}7  with  Mt.  Stan- 
King  in  Jefferson.  A  branch  diverges  from  this  range  to  Pilot  mountain 
in  Stark.  Green's  ledge  and  Black  mountain  are  spurs  to  the  east  from 
the  Pilot  range.  From  Mt.  Starr  King  to  Berlin  Falls  runs  an  irregularly 
curved  range,  composed  of  Pliny,  Randolph,  and  Crescent  mountains,  and 
Mt.  Forest.  Mts.  Starr  King,  Pilot,  and  Randolph,  are  the  culminating 
points,  being  in  height  3,800,  3,640,  and  y>j"'i?>  feet   respectively. 

2.  Mt.  Carter  Group  lies  in  Shelburne,  Bean's  Purchase,  Chatham,  and 
Jackson.  There  is  a  heavy  range  from  Gorham  to  Jackson,  quite  near  the 
Peabody  and  Ellis  valleys,  while,  on  the  east,  the  slope  towards  the  Andros- 
coggin is  quite  gradual.  Mt.  Moriah  is  one  of  the  most  northern  peaks  of 
this  chain.  Rev.  T.  Starr  King  says  "  Mount  Moriah  should  be  seen  from 
the  bend  of  the  Androscoggin,  a  little  more  than  a  mile  north  of  the  hotel 
(in  Gorham).  Here  its  charming  outline  is  seen  to  the  best  advantage. 
Its  crest  is  as  high  over  the  valley  as  Lafayette  rises  over  the  Profile  House." 
Mt.  Moriah  and  Mt.  Carter  are  separated  by  Imp  mountain  Wild  river 
occupies  a  broad  valley  in  Bean's  Purchase,  trending  northeasterly.  The 
highest  part  of  Carter  range  is  next  Peabody  river.  The  western  slope 
is  much  steeper  than  the  eastern.  Several  tributaries  How  to  Wild  river 
from  the  south,  from  the  range  which  runs  easterly  to  form  the  entire 
western  and  southern  edge  of  the  Wild  river  basin.  This  range  curves  to 
the  north,  near  the  Maine  line,  where  Mt.  Royce  stands  immediately  on 
the  border.  Some  of  the  wildest,  grandest,  and  most  beautiful  scenery  of 
the  White  Mountains  is  in  this  district. 

3.  Mt.  Washington  Range. — The  main  range  of  Mt. Washington  extends 
from  Gorham  to  Bartlett,  about  twenty-two  miles.  The  culminating  point 
is  central,  with  a  deep  gulf  towards  Gorham,  a  slope  on  the  north,  formed 
partially  by  the  westerly  Mt.  Deception  range,  which  also  produces  the 
broad  Ammonoosuc  valley  on  the  west,  in  connection  with  the  axial  line 


48  History  of  Coos  County. 

of  summits.  There  are  two  principal  valleys  on  the  south,  the  more 
westerly  occupying  the  depression  of  Dry  or  Mt.  Washington  river,  and 
the  easterly  passing  down  the  slope  of  Eocky  branch,  which  travels  easterly 
near  its  termination,  and  parallel  with  the  Saco  in  Bartlett.  Starting  with 
the  Androscoggin  valley,  the  range  commences  in  the  low  Pine  mountain. 
In  the  southeast  corner  of  Gorham  this  is  intersected  by  the  pass  of  the 
Pinkham  road  between  Randolph  and  the  Glen  House.  Next,  the  land 
rises  rapidly  to  the  top  of  Mt.  Madison,  5,400  feet.  The  range  now  curves 
westerly,  passing  over  the  summits  of  Adams,  Jefferson,  and  Clay.  From 
the  gap  between  Clay  and  Washington  the  best  view  can  be  obtained 
of  the  deep  abyss  in  which  the  west  branch  of  Peabody  river  rises.  From 
Washington  the  east  rim  of  the  Great  Gulf  is  easily  discerned,  for  on  it 
the  carriage  road  to  the  Glen  House  is  located.  From  "Blue  Pond,"  or 
"  Lake  of  the  Clouds,"  and  the  height  south  of  Tuckerman's  ravine  to 
Madison,  it  is  easy  to  imagine  an  elevated  plateau  out  of  Washington, 
which  rises,  say  S00  feet.  Tuckerman's  and  Huntington's  ravines  have 
been  cut  out  east  of  Washington.  Tuckerman's  runs  easterly,  holding 
the  head  waters  of  Ellis  river.  Huntington's  commences  at  the  southern 
angle  of  the  carriage  road,  at  the  fifth  mile  post,  and  runs  towards  the  first. 
Past  Mt.  Washington  the  main  range  drops  to  the  pass  of  the  Lake  of 
the  Clouds, — the  source  of  the  Ammonoosuc  river.  The  first  mountain  is 
Monroe,  then  comes  Mts.  Franklin,  Pleasant,  Clinton,  Jackson,  and  Web- 
ster, as  named.  Mt.  Webster  is  a  long  mountain  with  a  steep  side  towards 
the  Saco,  and  being  directly  opposite  the  Willey  House,  forms  one  of  the 
chief  features  of  the  Notch.  From  Monroe  to  Webster,  the  east  flank  of 
the  mountains  is  washed  by  the  powerful  Mt.  Washington  river,  the  proper 
continuance  of  the  Saco  valley,  which  formerly  was  called  Dry  river.  This 
heads  in  Oakes's  gulf,  from  the  east  side  of  which  two  ranges  run  south- 
erly. The  western  one  follows  the  Saco  to  a  point  opposite  ki  Sawwer's 
rock,"  having,  in  the  lower  part  of  its  course,  Giant's  Stairs,  Mt.  Resolu- 
tion, Mt.  Crawford.  Mt.  Hope,  and  "Hart's  ledge."  The  eastern  one  is 
not  conspicuous,  and  not  named. 

4.  Cherry  Mountain  District. — Mt.  Deception  range  consists  of  four 
peaks, — Mt.  Mitten,  Mt.  Dartmouth,  Alt.  Deception,  and  Cherry  mountain. 
It  is  separated  by  a  considerable  valley  from  Mt.  Jefferson,  and  its  gentler 
slope  lies  on  the  northern  flank  towards  Israel's  river.  The  road  from  Fa- 
byan's  to  Jefferson  passes  between  Cherry  and  Deception.  Cherry  moun- 
tain lias  a  northerly  spur  of  large  dimensions,  called  Owls  Head,  where 
occurred  the  great  slide  of   L885. 

5.  Mt.  Willey  Range  starts  from  near  the  White  Mountain  House  in 
Carroll,  and  ends  in  Mt.  Willey.  Its  northern  terminus  is  low,  the  highest 
peak  being  at  the  southern  end  of  the  range.  Six  granitic  summits  appear 
before  reaching  the  high  summit  of  Mt.  Tom,  just  back  of  the  Crawford 


White  Mountains.  i:t 


House.  The  stream  forming  "  Beech er's  Cascade"  passes  between  Mt. 
Tom  and  the  next  summit  south,  which  was  named  Mt.  Lincoln,  but,  as 
that  name  was  already  occupied  by  a  peak  in  Franconia,  was  re-christened 
Mt.  Field  by  Prof.  Huntington.  From  Mt.  Field  to  Mt.  Willey,  the  high 
land  is  continuous,  reaching  an  elevation  of  4,300  feet.  It  then  drops  off 
abruptly,  and  terminates.  Ethan's  pond,  the  head  of  the  Merrimack  river 
waters,  lies  a  little  to  the  southwest  of  the  precipice.  The  Field- Willey 
range  is  directly  opposite  Mt.  Webster,  and  the  valley  between  is  the  most 
striking  part  of  the  White  Mountain  notch,  the  head  of  which  is  formed 
by  Mt.  Willard,  only  about  550  feet  above  the  Crawford  plain. 

History. — The  first  mention  of  the  White  Mountains  in  print,  occurs  in 
Josselyn's  "New  England  Rarities  Discovered,"  printed  in  1672.  This 
writer,  in  his  "  Voyages,"  published  a  year  or  two  later,  gives  us  the  best 
part  of  the  mythology  of  our  highest  hills.  The  story,  as  Josselyn  tells  it, 
is  curious  enough;  and  its  resemblance  to  one  of  the  most  venerable  of 
Caucasian  traditions  should  seem  to  suggest  some  connection  of  the  peo- 
ple which  transmitted  it  with  the  common  Asiatic  home  of  the  bearded 
races.  "Ask  them,"  says  Josselyn,  "whither  they  go  when  they  dye? 
they  will  tell  you,  pointing  with  their  finger  to  Heaven  beyond  the  White 
Mountains,  and  do  hint  at  Noah's  Flood,  as  may  be  conceived  by  a  story 
they  have  received  from  father  to  son,  time  out  of  mind,  that  a  great  while 
agon  their  Countrey  was  drowned,  and  all  the  People  and  other  Creatures 
in  it,  only  one  Poivaw  and  his  Webb  foreseeing  the  Flood  fled  to  the  White 
Mountains  carrying  a  hare  along  with  them  and  so  escaped;  after  a  while 
the  Poivaw  sent  the  Hare  away,  who  not  returning,  emboldened  thereby, 
they  descended,  and  lived  many  years  after,  and  had  many  children,  from 
whom  the  Countrie  was  filled  again  with  Indians."  The  Indians  gave  the 
mountains  the  name  of  Agiocochook.  The  English  name  of  our  moun- 
tains, which  had  its  origin,  perhaps,  while  as  yet  they  were  only  known  to 
adventurous  mariners,  following  the  still  silent  coasts  of  New  England, 
relates  them  to  all  other  high  mountains,  from  Dhawala-Giri,  the  White 
Mountain  of  the  Himmalayah  to  Craig  Eryri  of  Snowdon  of  Wales;  but 
it  is  interesting  to  find  them  also,  in  this  legend,  in  some  sort  of  mythical 
connection  with  traditions  and  heights  of  the  ancient  continent,  the  first 
knowledge  of  which  carries  us  back  to  the  very  beginnings  of  human  his- 
tory. Dr.  Belknap  says  that  Capt.  Walter  Neale,  accompanied  by  Josselyn 
and  Darby  Field,  set  out,  in  1632,  to  discover  the  "  beautiful  lakes  "  report 
placed  in  the  interior,  and  that,  in  the  course  of  their  travels,  they  visited 
the  White  Mountains.  Merrill,  in  1817,  after  an  examination  of  the 
best  authorities,  concludes  that  Walter  and  Robert  Neal,  and  others,  visited 
the  mountains  in  1631,  but  it  is  to  Darby  Field,  of  Pascataquack,  that  the 
credit  is  now  generally  assigned  of  being  the  first  explorer  of  the  White 
Mountains.   Accompanied  by  two  Indians,  Winthrop  tells  us,  Feld  climbed 


50  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  highest  summit  in  1(>42.  We  believe  with  C.  E.  Potter  that  Belknap's 
account  is  correct,  and  Field's  first  visit  was  in  1682.  It  appears  that 
' '  within  twelve  miles  of  the  top  was  neither  tree  nor  grass,  but  low  savins, 
which  they  went  upon  the  top  of,  sometimes,  but  a  continual  ascent  upon 
rocks,  on  a  ridge  between  two  valleys  filled  with  snow,  out  of  which  came 
two  branches  of  Saco  river,  which  met  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  where  was  an 
Indian  town  of  some  200  people.  *  *  *  *  By  the  way,  among 
the  rocks,  there  were  two  ponds,  one  a  blackish  water,  and  the  other  a  red- 
dish. The  top  of  all  was  a  plain  about  sixty  feet  square.  On  the  north 
side  was  such  a  precipice,  as  they  could  scarce  discern  to  the  bottom.  They 
had  neither  cloud  nor  wind  on  the  top  and  moderate  heat."  Tins  appears 
to  have  been  in  June,  and  a  short  time-af  ter  he  went  again,  with  five  or  six 
in  his  company,  and  "the  report  he  brought  of  'shining  stones,'  etc., 
caused  divers  others  to  travel  tither,  but  they  found  nothing  worth  their 
pains."  It  is  passing  strange  that  men,  reputed  honest,  could  make  such 
a  wild  report  of  regions  that  required  no  invention  to  make  them  attrac- 
tive and  wonderful.  Among  those  who  expected  rich  treasure  from  these 
mountains  were  the  proprietors,  Mason  and  Gorges,  and  no  discourage- 
ment could  lessen  their  hopes.  The  Spaniards  had  found  riches  in  the 
mountains  of  Mexico  and  Peru;  why  should  not  these  New  Hampshire 
mountains  prove  equally  rich  in  the  precious  metals  ?  In  August,  of  the 
same  year,  another  party,  led  by  Thomas  Gorges,  Esq.,  and  Richard  Vines, 
two  magistrates  of  the  province  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  set  out  on  foot 
to  explore  "the  delectable  mountains."  (Winthrop's  History  calls  this 
"  Darby  Field's  second  visit.")  "They  went  up  Saco  river  in  birch  canoes 
to  Pegwaggett,  an  Indian  town.  From  the  Indian  town  they  went  up  hill, 
mostly  for  about  thirty  miles  in  woody  lands,  then  about  seven  or  eight 
miles  upon  shattered  rocks,  without  tree  or  grass,  very  steep  all  the  way. 
At  the  top  is  a  plain  about  three  or  four  miles  over,  all  shattered  stones. 
and  upon  that  is  another  rock  or  spire,  about  a  mile  in  height,  and  about 
an  acre  of  ground  at  the  top.  At  the  top  of  the  plain  arise  four  great  riv- 
ers, each  of  them  so  much  water,  at  the  first  issue,  as  would  drive  a  mill, 
Connecticut  river  from  two  heads,  at  the  N.  W.  and  S.  W.,  which  join  in 
one  about  sixty  miles  off,  Saco  river  on  the  S.  E  ,  Amascoggin  which  runs 
into  Casco  bay  at  the  N.  E,  and  Kennebeck,  at  the  N.  by  E.  The  moun- 
tain runs  E.  and  W.  thirty  miles,  but  the  peak  is  above  the  rest." 

There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  Darby  Field,  the  first  explorer,  enter- 
ing the  valley  of  Ellis  river,  left  it  for  the  great  southeastern  ridge  of 
Mt.  Washington,  the  same  which  has  since  been  called  Boott's  Spur.  This 
was  the  "  ridge  between  two  valleys  filled  with  snow,  out  of  which  came 
two  branches  of  Saco  river,"  and  it  led  him,  as  probably  the  other  party 
also,  to  the  broadest  spread  of  that  great  plain,  of  which  the  southeastern 
grassy  expanse,  of  some  forty  acres,  has  long  been  known  as  Bigelow's 


White  Mountains.  :>1 


Lawn,  and  the  "top,1'  to  the  north,  where  the  two  ponds  arc,  furnished 
Gorges  with  a  part,  no  doubt,  of  the  sources  of  his  rivers. 

"  Fourscore  miles,"  says  Josselyn,  "(upon  a  direct  line)  to  the  north- 
west of  Scarborow,  a  ridge  of  mountains  run  northwest  and  northeast  an 
hundred  leagues,  known  by  the  name  of  the  White  Mountains,  upon  which 
lieth  snow  all  the  year,  and  is  a  Land-mark  twenty  miles  off  at  sea.  It  is 
rising  ground  from  the  seashore  to  these  Hills,  and  they  are  inaccessible 
but  by  the  Gullies  which  the  dissolved  Snow  hath  made,  in  these  ( !  allies 
grow  Savin  bushes,  which  being  taken  hold  of  are  a  good  help  to  the  climb- 
ing discoverer;  upon  the  top  of  the  highest  of  these  Mountains  is  a  large 
Level  or  Plain  of  a  day's  journey  over,  whereon  nothing  grows  but  Moss;  at 
the  farther  end  of  this  Plain  is  another  Hill  called  the  Sugar  loaf,  t<  >  out  ward 
appearance,  a  rude  heap  of  massie  stones  piled  one  upon  another,  and  you 
may,  as  you  ascend,  step  from  one  stone  to  another,  as  if  you  were  going 
up  a  pair  of  stairs,  but  winding  still  about  the  Hill  till  you  come  to  the  top, 
which  will  require  half  a  day's  time,  and  yet  it  is  not  above  a  Mile,  where 
there  is  also  a  Level  of  about  an  acre  of  ground,  with  a  pond  of  clear  water 
in  the  midst  of  it;  which  you  may  hear  run  down,  but  how  it  ascends  is 
a  mystery.  From  this  rocky  Hill  you  may  see  the  whole  Country  round 
about ;  it  is  far  above  the  lower  Clouds,  and  from  hence  we  beheld  a  Vapour 
(like  a  great  Pillar)  drawn  up  by  the  Sun  Beams  out  of  a  great  Lake  or 
Pond  into  the  air,  where  it  was  formed  into  a  Cloud.  The  Country  beyond 
these  Hills  Northward  is  daunting  terrible,  being  full  of  rocky  Hills,  as 
thick  as  Mole-hills,  in  a  Meadow,  and  cloathed  with  infinite  thick  Woods." 
Gorges  and  Vines'  party  named  these  mountains  the  "  Crystal  Hills,"  but 
their  provisions  failed  them  before  the  beautiful  lake  was  reached,  and 
though  they  wTere  within  one  day's  journey  of  it,  they  were  obliged  to 
return  home.  Josselyn  also  says  :  "One  stately  mountain  there  is,  sur- 
mounting all  the  rest,  about  four-score  miles  from  the  sea;  between  the 
mountains  are  many  rich  and  pregnant  valleys  as  ever  eye  beheld,  beset 
on  each  side  with  variety  of  goodly  trees,  the  grass  man  high,  unmowed, 
uneaten,  and  uselessly  withering,  and  within  these  valleys  spacious  lakes 
or  ponds  well  stored  with  fish  and  beavers;  the  original  of  all  the  great 
rivers  in  the  countrie,  the  snow  lies  upon  the  mountains  the  whole  year 
excepting  the  month  of  August;  the  black  flies  are  so  numerous  thai  a  man 
cannot  draw  his  breath  but  he  will  suck  of  them  in.  Some  suppose 
that  the  White  Mountains  were  first  raised  by  earthquakes,  but  they  are 
hollow,  as  may  be  guessed  by  the  resounding  of  the  rain  upon  the  level  on 
the  top."  The  pond  on  the  top  in  this  account,  may  have  been  due  to 
extraordinary  transient  causes;  it  is  not  mentioned  by  the  other  visitors  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  and  has  not  been  heard  of  since. 

We  next  hear  of  an  ascent  of  the  White  Mountains  by  a   '"  ranging 
company,"  which  "ascended  the  highest  mountain,  on  the  N.  W.  part." 


52  History  of  Coos  County. 

so  far,  as  appears,  the  first  ascent  on  that  side,  April  29,  1725,  and  found, 
as  was  to  be  expected,  the  snow  deep,  and  the  Alpine  ponds  frozen.  Another 
ranging  party,  which  was  "in  the  neighborhood  of  the  White  Mountains, 
on  a  warm  day  in  the  month  of  March,"  in  the  year  17-i^,  had  an  interest- 
ing and  the  first  recorded  experience  of  a  force,  which  has  left  innumer- 
able proofs  of  its  efficiency  all  through  the  mountains.  It  seems  that  this 
party  was  "  alarmed  with  a  repeated  noise,  which  they  supposed  to  be  the 
firing  of  guns.  On  further  search  they  found  it  to  be  caused  by  rocks  fall- 
ing from  the  south  side  of  a  steep  mountain." 

The  Western  Pass  (Notch)  of  the  mountains  was  undoubtedly  known 
to  the  Indians,  but  we  have  no  account  of  its  use  by  the  English,  till  after 
1771,  when  two  hunters,  Timothy  Nash  and  Benjamin  Sawyer,  passed 
through  it.  It  is  said  that  Nash,  in  pursuit  of  a  moose,  drove  it  into  a  deep 
gorge,  and  expected  an  easy  capture.  The  moose,  however,  took  an  old 
Indian  trail,  which  brought  it  safely  to  the  other  side  of  the  mountain.  A 
road  was  soon  after  opened  by  the  proprietors  of  lands  in  the  upper  Cohos, 
and  another,  through  the  Eastern  Pass,  was  commenced  in  1771.  Settlers 
began  now  to  make  their  way  into  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  moun- 
tains. The  townships  of  Jefferson,  Shelburne  (which  included  Gorham), 
and  Adams  (now  Jackson),  successively  received  inhabitants  from  1773  to 
1779,  and  the  wilderness,  if  as  yet  far  enough  from  blossoming,  was 
opened,  and,  to  some  extent,  tamed. 

It  was  now  that  the  first  company  of  scientific  inquirers  approached  the 
White  hills.  In  July,  1784,  the  Eev  Manasseh  Cutler,  of  Ipswich,  a  zeal- 
ous member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  the  Eev. 
Daniel  Little,  of  Kennebunk,  also  a  member  of  the  Academy,  and  Col. 
John  Whipple,  of  Dartmouth  (now  Jefferson),  the  most  prominent  inhabi- 
tant of  the  Cohos  country,  visited  the  mountains,  "with  a  view  to  make 
particular  observations  on  the  several  phenomena  that  might  occur  The 
w; iv  by  which  Cutler  ascended  the  mountain  is  indicated  by  the  sti earn 
which  bears  his  name  in  Belknap's  and  Bigelow's  narratives,  and  was 
doubtless  very  much  the  same  taken  and  described  by  Bigelow.  President 
Dwight  passed  through  the  Notch  in  1797,  and  a  second  time  in  1803,  and 
his  beautiful  description  of  the  scenery  is  still  valuable  and  correct.  He 
says:  "The  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains  is  a  phrase  appropriated  to  a 
very  narrow  defile  extending  two  miles  in  length  between  two  huge  cliffs, 
apparently  rent  asunder  by  some  vast  convulsion  of  nature.  The  entrance 
to  the  chasm  is  formed  by  two  rocks,  standing  perpendicularly  at  the  dis- 
tance of  twenty-two  feet  from  each  other;  one  about  twenty,  the  other 
about  twelve  feet  in  height.  Half  of  the  space  is  occupied  by  the  brook, 
the  bead  stream  of  the  Saco;  the  other  half  by  the1  road.  When  we  entered 
the  Notch  we  were  struck  with  the  wild  and  solemn  appearance  of  every- 
thing before  us.     The  scale,  on  which  all  objects  in  view  were  formed,  was 


White  Mountains.  :,:; 


the  scale  of  grandeur  only.  The  rocks,  rude  and  ragged  in  a  manner  hardly 
paralleled,  were  fashioned,  and  piled  on  each  other,  by  a  hand  operating 
only  in  the  boldest  and  most  irregular  manner.  As  we  advanced,  these 
appearances  increased  rapidly.  Huge  masses  of  granite  of  every  abrupt 
form,  and  hoary  with  a  moss  which  seemed  the  product  of  ages,  recalling 
to  the  mind  the  c Saxmn  vetustum1  of  Virgil,  speedily  rose  to  a  mountain- 
ous height.  Before  us  the  view  widened  fast  to  the  southeast.  Behind  us 
it  closed  almost  instantaneously;  and  presented  nothing  to  the  eye  but  an 
impassable  barrier  of  mountains.  About  half  a  mile  from  the  entrance 
of  the  chasm,  we  saw  in  full  view  the  most  beautiful  cascade,  perhaps,  in 
the  world.  It  issued  from  a  mountain  on  the  right,  about  eight  hundred 
feet  above  the  subjacent  valley,  and  at  the  distance  of  about  two  miles 
from  us.  The  stream,  which  I  shall  denominate  the  '  Silver  cascade/  ran 
over  a  series  of  rocks,  almost  perpendicular,  with  a  course  so  little  broken 
as  to  preserve  the  appearance  of  an  uniform  current,  and  yet  so  far  dis- 
turbed as  to  be  perfectly  white.  At  the  distance  of  three  quarters  of  a  mile 
from  the  entrance,  we  passed  a  brook  known  as  the  'Flume.'  The  stream 
fell  from  a  height  of  240  or  250  feet  over  three  precipices;  down  the  first 
and  second  it  fell  in  a  single  current,  and  down  the  third  in  three,  which 
united  their  streams  at  the  bottom  in  a  fine  basin  immediately  below  us. 
It  is  impossible  for  a  brook  of  this  size  to  be  modelled  into  more  diversified, 
or  more  delightful,  forms;  or  for  a  cascade  to  descend  over  precipices  more 
happily  fitted  to  finish  its  beauty.  The  sunbeams,  penetrating  through  the 
trees,  painted  a  great  variety  of  fine  images  of  light,  and  edged  an  equally 
numerous,  and  diversified,  collection  of  shadows;  both  dancing  on  the 
waters,  and  alternately  silvering  and  obscuring  their  course  Purer  water 
never  was  seen.  Exclusively  of  its  murmurs,  the  world  around  us  was 
solemn  and  silent.  Everything  assumed  the  character  of  enchantment; 
and,  had  I  been  educated  in  the  Grecian  mythology,  I  should  have  be»'ii 
scarcely  surprised  to  find  an  assemblage  of  Dryads,  Naiads,  and  Oreades 
sporting  on  the  little  plain  beneath  our  feet.  As  we  passed  onward  through 
this  singular  valley,  occasional  torrents,  formed  by  the  rains  and  dissolv- 
ing snows,  at  the  close  of  winter,  had  left  behind  them,  in  many  places, 
perpetual  monuments  of  their  progress  in  perpendicular,  narrow,  and  irreg- 
ular paths,  of  immense  length;  where  they  had  washed  the  precipices 
naked  and  white,  from  the  summit  of  the  mountain  to  the  base.  Wide 
and  deep  chasms,  also,  at  times  met  the  eye,  both  on  the  summits  and  the 
sides;  and  strongly  impressed  the  imagination  with  the  thought,  that  a 
hand  of  immeasurable  power  had  rent  asunder  the  solid  rocks,  and  tum- 
bled them  into  the  subjacent  valley.  Over  all,  hoary  cliffs  rising  with 
proud  supremacy,  frowned  awfully  on  the  world  below,  and  finished  the 
landscape." 

This  incident  connected  with  the  re-discovery  of  the  Notch  is  interesting. 


51  History  of  Coos  County. 


On  the  report  of  its  re-discovery  to  Governor  Wentworth.  he  warily 
agreed  to  grant  Nash  and  Sawyer  a  tract  of  land  if  they  would  bring  him 
down  a  horse  from  Lancaster,  through  this  Notch.  By  means  of  ropes  they 
succeeded  in  getting  the  horse  over  the  projecting  cliff,  and  down  the  rug- 
ged pathway  of  the  mountain  torrent,  and  brought  him  to  the  governor. 
When  they  saw  the  horse  safely  lowered  on  the  south  side  of  the  last  pro- 
jection, it  is  said  that  Sawyer,  draining  the  last  drop  of  rum  from  his  junk 
bottle,  broke  the  empty  flask  on  the  rock,  and  named  it  "Sawyer's  rock," 
by  which  name  it  has  ever  since  been  known.  The  earliest  articles  of  com- 
merce  taken  through  the  Notch  appear  to  have  been  a  barrel  of  tobacco, 
raised  at  Lancaster,  which  was  carried  to  Portsmouth,  and  a  barrel  of  rum 
which  a  company  in  Portland  offered  to  any  one  who  should  succeed  in 
taking  it  through  the  pass.  This  was  done  by  Captain  Rosebrook,  with 
some  assistance,  though  it  became  nearly  empty,  "through  the  politeness 
of  those  who  helped  to  manage  the  affair."  The  difficulty  of  communica- 
tion was  often  the  occasion  of  serious  want,  and  it  was  no  rare  thing  to 
suffer  from  scarcity  of  provisions. 

The  first  person  passing  through  the  Notch  to  settle  in  the  lands  north- 
west was  Col.  Joseph  Whipple,  who  came  from  Portsmouth  in  1772.  He 
brought  tackles  and  ropes  by  which  his  cattle  were  brought  over  the  preci- 
pices along  the  way.  In  1803  the  legislature  authorized  a  lottery  for  the 
building  of  a  turnpike  through  the  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains,  twenty 
miles  in  extent,  at  an  expense  of  forty  thousand  dollars.  (It  was  custom- 
ary in  the  early  history  of  the  country  to  raise  money  by  lottery  for  the 
general  welfare.  Roads  were  built, literary  institutions  founded  and  religious 
societies  aided,  by  such  questionable  means.)  Tickets  were  issued  exceed- 
ing the  prizes  by  the  sum  of  thirty -two  thousand  one  hundred  dollars;  but, 
through  the  failure  of  agents,  the  loss  of  tickets,  and  the  expense  of  man- 
agement, only  fifteen  hundred  dollars  came  into  the  state  treasury.  This 
road,  winding  down  to  the  west  line  of  Bartlett  through  this  gigantic  cleft  in 
the  mountains,  presents  to  the  traveller  "some  of  the  most  sublime  and 
beautiful  scenery  which  the  sun,  in  his  entire  circuit,  reveals  to  the  curious 
eye."  In  July  of  this  year,  Dr.  Cutler  visited  the  mountains  a  second 
time,  in  company  with  Dr.  W.  D.  Peck,  afterwards  Professor  of  Natural 
History  at  Cambridge,  Mass.  In  1816  Dr.  Bigelow,  Dr.  Francis  Boott, 
Francis  C.  Gray,  and  Chief  Justice  Shaw  visited  the  mountains.  In  1819 
Abel  Crawford  opened  the  footway  to  Mt.  Washington,  which  follows  the 
southwestern  ridge  from  Mt.  Clinton.  July  31, 1820,  Messrs.  A.  N.  Brack- 
et!, J.  W.  Weeks,  Charles  J.  Stuart,  Esq.,  Gen.  JohnWillson,  Noyes  S. 
Dennison,  and  S.  A.  Pearson,  Esq.,  of  Lancaster, with  Philip  Carrigain,  and 
Ethan  Crawford  as  guide,  ascended  the  southwestern  ridge  by  the  new 
path,  from  the  head  of  the  Notch,  and  explored  the  summits  of  the  whole 
range  as  far  as  Mt.  Washington.     They  took  the  height  of  the  mountains 


White  Mountains. 


with  a  spirit-level,  and  were  seven  days  in  this  slow,  fatiguing  labor.  They 
must  have  been  the  first  party  which  passed  the  night  upon  the  summit. 
Benjamin  D.  Greene,  Esq.,  collected  the  plants  of  the  southwestern  ridge 
in  1823,  and  the  same  year,  Henry  Little,  a  medical  student,  explored  this 
part  of  the  mountains.  In  1825, William  Oakes,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  Charles  Pick- 
ering, made,  together,  extensive  researches  of  much  interest.  Dr.  J.  W. 
Bobbins  explored  carefully  the  whole  range  in  1829,  descending  into  and 
crossing  the  Great  Gulf,  and  traversing  for  the  first  time,  so  far  as  scien- 
tific interests  were  concerned,  all  the  eastern  summits.  Rev.  T.  Stan- 
King,  whose  artistic  appreciation  and  eloquent  writings  did  so  much  to 
bring  this  region  into  notice,  came  here  in  1837.  In  1840,  a  party,  includ- 
ing Dr.  Charles  T.  Jackson,  reached  Mt.  Washington  on  horseback  by  the 
way  of  the  Notch. 

First  Settlers.  — The  first  settlers  among  the  mountains  came  from  below, 
and  settled  Conway  in  1704,  Jefferson  in  1772,  Franconia  in  1774,  Bartlett 
in  1777,  Jackson  in  1778,  Bethlehem  in  1790.  In  1792  Captain  Rosebrook 
established  himself  and  home  on  the  site  of  Fabyan's,  and  opened  the 
first  house  for  summer  visitors  there  in  1808.  Abel  Crawford  settled  at 
Bemis  in  1793.  Ethan  A.  Crawford  succeeded  to  the  Rosebrook  place  in 
1817.  But  thirty  years  before  any  of  these  thought  of  making  a  home  in  this 
wild  region,  so  runs  the  story,  Thomas  Crager  sought  among  the  solitudes 
of  the  mountain  rocks,  relief  for  a  grief  so  intense  as  almost  to  craze  him. 
His  wife  had  been  executed  as  a  witch  ;  his  little  daughter  Mary,  his  only 
child,  had  been  carried  into  captivity,  and  after  a  long  and  unavailing 
search,  he  went  up  to  the  mountains,  and  lived  for  a  long  time,  where  the 
pure  water  and  air  of  the  region  brought  health  and  strength,  protected 
from  the  evil  intent  of  the  Indians  by  their  belief  in  his  being  the  adopted 
son  of  the  Great  Spirit.  After  long  years,  he  found  his  daughter  among 
the  Indians  of  eastern  Maine,  married,  and  living  as  a  squaw.  Many 
wild  legends  are  told  of  Crager  and  the  Indian  captor  of  his  daughter,  but 
the  fact  of  his  existence  and  residence  here  is  all  we  need  record. 

Nancy's  Brook  and  Nancy's  Bridge  take  their  name  from  a  girl  who 
perished  here  in  1778.  Her  tragic  story  has  so  often  been  told,  that  we 
only  allude  to  it. 

The  First  House  in  the  Notch  was  the  historic  Willey  House.  It  was 
kept  as  a  public  house  for  some  years,  then  abandoned,  and  again  occupi<  d 
in  1825,  by  Samuel  Willey,  Jr.,  who,  with  his  wife,  five  children,  and  two 
hired  men,  perished  in  the  great  slide  of  August  28,  L826.  As  there  would 
be  a  dozen  people  desirous  of  visiting  the  mountains  coming  to  Ethan  A. 
Crawford's  hostelry,  in  1821  he  most  effectively  advertised  it.  by  cutting  a 
path,  which  shortened  the  distance,  and  made  it  easy  to  go  up  the  moun- 
tain. Soon  after  this,  increased  travel  brought  a  demand  for  some  place 
jon  the  summit  where  visitors  could  pass  the  night,  and  Ethan  constructed 


56  History  of  Coos  County. 

a  stone  cabin,  near  the  large  spring  of  water,  and  furnished  it,  first  with 
a  large  supply  of  soft  moss  for  beds  ;  and  afterwards  with  a  small  stove, 
an  iron  chest  to  hold  the  blankets,  and  a  long  roll  of  sheet  lead,  as  a  reg- 
ister of  names  of  visitors. 

The  first  hotel  on  Mt.  Washington  was  the  old  Summit  House,  built  in 
1852,  by  L.  M.  Eosebrook,  N.  R.  Perkins,  and  J.  S.  Hall.  The  Tip  Top 
House  was  built  in  1853,  by  John  H.  Spaulding  and  others.  He  was  part 
owner  of  that  and  the  Summit  House,  and  conducted  them  for  several 
years.  The  present  Summit  House  was  built  in  1872.  The  old  Summit 
House  was  torn  down  in  the  spring  of  1881,  to  give  place  to  a  new  build- 
ing, used  as  lodging  rooms  for  the  employees  of  the  hotel. 

The  first  winter  ascent  of  Mt.  Washington  was  made  by  Lucius  Harts- 
horne,  a  deputy  sheriff  of  Coos  county,  and  B.  F.  Osgood,  of  Gorham,  De- 
cember 7,  1858.  John  H.  Spaulding,  Franklin  White,  and  C.  C.  Brooks, 
of  Lancaster,  made  the  ascent  February  19,  1862,  and  were  the  first  to 
spend  the  night  on  the  mountain  in  winter. 

The  carriage  road  from  the  Glen  House  to  the  summit  of  Mt.  Wash- 
ington was  begun  in  1853,  under  the  management  of  D.  0.  Macomber,  C. 
H.  V.  Cavis  being  surveyor.  The  first  four  miles  were  finished  the  next 
year.  Financial  troubles  stopped  the  work  for  a  time,  but  the  road  was 
finally  opened  August  8,  1861.  It  is  eight  miles  long,  and  has  an  average 
grade  of  twelve  feet  in  100.  The  ascent  is  made  by  stages  in  four  hours, 
and  the  descent  in  an  hour  and  a  half. 

George  W.  Lane  drove  the  first  Concord  coach  that  ever  ascended  Mt. 
Washington  over  this  road,  August  8,  1861. 

The  Glen  House  in  Pinkham  Notch,  at  the  eastern  base  of  Mt.  Wash- 
ington, is  fifteen  miles  north  of  Glen  station,  near  North  Conway,  eight 
miles  south  of  Gorham,  on  the  Grand  Trunk  railway,  and  has  a  full  and 
unobstructed  view  of  the  highest  peaks  of  the  Mt.  Washington  range.  Mt. 
Washington  is  ascended  from  the  Glen  by  the  carriage  road,  eight  miles 
long.  Glen  Ellis  Falls,  and  Crystal  Cascade,  near  the  Glen,  are  two  of  the 
finest  water-falls  in  the  mountain.  Tuckerman's  Ravine  is  most  easily 
reached  from  the  Glen  House. 

Pinkham  Notch  takes  its  name  from  Daniel  Pinkham,  an  early  resident 
of  Jackson.  In  1821  he  commenced  a  road  through  the  wilderness 
between  two  ranges  of  the  White  Mountains  ;  this  road  was  about  twelve 
miles  in  length,  and  connected  Jackson  with  Randolph,  and  in  two  years 
time  it  was  completed.  The  Notch  is  situated  at  the  Glen  Ellis  Falls,  and 
the  mountains  here  are  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart. 

The  Mt.  Washington  railway  was  projected  by  Sylvester  Marsh.  The 
building  of  the  road  was  begun  in  1866,  and  finished  in  186U. 

The  ascent  is  made  by  the  railway  from  the  west  side,  and  the  carriage 
road  from  the  east.     The  railroad  is  three  miles  long,  and  has  an  average 


White  Mountains.  57 


rise  of  one  foot  in  four,  the  steepest  being  thirteen  and  one-half  inches  to  the 
yard.  The  grade  is  overcome  by  means  of  cog-wheels  working  in  a  cog- 
rail  in  the  center  of  the  track,  and  powerful  brakes  on  engines  and  cars 
insure  safety.  No  passenger  has  been  injured  since  the  road  was  opened. 
The  running  time  is  one  and  one-half  hours,  and  only  one  car  is  run  with 
each  engine. 

Mountain  Tragedies.— The  destruction  of  the  Willey  family  by  a  land 
slide  in  the  White  Mountain  Notch,  occurred  August  28,  1826.  Frederick 
Strickland,  an  Englishman,  perished  in  the  Ammonoosuc  Eavine,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1851.  Miss  Lizzie  Bourne,  of  Kennebunk,  Me.,  perished  on  the 
Glen  bridle-path,  near  the  Summit,  on  the  night  of  September  14,  1855. 
Dr.  B.  L.  Ball,  of  Boston,  was  lost  on  Mt.  Washington,  in  October,  1855, 
in  a  siiow  storm,  but  rescued  after  two  days'  and  nights'  exposure,  with- 
out food  or  sleep.  Benjamin  Chandler,  of  Delaware,  perished  near 
Chandler's  Peak,  half  a  mile  from  the  top  of  Mt.  Washington,  August  7, 
1856,  in  a  storm,  and  his  remains  were  not  discovered  for  nearly  a 
year.  Harry  W.  Hunter,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  perished  on  the  Crawford 
bridle-path,  September  3,  187-1,  a  mile  from  the  Summit.  His  remains 
were  found  nearly  six  years  later,  July  14,  1880.  On  the  north  side  of 
Cherry  mountain  occurred  the  noted  landslide  of  July  10,  1885.  This  was 
the  largest  slide  ever  known  in  the  mountains.  Donald  Walker  was  the 
only  one  who  lost  his  life.  July  24,  1886,  the  great  snow  arch  in  Tucker- 
man's  Eavine,  near  Mt.  Washington,  X.  H.,  fell,  and  instantly  killed 
Sewall  Faunce,  the  fifteen-year-old  son  of  Mr.  Faunce,  of  the  law  firm  of 
Faunce  &  Wiggin,  School  street,  Boston. 

The  first  number  of  Among  the  Clouds,  the  first  daily  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  the  W7hite  Mountains,  and  the  only  one  printed  on  any  mountain 
in  the  world,  was  issued  July  18,  1S77,  by  Henry  M.  Burt,  of  Springfield, 
Mass.  The  paper  records  much  that  pertains  to  the  exploration  of  the 
W7hite  Hills,  and  the  development  of  its  unexplored  resources.  Almost 
every  week  something  worth  preserving  about  the  mountains  is  printed 
in  its  columns.  It  is  indispensable  to  the  enjoyment  of  those  who 
reside  for  the  season  among  the  mountains.  When  the  season  is  fairly 
open,  Mr.  Burt  receives,  by  telegraph,  the  full  list  of  the  daily  arrivals  at 
the  principal  hotels  in  the  mountains,  and  publishes  it  in  the  following- 
issue.  Two  editions  are  published  daily,  one  at  1  p.  m.,  and  and  one  at  .'• 
a.  m.,  each  summer,  from  July  to  the  close  of  the  season.  The  afternoon 
edition  contains  the  names  of  the  arrivals  on  the  morning  train  from  Faby- 
an's,  and  on  the  stages  from  the  (lien  House.  The  publication  office  is 
the  old  Tip  Top  House,  nicely  fitted  up,  and  equipped  with  a  steam  engine 
and  Hoe  cylinder  press. 

The  signal  station  at  the  Summit  was  established  in  1870.     Prof.  J.  H. 
Huntington,  of  the  State  Geological  Survey,  was  at  the  head  of  the  party 


58  History  of  Coos  County. 


that  spent  the  first  winter  here.  The  building  now  occupied  by  the  ob- 
servers was  erected  in  187*3. 

For  descriptions  of  Fabyan  House,  Crawford  House,  White  Mountain 
House,  and  Twin  Mountain  House,  see  Carroll. 

The  Mt.  Washington  Summit  House,  with  nearly  one  hundred  sleep- 
ing rooms,  is  a  commodious  and  comfortable  hotel,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Col.  Oscar  G.  Barron. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


PLANTS. 


Trees  —  Shrubs  —  Grass 3S  —  Introduced  Plants  —  Alpine  Plants. 

THE  vegetation  of  Coos  county  contrasts  strongly  with  that  of  the 
southern  counties  of  the  state.  The  somber  colors  of  the  Canadian 
evergreens  largely  take  the  places  of  the  light  foliage  of  the  deciduous 
trees,  and  the  Canadian  flora  occupies  almost  wholly  the  entire  county  to 
the  exclusion  of  the  more  southern  or  Alleghanian  division. 

Trees. — "  Our  arbor  vitas  is,"  says  Prof.  Gray,  "the  physiognomic  tree 
of  our  cold  swamps  at  the  north  and  in  Canada.'"  It  is  generally  incor- 
rectly called  "  white  cedar,"  and  enters  as  a  prominent  element  into  the  flora 
of  Coos  county,  growing  most  abundantly  along  the  borders  of  slow 
streams  and  in  swamps,  and  varying  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  in  height. 
White  spruce  grows  extensively  in  the  region  of  Connecticut  lake,  but  is 
rarely  found  below  Colebrook.  The  balsam  fir  and  black  spruce,  growing 
together  in  about  equal  numbers,  give  to  the  scenery  of  the  White  Moun- 
tains one  of  its  peculiar  features.  "  The  stiff,  spiked  forms  of  the  one  are 
mingled  with  the  blackish-green  foliage  of  the  other  almost  universally 
along  the  mountain  sides,  and  are  the  last  of  the  arborescent  vegetation 
to  yeld  to  the  increased  cold  and  fierce  winds  of  the  higher  summits."  North 
of  the  mountains,  they,  with  arbor-vitas,  are  the  predominant  evergreens. 
The  hemlock,  so  graceful  when  young,  has  its  northern  limit  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Colebrook  and  Umbagog  lake.  The  American  larch  (hack- 
matack or  tamarack)  is  chiefly  found  in  small  swamps.  When  the  county 
was  first  known  to  civilization,  the  Connecticut  valley  was  filled  with  a 
stately  growth  of  the  highly  prized  white  pine,  many  of  them  fit  for  the 
"broad  arrow  "  mark  of  the  British  Crown  as  mast  trees  sacred  to  the 


Plants.  59 

King's  service.  Now  a  few  specimens,  occuring  mostly  at  the  head  waters 
of  the  streams,  are  all  that  remain  of  the  original  profusion.  Second  growths 
of  this  tree  here  are  of  rare  occurrence,  even  when  the  cleared  land  is 
allowed  to  return  to  forest.  The  Canadian  yew,  or  "  ground  hemlock. **  is 
present  in  the  swamps,  while  the  savin  and  juniper  occupy  higher  ground. 
The  red  maple  gives  the  brilliant  scarlet  color  to  our  autumnal  scenery. 
The  rock,  or  sugar  maple,  is  the  largest  of  the  maples  and  is  an  important 
economic  factor,  producing  as  it  does  maple  sirup  and  sugar,  and  much 
valuable  timber.  The  beech  and  the  sugar  maple  are  the  most  common  of 
the  deciduous  trees  of  this  county,  making  up  most  of  the  "hard-wood  "  for- 
ests. The  black,  yellow,  and  canoe  birches  are  common,  the  latter  being- 
conspicuous,  high  on  the  sides  of  the  mountains,  its  white  bark  showing  in 
striking  contrast  with  the  dark  trunks  and  foliage  of  the  firs  and  spruce. 
Dalton,  Berlin,  Gorham  and  Shelburne  are  in  the  red  oak  zone.  The 
American  elm  is  native  to  the  alluvial  soil  of  the  larger  rivers,  and,  owing 
to  its  majestic  appearance,  wherever  it  is  found  it  is  very  prominent.  The 
black  poplar  grows  quite  large,  has  dark  colored  bark  on  the  trunk,  and  is 
much  used  in  making  "wood-pulp."  A  small  variety  of  poplar,  which 
sometimes  springs  up  in  great  abundance  in  cleared  land,  never  attains 
large  growth. 

Shrubs.— The  mountain  ash  clings  to  the  mountain  sides  and  streams, 
and  its  red  berries  hang  brilliant  in  autumn.  Blackberries  and  raspberries 
are  present,  the  red  raspberry  being  one  of  the  most  numerous  plants  of 
the  county.  The  blueberry  genus  is  well  represented  by  the  Canadian  and 
dwarf  blue-berry,  the  cowberry,  and  the  swamp  cranberry.  In  the  swamps 
we  often  find  the  Canadian  holly  and  winter  berry,  while  on  the  poorer  soil 
of  the  hills  the  sumach  matures.  The  alder,  willow,  witch  hazel,  high  bush 
cranberry,  Labrador  tea,  common  and  red-berried  elder,  moose  wood. 
American  yew,  with  currants  and  gooseberries  are  found  in  the  localities 
for  which  nature  has  fitted  them. 

The  shrubs  grow  smaller  and  smaller  as  the  mountains  are  ascended. 
The  mountain  aster  and  golden  rod,  the  white  orchis,  the  white  hellebore, 
the  wood-sorrel,  and  Solomon's  seal  ascend  into  the  black  growth,  while 
the  clintonia,  bunch  berry,  bluets,  creeping  snowberry,  purple  trilliums 
keep  them  company  and  cease  to  grow  at  the  same  altitude. 

Grasses. — "Blue  joint"  (Calarnogrosti</  Canadensis),  is  the  principal 
native  grass,  and  grows  luxuriantly.  "  Herd's  grass "  (P.  Pratensis),  not 
indigenous,  grows  in  the  lumber  roads  throughout  the  county  as  an  intro- 
duced plant,  and  can  be  traced  along  the  carriage  mid  on  Mt.  Washington 
far  above  the  limit  of  trees. 

Introduced  Plants. — The  white  willow  of  Europe,  which  brought  to 
some  place  in  the  Connecticut  valley  as  a  shade  tree,  has  extended  itself 
along  the  river,  and  is  as  much  at  home  in  Stewartstown  and  Pittsburg  as 


60  History  of  Coos  County. 

by  the  borders  of  European  streams.  The  Canadian  plum  is  much  culti- 
vated, and  grows  frequently  where  man  has  never  planted  it.  The  hemp- 
nettle  has  come  in  some  way  from  the  Merrimack  valley  through  Fran- 
conia  Notch  and  made  itself  at  home  from  Whitefield  to  the  clearings 
around  Connecticut  lake.  The  garden  wormwood  finds  in  the  slaty  con- 
stituents of  the  soil  of  Pittsburg  the  needed  elements  for  its  life  and  flour- 
ishes in  the  open  air  without  cultivation. 

Alpine  Plants. — An  Alpine  or  Arctic  vegetation  is  found  on  the  treeless 
region  of  the  upper  heights  of  Mt.  Washington  and  adjacent  peaks,  where 
alone  are  found  the  conditions  favorable  to  their  growth.  They  are  of  great 
hardihood  and  sometimes  bloom  amid  ice  and  snow.  This  region  which 
they  occupy  is  a  windswept  tract  above  the  growth  of  trees  and  about 
eight  miles  long  by  two  miles  wide.  About  fifty  species  are  strictly  Alpine 
and  found  nowhere  else  in  the  state.  About  fifty  other  species  accompany 
them,  and  are  also  found  at  the  base  of  the  mountains  and  other  parts  of 
the  state.  These  are  called  "  sub- Alpines,"  and  occupy  the  ravines  and  lower 
parts  of  the  treeless  region,  but  not  the  upper  summits.  In  ascending  the 
mountains,  the  firs  and  spruces  become  more  and  more  dwarfish,  at  last 
rising  but  a  few  feet,  while  the  branches  spread  out  horizontally  many  feet, 
and  become  thickly  interwoven.  They  present  an  almost  even  upper  sur- 
face, strong  enough  to  walk  upon.  At  last  these  disappear  giving  place 
to  the  dwarf  birch,  Alpine  willows,  Labrador  tea,  and  Lapland  rhododen- 
dron, which  spread  out  over  the  nearest  rocks  after  rising  a  few  inches 
above  the  ground,  thus  gaining  the  warmth  which  enables  them  to  live  in 
spite  of  cold  and  storm.  On  the  top  of  the  summits  these  are  succeeded  by 
the  Greenland  sandwort,  cassiope,  the  diapensia,  azalia,  Alpine  bearberry, 
with  Arctic  rushes,  lichens  and  sedges. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

GAME  OF  COOS  COUNTY. 

BY   HON.   J.   "W.   WEEKS. 


Beaver  —  Dams  — Moose — Description,  Food,  Etc.  — Deer,  Caribou,  Etc. — Horns  —  Bear  — 
Wolverine  —  Lynx  —  Otter  —  Fisher  —  Sable  —  Raccoon  —  Grey  Squirrel  — Wild  Geese  and  Ducks 
—  Ruffed  Grouse  or  Partridge  —  Canada  Grouse  or  Spruce  Partridge  —  Wild  Pigeons. 

EAVER.— It  does  not  appear  that  the  Indians  ever  cultivated  the  lands 
or  wintered  on  the  Connecticut  farther  north  than  Haverhill,  conse- 
quently the  wild  animals  were  not  so  constantly  beset  by  them  in 
early  times  as  they  were  farther  south,  or  on  the  St.  Lawrence.     An  old 


Game  of  Coos  County.  61 

writer  says  above  the  mountains  was  a  "paradise  for  hunters."  The 
beaver  inhabited  this  region  in  immense  numbers.  This  animal,  with 
instinct  almost  human,  was  in  shape,  except  the  tail,  like  the  muskrat, 
but  weighing  twenty  or  twenty-five  pounds.  The  tail,  six  or  eight  inches 
long,  covered  with  thick  scales,  was  very  strong,  broad  at  the  extremity, 
and  some  three  inches  wide.  It  not  only  assisted  the  animal  in  swimming 
but  in  sitting  at  his  work.  The  beaver's  tail  and  nose  of  the  moose  were 
considered  the  greatest  of  delicacies,  each  being  cooked  in  the  same  way 
wrapped  in  bark  or  leaves,  and  buried  in  the  embers  of  the  camp-fire  till 
thoroughly  roasted,  when  the  skin  was  pulled  off,  and  the  feast  commenced. 
It  is  said  that  the  Indians  cooked  the  whole  beaver  in  this  manner,  thus 
losing  the  skin.  The  beaver  was  substantially  exterminated  prior  to  the 
settlement  of  Lancaster. 

With  regard  to  the  beaver  marks  in  this  section,  Major  Weeks  said 
there  were  dams  on  Martin's  meadow  "  fifty  rods  long  and  five  feet  high  *' 
in  his  day.  Their  meadows  were  found  in  every  brook  ;  and  their  canals 
were  cut  from  every  pond  surrounded  by  bogs,  to  the  highlands.  In  a 
pond  of  a  few  acres  in  the  north  part  of  Whitefield,  a  canal  was  cut 
through  the  bog  back  to  the  high  ground.  This  was  as  straight  and  true 
as  if  done  by  a  spade  and  line.  It  was  twenty  inches  or  two  feet  wide, 
and  so  deep  that  in  winter  the  beavers  could  pass  to  and  from  the  pond 
under  the  ice.  Their  home  was  on  this  canal  from  which  they  reached  the 
high  ground,  entering  so  deep  down  as  to  be  below  the  frost.  These  canals 
served  a  double  purpose  ;  they  were  the  means  of  reaching  the  deciduous 
trees,  the  bark  of  which  served  them  for  food,  and  as  a  concealment  from 
their  enemies.  These  pond-beavers  had  holes  along  their  canals,  below 
the  frost,  that  extended  long  distances  and  struck  high  land,  where  they 
dug  up  to  where  it  was  dry,  and  made  their  homes.  From  these  burrows 
they  could  reach  the  pond  and  feed  upon  the  roots  of  the  cow  lily,  which 
was  a  favorite  food  of  the  beaver  as  well  as  the  moose.  East  of  Lancaster 
are  two  beaver  meadows,  containing  a  hundred  acres  or  more,  the  upper 
one,  of  thirty  or  forty  acres,  at  the  junction  of  two  considerable  streams, 
has  canals  cut  through  it  in  various  directions,  some  of  them  ;~lill  eighteen 
inches  deep,  and  the  banks  of  earth  thrown  up  along  the  sides  in  some 
places  over  two  feet  high  These  canals,  unlike  those  cut  from  the  natural 
ponds,  were  for  the  purpose  of  passing  from  place  to  place  under  the  ice, 
and  for  storing  their  food,  which  consisted,  in  those  artificial  ponds,  mostly 
of  the  bark  of  deciduous  trees  which  grew  along  the  banks,  and  werecul 
into  pieces  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  long,  and  sunk  in  the  bottom  of  the 
canal.  At  the  extreme  upper  end  of  this  pond,  on  the  main  branch,  is  a 
mound  about  sixteen  feet  over  and  live  feet  high,  with  a  deep  trench 
extending  nearly  around  it,  and  a  canal  running  directly  from  it  across  the 
meadow  to  the  opposite  brook.  This  canal  is  more  than  twenty-five  rods 
long,  and  the  mound  was  evidently  their  house. 


62  History  of  Coos  County. 

I  have  never  but  once  seen  where  the  beaver  were  at  work.  This  was 
in  the  fall  of  1844,  in  the  forest  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  on  Perry's 
stream.  There  was  a  new  formed  dam  spanning  the  stream,  which  was 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet  wide  at  the  place.  This  dam  was  three  feet  or  more 
high,  composed  of  brush  at  first,  with  the  tops  down  stream,  then  filled  in 
with  stones,  sticks,  mud,  and  other  material.  It  was  considerably  arched, 
so  that  the  pressure  of  the  current  on  its  center  crowded  the  ends  against 
the  banks  and  strengthened  the  structure.  Near  by  was  a  white  or  river 
maple,  three  to  four  inches  through,  cut  down,  and  several  pieces  cut  from 
it  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  long,  and  others  partly  cut.  How  such  a  mass 
of  sticks,  stones,  gravel,  and  mud,  as  composed  this  dam  were  ever  con- 
veyed there,  is  a  mystery  to  me.  When  a  boy,  I  often  saw  beaver  cuttings 
about  the  ponds,  once  lagoons,  but  they  were  always  old  and  seemed  to  be 
done  by  wandering  animals  ;  a  tree  would  be  cut  down  and  left  Avhere  it 
fell.  The  beaver,  in  felling  a  tree,  cuts  around  it,  cutting  above  and  below, 
and  tearing,  or  splitting  out  the  chips,  leaving  the  stump  in  the  shape  of 
a  cone,  tapering  to  a  point  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees. 

The  Moose  was  not  destroyed  before  the  settlement  of  this  northern 
country.  The  hunters  killed  them  only  to  supply  themselves  with  food 
when  they  were  unsuccessful  in  trapping  the  beaver.  The  large  extent  of 
fertile  soil,  with  its  numerous  streams  and  ponds,  made  this  a  favorite 
resort  for  all  game  that  roamed  a  northern  forest,  more  particularly  of  that 
strange  and  uncouth  animal,  the  moose.  He  seems  to  have  come  down 
from  a  former  period  of  time.  No  naturalist  with  whose  writings  I  am 
acquainted,  has  given  an  adequate  description  of  the  habits  and  peculiar 
characteristics  of  this  creature.  Judge  Caton,  who  has  written  a  most 
exhaustive  work  on  the  "  Deer  of  America,"  treats  him  as  a  herbivorous 
animal  like  the  common  deer,  when  his  habits  are  much  different  from  the 
caribou  or  reindeer.  His  long  forelegs  and  short  neck  preclude  his  feeding 
from  the  ground  without  bending  them  or  getting  on  his  knees  ;  the  long 
prehensile  nose  serving  the  purpose  of  the  elephant's  trunk,  dropping  three 
inches  or  more  over  the  mouth,  which  is  wholly  out  of  sight  as  you  stand 
beside  or  in  front  of  him,  with  nostrils  capable  of  being  distended  to  an 
enormous  size,  or  of  being  entirely  closed,  yet  constantly  vibrating,  and 
usually  narrowed  to  the  merest  slit  when  the  creature  is  at  rest.  The  little 
deep,  and  villainous  looking  eye,  with  its  false,  transparent  lid,  at  one  time 
half  covering  the  sight,  and  then  withdrawn,  like  that  seen  in  aquatic 
animals  or  birds,  show  that  the  moose  is  not  a  grazing  animal  like  the  deer, 
and  not  destined  to  subsist  on  the  common  herbage  of  the  forest. 

I  suppose  the  moose  in  the  summer  season  feeds  largely  upon  the  twigs 
and  branches  of  deciduous  trees;  but  their  favorite  food  is  aquatic  plants 
and  roots  Hunters,  who  have  seen  him  eating,  have  told  me  that  he 
would  wade  in  the  mud  and  water  up  to  about  midside,  and  put  his  head 


Game  of  Coos  County.  63 


below  the  surface,  feel  around,  and,  when  he  got  hold  of  the  righl  root, 
would  pull  it  up,  shake  it  in  the  water,  and  munch  it  as  il  floated  around 
him.  His  flexible  nose  was  very  useful  to  foci  and  bring  up  the  favorite 
roots,  and  the  power  to  perfectly  dose  his  nostrils  togel her  with  the  trans- 
parent lid  protecting  his  eyes,  left  those  organs  in  perfect  condition  to  per- 
form their  offices  when  the  head  was  raised  above  the  surface. 

Perhaps  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  say  something  of  the  root  of  the  cow- 
lily,  which  formed  so  important  an  article  of  food  for  the  moose.  Most 
people  have  seen  the  pads  and  large  yellow  blossoms.  The  roots  of  the  lily 
are  nearly  the  size  of  a  man's  arm,  and  lie  horizontally  a  few  inches  below 
1 1  ie  si  i  rface  of  the  mud,  forming  a  net- work  so  strong  that  a  man  may  walk 
upon  them.  From  appearance  they  last  for  ages,  each  season  sending  out 
feederroots,  leaves,  and  flower  stalks,  that  fall  away  at  the  commencement 
of  cold  weather.  These  roots  are  quite  porous,  are  as  easily  cut  as  a  potato  >, 
and  have  a  pungent  but  not  unpleasant  smell.  The  winter  food  of  the 
moose  was  principally  the  bark  of  the  mountain  ash  (which  grows  very 
large  and  in  great  abundance  upon  the  mountains),  although  I  have  been 
told  that  at  times  they  used  the  bark  of  the  white  maple.  The  moose 
strikes  his  teeth  into  the  bark  like  a  set  of  gouges,  cuts  diagonally  across 
the  wood,  and  upward,  and  gathers  the  bark  into  his  mouth,  as  it  falls, 
with  his  long,  pliable,  upper  lip  I  never  saw  where  the  bark  was  taken 
from  a  tree  nearer  than  two  feet  of  the  ground,  but  have  seen  them  peeled 
as  high  as  eight  or  nine  feet. 

T  have  never  hunted  the  moose,  but  business  has  led  me  into  his  imme- 
diate neighborhood,  where  for  days  I  would  not  be  out  of  sight  of  his 
marks  on  his  feeding  grounds.  At  one  time  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be 
able  to  study  a  tame  one.  This  was  a  fine  animal,  about  two  years  old, 
not  quite  as  large  as  a  colt  of  the  same  age.  It  was  perfectly  gentle  and 
enjoyed  being  petted  as  much  as  a  colt. 

The  moose  were  not  wantonly  destroyed  by  the  respectable  inhabitants 
of  the  country,  as  they  considered  them  as  a  never-ending  supply  of  meat. 
but  by  the  vagabonds  who  always  infest  a  new  settlement.  Some  idea  of 
the  vast  numbers  of  these  animals  may  be  gained  from  the  fact  (as  stated 
by  Edward  Spaulding  and  Major  John  W.  Weeks)  that  Nathan  Caswell 
took  it  into  his  head  to  kill  a  hundred  moose  on  the  crusl  in  one  winter, 
and  actually  did  kill  ninety-nine,  and  *Spanlding  said  he  chased  the  hun- 
dredth one  into  the  Burnside  meadow,  in  Fast  Lancaster,  and  lost  him. 
Caswell  lived  on  the  noses  and  other  nice  bits,  and  only  saved  a  part  of  the 
skins.  He  did  this  upon  the  same  principle  that  wolves  kill  sheep  for  mere 
wickedness.  It  is  said  that  the  inhabitants  were  so  incensed  at  this  that 
they  refused  him  shelter  in  their  houses  and  drove  him  from  the  settle- 
ment. [This  Caswell  was  not  Capt,  Nathan  Caswell,  the  first  settler  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Littleton,  but  probably  was  his  son.  a  man  of  roving 


64  History  of  Coos  County. 

habits.]  Other  persons  probably  killed  as  many  more,  bat  they  increased 
rapidly,  and  I  have  heard  James  B.  Weeks  say,  that  in  1808  or  1810, 
"there  came  a  very  deep  snow,  and,  in  March,  a  sharp  crust,  so  that 
there  were  killed  in  Lancaster  and  surrounding  towns  as  many  as  ninety 
moose,  mostly  wantonly.1'  The  few  that  survived  this  devastation  moved 
to  safer  quarters. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Lancaster  who  occasionally  hunted  the 
moose  were  Stanley,  Bucknam,  and  Blake.  The  two  latter  were  remark- 
able for  their  deadly  aim  with  the  long  smooth-bore.  Stanley  was  also 
noted  for  the  accuracy  of  his  shots.  At  one  time  he  killed  four  moose  in 
Cherry  pond  by  making  five  shots  in  quick  succession,  and  bringing  down 
four  of  the  animals.  Stanley  owned  and  lived  on  what  was  later  called 
the  Bellows  place,  and  afterwards  owned  by  Capt.  Beattie.  Bucknam 
resided  near  the  brick  school-house  in  Lancaster,  and  Blake,  near  the 
mouth  of  John's  river. 

I  should  not  do  justice  to  this  subject  if  I  did  not  speak  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  hunters  brought  in  their  meat  when  they  killed  it  at  a  dis- 
tance from  home.  Whether  the  toboggan  is  a  modern  invention  or  not  I 
will  leave  for  others  to  decide.  The  hunter  kills  a  moose,  takes  off  the 
skin,  spreads  it  out,  strips  the  flesh  from  the  bones,  and  wraps  it  in  the 
skin,  which  lies  full  length,  and  of  equal  widths  (perhaps  a  foot  and  a  half 
wide),  binds  it  up  with  thongs  cut  from  the  edge  of  the  skin,  being  sure 
that  the  thongs  as  they  go  round  the  pack  are  beneath  the  hair,  and  turns 
up  the  neck  in  the  shape  of  the  dasher  to  the  toboggan.  To  this  he  fast- 
ens a  withe,  and  lets  the  whole  freeze,  if  it  will.  The  slightest  crust  will 
bear  this  toboggan,  and  no  sled  ever  ran  smoother. 

Deer.  Caribou,  Etc. — When  the  Creator  formed  the  animals  to  inhabit 
the  earth,  lie  made  them  to  serve  certain  purposes  in  the  courses  of  nature, 
one  to  fill  this  place,  another  that,  but,  at  last,  when  he  wanted  a  thing  of 
beauty,  he  made  the  American  deer,  and  he  must  have  been  well  pleased 
with  the  work  of  his  hands. 

Very  few  deer  ever  found  their  way  north  of  the  White  Mountains  till 
the  moose  were  substantially  exterminated.  In  conversation,  many  years 
ago,  with  Edward  Spaulding  and  James  B.  Weeks  upon  this  subject,  Mr. 
Spaulding,  who  came  to  the  country  in  1767.  said,  when  he  was  a  boy,  a 
deer  used  to  come  and  feed  with  his  father's  cattle  in  Northumberland,  and 
aftera  time  his  father  killed  it.  Mr.  Weeks  said  that  in  1810  there  weresome 
deer  about  Cherry  pond,  and  two  or  three  were  killed  on  the  crust  by  Lan- 
caster men.  They  must  have  been  considered  extremely  rare  at  that  time 
or  men  would  not  have  gone  eight  miles  through  an  unbroken  forest  to 
hunt  them. 

About  1818  oi-  1820  a  deer  was  seen  in  the  road  near  Prospect  Farm.  The 
boy  who  saw  it  described  the  animal  and  there  was  much  questioning  as 


Game  of  Coos  County.  65 


to  what  it  was.  From  this  time  their  increase  in  Lancaster  and  vicinity 
was  very  rapid.  They  were  seen  about  the  ponds  and  streams,  in  the  fields, 
and  their  marks  were  in  the  forest.  The  inhabitants  did  not  know  how  to 
hunt  them,  and  the  deer  were  unmolested  for  a  long  time.  A  few  were 
killed  on  the  crust,  but  their  meat  was  worthless  at  that  season,  and  pub- 
lic opinion  was  against  the  killing  of  them  for  mere  sport.  After  a  time 
the  people  learned  to  still-hunt  and  trap  them  in  the  fall,  and  their  meat 
and  skins  was  quite  a  source  of  profit.  The  section  with  which  I  was  best 
acquainted  was  South  Lancaster,  Dalton  and  Whitefield.  It  was  said  that 
Samuel  Barker,  of  Dalton,  killed  forty  with  his  rifle  one  fall,  most  of  them 
he  sent  to  market.  A  farmer  who  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  George 
P.  Rowell  killed  fifteen  one  season,  within  a  mile  from  home.  In  some 
well-to-do  families  venison  was  the  most  common  fresh  meat. 

The  reason  for  the  great  number  of  deer  in  the  locality  spoken  of  was 
probably  the  fact  that  they  were  not  chased  by  hounds,  for  if  one  pursued 
a  deer  into  that  region  he  was  killed.  They  were  chased  in  Vermont  and 
at  Littleton,  It  will  be  noticed  when  the  deer  were  so  numerous,  Lancas- 
ter was  well  occupied  by  farms,  and  the  towns  south  well  dotted  with  set- 
tlements. The  deer,  during  the  summer  and  fall,  lived  largely  about  the 
clearings,  feeding  on  the  tender  herbage  that  sprung  up  after  the  running 
of  the  fires,  or  in  the  fields  of  the  settlers.  Whatever  was  palatable  to  a 
sheep  was  agreeable  to  the  deer.  Growing  grain,  wheat  or  oats  did  not 
come  amiss;  peas,  potatoes,  turnips,  apples,  and  anything  that  a  sheep 
would  eat,  the  deer  craved,  and,  in  some  instances,  they  were  more  than 
half  domesticated.  I  will  give  an  example:  Since  1850,  they  would  in  the 
spring  of  the  year  be  often  seen  on  my  meadow,  a  mile  east  of  the  village, 
as  many  as  four  at  a  time,  but  would  generally  disappear  after  the  herbage 
was  well  started,  but  there  was  a  doe  that  remained  three  years  in  succes- 
sion and  raised  a  pair  of  fawns,  which  she  kept  hid  in  the  small  piece  of 
woods  west  of  the  river,  directly  below  E.  F.  Connor's.  In  August  the 
fawns,  then  fine  little  animals,  would  appear  with  the  mother.  Of  the 
last  pair  she  raised  there,  one  was  perfectly  white,  except  its  nose  and  the 
back  of  its  ears,  which  were  tinged  with  red.  The  next  March,  1854,  some 
hunters  from  Manchester,  hearing  of  these  deer,  came  up  with  their  hunt- 
ing shirts,  their  hounds,  snow-shoes,  long-range  rifles,  and  all  the  parapher- 
nalia of  city  sportsmen  to  hunt  the  deer  we  did  not  know  what  to  do  with. 
They  made  their  headquarters  at  the  American  House,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing, after  fortifying  their  inner  man  (gentleman,  I  mean,)  and  raising  their 
courage  to  a  pitch  necessary  to  so  great  and  hazardous  an  undertaking, 
they  went  up  and  put  their  dogs  after  those  inoffensive  and  helpless  animals. 
They  drove  the  white  one  up  across  the  meadow  and  caught  it  by  the  side  of 
the  road  a  little  west  of  where  John  Jerome  now  lives;  they  took  it  down  to 
the  American  House  in  great  state,  and  thence  to  Manchester.     Whether 

5 


6Q  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  people  of  Manchester  turned  out  en  masse  to  welcome  the  gentlemen 
back  after  so  hazardous  an  enterprise  I  never  learned.  What  became  of 
the  other  two  deer  I  do  not  know,  but  they  never  returned  to  that  neigh- 
borhood. It  will  be  inferred  from  what  I  have  written  that  if  the  deer 
could  be  protected  from  being  chased  by  dogs  in  summer,  and  from  brutal 
men  killing  them  on  the  crust  in  the  winter,  hundreds  of  these  beautiful 
and  useful  animals  might  inhabit  every  township  of  northern  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

The  deer,  as  mentioned  before,  made  its  appearance  in  Coos  about  1818 
or  1820,  and  its  increase  was  very  rapid.  About  1830,  when  there  were  the 
greatest  number  here,  the  wolves  came  among  us,  and  were  terribly 
destructive  both  to  sheep  and  deer,  and  the  farmers  soon  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  deer  were  the  cause  of  the  wolves1  appearance,  and  they 
gradually  withdrew  their  protection,  and  many  persons  killed  twenty  or 
more  in  the  spring,  wantonly  as  ever  dogs  or  wolves  killed  sheep.  Their 
numbers  of  course  diminished,  but  in  some  localities  they  were  numerous 
till  after  1850.  About  that  time,  in  the  fall,  after  the  snow  was  on  the 
ground,  I  saw  thirteen  paraded  on  the  porch  of  the  old  Cushman  tavern 
in  Dalton,  taken  with  hounds  by  a  party  from  Massachusetts,  with  Tom 
Jerrold,  of  Littleton,  as  guide.  The  deer,  however,  remained  in  consider- 
able numbers  long  after  the  wolves  left. 

I  am  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  deer  in  all  its  habits  and  pecul- 
iarities of  life.  Of  the  fawn  I  would  say  it  is  the  most  beautiful  little  ani- 
nal  that  can  be  imagined.  It  is  a  little  larger  than  the  common  lamb, 
with  a  pale  red  coat,  like  that  of  the  doe  in  summer,  ornamented  with  two 
rows  of  white  spots  on  each  side,  the  whole  length  of  its  body.  Its  grace- 
ful motion,  its  perfect  limbs  and  its  innocent  and  inquiring  face,  make  it  a 
most  interesting  creature.  I  never  saw  a  fawn  abroad  with  the  doe  while 
wearing  its  first  or  summer  coat;  they  are  hid  by  the  mother  while  young 
and  do  not  follow  her  till  August.  While  the  deer  were  plenty  it  was  not 
an  uncommon  thing  to  find  the  fawns  where  the  mother  had  left  them 
when  they  could  be  easily  captured.  I  have  killed  a  large  number  of  deer. 
but  never  was  so  mean  or  so  unfortunate  as  to  kill  a  doe  while  she  was 
rearing  her  fawns  in  summer,  but  I  saw  one  that  was  killed  in  the  latter 
part  of  June,  the  udder  of  which  indicated  that  she  gave  more  milk  in  pro- 
portion to  her  size  than  a  cow.  The  quantity  a  doe  usually  gives  must  be 
very  great,  as  the  fawns,  wdien  they  begin  to  go  out  with  her,  are  about 
half  her  size.  The  doe  and  her  fawns  remain  together  the  first  winter,  but 
not  after.  Old  bucks  are  seldom  seen  with  the  does  or  smaller  deer.  They 
remain  exceedingly  quiet  while  their  horns  are  growing,  and  often  become 
very  fat.  but  after  their  horns  harden,  they  feed  little  and  range  almost 
continually,  soon  becoming  thin,  and  their  venison  is  not  good. 

Of  the  caribou  I  know  little,  having  never  seen  a  live  one,  and  never  to- 


Game  of  Coos  County.  67 


my  recollection  heard  them  spoken  of  by  the  early  settlers,  but  it  appears 
that,  some  sixty  or  seventy  years  ago,  a  herd  came  down  from  the  north- 
east, and  spread  over  the  northern  Androscoggin  country,  but  did  not  come 
as  far  west  as  the  Connecticut.  I  have  never  seen  any  of  their  natural 
feeding  grounds,  on  any  of  the  Connecticut  waters  southwest  of  Second 
and  Third  lakes.  I  have  seen  some  very  fine  specimens  of  heads  and  horns 
taken  in  the  extreme  northeastern  part  of  New  Hampshire  and  Maine. 

Horns. — The  horns  of  the  moose,  deer,  and  caribou  are  strongly  related 
to  each  other.  I  have  noticed  the  horn  of  the  deer,  in  all  its  stages,  from 
the  time  it  commences  rising  from  the  head  till  it  dies  and  falls  off  in  early 
winter.  I  will  describe  one  taken  from  a  buck  of  very  large  size.  It  was 
about  eight  inches  long  and  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter  at  the  base, 
where  it  was  hard,  and  had  taken  its  normal  shape.  About  two  and  a 
half  inches  from  the  head  the  first  prong  was  sent  out,  and  was  perfectly 
shaped  and  hard.  From  this  point  to  the  end  the  horn  varied  in  density. 
until,  at  the  extremity,  it  was  a  mere  pulp,  with  a  very  small  amount  of 
bony  substance.  The  second  or  largest  prong  had  just  begun  to  be  formed. 
Across  the  end  it  was  somewhat  flattened,  more  than  two  and  a  half 
inches  wide,  and  as  thick  as  the  horn  would  be  when  matured.  When 
dried,  the  end  shrunk  and  shriveled  like  some  soft  vegetable,  and,  when  cut 
after  drying,  was  nearly  as  porous  as  a  sponge. 

The  horns  of  all  these  animals  are,  doubtless,  extremely  sensitive,  for 
the  bucks  that  wear  them  are  seldom  seen  while  they  are  growing,  nor 
until  well  hardened.  We  seldom  see  horns  that  are  damaged  during 
growth,  still  I  have  noticed  them  broken  down  and  healed.  I  have  also 
seen  where  a  knot  had  been  broken  off  in  a  horn,  and  afterwards  covered 
by  a  new  growth.  The  skin,  or  velvet,  on  the  horn  of  the  live  animal 
seems  as  tough  as  the  skin  on  the  other  parts.  I  have  seen  large  horns 
with  the  ends  of  all  the  main  prongs  pulpy.  On  the  final  hardening  of  the 
bony  substance  the  skin  dies  and  is  rubbed  off. 

Some  naturalists  try  to  classify  animals  of  the  deer  kind  by  their  horns, 
and  determine  their  ages  by  the  number  of  prongs  on  each;  but  the  excep- 
tions to  this  rule  are  many  and  marked.  Edward  Spaulding.  who  lived  in 
Lancaster  when  the  moose  were  in  their  glory,  told  of  one  with  horns  a 
foot  wide  and  seventeen  prongs  on  each.  In  the  fall  of  1848,  on  the  head 
waters  of  Hall's  stream,  I  saw  the  bones  of  a  moose  of  the  largest  size,  that 
had  died  when  the  horns  were  in  the  velvet.  The  carcass  had  been  torn 
and  the  horns  much  eaten  bv  the  bears.     These  horns  were  about  two  and 

%i 

a  half  feet  long,  shaped  likeapalm  almost  from  the  head,  and  ten  or  eleven 
inches  wide  in  the  widest  place.      The   next  February   (1849)   John  H. 

Spaulding  went  into  that  immediate  vicinity  and  killed  a  bull  n se,  one 

of  the  horns  of  which  I  have  examined.  The  shaft  was  t  wenty-one  inches 
long  and  rounded  almost  as  perfectly  as  that  of  the  deer.     It  was  broken 


6S  History  of  Coos  County. 

off  and  rounded.  About  nine  inches  from  the  head  was  a  well-rounded 
and  sharp  prong  eight  inches  long.  At  thirteen  inches  was  another  prong, 
broken  off  when  soft,  leaving  about  four  inches,  and  still  another  nearer 
the  end  three  inches  long  and  very  sharp.  Judge  Caton  concludes  that  the 
American  moose  is  a  separate  animal  from  the  Scandinavian  elk.  because 
his  horns  are  more  pal  mated;  this  moose  had  horns  precisely  like  the  animal 
represented  in  Judge  Caton's  work.  The  time  of  moulting,  or  shedding 
the  horns,  by  the  deer,  moose,  and  caribou,  depends  much  on  circumstances. 
I  have  known  a  buck  to  shed  his  horns  in  November,  and  1  have  heard  of 
one  that  wore  a  large  pair  of  white  horns  in  the  spring.  The  moose  seldom 
carries  his  antlers  so  late  as  the  one  killed  by  Mr.  Spaulding. 

I  have  horns  of  the  deer  of  the  normal  shape:  Shaft  seventeen  inches 
long,  spread  at  points  eleven  inches,  three  prongs  on  each,  aside  from  main 
shaft,  rounded,  and  very  sharp.  I  think  I  have  seen  four  prongs  on  a 
single  horn,  but  no  more.  I  have  another  pair  of  horns,  with  the  head, 
taken  from  one  of  the  largest  bucks  I  ever  saw.  These  are  about  an  inch 
and  a  half  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and  nineteen  inches  in  length.  About 
four  inches  from  the  head  is  a  very  sharp  prong  on  each,  one  about  three, 
the  other  about  two  inches  long.  On  the  left  horn  is  a  small  prong  about 
one  inch  long,  five  inches  from  the  end  of  the  main  shaft,  very  sharp. 
These  horns  are  flattened  to  an  edge  on  the  upper  side,  and  about  two  inches 
wide  in  the  widest  place.  The  shaft  is  otherwise  of  the  usual  shape  and 
handsomely  turned.  I  once  killed  a  buck  not  one-third  the  size  of  the  one 
above  mentioned,  having  well- developed  horns  with  three  or  four  sharp 
prongs  on  each.  I  have  seen  a  deer  above  the  common  size  with  only 
spike  horns,  six  inches  long,  nearly  as  sharp  as  the  tines  of  a  pitchfork. 

The  Bear.  -The  bear  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  soil  of 
this  northern  country,  and  still  holds  his  own  against  all  odds.  The  vaga- 
bond hunters  had  much  rather  expend  their  superfluous  courage  on  deer 
and  kindred  animals  than  on  such  ''rough  things"  as  bears.  I  would  say 
of  "bruin"  that  I  have  known  him  from  the  little,  crawling,  blind  cub, 
not  larger  than  a  large  rat,  brought  forth  in  February  or  the  first  of 
March,  to  the  old  "  sheep  -killer "  weighing  four  or  five  hundred  pounds. 
Each  she  bear  produces  two  and  sometimes  three  cubs,  which  in  their 
earliest  stages  are  the  most  insignificant  little  things  imaginable.  They 
fasten  at  once  upon  the  mother,  and  for  about  two  months  draw  their  sus- 
tenance from  her  without  her  partaking  of  any  food;  consequently  she 
comes  oat  of  her  den  the  last  of  April,  or  the  first  of  May,  extremely  thin, 
while  the  cubs  are  as  large  as  woodchucks.  These  cubs  follow  the  mother 
the  first  season  until  it  is  time  to  den  up  in  the  fall,  when  they  are  driven 
off  and  den  together,  and,  if  they  survive,  remain  near  each  other  the  fol- 
lowing season.  If  all  the  cubs  and  young  bears  lived,  bears  would  be  so 
numerous  that  the  country  would  be  overrun  with  them,  but  I  think  many 


GrAME   OF   COOS   (  !OUNTY.  69 


perish  during  their  first  winter,  and  many  more  in  the  spring,  when   they 
first  come  out.     I  have  known  of  several  instances  where  they  have  been 
found  in  a  tarnished  condition  and  almost  helpless.  They  arc,  when  a  year 
old,  not  much  larger  than   a  collie  dog,  but  they  grow  very  rapidly  after 
vegetation  starts.     No  animal  fights  for  her  young  with  more  goodwill 
than  the  bear,  and  woe  to  the  man,  boy,  or  dog,  that  interferes  with  her 
cubs.     I  do  not  know  of  any  wild  animals  of  the  same  species  where  there 
is  such  a  diversity  of  size  and  appearance  as  in  the  black  bear  ;  those  of  the 
largest  size  being  truly  formidable  animals,  and  often  a  terror  to  neighbor- 
hoods.    The  ordinary  bear  lives  mostly  on  roots,  green  herbs  and  berries, 
seldom  killing  sheep  or  doing  other  mischief,  and  if  let  alone  is  as  harmless 
as  fawns.     In  the  early  settlement  of  Lancaster  there  was  one  who  con- 
cluded to  live  on  the  inhabitants,  and  if  he  could  not  find  what  he  liked  in 
the  pastures  or  fields  would  tear  off  boards  from  the  barns  and  walk  in  and 
help  himself  to  sheep  or  calves  as  best  suited  him.     He  continued  his 
depredations  for  a  long  time  and   was  shot  at  often  but  to  no  effect.     At 
last,  Isaac  Darby  trapped  and  killed  him.     He  was  of  monstrous  size.     I 
have  had  a  strong  passion  for  hunting  the  bear,  and  of  some  fifteen,  that 
I  have  killed  in  the  last  twenty  or  thirty  years,  only  one  has  been  of  the 
largest  size  of  those  old  "sheep  killers."  This  animal  (I  think  in  1854)  killed 
not  less  than  fifty  sheep  and  many  young  cattle  during  the  summer  and 
fall.     The  spring  following  he  returned  to  the  scene  of  his  former  depre- 
dations before  the  stock  was  out  to  pasture,  and  I  was  requested  to  try  my 
skill  on  him,  as  all  others  had  failed.     He  made  it  his  home  in  the  swamp 
east  of  where  Capt.  Beattie  now  lives.     On  our  way  up  to  set  some  traps, 
we  met  a  noted  hunter,  and  he  told  us  in  great   excitement  that  he   had 
seen  him,  and  ''he  didn't  care  a  thing  about  me.     He  was  as  big  as  a  cow. 
I  cracked  a  cap  on  him,  but  my  gun  wouldn't  go  "  He  did  not  seem  inclined 
to  go  back  with  us,  and  "crack  another  cap,"  or  to  majjfe  the  distance  one 
foot  less  between  him  and  "bruin."     We  trapped  the  bear  one  Saturday 
night,  about  the   1st  of  May.     The  next  day,  the  churches   were  thinly 
attended,  and,  after  a  chase  of  several  miles,  "  bruin  "  was  killed.     He  was 
as  fat  as  a  well  fatted  hog.     I  had  no  means  of  ascertaining  bis  weight, 
but  a  friend  of  mine  took  these  measurements:     From  his  tail  to  bis  nose, 
six  feet  two  inches;  lying  upon  his  back,  his  fore  legs  by  bis  side,  and  bis 
hind  legs  stretched  out  like  those  of  a  man,  he  measured  eight  feet   from 
the  end  of  his  toes  to  his  nose;  he  was  twenty-two  inches  across  his  breast ; 
his  "arms"  were  twenty-one  inches  round  near  the  body,  and  apparently 
as  hard  as  a  piece  of  beech- wood;  across  the  ball  of  his  fore  foot  was  rive  and 
three  fourths  inches;  his  longest  nail  was  three  inches  outside  the  bend.  His 
skin  made  a  good  sized  sleigh  robe  without  tanning. 

The  bear  is  stealthy,  and  never  approaches  bis  victim  in  a  direct  line,  bul 
in  zigzag  courses,  as  if  he  would  pass  by  his  prey,  till  sufficiently  near,  when 


TO  History  of  Coos  County. 

he  darts  upon  it  with  lightning  speed,  and  at  once  proceeds  to  eat  his  game 
alive.  He  will  eat  decayed  flesh  only  when  reduced  to  great  extremity  by 
hunger.  Bears  are  seldom  seen  in  the  forest,  as  they  lie  close  to  the  ground 
and  allow  persons  to  pass  very  near  them  without  moving.  There  is 
no  doubt  but  that  the  large  male  bears  kill  the  smaller  ones,  and 
each  other,  when  they  can.  I  caught  a  large  one  whose  skin  had  been 
torn  in  two  places  across  the  back  the  width  of  a  man's  hand,  and  length- 
wise, two  or  three  inches;  it  appeared  as  if  the  animal  had  attempted  to 
escape  from  his  antagonist,  which  struck  both  paws  upon  his  back  and 
tore  his  hide  as  he  escaped. 

Wolverine. — Among  the  game  animals  of  Coos  first  to  disappear  was 
the  wolverine.  This  was  the  natural  enemy  of  the  beaver,  and  the  beavers, 
in  order  to  protect  themselves  from  its  depredations,  would,  after  freezing 
weather  commenced,  cover  their  houses  with  a  coat  of  soft  muck  that 
becam3  a  crust  that  the  wolverine  could  not  break  through.  I  have  heard 
hunters  complain  of  wolverines  following  their  lines  of  sable  traps  and 
robbing  them  of  the  bait  and  game  caught  in  them.  It  was  a  rare  animal 
after  the  disappearance  of  the  beaver,  and  could  not  exist  after  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  moose  and  deer. 

Lynx. — The  "bob-cat,"  or  Siberian  lynx,  was  common  while  the  deer 
remained,  but  he,  with  his  shaggy  coat,  and  the  ugliest  face  that  ever 
stared  at  a  human  being,  is  gone,  I  trust,  never  to  return. 

Otter. — Among  the  first  and  most  valuable  of  furred  animals  was  the 
otter,  but  as  it  was  a  wandering,  solitary  animal,  living  oh  fish,  the  num- 
ber was  never  great.  There  are  some  still  remaining,  but,  being  nocturnal 
in  their  habits,  they  are  seldom  seen.  They  might  live  for  years  in  our 
streams  and  ponds  and  their  presence  only  be  detected  by  persons  familiar 
with  their  habits. 

The  Fisher  is  another  of  the  furred  animals  of  former  days.  He  flour- 
ished while  the  deer  remained,  but  disappeared  when  he  could  no  longer 
eke  out  a  cold  winter  upon  the  carcasses  of  the  superannuated  old  buck, 
doe,  or  fawns  killed  by  hunters  or  the  "bob-cat."  This  animal  is  of  the 
weasel  family,  of  much  value,  and  about  two-thirds  the  size  of  the  fox. 

Sable. — Next  to  the  beaver  in  importance  as  a  furred  animal  was  that 
beautiful  little  creature,  the  sable.  It  was  near  the  size  of  a  half-grown 
house-cat,  but  much  longer  in  proportion,  of  the  weasel  kind,  head  and  ear 
like  the  fox.  It  lived  upon  what  would  satisfy  a  small  carnivorous  animal 
of  the  forest.  Nocturnal  in  its  habits,  it  was  seldom  seen,  except  when 
caught  in  a  trap.  The  sable  was  secured  by  the  hunters  setting  lines  of 
traps.  The  trappers  would  start  from  a  given  point  and  go  into  the  woods 
often  several  miles,  and,  at  intervals  of  forty  or  fifty  rods,  make  a  wooden 
trap  which  they  would  bait  with  a  piece  of  flesh  or  fish,  then  make  a  cir- 
cuit, and  finally  return  to  their  starting  point.     They  would  pass  over  this 


Game  of  Coos  County.  71 


line  once  in  three  or  four  days  to  secure  their  game  and  keep  their  traps 
in  order.  For  a  long  period  within  my  remembrance  sable  skins  have 
been  a  very  considerable  source  of  income  to  the  inhabitants  of  Coos. 
They  were  much  used  to  make  muffs  and  capes  for  the  women,  in  my  day. 
The  muff  of  Mrs.  Major  Weeks  was  large  enough  to  let  her  arms  in  to  the 
elbows,  and  contained  more  than  thirty  prime  sable  skins,  and  with  her 
cape  seventy  or  eighty.  My  mother's  muff  contained  thirty  skins  of  choice 
quality.  They  always  bore  a  good  price  in  cash.  A  month  spent  in  the 
fall  by  an  experienced  trapper  would  often  secure  a  hundred  or  more.  The 
sable,  like  the  fisher,  was  dependent  on  the  larger  game,  like  the  moose 
and  deer,  to  carry  them  through  our  northern  winters.  So  what  was  left 
by  the  hunters  ceased  to  thrive,  and  only  a  few  remain. 

The  Raccoon  and  Grey  Squirrel  are  only  visitors  of  Coos.  In  former 
times,  when  beech-nuts  were  plenty,  they  made  their  appearance  in  con- 
siderable numbers. 

Wild  Geese,  Ducks,  Etc. — Fifty  years  ago  wild  geese  were  plenty  about 
the  ponds  and  in  Connecticut  river  near  Lancaster.  They  often  came  in  flocks 
of  ten  or  a  dozen,  in  September,  and  remained  till  freezing  weather  in  the 
late  fall.  They  were  frequently  killed  by  experienced  sportsmeu.  Black 
and  wood  ducks  were  here  in  vast  numbers,  and  some  remained  to  within 
a  few  years.  They  made  their  nests  and  raised  their  young  about  the 
meadows,  and  in  the  fall  were  hunted  by  those  who  liked  canvass  backs 
but  were  willing  to  accept  black  or  wood  in  place  thereof.  Perhaps  the 
hunting  was  not  according  to  the  rules  of  sportsmen,  but  it  filled  the  bag 
with  game.  The  old  Dutch  gun,  or  Queen's  arm,  charged  with  two  fin- 
gers of  powder  and  an  ounce  of  BB  shot  would  sweep  a  space  on  a  pond  or 
river  a  yard  and  a  half  wide,  and  kill  at  a  distance  that  would  strike  a 
modern  sportsman  with  envy.     The  ducks  are  gone  with  the  geese. 

Grouse. — The  ruffed  grouse,  or  partridge,  was  found  in  great  numbers 
in  all  our  woods,  but  lately  they  are  seldom  seen,  even  in  the  dee})  forests 
where  they  are  not  hunted.  The  Canada  grouse,  or  spruce  partridge,  was 
quite  common.  Although  called  a  game  bird,  it  would  require  a  strange 
palate  to  call  its  flesh  delicious.  All  naturalists  in  treating  of  the  ruffed 
grouse  describe  his  drumming,  but  make  no  mention  of  that  of  the  (  anada 
grouse  which  instead  of  sitting  upon  a  log  and  beat  ing  regular  strokes  with 
his  wings,  making  a  sound  like  the  beating  an  inflated  ox  bladder 
upon  a  log,  reaches  the  top  of  a  tree  by  hopping  from  branch  to 
branch,  then  hops  off  and  makes  a  drumming  noise  as  he  descends  to  the 
ground.  I  will  describe  one  I  saw  that  much  interested  me.  I  heard  what 
I  supposed  to  be  the  drumming  of  a  common  partridge,  and  went  to  shoot 
it,  butsawitwas  a  Canada  grouse,  and  sat  down  and  watched  him.  lie  was 
on  the  ground,  his  feathers  standing  so  many  ways  he  hardly  retained  the 
shape  of  a  bird.     No  dandy  ever  made  a  greater  display.     He  began  to 


72  History  of  Coos  County. 

ascend  the  bushes  and  limbs  of  the  small  trees  about,  by  hopping  and  flying 
up  a  foot  or  two  at  a  time,  retaining  his  brustling  and  pompous  mood. 
When  he  was  up  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  he  hopped  off  a  limb  and  came 
down  almost  perpendicularly  making  a  fluttering,  drumming  noise  as  he 
descended.  I  watched  him  go  through  this  performance  several  times. 
Thinking  it  a  pity  to  spoil  so  much  good  feeling  I  left  him  to  his  enjoy- 
ment. 

Pigeons. — In  my  boyhood  I  have  seen  flocks  of  hundreds  of  thousands, 
if  not  millions  of  wild  pigeons.  My  father  had  a  net  and  I  have  baited  it 
and  caught  them  till  I  was  tired.  They  used  to  breed  on  the  mountains 
in  the  vicinity.  I  once  saw  one  of  their  "roosts."  I  was  projecting  a  line 
through  the  forest  on  the  highlands  between  this  state  and  Canada,  some- 
time in  the  "  forties,"  and  noticed  egg  shells  on  the  ground.  Looking  up 
we  saw  that  in  the  tops  of  the  trees  every  place  where  sticks  could  be  placed 
was  occupied  by  a  pigeon's  nest.  Some  trees  had  as  many  as  twenty  or 
thirty.  We  camped  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  the  next  morning  went  at 
least  half  a  mile  before  we  came  to  the  end.  Pigeons  came  in  reduced 
numbers  till  within  a  few  years,  but  they  are  now  gone  with  the  other 
game  animals  and  birds;  and  Coos,  from  being  the  finest  sporting  ground 
in  the  world,  is  now  about  the  poorest. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

EARLY  HISTORY. 


Early  Trappers  and  Hunters— Indian  Threats  — Capture  of  Stark  and  Eastman  —  Powers' 
Expedition  — Extracts  from  Journal  —  Fort  Wentworth  —  First  Settlers  — Townships,  and  Date 
of  Grants  —  Early  Population. 

T"T  ARLY  Trappers  and  Visitors.—  After  the  exploration  of  Field  and 
|ff  others  (1632— 1:2)  it  was  more  than  a  century  before  we  again  hear  of 
'Hf  white  men  within  the  limits  of  Coos  county.  The  English  were  push- 
ing their  settlements  up  the  valleys  of  the  Connecticut  and  the  Merrimack, 
trappers  penetrated  the  wilderness  far  above  the  settlements,  and  they 
often  met  the  Indians  on  these  hunting  excursions  and  evidently  were  on 
friendly  terms  witli  them.  John  and  Israel  Glines  came  here  very  early, 
prior  to  1750,  several  years  before  any  expedition  of  discovery  was  sent  to 
explore  the  wilds  of  Upper  Cohos.  These  men  came  to  get  a  part  of  their 
means  of  support,  working  on  their  land  through  "springtime  and  har- 


Early  History.  ;:>, 


vest,"  and  then  repairing  to  this  wilderness  in  the  autumn  to  gel  the  where- 
withal to  supply  their  families  with  greater  com  forts  than  were  then  obtain- 
able from  the  meager  soil  of  their  rough  farms. 

John  Glines  had  his  camp  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  which  bears  his 
name,  while  Israel  had  his  headquarters  near  the  placid  Connecticut, 
Israel's  river,  and  Beaver  brook,  where  the  traces  of  two  distinct  beaver 
dams  are  still  to  be  seen.  Here  he  carried  on  his  hunting  and  trapping 
operations  successfully. 

Benjamin  Nash,  Willard,  Thomas  Barker,  Edwards  Bucknam,  and 
others,  followed  the  Glineses,  and  the  almost  mythical  Martin,  who  gave  his 
name  to  Martin  Meadows.  The  Glineses  became  involved  in  trouble  with 
the  Indians  by  shooting  one  of  them,  and  left  to  return  no  more.  The 
later  ones  came,  no  doubt,  more  than  once,  on  their  hunting  expeditions, 
to  the  upper  Connecticut.  But  the  French  as  well  as  Indians  were  becom- 
ing jealous  of  the  extension  northward  of  English  settlements.  As  the 
English  contemplated  laying  out  two  towns  in  the  spring  of  1752,  which 
should  embrace  the  lower  Coos  meadows,  the  Indians  remonstrated  and 
threatened.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  their  threats  were  not  known  to 
all  the  settlers,  for  four  young  men  from  Londonderry  were  hunting  on 
Baker's  river,  in  Eumney,  and  two  of  these,  John  Stark  and  Amos  East- 
man, were  surprised  and  captured  by  the  Indians,  April  l;s,  i  752.  They 
were  taken  to  Lower  Coos  where  two  of  the  Indians  had  been  left  to  kill 
game  against  their  return.  The  next  day  they  proceeded  to  the  Upper 
Coos,  from  which  place  they  sent  Eastman  with  three  of  their  number  to 
St.  Francis.  "The  remainder  of  the  Indians  employed  themselves  for 
some  time  in  hunting  upon  a  small  stream  called  John's  river." —  [Stark's 
Memoirs.]  They  reached  St.  Francis  June  9th,  when  Stark  joined  his 
companion,  Eastman.  They  were  soon  after  ransomed  and  returned  to 
their  homes. 

Powers''  Expedition. — The  best  known  of  all  the  expeditions  to  Coos, 
was  that  of  the  company  under  command  of  Capt.  Peter  Powers,  of  Hollis, 
N.  H.,  Lt.  James  Stevens,  and  Ensign  Ephraim  Hale,  of  Townsend,  Mass. 
They  commenced  their  tour  Saturday,  June  15,  1754.  Starting  from 
Concord,  they  followed  the  Merrimack  river  to  Franklin,  the  Pemigewas- 
set  river  to  Plymouth,  Baker's  river  to  Wentworth,  and  then  crossed  over 
to  the  Connecticut,  via  Baker's  pond.  They  were  ten  days  in  reaching 
"  Moose  Meadows,"  which  were  in  Piermont. 

We  extract  from  their  journal: — 

"  Thursday,  Junt  21th. — This  morning  it  was  cloudy  weather,  and  it  began  (o  rain,  the  sun 
about  an  hour  high,  and  we  marched,  notwithstanding,  up  the  river  to  [  Lowe?  |  Amonoosuck  Ri\  er, 
and  our  course  was  about  north,  distance  about  live  miles;  and  we  camped  here,  for  the  River 
Amonoosuck  was  so  high  we  could  not  go  over  il  without  a  canoe;  for  it  was  swift  water,  and 
near  twenty  rods  wide.     This  afternoon   it   cleared    off  fair,  and  we  went    about   our  canoe,  and 


74  History  of  Coos  County. 

partly  built  it.  Some  of  our  men  went  up  the  River  Amonoosuck,  to  see  what  discoveries  they 
could  make;  and  they  discovered  excellent  land,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  large  white  pines. 

"  Friday,  June  28th. — This  morning  fair  weather,  and  we  went  about  the  canoe,  and  completed 
the  same  by  about  twelve  of  the  clock  this  day,  and  went  over  the  river;  and  we  concluded  to  let 
the  men  go  down  the  river  in  the  canoe,  who  were  not  likely  to  perform  the  remaining  part  of  the 
journey,  by  reason  of  sprains  in  the  ankles,  and  weakness  of  body.  They  were  four  in  number; 
and  we  steered  our  course  for  the  great  interval  about  east,  northeast;  and  we  this  day  marched, 
after  we  left  the  river,  about  ten  miles.  And  the  land  was  exceedingly  good  upland,  and  some 
quantity  of  white  pine,  but  not  thick,  but  some  of  them  fit  for  masts. 

"  Saturday,  June  29th. — This  morning  was  cloudy,  but  we  swung  our  packs,  and  steered  our 
course  about  northeast,  ten  miles,  and  came  to  Connecticut  River.  There  it  came  on  rainy, 
and  we  camped  by  the  side  of  the-river,  and  it  rained  all  this  afternoon,  and  we  kept  our  camp  all 
this  night.  [This  was  in  the  southern  part  of  what  is  now  Dalton.]  The  land  was,  this  day's 
march,  very  good,  and  it  may  be  said  as  good  as  ever  was  seen  by  any  of  us.  The  common  growth 
of  wood  was  beech  and  maple,  and  not  thick  at  all.  It  hath  a  great  quantity  of  small  brooks. 
This  day  and  the  day  past,  there  were  about  three  brooks  tit  for  corn  mills;  and  these  were  the 
largest  of  the  brooks  that  we  saw. 

"Sunday,  June  307/j. — This  morning  exceeding  rainy  weather,  and  it  rained  all  the  night 
past,  and  continued  raining  until  twelve  of  the  clock  this  day;  and  after  that,  it  was  fair  weather, 
and  we  marched  up  Connecticut  River;  and  our  course  we  made  good  this  day  was  about  five 
miles,  east  by  north,  and  there  came  to  a  large  stream,  which  came  from  the  southeast.  This  river 
is  about  three  rods  wide,  and  we  called  it  Stark's  River,  by  reason  of  Ensign  John  Stark's  being 
iound  (captured)  by  the  Indians  at  the  mouth  of  this  river.  [This  is  John's  river.]  It  comes  into 
the  Connecticut  at  the  foot  of  the  upper  interval,  and  thence  we  travelled  up  the  interval  about 
seven  miles,  and  came  to  a  large  river  which  came  from  the  southeast;  and  it  is  about  rive  rods 
wide.  Here  we  concluded  to  go  no  further  with  the  full  scout,  by  reason  of  our  provisions  being 
almost  all  spent;  and  almost  all  our  men  had  worn  out  their  shoes.  This  river  we  caded  Powers' 
River,  it  being  the  camping  place  at  the  end  of  our  journey;  and  there  we  camped  by  the  river. 
[The  river  they  named  Powers'  river  is  Israel's  river.] 

"Tuesday,  July  2d. — This  morning  fair  weather,  and  we  thought  proper  to  mend  our  shoes, 
and  to  return  homeward;  and  accordingly  we  went  about  the  same;  and  whilst  the  men  were  this 
way  engaged,  the  captain,  with  two  of  his  men,  marched  up  the  river  to  see  what  further  discov- 
eries they  could  make,  and  they  travelled  about  rive  miles,  and  there  they  discovered  where  the 
Indians  had  a  large  camping  place,  and  had  been  making  canoes,  and  had  not  been  gone  above 
one  or  two  days  at  most;  and  so  they  returned  to  the  rest  of  the  men  again  about  twelve  of  the 
clock;  and  then  we  returned,  and  marched  down  the  river  to  Stark's  River,  and  there  camped. 
This  afternoon  it  rained  hard,  but  we  were  forced  to  travel  for  want  of  provisions.  This  interval 
is  exceedingly  large,  and  the  farther  up  the  larger.  The  general  course  of  this  river  is  from  north- 
cast  by  east  as  far  as  the  interval  extends.  [The  captain  and  his  two  men  penetrated,  probably, 
as  far  as  Hay  Camp  meadow,  in  the  north  part  of  Lancaster,  and  travelled  nearly  140  miles  beyond 
the  habitations  of  civilized  men.  At  Hay  Camp  meadow,  or  below,  they  first  fell  upon  the  trail 
of  Indians,  where  they  had,  probably,  been  preparing  canoes  to  descend  upon  the  frontier  settle- 
ments.] 

"  Wednesday,  July  :)J.—  This  morning  cloudy  weather,  and  thundered;  and  after  the  sun  an 
hour  high,  it  rained  hard,  and  continued  about  an  hour,  and  then  we  swung  packs,  and  steered 
cur  course  west-southwest,  aiming  for  Amonoosuck  River,  and  this  day  we  marched  about  four- 
teen miles,  and  camped. 

"  Thursday,  July  4(//.-We  marched  on  our  course  west-southwest,  and  this  day  we  marched 
about  twenty  miles,  and  camped- 

"  Friday,  July  5th  —We  marched  about  three  miles  to  our  packs,  at  Amonoosuck,  the  same 
course  we  had  steered  heretofore;  and  we  afterwards  went  over  Connecticut  River,  and  looked  up 
Well's  River,  and  camped  a  little  below  Well's  River  this  night. 

"Saturday,  July Qth.—  Marched  down  the  great  river  to  Great  Coos,  and  then  crossed  the 


Early  History.  75 


river  below  the  great  turn  of  clear  interval,  and  there  left  the  great  river,  and  steered  south  by 
east  about  three  miles,  and  there  camped.  Here  was  the  best  of  upland,  and  some  quantity  of  large 
white  pines." 

The  journal  is  fragmentary  and  meagre,  and  the  comments  made  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Powers  have  not  given  us  any  additional  light,  but  have  rather 
added  obscurity  to  the  original  narrative.  He  says  that  Ihe  object  of  the 
expedition  was  discovery;  but  if  Captain  Powers'  company  was  the  one 
referred  to  by  Governor  Wentworth  in  a  message  of  May  4,  1 7.">4,  and  in 
one  of  December  5,  17r>4,  they  certainly  went  to  see  if  the  French  were 
building  a  fort  in  the  Upper  Coos.  As  this  was  the  only  expedition  fitted 
out  during  the  year  that  went  in  this  direction,  it  is  quite  certain  that  this 
is  the  one  to  which  the  message  referred.  But  it  is  something  to  be  able 
to  say  that  Capt.  Peter  Powers,  with  his  command,  was  the  first  body  of 
English  speaking  people  who  camped  on  the  broad  intervals  of  Coos 
county.  It  would  seem  as  if  they  were  not  of  such  stuff  as  pioneers  were 
made  of,  for  their  conclusion  to  return  seems  to  have  been  reached  about 
the  time  they  saw  signs  that  indicated  a  probable  proximity  of  Indians. 

Fort  Wentworth. — In  1755  so  little  was  known  of  the  geography  of  the 
country,  that  the  "Coos  Meadows,"  on  the  Connecticut,  above  Lancaster, 
were  supposed  to  be  on  the  direct  route  from  "Salisbury  Fort  "  to  Crown 
Point,  and  Colonel  Blanchard  was  to  march  his  regiment  through  the  "Coos 
Meadows  "  to  Crown  Point.  Supposing  that  there  was  to  be  opportunity 
for  a  passage  of  the  troops,  some,  if  not  most  of  the  way,  by  water,  by  the 
Merrimack,  Connecticut,  and  other  rivers,  the  regiment  in  rendezvous 
were  kept  busily  at  work  building  batteaux  for  transportation  of  the 
troops  and  stores,  whilst  Capt.  Robert  Rogers  was  sent  forward  to  "  Coos 
Meadows  "  with  his  company  to  build  a  fort  for  the  occupation  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  for  resort  in  case  of  disaster.  Capt.  Rogers  executed  his  com- 
mission, and  built,  or  partially  built,  a  fort  on  the  Connecticut  about  three 
or  four  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Upper  Ammonoosuc  river.  This  was 
called  "  Fort  Wentworth."*  After  Rogers'  return,  and  the  regiment  had 
spent  some  six  weeks  in  building  batteaux  that  could  not  be  used  for  want 
of  water,  Gov.  Wentworth  discovered  his  error,  and  ordered  the  regiment 
to  proceed  across  the  Province  to  "Number  Four."  and  then  to  Crown 
Point  by  way  of  Albany. — Adjutant  GeneraVs  Report,  1866. 

Settlement. — After  fifteen  years  of  war  and  bloodshed,  by  the  conquest 
of  Canada  peace  came  to  the  New  Hampshire  frontier.  The  people  began, 
once  more,  to  be  inspired  with  hope  of  better  days. 

Besides  those  who  are  known  to  have  been  on  the  Upper  ( 'oos  Meadows, 
undoubtedly  many  trappers  of  whom  there  is  no  record  had  visited  them 

^Remains  of  this  fort  were  to  be  seen  but  a  few  years  ago.  It  was  built  at  the  narrowest  place 
of  the  Connecticut  valley  in  that  section,  opposite  a  very  high  bluff  on  the  Vermont  side 


76  History  of  Coos  County. 


and  given  glowing  accounts  to  the  lower  country.  At  least  in  the  years 
succeeding  the  French  war,  the  colonists  had  opportunities  for  exploration 
they  never  had  before.  From  Holland's  map  of  this  state  published  in 
London  in  1784,  it  would  seem  as  if  an  accurate  survey  of  the  Connecticut 
and  Androscoggin  rivers  had  been  made  for  that  work,  or  previously.  The 
country  back  of  the  rivers  is  not  so  well  defined. 

In  the  autumn  of  1763,  Emmons  Stockwell,  a  young  man  only  twenty- 
two  years  old,  of  great  muscular  power  and  physical  endurance,  who  had 
survived  the  sufferings  to  which  he  had  been  exposed  as  one  of  Rogers'  Ran- 
gers, and  David  Page,  Jr.,  aged  eighteen,  made  the  first  actual  settlement  of 
whites  in  Coos  county,  at  Lancaster.  It  required  an  amount  of  nerve  which 
our  modern  youth  may  well  admire,  to  plant  themselves  here  at  the  beginning 
of  a  rigorous  northern  winter,  without  prospect  of  food  save  what  their 
rifles  provided,  and  separated  by  fifty  long  miles  from  the  nearest  house 
of  a  white  man.  They  received  additions  the  next  year,  and,  in  1767, 
Thomas  Burnside  and  Daniel  Spaulding  came  with  their  families  and  set- 
tled in  Northumberland.  Not  only  in  these  two  towns  but  in  many  other 
localities  did  the  people  of  the  old  towns  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
and  lower  New  Hampshire,  make  an  effort  to  settle,  or  at  least  secure 
grants,  many  of  which  lapsed.  In  quick  succession  Gov.  Wentworth 
made  more  than  eighty  grants  in  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire  along  the 
Connecticut.  The  Androscoggin  and  Saco  valleys  received  the  same  atten- 
tion, for  these  were  the  days  in  which  townships  were  made. 

Townships  Granted. — Shelburne  was  chartered  in  1768,  and  re-char- 
tered in  1771.  In  1770  Cockburne  (Columbia)  was  granted;  in  1771  Maynes- 
borough  (Berlin),  Paulsborough  (Milan);  in  1772  Bretton  Woods  (Carroll), 
Durand  (Randolph),  and  Dartmouth  (Jefferson),  the  last  re-granted  to  M. 
H.  Wentworth  and  others,  it  having  been  granted  to  John  Goffe  in  1765; 
in  1773  Durnmer,  Cambridge,  Success,  a  tract  to  S.  Wales  &  Co.,  one  to 
Nash  and  Sawyer,  and  Baker's  Location;  in  1774  Whitefield,  Millsfield, 
Errol  and  Kilkenny.  Besides  these,  Colebrook,  Stuart  (Stewartstown), 
Woodbury,  re -granted  as  New  Stratford  (Stratford),  Piercy  (Stark), 
Apthorp  (including  Dalton),  Martin's  Patent,  Green's  Location,  and  Shel- 
burne Addition  (Gorham). 

Early  Population. — In  1770  there  were  a  few  people  in  Lancaster,  some 
in  Northumberland.  Capt.  Whipple  came  to  Jefferson  in  1772  through 
the  "  Notch."  This  was  the  condition  of  affairs  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolution  in  177.~>.  In  Lancaster  they  had  built  a  mill  that  was  worked 
by  horse-power,  and  Capt.  David  Page  had  built  a  saw-mill  on  Indian 
brook,  but  this  had  been  burnt,  and  the  number  of  inhabitants  was  sixty- 
one;  while  in  Northumberland  there  were  fifty-seven;  in  Stratford  there 
were  forty-one;  Cockburne  (Columbia)  had  fourteen,  and  Colebrook  con- 
tained only  four.     In  the  last  town  Capt.  Eleazer  Rosebrook  was  one  of 


Early  Settlers,  77 


the  pioneers.  The  total  population  in  1775  of  the  territory  afterwards 
Coos  county,  was  '227.  In  fifteen  years  it  had  quadrupled,  being  882  in 
1790.  The  ratio  of  increase  was  not  quite  so  great  for  the  next  decade; 
this  century  beginning  with  2,658  inhabitants  in  the  bounds  of  the  county. 


CHAPTER  X. 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 


Character  of  Early  Settlers  of  New  Hampshire  —  Characteristics  of  Pioneers  of  Coos —  Hard- 
ships Endured  —  Religion  and  Education  • — Traditional  Stories  —  Improvement  in ' Condition  — 
Primitive  Houses  Furniture,  Etc.  —  Manners,  Customs,  Labor,  Dress,  Fare,  Etc. — Description 
of  Early  Homes,  Kitchens,  Utensils,  Stoves,  Etc. 

rjHARACTER  of  Early  Settlers  of  New  Hampshire.— -The  people  of 
I  j*\  Coos  county,  as  well  as  the  lower  counties  of  the  state,  have  a 
\j  personal  interest  in  the  characters  and  aspirations  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Xew  Hampshire.  It  is  of  interest  to  them  and  their  descendants 
whether  the  early  proprietors  and  settlers  were  actuated  merely  by  a  sordid 
love  of  gain,  or  whether,  back  of  the  business  enterprise  they  manifested, 
there  was  not  a  design  to  plant  on  these  lands  the  Christian  religion,  and 
to  uphold  the  Christian  faith.  Were  we  to  believe  all  that  was  said  by  the 
men  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  we  would  pronounce  them  Godless,  law- 
less persons  "whose  chief  end  was  to  catch  fish  "  Rev.  James  DeNor- 
mandie,  in  his  excellent  "  History  of  Portsmouth,"  in  speaking  of  the  long 
and  bitter  controversy  on  this  subject,  says:  "All  of  the  proprietors  inter- 
ested in  the  settlement  were  of  the  Established  Church,  and  it  was  only 
natural  that  all  of  the  settlers  who  came  out  with  them  should  be  zealous 
in  that  faith.  Gorges  and  Mason,  Godf rie  and  Xeal,  Gibbons  and  Chad- 
bourne  and  Williams,  and  all  the  names  appearing  on  the  Colonial  records, 
were,  doubtless,  of  this  faith.  Among  the  earliest  inventories  of  the  (  <>1 
ony's  goods  we  find  mention  of  service  books,  of  a  flagon,  and  of  cloths  for 
the  communion-table,  which  show  that  provisions  for  worship  were  not 
neglected,  and  of  what  form  the  worship  was."  Gorges,  in  defending  his 
company  from  various  charges  before  the  English  Mouse  of  Commons, 
asserts  that  "I  have  spent  £20, 000  of  my  estate  and  thirty  years,  the  whole 
flower  of  my  life,  in  new  discoveries  and  sett  lements  upon  a  remote  Conti- 
nent, in  the  enlargement  of  my  country's  commerce  and  dominions,  and 
in  carrying  civilization   and   Christianity   into  regions  of  savages."      In 


78  History  of  Coos  County. 

Mason's  will  were  instructions  to  convey  1,000  acres  of  his  New  Hamp- 
shire estate  "for  and  towards  the  maintenance  of  an  honest,  godly,  and 
religious  preacher  of  God's  word,  in  some  church  or  chapel,  or  other  public 
place  appointed  for  divine  worship  and  service  within  the  county  of  New 
Hampshire ;"  together  with  provisions  for  the  support  of  a  "free grammar 
school  for  the  education  of  youth."  No  better  proofs  could  be  given  that 
the  aims  of  those  energetic  men  from  whom  many  of  the  citizens  of  Coos 
county  claim  descent  were  fully  as  high,  moral  and  religious,  as  such 
enterprises  have  ever  been. 

Characteristics  of  these  Pioneers. — Two  classes  of  persons,  with  very 
distinctly  marked  characteristics,  penetrated  these  northern  wilds.  The 
leaders  were  men  of  intelligence,  energy,  shrewdness  and  property. 
They  had  two  objects  in  view:  to  furnish  permanent  homes  for  them- 
selves and  their  posterity,  and  to  acquire  wealth  by  the  rise  of  their  lands. 
They  were  men  of  strong  religious  principle,  and  early  made  provision 
for  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  They  brought  cows,  swine  and  sheep, 
and  were  soon  able  to  supply  their  tables  with  meat;  they  also  had  in 
a  short  time  comfortable  houses  and  furniture.  The  second  class  were 
people  so  poor  as  to  need  help  to  reach  the  settlements.  They  came  on 
foot,  bearing  all  their  worldly  goods  upon  their  shoulders,  and,  without 
the  aid  of  the  more  prosperous,  many  of  these  latter  would  have  per- 
ished. 

The  first  settlers  of  Coos,  in  common  with  the  pioneers  of  adjoining 
counties,  endured  many  privations,  hardships,  and  discouragements  not 
known  at  the  present  day,  and  it  is  well  that  the  present  and  coming  gen- 
erations should  read  of  these  experiences. 

Living  at  a  distance  of  more  than  a  hundred  miles  from  the  coast,  all 
heavy  articles,  such  as  salt,  iron,  lead,  and,  in  fact,  everything  indispensa- 
ble to  civilized  life  that  could  not  be  procured  from  the  soil,  or  found  in 
the  woods  or  streams,  was  obliged  to  be  transported  upon  the  backs  of 
men  or  horses,  not  even  having  the  convenience  of  roads,  and  their  only 
guides  through  the  forests  were  marked  trees.  They  had  to  ford  the 
streams  that  ran  across  their  route,  which  often  were  swollen  so  as  to  be 
impassable  except  by  swimming.  The  nearest  mills,  either  for  the  manu- 
facture of  lumber  or  of  grinding  their  corn  and  wheat  into  meal  or  flour, 
was  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  a  distance  of  110  miles,  and  the  surrounding 
country  a  wilderness,  and  in  addition  to  all  these  privations,  they  were 
surrounded  by  the  hostile  Indians,  who  might  at  any  time  pounce  upon 
them  with  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife;  thus  their  lives  were  passed 
mostly  in  hard  labor  and  danger.  Their  sleep  was  unsound,  as  they  were 
fearing  an  attack  from  their  enemies;  and,  all  in  all,  their  situation  was 
not  an   enviable  one.     However,  these  early  settlers  seem  to  have  been 


Early  Settlers.  ;:> 


endowed  with  strong  and  vigorous  constitutions  and  to  have  cultivated  a 
spirit  of  endurance  so  necessary  to  their  condition  in  life. 

It  is  difficult  for  us  to  conceive  the  hardships  of  the  pioneers  who,  a 
hundred  and  more  years  ago,  invaded  "the  forest    primeval,"  and  deter- 
mined to  wring  a  livelihood  from  lands  upon  which,  at  morning  or  even- 
ing, the    shadow  of  Mt.    Washington   lay.     The    perils   of  isolation,  the 
ravages  of  wild  beasts,  the  wild  wrath  of  the  rapid  mountain  torrents,  the 
obstacles  to  communication  which  the  vast  wilderness  interposed  —  every 
form  of  discomfort  and  danger  was  apparently  indicated  by  these  grand 
mountains  as  impervious  barriers  to  intrusion  and  occupation.     But  the 
adventurous  spirit  of  man  implanted  by  the  Supreme  Being  lor  his  own 
wise  purposes— carries  him  into  the  tangled  foiest,  into  new  climates  and 
to  foreign  shores,  and  the  great  work  of  civilization  goes  on  from  year  to 
year,  from  decade  to  decade,  from  century  to  century.  This  spirit  of — what 
shall    we   call   it?   adventure?  enterprise?  induced   whole  families  dming 
the  last  century,  when  there  was  land  enough  within  the  bounds  of  civil- 
ization unoccupied  and  unclaimed,  to  move  into  an  unbroken  wilderness. 
The  horses,  even,  of  some  of  the  settlers  would  not  remain,  and  struck  due 
south  in  the  direction  from  which  they  had  been   taken,  and  perished  in 
the  forests  before  spring.     Many  pioneers  would  start  for  their  new  homes 
in  the  winter,  as  if  to  get  the  hardest  experience  of  their  new  life  at  first. 
One  couple  went  eighty  miles  on  snow  shoes,  the  husband  carrying  their 
furniture  on  his  back,  and  they  nearly  starved  in  their  new  place  of  abode. 
Page's  colony  found  the  snow  two  feet  dee])  in  April,  1764.     Joseph  Pink- 
ham  and  his  family  removed  to  Jackson  in  1790,  when  the  snow  was  five 
feet  deep  on  a  level.     Their  hand-sled,  on  which  their  provisions,,  clothing 
and  furniture  were  packed,  was  drawn  by   a  pig  in  harness.     Another 
couple  went  a  great  distance  in  the  same  inclement  season,  the  wife  tiding 
on  a  feeble  horse,  with  a  feather  bed  under  her,  and  a  child  in  her  arms, 
while  the  husband  dragged  the  rest  of  their  household  goods  over  the  snow. 
Pluck,  perseverance  and  persistency  were  the  cardinal  virtues  of  the  early 
settlers.      Many  lived  for  years  without  any  neighbors   for    miles.     The 
pioneer  would  go  miles  to  a  mill,  and  carry  a  bushel  of  corn  on  his  shoul- 
der and  take  it  back  in  meal.     Ethan  Crawford's  grandfather  once   wenl 
eighty  miles  through  the  woods  to  a  lower  settlement  for  a  bushel  of  salt, 
the  scarcity  of  which  had  produced  sickness  and  suffering,  and   returned 
with  it  on  his  back.     Not  from  the  lack  of  salt  only  did  these  brave  peo- 
ple suffer;  few  of  them  owned  cows,  and  could  not  even  have  "  milk  por- 
ridge," or  "pudding  and  milk."     Meal  and  water,  and  dried  fish   without 
salt  was  often  their  diet  for  days,   when   game  was  shy,  or  storms  pre- 
vented hunting.     Sometimes,   when  threatened  with  famine,  they  would 
send  deputations  thirty,  fifty,  and  even  sixty  miles  to  purchase  grain.   And 
we  have  read  that  in  times  of  great  scarcity,  the  hardy  men  wore  a  wide 


80  History  of  Coos  County. 

strap  of  skin,  which  as  they  grew  more  emaciated  was  drawn  tighter,  to 
alleviate  if  possible  the  horrible  gna wings  of  hunger,  in  order  that  they 
might  hold  out  till  relief  came.  Besides  occasional  famines,  these  families 
suffered  from  freshets.  Their  rude  bridges  were  torn  up,  barns  and  even 
their  houses  swept  off,  and  often  when  by  their  industry  or  good  fortune 
they  had  accumulated  provision  for  the  future,  the  bears  would  come  down 
upon  them  and  steal  their  pigs,  or  anything  else  they  could  take. 

As  soon  as  possible  after  these  people  had  made  for  themselves  rude 
habitations  in  which  to  abide,  they  would  organize  a  church  and  establish 
a  school,  comprising  the  families  in  a  radius  of  six  to  ten  or  twelve  miles. 
The  ministers  would  work  at  clearing  land  and  hewing  trees  during  the 
week,  writing  their  sermons  by  the  blaze  of  pine  knots,  or  preach  extem- 
pore (which  was  more  often  the  case).  The  school-house  was  merely  a 
rude  structure  of  rough  logs,  lighted  by  an  occasional  pane  of  glass  placed 
singly  in  the  wall,  and  many  had  but  a  hole  for  the  light,  protected  by 
a  piece  of  cloth  or  oiled  paper,  from  the  cold  and  rain.  But  the  same  desire 
for  learning  was  kindled  and  fed  within  these  cabins  as  in  richly  endowed 
and  pretentious  schools  and  institutions.  The  mind — the  will — the  hope — 
and  the  passion  for  learning— is  stimulated  to  stronger  efforts — when  it 
has  but  few  props  and  helps  to  climb  the  hill  of  knowledge,  and  many  a 
man  has  taken  his  place  in  the  hall  of  Congress  in  the  Nation's  capital, 
who  was  taught  his  "A,  B,  C's"  in  just  such  a  school-house. 

In  the  ''locations,"  or  "grants,"  there  were  but  few  settlers,  and  often 
there  would  be  but  one  family.  There  is  a  story  that  a  man  once  made 
his  appearance  in  the  state  legislature,  and  took  a  seat.  He  was  asked  for 
his  credentials  as  the  choice  of  the  people.  "Whom  could  they  put  up 
against  me?"  he  said;  "I  am  the  only  man  in  my  town."  His  claim  to  a 
seat  was  allowed. 

There  must  have  been  a  few  more  inhabitants  in  the  settlement  in 
upper  Coos,  which  was  said  to  be  legally  warned  to  have  training.  After 
the  officers  were  chosen,  there  was  but  one  soldier,  and  he  said,  "  Gentle- 
men, I  hope  you  will  not  be  too  severe  in  drilling  me.  as  I  may  be  needed 
another  time.  I  can  form  a  solid  column,  but  it  will  rack  me  shockingly 
to  display." 

After  the  first  twenty  rive  years  of  settlement  the  settlers  were  for  the 
most  part  independent,  self-reliant,  healthy  farmers,  who  lived  upon  the 
produce  of  their  own  soil  raised  by  the  work  of  their  own  hands;  warmed 
by  fuel  from  their  own  woods,  and  clothed  from  the  flax  from  their  fields 
or  wool  from  their  flock.  They  had  but  little  money,  and  but  little  was 
needed,  for  their  trade  was  carried  on  chiefly  by  barter.  The  mechanics 
were  not  established  in  one  place— but  went  from  settlement  to  settlement 
where  they  were  needed,  receiving  for  their  labor  the  products  of  the  farm 
or  loom.     Prof.  Sanborn  says:     "The  primitive  log-house,  dark,  dirty  and 


Early  Settlers.  81 


•dismal,  rarely  outlived  its  first  occupant.  The  first  framed  houses  were 
usually  small,  low  and  cold.  The  half -house,  about  twenty  feet  square,  sat  i  s- 
xied  the  unambitious.  The  double-house, forty  by  twenty  feet  in  dimensions, 
indicated  progress  and  wealth.  It  was  designed  for  shelter,  not  for  com- 
fort or  elegance.  The  windows  were  small,  without  blinds  or  shutters. 
The  fire-place  was  sufficiently  spacious  to  receive  logs  of  three  or  four  feet 
in  diameter,  with  an  oven  in  the  back  and  a  flue  nearly  large  enough  to 
allow  the  ascent  of  a  balloon.  One  could  sit  in  the  chimney-corner  and 
see  the  stars.  All  the  cooking  was  done  by  this  fire.  Around  it,  also, 
gathered  the  family  at  evening,  often  numbering  six  to  twelve  children. 
The  furniture  was  simple  and  useful,  all  made  of  the  wood  of  the  native 
forest  trees.  Pine,  birch,  cherry,  walnut,  and  the  curled  maple  were  most 
frequently  chosen  by  the  '  cabinet-maker.'  Vessels  of  iron,  copper  and  tin 
were  used  in  cooking.  The  dressers,  extending  from  floor  to  ceiling  in  the 
kitchen,  contained  the  mugs,  basins  and  plates  of  pewter  which  shone 
upon  the  farmer's  board  at  the  time  of  meals.  The  post  of  the  housewife 
was  no  sinecure.  She  had  charge  of  the  dairy  and  kitchen,  besides  spin- 
ning and  weaving,  sewing  and  knitting,  washing  and  mending  for  the 
'men  folks.'  The  best  room,  often  called  'the  square  room,'  contained  a 
bed,  a  bureau  or  desk,  or  a  chest  of  drawers,  a  clock,  and  possibly  a  brass 
fire-set.  Its  walls  were  entirely  destitute  of  ornament.  It  was  an  age  of 
simple  manners  and  industrious  habits.  Contentment,  enjoyment  and 
longevity  were  prominent  characteristics  of  that  age.  Prior  to  1826,  there 
were  nearly  four  hundred  persons  who  died  in  New  Hampshire  between 
the  ages  of  ninety  and  a  hundred  and  five  years.  Fevers  and  epidemics 
sometimes  swept  away  the  people;  but  consumption  and  neuralgia  were 
then  almost  unknown.  Their  simple  diet  and  active  habits  were  conducive 
to  health. 

"  '  The  meeting  house '  was  a  framed  building.  Its  site  was  a  high 
hill;  its  shape  a  rectangle  flanked  with  heavy  porticos,  with  seven  win- 
dows upon  each  side.  Every  family  was  represented  here  on  the  Sabbath. 
The  clergymen  were  settled  by  major  vote  of  the  town,  and  tax-payers 
were  assessed  for  his  salary  according  to  their  ability.  The  people  went 
to  church  on  foot  or  on  horseback,  the  wife  riding  behind  the  husband  on 
a  'pillion.'  Chaises,  wagons  and  sleighs  were  unknown.  Sometimes  whole 
families  were  taken  to  '  meeting  '  on  an  ox-sled. 

"  Traveling  was  difficult  and  laborious.  Neither  men  nor  women  were 
ever  idle.  Books  were  few,  newspapers  were  seldom  seen  at  the  country 
fire-side.  News  from  England  did  not  reach  the  inland  towns  till  five 
or  six  months  after  the  occurrence  of  the  events  reported.  Intelligence 
from  New  York  reached  New  Hampshire  in  a  week.  In  1815  travel  was 
mostly  on  horseback,  the  mail  being  so  carried  in  many  places.  Inns  or 
taverns  were  found  in  every  four  to  eight  miles.  Feed  for  travelers'  teams 


6 


82  History  of  Coos  County. 

was,  half-baiting  of  hay,  four  cents;  whole-baiting,  eight  cents;  two  quarts 
of  oats,  six  cents.  The  bar- room  fire-place  was  furnished  with  a  '  logger- 
head,' hot,  at  all  times,  for  making  '  flip.'  The  flip  was  made  of  beer  made 
from  pumpkin  dried  on  the  crane  in  the  kitchen  fire-place,  and  a  few  dried 
apple  skins  and  a  little  bran.  Half-mug  of  flip,  or  half -gill  'sling,' six 
cents.  On  the  table  was  to  be  found  a  '  shortcake,'  and  the  ever-present 
decanter  or  bottle  of  rum. 

"  Women's  labor  was  fifty  cents  per  week.  They  spun  and  wove  most 
of  the  cloth  that  was  worn.  Flannel  that  was  dressed  at  the  mill,  for 
women's  wear,  was  fifty  cents  a  yard;  men's  wear,  one  dollar.  Farmers 
hired  their  help  for  nine  or  ten  dollars  a  month — some  clothing,  and  the 
rest  cash.  Carpenters'  wages,  one  dollar  a  day;  journeymen  carpenters, 
fifteen  dollars  a  month;  and  apprentices,  to  serve  six  or  seven  years,  had 
ten  dollars  the  first  year,  twenty  the  second,  thirty  the  third,  and  so  on,  and 
to  clothe  themselves.  Breakfast  generally  consisted  of  potatoes  roasted  in  the 
ashes,  a  '  bannock  '  made  of  meal  and  water  and  baked  on  a  maple  chip  set 
before  fire.  Pork  was  plenty.  If  '  hash  '  was  served,  all  ate  from  the  same 
platter,  without  plates  or  table-cloth.  Apprentices  and  farm  boys  had  for 
supper  a  bowl  of  scalded  milk  and  a  brown  crust,  or  bean  porridge,  or  '  pop- 
robbin.'  They  had  no  tumblers,  nor  were  they  asked  if  they  would  have 
tea  or  coffee;  it  was  'Please  pass  the  mug.'  " 

The  dress  of  these  early  settlers  was  very  simple,  and  of  their  own  man- 
ufacture. The  women  were  obliged  to  work  very  industriously  in  order 
to  be  able  to  accomplish  the  many  duties  required  of  them,  and  they  had 
neither  the  means  nor  opportunity  for  fine  clothes,  but  they  were  dressed 
neatly  and  generally  scrupulously  clean.  A  striped  loose  gown  with  blue 
and  white  check  apron,  well- starched  and  ironed,  was  considered  a  dress 
pretentious  enough  to  appear  in  any  company.  Many  of  these  women 
would  frequently  work  eighteen  to  twenty  hours  a  day.  They  would  card 
and  spin  the  wool  from  their  sheep,  weave  and  color  it  (in  some  primitive 
way),  then  cut  and  make  their  plain  garments.  Before  they  raised  sheep, 
the  men  wore  garments  made  of  moose-skin,  and  tow  cloth  was  also  used 
largely  for  both  men  and  women.  No  luxuries,  no  laces,  no  "lingerie," 
in  wmich  the  women  of  to-day  take  so  much  pride.  Linen  and  tow  was 
used  instead  of  cotton,  and  dressed  flax  was  to  some  extent  an  article  of 
export. 

Hardwood  was  cut  from  large  tracts  of  land,  and  burned  to  obtain 
ashes,  which  the  early  settlers  leached  and  boiled  into  salts,  and  carried 
where  they  could  find  a  market.  Those  that  had  a  horse  would  make 
what  was  called  a  "car,"  by  pinning  cross-pieces  to  two  light  poles  of 
suitable  length,  putting  the  horse  in  as  into  the  thills  of  a  wagon,  the  back 
part  dragging  on  the  ground,  and  the  load  fastened  on  just  behind  the 
horse.     Those  that  had  oxen,  used  a  wide  spread  crotched  stick  like  a  cart 


Early  Settlers.  83 


tongue,  this  they  called  a  "  go-cart."  Those  who  had  no  team  either  drew 
their  load  by  hand,  or  carried  it  on  their  hacks;  and  the  man  that  could 
not  cany  a  hundred  pounds  on  his  back  was  not  fit  for  a  pioneer.  Money 
was  so  scarce  the  most  that  could  be  obtained  went  for  taxes,  and  for  want 
of  it,  they  wTere  taken  to  jail.  Hence  poverty  was  the  rule,  and  riches  the 
exception.  In  winter  the  snow  was  so  fearfully  deep  that  the  few  families 
with  their  homes  at  some  distance  from  each  other  could  not  keep  the  road 
or  marked  ways  open,  and  consequently  great  suffering  often  ensued. 

There  were  almost  no  roads  for  many  years.  Mills  were  so  distant  that 
grain  was  sometimes  purchased  at  the  mills  and  ground  and  brought  to 
their  homes;  most  of  the  grinding  was  done  with  pestles  in  huge  mortars, 
manufactured  from  short  logs  of  large  hard  wood  trees,  sometimes  two  or 
three  feet  in  diameter.  Excellent  crops  of  wheat  were  raised  on  the  new 
land;  usually  good  corn,  and  a  large  amount  of  potatoes,  which,  baked  in 
the  coal  beds  of  their  great  kitchen  fire-places,  made  many  a  good  meal. 

James  W.  Weeks  thus  describes  the  early  homes  of  Lancaster  :  "  The 
kitchen  was  a  large  room,  perhaps  15  by  24  feet:  one  door  opening 
directly  out  of  doors;  an  immense  fire-place  7  feet  wide  and  3  feet  deep. 
To  this  fire-place  a  hardwood  log  is  brought  about  3|  feet  long,  and  twenty 
inches  in  diameter.  The  brands  of  yesterday's  back  log  are  drawn  for- 
ward with  the  long  handled  fire  shovel,  and  the  back  log  rolled  into  the 
fire-place  against  the  brick-work.  On  this  another  log  is  placed,  as  large 
as  will  lie,  called  a  back  stick.  The  fire  dogs  are  now  set  up.  and  en  these 
is  laid  a  large  stick  called  a  fore  stick,  then  is  filled  in  the  brands  of  yester- 
day's back  log  and  the  old  fire,  together  with  small  wood  You  soon  have  a 
fire  that  will  throw  a  glow  and  a  warmth  to  every  part  of  the  room:  a 
crane  of  sufficient  strength  to  hold  a  five  pail  kettle  filled  with  water,  is 
hung  to  the  left  jamb;  on  this  is  a  trammel  with  hook  to  take  up  or  let 
down,  and  other  hooks  on  which  pots  and  kettles  may  be  hung  when  used 
for  cooking.  A  capacious  brick  oven  is  built  on  one  side  of  the  fire-place, 
which  is  heated  once  a  week,  and  the  family  baking  done.  The  long- 
handled  fire-shovel,  and  a  large  pair  of  kitchen  tongs  complete  the  ti  r<  i 
arrangements  of  the  kitchen. 

"There  were  also  a  dozen  kitchen  chairs  framed  with  seats  of  elm  hark 
or  basket  stuff;  a  long  pine  table  that  could  be  moved,  capable  of  seating- 
ten  or  twelve;  a  table  or  board  turned  down  againt  the  wall,  on  which  to 
work  dough  for  bread. 

"The  family,  with  the  exception  of  the  small  children  (who  had  bread 
and  milk  night  and  morning),  took  their  meals  at  the  large  table  in  the 
kitchen.  At  dinner  the  larger  children  came  to  the  table  with  their  par- 
ents.    The  buttery  and  sink-room  opened  out  of  the  kitchen. 

"Now  about  the  cooking  utensils.  Firsl  was  the  large  dinner  pot,  in 
which  the  suet  or  berry  pudding  was  boiled,  and  the  bean   or  pea  porridge 


84  History  of  Coos  County. 

was  made;  a  broad,  flat-bottomed  kettle,  in  which  to  fry  doughnuts;  a 
smaller  one  in  which  to  boil  potatoes,  etc.,  and  a  large  dish  kettle.  Then 
the  gridiron;  the  heavy-handled  frying-pan  for  frying  meat  and  griddle 
cakes.  The  Dutch  oven  held  its  own  a  long  time,  but  was  superseded  by 
the  tin  baker.  This  oven  was  a  broad,  flat  iron  kettle  with  long  legs, 
and  an  iron  cover  with  a  rim  turned  up  about  one  and  a  half  inches;  there 
was  a  '  loop  '  in  the  middle  of  the  cover,  by  which  to  handle  it  with  the 
tongs.  To  use  this  oven,  a  bed  of  coals  was  drawn  forward  and  the  oven 
set  over  them,  the  biscuits  put  in,  the  cover  put  on,  and  a  few  shovelsfull 
of  coals  put  on  the  cover,  and  the  biscuits,  when  taken  out,  were  sure  to 
be  nicely  browned.  Potatoes  were  roasted  in  the  ashes,  and  the  Christmas 
goose  was  cooked  by  being  suspended  by  a  string  that  would  swing  and 
turn  before  the  fire,  and  was  basted  every  few  minutes,  with  a  long- 
handled  spoon,  from  the  dripping-pan.  The  first  cooking  stove  came  into 
town  about  1825  or  1826.  The  first  stove  of  any  kind  that  I  ever  saw  was 
in  the  old  Court  House.  It  was  a  brick  structure,  about  5  feet  square  and 
2  and  a  half  feet  high,  surmounted  by  an  immense  potash  kettle  upside 
down,  with  a  hole  in  the  bottom,  over  which  the  smoke  pipe  was  set. 

"Adjoining  the  kitchen  was  the  sanctum  of  the  mistress  of  the  house, 
where  noisy  boys  did  not  enter,  except  by  permission.  There  was  the 
cradle  for  baby  and  the  young  children,  and  if  the  mother  had  not  a  little 
girl  of  her  own,  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  to  look  after  the  baby,  she  bor- 
rowed one  of  some  friend  who  had  more  than  she  could  make  useful.  In 
this  room  the  mother  taught  and  cared  for  the  children,  and  made  '  ole 
claithes  amaist  as  good  as  new.'  Here  was  a  fire-place  half  as  large  as  that  in 
the  kitchen;  a  bed  turned  up  against  the  wall  in  a  corner;  some  strong 
wooden  chairs;  a  table  in  the  middle  of  the  room;  a  desk,  and  a  small  table 
or  stand  under  the  looking  glass  at  one  side  of  the  room,  on  which  was  the 
Bible  and  a  few  other  books.  The  clock  had  its  place  here,  and  every  hour 
gave  notice  of  the  flight  of  time.  In  the  more  pretentious  houses  there 
was  another  apartment  similar  to  this,  with  some  valuable  furniture,  with- 
out a  carpet,  but,  later,  one  of  home  manufacture  covered  the  floor.  There 
was  generally  a  small  bed-room,  with  a  spare  bed,  out  of  the  way  of  the 
noise  of  the  kitchen,  with  a  fire-place,  which  was  used  only  on  special 
occasions  and  in  case  of  sickness.  The  children  occupied  the  second  floor. 
All  the  beds,  except  those  of  the  very  poor,  were  of  feathers." 


REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOD    AND    EARLY    ROADS.  85 

CHAPTER  XL 

REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD  AND  EARLY  ROADS. 

War  of  the  Revolution  —  Frontier  and  Scouting  Parties  —  Proposed  Expedition  —  Convention 
of  Towns  —  Orders,  Receipts,  Etc. — Early  Roads  —  Petitions  Concerning  Roads  and  New- 
County —  Roads  in  179T  and  1803  —  Tenth  New  Hampshire  Turnpike  —  Jefferson  Turnpike,  Etc. 

Revolutionary  Period. 

THE  Indians  h*ad  a  trail  from  Canada  to  the  Penobscot  river,  in  Maine. 
After  crossing  the  Memphremagog,  they  would  take  the  Clyde  river, 
which  would  lead  them  to  Island  Pond,  Art.,  then  cross  to  the  Nul- 
hegan  river,  and  down  that  to  the  Connecticut,  thence  down  this  river  to 
the  upper  Ammonoosuc,  and  up  this  to  some  point  in  the  present  town  of 
Milan,  where  they  crossed  to   the  Androscoggin,  thence  down  the  last 
named  river.     They  were  a  great  source  of  annoyance  to  the  inhabitants 
through  whose  settlements  they  passed.     During  the  Revolutionary  war, 
the  Indians  received  $11  bounty  for  each  scalp  and  $55  for  each  live  cap- 
tive taken  by  them.     The  Tories  were  leagued  with  the  Indians  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  Revolutionists,  and  as  the  latter  could  get  no  assistance  from 
the  government,  they  were  obliged  to  rely  entirely  upon  their  own  insuffi- 
cient resources  for  self-defense.      The  inhabitants  of  both  sides  of  the 
Connecticut  river  united  for  the  purpose  of  self -protection,  chose  a  "com- 
mittee of  safety,"  and  built  forts  for  the  protection  of  the  women  and 
children.     There  were  three  built — two  in  Northumberland,  one  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Ammonoosuc  river,  one  on  the  Marshall  farm,  and  one  in 
Stratford,  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.     Whenever  the  "alarm"  was 
given  that  the  "Indians"  or  "  Tories  were  coming,"  the  women  and  chil- 
dren would  flee  to  the  forts.     An  incident  showing  somewhal  of  the  trials 
and  hardships  to  which  mothers  were  subject  in  those  days  of  tin  remit  tin- 
fear  and  anxiety,  is  this:    The  young  wife  of  Caleb  Marshall,  on  whose 
farm  one  of  the  forts  was  built,  after  providing  for  the  safety  of  the  most 
valuable  of  her   household  goods  by  having  them   buried  in  the  earth, 
mounted  her  horse,  and,  with  a  child  of  two  years  and  an  infant  of  three 
weeks  old,  went  unattended  through  the  wilderness  and  sparsely  settled 
towns  to  her  parents  in  Hampstead,  a  distance  of  160  miles,  where  she 
arrived  in  safety. 

The  history  of  New  Hampshire's  services  in  the  Revolution  has  never 
been  written.  Other  states  have  claimed  honors  that  were  justly  hers, 
and  no  field  is  more  deserving  the  pen  el'  a  painstaking  and  accurate  his- 
torian, or  would  bring  a  better  reputation;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  soon 


86  History  of  Coos  County. 

some  able  writer  will  treat  of  this  subject  fully,  and  show  that  the  Granite 
State  was  not  the  least  one  of  the  original  thirteen  in  devotion,  ability  and 
sacrifice. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution  the  hardy  pioneers  of  Coos 
stood  as  an  advance  guard  and  picket  company,  not  only  to  protect  their 
own  settlements,  but  to  warn  and  defend  the  lower  settlements  against 
attacks  from  the  north. 

This  document  from  Hammond's  Town  Papers  shows  better  than  any 
eulogy  of  ours  the  patriotic  spirit  actuating  them. 

"Petition  for  Soldiers. — Whereas  we  the  inhabitants  of  Lancaster,  Northumberland,  Guildhall 
&  Stratford  are  fully  sensible  of  the  dangers  of  being  attacked  by  the  Canadians  which  are  the 
worst  of  enemys  &  although  some  of  our  neighbors  have  Quit  the  ground,  yet  we  the  Subscri- 
bers Do  Jointly  &  severly  promis  &  ingage  to  Stand  our  ground  providing  the  Honab'le  Coun- 
sel 1  sees  Fitt  to  grant  our  request  That  is  this,  that  you  will  please  us  your  petitioners  so  far  as  to 
appoint  Mr.  Jere'h  Ames  of  Northumberland  our  friend  &  Neighbour,  Commander  of  our  Fort 
which  with  a  great  deal  of  fatage  we  have  almost  accomplished  &  likewise  for  him  the  s'd  Ames 
to  have  orders  to  inlist  as  many  men  as  the  Honab'le  Cort  in  their  wisdom  will  see  fit,  we  do 
ingage  to  inlist  ourselves  &  obey  his  orders  as  long  as  he  is  stationed  in  upper  Coos  and  Com- 
mander of  the  Fort.  /  Thomas  Blodgett,  James  Curtiss,  Archippus  Blodgett,  Emmons  Stockwell, 
"July  6,  1776.  \  Josiah  Blodgett,  Joseph  Barlow,  Nathan  Caswell,  Sam'l  Nash,  Abijah 
Larned,  Moses  Quimby,  Ward  Bailey,  James  Blake,  David  Larned,  Sam'l  Page,  Abner  Osgood, 
Dies  Sawyer,  Abel  Larned,  John  Frickey,  Elizer  Kosbrook,  Abner  Barlow. 

During  the  war,  Lancaster  reports  457  days'  service  on  "alarms," 
"scouting,  guiding,  andforting." 

Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames  was  on  the  frontiers  here  from  July  5,  1776, 
with  fifty  men  and  officers  for  some  time;  and  from  October  14,  to  Decem- 
ber 1,  1776,  with  twenty-six  Rangers.  Again,  he  had  command  of  ten  men, 
on  a  like  service,  from  December  2,  1776,  to  April,  1777.  A  scouting  party 
of  five  men  was  "stationed  at  or  near  the  Upper  Coos"  (probably  at 
Northumberland),  from  July  15,  to  October  1,  1779,  by  order  of  the  "  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,7'  under  command  of  Lieut.  Josiah  Chapman. 

After  the  capture  of  Col.  Joseph  Whipple,  at  Jefferson,  in  August,  1781, 
the  town  of  Conway  raised  scouting  parties,  consisting  of  Capt.  James 
Osgood  and  three  men,  Lieut.  Ezekiel  Walker  and  nine  men,  and  Elijah 
Dinsmore  and  two  men.  These  were  on  duty  from  ten  to  twenty  eight 
days  from  August  16,  1781,  at  Conway  and  adjacent  towns.  At  the  same 
time  "The  Committee  of  Safety"  took  immediate  measures  for  the 
defence  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  section,  placing  a  force  there,  under  the 
direction  of  Col.  Joseph  Whipple  and  Col.  David  Page,  for  the  protection 
of  the  northern  frontiers,  consisting  of  forty-nine  officers  and  men.  They 
were  in  service  from  August  29,  1781,  to  November  G,  1781,  and  commanded 
by  Capt.  Jacob  Smith  and  Lieuts.  Josiah  Sanborn  and  Peter  Gilman. 
Sergeant  James  Blake's  party  of  eleven  men  "for  the  defense  of  the 
Upper  Coos."  was  in  service  seven  months  and  eighteen  days  from  April 


Eevolutionary  Period  and  Early  Roads.  n7 

13,  1782.  Serg't  Philip  Page  and  five  men  were  drafted  for  duty  at 
"Androscoggin  River/'  in  1782,  and  were  in  service  from  August  19  to 
November  25,  LY82. 

In  July.  1 77*.*,  Joseph  Barlow  and  Hezekiah  Fuller  were  captured  by 
Indians  at  Stratford,  and  two  families  were  plundered  of  everything  valu- 
able. 

A  party  of  six  Indians,  August  3,  1781,  took  four  prisoners  at  Bethel, 
Me.,  killed  James  Pettingill,  at  Gilead,  and  shot  Peter  Poor,  in  Shelburne, 
besides  destroying  property. 

No  great  military  operations  were  carried  on  on  a  large  scale  here  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  and  no  battle  was  fought.  The  nearest  approach  to 
strategic  operations  is  probably  given  in  these  communications  from  Gen. 
Moses  Hazen  to  Col.  Bedell,  which  explain  themselves. 

"  Albany  26th  April,  1777. 
"  I  have  a  favor  to  beg  which  is  that  you  will  let  me  have  a  Particular  account  of  the  Dis- 
tance rout  and  Difficulties  attending  the  march  of  a  Body  of  men  from  your  house  or  the  upper 
settlements  on  Cohaas,  to  St.  Franciis  in  Canada,  which  I  am  sure  you  must  have  a  perfect  knowl- 
edge of.  I  should  also  be  glad  of  a  plan  or  sketch  of  that  Country  in  any  rough  way,  even  if  it 
was  Drawn  by  an  Indian.  I  leave  you  to  gess  the  reason  of  my  being  so  particular  on  this  head, 
assuring  you  only  that  I  am  anxious  to  see  once  more  my  own  country  which  probably  may  be 
the  case  before  the  end  of  this  campaign. 

"As  man}-  letters  miscarry  you  will  be  particular  careful  to  write  by  a  safe  opportunity  as  soon 
after  the  receipt  of  this  as  you  Possibly  can.  Direct  to  Col.  Hazen  in  Camp  at  Head  Quarters.  I 
hope  you  will  not  neglect  the  opportunity  put  into  your  hands  of  serving  yourself  and  Country. 

"Gen  Moses  Hazen 
"  To  Colonel  Bedle  at  Cohaas  in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire." 

From  Gen.  Hazen  to  Col.  Bedle,  December  12,  1778  : — 

"  There  has  not  been  any  expedition  ever  fixed  upon  from  your  Quarter,  some  preparation 
was  ordered,  and  magazenes  provided  in  order  that  we  might  Take  the  advantage  of  our  enemy  in 
case  an  opportunity  should  offer — the  great  difficulty  which  now  appears  to  me,  is  that  we  have 
no  money,  or  at  least  that  which  we  have  will  purchase  nothing." 

Convention  op  Towns  in  Coos. 

" Northumberland  July  10th  1779 
"At  a   meeting  of    the  Inhabitants  of   Lancaster  Northumberland  &   Stratford  to  hear  the 

Report  Joseph  Peverly  Esq'r  and  also  to  agree  upon  Sum  Proper  Place  for  the  Scouting  Perty  to 

Be  Stationed,  Viz — first — 

"Chose  maj'r  Jonas  Wilder  moderator — 
"  2d     Choose  Cap't  Edw'ds  Bucknam  Clark 

"3d  Voted  that  the  Place  for  the  Scouting  Party  to  Be  stationed,  at  M'r  James  Browns  In 
Stratford 

"4  Voted  that  Every  man  In  Each  town  Viz.  Lancaster  Northumberland  and  Stratford  to 
work  one  Day  at  the  fort  In  Stratford  Immediately — 

"  5     Chose  Nathan  Caswell  Captain  over  these  three  towns  for  the  Present 

"  6     Chose  Nathan  Barlow  Lieut 

"7    Chose  Dennis  Standley  Ensine 

"8     Chose  maj'r  Jonas  Wilder  the  man  to  go  Down  after  men  to  Exeter 

"9     Chose  Joseph  Peverly  Eiq'r  Capt  EJw'ds  Bucknam  and  M'r  John  Holdbrook  a  Com- 


88  History  of  Coos  County. 

mittee  to  Give  Directions  to  rnaj'r  Jonas  Wilder  and  draw  a  Purticion  to  the  General  Court  to- 
Send  by  maj'r  Wilder 

"10  Voted  that  m'r  John  Gamsby  m'r  James  Blake  and  Mr  John  Holdbrook  a  Committee  to 
Plan  out  the  fort  at  Stratford  " — Hammond's  Revolutionary  Rolls. 

Capt.  Eames'  Company's  Order  for  Pay. 

"  Northumberland  October  12:  1776 — 
'  Col'e  Nicholas  Gilman  Treasurer  for  the  State  of  New  Hampshire 

"  Please  to  Pay  to  Capt  Jeremiah  Eames  the  whole  of  the  wages  for  the  time  of  Service  in  his 
Company  as  shall  be  found  Due  on  the  Said  Capt  Eames's  Roll 

"  John  Trickey,  Jon'a  Willard,  Abner  Osgood,  Samuel  Page,  John  Page,  Zebulon  Colbey, 
Zechariah  Parker,  Abijah  Wright,  David  Brown,  Ebenezer  his  (x)  mark  Kemprield,  Moses  Page, 
Edmund  Eastman,  David  Cunningham,  Alexander  Craig,  Daniel  Spalding,  Jonathan  Craford, 
David  Earned,  Abel  Larned,  Abijah  Larned,  WTilliam  Patee,  James  Whiting,  Abel  Lovejoy,  John 
Willoughby,  Benj.  Preson,  Benj.  Pegley,  Jon'a  Clark,  Jacob  Draper,  Jonah  Chaptman,  Joseph 
Palmer,  Samuel  Marsh,  Edward  his  (x)  mark  Taylor,  Gardner  Duston,  Nathan  Caswell,  Nathan 
Barlow,  Gideon  Smith,  William  Curtiss.  Thomas  Blogget,  Archippus  Blogget,  Josiah  Blogget,  Johc 
Gibson,  John  Haselton,  Caleb  Marshall,  Dill  Sawyer,  William  Amy,  James  Blake,  Ward  Bailey, 
Thomas  Peverly,  Benj'a  Sawyer,  Abner  Barlow. 

"Captain  Eames''  Scouts. — Captain  Eames's  Scouting  Party,  from  December  2,  1776,  to  April 
15th,  1777,  Head  Quarters  Great  Coos,  received  for  services  £110,  19s.  9d.  The  pay  was  as  fol- 
lows: Captain,  £6  per  mouth;  Sergeant,  48  shillings;  Private,  40  shillings  per  month.  The  com- 
pauy  consisted  of  Capt.,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Serjeant,  Abner  Osgood,  Privates,  Thomas  Peaverly, 
Jonathan  Willard,  John  Trickey,  Haines  French,  William  Amy,  Nathan  Caswell,  John  Gibson,. 
Dill  Sawyer,  Abner  Barlow;  all  serving  the  full  time  excepting  the  latter,  whose  service  was  one 
month . 

"Receipts. — State  of  !New  Hampshire,  Northumberland,  24  July,  1779.  Then  we  the  subscribers 
received  of  Joseph  Peverly  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds,  which  sum  is  in  full  for  one  month's  ad- 
vance pay,  and  the  sum  of  six  pounds  each  as  a  bounty. 

"  (Signed,)  Abraham  Buee,  Dav'd  (x)  Cunningham's  mark. 

"Peter  Keyes,  Jabed  Church,  Jn'o  his  (x)  mark  Martin." 

"  We  the  Subscribers  have  received  the  sum  annexed  to  each  maus  name  of  Joseph  Peverly, 
Esq'r,  for  our  travelling  money  from  each  mans  place  of  abode  to  said  Peverly's  house— Jonah 
Chapman  100  miles  £10.  Abraham  Buell  100  miles  £10.  Dav'd  Cunningham  100  miles  £10.  Peter 
Keyes  100  miles  £10.  Jno  his  (x)  mark  Martin  80  miles  £8.  Northumberland,  24  July,  1779.  Then 
rec'd  of  Joseph  Peverly  the  sum  of  thirty -three  pounds,  6s.  L-  M'y,  which  sum  is  in  full  for  one 
month's  advance  Jonah  Chapman  Lt  Stratford  Sep  1779  Then  rec'd  of  Joseph  Peverly  the 
rations  in  full  allowed  for  six  men  from  July  24.  to  Oct'r  23d  1779  Jonah  Chapman  " 

"  Northumberland  Oct'o  1,  1779.  Received  of  Joseph  Peverly  fifty-eight  dollars  &  four  shil- 
lings which  is  in  full  for   the  allowance  of  Rum  while  scouting — per  Jonah  Chapman 

"  EnlistmenU— James  Hardy  enlisted  in  Capt  Jno.  House's  Co.  of  Col.  Morey's  Regt  in  July 
1777  from  Lancaster  Eleazer  Rossbrook,  Josiah  and  Thomas  Blodgett  Nathan  Barlow  Joshua 
Lamshier  and  Samuel  Page  enlisted  in  Capt.  Whitcomb's  Co  in  July  1777,  from  Lancaster, 
Northumberland  &  Stratford.  Eleazer  Rossbrook  enlisted  in  Maj  Benj  Whitcomb's  Independent 
Company  of  Rangers  Dec  28  1776  from  Lancaster.  Edward  Mardean,  James  Rosebrook, 
Haynes  French,  and  Henry  Tibbetts  at  the  same  time  as  privates  in  the  same  company.  They 
served  until  Dec.  31,  1779.  John  Trickey  of  Northumberland  enlisted  in  Col.  Thos.  Stickney's 
Co  from  Boscawen  Aug.  1,  1779  for  one  year." 

Roads. 

Roads  occupied  much  attention  of  the  early  settlers.  The  Indian  trails,, 
kept  somewhat  worn  in  most  of  the  distance  by  the  hunters  and  trappers,. 


Revolutionary  Period  and  Early  Roads.  89 

were  better  than  a  trackless  wilderness;  yet  it  surprises  us  to  see  it  stated 
in  Power's  journal  their  company  marched  as  many  as  twenty  miles  a 
day,  the  same  distance  allowed  foot  soldiers  as  a  day's  march  in  a  civilized 
country.  It  is  quite  probable  that  Capt.  Rogers  cut  out  a  road  to  convey 
his  supplies  to  construct  Fort  Went  worth,  in  1755.  Three  ways  were  in 
existence  early  to  reach  the  Upper  Coos  from  below.  One,  and  the  princi- 
pal one,  was  the  Connecticut  river,  with  canoes  and  "earns"  in  summer, 
and  on  the  ice  in  winter.  Another  was  on  the  highlands,  west  of  the 
Ammonoosuc,  passing  by  Streeters  pond,  in  Lisbon,  and  the  east  part  of 
Littleton.  The  valley  of  the  Ammonoosuc  was  the  third  route.  The 
early  roads  were  cut  about  eight  feet  wide,  and  "corduroyed."  They  were 
not  much  like  our  later  roads,  but  the  pioneers  seem  to  have  been  able  to 
traverse  them  on  foot,  on  horseback,  or  to  drive  cattle  over  them  without 
serious  detriment  to  their  progress.  But  these  trails  were  unsuited  to  the 
needs  of  an  increasing  population.  In  all  town  and  proprietors'  meetings, 
roads  was  the  most  important  subject  of  discussion.  Little  progress  was 
made  for  years.  Edwards  Bucknam,  Timothy  Nash,  David  Page,  David 
Page,  Jr.,  of  Lancaster,  were  appointed,  March  12,  1 7 ♦ » 7 ,  members  of  a 
committee  to  lookout  and  mark  roads  to  the  "Ameroscoggin,"  Pickwackett, 
and  the  first  settlements  on  the  Connecticut. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  governor  and  council  at  Portsmouth,  March 
13,  1772,  a  petition  was  presented  by  the  proprietors  of  Lancaster,  North- 
umberland, and  Shelburne,  setting  forth  the  utility  of  a  road  from  Conway 
to  the  Connecticut  river,  and  praying  His  Excellency  would  be  pleased  to 
order  the  surveyor-general  of  lands  to  mark  out  a  proper  road,  and  issue 
such  other  orders  as  would  "  effectuate  "  the  same. 

Nothing  tended  so  much  to  cause  a  demand  for  a  new  county,  as  the 
badness  of  the  roads  between  Upper  Coos  and  Haverhill. 

About  1775  the  proprietors  of  Apthorp  offered  two  tracts  of  land  of 
100  acres,  to  any  one  who  would  cut  away  the  trees  and  bushes  on  the 
most  direct  route  between  Haverhill  and  Lancaster  line,  a  distance  then 
considered  as  fifty  miles,  and  make  a  road  passable  for  a  one-horse  wagon 
containing  two  persons.  This  offer  was  accepted  by  -Moses  Blake,  who  <lul\ 
executed  his  contract,  and  was  deeded  the  two  nearest  lots  to  tin1  mouth  of 
John's  river. 

These  petitions  from  Hammond's  Town  Papers  tell  their  own  story: 

"  To  the  Honorable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  for  the  State  of  Newhampshire 
(humbly  Sheweth)  The  Inhabitants  of  A  Place  Called  LTper  Cods  Thai  they  began  Setelmenl  at 
that  Place  more  than  twentithree  Years  ago  and  ever  since  have  Continued  their  Setelment  through 
many  Difficulties  Especially  on  account  of  the  Badness  of  the  Roads  through  Littleton  and  Dal 
ton  which  have  never  been  properly  Cleared  nor  bridged  by  which  means  wagons  or  Sleighs  p 
with  the  greatest  Danger  and  never  more  than  half  a  Load  which  Subjects  the  inhabitants  of  Said 
Coos  to  very  Large  Expence  in  transporting  necessary  foreign  articles  and  others  in  Removing  with 
their  faraileys  and  Efects  from  Conne-tiei  it    Massachusetts  and  the   Easterly  pari  of  New    Eamp 


90  History  of  Coos  County. 


shire  to  the  Same  Difficulties  which  very  much  Impedes  &  hinders  the  Setelment  of  the  Towns  on 
Connecticut  River  etc  Lying  above  S'd  Littleton  &  Dalton  Your  Petitioners  beg  Leave  to  farther 
Sugjest  that  the  Townships  of  Littleton  aud  Dalton  being  owned  by  only  a  few  Gentlemen  and 
the  Towns  not  Vested  with  Power  nor  the  Inhabitants  of  ability  to  Lay  out  Clear  bridge  and  make 
Passable  Said  Road  through  which  Your  Petitioners  must  Pass  on  any  Business  belonging  to  the 
Probate,  or  County  Matters,  Wherefore  your  Petitioners  Pray  Your  Honors  to  take  their  Case  into 
Your  wise  Consideration  and  order  that  the  Road  be  made  Passable  and  keept  in  good  Repair 
through  Said  towns  of  Littilton  &  Dalton  to  the  acceptance  a  Commitee  to  be  appointed  for  that 
Purp  »se  or  by  Some  other  way  as  your  Honors  Shall  See  fit  and  Your  Petitioners  Will  Ever  Pray 
"May  10th  17d8 

Inhabitants  of  Lancaster 

"Jonas  Wilder,  Aamasa  Grout,  Jonas  Baker,  Joseph  Brackelt,  Edw'ds  Bucknam,  Phinehas 
Hodgin,  Francis  Willson,  John  Weeks,  Abijah  Darby,  Walter  Philbrook,  Samuel  Johnson,  Hope- 
still  Jenison,  David  Page,  Emons  Stockwell,  Ephraim  Griggs,  Will'm  Johnson,  Jonathan  Hartwell. 

"  Northumberland  —  Jer'h  Eames  Ju'r,  Tho's  Eames,  Joseph  Peverly,  Abner  osgood,  J.  Whip 
pie,  Daniel  Spauiding,  Abel  Bennett,  thomas  Burnside,  James  Burnside. 

"Stratford.— Hez'i  Fuller,  David  Jnoson,  Hetli  Baldwin,  Elijah  Hinman,  Joshua  Lamken, 
Archippus  Blodget,  Jabez  Baldwin,  Elijah  Blodget,  Oliver  Lamkin,  James  Curtiss,  Josiah  Blod- 
get,  James  Brown,  Nuc  >mb  Blodget,  Benj'n  Strong,  William  Curtiss 

"  Piercy. — John  Cole,  Caleb  Smith. 

"  Relative  to  the  Formation  of  Coos  County,  1790  To  the  Honourable  senate  and  house  of 
Representatives  of  the  State  of  Newhanipshire,  to  be  convened  at  Concord  on  the  first  Wednesday 
in  Jan'y  next, 

"  The  petition  of  the  select  Men  of  the  towns  of  Lancaster  Northumberland  and  Stratford,  for 
and  in  behalf  of  the  respective  towns,  Humbly  Sheweth;  That  our  located  situation  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state  is  such,  that  it  will  be  perticularly  beneficial  for  us,  to  have  Conway  and  ad- 
jacent towns  annexed  to  us,  in  the  formation  of  the  northerly  County  in  s'd  State,  not  only  on  ac- 
count of  the  occupancy  and  improvement  of  our  most  advantageous  road  to  seaport,  but  in  order 
to  promote  emigrants,  and  agriculture  in  this  fertile  &  healthy  territory;  the  promotion  of  which, 
we  humbly  conceive  will  be  of  publick  utility,  and  the  state  to  which  we  owe  our  allegiance,  will 
receive  emolument  in  proportion  to  the  opulency  of  this  part  of  the  state— And  your  petitioners  as 
in  duty  bound  will  ever  pray — Lancaster  Dec'r  29  1790 

"  Edw'ds  Bucknam, 
"Emmons   Stockwell, 
"Francis  Willson, 


Select  Men 
for  Northumberland, 


"  Joshpii  Pkverly,  Lancaster 


"  Jer'm  Eames, 
"Elijah  Hinman, 
"  Jamls  Brown. 


and 
Stratford. 


Petition  for  a  new  county,  1791. 

"To  the  Honorable  the  General  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire— The  petition  of  the  In- 
habitants of  Lancaster  in  the  County  of  Grafton 

"  Humbly  Sheweth 

"  That  your  Petitioners  live  at  the  distance  of  near  sixty  miles  from  the  nearest  shire  Town  in 
this  County 

"  That  a  very  considerable  part  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the  County  live  above  us  and 
are  under  similar  disadvantages  with  us, 

"That  the  Roads  to  Haverhill  our  nearest  shire  Town  are  exceedingly  bad  and  at  some  seasons 
of  the  year  impassable,  Wherefore  we  your  petitioners  pray  that  we  may  be  seperated  from  the 
said  County  of  Grafton  and  made  a  new  County  by  a  line  drawn  from  Connecticut  River  between 
the  Towns  of  Concord  alias  Guuthwait  and  Littleton  and  on  Eastward  taking  in  the  Towns  of  Con- 
wa,  Eaton  &cto  the  Province  line  so  call'd  and  we  as  in  duly  bound  shall  ever  pray  — 

"  Lancaster  Nov'r  22nd  1791. 


Revolutionary  Period  and  Early  Roads.  91 

"Edw'ds  Bucknam,  William  Bruce,  Stephen  Willson,  Jeremiah  Willcox,  Emmons  Stockwell, 

Robert  Gotam,  Francis  Willson,  Joseph  Bruce,  Jonas  Wilder,  junur,  Asaph  Darby,  Jonas  Baker, 
Jonathan  Cram,  Edward  Spaulding,  Will'm  Moore,  Joseph  Brackett,  Epbraim  Wilder,  .John 
Weeks,  Jon'a  Ilartwell,  Nathan  Lovewell,  Joseph  Wilder,  Samuel  Johnson,  Dennis  Stanley,  Isaac 
Darby,  Phinehas  Bruce,  Elisha  Wilder,  John  Rosbrook,  E/.ra  Reves,  Benj'a  Twombly,  Walter 
Philbrook,  Moses  Page,  John  Mackintire,  Abijah  Darby,  Bradfor  Sanderson.  Zadock  Samson, 
Jonathan  Ros,  Daniel  How,  David  Stockwell,  Daniel  Chany,  John  Wilder.  Jonas  Wilder,  Manas- 
seb  Wilder,  Charles  Rosbrook,  David  Page,  James  Twombly,  Coffin  Moore,  Phinehas  Hodgdon, 
William  Johnson," 

President  D wight  came  to  Lancaster  on  horseback  in  1797.  He  says 
the  roads  were  good  from  Haverhill  to  Concord  (Lisbon).  "Here  he  first 
found  'causeys'  or  'corduroy'  roads  (not  in  good  repair)."  He  came  up 
the  Ammonoosuc  until  he  reached  what  is  now  Littleton  village,  when 
they  commenced  ascending  the  mountains  of  that  town  toward  Dalton. 
"The  mire  was  often  so  stiff  and  so  deep  that  our  horses  scarcely  strug- 
gled through  it.  The  roots,  also,  the  stumps,  rocks,  stones,  and  '  causeys  ' 
multiplied  upon  us  in  almost  every  part  of  our  progress."  The  road  con- 
tinued "on  the  same  mountainous  ground,  and  embarrassed  with  the  same 
disagreeable  circumstances  "  until  within  six  miles  of  Lancaster.  Of  the 
Dalton  mountains  he  says  that  "the  height  and  rudeness  of  these  moun- 
tains must  prove  a  serious  obstruction  to  all  traveling  for  pleasure  from 
the  country  below  to  the  country  above."  Going  from  Lancaster  through 
Jefferson,  via  "RosebrookV  and  the  "Notch,"  he  makes  no  complaint 
of  bad  roads,  except  that  the  first  two  miles  of  the  "  Notch  "  is  so  steep  as 
to  make  riding  on  horseback  seriously  inconvenient,  but  says  from  Bart- 
lett  to  Conway  they  passed  "  through  a  good  road.*' 

This  alone  is  sufficient  to  show  that  the  communication  between 
"  Upper  Coos  "  and  the  Saco  valley  and  points  below  was  much  easier  than 
with  Haverhill,  and  shows  why  the  people  were  so  anxious  to  be  united 
with  Conway  in  a  new  county. 

In  his  account  of  his  visit  to  Canada  line  in  1803,  Dr.  Dwight  says 
the  roads  in  Stratford  exhibit  strong  indications  of  a  lax  and  inefficienl 
spirit  in  some  of  the  inhabitants.  Through  Wales  Gore,  between  Strat- 
ford and  Cockburn  (Columbia),  the  road  was  very  imperfectly  made.  In 
Cockburn  "for  so  new  a  settlement  well  wrought,  dry  and  hard."  Through 
Cockburn  and  Colebrook  and  Stewart  the  road  is  very  good.  The  most 
important  legislation  for  Coos  county  in  its  early  existence  was  the  incor- 
poration of  the  Tenth  New  Hampshire  Turnpike  from  the  west  line  of 
Bartlett  through  the  Notch  of  the  White  Hills.  This  was  done  December 
28,  1803.  The  distance  was  twenty  miles,  and  the  expense  of  building  it 
$40,000.  This  furnished  an  avenue  to  the  sea] mils,  and  became  one  of 
the  best  paying  roads  in  all  northern  New  Hampshire.  Until  the 
advent  of  railroads,  this  was  the  great  outlet  of  Coos  county,  and  the 
thoroughfare  over  which  its  merchandise  came  from  Portland,      hi  win- 


92  History  of  Coos  County. 

ter,  often,  lines  of  teams  from  Coos,  over  half  a  mile  in  length,  might 
be  seen  going  down  with  tough  Canadian  horses  harnessed  to  "  pungs  "  or 
sleighs,  loaded  with  pot  or  pearl  ash,  butter,  cheese,  pork,  lard,  and  peltry, 
returning  with  well  assorted  loads  of  merchandise,  or  filling  the  caravan- 
saries of  Crawford,  Rosebrook,  and  others  with  a  wild  hilarity.  Before 
this  time  most  of  the  incorporated  towns  were  well  provided  with  roads; 
but  wagons,  carriages,  and  "one-horse  chaises  "  could  not  roll  along  their 
level  surfaces  with  as  much  enjoyment  to  the  occupant  as  can  be  taken 
to-day,  until  about  1820. 

Tbe  Jefferson  Turnpike,  fourteen  miles  in  length,  from  Lancaster 
through  Jefferson,  Bretton  Woods  to  the  Tenth  Turnpike,  was  incorpo- 
rated December  11,  1804,  and  cost  $18,400,  and  was  of  much  value  to  the 
"North  Country." 

As  early  as  1803  a  road  had  been  laid  out  from  Colebrook  to  Hallowell, 
Me.,  ninety  miles,  via  Dixville  Notch,  Errol,  etc.,  but  for  years  nothing 
came  of  it.  The  following  by  J.  W.  Weeks,  concerning  the  roads  of  Lan- 
caster is  of  value  : — 

"  What  seemed  to  impress  the  first  settlers  most  was  the  matter  of  roads.  Hardly  a  meeting 
of  the  proprietors  took  place  without  some  action  upon  this  matter.  First  to  look  out  and  mark 
roads.  March  12,  1767,  a  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  David  Page,  Timothy  Nash, 
Edwards  Bucknam,  and  two  others,  to  look  out  and  mark  the  road  to  '  Picwackett  (Conway),  to 
the  Androscoggin,  and  to  the  nearest  settlement  on  the  Connecticut  River.'  Whether  the  roads 
followed  for  many  years  after  were  marked  by  this  committee  is  unknown.  But  roads  were 
marked  out  and  the  routes  followed,  sometimes  near  where  the  present  highways  run,  but  in  many 
places  very  different.  The  remains  of  rude  bridges,  corduroys  and  their  like,  mark  the  course  of 
some  of  them  to  day.  The  route  down  the  river  from  the  head  of  the  island  or  '  Stockwell's 
Bridge,'  has  evidently  never  been  changed,  but  the  road  to  Picwackett,  through  Dartmouth  (Jeffer- 
son), has  been  changed  more  than  once.  The  first  road  followed  close  upon  the  bank  of  Israel's 
river  to  Jefferson  Mills,  thence  to  '  Whipple's  Meadow,'  ^Jefferson  Meadows);  the  next  followed  the 
high  ground,  considerably  west  of  the  present  road,  to  Jefferson  Mills.  These  roads  can  still  be 
traced.  The  route  to  Ameroscoggin  passed  over  the  hills  east  of  the  river  and  connected  with  the 
present  road  near  Geo.W.  Webster's,  and  passing  through  Jefferson,  ran  some  twenty -five  rods  east 
of  Samuel  Mardin's  and  William  J.  Chamberlain,  passing  near  the  Waumbek  and  high  up  the  hill 
beyond.  The  first  road  to  Northumberland,  after  leaving  North  street,  passed  near  the  top  of  the 
high  bank,  by  the  house  of  E.  D.  Stockwell,  and  striking  the  bank  of  the  river  near  Capt.  A.  M. 
Beattie's,  thence  following  the  river  bank  to  near  the  Northumberland  line. 

"  These  roads  or  highways  were  rude  affairs,  often  very  crooked,  and  passing  over  high  hills 
for  the  sake  of  dry  ground,  very  little  attempt  being  made  for  drainage.  The  small  streams  and 
swampy  places  were  passed  by  '  corduroys,'  that  is  by  laying  two  parallel  timbers  lengthwise  of 
the  road,  six  or  seven  feet  apart,  and  covering  them  with  cross-timbers  or  poles  laid  crosswise,  cut 
eight  feet  long.  These  roads  sufficed  for  the  time,  as  there  was  little  transportation  over  them  ex- 
cept on  horseback,  and  by  sleds  in  winter.  They  were  usually,  however,  wide  enough  and  firm 
enough  for  ox  carts,  and  for  the  lumbering  two-horse  wagons.  The  use  of  the  plow  and  scraper 
was  probably  as  great  an  event  as  was  that  of  the  road  machine,  later. 

"  The  road  down  the  river  seems  to  have  called  forth  the  greatest  solicitude.  In  all  the  peti- 
tions for  a  new  county  from  1790  to  1805,  it  was  set  forth  that  the  roads  were  nearly  impassable, 
as  a  principal  cause  why  this  northern  section  be  set  off.  The  road  to  Conway  was  evidently 
made  passable  quite  early.  Col.  Whipple  was  said  to  have  come  to  Jefferson  in  1764,  and  he, 
without  doubt,  came  through  the  Notch.     Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location  was  granted  in  1773r 


Survey  of  Maine  Boundary,  &c.  93 

for  building  a  road  through  that  tract,  and  in  1786,  in  petitioning  the  Legislature  for  assistance , 
it  was  set  forth  that  the  road  was  out  of  repair  from  recent  freshets,  indicating  then-  was 
a  road  previously.  At  that  time  a  committee  was  appointed  to  sell  State  lands  and  build  and 
repair  roads.  Large  tracts  of  land  were  sold  at  extremely  low  prices,  from  time  to  time,  and  if 
the  road  was  built  it  did  not  stay  built.  After  more  than  ten  years  a  sort  of  settlement  with  the 
committee  was  effected  by  the  Legislature.  The  gentlemen  got  their  discharge  and  most  of  the 
land,  but  the  public  no  road,  or  a  very  poor  one.  The  age  of  turnpikes  had  now  arrived,  and  in 
1803  the  tenth  New  Hampshire  turnpike  was  chartered,  twenty  miles  through  the  Notch,  and 
built  at  great  expense.  The  following  year  the  Jefferson  turnpike  was  chartered,  some  fourteen 
miles,  to  the  Rosebrook  place.  This  road  was  well  laid  out  and  splendidly  built.  Up  Israel's 
river  it  was  straight  as  a  line,  was  well  drained,  and  worked  twenty-two  feet  wide,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  seem  to  defy  the  effects  of  time.  From  the  time  of  building  these  roads  Coos  peo- 
ple had  as  good  highways  to  Conway  as  could  be  maintained  through  the  Notch,  till  the  time 
of  the  great  freshet,  in  1826. 

"  Prior  to  the  four  wheeled  carriage,  which  was  about  1822,  the  ordinary  road  was  not  much 
better  than  a  bridle-path,  although  passable  for  the  chaise,  ox  cart  and  team  wagon.*' 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SURVEY   AND   MARKING   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AND    MAINE   BOUNDARY. 

Boundary  Surveys— Smuggling,  Etc.,  1812-1815— Boundary  Commissions — "Indian  Stream 
Territory  "—  Indian  Stream  War— Musters  and  Militia. 

THE  report  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  King  George,  in  Coun- 
cil of  February  22,  1735,  and  confirmed  by  his  order  of  August  ... 
174<),  established  "  that  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  provinces 
(N.  H.  ec  Mass.)  shall  pass  up  through  the  mouth  of  Piscataqua  Harbor, 
and  up  the  middle  of  the  river  Newichwannock,  (part  of  which  is  now- 
called  Salmon  Falls,)  and  through  the  middle  of  the  same,  to  the  farthest 
head  thereof,  and  that  said  dividing  line  shall  part  the  Isles  of  'Sholes' 
and  run  through  the  middle  of  the  Harbor,  between  the  Islands  to  the  Sea. 
on  the  southerly  side,  &c,"  and,  in  1740,  a  survey  was  made  in  accordance 
thereto.  Again,  in  1789,  the  line  was  run  and  marked  by  spotting  trees, 
in  the  then  wilderness,  from  the  head  of  Salmon  Falls  river  to  the  High- 
lands of  Canada.  The  course  of  the  line  thus  run  was.  north  6  degrees 
east,  and  is  the  same  line  familiarly  known  to  the  residents  tin 'icon  as  the 
"Province  Line." 

In  1820,  Maine,  until  then  a  portion  of  Massachusetts,  be  ante  a  state. 
and  the  boundary  line  between  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  had  become  so 
obliterated  and  uncertain  in  its  location,  that  in  L827  the  two  states 
appointed  a  commission  to  "ascertain,  survey  and  mark,  the  line  between 


i»4  History  of  Coos  County. 


the  States  of  New  Hampshire  and  Maine,  and  to  erect  suitable  monuments 
to  designate  it  as  the  true  boundary  line  of  said  States."  Hon.  Ichabod 
Bartlett,  of  Portsmouth,  and  Hon.  John  W.  Weeks,  of  Lancaster,  were 
appointed  commissioners  for  New  Hampshire,  and  Hon. William  King,  and 
Hon.  Hufus  Mclntire,  commissioners  for  Maine.  Work  was  commenced 
October  1,  1827,  at  the  head  of  Salmon  Falls  river,  and  the  line  run  that 
fall  forty-seven  miles,  to  the  Androscoggin  river.  The  next  year  the  line 
was  completed  to  the  Canada  Highlands.  Three  stone  monuments  were 
erected  north  of  the  Androscoggin  river,  and  the  rest  of  the  way  the  line 
was  shown  by  marked  or  spotted  trees.  The  spots  on  the  trees  became 
effaced  and  destroyed  by  fires,  by  wind,  and  natural  growth,  and  the  clear- 
ings of  the  settlers.  For  years  surveyors  could  not  follow  it  save  by  com- 
pass, as  for  miles  there  were  no  marks  in  many  places.  Disputes  arose  in 
consequence,  and  owners  of  wild  and  timber  land  were  in  doubt  as  to  their 
boundaries.  To  rectify  this,  New  Hampshire  and  Maine,  in  1S5S,  created 
another  commission  "to  ascertain,  survey,  and  mark  the  dividing  line 
between  said  States,  from  Fryeburg  to  the  Canada  line."  Henry  O.  Kent, 
of  Lancaster,  was  appointed  commissioner  for  this  state,  and  John  M.Wil- 
son by  Maine.  The  boundary  to  be  established  nearly  all  lay  in  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  and  extended  about  eighty  miles  in  length.  During  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  work  the  weather  was  unfavorable  in  the  extreme.  In  a 
space  of  thirty -eight  days,  including  the  stormy  weather,  in  a  country 
where  supplies  could  not  be  had,  with  a  small  force,  the  line  was  run  by 
the  commissioners  personally,  a  series  of  monuments  erected,  and  a  per- 
manent line  between  the  two  commonwealths  established,  at  an  expense 
which  must  be  considered  economical  when  the  magnitude  and  importance 
of  the  work  is  considered.  The  survey  was  commenced  in  September, 
1858.  James  S.  Brackett  and  John  G.  Lewis,  of  Lancaster,  were  assist- 
ants, and  Adjutant-General  Joseph  C.  Abbott,  of  Manchester,  was  a  vol- 
unteer member  of  the  company, 

The  line  was  marked  by  the  erection  of  stone  monuments  at  all  road 
crossings  and  noticeable  points  where  none  before  existed,  and  by  retouch- 
ing the  old  monuments.  Many  large  and  prominent  trees  were  blazed  and 
marked  on  either  side  "N.  H."  "M.,"  and  the  names  of  various  members 
of  the  party  were  added,  together  with  the  date,  "  1858." 

Aside  from  the  monuments  described  above,  the  whole  course  of  the 
line  was  marked  by  spotting  the  old  marked  trees,  and  all  others  on  the 
route,  and  by  marking  the  spots  with  a  double  cross,  thus  X,  and  the 
under  brush  was  cleared  away  so  as  to  enable  one  to  follow  the  line  by  a 
continual  observance  of  the  spots. 

It  is  believed  that  the  line  above  described  is  now  sufficiently  marked 
and  designated  to  afford  a  distinguishable  and  permanent  dividing  liner 


Survey  of  Maine  Boundary,  ecc.  :•;. 


which  will  subserve  all  the  purposes  of  the  two  states  equally  as  a  more 
expensive  system. 

The  treaty  of  L783  denned  the  northwest  boundary  of  New  Hampshire 
as  "the  most  northwestern  head  of  the  Connecticut  rivet.'"  The  country 
was  wild  and  unsurveyed.  The  British  considered  that  their  title  under 
this  treaty  extended  down  to  the  forty-fifth  parallel  of  latitude,  and  th< 
real  head  of  the  Connecticut,  while  Xew  Hampshire  did  not  concern  itself 
with  the  subject.  In  1789,  however.  Col.  Jeremiah  Eames  was  on  a  com- 
mission appointed  by  the  legislature  to  survey  and  establish  the  boundaries 
between  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Lower  Canada,  and  his  journal  shows 
that  they  made  the  head  of  Hall's  stream,  the  northwest  bound  of  this 
state,  and  established  it  by  suitable  monuments.  Hall's  stream  is  the  north- 
western branch  of  the  Connecticut,  and  this  survey  brought  all  the  land 
between  Hall's  stream  and  Connecticut  river,  including  the  fertile  valley 
of  Indian  stream,  within  this  state.  The  advantages  of  this  region  becom- 
ing known,  in  178!>  two  settlers  made  their  homes  on  Indian  stream. 
Others  followed,  led  hither  by  the  richness  of  the  soil;  others,  to  seek  in 
this  remote  district  an  asylum  from  pressing  creditors  or  punishment  for 
crime. 

Smuggling,  etc.— In  1*1.!  this  territory  was  the  paradise  of  smugglers, 
who  could  readily  bring  from  the  closely-lying  Canadian  settlements  the 
most  valuable  articles  into  the  '•'  States,"  without  the  slightest  fear  of  hin- 
drance from  the  far-off,  older  New  Hampshire  settlements. 

The  history  of  smuggling  as  carried  on  between  this  country  and  Canada 
from  the  enactment  of  the  embargo  at  the  close  of  18<>7,  and  especially 
from  the  enactment  of  the  more  stringent  non-intercourse  law  of  1810,  to 
the  declaration  of  war  in  1812,  and  even,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  to  the 
proclamation  of  peace  in  1815,  is  a  portion  of  our  annals  almost  wholly 
unwritten.  The  upper  towns  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont,  from 
the  close  contiguity  to  Montreal  and  Quebec,  the  only  importing  cities 
of  Canada,  afforded  the  most  tempting  facilities  and  the  best  chances 
for  success,  while  the  high  price  of  beef  and  cattle  in  the  Provinces 
was  a  great  allurement  to  the  Coos  farmer  whose  fat  herds  were 
almost  valueless  in  the  home  market.  The  Federalists  or  opponents 
of  the  Administration  wrere  in  a  large  majority  in  this  section,  and  they 
could  see  no  harm  in  selling  cattle  at  a  good  profit  on  Canadian  soil,  while 
not  all  friends  of  the  Government  could  resist  the  inducements  offered. 
A  man,  also,  could  readily  bring  hundreds  of  dollars  of  silks  and  satins 
in  his  pack,  and  an  Indian  sledge  in  winter  would  carry  ten  times 
as  many  of  the  same  valuable  commodities  through  the  woods.  No 
one  would  be  the  wiser  except  the  accomplice,  who  lived  this  side  of  the 
line,  and  knew  howr  to  secrete  and  take  to  market   the  rich  goods.     This 


96  History  of  Coos  County. 

illegal  trade  attained  such  proportions  that  the  United  States  stationed  a 
detachment  of  militia  at  Stewartstown  to  suppress  it  in  1812. 

Canaan  and  West  Stewartstown  were  often  centers  of  wild  excitement, 
and,  along  the  line,  almost  an  incessant  campaign  and  warfare  existed, 
for  years,  between  the  custom-house  officers  and  their  assistants,  with 
their  reserve  force  of  U.  S.  soldiers,  and  the  smugglers  and  their  friends, 
both  parties  being  armed  'k  to  the  teeth."  In  these  skirmishes  many  were 
at  different  times  killed  outright;  many  more  were  missing,  even  on  the 
side  of  the  officials,  for  whom  dark  fates  were  naturally  conjectured;  while 
others,  on  both  sides,  were  crippled  or  otherwise  seriously  wounded.  As 
nearly  seventy-five  years  have  passed  since  these  occurrences,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  accurately  detail  them  or  the  motives  of  the  actors.  We  find  no 
source  of  information  but  tradition,  and  that  is  so  affected  by  ties  of  con- 
sanguinity, personal  feeling  and  partisan  animosity  as  to  render  it  an 
unsafe  guide.  Eeference  must  be  made,  however,  to  some  matters,  which, 
even  to  this  day,  are  kept  fresh  in  the  mind  of  the  public.  In  September, 
1813,  Samuel  Beach,  of  Canaan,  Vt.,  owning  and  operating  a  saw-mill  in 
Canada,  obtained  a  permit  to  take  over  oxen.  The  officers  were  informed 
that  more  cattle  were  taken  over  than  were  brought  back,  and  that  they 
were  sold  to  the  British.  One  day,  Oliver  Ingham,  United  States  custom 
officer,  instructed  Lieutenant  John  Dennett  in  charge  of  the  militia  guard- 
ing the  line  not  to  allow  Beach  to  take  over  any  more  cattle.  Beach  soon 
attempted  to  cross  the  line  with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  Dennett  forbade  his 
doing  so.  He  endeavored  to  go  on,  however,  and  finally  was  shot  dead. 
Dennett  was  arrested  by  the  civil  authorities  for  murder  and  confined  in 
jail  at  Guildhall.  He  escaped  the  next  spring,  and  the  friends  of  Beach 
made  search  for  him,  and  in  August  following  surprised  him  while  cutting 
wood  for  his  camp.  He  was  shot  in  the  back  and  disabled,  then  brought 
out  of  the  woods,  placed  in  a  two-horse  wagon  and  driven  rapidly  over  the 
rough  roads  to  Guildhall,  where  he  soon  died.  Many  believe  that  he  was 
most  inhumanly  treated  by  his  captors,  and  maliciously  abused  while  on 
the  road  to  Guildhall. 

The  Federal  Government  now  sent  Capt.  Hodson  with  a  company  of 
regular  soldiers  to  relieve  the  militia.  Capt.  Hodson  soon  stopped  the 
smuggling  and  the  treasonable  acts  and  utterances.  He  arrested  Saunders 
W.  Cooper,  one  of  the  militia,  who  was  a  nephew  of  Beach,  and  sent  him 
to  Windsor,  Vt.,  to  be  tried  for  treason.  He  was  accused  of  being  a  smug- 
gler, and  of  having  joined  the  militia  that  he  might  give  assistance  to  those 
desiring  to  aid  the  enemy.  He  was  not  tried,  however,  on  account  of  his 
youth  and  the  close  of  the  war,  and,  after  his  death,  years  later,  his 
widow  obtained  a  pension  for  his  services  as  a  soldier.  The  smugglers  and 
their  friends  hated  Hodson,  and  once,  while  he  was  at  Lancaster,  they 
endeavored  to  get  hold  of  him  by  arresting  him  for  some  alleged  breach  of 


Survey  of  Maine  Boundary,  &c. 


97 


the  civil  law.     He  was  aware  of  their  object,  however,  and  had  a  suffi 
cient  number  of  soldiers  with  him  to  frustrate  their  des  gns.     He  tva an 
.  able  officer,  and,  later,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Maine 

Indian  Stream  Territory  and  War.-ln  1819  the  British  and  Ameri 
can  commissioners  attempted  to  jointly  establish  the  boundary  line  between 
Canada  and  this  state,  but  they  could  not  agree.  The  American  con  mk 
sioners  held  to  Fames'  survey  and  Hall's  stream  as  the  bound  made  by 
the  treaty,  while  the  British  commissioners  contended  for  lines  aTcoroW 
to  their  construction.  From  the  survey  in  1789,  the  settlers  Ce  had 
known  nothing  else  than  that  they  were  in  New  Hampshire  territory  and 

n  1"    ueeLIeof  7vnaf  4°  ""  'T'  acknowledged  that  of  fcS 
in   consequence  of    this  disagreement,    the  Canadian   local    authorities 

Te'ritorv  "     TheP  ^  -°f  **""  ^^  ^^  °f  "**- 
lemtoiy.       The  Provincial  government  of  Canada  at  one  time  located  a 

township  on  this  territory  and  called  it  "Drayton;"  built  a  road  from 
Hall  s  Stream  to  Indian  Stream,  and  assumed  occupancy.  The  lawW 
element  before  mentioned  was  still  in  large  force,  and'as  iLas  more  con 
venient  for  then  personal  safety  to  be  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  American 
aw,  many  advocated  the  Canadian  claim.  Up  to  this  time  New  Ham p 
shire  officers  had  served  the  processes  of  New  Hampshire  courts  and  the 
majority  of  the  settlers  were  faithful  to  this  state 

In  1824  Indian  Stream  Territory  was  inhabited  by  about  fifty-eight  set 

about  t7\  r  fammeS'  mad6a  P°pulatio»  °f  285  Persons  Ct 

about  847  acres  under  improvement.   These  settlers  claimed,  under  certa  n 

Indian  deeds  the  principal  of  which  was  that  of  Philip,  an  okTchiefof 
he  St.  Francis  tribe,  dated  1790.   The  general  government  as  eariy  as  that 
toe  prohAited  purchases  of  land  from  the  Indians;  but  it  was  daimed 
that  the  grantors  living  without  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  m™de 
his  case  an  exception  to  the  rule.     By  the  convention  of  1827  the    ues 
ton  of  the  whole  northeastern  boundary  was  referred  to  the  King  of  the 
Netherlands,  whose  award  in   respect  to  this  part  of  the  line  thiew  t    s 
whole  tract  upon  the  Canada  side.  But,  as  « the  head  of  the  Connect  cut  " 
which  he  adopted  did  not  approach  the  highlands,   the  people  of  New 
Hampshire  were  dissatisfied,  and,  as  the  award  was  rejected  by  the  United 
States,  the  whole  question  was  left  open  to  further  difficulty 

In  1820  the  state  owing  to  the  settlers  here  resisting  process  issuing  in 
Coos  county,  of  which  the  tract  was  regarded  as  forming  a  part  1, a 
asserted  a  title  and  a  jurisdiction,  by  a  resolution  directing  the  attorney 
general  to  proceed  against  intruders;  and  again,  in  1824,  by  an  express 
declaratory  act,  in  which  also  it  released  title  to  every  actual  settler  of   wo 
hundred  acres,  reserving,  of  course,  all  other  portions  to  itself 

The  settlement,  in  1830,  numbered  ninety  voters,  and  there  wasalanre 
enough  number  of  disaffected  men  to  lead  them  to  talk  of  resistance  to 


98  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  long  acknowledged  authority.  The  two  great  powers  had  agreed,  that, 
until  the  boundary  question  should  be  settled,  neither  should  extend  their 
jurisdiction  over  the  disputed  lands.  The  Canadian  officers  continued  their 
attempts  at  control,  and  even  compelled  some  of  the  people  to  do  military 
duty  in  1831.  Those  loyal  to  this  state  were  alarmed,  and  applied  to  their 
friends  below  for  help,  which  was  not  readily  forthcoming,  and  an  inde- 
pendent government  was  mooted.  At  this  juncture,  two  Federal  customs 
officers  threw  a  firebrand  into  this  combustible  mass  by  exacting  duties 
from  all  the  Indian  Stream  people  who  brought  produce  into  New  Hamp- 
shire or  Vermont,  thus  declaring  them  beyond  the  United  States.  These 
illegal  and  ill  advised  measures  excited  the  people  intensely,  and  gave  the 
discontented  a  good  chance  to  work  in  the  interests  of  Canada.  A  majority 
of  the  inhabitants  concluded,  however,  to  form  an  independent  govern- 
ment to  be  in  force  until  the  boundary  was  decided.  July  9,  1832,  the 
voters  of  the  disputed  tract  met,  by  notification,  formed  the  government 
of  "  The  United  Inhabitants  of  Indian  Stream  Territory,"  adopted  a  con- 
stitution, which  created  an  assembly  and  a  council.  The  new  government 
determined  to  resist  the  service  of  processes  from  New  Hampshire  courts. 
Hon.  John  H.  White,  sheriff  of  Coos  county,  hearing  of  this,  detailed  the 
state  of  affairs  as  he  heard  them  to  the  secretary  of  state  at  Concord,  and 
asked  instructions.  The  governor  and  council  called  for  the  opinion  of 
the  attorney-general,  and  a  copy  of  this,  asserting  jurisdiction  over,  and 
right  to,  the  territory,  with  a  letter  from  the  governor,  saying  the  laws 
should  be  executed  in  Indian  Stream,  was  sent  to  Sheriff  White,  who  thus 
informed  the  residents  and  officials  of  Indian  Stream.  This  was  in  Decem- 
ber, 1834,  and  had  its  effect  with  the  people  until  Alexander  Rea.  a  justice 
of  Hereford,  L.  C,  who  lived  near  the  disputed  ground,  and  who  had  been 
active  in  fomenting  strife,  advised  resistance;  under  his  influence,  and 
with  the  expected  aid  of  the  province,  the  people  voted  to  resist  the  laws 
of  this  state,  and  abide  by  their  constitution  and  laws.  March  12,  1835, 
Deputy  Sheriff  William  M.  Smith,  from  Colebrook,  attempted  to  arrest 
C.  J.  Haines  and  Eeuben  Sawyer,  and  was  violently  beaten  and  driven 
from  the  Territory  by  several  men.  March  13,  Milton  Harvey  and  an 
assistant  were  assaulted  while  trying  to  attach  some  property,  and  also 
driven  from  the  Territory.  Wild  reports  came  down  to  Lancaster  of  this 
resistence;  it  was  asserted  that  the  Territory  was  organizing  a  military 
force,  had  made  an  alliance  with  Indians  for  war,  and  were  building  a 
block-house  for  an  intrenchment,  under  the  name  of  "jail." 

About  this  time  the  people  of  Indian  Stream  Territory  chose  John 
Haines  to  properly  present  their  position  to  Col.  White.  He  was  instructed 
to  say  that  they  had  unanimously  "resolved  to  abide  by  and  support  our 
own  constitution  and  laws,  agreeably  to  our  oaths,  until  known  to  what 
government  we  properly  belong,  when  our  constitution  is  at  an  end."   Col. 


Survey  of  Maine  Boundary,  &c.  99 


White»gave  no  satisfaction  to  Mr.  Haines,  saying,  merely,  that  he  would 
lay  the  situation  before  the  governor,  and  he  at  once  wrote  a  letter,  giving 
the  rumors  prevalent  concerning  the  action  of  the  people,  as  well  what 
had  been  done,  and  asked  for  a  detachment  of  militia  to  enable  him  and 
his  officers  to  properly  discharge  their  duties.  It  is  evident  from  the 
names  of  the  councillors  of  Indian  Stream,  that  up  to  this  period  many  of 
the  people  had  only  intended  to  keep  a  neutral  position,  and  really  consid- 
ered themselves  under  no  jurisdiction,  save  that  of  their  own  laws,  until 
the  boundary  question  should  be  decided,  and  they  allotted  to  New  Hamp- 
shire or  Canada.  It  was  to  prevent  disorder  and  anarchy,  not  to  cause  it, 
even  if  the  influence  of  Rea  had  developed  its  formation,  that  the  "  Terri- 
tory" was  organized.  Ebenezer  Fletcher,  Richard  I.  Blanchard,  Jeremiah 
Tabor  and  others,  who  were  members  of  the  Council,  were  never  disloyal 
to  the  United  States,  but  they  could  not  hold  in  check  the  lawless  element 
which  favored  union  with  Canada.  April  18,  1835. — The  assembly  of 
Indian  Stream  passed  acts  making  it  perjury  to  violate  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  their  constitution,  with  a  penalty  of  confinement  in  the  stocks 
united  to  disqualification  as  a  witness  in  the  territorial  courts;  also,  for- 
bidding any  sheriff,  or  sheriff's  officers,  residing  in  Indian  Stream,  or  the 
United  States,  not  appointed  by  the  government  of  Indian  Stream,  per- 
forming any  official  duties  within  the  Territory  under  the  penalty  of  tine 
and  imprisonment.  This  clear  distinction  against  the  United  States  and 
in  favor  of  Canada  alarmed  the  American  residents,  and  the  same  day  they 
drafted  and  sent  a  petition  to  Gov.  Badger,  asking  protection  from  the 
action  of  these  laws.  Shortly  after,  the  majority  who  passed  the  obnox- 
ious laws,  also  sent  a  memorial  to  Gov.  Badger  acknowledging  that  they 
had  kept  the  Canadian  government  informed  of  their  acts,  and  begged  for 
favorable  consideration.  In  June,  1835,  Gov.  Badger  presented  the  case 
and  papers  to  the  legislature,  at  Concord.  This  body  resolved  to  main- 
tain jurisdiction  over  Indian  Stream  Territory,  and  to  hold  its  possession 
until  the  boundary  dispute  should  be  fully  settled:  and  authorized  the 
governor  to  render  all  necessary  aid  to  the  executive  officers  <>f  Coos 
county  in  executing  the  laws  of  New  Hampshire  in  that  Territory. 

This  legislation  was  at  once  communicated  to  Sheriff  White,  and  by  him 
to  the  people  of  Indian  Stream.  Quiet  was  produced  for  a  lime,  but  the 
Provincial  government  again  interfered,  and  the  discontented  began  t<> 
make  preparations  to  resist  the  execution  of  New  Hampshire  laws,  while 
they  allowed  Canadian  warrants  to  be  served  in  the  Territory.  The  afore- 
mentioned Justice  Rea.  net  content  with  issuing  writs  to  be  served  in 
Indian  Stream,  made  various  speeches  urging  resistance  t<>  American  laws, 
and  promising  help  from  Canada.  In  October,  1^».~>.  William  M.  Smith,  a 
deputy- sheriff  of  Coos  county,  with  Richard  I.  Blanchard  and  John  M. 
Harvey  as  assistants,  attempted  to  serve  a  writ  on  John  H.  Tyler.     Tyler 


100  History  of  Coos  County. 

refusing  to  turn  out  property  for  attachment,  Smith  arrested  him,  and  in 
taking  him  away,  Tyler  was  forcibly  rescued  by  several  of  his  neighbors. 
Alexander  Rea,  on  being  informed  of  this  arrest,  issued  a  warrant  against 
Smith,  Blanchard  and  Harvey,  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain, 
for  attempting  to  serve  processes  not  granted  by  Canadian  courts.  Blan- 
chard, the  only  one  residing  in  Indian  Stream,  was  arrested  on  this  war- 
rant, October  22,  1835,  by  an  armed  posse  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen  men, 
and  taken  by  force  from  his  dwelling,  to  be  tried  in  Canada  for  doing  his 
duty  as  a  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  of  Coos. 

As  the  news  of  this  outrage  was  immediately  spread,  great  excitement 
prevailed  in  the  upper  towns  of  Coos.  Clark  J.  Haines  started  at  once  on 
horseback  for  Colebrook,  giving  notice  at  Clarksville  and  Stewartstown. 
As  fast  as  notified  the  men  of  the  various  towns  armed  and  hastened  to 
the  relief  of  Blanchard.  Many  took  their  arms  and  accoutrements  as 
militia  men.  Nearly  three  hundred  assembled  in  Canaan;  citizens  aroused 
by  an  outrage  upon  the  rights  of  one  of  their  number,  and  determined  to 
rescue  him.  Several  parties  started  to  intercept  Blanchard  and  his  captors, 
and  we  give  Blanchard's  own  language  of  the  rescue:  "When  I  was 
within  a  mile  of  the  house  of  Alex.  Rea,  to  which  place  I  understood  they 
were  conveying  me,  we  were  met  by  a  party  of  eight  men  from  New 
Hampshire  on  horseback,  all,  or  most  of  them,  armed.  They  demanded 
my  release  from  the  party  having  custody  of  me,  which  was  refused,  but, 
after  some  further  talk,  the  party  demanding  resolutely  my  release,  I  was 
at  length  released,  without  any  force  being  used  on  either  side,  and  I  went 
with  the  party  down  to  the  store  of  Parmelee  &  Joy,  in  Canaan,  Vt." 

The  rescuing  party  consisted  of  E.  H.  Mahurin,  J.  M.  Harvey,  J.  P. 
Wiswell,  J.  M.  Hilliard,  Horatio  Tuttle,  I.  B.  Blodgett,  Samuel  Weeks, 
Jr. ,  and  Miles  Hurlburt.  At  the  store  in  Canaan  mention  was  made  of 
J.  H.  Tyler,  the  former  prisoner  of  Smith,  as  being  one  of  the  party  in 
charge  of  Blanchard.  Ephraim  C.  Aldrich  and  Miles  Hurlburt,  taking 
with  them  an  advertisement  offering  five  dollars  reward  for  the  capture  of 
Tyler,  started  in  search  of  him,  and,  shortly  after  crossing  the  Canada 
line,  they  were  met  by  Rea,  who,  highly  excited,  ordered  them  off  the 
king's  highway  and  his  (/rounds.  Rea  had  over  a  dozen  men  whom  he 
called  upon  to  arrest  Aldrich  and  Hurlburt.  The  latter  drew  a  pistol,  and 
Aldrich  advised  Rea  not  to  approach  Hurlburt  as  he  might  shoot.  Turning 
to  Aldrich,  Rea  ordered  a  man  to  take  his  horse  by  the  bridle,  and  he 
.attempted  to  arrest  Aldrich,  who  drew  a  sword  and  defended  himself. 
Rea  and  his  party  began  to  throw  stones,  two  of  which  hit  Hurlburt  with 
force.  He  discharged  his  pistol,  wounding  Young,  and  as,  by  this  time, 
thirty  or  forty  men  had  come  up  from  Canaan,  Rea,  becoming  alarmed, 
ran  for  the  woods,  Aldrich  pursuing  him.     After  a  short  skirmish,  Rea 


Survey  of  Maine  Boundary,  &c.  mi 


surrendered,  was  placed  in  a  w.-igon  and  taken  to  Canaan,  where,   after 
being  detained  some  hours,  lie  was  released. 

The  legislature,  by  an  act  approved  June  L8,  1836,  authorized  the  gov- 
ernor "  to  appoint  commissioners  to  repair  to  Indian  Stream  and  collect 
and  arrange  such  testimony  as  may  be  obtained  to  rebut  and  explain  the 
charges  and  testimony  obtained  and  preferred  against  the  authorities  and 
inhabitants  of  this  state  by  Lord  Gosford,  Governor  of  the  Province  of 
Lower  Canada."  Gov.  Badger  appointed  as  members  of  this  commission 
Adjutant-General  Joseph  Low,  Ralph  Metcalf  and  John  P.  Hale,  who 
made  a  report,  November  23,  1830. 

As  the  excitement  increased,  and  the  adherents  of  New  Hampshire 
feared  for  their  safety,  Gov.  Badger  instructed  Gen.  Low  "to  take  such 
steps  as  might  be  found  necessary  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  state 
and  its  laws,  and,  if  necessary,  to  call  out  so  much  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  as  will  enable  the  executive  officers  of  the  county  of  Coos  to 
execute  the  laws,  and  suppress  and  put  down  all  insurrectionary  move- 
ments." Necessity  arising,  Gen.  Low  ordered  Col.  Ira  Young  to  "detach 
and  order  into  service,  and  place  at  the  disposal  of  John  H.  White,  Esq., 
sheriff  of  the  County  of  Coos,  one  captain,  one  lieutenant,  one  ensign,  four 
sergeants,  two  musicians,  and  forty-two  privates,  for  three  months  unless 
sooner  discharged."  This  order  was  handed  to  Col.  Ira  Young,  November 
13,  1835,  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and,  as  Capt.  Mooney  and  some 
men  were  already  at  Indian  Stream,  an  express  immediately  sent  by  him 
to  Ensign  Drew,  of  the  Stewartstown  company,  with  directions  to  collect 
his  force  at  once  and  report  without  delay.  By  three  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  next  day,  about  twenty  men  had  assembled,  some  having  trav- 
eled nineteen  miles  on  foot  to  join  Capt.  Mooney." 

*  Roll  of  Copt.  Mooney'8  Company,  24th  Regt. ,  N.  H.  M.,  serving  at  Indian  Stream. — 
James  Mooney,  Captain,  Stewartstown;  Haines  French,  Lieutenant,  Columbia;  Amos  W.  Drew, 
Ensign,  Stewartstown;  Joseph  Durgin,  Sergeant,  Northumberland;  William  Covel,  Sergeant. 
Colebrook;  Robert  Tirrell,  Sergeant,  Stewartstown;  Isaac  Miner,  Sergeant,  Whitefield;  George 
Hight,  Sergeant,  Jefferson;  Privates,  Asahel  Aldricli,  Whitefield;  David  Alls,  Colebrook; 
James  H.  Balch,  Lancaster;  Thomas  Batchelder,  Whitefield;  Ephraim  F.  Bartlett,  Whitefield; 
Phill  C.  Bickford,  Northumberland;  Linus  Blakeslee,  Dalton;  Arnold  Bolls,  Dalton;  Henry  Bout- 
well,  Dalton;  William  W.  Brooks,  Colebrook;  Volney  M  Brown,  Stratford;  Jesse  Carr,  Jefferson; 
Jesse  W.Carr,  Columbia:  Nathan  S.  Carr,  Indian  Stream,  Sub., Colebrook:  Hazen  Chamberlain,  Cole- 
brook: William  Curtis,  Stratford;  Nathaniel  G.  Dodge,  Stark:  Ahaz  S.  French,  Columbia;  Orisa- 
mus  Frizzle,  Colebrook;  William  Grimes, Dalton;  Alfred  Greenleaf,  Jefferson;  Samuel G.  Grout,  Dal- 
ton; Horatio  Grover,  Colebrook;  Alexander,  Gullen,  Sub.,  Colebrook  or  Columbia;  Silas  Huntoon, 
"Whitefield;  Duglas  Ingerson,  Lancaster;  Enoch  C.  Jewell,  Whitefield;  Dennis  .bines.  Lancaster; 
Abiel  C.  Kidder,  Stewartstown:  Eli  Kinerson.  Stratford;  Leaviii  Loud,  Dalton;  William  G.  by- 
man,  Columbia;  Clark  McFarland,  Stark;  Joseph  Morrill.  Jr.,  Whitefield;  John  Perkins,  Lancas- 
ter; William  Price,  Whitefield;  Benjamin  Stilling,  Jefferson;  Ira  Stilling,  Jefferson;  Charles  F. 
Stone,  Lancaster;  John  Sweat,  Columbia;  William  Wallace,  Jr.,  Dalton  or  Columbia;  Asa  8. 
White,  Whitefield;  Samuel  Whittemore,  Colebrook. 


102  History  of  Coos  County. 


Very  early,  say  two  or  three  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  November  14, 
1835,  Captain  Mooney,  with  a  guard,  accompanied  deputy  sheriff  Blan- 
chard  to  arrest  a  number  against  whom  warrants  had  been  issued  for  the  vio- 
lation of  our  laws,  and  who  were  supposed  to  be  at  Applebee's.  After  stop- 
ping a  short  time  at  Perry's  Stream,  Ensign  Drew  crossed  with  twenty 
men  to  surround  the  house  (a  large  two  story  frame  building),  with  orders 
to  keep  quiet  until  daylight.  Two  horses  at  pasture  were  alarmed  by  the 
soldiers,  and  ran  to  the  house  arousing  the  inmates  by  their  excited  snort- 
ing and  neighing.  Emor  Applebee  came  to  the  door,  and  going  back  into 
the  house  returned  with  a  gun,  and  his  son,  Benjamin,  also  armed.  He 
warned  the  officers  and  guard  not  to  approach.  The  sheriff  announced 
his  office  and  mission,  and  ordered  them  "  in  the  name  of  the  state  "  to  lay 
down  their  arms  and  submit;  upon  this  they  levelled  their  guns  and  said 
they  would  shoot  the  first  one  who  came  near  them.  They  were  covered 
at  once  by  twenty  rifles.  Captain  Mooney  said  that  his  instructions  were 
to  take  them  alive  or  dead;  when  the  elder  Applebee  ordered  the  whole 
company  to  leave  his  farm  ' '  in  the  name  of  the  King,''  and  started  his  wife 
as  a  messenger  to  notify  his  associates  of  his  peril.  By  this  time,  however, 
the  soldiers  had  cut  off  communication  with  outside  parties,  and  Mrs. 
Applebee  was  driven  back  to  the  house.  Gen.  Lewis  Loomis,  who  had 
accompanied  the  soldiers,  now  advised  the  Applebees  that  their  escape  was 
impossible,  and  that  it  was  their  wisest  course  to  surrender  and  go  with 
him  to  the  officers,  when,  if  they  could  satisfy  them  of  the  rectitude  of 
their  intentions,  they  should  be  permitted  to  return.  The  Applebees  under 
his  plausible  diplomacy  consented  to  do  this,  gave  up  their  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, and  were  made  prisoners.  They,  with  others  of  the  malcontents 
captured,  were  taken  to  Lancaster,  and  lodged  in  jail.  After  six  months 
and  three  days  imprisonment,  Benjamin  was  released  upon  his  own  recog- 
nizance. Emor  Applebee  was  released  in  the  same  manner  after  an 
imprisonment  of  a  year.  The  other  prisoners  were  discharged  in  time, 
and  none  were  ever  brought  to  trial. 

The  guns  captured  from  the  Applebees  were  heavily  charge  with  powder, 
ball,  and  large  buck-shot  or  pistol-bullets.  One  gun  contained  seventeen 
bullets,  one  rifle  seven  bullets,  and  the  spare  guns  an  ounce  ball  each,  and 
from  seven  to  twelve  pistol-bullets.  This  prompt  arrest  followed  by  others, 
crushed  opposition  by  force,  but  the  British  party  continued  to  make 
threats,  and  the  vicious  and  law-escaping  element  of  the  territory  labored 
with  them.  On  learning  these  facts,  Gov.  Badger  issued  an  order  calling  out 
more  troops,  if  quiet  was  not  restored,  and  the  turbulent  ones  thought  bet- 
ter of  the  situation  and  either  emigrated  to  Canada  or  quietly  submitted 
to  .New  Hampshire  law. 

The  national  government  refunded  the  expenses  incurred  by  the  state 
in  this  campaign,  and,  by  this  action,  the  militia  engaged  became  "veteran 


Survey  of  Maine  Boundary,  &c.  103 

soldiers  of  the  United  States,"  and  were  granted  160  acres  of  government 
land  each.  In  1819,  Congress  satisfied  the  state's  claim  by  paying  $7, <>i mi. 
The  next  year  an  attempt  was  made  to  recover  interest  on  this  sum  from 
the  year  1836,  which,  after  being  more  than  once  refused,  was  allowed  by 
Congress  in  January,  1852,  with  a  proviso  that  the  amount  should  not 
exceed  the  sum  of  $6,000.  But,  in  disposing  of  the  questions  growing 
out  of  the  claims  on  the  part  of  the  settlers  here,  resort  was  had  to  the 
superior  court  of  New  Hampshire.  In  a  decision  given  in  this  court  in 
1810,  by  Chief  Justice  Parker,  the  jurisdiction  asserted  by  the  state  was 
affirmed,  and  was  held  to  refer  back,  in  the  absence  of  any  subsequent  grant 
to  the  period  of  separation  from  Great  Britain,  and  consequently  carried 
with  it  all  title  to  the  lands.  This  decision  settled  the  question;  and  the  juris- 
diction thus  maintained  was  acquiesced  in  by  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States  in  the  Webster-Ashburton  treaty  made  the  next  year,  which  laid 
down  the  line  as  claimed  by  the  state.  The  stamp  of  right  and  justice  was 
thus  placed  upon  the  prompt  action  of  the  New  Hampshire  officials. 

Masters,  Trainings,  and  Militia* — There  are  very  few  people  now  living 
who  remember  the  old-fashioned  muster  and  May  trainings  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. These  came  down  from  colonial  days  and  were  looked  upon  by  young 
and  old  as  the  "  great  days  "  of  the  year— by  the  old,  to  rehearse  and  keep 
alive  the  patriotic  spirit — by  the  young,  to  view  the  scenes  of  mimic  war 
and  glory.  These  militia  "  trainings  "  and  "  musters  "  were  the  only  pas- 
times for  the  year.  For  days  before  these  occasions,  preparations  were 
made  to  attend  by  the  whole  country  around.  So,  early  in  the  morning 
on  these  days,  in  carriages,  on  horseback,  and  on  foot,  all,  save  the  aged 
and  decrepit,  were  seen  wending  their  way  to  the  training-and-muster- 
fleld.  Little  do  the  boys  of  the  present,  who  have  picnics,  excursions, 
base  ball,  circuses,  and  scores  of  diversions,  realize  the  poverty  of  pastimes 
in  those  early  days;  and  how  they  were  enjoyed — almost  reverenced. 

Every  "free,  able-bodied,  white  male  citizen  of  the  state,  resident 
therein,  of  the  age  of  eighteen  years  and  under  the  age  of  forty-five  years, 
unless  exempted  by  law,"  was  liable  to  do  military  duty  in  the  company 
within  whose  limits  he  resided  or  into  which  he  may  have  enlisted.     Each 

ml 

company  was  obliged  "  to  meet  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  May  annually,"  for 
inspection  and  military  drill,  "armed  and  equipped  as  the  law  directs," 
and  on  one  other  day,  by  order  of  the  captain.  The  annual  regimental 
muster  was  in  September,  and  called  by  the  general;  and  this  embraced 
all  the  companies  in  the  regiment. 

The  law  required  that  "each  enrolled  man  should  be  armed  with  a  mus- 
ket with  a  flint  lock,  two  spare  flints,  with  a  steel  or  iron  ram-rod,  a  bay- 
onet, scabbard  and  belt,  a  priming-wire  and  brush,  a  knapsack  and  can- 
teen, and  a  cartridge-box  that  contains  twenty-four  cartridges." 

*By  Hon.  B.  F.  Whi.I.lui. 


104  History  of  Coos  County. 

The  militia  companies,  or,  as  they  were  sometimes  called,  "  flood- 
wood  companies,"  embraced  all  the  enrolled  men  who  did  not  enlist  into 
an  independent  company.  In  every  regiment  there  was  a  company  of 
cavalry,  sometimes  called  "troopers,"  a  company  of  artillery,  one  or  two 
companies  of  light  infantry,  and  a  company  of  riflemen. 

The  officers  were  a  captain,  a  lieutenant,  and  an  ensign,  except  in  the 
cavalry,  where  the  ensign  was  called  a  cornet.  To  each  company  there 
were  four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  bass-drummer,  and  usually  two 
tenor-drummers  and  two  fifers,  except  in  the  cavalry,  whose  music  was 
the  bugle. 

The  parade-ground,  or  "  muster-field,"  as  it  was  called,  was  selected  by 
the  field  officers  in  some  central  portion  of  the  "lines"  of  the  regiment, 
and  "  must  be  smooth  and  level  and  contain  not  less  than  twenty  acres  " 
in  order  to  give  room  for  the  evolutions  of  the  companies  in  line  or  column 
of  attack.  Early  on  the  morning  of  muster,  from  all  the  country  round, 
came  pouring  into  town,  companies,  officers,  soldiers  and  citizens,  young 
and  old,  preceded  only  by  those  building  booths  and  tents  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  field  the  night  before.  Joy,  mirth,  patriotism,  and  good  cheer  usher 
in  the  day;  veneration,  the  martial  spirit,  parade,  the  love  of  tinsel  and 
show,  had  not  yet  died  out. 

The  militia,  or  infantry  companies,  were  generally  large  and  considered 
the  solid  branch  of  the  service.  The  officers  were  armed  with  a  sword 
with  belt,  and  w^ore  a  cap  with  plume.  The  riflemen  were  more  preten- 
tious and  dashing.  They  wore,  generally,  a  blue  coat  and  "pants,"  trimmed 
with  red  cord  or  silver  braid,  with  red  cuffs  and  collars,  and  high  gaiters. 
Their  caps  were  generally  black  velvet,  with  plumes.  They  were  very 
attractive,  either  at  rest  or  in  motion.  The  artillery  represented  strength. 
Their  uniform  was  blue,  trimmed  with  red.  They  were  armed  with  a 
sword  and  belt,  and  equipped  with  a  knapsack  and  canteen.  They  wore  a 
cocked  hat  having  a  black  plume  with  red  top.  Their  six-pound  brass  can- 
non wras  polished  to  its  brightest.  The  trappings  of  their  horses  and  ammu- 
nition carriage  were  of  the  gayest  style  known.  The  light  infantry  com- 
panies were  the  most  showy  part  of  the  regiment.  Their  uniform  was  a 
black  coat  with  white  "  pants."  They  wore  high  leather  caps  with  white 
plumes.  Their  motion  was  quick  and  effective,  and  they  wrere  greatly 
given  to  surprises  in  the  evolutions  of  the  day.  They  usually  had  from 
eight  to  ten  pioneers,  armed  with  the  necessary  tools,  who  were  in  front 
when  marching  by  flank,  to  clear  the  way  of  all  obstructions,  span  a  ditch 
or  raise  a  tent.  But  the  cavalry  on  their  prancing  steeds,  with  the  gayest 
of  uniforms  and  housings,  bear-skin  cap,  pistols,  sabre,  boots  and  spurs, 
was  the  delight  of  all.  The  bugle-notes  which  heralded  their  movements 
will  never  die  away  with  those  who  saw  that  day. 

The  most  gorgeous  display  of  all  w^as  when  the  adjutant  had  formed 


Survey  of  Maine  Boundary,  &c.  lor. 

the  regiment  in  line,  the  colonel  with  his  staff  came  on  parade  to  take  com- 
mand, and  receive  the  brigadier-general  with  his  staff  for  review.  These 
officers  were  mounted  on  the  gayest  of  chargers,  and  were  caparisoned  at 
great  expense  in  all  the  paraphernalia  of  war  to  excite  the  admiration  of 
the  thousands  who  came  to  witness  the  annual  display.  These  field  officers 
all  wore  the  Napoleonic  cocked  hat.  The  colonel  and  staff  wore  a  white 
plume  and  silver  trimmings.  The  general  and  his  stall'  wore  black  ostrich 
plumes  and  gold  trimmings. 

After  the  inspection  and  grand  review  by  the  general,  sometimes  the 
regiment  was  divided  for  the  mimic  show  of  war — a  "mock  battle" — 
when  the  cavalry  and  light  infantry  showed  their  skill  in  quick  move- 
ments, the  riflemen  as  scouts,  the  artillery  at  bombardment,  and  the  militia 
at  the  charge,  till  the  waning  sun  and  the  bugle  called  to  quarters.  So 
passed  this  day  of  days  in  "ye  olden  time."  <  >ne  who  was  there  to  see 
gives  you  this  account  while  it  is  fresh  in  memory. 

The  writer  lived  some  two  miles  from  this  enchanted  ground.  He  had 
annually  heard  in  the  distance  the  booming  of  cannon,  the  rolling  drum,  the 
screaming  fife  and  the  rattling  musketry,  and  one  bright  September  morn- 
ing he  was  taken  to  the  muster  and  training.  Sixty  years  have  since 
passed  by,  and  yet  he  has  never  been  so  thoroughly  enraptured  as  when  he 
reached  a  height  overlooking  the  field  where  he  could  see  the  long  line  of 
companies  in  their  rich  attire  stretching  across  the  field;  the  vast  concourse 
of  spectators  outside  the  line  of  guards,  and  hear  the  music  and  the  voice 
of  command  with  a  distinctness  that  was  fascinating  as  it  fell  on  the  ears. 
Farther  on,  just  outside,  he  became  absorbed  in  the  cries  of  peddlers 
hawking  their  wares,  the  baker  selling  his  gingerbread;  and  passed  by 
booths  where  were  sold  lemonade,  candy,  and  "  new  rum  at  four-pence  a 
glass. " 

As  the  day  closed  and  the  ranks  were  broken,  and  the  vast  crowd  were 
reluctantly  turning  their  faces  homeward,  squads  of  men,  before  taking  a 
soldier's  leave,  were  seen  around  the  tents,  or  sitting  on  the  ground  sing- 
ing patriotic  songs,  among  which  was  sure  to  be  "  Yankee  Doodle."  The 
spirit,  style  and  even  the  manners  of  the  Revolution  were  still  a  possession 
among  the  people;  but,  as  time  passed  on.  and  new  pastimes  and  holidays 
were  created,  the  law  requiring  active  militia  service  was  repealed  in  L851. 
Under  the  old  law  there  were  three  regiments  in  Coos  county — the  24th, 
the  41st  and  42nd;  and  these  three,  with  the  13th  and  32nd  in  Grafton 
county,  constituted  the  "  Eighth  Brigade  "  of  New  Hampshire. 


106  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

RESOURCES,  ATTRACTIONS,  TRADITIONS,  SPORTS,  AND  POLICY  OF  COOS 

CONCERNING  FISH  AND  GAME.* 

BY    COL.    HENRY    O.    KENT. 

Upper  Cohos— Coos— Abenaquis— "  Captain  Joe"  and  "  Captain  John  "—King  Philip— Metal- 
lak — Robbins  and  Hinds — Mountain  Ranges — Lakes— Rivers— Fish  and  Game— Moose — Wolves 
—Deer— Bear— Fox— Salmon— Trout— Summer  Travel— Railroad  Facilities— Protection  of  For- 
ests—Sports— Game  Laws — True   Legislation. 

UPPER  COHOS.—  When  Col.  John  Goffe,  of  Goffstown  (for  whom,  I 
assume,  was  also  named  Goff's  falls,  on  the  Merrimack,)  raised,  in  1763, 
under  authority  of  Benning  Wentworth,  royal  governor  of  the  province 
of  New  Hampshire,  his  regiment,  forming  a  part  of  the  force  intended, 
say  the  old  commissions,  "  for  the  conquest  of  Canada,"  under  command 
of  Gen  Amherst,  his  corps  was  filled  by  hardy  pioneers  and  adventurers, 
ready  to  seek  new  homes  on  the  borders  of  the  receding  wilderness.  At 
the  expiration  of  service  in  Canada,  four  of  his  officers,  with  a  portion  of 
his  command,  sought  their  homes  on  the  Merrimack,  by  the  Indian  trail 
from  Champlain  to  the  Connecticut,  and  across  the  highlands  of  New 
Hampshire  to  their  own  river.  Eeturning  thus,  they  struck  the  Connecti- 
cut at  the  broad  meadows  now  in  Haverhill  and  Newbury,  then  known  in 
Indian  legends  as  the  "Cohos,"  and  returned  to  aid  in  founding  the  towns 
referred  to.  As  settlements  extended  up  the  stream,  and  broad  meadows 
were  found  and  occupied  on  the  present  site  of  Lancaster,  that  region  was 
called  the  "Upper  Cohos;"  and  later,  when  quaint  Philip  Carrigain,  the 
genial  Irish  secretary  of  state,  whose  map  is  even  now  the  most  desirable 
authority  on  New  Hampshire  as  it  was,  visited  the  more  recent  settlements 
under  the  shadow  of  the  lesser  Monadnock  at  Colebrook,  forty  miles  north 
of  Lancaster,  he  bestowed  upon  that  section  the  title  of  "  the  Cohos  above 
the  Upper  Cohos,1'  the  territory  designated  thus,  being  the  old  home  of 
the  Coo-ash-auke  Indians,  and  now  nearly  all  included  in  the  limits  of 
Coos  county. 

Cods. — The  name  "Coos"  is  derived  from  the  Indian  word  "Cohos," 
of  the  dialect  of  the  Abenaquis,  a  confederacy  of  tribes  once  inhabiting 
New  Hampshire,  western  Maine,  and  northerly  to  the  St.  Lawrence  river. 
The  word  is  further  derived  from  "coo-ash,"  signifying  pines.  It  is  known 
that  the  Indian  inhabitants  of  a  section  were  generally  entitled  by  some 

*Adapted  from  an  address  delivered  before  the  N-  H.  Fish  and  Game  Association. 


Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions,  &c.  L07 


name  descriptive  thereof,  and  the  tribe  occupying  this  region  was  known 
as  the  Coo-ash  aukes,  or  "Dwellers  in  the  pine  tree  country,"  from  coo- 
ash,  pines,  and  auke,  place.  This  title  applied  especially  to  the  locality 
and  inhabitants  north  of  the  mountains  and  along  the  Connecticut  valley 
above  Moosilauke. 

The  outlet  of  Massabesic  lake  is  still  known  by  its  Indian  name,  "Cohos 
brook,"  and  the  country  around  was  once  a  dense  forest  of  pines — coo-ash. 
It  seems  probable  that  this  name — coo-ash — was  carried  north  by  Indian 
exiles  from  the  lower  Merrimack,  when  driven  from  their  old  abodes  by 
the  advance  of  the  whites,  to  seek,  as  says  the  chronicler,  a  new  home 
"around  the  head  waters  of  the  Connecticut;"  and  we  learn,  in  corrobo- 
ration of  Indian  occupancy  of  this  section  at  this  period,  that  after  the 
massacre  at  Cocheco  (Dover)  in  1680,  instigated  by  Kan-ca-ma-gus,  he  and 
his  followers  fled  north,  "and  joined  the  bands  at  the  sources  of  the  Saco, 
Ameroscoggin,  and  Connecticut" — the  coo-ash  region.  The  streams  in  this 
section  abounding  in  trout — their  native  food — all  the  way  from  the  Lower 
to  the  Upper  Cohos,  the  territory  became  known  as  their  Namaos-coo-auke, 
or  pine-tree  fishing-place,  a  nomenclature  transformed  and  perpetuated  in 
the  modern  name  "Ammonoosuc,"  still  held  by  three  streams  within  this 
ancient  domain. 

The  wild  and  picturesque  river,  rushing  down  from  the  slopes  of  Waum- 
bek  Methna  through  the  rich  meadows  of  Lancaster  to  join  the  Connecti- 
cut, is  said  to  have  borne  the  Indian  name  Sin-gra-wac;  but  as  this  word 
is  unknown  in  derivation,  it  is  probable  that  the  name  Siwoog-an-auke, 
itself  a  corruption  of  Saiva-coo-itauke,  signifying  "burnt  pine  place,"  is 
nearer,  if  not  the  exact  name,  thus  defined  and  corrected.  It  is  easy  to 
believe  that  away  back  in  the  dusk  of  tradition,  the  country  had  been 
despoiled  by  fire  of  its  growth  of  pines,  the  legend  only  remaining  to  sup- 
ply the  name. 

Abenaquis. — The  Canadian  home  or  head  village  of  the  Coo-ash-aukes 
was  at  Abenaquis,  or  St.  Francis,  as  their  settlement  is  still  called,  on  the 
St.  Lawrence.  After  the  defeat  of  the  Pequawkets  by  Lovewell,  in  1725, 
the  broken  remnant  of  that  tribe  retired  to  St.  Francis;  and  the  bands 
invading  or  occupying  our  present  territory  were  more  frequently  known 
as  the  "  St.  Francis  Indians"  than  by  their  original  designations  as  Aben- 
aqu  is  pv  Coo -a  sit  -an  kes. 

Descendants  of  these  broken  tribes  still  live  in  the  village  of  St.  Francis. 
Among  those  who  returned  to  their  old  hunting  grounds  in  New  Hamp- 
shire were  two  families  of  distinction,  of  which  the  chiefs  were  known  as 
"  Captain  Joe "  and  "Captain  John."  They  were  active  in  pre  Revolu- 
tionary days,  and  both  took  part  with  the  colonists  in  that  struggle.  "  Old 
Joe"  died  at  Newbury,  in  the  Lower  Cohos,  in  lsiu,  and  is  buried  in  the 
original  cemetery  of  the  town  at  the  Ox  Bow.     Captain  John  led  a  small 


108  History  of  Coos  County. 

party  of  Indians,  enlisted  from  Cohos  and  vicinity,  and  received  a  captain's 
commission.  He  died  a  violent  death  after  peace  had  been  restored,  and 
was  also  buried  at  the  Lower  Cohos.  He  was  known  among  the  Indians 
as  Soosiqi  or  Sussup,  and  left  one  son  called  Pial  Sussup,  "  Pial  "  being  the 
Indian  for  Philip.  There  is  some  reason  for  the  helief  that  this  "Pial," 
son  and  heir  of  Captain  John,  an  original  Coo-ash-auke  chief,  who  went 
from  the  Upper  Cohos  to  St.  Francis  or  Abenaquis,  and  who  returned  to 
aid  the  patriots,  with  a  small  band  of  Cohos  Indians,  was  the  "Philip, 
Indian  chief,  resident  in  Upper  Cohos  and  chief  thereof,"  who  gave  to 
Thomas  Eames,  of  Northumberland,  the  now  famous  deed  of  June  S,  1796, 
conveying  to  him  and  his  associates  the  present  county  of  Coos,  together 
with  a  portion  of  the  county  of  Oxford  in  Maine,  then  a  part  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, being  the  instrument  known  as  the  "King  Philip  deed." 

While  it  is  a  source  of  regret  that  the  descriptive  and  euphonious 
nomenclature  of  the  aborigines  has  largely  disappeared  from  the  hills  and 
streams  of  their  hunting-grounds,  it  is  a  source  of  pleasure  that  it  is  occa- 
sionally retained.  Whittier,  in  his  "  Bridal  of  Penacook,"  has  embalmed 
in  imperishable  verse  several  of  the  ancient  designations,  two  of  which 
pertain  to  the  county  of  the  Coo-ash-aukes.     He  says, — 

"  They  came  from  Sunapee's  shores  of  rock — 
From  the  snowy  source  of  Si-woo-ga-nock, 
From  rough  Coos,  whose  wild  woods  shake 
Their  pine  cones  in  Umbagog  lake." 

That  the  white  settlers  of  modern  Coos  were  of  English  origin  is  evi- 
dent from  the  nomenclature  of  the  towns,  which,  indeed,  granted  by  an 
English  governor-general,  would  naturally  be  of  English  derivation. 
Hence  the  name  of  the  ducal  and  royal  house  of  Lancaster  applied  to  the 
earlier  and  principal  settlement,  Northumberland,  Percy,  Dartmouth,  and 
Cockburne,  while  the  name  of  the  family  manor  of  the  Wentworths  at 
Bretton,  in  the  county  of  York  (the  ancient  seat  being  "  Bretton  Hall  "), 
is  duplicated  in  "  Bretton  Woods,"  now  Carroll,  where  there  is  reason  to 
believe  it  was  the  original  intent  to  erect  an  American  barony. 

Metallak. — Before  bidding  farewell  to  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of 
Coos,  the  earliest  hunters  when  fish  and  game  did  so  abound,  shall  I  weary 
your  patience  if  I  give  to  you  the  story  of  Metallak  as  it  was  told  to  me  in 
boyhood  in  the  woods— Metallak,  the  last  of  the  Abenaquis  in  Cohos,  the 
final  hunter  of  the  Coo-ash-aukes  over  the  territory  of  his  fathers  ? 

Sportsmen  who  voyage  up  the  Magalloway,  to  or  through  Parmachene, 
or  over  those  delightful  bodies  of  water  prosaically  known  as  the  "Range- 
ley  lakes,"  hear  frequent  mention  of  the  word  "Metallak."  It  is  preserved 
in  the  name  of  the  point  once  running  out  into  Molly-chunk- a-munk,  now 
submerged  by  the  accumulated  waters  of  the  "Improvement  Company 


J5' 


Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions,  &c.  109 


in  a  brook  running  into  the  Magalloway,  and  in  an  island  in  the  lower 
Umbagog. 

It  is  true  that  Capt.  Farrar,  with  rare  denseness  of  appreciation,  has 
bestowed  the  name  "Metallic,"  in  his  guide-books,  alike  upon  chief  and 
localities,  as  though  the  one  were  really  a  specimen  of  native  copper,  and 
the  other  the  location  of  mineral  deposits.  Yet  there  are  those  who  knew 
these  woods  and  waters  before  the  invasion  of  the  vandals,  or  the  days  of 
guide-books,  and  to  them  the  old  nomenclature  is  dear,  to  be  perpetuated 
when  the  days  of  the  iconoclasts  are  ended.  And  so.  despite  guide-books 
and  modern  "discoverers,"  we  retain  the  memory  and  the  name  of  Metal- 
lak,  and  tell  his  story  here. 

Metallak  was  the  son  of  a  chief,  and  from  his  earliest  youth  was  taught 
the  use  of  weapons  and  the  craft  of  the  woods.  He  grew  up  tall,  lithe, 
and  active,  the  pride  of  his  tribe,  and,  after  its  custom,  took  to  his 
wigwam  the  fairest  fawn  among  its  maidens.  He  built  his  lodge  in  the 
old  home  of  his  tribe,  the  Coo-ash-aukes,  on  the  waters  of  the  Ameroscoggin, 
and  for  her  ransacked  the  woods  for  the  softest  furs  and  the  choicest  game. 
The  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  came  to  them,  and  gave  to  the  parents' 
hearts  the  joy  that  is  born  of  offspring.  Years  sped:  the  old  chief  by  the 
St.  Lawrence  died,  and  Metallak  was  the  head  of  his  tribe.  The  frown  of 
the  Great  Spirit  was  dark  upon  his  people.  One  by  one  its  warriors  in  the 
woods  sickened  and  passed  away.  Metallak,  in  his  lodge  on  the  point  in 
the  lake,  watched  and  mourned  the  down-fall  of  his  race,  and  swift  run- 
ners told  him  how  the  stately  tree  of  his  tribe  was  stripped  of  its  branches; 
but  his  mate  and  his  children  were  left  to  him,  and  he  vowed  to  the  Great 
Spirit  to  remain  on  the  hunting-grounds  of  his  tribe  until  he  should  be 
called  to  the  happy  hunting-grounds  of  his  fathers.  Gradually,  as  fall  the 
leaves  of  the  forest  when  the  winds  of  autumn  are  abroad,  fell  the  once 
mighty  Abenaquis,  until  Metallak  and  his  family  were  alone  The  son. 
not  sharing  the  stern  feeling  of  the  sire,  as  he  grew  older  sighed  for  the 
society  of  the  pale  faces,  and  left  the  lodge  in  the  forest  to  find  a  home 
with  the  new  companions  of  his  choice.  The  daughter  had  visited  at  St. 
Francis,  and  had  joined  her  fate  with  a  young  warrior  of  the  tribe  before 
the  great  sickness  that  decimated  them.  And  he,  with  the  English  goods 
easy  of  attainment,  had  robed  his  dusky  bride  in  garments  that  a  white 
woman  might  envy.  She  is  represented  as  strikingly  beautiful,  and  when 
she  visited  her  father  in  the  wilderness  he  was  almost  awed  by  her  charms 
and  her  queenly  attire. 

About  this  time,  while  closing  a  moccasin,  Metallak  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  an  eye.  Time  sped.  The  bride  of  his  youth  sickened  and  died— a 
sad  hlow  for  the  desolate  chief.  She  who  entered  his  lodge  when  youth 
was  high  and  his  tribe  had  a  place  in  the  land,  who  had  with  him  endured 
long  year--  of  adversity,  was  called,  ami  he  was  alone. 


110  History  of  Coos  County. 

Mournfully  he  laid  the  body  in  his  canoe,  together  with  the  trinkets 
which  in  life  had  been  dear  to  her,  and,  gliding  out  from  the  sheltered 
shore,  tooks  his  way  across  the  narrow  strait  and  down  its  course  to  the 
broad  reach  of  Molly-chunk-a-munk,  past  the  whispering  pines  and  sunny 
beaches,  guided  by  the  roar  of  the  Ameroscoggin,  where  he  shoots  his 
crested  waters  toward  the  more  quiet  expanse  of  Umbagog.  Entering 
the  rapids  he  sat  ei^ect  in  the  stern  of  his  canoe — his  beloved  and  lost  com- 
panion in  repose  before  him — and  with  skillful  hand  guided  the  frail  bark 
with  its  precious  burden  through  the  seething  waters,  past  dangerous  rock 
and  whirling  eddy,  until  it  shot  out  upon  the  sunlit  expanse  of  the  lower 
lake;  still  down,  past  where  the  river  debouches  on  its  way  to  the  sea,  to 
where,  in  the  broad  expanse,  rises  the  green  island  that  now  bears  his 
name.  Here  he  dug  her  grave,  and  buried  her  after  the  fashion  of  his 
people,  and  without  a  tear  seated  himself  upon  the  mound.  Night  came, 
but  he  moved  not:  the  wolf  howled  from  the  mainland,  the  song  of  the 
night  wind  was  on  the  air,  but  he  heeded  not:  morning  came  and  passed, 
night  again  and  morning,  and  still  he  sat  upon  the  grave.  It  was  not 
until  the  morning  of  the  third  day  that  he  left  the  sacred  spot.  He  built 
him  a  hut  near  it,  leaving  it  only  to  procure  necessary  sustenance.  Years 
went  by,  during  which  he  was  occasionally  seen  by  the  hunters  and  trap- 
pers who  visited  the  region;  but  his  eye  had  lost  its  fire,  and  his  step  was 
less  firm  than  of  old.  In  the  year  1846  two  hunters  came  across  him  in 
the  woods.  It  was  in  November,  and  a  very  rainy  time.  He  had  fallen 
down,  and  upon  a  stub,  thus  extinguishing  his  remaining  eye.  He  was 
without  fire  or  food,  and  upon  the  point  of  starvation.  They  built  a  fire, 
collected  wood,  gave  him  provisions,  and  left  him  for  assistance.  With 
this  they  returned,  and  carried  him  to  Stewartstown,  where  he  lingered  a 
few  years,  a  public  charge  on  the  county  of  Coos.  He  now  rests  apart 
from  the  wife  he  loved  so  well,  but  his  name  and  memory  linger  in  the 
haunts  of  his  manhood,  and  reference  to  the  modern  hunting-grounds  of 
Coos  would  be  incomplete  without  the  story  of  Metallak, — the  last  of  his 
race  within  our  present  boundaries,  the  last  hunter  of  the  ancient  Coo-ash- 
auk  es." 

To  the  story  of  Metallak  let  me  append  the  story  and  the, tragedy  of  two 
white  hunters  on  the  same  grounds — the  story  of  Robbins  the  murderer, 
and  his  victim  Hinds. 

Where  the  Diamond  glances  down  from  the  forests  of  College  Grant, 
entering  the  Magalloway  under  the  shadow  of  Mount  Dustin,  is  a  farm, 
originally  cleared  by  a  hunter  named  Robbins.  He  was  a  stern,  vindictive 
man,  and  wild  stories  were  early  abroad  concerning  his  deeds.  In  the  fall 
of  1826,   in   company  with  several  companions, — Hinds,  Cloutman,   and 

See  Colebrook. 


Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions,  &c.  Ill 


Hayes, — all  hunters  by  profession,  he  went  upon  the  Androscoggin  waters 
to  trap  sable.  The  party  continued  their  hunt  successfully  until  the  first 
snows  fell,  when,  leaving  Robbins  in  care  of  the  property,  his  comrades 
started  on  a  last  visit  to  the  traps,  extending  over  a  line  of  twenty  miles. 
On  their  return  the  camp  was  found  burned,  and  Robbins  and  the  furs 
gone.  They  were  without  provisions,  and  sixty  miles  from  inhabitants, 
but  with  great  privations  and  suffering  they  were  able  to  work  their  way 
into  the  settlements.  On  their  return  they  instituted  a  suit  in  the  courts 
of  Coos  county  against  Robbins,  which  was  carried  to  a  successful  conclu- 
sion, and  execution  was  issued.  Spring  again  came  around,  when  Robbins 
proposed  to  Hinds  to  hunt  once  more,  promising  to  turn  his  share  of  the 
proceeds  towards  the  extinguishment  of  the  adjudged  debt.  Hinds  con- 
sented, and  taking  with  him  his  son  of  fifteen  years,  proceeded  to  the 
hunting-grounds  around  Parmachenee  lake.  Again  they  were  successful, 
when  one  day,  as  Hinds  was  returning  to  camp,  he  was  met  by  Robbins 
and  shot.  The  boy  was  killed  by  a  blow  from  a  hatchet,  and  Robbins  was 
left  with  the  bloody  spoil.  The  bodies  were  found,  and  a  search  instituted. 
Robbins  was  arrested  in  the  woods  by  Lewis  Loomis  and  Hezekiah  Parsons, 
of  Colebrook,  after  a  desperate  resistance,  and  lodged  in  Lancaster  jail. 
Having  some  confederate,  he  obtained  tools  and  commenced  preparations 
for  his  escape.  Working  diligently  at  the  window  of  his  room  in  the  old 
Elm  Tree  jail,  he  succeeded  in  loosening  the  gratings,  each  day  concealing 
his  work  by  hanging  over  it  his  blanket,  under  the  pretext  that  the  room 
was  cold  and  the  window  admitted  air.  When  all  was  in  readiness  he 
made  his  exit,  and  the  night  before  his  trial  was  to  have  commenced  he 
was  missing,  nor  was  any  search  successful.  Public  opinion  was  strongly 
against  the  jailor  as  being  in  league  with  the  prisoner,  and  was  near  mani- 
festing itself  in  a  rude  manner.  Strange  rumors  were  afloat  for  years 
concerning  his  whereabouts  and  career,  but  nothing  definite  was  known 
by  the  public  of  his  subsequent  life  or  final  decease.* 

With  these  narratives  of  the  older  and  ruder  days  of  Cohos,  we  take 
leave  of  the  past  and  enter  upon  the  Coos  of  to-day,  with  its  relation  to 
the  state. 

Let  others  tell  of  golden  hues,  that  paint  Italia's  sky, 

Of  ivied  tower,  of  ruined  hall,  of  Tiber  rolling  by, — 

Or  proudly  point  to  sculptured  bust,  and  storied  column  rare, 

In  days  of  yore  that  stood  within  the  Eternal  City  fair: 

Let  ancient  courts  again  be  viewed  where  pride  and  power  held  sway, 

Where  revelled  high  each  prince  and  peer  on  monarch's  festal  day: — 

Their  stately  walls  shall  erst  decay,  their  names  live  but  in  song, 

As  history's  lore  and  classic  tale  their  memory  prolong; — 

Let  others  sing  of  storied  lands  with  songs  of  loving  praise, 

But  there's  a  fairer  spot  to  me — home  of  my  childhood's  days — 

*See  Colebrook. 


112  History  of  Coos  County. 

My  own  Coos!— thy  hoary  peaks  sublimely  towering  high, 
Are  grander  than  the  works  of  man  'neath  brightest  foreign  sky; 
Serene,  sublime,  unchanging,  since  the  course  of  time  began. 
Solemn  and  lone  amid  the  clouds  their  stately  crests  that  span. 
These  are  no  human  handiwork,  to  waste  and  pass  away — 
Almighty  God,  the  architect,  their  grandeur  his  display. 
When  ages  yet  to  come  are  lost  in  the  vale  of  time  gone  by, 
When  ivied  tower  and  sculpture  rare  in  dust  unnoticed  lie, 
Thy  granite  peaks,  my  own  Coos,  still  heavenward  shall  tower, 
Grim  sentinels,  untiring,  set  from  old  earth's  natal  hour. 

Mountains.—  Coos  county  embraces  several  mountain  chains,  notably 
the  Presidential  range,  the  Waumbek  Methna,  or  "Mountains  with  the 
snowy  foreheads  "  of  the  aborigines,  the  White  Mountains  of  the  tourist, 
with  all  the  attractions  of  savage  grandeur  and  picturesque  beauty  in 
nature,  supplemented  by  the  modern  comforts  and  elegancies  of  palatial 
hotels  and  palace  cars;  the  Dixville  range,  stretching  in  desolate  grandeur 
across  the  northern  section  and  between  the  waters  of  the  Connecticut  and 
Androscoggin,  riven  by  the  gorge  at  Dixville,  whose  spiky  sentinels  rise 
800  feet  above  the  windy  pass  that  admits  to  the  shining  levels  of  Errol 
and  the  placid  expanse  of  Umbagog;  the  Pilot  range,  unapproachable  for 
beauty,  reaching  from  Cape  Horn,  near  Groveton,  to  Starr  King  in  Jeffer- 
son; the  Pliny  range,  stretching  southerly  across  old  Kilkenny  and  reach- 
ing out  toward  Agiochook,  with  detached  peaks,  as  Mount  Carmel  in  the 
northern  wilderness;  Pondicherry,  rising  from  the  meadows  of  Jefferson; 
and  the  white  cones  of  the  Percy  peaks  on  the  upper  Ammonoosuc,  which, 
from  the  peculiar  topographical  contour  of  the  region,  are  visible  from  so 
many  points. 

Lakes. — The  lake  system  is  on  a  scale  of  equal  grandeur,  although  pre- 
senting features  of  less  rugged  and  desolate  aspect,  and  as  pleasantly  lovely 
as  that  of  Winnipesauke's  self,  "The  smile  of  the  Great  Spirit.'1  Far  up 
in  the  everlasting  woods,  in  solitude  and  sylvan  loveliness,  nestle  the  two 
upper  lakes  of  the  Connecticut,  joined  to  the  lower  or  larger  lake  at  Pitts- 
burg, on  the  outskirts  of  civilization  in  this  direction,  the  head  waters  of 
the  "  Eiver  of  New  England."  On  the  eastern  border,  Umbagog,  half  in 
Maine,  gives  New  Hampshire  the  other  moiety  of  her  area,  and  sends  down 
the  rushing  Androscoggin,  vocal  with  the  sighing  of  the  forests  and  the 
winds  of  the  far  off  border,  to  turn  the  wheels  of  the  great  mills  at  Berlin, 
and  fertilize  the  intervals  of  Dummer,  Milan,  Berlin,  Gorham,  and  Shel- 
burne.  Of  ponds,  that  may  with  reason  be  called  lakes,  there  are  many,  as 
the  Diamond  ponds  in  Stewartstown,  Back  lake  in  Pittsburg,  Millsfield  pond 
in  Millsfield,  Trio  ponds  in  Odell,  Dummer  ponds  in  Dummer,  North  and 
South  ponds  in  Stark,  Success  pond  in  Success,  Pond  of  Safety  in  Ean- 
dolph,  Pondicherry  in  Jefferson,  Martin  Meadow  pond  in  Lancaster,  Pound 
pond,  Burns  pond,  and  Blood's  pond  in  Whitefield.  and  others  of  less  area 
in  almost  every  township. 


Eesources,  Attractions,  Traditions,  &c.  113 

Hi  vers. — The  Connecticut  river  receives,  as  tributaries  from  New  Hamp- 
shire, the  Mohawk  atColebrook,  the  Ammonoosuc  at  Northumberland,  the 
Sawacoonauk  or  Israel's  at  Lancaster,  and  the  John's  river  at  Dalton, 
while  the  Androscoggin  has  tribute  from  the  Diamond  at  College  Grant, 
the  Magallowav  at  Went  worth's  Location,  Clear  stream  at  Errol,  and  Mouse 
and  Peabody  rivers  at  Gorham.  All  these  tributary  streams  take  their  rise 
in  the  primeval  forests,  and  many  of  them  flow  their  entire  distance  away 
from  sight  of  man  save  he  be  the  prospecting  lumberman  or  eager  spoils- 
man. The  lakes  are  all  in  the  wilderness,  while  most  of  the  bodies  of 
water  classed  as  ponds  are  within  the  forest,  or  remote  from  towns  or  cul- 
tivated lands. 

Fish  and  Game. — These  waters  all  abound  in  fish,  as  do  the  forests 
around  in  game.  While  it  is  entirely  true  that  the  larger  game, — the 
moose,  the  bear,  the  wolf, — is  now  more  rarely  found,  the  two  former  still 
have  their  abiding  places  in  the  deep  recesses  of  the  remoter  hills  and 
denser  forests,  while  smaller  game  still  exists  in  abundance.  The  ponds 
and  streams  in  the  older  towns  are  not  as  good  fishing-grounds  as  formerly, 
and  the  pickerel  and  chub  have  therein,  in  some  cases,  taken  the  place  of 
the  once  universal  trout;  but  the  waters  of  the  deeper  woods,  from  spark- 
ling brooks  to  swelling  lakes,  are  still  prolific  in  this  admired  and  admir- 
able fish,  the  trout. 

I  well  remember,  as  a  boy,  that  a  fine  string  of  trout  could  always  be 
easily  taken  from  the  bridge  on  Main  street  across  Israel's  river  in  Lancas- 
ter, and  that  a  local  character,  one  Tinker  Wade,  was  accustomed  fre- 
quently to  secure  a  peck  or  more  of  these  luscious  fish  by  the  clumsy  pro- 
cess of  mixing  powdered  cocculus  indicus  with  bran,  making  pellets,  which 
thrown  at  random  upor;  the  water  from  this  bridge,  would  be  speedily  de- 
voured by  the  jumping  trout,  to  intoxicate  them,  when  they  would  leap 
out  of  the  water,  or  float  upon  its  surface,  an  easy  spoil  to  the  hand  or 
stick  of  the  Tinker. 

The  entire  Cohos  country,  at  the  time  of  its  settlement  by  the  whites, 
abounded  in  fish  and  game,  and,  indeed,  was  among  the  most  prolific  of 
the  hunting-grounds  of  the  aborigines.  For  many  years  after  settlers  had 
opened  up  the  forest  all  over  this  extent  of  territory,  and.  indeed,  after 
considerable  towns  had  sprung  up  therein,  the  game  of  the  woods  and  the 
fish  of  the  streams  existed  in  profusion,  but  the  advance  of  clearings,  the 
lumber  operations,  and  the  century  of  hunting  and  fishing  that  has  fol- 
lowed,have  materially  diminished  the  supply  and  exterminated  some  sp<  ■■  ;i<  s 
Of  the  larger  game  it  is  rare  to  find  a  moose  or  caribou,  a  wolf  or  a  beaver. 
Salmon  have  entirely  disappeared,  and  trout,  in  many  once  prolific  locali- 
ties, seem  to  be  vanishing  as  did  the  salmon  and  shad.  It  is  only  in  the 
secluded  ponds,  and  in  the  small  streams  above  the  mills  in  the  forests, 
that  trout  are  now  taken. 

8 


114  History  of  Coos  County. 


When  the  settlers  from  the  lower  Cohos  penetrated  the  wilderness 
covering  the  present  county  of  Coos,  they  found  in  abundance  the  moose, 
caribou,  deer,  the  wolf,  the  bear,  the  lynx,  the  otter,  the  beaver,  the  red  and 
cross  fox,  the  marten  or  sable,  the  mink,  the  musk-rat,  the  hedgehog,  the 
woodchuck;  of  birds,  the  partridge  or  ruffled  grouse,  and  pigeon;  and  of  fish 
the  salmon,  and  perhaps  the  shad  and  trout.  So  common  were  the  mooser 
that  it  was  not  unusual  for  scores  to  be  slain  by  a  single  hunter  in  a  season. 
The  greatest  destruction  of  this  animal  occurred  annually  in  March,  when 
the  snow  was  deep  and  had  stiffened  after  a  thaw.  They  were  then  de- 
stroyed by  professional  hunters,  who  took  only  the  skin,  tallow,  and  noser 
which  last  named  part,  together  with  a  beaver's  tail,  were  favorite  tidbits 
to  the  epicures  of  the  forest. 

Later,  moose  were  plenty  around  the  head  waters  of  the  Connecticut, 
but  being  hunted  with  dogs  and  on  the  crust,  they  were  soon  practically 
exterminated.  It  is  told  that  one  of  the  Hilliards  destroyed  eighty  in  one 
season,  after  which  wholesale  massacre  they  practically  disappeared.  South 
of  Lancaster  village,  and  in  the  town  limits,  rise  three  conical  peaks, — 
Mounts  Orne,  Pleasant  and  Prospect,  known  as  the  ' '  Martin  Meadow 
hills,"  and  south  of  Mounts  Pleasant  and  Orne  is  a  sheet  of  water  of  about 
four  hundred  acres,  known  as  "Martin  Meadow  pond;"  this  was  a  favorite 
resort  for  moose  and  deer,  and  an  unfailing  rendezvous  for  the  settler  when 
the  family  was  "out  of  meat."  This  pond  was  in  the  low  pine  territory 
extending  through  parts  of  Dalton,  Carroll,  Whitefield  and  Jefferson,  in 
which  last  named  town  is  "  Pondicherry,',  or  Cherry  pond,  at  the  north- 
ern base  of  Cherry  mountain,  the  entire  region,  in  the  early  clays,  being  a 
favorite  resort  of  the  moose.  To  illustrate  their  abundance,  I  quote  from 
an  old  manuscript  in  my  possession,  written  by  the  late  Hon.  John  W. 
Weeks  :  — 

"An  early  settler,  by  the  name  of  Dennis  Stanley,  a  lieutenant  in  the  continental  army,  and  a 
man  of  strong  mind  and  perfect  veracity,  informed  the  writer  that  being  '  out  of  meat,'  and  want- 
ing a  moose  skin  to  buy  a  certain  luxury  then  much  used,  and  too  often  at  the  present  day  (New 
England  rum),  went  alone  to  Cherry  pond  for  a  supply,  carrying  his  old  gun,  that  had  been  so 
much  used  that  by  turning  powder  into  the  barrel  it  would  prime  itself.  He  had  scarcely  struck 
fire  in  his  camp  when  he  heard  several  moose  wading  from  the  shallow  side  of  the  pond  toward 
deep  water.  He  then  uncorked  his  powder-horn,  put  several  bullets  in  his  mouth,  and  waited  until 
the  moose  in  front  was  nearly  immersed  in  water.  He  then  waded  in  where  the  water  was  about 
one  foot  in  depth,  and  took  his  position,  not  in  the  rear  of  the  moose,  less  they  should  swim  over 
the  pond,  but  at  a  right  angle  with  their  track  and  at  easy  musket  shot  from  it.  On  his  apearance 
the  moose— four  in  number — as  he  had  anticipated,  chose  rather  to  wade  back  than  to  swim  over, 
and  commenced  their  retreat  in  the  same  order  in  which  they  had  entered  the  pond;  that  was,  one 
behind  the  other,  at  some  distance  apart.  In  a  moment  the  moose  that  had  been  in  the  rear  was 
now  in  front  in  the  retreat,  and  coming  within  reach,  he  was  shot  at;  the  powder-horn  was  then 
applied  to  the  muzzle  of  the  gun,  a  bullet  followed  from  his  mouth  with  the  celerity  which  hun- 
ters only  know,  the  second  moose  was  fired  at,  the  third  and  fourth  in  rapid  succession,  when 
Lieutenant  Stanley  found  time  to  give  a  fifth  discharge  at  the  moose  in  the  rear.  Three  fell  at  the 
water's  edge,  the  other  staggered  to  the  top  of  the  bank,  where  he  fell  dead." 


Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions,  &c.  115 


The  moose  seems  almost  to  have  been  an  antediluvian  animal,  and  out 
of  place  in  the  highlands  of  New  England.  The  long  forelegs  precluded 
grazing  from  level  ground,  or  from  drinking  from  the  level  of  its  feet.  It 
could  only  browse  on  twigs  and  trees,  sometimes  inserting  its  teeth 
through  the  bark,  stripping  it  off  and  masticating  as  it  raised  its  head.  I 
remember,  while  on  the  state  boundary  in  L858,  after  seeing  moose  signs, 
coming  upon  a  mountain-ash  that  had  been  stripped  in  the  manner  indi- 
cated to  a  height  of  thirteen  feet  from  the  ground.  Another  peculiarity  of 
the  moose  was  the  uncouth  long  upper  lip,  prehensile  almost  like  a  trunk, 
the  broad  nostrils  that  could  be  tightly  closed,  the  false  lid  to  the  eye,  all 
indicating  the  adaptability  of  the  animal  to  feed  under  water;  and.  indeed, 
it  is  their  custom,  as  is  well  known,  to  congregate  in  the  soft,  muddy 
margins  of  the  ponds,  feeding  largely  on  lily  pads  and  the  roots  of  the 
pond  lily,  which  they  tear  up  from  beneath  the  water. 

Major  Weeks's  manuscript  gives  this  description  of  the  horns  of  this 
forest  monarch :  "  Nothing  can  exceed  the  symmetry  and  beauty  of  the 
limbs  and  horns  of  the  moose.  The  round  part  of  the  horns,  or  that  next 
the  head,  is  about  fourteen  inches  in  length,  when  it  becomes  palmated, 
and  is  in  some  instances  twelve  inches  broad,  surmounted  in  one  instance, 
told  me  by  Edward  Spaulding,  now  living  (1839),  by  'seventeen  spikes  on 
each  horn.  A  horn  now  before  me  is  one  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter 
at  the  base,  and  eight  inches  in  length,  terminating  in  a  point.  The  largest 
class  of  horns  spread  five  feet,  and  weigh  about  two  hundred  pounds. 

The  last  moose  familiar  to  Lancaster  people  was  one  owned  and  kept  by 
Louis  Annance,  a  St.  Francis  Indian,  who  forty-five  years  ago  had  a  lodge 
a  mile  east  of  the  village,  near  the  Sawacoonauk,  or  Israel's  river.  Annance 
was  a  tame  Indian,  and  a  member  of  the  ancient  Mason's  lodge  at  Lancas- 
ter. He,  however,  lived  in  the  style  of  his  fathers:  his  pappooses  were 
strapped  to  boards  and  hung  up  in  the  lodge  or  carried  on  the  back  when 
traveling,  and  the  moose  was  kept  for  exhibition.  * 

Beaver. — There  are  many  beaver  meadows  all  along  the  Connecticut  val- 
ley and  on  the  tributary  streams.  In  1858,  while  upon  the  eastern  boundary 

*The  mention  of  the  moose  brings  to  mind  the  famous  anecdote  of  Thomas  Jefferson  and  the 
great  French  naturalist,  Buffon.  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  his  "Notes  on  Virginia,"  pointed  out  some 
errors  in  the  published  works  of  M.  Buffon,  and,  when  afterwards  the  gentlemen  met  in  Paris, 
Buffon  presented  Mr.  Jefferson  a  copy  of  his  Natural  History  with  this  remark:  "  When  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson will  do  me  the  pleasure  to  read  this,  he  will  acknowledge  that  I  am  not  in  error."  Mr. 
Jefferson,  still  unconvinced,  determined  to  demonstrate  to  Buffon  that  the  Virginia  deer  was  not 
the  red  deer  of  Europe,  nor  the  American  moose  the  Lapland  reindeer.  He  engaged  Gen.  Sullivan 
to  obtain  for  him  a  New  Hampshire  moose  that  he  might  have  the  stuffed  skin  and  skeleton  sent  to 
Paris,  with  the  horns  of  a  Virginia  deer  which  he  had  procured.  Gen.  Sullivan  raised  a  company 
of  twenty  men  and  captured  ainoose  near  the  White  Mountains.  The  cost  of  the  bunt,  tin-  taxi- 
dermist's bill,  and  the  prepaid  freight  to  Paris  was  $200,  which  the  triumphant  Jefferson  cheer 
fully  paid. 


116  History  of  Coos  County. 

of  our  state,  in  the  apex  of  the  triangle  made  by  the  boundary  range  and 
the  mountains  on  the  New  Hampshire  line,  in  a  little  glen  only  sixty  rods 
from  the  iron  post  in  the  northern  wilderness  that  marks  at  once  the  terri- 
tory of  Canada,  of  New  Hampshire,  and  of  Maine,  I  came  upon  a  secluded 
pond  inhabited  by  a  family  of  beaver.  Marks  of  recent  work  were  plenty: 
a  few  trees,  six  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  cut  down  by  their  teeth,  and 
chips  therefrom,  fresh  and  green,  smooth-cut  as  by  a  carpenter's  gouge, 
w^ere  scattered  about.  This  was  doubtless  the  last  family  of  beaver  in 
Coos,  and  I  learned  a  few  years  later  that  they  had  all  been  trapped  and 
destroyed.  Lancaster  was  formerly  a  favorite  haunt  of  the  beaver,  where 
they  were  trapped  in  great  quantities.  From  the  manuscript  of  Major 
Weeks  I  copy  a  description  of  the  location  of  these  animals,  together  with 
some  hints  as  to  their  habits 

"  About  two  miles  southwest  of  the  town  centre  is  a  large  tract  of 
alluvial  land  called  '  Martin  meadow '  (the  meadows  in  the  present  school 
district  No.  2),  from  an  early  hunter  whose  name  was  Martin.  He 
caught  an  immense  number  of  beaver  from  Beaver  brook,  which  mean- 
ders through  the  meadow.  Beaver  dams  on  this  brook  can  yet  be  traced, 
in  one  instance  for  about  fifty  rods  in  length  and  near  five  feet  in  height. 
There  are  others  of  less  extent,  yet  all  exhibiting  extraordinary  skill  and 
ingenuity,  superior  to  some  bipeds  who  attempt  the  erection  of  dams.  The 
banks  of  this  brook  are  perforated  in  hundreds  of  places,  which  show  the 
former  residences  of  bank  beaver,  a  kind  smaller  than  those  wonderful 
architects  who  build  dams  and  erect  houses  several  feet  in  diameter,  with 
a  layer  of  poles  through  the  middle  which  divides  them  into  two  stories,  in 
one  of  which  their  food  for  winter,  consisting  of  bark  and  small  poles,  cut 
about  two  feet  in  length,  is  deposited,  while  the  other,  covered  with  leaves, 
is  their  resting-place  during  the  inclement  season.  The  entrance  to  both 
kinds  of  habitation  is  always  below  low-water  mark,  from  which  point 
they  ascend  through  a  subterranean  passage,  often  several  rods  long,  to 
their  dark  yet  comfortable  abode. 

The  Beaver  brook  here  referred  to,  from  the  clearing  up  of  the  land 
around  its  sources,  has  much  shrunk  in  volume,  and  now  flows  sluggishly 
through  the  low  meadows  known  to  their  owners  as  the  bog.  It  enters 
the  Connecticut  near  the  "  brick  school-house5,''  near  which  was  the  resi- 
dence of  Edwards  Bucknam,  a  follower  of  "Governor  Page,"  the  first  set- 
tler of  the  town. 

Wolves  were  frequent  in  the  Cohos  country  at  the  time  of  its  settle- 
ment, and  did  not  entirely  disappear  until  within  the  last  thirty  years.  Old 
residents  of  Laucaster  have  informed  me  that  they  frequently  heard,  thirty- 
five  years  ago,  the  howl  of  the  wolf  from  the  woods  east  of  the  village, 
not  more  than  half  a  mile  distant.  The  last  wolf  captured  in  that  town 
was  about  1840,  and  by  Mr.  Edward  Spaulding,  then  an  old  man  and  one 


Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions.  &c.  117 

of  the  first  white  persons  in  town.  He  had  set  a  trap  on  the  northern  slope 
of  Mount  Pleasant,  near  his  farm-house,  and  south  of  the  village,  and 
repairing  to  it  found  therein  a  large  gray  wolf.  The  animal,  by  its  s\  nig- 
gles, was  in  danger  of  freeing  himself,  when  Mr.  Spaulding  attacked  him 
with  a  stake  which  he  carried,  and  succeeded  in  disabling  and  finally  kill- 
ing him.  I  well  remember,  as  a  child,  the  sight  of  the  skin  as  shown  in 
the  village,  and  the  wondering  interest  with  which  I  listened  to  the  story 
of  the  battle  between  the  old  man  with  his  club  and  the  gaunt  monster  of 
the  forests. 

As  exhibiting  the  numbers  and  ferocity  of  these  dread  animals  during 
the  earlier  settlement  of  the  Cohos  country,  I  give  the  following  incidenl 
told  me  by  my  mother,  who  had  it  from  her  great-grandfather.  .John 
Mann,  the  first  settler  of  Orford,  in  the  Lower  Cohos,  who  came  to  that 
town  in  1765,  commencing  his  first  house  and  clearing  on  the  Connecticut 
interval,  a  little  west  of  where  the  present  homestead  stands,  on  the  broad 
main  street  running  through  that  pleasant  village: — 

Mr.  Mann  was  engaged  in  clearing,  and  had  in  his  employ  a  stalwart 
negro,  who  is  remembered  by  tradition  as  especially  powerful  and  fearless. 
Wolves  abounded,  and  were  exceedingly  fierce:  indeed,  it  was  the  custom 
to  leave  the  woods  where  choppers  were  engaged,  each  day  before  sun- 
down On  the  occasion  referred  to,  the  sun  going  down  behind  the  hills  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut,  and  the  shadows  beginning  to  darken  the 
recesses  of  the  forest,  grandfather  shouldered  his  axe, telling  the  negro  to  fol- 
low him  in  his  return  to  the  house  and  security.  The  man  was  engaged  on  a 
giant  tree,  and  hesitated,  saying  that  he  meant  to  lay  that  low  before  leaving 
Telling  him  that  it  was  unsafe  to  remain,  and  bidding  him  follow.  Mr. 
Mann  started  for  home,  expecting  the  black  to  obey  him.  Arrived  there,  he 
discovered  that  he  was  alone,  but  momentarily  expected  the  arrival  of  the 
other.  Night  came,  but  not  the  negro,  and  a  great  noise  of  wolves  was 
heard  in  the  woods  he  had  left.  It  would  have  been  death  to  return  in  the 
darkness  alone,  and  through  the  hours  of  that  long  night,  amid  the  howls 
from  the  forest,  he  waited,  powerless  to  help  or  save.  With  the  morning 
light  he  hastened  to  the  spot  where  he  left  the  man  the  day  before,  to  find 
seven  wolves  lying  dead,  a  bloody  axe,  and  the  ghastly  relics  of  thedaring 
fellow  who  had  remained  at  his  work  too  long.  He  had  been  attacked  by 
a  ravenous  pack,  selling  his  life  after  a  terrific  struggle.  I  have  never  seen 
this  incident  in  print,  but  I  heard  it  in  my  childhood,  and  recently,  it  was 
again  told  me,  as  it  came  from  the  aged  pioneer  who  told  it  to  his  great- 
grandchild in  her  girlhood. 

Deer  abounded,  but  are  now  rare.  They  were  finally  driven  away  by 
chasing  them  with  dogs;  nor  will  they  be  plenty  in  the  deep  woods  that 
yet  remain,  if  this  practice  is  continued.  Dogs  follow  them  on  the  crust. 
as  the  wolves  used  to  pursue  and  exterminate  them;  and  the  more  limited 


IIS  History  op  Coos  County. 

forest  area,  and  the  increased  number  of  hunters  in  later  years,  have 
accomplished  what  the  wolves  failed  to  do — driven  the  deer  absolutely  from 
broad  areas  of  our  county.  It  is  believed  that  where  deer  still  remain, 
hunting  with  firearms  alone  will  not  depopulate  or  drive  them  away,  but 
they  fly  from  the  lands  when  dogs  are  put  upon  their  trail. 

Deer  formerly  existed  in  vast  numbers  in  the  pine  forests  of  Jefferson, 
Carroll,  Whitefield,  Dalton,  and  the  southern  part  of  Lancaster.  This  abun- 
dance was  largely  due  to  an  agreement  among  the  people  of  those  towns 
to  keep  dogs  off  the  deer,  and  many  dogs  were  killed  that  they  might  not 
chase  them.  Another  reason  for  the  plentiful  supply,  aside  from  their  natural 
fecundity  and  increase  when  in  a  manner  protected,  was  because  they  fled 
from  hunters  and  hounds  used  for  their  capture  around  Littleton  and  in  the 
adjacent  forests  of  Vermont.  One  hunter  in  Lancaster  took  forty  deer  in 
one  season;  and  Mr.  James  B.  Weeks,  one  year,  without  effort  or  chase, 
shot  fifteen  from  his  farm  on  the  southern  slope  of  Mount  Prospect. 

The  black  bear  was  very  common,  and  indeed  is  now  frequently  taken 
in  Coos.  A  summer  rarely  passes  wherein  one  or  more  are  not  captured 
on  the  slopes  of  the  Pilot  range  and  Starr  King,  not  more  than  four  or  five 
miles  from  Lancaster  village.  The  animal  lives  on  roots  and  weeds, with 
occasional  variations  of  diet,  comprising  berries,  green  corn,  or  a  fat  sheep 
from  the  outlying  flock.  He  enjoys  the  wild  turnip  and  other  indigenous 
roots,  digging  them  with  one  claw  as  neatly  as  a  man  would  run  his  fore- 
finger around  them  in  mellow  ground;— briefly,  the  food  of  the  bear  is 
whatever  a  hog  eats,  with  mutton  extra.  They  seldom  attack  men, 
unless  in  defence  of  their  young. 

Partridges,  or  ruffled  grouse,  were  once,  and  until  quite  recently,  very 
plenty;  just  now,  however,  they  are  rare.  This  scarcity  is  attributable  to 
the  large  increase  of  the  red  fox,  who  preys  upon  him  with  devastating- 
effect.  Reynard  is  not  now  poisoned  as  formerly,  and  hence  has  largely 
multiplied.  His  pelts  abound  in  the  country  stores,  and  his  tracks,  after 
a  light  snow,  trace  a  labyrinth  over  every  field  and  hillside.  Partridges 
have  disappeared  before  him. 

The  Wild  Pigeon,  once  also  very  plenty,  is  now  comparatively  rare. 
Thirty  years  ago  every  buckwheat  field,  in  the  fall,  swarmed  with  pigeons. 
They  had  regular  roosts,  from  which  they  swarmed  down  on  the  fields. 
An  old  device  was,  to  have  a  "pigeon-bed"  for  a  decoy,  with  a  net  so 
arranged  as  to  be  thrown  over  the  bed  at  will,  when  the  birds  had  alighted. 
I  have  the  experience  of  a  present  citizen  of  Lancaster,  who  informs  me 
that  when  a  boy  he  caught  forty  dozen  pigeons  one  autumn,  from  a  bed 
on  his  father's  farm  on  Mount  Prospect. 

Salmon  ceased  in  Cohos  about  1808.  Up  to  that  time  they  came  up  the 
Connecticut  at  least  as  far  as  Stewartstown,  forty -five  miles  north  of  Lan- 
caster, there  being  a  notable  place  there  known  as  the  "'Salmon  hole." 


Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions,  &c.  L19 

They  abounded  in  Lancaster,  and  ascended  the  Ammonoosuc  as  far  as 
the  Fabyan  place  in  the  White  Mountains.  Mr.  Edward  Spaulding,  of 
Lancaster,  used  to  say  that  the  early  settlers  relied  as  much  on  catching 
and  salting  down  an  annual  barrel  of  salmon,  as  later  farmers  did  upon 
salting  down  the  yearly  supply  of  pork.  In  the  great  eddy  at  the  head  of 
the  Fifteen-Mile  falls,  in  Dalton,  near  the  mouth  of  John's  river,  the  loca- 
tion of  Captain  John  Stark's  capture  by  the  Indians,  was  a  famous  salmon 
hole,  where  the  noble  fish  apparently  rested,  in  the  somewhat  cooler  water 
discharged  by  the  smaller  stream,  after  the  ascent  of  the  falls.  Here  people 
resorted  from  all  the  region  round  about,  as  they  did  to  Namoskeag,  and 
for  a  similar  purpose.  At  the  mouth  of  Isreal's  river  in  Lancaster  was  a 
similar  salmon  hole. 

The  first  dam  across  the  Connecticut  in  Massachusetts  was  built  about 
the  end  of  the  last  century;  but  these  early  dams,  lower  and  equipped  with 
"aprons,"  did  not  offer  the  obstacles  to  the  ascent  of  the  stream  by  these 
vigorous  fish  which  was  presented  by  their  successors;  and  so  the  salmon, 
in  lessened  numbers,  continued  to  return  from  the  sea,  until  higher  dams 
impeded  their  progress. 

.    Recent  efforts  to  re-stock  the  Connecticut  and  some  of  its  tributaries 
with  this  fish  have  been  only  moderately  successful,  and  can  never  be  of 
practical  avail  until  generous  fish-ways  are  constructed  at  all  the  obstruct 
ing  dams. 

There  is  little  absolute  certainty  that  shad  were  once  common  to  our 
waters,  although  at  Littleton,  in  Grafton  county,  there  is  a  record,  in  1792, 
of  the  election  of  "Inspectors  of  salmon  and  shad,"  leaving  the  presump- 
tion that  shad  were  then  known  there.  If  so,  they  doubtless  came  higher 
up  the  streams. 

Trout,  the  natural  and  delicious  fish  of  New  England,  once  peopled  in 
crowded  abundance  every  stream  of  our  hills  and  every  pond  of  our  valleys 
They  have  in  some  places  disappeared  before  the  voracious  pickerel;  but 
the  sawdust  of  the  lumberman  is  more  fatal  to  them  than  the  hunger  of 
this  destroyer,  or  the  arts  of  the  angler.  The  day  has  passed  when  the 
local  bard  could  truthfully  record,  that 

"In  the  silent  hollows 

The  red  trout  groweth  prime 
For  the  miller  and  the  miller's  son 
To  angle  when  they  've  time;'' 

for  then,  lulled,  almost,  by  the  drowsy  monotone  of  the  grist-mills,  the 
trout  slumbered  in  each  alder-shaded  pool  of  all  our  streams. 

Wherever  there  is  a  saw-mill  the  dust  clogs  the  stream,  and  the  trout 
disappear  from  below  it.  For  trout  to  propagate  and  multiply,  clear  water 
is  essential,  with  a  reasonably  large  reach  of  still,  dee})  water  for  a  winter 
retreat.     Obstacles  removed, they  suddenly  reappear,  and  rapidly  multiply. 


120  History  of  Coos  County. 

A  few  years  ago  an  old  dam  on  the  Otter  brook  in  Lancaster  was  down, 
and  free  egress  given  to  the  waters  of  the  stream;  sawdust  also  ceased.  A 
gentleman,  Hon.  James  W.  Weeks,  going  his  rounds  on  the  meadow 
below,  saw,  in  a  shallow  pool  in  the  grass,  several  trout.  Procuring  a 
handful  of  shingles,  by  sticking  them  down  he  cut  off  their  retreat,  and, 
by  gradually  advancing  them,  worked  the  fish  upon  the  dry  land,  when  he 
took  eighteen  fine  trout,  half  filling  a  Shaker  pail,  and  weighing  about  one 
pound  apiece.  These  fish  had  come  down  through  the  broken  dam  on  the 
first  opportunity,  and,  in  the  absence  of  obstructions  and  the  fatal  sawdust, 
had  multiplied  and  thriven.  If  the  day  ever  comes  when  our  streams  are 
pure,  they  will  again  be  filled  with  this  delicious  fish. 

The  great  area  open  to  sportsmen  is  of  course  one  of  the  attractions  for 
the  ever  increasing  tide  of  summer  travel,  so-called,  to  the  highlands  of 
Coos,  and,  in  addition  to  the  strictly  pleasure  or  health-giving  resorts,  it 
is  a  factor  in  the  argument  that  brings  to  us  the  annual  hegira  from  the 
cities,  enriching  our  immediate  markets,  and  adding  very  largly  to  the 
revenues  of  the  state.  The  great  caravansaries  at  the  Crawford  Notch,  at 
Fabyan's,  at  Twin  Mountain,  at  the  Glen,  are  well  know,  and  receive  the 
annual  pilgrimage  of  thousands;  the  charming  location  of  Lancaster  in  the 
Connecticut  valley,  the  sunny  slopes  of  Jefferson  hill,  and  the  "  long  white 
street''  that  always  recalls  to  me  the  Alba  Longa  of  Macaulay's muse, — 

"  The  home  of  King  Amulius,  of  the  great  sylvan  line, 
Who  reigned  in  Alba  Longa,  on  the  throne  of  Aventine, — " 

as  it  glistens  in  the  sun  along  the  northern  slope  of  the  Bethlehem  hills, 
attract  other  thousands,  while  every  sunny  meadow  or  breezy  hillside 
has  its  cottage  for  the  reception  of  invalids,  of  pleasure- seekers,  of  tourists, 
and  of  sportsmen. 

A  good-natured  rivalry  exists  between  some  of  these  towns,  relative  to 
their  desirability  of  location,  as  offering  greater  inducements  to  the  guest, 
height  above  the  fogs  being  a  desideratum.  Such  was  for  years  the  kindly 
contest  between  Jefferson  and  Bethlehem,  respectively  championed  by  that 
most  generous  and  public-spirited  citizen  among  the  men  of  the  moun- 
tains, Hon.  Nathan  R.  Perkins,  and  our  ever  genial  friend,  Hon.  John  G. 
Sinclair,  who,  like  a  new  Ponce  de  Leon,  has  invaded  Florida  in  his  search 
for  the  new  fountain  of  perpetual  youth,  that  bursts  from  plethoric  pockets, 
incidental  to  owners  of  orange  groves  and  Floridian  lands.  The  big  sur- 
veyor's level,  always  ready  for  duty  in  Nathan's  front  porch,  persistently 
shot  over  Bethlehem  street,  just  saluting  the  crest  of  Mount  Agassiz  in 
its  rear,  while  John  was  always  ready  to  demonstrate,  both  by  plane 
trigonometry  and  alleged  plainer  common-sense,  that  Bethlehem  sat  high 
above  her  rival  in  the  sanhedrim  of  the  hills. 


•a 


Resources,  Attractions,  Traditions,  occ.  IiM 

There  comes  to  me  remembrance  of  a  day,  when  a  crowded  train  of 
Democratic  delegates  from  the  Gibraltar  of  the  party  in  New  Hampshire 
was  speeding  on  to  a  congressional  convention  at  Woodsville.  Sinclair,  as 
was  usual  on  such  occasions,  was  the  life  of  the  party,  and  joke  and  repar- 
tee flew  briskly  around.  Bent  on  the  pre-eminence  of  Bethlehem,  he  assailed 
Perkins  and  asserted  its  greater  elevation.  Facts  and  figures  were  hurled 
promiscuously  between  them,  each  asserting  the  superior  altitude  of  his 
town.  Neither  receded,  and  the  crowd,  enjoying  the  fun,  gathered  closer, 
when  "John,"  who  had  been  for  a  few  minutes  perusing  a  railroad  cir- 
cular inviting  mountain  travel,  which  chance  threw  in  his  way,  exclaimed 
in  jubilant  exultation,  "This  settles  it;  hear  this!"  as  he  proceeded  to  read 
therefrom:  "On  the  route  toward  the  Androscoggin,  and  eight  miles  below 
Bethlehem,  lies  the  pleasant  village  of  Jefferson."  "Fight  miles!  Nate, 
do  you  hear  that?  Will  you  give  it  up  now?"  The  crowd  roared,  and  the 
altercation  ended,  but  we  much  doubt  if  to  this  day  Councillor  Perkins 
admits  Jefferson  to  be  eight  miles,  or  eight  feet,  below  its  mountain  rival. 

The  demands  of  summer  travel  bring  increased  railroad  facilities.  No- 
where are  finer  trains  run,  than,  during  the  season,  into  the  lake  and 
mountain  region  of  New  Hampshire.  The  home  market  is  exhausted  of 
supplies  to  sustain  this  grand  incursion,  and  it  is  altogether  within  the 
bounds  of  reason  to  estimate  that  a  sum  varying  from  five  to  eight  mil- 
lion dollars  per  annum  is  expended  within  our  state  limits  upon  the  lines 
of  conveyance,  the  hotels  and  boarding  houses,  and  the  necessaries  essen- 
tial to  the  comfort  and  enjoyment  of  these  welcome  visitors.  So  large  an 
expenditure  of  course  involves  large  permanent  investments,  requiring  the 
support  and  protection  of  legislative  enactment.  So  large  a  revenue 
should  be  fostered  by  every  proper  means,  as  ensuring  to  the  state  and  its 
people  increased  prosperity,  with  attendant  benefits. 

As  the  abundance  of  game  and  fish  in  our  woods  and  waters  is  an 
important  factor,  inducing  the  tide  of  travel  toward  us.  with  its  consequent 
augmentation  of  our  revenues,  it  follows  that  it  is  a  matter  of  imperative 
public  policy,  as  well  as  of  personal  inclination,  to  protect  our  forests  from 
destruction,  and  the  fish  and  game  therein  from  wanton  waste;  and  in 
this  aspect  we  may  here  properly  refer  to  the  denudation  of  our  woods 
now  progressing.  Incident  to  the  consideration  of  the  annual  cut  from 
lumbering  operations,  and  the  almost  countless  cords  of  wood  used  for 
local  and  locomotive  fuel,  to  supply  the  charcoal  kilns  of  New  Zealand, 
and  also  to  the  protection  of  the  area  wherein  game  may  thrive  and  fish 
multiply,  arises  the  vital  question  of  the  preservation  of  ourtimber  supply 
from  spoliation,  with  the  attendant  disasters  of  barren  lands,  irregular 
water  supply,  failure  of  springs,  and  disastrous  freshets. 

That  the  wise  consideration  of  this  question  is  beset  with  difficulties 
that  accumulate  as  investigation  progresses  is  perhaps  evident.  The  rights 


122  History  of  Coos  County. 

of  the  individual  to  the  products  of  the  soil,  natural  and  cultivated,  that  is 
absolutely  his,  can  be  suspended  only  by  an  overreaching  public  necessity, 
that  perhaps  is  not  now  present.  It  would  seem  that  some  system,  appeal- 
ing at  once  to  the  good  judgment  and  self-interest  of  land  and  timber 
owners,  may  be  evolved  by  discussion,  whereby  less  waste  may  transpire 
in  cutting,  while  propagation  by  tree-planting,  that  may  not  again  make 
verdant  the  exact  areas  desolated,  may  induce  new  plantations,  that  in 
their  turn  will  restore  to  us  the  climatic,  healthful,  and  financial  advan- 
tages of  which  we  are  being  so  rapidly  deprived,  and  add  to  the  game- 
producing  area  of  the  state. 

The  relation  to,  and  the  effect  of,  sylvan  sports  upon  a  people  are  well 
known,  both  as  developing  character  and  affording  recreation,  with  the 
consequent  increased  capacity  for  mental  and  physical  labor. 

To  range  the  woods,  to  climb  the  mountain,  to  ply  the  oar — all  these,  a 
love  for  which  is  transmitted  from  our  Saxon,  Norman,  or  Celtic  progeni- 
tors, is  to  reinvigorate  brain  and  body,  relaxed  from  prolonged  application. 
To  ply  the  chase  or  throw  the  fly  is  to  call  out  new  and  exhilarating  desires, 
to  kindle  new  interests,  and  open  new  channels  of  thought  or  investiga- 
tion, while  communion  with  nature  is  always  ennobling,  always  elevating, 
and  always  welcome.  Devoted,  as  too  many  of  our  people  are,  to  seden- 
tary pursuits,  the  active  exercise  of  out-door  life  is  essential  alike  to  lon- 
gevity and  to  the  healthful  action  of  mind  and  body.  It  follows,  then,  that 
the  greater  the  reasonable  interest  that  can  be  awakened  in  healthful  out- 
door sports  and  exercise,  the  higher  we  rise  above  the  worries  and  the 
fatigues  of  life,  and  the  greater  our  capacities  at  once  for  enjoyment  and 
usefulness. 

The  food  supply  of  a  people  is  an  economic  and  political  problem,  affect- 
ing not  only  their  increased  prosperity  as  a  resultant  of  cheap  food,  but 
their  character,  through  the  nature  of  the  food  assimilated  and  the  exertion 
requisite  for  its  procurement.  Hence  the  necessity  of  legislation,  and  also 
the  wisdom  thereof,  to  properly  protect  fish  and  game,  both  that  cheap  and 
healthful  food  may  be  within  the  reach  of  the  poor,  whose  enjoyment  of 
the  bounty  of  nature  is  as  keen  as  that  of  the  more  prosperous,  and  that 
they  may  also  have  the  recreation  attendant  upon  its  procurement,  as  well 
as  to  offer  additional  inducement  for  pleasure-seekers,  tourists,  and  sports- 
men to  visit  the  state. 

As,  in  a  republic  whose  laws  are  properly  conceived  and  administered, 
all  legislation  is  based  upon  the  consent  of  the  people,  and  enacted  for  their 
benefit,  it  again  follows  that  the  game  laws  should  not  restrict  but  rather 
properly  extend  their  privileges.  There  are  certain  inalienable  and  natural 
rights,  the  exercise  of  which,  although  apparently  trivial,  involves  the 
gravest  political  questions  as  to  the  status  of  the  citizen ;  and  among  these 
the  game  laws  may  be  given  a  place  of  prominence. 


The  Timber  Interests  of  Northern  Cons.  123 


Decended  from  Saxon,  Norman,  or  Celtic  ancestors,  whose  vocation  lay 
largely  in  the  chase,  and  whose  sustenance  was  once  wholly  derivable  from 
wood  and  stream,  occupying  a  territory  two  centuries  ago  a  primeval 
wilderness,  the  hunting-grounds  of  aborigines,  coming  to  us  as  a  people 
by  conquest  and  adverse  occupation  rather  than  by  feudal  tenure  or  pur- 
chase, we  claim  the  forests  and  the  waters  of  our  state  to  be  free  to  her 
people,  who  are  all  tenants  in  common,  to  enjoy  the  invigorating  breezes 
of  her  hills,  to  capture  the  game  of  her  forests  and  the  fish  of  her  waters. 

As  society  advances  from  the  ruder  state,  the  people,  in  consideration 
of  the  greater  advantages  received  from  organized  government  and  the 
rule  of  rational  law,  surrender  certain  inherent  and  natural  personal  rights 
for  the  greater  benefits  thus  received,  but  they  adhere  perhaps  with 
increased  tenacity  to  those  rights  not  surrendered  and  still  remaining. 

Hence  legislation  relative  to  the  fish  and  game  within  our  limits  should 
be  for  their  protection  and  increase,  that  the  people,  instead  of  curtailment 
in  the  exercise  of  the  natural  right  to  their  capture,  may  receive  more 
abundant  return;  that  food  maybe  more  cheap  and  more  plenty;  that  the 
exhilarating  pleasures  of  hunting  and  fishing  may  be  more  generally  and 
more  keenly  enjoyed;  and  that  our  list  of  attractions  for  invalids,  tourists, 
and  sportsmen  may  be  augmented. 

The  true  province  of  legislation  on  this  subject  I  take  to  be  to  increase 
and  multiply  the  products  of  our  woods  and  waters,  protecting  during  the 
months  essential  to  that  increase,  to  the  end  that  all  the  people  may  share 
properly  in  these  added  benefits. 


CHAPTER  XIAT. 

THE  TIMBER  INTERESTS  OF  NORTHERN  COOS. 


BY    ALBERT    BARKER. 


Spruce  Belt— Hard  Wood  Timber— The  Sugar  Maple— Other  Woods— Resources  and  Manu- 
facture— Opportunities  for  Investment. 

UP  TO  and  during  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  century,  all  build- 
ings were  supposed  to  require  large  timbers  for  frames,  and  eight 
and  ten  inch  hewed  and  sawn  timber  was  the  least  that  it  was 
deemed  safe  to  use  for  posts  and  beams.  The  new  departure,  by  using 
balloon  frames,  resulted  in  the  discovery  that  spruce  was  preferable  to  pine 


124  History  of  Coos  County. 

for  covering-boards,  and  the  scarcity  of  pine  soon  brought  sj)ruce  lumber 
into  use  for  finishing.  The  prospective  demand  for  spruce  lumber  was 
foreseen  by  Josiah  Little,  of  Portland,  then  president  of  the  Atlantic  & 
St.  Lawrence  R.  R.  Co.,  and  about  184-1  he  purchased  the  water-power  at 
Berlin  Falls,  and  turned  the  direction  of  the  railroad  up  the  Androscoggin 
river.  Soon  after,  large  lumber  mills  were  built  at  Berlin,  and  the  busi- 
ness of  cutting  and  manufacturing  spruce  was  inaugurated  for  the  first 
time  in  Northern  Coos.  The  entire  ' '  black  growth  "  of  that  part  of  the 
county  north  of  the  railroad,  was  substantially  spruce.  The  little  pine 
originally  growing  in  the  valley  of  the  Androscoggin,  mostly  in  Errol,  had 
been  previously  cut  and  floated  down  the  river  by  Maine  lumbermen.  The 
head  waters  of  that  river  being  in  Maine,  the  comparatively  little  pine 
manufactured  at  Berlin  came  from  that  state. 

The  shrewdest  and  best  informed  lumbermen  had  a  very  erroneous  idea 
of  the  amount  of  spruce  standing  in  Northern  Coos.  Lots  that  they  esti- 
mated would  cut  from  75,000  to  100,000,  actually  cut  from  300,000  to  400,- 
000.  Spruce  trees,  though  less  in  size,  stand  much  nearer  together,  and 
the  man  that  could  give  a  close  estimate  of  standing  pine  to  the  acre, 
utterly  failed  in  his  estimate  of  spruce,  and  it  was  only  after  experience 
gained  by  actual  cutting  and  scaling,  that  anything  like  a  correct  estimate 
of  standing  spruce  could  be  made  by  the  most  experienced  lumbermen. 

The  state  line  passes  through  the  entire  length  of  Umbagog  lake,  and 
crosses  the  Magalloway  river  some  ten  miles  north  of  it,  running  through 
this  immense  tract  of  spruce  timber,  leaving  the  larger  portion  of  it  in  the 
state  of  Maine.  A  trip  to  the  summit  of  Es-cho-hos  mountain  (the  name 
is  of  disputed  orthography,  but  I  give  that  corresponding  to  the  universal 
local  pronunciation,)  will  give  a  better  view  of  it  than  any  other.  Escho- 
hos  mountain  rises  from  the  Magalloway  river  about  a  mile  east  of  the 
state  line,  and  from  its  summit  is  seen  a  vast  tract  of  country  extending 
eastwarclly  and  northwardly  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  covered  with  a 
dense  spruce  growth,  on  mountain  and  valley  alike,  in  its  natural  state. 
This  spruce  timber  belt  at  one  time  covered  Northern  Coos,  a  portion  of 
the  province  of  Quebec,  and  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state  of  Maine. 

There  are  railroads  on  all  sides  of  it,  but  none  penetrate  it  as  yet,  and 
only  those  portions  of  the  timber  standing  within  ten  or  twelve  miles  of 
the  Connecticut  and  Magalloway  rivers,  including  their  tributaries,  are 
available  for  market  at  present;  ten  miles  being  considered  about  as  long 
a  haul  as  will  ensure  a  profit  at  present  prices.  This  distance,  however, 
covers  nearly  all  of  Northern  Coos,  and  at  the  rate  of  its  present  destruc- 
tion, the  time  is  coming  in  the  near  future  when  spruce  in  the  county  will 
be  as  scarce  as  pine  is  now.  From  Milan,  Success,  Dummer,  Cambridge, 
Millsfield,  Dixville,  Errol  and  Wentworth's  Location  it  floats,  or  has 
floated,  down  the  Androscoggin;  from  Columbia,  Colebrook,  Stewartstowm 


The  Timber  Interests  of  Northern  Coos.  125 

Clarksville,  Pittsburg  and  the  unsettled  grants  down  the  Connecticut :  and 
steam  mills  and  the  Grand  Trunk  railway  are  fast  executing  the  same 
destruction  for  East  Stratford  and  Stark.  On  the  east,  Milan  is  largely 
settled,  Dumraer  and  Errol  partially  so,  while  the  other  towns  are  sub- 
stantially a  wilderness,  and  of  little  value  after  the  spruce  timber  is  gone, 
until  the  manufacture  of  hard  wood  is  inaugurated;  there  being  little  pros- 
pect that  the  hardy  back-woodsman  will  make  his  home  there  until  some 
such  inducement  is  held  out  to  him.  Some  of  these  townships  are  good 
settling  lands,  but  they  lie  too  far  back  at  present  to  encourage  settlement . 

When  the  spruce  timber  in  Coos  county  is  all  destroyed,  a  railroad  will 
ex  necessitate  and  run  up  the  Androscoggin  valley  into  the  Maine  forest 
spoken  of,  and  this  will  probably  cause  some  of  them  to  be  partially 
settled. 

On  the  west,  Columbia  is  about  half  settled,  a  range  of  precipitous, 
ledgy  hills  passing  through  the  centre  of  the  township,  which  will  never 
make  farms  or  be  of  any  practical  value  except  for  the  wood  and  timber 
growing  upon  them.  The  spruce  has  been  mostly  taken  off,  and  the  pres- 
ent winter  that  portion  of  Odell  that  was  recently  annexed  to  the  town  is 
being  cut;  one  man  having  taken  a  contract  to  put  5,000.000  feet  upon  the 
river,  at  a  haul  of  about  ten  miles.  Others  are  putting  in  smaller  quanti- 
ties, aggregating  as  much  more.  Colebrook  (the  only  town  in  the  county 
that  can  be  called  wholly  settled,  and  probably  the  only  town  in  the  state, 
of  which  every  lot,  with  proper  cultivation,  will  make  a  good  farm,)  has 
not  sufficient  spruce  or  pine  timber  to  supply  the  prospective  needs  of  its 
own  inhabitants.  Stewartstown  and  Clarksville  have  two  or  three  tiers 
of  lots  on  the  east  end  that  are  not  as  yet  settled,  but  have  been  operated 
to  some  extent  by  lumbermen.  Pittsburg,  whose  territory  embraces  all 
the  remainder  of  the  state  north  of  Clarksville,  is  settled  in  the  southwest 
corner,  the  remainder  of  its  vast  territory  being  timber  land,  owned  mostly 
by  the  "  Connecticut  River  Lumber  Company,"  a  New  York  corporation 
whose  policy  is  to  "gobble  up"  every  little  tract  of  spruce  timber  that 
they  can  lay  their  hands  on,  and  that  policy  has  succeeded  far  too  well  for 
the  present  or  prospective  interests  of  the  inhabitants.  The  high  tariff 
on  foreign  lumber,  which  is  virtually  prohibitory,  at  least,  so faras Cana- 
dian lumber  comes  in  competition  with  the  lumber  of  Northern  Coos,  tends 
to  accelerate  the  already  swift  destruction  of  the  spruce  lumber  of  this 
section. 

The  waterway  that  transports  this  vast  amount  of  natural  wealth  em- 
braces the  three  Connecticut  lakes,  Perry's  stream,  Indian  stream,  and 
Hall's  stream,  which  empty  into  the  Connecticut  on  the  west,  and  Dead 
Water,  which  empties  into  the  Connecticut  on  the  east  side.  Hall's  stream 
takes  its  rise  in  Canada,  and  for  a  portion  of  itscourse  forms  the  boundary 
hue  between  Canada  and  the  United  States,  and  though  its  mouth,  where 


126  History  of  Coos  County. 

it  empties  into  the  Connecticut,  is  in  Vermont,  much  of  its  course  is  well 
adapted  to  receive  the  lumber  growing  on  the  western  border  of  Pittsburg. 
Indian  stream  takes  its  rise  near  the  boundary  line,  and  empties  into  the 
Connecticut  a  few  miles  east  of  Hall's  stream.  Perry's  stream  takes  its 
rise  between  the  headwaters  of  Indian  stream  and  Third  lake,  and,  flowing 
more  eastwardly,  empties  into  the  Connecticut  a  few  miles  below  the  out- 
let of  Connecticut  lake.  Third  lake  lies  but  a  few  miles  from  the  boundary 
line,  and  a  glance  at  the  map  will  show  that  these  four  waterways  are  so 
situated  as  to  easily  receive  all  the  spruce  lumber  in  Coos  county  west  of 
the  Connecticut  lakes  and  Connecticut  river.  These  streams  are  all  com- 
paratively small,  but  by  means  of  dams,  sufficient  water  is  retained  from 
the  melting  snows,  and  let  out  as  needed,  to  so  prolong  the  spring  freshets 
as  to  float  out  the  lumber  into  the  Connecticut  the  second  season  after  it  is 
landed  on  the  streams.  This,  however,  is  subject  to  contingencies  Deep 
snows  and  continued  rains  may  keep  the  water  up  so  as  to  prolong  the 
driving  season,  and  a  light  fall  of  snow,  or  a  short  warm  rain,  followed  by 
hot,  fair  weather,  may  materially  shorten  the  driving  season,  and  soon 
leave  the  timber  high  and  dry  upon  the  rocks  above  the  water.  Whenever 
this  takes  place,  the  operation  of  driving  ceases,  and  the  timber  remains 
until  the  next  spring  freshet.  The  depreciation  of  the  timber,  thus  left 
over  the  summer,  is  estimated  at  from  five  to  ten  per  cent.  The  Dead 
Water,  which  takes  the  lumber  from  the  east  part  of  the  towns  of  Stew- 
artstown  and  Clarksville,  is  a  small  stream,  and  the  results  of  driving  it, 
uncertain.  The  territory  lying  east  of  the  Connecticut  lakes,  with  the 
exception  of  a  strip  bordering  on  the  state  line,  which  will  go  down  the 
Magalloway  waters,  will  be  hauled  to  the  lakes.  Thus  it  is  that  this  vast 
growth  of  spruce  timber,  intended  by  nature  to  enrich  Northern  Coos, 
when  railroad  facilities  for  transportation  should  be  furnished  to  convey 
it  to  market  in  a  manufactered  state,  is  cut  and  transported,  by  a  foreign 
corporation,  down  the  Connecticut  to  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut, 
where  its  manufacture  serves  to  build  up  cities  and  villages,  while  the 
county  of  its  growth  receives  no  benefit,  but  does  receive  a  serious  injury 
to  its  river  farms  by  the  prolonged  high  water,  every  spring,  caused  by  the 
flow  of  water  from  the  reservoirs  which  the  corporation  has  built  on  nearly 
every  stream  that  flows  into  the  Connecticut.  For  this  injury  the  farmers 
along  the  river  are  virtually  without  remedy.  The  corporation  is  legally 
liable  to  make  compensation,  but  the  farmer,  to  obtain  it,  has  generally  to 
resort  to  an  expensive  litigation,  the  costs  of  which  sometimes  exceed  the 
amount  which  he  eventually  recovers.  In  contrast  to  this,  the  Berlin  Mills 
Company,  by  the  manufacturing  of  its  lumber  at  Berlin,  has  been  the  means 
of  building  up  a  large  and  flourishing  village,  which  is  a  permanent  benefit 
to  the  county.  This  company  manufactures  at  Berlin,  and  has  done  so 
since  its  first  establishment,  on  an  average  some  twenty  or  twenty-five 


The  Timber  Interests  of  Northern  Coos.  127 

million  feet  of  lumber  each  year,  and  there  are  two  other  companies  al 
the  same  place  which  use  a  large  amount  of  spruce  lumber,  annually,  in 
making  paper  stock,  the  employees  of  all  these  com panies  being  largely 
residents  of  Berlin.  These  manufactures  all  find  a  market  by  way  of  tin 
Grand  Trunk  Railway.  The  manufactures  of  the  lumber  mills  in  Strat- 
ford and  Stark  find  their  way  to  market  by  the  same  road. 

The  Connecticut  River  Lumber  Company  cut  and  drive  down  the  Con- 
necticut river,  on  an  average,  about  seventy  five  million  feet  of  lumber  a 
year.  Their  employees  are  mostly  transient  men  from  Maine  and  Canada, 
who  work  in  the  woods  in  the  winter  and  on  the  drive  in  the  spring,  but 
few,  if  any,  ever  become  permanent  residents  of  the  county. 

We  have  thus  far  confined  ourselves  to  spruce  lumber,  and  possibly 
may  have,  unintentionally,  conveyed  to  the  casual  reader  an  impression 
that  spruce  is  substantially  the  only  growth  of  this  section.  Such  is  not 
the  fact.  There  are  small  sections  that  have  no  other  growth,  and  larger 
sections  having  a  mixed  growth,  while  still  larger  sections  have  no  spruce 
at  all. 

In  every  town  there  is  more  or  less  cedar,  which  is  very  valuable,  but, 
as  it  can  be  floated  down  the  rivers  the  same  as  spruce,  and  is  included  in 
the  estimates  of  the  companies  above  named,  it  requires  little  further 
mention.  It  has,  however,  a  home  value  for  fencing,  that  no  other  lum- 
ber possesses.  In  Northern  Coos,  which  is  substantially  free  from  granite, 
stone  fences  are  almost  a  curiosity,  and  cedar  for  posts  and  rails  (where 
rails  are  used),  is  in  universal,  and  nearly  exclusive  use.  When  the  Atlantic 
&  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  St.  Lawrence  &  Atlantic  railroads  were  first 
built,  cedar  was  exclusively  used  for  ties,  but  experience  soon  proved  that 
the  grain  of  the  wood  was  not  dense  enough  to  hold  the  spikes,  and  they 
were  taken  up,  and  spruce,  hemlock,  and  oak  substituted.  But  for  fenc- 
ing and  shingles,  cedar  is  the  most  valuable  of  any  timber  used. 

The  hard  wood  timber,  consisting  mostly  of  maple,  birch  and  beech, 
growing  upon  this  section,  exceeds  in  quantity  all  the  soft  or  black  growth, 
and  there  are  few,  if  any  lots  in  any  town  that  does  not  bear  more  or  less 
of  it.  This  timber,  being  more  dense  than  water,  soon  sinks,  and  cannot 
be  floated  down  the  rivers,  and,  if  ever  manufactured,  it  must  be  done 
within  hauling  distance  of  where  it  grows.  This  can  be  done,  and  will  be, 
whenever  an  outlet  is  found  for  it.  It  is  of  greater  value  for  many  pur- 
poses than  spruce,  but  the  home  market,  as  yet,  is  not  great,  and  it  cannot 
be  brought  into  any  other,  until  there  are  railroads  to  convey  it,  and  even 
then  little  will  be  moved  except  in  a  manufactured  state.  Much  of  the 
maple  is  valuable  for  sugar  purposes  as  it  stands.  As  a  rule,  the  pioneer, 
when  clearing  up  his  farm,  sought  out,  and  left  standing,  a  "sugar 
orchard,"  and  there  are  few  farms  that  have  not  retained  them.  Probably 
no  section  of  New  England,  with  the  same  number  of  inhabitants,  makes 


128  History  of  Coos  County. 

more  maple  sugar  than  this.  Many  of  these  orchards  produce  from  five 
hundred  to  twenty-five  hundred  pounds  of  sugar  annually,  according  to 
the  number  of  trees  tapped,  and  the  character  of  the  season.  This  sugar, 
over  and  above  the  home  consumption,  finds  a  ready  and  favorable  mar- 
ket everywhere.  These  "  sugar  orchards  "  are  permanent,  self -renewing, 
and,  if  properly  attended  to,  inexhaustible.  When  a  tree  becomes  old, 
and  shows  signs  of  decay,  it  is  cut  out,  and  others  spring  up  to  take  its 
place.  The  trees  vary  in  size  from  the  young  sapling  to  trees  twenty-four 
and  thirty  inches  in  diameter.  The  young  trees  are  of  rapid  growth,  and 
in  a  decade  will  grow  from  a  young  sapling  to  a  tree  suitable  for  the  tap- 
ping iron  and  the  tin  bucket.  Another  peculiarity  of  these  sugar  maples 
is,  that  constant  tapping  by  the  present  method,  neither  exhausts  nor 
injures  the  tree.  The  holes  soon  grow  over,  the  tree  continues  as  thrifty  as 
ever,  and  the  tapping  being  done  near  the  ground,  it  produces  no  injury 
to  the  tree  when  used  for  timber,  for  it  remains  as  clear  and  free  from  de- 
fects as  if  no  sap  had  ever  been  drawn  from  it.  The  beech,  birch,  and  ash 
have  not  the  same  faculty  of  producing  a  revenue  to  their  owner  while 
standing  and  growing,  and  with  the  exception  of  natural  growth,  pro- 
duce none.  Like  the  maple,  they  are  now  largely  used  for  fuel,  but  are  far 
more  valuable  for  lumber,  and  the  time  is  coming  in  the  near  future  when 
this  value  will  be  utilized.  Hardwood  lumber  enters  into  the  construction 
of  nearly  every  article  that  can  be  named,  from  the  backwoodsman's 
cabin  with  its  rude  furniture,  to  the  palatial  residence  of  the  city  million- 
aire, with  its  wainscoting  and  cabinet  work  of  oriental  magnificence.  The 
ax  of  the  common  laborer,  the  various  tools  of  the  mechanics,  and  the 
machinery  of  the  largest  manufactories,  are  alike  dependent  upon  this 
article  for  construction.  It  is  found  in  the  common  farm  wagon;  the 
palace  cars  upon  our  railroads,  and  the  magnificent  steamers  that  plough 
the  rough  ocean.  In  brief,  it  will  be  difficult  to  mention  many  articles  in 
common  use  in  city  or  country,  that  are  not  wholly  or  partially  com- 
posed of  this  valuable  article. 

Why  then  are  the  vast  quantities  of  this  valuable  timber  still  standing 
untouched  upon  the  hillsides  and  valleys  of  this  enterprising  people?  The 
answer  is  obvious.  It  cannot  be  floated  down  the  rivers,  and  the  expense 
of  conveyance  to' market  by  teams  will  more  than  eat  up  its  market  value. 
A  limited  quantity  of  this  lumber  may  be  in  future  transported  in  the 
log,  but  the  great  bulk  of  it  must  be  manufactured  near  its  place  of  growth. 
[This  conveyance  can  only  be  done  by  steam,  and  the  means  of  obtaining 
railroad  facilities,  has  been,  and  still  is,  the  most  important  question  of 
any  that  ever  agitated  this  community.  By  means  of  promises,  which  they 
could  not  or  would  not  fulfill,  the  Boston,  Concord  &  Montreal  railroad, 
obtained,  and  for  many  years  held  a  virtually  exclusive  charter  through  to 
Canada,  and,  like  the  dog  in  the  fable,  would  neither  eat  the  hay,  nor  let 


The  Timber  Interests  of  Northern  Coos.  129 

the  ox;  or,  in  plain  English,  would  neither  build  the  road,  nor  let  any  one 
else.  But  the  long  suffering  patience  of  the  people  gave  away  at  last,  and 
they  rose  in  their  might  and  demanded  a  different  state  of  things.  When- 
ever the  people  of  Northern  Coos  unitedly  and  earnestly  set  out  to  accom- 
plish any  purpose,  they  usually  succeed,  and  they  did  so  in  this  case.  In 
18S3  they  secured  to  themselves  a  charter  which  they  now  hold  and  cou- 
trol.  This  charter  took  effect  January  1,  1884.  About  this  time  the  rail- 
road interests  of  the  state  became  involved  in  litigation,  which  was  not 
settled  until  March,  1S87.  Since  then  a  movement  has  been  set  on  foot, 
which  has  resulted  in  the  building,  this  season  (1887),  a  road  from  Strat- 
ford to  Colebrook.*  This  movement  will  soon  produce  developments  in 
this  section  that  will  surprise  every  one  who  has  not  carefully  studied 
the  subject.] 

It  is  sometimes  said  that  Northern  Coos  is  destitute  of  water-power,  but 
this  idea  originates  in  a  superficial  view  and  an  utter  ignorance  of  the  fad  s. 
On  the  Connecticut  river  between  the  outlet  of  Connecticut  lake  and  West 
Stewartstown  bridge  are  at  least  four  sites  where  sufficient  power  can  be 
obtained  for  the  manufacture  of  hard  wood  to  any  extent  desired.  South 
of  there  you  cannot  now  travel  ten  miles  in  any  direction  without  passing 
one  or  more  mills  of  more  or  less  capacity.  These  small  water-powers, 
occupied  and  unoccupied,  dot  the  country  like  dandelions  in  June.  Some 
of  them  may  not  hold  out  the  year  round  (as  some  of  the  largest  factories 
in  the  state  fall  short  of  water  in  the  dry  season  of  summer),  but  suppose 
the  lesser  of  them  run  but  six  months  out  of  twelve,  while  the  remain- 
der of  the  season  is  devoted  to  getting  the  lumber  in  winter,  and  other 
pursuits  in  summer,  and  then  the  result  will  not  be  inconsiderable  in  the 
product  of  any  of  the  small  articles  of  manufacture  from  hard  wood. 

But  it  is  too  late  in  the  age  to  assert  that  this  or  any  other  section  of 
country  is  dependent  upon  water  as  a  motive  power.  Steam  has  become  its 
competitor,  even  on  its  own  ground,  and  it  is  a  disputed  question  as  to 
which  is  the  cheaper  and  more  economical;  but,  for  manufacture  of  wood, 
where  the  refuse  goes  so  far  towards  supplying  fuel  to  feed  the  engine,  it 
is  claimed  that  steam  is  the  more  economical,  even  where  water  can  be 
obtained.  The  extensive  cotton  factories  of  Dover  are  run  wholly  by  steam, 
as  are  the  large  lumber  mills  at  Whitefield,  and  not  only  this,  but  they  run 
their  own  railroad  miles  and  miles  into  the  woods  for  the  purpose  of  trans- 
porting the  logs  to  their  mills.  Their  mills  are  built  where  they  are,  that 
is  on  the  railroad,  for  the  convenience  of  sending  away  their  manufactured 
lumber,  and  whenever  that  railroad  extends  to  the  Connecticut  lakes,  little 
spruce  or  cedar  will  float  down  the  river.     When  that  is  done,  the  hard 

-—----—-—■--  —  — 

*  See  railroads  in  another  chapter. 


9 


130  History  of  Coos  County. 

wood  timber  will  be  worth  more  than  the  soft.     It  not  only  exceeds  it  in 
value  per  thousand,  but  in  this  section  it  far  exceeds  it  in  quantity. 

Comparatively  few  people  have  any  definite  idea  of  the  growth  of  the 
northern  part,  where  the  hard  wood  growth  stands  in  its  native  state 
undisturbed  by  the  woodman's  ax.  In  the  settled  towns  much  of  this 
growth  has  been  cut  off  in  clearing  land  and  for  fuel,  but  east  of  the  lakes, 
in  the  unsettled  townships,  are  large  tracts  of  "birds  eye  "  maple  and  birch, 
the  trees  of  which  are  of  the  largest  size,  standing  straight,  smooth,  and 
free  from  knots  and  limbs  for  a  half  hundred  feet  at  least.  In  easy  reach 
of  this  valuable  timber,  steam  mills  can  be  erected  not  only  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reducing  it  to  coarse  sawn  lumber,  but  for  making  the  innumerable 
articles  that  are  made  from  it.  This  will  be  done  as  soon  as  railroad  facili- 
ties are  furnished.     The  possibilities  in  this  line  are  incalculable. 

When  the  spruce  was  first  operated,  the  idea  attained  to  some  extent 
that  it  was  inexhaustible;  that  by  cutting  out  the  large  trees  and  leaving 
the  small  ones,  the  natural  growth  of  the  small  trees  would  supply  the 
vacuum.  Experience  has  proved  this  idea  to  be  erroneous.  The  large 
spruce  trees  have  over  a  century's  growth  upon  them,  and  when  these  are 
removed,  the  small  trees  grow  short,  knotty  and  knurly,  and  are  of  very 
little  value  for  timber.  Especially  is  this  the  case  where  it  is  cut,  as  is  now 
the  practice,  down  to  four  and  five  inches. 

Though  birch  and  maple,  in  their  natural  state  undoubtedly  attain  a 
very  great  age,  they  are  of  very  rapid  growth  while  young,  and  obtain 
their  size  substantially  in  a  short  period.  The  writer  has  seen  a  strip  of 
three  or  four  acres,  on  the  outskirts  of  an  old  pasture,  thickly  covered  with 
birch  trees  from  eighteen  to  twenty-four  inches  in  diameter,  standing 
straight,  smooth,  and  without  limbs,  for  forty  or  fifty  feet  and  holding  their 
bigness  remarkably  for  that  distance.  Being  upon  the  ground  with  the 
owner,  then  a  man  between  sixty  and  sixty -five,  he  was  told  by  him  that 
he  once  cleared  the  land  on  which  these  trees  then  stood,  and  reaped  on  it 
as  stout  a  crop  of  rye  as  he  ever  saw  growing.  These  trees  must  have 
attained  this  remarkable  growth  from  the  seed  in  less  than  forty  years. 
The  rapid  growth  of  maple  is  also  clearly  demonstrated  in  their  use  for 
ornamental  and  shade  trees,  where  the  middle-aged  man  may  set  out  trees 
that  he  can  carry  in  one  hand,  and  live  to  enjoy  the  coolness  of  their  shade 
and  eat  maple  sugar  made  by  himself  from  their  sap. 

The  man  who  looks  only  at  present  gains  and  immediate  returns  may 
see  little  encouraging  in  all  this;  but  he  who  looks  to  the  future  benefit  and 
prosperity  of  the  country,  conscious  of  the  fact  that  untold  generations  are 
yet  to  follow  us,  and  alive  to  the  fact  that  all  this  material  must  necessarily 
be  manufactured  on  the  spot,  and  that  this  enterprize  will  result  in  the 
rapid  settlement  of  the  country,  especially  those  portions  denuded  of  their 
spruce  growth,  will  see  a  hardy,  enterprizing  and  prosperous  people  cover- 


Coos  County  Press  —  Agricultural  Societies- -  Railroads.     13 i 

ing  this  now  dense  wilderness,  who  will  continue  to  sustain  the  reputation 
which  New  Hampshire  has  already  acquired,  of  raising  men  capable  of 
competing  successfully  with  the  men  of  any  section  of  any  land,  and  that 
this  vision  is  not  a  mere  chimera,  but  will  be,  in  the  near  future,  an  accom- 
plished fact. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

COOS  COUNTY  PRESS;  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETIES;  RAILROADS. 

White  Mountain  ^E^is— Coos  County  Democrat — Coos  Republican— Prohibition  Herald — 
Independent  (now  Lancaster)  Gazette— Coos  Herald,  Etc.— Northern  Sentinel — Colebrook  Weekly 
News — News  and  Sentinel — Whiterield  Blade — Coos  Advertiser — The  Mountaineer,  Etc. — Coos 
Agricultural  Society — Coos  and  Essex  County  Agricultural  Society — Railroads:  Atlantic  and  St. 
Lawrence — White  Mountains— Portland  and  Ogdensburg — Upper  Coos. 

Lancaster. 

THE  White  Mountain  JEgis  was  the  first  newspaper  of  the  county. 
It  was  issued  in  the  spring  of  1838,  by  an  association  composed 
of  Royal  Joyslin,  Richard  P.  Kent,  Gen.  John  Wilson,  and  Apollos 
Perkins,  as  an  organ  of  the  Whig  party.  Apollos  Perkins  was  editor. 
After  an  existence  of  one  year  it  was  removed  to  Haverhill  and  became 
the  Whig  an<t  JEgis.  The  paper  was  published  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall 
in  C.  E.  Allen's  building  on  Main  street. 

The  Coos  County  Democrat  was  the  next  paper  established;  its  first 
issue  being  dated  in  the  summer  of  1838.  The  Democrat,  like  the  JEgis, 
was  started  by  an  association  of  the  prominent  men  of  its  party,  chief 
among  whom  were  Hon.  John  W.  Weeks,  Jared  W.  Williams,  John  S. 
Wells,  Hon.  John  H.  White,  and  others  of  subsequent  state  reputations, 
but  it  afterward  passed  under  the  control  of  Mr.  Rix,  until  his  death  in 
1856,  when  its  shares  were  disposed  of  by  the  original  holders  or  their  rep- 
resentatives. The  imprint  bore  the  names  of  James  M.  Rix  and  James  R. 
Whittemore  as  publishers,  Mr.  Rix  for  the  first  year  working  at  the  casi 
in  addition  to  preparing  the  editorial  labors  of  the  journal.  After  this  year 
Mr.  Rix  gave  up  the  case,  retaining  editorial  management  until  his  death. 

The  Democrat  was  first  issued  from  the  second  story  of  a  building  on 
Main  street,  then  owned  by  John  S.  Wells,  now  the  ell  of  the  store  of 
Richard  P.  Kent  &  Son.  In  1851  it  was  removed  to  the  store  building  of 
JamesA. Smith.   After  Mr.  Rix's  death  at  the  City  Hotel,  Huston,  March  25, 


132  History  of  Coos  County. 

1856,  the  office  was  moved  to  the  "  Postoffice  building,"  now  the  Shannon 
building,  on  the  south  side  of  Israel's  river.  Jared  I.  Williams,  Esq.,  being 
editor,  and  Joseph  W.  Merriam,  Esq.,  a  native  of  Stratford,  subsequently 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  Patriot,  being  assistant  editor. 

In  1859  the  Democrat  was  moved  to  North  Stratford  under  the  control, 
as  editor,  of  Charles  D.  Johnson,  Esq.,  then  but  recently  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Coiis  county.  Mr.  Johnson  died  October  29,  1860,  and  after  his 
death,  the  paper,  as  a  party  organ,  practically  ceased  to  have  existence. 
The  material  was  purchased  by  sundry  parties,  members  of  the  opposing 
organization,  and  for  a  time  the  Democrat  was  a  nondescript.  Frequent 
exhibitions  of  the  internal  dissensions  among  its  owners,  such  as  placing  a 
cut  of  a  bull  bottom-side  up,  entitled  "  A  man  overboard  "  at  the  head  of 
its  columns  by  its  nominal  editor,  followed  the  next  week  by  denunciations 
of  said  manager  from  the  owners,  characterized  its  last  days.  Ultimately, 
about  1862,  the  material  was  sold  to  A.  J.  Walker,  of  Lunenburg,  Vt. 

The  roster  of  employers  and  employed  of  the  Democrat  is  long  and  hon- 
orable. Hon.  James  M.  Rix,  subsequently  president  of  the  state  Senate, 
was  a  nervous,  vigorous  writer,  and  acute  politician  well  known  to  the 
public  of  the  state.  His  death  occurred  from  consumption,  aggravated 
beyond  doubt  by  the  cares  of  editorial  and  political  life. 

Among  the  Democrat  employees  was  Edward  E.  Cross,  of  Lancaster, 
who  "  served  his  time  justly  and  legally  "  as  an  apprentice,  and  then  assumed 
management  of  the  office  as  foreman.  From  Lancaster,  Cross  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, entering  the  Dollar  Weekly  Times  office.  Soon  he  appeared  as 
traveling  correspondent  of  that  paper,  and  for  several  years  his  letters  writ- 
ten from  all  parts  of  the  land,  under  the  nom  de  plume  of  "  Edward  Ever- 
ett," were  among  the  most  agreeable  matter  in  its  columns.  Charles 
Francis  Brown,  better  known  as  "  Artemas  Ward, "  began  his  career  of 
letters  as  an  apprentice  in  this  office.  From  here  he  went  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where,  on  the  Plaindealer,  he  acquired  his  world-wide  reputation  as 
a  humorist.  He  died  in  Southampton,  England,  March  7,  1867.  Col.  Rich- 
ard E.  Cross,  another  valiant  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  was  an  appren- 
tice. Albert  B.  Davis,  so  long  manager  of  McVicker's  theater,  Chicago,  was 
also  an  apprentice.  It  is  but  justice  to  say  that  under  the  management  of 
Mr.  Rix,  the  Democrat  was  one  of  the  ablest  and  best  country  newspapers  in 
New  England.  He  had  a  brilliant  mind,  strong  reasoning  powers,  and  a 
great  taste  for  the  preservation  of  local  history. 

In  October,  1881,  the  Democrat  was  revived  by  F.  A.  Kehew,  who  began 
its  publication  in  Eagle  block,  Lancaster,  and  sold  it  in  May,  1887,  to  Willard 
C.  Colby,  the  present  proprietor,  who  took  possession  June  1st. 

The  Cods  Republican. — This  paper,  next  in  date  of  issue,  was  estab- 
lished in  December,  1851.  It  was  first  published  in  the  Town  Hall  build- 
ing, Daniel  A.  Bowe,  of  Middlebury,  Vt.,   for  several  years  principal  of 


Coos  County  Press    -Agricultural  Societies-    Railroads.     133 

Lancaster  academy,  being  editor,  and  David  B.  Allison,  an  old  Concord 
printer,  manager,  the  two  uniting  in  the  firm  of  Bo  we  ec  Allison.  The 
Republican  was  started  as  the  organ  of  the  party  of  that  name.  The 
health  of  Mr.  Bowe  was  not  firm,  and  in  the  autumn  of  L857  he  was  com- 
pelled to  abandon  business.  He  died  the  April  following.  Col.  Allison 
continued  the  publication  until  December.  L858,  when  the  establishment 
was  purchased  by  Henry  O.  Kent,  who  removed  it  to  rooms  in  the  Kent 
building  on  Main  street.     Col.  Kent  says  : — 

"  For  twelve  years,  from  December,  1S58,  to  October,  1870,  the  paper 
was  owned  by  me,  and  was  under  my  direct  control,  save  dining  the  period 
of  my  absence  with  my  regiment,  when  it  was  leased  to  Daniel  C.  Pink- 
ham,  Esq.,  then  clerk  of  the  courts  for  the  county. 

"  During  this  time  it  was  my  endeavor  to  establish  the  concern  as  a 
business  enterprise  and  to  labor  for  what  I  conceived  the  interests  of  jour- 
nalism; I  never  regarded  money  expended  for  an  energetic,  local  paper,  or 
for  judicious  advertising  or  job  work,  as  a  gratuity  for  which  the  proprie- 
tor was  to  be  under  deep  obligation,  nor  did  the  receipt  of  stale  public  doc- 
uments or  garden  seeds,  constitute  utterly  conclusive  evidence  of  the  emi- 
nent fitness  of  the  donor  for  further  public  advancement, — integrity  and 
capacity  being,  in  my  belief,  equally  essential  requisites." 

Among  the  apprentices  under  the  administration  of  H.  O.  Kent,  were 
Henry  B.  Berry,  afterward  in  the  army;  George  H.  Emerson,  Henry  W. 
Denison,  Richard  H.  Emerson,  now  of  Gorham;  George  H.  Colby,  and 
Harry  C  Hartshorn,  of  Lunenburg,  Vt.,  who,  with  George  H.  Emerson, 
conducted  a  job  printing  office  in  Lancaster  for  some  time. 

Col.  Kent  sold  the  Republican  to  Chester  B.  Jordan  &  Co.,  in  October, 
1870,  and  the  office  was  moved  to  the  Postoffice  building.  Subsequently 
the  "'  Cods  Republican  Association"  was  formed,  and  assumed  control  of 
the  paper,  which  it  conducted  until  it  was  sold  in  August,  1*71,  to  F.  E. 
Shaw,  who  soon  let  it  go  back  into  the  possession  of  the  association. 

Chester  B.  Jordan,  Esq.,  first  assumed,  but  temporarily,  the  editorial 
chair.  On  his  retiring,  Wesley  W.  Pasko,  of  New  York,  a  writer  for  the 
Press  of  that  city,  entered  upon  the  duties,  to  him  followed  successively 
Josiah  H.  Benton,  Jr.,  Benjamin  F.  Whidden,  Jonathan  Smith,  F.  W. 
Williams,  W.  C.  Mahurin,  F.  E.  Shaw,  W.  C.  Mahurin  again  for  a  time 
after  Mr.  Shaw  relinquished  his  possession.  From  July.  Is77.  when  Mr. 
Mahurin  vacated  the  editorial  chair,  a  Miss  Kingslev  was  editor  for  the 
association  until  April,  1878,  when  the  office  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

During  the  next  month  (May)  James  S.  Peavey  removed  his  office  from 
Littleton  to  Lancaster,  and  continued  the  publication  of  the  Republican 
from  the  store  opposite  the  old  American  House  on  Elm  street,  until  Octo- 
ber, when  he  moved  his  office  to  the  new  Eagle  Hall  block.  In  December, 
18S0,  Mr.  Peavey  sold  the  Republican  to  A.  F.   Rowell  and  C.   D.  Batchel- 


134  History  of  Coos  County. 

der,  who  admitted  C.  L.  Griffing  as  a  partner,  in  September,  1881,  forming 
the  firm  of  Rowell,  Batchelder  &  Griffing,  which  continued  until  June, 
1882,  when  Rowell  and  Batchelder  retired.  In  September,  1883,  C.  D. 
Phelps  &  Co.  (J.  H.  Baird)  became  the  owners.  Soon  after  Mr.  Baird  pur- 
chased the  entire  office,  and,  in  1881,  the  publication  of  the  paper,  which 
had  been  the  Lancaster  Republican  since  1881,  was  discontinued.  The 
press,  type,  etc.,  were  sold  at  auction  to  F.  A.  Kehew,  and  used  by  him  in 
the  Democrat  office. 

The  Prohibition  Herald,  the  state  organ  of  the  temperance  party,  was 
published  at  the  job  printing  office  of  Emerson,  Hartshorn  &  Co.,  from 
January  1,  1871,  for  one  year,  when  it  was  removed  to  Concord.  The  edi- 
tors were  Rev.  L.  D.  Barrows  and  Dr.  John  Blackmer. 

The  Independent  Gazette,  independent  in  politics,  was  published  at 
Lancaster,  the  first  number  being  issued  in  January,  1872,  George  H. 
Emerson  and  Harry  C.  Hartshorn,  publishers;  James  S.  Brackett,  editor. 
The  editorial  chair  was  soon  occupied  by  Mr.  Emerson,  who  conducted  it 
till  August,  1877,  when  I.  W.  Quimby  and  W.  F.  Burns  became  proprie- 
tors. Mr.  Burns  sold  his  interest  to  Joseph  Roby,  Jr.,  after  a  few  months, 
and  Mr.  Quimby  soon  became  sole  owner.  He  continued  to  publish  the 
paper  (changing  the  name  to  Lancaster  Gazette,  January  1,  1870,)  until 
November  10,  1883,  when  he  sold  it  to  the  Lancaster  Printing  Co.,  George 
P.  Rowell,  the  well  known  advertising  agent  of  New  York  city,  being  the 
real  owner,  and  it  was  carried  on  under  his  ownership  until  September  25, 
1885,  when  Mr.  Quimby  again  became  proprietor  and  has  since  been  pub- 
lisher. It  is  a  bright,  neat,  newsy  local  paper,  and  is  well  worth  double  its 
price  (one  dollar  a  year,  cash  in  advance).     Publication  day,  Tuesday. 

The  Cods  Herald  was  a  little  sheet  edited,  printed  and  published  at 
Lancaster,  in  the  winter  of  1S56,  by  Charles  N.  Kent,  then  aged  thirteen. 
Mr.  Kent,  who  was  an  amateur  printer  only,  is  now  a  member  of  the 
advertising  firm  of  George  P.  Rowell  &  Co.,  New  York. 

The  Journal  of  Familiar  Science  was  a  quarto  issued  during  1870,  at 
Lancaster,  by  S.  Randall  &  Co.,  druggists. 

The  Northern  News,  a  sheet  8x12,  was  edited  and  published  by  Fletcher 
Ladd,  when  a  lad  of  eight  years. 

COLEBROOK. 

The  Norther u  Sentinel,  democratic,  was  established  at  Colebrook, 
November,  1870,  by  James  S.  Peavey,  who  published  it  until  the  month 
of  April,  1872,  when  he  was  succeeded  as  proprietor  and  editor  by  Albert 
Barker,  Esq.,  who  showed  great  ability.  E.  S.  Cummings  purchased  it  in 
June,   1884. 

The  Colebrook  Weekly  News  was  founded  in  1875  by  Charles  A.  Bridge, 
who,  after  a  year  or  two,  sold  it  to  his  brother,  John  D.  Bridge. 


Coos  County  Press  —  Agricultural  Societies -- Railroads.     135 


The  above  papers  were  consolidated  in  December,  1884,  forming  The 
News  and  Sentinel,  the  Colebrook  Publishing  Company  becoming  the  pub- 
lishers. E.  S.  Cummings  has  been  manager  and  editor  from  that  date. 
Independent  weekly,  $1.00  per  year  in  advance. 


Whitefield. 

In  1876  N.  A.  Burnham  published  a  small  sheet,  the  Whitefield  Blade, 
for  a  few  months.  In  1S80  W.  C.  McCausland,  an  amateur  printer, 
established  the  Cods  Advertiser;  it  was  published  about  a  year.  The  Coos 
County  News  has  just  been  started. 

GORHAM. 

The  Mountaineer,  weekly,  $1.00  a  year.— V.  V.  Twitchell  began  the 
publication  of  this  spicy  and  interesting  journal  in  April,  1877.  It  very 
soon  attained  a  high  reputation  for  humor,  and  a  circulation  which 
extended  to  every  state  in  the  Union,  and  to  England.  Much  of  the  lit- 
erary matter,  which  forms  quite  a  specialty,  is  written  expressly  for 
the  Mountaineer.  With  all  these  outside  matters,  it  has  kept  up  a  rep- 
utation as  a  good  local  newspaper.  Mr.  Twitchell  has  built  up  a  fine  busi- 
ness, passed  through  one  disastrous  fire,  and  although  never  in  robust 
health,  is  good,  we  hope,  for  many  years'  editorial  service. 

The  Messenger,  an  amateur  paper,  was  published  a  short  time  in  1881, 
by  Fred  Ingalls,  who,  in  1887,  became  associated  with  V.  V.  Twitchell  in 
the  publication  of  the  Mountaineer. 

For  Among  the  Clouds,  see  General  History — White  Mountain  chapter. 

The  Cods  Agricultural  Society  was  organized  in  1821,  and  existed  four 
years.  For  its  brief  life  it  accomplished  much  good.  In  an  address  deliv- 
ered before  this  body,  October  17,  1821,  Adino  N.  Brackett  shows  the  very 
high  aims  of  the  founders  of  that  society.  He  says  it  was  formed  to 
"encourage  agriculture  and  domestic  manufacture."  To  the  farmers  he 
says:  "To  draw  forth  your  activity  and  your  exertions,  for  your  own 
benefit,  is  the  object  of  this  institution.  Not  a  cent  which  you  contribute 
is  to  be  sent  out  of  the  county;  but  the  whole  returns  to  you  in  premiums, 
the  honorable  reward  of  your  industry.  In  addition  to  which,  if  you 
raise  and  expend  one  hundred  dollars  for  premiums,  the  state  has  in  its 
treasury  funds  to  an  equal  amount,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  same  manner. 
Thus  is  every  inducement  held  out  to  raise  and  expend  the  sum  above 
mentioned.  The  man  who  pays  two  dollars,  immediately  adds  other  two 
to  the  wealth  of  the  county;  and  this  beyond  the  indefinite  amount  which 
will  be  accumulated  by  the  increased  activity  which  will  exist  in  the 
departments  of  agriculture  and  domestic  manufactures."  Concerning  the 
latter,  Mr.  Brackett  asks:  "What  is  the  exact  state  of  domestic  manufac- 


136  History  of  Coos  County. 

tures  among  us  ?  Are  we  principally  clothed  with  articles  of  this  kind  ? 
It  is  believed,  that  of  the  male  population,  at  least  three-fourths  are 
clothed  in  articles  manufactured  within  the  county  or  within  the  United 
States.  But  the  observation,  if  extended  to  the  female  part  of  society, 
would  not  hold  true  to  the  same  extent." 

The  Cods  and  Essex  Counties  Agricultural  Society  was  organized  in  1870, 
and  embraced  all  the  towns  and  places  in  Coos  county,  and  the  tier  of  towns 
in  Essex  county,  Vermont,  lying  upon  the  Connecticut  river,  north  of  the 
town  of  Concord.  The  object  of  the  society  is  stated  to  be  the  "improve- 
ment of  agricultural  productions,  useful  domestic  animals,  domestic  man- 
ufactures, and  the  mechanic  arts."  The  first  officers  were  as  follows: 
President,  William  D.  Weeks,  Lancaster;  vice-presidents,  John  W.  Harts- 
horn, Lunenburg;  Hazen  Bedel,  Colebrook;  secretaries,  Charles  E.  Benton, 
Guildhall;  George  H.  Emerson,  Lancaster;  treasurer,  Henry  O.  Kent, 
Lancaster.  In  addition  to  these,  there  was  a  large  executive  committee 
from  the  various  towns.  List  of  presidents:  William  D.  Weeks,  Lancas- 
ter, 1870-1;  John  W.  Hartshorn,  Lunenburg,  1872-3-1-5;  Edward  Spauld- 
ing,  Lancaster,  1876-8-9;  Josiah  H.  Benton,  Maidstone,  1877-8;  J.  G. 
Crawford,  Lancaster,  1879-80;  George  E.  Carbee,  Lancaster,  1881-2; 
George  P.  Rowell,  Lancaster,  1881;  J.  W.  Dodge,  Lunenburg,  1885-6. 
The  society  has  had  successful  and  unsuccessful  fairs,  but  has  kept  up  an 
organization,  and  at  the  present  time  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.  The 
officers  for  1886  were:  President,  J.  W.  Dodge,  Lunenburg;  vice-presi- 
dents, William  C.  Spaulding,  Lancaster;  L.  T.  Hazen,  Whitefield;  Sidney 
B.  Whittemore,  Colebrook;  secretary  and  treasurer,  I.  W.  Quimby,  Lan- 
caster; executive  committee,  George  M.  Stevens,  Jason  H.  Woodward, 
George  P.  Eaton,  Joseph  Winch,  H.  J.  Guernsey,  the  president,  secretary 
and  treasurer  being  ex- officio  members. 

Patrons  of  Husbandry.— This  order  has  a  following  of  earnest  and 
wide-awake  agriculturists,  with  granges  in  Lancaster,  Whitefield,  and 
other  towns,  but  has  not  a  great  numerical  strength  in  the  county. 

Railroads. — Few  railroads  have  been  constructed  in  Coos  county,  and 
there  is  not  much  to  be  said  of  them,  but  if  we  should  write  of  all  the 
futile  efforts  made  to  obtain  railroads,  the  hopes  that  have  been  raised  and 
blasted  concerning  the  railways  that  were  to  be  made,  but  were  never 
completed,  there  could  much  be  written  which  we  must  omit. 

Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  R.  R.—ln  1817,  while  Hon.  Jared  W.  Williams 
was  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  railroad 
was  incorporated.  Its  length  from  Portland  to  Island  Pond  was  119  miles, 
fifty-four  of  which  lay  in  this  state.  This  was  leased  by  the  Grand  Trunk 
railway  in  1853,  at  a  rental  of  six  per  cent,  upon  the  cost  of  construction, 
or  $6,003,900.  In  order  to  get  possession  of  an  existing  charter  covering 
the  ground  it  pledged  itself  to  construct  a  branch  to  Lancaster.     It  broke 


Coos  County  Press  —  Agricultural  Societies    -Railroads.     137 

its  pledge,  and  appeal  was  taken  to  the  legislature,  but  a  compromise  was 
effected  by  payment  of  sis. ik id  to  the  citizens  of  Lancaster,  who,  after 
reimbursing  a  few  people  for  money  spent  in  trying  to  secure  the  road, 
used  the  balance,  about  $15,000,  in  building  the  Lancaster  House.  This 
road  was  completed  to  Gorham  in  L850,  the  trains  beginning  to  run  regu- 
larly to  and  from  Portland  on  the  "  Fourth  of  July,"  1851.  Trains  ran  to 
Northumberland  and  North  Stratford  from  Gorham,  in  1852:  to  Island 
Pond,  Vt.,  in  1853;  connecting  with  the  St.  Lawrence  &  Atlantic  at  the 
Canadian  boundary  in  July,  1853.  This  road  has  done  much  to  develop  the 
resources  of  the  country  along  its  line,  and  has  created  several  prosperous 
villages,  —Gorham,  Berlin  Falls,  Groveton,  and  North  Stratford. 

The  White  Mom/ fain  R.  R.  was  chartered  December  15,  1848.  Among 
the  incorporators  were  Royal  Joy  si  in,  R.  P.  Kent,  James  W.  Weeks,  W. 
D.  Spaulding,  William  Burns,  Presbury  West,  Jr.,  N.  D.  Day,  L.  John- 
son, T.  Montgomery,  John  M.  Gove,  Morris  Clark.  This  was  an  extension 
of  the  Boston,  Concord  &  Montreal  R.  R,,  from  Woodsville  to  Lancaster, 
and  was  opened  to  Littleton  in  August,  1853;  to  Lancaster  in  November, 
1870;  to  Groveton  (51.95  miles  from  Woodsville)  in  August,  1872;  to  Fa- 
byan's  in  July,  1874;  to  the  base  of  the  White  Mountains,  July  6,  1876. 
This  railroad  was  consolidated  with  the  Boston,  Concord  &  Montreal  R.  R. 
in  1873,  its  owners  receiving  $300,000  in  six  per  cent,  consolidated  bonds  for 
their  interests.  From  June,  1884,  to  June,  1887,  it  was  under  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Boston  &  Lowell  R.  R.,  which  leased  the  B.,  C.  &  M.  road  for 
ninety-nine  years.  The  Boston  &  Lowell,  in  1887,  leased  it  to  the  Boston 
&  Maine  R.  R. 

Portland  &  Ogdensburg  R.  R. — A  charter  was  granted  in  1869  to  build 
a  railroad  from  the  west  line  of  Maine  through  Conway,  Bartlett,  White 
Mountain  Notch,  Carroll,  Bethlehem  and  Littleton,  with  the  proviso  that 
if  it  were  found  impracticable  to  build  a  railroad  from  Littleton  to  St. 
Johnsbury,  they  might  locate  and  build  the  road  from  Carroll  to  White- 
field,  Dalton,  and  the  east  line  of  Vermont.  The  road  was  completed  to 
Fabyan's  from  Portland  August  7,  L875,  making  a  connection  with  the 
Boston,  Concord  &  Montreal  and  White  Mountains  roads  there.  De- 
ciding that  the  road  could  not  be  built  by  the  Littleton  route,  the  Port- 
land &  Ogdensburg  company  constructed  two  and  one-half  miles  between 
Scotts  and  Lunenburg,  Vt. ,  making  a  western  connection  there  with  the 
St.  Johnsbury  &  Lake  Champlain  R.  R.  by  using  the  track  of  the  Boston, 
Concord  &  Montreal,  and  White  Mountains  roads  from  Fab  van's  to  Scotts, 
for  which  an  arrangement  was  made  and  still  continues.  In  ls77  the  legis- 
lature confirmed  the  Portland  &  Ogdensburg  road  in  the  right  to  the  two 
and  one-half  miles  of  road  between  Scotts  and  Lunenburg. 

Upper  Cods  Railroad. — During  all  the  years  from  the  settlement  of  the 
town  to  the  year  1887  there  was  no  railroad  to  Cole-brook,  the  nearest 


138  History  of  Coos  County. 

point  on  the  railroad  being  North  Stratford,  thirteen  miles  away.  In  the 
legislature  of  1883  a  charter  for  a  railroad  was  obtained  from  Stratford  to 
Pittsburg,  and  in  April  and  May,  1887,  a  subscription  for  a  narrow  gauge 
railroad  was  raised,  stock  to  the  amount  of  forty-five  thousand  dollars 
being  taken.  The  corporation  was  organized  with  J.  H.  Dudley,  presi- 
dent; Albert  Barker,  clerk;  and  Sherburn  R.  Merrill,  treasurer;  and 
about  $11,000  paid  into  the  stock  subscription,  when  Frank  Jones,  Charles 
A.  Sinclair  and  George  Van  Dyke  offered  to  build  a  standard  gauge  road 
through  Colebrook  and  Stewartstown,  if  the  people  would  raise  a  gratuity 
of  $25,000.  This  was  quickly  done.  The  old  directors  resigned,  and  a 
new  board,  consisting  of  Frank  Jones,  of  Portsmouth,  J.  B.  Cooke,  of  Salem, 
Mass.,  G.  W.  Armstrong,  of  Boston,  I.  W.  Drew,  of  Lancaster,  Enoch 
Sweat,  of  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  Charles  A.  Sinclair,  of  Portsmouth,  and  George 
Van  Dyke  were  chosen.  Van  Dyke  was  chosen  president,  Cooke  treasurer, 
and  Sweat,  general  manager.  It  was  voted  that  the  capital  stock  do  not 
exceed  $350,000. 

Work  at  once  commenced  and  the  road  was  formally  opened  from 
North  Stratford  to  Colebrook  November  29,  1S87,  giving  the  people  greatly 
increased  facilities  for  business  It  will  be  extended  ten  miles  farther  to 
the  Canada  line,  early  next  summer,  by  which  time  the  Canadian  Pacific 
will  be  ready  to  touch  iron  with  it,  thus  opening  a  new  and  shorter 
route  to  Quebec  It  also  renders  practicable  the  utilization  of  numberless 
water  privileges  on  the  Connecticut  and  other  rivers,  heretofore  unavail- 
able for  manufacturing  purposes,  owing  to  the  difficulties  attendant  upon 
shipping  manufactured  products.  Facilities  for  manufacturing  lumber 
unequalled  in  New  England  can  also  be  found  and  utilized,  which  will 
obviate  largely  the  labor  and  expense  of  "  driving"  millions  of  logs  down 
the  rivers  to  a  market. 

If  ever  a  railroad  proved  a  blessing  to  a  section  of  country,  this  Upper 
Coos  railroad  seems  destined  to  become  pre-eminently  such.  Sharp-eyed 
capital  will  surely  be  attracted  to  Northern  New  Hampshire,  and  one  need 
stretch  his  imagination  but  little  to  people  the  northern  valleys  with  thriv- 
ing manufacturing  villages,  monuments  of  New  England  thrift  and  enter- 
prise. 


Masonry  in  Coos.  139 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MASONRY  IN  COOS. 

North  Star  Lodge,  Lancaster  —  Templar  Masonry  in  Northern  New  Hampshire  —  North  Star 
Chapter,  Lancaster  —  Evening  Star  Lodge,  Colebrook  —  Gorham  Lodge,  Gorham —  White  Mount- 
ain Lodge.  Whitefield  — Officers  of  Grand  Lodge,  Grand  Chapter  and  Grand  Commandery  from 
Coos  county. 

/\T  ORTH  Star  Lodge,  No.  8. — Lancaster  is  the  mother  of  Masonry  in 
I  N  Northern  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont,  these  lodges  owing  filial 
V.  allegiance  to  her:  Evening  Star,  Colebrook;  Kane,  Lisbon;  Burns, 
Littleton;  Gorham,  Gorham;  White  Mountain,  Whitefield;  Passumpsic, 
St.  Johnsbury;  Island  Pond,  Island  Pond.  It  was  instituted  at  Northum- 
berland under  this  ancient  charter  in  1797. 

"  To  all  the  Fraternity  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  to  whom,  these  presents  shall  come. 

"  The  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Most  Ancient  and  Honorable  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  for  the 

State  of  New  Hampshire,  sends  GREETING. 

"  [  L.  &]  Wnereas,  a  petition  has  heen  presented  us  by  Brothers  George  Kimball,  John  J. 
Nath'l  Adams,  French,  John  Weeks,  William  Cargill,  Mills  De  Forest,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Thos. 
Gr.  Master.  Burnside,  Holloway  Taylor,  Edmund  Heard,  Josiah  Sawyer,  Jabez  Parsons,  James 
Chamberlain,  Samuel  Phelps,  Azariah  Webb  and  Warren  Cook,  all  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  praying  that  they  with  such  others  as  shall  hereafter  join  them,  may  be  erected  and  con- 
stituted a  regular  Lxlge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Misons,  which  petition  appearing  to  us  as  tending 
to  the  advancement  of  Masonry  and  good  of  the  Craft. 

"  Know  ye,  therefore,  that  we,  the  Grand  Lodge  aforesaid,  reposing  special  trust  and  confi- 
dence in  the  prudence  and  fidelity  of  our  beloved  brethren,  above  named,  have  constituted  and  ap- 
pointed, and  by  these  presents  do  constitute  and  appoint  them,  the  said  George  Kimball,  John  Weeks, 
Mills  De  Forest, Thomas  Burnside,  Edmund  Heard,  Jabez  Parsons,  Samuel  Phelps,  John  J.  French, 
William  Cargill,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Holloway  Taylor,  Josiah  Sawyer,  James  Chamberlain,  Azariah 
Webb  and  Warren  Cook,  a  regular  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  under  the  title  and  desig- 
nation of  the  North  Star  Lodge,  No.  8;  and  we  do  hereby  appoint  our  said  brother  George  Kimball, 
Master;  our  said  brother  John  J.  French,  Senior,  and  our  said  brother  John  Weeks,  Junior  Wardens 
of  said  Lodge,  hereby  giving  and  granting  unto  them  and  their  successors  full  power  and  author- 
ity to  covene  as  Masons,  within  the  town  of  Northumberland,  aud  County  of  Grafton  and  State 
aforesaid,  to  receive  and  enter  Apprentices,  pass  Fellow  Crafts,  and  raise  Master  Masons, 
upon  the  payment  of  such  moderate  compensations  for  the  same  as  may  be  determined,  by  the  said 
Lodge,  also,  hereby  authorizing  them  in  future  to  make  choice  of  a  Master.  Wardens  and  other 
office  bearers  annually  or  otherwise  as  they  shall  see  cause,  to  receive  and  collect  funds  for  the 
relief  of  poor  and  distressed  brethren,  their  widows  or  children,  and  in  general  to  transact  all  mat- 
ters relating  to  Masonry,  which  may  to  them  appear  to  be  for  the  good  of  the  Craft,  according  to 
the  ancient  usage  and  custom  of  Masons. 

"  And  we  do  hereby  require  the  said  constituted  brethren  to  attend  the  Grand  Lodge  at  their 
Quarterly  Communications  and  other  meetings,  by  their  Master  and  Wardens,  or  by  proxies  regu- 
larly appointed,  also  to  keep  a  fair  and  regular  record  of  all  their  proceedings,  and  to  lay  the  same 
before  the  Grand  Lodge  when  required. 

"  And  we  do  enjoin  upon  the  brethren  of  said  Lodge,  that  they  be  punctual  in  their  quarterly 
payments  of  such  sums  as  may  be  assessed  for  the  support  of  the  Grand   Lodge,  thai  they  behave 


140  History  of  Coos  County. 

themselves  respectfully  and  obediently  to  their  superiors  in  office,  and  in  all  other  things  conduct 
themselves  as  good   Masons. 

"And  we  do  herebjr  declare  the  precedure  of  the  said  Lodge  in  the  Grand  Lodge  and  else- 
where, to  commence  from  the  eighteenth  day  of  December,  A.  L.,  5797. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  we,  the  Grand  Master  and  the  Grand  Wardens,  by  virtue  of  the  power 

and  authority  to  us  committed,  have  hereunto  set  our  hands,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  Grand 

Lodge  to  be  affixed,  at  Portsmouth,  this  eighteenth  day  of  December,  Anno  Domini,  1797,  and  of 

Masonry,  5797. 

"Joseph  Cillet,  Dept  G.  M. 

"Moses  Woodward,  Sen'r        )  p    ^- 
"Samuel  Sherburne,  Jun'r     J     ' 

I!  J°SEP"  H™  S?n'r    l  G.  Deacons. 
"  John  Adams,  Jun  r        ) 

"  Rec'd  the  fees  for  this  Charter, 

"Samuel  Adams,  Gr'd  Treasurer. 

"  Edw'd.  St.  Loe  Livermore, 

Grand  Secretary. 

"  Recorded  from  the  original, 

' '  Edw'd.  St.  Loe  Livermore, 

Grand  Secretary." 

The  first  meeting  of  which  we  have  record  was  held  in  the  hall  over  the 
Cargill  store,  September  IS,  1793.  There  were  present  James  Chamber- 
lain, W.  M. ;  John  J.  French,  S.  W. ;  Nathaniel  Wales,  Sect. ;  Benoni 
Cutler,  Charles  Cutler  and  Edwards  Bucknam.  The  first  complete  list  of 
officers  preserved  is  of  those  elected  January  21,  1800:  Samuel  Phelps,  W. 
M.;  Daniel  Dana,  S.  W. ;  Stephen  Wilson,  J.  W. ;  Arte  mas  Wilder,  Treas. ; 
R.  C.  Everett,  Sect. ;  Warren  Cook,  S.  D. ;  Joseph  Dyer,  J.  D.  Special  com- 
munications were  then  frequent,  and  much  work  was  done.  Between 
January  21,  1800,  the  date  of  the  last  meeting  in  Northumberland,  and 
February  11,  1800,  the  lodge  was  moved  to  Lancaster  and  held  its  meet- 
ings in  a  Masonic  hall  owned  by  the  lodge  which  stood  nearly  on  the  site 
of  the  present  residence  of  Hon.  Jacob  Benton.  [This  building  was  later 
moved  down  town,  contained  the  postoffice  under  the  administration  of 
Charles  E.  Allen,  and  is  now  used  for  business  purposes.  Masonic 
emblems  are  now  to  be  seen  on  the  attic  ceiling.] 

St.  John's  Day  was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  in  1801,  with  fitting, 
although  private  ceremonies.  In  1815  occurred  the  first  public  observance 
of  the  day,  the  brethren  marching  to  the  meeting-house,  listening  to  an 
address  by  Rev.  Dyer  Burge,  then  repairing  for  refreshments  to  "Bro." 
Benjamin  Hunking's  hall. 

Stephen  Wilson  was  elected  Worshipful  Master,  January  10,  1802.  He 
held  the  office  over  eight  years.  In  1807,  August  1,  it  was  voted  to 
"return  the  charter;"  but  the  lodge  was  subsequently  revived,  by  vote  of 
the  Grand  Lodge. 

In  1814,  Jeremy  L.  Cross  had  become  a  resident  of  the  place,  and  was 
employed  at  his  trade— a  hatter.  He  had  taken  the  degrees  of  the  York 
Eite  in  St.  John's  Lodge,  at  Portsmouth;  E.\  A.'.  September  2,  1807,  F.\ 


Masonry  in  Coos.  141 


C.\  April  6,  1808,  M.  '.  M.\  July  6,  1808,  and  in  1813  was  Junior  Deacon 
of  that  lodge.  It  may  be  presumed  that  he  was  instrumental  in  the  reor- 
ganization, which  occurred  in  1814.  He  became  Senior  Deacon  in  that 
year,  but  took  a  demit  October  25,  1S14.  It  was  just  previous  to  this  time 
(in  1810)  that  he  had  entered  upon  the  broader  field  of  Masonic  labor  as  a 
lecturer,  organizer  and  writer,  which  largely  occupied  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  The  extent  of  his  influence  on  the  work  of  the  York  Eite  may 
be  partially  indicated  by  the  fact  that  his  Hieroglyphic  Monitor  passed 
through  at  least  sixteen  editions,  between  the  years  1819  and  1860,  the 
date  of  his  death. 

The  custom  of  wearing  white  aprons  in  the  lodge  was  adopted  April  1, 
1817,  when  it  was  voted  that  a  number  be  procured  for  the  use  of  the 
members. 

The  communication  of  February  11,  1S2G,  is  the  last  recorded  in  the 
"  First  Book  of  Records,"  the  report  being  signed  by  Asahel  Going,  Sec- 
retary. 

The  Masters  to  1826  were  George  Kimball;  James  Chamberlain,  two 
years;  James  Phelps,  two  years;  Stephen  Wilson,  eight  years:  Abel  Moore, 
two  years;  William  Lovejoy,  five  years;  Richard  Eastman,  one  year; 
James  Batchelder,  one  year. 

This  lodge  continued  its  work  through  the  most  venomous  period  of  the 
anti-Masonic  crusade,  but  surrendered  its  charter  in  June,  1844.  The  ogan- 
ization  did  not  long  remain  dormant.  While  there  were  yet  a  large  num- 
ber of  survivors  of  the  troublous  times  for  freemasonry,  the  charter  was 
returned  to  the  revived  lodge.  This  occurred  in  1853.  The  lodge  "  organ- 
ized with  the  former  officers."  Eliphalet  Lyman,  W.  M. ;  Ephraim  Cross, 
S.  W. ;  Charles  Baker,  J.  W. ;  Jacob  E.  Stickney,  Sect. ;  Benjamin  Hunking, 
Treas. ;  George  Ingerson,  S.  D.;  Allen  Smith,  J.  D.;  John  Savage,  Tyler.  In 
1854  Ephraim  Cross  was  elected  Master,  J.  W.  Barney,  Sect.  The  lodge  was 
moved  to  rooms  over  R.  P.Kent  &  Son's  store,  September  6,  1854,  in  July, 
1855,  to  the  hall  over  Burnside's  store,  and  in  April,  1856,  to  its  present  loca- 
tion in  the  Town  Hall  building,  which,  in  1881,  in  connection  with  the  other 
Masonic  bodies  of  the  place,  the  lodge  purchased  for  a  permanent  home. 
In  June,  1855,  the  treasurer  was  authorized  to  "procure  for  the  lodge 
twenty-nine  working  aprons,  with  appropriate  insignia  upon  them  for  the 
officers,  also  a  square  and  compass  of  solid  silver."  The  seal  of  the  char- 
ter having  been  lost,  the  Grand  Lodge  was  asked,  in  May,  1856,  to  affix  a 
new  one,  which  was  done. 

A  donation  of  twenty-five  dollars  was  voted  to  Bro.  Annance,  January 
27,  1867,  as  he  was  in  indigent  circumstances.  Annance  was  an  Indian, 
the  only  one  admitted  to  this  lodge,  and  was  much  respected  by  the  crafts- 
men for  his  Masonic  virtues. 

The  first  public  installation  (according  to  the  records)  took  place  in  the 


142  History  of  Coos  County. 

town  hall.  May  5,  1868.  The  set  of  silver  jewels,  now  in  use,  were  pro- 
cured the  next  December.  In  June,  1880,  Silas  Hurlburt,  the  oldest  and 
a  venerated  member,  disappeared  mysteriously  while  walking  near  Lan- 
caster, and,  although  a  reward  was  offered  for  tidings  of  him,  and  friends 
searched  far  and  near,  "  no  trace  or  semblance  of  him  has  since  been  seen 
among  men  or  Masons. "  The  Masters,from  1852, have  been  Eliphalet  Lyman, 
two  terms;  Ephraim  Cross,  two  terms;  Charles  Baker,  one  term;  Jared  I. 
Williams,  two  terms;  James  D.  Folsom,  two  terms;  Henry  0.  Kent,  six 
years;  William  Burns,  one  term;  B.  F.  Hunking,  live  terms;  George  S. 
Stockwell,  one  term;  Edward  Savage,  five  terms;  Frank  D.  Peabody,  one 
term;  Thomas  S.  Ellis,  two  terms;  Henry  J.  Cummings,  one  term;  Charles 
E.  Mclntire,  three  terms;  Moses  A.   Hastings,  one  term;  John  H.  Smith. 

The  last  return  to  the  Grand  Lodge  shows  that  268  members  have  been 
made  since  1855,  and  a  membership  of  132  in  good  standing  at  the  date  of 
the  report. 

On  the  rolls  of  this  ancient  lodge  are  the  names  of  the  ablest,  wisest 
and  best  citizens,  whose  influence  has  been  for  good  in  both  the  commu- 
nity and  in  Masonic  circles.  A  spirit  of  harmony  and  of  zeal  has  per- 
vaded its  counsels,  and  it  is  a  power  in  the  land. 

Templar  Masonry  in  Northern  New  Hampshire. — At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  1857,  there  were  but  two  Commanderies  of  Templar 
Masons  in  the  state  of  New  Hampshire,  viz. :  St.  John's,  at  Portsmouth, 
and  Trinity,  at  Manchester.  All  others  of  the  old  organization  had  become 
extinct,  and  the  Grand  Commandery  had  returned  its  charter  to  the  Grand 
Encampment  of  the  United  States.  A  few  Master  Masons  of  North  Star 
Lodge  being  desirous  of  receiving  and  perpetuating  the  benefits  of  Chris- 
tian Masonry,  obtained  the  honors  of  Knighthood  at  Portland,  Me.,  and 
Manchester,  N.  H.,  and  uniting  with  themselves  Curtis  Cleaveland,  an  old 
Sir  Knight  from  Burlington,  Vt.,  who  at  that  time  was  residing  at  North- 
umberland, sent  a  petition  to  Hon.  William  B.  Hubbard,  then  Grand 
Master  of  Knights  Templar  in  the  United  States,  asking  for  a  dispensation 
to  organize  a  Commandery  at  Lancaster,  N.  H.  On  May  8,  1857,  a  dis- 
pensation was  issued,  and  on  May  11th,  the  Sir  Knights  met  and  organ- 
ized a  Commandery  with  the  following  officers:  Jared  I.  Williams,  Em. 
Commander;  LaFayette  Moore,  Generalissimo;  George  C.  Williams,  Capt. 
General.  Immediately  after  organization  they  conferred  the  orders  of 
Knighthood  upon  James  A.  Smith  and  James  D.  Folsom. 

At  this  time  there  was  no  Chapter  of  Koyal  Arch  Masons  in  this  juris- 
diction nearer  than  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  by  consent  obtained  of  Blazing 
Star  Chapter,  an  arrangement  was  made  whereby  Haswell  Chapter  of  St. 
Johnsbury,  Vt.,  could  confer  the  Royal  Arch  degrees  upon  candidates 
from  Northern  New  Hampshire.  In  this  manner  the  Commandery  con- 
tinued work  under  its  dispensation  until  November  24,  1859,  when  it  was 


Masonry  in  Coos.  143 


organized  under  a  charter  from  the  United  States  Encampment  as  North 
Star  Commandery,  No.  3,  of  New  Hampshire.  During  this  time  it  had 
increased  in  membership  from  eight  to  fifteen.  Under  the  charter  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected  and  installed:  Jared  I.Williams,  Em.  Com- 
mander; LaFayette  Moore,  Generalissimo;  George  C  Williams.  Capt. 
General;  Henry  0.  Kent,  Prelate;  John  W.  Barney,  Senior  Warden; 
David  A.  Burnside,  Treasurer;  Henry  0.  Kent,  Recorder;  James  A.  Smith, 
Standard  Bearer;  Curtis  Cleaveland,  Sword  Bearer;  Benjamin  F.  Hunk- 
ing,  Warder,  Alex.  Thompson  and   Danforth  Willey,  Captains  of  Guard. 

In  I860  North  Star  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Grand  Com- 
mandery of  New  Hampshire.  The  same  officers  were  re-elected  in  1860- 
61-62-63.  In  December,  1863,  the  Commandery  was  free  from  debt  for 
the  first  time  since  its  organization.  In  January,  1861,  a  change  was  made 
in  the  officers  by  electing  George  F.  French,  Prelate;  LaFayette  Moore, 
Recorder;  Nathan  R.  Perkins,  Standard  Bearer;  Jared  W.Williams,  Sword 
Bearer;  John  S.  Ockington,  Ezra  B.  Bennet,  and  Charles  L.  Plaisted, 
Captains  of  Guard. 

March,  1861,  L.  F.  Moore  having  resigned  as  recorder,  D.  C.  Pinkham 
was  elected  his  successor.  The  Commandery  added  to  its  numbers  two  in 
1860,  eight  in  1863,  eighteen  in  1861,  and  three  in  1865,  making  thirty  one 
Sir  Knights  enrolled  in  its  ranks  with  a  loss  of  one,  by  the  death  of  Gov- 
ernor Williams,  thus  having  a  membership  of  forty-five  Sir  Knights  on  the 
23d  of  January,  1865,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected  and  installed : 
Henry  0.  Kent,  Em. Commander;  LaFayette  Moore,  Generalissimo;  George 
N.  Dale,  Captain  General;  Benjamin  F.  Hunking,  S.  Warden;  T.  T.  Cush- 
man,  J.  Warden;  George  F.  French,  Prelate;  David  A.  Burnside,  Treas- 
urer; Daniel  C.  Pinkham,  Recorder;  Nathan  R.  Perkins,  Standard  Bearer; 
James  D.  Folsom,  Sword  Bearer;  Ezra  B.  Bennett,  Warder;  John  S.  Ock- 
ington, Captain  of  Guard.  In  this  year  there  were  eleven  members  added 
to  its  rolls,  and  one  lost,  by  the  death  of  George  C.  Williams.  On  January 
23,  1866,  the  old  officers  were  re-elected  with  a  change  of  John  W.  Barney, 
Captain  General;  George  S.  Stockwell.  Prelate;  James  A.  Smith,  Treas- 
urer. During  this  year  thirteen  new  members  were  added  to  the  roster, 
and  one  lost  by  the  demit  of  Rev.  E.  R.  Wilkins. 

In  1867  the  following  changes  were  made  in  the  offices:  Benjamin  F. 
Hunking,  Captain  General;  Alexander  Thompson.  Treasurer;  Edward  R. 
Kent,  Warder.  During  this  year  twelve  Sir  Knights  wore  added  to  the  roll, 
and  one  lost,  by  the  death  of  David  A.  Burnside.  In  1868  the  same  officers 
were  re-elected.  This  year  three  were  added  to  the  roll,  and  twelve  lost,  de- 
mitted  to  form  St  Gerard  Commandery  at  Littleton,  N.  H.  In  July,  1868, 
the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  was  established  at  Lancaster.  On  January  1 :'..  L869, 
Benjamin  F.  Hunking  was  elected  Commander,  and  continued  in  office  until 
January,  1873.     John  S.  Ockington  was  elected  Recorder  at  this  meeting. 


144  History  of  Coos  County. 

and  continued  in  this  office  until  his  death,  May  6,  1884.  Three  Sir  Knights 
were  added  to  the  roll  in  1868,  four  in  1869,  one  in  1870,  and  one  in  1871, 
with  a  loss  of  one  by  the  death  of  James  W.  Abbott,  and  in  1872  two 
names  were  added  to  the  roster. 

January  23,  1873,  Henry  0.  Kent  was  again  elected  Commander,  and 
continued  in  office  until  1875.  In  1872  two  were  added  to  the  roll,  and 
three  lost  by  demit.  In  1874  seven  new  members  were  added  to  the  Com- 
mandery. 

On  January  23,  1S75,  Edward  R.  Kent  was  elected  Commander,  and 
continued  in  office  until  January,  1885,  a  continuous  term  of  ten  years, 
during  which  period  orders  of  Knighthood  were  conferred  on  sixty-four 
Masons,  with  a  loss  from  the  Commandery  roll  by  death,  in  1880,  of  Dr. 
Frank  Bugbee;  in  1882,  of  Alexander  Thompson;  in  1883,  of  Charles  L. 
Griswold;  in  1884,  of  John  S.  Ockington,  and  Past  Commander  Benjamin 
F.  Hunking.  In  1881  Dr.  B.  T.  Olcott  was  lost  by  demit.  In  1885  Thomas 
S.  Ellis  was  elected  Commander,  and  re-elected  in  1S86.  The  honors  of 
Knighthood  were  conferred  on  two  in  1885,  and  seven  in  1886,  with  a  loss 
in  1885,  by  the  death  of  Jared  H.  Plaisted. 

In  January,  1887,  the  followiDg  officers  were  chosen:  Moses  A.  Hast- 
ings, Em.  Commander;  Charles  A.  Cleaveland,  Generalissimo;  Thomas  S. 
Underwood,  Captain  General;  Nelson  Sparks,  Prelate;  Fielding  Smith, 
S.  Warden;  Erastus  V.  Cobleigh,  J.  Warden;  James  B.  Morrison,  Treas- 
urer; Charles  E.  Mclntire,  Recorder;  Peter  N.  Shores,  Standard  Bearer; 
Ira  E.Woodward,  Sword  Bearer;  Frank  Spooner,  Warder;  Amos  F.  Rowell, 
Willie  E.  Bullard,  Ivan  W.  Quimby,  Guards. 

In  1886  the  Commandery  returned  a  hundred  and  ten  acting  members 
in  its  report  to  the  Grand  Commandery.  Included  in  this  number  are 
many  of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  Coos,  prominent  alike  in  the  pro- 
fessional and  business  interests  of  the  county. 

North  Star  Chapter,  No.  16,  R.  A.  M.,  Lancaster. — The  history  of 
North  Star  Chapter,  No.  16,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  is  not  a  very  long  or 
eventful  one.  It  was  instituted  in  Lancaster  in  1868,  the  dispensation, 
signed  by  Nathaniel  W.  Cumner,  G.  H.  P.,  bearing  date  of  July  8th  of 
that  year.  Dr.  George  0.  Rogers  was  the  prime  mover,  and  it  was  mainly 
through  his  efforts  that  the  chapter  was  at  last  successfully  and  soundly 
established. 

The  charter  is  signed  by  Daniel  R.  Marshall,  G.  H.  P.,  and  bears  date  of 
June  8,  1869,  the  following  being  the  names  of  the  charter  members: 
George  0.  Rogers,  Samuel  H.  LeGro,  Ezra  B.  Bennett,  E.  V.  Cobleigh, 
J.  S.  Ockington,  Henry  0.  Kent,  Edward  Savage,  Philo  S.  Cherry,  Rich- 
ard Hovey,  Edward  R.  Kent,  Daniel  C.  Pinkham. 

The  first  convocation  was  held  under  the  dispensation  July  8,  1868,  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  Rogers,  corner  of  Main  and  Middle  streets,  now  occupied 


Masonry  in  Coos.  145 


by  Dr.  Wellington,  at  which  were  present  companions  Geo.  0.  Rogers, 
H.  P.;  Samuel  H.  LeGro,  K.;  Edward  Savage,  S.  Grand  Council  named 
in  dispensation  J.  S.  Ockington,  H.  O.  Kent,  Daniel  Thompson,  E.  Y. 
Cobleigh,  Ezra  B.  Bennett,  E.  R.  Kent.  W.  H.  N.  Prince,  Alex  Thomp- 
son, Philo  S.  Cherry. 

The  first  annual  convocation  was  held  at  Masonic  Hall,  May  19,  1869, 
at  which  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Edward  Savage,  E.  H.  P.; 
Samuel  H.  LeGro,  E.  K.;  W.  H.  N.  Prince,  E.  S.;  Edward  R.  Kent,  C.  H.; 
Chester  B.  Jordan,  P.  S. ;  Daniel  Thompson,  R.  A.  C. ;  Philo  S.  Cherry, 
M.  3d  A7.;  William  L.  Rowell,  M.  2d  V.;  Abner  Thompson,  M.  1st  Y. ; 
John  S.  Ockington,  Treas. ;  Alexander  Thompson,  Sect.;  Richard  Hovey, 
Tyler;  and  who  were  subsequently  installed  by  the  M.  E.  G.  H.  P.,  D.  R. 
Marshall,  at  the  special  convocation  held  September  22.  At  this  time  the 
chapter  was  duly  dedicated. 

The  organization  has  been  for  the  most  part  self-sustaining,  a  system 
of  dues,  fifty  cents  per  capita  per  annum,  having  been  in  vogue  but  a  short 
time,  and  is  now  on  a  solid  financial  basis,  owning  one-third  part  of  the 
Town  Hall  building,  and  having  a  handsome  sum  in  the  treasury. 

The  companions  who  have  served  as  High  Priest,  since  the  chapter  was 
organized,  are  as  follows:  Edward  Savage,  1870-1-2-3-4;  Charles  A. 
Cleaveland,  1875-6-7-8-9-83;  Nelson  Sparks,  1880-1-2;  John  H.  Smith, 
1884-5-6-7;  Ivan  W.  Quimby,  1887,  present  incumbent. 

From  the  secretary's  books  we  learn  that  158  companions  have  been 
exalted,  and  that  there  are  now  119  in  good  standing,  on  whom  grand 
chapter  dues  are  paid. 

Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  37,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Colebrook*— The  early 
history  of  this  lodge  is  somewhat  obscure,  all  the  actors  therein  having 
passed  away,  and  most  of  the  incidents  passed  into  oblivion.  All  that 
remains,  which  is  authentic  and  reliable,  is  the  few  facts  which  are  to  be 
gathered  from  records  and  official  documents.  A  thorough  research  of 
what  remain  of  these  necessarily  requires  much  time  and  patience,  and 
with  all  that,  the  results  are  meagre,  and  a  source  of  regret  that  more  full 
and  perfect  records  were  not  kept.  Sufficient,  however,  has  been  obtained 
to  show  that  its  early  days  were  attended  by  a  sharp  struggle  for  exist- 
ence. To  fully  realize  this,  it  is  necessary  to  take  into  consideration  that 
sixty-five  years  ago,  when  the  lodge  was  established,  what  is  now  North- 
ern Coos,  embracing  a  territory  of  nearly  2,000  square  miles,  was  then 
little  better  than  a  dense  wilderness,  dotted  here  and  there  with  clearings 
of  its  first  settlers,  which  were  many  miles  apart,  and  that  from  these 
were  taken  the  material  with  which  to  erect  the  edifice.  Could  those  old 
veterans  return  once  more  among  us,  many  a  tale  could  they  unfold  of 

*By  R.  W.  Albert  Barker. 
10 


146  History  of  Coos  County. 


how  they  traveled  ten  or  fifteen  miles  on  foot  to  attend  the  meetings  of 
the  lodge,  and  returned  the  same  way  "in  the  wee  short  hours  ayont  the 
twal "  of  the  early  morn.  But  they  have  passed  away,  and  having  no 
purpose  to  deal  in  tradition  or  speculation,  this  article  will  deal  with  dry 
fact  gleaned  from  authentic  records. 

An  extract  from  the  proceedings  of  the  M.  W.  Grand  Lodge  of  New 
Hampshire,  which  convened  at  Concord,  June  13,  1821,  reads  as  follows: — 

"Petition  for  a  new  Lodge  at  Colebrook  referred  to  the  committee  on 
new  Lodges." 

Whether  this  petition  was  made  to  the  Grand  Master,  M.  W.  Joshua 
Darling,  in  the  first  instance,  or  directly  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  or  who  the 
petioners  were,  does  not  appear;  but  at  the  same  communication  the  com- 
mittee reported:  "  That  a  dispensation  be  granted  for  a  new  Lodge  at 
Colebrook,  to  be  called  Evening  Star  Lodge;"1  which  was  accepted  by  vote 
of  the  Grand  Lodge.  The  dispensation  was  granted,  but  neither  that  nor 
the  petition  appears  in  the  record,  though  they  are  probably  in  the  files  of 
the  Grand  Lodge. 

The  first  record  now  in  the  archives  of  the  lodge  gives  the  proceedings 
of  the  lodge  as  follows:  — 

"Records  of  Evening  Star  Lodge,  (the  first.)  At  a  regular  communication  of  the  Evening 
Star  Lodge  holden  in  Colebrook  on  Wednesday,  the  5th  day  of  September  A.  L. ,  5821,— Brethren 
present: — 

"Francis  Flanders,  W.  Master  pro  tern, 

"  Jeremiah  Eames,  S.  Warden  pro  tern, 

"  William  M.  Smith,  J.  Warden  pro  tem. 

' '  Lodge  opened  by  the  above  brethren.  No  business  before  the  Lodge.  Proceeded  to  lecture  on 
the  first  degree.     Lecture  given  by  Worshipful  Master  and  brethren.     Lodge  closed  in  due  form. 

"David  L.  Isiiam,  Secretary." 

From  the  above  it  would  seem  that  the  secretary  was  the  only  legiti- 
mate officer  present.  But  from  the  record  of  the  next  meeting  (Oct.  10th) 
it  appears  that  Lewis  Loomis  was  the  first  Master,  Francis  Flanders,  Sen- 
ior, and  Jeremiah  Eames  Junior  Deacons.  At  this  meeting  the  petition  of 
Dr.  Lyman  Lombard  was  presented  and  referred,  though  he  was  not  raised 
until  February  19,  1823.  Working  under  dispensation,  they  had  no 
by-laws,  and  it  would  seem  no  regular  day  of  meetings.  The  date  of  the 
communications  was  as  follows:  September  5,  1821,  October  10,  1821, 
January  30,  1822,  March  6,  1822,  April  3,  1822,  May  1,  1822,  and  May  30, 
1822.  May  30,  1822,  the  lodge  voted  to  "request  a  letter  of  dispensation 
for  six  months,  unless  sooner  installed,"  and  chose  their  Master  "proxy" 
in  the  Grand  Lodge.  This  request  for  a  dispensation  was  presented  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  at  the  annual  communication,  in  June,  and  referred  to  the 
committee  on  new  lodges.  The  committee  made  a  report  thereon  which 
was  accepted. 

The  report  does  not  appear,  but  the  result  was  that  on  the  very  next 


Mason  in'   in  ( 'of>s.  147 


day,  June  13,  1822,  a  charter  was  granted  to  the  petitioners,  Lewis  Loomis, 
Francis  Flanders,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  and  others,  constituting  them  "A 
regular  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  under  the  title  and  designa- 
tion of  Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  37."  The  next  meeting  of  the  lodge  was 
holden  July  3,  when  it  voted  to  pay  Lewis  Loomis,  W.  M .,  eight  dollars, 
advanced  by  him  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  July  31,  the  only  business  done 
was  to  pass  a  vote  that  the  lodge  be  removed  to  the  house  of  John  Smith. 
August  28,  David  L.  Isham  and  Lyman  Lombard  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  petition  the  Grand  Lodge  to  "install  the  Lodge.1' 

The  Grand  Lodge  convened  at  Colebrook  on  the  fifteenth  of  <  >ctober, 
1822,  when  an  oration  was  delivered  by  Bro.  John  L.  Sheafe,  the  lodge 
duly  consecrated  and  the  officers  installed  as  follows:  Lewis  Loomis, 
W.  M.;  Jonathan  E.  Ward,  S.  W.;  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  J.  W. ;  Ebenezer 
Blossom,  S.  D. ;  Ezra  B.  Rider.  J.  D.;  David  L.  Isham,  Sect.;  MarcenaBlod- 
gett,  Treas. ;  William  M.  Smith,  Tyler.  There  were  twelve  Masons  present 
besides  the  grand  officers.  Meetings  were  held  regularly  until  January 
22,  1823,  when  new  officers  were  chosen  as  follows:  Jonathan  E.  Ward, 
W.  M.;  David  L.  Isham,  S.  W.;  William  M.  Smith,  J.  I).;  Marcena  Blod- 
gett,  Treas  ;  John  L.  Sheafe,  Sect.,  who  were  installed  March  lit.  As  to 
the  other  officers  the  record  is  silent.  Considerable  work  was  done  during 
the  year  1823,  especially  on  the  first  degree,  in  which  all  the  business  of 
the  lodge  would  seem  to  have  been  done.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  Janu- 
ary, 1824,  the  old  officers  were  re-elected,  but  were  not  installed  until 
April  16. 

June  10,  1824,  David  L.  Isham  was  granted  a  demit,  he  having  moved 
to  Connecticut.  The  records  show  that  he  was  present  at  every  communi- 
cation of  the  lodge  from  the  first  in  1821,  to  April,  1824,  when  he  moved 
away. 

In  1872  a  letter  was  received  from  the  Grand  Secretary  of  Connecticut, 
stating  that  he  still  resided  there,  upwards  of  ninety  years  of  age.  physi- 
cally feeble,  but  in  the  full  possession  of  his  mental  faculties,  expressing 
his  affection  for  the  lodge  he  helped  to  create,  was  one  of  its  charter  mem- 
bers and  its  first  secretary,  a  half  century  previous.  There  was  not  at 
that  time  a  member  of  the  lodge  that  ever  knew  him,  or  had  any  idea  that 
such  a  man  was  ever  a  member  of  the  lodge,  but  upon  searching  the 
early  records  of  the  lodge,  they  found  that  his  statement  was  true,  and  as 
an  appreciation  of  his  fidelity  to  Masonry  and  faithfulness  to  the  lodge  in 
its  infancy,  the  lodge  voted  to  send  him  twenty  dollars.  The  acknowl- 
edgement of  its  receipt  was  profuse  in  his  professions  of  gratitude  and 
thankfulness  for  the  recognition.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  lodge  never 
parted  with  a  similar  sum  with  greater  pleasure  to  its  members,  or  that 
was  better  appreciated  by  the  recipient.  He  has  not  been  heard  from 
since,  but  it  is  more  than  probable  that  he  now  resides  in  those  "  mansions 


148  History  of  Coos  County. 


above,  where  the  Supreme  Architect  of  the  Universe  presides."  His 
removal  was  a  loss  to  the  lodge  of  one  of  its  most  zealous  members. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1825,  Ward  was  re-elected  Master,  and  his 
death,  which  occurred  June  5,  1825,  was  another  severe  blow  to  the  lodge. 
A  special  communication  was  held  June  7,  to  attend  his  funeral,  after 
which  votes  were  passed  to  abandon  the  celebration  of  St.  John's  Day,  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  the  funeral,  and  that  the  thanks  of  the  lodge  be  ten- 
dered to  Rev.  C.  G.  Thatcher  for  his  able  discourse  delivered  at  the  funeral. 

The  lodge  continued  to  work,  with  a  small  attendance,  up  to  and  in- 
cluding November,  1S25,  the  last  entry  in  the  record  book  being  as  fol- 
lows:— 

"  In  December  there  was  not  members  to  open  the  Lodge  on  the  regular  communication  day. 

"  Lyman  Lombard,  Secretary." 

If  any  records  were  kept  in  the  lodge  after  this  they  were  lost,  but  it 
appears  from  the  records  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  that  the  lodge  continued  to 
meet  for  work,  and  made  returns  to  the  Grand  Lodge  until  1828,  and  in 
that  year  was  represented  therein  by  P.  M.  Lewis  Loomis. 

The  next  decade  was  one  of  great  depression  throughout  the  state  and 
few  lodges  did  any  work.  A  glance  at  the  records  of  the  Grand  Lodge  at 
this  period  will  not  be  uninteresting  in  this  connection.  In  1838  the  Grand 
Lodge  passed  a  resolution  requesting  the  Grand  Secretary  to  make  a  state- 
ment, showing  when  each  lodge  made  returns,  and  report  at  the  next 
annual  meeting.  In  1839  the  Grand  Secretary  made  a  report  in  accord- 
ance with  the  resolution,  which  showed  that  twenty-seven  of  the  fifty  sub- 
ordinate lodges,  then  on  the  rolls  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  had  done  no  work 
for  the  past  eleven  years,  that  is,  since  1828.  Evening  Star  was  among  the 
twenty-seven.  Quite  a  number  of  these  lodges  had  made  no  return  for 
the  same  length  of  time.  This  report  was  referred  to  a  select  committee, 
who,  in  1810,  reported  a  list  of  twenty-six  lodges,  including  Evening  Star, 
that  had  neglected  to  make  returns  to  the  Grand  Lodge  within  the  time 
required  by  the  Grand  Regulations;  whereupon  it  was,  on  motion  of  Bro. 
Steele:- 

"Resolved,  That  the  several  Lodges  named  in  the  foregoing  list,  for  the  causes  assigned  in  said 
report,  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  stricken  from  the  books  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  that  the  District 
Deputy  Grand  Masters  be  authorized  and  directed  to  procure  and  forward  to  the  Grand  Secretary 
the  several  charters  that  have  been  so  declared  forfeited  and  ordered  to  be  stricken  from  the  Lodge 
books." 

Evening  Star  was  in  District  No.  (3,  of  which,  for  many  years,  Jared 
W.  Williams  had  been  District  Deputy,  but  who  made  no  report,  and 
probably  visited  no  lodges,  or  did  any  of  the  duties  of  the  office.  This 
year  Eliphalet  Lyman  was  appointed  Deputy  for  the  Sixth  District.  He 
made  his  report  to  the   Grand  Lodge   in   1811,   and  the  following  extract 


Masonry  in  Coos.  140 


therefrom  is  an  important  link  in  the  history  of  Evening  Star  Lodge. 
He  says: — 

'•  In  January  last  I  visited  Colebrook,  in  the  county  of  Coos,  where,  in  June.  5822,  Evening 
Star  Lodge,  No.  :J7,  was  duly  installed;  could  find  none  of  the  members.  [  proceeded  on  to 
Stewartstown,  where  I  found  the  last  secretary,  who  presented  me  with  the  records  of  the  L<  dge. 

On  examination,  I  found  they  had  not  assembled  for  business  since  1828.     I  procured  their  charter 
and  herewith  transmit  the- same  to  the  Grand  Secretary." 

Thus,  twenty  years  after  the  lodge  was  established,  its  charter  was  sur- 
rendered to  the  Grand  Lodge,  where  it  remained  dormant  for  eighteen 
years.  In  this  condition  Evening  Star  stood  not  alone.  Half  the  lodges 
in  the  state  were  at  that  time  in  the  same  condition,  and  quite  a  number 
remain  so  yet.  At  the  annual  communication  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  1S44, 
the  following  resolution  was  passed: — 

"  Resolved,  That  upon  petition  to  the  Grand  Master  of  seven  or  more  Master  Masons,  in  regular 
standing,  requesting  the  restoration  of  any  charter,  which  has  become  void  by  surrender,  or  an 
omission  to  be  represented,  or  in  making  their  annual  returns  since  June,  1830,  the  Grand  Master 
is  hereby  authorized  and  requested,  if  he  shall  deem  it  expedient,  to  reinstate  any  such  subordi- 
nate Lodge  under  this  jurisdiction  by  directing  the  Grand  Secretary  to  restore  them  their  charter." 

In  February,  1859,  five  members  of  the  lodge,  William  M.  Smith,  Setli 
Tirrell,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Lyman  Lombard  and  David  B.  Heath,  and  two 
members  of  North  Star  Lodge,  Hazen  Bedel  and  James  A.  Pitkin,  peti- 
tioned the  Grand  Master,  under  the  provisions  of  the  above  resolution  of 
the  Grand  Lodge,  for  a  restoration  of  the  charter,  and  were  informed  there 
was  yet  due  from  the  lodge  thirty-five  dollars  for  the  charter,  which  must 
be  paid  before  it  could  be  restored.  The  sum  was  paid,  and  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  day  of  March,  1859,  M.  W.  Grand  Master  Moses  Paul  authorized 
and  ordered  said  brethren  to  reorganize  Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  37,  under 
its  old  charter,  and  restored  it  to  its  former  rank  and  standing  under  the 
Grand  Lodge.  On  the  thirty -first  day  of  March,  L859,  the  petitioners  met 
at  Fling's  Hall  in  Stewartstown,  all  being  present,  and  chose  by  ballot 
Lyman  Lombard,  VV.  M.;  James  A.  Pitkin,  S.  W.;  Hazen  Bedel,  J.  W.; 
and  William  M.  Smith,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  fixed  the  fees  for  the  sev- 
eral degrees  at  seven,  three  and  five  dollars;  fixed  the  time  of  the  regular 
communication  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  of  the  Thursday  of  the  week  in  which 
the  moon  fulls,  in  each  month;  received  the  petitions  of  ( >scar  Worthley 
and  HydeC.  Trask  to  be  made  Masons,  and  voted  that  Alba  Holmes  and 
John  Harrimanbe  proposed  to  become  members  of  the  lodge.  On  the  sixth 
day  of  April,  1859,  the  Grand  Master,  by  dispensation,  authorized  the  lodge 
to  meet  at  Fling's  Hall  in  Stewartstown  for  the  present,  and  until  a  hall 
could  be  provided  at  Colebrook,  "  provided  and  conditioned  that  immedi- 
ate active  measures  be  immediately  taken  and  prosecuted  by  said  lodge  to 
provide  a  hall  for  their  accommodation  and  work,  with  as  little  delay  as 
possible  at  Colebrook  aforesaid." 


150  History  of  Coos  County. 

In  accordance  with  said  dispensation  the  regular  communication  was 
holden  at  Fling's  Hall.  April  21.  Alba  Holmes  was  admitted  a  member, 
and  Lyman  Lombard  not  being  present,  Alba  Holmes  (probably  by  dispen- 
sation of  the  D.  D.  G.  M.)  was  chosen  Master  in  his  stead,  and  officers  were 
installed  by  R.W.  Jared  I.  Williams,  D.  D.  G.  M.,  assisted  by  P.  M.  Ben- 
jamin F.  Hunking.  Worthley  and  Trask  were  entered,  and  by  dispensa- 
tion, passed,  and  Worthley  was  raised.  Thus  the  order  of  the  Grand  Mas- 
ter was  complied  with,  and  the  lodge  was  fally  restored  to  its  former  rank 
and  standing,  which  it  has  retained  ever  since.  One  more  communication 
was  held  in  Fling's  Hall  when  the  lodge  returned  home  to  Colebrook. 

The  purpose  of  this  sketch  was  to  trace  the  history  of  the  lodge  only 
to  this  point,  and  here  it  should  end.  An  interesting  chapter  of  its  subse- 
quent history  might  and  ought  to  be  written  for  the  benefit  of  those  that 
shall  come  after  us,  and  it  is  hoped  that  some  one  will  set  about  the  task 
while  the  few  remaining  actors  of  that  day  remain  among  us. 

It  would  be  doing  violence  to  the  feelings  of  the  present  members  of 
the  lodge,  to  conclude  without  paying  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  those 
early  members.  From  the  first  establishment  of  the  lodge,  though  a  time 
of  great  and  general  depression  in  Masonry,  though  few  in  numbers,  they 
continued  its  work  for  many  years,  in  a  very  sparsely  settled  region  of 
country,  where  its  members,  or  at  least  some  of  them,  had  to  travel  on 
foot  from  seven  to  ten  miles  to  attend  its  meetings.  After  the  restoration 
in  1859,  a  few  of  the  ancient  brethren  were  for  a  few  years  occasionally 
seen  in  the  lodge,  but  they  have  all  passed  away.  Even  of  the  petitioners 
for  restoration,  Bro.  Hazen  Bedel  is  the  only  survivor.  Let  us  that  remain 
revere  their  good  qualities  and  emulate  their  virtues.  Their  devotion  to 
Craft  Masonry  was  ardent  and  enduring.  One  or  two  incidents  in  the  life 
of  Bro.  William  M.  Smith  may  be  cited  as  an  illustration  of  this.  In 
1828,  when  the  lodge  ceased  work,  he  secured  the  constitution  which  he 
safely  kept  until  1811,  when  it  was  surrendered  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  He 
was  foremost  in  securing  the  restoration  in  1859,  and  when  it  was  accom- 
plished he  returned  to  the  lodge  its  early  records,  its  jewels  and  all  its 
paraphernalia  which  he  had  kept  and  securely  guarded  for  twenty-one 
years.  No  one  could  be  more  willing  to  give  or  receive  instruction  than 
he.  Being  called  by  other  business  to  West  Stewartstown  on  two  days  of 
each  week,  for  three  or  four  months  in  the  summer  of  1859,  but  not 
detained  by  it,  his  genial  companionship  was  sought.  Having  just  entered 
the  portals  of  the  lodge,  and  desirous  of  becoming  familiar  with  the  work, 
by  his  advice  a  cipher  was  obtained,  portions  of  which  neither  of  us  could 
interpret  alone.  Seeking  a  retired  place,  sometimes  in  the  old  saw-mill, 
sometimes  ''on  the  brow  of  the  hill,"  east  of  the  village,  or  other  suit- 
able place  where  the  approach  of  cowans  or  eavesdroppers  could  be 
observed,  those  entire  days  were  spent  in  its  study,  and  then  and  there  was 


Masonry  in  Coos.  151 


laid  the  foundation  of  whatever  knowledge  of  esoteric  Masonry  we  may 
ever  have  attained.    All  honorto  his  revered  memory. 

The  next  regular  communication  was  also  held  at  Fling's  Hall,  May  11*, 
1  s.v.i,  when  Worthley  and  Bailey  were  admitted  members,  Cunmiings  initi- 
ated, and  Trask  raised.  The  by-laws  were  "postponed  until  next  Tues- 
day, at  Colebrook,  for  examination  and  correction,  and  to  be  adopted  at 
our  next  regular  communication."  The  record  continues:  "  It  being  the 
annual  communication  proceeded  to  choose  a  Master  by  ballot — Chose 
Alba  Holmes,  W.  M.  Chose  Wm.  M.  Smith,  Secretary.  Chose  Wm.  M. 
Smith,  Treasurer." 

The  Master  appointed  James  A.  Pitkin,  S.  W. ;  Hazen  Bedel,  J.  W. ; 
Oscar  Worthley;  S.  D.;  and  Jeremiah  Eames,  Tyler.  The  S.  W.  ap- 
pointed Samuel  I.  Bailey,  J.  D.,  and  the  J.  W.  appointed  Seth  Tirrell  and 
David  B.  Heath,  Stewards.     William  M.  Smith  was  chosen  Rep. 

There  is  no  record  of  their  installation,  and  probably  none  ever  took 
place.  As  the  by-laws  had  not  been  adopted,  and  the  record  being  silent 
on  the  question,  the  problem  as  to  how  this  came  to  be  the  annual  communi- 
cation, is  not  easily  solved.  The  record  says  it  was,  and  that  is  all  we 
know  about  it.  There  was  a  full  attendance,  and  much  business  was 
done.  The  petitions  of  Erastus  W.  Ingham,  E.  Darwin  Lombard,  Will- 
iam S.  Rolfe,  Morton  B.  Rolfe,  and  Albert  Barker,  were  read  and  referred, 
and  the  lodge  voted:  "That  the  next  regular  communication  be  held  at 
Colebrook."' 

Special  communications  were  held  at  Colebrook  on  the  24th  and  31st 
of  May,  but  at  what  place  the  record  does  not  say.  And  the  same  may 
be  said  of  all  the  meetings  until  May,  1861.  It  seems  that  the  lodge  re- 
turned home  in  accordance  with  the  vote,  and  returned  to  stay,  and  has 
stayed  ever  since.  Though  the  record  is  silent,  there  are  members  now 
living  who  have  a  lively  recollection  of  the  circumstances.  The  fact  is, 
there  was  no  suitable  hall  in  the  village.  Half  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
north  of  the  village  stood,  and  now  stands,  a  two-story  building,  which 
was  then  unoccupied,  containing  a  hall.  The  building  was  old,  out  of 
repair,  and  the  snow  had  blown  in,  in  large  quantities  in  certain  parts  of 
it,  as  the  writer  can  testify,  for  he  distinctly  remembers  the  sensation 
caused  by  stepping  one  foot  into  it,  on  the  way  from  the  anteroom  to  the 
hall,  he  being  then  in  darkness  and  not  seeing  it.  This  hall  was  secured 
for  one  or  two  meetings,  but  the  property  changed  hands;  the  pun  baser 
moved  in,  peremptorily  told  the  Masons  to  "git."  and  they  "got,"  being 
literally  turned  out  of  doors.  Fortunately  there  was  an  unoccupied  build- 
ing, now  occupied  by  H.  F.  Jacobs,  and  the  Masons  secured  it  for  a  time. 
It  was  not  what  they  desired,  but  was  all  they  could  obtain,  and  they  made 
the  best  of  it.  And  so,  driven  from  place  to  place,  they  held  all  their  reg- 
ular meetings  during  that  year,  and  did  a  large  amount  of  work. 


152  History  of  Coos  County. 

The  first  regular  meeting  held  in  Colebrook  after  the  restoration,  was 
in  the  above  named  hall,  June  16,  1850,  at  which  Erastus  W.  Ingham,  E. 
Darwin  Lombard,  Albert  Barker,  William  S.  Rolfe,  and  Morton  B.  Eolfe 
were  initiated.  At  the  regular  meeting  in  July,  Albert  Barker,  E.  Darwin 
Lombard  and  Morton  B .  Rolfe  were  passed.  At  the  regular  meeting  in 
August,  Albert  Barker  and  Morton  B.  Rolfe  were  raised,  and  William  S. 
Rolfe  was  "passed."  September  15th  Albert  Barker  and  Morton  B.  Rolfe 
were  admitted  members;  the  others  were  passed,  raised,  and  admitted  to 
membership  as  they  were  able  to  attend.  During  the  Masonic  year  of 
1850,  the  records  show  a  large  amount  of  work  done  by  the  lodge,  and 
several  irregularities,  of  which  no  notice  was  ever  taken,  but  which,  if 
done  now,  would  subject  the  lodge  to  censure  by  the  Grand  Lodge. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  May  8,  18(30,  the  lodge  contained  seventeen 
members,  with  several  more  that  had  taken  one  or  two  degrees.  Two 
were  admitted  to  membership  and  one  passed.  Alba  Holmes  was  chosen 
W.  M.,  and  the  officers  were  regularly  installed.  The  present  Masonic  Hall 
was  then  commenced,  but  it  does  not  appear  where  the  lodge  met  or  that 
any  action  was  taken  in  regard  to  future  meetings.  The  fact  was,  that  no 
suitable,  safe  place  could  be  found,  and  no  meeting  of  the  lodge  was  held 
during  that  Masonic  year.  Several  of  the  brethren  frequently  got  together 
informally  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  work  and  lectures,  and  in  this 
way  the  interest  of  the  members  was  not  permitted  to  decline.  The  next 
entry  in  the  records  is  the  annual  meeting  held  in  Masonic  Hall,  May  25, 
1801.  The  work  was  taken  up  where  it  was  left  a  year  before,  and  pro- 
ceeded with.  Alba  Holmes  was  elected  W.  M.,  Hazen  Bedel,  S.  W.,  Albert 
Barker,  J.  W.,  Frank  M.  Rolfe,  Sect.,  and  William  M.  Smith,  Treas.,  and 
they  were  installed  by  D.  D.  CI.  M.  Paddleford.  William  M.  Smith,  James 
A.  Pitkin  and  Albert  Barker  were  chosen  a  committee  to  procure  a  lease 
of  the  hall.  The  committee  promptly  attended  to  the  duty;  procured  a 
lease  for  twenty-five  years  at  $20  per  year,  which  was  accepted,  recorded, 
and  placed  on  file.  The  hall  was  a  good  one,  but  destitute  of  paint  or  fur- 
niture of  any  kind.  The  lodge  was  without  funds,  and  had  no  source  of 
revenue  except  the  fees  for  degrees  and  membership.  The  idea  of  running 
in  debt  was  not  entertained  for  a  moment.  The  situation  was  not  an 
inviting  one,  but  the  brethren  accepted  it  with  courage  and  determination. 
Common  chairs  were  procured  for  seats,  and  common  light  stands  for 
pedestals,  and  desks  for  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  the  work  con- 
tinued. As  soon  as  any  money  accrued,  it  was  expended  in  furnishing  the 
hall,  and  when  anything  beyond  this  was  absolutely  needed,  which  was 
often  the  case,  a  few  of  the  brethren  put  their  hands  in  their  pockets 
and  paid  for  it.  The  lodge  worked  along  in  this  way  for  five  or  six 
years,  when  two  of  the  members,  with  more  persistent  obstinacy  than 
Masonic  knowledge,  carried  through  the  project  of  placing  in  the  west  and 


Masonry  in  Coos.  L53 


south,  instead  of  pedestals,  long  desks.  These  are  well  enough  as  desks, 
but  entirely  out  of  place  in  a  Masonic  hall.  They  still  remain  there.  The 
next  year  the  hall  and  anterooms  were  painted,  and  a  little  later  the  floors 
were  elegantly  and  handsomely  carpeted.  In  this  way  the  lodge  got  on 
until  a  few  of  the  members  began  to  agitate  the  question  of  regular  dues 
from  each  member.  This  was  coldly  received  at  first,  but  finally,  in  1871, 
was  carried  by  a  vote  of  the  lodge,  and  the  by  daws  so  changed  as  to  estab- 
lish annual  dues  of  $:}  for  each  member.  Since  then  the  hall  has  been 
handsomely  and  elegantly  fitted  up  ( with  the  exception  of  those  desks),  and 
handsomely  furnished,  comparing  favorably  with  other  lodge  rooms  in  the 
state,  and  a  small  fund  was  accumulated.  The  lease  for  the  hall  expired 
in  1886,  but  a  new  lease  for  twenty-five  years  more  was  secured,  though 
at  a  much  larger  rent. 

The  following  vote  passed  January  8,  1863,  explains  itself,  and  perhaps 
may  be  news  to  some  of  the  members  : — 

"That  the  thanks  of  the  Lodge  be  tendered  to  Thomas  Mayo  for  the  letter  'G  '  which  he 
presented  to  the  lodge." 

The  following  resolutions,  on  the  death  of  James  A.  Pitkin,  were  unan- 
imously adopted  at  the  regular  communication,  held  August  27.  1863:— 

"Resolced,  That  in  the  death  of  Bro.  James  A.  Pilkin,  this  Lodge  has  lost  a  worthy  member, 
who  has  been  called  from  his  labor  here  to  that  spiritual  refreshment  above,  where  the  Ashlers 
are  all  smooth,  and  the  Grand  Artificer  of  the  Universe  presides. 

"Resolved,  That  we  are  admonished  by  this  event  to  diligently  erect  our  temporal  building 
so  as  better  to  fit  our  minds  as  living  stones  for  that  spiritual  building;  that  house  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal,  and  in  the  Heavens. 

"Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  his  bereaved  widow  and  fatherless  children  the  lenderest  sym- 
pathy of  every  member  of  this  Lodge. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  furnish  to  his  widow  a  copy  of  these  resolutions." 


To  these  resolutions  the  following  reply  was  received  and  entered  of 
record  by  a  vote  of  the  lodge :  — 

"Colebrook,  Nov.  8th,  1863. 
"  Evening  Star  Lodge: — 

"  Thanking  the  Brotherhood  for  your  kindness  in  furnishing  me  with  a  copy  of  resolutions 
passed  in  your  Lodge,  you  will  please  accept  a  small  Photograph  of  Mr.  Pitkin.     Resp.  Yours, 

"E.  M.  II.  Pitkin." 

This  photograph  may  be  "  laid  up  with  the  records  in  the  archives  of 
the  lodge,"  and  it  may  have  been  lost.  Our  researches  have  not  resulted 
in  finding  it. 

The  territory  over  which  the  lodge  holds  jurisdiction  is  large,  but  the 
larger  part  of  it  is  sparsely  settled.  Many  of  the  members  live  from  five 
to  twenty  five  miles  from  the  lodge  room,  and  do  uot  regularly  attend  its 
meetings.  Quite  a  number  have  gone  to  other  states,  scattered  from  Flor- 
ida to  California  and  Canada,  and  many  of  these  still  hold  their  member- 


151  History  of  Coos  County. 

ship,  but  are  unable  to  meet  with  it.  Others  demit,  which,  with  the 
deaths,  keeps  the  working  force  of  the  lodge  small.  Under  these  circum- 
stances the  spirit  and  stamina  of  the  members  is  better  shown  by  the 
attendance  on  special  occasions  than  at  stated  communications.  At  the 
Masonic  funeral  of  Bro.  David  B.  Heath,  at  Colebrook,  December  20,  1S69, 
thirty-seven  were  present;  of  Seth  Tin-ell,  at  West  Stewartstown,  Septem- 
ber (>,  1S72,  forty-one;  of  Charles  H  Huntoon.  at  Colebrook,  September  1, 
1870,  thirty-six;  and  of  William  Hart,  at  Hereford,  Canada,  February  9, 
18 1*9,  thirty-eight.  These  were  all  the  deaths  that  occurred  in  the  mem- 
bership during  that  decade,  and  the  attendance  embraced  nearly  all  the 
members  who  had  not  left  for  other  states.  Up  to  this  date  (July,  1887,) 
there  have  been  admitted  112.  Of  these  there  have  died  seventeen;  demit- 
ted,  twenty-six;  suspended  for  non-payment  of  dues,  six;  demits  sur- 
rendered and  cancelled,  two;  number  in  good  and  regular  standing,  sixty- 
five.  Eleven  of  these  have  joined  within  the  past  twelve  months,  with 
several  more  who  have  taken  one  or  more  degrees,  and  will  be  admitted 
in  due  tims.  Few  if  any  lodges  have  existed  for  the  same  length  of  time 
with  more  harmony  among  the  members  and  with  sister  lodges  than 
Evening  Star.  No  ca.se  of  discipline  has  arisen  in  the  lodge  since  its  insti- 
tution in  1821,  and  no  regular  or  stated  communication  has  failed  to  be 
holden  since  the  restoration,  except  as  above  stated. 

The  following  members  have  been  duly  elected,  installed,  and  "  passed 
the  chair:1'  Alba  Holmes,  William  M.  Smith,  William  S.  Rolfe,  Albert 
Barker.  Joseph  E.  Lombard,  Edward  N.  Cummings,  Hazen  Bedel,  George 
S.  Leavitt,  William  H.  Shnrtleff,  Henry  M.  Leavitt,  Sidney  B.  Whittemore, 
Marcena  B.  Gilkey,  J.  Sullivan  Chase,  Aaron  B.  Haines,  and  Orville  C.  Bum- 
ford,  the  present  Master,  who  lives  twenty-five  miles  away,  but  has  been 
a  constant  attendant.  The  lodge  has  two  Past  District  Deputies,  Hazen 
Bedel  and  Albert  Barker,  who  are  permanent  members  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
and  usually  attend  its  sessions.  Most  of  those  who  have  joined  for  a  few 
years  past  are  enterprising  young  men,  and  the  lodge  bids  fair  to  live  long 
and  prosper. 

Gorham  Lodge,  No.  73,  A.  F.  &  A.  Jf.,  Gorham,  N.  H* — This  lodge 
was  first  recognized  by  a  dispensation  granted  by  Grand  Master  Aaron  P. 
Hughes,  February  7,  L862.  The  first  meeting  duly  holden  was  on  March 
11,  1802,  Bro.  Urban  Shorey,  W.  M.  iVtthis  meeting  eight  applications  for 
initiation  were  received,  and  the  Tuesday  on  or  before  the  full  of  the  moon 
of  each  month  was  selected  as  the  time  for  each  stated  communication. 
At  a  special  communication  on  the  19th  of  March  Mr.  Moses  W.  Rand 
was  initiated— this  being  the  first  degree  conferred;  subsequently  on  March 
24th,  Messrs.  Stephen  R.  Raynes,  Daniel  P.  Evans  and  Stephen  Gordon, 

*By  Alfred  R.  Evans. 


M  vsoxry   in  ( '<)(")s.  155 


Jr..  were  duly  initiated  as  E.  A.  Masons.  Meetings  were  held  frequently, 
and  a  goodly  amount  of  work  was  done  until  June  following  when  a  char- 
ter was  ordered  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  state  at  its  animal  communi- 
cation, and  duly  issued.  The  charter  bears  the  date  of  June  1 1.  1862,  and 
is  signed  by  Charles  H.  Bell,  as  Grand  Master.  The  charter  members  as 
named  were:  Urban  Shorey,  S-A  Mathes,  Charles  I \  Smith.  11  F.  Ward- 
well,  Thomas  E.  Fisk,  William  Fuller,  W.  A.  Field.  L.  Walcct  1.  ('.  W. 
Bean.  The  first  meeting  held  under  authority  of  the  charter  was  on  June 
20,  1862,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Urban  Shorey.  W.  M. ; 
S.  A.  Mathes,  S.  W. ;  C.  C.  Smith,  J.  W. ;  T.  E.  Fisk,  Treasurer;  H.  F. 
Wardwell,  Secretary;  D.  P.  Evans,  S.  D. ;  W.  A.  Field,  J  D. 

Bro  Shorey  was  re-elected  as  Master  at  the  annual  communication  held 
May  2(5,  1863,  and  on  June  24th  following  the  officers  elected  were  pub- 
licly installed.  The  exercises  of  installation  passed  very  satisfactorily, 
and  no  doubt  were  in  many  ways  beneficial  to  the  order.  Bro.  Shorey 
served  as  Master  till  May  9,  1865,  when  Bro.  Thomas  E.  Fisk  was  elected 
W.  M.  and  duly  installed  June  6th,  when  a  public  supper  was  served  at- 
tended by  M.  M.'s  and  their  ladies.  On  May  29,  1866,  Bro.  Fisk  was  re- 
elected W.  M.,  also  again  elected  on  May  14,  1867.  During  this  year 
the  question  of  establishing  a  Masonic  Lodge  at  Milan  was  considerably 
discussed,  also  the  propriety  of  holding  a  part  of  the  meetings  of  this  lodge 
at  that  place  was  considered,  neither  of  said  propositions  were  favorably 
acted  upon.  Bro.  Fisk  continued  to  act  as  W.  M.  until  May  2.5.  1869, 
when  George  W.  Waterhouse  was  elected  Master.  A  public  installation  of 
officers  was  held  at  the  Methodist  church  on  June  22d  following,  and  an  ad- 
dress delivered  by  Dr.  X.  T.  True,  of  Bethel,  Me.  On  May  12,  1870,  Bro. 
Urban  Shorey  was  again  elected  W.  M.,  and  so  served  until  May  2,  Lb7l, 
when  Bro.  A.  S.  Twitchell  was  selected  W.  M.  On  April  23,  1872,  Bro. 
Emlyn  W.  Evans,  was  elected  Master,  and  on  April  8,  1878,  Bro.  A.  S. 
Twitchell  w-as  re-elected  W.  M.  On  April  28,  1874,  Bro.  Urban  Shorey 
was  again  elected  W.  M.  and  served  until  April  20,  1875.  when  Bro.  Emlyn 
W.  Evans  was  elected  W.  M.  On  the  evening  of  March  4,  187.5.  the  lodge 
gave  an  entertainment  and  supper  at  Gorham  House  hall.  The  music 
was  furnished  by  Chandler's  band  from  Portland,  and  remarks  were  made 
by  many  members  of  the  order.  The  literary  exercises  were  in  charge  of 
Alfred  R.  Evans,  who  had  but  recently  received  his  degrees,  and  the  entire 
programme  was  most  successfully  carried  out.  The  large  hall  was  filled 
with  Master  Masons  and  their  ladies,  and  the  occasion  is  often  referred 
to  as  one  of  rare  enjoyment.  On  April  4,  1876,  Bro.  Emlyn  W.  Evans 
was  again  elected  W.  M.,  and  so  served  until  April  -1.  1877,  when  Bro. 
Thomas  E.  Fisk  was  called  again  to  the  East,  April  16,  187S,  Bro.  Asa  A. 
Palmer  was  elected  W.  M.  At  the  next  annual  communication,  on  April 
1,  1879,  Bro.  Albert  Ryder  was  elected  W.  M.     On  January  L0,  L880,  the 


156  History  of  Coos  County. 

present  Masonic  Hall  was  properly  dedicated.  Rev.  Bro.  C.  C.  Mason 
gave  an  address  on  Freemasonry,  refreshments  were  served,  the  hall  was 
opened  for  public  inspection,  and,  says  the  records,  "all  passed  pleasantly 
and  harmoniously."  On  May  18,  1880,  by  virtue  of  a  dispensation  from 
the  Grand  Master,  an  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  was  duly 
held,  and  Bro.  Emlyn  W.  Evans  was  again  called  to  the  East,  and  on 
March  15,  1881,  Bro.  Thomas  Gifford  was  elected  Master.  On  the  evening 
of  March  2 1st  following,- the  officers  elect  were  publicly  installed  by  Bro. 
Thomas  S.  Ellis,  D.  D.  G.  M.,  a  supper  was  served,  music  furnished,  toasts 
responded  to  and  a  goodly  time  enjoyed.  March  23,  1882,  Bro.  Asa  A. 
Palmer  was  again  elected  Master,  serving  until  March  20,  1883,  when  Bro. 
Walter  C.  Libby  was  selected  W.  M.,  and  again  elected  for  a  second  term 
on  March  11,  1884.  Bro.  Nathan  Stewart  was  selected  W.  M.  on  March 
24,  1885,  and  is  now  still  filling  the  position.  The  present  officers  of  the 
lodge  are:  Nathan  Stewart,  W.  M. ;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  S.  W.;  Fred  W. 
Noyes,  J.  W.;  Alfred  R.  Evans,  Secretary;  Charles  G.  Hamlin,  Treasurer; 
Alva  B.  Libby,  S.  D  ;  Fred  R.  Oleson,  J.  D. ;  Charles  C.  Libby,  S.  S. ;  J. 
C  Fothergill,  J.  S. ;  Albert  Ryder,  Tyler;  Walter  Buck,  Chaplain. 

Since  1870  the  membership  of  this  lodge  as  reported  to  the  Grand  Lodge 
has  been  as  follows: — 

No.  of  members  April  15,  1880,  123 

"     15,  1881,        -  -  -        127 

"     15,  1S82,  120 

"     15,  1S83,        -  -        123 

"     15,  1881,  -  129 

"     15,  1885,       -  134 


a  a 


15,  1886,  -  -  139 


During  the  early  history  of  the  lodge  the  propriety  of  allowing  other 
societies  to  use  the  Masonic  Hall  was  considered,  and  referred  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  for  determination.  That  grand  body  reported  its  disapproval 
of  the  occupation  of  halls  by  subordinate  lodges  in  common  with  other 
societies. 

The  first  lodge  room  was  over  what  is  now  Gates  &  Brown's  store. 
After  several  changes  and  removals  the  order  fitted  up  its  present  hall  on 
Exchange  street.  It  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  handsomest  and  best  Masonic 
halls  in  the  state  outside  of  the  cities,  and  is  well  and  beautifully  furnished, 
the  carpet,  furniture,  etc.,  costing  over  six  hundred  dollars.  The  order  is 
in  a  good,  healthy,  flourishing  condition,  and  numbers  among  its  members 
many  of  the  most  reliable  and  active  men  of  the  section.  Of  the  nine 
charter  members  of  the  lodge,  five  are  still  members.  Many  have  received 
their  degrees  here,  who,  being  demitted,  are  now  active  members  of  lodges 
in  other  jurisdictions,  while  some,  although  absent,  still  retain  their  mem- 
bership in  the  mother  lodge. 


Masonry   in  Coos.  15' 


Of  its  deeds  of  charity  and  benevolence  it  is  not  fitting  for  me  to  speak, 

suffice  it  to  say  that  Gorhara  Lodge  has  not  been  wanting  in  g 1  deeds, 

and  that  here  along  the  sides  of  the  high  mountains  as  well  as  in  the  low- 
valleys  the  memory  and  influence  of  its  acts  will  long  be  felt  and  remem- 
bered. 

White  Mountain  Lodge,  No.  si;,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Whitefield*—  This 
lodge  was  chartered  with  the  unanimous  consent  of  North  Star  Lodge, 
No.  8,  June  In,  L868.  The  charter  was  granted  to  the  following  named 
brothers:  Ira  S  M.  Gove,  George  H.  Pinkham,  Lauren  J.  Miner,  Ira  A. 
Muzzy,  Charles  W.  Cole,  Caleb  Walker,  A.  W.  Miner,  \V.  B.  Eutchins, 
L.  V.  Seavey,  Moses  H.  Gordon,  William  F.  Dodge,  A.  K.  Lane,  G.  P. 
Warner.  William  K.  Qnimby.  C.  K.  Gile,  Richard  Lane,  Jr.,  T.  M.  Taylor, 
Charles  Libbey,  and  five  others,  all  except  the  two  Lane  brothers  were 
members  at  that  time  of  North  Star  Lodge.  The  first  officers  elected  were: 
Ira  S.  M.  Gove,  W.  M.;  George  H  Pinkham,  S.  W.;  Lauren  J.  Miner,  J. 
W. ,  Moses  H.  Gordon,  Treasurer;  Joel  M.  Sartwell,  Secretary;  Hazen  W. 
Fisk,  S.  D. ;  Manson  Bowles,  J.  D. ;  Austin  W.  Miner,  Tyler;  Asa  K.  Lane, 
S.  S.;  T.  M.  Taylor,  J.  S. ;  G.  P.  Warner,  Chaplain. 

The  first  year  the  lodge  had  hard  work  to  provide  themselves  a  lodge 
room  and  pay  for  fitting  up,  and  with  the  best  management  got  a  small 
debt  on  them.  The  records  show  the  officers  present  at  every  meeting  till 
our  first  annual  meeting,  wiiich  occurred  May  20,  1 869,  when  the  same 
officers  were  again  elected.  At  our  annual  communication  in  May,  1870, 
the  following  officers  were  elected:  George  H.  Pinkham,  W.  M.;  L.J. 
Miner,  S.  W. ;  H.  W.  Fisk,  J.  W.;  Manson  Bowles,  S.  D. ;  L.  V.  Seavey, 
J.  D.;  Ira  S.  M.  Gove,  Secretary. 

Bro.  Ira  S.  M.  Gove  served  as  Master  of  the  lodge  from  its  organization 
until  May,  1870,  and  Brother  Pinkham  from  then  until  May,  1873,  when 
Bro.  Gove  was  again  elected  Master  with  Bros.  W.  F.  Dodge  and  A.  W. 
Miner  as  W's.  Bro.  Gove  served  as  Master  one  year,  when  Bro.  Lauren 
J.  Miner  was  elected  with  A.  W.  Miner  and  F.  C  Fearon  as  Wardens. 

The  next  year,  1875,  Bro.  H.  W.  Fisk  was  elected  Master,  F.  C.  Fearon, 
S.  W.,  and  S.  S.  Thomas,  J.  W.  Bro.  Fisk  served  one  year,  and  Bro. 
Pinkham  was  elected  again,  with  F.  C.  Fearon,  S.  W.,  Thomas  M.  Fletcher, 
J.  W.,  and  L.  D.  Whitcher,  Secretary.  In  1877  Bro.  Thomas  M.  Fletcher 
was  elected  Master,  S.  S.  Thomas,  S.  \V..  Horace  D.  Hicks,  J.  W..  L.  I). 
Whitcher,  Secretary,  and  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey,  Treasurer.  Bro.  Moses  H.  Gor- 
don had  faithfully  looked  after  the  finances  of  the  lodge  from  its  infancy 
to  this  time.  Brother  Fletcher  served  as  Master  two  years.  In  1879  Bro. 
F.  C.  Fearon  was  elected  Master,  T.  C  Gray,  S.W..  and  Ira  l\  Sturtevant, 
J.  W.     In  1880  George  E.  Hutchins  was  Master,  John  T.  Twombly,  S.W.. 

*Bv  Lauren  J.  Miner. 


15S  History  of  Coos  County. 

and  Richard  Rickerby,  J.  W.  In  1881  John  T.  Twombly,  Master,  John  S. 
Coffin,  S.  YY\,  CI.  G.  McGregor,  J.  W.  In  1882  Bro.  T.  C  Gray  was  elected 
Master,  Horace  D.  Hicks,  S.  W.,  Asa  D.  Hill,  J.  W .,  and  James  C.  Trickey, 
Secretary.  These  officers  served  two  years,  and  Bro.  Gray  was  elected  for 
the  third  year,  but  declined  to  serve  on  account  of  a  press  of  other  busi- 
ness, and  Bro.  H.  D.  Hicks  was  elected  in  his  stead,  and  also  declined,  and 
Bro.  Ira  S.  Sturtevant  was  elected,  and  served  as  Master  one  year,  until 
1885,  with  J.  C  Trickey,  S.  W.,  J.  F.  Walsh,  J.  W.,  A.  W.  Miner,  Treas- 
urer. L.  D.  Whitcher  was  again  elected  Secretary,  but  declined  to  serve, 
and  L.  J.  Miner  was  elected  in  his  stead.  In  1885  James  C  Trickey  was 
elected  Master,  George  H.  Morrison,  S.  W.,  H.  E.  Mclver,  J.  W.,  A.  W. 
Miner,  Treasurer,  but  declined,  and  Orin  Chase  was  elected  in  his  stead. 
In  188G  the  same  officers  were  again  chosen,  and  are  at  the  present  time 
fulfilling  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices. 

Bro.  George  VV7.  Libbey  was  the  first  man  that  was  made  a  Mason  in 
this  lodge,  and  D.  J.  Pillsbury  the  second  one.  Bro.  Charles  P.  Carleton 
had  taken  his  E.  A.  degree  in  North  Star  previous  to  the  chartering  of 
White  Mountain  Lodge,  but  North  Star  Lodge  very  courteously  gave  con- 
sent to  White  Mountain  Lodge  to  confer  the  other  two,  which  they  have 
done  from  time  to  time  ever  since,  Bro.  Carleton  being  a  candidate  for  any 
of  the  degrees  in  an  emergency. 

During  our  existence  we  have  made  110  Masons,  as  the  records  show. 
Death  has  robbed  us  of  ten  brothers,  namely:  Aurin  M.  Chase,  Caleb 
Walker,  John  M.  Gove,  Lyman  V.  Seavey,  Charles  W.  Cole,  Hibbard 
Houghton,  Benjamin  Calden,  G.  P.  Warner,  Manson  Bowles,  G.  H.  Pink- 
ham,  Charles  Stahl.  We  have  demitted  six.  Our  first  dues  to  the  Grand 
Lodge  were  $13.50,  showing  a  membership  of  fifty-four;  our  dues  in  1886 
were  $29.25,  showing  a  membership  of  117.  Bro.  E.  W.  Parker  has  been 
Tyler  since  1872,  a  term  of  fourteen  years  of  faithful  service. 

The  officers  have  been  very  punctual  in  attendance,  and  courteous  in 
manner  towards  the  lodge  ever  since  its  organization,  and  many  of  the 
brothers  have  attended  regularly,  especially  Bro.  A.  W.  Miner,  who  has 
missed  only  two  meetings,  and  is  what  might  be  called  a  spare  hand,  as  he 
works  in  every  place  in  the  lodge  when  an  officer  happens  to  be  absent. 
Bro.  M.  H.  Gordon  served  as  Treasurer  nine  years,  Bro.  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey, 
seven,  and  Bro.  A.  W.  Miner,  one.  All  declined  to  serve  longer.  The 
lodge  is  in  a  prosperous  condition  now,  and  has  money  in  the  treasury.  It 
has  had  a  good  amount  of  work  every  year,  and  has  considerable  on  hand 
at  the  present  time.  Our  relations  with  Burns  Lodge  and  North  Star  are 
the  most  amiable,  and  the  latter  we  cherish  as  our  foster  mother,  and  we 
esteem  ourselves  highly  favored  when  we  receive  a  visit  from  any  of  the 
brothers  of  either  lodge 

In  conclusion  we  would  quote  from  Bro.  Batchelder,  D.  D.  G.  M.,  Dis. 


M  VSONRY    IX   ( loos.  159 


No  5.  report,  1886:  "  Bro.  James  0.  Trickey  isa  very  efficient  Master, and 
is  assisted  by  intelligent  and  amhitious  officers  in  the  chairs. 
The  officers  are  rapidly  bringing  their  work  into  conformity  with  the 
restored  work.  They  realize  the  amount  of  labor  involved  in  this  under- 
taking, audits  importance.  The  lodge  has  a  fair  surplus  fund,  and  its 
records  are  well  kept.  The  lodge  is  undoubtedly  in  a  better  condition  to- 
day than  it  has  been  in  for  several  years.  What  is  better  still  the  brethren 
are  determined  that  the  progress  shall  continue  until  the  lodge  has  a 
standing  such  as  may  well  be  attained  by  faithful  attention  to  the  condi- 
tions of  success." 

Officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  Grand  Chapter  and  Grand  Commandery 
of  New  Hampshire,  furnished  by  Cods  county. — Through  the  kindness  of 
George  P.  Cleaves,  Grand  Secretary  of  the  above  Masonic  bodies,  we  are 
enabled  to  give  the  following  list.  Bro.  Cleaves  says  that  he  may  have 
possibly  omitted  some  of  the  earlier  officers  in  the  Grand  Lodge,  as  no 
residence  was  entered  in  the  records,  and  without  that  he  had  no  guide. 

Grand  Lodge. — Stephen  Wilson,  Lancaster,  Dis.  Dep.  Gr.  Master  1823, 
'24,  '25,  '26,  '43,  "44.  John  Wilson,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Sword  Bearer  1S24.'2:>.  '26. 
William  Lovejoy,  Lancaster,  Dis.  Dep.  Gr.  Master  1827,  '30.  Jared  W. 
Williams,  Lancaster,  Dist.  Dep.  Gr.  Master  1831,  "32,  '33,  '34,  '35.  '36,  '37.  '38, 
'39.  Eliphalet  Lyman,  Lancaster,  Dist.  Dep.  Gr.  Master  1840,  '41.  John 
Willson,  Lancaster,  Dist.  Dep.  Gr.  Master  1842  (possibly  same  as  John  Wil- 
son). Jared  I.Williams,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Lecturer  1854.  '55,  '56,  "57;  Dis.  Dep. 
Gr.  Master  1858,'59;  Jun.  Gr.  Deacon  1860;  Sen.  Gr.  Deacon  1861.  Henry  0. 
Kent,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Sworcl  Bearer  I860,  '61.  '62;  Gr.  Junior  Warden  1863; 
Gr.  Senior  Warden  1864;  Gr.  Captain  General  1865,  'HO;  Gr.  Generalissimo 
1867;  Grand  Commander  1868, '69.  Edward  Savage,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Captain 
of  the  Guard  1867,  '68.  Thomas  S.  Ellis,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Sword  Bearer  1875, 
'76;  Grand  Junior  Warden  1877;  Grand  Senior  Warden  1878;  Gr.  Captain 
General  1879.  Edward  R.  Kent,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Capt.  of  the  Guar< I  1877; 
Gr.  Warder  1878;  Gr.  Sword  Bearer  1879;  Gr.  Standard  Bearer  1880;  Gr. 
Junior  Warden  1881;  Gr.  Senior  Warden  1883,  '84;  Gr.  Capt.  General  L885; 
Grand  Generalissimo  1886.  Henry  O.  Kent,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Lecturer.  1860, 
'61;  D  D.  G.  M.  1862, '63, '66, '69.  George  C.Williams,  Lancaster,Gr.  Marshal. 
1860,  '61;  Jun.  Gr.  Deacon  1862;  Gr.  Sword  Bearer  L864,  '65.  Urban  Shorey, 
Gorham,  Gr.  Steward  1863;  D.  D.G.M.1864,'65,'68.  Benj.  F.  Honking.  Lan- 
caster, Gr.  Lecturer  1864.  '65,  '66,  '67.  Hazen  Bedel,  Colebrook,  D.  D.  G.  M. 
1867.  Albert  Barker,  Colebrook,  Gr.  Lecturer,  1868,  '69;  D.  D.  G.  M.  L870, 
'71.  Edward  Savage,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Lecturer.  L870,  '71.  '72/7-:  D.  D.  G.  M. 
1875,  '76.  Thomas  S.  Ellis,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Lecturer  1877,  '78;  D.  D.  G.  M. 
1879,  '80.  Mitchell  H.  Bowker,  now  Whitefield,  I  while  at  Lisbon)  Gr.  Lect- 
urer 1881,'82;  D.  D.G.  M.  1883,'84.  Thomas  C.Grey.  Whitefield,  Gr.  Steward, 
1882,  '83,  '84.    Charles  E.  Mclnti re,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Lecturer,  1885.     Alfred 


160  History  of  Coos  County. 

K.  Evans,  Gorham,  Gr.  Steward,  1885,  'st>,  '87.  Moses  A.  Hastings,  Lan- 
caster, Gr.  Lecturer,  1880,  '87. 

Grand  Chapter. — Edward  Savage,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Steward  1870;  Gr. 
Master  of  First  Veil  1871;  Gr.  Master  of  Second  Veil  1872.  Thomas  S.  Ellis, 
Lancaster,  Gr.  Steward  187'.>. 

Grand  Com  man dery. — Jared  I.  Williams,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Captain  Gen- 
eral 1860,  '61.  George  C.Williams,  Lancaster,  Gr.  Junior  Warden,  1862. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  SOLDIERS  OF  COOS. 

For  what  he  was  and  all  he  dared, 
Remember  him  to  da_> !" 

By  Henry  O.  Kent. 


URGED  to  prepare  a  chapter,  which  shall  commemorate  the  men  of 
Coos  living   and  dead,  who  took  part  in  the  great  work  of  preserving- 
Federal  unity  and  National  honor  during  the    War  of  the  Rebell- 
ion, I  consented  with  reluctance  and  approach  this  labor  at  once  congenial 
and  exacting,  with  hesitation. 

So  lofty  was  the  devotion  of  those  who  died,  so  honorable  the  services 
of  those  who  survived,  that  only  the  most  complete  and  exhaustive 
record  can  do  their  deeds  and  their  memory  justice,  while  so  inadequate 
are  the  sources  of  information,  that  many  errors  of  omission  must  neces- 
sarily occur,  which  may  pain  survivors  or  do  seeming  injustice  to  those 
who  are  gone. 

In  the  pages  that  follow,  I  have  compiled  a  brief  record  of  the  service 
of  each  organization,  with  a  list  of  its  membership,  drawing  upon  the 
following  authorities,  all  that  could  be  made  available  for  my  purpose, 
supplementing  this  information  from  my  personal  knowledge. 

I  have  carefully  copied  the  names  of  all  soldiers  of  Coos  whose  resi- 
dence is  there  stated,  from  the  Adjutant- General's  report  of  1865,  revis- 
ing this  from  the  reports  of  the  same  office  issued  later. 

Had  the  work  authorized  by  the  legislature  of  1885  been  completed, 
the  Soldiers'  Record,  now  in  process  of  compilation  by  the  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral, more  information  might  have  been  obtained.  Comparison  has  also 
been  made  with  the  roster  of  soldiers  now  resident  in  the  county,  who 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos,  l • ; i 


served  in  organizations   outside   the  state,   as  appears   by    the  member- 
ship of  the  several  Grand  Army  posts.     Time  has  also  been  spent  in  the 
Adjutant-General's  office  at  Concord,  to  perfect  this  record. 

It  is  practically  impossible,  in  a  work  of  this  character,  to  follow  the 
promotions  or  transfers  from  one  command  to  another,  and  the  casualties, 
and  therefore,  only  the  name,  regiment  and  company,  when  attainable,  and 
residence  is  given  with  such  occasional  reference  to  rank  or  transfer  as 
was  patent,  or  is  recollected  by  the  compiler. 

The  sketches  are  compiled  from  the  current  publications  of  the  war 
period,  the  reports  of  the  Adjutant-General,  Waite's  "  New  Hampshire 
in  the  Rebellion,"  and  information  within  my  personal  knowledge  or 
control. 

With  this  prolix  introduction,  without  which  I  should  be  unwilling  to 
assume  the  responsibilities  of  this  chapter,  I  attempt  a  brief  sketch  of 
each  command,  a  list  of  such  soldiers  as  the  county  furnished,  as  exhib- 
ited by  the  authorities  referred  to.  and  a  list  of  veterans  now  resident 
among  us,  who  served  in  outside  organizations  as  shown  by  the  rosters  of 
the  Grand  Army  posts  within  our  limits. 

In  every  war  our  people  have  done  their  full  share.  The  pioneers  of 
Coos  were  the  men  of  the  "Old  French  War,"  of  Rogers'  Rangers,  and 
of  the  Army  of  Independence.  Later  they  responded  in  field  and  garri- 
son during  the  war  with  Great  Britain  in  1812,  they  organized  companies 
for  duty  on  the  frontier,  were  called  out  in  the  "Applebee  War,"  to  sup- 
press the  troubles  at  Indian  Stream,  and  sent  valiant  men  in  the  Ninth  to 
follow  Pierce  and  Ransom  in  the  war  with  Mexico. 

There  is  no  priority  in  honor,  no  monopoly  in  patriotism.  The  deeds 
and  memory  of  these  men  should  be,  and  are,  recorded  elsewhere. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  April,  1861,  there  was  in  the  state 
no  organized  force  to  send  to  the  front,  or  to  serve  as  the  nucleus  for  vol- 
unteer regiments.  The  earlier  military  organization  of  the  state — divided 
into  forty-two  regiments,  and  comprising  all  able  bodied  male  citizens, 
between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five, — ceased  to  be  operative,  about 
ten  years  before,  while  in  its  place  existed  a  paper  system,  made  up  of 
three  Major-Generals  and  six  Brigadier-Generals,  with  their  respective 
staffs,  and  an  enrolled  but  unorganized  force. 

There  were  the  two  military  and  social  commands,  known  as  the  Gov- 
ernor's Horse  Guards  and  the  Amoskeag  Veterans,  the  Lyndeborough 
Artillery  and  a  few — perhaps  half  a  dozen — other  volunteer  companies. 
This  force  was  invited,  rather  than  ordered,  into  camp  at  Nashua,  in  the 
autumn  of  1860,  where,  with  several  purely  voluntary  organizations,  it 
held  a  three  days'  "muster."  This  was  the  last  appearance  of  the  old 
state  militia,  and  when  the  time  of  exigency  came  we  were  wholly  unpre- 
pared for  immediate  action. 
li 


102  History  of  Coos  County. 

Ichabod  Goodwin,  of  Portsmouth,  was  Governor,  elected  in  March,  1860, 
his  term  expiring  in  June,  1861,  and  Joseph  C.  Abbott  was  Adjutant  and 
Quartermaster-General,  having  been  appointed  in  1855.  Governor  Good- 
win was  a  retired  merchant  of  high  character  and  fine  executive  ability. 
Without  a  soldier  at  his  command,  or  a  dollar  with  which  to  equip  him, 
he  was  fully  equal  to  the  emergency.  Troops  were  raised,  and  on  the 
strength  of  Mr.  Goodwin's  personal  repute  and  responsibility,  the  banks 
at  once  proffered  sufficient  money  to  arm  and  forward  the  men.  The  leg- 
islature, at  its  session  the  following  June,  endorsed  and  ratified  his  action, 
but  the  fact  remains  that  to  his  patriotism,  firmness,  responsibility  and 
executive  energy,  New  Hampshire  is  indebted,  both  for  her  prompt  and 
credible  response  to  the  call  of  the  President  and  the  inauguration  of 
the  system  which  raised,  equipped  and  forwarded  the  succeeding  com- 
mands, all  of  which  earned  the  gratitude  of  the  state  and  reflected  honor 
upon  it. 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  elected  in  1861,  was  inaugurated  Governor  in  June 
of  that  year.  He  was  succeeded  in  June,  1863,  by  Joseph  A.  Gilmore, 
who  held  office  until  June,  1865,  when  Frederick  Smyth  succeeded  to  the 
executive  chair.  During  these  critical  years  these  chief  magistrates  exer- 
cised the  great  powers  entrusted  to  them  generally  with  wise  discretion, 
and  they  were  held  in  esteem  by  the  soldiers  of  the  state. 

Adjutant-General  Abbott  found  himself  without  arms  or  equipments, 
.confronted  by  an  almost  appalling  emergency.  He  was  zealous  and  en- 
titled to  commendation  for  his  labors  in  fitting  out  the  earlier  regiments, 
which  went  to  the  front  exceptionally  well  provided.  General  Abbott 
resigned  in  the  summer  of  1861,  and,  by  authority  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment, raised  the  Seventh  Infantry,  going  out  as  its  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
He  became  Colonel  on  the  death  of  Col.  Putnam,  who  was  killed  at  Fort 
Wagner,  was  promoted  to  Brigadier  General,  was  commandant  of  the 
city  and  district  of  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  and  after  the  war  a  sena- 
tor from  that  state,  at  Washington.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  business 
in  North  Carolina,  where  he  died. 

He  was  succeeded  by  ex-Governor  Anthony  Colby,  as  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral of  the  state,  who  in  turn  was  followed  by  his  son.  Daniel  E.  Colby, 
who  held  the  office  until  the  accession  of  Governor  Gilmore  in  1864,  when 
Natt  HeLad,  afterwards  Governor,  was  made  Adjutant- General,  hold- 
ing the  place  until  his  accession  to  the  chief  magistracy,  when  the  present 
Adjutant-General,  A.  D.  Ayling,  was  appointed. 

The  Colbys,  father  and  son,  were  reliable,  earnest  men,  who  brought  to 
their  duties  devotion  and  painstaking  care.  General  Head  became  at  once 
favorably  and  widely  known,  and  his  excellent  administration  of  the  office 
I i;id  much  to  do  with  his  advancement  to  the  executive  chair. 

It  is  an  act  of  justice  to  say,  that  the  present  Adjutant- General,  him- 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos.  L63 


self  a  veteran  of  the  war,  by  his  zeal  in  perfecting  the  invaluable  records 
of  the  soldiers  of  the  state,  and  his  ability  in  their  preparation,  as  well  as 
by  his  general  efficiency,  merits  recognition  from  New  Hampshire  soldiers 
among  the  executive  officers  who  organized,  equipped,  and  forwarded  our 
forces. 

The  "boys"  who,  during  the  process  of  organization  and  muster,  were 
familiar  with  the  State  House  and  its  officials,  will  not  have  forgottrn 
Hon.  Thomas  L.  Tullock,  Hon.  Allen  Tenney,  and  Hon.  Benjamin  Gerrish, 
consecutively  Secretaries  of  State.  Mr.  Tullock  died  in  Washington  after 
having  long  held  important  offices  there;  Mr.  Gerrish  died  in  Boston  in 
1885,  after  having  been  Consul  at  Nantes  and  Bordeaux,  France;  while 
Mr.  Tenney  is  a  successful  lawyer  at  Norwich,  Conn.  Neither  will  they 
cease  to  remember  their  enthusiastic  friend  Hon.  Peter  Sanborn,  the  State 
Treasurer,  nor  his  flights  of  rhetoric. — like  that  in  his  address  to  an  out- 
going regiment,  in  the  State  House  yard,  when,  pointing  to  the  eagle 
perched  on  the  colors,  and  the  proud  bird  on  the  cupola,  he  exclaimed: 
"Boys!  here  are  two  eagles;  bring  'em  both  back  with  you!"  and  his 
address  in  the  old  Representatives  Hall,  to  another  regiment  on  the  ' '  army 
worm."  Col.  Sanborn,  having  long  ago  retired  from  public  life,  survives 
on  the  paternal  farm  at  Hampton,  enjoying  a  vigorous  and  honored  old  age. 

Elder  John  Hook,  who  sold  "pies  an'  things"  near  the  camp-ground, 
still  survives,  dispensing  gospel  truths  and  "Hook's  Healing  Balm" 
throughout  the  land,  a  devout,  honest  and  excellent  man. 

Upon  the  reception  of  the  proclamation  of  the  President  calling  for  75,- 
000  men  for  three  months,  it  was  determined  to  open  recruiting  offices,  and 
call  for  volunteers,  and  a  proclamation  was  issued  to  that  effect  on  the  l(5th 
of  April.  Recruiting  offices  were  opened  at  the  principal  towns — that  for 
this  county  at  Lancaster,  April  1 6,  in  charge  of  the  writer  of  this  chapter,  as 
aid  to  the  Adjutant-General.  Two  days  later  he  was  ordered  to  turn  this 
office  over  to  a  subordinate,  and  report  at  headquarters,  Ira  S.  M.  Gove 
being  left  in  charge.  Arrived  at  Concord,  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov- 
ernor Goodwin,  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  the  state,  and  ordered  to 
repair  to  Portsmouth,  to  prepare  there  for  the  reception  of  recruits  to  be 
organized  into  a  second  regiment.  He  held  this  position  until  the  Second 
Regiment  had  left  the  state,  and  the  troops  at  Fort  Constitution  had  been 
nearly  all  discharged. 

Having  thus  referred  to  the  civic  and  military  organizations,  I  now 
propose  to  give  a  brief  resume  of  the  operations  of  each  command,  and  fco 
publish  as  full  a  list  of  soldiers  from  Coos  as  can  be  procured  from  the 
sources  before  referred  to: — 

The  First  Infantry  was  raised  for  three  months' service,  and  contained 
no  men  from  this  county.  It  was  organized  at  Concord,  received  an 
ovation  in  New  York  on  its  way  to  Washington,  and  was  stationed  on  the 


ltJi  History  of  Coos  County. 


Upper  Potomac  during  its  period  of  enlistment.  It  was  composed  of  the 
finest  material,  and  was  admirably  officered  and  drilled.  It  was  supplied, 
as  was  the  Second  and  Third,  with  "claw-hammer"  coats  of  heavy  gray 
cloth,  which  were  soon  thrown  aside  for  the  easy  blouse.  Its  field  officers 
were  Colonel,  Mason  W.  Tappau,  who  afterwards  declined  the  colonelcy 
of  one  of  the  later  regiments;  Lieut. -Col.,  Aaron  F.  Stevens,  subse- 
quently Colonel  of  the  Thirteenth,  Brigadier-General  and  Member  of  Con- 
gress; and  Major,  Thomas  J.  Whipple,  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war,  sub- 
sequently Colonel  of  the  Fourth,  and  now,  honored  by  the  community 
wherein  he  resides,  an  eminent  lawyer  at  Laconia.  Col.  Tappan,  then 
Attorney-General  of  the  state,  died  about  the  beginning  of  the  present 
year,  at  his  home  in  Bradford. 

The  Second  Infantry. — The  response  to  the  call  for  three  months'  men 
far  exceeding  the  limit  of  troops  called  for  from  the  state,  the  Governor 
determined  to  order  the  surplus  above  the  maximum  of  the  1st  Regiment 
into  camp  at  Portsmouth,  pending  a  decision  as  to  their  disposal.  Accord- 
ingly the  Rope- walk,  near  the  South  mill  pond,  was  utilized  as  a  barrack, 
and  the  men  came  into  camp.  In  May  it  was  found  that  no  more  men  for 
three  months  would  be  received,  and  the  question  of  enlisting  for  three 
years  was  presented  The  great  portion  of  the  recruits  accepted  the  new 
terms,  those  declining  to  extend  their  term  of  service  being  sent  as  a  gar- 
rison to  Fort  Constitution,  at  the  mouth  of  Portsmouth  Harbor,  from 
which  they  were  discharged  the  ensuing  summer. 

Thomas  P.  Pierce,  of  Nashua,  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war,  had  been 
commissioned  Colonel.  Declining  to  serve  for  three  years,  he  resigned, 
and  Gilman  Marston,  of  Exeter,  was  appointed  Colonel;  Frank  S.  Fiske,  of 
Keene,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Josiah  Stevens,  Jr.,  of  Concord,  Major.  Gen- 
eral Marston  served  through  the  war  with  distinction,  was  promoted  as 
Brigadier-General,  and  is  now,  in  his  hale  old  age,  an  active  and  eminent 
lawyer  at  Exeter.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fisk  resigned  after  a  year's  service, 
and  is  now  clerk  of  the  U.  S.  district  court,  in  Boston.  Major  Stevens 
subsequently  resigned,  and  died  at  Manchester,  about  the  time  of  the  first 
veterans'  reunion,  which  was  held  in  that  city  in  1875. 

On  its  way  to  the  front,  the  regiment,  in  passing  through  Boston,  re- 
ceived a  magnificent  welcome  at  the  hands  of  the  sons  of  New  Hampshire 
resident  in  that  city.  It  was  reviewed  by  Governor  Andrew  from  the 
State  House,  dined  at  Music  Hall,  and  was  paraded  upon  the  common. 

To  give  the  record  of  this  famous  regiment  would  be  to  write  the  his- 
tory of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  which  it  served  through  the  war,  re- 
enlisting  at  the  expiration  of  its  three  years  of  duty.  It  was  a  nursery, 
from  which  came  many  accomplished  officers  for  other  regiments,  it 
received  and  assimilated  the  17th  Regiment  in  1863,  and  a  great  number  of 
recruits,  and  during  its  entire  service  was  conspicuous  for  bravery,  soldierly 


The  Soldi krs  of  ( '<><">s. 


L65 


behavior,  and  untiring  devotion  to  the  canst'.  Its  record  was  always  right, 
and  its  well-earned  fame  is  beyond  praise.  It  was  mustered  oul  al  City 
Point,  Va.,  November  is,  and  paid  off  at  Concord,  November  26,  1865. 


ROSTER. 

)t.  Co.  C, 

Ira  (i.  Douglass, 

Lancasti  r 

Lancaster 

Oliver  P.  Day,  H, 

3o.  F, 

Morrill  c.  Day,  Co.  unknown, 

.. 

Milan 

Claude  De  Vire,  Co.  unknown, 

Errol 

Lancaster 

John  King,  B, 

.. 

Milan 

Edson  J.  Dunham,  F, 

Dummer 

Lancaster 

Joseph  Greeley,  F, 

Dalton 

Milan 

Thomas  Hudson,  F, 

( llarksville 

Clark  sville 

Henry  Johnson,  F, 

Carroll 

Erro] 

Daniel  Johnson,  B, 

Stiwartstiiw  11 

Lancaster 

Robert  Knight,  B, 

it 

it 

John  King,  F, 

Errol 

it 

Simon  Layne,  F, 

Clarksville 

Stratfnrd 

James  Lynch,  F, 

it 

Carroll 

James  Martin. 

Lancaster 

Pittsburg 

Charles  E.  Mclntire,  G, 

ii 

Clarksville 

Henry  Martin,  Co.  unknown. 

Martin's  Grant 

Colebrook 

Edgar  Morse,  Co.  unknown. 

Whitefield 

it 

Samuel  0.  Nutter,  F, 

Lancaster 

If 

John  Puryea,  K, 

it 

Dalton 

Ira  Noyes.  K, 

Columbia 

Stratford 

Alfred  Poquet,  unknown, 

Colebrook 

Stewartstown 

Henry  Gleason.  B, 

it 

Lancaster 

George  Robinson,  I, 

;t 

Pittsburg 

Benjamin  Sawyer,  F, 

Lancaster 

John  Puryea,  K. 

it 

u 

Joseph  Scott,  F, 

Carroll 

a 

Thomas  Williams,  I, 

it 

Lancaster 

Stephen  Smith,  F, 

tt 

Colebrook 

Henry  Smith,  F, 

Whitefield 

Lancaster 

Joseph  Thompson,  D, 

Lancaster 

Whitefield 

Augustus  M.  Williams,  unknown, 

Colebrool 

Jefferson 

Levi  Hicks,  B, 

tt 

Lancaster 

George  A.  Rowell,  A, 

it 

Stratford 

Charles  W.  Randall,  B, 

it 

Colebrook 

Samuel  D.  Wright,  F, 

■  i 

»i 

Alfred  Poquet,  H, 

.. 

Columbia 

George  Workman, 

;i 

(i 

Thomas  Williams. 

Carroll 

Dummer 

Joseph  Thompson,  B, 

it 

Dalton 

John  L.  York, 

Milan 

Lancaster 

Marcout  Bernabon,  (', 

Carroll 

(i 

Fay  Carleton,  15, 

<  'oh  brook 

i< 

David  S.  Chandler,  B, 

ti 

a 

Edwin  R.  Cilley,  B, 

it 

Colebrook 

Simon  S.  P.  Smith,  B, 

ti 

Hart's  Location 

Ira  Sweatt,  B, 

.. 

Hugh  R.  Richardson,  Lt.  Co.  F,  Capt. 

Harrison  D.  F.  Young,  Co.  H,  Capt.  Co.  F, 

Welcome  A.  Crafts,  Lt.-Col.  5th, 

Charles  W.  Fletcher,  Sergeant, 

Lovell  W.  Brackett,  F, 

Richard  0.  Young,  F, 

Lorenzo  D.  Adley, 

Arthur  R.  Aldrich,  B, 

John  Barney,  F. 

Charles  Buck,  F. 

George  Burt,  F. 

Joseph  Benway,  F, 

Samuel  H.  Clough,  F, 

Harmon  Frost, 

Edgar  Gaines,  F, 

John  Gilman,  D, 

Henry  S.  Hilliard,  F,  Capt.  5th, 

William  H.  Tibbetts,  B, 

George  Workman,  F, 

James  Hagan,  F, 

Bernard  Johnson,  F, 

Thomas  Kenney,  F, 

George  W.  Morgan,  F, 

Cyrus  W.  Merrill,  F, 

William  H.  Gault,  B, 

Amasa  F.  Huggins,  B, 

Simon  Merrill,  F, 

Patrick  McCaffrey,  F, 

Eleazer  D.  Noyes,  H, 

Charles  F.  Nutter,  F, 

Frank  F.  Noyes,  G, 

John  Ordway,  F, 

George  Robinson,  F, 

William  H.  F.  Staples,  F, 

Thomas  J.  Severance,  F, 

Lewis  Tashro,  B, 

Clark  Stevens,  F,  and  Lt.  H'y  Art. 

Lucian  B.  Grout,  K, 

Levi  Witham,  F, 

Ira  M.  Wallace,  F, 

Gilman  Aldrich,  F. 

Levi  P.  Barrows,  F, 

Jerome  H.  Brown,  F, 

Ebenezer  Carpenter,  F, 

Thomas  Crawford, 

Jere  Cronin, 

The  Third  Infantry. — This  command  was  organized  at  Concord  in  the 
summer  of  1861,  and  from  excellent  material  Enoch  Q.  Fellows,  now 
living  at  Sandwich,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  the  Adjutant  of  the 


166 


History  of  Coos  County. 


1st  Regiment,  was  its  Colonel;  John  H.  Jackson,  of  Portsmouth,  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Mexican  war,  now  an  inspector  in  the  Boston  custom  house, 
Lieut. -Colonel;  and  John  Bedel,  of  Bath,  also  a  Mexican  veteran,  afterward 
brevetted  Brigadier,  who  died  in  1875,  Major.  There  was  no  commis- 
sioned officer  from  this  county,  the  men  being  recruited  and  going  in 
without  company  organization. 

The  Third  was  first  assigned  to  duty  on  the  seaboard  in  the  South, 
serving  with  distinction  at  Hilton  Head,  Charleston,  Fernandina,  Fla., 
and  other  strategic  points.  It  joined  the  Army  of  the  James  and  took 
part  in  the  closing  scenes  before  Richmond.  Like  the  Second,  it  furnished 
many  officers  for  later  regiments,  and  received  a  large  number  of  recruits. 
Its  record  was  highly  honorable;  it  was' engaged  in  desperate  battles;  did 
garrison  and  fortification  duty;  and  in  all  respects  won  fairly  the  high 
reputation  that  has  always  been  accorded  to  it.  It  was  mustered  out  July 
20,  1865. 


ROSTER. 

Orville  E.  Moulton,  Sergeant. 

Lancaster 

Orlando  Brown,  I, 

Carroll 

Thomas  Cassady,  Corporal, 

tt 

Charles  M.  Blood,  I, 

Lancaster 

Edwin  E.  Jones,  H,  9tb,  Corporal, 

u 

Louis  Beldeau, 

Northumberland 

Nelson  B.  Lindsey,  Corporal,  17th  H'y 

Art.      " 

Amos  C.  Colby,  I, 

Whitefield 

John  W.  Morse,    Musician, 

<< 

William  Eastman,  I, 

<« 

James  Blanehard, 

.( 

Andrew  J.  Fowler,  I, 

Lancaster 

Frederick  T.  Bennett, 

tt 

Freeman  F.  Glines,  I, 

WTutefield 

Granville  Blake, 

Milan 

Montraville  P.  Horton,  I, 

Carroll 

Joseph  Chesley, 

Dummer 

Kobert  B.  Holmes.  I, 

tt 

John  H.  Cameron, 

Lancaster 

Edward  Hall. 

Colebrook 

Orland  Day, 

Gorham 

Jonas  Ingerson,  I, 

Whitefield 

James  W.  Farrington, 

tt 

Marshall  H.  King,  I, 

Carroll 

Oscar  Gaines, 

Lancaster 

John  Kisling, 

Colebrook 

Charles  H.  Kane, 

(< 

Horatio  P.  Lougee,  I, 

Whitefield 

George  W.  Mclntyre, 

Berlin 

Horace  M.  Lindsey,  I, 

tt 

DeWitt  C.  Paine, 

Milan 

William  W.  Lang,  I, 

n 

White  Pilbro, 

Columbia 

James  McCrillis, 

Columbia 

William  Wilkins, 

Lancaster 

James  Moulton,  I, 

Lancaster 

Calvin  0.  Wilkins, 

a 

John  W.  Moidton,  I, 

it 

Frederick  A.  Wentworth, 

a 

John  M.  Morse,  I,     Sig.  Service, 

Jefferson 

Isaac  I.  York, 

Colebrook 

Daniel  W.  Titus,  I, 

Whitefield 

Ira  D.  Hyde, 

Stark 

Almon  B.  White,  I, 

tt 

Azariah  L.  Clark. 

Whitefield 

Charles  McKee,  K, 

Colebrook 

Ezra  D.  Clark, 

<. 

William  S.  Morse,  K, 

Shelburne 

Josiah  S.  Blood,  I, 

tt 

The  Fourth  Infantry, — This  command  was  officered  by  Col.  Thomas  J. 
Whipple,  Lieut. -Col.  Louis  Bell,  killed  at  Fort  Fisher,  January  15,  1865, 
and  Jeremiah  D.  Drew,  of  Salem,  Major.  It  was  a  valuable  and  efficient 
three  years  regiment,  originally  part  of  the  force  on  the  South  Atlan- 
tic coast.  It  had  no  organized  body  of  men  from  this  county.  Its 
service  was  at  Hilton  Head,  Fernandina,  Charleston,  and  in  the  Army  of 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


L67 


the  James,  before  Petersburg  and  Richmond.   It  was  mustered  out  August 

27,  1865. 


ROSTER. 

Franklin  Crawford.  D, 

Clarksville 

Robert  Calahan,  D, 

Colebrook 

Daniel  Day.  Jr.,  F, 

Pittsburg 

William  Chester,  K, 

Stewartst.iw  u 

Orange  Fisk,  H, 

Lancaster 

John  Craver,  K, 

Milan 

John  Smith,  F, 

Colebrook 

Francis  Duquette,  H, 

Berlin 

Louis  Black,  D, 

it 

Henry  Dubois,  K, 

Milan 

Charles  Williams,  K, 

Lancaster 

Michael  Gero,  D, 

Lancaster 

Thomas  Flynn,  K. 

Gorham 

Louis  Grapo,  G, 

Milan 

Henry  F.  Wardwell,  Asst.  Surgeon, 

(< 

George  L.  Harrington,  K, 

Lancaster 

James  M.  Kidder,  K, 

Stewartstown 

Eugene  Lacroix,  K, 

Stewartstown 

Thomas  H.  Mayo,  I, 

<< 

George  La  Plant,  K, 

Milan 

Peter  Anderson,    K, 

Milan 

George  Peno,  K, 

Stewartstown 

Samuel  Barney,  G, 

a 

James  Taylor,  C, 

Lancaster 

Joseph  Brown,  G, 

<< 

Horace  Taylor,  K, 

Stewartstown 

The  Fifth  Infantry. — This  command  contained  several  Field,  Staff  and 
Line  officers,  an  entire  Co.  (B)  and  many  recruits  from  this  county.  It 
had  a  notable  record  for  daring  bravery,  and  was  one  of  the  conspicuous 
regiments  of  the  Volunteer  Service.  This  was  largely  due  to  the  person- 
nel of  its  first  commander,  Col  Edward  Ephraim  Cross,  of  Lancaster,  who 
had  shared  largely  in  the  adventurous  life  of  the  southwestern  frontier. 
Leaving  home  at  an  early  age,  he  had  been  a  newspaper  reporter  at  Cin- 
cinnati and  Washington,  and  wagoned  the  first  printing  press  across  the 
plains  to  Tucson,  in  Arizona,  where  he  established  a  paper.  Engaged  in 
warfare  with  the  Apache  and  other  tribes,  he  subsequently  took  service 
with  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  until  he  came  north  to  offer  his  services  to 
his  native  state  in  the  summer  of  1861.  His  campaigning  life,  and  famil- 
iarity with  the  ways  of  regular  soldiery,  gave  him  a  position  and  influ- 
ence that  added  eclat  to  his  recruiting  and  procured  for  his  regiment  from 
the  outset,  a  reputation  for  dash  and  effective  work. 

The  regiment  went  into  camp  at  "Camp  Jackson,"  at  Concord,  on 
the  bluffs  opposite  the  lower  or  Federal  bridge,  with  Edward  E.  Cross  as 
Colonel,  Samuel  G.  Langley,  late  Adjutant  of  the  Second,  Lieut. -Colonel, 
and  William  W.  Cook,  of  Boston,  Major.  Colonel  Cross,  after  a  most  gal- 
lant and  brilliant  career,  fell  mortally  wounded  an  Gettysburg,  while  com- 
manding the  1st  Brigade  of  the  1st  Division  of  the  Second  Army  corps, 
and  was  buried  with  impressive  Masonic  ceremonies  from  the  homestead 
at  Lancaster.  A  monument,  erected  by  friends,  commemorates  his  serv- 
ices, and  marks  the  spot  of  his  repose,  while  the  local  post  of  the  Grand 
Army  and  the  Relief  Corps  bear  his  name.  Lieut. -Col.  Langley  resigned 
after  about  a  year  of  service,  and  died  in  Washington  in  186S.  Major 
Cook  died  since  the  close  of  the  war. 

As  with  the  Second,  so  with  the  Fifth,  the  limits  of  a  chapter  would 
utterly  fail  to  give  its  history.     It  furnished  gallant  officers  for  later  regi- 


168 


History  of  Coos  County. 


merits,  received  many  recruits  and  was  always  conspicuous  for  its  bravery 
and  heroic  work.  It  was  in  the  Peninsula,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  campaigns,  and  its  Colonel  made  the  proud  boast  to  the  writer, 
that  at  the  disastrous  charge  at  Fredericksburg,  ' '  his  dead  lay  nearer  the 
enemy's  rifle  pits,  than  those  of  any  other  regiment  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac."  While  a  veteran  of  the  Fifth  remains,  its  deeds  of  daring, 
its  amateur  engineering,  its  marches  and  its  conflicts  will  be  as  fresh  in 
their  memories  as  the  rollicking  strains  of  "  One  Eyed  Eiley!"  and  their 
services  will  have  the  appreciation  that  follows  honest  endeavor.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  July  8,  1805.  The  Surgeon  of  the  Fifth  was 
John  W.  Bucknam,  of  Lancaster,  a  devoted  and  excellent  officer.  Dr. 
Bucknam  engaged  in  practice  at  Great  Falls,  with  great  success,  and  died 
there  widely  esteemed. 

ROSTER. 


Edward  E.  Cross,  Colonel, 
Richard  E.  Cross,  Lieut.-Col., 
Welcome  A.  Crafts,  2d,  Lieut. -Col. 
John  W.  Bucknam,  Surgeon, 
Charles  M.  Trask,  Asst.  Surgeon, 
O'Niell  B.  Twitchell,  Captain, 
Edmund  Brown,  Captain, 
Her.ry  S.  Hilliard,  Captain, 
Elijah  F.  Marden,  Lieut., 
Nathaniel  F.  Low,  Lieut., 
Moses  W.  Band,  Lieut., 
Freeman  Lindsey,  Wagoner, 
John  G.  Sutton,  B, 
Charles  E.  Graham,  B,  Musician, 
Joseph  B.  Hanson,  B,  Wagoner, 
Sewell  R.  Aldrich,  B, 
Isaiah  W.  Burbank,  B, 
David  A.  Brinington,  B, 
William  A.  Oorson,  B, 
James  Cummings,  B, 
Alexander  Cummings,  B, 
William  G.  Ellis, 
Levi  J.  Corson,  B. 
Michael  Cassady,  B, 
James  Cassady,  B, 
Joseph  M.  Davis,  B, 
Michael  Eagan,  B, 
Erastus  W.  Forbes,  B, 
John  Fair,  B, 
Daniel  Gillander,  B, 
Reuben  Gassett,  B, 
Asa  D.  Goodwin,  B, 
Jacob  A.  Harriman,  B, 
Leonard  W.  Howard,  B, 
Charles  A.  Hutchinson,  B, 
Franklin  M.  Higgins,  B, 
Francis  Heywood,  B, 
Henry  W.  Libbey,  B, 


Lancaster 
it 

Milan 

Lancaster 

Stewartstown 

Du  miner 

Lancaster 

Stewartstown 

Jefferson 

Randolph 

Gorham 

Lancaster 
tt 

Colebrook 

Milan 

Dalton 

Gorham 

Milan 

Lancaster 


Dummer 

Lancaster 

a 

Gorham 

Milan 

Dalton 

Gorham 

Randolph 

Lancaster 

Stratford 

Milan 

Lancaster 

Whiterield 


Charles  H.  Linton,  B, 

Gorham 

Louis  Lapointe,  B, 

Lancaster 

Patrick  Maley,  B, 

Northumberland 

Aurin  Morse,  B, 

Randolph 

Frederick  Millar,  B, 

Dalton 

Henry  McGann,  B, 

Milan 

N.  W.  Ordway,B, 

a 

Bailey  A.  Parker,  B, 

Whitefield 

Eldad  A.  Rhodes,  B,  Sei'geant, 

Lancaster 

Francis  A.  Russel,  B, 

Milan 

George  H.  Roberts,  B, 

(• 

Hosea  Stone,  B, 

Lancaster 

J.  S.  C.  Twitchell,  B, 

Dummer 

Thomas  S.  Thayer,  B, 

Jefferson 

William  R.  Yates,  B, 

Milan 

Lawson  A.  Yorke,  B, 

i. 

Luther  Walcott,  E, 

Gorham 

Sylvanus  Chessman,  F, 

Lancaster 

Richard  Fletcher,  B, 

a 

George  H.  Nickerson,  F, 

tt 

Milton  A.  Adams,  A, 

■  ■ 

William  Cummings,  B, 

Northumberland 

Enoch  N.  Clement,  A, 

Lancaster 

James  Colby,  B, 

ti 

Reuben  F.  Carter,  K, 

ii 

George  Delair, 

Columbia 

King  J.  Cross,  H, 

a 

Joseph  Derusha,  A, 

Carroll 

John  Edwards,  G, 

Colebrook 

Joseph  Hart.  D,  Musician, 

Lancaster 

Hiram  Hilliard,  B, 

Colebrook 

William  F.  Horn,  A, 

Milan 

Charles  Kraft,  C, 

JefferBon 

John  Malia,  G, 

Lancaster 

Joseph  P.  Matthews,  H,  H'y  Art., 

k 

Martin  McCormic,  F, 

u 

Daniel  Mahoney,  F, 

<< 

George  W.  Marden,  A, 

it 

The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


169 


Charles  D.  Parrington,  B, 

George  Ridley,  E, 
George  A.  Richards,  F, 
John  A.  Manchester.  A, 
Edward  Sweeney, 
Charles  Sawyer,  E, 
Alvin  Saunders,  F, 
John  Sullivan,  G, 
Solomon  Wilson,  B, 


Lancaster 

Jefferson 

Colebrook 
a 

Lancasti  r 

Jefferson 

Colebrook 

a 

Lancaster 


Joseph  Washburn,  I, 
Terence  Garrett, 
William  II.  Veazie, 
Portus  U.  Brown,  B, 
Samuel  A.  Andrews,  B, 
Scribner  Cates,  H, 
1 1,  orge  E.  ( lates,  H, 
Jonathan  Dow,  B, 
Leonard  W.  Howard,  B, 


burg 

I  'a  1  ton 
Berlin 


Gorham 

Berlin 
Lanca  ti  i 


The  Sixth  Infantry. — This  regiment  was  organized  at  Keene,  in  No- 
vember, 1801.  Gen.  Nelson  Converse,  of  Marlborough,  of  the  old  militia, 
was  its  Colonel;  Simeon  G.  Griffin,  of  Nelson,  late  Captain  of  Co.  B,  2d 
Regiment,  Lieut. -Col.;  and  Charles  Scott,  of  Peterboiough,  Major.  It 
served  in  several  departments,  being  first  ordered  to  the  Southern  Atlantic 
coast,  at  Hatteras  Inlet,  N.  C,  and  Roanoke  Island— it  then  became  a  part 
of  Burnside's  corps,  serving  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  Tennessee,  and  on  the 
Mississippi.  It  took  part  in  the  momentus  battles  of  Antietam,  Second  Bull 
Run,  Fredericksburg,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  the  closing  scenes  of  the 
war  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  180tLand  '65,  and  was  mustered  out 
July  22,  1 805.  This  was  an  excellent  regiment,  in  discipline  and  effective- 
ness. Col.  Converse,  its  original  commander,  did  not  serve  but  a  few 
months,  when  Lieut. -Col.  Griffin  assumed  command.  He  distinguished 
himself  as  an  officer,  and  received  the  highest  promotion  accorded  to  a 
New  Hampshire  soldier,  being  Brigadier  and  Brevet  Major-General.  His 
home  is  now  in  Keene,  although  he  has  large  interests  in  ranche  property 
in  Texas,  to  which  he  devotes  considerable  of  his  time. 


John  Anderson,  G, 
Thomas  Arnold, 
William  H.  Autum, 
John  C.  Brooks,  H, 
Otto  Bockel,  B, 
John  Battis,  A, 
William  Boyle,  H, 
Thomas  Bemis, 
John  Brown,  G, 
Henry  Black,  A, 
William  Baker,  Jr.,  A, 
Charles  Brown, 
Thomas  Bowman,  B, 
Martin  Bird,  G, 
David  F.  Coates, 
William  Clark,  C, 
Frank  Croft,  D, 
James  Chaculaga, 
William  H.  Cram,  K, 
William  Devoe,  K, 
James  Delaney, 
Morris  Daley,  H, 


ROSTER. 

Carroll 

Charles  Davis,  C, 

Whitefield 

Peter  Deerin,  H, 

Jefferson 

John  Davis, 

u 

Peter  Dolan, 

Dalton 

Walter  H.  Evans,  E, 

u 

Henry  Freeman,  E, 

Northumberland 

John  Flood,  E, 

u 

George  Fawkes, 

Whitefield 

Charles  Gelherg,  K. 

Stark 

Frank  Guillette, 

Dalton 

William  Greene,  H, 

Errol 

Edward  Gillingham,  H, 

Whitefield 

George.  V.  Gam  shy,  B, 

Pittsburg 

( lalvin  Hicks,  K, 

Columbia 

William  Gibson,  F. 

Northumberland 

Francis  Gallagher,  D, 

St-  wartstown 

John  Henry,  A, 

" 

Theodore  Bagerman,  K. 

Dalton 

Peter  Hanson, 

Colebrook 

John  Hogan, 

( lolnmbia 

Ephraim  E.  Holmes,  H, 

Stark 

William  Johnson,  D, 

Stratford 
Northumberland 

Jeffe 

Milan 

Stewart  stown 

Columbia 

Colebrook 

Stark 

Shelburne 

Stewartstown 

Lancaster 

Columbia 

Colebrook 

darks'*  ille 

Dalton 

Lancaster 

Whitefield 

Jefferson 
(< 

Stark 


170 


History  of  Coos  County 


John  James,  C, 

Stark 

George  Owens, 

Pittsburg 

Lewis  King,  K, 

Shelburne 

Eli  P.  Pierce,  B, 

Whitefleld 

George  King.  E, 

Stewartstown 

Charles  Paul,  I, 

Stark 

Zor  Karlson,  G, 

<( 

Charles  Parker,  F, 

Lancaster 

Henry  Kulp,  A, 

Lancaster 

Leon  Roberts.  P. 

Columbia 

WiUiam  Kelley,  C, 

Stewartstown 

Charles  E.  Rogers,  H, 

Lancaster 

Charles  Linn,  F, 

Stark 

Frank  Sullivan,  A, 

Whitefleld 

William  Lower,  C, 

Gorham 

Linus  Summers,  B, 

U 

Earnest  A.  Leavitt,  I, 

Columbia 

Henry  Stone, 

Carroll 

Patrick  Lakey,  E, 

n 

Ralph  Sullivel,  C, 

Stark 

Henry  H.  Lucus,  H, 

Lancaster 

Francis  St.  Peter,  H, 

Columbia 

Joseph  Lord, 

Stewartstown 

Charles  H.  Smith,  H, 

Northumberland 

John  Lanigan, 

Errol 

Thomas  C.  Sullivas,  H, 

it 

John  Morrison, 

Carroll 

John  Snow,  C, 

n 

Victor  Levie, 

Errol 

Charles  Sweet,  Jr.,  I 

Columbia 

Francis  Mack,  K, 

Shelburne 

George  Tabor,  D, 

Carroll 

Thomas  Moran,  E, 

Stewartstown 

James  Thomas,  D, 

Stark 

John  Markston,  D, 

Whitefleld 

Richard  Troy,  A, 

Whitefleld 

James  Madigan,  A, 

Stratford 

Freeman  Tyrill,  B, 

Gorham 

John  McDonnell,  E, 

Northumberland 

James  Ward,  H, 

Columbia 

Michael  Nelligan, 

Columbia 

Aaron  Wright,  I, 

Lancaster 

Andrew  Nelson, 

Colebrook 

Franklin  Walker,  A, 

u 

William  O'Niell.  G, 

Whitefleld 

Thomas  Williamson,  C, 

Stewartstown 

John  Oliver.  I, 

Stark 

Nathaniel  P.  Ordway,  E, 

Milan 

William  Obeg,  C, 

Jefferson 

The  Seventh  Infantry. — This  command,  raised  under  exceptional  cir- 
cumstances, by  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  went  into  camp  at 
Manchester  in  October,  1861,  with  Lieut.  Haldiman  S.  Putnam,  of  the 
Regulars, — a  native  of  Cornish,  in  Sullivan  county, — as  Colonel,  Joseph  C. 
Abbott,  late  Adjutant  General,  as  Lieut.  Col.,  and  Daniel  Smith,  of  Dover, 
as  Major. 

This  command,  which  was  exceptionally  well  prepared  by  drill  and 
discipline  for  its  later  experience,  left  the  state  on  the  14th.  of  January, 
1862,  and  was  sent  by  transport  to  the  Dry  Tortugas,  Fla ,  where  it  gar- 
risoned Fort  Jefferson  and  other  important  works.  In  June  it  was  sent  to 
Beaufort,  S.  C,  and  then  to  St.  Augustine,  Fla,  It  participated  in  the  his- 
toric attack  on  Fort  Wagner,  Charleston  harbor,  July  18,  1803,  where  its 
Colonel  was  killed  after  having  effected  an  entrance  to  the  fort,  although 
our  forces  were  afterward  repulsed.  It  served  with  the  Tenth  Corps  dur- 
ing the  closing  scenes  of  the  war  near  Petersburg  and  Richmond.  It  en- 
gaged in  storming  and  capturing  Fort  Fisher,  near  Wilmington,  N.  C, 
and  through  all  its  arduous  service,  acquitted  itself  with  great  persistence, 
devotion  and  bravery.  It  was  mustered  out  July  ±2,  1865,  and  reached 
Concord  early  in  August  of  that  year. 

ROSTER. 


Charles  P.  Denison,  A,  Captain, 
Ezra  Carter,  A, 
Frederick  Ingerson,  A, 
James  S.  Lucus,  A, 


Lancaster 

Northumberland 

Lancaster 


Alden  Lewis,  A, 
Philip  McCaffrey,  A, 
John  L.  Meserve,  A, 
Cyrus  Savage,  A, 


Lancaster 


<4 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


171 


Charles  C.  Beaton,  G, 
Edward  Carr,  C, 
Charles  A.  Cross,  E, 
Levi  Dunham,  I, 
Frank  Fell,  H, 


Lancaster 

Gorham 

Dalton 

Whitefield 

Dalton 


.Julm  (Ira nt,  A, 
Daniel  T.  Johnson,  <  '•. 
James  A.  King,  B, 
Joseph  Lary,  H, 
Thomas  Wilson.  A, 


I .  irham 
Lancaster 


Whitefield 


The  rolls  of  Co.  A,  A.  G.  O..  show  residence  "unknown"  of  nearly  all 
its  members,  making  accuracy  of  compilation  uncertain. 

The  Eighth  Infantry. — This  three  years  regiment  was  organized  at 
Manchester,  served  valiantly  on  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts,  at  Baton 
Eouge,  Port  Hudson,  and  Sabine  Pass,  Texas;  re-enlisted  and  underwent 
all  the  hardships  of  battle,  siege  and  sickness  in  an  unhealthy  climate, 
being  finally  mustered  out  at  Concord  in  January,  1865,  and  its  veteran 
battalion  in  October  of  the  same  year.  It  contained  no  organization  from 
Coos  Its  officers  were:  Hawkes  Fearing,  of  Manchester,  Colonel;  Oliver 
W.  Lull,  of  Milford,  who  had  been  an  Aid  to  Gen.  George  Stark,  of  the 
state  service,  at  Portsmouth,  and  who  was  killed  at  Port  Hudson,  Lieut.  - 
Col. ;  and  Merril  B.  Smith,  of  Concord,  Major.  For  a  time  this  regiment 
was  mounted,  and  known  as  the  c2d  N.  H.  Cavalry. 


Bichard  Adams, 
Matthew  Agar,  D, 
John  Adams,  F, 
Doric  Boreasau,  I, 
Willington  Brown,  G, 
Joseph  Bondrie,  C, 
Michael  Brady,  C, 
William  Brown,  F, 
James  F.  Brown,  F, 
Stephen  Cook,  C, 
Newell  P.  Chase,  G, 
John  Cornet,  C, 
Peter  Coffin,  D, 
Thomas  Clark,  D, 
William  Cloutman,  F, 
Thomas  Connor,  B, 
William  Dammings,  D, 
Moellor  A.  Dorl,  D, 
Patrick  Duffy,  D, 
George  Durkee,  F, 
Grege  C.  French,  C, 
Lewis  Gutcher,  C, 
Joseph  Gremer,  D, 
Louis  Houll, 
William  B.  Hetson,  E, 
Henry  George,  F, 
James  O'Hern,  F, 
John  A.  Holyoke,  B, 
William  Jarvis,  D, 
Bartholomew  Jordan,  D, 
John  Jordan,  E, 


KOSTER. 

Whitefield 

Allen  Johnson,  F, 

Lancaster 

Stark 

Edward  Kelley,  I, 

Whitefield 

Dalton 

Cyril  LaFaince,  I, 

u 

Whitefield 

Charles  W.  Larkin,  I, 

n 

Stratford 

Fargenam  Levene,  I, 

Berlin 

Jefferson 

James  S.  Lane,  H, 

Lancaster 

i< 

George  Lansinger,  D, 

Gorham 

Lancaster 

Peter  Larsen,  D, 

Lancaster 

Dalton 

Jonathan  Metcalf,  G, 

ii 

Whitefield 

William  F.  McCormic,  D, 

Dalton 

Colebrook 

Charles  A.  Myers,  D, 

Gorham 

Berlin 

William  Merrill,  G, 

Stratford 

Gorham 

Charles  0.  Merry,  G, 

Lancaster 

Whitefield 

Ezra  S.  Nourse,  D, 

Whitefield 

Lancaster 

Michael  O'Flanigan,  G, 

Lancaster 

Jefferson 

Adam  Osborne,  C, 

u 

Gorham 

Jameson  Perry,  G, 

Pittsburg 

u 

Albert  Eowell,  G, 

u 

u 

Jacob  Benold,  G, 

Lancaster 

Dalton 

Joseph  Shirlow,  I, 

Jefferson 

Lancaster 

Henry  Sailor,  C, 

a 

Jefferson 

Isaac  Smith,  D, 

Gorham 

%t 

Patterson  Smith, 

Whitefield 

Gorham 

Oliver  Sales.  G, 

Lanci 

Lancaster 

William  11.  Veazie,  G, 

11 

Dalton 

Joseph  G.  Walcott,  G, 

i. 

ti 

Ira  L.  Westcott,  C, 

Dalton 

Milan 

William  Watson.  D. 

(  lorliaiu 

Gorham 

Thomas  Williams,  D, 

Stark 

Whitefield 

Charles  Wilson, 

Jefferson 

Lancaster 

Charles  B.  Wilcox, 

Stark 

172 


History  of  Coos  County. 


The  Ninth  Infantry. — This  regiment  was  recruited  more  slowly  than 
its  predecessors,  and  was  perhaps  the  first  that  experienced  to  any  consid- 
erable extent  the  effect  of  the  "  bounty  "  system.  It  went  into  camp  in 
Concord  in  June,  1862,  and  left  for  the  front  August  25,  under  Col.  E.  Q. 
Fellows,  formerly  of  the  Third.  It  was  a  gallant  regiment  and  performed 
heroic  service.  From  first  to  last,  it  had  many  good  men  from  the  county, 
and  lost  heavily  in  many  engagements,  notably,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  in  1864,  and  the  closing  conflicts  of  the  war. 
Its  service  was  under  Burnside,  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Mis- 
sissippi and  Tennessee,  and  it  was  mustered  out  in  June,  18(55. 

John  W.  Titus,  of  Keene,  was  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  George  H. 
Chandler,  of  Concord,  Major.  Colonel  Fellows,  as  before  stated,  survives, 
as  does  Col.  Titus.  Major  Chandler  became  a  successful  lawyer  at  Balti- 
more and  died  within  a  few  years. 

The  original  detachment  from  this  county,  in  the  Ninth,  was  raised  by 
Lieut.  John  G.  Lewis  and  incorporated  in  Co.  H.  Lieut.  Lewis  was  a  man 
of  sterling  qualities,  tenderness  of  heart  and  personal  bravery.  He  was 
killed  while  leading  his  company  in  storming  the  Heights  at  Fredericks- 
burg in  December,  1862.  His  body  was  borne  off  the  field  at  night  by 
Masonic  comrades  and  given  interment  under  the  solemn  rites  of  that 
order,  at  Lancaster,  where  a  suitable  monument  records  his  virtues  and 
perpetuates  his  memory. 

With  Lieut.  Lewis  was  Lieut.  John  Edwin  Mason,  who  had  made  many 
friends  in  Coos,  while  preparing  the  county  map  in  1860.  He  was  engaged 
with  him  in  the  enlistments  and  was  commissioned  in  the  same  regiment. 
His  connection  with  the  soldiers  of  Coos  warrants  the  insertion  of  his  name 
in  this  connection.  He  was  of  Manchester,  served  with  credit  through  the 
war,  and  is  iioav  a  surgeon  in  the  Bureau  of  Pensions,  Washington. 

The  enlistments  from  Coos  and  the  subsequent  choice  of  Coos  recruits 
for  the  Ninth,  was  due  largely  to  the  character  and  zeal  of  Lieut.  Lewis, 
whose  memory  is  held  in  high  esteem.  The  service  of  this  regiment  was 
varied  and  trying.  Serving  in  many  states  and  on  all  kinds  of  military 
duty,  being  transported  over  great  distances  and  engaging  in  the  most 
arduous  campaigns,  it  won  and  preserved  a  most  honorable  reputation  for 
discipline,  endurance  and  bravery. 


John  G.  Lewis,  H,  Lieut., 
John  Howe,  H,  Sergt., 
Frederick  Morse,  H,  Corp., 
William  H.  Allen,  H, 
Cleveland  C  Beard,  H, 
Leonard  M.  Beard,  H, 
Azel  Dinsmore,  H, 
Sanford  Dinsmore,  H, 


ROSTER. 

Lancaster 

William  H.  Farnham.  H, 

Lancaster 

Carroll 

Henry  Houghton,  H, 

Stark 

Lancaster 

Albert  Lindsey,  H, 

Jefferson 

it 

Henry  H.  Moulton,  H, 

Lancaster 

Northumberland 

Freeman  H.  Perkins,  H, 

n 

it 

Henry  H.  Sanderson,  H, 

it 

Colebrook 

Lucien  F.  Thomas,  H, 

tt 

a 

Leander  A.  Wilkins,  H, 

Northumberland 

The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


it:; 


Asahel  Aldrich,  H, 

Jefferson 

Henry  H.  Lucas,  H, 

Lancaster 

Abraham  H.  Bedell,  H, 

it 

Charles  Lagard,  K, 

•i'  fferson 

Austin  Bedell,  H, 

u 

Victor  Levie.  E, 

Errol 

John  C.  Brooks,  H, 

it 

Dennis  Murphy,  K, 

Jefferson 

William  Boyle,  H, 

Northumberland 

James  Murray,  A, 

Gorham 

John  Bondle,  II,  Mexican  war. 

Stark 

Sylvester  A.  Newell,  E, 

Milan 

Albert  8.  Brown,  K, 

Dalton 

Samuel  F.  Ordway,  E, 

it 

Thomas  Bowman,  B, 

Whitefield 

John  L.  Ordway,  E, 

k 

John  W.  Brown,  I. 

Stewartstown 

Nathaniel  I'.  Ordway,  E, 

it 

John  Bradley,  I, 

Northumberland 

.lames  M.  IYttengill,  E, 

u 

Simon  Conway,  H, 

Lancaster 

Alfred  C.  Pratt,  H,  6th,  17th, 

and  2d,            .1.  fferson 

George  Cummings,  H,  2d,  17th 

and  6th,              u 

Paul  Perkins,  H, 

Lancaster 

William  H.  Cram,  K, 

Dalton 

Willard  H.  Perry.  G, 

Dalton 

Martin  Connelly,  E, 

Randolph 

Charles  C.  Rogers,  H, 

Lancaster 

James  Calden,  I, 

Jefferson 

Harrison  E.  Round,  H, 

u 

Horace  J.  Chandler,  A. 

Milan 

Frederick  Rhodi,  G, 

Northumberland 

Peter  Deering,  H, 

Northumberland 

Alonzo  Stillings,  H, 

.li  ffersi m 

Ira  G.  Douglass,  F, 

Lancaster 

Thomas  C.  Sullivan,  H, 

Northumberland 

Philip  Deary,  G, 

Pittsburg 

Charles  Sweatt,  Jr.,  I, 

Columbia 

Charles  0.  Ellingwood,  E, 

Milan 

John  Shover,  F, 

Jefferson 

Walter  H.  Evans,  E, 

it 

George  Tenry,  F, 

Lancaster 

Loren  E.  Stalbird,  H, 

Lancaster 

George  L.  Vincent,  E, 

Milan 

Michael  Gibson,  E. 

Clarksville 

John  Vrooman,  E, 

Jefferson 

Ephraim  E.  Holmes,  H, 

Jefferson 

Charles  H.  Warren,  K. 

a 

Ereeman  H.  Holmes,  H, 

i. 

James  Ward,  G, 

Columbia 

Charles  H.  Hamlin,  E, 

Milan 

James  Wilson,  G, 

Stewartstown 

Joseph  K.  Hod»e,  H, 

Lancaster 

Joseph  Williams,  B, 

Errol 

James  W.  Hayes,  H, 

Northumberland 

Henry  Walker,  B, 

Stark 

Calvin  Hicks.  K, 

Columbia 

John  Williams,  Jr.,  B, 

Colebrook 

Silas  Howe,  K, 

it 

Pecker  C.  Wood,  H, 

Gorham 

Edwin  R.  Jones,  H,  3d, 

Lancaster 

Thomas  Thorn,  G, 

Stratford 

Charles  H.  Keyzar,  K, 

Stewartstown 

William  H.  Wilkins,  H, 

Lancaster 

John  G.  Lewis,  2d.  H, 

Lancaster 

The  Tenth  Infantry. — This  command,  popularly  known  as  the  Irish 
regiment,  was  organized  at  Manchester,  and  principally  from  that  city 
and  southern  portions  of  the  state.  It  went  into  camp  in  August,  1862, 
and  was  mustered  the  September  following,  Michael  T.  Donohoe  being  Colo- 
nel, John  Coughlin,  Lieut. -Col.,  and  Jesse  T.  Angell,  Major.  It  was  a 
part  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  served  in  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas,  being 
engaged  in  the  operations  of  180-1-65,  in  the  reduction  of  Petersburg  and 
Richmond,  and  was  mustered  out  June  21,  1st',;).  Col.  Donohoe  was  an 
accomplished  and  meritorious  officer,  and  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier.  He  has,  since  the  war,  been  engaged  in  railway  pursuits,  and 
is  at  present  an  inspector  of  the  Postoffice  department.  Lieut-Col.  Cough- 
lin, after  having  served  with  distinction,  entered  business  in  Washington 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  where  he  has  attained  affluence. 

There  was  no  company  or  detachment  in  the  Tenth  from  the  county, 
which,  however,  was  represented  by  Surgeon  Horatio  N.  Small,  of  Lancas- 
ter, who  entered  the  Thirteenth  after  the  consolidation  of  hisoriginal  regi- 
ment, the  Seventeenth,  with  the  Second,  and  was  promoted  to  be  full  Surgeon 
of  the  Tenth.     At  the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Small  settled  al  Portland,  M 


174 


History  of  Coos  County. 


where  he  became  eminent  as  a  practitioner.  He  died  about  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  year. 

The  Eleventh  Infantry. — This  command  was  recruited  in  August,  1S62, 
and  went  into  camp  at  Concord,  leaving  the  state  September  11.  It  was  a 
part  of  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  served  in  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
and  was  engaged  at  Fredericksburg,  Vicksburg,  the  Wilderness,  Spottsyl- 
vania,  Petersburg  and  the  closing  scenes  of  the  war.  It  was  a  regiment 
made  up  of  admirable  material,  occupied  a  large  share  of  public  attention, 
and  did  excellent  service.  Its  original  officers  were  Walter  Harriman,  of 
Warner,  Colonel;  Moses  N.  Collins,  of  Exeter,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  and 
Evarts  W.  Farr,  of  Littleton,  Major.  Colonel  Harriman,  after  the  war, 
became  for  several  years  Secretary  of  State,  was  Governor  and  naval 
officer  of  the  port  of  Boston.  He  died  June  1,  1884.  Lieut. -Col.  Collins 
was  killed  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864,  and  Major  Farr  served  through 
the  war,  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1878,  and  re-elected  in  November, 
1880.     He  died  the  December  following,  at  his  home  in  Littleton. 


ROSTER. 

John  Burgin,  G, 

Lancaster 

Michael  O'Niel,  B, 

Gorham 

Robert  Burns. 

Berlin 

Francis  O'Niel, 

Berlin 

Charles  W.  Blakely, 

Colebrook 

William  Phillips, 

Gorham 

Clarence  W.  Bixby, 

Stewartstown 

John  Price. 

Pittsburg 

James  Cunningham, 

it 

Julius  K.  Ringer, 

Randolph 

August  Cochar. 

it 

John  Richards 

Berlin 

William  Carroll, 

it 

John  Smith, 

Randolph 

Alonzo  D.  Creamer,  G, 

Stratford 

Samuel  Sibley, 

Gorham 

Frederick  K.  Ernworth, 

Stewartstown 

Edward  Savanack, 

Pittsburg 

James  Gold, 

Berlin 

Frank  Salerno, 

Northumberland 

Michael  Foley,  K, 

Gorham 

Pierre  Tonguire, 

Columbia 

Francis  Gallagher,  D, 

Clarksville 

Louis  Vauder, 

Northumberland 

Thomas  Hill, 

Berlin 

John  Wesley, 

Gorham 

Edward  Harrington, 

a 

John  Wolf, 

Jerl'erso  n 

William  Jones, 

Northumberland 

Charles  West, 

u  name 

Louis  Levi  it. 

Pittsburg 

John  C.  Wilson, 

Northumberland 

Joseph  Miller, 

Clarksville 

Eugene  Welsh. 

Gorham 

William  Millerick,  C, 

Stratford 

August  Welsh, 

Pittsburg 

John  McDonnell,  E. 

Northumberland 

The  Twelfth  Infantry. — This  command  was  raised  within  less  than  one 
week,  in  August,  1862,  in  the  region  around  Lake  Winnipiseogee.  It  was 
understood  that  the  men  were  to  select  their  own  officers,  and  detachments 
and  companies  were  made  up  from  localities,  so  that  the  aggregate  was 
more  like  the  muster  of  a  Highland  clan,  than  like  a  common  regiment. 
It  was  the  fervent  desire  of  all,  that  the  veteran,  Thomas  J.  Whipple,  a 
soldier  of  two  wars,  and  late  of  the  First  and  Fourth,  should  be  placed  in 
command;  but  the  Executive  failed  to  ratify  this  wish,  and  Joseph  H.  Pot- 
ter, a  New  Hampshire  man,  and  an  accomplished  officer  of  the  regular 
army,  was  placed  in  command,  with  John  F.  Marsh,  of  Nashua,  as  Lieu- 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos.  175 


tenant-Colonel,  and  George  D.  Savage,  of  Alton,  as  Major.  The  regiment 
served  with  distinction  in  Virginia  during  its  entire  enlistment.  Col.  Tot- 
ter survived  the  war,  and  has  recently  gone  upon  the  retired  list  of  the 
army  as  a  Brigadier.  Major  Savage,  a  great  favorite  with  all  the  "hoys," 
was  long  a  popular  character  at  all  soldier  gatherings,  and  died  greatly 
lamented,  within  a  few  years,  at  his  home  at  Alton  Bay.  The  veterans  of 
New  Hampshire  have  two  notable  reminders  of  the  gallant  Twelfth, — Col. 
Nat  Shackford,  the  indefatigable  secretary  of  the  Veterans'  Association. 
and  the  "  Memorial  Stone  "  at  the  Wiers,  the  gift  of  comrade  Woodbury 
Sanborn,  now  of  Lowell. 

The  Thirteenth  Infantry. — This  regiment  went  into  camp  at  Concord,  in 
September,  1862,  with  Aaron  F.  Stevens,  of  Nashua,  late  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment,  Colonel;  George  Bowers,  also  of  Nashua, 
a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  and  Clement  Storer,of 
Portsmouth,  Major.  It  left  the  state  early  in  October,  and  its  service 
throughout  was  in  Virginia  It  was  mustered  out  June  20,  1865,  and  ar- 
rived home  about  the  first  of  July.  It  was  engaged  at  Fredericksburg, 
Suffolk,  Drury's  Bluff,  Petersburg,  and  in  other  notable  conflicts,  and  on 
all  occasions  won  and  maintained  high  credit.  Col.  Stevens  was  brevetted 
Brigadier,  and  was  subsequently  a  member  of  Congress.  Distinguished 
as  a  public  man  and  lawyer,  he  resides  at  Nashua,  enjoying  deserved 
honors.  Lieut. -Col.  Bowers  was  afterward  distinguished  for  his  adminis- 
tration as  Grand  Commander  of  the  Department  of  New  Hampshire,  of 
the  G.  A.  R.     He  died  at  Nashua  within  a  few  years. 

In  this  regiment  was  one  company,  H,  and  many  recruits  from  this 
county,  chiefly  the  northern  towns.  This  command  was*  raised  by  Nor- 
mand  Smith,  Captain,  of  Sfcewartstown;  Albe  Holmes  and  Robert  R. 
Thompson,  of  Stratford,  Lieutenants.  It  was  composed  entirely  of  volun- 
teers, and  from  the  best  material  the  county  afforded — men  who  realized 
the  work  before  them,  and  on  all  occasions  performed  their  duties  with 
intelligence,  patience  and  bravery.  Captain  Smith,  in  time,  rose  to  the 
command  of  the  regiment.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  Richmond,  Va.,  a  location  familiarized  to  him  by  the  dangers 
and  trials  of  his  military  career.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Virginia 
Senate,  and  held  other  stations  of  responsibility.  Lieut.  Holmes,  after  a 
successful  business  career  in  northern  Coos,  engaged  in  trade  in  Boston, 
and  resides  near  that  city.     Lieut.  Thompson  died  in  the  army. 

No  better  body  of  men  went  from  the  state,  than  those  men  who  en- 
listed from  Coos,  in  this  regiment.  Since  their  return  they  have  prospered, 
generally,  in  business,  and  merit  the  respect  that  is  accorded  them. 


176 


History  of  Coos  County. 


roster. 


Normand  Smith,  Lt.-Col.,  Stewartstown 

Robert  R.  Thompson,  H,  D,  Captain,  Stratford 

Albe  Holmes,  H,  Lieut.,  " 

Hubbard  W.  Hill,  I,  Lieut., 

Levi  M.  Wines,  JB,  Gorham 

Jonathan  M.  Rix,  D,  Dalton 

Otis  B.  Harriman,  D,  Lancaster 

Fred'kK.  Fletcher,  H,  (Capt.  U.  S.  C.  T.)  Colebrook 
Paul  C.  Davis,  H,  Columbia 

Wm.  A.  Graham,  H,  (Capt  U.  S.  C.  T.)  Stewartstowii 


Ira  Quimby,  H, 

Van  R.  Davis,  H. 

Cyrus  R.  Blodgett,  H, 

John  A.  T.  Perham,  H, 

Ferrin  A.  Cross,  H, 

William  Heath,  H, 

Oliver  H.  Stark,  H, 

Sidney  A.  Elmer,  H, 

Augustus  Osgood,  H, 

Daniel  G.  Kipley,  H, 

Frank  Snow.  H, 

Robinson  S.  Gamsby,  H, 

Franklin  Annis,  H, 

Elbridge  G.  Arlin,  H, 

Erastus  S.  Atherton,  H, 

Elias  Anderson,  H, 

Arnold  Aldrich,  H, 

Sherman  F.  Bennett,  H, 

Charles  W.  Brown,  H, 

Albert  C.  Blodgett,  H, 

Truman  D.  Barnett,  H, 

Sherman  H.  Barnett,  H, 

Leander  Babb,  H, 

George  Brown,  H, 

Jesse  M.  Colby,  H, 

James  C.  Carleton,  H, 

James  Carr,  H, 

Benjamin  R.  Corbett,  H, 

William  Chappel,  H. 

Caleb  T.  Cleveland,  H, 

Alma  M.  Cross,  H, 

Chester  W.  Cilley,  H, 

Addison  ('base,  H, 

David  Clement,  H, 

Patrick  Doorley,  H, 

C;i hb  S.  Dalton,  H, 

Joseph  B.  Eastman,  H, 

Carlos  R.  Fletcher,  H, 

Charles  Forbes,  H. 

Carleton  ('.  Fuller,  H, 

Charles  C.  Faver,  H, 

Henry  B.  Gilkey,  H, 

Abie!  B.  (ilines,  H, 

Charles  E.  Graham,  H,  (Lt.  U.  S.  C.  T.) 

Henry  Hibbard,  H, 

Charles  J.  Hilliard,  H, 

Orrin  HiUiard,  II. 


Colebrook 

a 

Stratford 

Northumberland 

Clarksville 

Pittsburg 

Northumberland 

Stewartstowii 

Columbia 

Stewartstowii 

Stratford 

Columbia 

Colebrook 

a 

Stratford 
Stewartstowii 

a 

Colebrook 

a 

Stratford 
Columbia 

Clarksville 

Stratford 

Colebrook 


Clarksville 

Colebrook 
Stewartstown 

Pittsburg 
Stewartstown 

Colebrook 

Stewartstown 
u 

Colebrook 
a 

Northumberland 
Stratford 

Colebrook 

Stewartstown 


Colebrook 


Albert  Harris,  H, 
David  Holbrook,  H, 
Oliver  B.  Huggins,  H, 
Elwyn  Holbrook,  H, 
Charles  Heath,  H, 
Francis  G.  Haines,  H, 
Nathan  Heath,  H, 
Almanzo  Heath,  H, 
Augustus  A.  Heath,  H, 
John  W.  Heath,  H. 
Nelson  Haines,  H. 
John  A.  Hodge.  H, 
Andrew  Hanan,  H, 
William  R.  Jordan,  H, 
Abel  K.  Jordan,  Jr.,  H, 
George  C.  Kimball,  H, 
James  Knight,  H, 
John  R.  Little,  H, 
Joseph  D.  Little,  H, 
Philip  Ladon,  H, 
William  B.  Luey,  H, 
James  Legro,  2d,  H, 
Ephraim  H.  Mahurin,  H, 
Milo  Mahurin.  H, 
William  Men-ill,  H, 
Jeremiah  Merrow,  H. 
Edwin  Patterson,  H, 
Daniel  W.  Patrick,  H, 
William  MeKinnon,  H, 
Andrew  Matson,  H, 
George  R.  Pomeroy,  H, 
William  Ro  we,  H, 
Daniel  Renton,  H, 
Seidell  J.  Stacy,  H, 
James  Spreadbury,  H, 
David  Spreadbury,  H, 
Charles  C.  Stoddard,  H, 
Fred  Shorey,  H, 
Thomas  Smith,  H, 
Henry  S.  Sleeper,  H, 
Gardner  W.  Smith,  H, 
Alvah  Warren,  H, 
Jeduthan  F  Warren,  H, 
Henry  M.  Woodbury,  H, 
John  C.  Walker.  H, 
James  W.  Weeks,  H, 
Hiram  C.  Young,  H, 
George  P..  Abbott,  H, 
Arthur  R.  Aldrich,  H, 
Albion  ('.  Aldrich.  H, 
<  leorge  H.  Bannister,  H, 
James  H.  Bacon,  H. 
Edwin  R.  Cilley,  I, 
Timothy  Covell,  I, 
David  S.  Chandler,  I, 
Charles  ( i.  Crawford,  H, 
Carleton  Fay,  I, 


Stratford 

Pittsburg 
Columbia 
Pittsburg 


Clarksville 

Pittsburg 
Stewartstown 

u 

Colebrook 
Columbia 

Stratford 

Stewartstown 

( li  ilebrook 

a 

Stratford 
Columbia 


Stratford 
Colebrook 


Errol 

Colebrook 

Stewartstown 

Colebrook 

Stratford 

Northumberland 

Columbia 
(i 

Pittsburg 
Stewartstown 

a 

Northumberland 
it 

Pittsburg 

Stratford 

Columbia 

Stewartstowii 

a 

Clarksville 

Columbia 

Stewartstown 

Clarksville 

Colebrook 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


i  i 


William  H.  Clark,  H, 

Columbia 

Bi  ajamin  Knight,  H, 

sii  vrartstown 

Daniel  Fletcher,  H, 

Stewartstown 

Lemuel  Lafoe,  11. 

Pittsburg 

Henry  Gleason,  I, 

Colebrook 

Daniel  McAlister,  H, 

Columbia 

Charles  D.  Gamsby,  I. 

Stratford 

Dana  1!.  Moody,  11, 

Clarksville 

William  H.  Gault,  H, 

Pittsburg 

Jul m  Paul,  H, 

Pittsburg 

Gustavus  E.  Harvey.  I, 

Colebrook 

Charles  Perry,  H, 

a 

Levi  Hicks,  I. 

a 

Charles  W.  Randall,  I, 

( Ulibrook 

John  Hogue,  I. 

Stewartstown 

(  teorge  A.  Powell,  H, 

it 

(iuy  W.  Johnson,  I, 

Stratford 

David  0.  Rowell,  H, 

Pittsburg 

John  J.  Johnson,  I, 

<< 

Simon  S.  P.  Smith,  I, 

i  loli  brook 

James  M.  Jordon,  H, 

Colebrook 

Ira  Sweat  t,  I, 

.. 

Daniel  Johnson, 

Stewartstown 

John  Titus,  I, 

ii 

Henry  A.  Keach,  H, 

Columbia 

William  H.Tibbetts,  I, 

.. 

Robert  Knight.  H. 

Stewartstown 

Lewis  Tashro, 

<< 

Fourteenth  Infantry. — This  was  the  last  three  years  regiment.  It  was 
composed  of  excellent  men,  who  discharged  their  duties  with  exemplary 
fidelity  and  honor.  It  was  mustered  at  Concord,  September  24,  1^< '>:_'.  and 
left  the  state  the  latter  part  of  the  ensuing  October.  It  first  reported  at 
AVashington  and  spent  the  winter  in  picketing  forty  miles  of  thePotomar. 
did  provost  and  guard  duty  in  Washington  in  1863,  and  the  next  spring 
was  ordered  to  New  Orleans,  but  came  north  the  same  summer,  when  it 
went  into  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  engaging  in  the  historic  campaign  of 
that  year.  The  succeeding  January  it  w^as  sent  to  Savannah,  Georgia, 
coming  north  again  in  July,  being  mustered  out  at  Concord  on  the  26th  of 
that  month. 

It  was  originally  commanded  by  Robert  Wilson,  of  Keene,  Colonel; 
Tileston  A.  Barker,  of  Westmoreland,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  and  Samuel  A. 
Duncan,  of  Plainfield,  Major.  Col.  Wilson  resigned  on  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  when  Major  Alexander  Gardiner  was  promoted  to  Colonel; 
he  was  mortally  wounded  at  Opequan  the  following  day. 

In  this  regiment,  Co.  E  and  many  recruits  came  from  this  count y. 
chiefly  from  the  Androscoggin  and  Ammonoosuc  valleys  and  from  about 
Lancaster.  This  command,  like  the  Thirteenth,  was  composed  of  excel- 
lent material.  It  was  originally  enlisted  by  Edmund  Brown,  who  was  for 
s,  time  a  Captain  in  the  Fifth,  but  was  turned  over  by  him  to  Freedom  M. 
Rhodes,  of  Lancaster,  who  was  commissioned  Captain.  Franklin  \V heeler, 
of  Berlin,  John  E.  Willis,  of  Gorham,  for  whom  is  named  the  local  post 
of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  Charles  Cobleigh,  of  Northumberland,  were  at  differ- 
ent times  Lieutenants.  The  service  of  this  regiment,  and  of  our  own  people 
in  its  ranks,  was  every  way  creditable  to  its  members.  Capt.  Brown  died 
at  Lancaster  in  L882.  Capt.  Rhodes,  after  many  disappointments  in  his 
plans  and  aspirations,  died  at  Hartford,  Vt..  within  a  few  years,  and  was 
buried  at  Lancaster.  Lieuts.  Wheeler  and  Cobleigh  still  remain  to  enjoy 
the  honors  they  won. 


12 


ITS 


History  of  Coos  County. 


roster. 


Freedom  M.  Rhodes,  2d,  Capt., 

Franklin  Wheeler,  E,  Lieut., 

John  E.  Willis,  E,  Lieut., 

Hiram  J.  Rand,  E, 

John  A.  Harriman,  E, 

Lewis  P.  Summers,  E, 

Walter  Buck,  E, 

Thomas  J.  Lary,  E, 

Isaac  R.  Smith,  E, 

David  S.  Harvey,  E, 

Leland  B.  Philbrook,  E, 

William  A.  Willis,  E, 

George  W.  Purington,  E, 

Ormando  Larv,  E. 

Theodore  Morin,  E, 

George  R.  Holmes,  E, 

Abel  H.  Wesson,  E, 

George  Applebee,  E, 

George  S.  Bartlett,  E, 

Joseph  Brooks.  E, 

Harvey  R.  Brown,  E, 

Frank  Boutwell,  E. 

Emery  M.  D.  Ball,  E, 

Horace  Cushman,  2d,  E, 

Moses  S.  Curtis,  E, 

Aaron  Cotton,  E, 

William  H.  Clark, 

Bryant  E.  Crawford,  E, 

Moses  Colby,  E, 

John  G.  Day,  E, 

Alden  A.  Dow,  E. 

Oscar  P.  Ellingwood,  E, 

Edwin  F.  Evans,  E, 

Nathaniel  Emery,  E, 

Marquis  D.  L.  Elliot,  E, 

Darius  G.  Eastman,  E, 

William  Evans,  E, 

Erastus  W.  Forbes,  E, 

Stephen  P.  Folsom,  E, 

George  W.  Ford,  E, 

Henry  Goodnow,  E, 

John  W.  Greenlaw,  E, 

Jared  Gray,  E. 

Rufus  D.  Gaskill,  E, 

Joseph  M.  Gray,  E, 

Daniel  Griffin.  E, 

Alman  P.  Gaskill,  E, 

Ida  A.  Hodge,  E, 

William  W.  Holbrook,  E, 

Roswell  Holbrook,  E, 

James  O.  Hubbard,  E, 

Hiram  G.  Hicks,  E, 

Thomas  A.  Hawkins,  E, 

Charles  Henson,  E, 

Moses  Henson,  E, 

George  W.  Ingerson,  E, 

William  W.  Johnson,  E, 


Lancaster 

Harry  W.  Jordan,  E, 

Berlin 

Milan 

Thomas  J.  Jordan,  E, 

«( 

Gorham 

Edward  Jarvis,  E, 

Lancaster 

Lancaster 

William  Jarvis,  E, 

u 

Dalton 

Calvin  J.  Knight,  E, 

Jefferson 

Lancaster 

Andrew  J.  Lary,  E, 

Lancaster 

Dalton 

Eldolph  Lary,  E. 

Milan 

Dummer 

John  B.  Love  joy,  E, 

Dummer 

Stark 

William  M.  Limn,  E, 

Stark 

Gorham 

Henry  A.  Lane,  E. 

Whitefield 

Shelburne 

George  H.  Lindsay,  E, 

ii 

Dummer 

Benjamin  F.  Moulton,  E, 

it 

it 

George  W.  Morse,  E, 

Dalton 

11 

John  Morse,  E, 

Dalton 

Milan 

Erastus  Massure,  E, 

Stark 

Jefferson 

Jonas  Massure,  E, 

ii 

Lancaster 

Freeman  Marshall,  E, 

Dalton 

Jefferson 

Loren  McFarland,  E, 

Northumberland 

Dummer 

Daniel  McAllister,  E, 

Columbia 

Northumberland 

Charles  E.  Nutter,  E. 

Lancaster 

Stratford 

Daniel  Ordway,  E, 

Jefferson 

Lancaster 

John  D.  Orcutt. 

it 

Dalton 

Henry  Paige,  E, 

Dummer 

a 

Daniel  Potter.  E, 

Stark 

Milan 

John  Purington,  E, 

Milan 

u 

George  C.  Quint,  E, 

Whitefield 

Columbia 

James  M.  Rowe,  E, 

Gorham 

Dalton 

Lemuel  M.  Richardson,  E, 

Milan 

Lancaster 

Daniel  S.  Robbins,  E, 

Stark 

Gorham 

Spaulding  S.  Rich.  E, 

Lancaster 

Lancaster 

Munroe  J.  Stone,  E, 

Stark- 

Gorham 

William  H.  H.  Stalbird,  E, 

Jefferson 

Milan 

Reuel  P.  Stillings,  E, 

ii 

Stark 

Sumner  Sessions,  E. 

Dummer 

Dalton 

William  Sherwood,  E, 

Lancaster 

Milan 

Claudius  A.  Twitchell,  E, 

Milan 

It 

John  Veazie,  E. 

Dummer 

Jefferson 

Asahel  K.  Wallace,  E. 

Dalton 

Colebrook 

Alger  B.  Wheeler,  E, 

Stratford 

Dalton 

Edward  B.  Wilder,  E, 

Lancaster 

Gorham 

George  F.  Webb,  E, 

Gorham 

Milan 

Horace  York,  E, 

Milan 

Jefferson 

David  Young,  E, 

Lancaster 

Dalton 

Antipas  Young,  E, 

Stratford 

Lancaster 

Ethan  A.  Andrews.  F, 

Milan 

Gorham 

James  H.  Blodgett.  F, 

Northumberland 

Dalton 

^Yilliam  J.  Cummings,  F, 

" 

Lancaster 

John  Cummings,  F, 

ii 

Stark 

Patrick  Carmen,  F, 

ii 

Stratford 

Thomas  Casey,  F, 

Lancaster 

Dalton 

William  R,  Elliot,  F. 

Dalton 

Jefferson 

Sumner  F.  Frost.  F, 

Milan 

Dummer 

Frederick  0.  Hayes,  F, 

Lancaster 

Stark 

Ira  D.  Hyde,  F, 

Stark 

u 

Perrin  Lambert,  F, 

Milan 

Jefferson 

W(  sley  J.  Lucas,  F, 

ii 

Stratford 

Andrew  Pheney,  F, 

Northumberland 

The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


179 


George  A.  Wentwc*tb 

F, 

Milan 

Anton  Kliner, 

1:   i     n 

James  H.  Webber,  F, 

(i 

Edward  Letcher,  F, 

Lancaster 

Sidney  I.  Wells,  F, 

Gorham 

John  D.  Pike,  E, 

Northumberland 

Eben  W.  Parker,  I, 

Dalton 

Charles  M.  Twitched,  E, 

Dummer 

John  McMahan,  I, 

Lancaster 

Jesse  Underwood,  E, 

Dalton 

William  Blair,  E, 

it 

Thomas  Wentworth,  E, 

Dummer 

Caleb  F.  Bean,  E, 

Dummer 

John  Alexander. 

Northumberland 

Abraham  Bell, 

Columbia 

Frank  Sabine,  E, 

Win; 

Alanson  Cross,  E, 

Northumberland 

Alexander  Vancore, 

it 

Charles  Cobleigh,  E,  Lieut.. 

a 

Charles  A.  Whipp,  E, 

Northumberland 

Peter  Dyer,  C, 

Columbia 

Henry  A.  Reach, 

Columbia 

John  C.  Evans,  E, 

Milan 

Albion  C.  Aldrich, 

it 

Alpheus  W.  Hawkins, 

E, 

Dummer 

Hezekiah  Stoddard, 

Stt  wartstown 

The  Fifteenth  Infantry. — This  was  the  first  of  the  nine  months  regi- 
ments, went  into  camp  at  Concord  in  October,  186:2,  leaving  the  state 
November  12,  serving  with  Gen.  Banks's  command  on  the  lower  Mississippi, 
taking  part  in  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  and  other  operations  in  that  region, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Concord  August  13,  1863.  It  had  no  men  from 
this  county.  John  W.  Kingman,  of  Durham,  was  its  Colonel,  George  W. 
Frost,  of  XeAvmarket,  Lieutenant- Colonel,  and  Henry  W.  Blair,  who  had 
raised  a  company  at  Plymouth,  Major. 

Col.  Kingman,  after  peace  was  restored,  was  appointed  Governor  of 
Wyoming  Territory,  where  he  now  resides.  Major  Blair,  promoted  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  entered  political  life,  was  a  member  of  the  House  and 
Senate,  was  twice  elected  to  Congress,  and  is  now  serving  on  his  second 
term  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

The  Fifteenth  was  a  good  regiment,  and  during  its  brief  service  per- 
formed important  and  valuable  duties. 

Sixteenth  Infantry. — This  was  the  second  of  the  nine  months  regi- 
ments. It  contained  no  men  from  Coos.  It  went  into  camp  at  Concord 
in  October,  1862,  was  mustered  with  the  minimum  number  allowable  for  a 
regiment, — after  great  effort  to  secure  such  number, — about  the  middle  of 
the  succeeding  month,  joining  Banks's  expedition  on  the  lower  Mississippi. 
It  suffered  terribly  from  sickness,  although  it  lost  no  men  in  battle,  and 
was  depleted  far  beyond  the  average  mortality  of  conflict.  It  was  at  New 
Orleans,  Baton  Eouge,  and  Port  Hudson,  came  north  the  following  sum- 
mer, and  was  mustered  out  the  20th  of  August,  L863. 

In  the  organization  of  this  command,  Rev.  James  Pike,  late  presidium- 
elder  of  the  Methodist  church,  was  Colonel,  Henry  W.  Fuller,  of  Con- 
cord, Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Samuel  Davis,  Jr.,  of  Warner,  Major.  Col- 
onel Pike  was  afterward  elected  to  Congress,  and  made  an  unsuccessful 
run  for  Governor.  This  regiment  did  its  duty  well,  and  accomplished  all 
that  was  assigned  to  it. 

The  Seventeenth  Infantry. — The  history  of  this  regimenl  i^  so  excep- 
tional as  to  call  for  a  brief  review  of  the  facts  attending  its  formation  and 
service. 


180  History  of  Coos  County. 


In  August,  1802,  the  President  issued  his  call  for  300,000  men  for  nine 
months.  Governor  Berry,  on  reception  of  this  call,  convened  his  council, 
and  determined  to  call  for  three  regiments  of  volunteers,  first  appointing 
their  field  officers  and  assigning  the  Fifteenth  to  the  First  Congressional 
district;  the  Sixteenth  to  the  Second  district;  and  the  Seventeenth  to  the 
Third  district,  then  embracing  the  counties  of  Cheshire,  Sullivan,  Graf- 
ton and  Coos,  so  that  the  officers  being  thus  selected,  volunteers  would 
understand  with  whom  they  were  to  serve.  The  field  officers  of  the  Seven- 
teenth were  Colonel,  Henry  O.  Kent,  of  Lancaster;  Lieut. -Col.,  Charles 
H.  Long,  of  Claremont;  and  Major,  George  H.  Bellows,  of  Walpole. 

The  records  of  the  Adjutant-General's  office  show  that  701  men  at  once 
volunteered,  in  the  territory  assigned  for  this  regiment.  Almost  an  entire 
company  was  raised  at  Lancaster  and  in  Coos,  although  it  was  in  excess  of 
all  quotas,  and  equal  zeal  was  manifested  elsewhere. 

The  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments  were  at  this  time  in  process  of 
formation,  and  in  camp  at  Concord.  The  War  Department,  requesting 
urgency  in  forwarding  troops,  the  state  authorities,  contrary  to  the  under- 
standing, when  the  field  officers  were  appointed,  ordered  the  companies 
first  raised,  irrespective  of  location,  first  into  camp,  thus  assigning  several 
hundred  men  raised  for  this  regiment,  to  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth,  its 
numerical  predecessors. 

Thus  denied  the  men  enlisted  for  it,  the  Seventeenth  went  into  camp  at 
Concord,  in  November,  1S62,  just  as  the  Sixteenth  left  the  state.  A  regi- 
mental organization  was  perfected,  and  drill  and  discipline  commenced  and 
continued.  All  through  that  dreary  winter  its  officers  were  assured  the 
command  should  be  filled,  but  volunteering  had  ceased,  the  Governor  in 
person  ordered  the  acceptance  of  substitutes  discontinued,  and  no  re- 
sources remained,  save  the  unfilled  quotas  of  dilatory  and  unwilling  towns. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  secure  the  enforcement  of  a  state  draft,  author- 
ized by  law,  and  under  the  control  of  a  board  of  draft  commissioners.  A 
draft  was  ordered  for  December  21,  1862,  but  it  was  postponed  to  January 
8,  18(38,  and  finally  abandoned.  With  the  surrender  of  the  draft,  all  hope 
of  aid  from  the  state  was  given  up,  and  February  9th  the  regiment  was 
furloughed  to  April  1,  when,  it  was  said,  decisive  measures  would  be 
taken  to  put  the  command  upon  active  service. 

This  interval,  and  the  early  part  of  April,  was  spent  in  earnest  efforts 
by  the  field  and  line  officers,  through  memorials  to  members  of  Congress, 
to  induce  the  War  Department  to  convert  the  regiment  into  batteries  of 
artillery,  to  send  it  out  as  a  battalion,  or  to  place  it  on  detached  service, 
that  officers  and  men  might,  together,  serve  out  their  enlistment  at  the 
front.  These  requests  were  not  approved,  so  that,  when  the  regiment  re- 
assembled in  April,  nothing  remained  but  to  follow  a  special  order  of  the 
War  Department  which  mustered  out  its  commissioned  and  non-commis- 


The  Soldiers  of  Co<">s.  im 


sioned  officers,  and  transferred  the  enlisted  men  to  the  Second  Infantry 
then  at  home  on  furlough,  which  was  done  April  1(5,  L863. 

The  men  of  the  Seventeenth,  thus  taken  from  their  own  officers  and 
command,  found  congenial  association  with  the  soldiers  of  that  admira- 
ble regiment,  the  Second,  exhibiting  a  high  order  of  discipline  and  bravery 
at  Gettysburg,  losing  as  heavy  a  percentage  in  dead  and  wounded  as  any 
command  in  that  historic  engagement. 

At  the  close  of  their  term  of  enlistment  they  were  mustered  out,  but 
so  conspicuous  had  been  their  work  that  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
Second,  Colonel  Edward  L.  Bailey,  now  of  the  Regular  Army,  issued  a 
special  commendatory  order,  which  we  reproduce:— 

"Head  Quarters  2d  New  IIamp.  Vols. 

•  "  PojNT  Lookout,  Maryland,  i 

September  22,  1868.      \" 
"  General  Order  No  14. 

"Soldiers  of  the  17th  :— 
"Aroused  by  the  necessities  of  your  country,  you  assembled  under  a  gallant  and  accomplished 
leader,  with  justly  high  hopes,  to  lead  with  him,  a  brilliant  career.  After  months  of  uncertainty, 
you  were  consolidated  with  the  Second.  You  had  no  choice  in  your  disposition.  You  have  com- 
ported yourselves  as  men  should,  and  have  secured  the  respect  of  comrades  and  officers.  During 
the  terrible  contest  (Gettysburg)  you  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the  familiars  of  fifteen  bat- 
tles, fighting  as  valiantly.     *     * 

'Ed.  L.  Bailey, 

"Col.  2d  X.  H.  Vols." 

Lieut. -Col.  Long,  as  recited  elsewhere,  became  subsequently  Captain 
of  Battery  A,  and  Colonel  of  the  first  and  only  regiment  of  Heavy 
Artillery.     At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  home  at  Claremont. 

Major  Bellows  afterwards  served  with  the  same  rank,  in  command  of 
a  battalion  of  infantry  raised  for  service  in  that  section  of  Virginia,  near 
Washington,  under  control  of  the  Union  forces,  wherein  the  state  gov- 
ernment, under  Governor  Pierpont,  exercised  authority. 

With  the  untoward  circumstances  attending  this  regiment,  arising  out 
of  the  presumed  exigencies  of  the  service,  it  is  a  gratifying  recollection 
and  reflection,  that  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Seventeenth  Infantry  did 
their  whole  duty  wherever  placed,  obeying  orders  wholly  unfortunate 
and  destructive  of  their  pride  and  hopes,  with  soldierly  alacrity;  that  the 
men,  in  the  most  desperate  conflict  of  the  war,  elicited  special  mention 
for  their  bravery,  and  that  this  command  enjoys  fraternal  recognition  and 
equal  regard  from  the  members  of  every  war  organization  from  the  state. 


ROSTER. 


Henry  O.  Kent,  Colonel,  Lancaster 

Edward  N.  Cummings,  Quartermaster,        Colebrook 
James  D.  Folsom,  Surgeon,  Lancaster 

Horatio  N.  Small,  Asst.  Surgeon,  13th  and  10th,   " 
Jared  I.  Williams,  A,  Captain,  '' 


James  S.  Bracket t.  A.  Lieut.,  Lancaster 

.Jc-cpli  CIki-  .  A.  Lieut.. 

Charles  N.  Kent,  c.  Lieut.,  " 

Ira  s.  M.  Gove,  Lieut.,  Commissary, 

Daniel  C.  Bean,  A.  Berlin 


182 


History  of  Coos  County. 


John  P.  Denison,  A, 

Jesse  Tuttle,  C, 

Charles  E.  King,  A, 

Ezra  B.  Bennett,  A, 

William  B.  Ingalls,  A, 

Charles  A.  Larkin,  A, 

Charles  H.  Brown,  A. 

George  W.  Blood,  A, 

George  H.  Emerson,  A, 

Oliver  P.  Smith,  A, 

Ellery  Wheeler,  A, 

Hezekiah  E.  Hadlock,  A,  H'y  Art., 

William  J.  Chamberlain,  A, 

Thomas  P.  Moody,  A, 

Harvey  H.  Lucas,  A, 

Walter  S.  Bailey,  A,  H'y  Art., 

William  Armee, 

Austin  Bedel,  A, 

Robert  Blakely,  A, 

Simpson  E.  Chase,  A, 

Shepherd  B.  Cram,  A, 

Lewis  W.  Cutler,  A, 

George  Cumings,  Jr.,  2d,  A,  9th, 

Thomas  Cunningham,  A, 

Albra  D.  Cram,  A, 

John  G.  Derby,  C,  Orel.  Sergt.. 

Jonathan  E.  Dustin,  A, 

Joseph  H.  Dustin, 

Rut'us  C.  Hodgdon,  A, 

Royal  Hicks,  A, 

Delevan  G.  Hubbard,  A, 

The  Eighteenth  Infantry. — This  was  the  last  regimental  organization 
mustered,  and  was  made  up  of  men  who  enlisted  indifferently  for  differ- 
ent terms  of  service.  Recruiting  commenced  in  July,  1864,  but  with  the 
organization  of  six  companies  the  quota  of  the  state  was  filled.  During 
the  next  spring  three  more  companies  were  sent  out,  but  K  company  was 
stationed  at  Galloupe's  Island,  Boston  Harbor,  and  was  never  ordered  to 
the  front.  There  was  no  company  in  this  regiment  from  Coos.  The  Reg- 
imental organization  was  Thomas  L.  Livermore,  of  Milford,  who  had 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Fifth,  Colonel;  Joseph  M.  Clough,  of  New 
London,  who  had  an  excellent  record  as  a  Captain  in  the  Fourth,  and  who 
has  since  commanded  the  militia  of  the  state  as  Brigadier-General,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel; and  William  I.  Brown,  of  Penacook,  former  Adjutant  of 
the  Ninth,  Major.  This  command  was  engaged  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
and  had  an  honorable  record.  It  was  mustered  out  at  Concord  by  detach- 
ments in  June,  July  and  August,  1805.  Charles  H.  Bell,  since  Governor, 
was  originally  commissioned  Colonel,  and  J.  W.  Carr,  of  Manchester, 
formerly  of  the  Second,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  but  each  resigned  before 
muster. 


Lancaster 

Leland  Hidjbard,  A, 

Dalton 

Berlin 

Willard  A.  Jackson,  A, 

Lancaster 

Whitefield 

Alfred  Jackson,  A, 

ff 

Lancaster 

John  C.  Jenness,    A, 

■  I 

Shelburne 

Lewis  M.  Jackman,  A, 

Shelburne 

Lancaster 

Joseph  Kiley,  A, 

Whitefield 

Dalton 

Asa  J.  King,  A, 

Jefferson 

Whitefield 

Robert  King,  A, 

Lancaster 

Nelson  B.  Lindsey,  A, 

(i 

Whitefield 

John  C.  Moore,  A, 

Lancaster 

Shelburne 

Henry  McCarthy,  A, 

n 

I  ancaster 

Charles  W.  Moulton,  A, 

Whitefield 

Jefi'erson 

John  M.  Newell,  A, 

Shelburne 

Lancaster 

Sidney  H.  Peaslee,  A, 

Lancaster 

u 

Sumner  Perkins,  A," 

u 

a 

Alfred  C.  Pratt,  A, 

ff 

Stratford 

William  C.  Putnam,  A, 

(1 

Jefferson 

Frank  Rafferty,  Jr.,  A, 

ff 

Columbia 

Albro  L.  Robinson,  A, 

if 

Lancaster 

James  Reed,  A. 

Columbia 

Dalton 

Ebenezer  Rines,  A, 

Whitefield 

a 

James  Ross,  A, 

Lancaster 

Northumberland 

William  L.  Rowell,  A,  Sergeant, 

ff 

Lancaster 

Jason  Sherwood,  A, 

ff 

Carroll 

John  W.  Smith,  A, 

If 

Lancaster 

Cyril  C.  Smith,  A, 

f  f 

Columbia 

Edmund  B.  Sanborn,  A, 

Carroll 

" 

William  Warren,  A, 

Whitefield 

Gorham 

George  H.  Weare,  A, 

f  f 

Whitefield 

Albert  F.  Whipple,  A,  Band  Leader, 

Columbia 

Shelburne 

John  C.  Staples,  A, 

Whitefield 

The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


L83 


ROSTER. 

Samuel  I.  Bailey, 

Columbia 

Galen  C.  Smith.  K, 

Shelburne 

Michael  Earley,  H, 

Lancaster 

Richard  Tinkham,  K. 

Dalton 

Patrick  ( lassady,  K, 

i  . 

William  Keazan, 

Northumberland 

John  Williams,  I, 

Stratford 

Alma  Cates,  F, 

( lorham 

Frank  W.  Dimond,  K 

> 

Jefferson 

Jacob  F.  Frost,  F, 

it 

George  N.  Jones.  K. 

c« 

Stephen  Morse,  C, 

si 

William  H.  Crawford, 

F, 

n 

James  II.  Thomas,  C, 

(1 

William  A.  Hawkins, 

K, 

Dummer 

John  Nolan. 

Stark 

Samuel  A.  Hodgman, 

K, 

Shelburne 

The  Light  Artillery. — This  organization,  which  was  a  very  complete 
and  perfect  one,  was  raised  at  Manchester  in  the  summer  of  1.861.  It  was 
the  only  Light  Battery  recruited  in  the  state.  Its  organization  was  George 
A.  Gerrish,  of  Portsmouth,  Captain;  Fred  M.  Edgill,  of  Orford,  and  Edwin 
H.  Hobhs,  of  Manchester,  1st  Lieutenants;  and  John  Wadleigh  and  Henry 
F.  Condict,  of  Manchester,  2d  Lieutenants.  It  served  with  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  through  the  war,  distinguishing  itself  in  all  its  principal  bat- 
tles. In  1864  it  was  designated  as  Co.  M,  of  the  1st  Heavy  Artillery,  to 
allow  that  command  to  muster  as  a  regimental  organization.  While  the 
artillery  service  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  exceptionally  good,  this 
battery  maintained  a  rank  for  excellence  and  bravery  with  the  best.  It 
was  mustered  out  in  June,  1865. 

The  Heavy  Artillery. — Immediately  upon  the  consolidation  of  the 
Seventeenth  with  the  Second,  Lieut. -Col.  Long,  of  the  former  regiment, 
obtained  authority  to  raise  a  company  of  Heavy  Artillery,  to  garrison  Fort 
Constitution,  in  Portsmouth  harbor.  This  company  was  soon  raised, 
Lieut. -Col.  Long  being  its  Captain,  he  taking  with  him  several  non-com- 
missioned officers  of  the  Seventeenth.  Later,  Capt.  Ira  McL.  Barton,  of 
Newport,  of  the  Fifth,  obtained  authority  to  raise  a  second  company  for 
garrison  duty  at  Fort  McClary,  across  the  Piscataqua  from  Fort  Constitu- 
tion. These  two  companies,  A  and  B.  were  mustered  during  the  summer 
of  1863.  In  the  early  autumn  of  1864,  authority  was  granted  to  augment 
this  nucleus  to  a  full  regiment  of  twelve  companies  of  1,800  men.  The 
attractions  for  this  enlistment  were  great,  and  recruiting  went  on  briskly. 
Cos.  A  and  B  had,  at  this  period,  been  for  some  time  in  the  defenses  of  Wash- 
ington, the  line  of  earthworks  north  and  west  of  the  city,  and  the  new 
companies  were  forwarded  to  the  same  assignment  as  fast  as  mustered. 
Kecruiting  lagged,  with  the  organization  of  the  Eleventh  Co.,  and  in  order 
to  give  the  command  a  muster  of  regimental  officers,  the  Light  Battery, 
which  had  been  in  active  service  since  1861,  was  designated  as  Co.  M,  and 
transferred  to  the  Heavies.  Col.  Long  being  mustered,  and  the  regimental 
organization  thus  completed,  the  battery  was  ordered  on  detached  service 
under  Gen.  Hancock's  command,  so  that  its  only  connection  with  the  regi- 
ment was  to  enable  it  to  muster  as  a  complete  organization.     Battery  A 


184 


History  of  Coos  County. 


was  ordered  back  to  Fort  Constitution,  Portsmouth,  in  January,  1865,  and 
Battery  B,  in  February  following. 

Col.  Long  was  assigned  to  duty  in  command  of  a  brigade  in  Harden's 
Division,  and  Lieut.  -Col.  Barton  commanded  the  regiment.  It  was  a  splen- 
did body  of  men,  capable  of  performing  most  efficient  service.  It  remained 
in  the  defenses  about  the  Capitol,  save  Batteries  A,  B,  and  M,  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1*65,  when  it  was  ordered  to  New  Hampshire,  and  mustered  out 
June  19,  1865.  In  this  regiment  was  Co.  I,  and  part  of  Cos.  L  and  A, 
from  this  county.     They  were  all  volunteers,  and  exceptionally  fine  men. 

The  field  officers  were  Charles  H.  Long,  of  Claremont,  Colonel;  Ira 
McL.  Barton,  of  Newport,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  George  A.  Wainwright,  of 
Hanover,  Dexter  CI.  Reed,  of  Newport,  and  Frederick  M.  Edgill,  of  Orford 
(of  the  Lt.  Battery),  Majors.  Col.  Long  resides  in  Claremont.  Lieut. -Col. 
Barton  went  to  Arkansas,  reached  the  grade  of  General  of  Militia,  was 
active  in  local  military  troubles  there,  and  died  not  many  years  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  Major  Waimvright,  who  was  Adjutant  of  the  Seven- 
teenth, resides  at  Hanover. 


ROSTER. 

C  W.  Walker,  Chaplain. 

Stratford 

Company  I. 

Walter  S.  Bailey,  A,  Lieut. 

17th, 

Lancaster 

John  C.  Jenness,  I,  Lieut., 

17th. 

a 

William  G.  Ellis,  5th, 

Lancaster 

William  H.  Shurtleff,  I,  Lieut., 

Colebrook 

Joseph  H.  Wilder. 

ii 

Clark  Stevens,  I,  Lieut., 

Columbia 

Zeb  Twitchell,  S.  S., 

ii 

W.  C.  Mahurin,  L,  Lieut., 

a 

Charles  E.  Rolfe, 

Colebrook 

Charles  S.  Parker,  A, 

Dalton 

William  M.  Gushing, 

Lancaster 

George  G.  Ames,  H. 

Dummer 

William  J.  Chamberlain,  17th, 

Jefferson 

George  B.  Biake,  H, 

Berlin 

Charles  Sherwood, 

Lancaster 

Daniel  C.  Bean,  H,  17th  and  2d, 

u 

George  Bobinson, 

«t 

Chester  L.  Bean,  H, 

ti 

Eben  Little, 

Colebrook 

Samuel  Bean,  H, 

ii 

Robert  Blakely,  17th,  2d, 

Columbia 

William  H.  Cookson,  H, 

u 

Brooks  E.  Rodgers, 

it 

Alfred  P.  Chandler,  H, 

Milan 

Alva  W.  Arlin, 

Colebrook 

Durgin  Evans,  H, 

" 

Alfred  N.  Alls, 

Columbia 

Frank  L.  Forbush,  H, 

Berlin 

John  Q.  Babb, 

Stratford 

Prescott  Goud,  H, 

Dummer 

Melzar  E.  Beard, 

Northumberland 

Albert  Green,  H, 

Berlin 

William  Bishop, 

it 

Charles  Green,  H, 

i. 

James  D.  Blodgett, 

u 

Charles  E.  Gray,  H, 

Milan 

George  S.  Blake. 

Stark 

John  Hawkins,  H, 

Dummer 

Charles  A.  Buffington, 

Colebrook 

Stephen  Hawkins,  H, 

u 

Benjamin  C.  Blood, 

Pittsburg 

Dana  T.  Hamlin,  H, 

Milan 

Joseph  O.  Barnett, 

Stewartstown 

Charles  G.  Hamlin,  H, 

ti 

Jared  P.  Blood, 

Whitefield 

Clark  Kimball,  H, 

Dummer 

Franklin  A.  Chamberlain, 

Stewartstown 

John  J.  Martin,  H, 

Stewartstown 

Isaac  F.  Cotton, 

Lancaster 

Horace  P.  Moody,  H, 

Milan 

Roswell  C.  Chesman, 

u 

Joseph  Reeves,  H, 

Stewartstown 

Joseph  B.  Cloutman, 

ii 

Henry  Sanger,  H, 

Milan 

Albert  Carter. 

Northumberland 

Ebenezer  H.  Scribner, 

ii 

George  L.  Colby, 

Whitefield 

Joseph  S.  Arnold,  A, 

Jefferson 

Edward  P.  Cushman, 

Dalton 

Samuel  A.  Burns,  A, 

Whitefield 

Charles  M.  Cushman, 

it 

The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


185 


Lorenzo  Cole, 
Harrison  H.  Cummings, 
Daniel  Chase, 
Parker  Chase, 
Silas  W.  Curtis. 
Henry  A.  Craw  find. 
Samuel  H.  Dalrymple, 
Lyman  D.\  lie, 
Osborne  Davis, 
Richard  H.  Emei-son, 
John  H.  Emerton, 
John  M.  Farnham. 
George  W.  Forbush, 
Simeon  Fisk, 
Benjamin  Fisk, 
George  Fuller, 
Jesse  Forristall, 
Edwin  Farnham, 
Orlando  L.  Fling, 
Richard  M.  J.  Grant, 
George  H.  Glidden, 
Benjamin  W.  Groper, 
Hiram  B.  Gould, 
Henry  H.  Gould, 
Benjamin  Gathercole, 
Phineas  R.  Hodgden, 
Warren  D.  Hinds, 
James  Howker, 
Alfred  B.  Hall, 
Charles  A.  Hutchinson, 
Warren  Hilliard, 
Hiram  Haynes, 
Charles  S.  Holmes, 
Austin  A.  Jordan, 
Humphrey  G.  Jordan, 
John  H.  Jordan. 
Jonathan  Kettle, 
Edward  W.  Kimball, 
Horatio  O.  Lewis, 
Jonathan  M.  Lang, 
Joshua  Lunn, 
Charles  E.  Lowe, 
Henry  S.  Lindsey, 
Edgar  Lang, 
Alvin  A.  Lovering, 
Joseph  P.  Matthews,  5th, 
John  Monahan, 
John  G.  Monahan, 
Samuel  S.  McDonald, 
Aratus  H.  Merrill, 
John  McClellan, 
Cummings  J.  Marshall, 
James  Murtangh, 
Chester  R.  Noyes, 
Eben  E.  Noyes, 
Martin  B  Noyes, 
John  Ordway, 
William  W.  Pike, 
Otis  Pike. 


Stai!, 

Struartstou  :i 

Pittsburg 

Columbia 

u 

Dalton 

Shelbnrne 

Stratford 

Jefferso  i 

Lancaster 

Columbia 

Laucasti 

Stai   , 

Dalton 


( lolebrook 
Lancaster 

Stewartstown 
Lancaster 
Whitefield 
Colebrook 


Lancast*  r 
Stark 
Randolph 
Whitefield 
Colebrook 
Pittsbui  g 

Stewartstown 

,. 

Colebrook 
a 

Columbia 

Northumberland 

Columbia 

Lancaster 

Dalton 

Stark 

Randolph 

Whitefield 

Colebrook 
n 

Lancaster 


Milan 

Colebrook 

it 

Columbia 

Colebroi  K 

Columbia 

Stewartstovs  □ 

Jetft  rs<  ■•■ 

Stark 


l>ana  Powei  3, 
ThaddeUS  l'ou 
Majoi  E.  Parker, 
John  W.  Pratt, 
Philo  VanDyke, 
John  ('.  Poor, 
Sumner  Rnggles,  Jr., 
lb  my  II.  Rich, 
Isaac  R.  Rich, 
Joshua  Roberts,  Jr., 
Stephen  Richardson, 
William  W.  Russ, 
Ransom  O.  Smith. 
Cha:  lis  Smith, 
Ezekiel  Sheldon, 
Zachariah  Saley, 
Barney  Sweeney. 
Nicholas  O.  Tuttle, 
Josiah  W.  Tebbetts, 
Ellery  Wheeler, 
Jamon  N.  Willi  y. 
William  Woodward, 
Albert  Whitney, 
Henry  A.  White. 
Nathaniel  H.  Wheeler, 
John  T.  W.  Whitney, 
James  Williamson, 

Company 
Hosea  Clough, 
Jacob  D.  Brown, 
Robert  Curtis.  t 

Martin  D.  Bean, 
Albert  F.  Berry, 
Wellington  Cummings, 
Henry  Cunningham, 
William  Dearth, 
Addison  Dolly, 
Henry  Denny, 
John  P.  Dunham, 
Albion  G.  Evans, 
Benjamin  C.  Flanders. 
Royal  Hicks,  17th, 
Woodbury  G.  Hicks, 
Andrew  J.  Howard, 
Richard  Lane,  Jr., 
Albert  W.  Lane, 
Albert  Potter, 
Osiah  Rosa, 
Henry  Tewkesbury, 
Ira  S.  Wall  lion, 
Lewis  D.  White, 
Timothy  N.  Wight, 
Ephraim  Wight, 

Light  Battery, 
Uriah  Elliott, 
Orville  R.  Moulton, 
Louis  Nouri, 
Joshua  F.  ri"  lps, 
Edwin  Sli  eper, 


Dalton 


Ji  ff<  i  son 
Stewartstowi  u 

Dalton 

Stark 
.. 

(i 

Columbia 

a 

Northumberland 

Randolph 

Jeti'i  I  -i  'M 

Columbia 
Jefferson 

Colebrook 
Shelburne 

Stark 

Northumberland 

Whitefield 

Pittsburg 

Northumberland 

Shelburne 

Stratford 

it 

tt 

Whitefield 
Gorham 


Stewartstown 

Gorham 


Whitefield 

Stewartstown 

Whitefield 

Gorham 
tt 

Whitefield 

ii 

Stratford 

Stewartstown 
Whitefield 

Gorham 
tt 

or  Co.  M. 

Carroll 

Lancasti  r 

Wentworth's  Location 

Milan 

Whitefield 


186 


History  of  Coos  County. 


The  Sharpshooters. — There  were,  in  the  service,  two  regiments  of  picked 
marksmen  equipped  with  superior  weapons,  for  special  or  detached  duty, 
as  their  designation  indicated.  From  the  nature  of  the  organization  it 
was  impossible  that  the  companies  should  serve  in  regimental  order,  and 
they  were  scattered  as  the  exigencies  of  the  service  required. 

Co.  G  of  the  Second  Eegiment,  ninety-eight  officers  and  men,  had  a 
number  of  its  best  men  from  this  county,  and  was  mustered  at  Concord, 
December  10,  1861.  It  performed  the  duties  entrusted  to  it  with  devotion 
and  unflagging  zeal.  Not  exempt  from  casualties,  its  record  of  dead  and 
wounded  was  equal  to  that  of  the  most  daring.  In  every  respect  these 
men  were  most  credible  soldiers  and  admirable  representatives  of  the 
staunchest  element  of  the  county.  The  state  was  not  represented  in  the 
Field  of  the  original  organization,  but  later,  the  Field  officers  from  New 
Hampshire  in  this  command  were:  Major  E.  T.  Eowell,  of  Co.  F,  and 
Major  Amos  B.  Jones  of  Co.  E.  George  A.  Marden,  since  Speaker  of  the 
Massachusetts  House,  and  on  the  regimental  staff,  was  a  Sergeant  in  Co. 
G.  Major  Rowell  and  Major  Marden  both  reside  in  Lowell.  The  Sharp- 
shooters served  in  the  Virginia  campaigns,  and  were  at  Antietam,  Freder- 
icksburg, Gettysburg,  Second  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  and  in  the  Valley. 
The  original  men  were  mustered  out  in  December,  1861,  and  those  of  the 
three  companies  remaining  were  consolidated  and  made  Co.  K,  of  the  Fifth 
Infantry. 

Co.  G,  2d  U.   S.   S.  S. 

Zeb  Twitchell, 
Edward  H.  Folsom, 
Samuel  F.  Brown, 
Eeuben  F.  Carter, 
Thomas  S.  Ellis, 
Augustus  Fletcher,  ■ 
Harvey  D.  Gamsby, 
Eeuben  Gray, 
Joseph  K.  Hodge, 
James  G.  Reach, 

The  First  Cavalry. — There  was  but  one  Cavalry  regiment  proper  from 
the  state  and  that  was  organized  for  three  years,  somewhat  late  in  the 
war.  As  stated,  the  Eighth  Infantry,  then  in  Louisiana,  was  for  a  time 
mounted,  and  known  as  the  Second  N.  H.  Cavalry,  but  its  service  was 
more  particularly  as  Infantry. 

Early  in  the  war  a  battalion  of  four  companies  of  New  Hampshire  men 
was  raised  and  incorporated  with  the  First  Rhode  Island  Cavalry.  It  was 
found  that  the  union  of  companies  from  different  states  in  one  regiment 
was  not  altogether  desirable,  and  this  battalion  was  made  the  nucleus  of 
the  First  Cavalry.  This  regiment  and  battalion  served  in  Virginia  and 
Maryland  and  was  first  united  in  March,  1865.  It  left  the  state  December 
22,  1861,  was  made  a  regiment  January  7,  1864,  and  mustered  out  July  21, 


Lancaster 

James  S.  Kent, 

Lancaster 

Stratford 

William  Merrow, 

Stratford 

u 

Ezra  W.  Martin. 

i ; 

Lancaster 

John  Pilbro. 

Columbia 

tt 

George  W.  McCrillis, 

u 

Colebrook 

Horace  F.  Morse, 

Lancaster 

Stratford 

John  Brown,  F, 

Columbia 

Lancaster 

King  J.  Cross,  G, 

u 

u 

John  A.  Manchester,  F, 

Colebrook 

Columbia 

The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


L8Y 


1865.  It  was  composed  of  good  material  and  did  excellenl  service.  The 
heaviest  wholesale  desertion  of  the  war  was  of  several  hundred  "bounty 
jumping"  recruits,  who  had  been  mustered  to  fill  the  regiment,  and  who 
broke  away  at  Giesborough  Point,  below  Washington,  in  the  autumn  of 
1863,  to  the  relief  of  the  good  soldiers  left,  who  were  in  no  way  responsible 
for  the  presence  or  absence  of  these  "  scallawags."  There  were  bul  few 
Coos  men  in  the  Cavalry.  Its  original  officers  were:  David  B.  Nelson, 
Major  of  Battalion.  Regimental,  John  L.  Thompson,  Colonel;  Ben  T. 
Hutchins,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Arnold  Wyman,  J.  F.  Andrews  and  John 
A.  Cummings,  Majors. 

FIRST  NEW  ENGLAND  CAVALRY. 


Kimball  A.  Morse,  L, 
Alvan  S.  Wilson,  L. 
Joseph  Marshall,  L, 
James  W.  Home,  E, 
Orville  H.  Sessions,  I, 
John  K.  Burton, 
Charles  Draper,  B, 
Benjamin  W.  Fenner, 
AVilliam  F.  Graham, 
Albur  Harris,  B, 
Hendrick  Hianatie,  D, 
Timothy  Kelky, 
Michael  Leary,  F, 
David  B.Ladd,  F, 


Lancaster 

Gorham 

Dalton 

Stratford 

Dummer 

Lancaster 

Colebrook 

Stewartstown 

Milan 

Colebrook 

Stewartstown 

Lancaster 

Gorham 


John  H.  Mathes,  E, 
John  H.  Piper,  H, 
Eri  W.  Pinkham,  E, 
Lester  Spaulding,  G, 
Norman  H.  Slade,  G, 
Arum  B.  Smith,  F, 
Ambrose  P.  Scannell,  I, 
George  W.  Stevens,  Jr., 
William  Senior, 
John  Williams,  G, 
Clark  Waters,  H, 
Charles  C.  Wallace, 
James  L.  Wood, 
George  W.  Wheeler, 


Stratford 

i. 

Northumberland 

Sherburne 

Stark 

Northumberland 

Jefferson 

Colebrook 

Gorham 

Colebrook 

Randolph 

Jefferson 

Gorham 

Pittsburg 


While  the  scope  of  this  chapter  does  not  include  residents  of  Coos  during 
the  war,  or  present  residents  who  served  outside  the  state,  the  returns  in 
the  A.  G.  0.  give  the  following  names  in  outside  commands:— 

Francis  L.  Towne,  Surgeon  U.  S.  Army,  Lancaster,  served  through  the 
war  and  was  brevetted  Lieut. -Colonel  U.  S.  A.  for  meritoi'ious  services. 
He  is  now  at  Fort  Clarke,  Texas. 


Enoch  Whipple,  E, 
Alanson  Hyde,  I, 
George  W.  Rowell,  E, 
Francis  N.  Whitney,  E, 
John  Shallow,  E, 
Walter  P.  Vance,  E, 
Daniel  Q.  Cole,  U.  S.  N., 


THIRD   VERMONT   INFANTRY. 

Columbia       Benjamin  F.  Hicks,  I, 
Daniel  F.  Elliott, 
William  H.  Gault. 
Hiram  T.  Owen, 
Samuel  Keeble, 
George  Hinman, 


FIFTH  MAINE  LIGHT  BATTERY, 


Jefferson 
st.  wartstown 


Stratford 


Thomas  B.  Mendly, 
Lyman  Jordan, 
John  Jordan, 
Aaron  Simpson. 
Elisha  P.  Hicks, 
Seth  W.  Tirrell 


<  'olmuliia 


Colebrook 


Sereno  P.  Farwell, 
Sewall  A  Stillings,  7th. 
Albert  S.  Twitchell,  7th, 
William  W.  Chase, 
James  L.  Loomis, 
Harry  Chamberlain, 


Stark 
JeffersoD 

Gorham 

Stewartstown 


188 


History  of  Coos  County. 


Thomas  MeNaliy, 
Ezra  Fletcher, 
Nathaniel  Flanders, 
Albert  Heath, 
George  T.  Bishop, 


Stewartstown 


Horace  Harris, 

Lorenzo  D.  Blodgett, 

Seth  Tirrell, 

Hiram  M.  Paul, 

Loren  E.  Bundy,  First  Main  Cavalry. 


Stewartstown 


The  only  further  record  attainable  of  those  residents  of  Coos  at  the  time 
of  the  war,  or  of  those  present  residents  who  during  the  war  served  in 
organizations  outside  the  state,  is  found  in  the  individual  names  reported 
in  the  several  Grand  Army  rosters. 

It  was  my  intention  to  publish  a  complete  list  of  resident  veterans, 
whether  G.  A.  R.  men  or  not,  who  thus  served,  but  upon  strict  trial  I  can 
find  no  data  from  which  to  compile  it. 

Statistics. — From  carefully  compiled  tables,  in  reports  of  the  Adjutant- 
General,  it  appears  that  during  the  war  the  entire  number  of  commissions 
issued  was  2,362,  while  the  entire  number  of  officers  who  received  them 
was  1,601.  The  total  number  of  enlisted  men  was  31,426.  The  number 
"  killed  or  died  of  wounds "  was  1,538.  "Died of  disease  2,541."  Mustered 
out  at  expiration  of  service  11,264. 

An  analysis  of  all  statistics  made  in  that  office  leads  it  to  the  conclu- 
sion that,  leaving  out  men  transferred  and  twice  enumerated,  New  Hamp- 
shire sent  30,000  different  men  into  the  field.  Careful  estimates  lead  to 
the  belief  that  of  this  number  Coos  county  furnished  1,200  men.  The 
entire  muster  of  30,000  is  thus  accounted  for,  by  the  same  authority: — 


Killed  or  died  of  wounds 5  per 

Died  of  disease ...    8 

Honorably  discharged  for  disability .15 

Deserted 16 

Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  Army  and  Navy 3 

Promoted  to  commissioned  officers 2 

Not  officially  accounted  for 2 

Absent  when  regiment  was  mustered  out 3 

Re-enlisted 5 

Mustered  out  at  the  expiration  of  term 37 

Otherwise  unaccounted  for 4 


cent. 


a 

a 
i i 
a 
u 
a 
a 
a 
it 
a 


Total 100. 

The  percentage  of   ''desertions"  from  Coos  is  much  less  than  these 
figures,  while  the  casualties  and  muster  out  are  correspondingly  greater. 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


lS!t 


THE  GRAND  ARMY  POSTS. 

ROSTER  OF  COL.  E.  E.  CROSS  POST,  NO.  16,  LANCASTER. 


(Furnished  by  Capt.  J.  I.  Williams,  Q.  M.) 


1.  William  G.  Ellis,  5th  N.  H. 

2.  fSoloD  D.  Simmons,  8th  Vt. 

3.  {John  G.  Crawford,  2d  Michigan  Cavalry. 

4.  E.  W.  Wyman,  13th  Maine. 

5.  H.  De  F.  Young,  2d  N.  H. 

6.  IB.  T.  Oleott,  8th  Vt. 

7.  Parker  J.  Noyes,  8th  Vt. 

8.  Henry  S.  Hilliard,  2d  and  5th  N.  H. 

9.  Thomas  S.  Ellis,  2d  U.  S.  S.  S. 

10.  Levi  H.  Parker,  8th  Vt. 

11.  Ira  E.  Woodward.  6th  N.  H. 

12.  Henry  O.  Kent,  17th  N.  H. 

13.  Alden  A.  Dow,  14th  N.  H. 

14.  Thomas  Sweetser,  5th  and  50th  Mass. 

15.  {George  E.  Chandler.  Sgl.  Corps. 

10.  {F.  H.  Perkins,  9th  N.  H.  and  2d  Mass.  Cavalry. 

17.  Charles  E.  Melntire,  2d  N.  H. 

18.  Richard  Fletcher,  5th  N.  H. 

19.  Jared  I.  Williams.  17th  N.  H. 

20.  Henry  Richardson,  35th  Mass. 

21.  Zeh.  Twitchell,  2d  U.  S.  S.  S.,  H.  Art. 

22.  Eldad  A.  Rhodes,  5th  N.  H. 

23.  George  H.  Emerson,  17th  N.  H. 

24.  John  M.  Morse,  3d  N.  H. 

25.  John  G.  Sutton,  5th  N.  H. 

26.  R.  M.  J.  Grant.  1st  N.  H.  H.  A. 

27.  George  W.  Morgan,  2d  N.  H. 

28.  Dan  Lee  Jones,  4th  Vt.  and  U.  S.  A. 

29.  Ezra  Mitchell.  Jr.,  9th  Me.  and  U.  S.  A. 

30.  Henry  J.  Cummings,  3d  N.  H. 

31.  George  Burt,  2d  N.  H. 

32.  {Arthur  H.  Carpenter,  4th  U.  S. 

33.  James  Cummings,  5th  N.  H. 

34.  John  B.  Cram,  26th  Mass. 

35.  John  W.  Palmer,  13th  N.  H. 

36.  f  William  H.  Weston,  5th  N.  H. 

37.  iRichard  H.  Emerson,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A. 

38.  L.  L.  Stillinss,  50th  Penn. 

39.  William  C.  Putnam,  17th   and  2d  N.  H. 

40.  *fEvarts  W.  Farr,  2d  and  11th  N.  H. 

41.  John  Farnham.  1st  N.  H.  H.  A. 

42.  Reuben  F.  Carter,  2d  U.  8.  S.  S.  and  5th  N.  H. 

43.  H.  E.  Hadlock,  17th  N.  H.  and  N.  H.  H.  A. 

44.  Leonard  M.  Beard,  9th  N.  H. 

45.  George  Cummings,  Jr..  17th,  2d  and  9th  N.  H. 

46.  James  Ross,  17th  and  2d  N.  H. 

47.  *Ira  D.  Hyde,  14th  N.  H. 

48.  Peter  Hughes,  5th  N.  H. 

49.  Edward  Grannis,  15th  Vt. 

50.  fGeorge  A.  Ford,  3d  Vt. 

51.  fPerrin  Lombard,  5th  N.  H.  and  21st  V.  R.  C. 

52.  {Sumner  Perkins.  17th  and  2d  N.  H.  and  2dV.  C. 


53.  Charles  Sherwood,  N.  H.  H.  A. 

54.  {Richard  E.  Cross,  5th  X.  H. 

55.  *James  Moulton,  3d  N.  H. 

56.  Reuben  Gray,  U.  S.  S.  S. 

57.  *Francis  Chamberlain,  22d  Wis. 

58.  Oscar  Worthly,  2d  N.  H. 

59.  Jared  Gray,  14th  N.  H. 

60.  f  Alberts.  Twitchell,  7th  Me.  B. 

61.  Freeman  Lindsey,  5th  N.  H. 

62.  {Horace  Dow,  8th  N.  H. 

63.  Walter  S.  Bailey,  17th  N.  H.  and  N.  H.  H.  A. 

64.  William  L.  RoweU,  17th  N.  H. 

65.  Freeman  H.  Holmes,  9th  N.  H. 

66.  Charles  A.  Whipp,  14th  N.  H. 

67.  John  D.  Orcutt,  14th  N.   H. 

68.  Albion  G.  Evans,  N.  H.  H.  A. 

69.  Alfred  C.  Pratt,  17th,  2d  and  9th  N.  H. 

70.  David  Spreadbury,  13th  N.  H. 

71.  Ruel  P.  StillingB,  14th  N.  H. 

72.  Samuel  L.  Wellington,  5th  Mass. 

73.  Charles  C.  Beaton,  5th  N.  H. 

74.  Don  C.  Clough,  N.  H.  H.  A. 

75.  Charles  Forbes,  13th  N.  H. 

76.  Thomas  S.  Thayer,  5th  N.  H. 

77.  James  N.  King,  Nat.  Guards. 

78.  John  O.  Tuell,  6th  Me. 

79.  Joseph  P.  Mathews,  5th  N.  H.  and  N.  H.  H.  A 

80.  fEnoch  L.  Clement,  5th  N.  H. 

81.  William  W.  Hendricks,  3d  Vt. 

82.  James  S.  Brackett,  17th  N.  H. 

83.  Thomas  Sullivan,  6th  N.  H. 
SI.  Charles  D.  Kenney,  17th  Vt. 

85.  David  Legro,  15th  N.  H. 

86.  Phincas  R.  Hodgdon,  N.  H.  H.  A. 
87  *fHenry  W.  Loveland,  27th  Mass. 

88.  W.  J.  Chamberlain,  17th  N.  II.  and  N.  H.  H.  A. 

89.  Stephen  Simmons,  17th  Vt. 

90.  Frank  M.  Lucas,  8th  Vt. 

91.  Charles  Canrield,  15th  Vt. 

92.  John  Leonard.  2d  and  11th  Me. 

93.  Cyrus  Messer,  Nth  M;i".  and  Mass.  H.  A. 

94.  William  E.  Tibbetts,  13th  N.  H. 

95.  Hugh  Corrigan,  5th  N.  11. 

96.  Joseph  Stevens,  29th  Me. 

97.  Abm  r  Bailey,  3d  Vt. 

98.  William  W.  Pike,  X.  II.  II.  A. 

99.  James  W.  McKeen,  12th  Me. 

100.  (■     rg    I'..  Griffith,  N.  II.  II.  A. 

101.  Nahum  E.  Barvey,  3d  Vt. 
L02.  Samuel  S.  Whitney,  31st  M  . 

103.  Napoleon  B.  Perkins,  5th  Me.  I..  A. 
101.  Moses  Hens  d,  l  tth  V  II. 


*Dead.    +Demitted.    {Dropped. 


190 


History  of  Coos  County. 


105.  *Simon  Connary,  9th  N.  H. 

106.  Alexander  M.  Beattie,  3d  Vt. 

107.  Frank  Bickford,  24th  Me. 

108.  Joseph  B.  Cloudman,  N.  H.  H.  A. 

109.  Sylvanus  Marshall,  1st  Nevada. 

110.  George  R. '  Bush,  6th  Vt. 

111.  George  R.  Holmes,  14th  N.  H. 

112.  James  D.  Blodgett,  N.  H.  H.  A. 

113.  George  T.  Wentworth,  1st  N.  H.  Cavalry. 

114.  George  Hinman,  3d  Vt. 

115.  Charles  F.  Presby,  8th  Vt. 

116.  Alva  B.  Sleeper,  11th  Vt. 

117.  Aaron  R.  Wheeler,  3d  Vt. 


118.  George  S.  Blake,  N.  H.  H.  A. 

119.  Sylvanus  R.  Chesman,  5th  N.  H. 

120.  William  Woodward,  1st  Vt.  Cavalry. 

121.  Peter  Deering,  6th  N.  H. 

122.  Horace  P.  Moody,  N.  H.  H.  A. 

123.  William  Dow,  10th  Vt. 

124.  Ruel  Sawin,  9th  N.  H. 

125.  Joseph  Fontain,  1st  Vt.  Cavalry. 

126.  John  G.  Derby,  17th  N.  H. 

127.  Henry  Houghton,  9th  N.  H. 

128.  D.  T.  Timberlake,  23d  Me. 

129.  Nat.  M.  Davenport,  3d  Mass. 

130.  William  H.  Veazie.  5th  N.  H. 


*  Dead. 


ALMON   B.  WHITE   POST,  NO.  55,  WHITEFIELD. 

(Furnished  by  E.  B.  Cowing,  Adjutant.) 


1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 


Charles  F.  Noyes,  2d  Bat.  U.  S.  V.  C. 

Eben  W.  Parker,  I,  14th  N.  H. 

Elijah  F.  Marden,  I,  5th  N.  H. 

Alex.  M.  Wentworth,  C,  4th  N.  H.,    I.  20th  Mass. 

Daniel  W.  Titus,  I,  3d  N.  H. 

Oliver  B.  Strout. 

Jonathan  Dow,  B,  5th  N.  H. 

Henry  O.  Cram. 

Chaiies  E.  King,  A,  17th  N.  H. 

Joseph  W.  Marshall,  L,  1st  Cav. 

Charles  S.  Parker. 

Riva  F.  Parker,  G,  11th  N.  H. 

Joseph  L.  Patten.  F,  50th  Mass, 

George  M.  Elliott,  H,  1st  Cav. 

Ambrose  L.  Vannah,  E,  41st  Mass. 

Lewis  D.  White,  L,  H'y  Art. 

Sidney  H.  Elmer,  H,  13th  N.  H. 

George  Robinson,  F,  2d  N.  H. 

Ezra  D.  Clark,  I,  3d  N.  H. 

Azariah  L.  Clark,  I,  3d  N.  H. 

Asa  D.  Hill,  3d  Bat.  Vt.  Art. 

Joseph  Thompson. 

Lorenzo  D.  Whitcher,  C,  15th  N.  H. 

James  H.  Henselpacker,  C,  6th  and  7th  Me. 

Moses  Colby,  E,  14th  N.  H. 

Harlow  Connor,  D,  1st  Cav. 

Charles  M.  Blood,  I,  3d  N.  H. 

George  H.  Gilidden,  H,  H'y  Art. 

Mi  'ses  C.  Glines,  E,  2d  Vt. 

Joseph  T.  Bemis.  I,  1st  Vt.  Cav. 

Jonathan  M.  Lang,  I,  H'y  Art. 

Joseph  A.  Wilkins,  C,  40th  Mass. 

Albert  W.  Lane,  L,  H'y  Art. 


34.  Alfred  B.  Derby,  D,  8th  Vt. 

35.  Ira  S.  M.  Gove,  A,  17th  N.  H. 

36.  Madison  C.  Rowe,  C,  7th  Me. 

37.  George  W.  Place,  I,  H'y  Art. 

38.  Richard  Lane,  Jr.,  L.  H'y  Art. 

39.  Lewis  L.  Morse,  H,  14th  Me. 

40.  Royal  Hicks,  A,  17th  N.  H.  H'y  Art. 

41.  W.  H.  Simonds,  D,  13th  N.  H. 

42.  Ephraim  S.  Miles,  I,  Vt.  Cav. 

43.  Horace  M.  Lindsey, 

44.  Samuel  Resden.  A,  26th  Mass. 

45.  Chauncey  M.  Snow,  K.  8th  Vt. 

46.  Ezra  B.  Cowing,  A,  11th  Vt. 

47.  Charles  F.  Marden,  C,  2d  N.  H. 

48.  John  O'Niel. 

49.  Henry  W.  Libbey,  B,  5th  N.  H. 

50.  William  J.  Baker,  A,  6th  N.  H. 

51.  James  O.  Hubbard,  E,  14th  N.  H. 

52.  Spaulding  S.  Rich,  E,  14th  N.  H. 

53.  Ben  C.  Garland,  B,  16th  N.  H. 

54.  James  Hagan,  E,  7th  R.  I. 

55.  James  H.  Aldrich,  3d,  9th  Vt. 

56.  Charles  W.  Cushman,  I,  H'y  Art. 

57.  William  Barnett,  D,  35th  Mass. 

58.  Albert  I.  Lindsey. 

59.  George  W.  Gage,  E.  3d  Vt. 

60.  James  P.  Thorn,  I,  55th  Mass. 

61.  S.  H.  Barnett,  H,  13th  N.  H. 

62.  Henry  McMillen,  I,  3d  Vt. 

63.  Martin  D.  Bian,  L,  H'y  Art. 

64.  Lewis  H.  Estes,  H,  2.1  Vt. 

65.  Robert  McCann.  E,  11th  Penn.  Reserves. 


JOHN   E.  WILLIS   POST,  GORHAM. 


(Furnished  by  Post  Commander  A.  S.  Twitchell,  President  Veterans'  Union.) 

(PRESENT   MEMBERSHIP  AND   RESIDENCE.) 


1.  Albert  S.  Twitchell.  7th  Me.  Light  Bat.,  Gorham 

2.  Elmer  L.  Stevens,  10th  Me.  Vols.,  " 

3.  Frank  C.Stevens,  11th  Me.  Vols.,  " 


4.  C.  W.  Nolen,  3d  Del.  Vols.,  Island  Pond,  Vt. 

5.  Charles  G.  Hamlin,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A.,  Gorham 

6.  O.  P.  Howland,  2d  Mass.  H.  A.,  " 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


191 


Milan 
Gorham 

Berlin 
Gorham 


Bethel,  Me. 
Gorham 


7.  E.  W.  Forbes.  14th  N.  H.  Vols..  Berlin 

8.  J.  P.  Dunham,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A.,  Norway,  Me. 

9.  S.  E.  Bartlett,  8th  Me.  Vols.,  Gorham 

10.  P.  M.  Morgan,  20th  Me.  Vols.,  " 

11.  W.  Noyes,  15th  Vt.  Vols.,  " 

12.  I.  W.  Burbank,  5th  N.  H.  Vols.,  " 

13.  S.  S.  Chipman,  Frigate  Colorado,  '' 

14.  Joseph  Goodno,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A.,  " 

15.  George  W.  Burbank.  8th  Me.  Vols.,  " 

16.  W.  W.  Goodridge,  25th  Me.  Vols., 

17.  Perrin  Lombard.  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

18.  A.  C.  Gurney,  7th  Me.  Lt.  Battery. 

19.  H.  F.  WardweU,  4th  N.  H.  Vols., 

20.  T.  N.  Wight.  1st  N.  H.  H.  A., 

21.  R.  H.  Emerson,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A., 

22.  J.  C.  Evans,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

23.  A.  S.  Bisbee,  13th  Me.  Vols., 

24.  A.  R.  Sylvester,  25th  Me.  Vols., 

25.  Daniel  Griffin,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

26.  Levi  L.  Brown,  Monitor  Monadnock, 

27.  J.  H.  Thomas, 

28.  Jas.  W.  Farrington,  3d  N.  H.  Vols.,  (dead,) 

29.  Calvin  Morse,  5th  N.  H.  Vols., 

30.  O.  B.  Frank,  1st  Me.  Cavalry, 

31.  S.  A.  Collins,  20th  Me.  Vols.. 

32.  J.  J.  Hawkins.  1st  N.  H.  H.  A., 

33.  W.  H.  Evans,  9th  N.  H.  Vols.. 

34.  I.  8.  Wells,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

35.  N.  E.  Burnett,  9th  Me.  Vols., 

36.  A.  J.  Lary,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

37.  T.  J.  Lary,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 
33.  Franklin  Buck,  16th  Me.  Vols., 
39.  H.  P.  York,  14th N.  H.  Vols., 

41.  J.  McCormick,  5th  N.  H.  Vols.. 

42.  H.  V.  Mason.  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

43.  A.  J.  Magill,  10th  Me.  Vole., 

44.  C.  W.  Muzzey,  Frigate  Minnesota, 

45.  D.  G.  Eastman.  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

46.  W.  A.  Willis,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

47.  J.  W.  Perkins,  2d  N.  H.  Vols., 

48.  I.  W.  Spiller,  5th  Me.  Battery, 

49.  C.  E.  Lowe,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A., 

50.  Jesse  Tuttle,  17th  N.  H.  Vols., 

51.  J.  W.  Buzzell,  15th  Vt.  Vols., 

52.  Adolph  Laury,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 

53.  Levi  Shedd,  5th  Me.  Vols., 

54.  Clark  Wayland,  5th  Me.  Vols.. 


Milan 
Gorham 

Milan 

Gorham 

Dummer 

Milan 
a 

Gorham 
Milan 

Gorham 
Berlin 

Dummer 

it 

Milan 

Dummer 

Gorham 

Shelbume 

Randolph 

Berlin 

Randolph 

Milan 

Gorham 


55. 

56. 
57. 
58. 
59. 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 
64. 
65. 
66. 
67. 
68. 
69. 
70. 
71. 
72. 
73. 
74. 
75. 
76. 
77. 
78. 
79. 
80. 
81. 
82. 
83. 
84. 
85. 
86. 
87. 
88. 
89. 
90. 
91. 
92. 
93. 
94. 
95. 
96. 
97. 
98. 
99. 


Mdan 


Gorham 
Milan 

a 

Gorham 
n 

Dummer 

Gorham 

Milan 

Randolph 

Shelbume 

Gilead,  Me. 

Gorham 

Milan 

Berlin 

Milan 


Elery  Whei  Ler,  17th  N.  11.,  1st  N.  II.  II.  A.. 

Shelbume 

D.  C.  Bean.  17th  N.  II.  Vols., 
L.  R.  York,  12th  Me.  Vols., 
H.  J.  Chandler,  9th  N   II.  Vols., 

A.  J.  Howard,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A., 
C.  P.  Morgan,  20th  Me.  Vols., 
C.  W.  Horn,  5th  Me.  Vols., 
S.  L.  Norton,  19th  Me.  Vols., 
R.  P.  Noyes,  15th  Vt.  Vols., 
J.  B.  Lovejoy,  14th  N.  11.  Vols., 
W.  J.Blake.  23d  Me.  Vols.. 
Henry  Goodno,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 
Freeman  Tirrell,  6th  N.  H.  Vols.. 
J.  M.  Newell,  2d  N.  H.  Vols.. 
Edgar  Harriman,  14th  N.  H.  Vols., 
A.  H.  Eastman,  12th  N.  H.  Vols., 
J.  L.  York,  2d  N.  H.  Vols., 
Joseph  Pero,  W.  Gulf  Squadron, 
C.  L.  Bean,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A., 
AY.  F.  Han.  5th  N.  H.  Vols., 

F.  M.  Lang,  5th  N.  H.  Vols.,  " 
James  Wilson,  14th  N.  H.  Vols.,                  Gorham 

G.  W.  Morrill,  14th  Me.  Vols.,  Berlin 
G.  L.  Vincent,  9th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Chelsea,  Mass. 
Bernard  McCormick,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  Gorham 
S.  P.  Farewell,  5th  Me.  Battery.  Stark 
F.  A.  Edwards,  18th  Me.  Vols..  Lincoln,  Me. 
Philemon  Harriman,  14th  N.  H.Vols.,  Gilead,  Me. 
James  Gorman,  16th  Me.  Vols.,  Randolph 
P.  L.  Goud.  1st  N.  H.  H.  A.,  Dummer 
George  S.  Goud,  14th  N.  H.  Vols.,  " 
William  H.  Smith,  14th  N.  Y.  Vols.,       Randolph 

E.  R.  Bennett,  12th  Me.  Vols.,  Gilead.  Me. 
Erastus  Thurlow,  29th  Me.  Vols..  Berlin 
P.  B.  Heath.  12th  Me.  Vols..  Gilead,  Me. 
David  Sanborn,  25th  Me.  Vols.,  Gorham 
Franklin  Wheeler,  14th  N.  H.  Vols..  Berlin 
Edward  Mason.  18th  Mass.  Vols.,  Gilead,  Me. 
J.  N.  Will.  y.  1st  N.  H.  H.  A.,  " 

S.  D.  Green,  24th  Mich.  Vols.,  Berlin 

H.  W.  Rogers,  22d  Me.  Vols.,  Shelbume 

Wm.  Evans.  14th  X.  H.  Vols.,  Cape  Elizabeth,  Me. 
I.  P.  Wills,  28th  Me.  Vols.,  Shelbume 

J.  H.  Trask,  30th  Me.  Vols.,  Gorham 

H.  L.  Thurston,  8th  N.  H.Vols.,  Randolph 


CARLOS   FLETCHER   POST,    NO. 


COLKI'.KOOK. 


(Furnished  by  Samuel  I.  Bailey.  Adjutant.  I 


Colebrook 
Columbia 
Colebn  iok 
unknown 
( iolebrook 

Robert  Blakely,  2nd  N.  H.  Vols.,  Columbia 

John  R.  Little.  13th  N.  H.  Vols., W.  Stew  artstown 


1.  Elisha  P.  Hicks,  5th  Me.  Battery. 

2.  Eben  E.  Noyes,  N.  H.  H.  Artillery, 
James  L.  Loomis.  5th  Me.  Batti  ry, 
Charles  L.  Morrison.  10th  N.  H.  H.  A 


Hiram  C.  Young,  13th  N.  H.  Vols. 


8.  Elbridge  G.  Arlin,  13th  N.  II.  Vols.,  Colebrook 

9.  Thomas  Smith.   Kith  N.  II.  Vols.,  " 
in.  Levi  Bicks,   L3th  N.  II.  Vols., 

11.  James  W.  Newton,  4th  Vt.,  unknown 

12.  C.  AY.  Delliver,  1st  Conn., 

l.i.  c.  s.  Dalton,  13th  N.  II.  Vols.,  W.  Stewartstown 

14.  II.  II.  Lucas,  9th  N.  II..  unknown 


192 


History  of  Coos  County. 


15. 

16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 

2G. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 

34. 
35. 
36. 

37. 
38. 
39. 
40. 
41. 
42. 
43. 
44. 
45. 
46. 
47. 
48. 
49. 
50. 
51. 
52. 
53. 
54. 
55. 
56. 
57. 
58. 
59. 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 
64. 


*John  Shallow,  3dVt,,  Colebrook 

Harry  Gleason,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  " 

Thomas  Mayo,  4th  N  H.  Vols.,  W.  Stewartstown 
Seth  W.  Tirrell,  5th  Me.  Battery,  Colebrook 

Joseph  D.  Little,  unknown,  " 

William  R.  Jordan,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Columbia 
Charles  E.  Eolfe,  Heavy  Art.,  unknown 

Augustus  Osgood,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Colebrook 
fGeoi-ge  B.  Little,  3d  Vt.,  Conn.  Lake 

William  H.  Cleveland,  5th  Me.  Battery,  Columbia 
f  Daniel  G.  Ripley,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  West 

Stewartstown 
f  Gilbert  Harriman.  3d  Mass.  H.  A.,  Canaan,  Vt. 
JElias  Anderson,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  unknown 
G.  S.  Remick,  U.  S.  Engineers,  Colebrook 

George  H.  Lang,  1st  N.  H.  Cavalry.  " 

D.  S.  Stevens,  U.  S.  Engineers,  ;< 

Truman  D.  Barnett,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,         " 
f  Hiram  M.  Harvey,  1st  Vt.  Vols..      Canaan,  Vt. 
+ William  H.  Graham,  13th  N.  H.  Vols., 

St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 
Austin  M.  Jordan,  1st  Reg.  H.  Art.,  Colebrook 
Joseph  Morrow,  4th  Vt.  Vols.,  unknown 

William  W.  Barnett,  15th  Vt.  Vols.,  West 

Stewartstown 
Alma  M.  Cross,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Pittsburg 

fCharles  S.  Holmes,  1st  N.  H.  Art.  Jefferson 
+David  P.  Roby.  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Colebrook 
JJohn  E.  W.  Glidon,  5th  Maine,  unknown 

f  Albert  Harris,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Canaan,  Vt. 
fF.  R.  Luce,  2d  Vt.  Vols.,  unknown 

Martin  B.  Noyes,  1st  N.  H.  Art.,  Colebrook 

William  H.  Shurtleff,  1st  N.  H.  Art.,  Florida 
Leonard  A.  Felton,  6th  Mass.,  unknown 

Alfred  N.  Alls,  1st  N.  H.  H.  A.,  Colebrook 

f  Gardner  W.  Smith,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  unknown 
gMaleom  McAnnon,  7th  Reg.  N.  H.  V.,       " 
George  B.  Abbott,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  " 

A.  B.  Gaskell,  2d  Wisconsin,  Colebrook 

Henry  Scott,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  unknown 

Fay  Carleton,  2d  N.  H.  Vols.,  " 

fCharles  Perry,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Pittsburg 

fSamuel  Keeble,  3d  Vt.  Vols.,  Canaan.  Vt. 

fArnold  Aldrich,  unknown,  Pittsburg 

Henrv  Tewksburv.  IstN.  H.  H.  A.,  Stewartstown 


Whitcomb  Tirrell,  1st  Me.  Battery. 
flsaac  M.  Wood,  5th  Vt.  Vols., 
+John  Paul,  13th  N.  H.  Vols., 
Nelson  Haynes,  unknown, 
fClark  Stevens,  2d  N.  H.  Vols 
Hiram  B.  Gould,  1st  H.  Art., 
+ William  W.  Russ.  1st  H.  Art. 


Pittsburg 
unknown 


North  Stratford 
Colebrook 
Columbia 


fFrank  C.  Roby,  1st  Vt.  Cavalry,  North  Stratford 


65. 
66. 

67. 

68. 

69. 

70. 

71. 

72. 

73. 

74. 

75. 

76. 

77. 

78. 

79. 

80. 

81. 

82. 

83. 

84. 

85. 

86. 

87. 

88. 

89. 

90. 

91. 

92. 

93. 

94. 

95. 

96. 

97. 

98. 

99. 
100. 
101. 
102. 

103. 
104. 
105. 
106. 
107. 
108. 
109. 
110. 
111. 
112. 
113. 
114. 
115. 
116. 


James  Spi'eadbury  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  unknown 
fH.  T.  Heath,  12th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Stewartstown 
fPhilo  VanDyke,  1st  H.  Art.,  " 

f Wallace  F.  Severy,  3d  Vt.  Vols.,  North  Stratford 


Colebrook 
Columbia 
North  Stratford 
Bloomfield,  Vt. 
Vols.,  Pittsburg 
unknown 
Colebrook 
,    N.  Stratford 
Pittsburg 
Colebrook 
.  Stratford 
Stewartstown 


Ira  Noyes,  12th  N.  H.  Vols., 

James  Legro,  13th  N.  H.  Vols., 

iTliomas  Bennett,  unknown, 

Alonzo  A.  Martin,  3d  Vt.  Vols. 

tWilliam  McKinnon,  13th  N.  H. 

f  J.  F.  Burton,  unknown, 

fC.  A.  Hutchinson,  N.  H.  Art., 

fCharles  R.  Schoff,  16th  Me.  Vols. 

fSimeon  Merrill,  2d  N.  H.  Vols., 

Michael  Tobin,  loth  Me.  Vols., 

Dexter  S.  French,  3d  Vt.  Vols., 

Charles  Heath.  13th  N.  H.  Vols., 

f  Michael  Lynch,  3d  Vt.  Vols.,     North  Stratford 

fFrank  A.  Roby,  9th  Vt.  Vols.,  Columbia 

fMyron  C.  Fuller,  1st  Vt.  Cav.,     Bloomfield,  Vt. 

J  A.  S.  Huggins,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Pittsburg 

JMoses  C.  Heath,  5th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Stewartstown 

James  M.  Jordan,  unknown,  Colebrook 

■(■George  W.  Rowell,  2d  Vt.,  Columbia 

JC.  E.  Smith,  State  Service,       Hartford,  Conn. 

James  B.  Colby,  12th  N.  H.  Vols.,         Columbia 

Samuel  I.  Bailey,  18th  N.  H.  Vols., 

fC.  R.  Blodgett,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Littleton 

W.  T.  Keyes,  10th  Me.  Vols.,  Colebrook 

John  Jackson,  1st  Vt.  Cavalry,     Bloomfield.  Vt. 

Joseph  Watson,  3d  Reg.  Vt.  Vols.,   N.  Stratford 

Jas.  W.  Clark,  4th  Mass.,  Lincoln  Plantation,  Me. 

Henry  A.  Reach,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,        Columbia 

William  B.  Lacy,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  died  July  4,  '85 

XT).  S.  Chandler,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,        Colebrook 

f  John  Gray,  8th  Vt.  Vols.,  Columbia 

JE.  L.  Hunt,  L.  Art.,  &  3d  Me.  Vols.,    unknown 

JGeorge  T.  Bishop,  5th  Me.  Bat.,   Stewartstown 

William  H.  Gault,  2d  Vt,  Vols.  &  2d  N.  H. 

Inf.,  Stewartstown 
John  S.  Capen,  1st  Mass.  Cavalry,       Colebrook 
Charles  D.  Gamsby,  13th  N.  H.  Vols., 
John  H.  Jordan,  1st  H.  Art.,       Lenhngton.  Vt. 
Edelbert  Roundy,  9th  Me.  Inf.,  Colebrook 

JN.  Munn,  9th  H.  Art.,  Groveton 

C.  C.  Hicks.  9th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Colebrook 

Edwin  Small.  17th  Me.  Vols., 
Ahin  W.  Arlin,  1st  H.  Art..  " 

Owen  F.  Lombard,  5th  Vols.,  (i 

Harvey  C.  Brown.  5th  N.  H.  Vols., 
Hugh  Hoyt,  17th  U.  S.  I.,  Magalloway,  Me. 

Henry  Ballantine,  11th  Conn.  Vols.,    Colebrook 
George  P.  Brown.  6th  N.  H.  Vols.,  " 

Josiah  Annis,  15th  Vt.,  li 


*Expelled.  fTransferred.  iDropped.  ^Discharged. 


The  Soldiers  of  Coos. 


193 


MERRILL  POST,  NO.  t>5,  WEST   STEWARTSTOWN. 

(Furnished  by  Sumner  Rowell,  Q.  M.) 


1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 


John  H.  Brooks,  3d  Vt.. 
Thomas  If.  Mayo,  4th  N.  H.. 

C.  S.  Dalton,  13th  N.  H., 
('.  \V.  Delliber,  1st  Conn.  Cav., 
J.  It.  Little,  13th  N.  H., 
W.  McKiimon,  13th  N.  H., 

D.  G.  Ripley,  13th  N.  H., 
G.  W.  Smith,  13th  N.  H.. 
A.  Hutchinson,  23d  Mass., 
A.  Harris*,  13th  N.  H, 
S.  Rowell.  1st  N.  H, 
*0.  L.  Fling,  1st  N.  H.  H.  Art, 
John  Paul,  13th  N.  H. 
*C.  S.  Holmes,  1st  N.  H.  H.  Art., 
G.  Harriman,  3d  Mass.  H.  Art., 
*A.  R.  Aldrich,  2d  N.  H, 
Joseph  Davis,  15th  N.  H, 
W.  W.  Scott,  13th  N.  H, 
W.  B.  Huston,  1st  N.  H. 
H.  M.  Harvey.   1st  Vt.. 
S.  Dunsmore,  9th  N.  H., 
*J.  C.  Post,  1st  N.  H.  H.  Art., 
S.  Keeb.e,3dVt., 


Burlington,  Vt, 

24. 

W. 

Stewartstown 

25. 

»  i 

26. 

Berlin 

27. 

W. 

Stewartstown 

28. 

Canada 

29. 

w. 

StewTartstown 

30. 

tt 

31. 

(I 

32. 

Canaan 

33. 

\v. 

Stewartstown 

34. 

tt 

35. 

Pittsburg 

36. 

•I 

n 

37. 

Canaan 
a 

38. 
39. 

Pittsburg 

40. 
41. 

Canaan 

42. 

tt 

43. 

Canada 

45. 

Stewartstown 

46. 

tt 

47. 

A.  M.  Taylor,  12th  Me., 

H.  T.  Owen,  15th  Vt., 

D.  Chase,  1st  N.  H.  H.  Art., 

*E.  M.  Danforth,  1st  Vt.. 

S.  Merrill,  2d  N.  H, 

*H.  Sawyer,  1st  N.  H.  H.  Art., 

W.  Derarth,  2d  N.  H, 

N.  O.  Tuttle.  IstN.  H.  H.  Art., 

S.  Richards,   3d  Me., 

F.  E.  Robey,  3d  Vt., 

J.  M.  Reach,  3d  Berdan's  S.  8., 

I.  J.  Hartshorn,  9th  Vt,, 

S.  T.  Brunell,  1st  Vt.. 

J.  C.  Parish,  5th  N.  H, 

A.  Chase, 

J.  Perry,  8th  Vt., 

M.  McKiimon,  1st  N.  H. 

J.  E.  Hibbard,  2d  N.  H., 

N.  Beecher,  ±5th  Me., 

Thomas  Thebault,  3d  Vt.  Bat., 

A.  Hanmah,  13th  N.  H., 

C.  Perry,  13th  N.  H, 

John  Kingsley, 


W. 


I'ittsburg 

Canaan 

Pittsburg 

( 'larksville 

Pittsburg 

Canada 

St.  wartstown 

Pittsburg 


( 'iiuaau 


PittBDUrg 

Canada 
it 

I'ittsburg 
Canaan 
Canada 

Pittsburg 
( 'anada 


ROBERT  R.  THOMPSON  POST,  NO.  77,  NORTH  STRATFORD. 
(Furnished  by  F.  A.  Ruby.) 


1.  Clark  Stevens,  2d  H.  Art.,  Stratford 

2.  Henry  B.  Gilkey,13th  N.  H. Vols.,  Northumberland 


Bloomtield,  Vt, 
Stratford 
Bloomtield.  Vt. 
Maidstone,  Vt. 
Bloomtield.  Vt. 


3.  M.  C.  Fuller.  1st  Vt.  Cav., 

4.  \V.  H.  Lovejoy,  2dU.  S.  Cav., 

5.  J.  M.  Wood,  5th  Vt.  Vols., 

6.  Edward  Beach,  9th  Vt.  Vols.. 

7.  P.  A.  Roby,  9th  Vt.  Vols., 

8.  F.  C.  Roby,  1st  Vt.  Cav., 

9.  N.  M.  Johnson,  10th  Vt.  Vols.,  " 

10.  John  Burton.  9th  and  1st  Me.  Vet,  Inf.,  Stratford 

11.  Ephrain  H.  Mahurin,  13th  N.  H.  Vols.,  Columbia 

12.  W.  E.  Cram,  8th  Vt.  Vols.,  Maidstone,  Vt. 

13.  Charles  P.  Schoff,  16th  Me.  Vols,,  Stratford 

14.  Elwyn  Holbrook,  13th  N.  H.Vols.,  Bloomfiekl.  Vt. 

15.  John  Jackson,  IstVt.  Cav.,  (died  March.  1886.) 

16.  Michael  Lynch,  3d  Vt.  Vols.,  Stratford 

17.  Silas  Curtis.  1st  X.  H.  H.  Art..  Columbia 

18.  George  Rowell,  2d  Vt,  Vols..  " 


Columbia 

Stratford 


Bloomfield,  Vt. 


19.  Erastus  Atherton,   13th  Vt.  Vols.,  Stratford 

20.  Wallace  F.  Severy,  3d  Vt,  Vols., 

21.  W.  W.  Russ,  1st  N.  H.  H.  Art., 

22.  Abel  Jordan,  13th  X.  H.  Vols., 

23.  Paul  Kelley,  1st  N.  H.  H.  Art,, 

24.  Samuel  F.  Brown,  V.  S.  S.  S., 

25.  Sabin  Welcome,  5th  Me.  Vols., 

26.  Josiah  W.  Tebbetts,  1st  X.  H.  H.  Art,,    Stratford 

27.  M.  V.  Reed,  9th  Me.  Vols..  " 

28.  Calvin  Fuller,  3d  Vt.  Vols.,  " 

29.  Elisha  P.  Hicks,  5th  Me.  Battery.  Colebrool, 

30.  Fred  L.  Kenney,  unattached  Inf.,  Stratford 

31.  Geo.  Montgomery,  9th  Vt.  Inf.,  Northumberland 

32.  Wellington  Brown,  1st  V  II.  Cav.,  Stratford 

33.  Edson  Harriman,  3d  Vt.  Inf..  " 

34.  Simeon  Grover,  Me.  Inf.,  Columbia 

35.  Guy  Johnson,  l.ith  \.  H.  V  Stratford 


SUMMARY. 

i  In  active  membership.  I 

( Iross  Post,    Lancaster ' '" 

Willis  Post.  ( iorham 99 

Fletcher  Post.  Colebrook 72 

White  Post.  Whitefield 64 

Merrill  Post.  Stewartstown 41 

Thompson    Post,  Stratford 35 

Total 121 


♦Dropped. 


13 


194  History  of  Coos  County. 


CONCLUSION. 

In  the  preceding  pages  I  have  endeavored  to  present,  as  concisely  as 
possible,  and  as  accurately  as  the  sources  of  information  at  command 
would  allow,  a  record  of  the  several  organizations  raised  in  the  state,  a 
list  of  the  men  who  periled  life  and  all  its  attractions  to  serve  and  save 
the  country  in  its  time  of  danger,  and  a  summary  of  the  forces  raised, 
with  an  analysis  of  the  loss  by  casualty  and  other  causes,  whereby  these 
men  are  accounted  for.  Imperfect  as  this  record  is,  and  issued  doubtingly, 
remembering  the  sensitive  criticism  that  may  properly  follow  each  error 
of  omission  or  commission  in  recording  a  soldier's  service  or  valor,  and 
remembering  also  the  risk  it  runs  in  passing  through  the  press,  from  type- 
setters and  proof-readers  unfamiliar  with  the  writer's  chirography,  or  the 
family  names  of  the  region,  the  best  has  been  done  that  circumstances 
permitted,  and  this  chapter  is  dedicated  in  Fraternity,  Charity  and  Loyalty 
to  the  good  men  living,  and  the  memory  of  the  good  men  dead,  who  illus- 
trated their  valor  and  their  worth  in  responding  to  the  call  to  arms. 

No  matter  where  or  how  their  service  was  spent,  how  brief  or  how  long 
their  term  of  enlistment,  the  test  of  it  all  was  the  willingness  to  volunteer 
and  the  actual  performance  of  that  act.  To  obey  orders  was  all  that 
remained  to  them,  the  responsibility  of  events  was  elsewhere.  Theirs  was 
the  soldierly  duty  of  devotion  and  obedience,  and  so  all  are  alike  entitled 
to  the  respect  and  gratitude  that  should  follow  noble  and  hazardous  en- 
deavor honestly  undertaken  and  service  well  performed. 

It  was  the  marvel  of  the  time  that  the  armies  of  the  Union  should  be 
absorbed  at  the  close  of  the  war,  into  the  body  of  the  people  without  dis- 
turbance, and  the  transformation  from  the  soldier  to  the  citizen  became 
so  complete  as  to  leave  no  trace.  This  is  the  crowning  glory  of  the  re- 
public. The  citizen  is  a  soldier  in  time  of  war,  and  the  soldier  is  a  citizen 
in  time  of  peace. 

Under  the  guise  of  the  farmer,  the  mechanic,  the  merchant,  the  pro- 
fessional man,  the  laborer,  the  soldiers  of  Coos  who  in  perilous  times 
followed  the  drum-beat  in  scenes  of  high  endeavor,  have  steadily  since 
the  war  been  pursuing  the  paths  of  honest  toil.  They  have  been  the  best 
of  citizens,  because  in  their  own  persons  they  tried  and  solved  the  great 
problem  of  the  worth  of  the  government  they  defended,  saved  and  now 
enjoy,  and  it  is  proper  that  the  diminishing  column  that  remains  should 
receive  the  respect  of  each  community  wherein  its  members  are  exem- 
plary, modest,  industrious  and  worthy  citizens. 

Green  be  your  graves,  oh  comrades,  who  have  gone  before!  Fresh  and 
sweet  be  the  memories  that  float  from  the  past;  and  hallowed  be  the  love 
that  bears,  and  shall  bear  you  ever  in  tender  remembrance!  Dire  was  the 
conflict,  but  your  reveries  are  unbroken,   and  ye  rest  well;  the  eternal 


Public  Buildings.  L95 


mountains  guard  your  slumbers  and  the  singing  waters  chant  your  even'- 
song!  Long  and  weary  was  the  way,  but  ye  laid  down  beside  the  path 
of  duty,  and  generations  yet  unborn,  following  the  beautiful  custom  of 
Memorial  Day,  shall,  as  the  gloom  of  winter  melts  into  the  smile  of  spring, 
spread  your  graves  with  vernal  tributes  and  perpetuate  the  grand  idea, 
that  the  loftiest  conception  of  patriotism,  the  truest  test  of  manhood,  is 
that  which  impels  the  citizen  in  the  hour  of  its  peril,  to  otter  his  life  for 
the  state. 

Let  us  keep  the  nation  worthy  the  sacrifices  that  preserved  its  life,  so 
that  they  may  not  have  been  made  in  vain,  and  that  the  country,  thus 
rescued,  may  escape  the  dangers  of  faction,  and  remain  through  the  dis- 
tant future,  the  refuge  of  the  oppressed,  the  home  of  an  enlightened  and 
happy  people. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 


LANCASTER— Court  Houses,  Jails,  etc. — In  the  interval  between  the 
organization  of  the  county  and  the  building  of  the  original  court  house, 
the  courts  were  held  in  the  hall  of  Col.  John  Willson's  store,  which 
stood  at  the  north  end  of  Main  street,  and  was  also  occupied  by  North  Star 
Lodge  of  Masons.  At  this  time  a  room  was  prepared  to  serve  for  a  jail,  and 
Judge  William  Lovejoy  was  the  first  jailer.  The  first  court  house  was  built 
in  1 806,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Bridge  streets.  It  was  a  square 
wooden  building  of  one  room,  with  a  flat  roof.  The  juries  used  Willson's 
hall.  The  house  was  heated  by  an  inverted  potash  kettle,  with  a  hole  in 
the  bottom,  upon  an  arch  of  brick,  with  a  flaring  stove-pipe  to  carry  away 
the  smoke.  The  "  Old  Meeting  House  "  being  excessively  cold,  the  funerals 
in  winter  were  generally  held  in  the  court  house.  After  a  while  a  bell 
was  procured  to  announce  the  opening  of  court.  This  was  suspended  from  a 
gallows  of  two  poles,  and  has  quite  a  history.  It  was  originally  broughi 
to  the  county  by  "  Guinea  "  Smith,  and  placed  on  a  tripod  of  poles,  near  his 
factory  at  Colebrook.  After  the  factory  was  burned,  Francis  Wilson 
bought  the  bell  and  brought  it  to  Lancaster.  When  no  longer  n  quired  at 
the  courthouse,  it  was  used  at  the  old  academy,  and  afterward  at  the 
machine  shop  of  Thompson,    Williams  &,  Co. 

The  old  jail  was  built  in  ism;,  near  where  the  present   one  stands,  and 
the  site  for  both  jail  and  court-house  was  given  by  Artemas  Wilder.     This 


196  History  of  Coos  County. 

jail  was  built  of  hewn  elm  logs,  firmly  bolted.  It  had  an  upper  and  lower 
room,  with  massive  wooden  doors.  For  years  Coos  and  the  "  border  "  was 
a  favorite  resort  of  desperadoes  and  counterfeiters,  with  some  of  whom, 
after  imprisonment,  the  keepers  had  serious  struggles,  and  the  large  rings 
in  the  floor,  and  the  heavy  iron  chains,  used  to  connect  them  with  the 
fetters  of  the  prisoners,  were  in  frequent  use.  This  jail  was  burned  January 
9,  1858,  and  the  present  stone  one  erected  soon  after. 

The  old  court-house  became  antiquated  and  too  small,  yet  there  was 
hesitation  regarding  the  building  a  new  one  until  Judge  Livermore.  in  1831, 
peremptorily  ordered  the  erection  of  a  new  one,  and  specified  the  plan. 
In  1808,  when  this  court-house  was  demolished,  one  of  the  workmen  found 
in  the  arch  of  the  eastern  gable,  securely  fastened  to  the  building,  a  pack- 
age which  contained  a  copy  each  of  "  The  New  Hampshire  Patriot  "  and 
the  Haverhill  ';  Democratic  Republican,'''  and  the  following  statement 
written  by  Richard  Eastman: — 

"This  building  was  erected  for  holding  the  Courts  in  the  County  of  Coos,  State  of  New 
Hampshire.  Commenced  June  7,  1831,  and  will  probably  be  completed  by  October  1,  of  the  same 
year,  expense  about  $1,800.  The  stone  and  brick  work  was  undertaken  by  Gen.  John  Willson  and 
Lieut.  Joseph  Cady.  The  stone  work  cut  and  hammered  byElisba  Cushmanand  William  Holmes. 
Master  workman  of  the  brick  work,  Capt.  Peter  Merrill.  Assistant  workmen,  William  Page, 
Zadock  Cady,  Joseph  C.  Cady,  Calvin  Willard,  Jonathan  W.  Willard.  Tenders,  Josiah  G-  Hobart, 
Samuel  Banfield,  William  W.  Moore,  William  Horn,  Franklin  Savage.  The  carpenters'  work 
done  under  the  superintendence  of  William  Moody.  The  joiners'  work  done  by  Richard  Eastman, 
Elijah  D.  Twombly,  Artemas  Lovejoy.  The  committee  who  superintended  the  whole  building  of 
said  house  were  John  W.  Weeks,  Thomas  Carlisle  and  Richard  Eastman." 

In  1853-54  a  county  building  was  erected  for  the  county  offices  on  the 
bank  of  Israel's  river  near  the  grist-mill.  This  was  shored  and  braced  up 
for  many  years  to  keep  it  from  failing  into  the  river.  Both  this  and  the 
court-house  required  costly  and  extensive  repairs;  even  with  these  they 
would  not  be  what  the  progress  of  the  county  demanded,  and,  in  1868, 
it  was  voted  "to  demolish  the  county  building,  and  enlarge  and  re- 
pair the  court-house  to  accommodate  the  courts  and  the  county  offices." 
The  foundation  walls,  however,  were  found  to  be  unsafe,  and,  at  last,  an 
entirely  new  building  was  decided  upon.  This  was  brick,  two  stories  high, 
40x70  feet  in  size,  surmounted  by  a  cupola  and  bell,  and  completed  in  May, 
L869.  The  offices  of  the  probate  judge  and  register  of  deeds  and  two  jury 
rooms  were  on  the  ground  floor.  The  second  story  contained  a  high  and 
well-ventilated  court-room  of  ample  proportions,  and  the  offices  of 
the  county  treasurer  and  commissioners.  Its  original  cost  was  about 
$17,000,  but  alterations  and  improvements  brought  the  whole  expense 
of  construction  up  to  nearly  $30,000.  The  building  was  an  ornament 
to  Lancaster,  and  a  source  of  pride  to  the  people  of  the  entire  county. 
The  county  commissioners,  Gen.  A.  J.  Congdon,  Seneca  S.  Merrill  and 


Public  Buildings. 


John  C.  Leighton,  who  had  charge  of  its  erection,  well  discharged  their 
trust. 

In  1885  the  county  delegation  voted  to  rebuild  the  vaults,  which  were 
not  considered  safe  depositories  of  the  records.  These  were  completed  al 
a  cost  of  |3,000  in  1886.  To  hasten  their  drying  stoves  had  been  placed  in 
them,  and  fires  were  maintained  for  some  days.  On  the  night  of  Novem 
ber  -f,  1886.  workmen  were  engaged  until  midnight  in  placing  steam-heal- 
ing apparatus  into  the  building.  After  their  departure  M.  A.  Hastings, 
clerk  of  the  court,  J.  W.  Flanders,  register  of  probate,  and  C.  A.  Cleave- 
land,  register  of  deeds,  made  an  examination  of  the  building  and  every- 
thing appeared  safe;  but  between  two  and  three  in  the  morning  the  court- 
house was  discovered  in  flames.  The  loss  was  complete;  building,  records, 
and  everything  connected  therewith  were  destroyed,  only  a  few  half- 
charred  leaves  remaining  of  the  immense  number  of  records  which  told  the 
history  of  the  county  for  eighty-two  years.  Hon.  W.  S.  Ladd  had  his 
law  office  in  the  court-house,  and  all  his  law  papers  and  documents,  to- 
gether with  a  library  valued  at  about  $9,000,  were  consumed. 

A  county  convention  met  at  the  town  hall  of  Lancaster  December  9, 
1886,  and  organized  to  consider  the  question  of  rebuilding  the  court-house. 
An  effort  was  made  to  delay  action  so  that  the  people  might  vote  on  the 
matter  of  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Lancaster.  The  thriving  town 
of  Berlin  offered  to  build  a  court-house  equally  as  good  as  the  one  destroyed, 
by  contributions  of  its  citizens,  if  the  county  seat  was  removed  thither. 
Groveton  presented  its  claims  and  a  liberal  subscription  paper,  but  the 
convention  adopted  this  resolution  by  a  vote  of  thirteen  to  six: 

"Besolved,  That  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  is  hereby  appropriated  to  rel  »uild  the  court- 
house and  county  offices,  on  the  present  court-house  site,  in  Lancaster  village,  and  that  any  part  of 
said  sum  not  expended  on  the  completion  of  said  building  be  covered  back  into  the  county  treasury. " 

The  convention  also  instructed  the  county  commissioners  to  immedi- 
ately proceed  to  rebuild  the  court-house  building.  Various  plans  were 
submitted;  finally  one  presented  bya  Boston  architect  was  accepted;  Mead, 
Mason  &  Co.,  of  Concord,  awarded  the  contract  for  erecting  the  court- 
house, and  it  is  now  in  process  of  construction.  It  will  cost  over  $17,000, 
and  will  be  the  best  public  edifice  in  this  section  of  the  state.  It  is  50x70 
feet,  with  a  six  foot  projection  on  each  side,  making  the  front  end  sixty- 
six  feet,  three  stories  high,  and  a  cupola  and  spire,  running  up  nearly  LOO 
feet  from  the  foundation.  Underneath  the  whole  is  a  basement,  wherein 
is  to  be  located  the  steam  boiler,  waterclosets,  coal  bins,  etc.  The  entire  build- 
ing is  to  be  of  brick  and  granite,  and  the  design  is  a  very  handsome  one.  <  »n 
the  first  floor  is  the  registry  of  deeds,  registry  of  probate,  clerk's  office,  com- 
missioners' room,  grand  jury  room,  and  vaults.  Located  about  the  same  as 
in  the  old  house.  In  the  front  and  center  is  the  vestibule.  L6x26  feet,  with 
two  flights  of  stairs,  and  a  janitor's  closet.     On  the  second  floor  is  tin-  court 


198  History  of  Coos  County. 

room,  50x50,  two  stories  high,  lighted  by  north,  south  and  west  windows. 
In  the  front  end,  over  the  registers'  offices,  are  the  judge's  room,  lawyers* 
and  consultation  rooms,  and  janitor's  room.  Over  these,  in  the  third  story, 
are  two  jury  rooms,  sheriff's  room,  etc.  Lavatories  and  water  closets  are 
on  every  floor,  and  conveniently  arranged.  The  building  is  to  be  heated 
by  a  fifteen-horse  power,  100  pounds  hydraulic  pressure,  sectional  steam 
boiler.* 

County  Alms  House. — The  question  of  purchasing  a  county  farm  was 
presented  to  the  county  convention  in  1862,  but  that  body  was  not  willing 
to  assume  any  responsibility  without  instruction,  and  referred  the  matter 
to  the  people,  who  defeated  it  at  the  town  meetings  in  March,  1863.  A  re- 
port prepared  in  1861  showed  at  that  date  seventy-nine  persons  receiving 
aid  from  the  county,  and  that  out  of  an  entire  tax  of  $6,511.7-2,  the  sup- 
port of  county  paupers  called  for  $5,305.00.  The  subject  of  a  farm  was 
still  agitated,  and  a  county  convention  called  to  meet  in  Lancaster,  Janu- 
ary 19.  1865,  to  consider  and  act  upon  the  matter.  The  question  was  re- 
ferred again  to  the  voters,  and  the  final  result  was  the  purchase  of  the 
beautiful  farm  of  Isaiah  H.  Pickard,  located  on  the  Connecticut  river,  about 
one-third  of  a  mile  fromWest  Stewartstown,  in  the  town  of  Stewartstowm 
The  farm  contained  six  hundred  acres,  with  upland,  grazing  and  woodland, 
a  meadow  of  eighty  acres,  a  sugar  orchard  of  1,300  trees,  and  a  heavy 
growth  of  fine  spruce,  hemlock,  and  other  lumber  trees.  There  was  on 
the  farm  a  good  two-story  house,  36x26  feet  in  size,  which  was  made  the 
basis  to  the  alms  house  constructed  in  1867.  To  this  farm  house  an  ad- 
dition was  made  of  a  three  story  building,  eighty  feet  long  and  thirty  eight 
feet  wide.  In  this  150  paupers  could  be  accommodated.  The  price  paid 
for  the  farm  was  17,000;  the  building  and  other  improvements  cost  $11,000 
more. 

The  commissioners  were  fortunate  in  obtaining  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  G. 
Hannaford  as  superintendent  and  matron.  For  twenty  years  they  have 
done  most  faithful  service.  The  alms  house  was  opened  in  October,  1S67, 
with  nearly  sixty-five  inmates.  Fire  escapes  have  been  placed  in  suitable 
locations  1o  admit  of  prompt  escape  in  case  of  need,  while  danger  from 
fire  is  at  the  minimum,  as  the  heating  is  done  by  steam.  The  farm  and 
alms  house  are  model  ones,  comprising  every  thing  needed  for  the  comfort 
of  the  unfortunate  guests,  of  which  there  have  been  at  one  time  as  many 
as  121,  and  the  average  during  the  last  ten  years  about  100.  About  one 
thousand  dollars  is  now  being  expended  for  the  improvement  of  the  reser- 
voir and  sewerage. 


*For  Colebrook  court-house,  see  Bench  and  Bar. 


National  and  State  Officers.  199 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

NATIONAL  AND  STATE  OFFICERS. 
Early  Representatives  —  Classed  Representatives  —  Senators  —  County  Officers. 

REPRESENTATIVES  in  Congress—  John  W.  Weeks,  1829-1833; 
j-C  Jared  W.Williams,  1837-1841;  Jacob  Benton,  1867-1871;  Ossian  Ray, 
X  \  1883-1884. 

United  States  Commissioner  and  Consul- General  to  Hayti  -Benjamin 
F.  Whidden,  1802-1865. 

Governor. — Jared  W.  Williams,  1847-1848. 

Members  of  Governors  Council. — John  H.  White,  Lancaster,  June, 
183!),  to  June,  1842;  Aurin  M.  Chase,  Whitefield,  June,  1858,  to  June, 
1851);  Ethan  Colby,  Colebrook,  June,  1862,  to  June,  1863;  Hazen  Bedel, 
Colebrook,  1867  to  1869;  Nathan  R.  Perkins,  Jefferson,  1873  to  1875; 
David  M.  Aldrich,  Whitefield,  1884. 

Members  of  Constitutional  Conventions. — In  1775,  Abijah  Lamed,  Cock- 
burne;  1778,  none;  1781,  David  Page,  Lancaster;  1788,  Capt.  John  Weeks, 
Lancaster,  Northumberland,  Stratford.  Dartmouth,  Cockburne.  Coleburne, 
and  Piercy;  1791,  William  Cargill,  Lancaster;  1850,  G.  W.  M.  Pitman, 
Bartlett;  Benjamin  Thompson,  Berlin  and  Milan;  Robert  Tuttle,  Carroll, 
■&c. ;  Hazen  Bedel,  Colebrook;  Abram  Boynton,  Columbia;  Gideon  Tirrill, 
Clarksville  and  Pittsburg;  Benjamin  D.  Brewster,  Dalton;  Moses  Thurs- 
tin,  Errol,  &c. ;  Joseph  Perkins,  Jackson;  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Jefferson;  John 
H.  White,  Lancaster;  William  M.  Smith,  Stewartstown ;  J.  B.  Brown. 
Northumberland;  John  D.  Burbank,  Shelburne,  Gorham,  &c.  :  Moses  Jack- 
son, Stark  and  Dummer;  Ralph  Fiske,  Whitefield.  1876,  Horace  C  Saw- 
yer, Berlin;  Josiah  Young,  Clarksville;  Hazen  Bedel,  Frank  Aldrich, 
Colebrook;  S.  M.  Harvey,  Columbia;  Bert  A.  Taylor,  Dalton;  I.  C.  Wight, 
Dummer;  John  Akers,  Errol;  B.  F.  Howard,  Gorham:  X.  R  Perkins,  Jef- 
ferson; Jacob  Benton,  William  Burns,  Lancaster:  Adams  Twitchel,  .Milan; 
Robert  Atkinson.  Northumberland ;  David  Blanchard,  Pittsburg:  George 
Wood,  Randolph;  Hiram  T.  Cummings,  Shelburne;  Joseph  A.  Pike,  Stark; 
Edwin  W.Drew,  Stewartstown;  George  R.  Eaton,  Stratford;  A.  L.  Brown. 
Moses  H.  Gordon,  Whitefield. 

Bank  Commissioners.— James  ^\.  Rix,  1843  1846;  1848  1854;  Henry  (). 
Kent,   1866-1869. 


200 


History  of  Coos  County. 


EARLY    REPRESENTATIVES. 


Date.        Towns  Classed.       Name  of  Representative. 

f  Apthorp, 
I  Lancaster. 
|  Northumberland, 
|  Stratford, 
1775,    -j  Cockburne, 

Colburn, 
I  Conway, 

Shelburne, 

and  towns  above. 
Same  Class. 


Capt.  Abijah  Larned. 


1776, 
1777, 


1778, 


1779, 
1780, 
1781, 
1782. 
1783, 


1784, 


f  Apthorp, 

|  Lancaster, 
J  Northumberland, 

I  Stratford, 

|  Cockburne, 

L  Colburn. 
Same  Class. 


(  Apthorp, 

|  Bath, 

|  Lyman. 

]  Gnnthwait, 

J  Lancaster, 

]  Northumberland. 

|  Stratford, 

j  Dartmouth. 

j  Colburn, 

[  Cockburne. 


Col.  Joseim  Whipple. 
Col.  Joseph  Whipple. 


Col.  Joseph  Whipple. 


Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames. 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames. 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames. 
Col.  Joseph  Whipple. 
Col.  Joseph  Whipple. 


Maj.  John  Young. 


Date. 


1785, 


1786, 
1787. 
1788, 
1789, 
1790, 
1791, 
1792, 

1793, 

1794, 
1795. 
1796, 
1797, 
1798, 
1799, 
1800. 
1801, 

1802. 

1803, 

1804, 


Towns  Classed. 

f  Littleton, 
j  Lyman, 
j  Landaff, 
|  Concord, 
|  Bath, 
I  Dalton. 
Same  Class. 


[  Littleton, 
I  Lancaster, 
j  Dartmouth, 
[Dalton. 
Same  Class. 


Name  of  Representative, 


Maj.  John  Young. 


Maj.  John  Young. 
Not  Represesented. 
Maj.  Samuel  Young. 
Maj.  John  Young. 
Maj.  Samuel  Young, 
Maj.  John  Young. 
Peter  Carleton. 


Jonas  Wilder,  Jr. 


James  Williams. 
Jonathan  Cram. 
Col.  Richard  C.  Everett- 
Col.  Richard  C.  Everett. 
James  Raiddn. 
Col.  Richard  C.  Everett. 

—Col.  Richard  C.  Everett. 

— Col.  Richard  C.  Everett,  Maj.  Nathan  Barlow, 
Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr. 

— Col.  Richard  C.  Everett,  Col.  Nathan  Barlow, 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames. 

— Mr.  William  Lovjoy,  Col.  Nathan  Barlow,  Jo- 
seph Looinis,  Esq. 

— William  Lovejoy,  Nathan  Barlow,  Esq.,  Joseph 
Loomis,  Esq. 


These  early  representatives  were  men  of  strong  character,  and  it  may 
be  interesting  to  know  their  birthplace,  residence,  occupation,  and  politics, 
which  we  are  enabled  to  give  by  the  courtesy  of  Hon.  A.  S.  Batchellor,  who 
has  furnished  the  above  list  and  these  particulars.  Capt.  Abijah  Larned, 
of  Cockburne,  born  in  Killingly,  Conn.,  was  a  carpenter.  Col.  Joseph 
Whipple,  of  Dartmouth,  born  in  Kittery,  Me.,  merchant;  Democrat. 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames,  of  Northumberland,  a  native  of  Salem,  Mass., 
farmer;  Democrat.  Major  John  Young,  of  Gunthwait,  born  in  Haverhill, 
Mass..  farmer;  Democrat.  Major  Samuel  Young,  of  Concord,  birthplace 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  farmer;  Democrat.  Jonas  Wilder,  Jr.,  of  Lancaster, 
born  in  Templeton,  Mass.,  merchant;  Federalist.  Peter  Carleton,  of  Lan- 
daff, born  in  Haverhill,  farmer;  Democrat.  James  Williams,  of  Littleton,, 
a  native  of  Salem,  Mass.,  farmer;  Federalist.  Jonathan  Cram,  of  Lan- 
caster, birthplace  Poplin,  N.  H.,  farmer;  Federalist.  Richard  C.  Everett, 
of  Lancaster,  born  in  Attleboro,  Mass. ,  lawyer;  Federalist.  James  Rankin, 
of  Littleton,  born  in  Paisley,  Scotland,  farmer;  Federalist. 


National  and  State  Officers. 


201 


CLASSED   REPRESENTATIVES  FROM   ORGANIZATION   OF   COUNTY. 

(Compiled  from  N.  II.  Registers.) 


■  William  Love  joy. 


Hugh. 


A.  1805.— Adams.  Chatham;  Lo-1 

cations    and    Gores: —  j 

I .  c  hadbou  m  e  's,  | 
Gaffer's,  M.  II.  Went-  | 
worth's,  Roger's  and  | 
Treadwell's,  .Martin's,  j 
Theo.  Dame's,  Sher-  j 
burne's,   et.   al.,   .Tno. 

Hind's.  Stephen   Hoi-  | 

land's.    Arch    stalk's.  ►  Silas  Meserve 

Samuel  Hale's.  Francis 
<  ireen's.  Binge  and  Pier 
ce's,Vere  Royce's.Wm. 
Stark's.PhillipBailey's, 
Robert  Furnass's,  Sam- 
uel Gilman's.  McMil- 
lan's,  David  Oilman's, 
Gridley's,  Cray's.  Nash 
and  Sawyer's. 

B.  1805.— Bret  ton  Woods.  Jeffer 

son.  Lancaster. 

C.  1805. — Coekburne,      Colebrook, 

Errol,     Sb  e  11m  rn  e,  ^  James 
Stewartstown.  ) 

D.  1805. — Northumberland, Tiercv,  |  T  ,,  „,.,,   . 

Stratford.  "[  J.  M.  Tillotson 

A.     1806.— Same  as  A,  1805,  and  Bartlett. 

Silas  Meserve 
"        "  B,  1805,  William  Lovejoy. 
"        '•  C,       "    James  Hugh. 
"        "  D,       "    Abner  Ulark. 
A.     1807.— Same   as   A,    1808.    save  / 
Theo.  Dame's  Location,  \ 
Same  as  B,  1805,  William  Lovejoy. 
"       "  C,     "      Hez.  Parsons. 
"       "  D,     '•       E.  H.  Mahurin. 
1808.— Same   as  A,  1807,  Silas  Meserve. 

"      "  B,  1805.  William  Loveioy. 
"       "  C.     •<      Jere.  Eames. " 
"      "  D.     "      E.  H.  Mahurin. 
1809.— Class  A.  1807,  Silas  Meserve. 

"    B.  1805.  William  Lovejoy. 
C.  "     C,  1805.    and   Dix-j 

ville     and     Shelburne  - 
Addition.  \ 

Class  D.  1805.  J   M.  Tillotson. 
1810.— Class  A.  1807.  Silas  Meserve. 

••     B,   1S05,  William  Lovejoy. 
"     D,   1805,  .Tames  Lucas.' 
i  lockburne,     Colebrook,  I 


Silas  Meserve. 


E 
F 


Jere.  Eames,Jr 

Jere.  Eames. 


1811. 


C. 

A.     1812. 

G. 

A.     1313.- 
14 


Dixville  and  Errol,        f 
Shelburne  and    Addition,  t 
Stewartstown.  [ 

-Class  A.  1807,  Silas  Meserve. 

••     B,  1805,  and  Millsfield,Wm.  Love  joy. 
"    C,  1809,  save  Dixville,  Ch. 

Thompson. 
'•     T).  1805,  -lames  Lucas. 

-Class  A.   1806.   save  tin 

several       Locations  I  _     . ,  ,.    , 

and    Gores    therein  \  David  Badger. 

mentiom  d.  J 

Class  B,  L805,  Samuel  Plaisted. 

"    E,  1810,  save  Dixville,  Jere.  Ea 
Nor  thu  in  be  r  1  a  □  d.  1 

Piercy,    and    Pauls- >•  Joshua  Marshall. 

bury.   Stratford.  \ 

-Class  A.  1812,  save  Chatham,  David 

Badger. 


Thomas  Fames. 


Northumberland  and     ) 
Stratford.  \ 

II.  Dalton  and  Whitefield,  Edward  Reid. 

B.  Class  B,  1805,  save  Bretton  \V Is, 

A.  \.  Brackett. 
1814.— Class  A,  1813.  J.  Pendexter. 

Colebrook  and  Dalton.  Edmund  Kezer. 
Northumberland,  White-  i  T  „      ,    „ 
field,  Stratford.  I  J'  Marshall. 

I.     1815. — Northumberland,   Piercj 

Stratford.         Stewarts-  \-  James  Lucas. 
town. 
Class  A,  1813,  J.  Pendexter. 
'•    B.      ••     A.  N.  Brackett. 
••    H,     ••    John  Wilder. 
J.  Columbia  and  Colebrook,  Jan  d  Com  . 

1816.— Class  I.  1815,  N.  Baldwin. 

•'    B,  1813,  A.  N.  Brackett. 
il    H,     "    P.  Cushman. 
"    J,  1815,  Jared  Cone. 
"    A.  1812,  Asa  Eastman. 
1817.—     "     I.  1815.  John  M.  Tillotson. 
"    B,  1813,  A.  N.  Brackett. 
"    J.  1815,  Hezekiah  Parsons. 
"     A,  1812,  J.  Pendexter.  Jr. 
1818.—     "    A,  1813,  Jonathan  Meserve. 
"     J,  1815.  Hezekiah  Parsons. 
I.  "    I,  1815,  save  Sti-wartstown,  J.  M. 

Tillotson. 
1819.—     "    A.  1813,  Jonathan  Mi  serve. 

"    I,  1818.  N.  Bildwin 
1820.—     "    A,  1813.  J.  Pendexter,  Jr. 
"    H,     '•     David  Bums. 
"    J,  1815.  Samuel  Pratt. 
"     I,  1818.  X.  Baldwin. 
1821.—     "     G.  1812,  Joshua  Marshall. 

"      A.   1813,  Stephen  Meserve. 

"     H.     "     Samuel  Burnhani. 
J.  "     J,  1815,  and  Stewartstown. 

Jeremiah  Eames. 
1822.—     "     G.  1812.  J.  M.  Tillotson. 
■•     A.  1813,  Stephen  Meserve. 
'•    J,  1821,  Lewis  Loomis. 
1823.—     '■     G,  1812.  Seth  Ames. 

•■    A.  1813,  Stephen  Meserve. 
••    J.  1821,  Lewis  Loomis. 
1824.—  Class  A.  L813,  Stephen  M  serve. 

"    J.    1821,  Ephraim  II.  Mahurin. 
G.  ■■    G.  1812,  and  Randolph,  Joshua 

-hall. 
1825.—     ••     A.,  1813,  Stephen  Meserve. 
••     II.  L813,  Eben.  Bix. 
K-  BrettonWood8,Kilken-)  fi^k     Burbank 

n\ .  and  Jenerson,     | 
J.  Class  J,  1815,       1 

and   Dixville    -  Ephraim  H.  Muhurin. 
and  Errol,       ) 
D.  Class  D,  1805,   and   Milan  I 

and  Randolph,  \ 

1826.     Class  A.  1813,  I.  Pendexter,  Jr. 
••     II.  1813,  Jno.  M.  Gove. 
•■    J.    L825.  Hezekiah  Parsi 
••    K,  1825,  William  Chamberlain. 
••     D,  1825,  J.  Marshall. 
1827.—    "     A.  1813,  Stephen  Mi  serve. 
•■     II.  L813,  Eben.  Kix. 
•■    J.   1825,  Hezekiah  Parson-. 
•■     K.  1825,  B.  Burbank. 
■•     D.  1825,  Tie. ma.-  Peverly. 


J.   Marshall. 


202 


History  of  Coos  County. 


B.  Burbank. 


1828.— Class  A,  1813,  Stephen  Meserve. 
"    H,  1813,  J.  M.  Gove. 
"    J,  1815,  Abraham  Boynton. 
L.  Dixville,     Errol,    ) 

Millsfield,     and  -  Jeremiah  Loverin}. 
Stewartstown.     \ 
M.  Maynesborough,  Success. 

and  Shelburne. 

K.  Class   K,     1825,"| 

and  Randolph,  j 

and  Nash  and  '-  William  Chamberlain. 
Sawyer's     Lo-  j 
cation. 
D.     1828,-Class  D,   1825.    except  i  ^  pever] 

Randolph,  ( 

1829.— Class  J,  1815,  Roswell  Hobart. 
••     D.  1828.  Samuel  Porter. 
"    H,  1813,  Asa  Taylor. 
••    K.  1828,  George  P.  Plaisted. 
■•    L.  1828,  J<  remiah  Lovering. 

M-  "     ^-ls-s-    (save  'b    Burbank 

Maynesboro')  and  Berlin,  j  u  «urDanK- 

1830.— Class  D.  1828,  Caleb  Smith. 

"     H,  1813,  Simeon  Warner. 

••     J.   1815,  William  Holkins. 

••     K,  1828,  W.  Chamberlain. 

••     L.  1828,  Benjamin  Drew. 

••     M,  1829.  Robert  Ingalls. 

D.     1S3L—     '•     D,  1828,  save  Stratford,  Ransom 

Twitched. 

••     J.   1815.  William  Holkins. 

••     K.  1828J  Clovis  Lowe. 

••     L.  1828,  Benjamin  Drew. 

"    M,  1829,  B.  Burbank. 

N.  Jackson  and  Bartlett.  George  P.Meserve. 

1832.— Class  N,  1831,  George  P   Meserve. 

"    M,  1829,  Robert  Ingalls. 

O.  Carroll.  Jefferson  Kilken-  I  01     .    L 

nv.  and  Randolph,  ) 

Class  J,  1815.  A.  Boynton. 

"    L.  1828,  B.  Brainard. 

"    D,  1831,  Francis  Lang. 

1833.— Class  J.  1815,  Jonas  Mills. 

L.  "    L,  1828  and  (  larksville,  B.  Brainard. 

Dalton  and  Stark,  Thomas  Smith. 

Jefferson  and  Kilkenny,  Clovis  Lowe. 

Northumberland  and  Stratford,  T.  L. 

Marshall. 

Milan  and  Stark,  R.  Twitched. 

1834. — Colebrook  and  Columbia,  Abr.  Boynton. 

L.  Class  L,  1833,  and  Berlin,  Benjamin 

Thompson. 

Dalton  and  Carroll,  Asa  Taylor, 

Jefferson   and  Kilkenny,  David  Pinkham. 

Northumberland  and  Stratford,  T.  L. 

Marshall. 

Milan  and  Stark,  Aaron  Potter 

1835.— Class  L,  1834,  B.  Thompson. 

Colebrook  and  Columbia,  Heze.  Parsons. 

Dalton  and  Carroll,  Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr. 

Jefferson  and  Kilkenny,  D.  Pinkham. 

Northumberland  and  Stratford.  S.  T. 

Brown. 

Milan  and  Stark.  R.  Twitched. 

1836. — Colebrook  and  Columbia,  R.  Hobart. 

Dalton  and  Carroll,  Asa  Taylor. 

Jefferson  and  Kilkenny.  Robert  Tuttle. 

Northumberland  and  Stratford.  S.  F. 

Brown. 

Milan  and  Stark.  Aaron  Potter. 

1837.— Class  L,  1834.  William  Chase. 

Dalton  and  Carroll,  William  Denison. 

Jefferson  and  Kilkenny,  David  Legro. 


•Northumberland  and  Stratford,  H.Lucas, 
Milan  and  Stark,  Th.  Wheeler. 
1838. — Dalton  and  Carroll,  James  B.  Sumner. 
Jefferson  and  Randolph,  David  Legro. 
Milan,  Stark  and Dummer, Aaron  J.  Smith, 
Northumberland  and  Stratford,   Hiram 

Lucas. 
Shelburne  and  Gorham,  Oliver  B.  Howe. 
Class  L,  1834.  Jeremiah  Young. 
1839.— Dalton  ami  Carroll.  J.  B.  Sumner. 

Jefferson  and  Randolph,  Robert  Tuttle. 
Milan  Stark,  and  Dummer,  Peter  Wheeler. 
Northumberland  and  Stratford,  AbijahS. 

French, 
Shelburne  and  Gorham,  Robert  Ingalls. 
Class  L.  L834,  Jeremiah  Young. 
1840.— Berlin.  Ac.,*  Daniel  Green. 
Carroll.  &c.,  Thomas  Smith. 
Clarksville,  &<•.,  Josiah  A.  Young. 
Dalton.  &c,  Aaron  Ballon. 
Jefferson  and  Randolph,  Robert  Tuttle. 
Milan  and  Stark,  Aaron  J.  Smith. 
Northumberland  and  Stratford,  A.  S. 

French. 
1841.— Carroll,  Ac,  Eben.  Glines. 
Jackson.  Arc.  J.  P.  Emery. 
Jefferson,  &c,  Justus  Lowe. 
Milan.  &c,  Peter  Wheeler. 
Shelburne,  &c,  Daniel  Green. 
Stratford.  Ac.  Nahum  D.  Day. 
1842.— Milan,  &c,  Harwood  Pike. 
Stratford.  &c,  N.  D.  Day. 
1843. — No  classified  towns. 
1844.—  " 

1845. — Berlin.  Gorham,  Shelburne,  D.  Wheeler. 
P.  Carroll,    Nash    and    Sawyer's  i 

Location,  Hart's  Location  >  R. Tuttle. 
and  Craword's  Purchase,      \ 
Jackson  and  Pinkham's  Grant,  J.  F. 

1 1' rrish. 
Jefferson  and  Randolph,  Jas.  G.  Summers. 
Northumberland  and  Stratford,  J.  B. 

Brown. 
Milan,  Stark  and  Dummer.  Joshua  Parker. 
Q.  Pittsburg,    Clarksville,  ) 

Dixville,  Millstield.     V  N.  Perkins. 
Errol,  ) 

1846. — Berlin,  Gorham  and  Shelburne, 

D.  Wheeler. 
Class  P.  1845,  Abel  Crawford. 
Jackson  and  Pinkham's  Grant,  J.  F. 

<  rerrish. 
Jefferson  and  Randolph,  Edward  Parsons. 
North'laml  and  Stratford,  J.  B.  Brown. 
Milan.  Stark  and  Dummer,   A.  J.  Smith. 
Class  Q,  1845,  William  Dunn. 
1847. — Berlin,  Gorham,  Shelburne,  Thomas  J. 

Hubbard. 
Class  P.  1845,  Abel  Crawford. 

••      Q,     "      R,  J.  Blanchard. 
Jackson  and  Pinkham's  Grant,  N.  P. 

Meserve. 
Jefferson  and  Randolph,  Edward  Parsons, 
Milan,  Stark,  Dummer,  Amos  Green. 
North'land  and  Stratford,  R.  Gamsby. 
1848. — Berlin.  Gorham,  Shelburne,  Thomas  J. 

Hubbard. 
Class  P.  1845,  Samuel  Worthley. 
'•    Q,     •"      R.  J.  Blanchard'. 
Jackson  and  Pinkham's  Grant,  N.  P. 

Meserve. 
Jefferson  and  Randolph,  B.  H.  Plaisted. 
Milan.  Stark.  Dummer,  Harwood  Pike. 
North'land  and  Stratford,  R.  Gamsby. 


*"&c."  is  rather  indefinite,  but  I  copy  as  given  in  "Register. 


National  and  State  Officers. 


203 


Q. 


1851. 


1852. 


1853. 


1849.— Class  l\  1845,  Samuel  Worthley. 

(,).     ••  nave  Clarksi  tile,  Sam']  A 
Jackson  and  Pinkham's  Grant,  N.  P. 

Mesi 
Milan,  stark.  Dummer,  P.  Win  eler. 
North'land  and  Stratford,  < !.  Bellows. 
1850.  — Berlin  and  Milan,  Joshua  Parker. 
Gorham,  Shelburne  and  Randolph, 

J.  I).  Burbank. 
•  P,  L845,  Samuel  Holmes. 
••    Q,  1849,  Samrn  1  Akers. 
Jackson,  Pinkham's  Grant,  <i.  H. 

Pinkham. 
stark  ami  Dummer,  Moses  Jackson. 
North'land  and  Stratford,  J.  B.  Brown. 
—Berlin,  Gorham,  Shelburne.  S.  Chipman. 
!'.  L845.  S.  Holmes. 
Dixville,  Errol,  Millsfield,  M.  Thurston. 
Clarksville  and  Pittsburg.  John  T.  Amy. 
Jackson  and  Pinkham's  Grant. 

G.  H.  Pinkham. 
Jefferson   ami    Randolph,  B.  H.  Plaisted. 
Stark  and  Dummer,  .1.  R.  Briggs. 
Stratford  and  Northumberland, 

R.  s.  Marshall. 
--Randolph.  Gorham  and  Shelburne. 

James  0.  Scates. 
Class  T.  1845,  Joseph  L.  Gibbs. 
Dixville,  Errol;  Millsfield,  Elliot  Harper. 
Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  John  T.  Amy. 
Jackson  and  Pinkham's  Grant, 

Samuel  Hazelton. 
Milan  and  Berlin,  II.  T.  Ellin-wood. 
Stark  ami  Dummer,  Moses  Jackson. 
Stratford  and  North'land,  R.  s.  Marshall. 
— Randolph,  Gorham  and  Shelburne, 

T.  J.  Hubbard. 
Class  P.  1845,  Joseph  L.  Gibbs. 
Dixville.  Errol.  Millsfield,  etc.,  E.  Harper. 
Clarksville  and   Pittsburg.  A.  F.  Abbott. 
Milan  and  Berlin,  R.  H.  Wheeler. 
Stark  and  Dummer,  E.  Horn. 
-Carrolland  Hart's  Location,Wm.  J.  Hobbs. 
Dummer  and  Stark.  Levi  Rowell. 
Errol,  Cambridge  and  Millsfield, 

George  1!.  Randall. 
Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Samuel 

( lomstock. 
-Carrolland  Hart's  Location.  W.  J.  Hobbs. 
Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Samuel 

Corastock. 
Randolph.  Shelburne  and  Gorham, 

John  I).  Burbank. 
Dummer  and  Stark.  John  R.  Briggs. 
Errol,  Cambridge, 
Dixville,  Millsfield 
and     Wentworth's 
Location. 
1856.— Berlin  ami  Randolph,  Merrill  C.  Forist. 

Carrolland  Hart's  Location,  John  Hunt. 
Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  S.  Comstock. 
Dummer  and  Stark,  Levi  Howell. 
Errol.    Cambridge.   Dix-i 
ville.  Millsfield,  Went-  -    Z.  F.  Dnrkee. 
worth's  I,i ication.  ) 

Shelburne  ami  Gorham,  V.  I,.  Stiles. 
1857.— Berlin  and  Randolph,  Daniel  Green. 
( larroll  and  Hart's  Local  ion,  I  lhai 

S.  Leavitt. 
Clarksville  ami  Pittsburg,  Mood;  B. 

Quimby. 
Dummer  and  Stark,  Elijah  Griffin. 
Errol,  < '  imbridge,  Dix- 1 

ville,    Millsfield    and  -  Wm.  W.  Bragg. 
Wentworth's  Loca.     ) 


1 858. 


1854. 


1855. 


Ziba  F.  Dnrkee. 


I  sen. 


18G1. 


1862. 

1863. 

1864. 
1865. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868. 

1869.— 
1870, 

1871 


1-7-'. 
is?:;. 
1874. 


Gorham  and  Shelburne,  John  T.  I 
i    and  Randolph,  Geo.  P.  1 1 
Carroll  and  Hart's  Local  ion,  I  >a\  id 

Emery. 
Clarksville  and  Pitl  h   B. 

Qu  ii 
Dummer  and  Stark,  Solomon  < 
Cambrid 
Dixville,    Went-  -  David  H.  Thursi 
worth's  I.' ica.       ) 
Berlin  and    Randolph,  < reo.  I'.  I [odgman. 
Carrolland  Hart's  Location.  David  Emery 
and  Pittsburg,  David  Johnson. 
Stark  and  .,  <  ii  itlin. 

Berlin  and  Randolph,  Fletchi  r  .1    Bean, 
irroll  and   Hart's   Location,  Charles  S. 

I  ..  a\  itt. 

Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  David  Johnson. 

Errol,  Cambridge,  &c.  Mosi  -  I'.  Coolidge. 

stark  and  Dummer,  Solomon  ( lole. 

Bi  rlin  and  Randolph,  I  I.  Bean. 

Carroll  and  Hart's  Location,  P.  Rosebrook. 

Clarksville  and  Pittsburg.  G.  Washburne. 

Errol,  Cambridge,  &c,  M.  F.  Coolidge. 

Shelburne  and  Green's  Location.  J.  M. 

Thompson. 

Stark  and  Dummi  r,  Gilman  Tn  Ltchell. 
—Berlin  and  Randolph,  John  E.  Leighton.* 

Carrolland  Halt's  Location,   l'hineas 

Elosebrook. 

Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Jno.  Keysar. 

Errol.  Cambi  tdge,  &c,  Samuel  Al 

Stark  andDummer,  Sylvester  ' 
— Berlin  and  Randolph,  Jno.  < '.  Leighton. 

Carroll  and  Hart's  Location.  ( it  o.W.Tufts. 

Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Jno.  Keysar. 

Stark  and  Dummer,  G.  Twitchell. 
—Berlin  andBandolph,  Cyrus  Wheeler. 

Carrolland  Hart'-;  Location,  <  r<  o.W.Tufts. 

Errol,  Cambridge,  &c,  David  W.Wright. 
— Berlin  and  Randolph,  William  A.  Wilson. 

Carroll  and  Hart's  Location.  L.  ( '.  A  Id  rich. 

Errol,  Cambridge,  A-c..  David  W.  Wright. 

Staik  and  Dummer,  John  M.  Bickford. 
—Berlin  and  Randolph,  Robert  I.  Leighton. 

Carroll  and  Hart's  Location,  Samuel 

Worthley. 

Errol,  Cambridge,  &c,  AJbi  n  J.  Peaslee. 

stark  and  Dummer,  Luke  i 
—Berlin  and  Randolph,  Roberl  [.Leighton. 

Carroll  and  Hart's  Location.  Samuel 

Worthley 

Errol  &  Cambridge,  &c,  AM  Kit  J.  Peaslee. 
k  and  Dummer,  John  M.  Bickford. 

Berlin  and  Randolph,  1  >ani  I  ( rreen. 

Carrol]  and  Hart's  Location,  I  Ikarles  S. 

\  itt. 
Errol.  Cambridge,   Ac,    C.   L.Heywood. 

Stark'  and    I  >n n i tin  r.  Luke  ( lole. 

Berlin  and  Rtndolph,  Daniel  Grei  d. 

Carrolland  Hart's  Location,  (  itt. 

Errol,  <  lambridge,  &  ■  ■..  <  .  L.  Heyw 

St. M  k  and  iMmi '.  ( '.  E.  Bickford. 

Berlin  and  Randolph,  J.  E.  Leighton. 

Carroll  and  Hart's  Location,  M.  P. 

Rosebrook. 

Errol,  Cambridge,  D.  H.  Thurston. 

Stark  and  Dummer,  J.  A.  Pike. 

It.  rlin  and  Randolph,  J.  E.  Leighton. 

(  larroll  and  Hart's  Location.  M.   P. 

Rosebrook 
Stark  and  Dummer,  C.  E.  Bickford. 
^N'o  ( llassifii  d  downs. 


*Seat  vacated. 


204 


History  of  Coos  County. 


1875.— No  Classified  Towns. 
1876.—  '• 

1877.—  "  ••  " 

1878.—  "  ■■  " 

1879-80.—  " 

1881-82.— Berlin  and  Randolph.  Laban  M.  Watson. 
Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Moody  B. 

Haines. 
1883-81.— Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Herbert  M. 

Smith. 
Dummer,  Errol,  Mills- 
held,     Wentworth's 
Location, 


Shelburne  and  Randolph,  Emblyn  \V. 

Evans. 
1885-86.— Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Jas.  W.  Baldwin. 
Dummer,  Errol,  Dix-  | 

ville.Millslield.Cam-  L   „   n,,        , 
bridge,    and   Went-  f  K  D-  ^^ston. 
worth's  Location.      ) 
Shelburne  and  Randolph.  Chas.  E.  Lowe. 
1887-88.— Clarksville  and  Pittsburg,  Berkley  Keysar. 
Randolph  and  Shelburne,  Trustam  H. 

Minard. 


Senators.  —New  Hampshire  was  divided  into  twelve  senatorial  dis- 
tricts. December  14,  1792.  No.  12  contained  the  county  of  Grafton, 
excepting  Burton.  The  Coos  senators  from  this  district  were  John  W. 
Weeks,  Lancaster,  from  June,  1820,  to  June,  1829;  Jarecl  W.  Williams, 
Lancaster,  from  June,  1832.  to  June,  1835.  July  3,  1841,  No.  12  was  changed 
to  embrace  the  county  of  Coos  and  all  towns  in  Grafton  and  Carroll  not 
included  in  any  other  district.  The  members  from  Coos  were  Simeon 
Warner,  Whitefield,  from  June,  1S43,  to  June,  1844;  Ephraim  Cross,  Lan- 
caster, from  June,  1844,  to  June,  1846;  James  M.  Eix,  Lancaster,  June, 
1852,  to  June,  1854.  The  senatorial  districts  were  re-arranged  July  13,  1855, 
but  No.  12  remained  the  same.  William  Burns,  Lancaster,  was  senator 
from  June,  1856,  to  June,  1858;  Amos  W.  Drew,  Stewartstown,  June,  1862, 
to  June,  1864;  John  W.  Barney,  Lancaster,  1868  to  1870;  Wayne  Cobleigh, 
Northumberland,  1875  to  1877.  In  1877  the  state  was  divided  into  twenty- 
four  senatorial  districts;  Coos  county  constituting  district  No.  1.  The 
B?natorsfrom  this  district  have  been  Sherburn  R.  Merrill,  Colebrook,  1879 
to  1883;  Irving  W.  Drew,  Lancaster,  1883  to  1885;  Henry  0.  Kent,  Lan- 
caster, 1885  to  1887;  Samuel  E.  Paine,  Berlin,  18S7  to  1889. 


COUNTY   QFFICERS. 

[This  list,  compiled  from  the  New  Hampshire  Registers,  is  as  accurate  a 
one  as  is  attainable  since  the  burning  of  the  county  records.] 

Justices  of  Court  of  Common  Pleas. — Joshua  Marshall.  Stratford,  ap- 
point <m1  January  8,  1833,  in  office  until  1S50;  John  Pendexter,  Jr.,  Bartlett, 
from  1833  to  1812;  Richard  Eastman,  Lancaster,  from  1S41  to  1848;  Robert 
[ngalls,  Shelburne,  from  184S  to  1855;  Nahum  D.  Day,  Stratford,  from  1850 
to  1855. 

Clerks  of  Court  of  Common  Pleas. — William  Farrar,  Lancaster,  from 
L837  to  LS39;  James  M.  Rix,  Lancaster,  from  1839  to  L857;  Daniel  C.  Pink- 
ham.  Lancaster,  from  1857  to  1869. 

County  Justices — Court  of  Common  Pleas. — Richard  C.  Everett,  C  J., 
Lancaster,  L805;  Obed  Hall,  Bartlett.  1805;  Joseph  Loomis,  Colebrook, 
L805;  Silas  Meserve,  Bartlett,  1811. 

Circuit  Court. — Silas  Meserve.  Bartlett,  1816;  William  Lovejoy,  Lan- 
caster, L816;  John  Pendergast,  Bartlett,  1820. 


National  and  State  Officers.  205 

Court  of  Sessions.—  John  Pendexter,  C.  J.,  L820;  Samue]  Plaisted, 
Jefferson,  Ass.,  1«20;  X.  Baldwin,  Stratford,  Jus.,  L821. 

County  Justices.  — Joshua  Morrill,  Stratford,  L838. 

Clerks  of  Superior  Court.-  -Jonas Baker,  Lancaster;  AdinoN.  Brackett, 
Lancaster,  from  1837 to  1847;  James  M.  Rix.*  Lancaster.  1847  to  ls.~>''». 

Clerks  of  tl/r  Supreme  Judicial  Court. — James  .M.  Rix,  Lancaster,  from 
1856  to  1857;  Daniel  C.  Pinkham,  Lancaster,  from  1857  to  1869;  Chester  B. 
Jordan,  Lancaster,  from  1869  to  1875;  Moses  A.  Hastings,  Lancaster,  from 
1875. 

Judges  of  Probate. — Francis  Wilson,  Northumberland,  January,  1805; 
Ebenezer  L.  Hall,  Bartlett,  January,  1811;  Benjamin  Hunking,  Lancaster, 
appointed  in  July.  1829,  in  office  until  1852;  Jared  W.  Williams,  Lancas- 
ter, from  1852  to  1854;  James  W.  Weeks,  Lancaster,  from  1854  to  L855; 
Turner  Stephenson,  Lancaster,  from  1855  to  1869;  Benjamin  F.  Whidden, 
Lancaster,  from  1869  to  1875;  Hazen  Bedel,  Colebrook,  from  1875  to  1877; 
William  D.  Weeks,  Lancaster,  from  1877  to  L885;  Everett  Fletcher,  from 
1885. 

Registers  of  Probate. — John  M.  Tillotson,  Northumberland,  January, 
1805;  Thomas  Peverly,  Jr.,  Northumberland,  November,  1822;  William 
Lovejoy,  Lancaster,  1829;  Jared  W.  Williams,  Lancaster,  from  1829  to  1  838; 
George  A.  Cossitt,Whitefield,  from  1838  to  1852;  John  W.  Barney,  from  L852 
to  1855;  Albro  L.  Robinson,  Lancaster,  from  1855  to  I860;  John  M.  Whipple, 
Lancaster,  from  1860  to  1875;  George  H.  Emerson,  Lancaster,  from  1875 
to  1^77;  Charles  B.  Allen,  Lancaster,  from  1877  to  1880;  George  H.  Emer- 
son, Lancaster,  from  1880  to  1886;  Joseph  W.  Flanders,  Lancaster,  from 
18S6. 

County  Solicitors. — Abraham  Hinds,  Lancaster.  June.  1807;  William 
Farrar,  Lancaster,  February  12,  18(>7;  Obed  Hall.  2d,  Bartlett;  William 
Farrar,  Lancaster,  1821;  Jared  W.  Williams,  Lancaster,  from  1821  to  1838; 
John  S.  Wells,  Lancaster,  from  1838  to  1847;  Saunders  W.  Cooper.  Lan- 
caster, from  1847  to  1849;  William  Burns,  Lancaster,  from  1849  to  1853; 
George  C.  Williams,  Lancaster,  from  1853  to  1856;  Benjamin  P.  Whidden, 
Lancaster,  from  1856  to  1863;  Ossian  Ray,  Lancaster,  from  1863  1<»  lv7-; 
Edgar  Aldrich,  Colebrook,  from  1873  to  1875;  Henry  Hey  wood.  Lancaster, 
from  1875  to  1877;  Edgar  Aldrich,  Colebrook,  from  1>77  to  ls7:»:  William 
S.  Ladd,  Lancaster,  from  1879  to  1880;  J.  H.  Dudley.  Colebrook.  from 
1880. 

Treasurers. — Joseph  Peverly,  Northumberland.  l^*'>:  John  W.  Weeks, 
Lancaster;  Richard  Eastman,  Lancaster.  1820;  Robert  Lngalls,  Shelburne, 
1831;  Lyman  Lombard,  Lancaster,  ]^-'»:>:  John  M.  Gove,  Whitefield,  from 
1S36  to  1839;  George  P.  Meserve,  Jackson,  from  L839  to  1840;  John  P.  Pit- 


*John  Willsoti  is  also  given  as  "  Clerk  of  Court"  with  date  of  service  prior  to  James  M.   Rix. 


206  History  of  Coos  County. 

man,  Bartlett,  from  1840  to  1842;  William  Ewen,  Dalton,  from  1842  to 
1843;  John  P.  Pitman,  Bartlett,  from  1843  to  1844;  William  Ewen,  Dalton, 
from  1844  to  1846;  Abraham  Boynton,  Columbia,  from  1846  to  1S47; 
Oliver  B.  Howe,  Shelburne,  from  1847  to  1849;  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Cole- 
brook,  from  L 849  to  1851;  Edward  Parsons,  Jefferson,  from  1851  to  1853; 
Amos  W.  Drew,  Stewartstown,  from  1853  to  1855;  James  B.  Brown, 
Northumberland,  from  1855  to  1857;  Harwood  Pike,  Stark,  from  1857  to 
1859;  Morris  Clark,  Whitefleld,  from  1859  to  1861;  Nahum  D.  Day,  Strat- 
ford, from  1861  to  1863;  Orren  Tubbs,  Gorham,  from  1863  to  1865;  George 
A.  Cossitt,  Lancaster,  from  1865  to  1867;  Wayne  Cobleigh,  Northumber- 
land, from  1867  to  1869;  Edwin  W.  Drew,  Stewartstown,  from  1S69  to 
1871;  Jabez  P.  Evans,  Gorham,  from  1871  to  1873;  A  J.  Smith,  Stark, 
from  1S73  to  1875;  Sidney  B.  Whittemore,  Colebrook,  from  1875  to  1877 ; 
J.  M.  Lang,  Dalton,  from  1877  to  1879;  James  M.  Powell,  Lancaster,  from 
1879  to  1883;  John  C.  Pattee,  Stratford,  from  1883  to  1886;  George  R. 
Eaton,  Lancaster,  from  1886. 

Registers  of  Deeds. — John  M.  Tillotson,  Northumberland,  1805;  Abra- 
ham Hinds,  Lancaster;  Asa  W.  Burnap,  Lancaster;  William  Farrar,  Lan- 
caster: John  M.  Dennison,  Lancaster,  1817;  Reuben  Stephenson,  Lancas- 
ter, from  1830  to  1839;  John  W.  Lovejoy,  Lancaster,  from  1839  to  1849; 
John  S.  Roby,  Lancaster,  from  1849  to  1855;  Ira  S.  M.  Gove,  Lancaster, 
from  1855  to  1861;  Hezekiah  B.  Parsons,  Lancaster,  from  1861  to  1S66; 
Benjamin  P.  Hunking,  Lancaster,  from  1866  to  1871;  Charles  W.  Smith, 
Lancaster,  from  1871  to  1876;  Joseph  W.  Flanders,  Lancaster,  from  1  ^ 7 < > 
to  1882;  Charles  A.  Cleveland,  Lancaster,  from  lssi>  to  :8S7;  James  M. 
Rowell,  Lancaster,  1887. 

Sheriffs. — Levi  Willard,  Lancaster,  January,  1805;  Obed  Hall,  Bartlett, 
December,  1812;  Lemuel  Adams,  December,  1816;  John  W.  Weeks,  June, 
1820;  Ephraim  H.  Mahurin,  June,  1825;  John  H.  White,  Lancaster,  from 
1830  to  183'.);  George  P.  Meserve,  Jackson,  from  1839  to  ls44;  Charles 
Bellows,  Northumberland,  from  1844  to  1849;  Reuben  Stephenson,  Lan- 
caster,  from  1849  to  1855;  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.,  Colebrook,  from  1855 
to  ls;)7;  Enoch  L.  Colby,  Lancaster,  from  1857  to  is, 7;  Benjamin  H. 
Corning,  Northumberland,  from  1867  to  1872;  Samuel  H.  LeGro,  Lancas- 
ter, from  1872  to  1873";  E.  G.  Rogers,  Colebrook,  from  1873  to  1875;  Sam- 
uel H.  LeGro,  Lancaster,  from  1875  to  1877;  E.  George  Rogers,  Colebrook, 
from  IS77  to  1879;  William  T.  Pike,  Stark,  from  1879  to  1883;  Samuel  I. 
Bailey,  Columbia,  from  1883  to  lss7;  George  M.  Stevens,  Lancaster,  from 
L887. 

County  Commissioners. — Robert  Ingalls,  Shelburne,  from  1856  to  1858; 
Samuel  Worthley,  Carroll,  from  1856  to  1860;  Elliot  Harper,  Errol,  from 
L856  to  L859;  Daniel  Green,  Berlin,  from  1857  to  1861;  Hazeu  Bedel.  Cole- 
brook, from  1859  to  1862;  Moses  H.  Rix,  Dalton,  from  1860  to  1863;  Hazen 


Bench  and  Bar.  20' 


Evans,  G-orham,  from  L861  to  L864;  Edwin  W.  Drew.  Stewartstown.  from 
1862  to  1865;  Benjamin  H.  Plaisted,  Jefferson,  from  L863  to  L866;  Gilman 
Twitchell,  Dummer,  from  L864to   L866;  Samuel  T.  Bailey,  Columbia,  from 

L865  to  1868;  Simon  Cole,  Milan,  from  L866  to  L867;  David  M.  Aldrich, 
Whitefield,  from  L866  to  L869;  Andrew  J.  Congdon,  Lancaster,  from  L867 
to  1S7<>;  Seneca  S.  Merrill,  Colebrook,  from  L868  to  1*71;  John  C.  Leigh- 
ton,   Randolph,   from    L869   to   1872;  Sprague  Carleton.    Whitefield.  from 

L870  to  1873;  Isaiah  H.  Pickard,  Stewartstown,  from  L871  to  1*7:'.;  Samuel 
Brown,  Stratford,  from  1S72  to  1875;  Amos  W.  Drew,  Stewartstown,  from 
from  1873  to  1877;  James  W.  Weeks,  Lancaster,  from  L873  to  L876;  .lames 
H.  Curtis,  Northumberland,  from  1875  to  1878;  A.  N.  Twitchell,  Gorham, 
from  L876  to  1879;  L.  G.  Piper,  Colebrook,  from  1877  to  L879;  N.  R.  Per- 
kins, Jefferson,  from  1878  to  1882;  J.  P.  Evans,  Gorham,  from  1879  to 
1882;  George  R.  Eaton,  Stratford,  from  1S79  to  L883;  Bert  A.  Taylor,  Dal- 
tou,  from  1882  to  1886;  Jonathan  Gilmore,  Columbia,  from  L882  to  L886; 
Eugene  W.  Scribner,  Berlin,  from  1883  to  1887;  W.  E.  Drew.  Colebrook, 
from  L886;  Harley  E.  Jenness,  Carroll,  from  L886;  Levi  Shedd,  Gorham, 
from    1887. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


BENCH  AND  BAR. 
History  of  the  Courts — Bench  and  Bar— Northern  Judicial  District 

nKISTORY  of  the  Co  urts.— Previous  to  1770  the  whole  of  New  Eamp- 
j  J  shire,  for  all  financial  and  judicial  purposes,  was  a  single  court.  All 
J  business  of  a  public  nature  was  transacted  at  Portsmouth,  Exeter 
and  Dover;  and  the  bulk  of  it  at  Portsmouth,  which  had  a  population  of 
over  4,000,  was  the  residence  of  the  royal  executive  officers,  and  was,  prac- 
tically, the  provincial  capital.  As  the  province  increased  in  population, 
other  and  smaller  political  divisions,  with  suitable  courts,  were  demanded 
by  the  people.  John  Wentworth,  the  second  of  that  name,  wasappointed 
governor  in  1767,  and  one  of  his  first  measures  considered  the  formation 
of  various  counties  in  the  province,  and  the  creation  of  a  judicial  system 
of  adequate  proportions.  The  matter  was  debated  in  several  sessions  of 
the  Assembly,  favored  by  the  governor  as  calculated  to  develop  the  prov- 
ince, (an  object  to  which  he  devoted  all  his  energies,  i  and  opposed  by  the 
residents  of  the  three  principal  towns   and  contiguous  country,  with   the 


208  History  of  Coos  County. 

plea  that  it  would  increase  the  provincial  expenses  without  corresponding 
advantages.  The  affair  was  finally  settled  by  a  division  of  the  province 
into  five  counties,  with  an  ample  judiciary  system.  The  act  constituting 
these  took  effect  in  the  spring  of  1771,  and  was  entitled  "An  Act  for 
dividing  the  Province  into  Counties,  and  for  the  more  easy  administration 
of  Justice."  This  act  created  three  courts  of  justice — the  Superior  Court 
of  Judicature,  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  the  Court  of  Gen- 
eral Sessions. 

The  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  had  cognizance  of  all  questions  of  law 
and  divorce,  and,  finally,  was  clothed  with  equity  powers,  and  was  intended 
as  the  supreme  tribunal  of  the  province.  It  existed  until  1813,  when  the 
Federalists,  then  in  power  in  the  state,  to  get  rid  of  politically  obnoxious 
judges,  abolished  it,  and  erected  the  Superior  Judicial  Court,  which  was 
overturned  in  is  10  by  the  Democratic  Republicans,  and  the  Superior  Court 
of  Judicature  re-erected.  No  attempt  was  made  to  interfere  with  this 
court  of  last  resort  until  1855,  when,  under  the  brief  term  of  power  of  the 
"  Know-Nothing  "  party,  it  was  again  abolished  and  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court  re-created.  This  was  superseded  in  1*74  by  the  Superior  Court  of  Ju- 
dicature, which  continued  in  being  until  1876,  when  it  was  succeeded  by  the 
present  Supreme  Court.  It  would  appear  that  the  legislature  could,  con- 
stitutionally, get  rid  of  obnoxious  judges  by  changing  the  name  and  some 
of  the  minor  functions  of  a  court;  and  the  great  height  to  which  partisan- 
ship has  been  carried  has  almost  caused  this  court  to  be  a  mere  shuttle- 
cock in  the  hands  of  the  legislature. 

The  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  the  court  for  the  disposi- 
tion and  settlement  of  all  ordinary  controversies.  It  continued  in  existence 
under  the  name  first  given  it,  and  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  from  1771 
until  1850,  except  for  five  years,  from  1820  to  1825,  when  it  was  discon- 
tinued. In  1859  it  was  abolished,  and  its  business  transferred  to  the 
Supreme  Judicial  Court.  It  was  again  revived  in  1874.  and,  after  two 
years'  existence,  its  business  was  handed  over  to  the  Supreme  Court. 

The  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  had  for  its  judges  all  the 
justices  in  commission  of  the  county.  It  had  a  limited  jurisdiction  in  crim- 
inal complaints,  and  was  accompanied  by  a  grand  and  petit  jury.  It  had 
the  entire  control  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the  county.  The  number  of 
justices  composing  the  court  depended  on  the  number  in  commission, 
sometimes  more,  sometimes  less,  and  the  law  did  not  require  the  justice 
to  reside  in  the  county  for  which  he  was  commissioned,  and  it  was  a  mat- 
ter of  choice  with  the  justices  as  to  how  many  should  sit  at  any  particular 
term  It  was  a  cumbersome  and  unwieldy  institution,  and,  in  1701,  its 
functions  were  given  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  some  of  the  judges 
of  the  last  court,  called  side  judges,  attending  to  financial  affairs  and 
special   committees  formed   to  lay  out  highways.     In   1855   a  board  of 


Bench  and   Bar.  209 


county  commissioners  was  created  to  act  with  the  court  in  conducting  the 
finaucial  matters  of  the  county  and  in  laying  out  highways.  By  the  organ- 
ization of  this  board  the  services  of  side  judges  were  dispensed  with. 

The  sessions  docket,  now  a  branch  of  the  business  of  the  general  term 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  but  formerly  of  the  Common  Pleas,  is  all  that  now 
remains  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  and  treats  only  of 
entries  for  the  laying  out  of  highways. 

Probate  Court.— This  has  jurisdiction  of  the  probate  of  wills,  of  grant- 
ing administrations,  and  of  all  matters  and  things  of  probate  jurisdic 
t  ion,  relating  to  the  sale,  settlement,  and  final  distribution  of  the  estates 
of  deceased  persons.  It  has  original  jurisdiction  in  relation  to  the  adop- 
tion of  children,  assignments  of  dower  and  homesteads  in  estate  of 
deceased  persons;  in  the  appointment  and  removal  of  guardians  of  minors, 
insane  persons,  spendth lifts,  together  with  other  powers  unnecessary  to 
mention.     It  has  been  also  a  court  of  insolvency  for  sonic  years. 

From  the  organization  of  the  county  the  office  of  judge  of  probate  has 
been  held  by  men  of  ability,  not  always  lawyers,  hut  their  rulings  and 
decisions  have  been  of  such  a  character  that  very  few  appeals  have  been 
made. 

Bench  and  Bar*—  In  its  personnel  and  practice,  the  bar  of  Coos  county 
has  always  stood  in  the  front  rank.  Among  its  members  have  been  some 
of  the  strongest  legal  minds  in  the  state.  Beginning  with  the  organization 
of  the  county  and  continuing  to  the  present  time,  there  have  been  leaders 
at  its  courts  whose  character  and  attainments  have  placed  them  among 
the  first  in  the  profession,  and  whose  influence  has  been  so  pervading  and 
salutary  that  the  whole  bar  has  caught  something  of  their  spirit.  The 
county  is  represented  in  this  profession  to-day  by  men  of  font1,  ability  and 
integrity,  who  worthily  stand  as  equals  of  the  lawyers  of  any  county  of 
the  state,  and  whose  practice  extends  not  only  to  all  sections  of  New 
Hampshire,  but  a  much  wider  area. 

k'The  Grafton  and  Coos  Counties  Bar  Association  was  put  inactive 
operation  in  November,  1882,  and  has  since  enjoyed  a  useful  and  vigorous 
existence.  They  have  already  effected  valuable  improvements  within  the 
sphere  of  their  professional  labors,  and  will  not  weary  in  well  doing." 

Eichard  Clair  Everett,  the  first  resident  lawyer  of  Lancaster,  was  a 
native  of  Attleboro,  Mass  ,  born  March  28,  1764.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  where  General  Washington,  who  was 
favorably  impressed  with  his  appearance,  retained  him  as  a  body  servant. 
After  a  service  of  two  years  he  was  discharged,  emigrated  to  Lancaster 
and  engaged  in  the  hard  duties  of  the  pioneer.     The  inherited  traits  of  the 


*Compiled  under  the  supervision  of  Hon.  William   Heywood,  presideal  of  Grafton  and  Co6a 
Bar  Association. 


210  History  of  Coos  County. 

Everett  family  were  dominant  in  the  young  man,  and  his  aspiration  and 
desire  for  an  education  could  no  longer  be  held  in  bounds,  and  he  went  to 
Hanover  to  prepare  for  college,  although  with  but  small  means.  Fortune 
favors  the  brave,  and  he  soon  came  into  the  possession  of  quite  a  sum  of 
money  from  the  sale  of  several  lots  of  land  in  Providence,  which  had  be- 
longed to  his  father.  He  finished  his  preparatory  studies;  was  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  college  in  1790;  studied  law;  in  1793  returned  to  Lancas- 
ter, and  married,  December  17,  of  that  year,  Persis,  daughter  of  Major 
Jonas  Wilder.  He  built  the  house  now  standing  (1887)  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  High  streets,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  March  22, 
1815,  at  the  age  of  fifty  one.  His  children,  all  daughters,  were  Drusilla 
S.,  married  Dr.  Benjamin  Hunking;  Persis  F.,  married  Major  John  W. 
Weeks;  Almira  J.,  married  Thomas  Peverly,  Esq.;  Abigail  C,  married 
Ephraim  Cross;  Elizabeth  A.,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Everett 
was  a  handsome  man,  tall,  of  commanding  presence,  and  an  able  speaker: 
as  a  lawyer  he  displayed  much  ability,  was  shrewd,  practical,  successful, 
and,  in  1805,  became  judge  of  the  Court  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  held 
the  office  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  descendants  are  among  the  most 
intelligent  people  of  the  county.  He  represented  Lancaster  in  the  legis- 
lature several  years,  and  it  was  through  his  efforts  that  many  important 
bills  were  passed.     He  held  the  military  commission  of  colonel. 

Thomas  Peverly,  Jr.,  was  the  second  register  of  probate,  which  posi- 
tion he  filled  until  1829,  when  his  death  occurred.  Mr.  Peverly  was  edu- 
cated at  Dartmouth,  studied  law,  and  was  in  practice  at  Northumberland. 
He  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  busi- 
ness proceedings  of  the  House.  He  was  comparatively  a  young  man  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  married  Almira,  the  third  daughter  of  Hon. 
Richard  C.  Everett.  They  had  two  children,  a  son,  Richard  Everett  Pev- 
erly, who  was  an  engineer  of  construction,  and  a  daughter,  Helen,  who 
married  x\ntipas  Marshall,  an  engineer  of  New  York  city. 

Abraham  Hinds  was  here  early.  He  practiced  in  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  and  the  Superior  Court,  and  was  register  of  deeds  for  some  time.  He 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Lancaster  in  1807. 

Hon.  B.  F.  Whidden  gives  us  the  following: — 

"  The  history  of  the  Coos  Bar  of  early  days  would  be  incomplete  with- 
out the  mention  of  some,  long  since  departed,  whose  names  are  almost 
unknown  to  the  present  generation. 

"  Samuel  A.  Pearson  had  an  extensive  practice.  He  was  a_gejittem^n 
of  fine  address,  and  one  of  the  first  a  stranger  would  be  likely  to  notice 
on  coining  into  town.  He  was  postmaster  of  Lancaster  for  many  years, 
and  as  such  was  deservedly  popular.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
college  in  the  year  1803.     He  died  September  2,  1840,  aged  fifty-six. 


Bench  and  Bar.  21 


"William  Farrar  was  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  many 

years,  and  a  lawyer  doing  an  extensive  business.  His  justice  dockel  was 
larger  than  any  other  in  the  county,  except  thai  of  Jonas  Baker  His 
most  distinguishing  gift  was  music.  His  was  the  soul  of  music.  Hesup- 
ported  the  choir  in  the  Orthodox  church  for  many  years  with  his  bass-viol, 
and  his  bow  has  raised  many  a  nagging  soul  on  the  wings  of  devotion. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  probity,  and  universally  respected.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth  college  in  the  year  1801,  and  a  classmate  of 
Daniel  Webster.     He  died  March  3,  1850,  aged  sixty-nine. 

"  Charles  J.  Stuart  was  a  lawyer  of  fine  ability,  highly  educated,  but, 
on  account  of  his  intemperate  habits,  never  succeeded  in  business.  He  was 
a  gentleman  of  fine  address,  a  genial  companion,  a  fine  singer,  and  his 
presence  was  indispensable  on  the  convivial  occasions  of  those  early  days. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  1809,  and  a  class-mate  of  Levi  Wood- 
bury. On  his  tombstone  in  the  '  Old  Cemetery'  in  Lancaster,  is  inscribed 
'Charles  J.  Stuart,  Counselor  at  Law,  died  May  IT.  1837,  aged  46/ 

"Levi  Barnard  was  a  lawyer  doing  business  at  Lancaster  many  years. 
He  wTas  a  very  precise  man,  whose  manners,  habits,  and  dress,  were  all  of 
the  olden  time.     He  died  October  12,  1882,  aged  60. 

"John  L.  Sheafe  practiced  law  early  at  Lancaster,  when  he  was  a  young 
man.  He  was  highly  educated,  and  a  successful  practitioner,  and  took 
high  rank  at  the  bar.  He  removed  to  New  Orleans,  and  became  a  judge 
in  their  courts  Late  in  life  he  returned  to  Portsmouth,  his  early  home, 
where  he  died  in  oid  age. 

"  When  I  was  a  school-boy,  my  way  to  school  led  me  past  the  court- 
house, where  twice  a  year  the  court  was  in  session  in  all  the  dignity  of  the 
times.  Bovish  curiositv  induced  me  to  enter  the  Temple  of  Justice  and 
watch  the  trial  and  disposal  of  cases.  My  earliest  memories  are  of  the 
days  of  Richardson  and  Livermore,  who  ruled  upon  the  bench  in  distin- 
guished severity. 

"In  early  days  the  lawyers  of  the  Coos  Bar  did  not  argue  their  own 
cases,  but  merely  put  in  the  evidence,  and  employed  the  professional 
speakers,  Bell,  Bartlett,  Cushman,  and  Wilson,  who  rode  the  circuit,  to 
argue -the  causes.  Trials  were  generally  short,  and  the  court  house  was 
the  arena  of  intellectual  encounter;  argument  and  eloquence  often  had 
more  to  do  in  winning  a  verdict  than  evidence  or  preparation.  The  court- 
house  was  always  full  during  the  session,  and  here  many  a  young  man 
has  had  stirred  within  him  the  first  fires  of  ambition. 

"Bartlett  was  a  facile,  easy,  witty  speaker,  and  always  ready  at 
repartee.     He  was  a  very  successful  advocate  before  tin-  jury. 

"  Bell  was  not  a  graceful  orator,  but  gave  tin-  sledge-hammer  knocks 
that  often  won  for  him  the  victory. 

"Cushman  was  a  courtly,  graceful  gentleman,  of  polished  manners  and 


212  History  of  Coos  County. 

fine  oratory.  He  was  clear,  methodical,  and  masterful  in  the  management 
of  a  case.     His  magnetic  temperament  often  overcame  all  opposition. 

"  Wilson  was  a  man  of  the  people.  He  was  always  admired,  and  drew 
a  crowd.  He  had  a  fine  voice,  was  forceful,  and,  rising  with  the  occasion, 
was  apt  to  cany  his  case  by  storm. 

"Such  was  the  Coos  Bar  as  it  comes  down  to  us  in  memory  from 
former  years,  made  up  of  our  fellow  citizens  of  Coos  and  the  elite  of  the 
state  These  semi-annual  courts  not  only  settled  our  disputes,  but  educated 
and  gave  strength  to  the  people." 

Hon.  Jared  Warner  Williams  was  born  in  West  Woodstock,  Conn., 
in  1796.  He  was  graduated  at  Brown  university  in  1818;  read  law  at  the 
Litchfield  (Conn.)  Law  school,  and  came  to  Lancaster  in  1822,  where  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  was  a  resident  until  his 
death  in  September,  1864.  In  182-1  he  married  Sarah  Hawes  Bacon,  of 
Woodstock,  Conn.  She  died  in  1857,  leaving  two  sons,  George  Canning 
and  Jared  Irving. 

Mr.  Williams  was  elected  representative  of  Lancaster  in  1830-31;  was 
register  of  probate  from  1832  to  1837;  in  1833  he  was  chosen  to  the  state 
Senate;  in  1834  and  '35  he  was  president  of  that  body;  in  1837  he  entered 
Congress  from  the  ' '  Sixth  district  "  and  served  four  years.  He  was  governor 
of  the  state  in  184-7-18;  in  1852  was  made  judge  of  probate;  in  1853  he  filled 
the  vacancy  in  the  U.  S.  Senate  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Hon.  C.  G. 
Atherton;  in  1864  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  convention.  In  addi- 
tion to  these  political  distinctions,  Gov.  Williams  received  the  degree  of  A. 
M.  from  Dartmouth  college  in  1825;  and  that  of  LL.  D.  from  Brown  uni- 
versity in  1852.  He  died  September  29,  1864,  aged  sixty  eight.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  the  highest  type  of  character,  winning  social  qualities,  and 
rare  abilities.  His  various  honors  sat  easy  upon  him,  and  vanity  did  not 
manifest  itself. 

Turner  Stephenson  was  born  in  Lyme,  N.  H.,  and  came  with  his  father 
to  Lancaster  in  early  boyhood.  He  was  educated  at  Dartmouth  college, 
studied  law,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Coos  Bar  in  good  standing.  He  was 
a  safe  man  in  his  business,  and  much  trusted.  He  acquired  a  considerable 
property.  He  was  judge  of  probate  from  1855  to  1868.  Judge  Stephenson 
was  twice  married,  first,  to  Miss  Eluthera  Porter,  of  Charlestown;  second, 
to  Miss  Phebe  Oakes,  a  most  excellent  lady,  who  survives  him.  He  died 
January  26,  L872,  leaving  no  children.  Nathaniel  Wilson  writes  thus  of 
him:     "  He  was  one  of  the  purest  and  best  men  I  ever  knew." 

John  Sullivan  Wells,*  born  in  Durham,  N.  H.,  in  1804,  died  in  1860. 

I  knew  him  well  in  the  early  part  of  his  professional  life.  He  studied  law 
at  Danville,  Vt.,  with  Hon.  William  Mattocks.     He  was  admitted  to  the 


*By  William  Hey  wood,  Esq. 


Bench  and  Bar,  213 


bar,  and  located  at  Guildhall,  Vt,,  in  L828,  remained  there  in  practice  till 
Is:;;,,  when  he  went  to  Bangor,  Me.,  tor  a  year,  then  came  to  Lancaster, 
where  lie  was  a  successful  practitioner  for  ten  years.  While  in  Lancaster 
he  built  the  house  now  owned  by  Mrs.  John  H.  Hopkinson.  Tin' walls  are 
of  granite,  being  the  only  building  in  the  county  constructed  of  thai  ma- 
terial.    From  Lancaster  Mr.  Wells  removed  to   Exeter,  N.  H. 

While  at  Guildhall  and  Lancaster  be  gained  the  deserved  reputal  ion  of 
an  able  lawyer  and  advocate.  He  was  very  industrious  in  the  preparation 
and  trial  of  his  causes.  He  was  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  all  important 
cases  in  Coos  and  Essex  counties  while  he  remained  here,  and  his  clients 
always  gave  him  their  full  confidence.  He  was  elected  representative  from 
Lancaster,  was  speaker  of  the  House,  and  for  several  years  solicitor  for  the 
county.  He  had  much  ambition  for  political  life,  but,  as  far  as  success 
there  was  concerned,  I  think  that  he  would  have  done  better  to  have  re- 
mained in  Coos  county.  He  gained  prominence  after  he  went  to  Exeter. 
but  I  know  from  his  own  words,  said  to  me  when  I  saw  him  last  not  long 
before  his  death,  that  his  experience  in  pursuit  of  office  was  a  bitter  disap- 
pointment. Perhaps  it  may  be  well  for  young  lawyers  to  remember  this 
incident  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Wells.  He  was  a  man  of  brilliant  parts,  and 
any  one  who  knew  him  would  have  supposed  that  he  could  have  filled  any 
position  that  the  state  or  its  citizens  could  give  him,  but  inferior  men 
passed  him  in  the  race.  If  he  had  devoted  himself  solely  to  his  profession 
he  would  have  gained  greater  eminence,  and  he  truly  deserved  the  honor 
of  taking  rank  as  one  of  the  distinguished  lawyers  in  New  Hampshire. 

During  his  residence  in  Exeter  he  was  appointed  attorney-general  Jan- 
uary 17,  1848;  resigned  it  the  following  August;  was  chosen  senator  1851 
and  1852,  and  both  years  chosen  president  of  the  Senate:  was  nominee 
for  governor  in  1*5(5  and  1857;  appointed  LT.  S.  senator  January  L5,  L855, 
for  the  unexpired  term  of  Hon.  Moses  Norris.  Mr.  Wells  was  considered 
an  eloquent  orator.  He  was  a  self-made  man,  getting  the  means  to  pay 
his  expenses  of  education  by  industry  in  cabinet-making  which  he  learned 
in  early  life. 

Edmund  Burke,  born  in  Westminster.  Vt,,  in  1809,  afterward  so  prom- 
inent in  state  and  national  politics,  and  as  U.  S.  commissioner  of  patents, 
came  to  Colebrook  in  1830  to  commence  the  practice  of  law.  Not  finding 
matters  as  he  expected,  he  located  at  Whitefield  for  a  few  years,  when  he 
removed  toClaremont,  in  1833,  to  become  an  editor,  and  afterwards  to  New- 
port. He  gained  a  high  reputation  as  a  writer,  and  asa  lawyer  in  later  life 
had  few  equals  in  New  England.  He  was  one  of  the  coterie  which  con- 
trolled the  politics  of  the  Democracy  of  the  state,  numbering  as  Ins  friends 
and  co  workers  Franklin  Pierce,  Charles  G.  Aiherton,  etc.  Hisopinionof 
Coos  people  is  consequently  worth  transcribing.  Coming  here  with  the 
impression  that  there  was   less  cultivation   and   intellectual  force  in  this 


214  History  of  Coos  County. 

county  than  in  the  lower  counties  of  the  state,  he  soon  changed  his  opinion, 
and  would  often  say  that  he  never  spent  time  more  profitably  than  during 
his  residence  here.  To  use  his  language,  "I  never  met  a  community  of 
men  generally  more  intelligent,  more  imbued  with  strong  common  sense, 
or  more  patriotic  in  sentiment.  Among  them  I  laid  in  a  large  store  of  prac- 
tical knowledge. "     He  died  January  -jr.,  1852. 

Hon.  William  Heywood,*  the  venerated  president  of  the  Grafton  and 
Coos  Bar  Association  from  its  organization,  was  born  at  Lunenhurgh,  Vt., 
October  6,  1804,  and  his  early  life  was  spent  amid  influences  calculated  to 
cultivate  in  his  young  mind  the  sternest  virtues  and  the  utmost  simplicity 
of  manners,  and  out  of  which  came  a  plain,  strong  mind,  filled  with  the 
broadest  common  sense.  In  those  days  the  Concord  (Vt.)  academy  was 
the  leading  and  most  available  institution  of  learning  in  the  vicinity,  and 
in  it  Mr.  Heywood  acquired  such  academical  education  as  an  usual  course 
afforded.  But  he  utilized  all  there  was  of  it,  and  assimilated  it  to  his  own 
practical  ideas  as  he  went  along,  so  that  he  came  from  the  school  with 
more  than  the  strength  that  is  usually  born  of  education.  He  went  to 
the  study  of  law  not  moved  by  accidental  circumstances,  but  seemingly 
as  a  matter  of  course,  reading  at  first  with  Judge  Charles  Davis,  at  Water- 
ford  and  Danville,  and  later  with  Judge  William  A.  Fletcher,  in  Detroit, 
Michigan.  Returning  to  Vermont  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Guildhall, 
at  the  September  term  of  1831,  where  he  commenced  a  business  which 
neither  in  amount  nor  length  of  duration  lias  ever  been  equalled  in  the 
county.  So  entirely  did  he  become  absorbed  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion that  he  became  the  most  exclusive  lawyer  I  ever  met.  I  do  not  mean 
to  say  that  he  was  oblivious  to  the  current  events  of  the  day,  for  he  was 
thoroughly  posted  on  matters  in  general,  especially  in  politics,  in  which  he 
always  was  and  is  an  intense  Democrat.  But  his  mind  was  so  occupied  in 
professional  labors  that  he  even  lost  sight  of  a  just  compensation  for  them, 
and  came  through  his  immense  labors  gleaning  for  himself  just  what  his 
necessities  compelled  him  to.  He  moved  from  Guildhall  in  ]s5J,  and  from 
thence  to  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  in  March,  1856,  whither  business  followed  and 
crowded  upon  him.  In  cases  he  was  felt  rather  than  known.  The  bluster 
and  arrogance  of  identifying  himself  with  the  success  of  a  case  was  un- 
known to  him,  anci  if  it  had  not  been,  his  modesty  would  have  despised 
any  enjoyment  in  them.  I  might  illustrate  some  of  Mr.  Heywood's  work 
by  enumerating  a  long  line  of  cases,  including  the  murder  case  of  State 
vs.  Allen,  but  it  would  add  nothing  to  the  importance  of  a  work  so  exten- 
di ve.  He  is  undemonstrative  in  manner,  but  his  language  is  of  that  grave 
and  peculiarly  suggestive  style  that  it  attracts  attention  and  is  quite  im- 
pressive.    It  has  the  force  of  brevity  and  directness,   and  his  ideas  are 


By  Hon.  George  N.  Dale. 


WXT,r.- 


% 


-^W/^^-£>-Z^ 


Bench  and  Bar.  2h 


winged  with  words  so  well  selected  that  he  seldom  inappropriately  bur- 
dens an  idea  with  a  word,  or  a  word  with  an  idea  it  is  n>>!  adapted  to  con- 
vey. He  is  ( | uite  hasty  in  temper,  but  no  temper  was  ever  exhibited  in 
human  nature  with  so  little  malice  in  it.  Whenever  it  conies  to  him  it 
conies  like  a  flash  of  lightning.  But  any  spirit  of  anger  is  dismissed 
quickly  as  it  appears,  and  so  quickly  does  the  effect  of  its  presence  pass 
away  as  to  be  a  sharp  rebuke  to  its  coming,  and  make  such  passion  look 
absurd  and  ridiculous.  His  is  the  skill  born  of  native  strength.  His  logic 
is  horn  of  his  mental  impulses,  and  has  mere  the  strength  of  nature  than 
the  force  of  art. 

In  his  marital  relations  he  was  peculiarly  fortunate,  having  married 
Miss  Susan  Hibbard,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  David  Hibbard,  of  Con- 
cord. Vermont,  a  lady  remarkably  modest,  yet  possessing  great  strength 
of  character  and  kindness  of  heart.  By  her  he  had  three  sons  (the  second 
son,  Edward,  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months,)  and  a  daughter,  Isabel. 
The  oldest  sonis  now  associated  with  him  in  business.  The  younger  went 
into  the  Late  war  and  did  not  survive  it.  The  daughter  is  still  living.  Mr. 
Heywood  was  a  member  of  the  second  and  third  sessions  of  the  Vermont 
state  Senate  in  1887  and  L838,  and  was  state's  attorney  for  Essex  county 
for  tit  teen  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  of  1850,  which 
made  many  and  radical  changes  in  the  constitution  of  Vermont.  His 
name  appears  first  as  an  attorney  connected  with  the  Vermont  courts  in 
1836,  in  the  eighth  volume  of  Vermont  Reports,  and  is  seen  annually  in 
these  volumes  for  fifty-one  consecutive  years,  and  is  firsl  found  in  the 
thirteenth  volume  in  New  Hampshire  Reports,  and  continues  to  appear 
down  to  the  sixty-third,  the  latest  one  published. 

In  physical  appearance  Mr.  Heywood  is  of  medium  height  and  size, 
prominent  features — a  very  imposing  countenance — grave  in  appearance, 
even  to  solemnity  or  sadness,  but  through  which  flashes  of  humor  occa- 
sionally burst  as  unexpectedly  as  lightning  from  a  cloudless  sky.  His  is 
the  exterior  of  a  man  molded  in  an  iron  age,  beneath  which  heats  a  heart 
as  tender  as  a  woman's.  He  was  not  only  among  the  founders  of  the  Ver- 
mont state  government,  but  he  was  of  them.  He  is  a  devoted  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and  in  his  private 
character  his  morals  are  above  suspicion.  He  still  lives,  at  the  age  of  more 
than  eighty-three  years,  a  fit  type  of  the  simple  grandeur  of  those  olden 
times,  with  mental  faculties  clear,  vigorous  and  strong.  May  he  long 
remain  a  fit  emblem  and  reminder  of  those  days  and  associations  we  so 
much  revere. 

Hiram  Adams  Fletcher,  second  child  of  Ebenezer  and  Peddy  (Smith) 
Fletcher,  was  born  at  Springfield,  Vt,,  December  14,  L806.  When  Hiram 
wasbutasmall  boy,  his  father  moved  his  family  from  Charlestown  to 
Pittsburg,  then  "Indian  Stream  Territory."'     Mr.  Fletcher  was  one  of  the 


216  History  of  Coos  County. 

first  settlers  there,  took  with  him  considerable  means,  built  mills,  made  a 
comfortable  home,  and  cleared  up  a  large  farm.  Hiram  labored  on  the 
farm  and  in  the  mills  until  the  age  of  seventeen,  when  he  entered  Kimball 
Union  academy  (Meriden),  where  he  was  a  scholar  for  several  terms,  and 
laid  the  foundation  for  that  love  of  learning  and  studious  habits  which  he 
exhibited  in  after  life.  About  nineteen,  he  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Gen  Seth  Cushman,  at  Guildhall,  Vt.  He  afterwards  read  successively 
with  John  L.  Sheafe,  Gov.  J.  W.  Williams,  of  Lancaster,  and  Gov.  Hub- 
bard, of  Charlestown,  where  Chief  Justice  Gilchrist  was  a  fellow  student 
with  him.  They  were  admitted  to  the  bar  together,  at  Newport,  in  183G. 
He  first  opened  an  office,  and  practiced  a  year,  in  Springfield,  Vt.  In  1833 
he  went  to  Colebrook.  where  he  was  in  practice  sixteen  years.  For  the 
place  and  business  he  w^as  very  successful.  He  had  one  side  of  all  the  liti- 
gation in  that  part  of  the  county,  and  the  business  of  making  collections 
was  a  help  to  the  rather  meagre  income  of  a  lawyer  in  those  days.  He 
practiced  in  Essex  county,  Vt.,  as  well  as  in  Coos  county;  at  that  time  this 
was  accompanied  with  many  hardships.  The  roads  were  not  good;  in 
summer  they  were  rough,  and  in  winter  deep  with  snow,  but  no  obstruc- 
tion was  sufficient  to  prevent  Mr.  Fletcher  from  doing  whatever  he  under- 
took. He  was  a  man  of  slight  pl^sique,  but  every  muscle  was  like  steel, 
and  he  had,  till  late  in  life,  great  activity  and  great  powers  of  endurance. 
He  seemed  to  have  had  the  make-up  for  a  long  life,  but  he  was  not  care- 
ful of  his  health.  In  early  and  middle  life  he  appeared  insensible  to. hard- 
ship, and  to  know  nothing  of  fatigue.  In  1849  he  moved  to  Lancaster, 
and  was  an  acknowledged  leader  at  the  bar  for  long  years.  He  died  of 
consumption,  January  30,  1879,  aged  seventy-two  years,  and  although  a 
great  sufferer  for  the  last  three  years,  he  retained  his  mental  powers  un- 
impaired to  the  end. 

In  1834.  May  2.">th,  Mr.  Fletcher  married  Persis  E.,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Benjamin  Hunking,  of  Lancaster.  Mrs.  Fletcher  was  a  lady,  intelligent 
and  amiable,  a  devoted  mother  and  Christian.  Of  their  six  children,  one 
died  in  infancy;  Emily  E.  died  in  1857,  aged  nineteen;  Almira  (Mrs.  W.  S. 
Ladcl).  Richard  and  Everett  reside  in  Lancaster;  Nellie  (Mrs  W.  A.  Hol- 
man),  is  a  resident  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.     Mrs.  Fletcher  died  July  9,  1878. 

Mr.  Fletcher  was  a  close  legal  student,  well  read  in  cases,  for  which  his 
memory  wras  wonderfully  retentive,  and  he  knew  all  about  law  books  and 
authors.  He  gradually  collected  many  books.  His  law  library  was  large 
lor  a  country  practitioner.  He  possessed  a rtistic  tastes,  had  much  admira- 
tion for  a  rare  and  a  well-made  book,  and  for  any  beautiful  thing.  He 
was  a  man  of  kindly  feeling.  He  had  a  great  fund  of  humor,  and  no  one 
was  likely  to  get  the  better  of  him  in  an  encounter  of  wit. 

In  the  course  of  his  practice  Mr.  Fletcher  was  associated  several  years 
with  William  Heywood,  some  years  with  William  Burns,  and  four  years 


Bench  and  Bar.  217 


with  his  son,  Everett.  He  was  honorable  and  fair  as  a  practitioner, 
always  governed  by  a  sense  of  justice,  and  si  rid  ly  honest.  He  dealt  lib- 
erally with  his  clients,  and  it'  the  case  resulted  unfavorably,  he  would  con- 
sider the  client  very  favorably  in  the  settlement.  He  was  never  afraid  to 
take  hold  of  cases  of  importance  alone,  even  though  opposed  by  an  array 
of  able  lawyers,  and  old  members  of  the  bar  tell  of  the  skill,  tart,  and 
ability  with  which  he  would  bring  them  to  successful  conclusion.  "  ll«' 
was  a  man  of  great  resources,  and  an  untiring  worker.  The  order  and 
regularity  with  which  he  kept  his  papers  was  remarkable.  So  well  ar- 
ranged was  his  business  that  he  could  go  to  his  files  and  get  his  papers  as 
well  years  after  cases  were  ended,  as  while  they  were  pending." 

George  A.  Cossitt  was  register  of  probate  from.  L837  to  1852.  Mr. 
Cossitt  was  born  in  Claremont  and  commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  about 
1835,  in  Whitefield,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Lancaster.  He  was  an  ex- 
cellent judge  of  probate  law,  and  consequently  has  been  much  engaged  in 
probate  business.  He  was  for  many  years  cashier  of  the  old  Lancaster 
bank. 

Hon.  Jacob  Benton,*  son  of  Samuel  Slade  and  Esther  i  Prouty)  Benton, 
was  born  at  Waterford,Vt.,  August  19,  1814.     He  attended  the  academies 
at  Lyndon,  Peacham,  and  Newbury,  and  completed  bis  education  by  grad- 
uating from  the  seminary  at  Manchester,  Vt.     In  the  spring  of  1840  he 
commenced  to  study  law  in  the  office  of  Heaton  &  Reed,  at  Montpelier, 
and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  became  the  principal  of  the  academy  at 
Concord  Corner,  Vt.     Mr.   Benton  was   connected  with  this    school   for 
four  years.     While  in  Concord  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Henry 
A.  Bellows.     In  1843  he  came  to  Lancaster,  where  he  has  since   resided, 
and  entered  the  office  of  Gen.  Ira  Young,  where  he  completed  his  prelimi- 
nary studies,  and  with  whom  he  formed  a  partnership  after  his  admission 
to  the  bar  in  July  of  that  year.     This  partnership  was  dissolved  by  the 
death  of  Gen.  Young  in  1815.     During  the  period  from  1855  until  1887,  he 
had  three  law  partners:  Ossian  Ray,  ten  years  (1855   L865);  J.  H.  Benton. 
Jr.,  four  years  (1867-1871);  H.  I.  Goss,  two  years  (1885-1887).    In  1860  he 
married  Louisa  Dwight,  a  daughter  of  Gen.  Neal  Dow,  of  Portland.  Me. 
Mr.  Benton  belongs  to  a  family  of  men  strong  mentally  and  physically. 
He  is  more  than  six  feet  tall,  and  well  built.     Though  reared  on  a  farm, 
most  of  his  brothers  as  well  as  himself  became  connected  with  the  learned 
professions.     The  family  came  to  Vermont  from   Connecticut   and    \\ 
prominent  there.     His  grandfather  owned  a  part  of  the  site  of  the  city  of 
Hartford. 

He  was  first  a  Whig  in  politics:  but,  upon  the  breaking  up  of  that 
party,  he  became  a  Republican,  to  which   party  he  has  always  since  ad 


*By  H.  I.  Goss. 


218  History  of  Coos  County. 

heredj  and  the  principles  of  which  he  has,  when  occasion  offered,  advo- 
cated and  supported  with  much  force  and  effect. 

In  1854  he  was  elected  to  represent  Lancaster  in  the  legislature,  where- 
he  took  an  active  part  in  bringing  about  the  defeat  of  the  election  of  Dem- 
ocratic senators  to  the  United  States  Congress.  Being  re-elected  in  1855, 
he  saw  his  efforts  of  the  former  year  crowned  with  success  in  the  election 
of  John  P.  Hale  and  James  Bell.  He  was  again  elected  in  1856.  Later  he 
was  made  a  brigadier-general  of  the  militia.  In  1867  he  was  elected  from 
the  Third  New  Hampshire  district  a  representative  to  the  Fortieth  Con- 
gress, and  was  re-elected  in  1869. 

In  the  halls  of  legislation  and  at  the  bar  Mr.  Benton  has  been  noted 
for  his  strong  and  fearless  advocacy  of  the  cause  he  espoused.  His  lan- 
guage, abounding  in  startling  and  original  metaphor,  is  pointed  and  force- 
ful. While  in  Congress  he  made  several  speeches  which  attracted  atten- 
tion; and  one,  (made  February  25,  1868,  before  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives acting  as  a  committee  of  the  whole,  and  having  under  consideration 
President  Johnson's  annual  message,  in  which  he  severely  criticised  the 
policy  of  the  administration,)  was  extensively  circulated  throughout  the 
country  as  a  campaign  document. 

As  a  lawyer  he  early  had  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  was  en- 
dowed by  nature  with  much  inherent  shrewdness  and  practical  common 
sense.  He  never  relies  upon  trivialities  or  technicalities;  but  his  mind 
seizes  at  once  upon  the  principal  points  in  the  case,  and  these  he  urges 
with  much  force  and  persistence.  He  sees  with  equal  quickness  the  weak- 
nesses of  his  opponent's  cause,  and  these  he  holds  up  to  view,  often  Avith 
much  good  humored  wit,  always  with  tact,  and  strong  argument. 

Hon.  William  Burns,  born  at  Hebron,  N.  H.,  April  25,  1821,  was  son 
of  Robert  Burns,  a  distinguished  physician  and  prominent  public  man. 
Mr.  Burns  was  educated  at  academies  in  Plymouth  and  New  Hampton, 
and  was  a  graduate  in  the  class  of  1841,  from  Dartmouth  college.  He  be- 
gan to  read  law  with  Hon.  Leonard  Wilcox,  of  Orforcl;  attended  Harvard 
Law  school,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1813,  and  the  next  year  (1814) 
married  Clementine  E.  Hayes,  of  Orford,  a  lady  whose  sunny  tempera- 
ment especially  fitted  her  to  make  a  happy  home  for  a  public  man.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Grafton  county  bar  in  1844,  and  commenced  practice 
at  Littleton,  where  he  remained  two  years,  then  removed  to  Lancaster, 
having  purchased  the  legal  business  of  Hon.  John  S.  Wells. 

At  once  Mr.  Burns  obtained  a  high  reputation  for  legal  soundness, 
clear  judgment,  and  sterling  integrity.  It  was,  however,  as  an  advocate 
that  his  great  natural  ability  was  most  conspicuously  shown.  Always 
would  his  impassioned  appeals  impress  a  jury,  and  make  him  master  of 
the  situation.  For  eighteen  years  he  was  in  partnership  with  Hiram  A. 
Fletcher.     As  attorneys  for  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway,  and  in  connection 


// 


Lst/tn^L^) 


Bench  and  Bar.  219 


with  their  other  business  they  built  up  a  very  large  practice.  In  L869  Mr. 
Burns  entered  into  partnership  with  Henry  Heywood,  and  remained  with 
him  until  L876,  when  it  was  dissolved  on  account  of  Mr.  Burns's  ill  health. 

It  can  be  truly  said  of  Mr.  Burns,  that  he  was  one  of  thai  old  school  of 
counselors  for  which  New  Hampshire  has  been  famous,  whose  profi 
sional  lives  have  both  honored  and  elevated  the  business  of  the  law.  He 
was  unflinching  in  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  was  long  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  convincing  stump 
orators  in  New  Hampshire.  He  certainly  richly  deserved  political  position, 
and  would  have  had  it  had  his  politics  been  in  accord  with  the  Republican 
party  then  dominant  in  the  state.  The  Democrats  always  recognized  the 
sterling  worth  of  a  man  so  earnest,  faithful,  and  unswerving  in  his  adhe- 
rence to  Democracy,  and  regarded  him  as  one  of  the  most  fearless  and 
untiring  of  party  standard-bearers.  At  state  conventions  and  gatherings 
of  state  committees  no  man  was  listened  to  with  keener  interest  in  the 
discussion  of  the  issues  of  the  day  or  measures  of  parly  policy.  He  was 
twice  elected  to  the  state  Senate,  in  L856  and  1857.  In  1859  he  received 
the  Democratic  nomination  for  member  of  Congress  in  the  Third  district, 
and  made  a  remarkably  brilliant  canvass,  repeating  the  same  in  L861  and 
L863,  and,  at  the  election  in  1863,  came  within  two  hundred  votes  of 
defeating  Hon.  James  W.  Patterson,  the  Republican  candidate.  .Mr.  Burns 
was  a  delegate  to  the  national  Democratic  convention  in  I860,  and  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  state  Constitutional  convention  of  1876.  In  religious 
belief  Mr.  Burns  was  a  Unitarian.  He  was  a  member  of  North  Star 
Lodge,  F.  A.  M.,  of  Lancaster. 

Mr.  Burns  died  after  a  long  and  trying  illness  at  Plymouth,  April  2, 
1885,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  Livermore  church-yard  at  Holderness,  among 
his  kindred  and  boyhood  friends.  Hon.  George  N.  Dale  gives  this  fine 
analysis  of  his  character: — 

''I  see  coming  through  nearly  thirty  years  another  in  this  picture. 
Through  all  that  time  shines  the  luster  of  a  gifted  and  noble  manhood. 
The  space  he  filled  presents  nothing  but  pleasant  recollections  of  William 
Burns.  As  I  see  him  he  was  kind,  courteous,  and  exceedingly  pleasant, 
but  he  was  not  tame  by  any  means.  His  sarcasm  and  invective  were  as 
keen  as  any  blade  that  ever  glistened  in  our  little  circle.  As  a  public 
speaker,  especially  in  discussing  political  subjects,  in  his  palmiest  days,  I 
thought  him  without  a  superior  in  this  section  of  the  country.  As  a  law- 
yer he  excelled.  He  was  apt  in  the  technology  of  law.  not  remarkably 
proficient  alone  in  specialties,  and  wanting  in  other  respects,  bill  he  had  a 
general  variety  and  well  selected  stock  of  information,  to  which  was  added 
abroad,  practical  common  sense,  which  made  him  an  efficient  and  useful 
man.  He  excelled,  of  course,  as  an  advocate.  His  style  was  elegant, 
simple  and  sublime  (for  sublimity  is  almost  always  simple  in  literatun 


220  History  of  Coos  County. 

almost  as  Dickens,  and  resembled  the  purity  of  an  Addison.  He  often 
indulged  in  ironical  language,  but  it  was  such  pure  irony,  and  was  so  com- 
pletely manufactured  out  of  materials  of  his  case  as  to  seldom  subject 
him  to  just  criticism,  or  leave  any  lasting  sting  behind.  As  a  practitioner 
he  was  a  model.  He  was  a  gallant  man.  He  had  not  the  keen  scintillat- 
ing wit  of  a  Fletcher,  nor  the  strong,  comprehensive,  though  unadorned 
style  of  a  Hey  wood,  nor  even  yet  the  dashing,  overwhelming  and  torrent- 
like style  of  a  Bartlett,  but  he  had  such  a  blending  and  pleasantly-arranged 
parts  of  them  all  as  to  constitute  a  most  consistent  man.  Many  years 
since  (as  we  count  them  in  the  life  of  a  man),  Mr.  Burns  was  severely 
injured  by  a  collision  of  railway  trains,  yet  he  was  still  very  graceful,  and 
so  managed  his  lameness  that  I  used  to  think  it  added  to,  rather  than  took 
from,  the  effect  of  his  most  brilliant  efforts.  The  influence  of  his  charity 
and  kind  consideration  for  others  I  shall  feel  as  long  as  I  live.  His  life 
was  and  is  constantly  saying  to  us: — 

"  '  Let  us  no  more  contend  or  blame 
Each  other,  blamed  enough  elsewhere, 

but  strive 
In  offices  of  love  how  we  may  lighten 
Each  other's  burdens  in  our  share  of  woe.' 


"  '  The  battle  of  our  life  is  brief, 
The  alarm,  the  struggle,  the  relief  ; 
Then  sleep  we  side  by  side.'  " 

Benjamin  Franklin  Whidden  is  a  native  of  Greenland,  N.  H.  When 
a  lad  he  removed  to  Lancaster  with  his  father.  His  early  years  in  Green- 
land and  Lancaster  were  passed  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  cabinet-making,  and  served  four  years, 
attending  school  winters.  His  preparatory  education  was  acquired  at 
Lancaster  and  Kimball  Union  academies.  He  entered  Dartmouth  college 
in  1836,  and  was  graduated  in  1840.  (He  worked  at  his  trade,  and  taught, 
to  defray  the  greater  portion  of  his  expenses.)  He  then  went  to  Hanover 
county,  Virginia,  as  a  teacher  in  languages  and  mathematics,  and  remained 
until  1845;  passing  his  vacations  in  Washington,  where  he  had  the  use  of 
libraries,  and  the  opportunity  to  hear  the  foremost  men  of  that  day- 
Webster,  (lav.  Calhoun,  Benton,  Adams,  Marshall,  Wright,  Choate,  Mc- 
Duffie,  Preston  and  Crittenden.  This  he  highly  prized  as  a  most  valuable 
part  of  his  education,  and  that  epoch  is  full  of  choice  memories.  He  re- 
turned to  Lancaster  in  1845,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1846  He 
was  appointed  school  commissioner  for  Coos  county  in  1850  and  1851;  he 
represented  Lancaster  in  the  state  legislature  in  1849,  1850,  and  1867.  His 
election  in  1849  was  under  circumstances  which  show  the  confidence 
reposed  in  him.  The  two  parties  in  town  were  so  nearly  equal  in  strength 
that  neither  could  elect — Mr.  Whidden  being  the  nominee  of  the  Free-soil 


Bench  and  Bar.  221 


party,  then  largely  in  the  minority.  He  was  elected  not  on  party  issues, 
but  upon  his  honesty,  integrity,  and  ability  as  a  man.  lie  advocated 
and  secured  the  passage  of  the  Homestead  Law.  He  was  county  solicitor 
from  L856  to  L862;  he  was  appointed  by  Presidenl  Lincoln,  United  States 
commissioner  and  consul-general  to  Hayti,  on  the  recognition  of  that  gov- 
ernment by  the  United  States  in  1862,  with  plenipotentiary  power  to  con- 
clude a  treaty  of  amity,  commerce,  and  navigation,  and  for  the  extradition 
of  fugitive  criminals.  The  treaty  was  made  in  L864,  and  immediately  con- 
firmed by  the  governments.  Mr.  Whidden  did  efficient  service  for  the 
Union  in  this  capacity,  discharged  its  duties  with  gentlemanly  courtesy, 
and  was  highly  complimented  by  Secretary  Seward.  He  resigned  his  post 
in  L865,  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  returned  to  Lancaster.  Ho  was  judge 
of  probate  in  1868  and  held  the  office  until  1*74;  presidential  elector  in  1^7i;, 
and  delegate  in  1876  to  the  Republican  national  convention  at  Cincinnati. 
He  travelled  in  Europe  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1*74.  After  liis  return 
he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  at  Lancaster. 

In  1851  Mr.  Whidden  married  Eliza  Turner  Spaulding,  of  Lancaster. 
She  was  a  most  estimable  lady,  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her.  She 
died  in  1868.  (Their  son  John  W.  is  a  physician  in  Portland,  Me.)  In  1874, 
he  married  Kate  J.  Brooks,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  She  was  a  lady  of  rare 
mental  and  personal  attractions,  and  much  respected  by  those  who  had 
the  honor  of  her  acquaintance.     She  died  in  1879. 

Mr.  Whidden  is  especially  noted  for  his  exactness,  honesty,  and  integ- 
rity, and  his  devotedness  to  all  interests  intrusted  to  his  care.  He  ha-  an 
admiration  for  the  classics  of,  not  only  the  modern,  but  the  ancient  lan- 
guages, which  are  as  familiar  to  him  now  as  on  his  graduation  day.  Fine 
literary  tastes  and  scholastic  culture,  a  broad  liberality  combined  with  a 
keen  sense  of  justice,  a  practical  intelligence  broadened  by  extensive  travel, 
and  a  genial,  kindly  spirit,  all  unite  in  this  true  gentleman  and  scholar. 

George  Canning  Williams,  eldest  son  of  Hon.  Jared  W.  Williams, 
born  at  Lancaster,  August  7,  1827,  died,  unmarried,  at  Lancaster,  Decem- 
ber 10,  L865.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Lancaster  academy,  was  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  (a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  society)  in  the  class  of 
ls-14,  studied  law  with  his  father,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  L848. 
He  was  a  lawyer  of  fine  ability  for  his  age.  and  no  one  had  more  brilliant 
prospects,  but  his  last  years  were  saddened  by  the  vice  of  intemperance. 
He  was  county  solicitor  for  several  years,  was  clerk  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Senate,  representative  from  Lancaster  in  L 85 9  and  I860,  and  commissioner 
of  state  lands  in  L858.  He  was  a  trustee  of  Lancaster  academy,  grand 
master  of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  of  New  Hampshire,  and  representative  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  that  body,  and  a  prominent  and  active  Freemason. 

Jared  Irving  Williams,  youngest  son  of  Bon.  Jared  W.  Williams,  was 
born  at  Lancaster  August  L9,  1832.     He  fitted  for  college  al  Lancasterand 


222  History  of  Coos  County. 

Killingly  (Conn.)  academies,  graduated  from  Brown  university  in  the 
class  of  1854,  studied  law  with  his  father,  and  Carpenter  &  Thurston,  of 
Providence,  R.  I.,  was  admitted  to  practice  at  Lancaster  in  1856,  and  at 
once  became  associated  with  his  father  and  brother.  He  was  editor  of  the 
Cods  County  Democrat  from  the  death  of  J.  M.  Rix  in  1854  until  the  elec- 
tion of  Lincoln  in  1860;  was  town  representative  in  1879  and  1.880;  has  been 
superintending  school  committee  and  president  of  the  board  of  education 
of  Lancaster  since  1876;  is  a  trustee  of  Lancaster  academy.  He  married, 
in  1857,  Mary  Hamilton  Morse.  Mr.  Williams  did  service  in  the  Rebellion, 
and  attained  the  rank  of  captain;  is  a  prominent  and  valued  member  of 
the  Gr.  A.  R.  and  various  Masonic  bodies;  possesses  decided  mathematical 
and  mechanical  tastes,  and  is  a  civil  engineer  of  no  mean  ability.  He  is  a 
Roman  Catholic  in  religion,  and  a  delightful  social  companion. 

Ossian  Ray-  was  born  December  13,  1835,  in  Hinesburg,  Vt.  He  is 
the  oldest  son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Greene)  Ray,  who  were  married  in 
Waterbury,  Vt.,  October  2,  1834.  They  lived  in  Hinesburg  until  about 
March,  1 836,  removing  then  toWaterbury,  and  remaining  there  until  the  fall 
of  that  year,  when  they  wTent  to  reside  on  a  farm  which  they  had  purchased 
in  Irasburg.  The  mother  died  at  Irasburg  in  1817 ;  the  father  remained  on  the 
same  farm  until  about  1855,  when  he  removed  to  Hinesburg,  where  he  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  eighty  three  years.  George  Ray  was  the  son  of  William 
and  Abigail  (Wyman)  Ray,  and  was  born  in  Hinesburg,  the  eighth  of  ten 
children.  William  Ray  came  from  Hartford,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to 
Hinesburg,  about  1800,  and  married  to  Abigail  Wyman,  his  second  wife, 
after  coming  to  Vermont.  Hannah  (Greene)  Ray,  born  September  1,  1809, 
died  July  2.  1847.  was  the  fourth  child  of  Capt.  James  Greene,  who  was 
born  in  Claremont,  N.  H.,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Waterbury,  Vt., 
serving  in  the  War  of  1812,  being  appointed  captain  in  the  11th  IT.  S. 
Infantry,  July  25,  is  14.  He  was  severely  wounded  in  a  skirmish  with  the 
British  troops  at  a  place  called  "  Stone  Mills,"  (or  "Cole  Mills")  near  Platts- 
burg,  N.  Y.,  suffering  amputation  of  a  leg,  and  dying  from  the  effects  of 
his  wound  February  17,  1817.  He  was  married  in  Waterbury  about  1802, 
to  Mercy,  daughter  of  Moses  Nelson,  of  Croydon,  N.  H.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  has  one  brother,  Orman  P.,  of  Burlington,  Vt.,  and  three 
sisters,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M.  Bridges  and  Mrs.  Amelia  C.  Corrigan,  of  Ogden, 
Utah,  and  Mrs.  Hannah  E.  Baker,  of  Waterbury,  Vt. 

Ossian  Ray's  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  Irasburg,  where  he 
built  up  a  vigorous  constitution  by  healthy  out-door  work  during  the  brief 
summers,  and  disciplined  his  mind  during  the  long  New  England  winters 
at  the  little  district  school-house,  intent  upon  solving  the  riddle  of  life,  and 
acquiring  the  knowledge  and  experience  of  others  by  studying  the  printed 


By  John  N.  McClintock,  A.  M. 


^^-1 


^Z^i^^/ 


Bench  and  Bar.  223 


page.  His  formative  education  and  character  at  the  district  school  were 
under  the  direction  of  several  able  and  enthusiastic  teachers,  among  whom 
may  be  named  the  late  Henry  H.  Frost,  Esq.,  of  Coventry,  the  late  Tim- 
othy Mansfield,  of  Barton,  the  late  Miss  Olive  H.  Webster,  of  Irasburg, 
and  Miss  Harriet  Webster,  now  of  Boston.  Young  Ray  also  attended 
several  terms  at  the  Irasburg  academy,  two  of  which  were  taught  by  Rev. 
Charles  W.  Cushing,  D.  I).,  now  of  Rochester,  N.  Y..  and  widely  known 
as  one  of  the  foremost  educators  in  the  country.  While  at  the  academy 
his  evenings  and  odd  hours  were  devoted  to  the  study  of  history,  rhetoric, 
and  public  speaking.  The  country  around  was  interested  in  these-schools, 
and  the  progress  of  the  scholars,  and  flocked  to  the  public  exercises  from 
the  neighboring  towns.  Triumphs  won  in  that  forum  were  never  for- 
gotten; applause  from  rustic  friends  stimulated  to  renewed  efforts.  The 
closing  exercises  were  often  held  in  the  courtdiouse,  and  the  day  was  great 
in  the  lives  of  many  students.  Ossian  Ray  finished  his  academical  studies 
at  Derby,  Vt.,  where  among  his  fellow  students  were  the  late  Hon.  Benja- 
min H.  Steele,  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Vermont;  Rev.  George  I. 
Bard,  of  Orford,  N.  H.;  David  M.  Camp,  editor  of  the  Newport  (Vt.) 
Express,  and  Rev.  Dr.  W.  W.  Niles,  now  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New 
Hampshire.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  gave  promise  of  more  than  ordinary  * 
ability,  and  attracted  the  attention  of  Jesse  Cooper,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  Iras- 
burg. The  youth  was  fitted  for  college  in  all  save  Creek  and  mathematics 
at  that  age,  and  strongly  desired  to  complete  his  education  by  a  college 
course,  but  lack  of  means  forbade.  Irasburg  was  the  county  seat,  where 
the  courts  were  holden,  and  where  lawyers  were  held  in  high  esteem.  At 
the  Orleans  county  bar  were  then  practicing  Jesse  Cooper  and  John  H. 
Prentiss,  of  Irasburg;  William  M.  Dickerm  m,  of  Coventry;  John  L.  Ed- 
wards, of  Derby;  John  H.  Kimball  and  Samuel  A.  Willard,  of  Barton: 
Samuel  Sumner  and  Norman  Boardman,  of  Troy;  Benjamin  H.  Smalley 
and  Chief  Justice  Homer  E.  Royce,  of  Franklin  county;  Judge  Luke  P. 
Poland,  of  Lamoille  county;  Judge  Timothy  P.  Redfield  and  Stoddard  B. 
Oolby,  of  Montpelier;  Thomas  Bartlett  and  George  C.  Gaboon,  of  Caledonia 
county,  and  others,  whose  scholarly  minds  and  rhetorical  abilities,  as  dis- 
played in  many  a  hard-fought  legal  battle,  deeply  impressed  the  youth, 
and  stimulated  his  ambition  to  become  a  leader  of  men  in  the  forensic 
arena. 

By  the  advice  of  Mr.  Cooper,  and  with  the  assent  of  his  father,  young 
Ray  relinquished  his  college  aspirations,  entered  immediately  upon  the 
study  of  his  chosen  profession  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Cooper,  and  became  a 
member  of  his  family.  His  patron  was  of  great  assistance  to  young  Ray, 
guiding  his  legal  studies,  allowing  him  to  try  justice  causes,  encouraging 
him  to  manage  cases  in  which  he  was  sometimes  the  opposing  counsel,  and 
largely  leaving  to  him  the  preparation  of  bis  briefs.     Two  of  these  early 


224  History  of  Coos  County. 

efforts  may  be  found  in  the  cases  of  Webster  vs.  Dennison,  Vermont  Re- 
ports, Vol.  25,  pp.  495,  496,  and  Cooper  vs.  Parker,  p.  504.  From  early 
friends  who  then  formed  life-long  attachments,  one  learns  that  Ossiau  Ray 
was  a  good  scholar,  with  a  natural  aptitude  for  public  speaking,  popular 
with  his  schoolmates,  and  evincing  a  strong  character. 

In  March,  1*54,  he  came  to  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  at  the  request  of  the  late 
Saunders  W.  Cooper,  Esq.,  a  brother  of  Mr.  Cooper,  of  Irasburg,  to  assist 
in  closing  up  his  law  business,  his  health  having  failed.  Until  the  follow- 
ing December  he  remained  in  Lancaster,  attending  to  Mr.  Cooper's  affairs, 
forming  acquaintances,  and  becoming  attached  to  the  people.  That  winter 
he  taught  school  in  Canaan,  Vt. ,  bought  law  books,  pursued  his  studies 
evenings,  and  on  Saturdays,  when  school  did  not  keep,  and  during  the 
holidays,  engaged  in  the  trial  of  justice  cases,  to  the  improvement  of  his 
legal  experience  and  the  condition  of  his  finances.  Thus,  by  teaching  and 
practicing,  he  maintained  himself  and  pursued  his  studies  until  September 
1,  L856,  when  he  returned  to  Lancaster.  January  1,  1857,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  Jacob  Benton, 
of  Lancaster,  and  during  the  same  month  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Guildhall,  Essex  Co.,  Vt.,  at  a  term  of  the  court  over  which  the  late  Chief 
Justice  Luke  P.  Poland  presided,  and  soon  after  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Coos  county  bar,  at  Lancaster.  He  has  since  been  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  United  States  Courts,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States  January  25,  1872. 

Mr.  Ray's  success  at  the  bar  was  assured  from  the  first.  He  brought 
to  the  profession  an  active  mind,  carefully  cultured,  great  natural  abilities 
balanced  by  good  judgment,  indomitable  perseverance  and  love  for  his 
profession,  and  a  strong  and  unflinching  character  inherited  from  his 
ancestors.  As  a  lawyer  he  has  built  his  fame  on  an  enduring  foundation. 
His  preparation  of  cases  has  employed  his  best  efforts,  his  management  of 
them  has  absorbed  him.  From  the  minutest  detail  to  the  great  law  points 
involved  he  has  been  ready;  and,  ever  on  the  aggressive,  his  opponents 
have  never  found  him  sleeping.  In  L867  Mr.  Benton  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress, and  withdrew  from  the  firm.  In  September  Mr.  Ray  formed  a 
partnership  with  Hon.  William  S.  Ladd,  of  Colebrook,  which  continued 
until  Mr.  Ladd  was  appointed  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  October,  1870. 
January  1,  1872,  Mr.  Ray  took  into  partnership  Hon.  Irving  W.  Drew, 
who  had  pursued  his  legal  studies  in  Mr.  Ray's  office.  From  1*73  to  1876 
Hon.  William  Hey  wood  was  a  member  of  the  firm,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Hon.  Chester  B.  Jordan,  a  student  in  the  office  of  the  firm.  January  1, 
L882,  Philip  Carpenter,  of  Bath,  was  admitted,  and  the  law  firm  of  Ray, 
Drew,  Jordan  &  ( larpenter  was  established,  from  which  Mr.  Ray  withdrew 
January  1,  L883,  and.  with  the  exception  of  one  year  from  July  1,  1885, 


Bench  and  Bar.  225 


when  Mr.  George  W.  Patterson,  of  Hanover,  was  associated  with  him,  he 
has  since  had  no  partner  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Since  1860  Mr.  Eay  has  been  retained  in  nearly  every  important  law- 
suit in  Coos  and  Essex  counties,  his  practice  extending  into  other  counties 
and  to  the  Federal  courts  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont,  and  to  cases 
before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  From  L869  to  the  death 
of  the  late  John  E.  Lyon,  president  of  the  Boston,  Concord  &  Montreal 
and  White  Mountains  Railroad,  he  was  counsel  for  him  and  for  that  cor- 
poration. Before  1872  he  was  employed  in  suits  in  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont  against  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway  of  Canada.  Since  that  date 
he  has  always  been  retained  by  that  company.  His  work  before  the  full 
bench  of  the  New  Hampshire  Supreme  Court  may  by  traced  in  nearly 
every  volume  of  the  reports,  from  the  36th,  containing  cases  heard  in  July, 
L857,  to  the  64th,  now  in  press.  Mr.  Ray  was  a  representative  from  Lan- 
caster in  the  state  legislature  in  L868  and  1869,  the  former  year  serving  as 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  elections,  and  in  the  latter  as  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  judiciary;  was  solicitor  of  Coos  county  from  L862  to  L872; 
was  delegate-at-large  to  the  Republican  national  convention  at  Philadel- 
phia in  June,  1872;  was  United  States  attorney  for  the  district  of  New 
Hampshire,  by  appointment  of  President  Hayes,  from  February  22,  L879, 
to  December  23,  1880,  when  he  resigned,  upon  his  nomination  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress.  At  the  death  of  Hon.  Evarts  W.  Fan',  November  30, 
1880,  Mr.  Ray  was  elected  to  till  the  vacancy  for  the  unexpired  term,  and 
to  succeed  himself  from  March  4,  1881,  to  March  4,  L883,  as  a  Republican 
representative  from  the  Third  congressional  district  of  New  Hampshire,  by 
over  5,000  majority.  He  was  re-elected  in  L882as  representative  from  the 
Second  congressional  district,  the  state  having  been  re-districted  during 
his  term  of  office.  In  the  House  of  Representatives  Mr.  Ray  served  on 
the  committees  of  invalid  pensions  and  claims,  the  duties  of  which  arc 
always  onerous  and  exacting.  His  services  on  the  former  committee  will 
long  be  remembered  by  many  a  veteran,  and  soldier's  widow  or  children, 
for  no  appeal  in  their  behalf  ever  went  unheard,  no  just  cause  unespoused. 
During  his  brief  service  in  the  46th  Congress  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  securing  the  passage  of  an  act  removing  the  terms  of  the  United  States 
Courts,  formerly  held  at  Exeter,  to  Concord,  thereby  convening  the  north- 
ern and  western  portions  of  the  state.  In  the  ttth  Congress  he  aided  in 
securing  an  appropriation  of  $200,000  for  a  United  States  court-house  and 
postoffice  building  at  Concord,  an  elegant  structure  now  practically  com- 
pleted. In  the  48th  Congress,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  had  it  uol  hern  for  his 
persistent  work  and  personal  influence  among  his  fellow  members,  an 
appropriation  of  $200,000  for  a  similar  building  at  Manchester  would  have 
failed.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the  abolition  of  the  duty  on  sugar, 
although  in  favor  of  a  protective  tariff  when  necessary  for  the  benefil  of 


226  History  of  Coos  County. 

American  manufacturers  and  producers.  He  also  earnestly  favored  legis- 
lation authorizing  the  government  to  establish  and  operate  telegraph  lines 
in  connection  with  the  postal  service  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Ray  has  been  eminently  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes.  He 
possesses  wonderful  energy,  industry,  perseverance,  enthusiasm  and  zeal. 
His  great  vital  force  renders  him  unconscious  of  obstacles  and  difficulties; 
he  has  confidence  in  himself  and  in  his  case,  and  is  a  formidable  opponent. 
His  language  is  clear,  incisive,  forcible,  effective— and  often  eloquent.  He 
is  especially  powerful  on  law  points  before  the  full  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court;  he  is  always  quick  to  think  and  quick  to  act.  Mr.  Ray  is  not  infal- 
lible; his  impulse  sometimes  leads  him  astray;  but  his  reason  quickly  sets 
him  right.  Once  having  seriously  decided  upon  a  course  of  action  he  is 
hard  to  swerve  from  his  purpose.  Mr.  Ray  has  always  been  an  assiduous 
reader,  student,  and  lover  of  books.  His  private  library  is  very  rich  and 
extensive,  books  being  gathered  in  nearly  every  room  in  his  house.  Return- 
ing from  a  journey  he  has  generally  a  new  lot  to  add  to  his  collection. 
These  books  on  history,  logic,  philosophy,  statistics,  science,  poetry,  travel, 
biography,  and  art— on  every  subject  of  interest  and  value  to  the  human 
family— he  eagerly  devours.  His  law  library  is  one  of  the  most  extensive 
in  the  state.  He  is  a  man  of  wonderful  memory.  Facts  and  incidents 
once  in  his  mind  are  always  accessible  and  available,  and  he  will  readily 
take  from  his  shelves  a  volume  and  refer  to  the  page  bearing  upon  or  illus- 
trating any  fact  or  theory  he  has  ever  read.  In  this  respect  he  constantly 
displays  to  his  friends  capability  and  resource  unexpected  and  extraordi- 
nary. In  the  most  trying  situations  he  has  control  of  his  temper;  he  is 
entirely  without  envy  or  jealousy,  and  rejoices  heartily  in  the  success  of 
his  friends  and  acquaintances;  he  is  considerate  towards  young  attorneys. 
All  his  friends,  and  they  are  many,  are  tenacious  in  their  attachment  to 
him. 

In  private  life  Mr.  Ray  is  affable,  genial,  sincere  and  warm-hearted. 
Since  his  residence  in  Lancaster  he  has  done  much  to  improve  the  appear- 
ance of  the  village,  entering  heartily  into  every  project  for  the  betterment 
of  the  place.  He  is  public  spirited,  charitable,  liberal,  and  always  to  be 
depended  upon  for  his  share  in  the  public  burdens.  He  attends  the  Con- 
gregational church,  but  gives  with  a  generous  hand  to  the  support  of  all 
denominations  in  the  town.  His  means  and  labor  are  freely  given  to  ren- 
der neat  and  attractive  the  appearance  of  his  buildings,  land,  and  the  ad- 
joining highways.  Physically  he  is  robust  and  possessed  of  an  iron  con- 
stitution.    His  face  is  lighted  up  with  intelligence,  will  and  good  nature. 

Mr.  Ray  has  been  very  fortunate  in  his  marital  relations.  His  first 
wile,  whom  he  married  March  2,  L856,  was  Alice  A.  Fling,  daughter  of 
Henry  Fling,  at  that  time  a  citizen  of  West  Stewartstown  and  afterwards 
of  Portland,  Maine.     She  was  a  woman  of  lovely  character,  wonderfully 


Bench  and  Bail  227 


kind-hearted,  caring  for  those  in  need,  devoted  to  her  husbandand  family. 
She  bore  him  two  children,  and  died  April  ir>,  L871.  He  married,  second, 
October  L6,  L872,  Mrs.  Sallie  Emery  (Small)  Burnside,  a  lady  of  rare  quali- 
ties of  mind  and  groat  strength  of  character,  possessing  fine  judgment,  an 
amiable  disposition,  genial  and  affable  manners,  and  entering  quietly  bul 
heartily  into  Mr.  Ray's  plans  and  aspirations,  guiding  with  her  counsel 
and  strengthening  with  her  love. 

His  children  are:  Edward,  born  October  Is.  1858,  married,  lives  in 
Jefferson;  Alice,  born  April  4,  L866;  Helen,  born  November  17.  L873;  <  >ssian, 
Jr.,  born  January  4,  1878. 

William  Spencer  Ladd,  LL.  D.,  son  of  Hiram  and  Aurelia  (Palmer) 
Ladd,  was  born  in  Dalton,  September  5,  1830.  On  both  paternal  and  ma- 
ternal sides  he  descends  from  families  of  position  in  New  England  from 
early  colonial  days.  [Daniel  Ladd.  probably  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Ladds 
of  New  England,  came,  according  to  "Burke's  Landed  Gentry,"  from  an 
ancient  family,  landed  proprietors  in  Kent,  England,  before  L500.  He 
sailed  from  London.  March  24,  1633,  in  the  "Mary  and  John,"  settled  at 
Ipswich,  and,  in  1640,  was  one  of  the  twelve  founders  of  Haverhill,  .Mass. 
He  held  prominent  offices,  and  lived  respected  and  honored  to  a  good  old 
age.  Many  of  his  descendants  are  graduates  of  Harvard,  Dartmouth  and 
Amherst.  The  Palmer  family  is  an  old  Connecticut  one,  coming  down, 
with  sterling  representatives  in  each  generation,  from  Walter  Palmer,  the 
pioneer  settler  of  Stonington.] 

Judge  Ladd  passed  his  early  life  in  Dalton,  and.  after  preparatory  edu- 
cation at  district  and  high  schools  and  the  N.  H.  Conference  seminary  at 
Sanbornton  Bridge,  entered  the  class  of  1855  at  Dartmouth  college,  where 
he  was  duly  graduated.  [Besides  Judge  Ladd,  this  class  has  given  as 
judges  of  the  highest  courts  of  their  respective  states.  Judge  W.  II  II. 
Allen,  of  this  state,  Judge  Greenleaf  Clark,  of  Minnesota,  and  Judge 
Walbridge  A.  Field,  of  Massachusetts;  also  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley,  Jr., 
ex-governor  of  Maine,  now  representative  in  Congress  from  that  state.] 
He  had  made  his  way  through  college,  principally  by  teaching,  and. 
after  graduation,  taught  one  year  in  South  Damns.  Mass.  He  then 
entered  the  office  of  Hon.  A.  A.  Abbott,  of  Salem,  .Ala  —  .,  as  a  studenl 
of  law,  where  he  remained  until  the  death  of  his  mother  called  him  back 
to  Dalton  in  1858.  Entering  the  office  of  Burns  &  Fletcher  he  diligently 
availed  himself  of  the  teachings  of  these  able  counselors,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  practice  at  Lancaster  in  1859. 

Colebrook  offered  a  good  field,  and  Mr.  Ladd  at  once  opened  an  office 
there,  and  soon  acquired  a  busy  and  profitable  practice.  This  rapidly  out- 
grew the  limits  of  the  "Northern  district,"  and,  in  L867,  he  removed  to 
Lancaster,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Ossian  Ray.  The  firm  won  a 
high  reputation,  and  continued  until  the  fall  of   L870,  when  Mr.  Ladd  was 


228  History  of  Coos  County. 

unexpectedly  appointed  judge  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court.  As  he  was 
the  first  Democrat  appointed  to  this  position  by  a  Republican  governor, 
the  honor  conferred  was  all  the  more  significant  and  complimentary. 
Judge  Ladd  remained  on  the  bench  of  this  court  until  1874,  when  it  was 
legislated  out  of  existence,  and  he  was  at  once  appointed  to  the  second 
place  on  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature,  which  he  held  until  1876,  when 
the  Republicans  came  into  power  and  abolished  the  court.  In  1877  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  Everett  Fletcher,  which  still  exists.  In 
this  later  practice  in  state  and  national  courts,  many  cases  of  great  impor- 
tance have  been  successfully  entrusted  to  him,  and  he  has  been  referee  in 
numerous  causes  of  magnitude.  He  is  regarded  as  authority  in  all  matters 
of  railroad  law,  excels  as  a  business  counselor,  and  is  an  extremely  busy 
man.  He  possesses  that  rare  combination  of  nature  s  almost  essentially 
opposite, — strong  logical  reason  and  quick  sensibilities,  and  he  seizes  ac- 
curately upon  the  salient  points  of  an  involved  controversy,  and  by  an  in- 
ward debate  clears  away  the  immaterial  and  confusing,  and  brings  to  the 
service  of  his  client  careful  preparation,  learned  research,  accurate  applica- 
tion of  law.  and  good  ''fighting1'  qualities.  Dartmouth  college  recognized 
this  and  made  him  Doctor  of  Laws  in  L887.  He  was  appointed  reporter  of 
the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  1883,  and  every  case  decided  since 
his  appointment  has  been  in  print  within  120  days,  while  the  accumula- 
tions of  the  five  years  previous  are  nearly  all  published. 

Placed  upon  the  bench  when  but  forty  years  old,  Judge  Ladd  immedi- 
ately gave  evidence  of  his  fitness  for  the  position.  His  first  opinion  de- 
fined the  status  of  insanity  in  New  Hampshire  law,  and  attracted  atten- 
tion from  American  and  English  jurists,  and  writers  upon  the  Medical 
Jurisprudence  of  iusanity.  He  was  the  embodiment  of  a  high  profes- 
sional morality,  and  preserved  his  ermine  unsullied.  Every  case  presented 
to  his  court  was  carefully  weighed  with  judgment  singularly  dispassionate, 
and  decided  on  its  merits  in  law,  and  few  exceptions  to  his  rulings  were 
sustained.  It  is  through  his  opinions  and  as  a  jurist  that  Judge  Ladd  is 
best  known  outside  the  state.  In  their  breadth,  scope  of  argument,  clear- 
ness of  statement  and  elegance  of  diction  they  rank  among  the  ablest. 
Judge  Barrett,  of  Vermont,  once  said  that  it  was  a  pity  Judge  Ladd  had 
not  been  re-appointed,  as  the  lawyers  of  the  country  had  come  to  look  for 
his  decisions  as  they  did  for  those  of  Chief  Justice  Shepley.  "  They  were 
luminous  with  good  sense.'' 

Judge  Ladd  married,  July  5,  I860,  Almira  B.,  daughter  of  Hiram  A. 
and  I  'ersis  I  Hunking)  Fletcher,  and  great-granddaughter  of  Judge  Everett. 
Their  surviving  children  are  Fletcher  (D.  C.  1884),  now  a  student  of  law 
in  Germany,  William  P.,  and  Mary  E.  Judge  Ladd's  early  youth  was 
passed  in  a  home  atmosphere  which  stimulated  his  desire  for  learning, 
and  he  has  ever  been  a  diligent  student.     He  is  intellectual,  cultured,  and 


Bench    \m>  Bar.  229 


well  read,  loves  a  good  and  a  rare  book,  has  a  valuable  private  library, 
and  is  a  discriminating  critic  in  literature,  music,  and  art.  He  is  liberal 
to  all  worthy  objects,  an  Episcopalian  in  religion,  a  courteous  gentleman 
and  enjoyable  companion,  while  in  the  circle  of  his  charming  home  he  is 
the  soul  of  kindness. 

Henry  Heywood  has  been  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Coos  county  for 
seventeen  years.  He  was  born  in  Guildhall,  Vt. ,  December  6,  L835.  He 
attended  district  schools,  and  several  terms  at  Lancaster  academy.  In 
L852,  he  entered  the  Scientific  Department  of  Dartmouth  college  and 
graduated  in  1 855.  He  immediately  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  was  employed 
as  a  civil  engineer  till  1857.  He  then  came  to  Lancaster  whither  his  father, 
William  Heywood,  had  removed,  began  the  study  of  law  in  his  office,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1860.  He  then  practiced  about 
a  year  in  Tarn  worth,  N.  II.,  then  removed  to  Guildhall,  Vt.,  and  remained 
until  1869,  and  was  state's  attorney  for  Essex  county  two  years  from 
December  1,  1862.  In  June,  1866,  Mr.  Heywood  married  Catherine  R. 
Hubbard,  of  Springfield,  Vt.  They  have  one  son,  William  H.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1868,  now  a  student  of  law.  In  1869  Mr.  Heywood  located  in 
Lancaster,  and  was  associated  with  William  Burns  until  1876,  when  Mr. 
Burns  retired,  and  Mr.  Heywood  went  into  partnership  with  his  father, 
which  connection  still  continues.  He  was  appointed  solicitor  of  Coos 
county  in  July,  187-1,  and  was  removed  "by  address"  from  the  office  in 
July,  1876,  with  three  other  county  officers  (for  political  reasons,  in  fact, 
though  it  is  not  so  expressed  in  the  resolution.)  Mr.  Heywood  has  kept 
up  his  practice  in  Essex  county,  Vt. ,  as  well  as  here,  and  practiced  some 
in  the  United  States  courts,  and  has  twice  been  to  Washington,  and  argued 
cases  before  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court.  He  is  a  well-read  and  competent 
lawyer,  one  of  the  best  informed  in  the  county,  and  is  particularly  versed 
in  laws  concerning  real  estate,  to  which  he  has  paid  much  attention 

Gen.  Albert  S.  Twitchell,  son  of  Joseph  A.  and  Orinda  L.  Twitchell, 
was  born  in  Bethel,  Me.,  September  16,  1840.  He  was  prepared  tor  col- 
lege at  Gould's  academy,  at  Bethel,  before  he  was  sixteen,  under  the 
instruction  of  that  celebrated  educator,  Dr.  N.  T.  True.  He  then  engaged 
in  teaching,  and  for  four  years  was  an  extremely  popular  and  successful 
instructor.  Choosing  the  law  as  his  life  business,  he  became  a  student  in 
the  office  of  S.  F.Gibson,  at  Bethel.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  was  appointed 
enrolling  officer  of  those  subject  to  draft  in  the  district  containing  Bethel; 
and,  after  concluding  the  duties  of  thai  office,  enlisted,  in  December,  L863, 
in  the  Seventh  Maine  Light  Battery.  When  the  battery  was  organized  he 
was  made  quartermaster's  sergeant,  and  held  this  position  until  detailed. 
in  February,  1865,  by  Gen.  Grant  for  duty  al  Wesl  Point,  Va.,  where  he 
remained  until  mustered  out  of  service  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

He  returned  to  Maine  and  his  law  studies,  was  admitted  to  practice  in 


4 


230  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  courts  of  Maine  in  December,  1865,  and  the  next  year,  in  November, 
was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  New  Hampshire  bar,  removed  to  Gorham, 
opened  an  office,  and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  practice.  He  is 
an  energetic,  busy,  honorable  lawyer,  his  standard  of  professional  morality 
is  high,  and  he  has  a  large  clientage.  He  has  been  much  in  official  posi- 
tions. In  1872,  when  but  thirty-two,  he  was  elected  by  the  Republicans 
railroad  commissioner  of  New  Hampshire,  and  held  the  office  three  years. 
In  1875  and  1876  he  was  a  colonel  on  the  staff  of  Gov.  P.  C.  Cheney.  In 
September,  1877,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Gorham,  and  held  the 
office  nearly  nine  years,  resigning  it  in  July,  1886.  He  has  taken  great 
interest  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  has  served  two  years  as  judge- 
advocate  of  the  New  Hampshire  department  of  this  organization,  two 
years  upon  the  council  of  administration,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Encampment  at  Denver,  Colorado,  in  L885.  He  was  elected 
president  of  the  New  Hampshire  Veterans'  Association  at  their  annual  re- 
union in  August,  1886,  and  unanimously  re-elected  in  August,  1887.  In 
June,  1887,  he  was  elected  commissary-general  of  the  state  by  the  New 
Hampshire  legislature,  and,  as  such,  holds  the  rank  of  general  on  Gov. 
Sawyer's  staff.  Gen.  Twitchell  has  always  taken  a  high  position  in  favor 
of  everything  tending  to  the  elevation  and  betterment  of  mankind,  and  has 
been  a  zealous  temperance  worker.  He  was  a  delegate  from  the  N.  H. 
Grand  Lodge  of  I.  0.  G.  T.  to  the  Right  Worthy  Grand  Lodge  of  the  world 
which  met  at  Saratoga  in  May,  1887. 

He  has  enthusiastically  aided  in  the  development  of  the  material 
interests  of  Gorham.  He  erected  the  fine  block  that  bears  his  name, 
in  many  ways  has  labored  to  build  up  the  financial  and  moral  prosperity 
of  the  town,  and.  perhaps,  more  than  any  other  citizen  of  the  place  is 
interested  in  the  educational,  brotherhood,  and  literary  interests  of  the 
community.  He  is  generous  to  a  fault,  and  responds  liberally  to  all  appeals 
for  help.  He  married,  April  7,  1869,  Emma  A.,  daughter  of  Parker  How- 
land.     Their  only  child,  Harold  P.,  died  young. 

Moses  A.  Hastings  was  born  at  Bethel,  Me.,  December  31,  1848,  and 
received  his  education  at  the  celebrated  Gould's  academy,  in  Bethel,  where 
he  was  fitted  for  college.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  David  Ham- 
mons,  at  Bethel,  from  the  fall  of  L864  to  August,  1867.  He  then  attended 
the  Albany  (N.  Y.)  Law  school,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Oxford 
county  (Me.)  in  the  spring  of  1868.  He  removed  to  Gorham,  N.  H.,  in 
October,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Coos  county  bar  at  the  November  term, 
and  at  once  commenced  practice  at  Gorham,  as  a  partner  of  A.  S.  Twitchell. 
This  partnership  lasted  four  years,  from  which  time  Mr.  Hastings  con- 
tinued alone  in  practice  until  1874,  when  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  courts 
for  Coos  county,  and  removed  to  Lancaster.     He  was  re  appointed  in  1876, 


Bench  and  Bar.  231 


and  still  holds  office,  discharging  the  duties  with  urbanity  and  ability,  and 
winning  many  friends. 

Judge  Everett  Fletcher,  son  of  Hiram  A.  and  Persis  (Hunking) 
Fletcher,  was  born  at  Colebrook,  December  23,  L848.  He  received  edu- 
cation at  Lancaster  schools  and  Ann  Arbor  (Mich.)  university;  studied 
law  with  Fletcher  &  Hey  wood,  with  whom  he  had  most  excellent  advan- 
tages for  becoming  thoroughly  grounded  in  knowledge  of  law  and  methods 
of  practice,  which  were  not  neglected.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  No- 
vember L8,  1870,  and  ever  since  has  been  in  extremely  busy  practice. 
He  established  himself  as  a  lawyer  in  Lancaster,  and  June  1 1,  1873,  entered 
into  partnership  with  his  father,  as  Fletcher  &  Fletcher.  This  connection 
lasted  four  years,  when  the  firm  of  Ladd  &  Fletcher  was  formed,  which 
still  continues.  He  was  appointed  judge  advocate-general,  with  rank  of 
brigadier-general  by  Gov.  S.  W.  Hale,  in  June,  1883,  and  held  that  office 
two  years.  He  was  appointed  judge  of  probate  of  Coos  county,  by  Gov, 
Moody  Currier,  and  took  the  office  April  1,  1885.  He  is  a  strong  Republi- 
can, and  a  member  of  Coos  lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Judge  Fletcher  draws  legal  papers  strongly;  is  an  honest  and  careful 
counselor  in  business  matters,  entering  with  all  his  heart,  as  well  as  mind, 
into  the  interests  of  his  clients;  and  is  especially  adapted  to  win  success  as 
a  lawyer.  He  is  particularly  calculated  for  the  important  functions  of  a 
judge  of  probate.  He  is  studious,  systematic,  an  original  thinker,  and 
inherits  much  of  the  quickness  of  apprehension,  literary  tastes,  and  ready 
wit  of  his  father.  Few  men  of  his  years  in  the  state  stand  higher  in 
ability  or  industry,  or  are   more   agreeable  or  pleasant  social  companions. 

Hon.  Irving  Webster  Drew. — Among  the  progressive  men  engaged  in 
business,  or  the  professions  in  Coos  county,  few  are  better  or  more  favor- 
ably known  than  Irving  W.  Drew.  He  inherited  an  iron  constitution  and 
strong  intellectual  powers  from  his  ancestry,  who  were  of  the  New  Eng- 
land stock.  The  eldest  surviving  son  of  Amos  W.  Drew,  he  was  born  at 
Colebrook,  January  8,  1845.  His  early  experience  at  rugged  farm  labor 
was  little  varied  but  by  attendance  at  the  district  school  and  a  neighbor- 
ing academy.  He  was  fitted  for  college  at  Meriden,  N.  H.,  and  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  in  1870.  The  same  year  he  entered  the  law  oft  ice  of  Ray  & 
Ladcl,  at  Lancaster,  N.  H.  He  never  really  knew  the  lifeof  the  traditional 
law  student.  His  preceptors,  driven  with  business,  threw  him  into  the 
skirmish  line  at  the  outset.  With  a  well  disciplined  mind,  sound  judg- 
ment, and  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  opinions  and  character  of  the 
people  among  whom  he  moved,  he  learned  the  law  more  in  its  relation  to 
actual  facts  than  as  an  abstract  science.  In  November,  L871,  he  was  reg- 
ularly admitted  to  the  bar,  only  a  year  and  a  half  after  bis  graduation. 
Early  in  the  following  January  he  succeeded  Judge  Ladd.  who  bad  been 
appointed  to  the  bench,  as  a  member  of  the  firm.     In  the  spring  of   L873 


232 


History  of  Coos  County. 


Hon  William  Hevwood  became  a  member  of  the  partnership,  which  was, 
for  the  next  three"  years,  Ray,  Drew  &  Hey  wood.     Mr.  Jordan  who  then 
succeeded  Mr.  Hevwood,  the  retiring  member,  has  ever  since  been  a  part- 
ner with  Mr.  Drew.     Gen.  Philip  Carpenter,  now  of  New  York  was  in  the 
firm  from  the  winter  of  1882  till   the  summer  of  1885.     Mr.  Ray,  having 
some   toe  previously  been  elected  to  Congress,  retired  from  the  partner- 
sub,  at  the  first  of  the  year  1884.     However  the  firm  has  been  constituted, 
Mr  Drew  has  all  the  time  been  a  conspicuously  useful  member.    Neither 
has  he  avoided  the  social  and  political  duties,  which  the  reliable  member 
of  the  legal  profession  are  constantly  called  to  assume.    A  Democrat  of 
dee  ded  convictions,  with  broad  and  liberal  views  on  all  questions  ot  public 
pofi  y   he  has  a  well-earned  reputation,  both  as  an  efficient  organizer  and 
Evincing  exponent  of  party  principles  on  the  ^™lg8f™^e 
gate  to  the  Cincinnati  Democratic  National  convention  of  1880,  and  a  state 
fenator  in  1888.     He  made  a  record  there  as  a  judicious  legislator  a  skill- 
ful  parliamentarian,  a  superior  debater,  a  dignified  and  incorruptible  sena- 
tor     He  is  interested  in  educational  work,  and  does  his  part  to  sustain   he 
Lading  social  organizations;  to  build  up  the  church;  to  give  the  publ  ctle 
benefit   of  libraries,  improved  public  buildings  and  first  class  hotels;  to 
extend  railroad  lines  in  directions  which  shall  develop  the  resources  of  the 

C°UHeyis  known  as  Major  Drew.  This  came  of  his  service  in  the  Thud 
Eegt  N.  H.  National  Guards,  for  some  three  or  four  yea rs.  Tradition 
has  it  that  Major  Drew's  father  was  an  accomplished  mil.tia  officer  The 
maxim  "Like1  father,  like  son"  is  further  exemplified by  both paving 
been  members  of  the  Senate  and  both  pleasing  vocalists  The  Majoi  is 
everywhere  admired  for  his  social  qualities,  and  in  song  he  is  facde  pr^n- 
cepJ  But  the  attachment  of  his  friends  is  not  to  be  a  tnbuted  to  those 
ac  omplishments  of  song,  speech  and  manner,  which  nug  d_  «k him 
eoually  to  life-long  or  casual  associates.  It  comes  from  his  sincerity,  his 
helpf less  and  sympathy  in  their  adversity,  and  his  unfeigned  sat.sfa 
tion  in  the  knowledge  of  their  prosperity. 

Mr  Drew's  horn!  since  he  first  entered  upon  the  study  and  practice  of 
the  law  with  Mr.  Ray,  has  been  at  Lancaster.     Miss  Carrie  H.  Merrill, 
daughter  of  S.  R.  Merrill,   of  Colebrook,  became  his  wife   November  i 
1869      Of  their  children  three  survive-two  sons  and  a  daughter.     Except 
his  famfiv  and  his  home,  nothing  is  so  near  his  heart,  nothing  so  com- 
n  a.         is  powers  as  does  his  profession.     All  the  diversions  of  business 
™nd  society'  and  the  zeal  of  political  contention  are ^temporary ji  h  h. 
He  makes  his  client's  cause  bis  own.     He  prepares  for  trial  with ^care  with 
fidelity,  and  with  determination  to  have  the  verdict.     He  takes  .espons 
hffitr  and  if  necessary,  makes  bold  hazards  for  success.     He  is  skillful  in 
th e  eia  ion  of  witaesses,  and  stands  among  the  leading  advocates  of 


~+xmn«- 


K7^^7^c^,         <^^~~%^W^ 


Bench  and  Bar.  233 


the  courts  in  which  he  appears.  To  enumerate  the  causes  of  the  p 
decade  in  which  he  has  had  prominent  part  would  be  the  naming  of  the 
important  matters  of  litigation  in  Northern  New  Hampshire  and  Eastern 
Vermont.  A  tireless  worker  with  a  large  clientage  and  profitable  business, 
he  is  a  good  financier  and  has  earned  a  sound  foundation  for  his  reputa- 
tion, both  as  an  able  lawyer  and  a  successful  man  of  affairs. 

He  is  in  the  fullness  of  his  powers.  His  character  is  established.  It  is 
the  manifestation  of  his  own  sturdy  manhood;  and  his  friends  may  look 
with  confidence  to  what  the  future  may  hold  in  store  for  him. 

Alfred  R.  Evans  is  a  son  of  Otis  Evans,  of  Shelburne,  and  .Martha 
Pinkham,  daughter  of  Daniel  Pinkham,  who  is  well  remembered  as  the 
man  who  built  the  first  carriage  road  from  Jackson  to  Randolph,  through 
the  Pinkham  Notch,  and  lived  where  the  Glen  House  now  stands.  Mr. 
Evans  was  born  in  Shelburne,  March  21,  1849.  He  fitted  for  college  at 
Lancaster  academy,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  college  in  1872,  read  law  at 
Gorham.  and  was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  from  Shelburne  in 
1S71-75,  in  the  latter  year  being  chairman  of  the  committee  on  insurance, 
a  subject  to  which  he  has  paid  considerable  attention.  He  was  admitted 
to  Coos  county  bar  in  April,  1875,  and  since  that  time  has  been  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Gorham.  He  was  also  returned  to  the  legislature 
in  1878.  He  is  justice  of  the  peace  and  quorum  throughout  the  state,  and 
notary  public  in  New  Hampshire.  He  was  married,  June  1,  1881,  to  Mrs. 
Dora  J.  Briggs,  daughter  of  Charles  W.  Bean,  of  Gorham.  Mr.  Evans  is 
a  straightforward  man,  attends  faithfully  to  the  duties  of  his  profession, 
is  an  able,  energetic  lawyer  of  strict  integrity,  and  a  close  and  painstaking 
student.  He  has  many  elements  of  popularity,  and  possesses  a  most  genial 
disposition  and  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

Hon.  Chester  Bradley  Jordan,  born  in  Oolebrook,  N.  H.,  October 
15,  1839,  was  youngest  son  of  Johnson  and  Minerva  (Buel)  Jordan. 

The  name  Jordan  is  of  French  origin,  the  original  orthography  being 
Jourdaine.  One  branch  of  the  family  crossed  the  English  Channel  with 
William  the  Conqueror,  and  became  domiciled  in  England.  Others  of  the 
name  emigrated  to  New  England  direct  from  France  at  an  early  period. 
We  do  not  know,  nor  does  it  matter,  from  which  particular  line  of  foreign 
descent  Mr.  Jordan  takes  his  origin;  sufficient  for  us  it  is  that  for  several 
generations  his  ancestors  on  both  sides  have  been  Americans,  true  and 
loyal  to  the  country  and  its  institutions.  His  grandfather,  Benjamin  Jor- 
dan, was  born  in  the  old  town  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  served  four  years  in 
the  Continental  army  during  the  Revolution,  and  was  one  of  the  daring 
little  band  that  effected  the  historic -capture  of  Gen.  Prescott.  His  mater- 
nal grandfather,  Capt.  Benjamin  Buel,  came  to  Colebrook  from  Connecti- 
cut (where  he  was  born,  August  20,  17(57,)  in  1803.  He  was  a  scholarly 
man  of  excellent  character  and  refined  tastes,  an  elegant  penman,   and, 

16 


234:  History  of  Coos  County. 

for  many  winters,  a  highly  prized  teacher  in  Colebrook.  He  died  March 
24,  1829.  His  wife,  Violetta  Sessions,  was  also  born  in  Connecticut.  She 
was  a  woman  of  aristocratic  culture  and  bearing,  and  had  quite  a  compe- 
tency in  her  own  right.  She  died  in  her  native  state,  in  1855,  aged  seventy- 
seven.  Johnson  Jordan,  born  in  Plainfield,  N.  H.,  April  8,  1708,  came  to 
Colebrook  in  1818,  and,  in  1822,  married  Minerva  Buel,  (born  July  19, 
1801,  at  Hebron,  Conn.,  died  in  Colebrook,  March  18,  1853.)  They  had 
ten  children,  of  whom  six  attained  maturity.  From  the  birth  of  Chester 
B.  until  her  death,  fourteen  years,  Mrs.  Jordan  was  an  invalid.  She  was, 
however,  more  than  an  ordinary  woman,  and  her  teachings,  influence,  and 
character  had  a  strong  and  beneficial  effect  upon  her  children.  The  testi- 
mony of  her  intimates  is  that  she  was  a  noble  Christian  woman  of  sterling 
worth,  unflinching  in  duty,  sensitive,  modest  and  lovable,  tender  and  con- 
siderate, and  keenly  alive  to  the  wants  of  others.  Loyal  to  her  convic- 
tions of  right  and  duty,  she  never  hesitated,  even  if  others  faltered,  and, 
for  many  years,  was  a  valued  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 
Johnson  Jordan  was  a  strong  man  physically,  of  fair  judgment  and  sense, 
but  passed  many  years  of  his  active  life  in  the  hard  and  unprofitable  labors 
of  a  pioneer  and  clearer  of  lands.     He  died  August   16,  1873. 

The  early  years  of  Chester  B.  Jordan  were  passed  in  hard  labor  with 
long  days  of  toil,  scant  advantages  of  education,  and  but  little  to  encour- 
age him.  Nothing  but  bare  essentials,  not  the  slightest  approach  to  luxury, 
found  a  place  in  the  frugal  household.  Strict  economy  was  compulsory  in 
the  home  life,  and  the  scarcity  of  money  caused  home-made  clothing  to  be 
the  wearing  apparel  for  many  years.  The  cheerless  tasks  were  faithfully 
done,  and  the  privations  uncomplainingly  endured,  but  the  lad  hungered 
for  knowledge.  There  were  no  books  at  home  except  the  Bible  and  well- 
thumbed  school  books,  and  the  small  Sunday-school  library  was  eagerly 
devoured.  There  is  one  compensation  possessed  by  a  life  environed  by 
such  adverse  circumstances,  in  that  there  is  early  developed  a  keenness  of 
thought  and  capacity  of  self- reliance  beyond  its  years,  and  so  we  find  that 
Chester  at  an  early  age  gathered  and  sold  berries  to  pay  for  a  subscription 
to  the  Independent  Democrat,  and,  later  on,  to  the  New  York  Tribune,  and 
began  to  be  conversant  with  the  affairs  of  the  world  and  the  politics  of 
the  country  at  an  age  when  many  lads  were  only  thinking  of  their  toys. 
He  was  interested  at  nine  years  of  age  in  the  campaign  which  placed  Gen. 
Taylor  in  the  presidential  chair,  and  much  more  in  that  of  1852,  when  he 
purchased  a  campaign  life  of  General  Scott  and  committed  it  nearly  to 
memory,  and  thought  himself  equipped  to  demonstrate  to  the  Democratic- 
boys  of  his  circle  the  wisdom  of  electing  Gen.  Scott  instead  of  Gen.  Pierce. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  1860,  when  his  increased  desire  for  edu- 
cation caused  him  to  enter  Colebrook  academy  for  the  first  half  of  the  term. 
From  this  time  he  attended  Colebrook  and  Meriden  academies,  until  he  was 


2-  2-.  /rtj, 


Bench  and  Bar.  235 


graduated  at  the  latter  institution  in  L866.  He  became  a  popular  teacher 
of  public  and  select  schools,  was  principal  of  Colebrook  academy  several 
terms,  and  taught  in  all  eighteen  terms.  He  was  town  superintendent  of 
Colebrook  in  L865-60  »'»7,  and  selectman  for  is»>7. 

He  heartily  espoused  the  Republican  cause  and  was  chosen  to  preside  at 
all  the  meetings  of  that  party  held  in  Colebrook  in  t  lie  spirited  campaign 
which  resulted  in  the  re-election  of  Lincoln.  He  made  many  friends,  did 
thoroughly  and  without  bluster  all  duties  coming  to  his  hand,  and  in  L868, 
was  appointed  clerk  of  the  court,  and  removed  to  Lancaster,  which  has 
since  been  his  residence.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  this  office  with 
efficiency,  and  his  retention  was  asked  by  nearly  every  attorney  in  the 
county,  but  he  was  too  strongly  Republican  to  be  retained  under  a  Demo- 
cratic administration,  and  was  removed  October  23.  1874.  He  hail  decided 
literary  tastes  and  ability,  could  clearly  and  forcibly  express  his  opinions 
in  writing,  and.  in  L870,  had  purchased  the  Cods  Republican  and  become 
its  editor.  Under  his  administration  it  was  a  candid  but  determined  sup- 
porter of  Grant,  and  ranked  high  among  the  newspapers  of  the  state.  For 
many  years  Mr.  Jordan  contributed  articles  to  the  Boston  Journal,  Con- 
cord Monitor,  the  Statesman  and  campaign  papers,  and  also  to  the  Lan- 
caster Gazette  in  the  presidential  campaign  of  1884.  His  political  articles 
are  marked  for  their  clear  comprehensiveness  of  affairs,  their  straight- 
forward, matter-of-fact  way  of  presentation,  their  candor,  and  their  logi- 
cal and  conclusive  reasoning.  In  a  quiet  and  unpretentious  manner 
they  reach  the  understandings  of  all  in  a  manner  which  tells.  By  voice 
and  by  his  gifted  pen  he  has  ever  advocated  liberal  appropriations  for  all 
educational,  charitable  and  patriotic  objects. 

Air.  Jordan  began  the  study  of  law  while  clerk,  continued  it  in  the  office 
of  Judge  Ladd,  and,  afterward,  in  that  of  Ray,  Drew  &  Hey  wood,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  state  courts  in  November,  1875.  He  remained 
with  Ray,  Drew  &  Hey  wood  until  May  26,  ls7i'»,  when  Mr.  Heywood  retired, 
and  the  firm  became  Ray,  Drew  &  Jordan.  This  firm  was  succeeded  Jan- 
uary 16,  L882,  by  Drew,  Jordan  &  Carpenter,  and.  later,  by  Drew  &  .Jor- 
dan. (In  May,  1881,  Mr.  Jordan  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Circuit 
Court  of  the  United  States.)  As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Jordan  has  chiefly  given 
attention  to  the  drafting  of  legal  papers  (in  which  he  excels)  and  other 
office  business.  Connected  as  he  has  been  with  two  such  noted  advocates 
as  Ray  and  Drew,  and  being  somewhat  modest  as  to  his  abilities,  he  has 
not  ventured  often  into  this  field,  but  when  he  has  done  so  he  has  acquitted 
himself  ably,  and,  in  the  opinion  of  some  of  his  legal  brethren,  if  he  were 
compelled  to  present  all  of  his  cases  to  the  courts  and  juries,  he  would  soon 
equal,  if  not  surpass,  any  advocate  in  this  section. 

From  his  sixteenth  year  Mr.  Jordan  has  been  a  hard  worker  in  politics. 
In  Colebrook  he  was  among  the  chief  workers  in  carrying  that  close  town. 


236  History  of  Coos  County. 

He  was  a  good  organizer,  a  close  canvasser,  and  men  would  follow  his  lead. 
For  several  years  he  was  pitted  against  Hon.  Hazen  Bedel  (the  strongest 
man  of  the  Democracy,  and  one  of  the  best  men  in  the  county,)  for  the 
moderator  vote,  which  was  considered  the  test  of  the  day,  and  was  never 
defeated,  although  the  plurality  was  sometimes  but  one.  In  Lancaster  he 
was  put  up  in  the  same  manner  against  the  popular  Col.  Henry  0.  Kent, 
and  is  the  only  candidate  nominated  by  the  Republicans  who  has  ever 
beaten  the  Colonel  for  moderator.  In  1880  in  a  hot,  close  fight,  Mr.  Jor- 
dan had  one  majority  for  first  representative  in  a  vote  of  nearly  seven 
hundred,  making  a  gain  of  over  one  hundred  votes  for  his  party.  He  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  House  by  a  very  complimentary  vote,  and  although 
new  to  the  duties  of  this  difficult  office,  he  proved  himself  a  most  admira- 
ble presiding  officer,  prompt,  impartial,  easy  and  rapid  in  transacting  the 
work  of  the  position,  and  his  efficiency  and  courtesy  won  him  many  and 
valuable  friends.  The  Manchester  Union,  the  leading  Democratic  paper 
of  the  state,  thus  voiced  the  general  sentiment  at  the  close  of  the  session: 
"For  Speaker  Jordan  there  is  but  one  encomium,  and  that  fell  from  the 
lips  of  all,  'Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant."  Mr.  Jordan  was 
chairman  of  the  Republican  state  convention  held  in  Concord  in  Septem- 
ber, 1882.  There  was  a  bitter  contest  concerning  the  nomination  for  gov- 
ernor raging  between  the  friends  of  Moody  Currier  and  S.  W.  Hale.  Fac- 
tional feeling  ran  high,  but,  under  the  tact  and  guidance  of  the  presiding 
officer,  harmony  was  secured,  and  the  work  of  the  convention  successfully 
accomplished.  Mr.  Jordan  has  much  influence  in  public  matters,  and 
prominent  men  have  owed  their  elevation  to  important  positions  to  his 
counsel  and  assistance.  In  1880  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  state 
senator  in  the  Coos  district,  and  made  a  strong  fight  in  spite  of  the  over- 
whelming odds  against  him,  running  three  hundred  ahead  of  his  ticket. 
In  1876  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  of  three  to  investigate  the 
affairs  of  the  State  Normal  school,  and  wrote  the  report  to  the  legislature, 
which  was  ordered  printed  in  pamphlet  form.  In  1881  Dartmouth  college 
gave  him  the  degree  of  A.  B. ;  in  1882  he  was  chosen  honorary  member  of 
the  Third  Regiment,  N.  H.  National  Guards;  in  1883  elected  member  of 
Webster  Historical  Society  of  Boston;  in  1884  chosen  honorary  member  of 
the  Seventh  N.  H.  Veteran's  Association.  He  has  long  been  a  member  of 
Evening  Star  lodge  of  Masons  at  Colebrook,  and  of  the  Chapter  at  Lan- 
caster, and  was  a  director  in  the  Lancaster  National  bank  during  the  first 
two  years  of  its  existence. 

Mr.  Jordan  married,  July  19,  1879,  Ida  R.  Nutter,  daughter  of  Oliver 
and  Roxannah  C.  (Wentworth)  Nutter.  She  is  descended  from  old  New 
Hampshire  families  of  repute,  and  is  a  lady  whom  it  is  always  a  pleasure 
to  meet.  They  have  had  two  children,  Roxannah  Minerva,  born  January 
19,  1882,  and  Hugo,  born  May  26,  1881,  died  May  2,  1886. 


.  "■  : 


^r-€^r^^€-x^^ 


Bench  and  Bar.  237 


Mr.  Jordan's  abilities  have  received  recognition  in  business  and  social, 
as  well  as  in  public  and  professional  life.  He  is  a  wise  and  safe  counselor 
in  business  matters,  lias  conceded  executive  ability,  and  is  the  guardian  of 
many  private  trusts.  He  has  a  keen  appreciation  of  humor,  tells  a  good 
story  well,  can  give  a  quick  and  telling  repartee  with  point  and  wit  devoid 
of  any  sting,  and  is  popular  because  he  deserves  to  be.  His  judgments  of 
men  and  measures  are  singularly  clear  and  impartial.  1 1  is  c<  inclusions  are 
formed  from  a  broad  comprehension  of  all  the  facts.  His  sense  of  justice 
is  strong,  and  his  intellectual  qualities  are  admirably  balanced.  With  all 
this,  he  has  the  warmest  of  hearts,  the  quickest  of  sympathies,  great  kind- 
ness of  manner  and  utmost  geniality  of  spirit. 

Frank  D.  Hutchins,  born  in  Putney,  Vt.,  in  1850,  was  a  graduate  of 
Kimball  Union  academy  and  Dartmouth  college.  He  taught  school  in 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  and  proved  himself  a  thorough,  im- 
partial, scholarly,  and  highly  competent  instructor.  In  1874  he  began  the 
study  of  law  with  N.  B.  Felton,  of  Haverhill,  but  completed  his  studies 
for  admission  to  the  bar  with  Ray,  Drew  &  Heywood,  of  Lancaster,  and 
practiced  law  there  from  1876  to  1881.  He  then  became  cashier  of  the 
Lancaster  National  bank,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

Willard  N.  Armington,  born  in  Waterford,  Yt.,  November  10,  1^:»»», 
graduated  from  University  of  Vermont  in  187-1;  studied  law  with  Belden  & 
Ide,  St.  Johnsbury;  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Vermont  at  St.  Johnsbury  in 
1876;  located  at  Whiteheld,  September  15,  1S76,  where  he  has  since  been  in 
practice. 

Philip  Carpenter,  son  of  Judge  A.  P.  Carpenter,  born  in  Bath,  N.  H., 
March  9,  1856,  w^as  educated  at  St.  Johnsbury  (Vt.)  academy  and  Dart- 
mouth college.  He  graduated  in  1877,  read  law  with  his  father,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  at  Concord  in  September,  1880.  Forming  an  immedi- 
ate partnership  with  his  father,  he  began  practice  at  Bath.  This  firm  did 
business  one  year  when  the  father  was  appointed  judge.  Philip  continued 
at  Bath  until  the  next  January  (1882)  when  he  entered  the  firm  of  Ray, 
Drew  &  Jordan  at  Lancaster.  He  was  in  practice  here  until  June.  L885, 
when  he  removed  to  New  York  city,  where  he  has  acquired  an  extensive 
and  profitable  business. 

Robert  Nelson  Chamberlin,  son  of  Antoine  and  Electa  B.  (Sears) 
Chamberlin,  was  born  in  Bangor,  N.  Y.,  July  '21,  1856.  His  grandfather, 
Francois  Chamberlin,  was  born  in  or  near  Paris,  France,  when  young  emi- 
grated to  Canada,  and  was  a  marine  in  the  British  service  during  the  War 
of  1812.  He  attained  the  great  age  of  ninety-nine  years,  dying  al  the  home 
of. his  son  in  West  Stewartstown.  Antoine  Chamberlin  was  a  native  of 
Nicollet,  P.  Q.  When  fourteen  he  went  to  Sherbrooke,  worked  eight 
years  at  shoemaking,  married  his  wife  at  Hinesburg,  Vt.,  her  native  place, 
and  made  his  home  in  Franklin  county,  N.  Y.,  residing  in   Malone  and 


238  History  of  Coos  County. 

Bangor  until  1859,  when  he  came  to  West  Stewartstown  where  he  now 
resides. 

Robert  was  but  three  years  old  when  his  father  came  to  Stewartstown, 
and,  as  he  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children,  and  robust,  he  early 
became  familiar  with  labor,  and  for  years  had  the  most  meager  educa- 
tional advantages;  from  eight  years  of  age  until  he  was  sixteen  obtaining 
as  a  respite  from  continuous  toil  only  a  few  weeks  attendance  at  the  small 
village  school.  At  the  latter  age  he  had  the  physicial  power  of  a  well-matured 
man,  and  commanded  more  than  the  usual  wages  as  a  farm  hand;  but  the 
thoughtful  youth  was  not  content  to  excel  in  this  sphere.  A  laudable 
ambition  prompted  him  to  attain  a  higher  position  and  a  broader  field  of 
usefulness,  and,  as  a  stepping  stone  to  this,  he  applied  himself  to  the 
acquisition  of  learning.  It  required  more  than  an  ordinary  will  to  force 
himself  out  from  and  above  his  associations  and  surroundings,  and  to  fix 
his  attention  on  an  intellectual  career,  but  his  active  and  vigorous  mind 
carried  him  on;  he  worked  summers  and  devoted  his  winters  to  learning, 
attending  the  academies  at  Colebrook  and  Derby  (Vt.),  acquiring  a  good 
foundation  for  the  study  of  law,  in  which  he  saw  much  to  attract  him, 
and  for  which  he  seemed  well  adapted. 

In  the  winter  of  1877-78  he  commenced  his  legal  education  in  the  office 
of  G.  W.  Hartshorn,  at  Canaan,  Vt.,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Guildhall 
in  March,  1881,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Hartshorn.  Attracted 
by  the  life  and  activity  of  the  growing  town  of  Berlin,  Mr.  Chamberlin,  in 
July  of  the  same  year,  established  a  law  office  there,  thus  becoming  the 
first  lawyer  in  the  place.  Finding  that  the  rules  of  the  New  Hampshire 
bar  barred  him  from  practice  in  its  courts,  he  applied  for  admission,  passed 
the  rigid  examination  creditably,  and  was  admitted  at  Concord,  March  15, 
lss;3. 

He  married,  November  -2,  1882,  Maria  H.,  daughter  of  Ira  and  Ann  J. 
(Howard)  Mason,  a  native  of  Berlin,  a  lady  of  strong  New  England  prac- 
ticality and  sterling  worth,  in  whom  he  has  a  helpmate,  counselor,  com- 
panion and  friend.     They  have  one  child,  Lafayette  Ray. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  has  made  rapid  progress  for  a  young  lawyer,  has 
acquired  a  good  clientage,  and  is  popular  with  the  older  members  of  the 
legal  profession,  and  is  entitled  to  much  credit  for  what  he  has  accom- 
plished. He  has  a  clear  conception  of  the  strong  and  the  weak  points  of  a 
case,  is  earnest  and  industrious  in  the  preparation  and  trial  of  causes 
entrusted  to  him,  but  prefers  to  keep  his  clients  out  of  law-suits  rather 
than  involve  them  in  protracted  litigation.  He  always  advises  a  fair  and 
honorable  adjustment  of  difference  between  parties,  rather  than  the  certain 
expense  and  the  uncertain  results  at  the  hands  of  courts  and  juries.  The 
same  quiet,  thoughtful  determination  which  led  him  to  obtain,  unaided,  a 
legal  education,  makes  the  first  impulse  of  his  mind  in  investigating  any 


Bench  and  Bak.  239 


question  to  search  for  principles  rather  than  expedients:  this  inclination 
will  tend  to  make  him  particularly  strong  as  a  counselor,  and  in  the 
domain  of  equity  practice.  His  briefs,  pleas,  and  other  documents  are 
drafted  to  cover  every  point,  and  one  of  the  older  members  of  the  bar 
says:  "They  may  appear  awkward  and  clumsy,  and  easy  to  be  torn  to 
pieces,  but  on  examination  we  find  every  point  covered,  and  every  nail 
clinched."  Of  fine  physique,  commanding  presence,  and  clear  voire,  he 
has  the  qualities  of  a  good  advocate,  and  is  rapidly  winning  his  way  in 
that  difficult  field.  His  presentation  of  the  claims  of  Berlin  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  county  seat,  at  the  late  county  convention,  won  much 
praise  from  leading  men,  and  particularly  his  brother  lawyers. 

As  a  citizen  he  heartily  supports  all  local  improvements  and  public 
enterprises  calculated  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  town  and  the  welfare 
of  the  community;  he  lias  served  as  superintendent  of  schools,  on  the 
board  of  education,  and  is  one  of  the  selectmen  of  L88Y.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  church,  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order.  Yet  a  young  man.  having  scarcely  attained  the  fullness 
of  his  physical  and  mental  powers,  Mr.  Chamberlin  may  look  forward  to 
a  long  life  of  usefulness  in  his  chosen  profession. 

Herbert  Irvin  Goss,  son  of  Abel  B.  and  Lucy  G.  (Ross)  Goss,  and 
nephew  of  Judge  Jonathan  Ross,  of  St.  Johnsbury,  was  born  in  Water- 
ford,  Vt.,  December  4,  1857.  Attended  common  schools,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  St.  Johnsbury  academy  in  June,  1880.  He  taught  school  the 
following  autumn,  and  in  1881  commenced  the  study  of  law,  a  profession 
for  which  he  always  had  a  preference,  in  the  office  of  Elisha  May,  at  St. 
Johnsbury.  Mr.  May  soon  after  formed  a  partnership  with  Henry  C.  Bates, 
and  Mr.  Goss  remained  in  their  office  until  June,  L8S3,  when  he  was 
admitted,  upon  examination,  to  the  bar  of  Caledonia  county.     In  October, 

1883,  he  formed  a  business  connection  with  F.  B.  Wright  for  the  practice 
of  law  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.     Tbis  partnership  was  dissolved  in  April, 

1884.  Mr.  Goss  remained  in  Minnesota  until  October,  L884.  Returning 
east,  January  21,  1885,  he  opened  a  law  office  in  Guildhall,  Vt..  and.  April 
1,  1885,  he  went  to  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  and  entered  into  a  two  years'  part- 
nership with  Hon.  Jacob  Benton.  July  30,  1885,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
New  Hampshire  courts.     He  is  a  good  student  and  well  versed  in  law. 

Carl  Abbott,  son  of  Prof.  George  N.  and  .Mary  I  Ladd)  Abbott,  was  born 
in  Newbury, Vt.,  April  1!»,  1859.  The  Abbott  family  isanold  and  prominent 
one  in  New  England,  showing  strong  and  marked  traits  of  character  in 
every  generation.  The  line  of  Carl's  descent  from  George  Abbott,  the 
emigrant,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Andover,  Mass..  in  L643,  is  George1, 
William2,  James4.  Bancroft5,  James6,  George  X.\  Carl8.  Carl  attend: 
ed  school  for  some  years  in  Burlington,  Vt.,  and  the  preparatory  school 
at   Mercersburg,    Penn.,    and   was,    for   two   years,   at   Mercersburg  col- 


210  History  of  Coos  County. 

lege.  He  returned  to  Newbury  in  1877,  and,  in  1880,  entered  the  law  office 
of  Ladd  &  Fletcher,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  Hampshire  in 
the  spring  of  1884.  He  was  employed  in  the  office  of  his  instructors  until 
the  fall  of  1885,  when  he  went  to  Gorham  and  took  charge  of  the  business 
of  Alfred  R.  Evans  until  the  spring  of  1886.  He  then  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  A.  S.  Twitchell,  as  Twitchell  &  Abbott,  which  still  continues. 

Mr.  Abbott  is  a  close  and  diligent  student,  well  versed  in  his  profession,, 
and,  with  good  powers  of  logic,  and  a  strongly  marked  individuality,  has 
elements  of  more  than  an  ordinary  success.  He  possesses  many  of  the 
intellectual  traits  of  the  Bancroft  family,  of  which  he  is  also  a  descendant. 

Daniel  James  Daley  was  born  in  Lancaster,  January  27,  1859,  acquired 
a  good  physique  and  health  Avhile  passing  his  youth  on  the  farm,  was 
fitted  for  college  at  Lancaster  academy,  but,  finding  his  taste  and  mental 
qualities  in  harmony  with  the  practice  of  law,  he  entered  the  office  of  W. 
&  H.  Hey  wood,  April  9,  1881,  and  for  u  early  four  years  received  the  ex- 
ceptionally good  advantages  afforded  him  under  the  venerable  senior  of 
the  firm.  He  was  an  apt  student,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Con- 
cord, March  13,  1885.  After  a  few  months'  stay  in  Lancaster,  he  removed, 
November  9,  1885,  to  Berlin,  where  he  has  formed  many  friends,  and  is 
building  up  a  good  practice.  He  is  devoted  to  his  profession,  is  active, 
energetic,  and  "pushing";  takes  the  cause  of  his  client  as  his  own,  and 
with  his  thoroughness  and  ability  deserves  success. 

NORTHERN   DISTRICT. 

(By  James  T.   Parsons,  Esq.) 

The  Northern  Judicial  District  was  formed  by  act  that  took  effect 
September  1,  1867.  Cambridge,  Millsfield,  Odell,  and  Columbia,  with  the 
towns  north  of  them,  constitute  the  Northern  District;  while  the  towns 
south  of  those  named  constitute  the  Southern  District.  Before  the  legis- 
lature granted  the  petitions  of  the  people  of  the  upper  towns  for  a  sepa- 
rate court,  the  petitioners  had  to  get  the  consent  of  representatives,  and, 
to  do  so,  promised  to  furnish  a  lot  and  court  house  complete  for  occupancy, 
which  was  done  by  voluntary  subscription.  After  the  time  elapsed  during 
which  the  representatives  had  agreed  to  furnish  a  house  free,  the  county 
purchased  the  building  for  about  three-fourths  of  the  original  cost,  and 
the  contributors  lost  a  considerable  portion  of  the  principal,  as  well  as  the 
interest,  and  their  trouble  and  labor,  which,  with  some  of  them,  was  the 
most  important  item. 

The  first  term  was  held  the  first  Tuesday  of  February,  1868.  At  this 
term  all  northern  actions  pending  or  returnable  at  Lancaster,  and  all 
indictments  for  the  county  were  transferred  to  this  district.  On  the  printed 


Bench  and  Bar.  243 


docket  there  were  forty-six  state  and  ninety-four  civil  cases.  At  the  term 
seventy-three  new  entries  were  made  to  the  civil,  two  to  the  sessions,  and 
two  or  three  to  the  criminal  dockets,  but  no  indictments  were  found. 
There  were  three  cases  tried  by  jury  before  the  solicitor  was  ready  fco  pro- 
ceed  to  the  criminal  business.  The  trial  of  Joseph  Chase,  indicted  for  rape 
of  his  daughter,  was  then  commenced.  He  had  a  few  years  before  fin- 
ished a  ten  years'  sentence  for  arson,  was  a  desperate  and  dangerous  man, 
had  escaped  from  the  county  jail  after  his  arrest  for  this  offense,  and  been 
kidnapped  in  Canada,  where  he  remained  near  the  boundary,  making  fre- 
quent night  excursions  into  Colebrook  and  Stewart stown.  The  public 
were  much  relieved  by  his  capture,  and  anxious  for  his  conviction.  Ossian 
Eay,  afterwards  member  of  Congress,  was  the  solicitor,  and  W.  S.  Ladd 
and  G.  A.  Bingham,  both  afterwards  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  were 
for  the  defense.  The  court-house  was  crowded  during  t  lie  trial,  and  so 
packed  at  the  close  that  every  window  and  corner  was  crowded  with 
people,  who  stood  for  hours  listening  to  the  arguments,  and,  sitting  on 
the  steps  and  floor,  they  crowded  close  to  the  chair  of  the  presiding  jus- 
tice. A  very  small  boy,  too  young  to  be  in  any  assembly  alone,  especially 
in  that  place,  was  on  his  knees  beside  the  judge,  and,  during  an  intermis- 
sion, got  up  and  asked  him  several  very  pointed  questions  as  to  what  lie 
believed  as  to  the  disputed  facts,  and  wound  up  by  pointing  to  his  docket 
and  asking,  "  What  will  you  take  for  your  little  primer,  Judge?  " 

There  was  intense,  but  in  the  main  suppressed,  excitement  during  the 
arguments.  Mr.  Bingham,  after  a  review  of  one  part  of  the  uncontro- 
verted  facts,  asked  in  his  most  impressive  manner,  "Does  not  the  dumb 
beast  tight  for  her  young,  the  stricken  fawn  cry  out,  the  frightened  rabbit 
flee? "  "  No!  "  responded  the  deep  voice  of  a  minister  who  stood  with  <  »t  hers 
in  one  of  the  windows  looking  down  over  the  heads  of  the  standing  crowd. 
The  exclamation  was  so  evidently  involuntary  that  he  escaped  punishment, 
but  the  quiet  remarks  of  the  judge  has  thus  far  prevented  a  repetition  of 
the  offense  in  this  court.  Judge  Doe,  in  commenting  upon  the  1  rial  of  the 
case  in  his  charge,  with  evident  emotion  said,  "It  shows  that  the  ancient 
glory  of  the  New  Hampshire  Bar  has  not  departed  from  it."  Chase  was 
sentenced  for  thirty  years.  He  was  fifty-five,  and  died  in  prison.  Four 
more  cases  were  tried  by  jury  at  this  term — making  a  total  of  eighl :  and 
over  twenty  the  next  three  terms.  The  "referee  law"  of  ls74.  and  the 
subsequent  amendments  of  the  statutes  and  constitution,  have  to  a  greal 
degree  done  away  with  the  desire  as  well  as  the  necessity  of  trying  cases 
by  jury. 

At  the  August  term,   1869,   the  case  of    Freeman  Tirrell   vs.    Abram 
Bedel  was  tried.     The  defendant  had  procured  the  plaintiff  to  execute  a 
release  of  debt  foran  inadequate  consideration.    The  question  was  whether  - 
he  possessed  sufficient  natural  capacity  to  be  bound  by  the  instrument. 


24^  History  of  Coos  County. 


Among  the  witnesses  were  some  boys  who  testified  that  they  were  accus- 
tomed to  get  him  provoked,  when  one  of  them  would  advise  him  to  chew 
various  disgusting  substances  to  spit  in  the  faces  of  his  tormentors.  The 
grave  manner  in  which  William  Hey  wood,  then,  as  now,  the  nestor  of  the 
Coos  bar,  introduced  and  commented  upon  the  evidence  of  "his  pursuit 
of  his  companions  around  the  barns  and  over  the  high  beams  "  was  so 
effective  that  the  listeners  were  convulsed,  and  the  presiding  justice,  again 
Judge  Doe,  laughed  until  the  tears  ran  down  his  face.  Judge  Smith  held 
his  last  term  here,  in  August,  1870.  It  became  necessary  to  wait  for 
further  testimony  in  some  case.  After  a  long  and  sleepy  delay  the  judge 
suddenly  looked  up  and  said,  "This  reminds  me  of  a  story,"  and  went  on 
to  tell  it  to  the  members  of  the  bar  and  officers  of  the  court,  who  composed 
nearly  the  whole  audience,  and  then  said  to  the  undisputed  leader  of  the 
bar  on  such  an  occasion,  "Come,  Shurtleff,  now  you  tell  one."  Chairs 
were  drawn  close  to  the  bench,  and  story  followed  story  for  an  hour  or 
more.  It  was  uncertain  who  would  prove  the  better  raconteur,  when  the 
parties  appeared,  and  the  old  judge,  on  the  eve  of  his  seventieth  birthday, 
gravely  resumed  his  duties. 

Jeremiah  Smith,  Foster,  Sargent,  and  Hibbard,  who  held  the  courts  to 
1874,  were  also  self-poised,  gentlemanly  judges,  controlling  the  litigants, 
counsel  and  spectators  without  effort  or  friction  from  the  first.  As  though 
the  gentle  ways  of  Chief  Justice  Bellows  permeated  the  court,  the  judges 
"were  models  in  their  deportment  in  court  and  at  chambers,  and  the  influ- 
ence upon  the  bar  was  very  marked. 

A  year  or  two  later,  during  a  term  held  by  Judge  Rand,  several  promi- 
nent attorneys,  who  perhaps  felt  competent  to  discuss  a  matter  of  practice 
with  the  presiding  justice,  and  who  had  not  heard  Judge  Ladd  dispose  of 
post-mortem  discussion  with  "It  seems  to  me  that  you  will  find  it  super- 
fluous to  discuss  the  matter  after  the  court  has  passed  upon  it,"  did  not  heed 
the  "  Stop  this,  gentlemen!"  and  the  judge,  with  his  heavy  bass  voice, 
roared  out  "  Sit  down,  all  of  you."  They  all  went  down,  but  an  associate 
arose,  and,  apparently,  wTas  waiting  to  explain,  remonstrate,  or  apologize, 
when  they  began  to  rise  again.  The  court  called  upon  the  sheriff,  who 
came  around  beside  the  attorneys  and  drew  in  his  breath  in  a  helpless  kind 
of  way,  as  they  stood  there  flushed  and  silent,  when,  li  sit  down!"  sit 
down ! !"  SIT  DOW N ! ! !"  thundered  the  judge,  turning  from  one  to  another, 
who  fell  in  turn  until  only  Eay  was  left.  He  said  "  May  it  pi—"  "  SIT 
DOWN !!!"  Ray  fell  like  a  stone  and  rebounded  like  a  ball.  "  Please  your 
honor,"  and  went  on  with  the  discussion,  in  which  the  others  soon  joined. 

Allen  filled  Rand's  place  the  next  winter.  Isaac  W.  Smith  succeeded 
Jeremiah  Smith.  Judge  Carpenter,  Judge  Blodgett,  and  Judge  Bingham 
came  here  to  hold  later  terms,  in  place  of  justices  who  have  resigned  or 
deceased.    Their  characteristics  can  not  be  yet  considered  matters  of  history, 


Bench  axd  Bar.  243 


though  they  are  all  entrenched  in  the  good  will  and  respect  of  this  district, 
and  receive  most  hearty  welcome.  It  is  certain  that  none  of  them  will  ever 
be  "old  -  — "  in  the  common  conversation  of  the  people.  New  Hamp- 
shire does  not  have  judges,  nor  often  attorneys,  thus  unconsciously  branded 
with  the  appellation  of  ripening  incapacity. 

B.  H.  Corning,  of  Lancaster,  now  sheriff  of  Grafton  county,  was  sheriff 
at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  this  district.  Lucius  Hartshorn,  of  Strat- 
ford, Samuel  M.  Harvey,  of  Columbia,  and  Joseph  W.  ( looper,  of  ( lolebrook, 
were  the  deputies  ordinarily  in  attendance  at  court,  and  served  the  papers 
for  our  attorneys.  Mr.  Harvey,  especially,  did  a  git  tat  amount  of  work 
for  many  years  all  over  Northern  Coos.  He  had  an  unusual  reputation  as 
an  accurate,  efficient,  and  accommodating  officer.  Later,  E.  George  Rogers 
and  Samuel  I.  Bailey,  both  of  Columbia,  have  been  sheriffs:  the  latter  by 
election.  Albert  S.  Eustis,  Henry  N.  Leavitt,  Ira  Quimby,  John  S.  Capen, 
Walter  Drew,  Wesley  Wentworth,  William  T.  Keyes  and  George  Hilliard, 
all  of  Colebrook,  have  been  our  deputies  Quimby,  Leavitt.  Capen  and 
Drew  have  served  for  long  and  busy  terms,  been  the  best  known  as  officers, 
have  acquired  a  high  reputation  for  courage  and  activity,  and  gained  the 
good  will  of  those  with  whom  they  had  official  business. 

The  best  known  and  remembered  of  the  early  sheriffs  were  Ephraim  II. 
Mahurin,  of  South  Columbia,  who  was  a  deputy  for  about  thirty  years, 
being  appointed  as  early  as  1  *  1 2 ;  Hezekiah  Parsons,  of  Colebrook,  who  was 
appointed  in  or  before  1815,  held  the  office  continuously  until  1833,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Milton  Harvey,  for  a  short  time;  Horace  Loomis,  first 
an  officer  about  1830,  later  did  about  all  the  business  for  a  few  years,  until  he 
left  the  country;  Timothy  Tirrell,  of  Stewartstown,  did  a  large  business 
for  about  ten  years;  Enoch  L.  Colby  acted  as  deputy  here  for  a  short  time, 
then  went  to  Lancaster,  where  he  was  first  deputy,  and  afterwards  sheriff 
during  his  active  life;  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.,  wasa  deputy  for  a  few  years, 
then  sheriff  until  his  Republican  deputy,  Colby,  succeeded  him  in  1856, 
when  he  declined  a  deputy's  appointment.  (Appointments  have  since  been 
political.)  Archelaus  Cummings  then  held  the  position  for  several  years. 
Others  held  an  appointment  for  a  short  time,not  long  enough  to  gain  thai 
extended  experience,  and  lasting  reputation  for  efficiency,  that  makes  the 
early  officers  an  important  part  of  our  legal  history. 

Since  Ray,  Henry  Heywood,  Edgar  Aldrich,  and.  from  1879,  J.  II.  Dudley 
(the  first  by  election),  have  been  solicitors.  The  present  clerk,  M.  A.  Hast- 
ings, succeeded  C.  B.  Jordan  in  L874.  An  incident  in  our  court-house. 
when  the  court  was  attending  to  naturalizations,  will  not  be  soon  forgot- 
ten. One  of  the  row,  when  Jordan  arose  and  commenced  to  administer 
the  oath,  with  a  not  wholly  inexcusable  distrust,  snatched  down  his  hand, 
paused,  shook  his  finger  at  the  clerk,  and  said.  "  Now  swear  me  in  a 
Dimmercrat,    Chester."     His   seriousness   and  Jordan's    reluctance    were 


24±  History  of  Coos  County.   . 

amusing.  Hastings  would  be  more  accommodating  under  similar  circum- 
stances— about  the  only  difference  observable  between  two  unusually  satis- 
factory clerks. 

The  lawyers  who  always  came  here  to  attend  court  in  our  early  terms, 
were: — 

William  Heywood,  often  affectionately  called  "Uncle  Hey  wood, " 
with  a  large  benign  face,  kind,  prepared,  venerable,  excessively  fair,  full 
of  real  and  equity  jurisprudence. 

Hiram  A.  Fletcher,  with  small  features,  slight,  alert  black  eyes, 
wearing  a  wig,  and  carrying  a  green  bag  full  of  exactly-drawn,  methodi- 
cally-arranged papers,  overflowing  with  cases,  precedents,  and  preparation; 
technical,  with  a  mania  for  old  law  books,  muskets,  antlers  and  curiosities. 
He  seemed  a  survival  of  a  past  generation  of  old  English  common-law 
attorneys. 

Ossiax  Ray,  full  of  activity,  argument,  resources  and  combativeness, 
never  unoccupied  with  actual  litigation,  thoroughly  experienced  in  practice, 
and,  in  some  wray,  always  finding  leisure  to  become  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  cases  applicable  to  the  case  at  bar. 

William  S.  Ladd,  scholarly,  thorough,  accurate,  quick  with  pen  and 
books,  more  moderate  in  court.  With  a  thorough  contempt  for  (never  re- 
torting to  in  kind,  and  some  times  disconcerted  by,)  rude  and  offensive 
practice;  he  was  a  business  and  corporation  counselor  rather  than  a  ready 
orator. 

George  A.  Bingham,  tall,  untiring,  working  all  night  and  keeping 
awake  all  day,  an  "all-round"  lawyer,  learned,  eloquent,  and  at  his  best 
in  the  preparation  of  cases  and  examination  of  witnesses.  He  was  seldom 
surprised,  and  never  at  a  loss  what  to  do. 

George  W.  Hartshorn,  bottled  up  in  the  little  town  of  Canaan,  short, 
bald,  round,  and  talkative,  was  a  surprisingly  ready  speaker;  and,  after  a 
long  trial,  would  often  make  an  exhaustive,  and,  in  parts,  very  eloquent 
argument.  A  serious  and  painful  illness,  and  the  medicines  used,  some 
ten  years  ago,  destroyed  his  capacity  at  the  bar. 

Henry  Heywood,  very  deliberate,  with  a  deep,  heavy,  unvarying  voice, 
reflects  as  he  speaks,  and  is  accurate.  His  forte  is  the  accumulation  and 
introduction  of  evidence  where  accuracy  as  to  the  law,  and  the  proper  ar- 
rangement and  non-omission  of  numerous  facts  and  details,  are  essential 
requirements. 

Irving  W.  Drew  commenced  practice  about  1871.  His  ambition  to  suc- 
ceed as  a  speaker  was  soon  gratified.  He  has  made  as  many  arguments  to  the 
jury  as  any  attorney  who  attends  our  courts,  with  as  great  influence  upon 
the  verdict  as  any  one  whom  this  generation  recollects,  except  William 
Burns,  and,  unlike  Mr.  Burns,  he  is  active  in  the  management  of  the  case 
in  other  respects,  and  so,  perhaps,  succeeds  as  well. 


Bench  and  Bar.  j it- 


Everett  Fletcher  is  also  a  young  man,  who  came  to  our  court  about 
the  same  time.  He  bears  a  marked  resemblance  to  his  father,  the  late 
Hiram  A.  Fletcher,  in  every  respect,  except  that  lie  is  taller.  He  lacks 
somewhat  of  the  confidence  and  readiness  of  his  lather,  and  has  nol  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  trials  here.  Industrious  and  witty,  he  is  among  the 
best  read  and  most  genial  of  the  lawyers  of  his  age. 

Chester  B.  Jordan  was  admitted  later,  and  is  engaged  in  all  important 
cases  of  this  district.  He  does  not  "  figure"  in  the  trials,  but  in  the  out- 
side preparation;  attentive  to  details,  he  is  often  felt  and  feared,  but  sel- 
dom seen  in  the  case,  and  is  quite  convinced  that  nothing  succeeds  like 
success. 

Many  others  have  attended  our  courts  too  infrequently  to  need  mention. 
The  lawyers  who  have  resided  in  this  district  since  its  formation,  and  the 
early  resident  attorneys  of  this  part  of  the  county,  may  not  be  accurately 
enumerated  from  lack  of  a  prior  history,  and  the  loss  of  court  records, 
which  have  been  burned  twice,  once  in  1886,  and  once  about  forty  years 
earlier. 

William  Farrar  was  the  first  settled  lawyer.  He  came  here  in  or 
before  1S<  »6,  boarded  with  "Judge  "  Joseph  Loomis,  where  James  L.  Loomis 
now  lives,  had  his  office  in  the  small  house  south  of  there  (where  David 
Heath  lived)  before  it  was  occupied  as  a  store  by  Elisha  Bundy.  He  was 
not  a  robust  man,  well  educated,  of  excellent  habits,  diffident,  with  a  slight 
voice,  and  had  a  moderate  practice.  He  moved  to  Lancaster  in  1811,  and 
continued  in  practice  there  until  his  death.  In  1812  he  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Gams  Kibbee,  who  lived  on  the  W.  R.  Silver  farm,  in  Bloom- 
field,  then  Minehead,  Vt.  They  were  married  by  Judge  DeForest,  and 
shortly  after  were  much  mortified  to  learn  that  he  was  not,  at  the  time, 
qualified  to  perform  the  ceremony.  The  Judge  qualified,  went  to  Lancas- 
ter, took  them  into  Vermont,  and  re-married  them.  Mr.  Farrar  was  a 
fine  tenor  singer,  was  accustomed  to  read  the  sermons  at  "deacons'  meet- 
ings" held  at  various  places,  and  led  the  choir,  after  a  minister  was  settled 
here,  at  the  school-house  where  F.  B.  Crawford's  barn  is  now.  Mr.  Far- 
rar's  wife  soon  died  without  issue,  and  he  re-married 

For  many  years  there  was  no  attorney  here  after  Mr.  Farrar  left,  and 
Judge  Loomis,  who  had  been  appointed  in  January.  L805,  a  justice  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Coos  county,  did  much  of  the  work  attor- 
neys usually  do. 

Gen.  Ira  Young  came  next.  He  was  horn  at  Lisbon,  N.  II.,  in  L794, 
and  was  son  of  Colonel  Samuel  Young,  a  Revolutionary  officer.  He  studied 
law  with  James  1.  Swan,  of  Bath,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  L817,  and 
came  to  Colebrook  soon  after.  He  had  his  office  in  theCargill  store,  where 
Mrs.  Julia  A.  Gamsby's  block  stands.  He  was  tall,  large,  with  light 
auburn  hair,  a  very   fine   looking   man,  gentlemanly,  and  an   excellent 


246  History  of  Coos  County. 

speaker.  He  was  also  a  fine  singer,  and  one  of  the  choir  at  the  church,  usually 
singing  tenor.  In  1820  Mr.  Swan  died,  bequeathing  Gen.  Young  his  ex- 
tensive library,  and  he  removed  to  Bath  and  succeeded  to  Mr.  Swan's 
business.  A  few  years  later  his  office  with  the  contents  was  burned,  and 
he  returned  to  Colebrook  in  1824,  or  early  in  1825,  and  resumed  practice 
at  the  same  place.  (John  L.  Sheafe  came  here  about  the  time  he  left,  and 
removed  to  Lancaster  about  the  time  be  returned.)  Gen.  Young  remained 
here  until  1839,  when  he,  too,  went  to  Lancaster.  In  the  winter  of  1836-37 
he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  D.  F.  Smith,  widow  of  John  A.  Smith,  of  Cuba, 
and  daughter  of  Mills  DeForest,  of  Lemington,  Vt.,  and  lived  in  the  house 
then  lately  vacated  by  Dr.  White,  and  after  Mr.  Young's  removal  occu- 
pied by  Dr.  Augustus  Hams.  Mary,  his  eldest  child,  was  born  in  Cole- 
brook.  His  other  children,  Harry  D.  F.,  captain  of  Co.  F,  2d  N.  H. 
Infantry,  and  Richard  0.,  corporal  in  the  same  company  (killed  at  Fair 
Oaks  in  1862),  were  born  at  Lancaster.  He  took  an  active  part  in  military 
^affairs,  was  appointed  captain  of  the  company  of  cavalry  in  the  Twenty- 
fourth  regiment  in  1829,  major  of  the  regiment  in  is;',!',  colonel  in  1833, 
brigadier-general  of  the  Sixth  brigade  in  1836,  and  major-general  of  the 
Second 'division  in  1837.  Gen.  Young  was  an  old-time  gentleman,  of  great 
suavity,  very  popular  as  an  attorney  and  a  citizen,  and  was  one  of  the 
foremost  lawyers  of  Northern  New  Hampshire.  His  health  failed  in  1844. 
He  gave  up  practice,  went  to  Cuba,  and  died  there  November  15,  1845. 
The  brethren  of  the  bar  erected  a  tombstone  in  his  memory,  both  for  his 
courtesy  ''and  ability  as  a  lawyer,  and  his  high  character  for  honor  and  in- 
tegrity as  a  man.'" 

Charles  J.  Stuart  was  one  of  the  first  lawyers  to  settle  in  Colebrook 
after  Mr.  Farrar  left.  He  boarded  at  Edmund  Chamberlain's  and  had  his 
office  in  the  Cargill  store.  He  was  married,  but  had  no  children.  In  less 
than  a  year  he  returned  to  Lancaster. 

John  Lane  Sheafe,  son  of  Jacob  Sheafe,  of  Portsmouth,  was  born 
November  28,  1791,  and  admitted  to  the  bar  April  7,  1820.  He  came  to 
Colebrook  before  Gen.  Young  left.  He  also  removed  to  Lancaster,  where  he 
remained  from  about  1825  until  about  1832  (perhaps  returning  to  Colebrook 
for  a  portion  of  these  years).  Then  he  removed  to  Portsmouth,  and  later  to 
New  Orleans,  where  he  was  prominent  at  the  bar,  as  a  Whig  politician, 
and  during  the  war  as  a  Union  man.  He  died  there  February  5,  1864. 
Mr.  Sheafe  was  very  small  and  effeminate  in  appearance  when  here,  though 
stout  in  1852,  when  last  in  Colebrook.  He  was  very  near-sighted,  used  a 
silver-bowed  eye-glass,  was  quite  diffident,  and,  at  first,  a  butt  for  jokes. 
His  education  and  unusually  fine  ability  soon  corrected  this.  When  he 
first  came  here  he  took  charge  of  Sabbath  meetings,  read  the  Episcopal 
service,  and  the  people  quite  generally  provided  themselves  with  Epis- 
copal prayer-books,  etc.     His  services  were  held  in  the  school-house  near 


Bench  and  Bar.  247 


Pleasant  street  bridge,  and  in  the  Cargill  hall,  in  the  building  where  he 
had  his  office.  He  also  organized  and  took  charge  of  the  first  Sabbath- 
school  here — a  greater  novelty  in  1820  than  in  later  years.  He  never 
married,  but  boarded  at  Edmund  Chamberlain's,  and  was  active  in  the 
Masonic  lodge  which  then  met  in  Chamberlain's  hall. 

Sanders  Welch  Cooper  came  to  Colebrook  about  L822,  boarded  at 
various  places  in  the  vicinity  and  attended  to  collections,  but  opened  no 
office.  He  later  practiced  many  years  in  Lancaster,  was  a  man  of  ability, 
could  argue  a  case  well,  and  was  for  a  time  county  solicitor,  lie  was  a 
brother  of  J.  W,  Cooper,  of  Colebrook,  and  Jesse  Cooper,  late  of  [rasburg, 
Vt.,  and  was  born  March  4,   L791. 

Hiram  Adams  Fletcher,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Peddy  (Smith)  Fletcher, 
was  born  December  11,  1806,  studied  law  with  (Jen.  Seth  Cushman,  of 
Guildhall,  Vt.,  and  later  in  New  York;  was  admitted  in  1830,  and  began 
practice  in  Springfield,  Vt..  and  settled  in  Colebrook  in  L833.  He  married 
Persis  Honking,  of  Lancaster,  and  lived  where  Walter  Drew  now  lives, 
built  an  office  which  was  afterwards  moved  and  became  the  old  Fan 
Stevens  house.  His  father  built  the  Mohawk  House  for  a  dwelling,  and, 
at  his  death,  it  became  the  property  and  home  of  Hiram,  who  had  his 
office  in  the  present  hotel  office  until  his  removal  to  Lancaster  in  1st'.'. 
The  five  oldest  of  his  six  children  were  born  in  Colebrook,  Nelly  (Mrs. 
William  A.  Holman),  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  being  born  in  Lancaster.  The 
other  surviving  children,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Ladd,  Richard,  and  Everett,  are  resi- 
dents of  Lancaster.  Mr.  Fletcher  had  a  very  large  and  profitable  business 
while  in  Colebrook,  and  accumulated  what  was  considered  a  considerable 
fortune. 

Lyman  Thomas  Flint  was  born  in  Williamstown,  Vt.,  September  29, 
1817,  educated  in  the  academies  at  Randolph  and  Williamstown,  Vt.,  and 
graduated  from  Dartmouth  college  in  1S4-2.  He  married  Hannah  W.  Wil- 
lard,  of  Lyndon,  Vt.,  March  3,  1844.  He  taught  for  several  years,  the 
last  at  Plymouth  academy,  where  he  studied  law  with  William  C.  Thomp- 
son. He  then  came  to  Colebrook,  completed  his  studies  with  Hiram  A. 
Fletcher,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  ls+7.  He  remained  in 
Colebrook  until  1854,  when  he  removed  to  Concord,  where  he  died.  April 
14,  1876.  He  had  a  considerable  practice  and  reputation  when  he  left  Cole- 
brook, gained  to  a  great  extent  by  the  peculiar  thoroughness  with  which 
he  prepared  his  cases  and  his  energy  in  seeming  all  attainable  evidence. 
He  was  city  solicitor,  county  solicitor,  and  representative  during  his  resi- 
dence at  Concord. 

Charles  W.  Burt,  oldest  son  of  Willard  and  Martha  (Wood)  Burt, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland.  X.  H.,  November"'.,  1820.  He  attended,  sup- 
plementary to  his  course  at  district  schools.  Mount  Caesar  and  Lebanon 
academies,  and  two  years  at  Norwich  (Vt.)  university.     He  was  a  thor- 


248  History  of  Coos  County. 

ough  student,  stood  high  in  his  classes,  and  was  a  popular  teacher  of  dis- 
trict schools  for  some  years.  He  studied  law  with  Hon.  Levi  Chamber- 
lain, was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Keene,  and  practiced  his  profession  at 
Colebrook  from  1848  to  L854.  He  married,  January,  1854,  Julia,  daugh- 
ter of  Horace  Loomis,  of  Colebrook,  soon  removed  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  and 
engaged  in  practice.  In  1855  he  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  B.  Maynard, 
Esq.,  of  that  city,  which  continued  until  the  untimely  death  of  Mr.  Burt, 
April  11,  L859.  Mr.  Maynard  says  of  him:  "During  our  entire  partner- 
ship our  relations  were  of  the  pleasantest  character.  He  was  a  gentleman 
of  decided  ability,  and  no  young  lawyer  in  the  city  had  a  better  reputa- 
tion, both  for  legal  learning  and  ability  and  for  the  purity  and  uprightness 
of  his  character.  In  his  habits  he  was  simple  and  unassuming,  and  remark- 
able for  his  industry.  Had  his  life  been  spared,  he  would,  in  my  judgment, 
have  stood  at  the  very  head  of  the  bar  of  Michigan  as  a  learned,  able  and 
conscientious  lawyer,"  Mr.  Burt  was  a  large,  tine  looking  .young  man, 
gentlemanly,  well  educated,  an  excellent  and  impressive  speaker.  Mrs. 
Burt  died  in  Detroit. 

Daniel  Allen  Rogers,  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  and  Phoebe  (Tibbetts)  Rog- 
ers, was  born  in  Columbia,  September  11,  1828,  and  educated  in  the  local 
schools,  taught  several  winters  in  the  adjoining  towns,  and  studied  law 
with  Lyman  T.  Flint.  He  wTas  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1853,  bought  of 
Archelaus  Cummings  the  house  where  Michael  Monahan  now  lives  and 
built  the  office  south  of  it,  which  he  used  at  first  for  his  postoffice,  then 
for  his  law  office.  (Mr.  Ramsay  and  Mr.  Shurtleff  afterwards  had  it  as  an 
office,  and  it  is  now  used  by  Mr.  Barker.)  He  married  Sarah  A.,  daughter 
of  Samuel  B.  and  Amanda  (Bicknel)  Cooper,  of  Beloit,  Wis.,  November 
22,  1855.  He  removed  to  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  in  1858,  and  to  Wells  River, 
in  1860,  where  he  died,  July  11,  1881.  Mr.  Rogers  was  of  medium  height, 
dark  complexion,  inclined  to  corpulency,  social,  and  popular.  He  had  a 
moderate  business  in  Colebrook,  and  displayed  average  capacity  and  energy 
in  the  various  branches  of  the  profession.  He  gained  an  unquestioned 
reputation  as  a  reliable  business  attorney,  but  retained  his  deliberate  way 
of  doing  business  to  the  last,  and  enjoyed  a  fair  income  which  he  used 
in  the  support  and  education  of  his  family. 

Albert  Barker  was  born  at  Waterford,  Me.,  December  20,  1820.  He 
was  educated  in  the  local  schools,  and  at  Bridgton  academy,  where  he  led 
his  class.  He  fitted  for  college,  but  was  unable  to  enter  upon  the  course 
by  reason  of  ill  health  and  lack  of  funds.  He  taught  school  several  win- 
ters, and,  in  1841,  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry,  at  Water- 
ford,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  October,  1814.  He  practiced  for  a 
time  at  Rumford,  Me.,  and  afterwTards  at  Waterford,  in  partnership  with 
Mr.  Gerry,  then  in  Congress.  In  1852  he  removed  to  Milan,  and  com- 
menced practice  in  New  Hampshire.     The  same  year  he  married  Nancy 


Bench  and  Bar.  249 


A.,  daughter  of  Hon.  Stephen  Irish,  of  Stowe,  Me.  She  died  in  L8G2. 
They  had  four  children,  of  whom  the  eldest,  Lilla,  lived  until  L884.  She 
was  an  invalid,  and  devoted  herself  to  reading,  writing,  and  considerably 
to  editorial  work  upon  the  Sentinel,  while  her  father  owned  it,  and  was 
quite  his  equal  in  natural  ability  and  judgment.  In  I  854  he  moved  to  Cole- 
brook,  where  he  succeeded  Mr.  Flint,  and  has  since  remained.  He  atom  -• 
.attained  a  very  considerable  practice,  and  met  with  excellent  success  in  his 
•cases.  In  1870  he  married  Mrs.  Lucinda  E.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Beniah 
Bean,  and  widow  of  Wilbur  F.  Dinsmore.  He  purchased  the  Northern 
Sentinel,  in  1872,  and  continued  to  edit  and  publish  it  until  1884.  During 
these  years,  he,  to  a  considerable  extent,  neglected  the  practice  of  law.  In 
1885  Mr.  Barker  re-opened  the  office  which  Mr.  Shurtletf  had  recently  va- 
cated, and  has  since  been  attending  exclusively  to  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  became  an  Odd  Fellow  before  he  came  to  New  Hampshire; 
has  been  a  prominent  Mason  for  many  years,  and  a  pronounced  Democrat 
all  his  life.  Mr.  Barker,  as  a  lawyer,  has  shown  a  very  determined  spirit; 
and  being  about  equally  good  in  the  preparation,  presentation,  and  argu- 
ment of  cases  in  the  lower,  and  discussion  of  the  law  in  the  higher  courts, 
has  never  been  known  to  let  a  case  fail  by  his  default  in  any  of  its  stages, 
and  has  finally  come  out  ahead  in  more  than  the  ordinary  percentage.  As 
is  his  characteristic  in  all  his  enterprises,  he  has  preferred  rather  to  compel 
than  entreat  results. 

Ira.  Allen  Ramsay,  a  son  of  Robert  Ramsay,  was  born  August  14, 
1827,  in  Wheelock.  Vt.  He  had  only  the  school  privileges  that  his  neigh- 
borhood afforded,  worked  at  various  occupations  until  he  was  some  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  then  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Jesse 
Cooper,  at  Irasburg,  Vt. ;  was  later  in  an  office  in  Boston  for  a  time:  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1853,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Guild- 
hall, Vt.  In  1855  he  moved  to  Colebrook,  where  he  continued  in  active 
business  until  1867,  when  he  moved  to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  and  opened  an 
office.  The  next  year  his  health  failed,  he  gave  up  business,  and  was  an 
invalid  until  his  death,  November  7,  1871. 

Mr.  Ramsay  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  confidence,  whose  busi- 
ness was  largely  confined  to  the  adjoining  towns,  and  to  matters  in  the 
County  Court,  before  municipal  officers,  justice  juries,  and  similar  hear- 
ings in  Coos  and  Essex  counties.  He  impressed  his  views  of  the  law  and 
facts  with  force  and  readiness  upon  the  tribunals,  and  won  all  the  de- 
cisions he  ought  to,  and  some  besides.  The  last  years  he  collected  a  large 
number  of  soldiers'  claims  from  states  and  the  United  States.  He  was 
engaged  in  various  enterprises  outside  his  profession,  and  carried  away, 
probably,  the  largest  fortune  that  an  attorney  has  taken  from  Colebrook; 
but  it  was  lost  in  the  West,  where  he  became  poor,  and  after  his  death  his 
investments  were  swept  away  by  his  debts. 

17 


250  History  of  Coos  County. 

William  S.  Ladd  located  inColebrook,  in  1857,  and  commenced  practice 
under  the  name  of  Fletcher  &  Ladd,  opening  an  office  over  the  old  Cutler 
(Merrill)  store,  and  boarded  with  Mr.  Cummings,  across  the  street,  until 
his  marriage,  and  then  rented  a  house  of  Hezekiah  Parsons,  where  James 
I.  Parsons  now  lives,  and  an  office  over  the  store  on  the  corner  wiiere  Drew 
&  Churchill  are  now  located.  He  removed  to  Lancaster  in  ISO".  At  first 
he  did  considerable  field  work  as  a  surveyor;  while  he  sang,  played  the 
violin,  and  handled  trout  flies,  of  an  afternoon,  as  "  to  the  manner  born"; 
but  his  increasing  business  in  a  few  years,  drove  him  into  the  jading  tread- 
mill of  the  busy  lawyer,  and  he  became,  as  he  has  remained,  one  of  the 
busiest  of  the  leading  attorneys  at  the  bar. 

Orman  P.  Ray,  who  had  been  for  a  short  time  a  partner  of  his  brother, 
Ossian  Ray,  at  Lancaster,  came  to  Colebrook  in  1867,  and  remained  until 
1872,  when  he  removed  to  Winooski,  Vt.  He  built  up  a  prosperous  prac- 
tice at  once,  but,  at  the  last,  it  was  much  reduced.  He  was  a  very  diligent 
student  of  the  books,  and  attentive  to  his  business.  He  lived  in  the  house 
E.  George  Rogers  afterwards  occupied,  and  had  his  office  over  the  Bracket 
store,  where  the  Dudley  block  now  stands. 

William  Henry  Shurtleff,  son  of  Otis  and  Eliza  Shutleff.  was  born 
at  Compton,  P.  Q.,  July  11,  1810.  His  father  being  a  native  of  Vermont, 
he  was  a  foreign-born  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  left  Canada  in  his 
early  youth.  He  taught  school  in  New  Jersey  for  four  years,  then  came 
to  Lancaster,  and,  in  1862,  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Benton  &  Ray.  In  1864  he  enlisted,  and  was  commissioned  lieutenant  of 
Company  I  of  the  First  New  Hampshire  Heavy  Artillery.  After  the  Avar 
closed  he  resumed  his  studies,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  November, 
1866.  June  1,  1867,  he  opened  an  office  in  Colebrook,  in  the  store  of  George 
W.  Bracket.  In  1S69,  after  his  marriage,  he  purchased  and  occupied  the 
house  and  office  before  occupied  by  Mr.  Rogers  and  Mr.  Ramsey.  He  was 
appointed  deputy  inspector  of  customs  at  Colebrook,  in  1871,  and  held  the 
office  for  several  years.  He  was  elected  representative  in  1878,  and  one 
of  the  trustees  of  Colebrook  academy  in  1880.  In  November,  1884,  he  re- 
moved to  Orange  county,  Florida,  where  he  is  still  located,  devoting  his 
time  principally  to  real  estate  business. 

Mr.  Shurtleff  is  a  large,  broad,  genial,  hopeful  man,  as  full  of  story, 
song,  and  merriment,  as  a  Florida  orange  is  of  juice;  an  universal  favorite 
with  bench  and  bar,  and  all  the  world  besides.  As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Shurtleff, 
in  court,  usually  confined  himself  to  openings  and  the  introduction  of  evi- 
dence, for  which  he  had  a  happy  tact.  He  was  diffident  in  argument.  He 
was  quick  and  correct  in  the  ordinary  routine  of  office  business,  of  which 
he  had  a  large  amount,  and  was  a  business  lawyer.  His  strong,  prac- 
tical common  sense  and  lack  of  excitability,  made  him  an  excellent  busi- 


■■ 


Bench  and  Bar.  251 


ness  adviser  in  important  transactions,  and  a  large  portion  of  his  practice 
came  from  men  engaged  in  them. 

James  [ngalls  Parsons."' son  of  Hezekiah  and  Sarah  M.i  Bragg)  Parsons, 
was  born  in  Colebrook,  N.  EL,  February  II.  L844.  He  was  educated  al 
Colebrook  academy  and  Kimball  Union  academy,  Meriden  (Plainfield)  N. 
H.,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  quick,  bright  scholar.  He  taught 
for  a  time  in  local  schools  in  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  and  Danville 
(Vt.)  academy.  Deciding  upon  the  legal  profession  as  the  cue  mosl  suited 
to  his  tastes,  he  entered  the  office  of  W.  S.  Ladd  as  a  student  in  L863,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Lancaster  in  November,  1867.  Ileal  once 
began  the  practice  of  law  in  Colebrook,  succeeding  to  the  busint  Mr. 

Ladd,  who  had  removed  to  Lancaster.  Theyoungman  was  fortunate;  an 
extensive  and  lucrative  practice  was  immediately  his:  and.  finding  that  he 
had  more  to  do  than  he  could  personally  attend  to.  he  invited  J.  H.  Dudley 
to  come  to  Colebrook  as  his  partner,  and  the  firm  of  "Dudley  &  Pa 
was  formed  in  December,  L867.  This  partnership  continued  until  Novem- 
ber, L869,  when  Mr.  Parsons  disposed  of  his  interest   to  Mr.  Dudley,  and 

lit  to  Lebanon,  where  he  remained  the  following  year.  From  there  he 
went  to  Port  Huron,  Michigan,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  the  Atkin- 
son Bros,  '.who  desired  a  youne  man  to  attend  to  the  details  of  their  ex- 
tensive  business),  under  the  firm  name  of  "Atkinson  &  Parsons,"  attorneys, 
solicitors  and  proctors,  where  the  work  and  climate  seriously  impaired  Ins 
health  and  he  was  compelled,  in  the  winter  of  1873-74,  togive  up  practice 
temporarily,  and  for  nearly  eighteen  months  thereafter  passed  Ins  rime  in 
travelling  through  the  Xew  England  and  Southern  states,  including  also 
the  Pacific  coast  in  his  tour.  In  June,  1875,  he  returned  to  Colebrook, 
engaged  again  in  his  profession  with  r  Aldrich  as  "  Aldrich  &  Par- 

sons."    Since  then,  though  he  never  recovered  strong  health,  he  ha 
in  constant  practice,  his  last  partnership  being  "  -as  &  Johnson,"  from 

April,  L881,  to  March.  L884. 

Mr.  Parsons  has  }h'(^\  connected  with  various  branches  of  business  out- 
side of  his  profession,  the  most  important  being  his  interest  in  a  furniture 
store  (the  Stevens  shop),  either  as  owner  or  partner,  from  L87S  to  lss-i'>. 
In  1875  he  took  charge  of  his  father's  extensive  r  bate  and  has  since 

conducted  it.  He  takes  an  active  part  in  the  development  and  improve- 
ment of  Colebrook  and  the  Upper  Connecticut  country,  and  was  one  of 
the  largest  contributors  to  the  fund  for  the  various  railroad  projects  and 
surveys  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and  that  for  securing  the  standard  guage 
railroad  in  L887,  and  furnished  means  tor  the  establishment  of  the  <  >dd 
Fellows'  lodge,  the  Colebrook  band,  and  several  of  the  business  enterprises 
in  Colebrook  and  vicinity.     Mr.  Parsons  has  aided  in  starting  many  busi- 

*  Except  the  biographies  of  J.  I.  Parsons  and  J.  II.  Dudley,  the  sketches  for  the  Northern 
District  were  contributed  by  Mr.  Parsons. 


252  History  of  Coos  County. 


ness  enterprises  in  Northern  Coos  by  furnishing  funds,  wholly  or  m  part, 
and  has  been  an  important  assistant  to  many  young  men  in  various  hues 

0  harness  in  both  counsel  and  financial  aid.  Of  Democratic  antecedents 
and  training  he  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  Republican  party  some  fifteen  years 
X'e  -d  now  may  be  classed  with  the  progressive  element  of  the  day. 
Mr.  Parsons  is  a  member  of  Port  Huron  Lodge,  No.  58  P.  and  AM., 
Port  Huron   Mich.,  which  he  joined  in  1873;  Ammonoosuc  Lodge  10.  O. 

1  No  ™Groveton;  and  has  been  a  Knight  of  Pythias  since  1874,  when  he 
ioined  Charter  Lodge,  No.  18,  Port  Huron,  Mich. 

]  Mr  Parsons  married,  September  6,  1876,  Ada  A.,  da  ugh  tar  o  f  Samuel 
K  and  Sophia  (Cushman)  Remick,  a  native  of  Hardwick,  Vt.  She  died 
December  28  1881.  They  had  one  child,  Cushman  Hezekiah,  born  June 
iTl  a'lad  of  brilliant  promise.  January  6,  1883,  Mr.  Parsons  married 
AddiesVlldlt  child  of  John  C.  Marshall,  of  Colebrook,  who  died  Febru- 

aryinheri8ting  mental  vigor  from  a  long  line  of  strong  ancestors,  there  is  in 
the    •make  up"  of  Mr.  Parsons  much  of  originality,  ability,  and  force 
He  ha    a  keen  insight  into  the  motives  of  men,  and  a  discriminating  and 
Smost  intuitive  judgment,  and  many  look  to  him  as  a  valuable  counselor 
^exigencies  of  life  and  business.     He  possesses  quali.es  necessary  to 
LIlll   action.      He  is  shrewd,  adroit,  technical,  familiar  with  human 
nftoe    Prepares  his  cases  with  care,  presents  his  arguments  ably  and 
oti  bXantly,  is  a  good  fighter,  and  slow  to  -know  edge  de  eat.    He 
a  successful  lawyer  and  has  a  busy  and  lucrative  practice.    He  is  inteUec 
Inland  well  read;  and  had  he  chosen  the  lecture-field  or  literature  as  his 
"oession  would  have  won  success.      With  a  manner  sometimes  preoccu- 
ed  coo    conical,  and  brusque,  he  is,  nevertheless,  sensitive,  refined,  and 
^mpathetic"  a  strong  friend,  a  good  citizen  and,  when  at  leisure,  a  de- 
IMitful  companion  to  those  who  know  him  well. 

Jason  H  DUDLEY.-Genealogical  history  is  necessary  in  England  to 
show  the  titles  to  honor  and  estate;  in  this  country,  where  wealth  and  d.  - 
show  the Hue  exertions  and  merits,  it  is  satisfac- 

mrtrae  on  rcyt,Tto  brave  and  honorable  men.   The  Dudley  family 
Jnnant,  ent  one    i    New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  and  other  states 
1  CCland  it  ranks  high  among  the  nobility.     The  Dudleys  descend 
and  in  Englan    it  rai ks     g  sumame  Dudley  was  taken 

'T,  TbeTa^e  oYmmlevn  Staffordshire,  (built  by  Dudo,  an  English 
sCn  about  the  year  100,  and  assumed,  according  to  ancient  custom  m 
Sid   oy  the  younger  children  of  the  Barons  of  that  place      The  first 

S^^^XX^*  *•  Massachusetts  Colony, 


Bench  and  Bar.  253 


and  died  July  31,  1653,  at  Roxbury,  Mass.      His  son  Joseph  was  a  popu- 
lar governor  of  New  Hampshire. 

Jason  Henry  Dudley,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Minerva  (Armstrong) 
Dudley,  was  born  at  Hanover,  N.  H.,  November  24,  L84-2.  He  is  a  lineal 
descendant  in  the  eighth  generation  from  Gov.  Dudley,  the  line  being 
Gov.  Thomas  \  Samuel'.  Stephen8,  Stephen4,  Samuel  P.6,  Jacob",  Jona- 
than7, Jason  H.8.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  Allen  family,  so 
noted  in  Vermont  annals;  a  maternal  grandmother  bearing  that  name  was 
a  cousin  of  Ethan  and  Ira  Allen.  Jonathan  Dudley  was  a  native  of  Au- 
dover,  N.  H.;  he  died  February  5,  1872,  aged  seventy-two  years.  Mrs. 
Dudley  has  resided  in  Colebrook  since  1873. 

Jason  H.  Dudley's  early  education  was  acquired  at  Hanover  common 
schools;  this  was  supplemented  by  private  tutors.      In  the  fall  of  1858  he 
entered  Chandler  Scientific  school,  and,  in  1859,  became  a  member  of  the 
freshman  class  at  Dartmouth  college  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
L862.     During  his  collegiate  course,  he  taught  a  select  school  at  Cornish 
Flats  in  the  fall  of  1861.     After  graduation,  he  came  to  Colebrook  as  prin- 
cipal of  Colebrook  academy,  which  he  did  not  find  in  a  very  prosperous 
condition.     For  three  years  he  threw  into  the  development  of  this  school 
all  the  forces  of  his  energetic  nature,  and  brought  up  the  attendance  from 
forty  to  nearly  one  hundred  pupils,  by  his  fidelity,  enthusiasm,  and  thorough 
fitness  for  his  work.     During  this  time  he  became  a  student  of  law  under 
Hon.  William  S.  Ladd.      In  the  fall  of  1865  he  went  to  Danville,  Vt.,  and 
had  charge  of  Phillips  academy  for  a  year,  continuing  his  legal  studies 
with  Hon.  Bliss  N.  Davis.      In  the  fall  of  1866  he  conducted  the  academy 
at  West  Randolph,  Vt.,  pursuing  the  study  of  law  with  Hon.  Edmund 
Weston  while  there.     In  December,  1867,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Chelsea,  Vt.     He  then  came  to  Colebrook,  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  James  I.   Parsons  in  the  practice  of  law  under  the  firm  name  of 
"Dudley  &  Parsons,"  taking  the  business  of  Judge  Ladd,  who  had  re- 
moved to  Lancaster.     This  partnership  continued  two  years,  when  Mr. 
Parsons  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Dudle}r.     Since  then  he  has  prac- 
ticed alone,  successfully,  with  the  exception  of  four  years,  from   April, 
1878,   to  May,   1882,  when   D.  C.  Remich   was   associated   with    him   as 
"  Dudley  &  Remich."     Mr.  Dudley  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  Cole- 
brook for  several  years;  has  been  a  member  of  the  board   of  trustees  of 
Colebrook  academy  since  1872,  and   its  chairman  for  many  years:  has 
served  as  town  clerk  three  years;  he  was  elected  county  solicitor  in  1878, 
re-elected  in  1880-82-84r-86,  holding  this  important  office  longer  than  any 
man  in  the  state  under  the  elective  system.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Graf- 
ton and  Coos  Bar  Association,  and  of  the  Dartmouth  Alumni  Association, 
and  belongs  to  Excelsior  Lodge,  No.  73,  I.  0.  of  0.  F.,  Colebrook.     Believ- 
ing fully  in  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  has  been  and  is 


254  History  of  Coos  County. 

energetic,  fearless,  and  zealous  in  maintaining  its  integrity  and  influence, 
stands  in  the  front  rank  of  its  active  workers  in  the  "Northern  District," 
and  is  a  prominent  factor  in  the  politics  of  "  Upper  Coos." 

He  married,  September  22,  1869,  Lucy  A.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Austin  and 
Aurelia  (Bissell)  Bradford,  of  Vergennes,  Vt.  [Mrs.  Dudley  also  descends 
from  a  colonial  governor,  William  Bradford,  the  able  governor  of  Plymouth 
Colony  for  more  than  thirty  years.  He  joined  the  church  of  the  Pilgrims 
at  Scrooby  (England)  when  seventeen  years  of  age.  While  in  Holland  he 
not  only  became  master  of  the  language  of  the  country,  but  added  a 
knowledge  of  French,  Latin,  Greek,  and  even  Hebrew,  which  he  studied, 
as  he  said,  "  that  he  might  see  with  his  own  eyes  the  ancient  oracles  of  God 
in  all  their  native  beauty.''  This  youth  displayed  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart,  which,  when  fully  matured,  were,  for  many  years  in  later  life,  the 
staff  and  support  of  the  Plymouth  Colony.  The  line  of  descent  is  Gov. 
William  Bradford1,  William,  Jr.2,  John3,  William4,  John6,  (of  Kingston, 
Mass.,)  John,  Jr.6,  Dr.  Austin7,  (of  Vergennes,  Vt.,)  Lucy  A.e]  They  have 
had  two  children,  Allen  B.,  born  June  18,  1871,  and  William  H.,  born 
April  13,  1873,  died  July  2,  1876. 

Mr.  Dudley's  success  as  a  lawyer  is  due  not  only  to  his  natural  and 
acquired  ability,  but  to  his  vigorous  and  efficient  action  in  the  understand- 
ing of  his  causes.  He  is  a  peace- maker,  instead  of  a  promoter  of  strife, 
and  believes  that  a  suit  is  best  won  when  justice  is  attained  and  every 
person  has  his  rights  firmly  secured  to  him.  He  is  generous  to  take  his 
full  share  of  all  necessary  burdens,  and  public  spirited  in  that  he  does 
everything  in  his  power  to  advance  all  public  improvements.  His  official 
life  has  tended  to  strengthen  his  naturally  fine  intellectual  powers,  and  his 
standing  is  assured  among  the  members  of  the  Coos  county  bar.  In  every 
work  committed  to  his  hands  in  public  or  private  life,  Mr.  Dudley  has 
labored  with  diligence,  perseverance  and  efficiency,  and  wholesome  practical 
results  testify  to  the  value  of  his  services. 

Edgar  Aldrich  was  the  son  of  Ephraim  C.  and  Adaline  B.  (Haynes) 
Aldrich,  of  Pittsburg,  N.  H.,  where  he  w^as  born  February  5,  1818.  He 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  Colebrook  academy. 
At  about  fourteen  years  of  age  he  started  from  home  to  make  a  place  for 
himself  in  the  world.  He  commenced  as  a  farmer,  but  soon  went  into 
other  occupations,  particularly  positions  in  some  of  the  summer  resorts  of 
the  White  Mountains  and  the  stores  of  Colebrook;  meanwhile  he  attended 
school  at  Colebrook  academy,  as  he  had  cash  and  opportunity.  Finally,  in 
1866,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Ira  A.  Ramsay,  at  Colebrook. 
When  Mr.  Ramsay  left,  in  January,  1867,  Mr.  Aldrich  took  his  business 
and  kept  it  (alone  as  far  as  was  possible).  He  was  graduated  from  the 
law  school  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  March,  1868,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  next  term.     He  onened  an  office  at  once  in  Colebrook.     In  1870 


Bench  and  Bar.  255 


he  formed  a  partnership  with  W.  H.  Shurtleff,  as  Aldrich  &  Shurtleff. 
This  continued  for  five  years.  On  the  return  of  J.  I.  Parsons  to  Colebrook 
immediately  after  the  expiration  of  this  partnership,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  him  as  Aldrich  &  Parsons.  After  the  dissolution  of  this  part- 
nership in  1879,  he  was  alone  until  he  entered  the  firm  of  Bingham  ec  Al- 
drich at  Littleton  in  January,  1S81,  where  he  is  still  in  practice.  He  mar- 
ried Louise  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  Samuel  K.  and  Sophia  (Cushman) 
Remick,  October  5,  1872.  He  has  two  children — -Florence  M.,  born  July 
1,  1874,  and  Fred,  born  June  9,  1878,  in  Colebrook.  He  was  solicitor  of 
Coos  county  from  1872  to  1875,  and  again,  when  the  Republicans  carried 
the  state,  from  1870  to  1879.  Since  he  went  to  Littleton  he  was  elected  a 
member  and  then  the  speaker  of  the  New  Hampshire  House  of  Representa- 
tives that  met  in  June,  1885.  "  Mr.  Aldrich  did  not  in  his  school  days  con- 
template a  professional  career,  and  his  training,  in  school  and  out,  was  in- 
tended rather  to  fit  him  for  a  mercantile  business:  but  he  soon  supplied  the 
omissions,  while  his  infallible  good  judgment,  force,  and  determination 
brought  him  early  success  at  the  bar."  He  soon  came  into  the  front  rank 
of  the  young  lawyers,  speakers  and  writers  of  the  state,  as  well  on  general 
occasions,  as  at  the  bar.  He  is  now  recognized  asamong  the  best  advocates 
and  trial  lawyers  of  the  New  Hampshire  bar,  and  seems  to  be  still  improv- 
ing.    He  succeeds  by  force  and  persistence  rather  than  by  persuasion. 

Thomas  Franklin  Johnson  was  born  July  3,  1848,  at  Pittsburg,  N.  H. 
His  parents  were  unfortunately  located  for  the  education  of  children  of 
mental  temperament  and  considerable  ambition,  but  were  able  to  partly 
make  good  at  home  the  lack  of  school  privileges. 

Mr.  Johnson  in  early  youth  developed  a  very  exceptional  ability  and 
ambition  as  a  student;  was  soon  fitted  for  a  teacher  in  district  schools,  and 
earned  means  to  attend  Colebrook  academy,  where  he  fitted  for  college, 
and  acquired  reputation  as  a  man  of  unusual  promise.  A  protracted  ill- 
ness at  this  time,  which  threatened  permanently  to  impair  his  health,  pre- 
vented his  commencing  a  college  course.  He  was  elected  representative 
from  Pittsburg  in  March,  1871,  but  in  June  was  prostrated  with  one  of  the 
long  and  dangerous  illnesses  with  which  he  was  afflicted  in  early  man- 
hood; and,  as  his  vote  would  change  the  complexion  of  the  legislature,  he 
was  for  some  daj^s  the  center  of  interest  of  politicians  and  the  reporters. 
After  considerable  excitement  on  account  of  the  dilatory  motions  of  the 
Republicans,  it  was  learned  that  he  had  been  for  days  unconscious,  and 
unable  to  vote,  even  if  brought  to  Concord,  and  his  party  allowed  the 
organization  of  the  House  to  be  secured  by  the  Democrats,  and  James  A. 
Weston  was  elected  Governor,  and  the  state  went  into  Democratic  control. 

The  next  spring,  In 72,  Mr.  Johnson  went  to  Iowa,  and  was  for  several 
years  engaged  in  teaching  and  reading  law.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of 
Hon.  L.  L.  Ainsworth.  of  West  Union,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that 


256  History  of  Coos  County. 

state  in  1875,  and  for  a  time  practiced  at  Postville.  He  married  Miss  Abbie 
Loverin,  oldest  child  of  Alfred  Loverin,  of  Colebrook,  in  March,  1877,  and 
was  pursuaded  to  establish  himself  there.  He  immediately  built  up  a 
very  promising  practice,  and  identified  himself  with  the  interests  of  the 
locality.  March,  1880,  he  entered  into  a  partnership  for  three  years  with 
James  I.  Parsons,  as  Parsons  &  Johnson.  After  the  termination  of  this 
partnership  he  resumed  business  alone,  and  has  been  in  active  and  success- 
ful practice  since,  attending  also  to  insurance  and  western  mortgage  loan 
business. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  man  of  scholarly  tastes,  a  student  rather  than  an  ora- 
tor; a  man  of  pen  and  books  by  preference,  instead  of  a  man  of  affairs. 
Few  lawyers  are  as  diligent  students  of  legal  works,  and  few  professional 
men  as  extensive  readers  of  historical  and  general  literature. 

Daniel  Clark  Remich,  son  of  Samuel  K.  Remick,  was  born  at  Hard- 
wick.  Vt.,  September  15,  1852.  He  attended  common  and  high  schools 
and  Colebrook  academy.  He  studied  law  at  Colebrook,  commencing  in 
1875,  in  the  office  of  Aldrich  &  Parsons,  and  then  going  into  that  of  J.  H. 
Dudley.  He  graduated  at  the  law  school  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  March, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  this  county  in  April,  1878,  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  Mr.  Dudley,  as  Dudley  <&  Remich,  in  Colebrook,  and  re- 
mained there  until  he  moved  to  Littleton,  in  May,  1882. 

In  February,  1879,  he  married  Belle,  daughter  of  Alfred  Loverin,  of 
Colebrook,  who  died  in  1885.  In  May.  1886,  he  married  Mrs.  Lizzie  M. 
Jackson,  daughter  of  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn,  of  Littleton. 

Mr.  Remich,  while  in  his  "teens,''  went  to  Lawrence,  Mass.,  where  he 
remained  four  or  five  years  at  work  before  he  commenced  his  professional 
studies.  He  has  paid  little  attention  to  general  reading,  has  been  a  dili- 
gent student  of  the  law,  and  has  become  a  well  read,  exact  (rather  tech- 
nical) case  lawyer,  who  enjoys  and  is  brilliant  in  the  examination  of  the 
law  of  a  case,  and  its  presentation  to  the  court. 

Mr.  Remich  has  always,  unless  recently,  devoted  his  time,  thought  and 
unusual  mental  powers  to  his  law  books  and  law  business,  exclusively, 
and  his  profession  (said  to  be  a  "  jealous  mistress  ")  has  had  no  occasion  for 
complaint. 

James  Waldron  Remick,  also  a  son  of  Samuel  K.  Remick,  was  born  at 
Hard  wick,  Vt.,  October  30,  1860.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  and 
academy  of  Colebrook,  and  early  showed  considerable  ability  and  taste  as 
a  writer  and  public  speaker.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Mr. 
Parsons,  in  Colebrook,  in  1879,  was  in  the  office  of  B.  F.  Chapman,  Clock - 
ville,  N.  Y. ,  for  a  time,  and,  later,  with  Bingham  &  Aldrich,  at  Littleton. 
He  graduated  from  the  law  school  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  March,  1882, 
soon  after  was  admitted  to  the  New  Hampshire  bar,  and  opened  an  office 
in  Mrs.  Gamsby's  block,  in  Colebrook.     In  November,  1885,  he  removed  to 


Bench  and  Bak.  257 


Littleton,  and  soon  formed  a  partnership  and  opened  an  office  there.  He 
is  a  successful  office  lawyer,  modest  and  well  prepared  in  court,  and  is 
rapidly  winning  a  reputation  by  the  thoroughness  and  ability  with  which 
he  presents  his  cases  to  the  full  bench.  He  is  a  fine  speaker,  but  has 
proven  it  by  occasional  lectures  and  orations,  and  considerable  speaking  in 
political  campaigns,  rather  than  at  the  bar  in  the  trial  of  litigated  cases. 

Geokge  W.  Hartshorn,  son  of  Colburn  and  Elizabeth  (Fay)  Harts- 
horn, was  born  in  Lunenburgh,  Vt.,  September  5,  L827,  (being  the  tenth 
of  their  twelve  sons),  educated  at  the  Guildhall  and  Lancaster  academies, 
studied  law  with  Amos  Bateman,  of  Camden,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  con- 
nected with  a  newspaper,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  L849,  and 
removed  to  Irasburg,  Vt.,  in  1850,  where  he  was  county  clerk,  and  edited 
the  Orleans  Count n  Gazette.  He  removed  to  Canaan,  Vt.,  in  1857,  from 
which  town  Ossian  Ray  had  shortly  before  removed  to  Lancaster,  and  has 
since  been  well-known  in  Northern  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  as  an 
attorney,  and  was,  until  1873,  collector  of  customs  for  the  upper  section 
of  both  states.  He  had  a  considerable  practice  in  New  Hampshire  until 
about  1880,  when  he  became  substantially  incapacitated  for  work.  Before 
that  time  he  held  some  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  public  offices  of  his 
section  continuously. 

Henry  Willard  Lund,  son  of  Hezekiah  and  Mary  (Shores)  Lund,  was 
born  at  Granby.  Vt.,  October  11,  1854,  educated  at  the  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt., 
academy,  studied  law  with  Henry  C.  Bates,  of  St.  Johnsbury,  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  March,  1881,  and  settled  at  Canaan,  Vt.  He  has  since 
practiced  in  Canaan  and  Stewartstown,  doing  most  of  the  local  business  of 
that  section,  and  is  one  of  the  regular  practitioners  of  this  district,  though 
a  non-resident. 


Coos  County, 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


Histoey  of  Towns. 


CONNECTICUT  VALLEY.-LOWER  DIVISION. 


LANCASTER,  JEFFERSON,  KILKENNY,  CARROLL, 
WHITEFIELL),  DALTON,  NORTHUMBER- 
LAND, STARK. 


LANCASTER 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


Origin  of  Name — Charter — Names  of  Grantees — Situation — Sceneiy,  Etc. — Climate;  Reason 


of  Its  Pleasantness — Change  of  Boundaries  and  Location. 


ORIGIN  of  Name* — Before  gathering  the  deeds,  recounting  the  ex- 
ploits, reciting  the  sufferings  and  hardships  of  the  early  and  later 
settlers  which  go  to  make  up  the  history  of  this  town,  let  us  look  at 
its  name,  and  see  from  whence  it  is  derived,  what  it  means,  how  it  hap- 
pened, and  the  various  changes  it  has  undergone. 

In  tracing  it  to  its  derivation,  we  find  it  of  Roman  origin,  and  as  old  as 
Julius  Caesar  and  Julius  Agricola.  The  Romans  were  an  ambitious, 
aggressive,  cruel,  and  conquering  people.  Their  great  object  was  aggran- 
dizement, wealth,  and  empire.  They  carried  war  into  the  East,  they  car- 
ried war  into  Africa,  and  at  length  Julius  Caesar  with  an  immense  army 
under  his  command  marched  west,  bringing  nations  and  people  under  trib- 
ute to  Rome.  At  length  he  was  the  conqueror  of  Gaul.  He  had  an  im- 
mense army.  They  must  have  something  to  do.  England  lay  just  across 
the  channel,  and  from  Calais  to  Dover,  the  narrowest  part  of  the  channel 
(twenty-nine  miles),  the  chalk-hills  could  be  seen  in  clear  weather.  Hence 
this  country  was  called  Albion — meaning  white.  Western  England  was 
distinguished  for  metal  called  tin.  The  merchants  of  the  Mediterranean, 
from  a  period  not  exactly  known,  had  trafficked  with  the  Britons  for  this 
article.  Caesar  had  learned  the  value  of  trade  with  the  Britons  from  the 
mariners,  and  resolved  to  cross  the  channel  with  his  army  and  reduce  this 
country  to  Roman  sway.  This  was  fifty-five  years  before  Christ.  From 
Julius  Caesar  to  Julius  Agricola  the  contest  went  on.  At  length  Roman  dis- 
cipline prevailed.  Soon  the  Roman  Legions  left  Gaul,  sailed  around  ' '  Land's 
End,"  up  St.  George's  Channel  on  the  west  side  of  Briton,  and  up  the 

*  By  Hon.  B.  F.  Whidden. 


262 


Histoky  op  Coos  County. 


River  Luna  in  Northwestern  England.     On  the  souther  y  side  of  this  river 
TheY  landed  and  pitched  their  tents  or  camps.     At  this  landing,  being  one 
of  the  most  important  in  this  part  of  Britannia,  a  town  was  founded,  and 
caC  after  the"  river  and  the  camps  pitched  upon  its :  southe rn  bant- 
Tune  Castra      Lime,  the  name  of  a  river,  and  Castra,  the  Latin  foi  camp 
oXt      In  process  of  time  this  name  has  changed  with  the  conquering 
tongues  of  the  country.     When  the  Normans  came  over  into  England, 
thev  changed  this  name,  adapting  it  to  the  genius  of  their  tongue  from 
LulecZfra  to  Lon  Castre.     When  the  Saxons  came  with  their  all  con- 
oTring  tongue,  they  made  still  other  changes  in  the  spelling,  and  con- 
Wte  l°i   into  one  word.     They  changed  the  Lon  into  Lan,  and  the  final 
So  el    thus  the  name  became  Lancaster,  and  is  of  Roman  origin  hav- 
tag  undergone  the  several  changes  in  the  languages  through  which  it  ha 
come     It  was  imported  by  the  early  settlers  to  Massachusetts,  and  given 
to  this  township  by  the  grantees. 
Charter  of  Lancaster.— 

••  PROVINCE  OF  NEWHAMPSHIRE. 

"  GEORGE,  the  Third: 

"  By  the  Grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  King 
Defender  of  the  Faith.  &c. 

in  New  England,  and  of  our  conned  of  the  said  J^"^5  £  ug    Qm.  heirs  &  successorS 

tions  herein  ^^£j*Z%£*    UD  ^    Rants'  of  onr  said  province  of 
do  give  and  grant  in  equal  shaies,  unto  our  i        g         j  ^^  nameg 

:™rpr>r,»^ 

Bquare  &  n m»re' ^J^ '  1vws  one  thous.nd  &  forty  acres  free,  according  to  a  plan  and 
,,y  rocks  pond..  monntanS.v.ive  returned  ^   ,he  Secl.etary's   oftce. 

SUr,7  '  'rtn  ed  hnVed*  bounded  as  follows,  viz,  beginning  ata  stake  and  stones,  standing 
and  hereunto  «J*™^"  of  ConMcticl,t  river,  Which  is  the  South  Westerly  corner  bounds 
on  the  Bank  of  the  Hasteny  ,,,.„„,  east  seven  miles  by  Stonington  to  the  south- 

„f  Stoningtou,  thence  running  south  hfty  five  degre* east,  seve  j  ^  ^  ^ 

easterly  corner  Ike™  ^^  ™,  ^--^^^/^Clo  ConnecticnrRiver,  thenceup  the  river 

rSnd^ht  m  ^ues  urs.  above  nfentioned  <*££»%£  X^ 

".I  *  hereby  is  incorporated  into  «  To™h,p  by  t  ,  nan> :        LAN    ASTER And^^  ^ 

UtataoorshaUhe^^^ 

&  entitled  to  all  &  ever th pnvrteg  ^  ^  ^  fifty  famin  dent 

exercise  A  enjoy.    And  further  that  tne  sa.  •  wWl  shall  be  held  on  the 


Town  of  Lancaster.  263 


respective following  the  said ,  And  that  as  soon  as  the  said  town  shall  consist  of 

fifty  families,  a  market  may  be  opened  &  kept  one  or  more  days  in  each  Week,  as  may  he  thought 
most  advantageous  to  the  Inhabitants.  Also  that  the  first  meeting  for  the  choice  of  Town  officers, 
agreeable  to  the  laws  of  our  said  province  shall  be  held  on  the  tirst  tuesdav  in  August  next,  which 
said  meeting  shall  be  notified  by  David  Page  who  is  hereby  also  appointed  the  Moderator  of  the 
said  first  meeting,  which  he  is  to  notify  A'  govern  agreeable  to  the  laws  A:  customsof  our  said  Prov- 
ince And  tint  the  annual  meeting  forever  hereafter  for  the  choice  of  such  officers  for  the  said 
town,  shall  be  on  the  SECOND  TUESDAY  of  March  annually.  To  Have  A  to  Hold  the  said  tract 
of  land  as  above  expressed,  together  with  all  privileges  A  appurtenances,  to  them  A  their  respect- 
ive heirs  A   assigns  forever,   upon   the  following  conditions,   VIZ. 

"  1.  That  every  Grantee,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  shall  plant  &  cultivate  live  acres  of  land,  within 
the  term  of  five  years  for  every  fifty  acres  contained  in  his  or  their  share  or  proportion  of  land  in  said 
Township,  &  continue  to  improve  &  Settle  the  same  by  additional  cultivations,  on  penally  of  the 
forfeiture  of  bis  Grant  or  share  in  the  said  Township,  &  of  its  reverting  to  us  our  heirs  &  succes- 
sors, to  be  by  us,  or  them  regranted  to  such  of  our  subjects  as  shall  effectually  settle  &  cultivate  the 
same. 

"2.  That  all  white  and  other  pine  trees  within  the  said  Township,  fit  for  masting  our  Royal 
navy,  be  carefully  preserved  for  that  use,  &  none  to  be  cut  or  felled  without  our  special  licence  for 
so  doing  first  had  and  obtained,  upon  the  penalty  of  the  forfeiture  of  the  right  of  such  Grantee, 
his  heirs  A'  assigns,  to  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  as  well  as  being  subject  to  the  penalty  of  any 
act  or  acts  of  parliament  that  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be  enacted. 

"3.  That  before  any  division  of  the  land  be  made  to  &  among  the  Grantees,  a  tract  of  land  as 
near  the  centre  of  the  said  Township  as  the  land  will  admit  of,  shall  be  reserved  &  marked  out  for 
Town  lots,  one  of  which  shall  be  allotted  to  each  Grantee  of  the  Contents  of  one  acre. 

"  4.  Yielding  A  paying  therefor  to  us,  our  heirs  &  successors  for  the  space  of  ten  years,  to  be 
computed  from  the  date  hereof,  the  rent  of  one  ear  of  Indian  Corn  only  on  the  25th  day  of  Decem- 
ber annually,  if  lawfully  demanded,  the  first  payment  to  be  made  on  the  25th  day  of  Decemher, 
1763. 

"  5.  Every  Proprietor,  settler  or  inhabitant,  shall  yield  &  pay  unto  us,  our  heir3  &  successors 
yearly,  &  every  year  forever,  from  &  after  the  expiration  of  ten  jrears  from  the  above  said  25th 
day  of  December  namely,  on  the  25th  day  of  December  which  will  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  17?:!, 
one  shiding  proclamation  money  for  every  hundred  acres  he  so  owns,  settles,  or  possesses,  and  so 
in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  lesser  tract  of  the  said  land;  which  money  shall  be  paid  by  the  re 
spective  persons  above  said,  their  heirs  or  assigns,  in  Our  Concil  Chamber  in  Portsmouth  to  such 
officer  or  officers  as  shall  be  appointed  to  receive  the  same,  &  this  to  be  in  lieu  of  all  other  rents  & 
services  whatsoever. 

"  In  Testimony  Whereof,  we  have  caused  the  seal  of  our  said  Province  to  be  hereunto  affixed, 
Witness 

"  Benning  Wentworth  Esq,  our  Governor  &  Commander   in   Chief  of  our  said  Province,  the 

fifth  day   of  July  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Christ,  one  thousand  seven   hundred  and  sixty  three, 

and  in  the  third  year  of  our  reign. 

B.  WENTWORTH. 

"  By  His  Excellency's  Command, 
with   advice  of  Council. 

"  T.  Atkinson,  Sec'y. 

"Province  of  Xewhampshire,  July  Oth,  1763.    Recorded  according  to  the  original  under  the 

province  seal. 

"Pr.  T.  Atkinson.  Junk,  Sec'y." 

"  Keunes  of  the  Grantees. — David  Page,  David  Page,  Jun'r,  Abraham  Byam,  Ruben  Stone, 
John  Grout,  John  Grout,  Jun'r,  Jonathan  Grout,  Solomon  Willson,  Joseph  Stowed,  Joseph  Page, 
William  Page.  Nath'l  Page,  John  Warden,  Silas  Bennit,  Thomas  Shaltock,  Ephraim  Bhattock, 
Silas  Shattock,  Benj'aMann,  Daniel  Miles,  Thomas  Rogers,  John  Duncan.  Nath'l  Smith,  Charles 
How,    Israel  Hale,    Israel  Hale,  Jun'r,    Daniel  Hale,    William  Dagget,    Isaac  Ball,   Solomon  Fay. 


2G4  History  of  Coos  County. 

Jotham  Death,  John  Sanders,  Elisha  Crossby,  Luke  Lincoln,  David  Lawson,  Silas  Rice,  Thomas 
Carter,  Ephraim  Sterns,  James  Read,  Timothy  Whitney,  Thomas  Rice,  Daniel  Searles,  Isaac  Wood, 
Nath'l  Richai'dson,  Ebenezer  Blunt,  John  Harriman,  Ephraim  Noyce,  Benj'n  Sawyer,  John  Saw- 
yer, John  Wait,  Samuel  Marble,  Joseph  Marble,  Jonathan  Houghton  John  Rogers,  Abner  Holden, 
Stanton  Prentice,  Benj'n  Willson,  Stephen  Ernes,  John  Phelps,  William  Read,  Benj'n  Baxter,  Mat- 
thew Thornton,  Esq'r,  And'w  Wiggin,  Esq'r,  Meshech  Weare,  Esq'r,  Maj'r  JohnTolford,  Hon'l 
Jos'h  Newmarsh,  Esq'r,  Nath'l  Barrel,  Esq'r,  Dan'l  Warner,  Esq'r,  James  Nevins,  Esq'r,  Rev'd 
Mr.  Joshua  Wingate  Weeks,  and  Benj'n  Stevens. 

"  His  Excellency,  Benning  Wentworth,  Esq'r,  a  tract  of  land  to  contain  five  hundred  acres,  as 
marked  B.  W.  in  the  plan  which  is  to  be  accounted  two  of  the  within  shares  one  whole  share  for 
the  incorporated  Society,  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  Parts,  one  share  for  a  Glebe 
for  the  Church  of  England  as  by  law  established;  one  share  for  the  first  settled  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  and  one  share  for  the  benefit  of  a  School  in  said  Town." 

Situation,  Scenery,  Etc. — Aclino  N.  Brackett  gives  this  description  of 
Lancaster  in  1821:  "  On  the  northeast  of  Lancaster  lie  Northumberland 
and  Kilkenny;  on  the  south  Jefferson  and  Whitefield,  and  on  the  south- 
west Dalton;  the  northwest  line  is  nine  miles  in  length,  the  south  ten,  and 
the  southwest  about  two  and  a  half  miles. 

"Lancaster  is  situated  on  the  southeastern  bank  of  Connecticut  river, 
which  forms  and  washes  its  northwestern  boundary,  with  its  various 
meanders,  a  distance  of  more  than  ten  miles.  In  this  whole  distance 
there  is  not  a  single  rapid.  The  water  is  deep,  and  below  the  mouth  of 
Israel's  river,  which  falls  into  the  Connecticut  very  near  the  center  of  the 
town,  its  general  width  is  twenty-two  rods.  The  meadows  lie  along  the 
margin  of  the  river  to  near  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  depth,  almost  the 
whole  distance  above  mentioned.  To  these  succeed  a  border  of  pine  or 
spruce  land  for  another  half  mile,  which  is  generally  level,  and  productive 
when  cleared  and  properly  cultivated.  The  next  region  was  covered  with 
a  thick  growth  of  sugar-maple,  beech,  basswood,  ash,  and  other  deciduous 
forest  trees.  In  many  places,  however,  the  spruce  and  fir  abound,  more 
particularly  in  the  lowlands,  with  here  and  there  a  cedar  swamp.  The 
larch  and  mountain  ash  are  not  unknown  to  the  inhabitants  of  Lancaster, 
as  the  first  occupies  considerable  tract  between  the  meadows  and  highlands, 
and  the  other  is  found  scattered  among  the  other  timber  and  underbrush. 

*  *  *  #  -:•:-  *  *  -::- 

"  One  mile  from  the  Court  House  there  is  a  bridge  over  Connecticut 
river,  and  about  the  same  distance  another  over  Israel's  river.  The  first 
leads  into  Guildhall,  Vt.  The  other  connects  the  eastern  and  western 
divisions  of  the  town  together.  From  the  southerly  end  of  the  bridge  last 
mentioned,  the  road  to  Portland  and  Dartmouth  strikes  off  in  a  southeast- 
ern direction.  The  distance  to  the  place  first  mentioned  is  a  hundred  and 
ten  miles.  To  Portsmouth  it  is  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles.  The 
trade  of  the  town  is  carried  on  principally  with  Portland." 

Advancing  steps  of  civilization  have  changed  the  face  of  the  country 
described,  but  the  prominent  features  are  the  same  now  as  then.     The 


Town  of  Lancaster.  2C5 


meadows  and  intervals  are  considered  the  most  extensive,  and  finest  there 
are  in  the  whole  valley  of  the  Connecticut,  extending  back  nearly  a  mile 
to  the  uplands.  The  soil  of  these  intervals  is  alluvial  and  produces  excel- 
lent crops  of  corn,  oats,  and  grass;  while  the  uplands,  when  properly  cul- 
tivated, raise  fine  wheat  and  other  crops. 

There  is  no  town  in  New  Hampshire  more  pleasantly  situated  for  fine 
mountain  scenery.  The  town  itself  is  not  mountainous,  but  towering 
mountains  can  be  seen  on  every  side.  At  the  south  and  southeast,  the 
Franconia  hills  and  the  whole  range  of  the  White  Mountains  are  in  full 
view,  and,  in  the  north  and  east,  the  Stratford  or  "Percy"  peaks,  with 
many  of  the  Green  Mountains,  in  Vermont,  are  distinctly  visible  to  the 
west.  Before  you  is  the  meandering  Connecticut,  with  its  broad  cultivated 
intervals  dotted  with  beautiful  farm-houses;  at  the  right  are  seen  the  dark 
masses  of  the  "Pilot  Range.*'  and  on  the  Vermont  side  of  the  river  the 
Lunenburg  Heights;  the  whole  presenting  a  picture  of  nature  and  art  com- 
bined, beautiful  enough  to  satisfy  any  lover  of  picturesque,  wild,  and 
romantic  scenery.  There  are  several  ponds.  Martin  Meadow  pond,  in 
the  southern  part,  area  nearly  150  acres,  was  named  for  a  hunter  who 
formerly  frequented  this  locality.  This  communicates  with  Little  pond, 
area  forty  acres.  Baker  pond,  one  mile  north  of  the  village,  is  a  pleasant 
sheet  of  water. 

Lancaster  village  is  located  on  Israel's  river  and  about  one  mile  from 
the  Connecticut.  The  fine  country  which  surrounds  it,  the  excellent  roads, 
and  pleasant  drives,  together  with  the  magnificent  mountain  scenery  on 
•every  side,  render  it  attractive  as  a  summer  resort.  From  the  cupola  of 
the  Lancaster  House  a  very  extended  view  of  river,  country,  and  moun- 
tain scenery  can  be  obtained.  The  streets  are  wide  and  beautifully  shaded, 
while  the  business  blocks  and  private  residences  betoken  the  care,  neatness, 
and  taste  of  the  citizens.  The  river,  in  its  jDassage  through  the  village,  is 
spanned  by  two  substantial  bridges,  and  furnishes  fine  water-power.  The 
village  is  the  center  of  a  rich  agricultural  section,  and  does  a  large  mercan- 
tile business. 

Climate,  J-i> zason  of  its  Pleasantness. — The  climate  of  Lancaster,  and 
the  neighboring  country  is  delightful.  The  peculiar  state  of  the  weather 
here,  so  different  from  that  in  other  parts  of  New  England,  Dr.  Dwight 
attributes  to  the  proximity  of  the  White  Mountains.  In  his  words.  "  These 
"are  so  high,  that  they  stop  the  progress  of  the  easterly  winds,  or  more 
probably  elevate  their  course  into  a  region  of  the  atmosphere  far  above 
the  surface,  and  prevent  them  striking  the  earth,  until  they  arrive  at  the 
Green  Mountains  on  the  west.  The  westerly  winds  in  the  mean  time  im- 
pinging against  the  White  Mountains,  twenty-five  miles  beyond  Lancas- 
ter, but  in  regions  of  the  atmosphere  considerably  elevated,  are  checked 
in  their  career,  just  as  a  wind  is  stopped,  when  blowing  directly  against  a 

18 


266  History  of  Coos  County. 

building.  A  person  approaching  near  the  building,  perceives  a  calm,  not- 
withstanding he  is  in  the  course  of  the  blast.  In  the  same  manner,  these 
mountains,  extending  thirty  miles  from  north  to  south,  and  rising  more 
than  a  mile  above  the  common  surface,  must,  it  would  seem,  so  effectu- 
ally check  the  current  of  the  northwest  wind,  as  to  render  its  progress 
moderate,  and  agreeable,  for  many  miles,  towards  that  quarter  of  the 
heavens.  Whether  the  cause  here  assigned  be  the  real  one  or  not,  the 
fact  is  certain,  and  gives  this  region  in  the  pleasantness  of  its  weather  a 
superiority  over  many  others.  The  scenery  of  this  region  is  remarkably 
interesting,  and  I  hesitate  not  to  pronounce  it  the  most  interesting  which 
I  have  ever  seen." 

Change  of  Boundaries  and  Location. — On  exploring  the  bounds  of 
Lancaster,  David  Page,  Esq.,  found  that  it  covered  but  a  small  portion  of 
the  coveted  Coos  meadows,  and  the  improvements  already  made  were 
really  in  Stonington.  The  nine  miles  extent  of  meadow  land,  the  good 
sites  of  Israel's  river  for  future  mills,  so  superior  to  those  of  John's  river, 
were  also  in  that  territory  of  Stonington,  the  proprietors  of  which  had 
done  nothing  to  develop  these  sources  of  wealth  during  the  existence  of 
the  term  of  their  grant,  which  expired  in  1766.  Then  was  done  a  bold 
thing.  Under  the  influence  of  some  powerful  mind,  and  it  would  seem 
necessary  to  go  no  farther  than  to  Mr.  Page  to  find  this,  the  proprietors 
conceived  the  idea  of  "  sliding  "  Lancaster  sufficiently  far  up  the  river  to 
include  all  the  desired  territory.  The  initial  steps  were  taken  in  1766,  but 
as  the  records  were  burned,  we  can  only  give  record  evidence  from  March 
10,  1767.  At  that  date  it  was  voted  that  "  Mr.  Page  receive  one  dollar  on 
each  right  for  altering  the  town,"  and  that  he  "  run  the  line  around  the 
town."  At  the  same  meeting  money  was  raised  to  "build  a  grist-mill  and 
saw-mill  on  Israel's  river."  The  line  around  their  occupancy  was  duly 
made,  meadow  and  house  lots  duly  laid  out,  and  some  labor  performed  on 
roads.  The  lines  of  the  grant  as  it  should  be  were  defined;  and,  in  1760, 
Lieut.  Joshua  Talford  was  procured  to  "  survey  "  the  town.  Going  up  the 
Connecticut  about  seven  miles  from  the  true  northwest  corner,  he  estab- 
lished an  arbitrary  corner  by  an  ash  tree  on  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut; 
from  this  he  surveyed  the  town  by  courses  and  distances  as  described  in 
the  charter.  If  the  original  grant  had  been  adhered  to,  three-fourths  of 
Lancaster  would  be  composed  of  land  now  in  Dalton  and  Whitefield. 

This  summary  proceeding  disarranged  all  the  river  grants  above  Lan- 
caster, and  after  much  agitation  it  was  submitted  to  the  arbitration  of 
Gov.  Wentworth.  It  was  finally  settled  by  Northumberland  holding  the 
ground  she  occupied,  while  Woodbury,  Cockburn,  Coleburn,  and  Stew- 
artstown  were  to  move  further  up  the  river,  and  each  receive  as  a  bonus 
a  large  additional  tract  on  its  eastern  side.  Not  all  of  the  proprietors  of 
Stonington  were  satisfied  with  this,  for  they  were  not  all  included   in  the 


Town  of  Lancaster.  267 


charter  of  Northumberland,  and  some  of  them  made  surveys  and  did  other 
acts  indicating  an  interference  with  Lancaster.  The  first  record  evidence 
of  this  is  in  the  records  of  1773.  On  August  26th  of  that  year,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  proprietors,  a  vote  was  passed  to  locate  Hon.  Charles  Ward  Ap- 
thorp's  ten  rights,  giving  him  two  miles  on  the  river  below  Edwards 
Bucknam's  lot,  and  back  far  enough  to  include  ten  full  rights,  and  also 
the  meadow  land  commonly  called  the  Cat  Bow  tract  of  360  acres.  But 
the  vote  contains  this  provision,  "  the  grant  hereby  made  to  him  shall  not 
operate  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  rest  of  the  proprietors  by  the  interven- 
tion of  any  foreign  legal  claim  under  color  of  a  mistake  in  the  boundaries 
of  the  township."     At  the  same  meeting  the  following  vote  was  passed:— 

"That  it  appears  to  this  proprietary  as  a  matter  of  some  uncertainty  whether  doubts  may  not 
arise  with  respect  to  the  northerly  extent  of  the  boundaries  of  this  township  which  upon  a  con- 
struction set  up  by  sundry  persons  will  deprive  the  whole  of  the  settlers  (one  only  excepted)  of  their 
land,  possessions  and  improvements  and  reduce  the  township  to  very  inconsiderable  compass,  and 
the  proprietors  laboring-  under  great  uneasiness  from  the  apprehension  of,  or  expecting  a  calamity, 
do  therefore  request  that  Arnmi  R.  Cutter,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Jacob  Treadwell  will  be  pleased  to  lay 
before  his  Excellency  the  Governor  such  representation  upon  the  subject  as  may  to  them  appear 
most  proper  to  induce  his  Excellency  to  grant  to  the  proprietors  an  explanatory  charter  ascertain- 
ing the  limits  of  the  said  township  as  the  same  was  actually  surveyed  by  Joshua  Talford  and  is 
now  allotted  to  the  proprietors  and  possessed  and  enjoyed  by  the  inhabitants." 

The  war  of  the  Revolution  soon  followed,  and  no  mention  of  the  change 
of  lines  is  made  in  the  record  until  April  20,  1790,  when  it  was  voted  "that 
Col.  Jonas  Wilder,  Lieut.  Emmons  Stockwell,  and  Edwards  Bucknam  be 
a  committee  to  act  in  behalf  of  the  proprietary,  and  petition  the  General 
Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  respecting  the  charter  of  said  Lan- 
caster that  a  new  one  be  obtained  to  the  same  grantees,  and  to  cover  all 
the  lands  up  to  and  join  Northumberland,  agreeably  to  the  plan  and  sur- 
vey of  said  town."  In  1790  and  1791  similar  votes  were  passed.  In  1796 
the  proprietors  concluded  long  enough  possession  had  been  had  to  entitle 
them  to  the  land,  and  chose  "Richard  C.  Everett,  Esq.,  agent  to  act  in  be- 
half of  the  Proprietors  of  Lancaster  to  defend  any  lawsuit  or  suits,  or  to 
commence  any  action  or  actions  against  any  encroachments  thai  are  or 
may  be  made  upon  said  Township  of  Lancaster,  to  make  any  settlement 
of  all  or  any  disputes  which  are  or  maybe  had  with  the  adjacent  towns 
respecting  the  boundaries  of  said  town,  and  to  petition  the  Honorable  Gin 
eral  Court  with  any  agent  or  agents  of  the  neighboring  towns,  whose 
boundaries  are  disputed,  or  disputable,  for  their  interference  in  the  prem- 
ises." In  the  suit  of  Atkinson  vs.  Goodall,  tried  in  L853  at  Exeter,  to  ob- 
tain possession  of  lands  in  Bethlehem  as  belonging  to  the  grantees  of  ( Ion- 
cord  Gore,  described  as  "cornering  on  Lancaster,"  Hon.  .James W.  Weeks 
was  employed  to  give  a  general  delineation  of  Concord  Gore  and  adjacent 
territory.     His  map  correctly  located  the  gore,  but  failed  to  make  it  corner 


268  History  of  Coos  County. 

on  the  present  town  of  Lancaster.  The  court  decided  that  the  accepted 
boundaries  of  towns,  occupied  so  long  as  these  had  beeu,  could  not  be  dis- 
turbed by  reason  of  variance  from  original  intention. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


First  Settlements  —  Com  planted  —  Frost  —  Difficulty  of  Travel  —  Canoes  —  First  White 
Woman  —  Supplies  from  Portsmouth  or  Haverhill — "Samp  Mortar" — "Cars" — First  Mills — 
Revolution  —  Emmons  Stockwell  "would  stay" — Major  Jonas  Wilder  —  Rich  Soil  —  Manure 
thrown  away  — Village  Plot  —  First  two-story  house  in  Coos  county  —  First  Bridge  —  First 
Schools  —  Early  prices — "Alarms  During  the  War" — Early  Settlers  —  Residents,  Polls,  and 
Stock,  1793  —  David  Page  petitions  for  more  Land  —  Why  "Upper  Coos"  did  not  elect  Repre- 
sentative—  Edwards  Bucknam  granted  mill  privilege  at  Northumberland  Falls  — Petition,  etc., 
concerning  Taxes. 

FIRST  Settlements. — 1763. — Those  survivors  of  that  historic  band 
known  as  "Rogers'  Rangers,"  who  passed  down  the  valley  of  the 
Upper  Connecticut,  made  known  the  beauty,  extent,  and  fertility  of 
this  section  to  appreciative  ears.  Among  others  who  listened  to  their 
stories,  especially  to  those  of  the  youthful,  enthusiastic  and  dating  Emmons 
Stockwell,  was  David  Page,  Esq.,  of  Petersham,  Mass.,  one  of  the  grantees 
of  Haverhill,  who  felt  sorely  aggrieved  by  the  division  of  rights  in  that 
grant.  A  bold,  resolute  man,  he  determined  to  wrest  from  the  upper  wil- 
derness something  to  compensate  him  for  his  fancied  losses  in  Haverhill. 
He,  with  others,  secured  grants  for  territory  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the 
Connecticut  which  took  the  names  of  the  towns  where  most  of  them  lived 
in  Massachusetts,  and  which  bore  the  same  relation  to  each  other  and  the 
river.  Thus  it  came  that  Lancaster  and  Lunenburg  became  names  of 
towns  on  the  Upper  Connecticut.  The  same  year  that  Lancaster  was 
granted  (1763),  David  Page  determined  that  he  would  have  the  first  choice 
in  the  lands;  and  sent  his  son  David  and  Emmons  Stockwell,  to  make  a 
selection  and  improvements  to  hold  their  choice.  They  began  a  clearing, 
hunted,  fished,  and  trapped  during  the  winter.  They  located  their  camp 
on  the  meadow  back  of  the  Holton  house,  on  low  ground,  however,  and 
the  rising  Connecticut  drove  them  out  of  it  in  the  chilling  month  of  March. 
It  is  probable  that  they  returned  to  the  lower  settlements  in  time  to  act  as 
guides  and  assistants  to  the  company  of  permanent  settlers  who  were  then 
ready  to  start  for  the  new  land  of  paradise.  During  1764,  David  Page, 
with  his  family,  Edwards  Bucknam,  and  other  young  men  from  Lancaster, 
Lunenburg  and  Petersham,  Mass.,  became  settlers.     The  first  permanent 


Town  of  Lancaster.  269 


settlement  was  made  April  ID,  1764,  on  what  is  known  as  the  "Stockwell 
place."  The  colonists  set  at  work  with  a  will,  erecting  cabins,  clearing 
land,  and  planting  corn  on  the  land  cleared  the  year  before.  Their  com- 
bined efforts  enabled  them  to  plant  about  twelve  acres,  which  in  the  rich, 
fresh  soil  grew  rapidly.  "  By  August  26,"  says  Mr.  Stock  well,  "this  was 
twelve  feet  high,  in  full  milk,  with  ears  as  high  as  ray  shoulders."  Dur- 
ing that  night  it  was  frozen  completely  through  and  spoiled.  This  was  a 
hard  blow,  but  the  frost  extended  to  Massachusetts,  and  they  were  no 
worse  off  here  than  there.  The  settlers  had  brought  with  them  twenty 
head  of  cattle,  and,  during  the  summer,  added  twenty  more;  all  were  win- 
tered nicely. 

"  At  this  period  there  was  no  settlement  between  Haverhill  and  Lan- 
caster, and  but  very  few  north  of  Charlestown.  There  being  no  roads,  the 
settlers  suffered  inconceivable  hardships  in  transporting  their  necessaries, 
few  as  they  were,  being  obliged  to  navigate  their  log  canoes  up  and  down 
the  'Fifteen-mile  falls,'  now  known  to  be  twenty  miles  in  length,  with  a 
descent  of  more  than  three  hundred  feet;  and  in  winter  to  pass  the  same 
dangerous  rapids  in  sleighs  and  with  ox  teams,  frequently  falling  through 
the  ice,  and  sometimes  never  rising  above  it.  High  water  to  descend,  and 
low  water  to  ascend,  were  thought  the  most  favorable  times,  the  canoes 
being  drawn  up  by  ropes,  but  when  descending,  one  man  stood  in  the  bow 
with  a  pole  to  guard  from  rock  to  rock,  while  another  sat  in  the  stern  to 
steer  with  his  paddle.  In  this  manner  the  wife  of  David  Page,  when  cor- 
pulent and  infirm,  was  carried  in  safety  to  her  friends  below." 

So  much  has  been  written  about  David  Page,  Sr. ,  never  being  a  resi- 
dent of  Upper  Coos,  that  it  seems  quite  essential  to  say  that  we  have  his 
own  testimony  to  the  fact  that  he  did  reside  here  for  some  years,  and  prob- 
ably many.  See  his  petition  for  more  land  later  in  this  chapter.  Tradi- 
tion says  that  he  built  the  first  framed  house  in  the  county. 

The  first  white  woman  to  settle  here  was  Euth,  daughter  of  David  Page. 
She  came  in  August,  1764,  to  perform  the  indispensable  house-keeping  for 
the  pioneers.  In  1765  she  became  the  wife  of  Emmons  Stock  well.  They 
had  fifteen  children;  David,  the  oldest,  was  the  first  son  of  Lancaster.  The 
married  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stockwell  continued  fifty-five  years.  Mrs. 
Stockwell  had  nearly  two  hundred  descendants  living  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  which  occurred  March  21,  is-2s,mthe  eighty-second  year  of  her  age, 
and  for  forty  years  previous  she  had  been  a  member  of  the  "  First  church  *' 
in  Lancaster. 

In  1775  there  were  eight  families  in  town,  embracing  about  sixty-one 
persons.     Dennis  Stanley  was  here  prior  to  1771',. 

For  the  first  twenty  years  the  people  lived  without  mills,  and  their 
nearest  neighbors  were  fifty  miles  distant.  All  their  supplies  not  produced 
from  their  lands,  or  forest  and  stream,  came  through  the  White  Mountain 


270  History  of  Coos  County. 

Notch,  or  up  the  Connecticut  river.  The  first  lime  used  by  Lieut.  Stanley 
to  tan  moose  skins,  was  brought  from  Portsmouth  in  leather  bags,  on  a 
horse's  back.  A  scanty  supply  of  flour  was  obtained  from  Haverhill.  It 
does  not  appear  that  they  ever  suffered  for  lack  of  food,  except  one  season, 
when  the  frost  killed  the  corn. 

The  samp  mortar  was  an  "  institution  ''  in  all  the  old  families.  This 
was  an  immense  hardwood  log,  about  three  feet  in  length,  hollowed  out  at 
the  end  like  an  ordinary  mortal*,  with  a  stone  pestle  hung  upon  a  spring 
pole  in  the  corner  of  the  kitchen;  in  this  mortar  the  corn  was  put  in  small 
qualities,  and  crushed  with  this  pestle  until  it  was  as  fine  as  hominy,  and 
was  superior  to  it.  The  hull  could  be  taken  off  by  putting  it  in  water. 
Samp  was  a  standard  article  of  food  long  after  mills  were  established,  and 
the  mortar  maintained  its  place  in  many  families.  The  Connecticut  river 
supplied  fish  of  the  choicest  kind,  and  the  family  who  did  not  "  put  down  " 
a  supply  of  salmon  was  looked  upon  as  improvident. 

Even  at  this  early  period,  "cars  "were  used  for  the  transportation  of 
baggage;  not  constructed,  however,  precisely  like  these  on  our  railroads, 
as  they  were  made  of  two  poles,  one  end  of  each  resting  on  the  ground, 
the  other  passing  through  the  stirrups  of  a  saddle,  with  two  transverse 
sticks  behind  the  horse,  on  which  rested  the  load,  and  to  one  of  which  the 
whiffletree  was  attached. 

First  Mills.— The  very  first  mill  was  operated  by  horse-power,  but  it 
did  little  better  service  than  the  large  mortar  and  pestle  attached  to  a  pole. 
David  Page  built  a  small  water-mill  on  Indian  brook,  northeast  of  the 
burying-ground,  about  1770.  This  and  its  successor  was  burned.  About 
17S1  Major  Wilder  built  a  grist  mill  at  the  foot  of  the  "sand-hill."  Be- 
tween 17'J3  and  1800,  R.  C.  Everett  put  up  a  large  mill,  one  hundred  feet 
long,  and  three  stories  in  height,  in  which  was  a  grist-mill,  a  carding  ma- 
chine, and  two  saws.  This  was  burned  about  1800,  with  much  grain.  In 
the  same  year  (1800)  Emmons  Stockwell  and  Titus  O.  Brown  erected  mills. 
In  1810  an  improved  mill  was  built  where  the  present  one  stands,  and,  in 
1817,  one  occupied  the  "  Wesson  "  privilege. 

During  the  Revolution  the  little  settlements  on  the  Connecticut  were 
much  retarded.  The  fear  of  the  Indians,  who  captured  Newcomb  Blodgett, 
and  others,  inhabitants  of  Coos,  led  to  the  idea  of  abandonment  of  the 
country.  Emmons  Stockwell  was  made  of  no  such  material,  however. 
He  told  those  that  spoke  of  leaving  "  to  go,  if  they  wanted  to,  but  that  he 
should  stay."  He  did  stay,  and  sometimes  alone,  and  sometimes  with 
the  company  of  several  families,  he  kept  the  settlement  alive  until  the 
war  was  over.  Even  after  the  war  Lancaster  settled  slowiy.  The  pro- 
prietors did  not  willingly  part  with  their  lands,  some  would  not  sell,  and 
the  town  grew  slowly.     The  destruction  of  the  town  records  of  the  earliest 


Town  of  Lancaster.  271 


days  makes  it  impossible  to  give  the  exact  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  early 
settlers. 

In  1778  Major  Jonas  Wilder  came,  and  was  chosen  to  office  in  March. 
17 7i».  He  was  followed  by  many  of  his  relatives  and  friends,  who  came 
with  all  the  enthusiasm  of  men  who  expected  to  make  their  fortunes  in 
a  very  short  time.  The  contrast  between  the  sterile  soil  of  central  Massa- 
chusetts and  the  Connecticut  meadows  was  so  great  that  it  seemed  to  them 
that  they  had  only  to  come  here  to  be  rich.  It  was  understood  that  the 
meadows  were  so  fertile  that  manure  would  never  be  wanted  to  secure  the 
finest  of  crops,  and  so  impressed  were  they  with  this  idea,  that  the  drop- 
pings of  the  cattle  were  carted  from  the  Wilder  premises,  and  dumped 
into  a  gully  near  Indian  brook,  and,  in  some  instances,  barns  were  moved 
to  get  them  out  of  the  way  of  the  manure  heaps.  This  paradise  included 
also  Lunenburg  and  Guildhall. 

Village  Plot. — In  settling  a  new  country  one  of  the  first  things  done  is 
to  lay  out  a  village  plot.  The  proprietors,  knowing  from  its  location  and 
advantages  that  Lancaster  must  become  an  important  business  center,  laid 
out  two  streets,  (one  south  from  Israel's  river,  the  other  easterly  to  the 
river,)  and  sixty  building  lots,  deeded  the  "  meeting-house-common  "  to  the 
the  town,  deeded  Israel's  river,  with  a  strip  of  land  on  each  side,  from  the 
island  below  the  bridge  to  the  great  bow  above  the  paper-mill,  to  the 
town  for  school  purposes,  and  offered  fifty  acres  of  land  to  the  one  who 
brought  the  first  set  of  blacksmith's  tools  to  the  town  and  established  a 
shop.  Few  buildings  w^ere  erected,  however,  where  the  proprietors  ex- 
pected. 

The  First  Two -story  House  in  Coos  county  was  the  present  residence  of 
H.  F.  Holton,  which  was  commenced,  according  to  tradition,  on  the 
memorable  "dark  day,"  May  li>,  1  780,  by  Major  Jonas  Wilder,  and  "raised" 
July  26,  1780. 

The  First  Bridge  on  Israel's  river  was  built  by  Emmons  Stockwell,  and 
it  is  said  that  he  paid  five  gallons  of  brandy  for  the  privilege  of  crossing  it 
first. 

First  Schools. — Mrs.  Euth  Stockwell  was,  beyond  question,  the  first 
to  impart  knowledge  of  books  to  the  settlers,  but  she  kept  no  regular 
school.  At  an  early  date  a  log  school-house  was  erected  in  District  No. 
one.  In  District  No.  two,  a  school  was  established  early.  From  ;i  letter 
of  Capt.  John  Weeks,  dated  Lancaster,  June  15,  17s7,  we  extract:  "  John 
values  himself  much  on  his  spelling  and  reading  at  school,  as  he  gets  the 
better  of  all  of  his  age,  and  of  many  much  older.  The  schoolmaster,  Mr. 
Burgin,  an  Englishman,  boarded  with  us  last  week:  we  take  turns  to  board 
him  weekly."  According  to  the  Bucknam  papers,  Joseph  Burgin  began  a 
term  of  six  months  at  $5  per  month,  June  20,  1787.  A  Mr.  Bradley  was 
leaching  during  the  summer  of  1789. 


272  History  of  Coos  County. 

Early  Prices. — The  stock  of  the  first  merchants  was  "  W.  I.  Rum,"  "N. 
E.  Rum,"  tobacco,  chintz  (calico),  salt,  tea,  axes,  hoes,  nails,  glass,  etc. 
Little  money  was  here,  and  barter  was  the  rule.  Home-made  tow-and- 
linen  cloth  brought  from  two  to  three  shillings  a  yard,  cotton-and-linen 
cloth  three  to  four  shillings,  chintz,  for  wedding  dresses,  one  dollar  a  yard, 
and,  as  women's  wages  were  from  two  to  three  shillings  a  week,  it  would 
take  "my  lady  "  four  or  five  months  steady  labor  to  earn  her  bridal  dress. 
Men's  wages  for  the  "season"  (six  months  in  summer)  were  about  $8  a 
month  in  stock  or  produce,  and  ten  or  twelve  days'  labor  might  possibly 
buy  sufficient  cloth  for  a  pair  of  shirts.  Pearlash  and  potash  would  bring 
from  $75  to  $150  a  ton  in  Portland.  Nails  sold  for  nine  pence  a  pound, 
glass  from  six  pence  to  one  shilling  a  "pane."  Cows  were  worth  from 
$10  to  $12  each,  oxen  (six  feet  in  girth)  from  $35  to  $10  a  yoke.  Potatoes 
were  in  good  demand  at  the  distilleries,  of  which  there  were  several,  and 
brought  from  ten  to  twelve  cents  a  bushel.  Furs  were  plenty,  and  brought 
good  prices.  In  January,  1786,  John  Johnson  worked  three  days  at  Buck- 
nam's,  shoemaking,  for  which  he  charged  four  shillings.  Bucknamkept 
a  house  of  entertainment  as  well  as  merchandise  for  sale.  Prices  for  meals 
'  '6d3 "  lodging  '  'Id, "  toddy  one  shilling,  rum  one  shilling  eight  pence  per  pint. 
In  1701  shot  sold  for  one  shilling  per  pound,  brick  2s-ld  a  100.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1771,  Bucknam  credits  Joseph  Whipple  with  two  yards  calico  six 
"shillings  each,"  and  charges  him  for  pork  and  butter  lOd  per  pound, 
wheat  six  shillings,  peas  seven  shillings,  Indian  corn  four  shillings  per 
bushel.  Salted  bear  meat  brought  Sdalb.,  salt  fish  Sd,  hay  $5  per  ton, 
leather  for  a  pair  of  breeches  18  shillings.  Joseph  Currier  is  charged 
August  25,  17bl,  with  over  two  quarts  rum  "  when  married;"  June  8, 
1785,  one  quart  "when  ye  child  died,"  2  sh_. 

"Alarms  During  the  War."— June  22,  1786,  Jonas  Wilder  and  Em- 
mons Stockwell  as  selectmen  give  this  "account  of  the  alarms  in  the 
Upper  Coos  during  the  late  war.  In  July,  1776,  1  alarm;  Sept.,  1777, 
1  alarm;  1778,  do;  in  July,  1779,  1  alarm.  Indians  took  prisoners  at  Strat- 
ford; in  June,  1780,  1  alarm;  August,  1780,  do;  Oct.,  1780,  1  do;  Thos. 
Worcester  taken;  in  July,  1781,  1  alarm;  some  wounded  men  came  in, 
said  Pritchett  was  near;  Sept.,  1781,  1  alarm.  Pritchett  went  to  Wipple's; 
in  May,  1782,  1  alarm,  Abel  Learned  taken;  June,  do.  1  alarm;  in  Oct.,  1 
alarm.  Nix  taken."  This  was  endorsed  "Account  of  the  number  of  days 
spent  in  scouting,  guiding,  and  foiling,  by  the  men  inhabitants  of  Lancas- 
ter, in  time  of  the  above  alarms,  and  other  times  during  the  late  war: 
being  117  days,  Jonathan  Willard,  10  clays.     Total,  157  days." 

"Moses  Page,  David  Page,  and  Emmons  Stockwell  were  in  company 
in  constructing  the  mill-dam  in  February,  1785."  -Bucknam  Papers. 

By  1786  the  tide  of  emigration  set  strongly  this  way.  Col.  Stephen 
Willson  had  a  clearing  and  log  hut   on  the  interval  near  the  present  vil- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  l>7:; 


lage.  Capt.  John  Weeks  came  from  Greenland,  and,  following  his  step-. 
the  same  year,  and  later,  came  Joseph  Brackett,  Coffin  and  William  Moore, 
Phineas  Hodgdon,  Walter  and  Samuel  Philbrook.  and  others.  Central 
Massachusetts  sent  a  respectable  number  at  about  the  same  time,  or  a  few 
years  later,  including  Titus  0.  Brown,  Jonas  Baker,  Jonathan  Cram, 
Humphrey  Cram,  Joseph  Wilder.  Elisha  Wilder,  Rev.  Joseph  Willard, 
Benjamin  Boardman,  and  others.  In  1700  the  town  had  1  < >  1  population.  The 
growth  had  been  slow,  but  largely  compensating  for  that  was  the  charac- 
ter of  the  settlers.  They  were  men  who  came  to  stay,  and  their  presence, 
merely,  in  a  community  was  an  addition  to  its  prosperity;  they  were  men 
of  strong  mind,  possessed  fair  education,  had  borne  the  hardships  of  a 
long  struggle  for  their  liberties,  were  self-reliant,  and  could  endure  with 
patience  the  privations  of  pioneer  life.  Some  of  them  had  served  with 
credit  as  officers  in  the  army,  and  they  could  all  turn  their  hands  to  varied 
employments,  use  the  axe.  guide  the  plow,  "run  lines,"  construct  a  barn 
or  house,  shoot  a  moose,  catch  a  trout,  or  trap  wild  game. 

An  extract  from  a  letter  of  Capt.  John  Weeks  to  his  wife,  written  at 
Lancaster,  July  15,  1787,  will  throw  a  little  light  on  the  mode  of  life  of 
that  primitive  period.  "We  shall  move  into  our  log  house  this  week.  It 
will  be  a  very  comfortable  one.  The  logs,  all  peeled,  are  smooth  and  clean. 
The  house  is  eighteen  feet  wide,  and  twenty  feet  long.  We  shall  have  one 
comfortable  room,  and  two  bed-rooms.  Our  family  now  consists,  beside 
myself,  of  one  hired  man,  one  girl  (Patty),  one  boy  (John),  one  cow,  one 
heifer,  one  sheep,  one  hog,  one  pig,  one  dog,  one  cat,  one  hen  and  one 
chicken;  we  have  also  a  pair  of  geese  at  Coll  Buckmans,  which  we  shall 
take  home  in  the  fall.  You  would  be  pleased  to  see  our  little  family,  and 
Patty's  management  of  it." 

Adjoining  Deacon  Brackett's  farm  on  the  east,  was  the  farm  of  B riant 
Stephenson.  He  was  a  good  man,  a  worthy  citizen,  and  one  of  the  first 
clerks  in  school  district  number  two,  which  was  formed  in  L791.  He  was 
also  town  clerk.  About  1790,  Phineas  Hodgdon  (a  soldier  under  Gen. 
Gates  in  the  Revolution),  a  young  man  of  military  bearing,  became  a  set 
tier;  John  Mcln tire  came  later,  with  a  yoke  of  steers,  a  pair  of  "' block- 
wheels,"  a  chain,  axe,  and  a  bushel  of  salt.  He  was  uneducated,  but  pos- 
sessed strong  common  sense,  took  up  one  lot  of  land,  which  by  his  indus- 
try he  brought  into  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  accumulated  a  large 
property.  Edward  Spaulding,  (whose  mother  brought  him,  a  child,  to 
Northumberland  in  1767,)  on  arriving  at  maturity,  bought  a  lot  of  land  on 
the  northern  slope  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  which  he  cleared  and  occupied  during 
a  long  life.  He  was  a  man  of  magnificent  proportions.  He  was  a  great 
hunter  and  fisher;  honest,  kind  and  hospitable.  He  died  in  1545.  Coffin 
Moore'  son  of  Dr.  Coffin  Moore,  of  Portsmouth,  married  Mary  Bucknam, 
and  resided  in  Dalton  and  Lancaster.     Among  his  children  were  Dr.    Ed- 


271  History  of  Coos  County. 

ward  B.  Moore,  an  eminent  physician  of  Boston,  and  Joseph  B.  Moore,  of 
Lancaster.  Capt.  William  Moore  settled  on  a  farm  near  Martin  Meadow 
pond.  He  married  a  daughter  of  John  Mclntire,  held  various  town  offices, 
and  was  very  popular.  Asahel  Allen  lived  on  the  southern  slope  of  Martin 
Meadow  hills.  Amos  LeGro,  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  LeGro,  was  a  useful  and 
upright  citizen.  Joseph  Howe  and  Daniel  Stebbins  lived  near  neighbors, 
on  the  hill  road.     Both  were  trustworthy  men  and  excellent  citizens 

Residents,  Polls,  and  Stock.  1793.  — The  first  inventory  of  Lancaster  other 
than  of  real  estate  appears  on  record  as  taken  in  April,  1793.  Col.  Ed- 
wards Bucknam  has  one  poll,  two  oxen,  five  cows,  two  horses,  four  young 
cattle;  Lt.  Joseph  Brackett,  two  polls,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  one  horse, 
six  young  cattle;  Jonas  Baker,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  one  yearling; 
James  McHard,  no  poll  nor  personal  property;  Phineas  Brace,  one  poll, 
one  cow;  William  Bruce,  one  poll;  Titus  0.  Brown,  one  poll;  Lt.  Jona. 
Cram,  two  polls,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  two  horses,  six  young  cattle;  Thad- 
deus  Carby,  one  poll;  Abijah  Darby,  one  poll,  one  cow;  Isaac  Darby,  one 
poll,  one  cow;  Fortunatus  Eager,  one  poll;  Robert  Gotham,  one  poll,  one  ox, 
two  three -year  olds;  Benjamin  Green,  nothing;  Daniel  How,  one  poll,  two 
oxen,  one  cow,  one  two-year  old;  Phinehas  Hodsden,  one  poll,  one  cow, 
two  young  cattle;  Jonathan  Hartwell,  one  poll,  one  cow;  Oliver  Hutchings, 
one  poll;  William  Johnson,  no  poll  nor  personal  property;  Nathan  Love- 
well,  one  poll,  one  two-year-old;  William  Moore,  one  poll,  one  ox,  one 
cow;  John  Mclntire,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  two  young  cattle;  Ben- 
jamin Orr,  one  poll;  Capt.  David  Page,  three  polls,  three  oxen,  three  cows, 
eight  young  cattle;  Moses  Page,  one  poll,  two  cows,  one  horse,  three  young 
cattle;  Walter  Philbrook,  one  poll,  one  cow;  Joel  Page,  one  poll;  Lt.  John 
Rosbrook,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  two  horses;  Charles  Rosbrook, 
one  poll,  one  horse;  Jona.  Rosbrook,  one  poll;  Ezra  Reeves,  one  poll,  one 
cow,  one  horse,  two  two-year  olds;  Lt.  Emmons  Stockwell,  two  polls,  two 
oxen,  four  cows,  one  horse,  nine  young  cattle;  Lt.  Dennis  Stanley,  one 
poll, two  oxen,  five  cows,  one  horse,  four  young  cattle;  Edward  Spaulding, 
one  poll,  one  cow,  one  horse,  three  young  cattle;  Jere.  Stickney,  one  poll, 
one  horse;  Benjamin  Twombly,  one  poll;  Col.  Jonas  Wilder,  one  poll,  four 
oxen,  three  cows,  one  horse,  six  young  cattle;  Jonas  Wilder,  Jr., one  poll,  one 
cow,  three  horses,  three  young  cattle;  Joseph  Wilder,  one  poll;  Elisha  Wil- 
der, one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  one  yearling;  John  Wilder,  one  poll; 
Eph.  Wilder,  one  poll;  Manasseh  Wilder,  one  poll;  Capt.  John  Weeks, 
one  poll,  two  cows,  one  yearling;  Lt.  Jere.  Willcox,  one  poll,  one  cow,  one 
horse;  Smith  Williams,  nothing;  Ashbell  Webb,  one  poll,  two  oxen;  Syl- 
vanus  Chessman,  one  poll;  Joseph  Chandler,  one  poll. 

By  this  time,  the  intervals,  or  meadow  lots,  on  the  Connecticut,  had 
been  mostly  occupied,  and  farms  on  the  hills  were  beginning  to  be  de- 
veloped.    Although  harder  to  cultivate,  they  produced  well. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  275 


It  appears  from  documents  published  in  "Hammond's  Town  Papers," 
(Vol.  12,  pp.  351-361,)  that  David  Page  petitioned  Gov.  Wentworth,  Jan 
uary  7.  1773,  for  a  grant  of  more  land,  setting  forth  thai  he  had  been  "at 
great  trouble  and  expense"  in  attempting  and  prosecuting  the  settlement, 
bringing  on  his  own  and  several  other  families,  "having  live  of  his  own 
children  married  and  settled  about  him,  who  have  made  considerable  pro- 
gress," etc.     His  petition  was  granted,  and  Edwards  Bucknam   directed, 

January  20,  1773,  to  survey  and  mark  out  a  tract  of  1,1 acres  for  this 

purpose,  which  he  did  in  Jefferson.  December  14,  1775,  David  Page,  select- 
man of  the  town  of  Lancaster,  James  Brown,  selectman  of  the  town  of 
Stratford,  and  Josiah  Walker,  "inhabitant"  of  Stratford,  report  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  convened  at  Exeter,  December  20,  L775,  "that  the 
nine  towns  in  the  Upper  Cohos  have  not  complied  with  the  precept  of  the 
last  Congress,  issued  to  them  for  the  election  of  a  Representative."  because, 
first,  "the  needy  circumstances  of  the  people  render  it  impossible  for  them 
to  be  at  the  expense  of  supporting  one."  Second,  "the  distance  of  the  in- 
habitants and  difficulty  of  communication  is  so  great,  that  it  prevented  a 
general  attendance  at  the  meeting."  They  also  state  the  universal  desire 
of  the  people  not  to  be  taxed  to  defray  any  expense  of  delegates  as  there 
should  be  no  taxation  without  representation.  Edwards  Bucknam  and 
Emmons  Stockwell,  selectmen,  make  a  return  of  ten  (1Q)  ratable  polls  in 
the  town  of  Lancaster,  December  2,  1783.  Edwards  Bucknam  petitions 
the  General  Assembly,  October  8,  1 784,  "  for  the  privilege  of  using  and  im- 
proving the  Earth  and  waters  between  the  Eastwardly  and  Westwardly 
banks"  of  the  Connecticut  river  at  Northumberland  Falls.  "  in  length  the 
distance  of  one  (1)  mile  each  way  from  the  center  of  said  Falls,"  and  states 
that  the  falls  are  convenient  for  building  mills  and  keeping  a  ferry  boat. 
and  that  "  he  is  now  actually  erecting  a  set  of  mills  both  for  sawing  and 
grinding  on  said  falls."  His  petition  is  granted  in  1784.  Jonas  Wilder, 
Edwards  Bucknam,  and  Emmons  Stockwell,  as  a  town  commit  tee.  pe- 
tition the  General  Assembly,  September  4,  1787,  to  pass  an  act  empower- 
ing the  town  to  levy  and  collect  a  tax  of  three  pence  on  each  acre  i  public 
rights  excepted)  for  the  purpose  of  making  roads,  building  bridges,  meet- 
ing-house, etc.,  etc.,  and  a  continuation  of  one  penny  on  the  acre  annually 
for  five  years,  to  be  appropriated  to  the  same  object.  In  this  pet  ition  they 
set  forth  as  follows:  "  Nothing  more  effectually  hinders  the  emigration 
of  inhabitants  to  this  part  of  the  state,  than  the  badness  of  our  roads,  and 
the  want  of  a  convenient  place  to  worship  that  being,  to  whom  all  owe 
their  existence.  The  formation  of  the  town  being  very  peculiar,  on  account 
of  marshes,  creeks,  and  large  streams,  and  the  number  of  inhabitants 
being  but  very  small;  consequently  the  expense  of  making  and  mending 
roads,  building  bridges,  meeting  houses,  etc..  must  be  very  great.  <  )ne 
large  stream,  known  by  the  name  of  Israel's  river,  is  so  formidable  where 


276  History  of  Coos  County. 

it  must  be  bridged,  to  accommodate  the  travel  up  and  down  Connecticut 
river,  and  likewise  the  travel  to  and  from  Portsmouth  (our  most  advan- 
tageous port),  that  it  must  cost,  at  a  moderate  compensation,  two  hundred 
pounds.  The  inhabitants  have  solicited  the  non-resident  land  owners  for 
assistance  (many  of  whom  live  out  of  the  state),  but  they  have  entirely 
refused."  Such  a  graphic  statement  of  facts,  and  the  justice  of  their  re- 
quest, caused  the  legislature  to  grant  their  prayer.  It  appears,  however, 
that  by  some  unforeseen  fatality  the  business  was  not  accomplished,  and 
November  12,  1792,  another  petition  was  sent  to  the  legislature  for  author- 
ity to  levy  a  special  tax  of  two  pence  an  acre  for  two  successive  years,  to 
be  applied  to  the  same  purpose.  This  petition  was  signed  by  Fortunatus 
Eager,  John  Rosbrook,  Jr.,  Charles  Rosbrook,  Jonas  Wilder,  William  Bruce, 
Jonathan  Cram,  Titus  O.  Brown,  John  Holmes,  Elisha  Wilder,  Phineas 
Bruce,  John  Rosbrook,  Emmons  Stockwell,  Joseph  Wilder,  Asahel  Bige- 
low,  Nathan  Love  well,  Benjamin  Orr,  David  Stockwell,  Moses  Page,  Den- 
nis Stanley,  William  Moore,  David  Page,  Abijah  Darby,  Joseph  Brackett, 
Walter  Philbrook,  Jonas  Baker,  Edward  Spaulding,  William  Johnson,  and 
Coffin  Moore.  ' 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


Lancaster  in  1795  and  1804  —  Lancaster  Bridge  Co.  —  Extracts  from  Joseph  Brackett's  Diary, 
1799  to  1801  — Gen.  Moses  Hazen  —  South  Lancaster  or  "Cat  Bow "  —  Lancaster  in  1810  — First 
Sabbath  School  —  1820  —  1830  —  Stores,  Articles  of  Traffic,  Etc.  —  Freight  —  Mail,  Vehicles, 
Etc.  —  1840  — Extracts  from  A.  N.  Brackett's  Diary  —  The  Great  Hail  Storm  — Climatic  and 
Weather  Records  — Hon.  John  W.  Weeks  on  Lancaster  in  1839  —  1840  to  1850  — J.  S.  Brackett's 
Summary  from  1850  to  1876  —  Village  Streets  — 1870  to  1887  —  Real  Estate  and  Personal  Prop- 
erty — 1886. 

LANCASTER  in  1795-1804.— The  number  of  tax-payers  in  1705  was 
fifty-nine.  The  six  who  paid  the  largest  tax  were  Jonas  Wilder,  Dennis 
Stanley,  Emmons  Stockwell,  Titus  O.  Brown,  David  Page,  Edwards 
Bucknam.  In  1799  there  were  ninety-one  voters,  and,  in  1800,  apopulationof 
440.  In  1804  there  were  only  seven  dwelling  houses  in  the  village,  north  of  the 
burying-ground.  They  were  occupied  by  Artemas  Wilder,  Stephen  Will- 
son,  Samuel  Hunnux,  William  Lovejoy,  A.  Cram,  J.  Cram,  and'  Mr. 
Faulkner.  Between  the  burying-ground  and  the  river  were  the  dwelling- 
houses  of  R.  C.  Everett,  and  by  the  river,  those  of  a  man  called  "Governor  " 
Bruce,  famous  for  his  facetious  rhymes  and  speeches  at  raisings,  and  that 
of  the  sturdy  David  Greenleaf .  On  the  south  side  of  the  river  there  were 
six  dwelling  houses.     Titus  O.  Brown's,  in  one  end  of  which  he  kept  a 


Town  of  Lancaster.  277 


small  store;  Sylvanus  Chessman's  house,  then  just  huilt  for  a  tavern;  Ed- 
mund Chamberlain's,  Dr.  Chapman's,  Chessman's  old  house  under  the 
meeting-house  hill,  and  the  house  of  Mr.  Hinman,  the  clothier.  There  was 
a  mill  on  one  side  of  Israel's  river,  and  a  clothing-mill  on  the  other.  These, 
with  the  meeting-house,  Boardman's  store  and  potash,  the  school-house, 
and  the  Carlisle  store  at  the  upper  end  of  the  street,  comprised  the  village 
of  1804. 

The  Lancaster  Bridge  Company. — "Richard  C.  Everett,  Levi  Willard, 
Titus  0.  Brown,  Jonathan  Cram,  Stephen  Willson,  Jonas  Baker,  Artemas 
Wilder,  Jr.,  and  such  others  as  may  join  them  *  *  -  ::"  ■•  ••  *  are 
permitted  and  allowed  to  erect  and  maintain  a  bridge  over  Connecticut 
River  at  a  place  called  Waits  Bow  in  Lancaster  in  the  County  of  Grafton 
or  at  any  place  between  the  mouth  of  the  Israel's  River  and  the  upper  line 
of  said  Lancaster."  The  charter  from  which  this  extract  is  made  was 
dated  June  21,  1804.  The  first  meeting  was  held  August  20,  1804.  Rich- 
ard C.  Everett  was  chairman  and  Thomas  Carlisle,  clerk.  The  number  of 
shares  taken  were,  Thomas  Carlisle  &  Co.,  2,  Isaac  Bunday,  1,  Richard  C. 
Everett,  3,  William  Lovejoy,  1,  Levi  Willard,  2,  Stephen  Willson,  2,  J. 
Cram,  1,  Daniel  Perkins,  2,  Jonas  Baker,  1,  Titus  O.  Brown,  1,  Humphrey 
Cram.  1,  David  Bunday,  1,  William  Huves,  1,  Artemas  Wilder.  Jr.,  12. 
Elisha  Bunday,  1,  Daniel  Dana,  1,  Urial  Rosebrook,  1,  Lemuel  Holmes,  1, 
Asa  Holmes,  1,  Samuel  Howe,  1,  Timothy  Faulkner,  1,  Bowman  Chad- 
dock,  1. 

"Voted  that  Richard  C.  Everett,  Wm.  Huves,  Levi  Willard,  Isaac  Bunday,  &  Wm.  Lovejoy, 
be  a  Committee  to  report  a  plan  of  a  Bridge  &  the  exact  place  where  it  ought  to  be  erected." 

The  first  bridge  was  built  in  1805,  and  the  second  one  in  1825.  This 
was  of  great  benefit  to  the  mercantile  and  other  business  of  Lancaster. 

Extracts  from  Joseplt  Bracket  fs  Diary. — The  early  settlers  were  close 
observers  of  natural  phenomena,  men  of  strong  reason,  and  independent 
thought.  They  attended  church  twice  each  Sabbath,  and  listened  atten- 
tively to  the  two  sermons,  to  which  they  gave  a  searching  mental  analysis. 
They  read  the  Bible  at  home  for  its  literature,  also  standard  authors  in  Eng- 
lish. These  extracts  from  the  diary  kept  by  an  early  settler,  Dea.  Joseph 
Brackett,  in  1799-1  on   L801,  are  of  interest  as  showing  tKese  facts. 

"  April  7,  1799,  Sunday.  After  getting  up  read  13  psalms.  Read  two  sermons;  in  my  opin. 
ion  the  best  I  ever  saw.  Dressed  and  went  to  meeting.  Heard  two  sermons.  Returning,  read 
another  sermon.  The  sermons  read  were  by  Dr.  Price,  who  appears  a  man  of  greal  abilities,  pos- 
sessed of  an  acute  judgement  and  pleasing  style;  in  truth,  the  doctrines  he  advances  are  supported 
by  sound  reasonings.  April  12.  Snow  lies  three  feet  on  the  ground.  Air  fur  two  days  pastes 
trenuly  cold.  15th.  Warm  and  pleasant,  but  yet  good  crossing  on  the  river.  Read  several  psalms, 
after  that,  read  four  lives  in  British  Plutarch,  <>nc.  I.ishop  Latimer,  very  remarkable.  I  also  read 
to-day  Humphrey's  Poems.  His  style  in  some  respects  resembles  Goldsmith's.  Also  read  tem- 
per's "Retirement."  No  poet  excels  him  in  strength  of  expression,  or  energy  of  thought.  All  his 
poems  tend  to  make  mankind  better,  but  he  is  a  little  too  severe  on  the  clergy.     34.     Came  six 


278  History  of  Coos  County. 

inches  of  snow.  No  sugar  of  consequence  yet  made.  25.  National  Fast.  One  sleigh  at  meeting. 
Snow  two  feet  deep  in  the  woods.  First  good  run  of  sap.  28.  Read  before  breakfast  nine  psalms. 
As  pieces  of  devotion,  none  excel  the  Psalms  of  David.  Attended  meeting.  Heard  two  sermons. 
The  first,  ver}r  good;  the  last,  indifferent.  Have  since  read  two  discourses  by  Dr.  Sherlock,  one  of 
which  appears  to  be  the  same  that  I  heard  preached  today.  Sound  reasoning  they  contain  in  an 
eminent  degree.  29.  River  entirely  free  from  ice.  Sunday,  May  5.  Snow  a  foot  deep  in  the 
woods  on  the  level,  Read  Psalm  119.  Went  to  meeting;  heard  two  sermons.  Tolerably  good. 
Read  Fifth  book  of  Cowper's  "  Task."  The  more  I  read  Cowper  the  better  I  like  him.  The  con- 
clusion of  this  book  is  inimitable.  10.  Some  snow  came  to-day.  No  man  with  whom  I  have  con- 
versed ever  saw  a  season  so  backward.  But  few  have  begun  to  plough.  15.  Began  to  plough  on 
the  meadow.  19.  Went  to  meeting;  heard  two  sermons,  rather  better  than  common.  After  meet- 
ing read  14  psalms.  20.  Sowed  2A  bushels  wheat,  1  bushel  rye,  and  3  pecks  of  peas.  25.  Planted 
corn.  30.  Finished  ploughing.  Thunder  storm.  June  1.  Quite  cold.  3.  First  planted  in  ihe 
meadow.  5.  Black  fiies  first  came.  11.  River  higher  than  it  has  been  for  10  years.  16.  Still 
higher.  Giain  of  all  kinds  been  under  water.  July  5.  Corn  spindled  out.  21.  Corn  silked  out. 
26.  Finished  stacking  hay.  28.  Mr.  Willard's  forenoon  discourse  was  very  good;  but  the  afternoon 
was  not  pleasing.  Aug.  11.  Had  roast  corn.  27.  Frost  to  be  seen  this  morning.  Sept.  30.  Frost 
came  which  killed  all  kinds  of  vegetables  that  frost  could  kill.  Nov.  24.  One  sleigh  at  meeting. 
1800.  The  winter  has  been  uncommonly  favorable.  Snow  at  any  time  not  more  than  two  feet 
deep.  April  17.  Frogs  croaked.  Mr.  Clark  and  Toscan  ploughed.  18.  Killed  a  duck.  20.  A 
fine  morning;  so  far  one  of  the  most  beautiful  springs  I  ever  knew.  Read  two  chapters  in  Matthew 
in  one  of  which  I  remarked  the  passage:  "Provide  neither  gold,  nor  silver,  nor  brass,  in  your 
purses;  nor  scrip  for  your  journey,  neither  two  coats,  neither  shoes,  nor  yet  staves;  for  the  workman 
is  worthy  of  his  hire;"  This,  without  any  other  text,  is  sufficient  to  prove  that  ministers  ought  to 
have  a  salary.  May  5  &  6.  Sowed  wheat  and  flax.  10.  First  heard  whippoorwills.  17.  Finished 
ploughing  old  ground.  June  5.  Frost  killed  some  things.  15.  Frost  killed  beans  and  corn. 
July  19.  Great  sort  of  corn  silked  out.  Aug.  20.  Finished  reaping.  50  shocks  from  4  bushels 
sowing.  1801.  March  16.  Killed  a  snake.  Have  had  an  uncommon  winter  The  last  of  January 
the  snow  was  uncommonly  deep,  perhaps  3  feet  at  Lancaster.  Now  almost  all  gone.  Wild  geese 
were  seen  flying  a  week  ago;  ducks  and  a  fewT  spring  birds  have  been  seen.  29.  People  have 
ploughed.  April  27.  Sowed  wheat.  28.  Sowed  flax  and  peas.  29.  Swallows  came.  The  snow 
went  off  without  raising  the  water  so  as  to  make  a  freshet  here,  though  at  the  mouth,  and  up  the 
river  the  water  was  higher  than  known  for  70  years.  May  1.  Maple  leaves  as  big  as  a  base  copper. 
Black  flies  in  considerable  quantities  and  whippoorwills  heard.  3.  Found  white  clover  bloomed 
out.     26.  A  ripe  strawberry  found. 

Gen.  Moses  Haze  it  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  early  nonresident 
proprietors  of  land  in  Lancaster.  He  was  a  retired  colonel  of  the  British 
army,  living  on  half  pay  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution.  He 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  colonists,  raised  a  regiment  for  service  in  the 
American  army,  .and  was  to  receive  for  a  salary  the  same  amount  which 
he  was  entitled  to  draw  from  the  British  service.  He  had  previously  mar- 
ried a  wealthy  French  lady,  whose  beautiful  home  at  St.  John  was  burned 
by  the  British  during  the  Revolution  and  her  estate  and  other  valuable 
property  confiscated.  Gen.  Hazen  served  with  distinction  during  the  war, 
but.  by  the  depreciation  of  the  Continental  currency,  and  his  failure  to  get 
just  claims  allowed  by  the  War  Department,  he  was  a  great  financial  loser 
by  his  espousal  of  the  Colonial  cause.  His  name  is  prominent  in  many 
affairs  and  early  settlements  in  Vermont  and  on  Lake  Cham  plain  in  New 
York.     He  was  stricken  by  palsy  and  for  seventeen  years  before  his  death 


Town  of  Lancaster.  279' 


lay  perfectly  helpless;  and  under  the  old  law  of  imprisonment  for  debt,  he 
passed  some  of  this  time  in  close  prison.  A  few  years  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  L803,  he  was  pronounced  a  lunatic  by  the  chancellor  of 
of  the  state  of  New  York,  where  he  had  resided  after  the  Revolution,  and 
Major  Moses  White,  his  nephew,  and  aid-de-camp  in  the  army,  appointed 
his  keeper.  He  had  been  much  interested  in  improving  and  settling  new 
sections,  and  Major  White  found  his  business  affairs  extensive,  "scattered 
from  Virginia  to  Maine,  and  from  Canada  to  the  Atlantic,  and,  from  his 
financial  condition,  much  embarrassed." 

Gen.  Hazen  purchased  of  Charles  W.  Apthorp,  October  5,  1783,  among 
other  lands  twenty-four  rights  of  land  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  including  the 
"Cat  Bow."  The  price  to  be  paid  was  $115  per  right.  He  at  once 
began  improvement,  placed  several  tenants  on  the  "  Cat  Bow  ' 
tract,  and  laid  out  considerable  money,  which  was  expended  under 
the  supervision  of  Ezekiel  Ladd,  Nathaniel  White,  Judge  Richard 
C.  Everett  and  Edwards  Bucknam.  It  was  evidently  his  intention  to  build 
up  a  large  manorial  establishment  here,  and  to  make  Lancaster  his  home. 
But  his  finances  became  reduced,  his  lands  were  sold  for  taxes,  his  tenants 
were  ejected,  and  all  became  confusion  and  litigation. 

South  Lancaster. — Among  the  early  settlers  in  this  part  of  Lancaster 
were  Nathaniel  White,  his  son,  Samuel  White,  David  White,  John  Picket, 
William  C.  Ford,  Daniel  Howe,  John  Miller,  Francis  Willson,  Daniel 
Young,  John  Moore,  Charles  Howe,  Israel  Hale,  Timothy  Whitney,  and 
Isaac  Wood.  Moses  Blake  contracted  to  build  a  house  for  Gen.  Moses 
Hazen,  in  1785,  on  the  "Cat  Bow"  tract,  and  cleared  land  there.  Ephraim 
Griggs  did  work  in  the  same  year  for  Gen.  Hazen,  amounting  to  8100. 
Asa  Bucknam  and  Joseph  L'Esperance  chopped  more  than  eight  acres  on 
the  "Cat  Bow."  A  Mr.  Hartw^ell  was  a  tenant  here  in  1784.  About  the 
same  time  George  Wheeler,  Walter  Bloss  and  John  Hopkinson  cleared 
thirteen  acres  on  the  same  tract.  P.  Griggs  became  a  tenant  of  Hazen  in 
1786.  Rev.  John  Wilber,  of  Attleborough,  Mass.,  brother-in-law  of  R.  C. 
Everett,  purchased  lands  here  in  1808,  but  never  became  a  resident. 

1810. — The  growth  of  the  town  was  slow  but  solid,  roads  began  to  be- 
laid out,  gaps  were  made  in  the  pine  groves,  and  in  the  hard  wood  tim- 
ber of  the  highlands,  and  stead}r  improvements  were  made,  year  by 
year,  until,  in  1810,  the  population  was  717.  The  town  bad  been  se- 
lected as  the  shire  town  of  the  county,  had  a  court-house  and  jail, 
the  academy  had  been  incorporated,  school-houses  erected  in  two  school 
districts,  and  Willson's  tavern  dispensed  much  "flip,"  and  entertained 
hospitably  man  and  beast.  The  village  had  six  houses  at  the  upper 
end,  besides  those  mentioned,  which  were  occupied  by  Samuel  llnnnnx, 
William  Lovejoy,  Artemas  Cram.  Benjamin  Boardman,  and  a  Faulkner. 
At  the  south  was  that  of  "Governor"  Bruce,  a  soul  of  merriment  at  all 


•230  History  of  Coos  County. 

social  and  public  occasions,  and  that  of  old  Miller  Greenleaf,  so  sturdy 
and  well  known.  On  one  side  of  the  river  was  a  fulling-mill,  then  much 
patronized,  and  on  the  other  a  pretentious  grist-mill  which  did  good  work. 
Titus  0.  Brown  had  a  small  store,  the  new  Chesman  tavern  was  well  pat- 
ronized, and  three  or  four  private  residences,  Dr.  Chapman's  and  the  old 
Chesman  house  included,  comprised  the  village  of  that  day. 

1820. — During  the  decade  from  1810  to  1820  the  population  shrunk  to 
614.  The  high  political  excitement  attending  the  embargo,  non-intercourse, 
and  war  questions;  the  proximity  to  the  frontier  during  the  war;  Capt. 
John  W.  Weeks,  taking  an  immense  number  of  his  young  friends— vigor- 
ous and  energetic  men — with  him,  organized  a  company  which  did  faith- 
ful service  through  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  especially  complimented  for 
gallant  demeanor  at  the  battle  of  Chippewa;*  together  with  the  epidemic 
which  raged  so  fatally  in  1813,  carrying  off  many  prominent  citizens,  with 
the  extremely  low  price  of  produce  and  the  general  stagnation  of  business, 
prevented  anything  like  progress.  In  conjunction  with  these  were  the 
cold  seasons  of  L816  and  1817,  when  probably  there  was  more  suffering 
than  at  any  other  period  of  the  occupancy  of  the  town.  From  some  or 
all  of  these  causes,  many  became  discouraged  and  sought  an  easier  place  to 
live.  But  by  1820  another  fulling-mill  had  been  put  up,  and  another  grist- 
mill helped  to  grind  the  rye,  corn,  and  wheat  of  th^  people.  There  were 
now  four  stores,  two  taverns,  three  doctors,  eight  school  districts,  and  four 
school -houses,  three  lawyers,  and  five  justices  of  the  peace. 

First  Sabbath  School. — The  first  effort  for  Sabbath  school  instruction 
was  made  in  1816  or  1817,  by  Mrs.  William  Farrar,  who  organized  a 
school  at  her  house,  and  invited  the  young  people  of  the  south  part  of 
Guildhall  to  join  those  of  Lancaster. 

*  Hosier  of  Capt.  Weeks's  Company. — John  W.  Weeks,  Captain;  Richard  Bean,  1st  Lieut  ;  James 
Green,  2d  Lieut.;  F.  A.  Sawyer,  Ensign;  Benjamin  Stevenson,  William  Smith,  Daniel  Bailey,  Am- 
aziah  Knights,  Elisha  B.  Greene,  Sergeants  William  W.  Bailey,  Peter  Gambsly,  Obed  S.  Hatch, 
Josiah  Reed,  Benjamin  Wilson,  Robert  Hoskins,  Corporals;  Alva  Smith,  Orrin  R.  Dexter,  Silas 
Whitney,  Solomon  B.  Clark,  Musicians.  The  privates  were:  Henry  Alden,  Samuel  Abbott,  Thomas 
Alverson,  Daniel  Bennett,  Zerah  Bennett,  John  Brown,  Chester  Bennett,  Hazen  Burbank,  Daniel 
Burbank,  Stephen  Billiard,  Benjamin  T.  Baker,  Ebenezer  Ball,  Tnomas  Brigham,  Gad  Beacher, 
John  Burns,  John  Burgin,  2d,  John  Bickford,  Nathaniel  Bennett,  John  Brainard,  Zebulon  Carter, 
Stephen  Chase,  Levi  H.  Christian,  Seth  Clark,  Winthrop  Collins,  John  Collins,  Guy  Clark,  Jere 
Clough,  Charles  Collins,  Moses  Cooper,  Sylvanus  Currier,  Otis  Chaffee,  Samuel  Abraige,  Benjamin 
Cross,  Phineas  Davenport,  Eliphet  Day,  John  Dodge,  Moses  Davis,  Eli  Davenport,  Luimer  Dodge, 
John  English,  James  French,  Luthei  Fuller,  Jer'h  Fuller,  Joel  Farnham,  John  French, Timothy  Ful- 
ler, Lemuel  Fuller,  Aimer  Gay,  Wells  Goodwin,  Samuel  Gjtham,  Robert  Gotham,  Samuel  Henry, 
John  Holmes,  Neb.  Houghton,  Willard  Huntoon,  Alpheus  Hutchins,  Joseph  Henderson,  James 
Harvey,  Sheldon  Hoi  brook,  Henry  Hall,  John  Hicks,  John  M.  Holmes,  Daniel  Holmes,  Greenleaf 
Huntoon,  George  Huntoon,  Warren  Cassiu,  Joshua  Knapp,  Peter  Lfcbare,  Joseph  Labare,  Samuel 
Linsey,  George  W.  Lucas,  Jacob  Mclntire.  James  Mellen,  Harry  Moore,  Shephard  Morse,  Ebenezer 
Mudge,  Jacob  B.  More,  John  W.  Moore,  William  Merriam,  Nathaniel  Moore,  James  Nesbit, 
Stephen  Orr,   Daniel  Perkins,  James  Perkins,  Theodore  Philips,  Benoui  Potter,  Orange  Pixley, 


Town  of  Lancaster.  28] 

1830. — From  1820  to  1830  the  town  grew  in  population,  wealth  and 
development.  The  Agricultural  Society,  organized  in  L821,  had  aided  in 
stimulating  the  farmers  to  an  improved  condition  of  agriculture,  and  did 
good  work  in  the  four  years  of  its  existence.  This  was  a  palmy  decade 
Manufactures  increased  considerably.  Col.  Cross  was  doing  a  fine  busi- 
ness in  his  hat  shop.  Business  interests  were  keeping  the  machinery  of 
the  saw,  grist,  and  fulling  mills  running  to  their  fullest  capacity.  Lancas- 
ter was  now  the  most  important  town  in  Northern  New  Hampshire,  with 
a  population  nearly  doubled  in  ten  years,  and  now  1,187.  The  cleared 
area  was  extended,  and  the  rough  farms  were  freed  from  stumps.  East 
Lancaster  had  been  sought  out  for  farms,  and  many  a  fine  one  developed. 
Political  predilections  had  formed  themselves  into  strong  party  issues,  and 
keen  political  contests  had  become  the  order  of  the  day.  Richard  East- 
man was  county  treasurer  in  1828;  A.  N.  Brackett,  representative;  John 
W.  Weeks,  member  of  Congress;  and  other  citizens  held  prominent  and 
responsible  positions.  New  merchants  had  been  attracted  hither  by  the 
superior  business  opportunities.  Eoyal  Joyslin  returned  here  from  Bath. 
Jared  W.  Williams  had  come  from  the  "  Nutmeg"  state,  and  cast  his  lot 
with  this  people.  All  were  busy  and  prosperous.  With  wealth  came  a 
desire  for  better  home  advantages  for  that  higher  education  which  the 
Lancaster  people  had  always  prized  so  highly.  This  desire  culminated  in 
the  incorporation  of  Lancaster  academy,  which  has  so  nobly  discharged 
the  duty  given  into  its  care.  It  was  organized  and  prosperously  opened  in 
1829.  In  1828  Lancaster  raised  $220  for  support  of  the  poor,  and  81,000 
for  highways  and  bridges.  Richard  P.  Kent,  who  began  his  long  career 
in  Lancaster  as  a  clerk  for  Royal  Joyslin  in  1825,  was  one  of  the  strongest 
additions  to  the  population  during  this  decade. 

Stores,  Articles  of  Traffic,  Etc. — "Little  capital  was  required  for  the 
stores  of  this  period,  the  stocks  of  goods  were  very  meager,  and  the  sales, 
mostly  on  credit,  very  small.  Rum  was  an  important  article  of  traffic.  It 
is  told  of  one  of  the  merchants  of  that  day,  that  he  sold  a  full  hogshead  of 
rum,  in  quantities  from  half  a  pint  to  a  barrel,  one  morning  before  break- 
fast. Failures  were  very  frequent  among  the  traders,  and,  according  to 
Major  Weeks,  prior  to  1832,  every  trader,  excepting  those  then  in  business, 
had,  at  some  time,  failed. 

Caleb  Prouty,  Daniel  Pinkham,  Levi  Pratt,  Albert  Rathbone,  Anthony  C.  Readfleld,  Abram 
Rogers,  Martin  Ray,  George  Shirland,  Edmund  Sanborn,  John  Sanford,  John  Shirley,  .Job  Smith, 
Luther  Southworth,  Elibu  Spencer,  Jacob  Sperry,  James  B.  Stanley,  Joshua  Stephens,  Alirain 
Sanborn,  Reuben  Stevens,  David  Stodard,  John  C.  Swain,  I-rael  Sanderson,  Dauiel  Stratton, 
Jacob  Trussed,  Daniel  Utley,  Samuel  Vanschork,  Jere  Wheeler.  Barney  B.  Whipple,  James  Whit- 
ney, Jeremiah  White,  Jotham  Wilkins,  John  Wilkinson.  A.bsalon  Wilson,  John  Wilson.  .lames 
Withered,  John  R  Wyatt,  John  M.  Williams,  Joseph  Weed,  Allen  White.  Andrew  Woods, 
Thomas  Whiton,  George  Warren,  Simson  Warren,  Josiah  Washburn,  Robert  II.  Robertson, 
Alexander  Jones,  Peter  Hamilton,  Jedediah  Robinson,  Samuel  Wright,  Samuel  Stackpole 
19 


282 


History  of  Coos  County. 


an.  caste*  Villa  i 

T.W.WeeVs,  lei. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  L>s:; 


Freight. — "  Goods  from  Boston  were  shipped  to  Portland  by  sailing 
vessels,  and  brought  from  there  to  Lancaster  for  $1.25  per  cwt.,  in  the 
summer,  on  wagons,  and,  in  winter,  by  sleighs,  at  75  cents  per  cwt. 

"  The  Mail  came  twice  a  week  from  Boston,  was  three  days  on  the  way, 
arriving  on  Wednesdays  and  Sundays;  was  carried  to  Colebrook  once  a 
week  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  A  weekly  mail  was  carried  on  horseback  to 
Bethel  for  Portland. 

Vehicles. — "Most  of  the  team  work  was  done  by  oxen  in  the  summer, 
and  there  was  not  a  good  team  wagon  in  the  town.  One  chaise  (Parson 
Willard's,  presumably.)  was  owned  in  the  place,  with  a  few  one-horse 
wagons;  steel  springs  and  '  thorough  braces'  were  unknown. 

"  The  annual  musters  of  the  24th  Regt.  were  held  alternately  at  Lan- 
caster and  Colebrook;  later,  the  towns  north  of  Northumberland  formed 
the  42d. 

' '  There  were  religious  services  in  the  '  Meeting  House  '  on  the  hill,  and 
the  Methodists  held  meetings  in  the  Court  House. ' '  * 

1840. — During  the  decade  ending  with  1840,  a  steady  increase  of  pros- 
perity, wealth,  and  improvement  was  also  shown.  Lancaster  began  to 
have  its  solid  men  of  wealth  and  finance.  The  business  men  were  shrewd, 
careful,  and  conservative,  and  suffered  little  from  the  great  panic  of  1837, 
which  so  paralyzed  the  business  centers  of  the  country,  and  a  good  bank, 
chartered  in  1833,  with  Col.  John  H.  White  as  president,  and  Royal  Joys- 
lin,  cashier,  had  been  established.  The  first  newspaper  published  in  Coos 
county,  The  White  Mountain  ^Egis,  began  its  brief  existence  in  1838.  By 
the  great  advance  in  staging,  Boston  can  be  reached  from  Lancaster  in 
forty-eight  hours  time. 

From  A.  N.  Bracketfs  Diary.—  The  weather  and  climatic  influences, 
judging  from  the  diaries  of  Adino  N.  Brackett,  were  remarkably  unfavor- 
able, however,  to  agricultural  matters.  He  says:  "A  hail  storm  of  un- 
precedented violence  passed  over  Lancaster  and  Guildhall,  July  16,  1831. 
The  hail  continued  to  descend  from  twenty  to  thirty  minutes.  The  largest 
hail  stones  examined  were  over  two  inches  in  their  greatest  diameter. 
They  were  not  perfectly  globular,  but  shaped  like  a  turnip,  with  fluted 
edges.  Many  of  the  stones  would  each  weigh  an  ounce.  It  fell  in  such 
quantities  as  to  cover  the  ground  more  than  an  inch  deep,  like  a  fall  of 
snow,  and  where  it  rolled  down  hills,  or  off  from  houses,  it  lay  more  than 
a  foot  deep,  and  some  remained  unmelted  thirty-six  hours  after  the  storm. 
In  its  effects  it  was  most  destructive.  Fields  of  grain,  coin,  potatoes,  and 
even  grass,  were  laid  level  with  the  earth;  trees  were  stripped  of  their 
foliage,  and,  wherever  the  wind  was  violent,    windows  wen-  flashed  to 

*  For  a  full  description  of  Lancaster  street  or  village  in  1825,  see  biography   of  Richard   P. 

Ken  I . 


281  History  of  Coos  County. 

atoms.  Even  shingles  on  buildings  were  split  to  pieces.  Birds  were 
killed.  Fortunately  the  wind  was  slight  during  most  of  the  storm,  which 
was  limited  in  extent.  Some  of  the  most  nourishing  farms  in  the  lower 
part  of  Lancaster  and  Guildhall  are  stripped  of  their  entire  crop.  Grass 
and  grain  are  literally  driven  into  the  ground,  so  that  the}^  can,  in  no 
event,  be  of  value  the  present  year. "  He  says  further  that  ' '  aside  from 
this  injury,  crops  of  all  kinds  were  remarkably  good."  "Bread  stuffs 
toward  the  close  of  1832  were  very  high,  as  the  crops  were  injured  by  cold 
and  damp  weather."  A  constant  rain  continued  from  May  10,  1833,  to  May 
15th;  1833  was  an  unproductive  year.  "Even  the  best  farmers  had  to 
purchase  flour  and  grain  to  support  their  families."  "  The  year  1831  was 
very  good  for  all  kinds  of  produce."  "The  winter  of  1831-35  has  been 
remarkable  for  its  varied  changes.  After  a  January  thaw,  the  ground 
froze  deeply,  owing  to  the  want  of  snow,  which  at  no  time  during  the 
winter  was  over  sixteen  inches  deep  along  the  Connecticut.  Hereafter  it 
may  seem  a  great  story,  but  it  is  believed  that  the  ground  froze  to  the 
depth  of  four  feet  and  over.  Many  brooks  were  frozen  to  the  bottom,  so 
that  the  water  ran  on  top  of  the  ice,  thus  raising  them  above  their  accus- 
tomed channels."  Of  1836  he  writes:  "Remarkably  cold.  Frosts  in 
some  places  every  month  in  the  year.  The  snow  was  deeper  than  for  many 
years.  The  crops  of  corn  and  wheat  were  greatly  injured,  as  the  wheat 
was  sown  late  to  avoid  attacks  from  the  weevil.  No  season  since 
1816  has  been  so  unproductive.  Wheat,  such  as  it  is,  costs  S3  per 
bushel,  and  flour  from  the  south  and  west  is  $14  per  barrel."  In  1837 
the  drought  did  much  damage,  but  Mr.  Brackett  says:  "Notwithstand- 
ing the  scarcity  and  cold,  the  health  of  the  inhabitants  is  very  good." 
Hon.  John  W.  Weeks  sums  up  Lancaster,  in  1839,  and  gives  the  charac- 
ter of  its  inhabitants  thus: — 

"From  the  village  in  Lancaster  the  roads  diverge  in  four  directions 
toward  the  sea-board;  in  one  toward  Canada,  and  in  another  westward. 
This  central  location  gives  the  town  most  of  the  business,  mercantile  and 
professional,  in  the  counties  of  Essex  and  Coos,  performed  by  five  store 
keepers,  seven  lawyers,  four  physicians,  one  bank,  with  a  capital  of  §50,000, 
and  one  fire  insurance  company,  to  which  may  be  added  a  flour-mill  with 
three  sets  of  stones,  four  saw  mills,  three  clapboard  and  three  shingle 
machines,  one  extensive  clothiers  mill,  a  tannery,  machinery  for  carriage 
making,  blacksmith  work,  coopering,  and  many  other  mechanical  opera- 
tions. Oar  religious  establishments  are  very  respectable,  consisting  of  a 
Congregational  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  society,  three  meeting-houses, 
many  B aptists,  Unitarians,  Freewill  Baptists,  some  Quakers,  Christians, 
Restorationists,  and  no  Mormons.  There  is  also  a  printing  press  in  town 
from  which  issues  the  Cods  Comity  Democrat.  Its  politics  are  indicated  by 
its  title.     The  character  of  our  inhabitants  is,  in  some  respects  dissimilar 


Town  of  Lancaster.  i'sr> 


to  that  of  many  other  country  towns,  uniting  the  warm  sensibilities  of  the 
heart  with  the  more  profound  researches  of  the  understanding;  enter- 
prising, perhaps  in  the  extreme;  depending,  however,  more  on  individual 
effort,  than  on  combined  exertion;  hospitable,  yet  economical;  aspiring,  yet 
restrained  within  the  bounds  of  propriety;  independent  in  principle,  even 
to  a  fault,  if  fault  it  can  be;  patriotic,  only  in  accordance  with  their  own 
perceptions  of  right;  equally  regardless  of  all  dictums,  unless  clearly  an- 
nounced to  their  comprehension;  patient  and  persevering,  when  cheered  on 
by  hope,  yet  possibly  restless,  when  that  'anchor  to  the  soul  is  deferred." 

1S5<).— The  prosperity  of  the  town  steadily  increased.  The  ordinary 
changes  of  business  firms  and  buildings  suited  to  the  fluctuations  and  in- 
creased demands  of  trade  had  continued.  The  population  in  1*50  was 
1,559.  Several  new  buildings  of  increased  cost  had  been  erected.  The 
far  away  war  with  Mexico  had  called  for  some  citizens,  of  whom  a  few 
never  returned,  dying  in  that  inhospitable  climate.  From  1 845,  the  chroni- 
cles taken  from  the  diaries  of  Richard  P.  Kent,  will  give  quite  a  history  of 
the  town,  as  the  course  of  events  was  carefully  noted  by  him.  We  would 
note,  however,  that  in  1850  there  were  ten  lawyers,  thirty-one  justices  of 
the  peace  (more  than  any  other  town  of  its  size  in  the  state),  three  physi- 
cians, and  two  clergymen. 

James  S.  Brackett,  in  his  "Historical  Sketch  of  Lancaster,"  a  valuable 
pamphlet  published  in  1876,  sums  up  the  history  from  1850  to  187f>  thus: 
"  In  1860  the  population  was  2,020.  The  last  ten  years  had  been  marked 
by  no  striking  event.  The  village,  however,  showed  a  marked  improve- 
ment. Several  large  and  commodious  stores  had  been  built,  the  Lancaster 
House,  the  fruit  of  a  projected  branch  road  from  the  Grand  Trunk  railway, 
had  been  erected  and  successfully  run,  being  the  resort  of  numerous  visit- 
ors to  this  beautiful  mountain  region.  The  Unitarian  meeting-house  had 
been  built  in  1856,  and  regular  services  held  in  it.  The  Coos  Republican 
was  well  established,  and,  on  the  whole,  the  people  were  enjoying  a  season 
of  prosperity." 

Village  Streets. — Names  were  first  regularly  given  to  the  village  streets 
in  1860,  at  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  called  for  that  purpose.  We  give  the 
principal  ones:  Main  street,  from  the  Town  Hall  to  the  residence  of  Hor- 
ace F.  Holton;  Elm  street,  from  Main  street,  south  of  Israel's  river,  west- 
erly, to  the  Wentworth  place;  Middle  street,  from  Main  street  east,  from 
near  north  end  of  the  lower  bridge;  Mechanic  street,  from  the  Town  Hall 
across  the  upper  bridge  to  Middle  street;  Prospect  street,  from  Town  Hall, 
southwesterly,  toward  Whitefield;  Cottage  street,  fr<  »m  Pr<  >spect  street  west : 
Portland  street,  from  Prospect  street  up  Meeting  House  hill,  and  towards 
Jefferson  Mills;  Pleasant  street,  easterly,  from  Portland  street  past  the 
houses  of  Henry  Hey  wood  and  George  R.  Eaton:  High  street,  easterly, 
from  Main  street,  between  the  old  Cross  place  and  George  VanDyke's  resi- 


286  History  of  Coos  County. 

dence;  Summer  street,  from  Middle  street  to  North  street;  North  street, 
from  north  end  of  Main  street,  toward  Northumberland;  Bridge  street, 
from  north  end  of  Main  street,  toward  the  toll  bridge;  Water  street,  from 
Elm  street  past  N.  H.  Richardson's  factory;  Canal  street,  from  Main  street, 
north  of  bridge,  northwesterly  to  the  machine  shop;  Bunker  Hill  avenue, 
from  Summer  street,  easterly,  past  George  M.  Stevens's  house;  Railroad 
street,  from  Elm  Cottage,  on  Main  street,  past  the  railroad  depot  to  Sum- 
mer street;  Lancaster  Place,  the  square  between  Lancaster  House  and 
buildings  south;  Williams  street,  southeasterly,  from  Elm  street,  opposite 
Water  street,  to  Whitefield  road;  Kent  Place,  passage  way  and  square 
north,  and  in  rear  of  R.  P.  Kent  &  Son's  store;  Church  street,  the  place 
south,  and  in  rear  of  the  Methodist  church;  Mill  street,  easterly  from  Main 
street,  north  of  Main  street  bridge. 

"In  1870  Lancaster  had  a  population  of  2,248.  Four  clergymen  were 
occupying  the  different  pulpits;  five  physicians  were  endeavoring  to  cure 
the  various  '  diseases  that  flesh  is  heir  to ';  fourteen  lawyers,  and  an  aston- 
ishing number  of  magistrates,  thirty-two,  were  dispensing  even-handed 
justice  among  the  remaining  inhabitants.  The  terrible  civil  war — the 
mutterings  of  which  had  been  heard  through  the  land — at  last  burst  upon 
the  country.  Lancaster  responded  gallantly  to  the  call  for  soldiers.  Never 
backward  when  their  country  calls,  her  citizeus  rose  almost  as  one  man, 
and  gave  of  their  treasure  and  their  blood.  No  town  stands  with  a  more 
honorable  record  than  ours  in  this  awful  crisis  of  our  national  history. 

The  decade  closed  with  signs  of  continued  prosperity,  and  a 
noticeable  feature  was  the  increased  taste  shown  about  public  buildings, 
private  residences,  and  the  improvement  of  farms.  *  *  *  The 
prosperity  of  the  town  has  been  in  no  measure  retarded,  and  to-day  we 
stand  Avith  a  large  population,  more  wealth,  greater  intelligence,  and, 
we  hope,  with  no  less  morality  than  ever  before."  Population  in  1880, 
2,723;  valuation,  si, 247, 324.  In  1881  a  comprehensive  and  thorough  sys- 
tem of  drainage  was  adopted. 

1 887. — Notwithstanding  the  severe  losses  by  fire  and  flood,  Lancaster  has 
kept  the  calm  serenity  of  an  onward  course.  Its  financial  prosperity  is 
shown  by  the  solidity  of  its  banks,  the  extent  of  the  business  interests  de- 
veloped by  its  citizens,  and  the  beautiful  houses  which  have  been  built. 
The  new  court-house  having  been  constructed,  there  is  a  certainty  of  the 
county  seat  remaining  here  for  years.  Swift  express  trains  convey  trav- 
elers to  and  from  New  York  in  a  day's  time,  and  every  thing  seems  to 
augur  long  years  of  prosperous  and  happy  existence  for  this  most  lovely  of 
New  Hampshire's  towns. 

Real  Estate  and  Personal  Property — 1886.— Number  of  polls,  674;  real 
estate,  value,  $810,125;  forty-five  carriages,  value,  $3,136;  number  of  horses, 
528,   value,   $37,706;  number   of  cattle,  1,706,  value,   $39,976;  number  of 


Town  of  Lancaster.  28T 


sheep,  1,568,  value.  $4,278;  number  of  swine,  fifty-three,  value  $340;  stock 
in  trade,  $73,750;  bank  stock  and  money  at  interest,  $101,471;  mills,  value, 
$12,650;  dogs,   148. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


Brief  Extracts  from  Town  Records,  1769  to  1834  —  First  Town  Meeting  —  First  Town  Clerk  - 
First  Representative  of  "  Upper  Coos  "—  Burying  Field  — Pound  —  Vote  for  President  and  Sena- 
tor—  Assessment  for  Roads  payable  in  Wheat —  Standard  "half  bushel "  —  Preaching,  Etc.  — 
Concerning  building  Mills — Emmons  Stockwell,  Inn  Keeper- — Town  Meetings,  where  held  — 
School  Districts  —  Meeting  House— Rev.  Joseph  Willard  —  Early  Taverns  —  Prices  of  Produce 
paid  as  Minister's  Salary  —  Licenses  Granted  —  Barker's  Location  Annexed  — First  Fire  Wards  - 
Miscellaneous  Extracts  from  later  Town  Records  — Action  of  Town  in  the  Rebellion,  Etc.  — Cen- 
tennial Celebration  —  Freshets. 

THE  following  extracts  from  the  early  town  records  tell  their  own  story 
of  the  times  and  the  then  important  matters.     From  the  first  town 
meeting  in  IT*1)'.),  when  Edwards  Bucknam  was  chosen  clerk,  he  held 
that  office  until  1789  inclusive: — 

"  In  1776  Joseph  Whipple  was  chosen  to  represent  the  towns  of  Lancaster,  Northumberland, 
Dartmouth  (now  Jefferson),  Apthorp  (merged  in  other  towns),  and  Stratford.  Voted,  to  give 
their  representatives  instructions  from  time  to  time.  He  was  also  elected  in  1778,  and  received  the 
thanks  of  the  town.     He  was  chosen  the  subsequent  year.  111'.). 

"  1779,  March  9.  Major  Jonas  Wilder,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Lieut.  David  Page,  Lieut.  Em- 
mons Stockwell,  Mr.  Moses  Page  and  Mr.  Dennis  Stanley  were  chosen  a  committee  to  pit*  h  a 
burring  (burying)  field  in  some  convenient  place  in  said  town  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  1783,  March  11.  Voted  that  the  Pound  shall  be  built  for  the  present  on  the  road  between 
Major  Wilder's  and  the  bridge-place  or  ford  way  over  Israel's  River  to  Dartmouth,  and  Major 
Wilder  chosen  Pound  keeper. 

"In  1784,  at  the  first  election  in  the  town,  MeshecL  Weare  had  eighl  votes  for  President  and 
Moses  Dow  eight  votes  for  Senator. 

"  In  1785  it  was  voted  that  twenty  bushels  of  wheat  be  assessed  on  the  polls  and  estates,  to  be 
laid  out  in  keeping  open  the  roads  the  ensuing  winter.  Voted,  also,  that  Capt.  David  Page  sealer 
of  weights  and  measures  be  directed  to  prove  his  half  bushel  by  Esq'r  Peverly's  and  then  the  same 
shall  be  the  standard  for  this  town.     Thirteen  Mites  east  at  tins  town  meeting. 

"1786,  March  14.  It  was  voted  that  thirty -two  dollars  be  assessed  to  hire  preaching  the  en- 
suing summer,  and,  that  Major  Jonas  Wilder,  Edwards  Bucknam,  ami  Lieut.  Emmons  Stockwell 
be  a  committee  to  hire  a  minister. 

"  1787,  March  27.  Voted  that  the  Nine  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings  for  Preaching  Last  year  be 
assessed  and  collected  to  hire  Preaching  this  year 

"  1788,  March  11.  Voted,  fifty  bushels  of  wheat  be  assessed  to  hire  preaching  the  ensuing 
summer,  and  Col.  Jonas  Wilder,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  Francis  Willson  be  a  commit- 
tee to  hire  a  preacher  to  preach  about  eight  Sundays.  Capt,  John  Weeks  chosen  delegate  from 
the  Upper  Coos  to  the  state  convention  to  ratify  the  Federal  constitution.  Voted  that  the  highway 
surveyors  break  the  road  in  the  winter,  and  are  allowed  one  bushel  of  wheal  per  day  for  their 
work  that  is  a  man  and  a  yoke  of  oxen. 


288  History  of  Coos  County. 

"  1789,  March  9.  Twenty  votes  were  cast  for  State  officers.  Voted  that  Doctor  Francis  Will- 
son  suspend  collecting  the  wheat  rate  now  in  his  hand  until  after  harvest. 

"  1790,  March  9.  Voted  that  sixty  bushels  of  wheat  be  collected  to  hire  Preaching  and  defray 
Town  charges. 

"1790,  December  13.  The  Town  voted  to  join  in  conjunction  with  Conway  (for)  the  forma- 
tion of  a  new  County;  also  voted  to  raise  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  including  what  the  law  directs 
to  be  laid  out  in  schooling  the  present  winter. 

"1791,  March  8.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  build  a  Pound  in  said  town  on  such  spot  as  they 
think  best. 

"1791,  April  12.  Col.  Jonas  Wilder,  Mr.  Elisha  Wilder,  and  Mr.  Stephen  Willson  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  hire  Preaching. 

"1792,  March  13.  Voted  to  raise  fifty  bushels  of  wheat  to  hire  preaching  and  to  pay  that 
already  hired. 

"Lieut.  E.  Stockwell,  Capt.  David  Page,  Col.  Edwards  Bucknam,  Capt.  John  Weeks,  Lieut. 
Stanley  chosen  a  committee  to  receive  proposals  of  any  gentleman  concerning  building  mills  on 
Israel's  River  near  Stockwell's  Bridge. 

"1792,  March  19.     Capt.  John  Weeks  elected  representative  for  one  year. 

"1792,  August  20.  Lieut.  Emmons  Stockwell  is  permitted  to  retail  spirituous  liquors  in  this 
Town  of  Lancaster,  and  also  to  keep  a  public  bouse  of  entertainment  and  to  mix  liquors  of  any 
kind  under  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  laws  of  this  State,  one  year  from  this  date. 

"1793,  March  17.     Voted,  to  raise  Nine  Pounds  to  pay  for  Preaching  and  Town  Debts." 

The  Town  meetings  had  been  held  at  the  houses  of  various  individuals, 
until  November  7,  1 793,  wiien  the  meeting-house  was  used  for  this  pur- 
pose— although  unfinished.  At  this  time  action  was  taken  to  "raise 
Twenty  Pounds  in  labor,  at  Three  Shillings  per  day,  for  clearing  the  meet- 
ing house  spot." 

"1793,  November  22.  Voted  to  raise  Nine  Pounds  to  be  laid  out  in  felling  trees  on  the  minis- 
ter's house  lot. 

"1794,  March  11.  Annual  Town  Meeting. — Chose  a  Committee  of  nine  to  arrange  for  a  divis- 
ion of  the  Town  into  School  Districts.  Jonas  Baker  was  empowered  to  sell  the  pine  timber  on  the 
Minister's  house-lot  to  the  best  advantage,  and,  also,  that  the  pay  for  said  timber  shall  be  laid  out 
in  felling  trees  on  the  minister's  hundred  acre  lot  adjoining. 

"April  28.     Voted  to  raise  Nine  Pounds  '  solly '  for  preaching  the  present  season." 

A  town  meeting  was  "  warned  "  to  be  held  in  the  meeting-house,  which- 
was  probably  completed  by  this  time,  as  it  wras  voted  to  accept  the  settle- 
ment made  by  the  committees  for  building  the  meeting  house  and  belfry. 

"1794,  August  7.  The  Town  voted  to  concur  with  the  Church  in  giving  the  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph 
Willard  an  invitation  to  settle  with  us  in  the  Gospel  Ministry,  and  choose  a  committee  to  provide 
for  an  Ecclesiastical  Council. 

"1795,  March  24.  It  was  voted  to  raise  Eighty  Dollars  to  pay  Town  Debts  and  the  Selectmen 
directed  to  give  due  bills  to  those  bringing  in  accounts.  John  Mclntire  was  allowed  Two  Dollars 
for  damage  of  breaking  through  a  bridge      Jonathan  Cram  represents  this  district  in  1795. 

"1808.  E.  Rawson,  M.  Warriner,  and  Jonathan  Carlton,  were  licensed  to  retail  spirituous 
liquors. 

"In  1793,  Fortunatus  Eager,  1794.  Edwards  Bucknam  and  Jonas  Wilder,  1795,  Richard  C. 
Everett  and  Stephen  Willson,  179G,  Richard  C.  Everett  and  Sylvanus  Chesman,  1797,  Stephen 
Willson,  1798,  Artemas  Wilder,  Jr.,  and  John  Toscan  were  licensed  to  sell  spirituous  liquors,  and 
distilled  spirits. 

"1801,  November  16.     The  Selectmen  of  Lancaster  agreed  with  Rev.  Joseph  Willard  that  that 


Town  of  Lancaster.  289 


part  of  his  salary  to  be  paid  in  produce  this  year,  shall  be  furnished  at  these  prices  -Wheat  $1 
per  bushel,  Rye  5-6  of  a  dollar,  Corn  2-3  of  a  dollar,  Oats  at  1-3  of  a  dollar,  and  Flax  at  14cts  per 
pound. 

"1811,  August.     Small  pox  prevailed. 

"1813.  Fever  Epidemic  ;  between  Feb.  11  and  June  30,  twenty-nine  deaths  occurred;  Lieut. 
Dennis  Stanley  and  Deacon  Joseph  Brackett  among  the  number.  Many  deaths  among  the  soldiers 
from  this  vicinity  stationed  on  Lake  Champlain. 

"1804.  Thomas  Carlisle  &  Co.  were  in  trade  here,  and  licensed  to  sell  spirituous  liquors  by 
retail. 

"1806,  November  24.     Thomas  &  J.  M.  Dennison  licensed  to  retail  spirituous  liquors. 

"1809.     Francis  &  John  Willson  had  a  store. 

"1815.     James  Dewey  ifc  Co.  were  among  the  traders  at  this  time. 

"1814.  In  this  year  Stephen  Willson  has  the  selectmen's  approbation  to  keep  a  public  tavern 
in  Lancaster,  also  Major  Sylvanus  Chesman  received  license  to  be  an  innholder. 

"1815,  January  7.     Dr.  Benjamin  Ilunking  received  approbation  to  keep  a  public  tavern. 

"March  7.  Sylvanus  Chesman's  license  was  continued.  Dec.  29,  Francis  Willson  licensed  to 
keep  a  tavern  in  Town  of  Lancaster,  and  Dec.  28,  John  Willson  is  approbated  to  sell  foreign  and 
domestic  spirits  at  his  store. 

"1816,  February  8.  William  &  Noyes  Dennison  were  licensed  to  keep  a  tavern  and  exercise 
the  duties  of  tavern-keepers.     Sylvanus  Chesman's  license  continued  for  the  years  1816  and  1817. 

"1818.     Charles  Baker  &  Benjamin  C.  Stevens  received  license  to  keep  a  tavern. 

"1819.     Col.  John  Willson  was  licensed  to  keep  a  tavern,  Oct.  25th. 

"1820,  January  5.  Ephraim  Mahurin  &  Reuben  Stephenson  were  licensed  to  sell  spirituous 
liquors  one  year.     Feb    14,  Mr  Samuel  White  was  licensed  to  exercise  the  functions  of  a  taverner. 

"1819.  This  year,  June  22,  Barker's  Location  was  annexed  to  Lancaster.  It  was  a  tract  of 
land  in  Coos  county,  containing  3,020  acres,  and  was  granted  Oct.  21,  1773  to  Capt.  Joshua  Barker 
of  Hingham,  Massachusetts. 

"1834,  July  4.  At  a  special  town  meeting.  Ephraim  Cross,  David  Buruside,  Benjamin  Steph- 
enson, Richard  P.  Kent,  John  Willson,  Warren  Porter,  Harvey  Adams,. and  Turner  Stephenson 
were  chosen  fire  wards.     The  number  of  polls  this  year  are  228." 

1854,  March  16.— Voted  to  raise  *150  to  shingle  the  Town  Hall  and 
build  a  good,  suitable  fence  around  the  burying-ground.  Chose  Eoyal 
Joyslin,  agent,  to  take  care  of,  and  rent,  the  Town  Hall;  voted  to  raise 
81,100  to  defray  town  expenses.  Robert  Sawyer  is  appointed  town  agent 
for  the  purchase  and  sale  of  spirituous  and  intoxicating  liquors,  August 
27,  with  a  salary  of  $100. 

1856„—  The  town  voted  $2,100  to  defray  town  expenses,  $1,500  to  repair 
highways  and  bridges,  "  to  be  paid  in  labor; "  the  selectmen  were  instructed 
to  establish  the  lines  and  bounds  to  the  lands  belonging  to  the  town,  and 
to  erect  monuments;  also,  to  put  a  proper  fence  around  the  burying-ground 
and  to  take  legal  measures,  if  necessary,  to  cause  owners  of  adjacent  lands 
to  establish  their  proportion  of  said  fence.  The  selectmen  are  instructed 
to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to  purchase  a  town  poor  farm,  and  they 
are  authorized  to  invest,  as  part  payment,  the  school  fund,  literary  fund, 
money  rent  and  interest  money,  and  the  public  money  belonging  to  the 
town.  The  total  vote  for  governor  was  398,  divided  thus:  Ralph  Metcalf, 
261;  John  S.  Wells,  133;  Ichabod  Goodwin,  4.  Number  of  polls  inven- 
toried this  year  at  402;  real  estate  at  $261,680;  number  of  horses,  373;  cat- 


290  History  of  Coos  County. 

tie,  1,355;  sheep,  2,208;  bank  stock,  $22,000;  "stock  in  trade,"  $18,110; 
mills,  $8-,750;  carriages,  $750.  May  26,  upon  the  petition  of  twenty-eight 
legal  voters  of  Lancaster,  the  selectmen  fixed  by  boundaries  a  "Lancaster 
village  precinct,  "consisting  of  school  districts  one  and  twelve,  excepting  the 
polls  and  estates  of  Roswell  Chessman,  Bennet  Greenleaf  and  Thomas 
Green,  but  at  a  duly  called  town  meeting,  held  May  31,  the  town  refused 
to  accept  the  erection  of  the  village  by  voting  to  "  dissolve  the  meeting." 
There  are  fourteen  school  districts,  with  550  scholars.  November  4,  137 
votes  were  cast  for  electors  for  President,  of  whom  the  ticket  headed  by 
W.  H.  H.  Bailey  received  301  votes;  that  headed  by  Daniel  Marcy,  136 
votes. 

1857,  March  10. — At  the  annual  town  meeting  a  long  preamble  and  res- 
olutions were  adopted  and  recorded,  denouncing  in  the  strongest  terms  the 
action  of  the  state  legislature  in  reference  to  the  taxation  laws,  calling  it 
unconstitutional  and  unjust,  and  claiming  that  by  it  "  the  burden  of  tax- 
ation fell  most  heavily  on  the  hard  working  farmers,"  and  it  was  resolved 
"  to  instruct  the  representatives  of  the  town  to  use  their  best  endeavors  to 
bring  the  subject  of  the  complaint  before  the  next  legislature,  and  see  that, 
so  far  as  in  them  lies,  the  laws  be  so  far  amended  as  to  do  ample  justice 
to  each  one  and  all  of  the  tax  paying  citizens  of  the  state."  It  was  further 
resolved,  "that  we  claim  nothing  that  is  not  manifestly  right,  and  we 
are  determined  no  longer  to  submit  to  that  which  is  manifestly  wrong." 

1862,  July  10. — The  town  instructed  the  selectmen  to  build  a  good,  per- 
manent, covered  bridge  on  Main  street  across  Israel's  river,  with  a  double 
track,  and  two  good  side- walks. 

The  Great  Rebellion. — The  first  action  of  the  town  concerning  the  sol- 
diers of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was  taken  May  13,  1861,  when  it  was 
"voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  furnish- 
ing such  needful  supplies  to  the  Lancaster  volunteer  recruits  and  their 
families  as  the  selectmen  may  think  proper."  September  17,  the  select- 
men were  authorized  to  pay  to  all  families  of  volunteers  from  the  town 
who  are  indigent  and  in  need  of  help,  such  sums  as  in  their  discretion  is 
needed  for  their  support. 

1S62,  August  12. — Voted  to  pay  one  hundred  dollars  to  any  resident  of 
Lancaster  "  who  has,  or  may  hereafter,  enlist  in  any  of  the  three  years'  regi- 
ments of  this  state;  and  seventy -five  dollars  to  any  enlisting  for  nine 
months." 

1863,  August  6. — The  town  voted  to  pay  to  each  drafted  man  who  en- 
ters service,  or  who  furnishes  a  substitute  for  the  army,  the  sum  of  three 
hundred  dollars  as  soon  as  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service.  November  27, 
voted  to  pay  in  advance  the  state  and  U.  S.  bounties,  ($102  in  case  of 
new  recruits,  and  $502  for  re-enlisted  men,)  and  the  selectmen  are  instructed 
to  borrow  and  pay  to  each  recruit  a  sum  not  exceeding  $100,   until  the 


Town  of  Lancaster.  291 


quota  of  the  town  is  filled,  also  voted  to  repeal  the  resolution  of  August 
12,  1862. 

1864,  April  15. — Voted  "that  the  selectmen  shall  pay  to  such  veteran 
soldiers  as  went  originally  as  part  of  the  quota  of  this  town,  and  who  have 
or  shall  re-enlist  as  a  part  of  the  quota,  and  who  has  nevei  received  any 
bounty  from  this  town,  a  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars,"  etc.;  also,  to 
instruct  the  selectmen  to  pay  one  hundred  dollars  to  all  who  may  enlist 
and  be  credited  to  the  town. 

Action  of  Town. — June  IS,  1864. —  The  town  authorized  C.  B.  Allen  and 
Jason  H.  Woodward,  to  purcliase  or  procure  substitutes,  not  exceeding 
twenty,  at  the  most  reasonable  and  advantageous  rates  for  the  town,  not 
exceeding  three  hundred  dollars  each.  July  9,  the  selectmen  were  in- 
structed to  pay  all  re-enlisted  men  who  re-enlisted  before  April  1,  1864,  the 
three  hundred  dollars  previously  voted  for  this  purpose,  if  they  have  re- 
ceived no  previous  bounty.  August  29,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to 
advance  the  state  and  U.  S.  bounties  to  men  residents  of  the  town  for 
three  months,  as  may  enlist  to  fill  the  present  quota  of  the  town,  at  the 
rate  of  8100  for  one  year's  men,  $200  for  two  years'  men,  and  $300  for  three 
years'  men;  Capt.  Edward  Brown  was  appointed  agent  to  act  in  con- 
nection with  recruiting  officers  to  fill  the  quota;  a  town  bounty  of  $800  was 
voted  to  all  volunteers  enlisting  for  one  year,  $1,000  for  two  years,  and 
$1,200  for  three  years,  in  addition  to  the  state  and  national  bounties;  the 
selectmen  were  further  instructed  to  procure  and  loan  to  as  many  respon- 
sible persons  as  will  put  in  substitutes  for  three  years,  the  sum  of  $575 
each,  taking  a  note  in  each  case  payable  in  nine  years  with  interest. 

First  Volunteers. — Recruiting  officer  Henry  O.  Kent  opened  a  recruit- 
ing office  in  Lancaster,  for  the  enlistment  of  soldiers  for  the  United  States 
army,  April  22,  1861.  Twenty-two  enlisted  that  day.  They  were  H.  R. 
Richardson,  H.  D.  F.  Young,  F.  M.  Rhodes,  T.  Cassidy,  J.  Ben  way.  O.  R. 
Moulton,  E.  R.  Jones,  J.  C.  Jenness,  C.  W.  Fletcher,  J.  Hagan,  I.  M.  Wal- 
lace, J.  Beaton,  C.  Fuller,  E.  Butler,  C.  F.  Marden,  S.  H.  Clough,  W.  P. 
Horn,  C.  W.  Balch,  G.  Burt,  C.  Buck,  J.  G.  Sutton.  The  next  day  the 
work  went  on.  Soon  appear  on  the  roll  these  additional  names:  G.  W. 
Morgan,  T.  Maguire,  R.  O.  Young,  Fred.  A.  Went  worth,  Edgar  Gaines, 
John  Ferrin,  George  Garfield,  William  Morgan,  William  H.  F.  Staples, 
Simon  Merrill,  Cyrus  W.  Merrill.  Hubbard  Gaskill,  George  Chancy,  (Jem-ge 
Robinson,  John  W.  Morse,  William  L.  Perry,  Albert  Heath,  James  E. 
Smith,  Michael  Smith,  Bernard  Johnson,  Welcome  A.  Crafts,  Thomas 
Kenney,  Cummings  M.  Winchester,  John  Handerson,  White  Pilbro,  John 
Woodward,  William  W.  Walker,  Cleaveland  C.  Beard,  William  K.  Mont- 
gomery, Frederick  T.  Bennett,  Joseph  K.  Hodge. 

First  Departure  of  Recruits — Eighty  volunteers  left  Lancaster,  for 
Portsmouth,  May  0,    1861,  bearing  the  name  of  "Coos  Volunteers."     On 


292  History  of  Coos  County. 

examination  by  the  surgeon  at  Portsmouth,  several  were  discharged  for 
disability. 

Co.  F,  2d  Regt.  JSf  H.  Vols. — This  company  was  formed,  taking  the 
Coos  recruits  as  a  nucleus.  Its  organization  was  completed  in  the  early 
part  of  June,  1861.  We  give  its  first  officers  and  the  names  of  the  men 
who  enlisted  in  Coos:  Captain,  Thomas  Snow;  First  Lieutenant,  Joshua 
F.  Littlefield;  Second  Lieutenant,  H.  D.  F.  Young;  Sergeants,  W.  A. 
Crafts,  F.  M.  Rhodes,  Hugh  R.  Richardson,  C.  W.  Fletcher,  Louiville 
W.  Brackett;  Corporals,  William  O.  Lyford,  William  H.  Tucker,  Oscar 
H.  French,  James  S.  Morrow,  John  Chandler,  David  Clark,  R.  0.  Young, 
James  H.  Swaine;  Privates,  John  Barney,  Charles  Buck,  George  Burt, 
Joseph  Ben  way,  George  H.  Chancey,  Samuel  H.  Clough,  Edgar  Gaines, 
John  Henderson,  Henry  S.  Hilliard,  James  Hagan,  Bernard  Johnson,. 
Thomas  Kenney,  George  W.  Morgan,  James  Mayhew,  Cyrus  W.  Merrill, 
Simon  Merrill,  Patrick  McCaffery,  George  W.  Robinson,  William  H.  H. 
Staples,  Thomas  J.  Severance,  Clark  Stevens,  Levi  Witham,  Ira  M.  Wal- 
lace. 

Fire  Engine.— June  IS,  1864.— The  town  votes  $1,000  "to  purchase  a 
fire  engine  and  other  necessary  apparatus  to  put  the  fire  department  upon 
an  efficient  footing";  and  chose  E.  R.  Kent,  J.  I.  Williams,  and  Ezra  B. 
Bennett,  a  committee  to  see  to  the  expenditure. 

A  Centennial  Celebration  was  held  in  Lancaster,  July  11,  1864,  to  com- 
memorate the  deeds  of  the  early  pioneers,  and  the  progress  of  the  town. 
It  was  a  lovely  day,  and  from  two  to  three  thousand  persons  participated 
in  the  exercises,  procession,  etc.  Among  the  prominent  sons  of  Lancas- 
ter, residing  elsewhere,  who  were  present,  were:  E.  D.  Holton,  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.;  J.  B.  Brown,  of  Portland,  Me.;  Nathaniel  White,  of  Con- 
cord, and  I.  B.  Gorham,  of  St.  Johnsbury,  A7t.  Addresses  were  made  by 
the  president,  D.  H.  Mason,  of  Boston,  and  E.  D.  Holton.  Henry  0.  Kent 
was  marshal-in-chief;  Harvey  Adams,  special  marshal  for  Sabbath-schools. 

Centennial  Park  was  named  in  town  meeting,  November  4,  1S69,  and 
the  selectmen  authorized  to  purchase  it  from  Samuel  Twombly. 

Freshets.— In  1869,  October  3,  the  heaviest  rain-fall  for  twenty  years 
occurred  in  this  region  commencing  at  6  o'clock  p.  m.  ,  and  continuing  un- 
interruptedly for  forty  hours.  The  loss  was  great  in  Lancaster,  and  esti- 
mated at  $20,000;  the  most  serious  loss  was  that  sustained  by  Col.  Free- 
man. Israel's  river  rose  rapidly;  a  temporary  dam  was  constructed  from 
Col.  Freeman's  mill  to  check  it,  but  the  dam  gave  way  about  11  p.  m.  Oc- 
tober 4,  and  a  torrent  rushed  down  Mill  street  and  through  Mechanic 
street,  sweeping  all  before  it;  up  Main  street,  tearing  up  Mill  street  and 
taking  side-walks  away.  Soon  after  Freeman's  mill  fell,  burying  and 
spoiling  the  costly  machinery.     His  loss  was  estimated  at  $10,000.     There 


Town  of  Lancaster.  293 


were  many  other  buildings  damaged,  and  much  property  in  lumber  and 
machinery  swept  away,  and  crops  on  the  low  meadows  were  much  injured. 

1870,  February  19. — An  unexpected  and  disastrous  flood  on  Israel's 
river  occurred,  doing  great  damage  to  property  and  periling  many  lives, 
although  none  were  lost.  Main  street  bridge  was  swept  away  and  roads 
damaged  about  $1,000;  many  houses  and  cellars  were  Hooded  and  property 
destroyed;  total  loss  about  $10,000. 

1874,  March  10. — Annual  meeting. — Voted  s2o,000  for  current  expenses 
including  state,  county  and  school  taxes,  and  pay  existing  liabilities;  that 
the  town  ratify  the  action  of  the  selectmen,  and  the  town  take  the  plot  of 
land  on  which  the  engine  house  is  located;  also,  that  the  engine  house  be 
enlarged  to  admit  engine  No.  2.  At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  exempt 
from  taxation  the  land  and  building  containing  a  hall  of  sufficient  capacity 
to  accommodate  one  thousand  persons  for  the  term  of  ten  years  if  one  be 
erected. 

1878,  November  5.— The  town  voted  to  raise $800,  to  be  expended  in  pro- 
curing a  force  pump  and  pipe,  and  placing  the  same  under  the  grist-mill, 
provided,  "that  Frank  Smith  &  Co.  pay  an  additional  sum  of  $200,  and  that 
the  citizens  of  the  village  raise  an  additional  $800  " 

Freshet  q/1886,  April  1. — Israel's  river,  swollen  to  an  enormous  degree, 
broke  up  the  ice,  and  a  tremendous  gorge  was  formed  at  the  head  of  Frank 
Smith  &  Co.'s  mill  pond,  obstructed  by  the  solid  mass  of  ice  formed  in  the 
channel  during  a  previous  thaw,  and  which  resisted  the  great  force  of  the 
flood.  Turned  aside  by  this,  the  swollen  stream  with  its  load  of  floating  ice 
swept  over  the  slight  embankment  back  of  the  premises  of  G.  I.  Hayes 
and  Mrs.  Heath,  into  Mechanic  street,  throwing  masses  of  ice  here  and  there 
and  breaking  down  trees  and  fences.  On  it  swept,  carrying  away  every- 
thing movable  or  destroying  it.  Taking  the  course  of  the  flood  of  1870  it 
piled  ice  and  debris  around  the  houses  on  the  south  side  of  Mechanic  street, 
crushed  the  shed  of  the  Stuart  House  and  surrounded  both  that  building 
and  the  house  of  Mrs.  John  Brown  by  a  great  depth  of  water,  so  thai  the 
inmates  of  the  latter  had  to  be  taken  out  from  the  attic  windows.  I  lecross- 
ing  Mechanic  street  it  struck  the  Town  Hall  building,  carried  away  the 
JEtna  Engine,  No.  2,  and  took  N.  B.  Wilson  &  Son's  two  story  sash  and 
blind  factory  out  into  the  river  and  against  Main  street  bridge  which 
caused  it  to  collapse.  All  day  long  the  river's  course  was  unchanged;  but, 
finally,  by  blasting  out  the  ice  in  the  mill  pond,  the  proper  channel  was 
cleared  and  danger  passed.  Mr.  Wilson's  loss  was  fully  $3,000,  and  per- 
haps no  more  destructive  flood  ever  visited  Lancaster.  No  lives  were  lost, 
fortunately. 


294  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

By  J.  W.  Weeks. 

The  Old  Meeting  House,  Description  of  —  Pews  —  Pulpit  —  "  Singers  Seats  "  —  Dress  —  Foot 
Stove  —  Location  of  Meeting  House  —  Parson  Willard  —  Members  of  the  Congregation,  Descrip- 
tion of  —  Choir,  Etc. 

THE  Old  Meeting  House,  Choir,  Etc. — The  size  of  the  house  shows  that 
our  grandfathers  were  men  of  "  enlarged  ideas, "as  the  house  of  wor- 
ship they  built  would  accommodate  all  the  assembled  congregations  of 
the  town  of  Lancaster  of  to-day.  It  comprised  the  whole  of  the  present 
Town  Hall  building,  and  two  immense  porches,  with  stairways  to  the 
galleries;  the  west  end  shooting  up  in  belfry  and  spire  to  a  point  nearer 
the  clouds  than  anything  of  the  kind  has  reached  in  this  region  in  modern 
times.  The  galleries  would  seat  from  four  to  five  hundred  persons.  The 
"  Singers  seats" — the  entire  front  row  in  the  gallery — would  accommodate 
eighty  persons.  A  row  of  pews  ran  around  the  wall  of  the  body  of  the 
house.  These  were  called  "  wall  pews,"  and  were  raised  two  steps  above 
the  others.  The  broad  aisle  divided  the  house  into  two  equal  sections, 
and  smaller  aisles  separated  the  wall  and  body  pews;  of  the  latter  there 
were  two  rows  on  each  side  of  the  broad  aisle.  The  pews  were  oblong- 
structures,  divided  by  finished  panels  to  the  height  of  nearly  three  feet: 
these  panels  surmounted  by  an  eight  inch  balustrade  with  cap.  Board 
seats  extended  across  the  one  side  and  both  ends  of  the  wall  pews,  and 
one  side  and  one  end  of  the  body  pews.  They  had  no  upholstery,  and  were 
all  hung  with  iron  hinges  so  as  to  turn  up  when  the  people  rose  during 
prayers.  The  din  of  rising,  turning  up,  and  turning  down  the  seats  may 
be  left  to  the  reader's  imagination. 

The  pulpit  was  a  massive  structure,  placed  so  high  that  the  minister 
could,  from  it,  have  a  full  view  of  the  gallery,  (which  was  slightly  ele- 
vated at  the  back  side,)  and  was  reached  by  a  flight  of  winding  stairs. 
Above  the  pulpit  was  a  sounding-board,  in  form  like  an  immense  tunnel 
with  the  top  covered,  suspended  from  the  ceiling  by  an  iron  rod.  I  think 
sometimes  our  boyish  minds  would  wander  from  the  subject  discussed  by 
the  minister  to  the  probability  of  the  falling  of  the  sounding-board,  and 
the  consequent  crushing  of  the  minister's  head.  The  pulpit  was  somewhat 
tastefully  and  expensively  finished.  On  this,  and  the  "Deacons'  seat  "in 
front,  was  the  only  attempt  at  painting  about  the  place.  These  were 
covered  with  a  slight  coating  of  lead  color.  Directly  in  front  of  the  pul- 
pit was  a  broad-leaved  table,  on  which  the  communion  service  was  set  on 


Town  of  Lancaster.  295 


stated  occasions.     This  table  was  supported  by  iron  braces,  and  was  let 
down  when  not  in  use. 

There  were  no  means  of  warming  the  house  until  it  had  been  used 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  when  an  enormous  stove  was  set  up  in  the 
broad  aisle  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  but,  so  far  as  availing  to  warm  the  large 
building,  it  might  as  well  have  been  set  up  on  the  common.  How  the 
people  kept  warm  in  the  frigid  cold  of  winter  seems  now  a  wonder.  The 
heavy  home-spun  woolens  of  the  men,  with  the  fur  and  skin  garments 
then  so  frequent,  served  their  purpose;  while  the  women  wore  thick  flan- 
nels and  heavy  knit  socks,  and  each  good  matron,  when  she  entered  the 
church,  was  followed  by  a  boy  with  her  "  foot-stove."  This  was  a  tasty 
frame  with  a  loose  cubical  tin  lining  with  a  side  of  about  eight  inches,  the 
top  being  perforated.  It  contained  a  pan  filled  with  coals  and  was  carried 
by  a  bail.  When  ''madame"  took  her  seat,  the  stove  was  placed  under 
her  feet,  and  was  passed  to  the  others  in  the  pew  from  time  to  time. 

The  "'Old  Meeting  House"  was  located  upon  the  '' Meeting  House  Com- 
mon." which  was  a  plot  of  six  acres  purchased  by  the  town  and  consisted 
of  several  town  lots.  It  extended  westerly  as  far  as  the  easterly  line  of 
John  M.  Whipple's  land,  northerly  to  within  two  rods  of  the  river,  easterly 
to  near  the  house  lately  owned  by  Mrs.  L.  B.  Joyslin,  and  southerly  about 
as  far  as  the  ash  tree  near  the  house  of  P.  J.  Noyes.  A  large  part  of 
William  Boswell's  house,  a  portion  of  the  front  of  the  house  of  Mr.  Wood- 
ward, and  a  strip  of  Mrs.  Spark's  garden  are  within  the  bounds  of  this 
plot,  and  several  lots  on  Mechanic  street.  These  have  been  lost  to  the 
town  through  carelessness.  This  common,  or  that  portion  of  it  on  the  hill, 
was  cleared  of  the  pine  stumps,  leveled  or  graded,  and  served  not  only  as  a 
site  for  the  "  Meeting  House,"  but  as  a  parade  ground  for  the  militia  at 
their  spring  and  fall  trainings.  It  was  reached  from  below  by  a  road  cut 
in  the  side  of  the  bank  which  was  very  narrow  and  very  steep,  and  by  three 
flights  of  stairs,  one  above  the  other,  each  flight  containing  about  twelve 
steps.  The  landing  at  the  foot  was  about  where  the  southeast  corner  of 
William  Boswell's  house  now  stands.  The  "  Meeting  House  "  stood  upon 
a  level  with  the  residence  of  John  M.  Whipple,  and  E.  V.  Cobleigh,  facing 
the  south,  squared  to  the  four  cardinal  points  of  the  compass,  the  western 
end  being  within  about  six  rods  of  J.  M.  Whipple's  east  line,  and  north 
side  about  on  a  line  with  the  south  line  of  Cottage  street . 

The  congregation  of  the  old  church  as  to  size  and  numbers  in  L818 
would  put  to  shame  any  congregation  of  modern  times.  People  came  from 
long  distances,  some  on  horseback,  many  on  fool.  Those  who  owned  the 
aristocratic  "one-horse  chaise"  neither  came  on  horseback,  or  on  foot,  bin 
rode  in  the  chaise  even  if  they  lived  but  a  short  distance  from  the  meeting- 
house. The  boys  and  girls  thought  it  only  refreshing  exorcise  to  walk 
three  or  four  miles  to  church,  the  girls  usually  exchanging  their  thick 


•296  History  of  Coos  County. 

shoes  for  light  morocco  ones  before  they  arrived.     The  older  people  and 
some  of  the  girls  came  on  horseback. 

Outside,  at  some  little  distance  from  the  house,  were  two  "horse- 
blocks." These  were  sections  of  immense  pine  logs,  and  had  two  steps  cut 
in  each.  They  were  used  in  mounting  their  horses,  by  the  elderly  women 
and  the  more  clumsy  of  the  girls.  Tradition  says  that  some  girls  did  not 
need  them;  that  Lucy  Howe  and  Betsey  Stanley  would  stand  on  level 
ground,  put  their  hand  on  the  neck  of  the  horse,  and  leap  at  once  into  the 
saddle.  This  comes  by  tradition,  but  I  know,  that,  after  Betsey  Stanley 
was  married  and  surrounded  by  boys  and  girls  of  her  own,  she  rode  a 
horse  as  if  she  were  a  part  of  the  animal. 

The  Eev.  Joseph  Willard  was  the  first  pastor  of  this  church  and  settled 
in  171)4:.  Goldsmith's  country  clergyman  is  a  good  representative  of  Par- 
son Willard  as  he  was  universally  called.  "E'en  children  followed  with 
endearing  wile,  to  pluck  his  gown  and  share  the  good  man's  smile."  How 
well  I  recollect  his  measured  and  formal  step  (formed  in  his  seven  years' 
service  under  the  severe  drill  of  that  old  Prussian  Baron  Steuben),  as  he 
alighted  from  his  "one  horse  chaise."  His  genial  face  and  handsome 
figure  will  be  remembered  by  all  who  saw  him  as  he  marched  up  the  broad 
aisle  and  ascended  the  pulpit  stairs.  The  service  was  as  formal  as  his  step, 
but  his  manner  of  performing  it  was  as  graceful  as  his  figure.  As  to  what 
was  called  doctrine,  to  my  recollection  little  was  then  thought  or  known  of 
it.  The  distinction  with  the  public  seemed  to  be  in  the  manner  of  worship. 
The  Congregationalists  were  called  the  "standing  order,"  as  they  stood  for 
prayers,  while  Methodists  and  Baptists  kneeled. 

Mr.  Willard  was  not  a  dyspeptic;  he  enjoyed  a  good  dinner,  and  to  listen 
to  and  tell  a  good  story.  The  latter  sometimes  at  the  expense  of  his  pa- 
rishioners which  was  not  always  received  with  the  good  humor  with  which 
it  was  told.  In  his  frequent  visits  to  his  congregation  he  went  on  horse- 
back, that  being  the  only  mode  of  conveyance,  except  the  stately  chaise, 
till  about  the  time  of  his  death.  My  first  recollection  of  him  was  when  he 
came  to  call  on  my  parents,  when  I  was  a  child.  He  would  hitch  his  horse 
at  the  gate,  and  my  oldest  sister  and  myself  would  run  and  meet  him, 
when  he,  taking  a  hand  of  each,  would  lead  us  back  to  the  house,  chatting 
pleasantly;  then  if  my  father  was  at  home  the  decanter  of  old  Jamaica 
and  tumbler  were  brought  out,  and  the  parson  refreshed  himself  after  his 
long  ride.  An  hour  passed  in  quiet,  cheerful  conversation,  in  which  my 
mother  joined  if  her  mischievous  children  permitted  her,  and  woe  to  us, 
after  the  parson  was  gone,  if  we  had  not  behaved  well.  He  left  as  he  came, 
with  pleasant  words  and  smiles,  leaving  us  all  better  and  happier  for  his  visit. 

I  should  judge  he  must  have  bsen  extremely  liberal  and  tolerant  in  his 
views.  About  lsl^  or  L820,  it  became  noised  about  that  Mr.  Willard  was 
not  "sound  in  the  faith"  (a  term  much  used  at  that  time),  and,  as  Major 


Town  of  Lancaster.  297 


Weeks  said,  in  1822,  Mr.  Willard,  learning  there  was  dissatisfaction,  asked 
for  his  dismissal,  which  was  granted.  He  was  succeeded  by  James  R. 
Wheelock,  in  1*24,  who,  it  was  supposed,  had  more  correct  views,  but  Mr. 
Wheelock's  cold,  forbidding  eye,  stern  features,  and  his  harsh  attacks  on  all 
those  who  did  not  endorse  his  views,  lost  him  his  support,  and  after  a  pas- 
torate of  one  year  he  resigned.  In  1825  Mr.  Willard  was  recalled  to  his 
former  pastorate.  The  text  of  his  first  sermon  was  characteristic  of  the 
occasion.  It  was  these  memorable  words  of  Peter  to  Cornelius,  "There- 
fore I  came  to  you  without  gainsaying  as  soon  as  I  was  sent  for,  I  ask, 
therefore,  with  what  intent  ye  have  sent  for  me."  He  gave  his  people 
such  a  sermon  as  an  able  man  with  peculiar  feelings  would  be  likely  to 
give  under  similar  circumstances.  He  occupied  the  pulpit  from  that  time 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  Sunday  morning,  July  22,  L826,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-six.  The  congregation  had  assembled,  and  the  people  were 
beginning  to  be  uneasy  at  the  non-appearance  of  their  minister,  when  a 
man  walked  up  the  broad  isle  and  said,  "  Parson  Willard  is  dead!"  This 
.•announcement  caused  great  grief,  for  many  loved  him.  Mr.  Willard  had 
dressed  for  church  that  morning  as  usual,  but,  feeling  ill,  he  laid  down  and 
died  as  if  going  to  sleep.  Rev.  Joseph  Willard  was  connected  with  some 
•of  the  most  prominent  families  in  New  England,  viz.:  The  D wight  and 
Edwards  families.  His  high  character  and  Christian  sympathy  were  ben- 
eficial to  the  community,  and  he  had  a  wonderful  influence  for  good  in 
molding  the  minds  of  the  people.  Mrs.  Willard  was  an  estimable  lady. 
Her  father,  John  Haven,  Esq.,  of  Portsmouth,  was  a  gentleman  of  cult- 
ure and  means. 

The  Congregation,  which  entered  this  "meeting  house,"  seemed  to  do 
this  with  a  reverential  awe.  I  occupied  the  wall  pew  left  of  the  front  door. 
These  wall  pews  were  raised  a  step  or  two  above  those  in  the  body  of  the 
house,  and  I  had  a  fine  chance  to  view  and  study  the  people.  Directly  in 
front  of  me,  in  the  first  body  pew  on  the  left,  sat  Deacon  Farrar,  his  wife, 
and  Miss  Abby  Burgin,  who  usually  dressed  in  white,  and  attracted  boy- 
ish attention  by  the  very  deliberate  manner  in  which  she  entered  the  pew 
and  took  her  seat.  The  deacon  was  a  dark  complexioned.  dyspeptic  little 
man,  with  his  thin  black  hair  combed  up  to  the  top  of  his  head,  and  tied 
in  small  knots  to  cover  his  baldness.  In  the  second  wall  pew  on  the  left, 
sat  Mrs.  John  Moore,  an  elderly  widow,  and  her  son,  William,  whose  first 
wife  I  do  not  recollect  seeing  at  church;  but  his  second  wife  (Mary  Samp- 
son) soon  made  her  appearance,  full  of  life,  bright,  and  handsome  as  any 
of  her  girls.  In  the  first  wall  pew  on  the  right  of  the  door  from  the  west 
porch,  sat  Capt.  Stephenson  and  family.  The  Captain  was  an  old  man, 
quite  bald  and  stooping.  Richard  Eastman  occupied  the  body  pew  directly 
in  front  of  the  west  door.  David  Burnside,  fresh  and  ruddy,  with  blue 
£oat  and  bright  brass  buttons,  showed  himself,  with  his  wife,  in  the  second 

20 


298  History  of  Coos  County. 

wall  pew  ou  the  left  of  the  west  door;  and  Thomas  Carlisle,  also  wearing 
bright  metal  buttons,  with  his  very  dressy  wife,  occupied  the  next  wall 
pew  adjoining.  The  minister's  pew  was  the  first  one  next  the  wall  west 
of  the  pulpit.  Mrs.  Everett,  a  handsome  widow,  with  her  daughters, 
occupied  about  the  fourth  pew  in  the  body  of  the  house,  on  the  right  of 
the  broad  aisle.  Mrs.  Boardman,  the  next  adjoining  toward  the  pulpit. 
That  congregation  is  arrayed  before  me  as  if  but  yesterday  I  saw  them. 
A  little  later,  about  1820  or  1822,  Jared  W.  Williams,  from  Connecticut, 
with  his  wife,  appeared  in  the  old  church.  Royal  Joyslin  also  returned 
from  Bath,  straight  and  handsome  as  a  man  is  ever  likely  to  be.  Soon  an 
exceedingly  pretty  lady,  Julia  Barnard,  changed  her  seat,  and  was  seen 
sitting  in  church  with  Mr.  Joyslin.  Nothing  attracted  my  boyish  atten- 
tion more  than  the  manner  that  different  people  stood  for  prayers.  The 
women  usually  stood  erect,  with  hands  on  the  railing  of  the  pews.  Some 
"  fidgety  "  little  men  and  women  were  constantly  changing  their  positions. 
There  was  Major  Weeks,  tall  and  stately,  "  six  feet  two  "  in  stockings, 
standing  like  a  post,  perfectly  erect,  with  arms  folded,  and  his  eyes  cast 
down  on  the  floor  a  few  feet  in  front  of  him,  as  if  on  parade,  never  chang- 
ing a  muscle  during  the  exercises.  Deacon  Farrar  and  a  few  others  leaned 
over  the  top  of  their  pews. 

There  was  one  thing  that  troubled  my  boyish  mind.  I  could  not  see 
the  singers.  All  I  could  see  was  several  men  and  women  come  into  the 
gallery  from  the  east  porch,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  service,  as  I  passed 
out,  William  Lovejoy,  with  strong  and  sonorous  voice,  would  announce 
"marriage  intended,1'  etc.,  etc.     This  seemed  to  be  a  part  of  the  service. 

After  a  while  I  crept  into  the  west  gallery,  where  my  curiosity  was 
gratified.  The  singers  were  twelve  or  fifteen  powerful  men  and  seven  or 
eight  ladies.  What  the  music  lacked  in  scientific  culture,  it  made  up  in 
power,  and  such  strains  of  melody  as  went  up  to  the  "  Majesty  on  High  ': 
were  neither  faint  nor  to  be  misunderstood.  No  choir  is  blessed  with  per- 
petual peace.  One  morning  Frauds  Bingham  appeared  in  the  singers' 
seats  with  a  bass  viol.  The  hymn  was  started.  The  ancient  chorister 
stopped  and  said:  "Mr.  Bingham,  you  must  put  away  that  fiddle.  We 
cannot  sing."  But  the  "  fiddle  "  held  its  own,  for  that  and  many  succeed- 
ing Sundays,  and,  in  a  few  weeks,  Mr.  Bingham  was  joined  by  0.  W. 
Baker  with  a  flute,  and  Walter  Sherman  with  a  clarionet. 

At  the  close  of  the  service,  the  doxology  being  sung,  usually  to  the  tune 
of  "  Old  Hundred,"  and  blessing  being  pronounced,  the  congregation  left 
as  reverently  as  they  came. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  l".m> 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Early  Preaching  —  First  Church  —  Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant  — 
Original  Members  — First  Pastor  —  "  Parson  "  Willard's  Letter  —  "  Parson  "  Willard's  Dismissal 
—  Other  Pastors.  —  Orthodox  Congregational  Church  —  Organization  —  Faith  and  Covenant- 
Original  Members  —  Pastors  —  New  Articles  of  Faith,  Etc.  —  First  Unitarian  Society  —  Church 
Covenant  —  First  Members  —  Pastors  —  Prominent  Men  in  the  Church  —  Officers — Ladies'  Benev- 
olent Society— Sunday  School —Rev.  J.  B.  Morrison.— Methodist  Episcopal  Church  —  Early 
Methodism  —  Organization  —  Pastors  —  Financial  Condition. —  Baptist  Church,  Formation  — 
Original  Members  —  Church  Building.— St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  — Confirmation  — Church 
Edifice  —  Rectors.— Catholicity  in  Coos — First  Public  Service  at  Lancaster— Priests  —  Church 
Building  —  Missions. 

FIRST  Church.*— The  worship  of  the  Creator  in  some  public  form  has 
always  accompanied  the  first  steps  of  the  pioneer  into  new  regions. 
Owing  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  emigration  was  retarded,  and  for 
two  decades  after  the  first  settlement  of  Lancaster  the  increase  in  popu- 
lation was  very  small.  About  1779  and  1780,  there  was  a  valuable  addi- 
tion to  the  number  of  inhabitants, — persons  of  wealth  and  education.  At 
that  period  in  our  country's  history,  the  towns,  mostly,  not  individuals, 
supported  public  worship,  and  erected  the  "meeting  houses."  In  1786 
the  town  of  Lancaster  took  measures  to  secure  the  ministrations  of  the 
Gospel,  and  voted  "that  thirty-two  dollars  be  assessed  to  hire  preaching 
the  ensuing  summer,  and,  that  Major  Jonas  Wilder,  Edwards  Bucknam, 
and  Lieut.  Emmons  Stockwell,  be  a  committee  to  hire  a  minister."  From 
records  we  find  that  ' '  Rev.  Lathrop  Tomson  preached  six  Sundays  for  five 
bushels  of  wheat  per  day,  in  1787."  From  this  time  there  was  occasional 
preaching,  services  being  held  in  private  dwellings;  Major  Wilder  s  house 
being  most  frequently  used. 

The  town  voted,  April  13,  1790,  "that  the  town  will  well  and  truly  pay 
to  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Bell,  three  hundred  bushels  of  good  wheat,  annually, 
on  the  following  and  expressed  conditions:  That  he,  the  said  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Bell,  shall  settle  in  this  town  of  Lancaster,  in  the  work  of  the  Gos- 
pel ministry,  and  that  he  preach  a  certain  proportion  of  the  time  in  the 
towns  of  Northumberland  and  Guildhall,  as  the  towns  may  agree,  saving 
to  the  Right  of  the  said  Rev.  Benjamin  Bell  three  weeks  annually  for  the 
use  of  visiting  his  friends  and  relations,  if  he  see  occation,  and  that  the 
Town  will  unite  with  the  first  Church  that  may  be  hereafter  formed  in  the 
Town  of  Lancaster  on  the  Conditions  as  in  this  vote  mentioned. "  (Joseph 
Brackett,  William  P.  Hodgdon,  and  Walter  Philbrook  enter  their  dissent 
to  this  vote.) 

*By  Georgia  Drew  Merrill. 


300  History  of  Coos  County. 

October  11,  1701,  it  was  voted  "  that  the  committee  for  hiring  preaching 
(Col.  Jonas  Wilder,  Mr.  Elisha  Wilder,  and  Mr.  Stephen  Willson),  apply 
to  Mr.  Thursting  (Thurston?),  whom  is  preaching  with  us,  to  preach  with 
us  another  term  as  soon  as  may  be  after  his  engagements  are  out  other 
where;  to  preach  with  us  on  probation  as  we  have  a  view  of  settling  the 
Gospel  with  us.''  "Voted,  to  proceed  to  the  building  a  meeting  house  as 
soon  as  is  convenient  for  us.  Voted,  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven  men 
to  examine  a  spot  for  a  meeting  house,  and  to  report  to  this  meeting  at  the 
adjournment;  said  committee  being  Ool.  Edwards  Bucknam,  Col.  Jonas 
Wilder,  Capt  John  Weeks,  Lieut.  Emmons  Stockwell,  Lieut.  Joseph 
Brackett,  Lieut.  Dennis  Stanley,  Capt.  David  Page/'  (This  committee, 
after  making  their  report,  was  continued,  and  authorized  to  lay  out  six 
acres  on  the  "  plain  above  the  saud  hill,"  and  inspect  its  clearing  and  make 
it  a  "  meeting  house  plot.") 

It  was  also  voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  make  out  a  plan  of  a  meeting 
house,  and  report  at  the  adjournment.  This  committee  was  Lieut.  Jere- 
miah Willcox,  Jonas  Baker  and  Capt.  John  Weeks.  After  the  plan  was 
adopted,  the  following  method  to  raise  the  funds  to  build  it  was  recom- 
mended, "  that  the  pews  be  sold  at  public  vendue.  That  each  person  give 
his  note  to  the  committee,  who  shall  be  authorized  to  receive  the  pay  and 
appropriate  the  same.  That  each  person  be  subjected  to  the  following 
method  of  payment.  That  the  whole  sum  be  divided  into  four  parts,  to  be 
paid  the  four  next  succeeding  years.  That  each  person  pay  six  shillings 
and  eight  pence  on  the  pound  the  first  year,  one  half  in  June,  the  other  in 
November,  the  rest  to  be  divided  into  three  equal  parts  and  paid  in-  Novem- 
ber of  each  year.  That  four  shillings  on  the  pound  be  paid  in  cash,  or  salts 
of  lye,  and  the  rest  in  wheat  at  four  shillings  per  bushel,  or  beef  at  seven- 
teen shillings  and  six  pence  per  hundred  weight,  with  this  restriction,  that 
the  committee  shall  receive  each  man's  equal  proportion  of  timber,  boards, 
clapboards,  shingles,  etc.,  if  good  and  merchantable,  and  delivered  when 
the  committee  shall  call  for  them.  That  each  person  who  buys  a  pew, 
shall  procure  sufficient  bonds  for  payment,  and  his  obligation  to  be  lodged 
in  the  hands  of  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  which  shall  be  taken  up 
or  endorsed  by  a  receipt  from  the  committee."  These  conditions  were  ac- 
cepted by  the  people,  and  the  following  were  chosen  "  to  build  the  meeting 
house:"  Lieut.  Emmons  Stockwell,  Capt.  John  Weeks,  Mr.  Jonas  Wilder, 
Jr.,  Lieut.  Jeremiah  Willcox,  and  Jonas  Baker. 

In  1794  the  question  of  settling  a  minister  was  considered  at  the  town 
meeting,  and  a  committee  of  nine  persons  was  selected  to  "draw  proposals 
for  the  settlement  and  salary  of  Rev.  Joseph  Willard."  At  the  next  town 
meeting  the  following  report  was  made:  "  To  give  Rev.  Joseph  Willard 
fifty  pounds  a  year  for  the  next  succeeding  three  years.  This  was  to  in- 
crease as  the  inventory  of  the  town  increased,  till  it  reached  eighty  pounds. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  301 

To  be  paid  on  the  first  day  of  March  of  each  year.  ( >ne  third  part  paid  in 
cash,  the  other  two  thirds  in  produce.  On  condition  that  we  can  get  help 
from  the  neighboring  towns  as  we  now  expect." 

July  17.  1794. — A  church  of  Christ  was  gathered  in  Lancaster,  Joseph 
Willard,  minister  of  the  Gospel,  being  present  and  serving  as  moderator. 

The  following  confession  of  faith  and  covenant  were  subscribe*  1: 

"  We  believe  in  God  the  Father— all  mighty  maker  of  Heaven  &  Earth  A:  in  his  son  Jesus  Christ 
as  the  alone  Saviour  of  the  world  and  in  the  holy  Ghost  as  the  comforter  &  sauctifier  of  the  people 
&  Church  of  God. 

"  "We  believe  in  the  scriptures  of  the  old  &  new  Testaments,  as  a  revelation  of  the  mind  &  will 
of  God  to  man  &  that  they  are  a  sufficient  rule  of  faith  &  practice. 

"  We  believe  that  God  made  man  upright  &  that  they  have  sought  out  many  inventions— that 
all  have  sinned  &  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God  &  stand  in  absolute  need  of  a  Saviour  &  of  the 
benign  influence  of  the  holy  spirit. 

"  We  believe  in  the  importance  of  evangelical  faith  &  repentance  for  the  pardon  &  remission 
of  sin  cv  that  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord. 

"  We  profess  repentance  towards  God  for  all  sin;  &  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  was 
crucified  under  Pontius  Pilate  &  is  now  seated  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 

"We  now  freely  &  cheerfully  devote  ourselves  to  God,  thro  the  one  Mediator  between  God  & 
man,  &  promise  as  far  as  possible  to  walk  in  all  the  ordinances  of  God  blamelessly. 

"  We  promise  to  attend  to  all  the  instituted  means  of  religion— to  maintain  family  worship — 
constantly  and  devoutly  to  attend  publick  worship,  &  the  sacraments  of  the  New  Testament,  unit- 
edly, whenever  and  so  long  as  God  shall  give  us  ability  and  opportunity  therefor. 

"We  promise  to  submit  to  &  maintain  the  Discipline  of  Christ's  Kingdom,  as  pointed  out  in 
the  eighteenth  chapter  of  St.  Matthew. 

"  We  engage  to  dwell  together  in  christian  love — to  watch  over  each  other  in  meekness  and  to 
submit  to  and  administer  warnings  &  reproofs,  as  occasion  from  time  to  time  may  require. 

"  Finally  we  premise  to  use  our  endeavors  to  give  those  a  religious  education,  that  Providence 
has,  or  may  commit  to  our  immediate  charge— bringing  them  up  in  the  nurture  ifc  admonition  of 
the  Lord— instructing  them  both  by  example  and  precept. 

"  These  as  far  a?  we  know  ourselves  are  the  sentiments  &  purposes  of  our  hearts,  divine  grace 
assisting  us. — Subscribed  by  Jonas  Wilder,  John  Rosbrook,  Elisha  Wilder,  Joseph  Brackett,  Jonas 
Baker,  Sam'l  Phelps,  Nath'l  Shepard,  Phineas  Bruce,  Reuben  Lamson,  Joseph  Wilder,  Elizabeth 
Wilder,  Mehitabel  Wilder,  Sarah  Rosbrook,  Mary  Brackett,  Lydia  Rosbrook,  Mindwell  Clark, 
Betty  Baker,  Levina  Phelps,  Deborah  Weeks,  Persis  Everett,  Elizabeth  Saunders,  Polly  Wilder, 
Sarah  Stanly,  Ruth  Stock  well." 

From  the  church  records  we  extract  the  following:  — 

"July?,  1794,  Jonas  Baker  was  chosen  Church  Clerk  and  to  act  as  Moderator  in  Church- 
meetings,  till  a  Minister  shall  be  settled.  Voted  that  Major  Jonas  Wilder  make  provision  for  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lords  Supper  untill  Deacons  are  chosen  in  the  church.— At  a  meeting  held 
August  5th,  1794,  it  was  voted  to  give  Rev.  Joseph  Willard  an  invitation  to  settle  with  this  people 
and  at  a  council  held  Sept.  18,  1794,  he  was  installed  pastor.  May  20,  179(1,  Jonas  Bakei  &  Samuel 
Phelps  were  chosen  deacons.  Oct.  30,  1801,  Elias  Chapman  was  chosen  deacon,  but  declined  and 
afterwards  accepted;  the  church  committee  was  empowered  to  relieve  an  indigent  brother  or  sister 
of  the  church  with  the  church  money.  May  4,  1810,  chose  Brother  Joseph  Wilder,  deacon;  Bro. 
Reuben  W.  Freeman  was  chosen  deacon  June  4,  1813;  May  12,  1*19,  "Parson"  Willard,  after  a 
pastorate  of  nearly  twenty-live  years,  laid  before  the  church  his  reasons  for  wishing  for  a  dismis- 
sion. After  considering  this  matter  until  July  5,  it  was  voted  unanimously  that  it  is  not  expedient 
at  present  that  the  connection  bet  ween  the  Pastor  and  the  church  should  be  dissolved.  Nov.  1, 
1820,  Dea.  Jonas  Baker  resigned  his  office  as  deacon." 


302  History  of  Coos  County. 

At  a  church  meeting  held  August  16,  1822,  the  church  received  the  fol- 
lowing communication  from  the  pastor: — 

"  Brethren, — 

"  It  is  nearly  twenty  eight  years  since  I  was  Installed  Pastor  of  this  Church.  I  have  been 
with  you  thro  good  report  &  evil  report,  in  health  &  in  sickness.  In  preaching,  it  has  been  my 
prayerful  endeavor  to  deliver  the  evangelical  truths  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  keep  nothing  back  which 
would  be  for  your  spiritual  advantage.  I  have  visited  the  sick,  attended  funerals,  &  performed 
other  ministerial  duties.  If  in  any  instance  I  have  been  negligent  in  the  performance  of  duty,  as 
I  may  have  been  in  many,  I  freely  ask  your  pardon,  &  the  forgiveness  of  God. 

"It  appears  the  time  has  arrived  when  the  connection  between  us  ought  to  be  dissolved.  It 
has  ever  been  a  principle  with  me  that  a  Minister  ought  not  to  continue  with  a  people  after  his 
usefulness  is  at  an  end.  I  think  I  can  no  longer  be  useful  in  this  place,  upon  that  extensive  scale 
which  will  justify  a  Minister  in  continuing  with  a  People. 

"It  is  unhappily  the  case  that  this  town  is  very  much  divided  in  religious  sentiment,  one  cry- 
ing out  for  Paul,  &  another  for  Apollos.  It  is  pleaded  by  some,  if  I  were  removed  the  Town 
would  be  united  in  an  energetic  &  engaging  young  man — they  plead  I  am  too  old  and  infirm  to 
preach — and  individuals  of  the  Church  have  observed,  as  I  have  been  informed,  they  cannot  be 
edified  by  my  preaching.     Certainly  I  wish  not  to  stand  in  the  way  of  a  better  man. 

"  Within  a  few  years  many  have  seceded  from  the  Congregational  society,  and  my  salary  has 
been  reduced  in  the  same  proportion.  For  a  number  of  years  I  have  received  upon  an  average, 
considerably  short  of  two  hundred  Dollars  per  annum,  which,  you  must  be  sensible,  is  far  from 
being  au  adequate  support.  Should  I  continue  in  this  way  it  may  give  People  au  idea  that  a  Min- 
ister may  live  upon  little  or  nothing,  which  may  serve  to  operate  against  my  successor,  &  conse- 
quently against  the  Society. 

"For  these  several  reasons,  if  the  Brethren  of  the  Church  are  convinced  my  statements  are 
just,  I  must  request  them  to  join  with  me  in  calling  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  for  my  dismission. 

"  It  is  my  ardent  prayer  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  that  you  may  be  united  in  a  faithful,  evan- 
gelical Minister  of  the  Gospel,  &  that  he  may  take  the  oversight  of  you,  in  the  Lord. 

"  Your  affectionate  Pastor, 

"  Joseph  Willard." 

The  church  proceeded  to  act  on  the  above  letter,  and  voted  to  lay  the 
matter  before  the  Town  for  its  consent  to  call  an  Ecclesiastical  Council. 
September  22,  1S22,  voted  that  the  committee,  chosen  at  the  last  meeting 
to  lay  the  proceedings  of  that  meeting  before  the  town,  are  authorized  to 
agree  with  the  pastor  in  appointing  a  Council,  &c.  On  the  sixteenth  of 
October,  1S22,  Rev.  Joseph  Willard  was  formally  dismissed  from  his  long 
and  faithful  pastorate,  during  which  time  he  had  gained  the  high  esteem 
of  the  people  as  a  man  and  minister.  From  this  time  until  the  settlement 
of  James  R.  Wheelock,  January  27,  1S24-,  there  was  no  pastor.  Rev.  Mr. 
Willard  retained  his  membership  with  the  church,  and  residence  in  the 
town.  Rev.  Mr.  Wheelock,  although  grandson  of  the  first,  and  son  of  the 
second  president  of  Dartmouth  college,  could  not  have  been  exactly  what 
the  people  desired,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a  misunderstanding  in  regard  to 
the  terms  of  settlement,  and  January  3,  1825,  he  asked  for  a  dismissal, 
which  was  readily  granted.  Parson  Willard  was  then  engaged  to  preach 
"  with  privilege  of  reading  his  old  sermons."    He  died  July  22,  1826. 

November  27,  1823,  Porter  G-.  Freeman  accepted  the  office  of  deacon. 
(William  Farrar  was  also  deacon  of  this  church.)     After  the  death  of  Rev. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  :;u:>> 


Joseph  Willard,  some  years  elapsed  before  there  was  a  regularly  settled 
minister.  A  Mr.  Waldo  preached  occasionally,  as  did  the  Rev.  John  Fitch. 
In  1S27  the  "meeting  house  on  the  hill"  was  occupied  by  Rev.  Orange 
Scott  (Methodist).  The  Rev.  Luke  A.  Spofford  was  here  about  1829  to 
1831.     He  was  a  good  man  and  faithful  pastor. 

October  8,  1832,  Rev.  Andrew  Go  van,  a  Scotchman,  was  installed.  His 
pastorate  continued  until  August  25,  1835.  He  is  said  to  have  been  an 
eccentric  man,  given  to  theological  discussion,  but,  from  the  number 
admitted  to  the  church  during  his  ministry,  his  labors  appear  to  have  been 
fruitful.  Mr.  Govan  was  the  last  pastor  of  this  church.  The  agitation  of 
Unitarian  and  Trinitarian  beliefs  waxed  hot,  and,  in  1836,  the  Trinitarian 
element  formed  '"The  Orthodox  Congregational  Church."  After  that 
time  we  find  but  one  record  of  any  action  of  the  mother  chinch.  This  we 
copy : — 

"  March  16,  1837,  The  Members  of  the  '  Congregational  Church  '  in  Lancaster  are  requested  to 
meet  at  Center  School  House  on  Thursday  next  at  one  o'clock  P.  M.  to  transact  business  relative  to 
said  Church. 

"  At  this  meeting  they  voted  that  a  Committee  of  two  be  appointed  to  confer  with  a  Commit- 
tee from  the  New  Church  lately  formed  in  this  place  (should  they  see  fit  to  comply  with  the 
request)  to  form  a  union  between  the  two  Churches  if  practicable. 

"Voted  that  E.  C.  Spaulding,  &  A.  N.  Brackett  be  said  Committee."  [See  History  of 
Orthodox  Congregational  Church.] 

The  mission  of  the  "established  church "  had  now  devolved  on  younger 
and  different  organizations,  and  the  "meeting-house"  after  the  "spirit" 
had  departed  into  the  new  religious  bodies  was  relegated  to  civic  purposes. 

The  Orthodox  Congregational  Church." — A  "convention"  of  thirty- 
eight  members  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Lancaster,  was  held  at 
the  court-house,  Friday,  September  23,  1836,  at  2  p.  m.,  "for  the  purpose 
of  considering  the  expediency  of  forming  a  new  church  to  be  known  as 
'The  Orthodox  Congregational  Church  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.'  The  meet- 
ing was  called  to  order  by  Rev.  Edward  Buxton,  and  organized  by 
appointing  Dea.  William  Farrar,  moderator,  and  Bro.  Horace  Whitcomb, 
scribe.  It  was  unanimously  voted  to  form  said  church,  and  adopt  the 
following  articles  of  faith,  and  a  covenant. 

"Confession  of  Faith,  Art.  1.  We  believe  there  is  but  one  God,  the  Creator,  Preserver 
and  Governor  of  the  Universe;  a  being  self-existent,  independent  &  immutable,  infinite  in  power. 
knowledge,  wisdom,  justice  and  truth. 

"  Art.  2.  We  believe  that  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  were  given  by  inspi- 
ration of  God;  that  they  contain  a  full  and  harmonious  system  of  Divine  truth;  and  are  a  perfect 
rule  of  Doctrinal  belief  and  religious  practice. 

"  Art.  3.  We  believe  that  God  is  revealed  in  the  Scriptures,  as  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost;  and  that  these  three  are  one,  and  in  all  Divine  attributes  equal. 

"Art.  4.      We  believe  that  God  made  all  things  for  himself;  that  known  unto  him  are  all  his 

*By  W.  A.  Fergusson. 


304  History  of  Coos  County. 

works  from  the  beginning;  that  he  governs  all  things  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  will; 
and  that  the  principles  and  administration  of  his  Government  are  perfectly  holy,  just  and  good. 

"  Art  5.  We  believe  that  our  first  parents  were  created  holy,  that  they  fell  from  their  happy 
state,  by  transgressing  the  Divine  Command;  and  that  in  consequence  of  their  apostacy  from  God, 
the  heart  of  man,  until  renewed  by  grace,  is  without  holiness,  and  alienated  from  God. 

"  Art  6.  We  believe  that  the  Son  of  God,  by  his  sufferings  and  death,  has  made  a  proper 
and  adequate  atonement  for  sin,  and  that  whosoever  will,  may  be  saved;  yet,  that  such  is  the 
aversion  of  man  to  the  terms  of  Salvation,  that  without  the  special  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  all 
men  iefuse  to  comply  with  them. 

"Ait.  7.  We  believe  that  all  who  shall  arrive  at  heaven  will  be  saved,  not  by  works  of 
righteousness  which  they  have  done,  but  according  to  God's  purpose  and  grace,  '  by  the  washing 
of  regeneration  and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost';  whilst  all  that  fail  of  eternal  life  will  perish 
for  their  voluntary  and  obstinate  perseverance  in  the  rejection  of  offered  mercy. 

"Art.  8.  We  believe  that  repentance  towards  God  and  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  are 
indispensable  conditions  of  salvation. 

"  Art.  9.  We  believe  that  all  true  Christians  will  be  kept  by  the  power  of  God,  through  faith 
unto  salvation. 

"  Art.  10.  We  believe  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  and  a  final  judgment,  when  the  wicked 
will  go  into  punishment,  and  the  righteous  into  life;  both  of  which  will  be  without  end. 

"Art.  11.  Moreover,  we  believe  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  a  visible  Church  in  the  world; 
that  the  terms  of  membership  are  a  credible  profession  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  of  that  holiness 
which  is  wrought  by  the  renewing  grace  of  God ;  and  that  none  but  members  of  the  visible  Church, 
in  regular  standing  have  a  right  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper;  and  that  only  their  households, 
and  believers,  can  be  admitted  to  the  ordinance  of  baptism." 

At  this  meeting  William  Farrar  was  chosen  deacon,  and  it  was  voted 
to  organize  the  chnrch  on  the  sixth  day  of  October,  1S3G.  [This  date  was 
changed  to  October  12.  as  clergymen  to  form  a  council  could  not  attend  on 
the  sixth.]  Horace  Whitcomb  was  instructed  to  invite  the  singers  to  at- 
tend on  that  occasion. 

October  12,  1836,  it  was  voted  "  to  proceed  and  form  said  church;"  also, 
that  the  first  meeting  of  "The  Orthodox  Congregational  Church  in  Lan- 
caster, N.  H.,"  be  held  on  Thursday,  October  20,  at  the  court-house  in 
Lancaster,  at  one  o'clock  afternoon.  To  show  the  sterling  integrity  and 
high  character  of  the  formers  of  this  society,  we  copy  this  article  from  the 
covenant: — 

"In  view  of  the  evils  brought  upon  the  community,  and  upon  the  church,  by  the  use  of  dis- 
tilled liquors,  we  promise  to  abstain  totally  from  the  use  and  sale  of  them,  except  as  a  medicine." 

The  council  consisted  of  Rev.  E.  Buxton  and  Rev.  William  E.  Holmes. 
(Rev.  Drury  Fairbanks  and  J.  Glines  were  invited,  but  did  not  attend.) 
At  11  a.  M.  the  council  proceeded  to  form  the  church.  Rev.  Mr.  Holmes 
preached  a  sermon,  after  which  the  Lord's  supper  was  administered. 

The  original  members  were  William  Farrar.  Porter  G.  Freeman,  John 
Willson,  Horace  Whitcomb.  John  C.  How,  John  Wilder,  Ephraim  Wilder, 
James  Stone,  Samuel  L.  Whidden,  Oilman  Wilder,  Edmund  C.  Wilder, 
Daniel  Stebbins,  Edward  Spalding,  John  Stalbird,  Sarah  Cady,  Persis  Ev- 
erett, Edna  Porter,  Elizabeth  Smith,  Olive  B.  Holkins,  Mehetable  Willard, 
Mary  S.   H.  Stickney,  Martha  B.  Stickney,  Tryphena  Farrar,  Abigail  A, 


Town  of  Lancaster.  305 


Bergin,  Lucinda  Baker.  Catharine  J.  Whitcomb,  Lydia  How,  Mercy  Free- 
man, Mary  N.  Whidden,  Rhoda  Wilder,  Sophronia  Denison,  Rebekah  Den- 
ison,  Ruth  C.  George,  Harmony  Moore,  Mary  Jane  Moore,  Sarah  White, 
Lydia  Bellows,  Martha  Phillips,  Anna  Bergin,  Louisa  Stebbins,  Sarah  Ann 
Moore,  Amanda  Stebbins,  Persis  Fayette  Weeks,  Julia  J.  Joyslin,  Sally  B. 
Stalbird,  Ann  L.  Whidden,  Clarissa  Hemmenway. 

At  a  church  meeting  held  October  25,  1836,  it  was  voted  "that  William 
Farrar  be  a  committee  to  form  a  preamble  or  caption  to  the  records,  stat- 
ing some  of  the  most  prominent  reasons,  as  a  justification  for  forming  this 
church."  (It  would  be  interesting  to  present  this  paper  here,  but  it  was 
not  incorporated  with  the  records,  and  the  seeker  is  referred  to  "Document 
No.  1,  'Reasons  for  seceding  from  the  Old  Church'  on  file,"  and  we  know 
not  where  they  can  be  found.)  Gen.  John  Willson,  Gilman  Wilder,  and 
Samuel  L.  Whidden  were  chosen  to  circulate  subscriptions  to  raise  money 
for  the  support  of  preaching  and  defraying  some  expenses  for  board  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Buxton. 

Mr.  Buxton  did  not  remain  long  in  Lancaster.  He  was  followed  by 
Rev.  C.  W.  Richardson,  and  he,  by  a  young  man  of  brilliant  talents  named 
Burke.  During  his  pastorate  the  new  church  was  built.  The  committee  for 
building  and  the  selling  of  the  pews  was  composed  of  three  men,  Gen.  John 
Willson,  Presbury  West,  and  Solomon  Hemmingway.  The  church  was 
erected  in  1839,  and  Mr.  Burke  preached  the  dedication  sermon.  His  health 
failing,  Mr.  Burke  was  forced  to  abandon  preaching.  Rev.  Clark  Perry 
was  here  in  1812.     His  health,  also,  was  poor,  and  he  did  not  remain  long. 

Several  attempts  were  made  to  make  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the 
differences  between  the  old  and  new  churches,  the  old  church  taking  the 
initiative  at  a  meeting  held  March  16,  1837,  by  choosing  E.  E.  Spaulding 
and  A.  N.  Brackett  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  new  church  and  form 
a  union  with  them  if  possible. 

[After  the  record  of  this  meeting,  we  find  an  entry  in  the  handwriting 
of  Rev.  David  Perry,  evidently  written  after  his  election  as  clerk,  January 
5,  1844,  reading  thus:  "Here  closes  the  records  of  the  chh,  so  far  as  the 
present  clerk  has  knowledge,  till  just  before  the  settlement  of  the  present 
pastor.''  He,  however,  has  recorded  the  invitation  of  the  church  to  him  to 
become  its  pastor,  dated  April  11-,  18-13;  his  reply  of  acceptance  of  May  4, 
1813;  and  the  important  action  of  the  church  in  the  interest  of  union  with 
the  old  church.  Nothing  officially  correct  can  be  given  concerning  the 
church  from  1836  to  1843.] 

November  20,  L843,  a  regularly  appointed  meeting  of  the  church  was 
held  in  conjunction  with  the  original  (old)  church,  as  an  effort  to  bring  the 
two  churches  together  on  a  plan  expressed  in  these  resolutions: — 

u  Resolved,  1.  That  we  deeply  deplore  the  division  aud  consequent  alienation  of  feeling  among 
those  in  this  place  who  profess  love  to  the  Savior,  and  are,  in  principle,  Congregationalists. 


306  History  of  Coos  County. 

"  Resolved,  2.  That  to  evince  our  sincere  desire  for  the  restoration  of  peace  and  christian  feel- 
ing, oa  honorable  and  christian  princip:es,  we  hereby  certify  our  willingness  to  disband  the  church 
organization,  to  which  we  respectively  belong,  and  submit,  if  necessary,  the  principles  on  which 
a  new  organization  shall  be  formed,  to  a  council  mutually  chosen." 

All  of  the  members  of  the  old  church  expressed  themselves  in  favor 
of  this  plan;  forty-nine  of  the  new  church  were  also  in  favor  of  it,  but 
seven  were  inflexibly  opposed  to  it.  After  a  full  discussion  G.  Wilder  and 
R.  Dearth  were  appointed  a  committee  of  the  new  church,  to  confer  with 
Seth  Savage  and  John  Mason,  a  committee  of  the  old  church,  to  see  if  any- 
thing more  could  be  done  to  restore  harmony  and  peace  between  the 
churches.  The  joint  committee  was  empowered  to  adopt  any  course 
deemed  by  it  proper  and  expedient.  After  much  discussion  the  committee 
called  a  clerical  council  for  advice.  This  council  advised  that  a  confession 
of  faith  and  covenant  which  they  drew  up.  should  be  proposed  to  the 
members  of  the  old  church,  and  that  the  signatures  of  those  who  approved 
of  them  be  obtained;  that  the  articles,  etc.,  then  be  adopted  by  the  new 
church  as  theirs;  and  that  in  their  adoption  by  the  new,  all  from  the  old 
church  who  have  approved  of  them,  be  incorporated  into  church  relation  with 
them.  It  further  proposed  that  those  members  who  desire  it,  obtain  letters 
of  dismissal  and  recommendation  from  the  old  for  the  same  object,  and 
that  the  members  of  each  body  exercise  a  kind,  conciliatory,  and  peaceful 
spirit  toward  each  other. 

"New  Articles  of  Faith:  Art.  1.  We  believe  in  the  existence  of  one  only  living  and  true 
God;  a  Being  possessed  of  every  natural  and  moral  perfection;  the  Creator,  Preserver,  and  Gov- 
ernor of  the  universe. 

"  Art.  2.  We  believe  that  this  Being  has  made  a  revelation  of  his  will  to  man;  that  the  Script- 
ures of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  are  this  revelation,  and  are  the  only  and  sufficient  rule  of 
faith  and  practice. 

"Art.  3.  We  believe  that  in  these  Scriptures  there  is  revealed  a  distinction  in  the  Godhead  of 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  this  distinction,  though  incomprehensible  to  us,  is  yet  per- 
fectly consistent  with  the  unity  of  the  Divine  Being. 

"Art.  4.  We  believe  that  God  created  man  a  free  moral  agent,  that  in  the  first  exercise  of  this 
agency  he  was  holy;  that  by  transgression  he  fell  from  this  state  of  holiness,  and  as  a  consequence, 
all  men  are,  by  nature,  entirely  destitute  of  true  love  to  God,  and  under  sentence  of  condemnation. 

"Art.  5.  We  believe  that  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son  to  re- 
deem men  from  this  stite;  and  that  by  his  sufferings  and  death,  he  made  an  atonement  sufficient 
for  their  salvation. 

"Art.  6.  We  believe  that  this  salvation  is  freely  offered  to  all  on  condition  of  repentance 
toward  God,  and  of  faith  in  Jesus  Christ;  but  that  with  one  consent  men  naturally  and  wickedly 
reject  it. 

"Art.  7.  We  believe  that  it  is  the  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  bring  men  to  accept  the  salvation 
thus  offered  and  rejected;  and  that  while  all  experience  his  strivings,  so  that  they  are  without  ex- 
cuse, only  a  portion  of  mankind  are  renewed  and  brought  to  Christ  by  his  agency. 

"Art.  8.  We  believe  that  those  who  are  renewed  and  united  to  Christ,  are  kept  by  the  power 
of  God,  through  faith  unto  salvation. 

"Art.  9.  We  believe  that  Christ  has  a  visible  Church,  with  which  it  is  the  duty  of  all,  who  pro- 
fess to  have  been  born  again,  to  unite;  and  also  that  he  has  appointed  the  ordinances,  baptism  and 


Town  of  Lancaster.  307 


the  Lord's  Supper,— the  latter  to  be  observed  by  the  regular  church  members  at  stated  Masons; 
the  former  to  be  administered  to  believers  and  their  households. 

"Art.  10.  We  believe  in  the  divine  appointment  of  the  christian  Sabbath,  to  be  observed  as 
holy  time. 

"Art.  11.  We  believe  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  in  a  general  judgment,  from  which 
the  wicked  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment,  but  the  righteous  into  Life  eternal." 

These  articles  of  faith  were  adopted,  December  29,  1st:;,  at  an  appointed 
meeting,  and  sixteen  members  of  the  old  church  were  added  to  the  new 
organization.  Seven  of  the  new  church  members  were  highly  aggrieved 
by  this  change  of  creed,  among  them  Deacon  William  Parrar  ( who  resigned 
his  office  as  deacon  January  5,  1844,)  and  Horace  Whitcomb.  They,  how- 
ever, later  came  into  full  harmony  and  connection.  Rev.  David  Perry  was 
dismissed  January  20,  1847.  He  was  an  energetic  man,  with  a  good  spice 
of  self -appreciation  in  his  nature,  but  his  efforts  were  always  in  the  direc- 
tion of  peace  and  unity.  His  was  a  good  pastorate  for  the  church.  In 
February  and  March,  1847,  Rev.  Stephen  A.  Barnard  supplied  the  pulpit 
several  Sabbaths,  and  an  engagement  was  made  with  him  to  be  the  pastor 
for  one  year.  He  commenced  his  labors  May  9,  1847.  During  Mr.  Bar- 
nard's pastorate  quite  a  number  were  added  to  the  church .  Up  to  this 
time  the  church  had  simply  been  an  ecclesiastical  body,  with  no  legal 
organization  or  powers.  It  could  not  hold  property,  could  not  make  or 
enforce  a  contract,  consequently  the  payment  of  the  clergymen  devolved 
upon  the  voluntary  gifts  of  the  benevolent.  Those  who  were  desirous  of 
paying  the  pastor  by  a  legal  assessment  of  the  salary  on  those  attendant 
on  his  ministrations,  were  in  consultation  with  Mr.  Barnard  concerning  the 
formation  of  a  church  society,  and,  as  many  of  these  held  liberal  theolog- 
ical views,  the  orthodox  members  became  fearful  of  an  attempt  to  "cap- 
ture "  the  church,  and  forestalled  such  an  attempt  by  taking  action  in  that 
direction  themselves,  and  July  16,  1852,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  store  of 
J.  W.  Lovejoy,  it  was  voted  to  take  measures  to  organize  an  "  orthodox  " 
society,  which  was  accomplished  July  30,  1852  Porter  G.  Freeman  was 
chosen  chairman,  J.  W.  Lovejoy,  clerk.  All  members  of  the  church  pres- 
ent signed  the  written  articles  drawn  up  for  the  purpose;  and  the  notice 
of  the  meeting  was  printed,  according  to  law,  in  a  newspaper  (Cods 
County  Democrat).  The  society  was  organized  as  "  The  Orthodox  Con- 
gregational Chinch  Society"  with  these  members:  Grilman  Wilder,  P. 
G.  Freeman,  Charles  Baker,  H.  Whitcomb,  Seth  Adams,  J.  W.  Clark, 
Roswell  Carleton,  C.  W.  Roby,  Daniel  Stebbins,  Seth  Savage,  J  W.  Love- 
joy, J.  F.  Freeman,  R.  L.  Adams.  X.  (I.  Stickney,  Richard  Smith.  William 
Boswell,  I.  F.  Allen.  (Horace  Whitcomb  became  society  clerk  in  L859,  and 
held  this  office,  and  that  of  treasurer,  for  many  years.  I 

Mr.  Barnard  remained  pastor  until  May  29,  1853.  March  17.  L854,  Miss 
Ellen  A.  White  and  Mrs.  Susan  D.  F.  Cargill  asked  for  certificates  of 
membership  that  they  might  join  the  Unitarian  church  about  to  be  organ 


308  History  of  Coos  County. 

ized,  and  with  which  they  would  be  more  at  home,  although  they  had 
accepted  the  explanation  of  the  Gospel  given  by  Mr.  Barnard.  These  were 
granted,  and  from  this  period  the  two  classes  of  Congregationalists  have 
no  religious  connection.  At  the  same  meeting  Seth  Adams  was  chosen 
deacon. 

Rev.  Isaac  Weston  supplied  the  pulpit  from  February,  1854,  to  Septem- 
ber 14.  Nine  persons  were  admitted  to  membership  March  25,  1855,  and 
a  large  number  in  1856.  All  through  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Prescott  Fay, 
which  began  in  1856,  there  was  a  steady  growth.  "  Mr.  Fay  preached  his 
last  sermon,  Sunday,  June  21,  1865,  after  having  been  a  faithful  and  effi- 
cient pastor  for  over  nine  years."  Rev.  Henry  V.  Emmons  was  installed 
pastor  September  11,  1865,  and  June  5,  1868,  rules  were  adopted  for  the 
government  of  the  church,  and  an  "  executive  "  and  an  "  advisory  "  com- 
mittee constituted;  the  former  to  consist  of  T.  Stephenson,  James  F.  Free- 
man, and  the  pastor  and  the  two  acting  deacons  as  "  ex-officio  "  members. 
The  "  advisory  committee  "  was  composed  of  ladies,  and  consisted  of  Mrs. 
Eastman,  Mrs.  Walker,  Mrs.  0.  E.  Freeman,  Mrs.  Underwood  and  Mrs. 
Edward  Savage. 

At  the  close  of  his  fourth  year  of  service  Mr.  Emmons  resigned  the 
pastorate,  giving  for  his  principal  reasons  the  inadequacy  of  support,  and 
the  apparent  coldness  and  lack  of  sympathy  towards  him  on  the  part  of 
the  church.  A  strong  feeling  was  manifested  to  retain  Mr.  Emmons  as 
pastor,  and  a  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Dea.  Burton,  Charles 

E.  Allen,  Oscar  F.  Bothell,  Isaac  F.  Allen,  Mrs.  O.  E.   Freeman,  Mrs.   H. 

F.  Holton  and  Mrs.  G.  O.  Rogers,  to  procure  subscriptions  for  the  purpose 
of  retaining  Mr.  Emmons  a  number  of  years  more,  as  he  had  consented 
to  remain  a  term  of  years,  for  a  salary  adequate  for  his  support.  October 
7,  1869,  the  committee  report  that  about  $920  had  been  subscribed.  On 
consultation  with  Mr.  Emmons  he  said  that  "'he  could  not  agree  to  remain 
for  one  year  only,  but  would  remain  for  a  series  of  years  at  a  salary  of 
$1,000,  which  would  include  the  interest  on  the  $1,500  loan  and  all  ex- 
penses." October  11,  the  committee  reported  $978  subscribed,  and  the 
probability  that  the  $1,000  could  be  raised,  and  it  was  voted  to  retain  Mr. 
Emmons  as  pastor  "on  above  conditions." 

March  31,  1870.  T.  Stephenson  and  Hartford  Sweet  were  chosen  audi- 
tors of  accounts.  At  an  annual  meeting,  November  3,  1870,  it  was  voted 
"  that  Oilman  Wilder  and  Azro  Burton  as  deacons,  Turner  Stephenson  as 
clerk  and  Charles  B.  Allen  as  treasurer,  retain  their  several  named  offices 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  church,  and  until  others  are  chosen  in  their 
places."  T.  Stephenson  and  James  F.  Freeman  were  chosen  additional 
members  of  the  executive  committee;  Mrs.  R.  P.  Kent,  Mrs.  H.  V.  Em- 
mons, Mrs.  Charles  Plaisted,  Mrs.  Dwight  Carleton  and  Mrs.  T.  Stephen- 
son chosen  advisory  committee.     It  was  decided  by  quite  a  large  major- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  309 


ity,  November  2,  1871,  on  a  proposition  to  have  but  one  sermon  each  Sab- 
bath, that  "there  shall  be  two  sermons  on  each  Sabbath  as  has  been  the 
custom."  The  annual  meeting  was  held  the  same  day,  and  William  P. 
Freeman  chosen  assistant  deacon  to  Deacon  Gilman  Wilder:  T.  Stephen- 
son, clerk;  Charles  B.  Allen,  treasurer;  T.  Stephenson  and  J.  F.  Freeman, 
members  of  executive  committee;  re-elected  the  advisory  committee. 
February  29,  L872,  Charles  B.  Allen  was  elected  to  the  clerkship  made 
vacant  by  the  death  of  that  faithful  and  useful  brother,  Turner  Stephen- 
son. C.  B.  Allen  is  continued  clerk  and  treasurer  in  1873;  Isaac  F.  Allen 
and  J.  F.  Freeman  placed  on  executive  committee;  Mrs.  George  <  >.  Rogers 
substituted  for  Mrs.  Stephenson  on  advisory  committee;  Deacon  Brown, 
agent  of  N.  H.  Bible  society,  reports  to  the  annual  meeting  that  he  had 
collected  *44  from  the  society,  which  was  now  entitled  to  one  life-member- 
ship. Deacon  Seth  Adams  was  then  elected  to  the  position.  At  the  an- 
nual meeting.  October  9,  1873,  C.  B.  Allen  was  again  chosen  clerk  and 
treasurer;  I.  F.  Allen  and  J.  F.  Freeman  continued  on  executive  commit- 
tee; Mrs.  H.  F.  Holton  was  chosen  on  advisory  committee  in  place  of  Mrs. 
Rogers. 

At  a  duly  notified  meeting  called  June  5,  1874,  Rev.  Mr.  Emmons,  on 
account  of  failing  health,  etc.,  tendered  his  resignation  of  the  pastorate. 
The  resignation  was  accepted,  and  he  preached  his  farewell  discourse  July 
5,  1874.  Rev.  C.  E.  Harrington  was  "called/'  and,  at  a  council  convened 
October  27.  Mr.  Emmons  was  dismissed,  and  Mr.  Harrington  installed. 
His  salary  was  to  be  $1,000  a  year  and  a  parsonage,  which  a  committee 
was  chosen  to  procure.  Mr.  Emmons  was  much  beloved,  integrity  and 
harmony  marked  the  relations  of  pastor  and  people,  and  he  was  universally 
esteemed  for  his  christian  worth  and  gentle  courtesy. 

September  30,  1875,  the  clerk,  treasurer  and  executive  committee  were 
re-elected  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  advisory  committee  was  continued, 
with  Mrs.  R.  P.  Kent,  Mrs.  C.  Plaisted,  Mrs.  S.  D.  Carletdn,  Mrs.  H.  F. 
Holton  and  Mrs.  E.  V.  Cobleigh  as  members.  A  soliciting  committee  has 
now  become  a  regular  institution,  and  Deacon  Burton,  Deacon  Wilder.  Mrs. 
E.  V.  Cobleigh,  Mrs.  William  P.  Freeman,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Kent  and  Nelly 
Fletcher  are  made  its  members. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  September  28,  L876T,  C.  B.  Allen  was  continued 
clerk,  Charles  Morse  elected  treasurer,  Mrs.  R.  P.  Kent.  Mrs.  Charles  Plais- 
ted, Mrs.  H.  F.  Holton,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Congdon,  and  .Mrs.  Richard  Small, 
made  the  advisory  committee.  October  1,  L876,  Azro  Burton  and  W.  P. 
Freeman  were  elected  deacons.  It  was  voted  that,  "the  church  rise  dur- 
ing invocation,  and  bow  during  prayer;  and  to  rise  and  face  the  pulpit 
during  the  second  and  third  singing.'*  January  7.  1877,  the  silver-plated 
communion  service  presented  by  R.  P.  Kent,  Esq.,  was  used  to-day  for  the 
first  time.     February  24,  1878,  Rev.  C.  E.  Harrington  preached  his  fare- 


310  History  of  Coos  County. 

well  sermon.  He  was  dismissed  by  a  council  held  February  26.  In  its 
report  the  council  said,  "we  do  most  deeply  sympathize  with  this  church 
in  the  evidently  reluctant  and  painful,  yet  prayerful,  consent  they  give  to 
the  proposed  separation,  and  record  our  hearty  satisfaction  that  the  rela- 
tion between  pastor  and  people  has  been  so  mutually  kind,  affectionate 
and  helpful  of  spiritual  life." 

Rev.  Charles  E.  Sumner  commenced  pastoral  work  May  5,  1878.  The 
treasurer's  report  of  April  28,  1879,  says  "there  has  been  paid  to  Mr.  Sum- 
ner $735,  leaving  due  him  $265,  of  which  sum  the  ladies  will  pay  $63,  leav- 
ing $202  to  be  collected  by  subscription.,'  It  was  voted  at  the  same  meet- 
ing "to  adopt  the  method  of  weekly  contribution  to  raise  money  for 
pastor's  salary,  instead  of  personal  solicitation  as  heretofore,"  yet  the  sub- 
scription committee  was  continued  another  year. 

November  4,  1880. — The  annual  meeting  passed  off  quietly,  and  the  old 
officers  re-elected.  Rev.  Sidney  A.  Burnaby  commenced  his  labors  June  5r 
1881,  and  was  installed  pastor  September  21,  1881,  he  to  receive  a  salary 
of  $850,  the  use  of  the  parsonage,  and  four  Sundays  vacation  during  the 
year.  At  the  annual  meeting,  September  28,  1882,  the  pastor  and  two 
deacons  were  constituted  the  executive  committee. 

The  efficient  and  faithful  ladies  of  the  advisory  committee,  viz. :  Mrs. 
R.  P.  Kent,  Mrs.  Charles  Plaisted,  Mrs.  H.  F.  Holton,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Congdon 
and  Mrs.  Richard  Small  were  continued  in  office.  The  officers  elected  at 
the  annual  meeting  in  1885  were  C.  B.  Allen,  clerk;  C.  E.  Morse,  treas- 
urer; N.  H.  Richardson,  deacon;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Allen,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Folsom, 
Mrs.  I.  M.  Nettleton,  Mrs.  N.  H.  Richardson  and  Mrs.  0.  E.  Freeman, 
advisory  committee;  S.  D.  Carleton  was  added  to  the  executive  committee, 
and  C  E.  Allen  chosen  to  attend  to  the  renting  of  the  pews.  The  officers 
elected  in  1886  were  C.  B.  Allen,  clerk;  Charles  Morse,  treasurer;  N.  H. 
Richardson  and  S.  D.  Carleton,  executive  committee;  Mrs.  0.  E.  Allen, 
Mrs.  Folsom,  Mrs.  Nettleton,  Mrs.  Richardson  and  Miss  Emily  Rowell, 
advisory  committee;  Azro  Burton  and  William  P.  Freeman,  deacons;  N.  H. 
Richardson,  assistant  deacon. 

During  the  half  century  of  existence  of  this  church  it  has  been  a  power 
for  good,  and  has  kept  pace  with  the  rapid  advance  of  improvement  in 
secular  matters.  It  has  the  largest  church  edifice  in  town — the  only  one 
with  a  bell.  Extensive  alterations  and  repairs  have  recently  been  made, 
adding  much  to  the  convenience  and  value  of  the  buildings.  The  seating 
capacity  is  550,  and  the  value  of  the  church  $6,000. 

The  Sabbath-school,  organized  about  the  same  time  as  the  church,  is 
large  and  in  a  flourishing  condition,  with  a  membership  of  195,  and  a 
library  of  400  volumes.  N.  H.  Richardson  has  been  superintendent  for  eleven 
years. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  311 


First  Unitarian  Society* — The  "  First  Church  "  in  Lancaster,  became, 
under  the  ministrations  of  its  revered  pastor,  Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  very 
liberal  in  its  theological  position,  embracing  largely  the  Arminian  views 
held  by  the  moderate  school  in  the  New  England  church.  The  more  con- 
servative members  did  not  find  the  religious  tenets  of  the  society  altogether 
congenial  to  their  Calvinistic  opinions,  and  they  withdrew,  establishing 
the  present  "Orthodox  Congregational  Church."  In  1837,  the  old  church, 
greatly  shorn  of  its  strength  and  influence  by  this  defection  of  the  Ortho- 
dox party,  proposed  a  reunion  of  the  two  congregations,  and,  after  a  mod- 
ification of  the  covenant  of  the  new  church,  the  old  church  was  merged 
in  the  Orthodox  Congregational  church  of  Lancaster.  The  Congregation- 
alists,  having  amicably  settled  their  religious  differences,  proceeded  to 
build  a  new  meeting-house,  which  was  erected  in  1839,  and  is  still  occu- 
pied by  the  Orthodox  Congregational  society.  For  a  few  years  the  old  and 
new  societies  worked  harmoniously  together.  Some  of  the  "First  Church  " 
declined  to  unite  with  the  new  organization,  but  most  of  the  congregation 
of  the  First  society  attended  the  Orthodox  church 

Rev.  Stephen  A.  Barnard  came  to  the  society  in  1835.  He  was  a  thor- 
oughly conscientious  minister,  and  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of  his 
holy  office.  His  ministry  was  highly  satisfactory  to  the  congregation,  but 
on  account  of  his  liberal  views  became  distasteful  to  some  of  the  members 
of  the  church.  In  consequence  of  their  dissent,  Mr.  Barnard  resigned  in 
1852.  The  Orthodox  Congregational  church  seemed  about  to  sink  into  the 
sad  condition  of  its  predecessor.  For  seven  months  no  interest  was  mani- 
fested whatever.  Thinking  that  the  pulpit  was  not  to  be  supplied  for  an 
indefinite  period,  the  liberal  element  of  the  congregation,  which  had  now 
become  distinctively  Unitarian  in  belief,  secured  the  services  of  several 
Unitarian  clergymen  to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Congregational  meeting- 
house during  the  summer  of  1853.  The  rest  of  the  year  the  Orthodox 
society  held  only  an  occasional  Sunday  service. 

The  Unitarians  who  worshipped  with  the  Orthodox  congregation  were 
the  liberal  element  that  had  controlled  the  "  First  Church/1  and,  on  account 
of  their  liberal  views,  had  led  to  the  withdrawal  of  the  more  Orthodox  of 
the  First  society  in  1S36.  They  now  made  a  proposition  to  the  more  mod- 
erate Orthodox  to  unite  with  them  and  engage  a  Unitarian  preacher.  Ac- 
cordingly Rev.  George  M.  Rice  was  engaged,  and  preached  for  the  first 
time  as  regular  supply,  January  15,  1854.  The  Unitarian  Congregational - 
ists  expected  the  hearty  concurrence  of  the  society  in  this  new  departure, 
but  some  of  the  Orthodox  members  objected  to  the  new  order  of  things, 
and  began  to  take  steps  to  revive  their  dormant  party. 

The  Unitarian  Congregationalists,  thinking  that  they  had  contributed 


*By  Rev.  J.  B.  Morrison. 


312  History  of'Coos  County. 

even  more  than  the  Trinitarian  Congregationalists  towards  the  new  meet- 
ing-house, and  desiring,  if  they  legally  could  do  so,  to  retain  possession  of 
it,  posted  up  a  notice,  February  13,  1854,  that  "there  would  be  a  meet- 
ing of  the  First  Congregational  Society  of  Lancaster,  at  the  Coos  Hotel,  at 
eight  o'clock  this  evening,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  officers  and  organ- 
izing for  business."  At  the  gathering  of  gentlemen  convened  under  the 
above  notice,  the  society  was  fully  organized.  To  the  constitution,  at  this 
first  legal  meeting,  the  following  names  were  signed:  William  D.  Spauld- 
ing,  James  W.  Weeks,  B  F.  Whidden,  John  H.  White,  James  B.  Weeks, 
John  W.  Barney,  John  Lindsey,  William  A.  White,  C.  B.  Allen,  E.  C. 
Garland,  J.  W.  Merriam,  A.  L.  Robinson,  Edward  Spaulding,  William 
Burns,  R.  Sawyer,  James  B.  Spaulding,  Charles  D.  Stebbins,  James  S. 
Brackett,  Hiram  A.  Fletcher,  Hosea  Cray,  Edward  C.  Spaulding,  Edwin 
F.  Eastman,  Nelson  Kent,  Benjamin  Hunking,  S.  F.  Spaulding,  J.  M. 
Spaulding. 

Matters  had  now  reached  a  crisis.  The  Orthodox  Congregational  church 
had  secured  Rev.  Mr.  Weston,  and,  on  the  Sunday  following  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  First  Congregational  society,  the  ministers  of  the  two  Congre- 
gational societies  went  to  the  meeting-house  to  conduct  divine  worship. 
The  courtesy  of  Mr.  Weston  in  this  trying  ordeal  is  highly  to  be  com- 
mended. He  knew  nothing  of  the  exact  state  of  affairs,  and  kindly  con- 
sented, under  the  circumstances,  that  Mr.  Rice  should  preach  in  the  morn- 
ing and  he  in  the  afternoon.  This  was  the  last  time  the  Unitarian  Con- 
gregationalists occupied  the  meeting-house  they  had  largely  contributed 
towards  building,  and  they  made  preparations  to  hold  their  services  else- 
where. They  had  loyally  supported  the  ministry  of  the  Orthodox  Congre- 
gational church  society,  and  now  were  to  go  out  as  a  newly  organized  band 
to  carry  the  spirit  of  that  liberalism  which  had  dominated  the  "First 
Church, "  to  larger  results  in  Christian  faith  and  practice. 

February  26,  1854,  the  First  Congregational  society  (Unitarian)  held  its 
services  in  the  court  house.  It  started  in  an  auspicious  way,  although  it 
lost  the  church  home,  which  it  had  hoped  to  retain.  The  majority  of  the 
Orthodox  congregation  had  gone  forth  with  it,  and  much  enthusiasm  was 
roused  for  the  new  society.  The  separation  of  the  attendants  of  the  Ortho- 
dox Congregational  church  into  two  distinct  organizations,  being  settled 
by  the  First  Congregational  society  worshiping  in  the  court-house,  meas- 
ures were  taken  to  organize  a  church  in  connection  with  the  latter,  and, 
on  Sunday,  March  12,  1851,  the  new  church  was  formed  with  the  follow- 
ing:— 

Church  Covenant. — "  We,  whose  names  are  herewith  written,  declare  our  faith  in  the  One  Liv- 
ing and  True  God;  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  that  He  was  sanctified  of  the  Father,  and  sent  into  the 
world  that  the  world  through  Him  might  be  saved,  and  in  that  Gospel  which  was  confirmed  by 
the  death  and  resurrection  of  its  Author,  and  which  is  binding  upon  us  as  the  rule  of  our  faith  and 


Town  of  Lancaster.  313 


practice.  Being  united  into  one  congregation  or  church,  under  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  do  hereby 
solemnly  and  religiously  promise  to  walk  in  all  our  ways  according  to  the  rule  of  Ihe  Gospel,  and 
in  all  sincere  conformity  to  His  holy  ordinances,  and  in  mutual  love  and  respect  to  each  other,  so 
near  as  God  shall  give  us  grace.  George  M.  Rice,  William  A.  White,  Ellen  C.  White.  William  D. 
Spaulding,  Sarah  A.  Spaulding,  James  W.  Weeks,  M.  Eliza  Weeks,  Persis  F.  Weeks.  Nancy  D. 
M.  Sawyer,  Eliza  F.  Whidden,  Debby  A.  Kent,  Harriet  E.  Starbird." 

The  above  named  people  were  the  first  members  received  into  the  First 
Congregational  church  (Unitarian).  Two  weeks  later,  March  20,  Mrs. 
Susan  D.  F.  Cargill  and  Miss  Ellen  A.  White,  on  giving  their  assent  to  the 
covenant,  were  admitted  to  membership.  The  admission  of  Miss  White 
and  Mrs.  Cargill  to  the  church  of  the  new  society  is  especially  interesting 
to  note.  They  were  members  of  the  Orthodox  church,  and  brought  from 
that  church  certificates  of  their  regular  standing.  That  presented  by  Mrs. 
Cargill  reads  thus: — 

"Lancaster,  March  17,  1854. — This  may  certify  that  Mrs.  Susan  D.  F.  Cargill  has  for  several 
years  past  been  a  member  of  the  Orthodox  Congregational  Church  in  this  town  in  regular  standing, 
and  that  her  connection  with  said  Church  as  a  member  thereof  terminates  on  the  date  hereof.  By 
vote  of  the  Church.     J.  W.  Lovejoy,  Clerk.-' 

This  was  the  last  official  connection  of  any  member  of  the  new.  with 
the  other  Congregational  society,  and  marks  the  period  of  utter  separation. 
It  is  pleasant  to  note  here,  that,  although  there  was  much  feeling  between 
the  two  societies,  the  Orthodox  Congregational  church  most  generously 
loaned  their  communion  service  to  the  new  church,  which  held  its  first 
communion  on  the  day  of  its  organization,  March  12,  1854.  It  was  an  act 
of  Christian  courtesy  that  sheds  a  gracious  light  over  this  rite,  dear  to  both 
churches,  one  alike  in  the  worship  of  their  common  Lord  and  Master, 
Jesus  Christ. 

One  amusing  feature  the  writer  of  this  notes  in  the  church  records  at 
this  early  date.  The  pastor  suggested  a  committee  be  appointed  to  confer 
with  Dr.  Benjamin  Hunking  in  regard  to  "his  absence  from  our  last  com- 
munion, and  from  church  for  several  weeks  past."  The  church  "did  not 
think  it  best  to  take  any  such  steps  for  the  present,"  and,  probably,  the 
worthy  old  physician  was  never  officially  interviewed  as  to  his  absence 
from  divine  worship  and  the  communion  table. 

The  First  Congregational  society  continued  to  worship  at  the  court- 
house daring  the  remainder  of  the  year  1854.  The  congregation  soon 
began  to  be  sadly  troubled  by  the  continued  preaching  of  political  sermons 
by  the  minister.  The  yens  which  followed  were  filled  with  the  significant 
events  which  presaged  the  coming  struggle  for  supremacy  between  the  North 
and  South.  The  ministers  of  the  Unitarian  denomination  were  untiring 
in  the  anti-slavery  cause.  Mr  Rice  was  a  highly  conscientious  man.  He 
nuns;  himself  into  the  battle  of  those  days  with  all  the  strength  of  a  natur- 
ally  combative  nature.  He  could  not  brook  the  high-handed  acts  of  the 
pro-slavery  party.     The  thing  was  in  the  air,  and  the  pastor  would  preach 

21 


314  History  of  Coos  County. 

what  his  conscience  declared  to  be  right.  Many  of  the  society  did  not  ap- 
prove of  his  course.  People  dropped  out,  and  those  who  had  the  interest 
of  the  society  at  heart  saw  with  great  concern  that  their  earnest- hearted 
minister  was  injuring  the  prospects  of  the  new  church  But  Mr.  Rice  felt 
the  truth  must  be  spoken  "though  the  heavens  fell,"  and  continued  his 
preaching  of  political  sermons.  In  this  way  the  society  lost  ground,  and 
many  returned  to  the  Orthodox  church.  But  the  faithful  few — earnest 
men  and  women — who  stood  loyally  by  the  truth  they  had  gone  forth  from 
the  Orthodox  Congregational  church  society  to  proclaim,  trusted  that  in 
the  end  the  troubles  in  which  the  beloved  minister  had  involved  the  inter- 
est of  the  society,  would  be  happily  closed,  and  a  new  church  building 
bring  them  into  harmonious  relations  again,  and  give  new  zest  to  the 
church  and  society. 

So,  in  1855,  the  society  began  to  mature  its  plans  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  edifice,  and  in  October,  1856,  with  great  rejoicing,  entered  into  the 
church  building  now  occupied.  It  was  expected  that  the  completion  of  the 
new  church  would  heal  the  unhappy  differences,  but  such  did  not  prove  to 
be  the  case.  The  society  was  in  debt  for  the  new  structure,  and  the  pastor 
continued  to  preach  what  he  felt  should  be  given  unto  the  town  of  Lan- 
caster. At  the  annual  meeting  in  1857,  it  was  "resolved,  that  we  will  not 
bring  political  tongues  nor  political  ears  into  our  solemn  assembly.  Let 
it  be  understood  that  there  are  things  about  which  we  differ,  but  we  agree 
in  our  religion ;  that  it  is  for  our  religion  that  we  sustain  the  relation  of 
pastor  and  people,  and  we  will  not  jeopardize  the  great  interests  of  our 
religion  by  officious  assertions  of  right  on  the  one  hand,  or  scrupulous  sus- 
picions of  going  too  far  on  the  other." 

But  it  was  only  a  question  of  time  when  the  relations  of  pastor  and 
people  must  be  severed,  and  Mr.  Rice  soon  realized  this,  resigning  in  Sep- 
tember, 1857.  At  a  meeting  called  September  28,  the  society  refused  to 
accept  his  resignation,  and  Mr.  Rice  evidently  thought  it  inexpedient  to 
insist  on  the  acceptance  of  his  immediate  withdrawal  from  his  pastorate, 
and  sent  the  following  communication  to  the  meeting  of  October  10:  "  He 
was  willing  to  remain  six  months  as  their  pastor  on  condition  that  the 
society  pay  him  promptly  at  a  certain  time,  that  the  pulpit  should  be  en- 
tirely free,  and  that  they  should  have  but  one  new  sermon  each  Sunday." 

The  meeting,  after  discussing  this  communication  from  the  pastor, 
voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  (passed  September  28,  1857,)  not  to  accept  the 
resignation  of  Rev.  Mr.  Rice,  and  then  voted  to  accept  of  the  resignation 
of  Mr.  Rice.  At  this  meeting  a  communication  was  read  from  the  "'Amer- 
ican Unitarian  Association,"  that  it  would  give  the  society  $100,  on  con- 
dition of  retaining  Mr.  Rice  as  pastor.  The  society  subsequently  gave  to 
the  official  board  of  the  American  Unitarian  Association  its  reasons  for 
rejecting  its  offer  of  aid  in  sustaining  Mr.  Rice  in  the  pastorate,  and  also 


Town  of  Lancaster.  315 


passed  resolutions  highly  commendatory  of  Mr.  Rice,  and  his  earnest  work 
for  the  society.  Mr.  Rice  closed  his  pastorate  over  the  "First  Church" 
and  society  November  1,  1S5T.  As  its  first  ministry,  the  pastorate  of  Mr. 
Rice  will  always  be  interesting  to  the  Unitarian  society.  He  was  a  manly 
Christian  preacher,  and  revered  by  all  who  knew  his  rare  worth.  He  came 
to  the  society  in  troublous  times,  and  the  day  and  hour,  rather  than  the 
man  cr  his  opinions,  were  the  cause  of  his  uneasy  pastorate. 

Mr.  Rice  was  followed  by  Rev.  George  Gibbs  Charming,  a  brother  of 
the  celebrated  William  Ellery  Channing,  D.D.  He  was  a  pleasant  gentle- 
man of  the  old  school,  and  thoroughly  alive  to  his  work  as  a  Christian 
minister.  His  memory  is  still  revered,  and  his  brief  pastorate  was  happy 
and  peaceful  in  the  extreme.  He  became  resident  minister  May  23,  Is:.-, 
and  remained  pastor  until  May  8,  1860.  At  the  annual  meeting,  April  3, 
1860,  William  D.  Spaulding,  Esq ,  made  the  generous  proposition  of  indi- 
vidually assuming  the  indebtedness  of  the  parish.  Mr.  Spaulding  was  one 
of  Lancaster's  well-known  citizens.  He  had  been  identified  with  the 
society  from  the  beginning  of  its  ecclesiastical  existence.  Mr.  Spaulding 
(with  the  exception  of  George  P.  Rowell,  Esq.,)  has  been  the  most  gener- 
ous benefactor  the  society  has  thus  far  had.  At  the  annual  meeting,  April, 
1862,  it  was  voted  to  amend  Article  1  of  the  Constitution,  by  erasing  "First 
Congregational  Society,"  and  inserting  "First  Unitarian  Society."  The 
reason  for  this  change  of  corporate  name  was  the  objection  felt  by  some 
members  to  the  term  congregational,  which  seemed  to  them  to  be  the  dis- 
tinctive title  of  the  "Orthodox  Congregational  Society."  It  is  truly  to  be 
regretted  that  the  parish  gave  up  the  historic  title  of  "  First  Congrega- 
tional Society,"  which  really  preserved  the  traditions  of  the  old  First 
church. 

From  1862  to  1870  the  society  had  a  checkered  career,  sometime  having 
preaching  and  then  closing  its  doors  for  an  indefinite  time.  Rev.  G.  L. 
Chaney,  Rev.  George  Osgood,  Rev.  Thomas  Howard,  Rev.  Mr.  Edes,  Rev. 
W.  W.  Newell,  Rev.  J.  L.  M.  Babcock,  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a  longer  or 
shorter  period,  Mr.  Babcock  remaining  three  years.  There  is  but  little  to  note 
during  these  years;  the  society  struggled  bravely  on,  under  many  adverse 
circumstances,  and  nobly  worked  as  a  Christian  organization. 

Rev.  Lyman  Clark  began  his  ministry  December  4,  lsTu.  He  is  the 
only  clergyman  ever  installed  over  the  "First  Unitarian  Church  and 
Society."  He  was  installed  July  20,  1871,  Rev.  Rush  R.  Shippen  preach- 
ing the  installation  sermon.  The  society  was  quite  prosperous  under  Mr. 
Clark's  ministration.  He  resigned  July  5,  1874.  The  next  regular  supply 
was  Rev.  R.  P.  E.  Thatcher,  who  remained  a  year,  from  May  1,  L875,  to 
May  1,  1876.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Thatchers  pastorate  the  parish  seemed 
to  be  sinking  into  a  hopeless  decline.  It  had  suffered  much  by  deal  lis  and 
removals.     A  new  Episcopal  society  drew  away  some  of  its  former  sup- 


316  History  of  Coos  County. 

porters,  the  people  were  getting  disheartened  and  the  society  took  no  steps 
to  engage  a  permanent  supply  of  its  pulpit.  During  the  following  sum- 
mers, from  1876,  the  church  was  open,  but  closed  the  rest  of  the  year. 
Kev.  W.  H.  Fish,  of  South  Scituate,  Mass.,  preached  during  the  summer 
months  for  several  years.  He  encouraged  the  people  that  they  could  and 
must  go  on  It  was  generally  conceded  that  after  the  summer  of  1879  it 
would  be  inexpedient  to  continue  in  the  present  unsettled  way.  Eev.  Mr. 
Fish,  and  Mrs.  E.  H.  Hicks,  a  member  of  the  executive  committee,  labored 
to  revive  the  interest  in  the  society,  and,  nobly  assisted  by  the  old  mem- 
bers of  the  parish,  succeeded,  and,  in  June,  1880,  Eev.  J.  B.  Morrison, 
of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  began  his  work  in  Lancaster.  The  people  were  in 
earnest,  and  the  society  has  prospered  as  never  before  in  its  history.  At 
the  close  of  the  fifth  year  of  Mr.  Morrison's  pastorate  the  society  voted  to 
hire  him  for  an  indefinite  period.  In  1883  George  P.  Rowell,  a  member 
of  the  parish,  made  an  exceedingly  generous  proposition  for  the  complete 
repair  of  the  church  building.  This  was  done,  and  Mr.  Rowell  bore  one- 
quarter  of  the  expense. 

No  adequate  idea  of  the  influence  of  the  First  Unitarian  society,  as  a 
religious  power  in  Lancaster,  would  be  obtained,  were  the  men  of  the 
societv,  identified  with  it  so  manv  vears,  omitted  in  this  sketch.  From  the 
beginning  of  its  history  the  society  has  been  singularly  fortunate  in  its 
membership.  Hon.  John  H.  White,  William  D.  Spaulding,  Esq.,  Dr. 
Benjamin  Hunkmg,  Dr.  John  W.  Barney,  Gov.  J.  W.  Williams,  were  men 
of  great  influence  in  the  town,  and  well-known  throughout  the  state  as 
very  able  men.  Hon.  William  Burns,  one  of  New  Hampshire's  ablest 
men,  from  the  formation  of  the  society  until  his  death,  in  1885,  was 
always  its  constant  friend.  Judge  William  D  Weeks,  manliest  of  men, 
Benjamin  F.  Hunking,  Esq.,  Hosea  Gray,  Esq.,  and  Charles  L.  Griswold, 
Esq.,  (whom  the  writer  found  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  every 
good  and  generous  work — a  sound  business  man,  a  loyal  friend,)  were  firm 
supporters  of  the  society  under  all  its  varying  fortunes  of  storm  and  sun 
shine.  Chief  among  the  many  others  who  served  it  faithfully  during 
years  of  service,  are:  Hon.  James  W.  Weeks,  who  has  served  on  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  most  of  the  time  since  the  organization  of  the  parish,  and 
for  many  years  has  been  the  chairman  of  it,  Hon.  B.  F.  Whidden,  the  first 
clerk  of  the  society,  is  still  holding  office  as  vice-president,  Nelson  Kent, 
Esq.,  L.  F.  Moore,  Esq.,  Frank  Smith,  Esq.,  Edward  Spaulding,  Esq.,  and 
W.  C.  Spaulding,  Esq.,  have  labored  faithfully  for  the  building  up  of  the 
society  in  every  way.  George  P.  Rowell,  Esq.,  who,  aside  from  William 
1).  Spaulding,  has  been  the  chief  benefactor  of  the  parish,  has  been  in  the 
society  since  his  boyhood;  William  A.  White,  president  of  the  society,  son 
of  Hon.  John  H.  White,  the  first  chairman,  has  been  one  of  its  truest 
friends.     Many  others,  who  have  come  later  than  the  above  named,  work 


Town  of  Lancaster.  317 


zealously  for  the  welfare  and  promotion  of  the  interests  of  the  church  and 
society. 

Present  officers:  James  B.  Morrison,  minister;  William  A.  White, 
president  (since  deceased);  B.  F.  Whidden,  vice-president;  Nelson  Kent, 
clerk;  Eugene  Leavitt,  treasurer;  Mrs.  W.  H.  Gray,  collector;  James  W. 
Weeks,  George  R.  Eaton,  L  F.  Moore,  Frank  Smith,  Edward  Spaulding, 
executive  committee;  W.  H.  Thompson,  sexton;  John  H.  Quimby,  Eugene 
Leavitt,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Wilson,  committee  on  music;  J.  B.  Morrison,  Mrs.  Dex- 
ter Chase,  Mrs.  Nelson  Kent,  Mrs  E.  H.  Hicks,  and  Miss  Anna  Thomp- 
son, teachers;  Mrs.  Burleigh  .Roberts,  organist;  Eugene  S.  Leavitt,  John 
H.  Quimby,  Mrs.  Arthur  Cowing,  Mrs.  Eugene  Leavitt,  choir. 

The  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society,  connected  with  the  First  Congregational 
society,  was  formed  March  8,  1854.  It  has  been  a  very  valuable  auxiliary 
to  the  Unitarian  society  from  the  beginning  of  its  existence.  During  all 
the  vicisitudes  of  the  society,  the  "  Ladies'  Circle"  has  never  faltered  in  its 
good  work.  The  following  ladies  have  occupied  the  position  of  president: 
Mrs.  Nancy  D.  M.  Sawyer,  Mrs.  George  M.  Rice,  Miss  Ellen  A.  White, 
Mrs.  HoseaGray,  Mrs.  William  Burns,  Mrs.  L.  F.  Moore,  Mrs.  Jacob  Hamb- 
lin,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Hicks,  Mrs.  George  E.  Eaton.  The  present  officers  are: 
Mrs.  George  R.  Eaton,  president;  Mrs.  John  M.  Hopkins,  vice-president; 
Mrs.  C.  L.  Griswold,  secretary  and  treasurer;  Mrs.  L.  F.  Moore,  Mrs.  W. 
H.  Gray,  Mrs.  Frank  Smith,  Mrs.  Warren  Merrill,  Mrs.  James  W.  Weeks, 
Jr.,  directors;  Mrs.  I.  W.  Hopkinson.  collector. 

The  Sunday-school  is  not  large,  but  is  in  a  healthy  condition.  It  was 
irregularly  kept  up  until  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Morrison.  Since  L880  the 
superintendents  have  been:  1881,  Mr.  W.  A.  White;  1882,  Rev.  J.  B. 
Morrison;  from  1882  to  the  present,  Mr.  Eugene  S.  Leavitt. 

Rev.  James  Barnes  Morrison  is  a  native  of  Haverhill,  Mass.  His 
paternal  ancestors  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
sturdy,  strong  men.  On  the  maternal  side  he  descends  from  prominent 
families  in  Essex  county.  Mass.,  in  whom  intellectuality  predominates. 
Mr.  Morrison  was  graduated  from  Meadville  (Pa.)  Thelogical  seminary, 
in  1877,  settled  in  Nantucket,  Mass.,  the  same  year,  remained  there 
until  1880,  when  he  commenced  his  pastoral  charge  of  the  First  Unitarian 
church  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.  How  well  he  has  done  his  work,  lvsults  best 
show.  Under  his  faithful  care  the  society  has  become  strong  and  success- 
ful. About  1S81  he  began  to  hold  Sunday  evening  services  in  Littleton, 
going  there  after  his  day's  labor  in  Lancaster,  and,  by  his  influence,  much 
interest  in  religious  life  was  awakened,  and  at  present  the  Unitarians  there 
have  a  beautiful  church,  erected  at  a  cost  of  over  $6,000,  the  money  for 
which  was  mostly  raised  by  the  strenuous  and  untiring  efforts  of  Mr. 
Morrison.  As  a  preacher  Mr.  Morrison  is  scholarly,  earliest  and  clear, 
and  his  hearers  feel  his  honesty  and  sincerity.   As  he  appears  in  the  pulpit, 


318  History  of  Coos  County. 

he  is  free  from  cant,  and  evidently  consecrated  to  the  work  before  him,  and 
his  ministerial  service  has  been  marked  by  success.  Natural  and  unassum- 
ing in  his  manners,  a  genial  and  social  companion,  strong  in  sympathy, 
true  to  all,  an  energetic  and  persistent  worker,  he  has,  and  well  merits, 
the  love  and  esteem  of  his  parishioners  and  his  many  friends. — [Editor. 

Methodism. — No  connected  early  history  of  Methodism  in  Lancaster  has 
been  preserved.  The  celebrated  Jesse  Lee  was  in  this  section  very  early. 
In  his  journal  he  says:  "  Saturday,  September  6,  1800.  We  set  out  early 
in  the  morning  and  rode  out  to  Connecticut  river  at  Northumberland 
meeting-house;  there  I  left  my  companion,  and  rode  down  the  river  through 
Lancaster  and  Dalton."  Extracts  from  Stevens's  memorial  of  Methodism: — 

"  Time,  summer  of  1800.  Rev.  Laban  Clark  bad  been  holding  a  discussion  concerning  Meth- 
odism,  in  an  adjoining  town  witb  Asbbel  Webb,  and  one  Savage  '  I  informed  them,' says  Mr. 
Clark,  '  tbat  Mr.  Langdon  was  to  preacb  tbat  nigbt  in  Lancaster,  and  wisbed  them  to  go  and  bear 
him.  In  tbe  evening  both  Webb  and  Savage,  with  their  wives,  were  at  the  meeting,  and  many 
others.  Mr.  Langdon  preached,  I  exhorted,  and  we  kept  up  the  meeting  with  singing  and  praying 
for  some  time,  and  the  four  were  all  converted,  and  went  home  praising  the  Lord.  We  were  now 
able  to  form  a  class  of  between  fifteen  and  twenty;  the  most  of  them  remained  steadfast  in  the 
Lord,  and  my  friends,  Webb  and  Savage,  both  became  local  preachers.'  The  preachers  passed 
through  another  part  of  Lancaster,  where  a  great  agitation  ensued.  They  were  assailed  by  the 
mob.  The  ruffain  rabble  cowered  before  the  courage  of  Langdon,  who  was  a  gigantic  and  brave 
man;  but  they  carried  off  Rosebrook  Crawford,  and  ducked  him  in  the  river." 

Asa  Kent  travelled  Landaff  circuit  in  1S02.  It  extended  from  Ruranev 
to  Upper  Coos.     Lancaster  was  the  stronghold  of  opposition.     Mr.  Kent 

says: — 

'  The  persecutors  were  determined  to  keep  Methodism  out  of  the  place;  but  a  few  bad  been 
converted,  and  others  had  ears  to  hear.  I  preached  there  to  a  crowded  house,  with  much  enlarge- 
ment and  freedom  of  spirit.  Some  were  a  little  unruly,  but  they  became  quiet  upon  a  mild  admo- 
nition Three  days  after,  I  was  passing  through  the  Nine  Miles  Woods,  to  Littleton,  and  was  over- 
taken by  three  sleighs  filled  with  men  and  women.  One  cried  '  That's  the  Methodist  preacher, 
let's  run  him  down;'  and  they  set  their  horses  upon  full  speed.  The  snow  was  very  deep,  and 
with  difficulty  I  succeeded  in  getting  my  horse  out  of  the  way,  as  they  passed  with  loud  shouting. 
*  The  noise  and    tumult  so  disturbed  my  horse  that  he  became  almost  unman- 

ageabie." 

They  told  him  they  had  carried  one  preacher  out  of  Lancaster,  and 
would  have  no  Methodist  preaching  there,  as  they  had  one  minister  of  their 
own. 

In  1801,  Benjamin  Bishop,  the  very  intemperate  village  blacksmith, 
was  converted,  and  a  permanent  Methodist  society  established,  according  to 
Stevens,  in  this  wise.  When  Joseph  Crawford  heard  of  the  expulsion  of  John 
Langdon  and  Rosebrook  Crawford  from  the  village,  he  came  here  and  took 
the  field  in  defiance  of  the  mob,  and  preached.  Mr.  Bishop's  wife  was 
awakened  under  the  first  sermon;  her  emotions  were  so  great  as  to  over- 
power her  physical  strength.  Her  husband  procured  a  physician  and 
nurse,  and  for  some  time  she  was  treated  medically.  She  was  converted, 
her  husband  cured  of  his  appetite  for  liquor,  and  for  a  number  of  years 


Town  of  Lancaster.  Ml!) 


their  house  was  a  preaching  place,  and  a  home  for  the  itinerant.  Mrs. 
Bishop  became  a  most  powerful  exhorter,  and  her  husband  a  member  of 
the  N.  E.  conference  in  1804.  Rev.  Ebenezer  F.  Newell  was  here  in  1  807  08. 
Lewis  Bates,  a  thick  set,  dark  complexioned  man,  with  heavy,  strong  voice, 
preached  in  Lancaster  in  1*17.  "The  presence  of  God  was  manifested, 
and  a  gracious  work  commenced.  Previous  to  this  two  Methodist  preach- 
ers had  been  persecuted  and  mobbed  out  of  town.  I  made  two  more  visits 
to  this  (Lunenburg)  circuit,  and  preached  from  its  south  part  up  the  Con- 
necticut to  Canada." 

These  facts  were  recorded  in  the  town  books,  as  then  persons  not  be- 
longing to,  or  supporting,  any  other  church  body  or  society,  were  legally 
required  to  pay  a  tax  towards  the  salary  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Willard. 
Rev.  Nathan  Fetch,  Jr.,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  certifies,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1802,  that  Benjamin  Bishop  attends  our  ministry,  and  supports  the 
same,  being  a  member  of  our  society.  March  1,  Mr.  Felch  certifies  that 
Dennis  Stanley  attends  our  church  and  supports  the  same.  April  23,  L810, 
Joseph  Dennett,  preacher,  Robert  McKoy,  steward,  certify  at  Lunenburg 
that  Joel  Page,  of  Lancaster,  has  joined  the  Methodist  society.  April  30, 
IS  14,  Joseph  Lufkin  and  Eleazer  Phelps  certify  that  Joel  Page,  of  Lancas- 
ter, is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  society  in  Lancaster  and  Guildhall. 
May  7,  1817,  Eleazer  S.  Phelps,  agent  for  the  Methodist  society,  certifies 
that  Frederic  M.  Stone  has  manifested  a  willingness  to  support  the  Gospel, 
and  has  attended  my  meeting,  and  wishes  to  be  freed  from  paying  Joseph 
Willard  a  tax. 

During  the  winter  of  1810-17,  a  Mrs.  Hutchins  (called  Mother  Hutch- 
ins),  of  Whitefield,  came  to  Lancaster,  and  by  prayer  and  exhortation 
caused  many  to  think  seriously  of  the  importance  of  the  Gospel,  and 
many  who  went  from  curiosity  were  much  impressed,  and,  after  she  had 
labored  here  for  some  few  weeks  zealously  in  Zion's  cause,  some  twenty 
converts  were  brought  into  the  fold.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  ' '  mill- 
house,"  school-houses,  and  even  barns,  in  the  different  parts  of  the  town. 
The  Lancaster  circuit  was  formed,  and  the  first  quarterly  meeting  held 
herein  18  17,  the  court-house  being  used  for  the  preaching  services,  and 
from  that  time  until  1827, the  Methodists  continued  to  hold  all  meetings  there; 
two  circuit  riders  preaching  alternately.  These  rode  on  horseback  from 
place  to  place  and  made  themselves  at  home  at  the  houses  of  their  breth- 
ren. Their  calling  could  not  have  been  a  lucrative  one,  as  the  presiding 
elder  stated  at  a  quarterly  meeting  near  the  close  of  the  year  that  the  two 
preachers  had  received  from  the  people  under  their  charge  but  $30  each 
for  their  year's  labor. 

In  1819-20  a  great  revival  was  the  result  of  meetings  held  in  the  "  old 
meeting-house,"  by  Rev.  Jacob  Sanborn,  presiding  elder,  and  among  those 
who  avowed  themselves  as  believers,  was  the  venerable  and  highly  re- 


320  History  of  Coos  County. 

spected  Judge  William  Lovejoy.  The  preachers,  during  the  years  1820- 
1827,  were  Messrs.  Davis,  Pratt,  Plumby,  Culver  and  Baker;  then  came 
Norris,  Brown,  Spaulding,  Gardner,  Putnam  and  Stickney.  Rev.  Orange 
Scott  spent  the  year  1827  in  town,  preaching  part  of  the  time  from  the 
pulpit  occupied  by  Parson  Willard,  and  no  worthier  man  could  have  filled 
his  place.  He  endeavored  to  adjust  the  differences  among  the  people  and 
unite  them  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  charity.  H.  Wheelock  preached  in 
1829  and  1830. 

The  first  meeting  for  the  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  soci- 
ety was  held  at  the  house  of  Harvey  Adams,  July  22,  1831.  At  a  subse- 
quent meeting  in  August  a  constitution  was  adopted  and  signed  by  a  large 
number.  At  this  meeting  Harvey  Adams,  zealous  in  good  works,  gave 
land  to  the  society  for  the  site  of  a  parsonage,  and,  in  1832,  the  parsonage 
was  completed.  In  1834  the  church  was  built;  Harvey  Adams,  Allen 
Smith,  and  Joseph  Howe  were  the  building  committee.  These  men,  good 
citizens,  and  strong  in  their  faith,  have  passed  away. 

In  1849  the  New  Hampshire  conference  was  held  in  this  church, 
Bishop  Hamlin  presiding.  In  1858,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  L.  P. 
Cushman,  the  house  was  remodeled  and  its  seating  capacity  enlarged,  at  a, 
cost  of  about  $1,500,  and  rededicated  in  September  of  that  year.  At  this 
time  there  were  136  members,  thirty  probationists,  126  Sabbath-school 
scholars.  150  volumes  in  the  Sunday-school  library,  and  the  society  pa  id 
its  minister  S5< mi  per  year.  In  1869  or  is 70  the  old  parsonage  was  sold, 
and  a  new  one  built  on  High  street,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  and  it  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  conference.  The  church  was  again  somewhat  enlarged  in 
1873,  and  a  new  and  elegant  organ  placed  in  it.  In  April,  1878,  the  New 
Hampshire  conference  met  with  this  church,  Bishop  S.  M.  Merrill  pre- 
siding. 

The  society  is  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition,  and  the  zeal  and  char- 
acter of  its  members  is  shown  by  their  activity  in  all  reforms,  and  the 
stand  taken  by  them  against  all  evils  that  jeopardize  our  moral,  civil,  and 
political  institutions. 

List  of  Pastors  since  1832.— S.  P.  Williams,  from  1834;  Daniel  Field, 
in  1836  and  1837;  L.  Hill,  in  1838;  Amos  Kidder,  in  1839;  John  Smith,  in 
1840;  E.  B.  Morgan,  1841,  1842;  J.  G.  Smith,  to  1843;  A.  T.  Bullard,  1844 
and  1845;  H.  H.  Hartwell,  from  1846;  H.  Hill,  from  1848;  J.  W.  Guernsey, 
from  1850;  L.  L.  Eastman,  from  1852;  Josiah  Hooper,  from  1854;  James 
Adams,  from  1856;  L.  P.  Cushman,  from  1857;  E.  R.  Wilkins,  from  1859; 
G.  W.  Bryant,  from  1861;  S.  P.  Heath,  from  1863;  D.  J.  Smith,  from  1866; 
C.  H.  Smith,  from  1869;  Otis  Cole,  from  1871;  J.  Noyes,  from  1874;  N.  M, 
Bailey,  1876  to  1879;  D.  J.  Smith,  from  1S79  to  1882;  W.  E.  Bennett,  1882 
and  1883;  A.  C.  Coult,  April,  1884,  and  during  the  years  1885  and  1886. 
Rev.  Mr.  Bowler  is  the  present  (1887)  pastor.     The  members  now  are  con- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  ?,21 


gratulating  themselves  on  their  success  in  financial  affairs  for  the  pasl 
year.  They  have  paid  all  running  expenses;  paid  their  pastor  in  full; 
taken  liberal  collections  for  home  missions,  church  extension,  and  super- 
annuated ministers;  paid  the  presiding  elder's  claim;  raised $100  for  foreigD 
missions,  and  put  nearly  $500  in  the  savings  bank  for  a  new  church. 

Baptist  Church. — A  Calvinistic  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1809r 
but  we  find  no  record  of  its  organization  or  its  ministry,  until  L860.  Pre- 
vious to  that  time  the  Baptists  of  Lancaster  attended  public  worship  with 
the  inhabitants  of  Jefferson,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  extracts  from 
the  early  town  records.  They  held  their  services  in  a  school-house  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  Lancaster,  on  the  road  to  Jefferson: 

"Gentlemen,  Selectmen  of  Lancaster, — 

"  This  may  certify  that  the  within  named  persons  have  given  in  these  names  to  the  Baptis 
Society  in  Jefferson  and  belong  to  the  same.     To  wit — 

"  Samuel  Legro,  Samuel  Springer,  Jr.,  Caleb  Page.  Samuel  Plaisted.  Ruling  Elder,  Jefferson, 
Feb.  17,  1802.  James  flight,  Church  Clerk,  Samuel  Plaisted,  Ruling  Elder;  certify  in  September, 
1798,  that  Isaac  Darby  has  and  does  belong  to  the  Baptist  Society  in  Jefferson.  Samuel  Plaisted, 
Ruling  Elder,  certifies,  Mar.  23,  1802,  that  Robert,  Gotham  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Society  in  Jeffer- 
son. James  Hight,  Church  Clerk,  certifies,  Jan.  12,  1803,  that  John  Mclntyre,  Emmons  Stock  well, 
Ephraim  Stockwell  &  Liberty  Stockwell,  belong  to  the  regular  Baptist  Church  in  Lancaster  A.- 
Jefferson It  is  recorded  that  Samuel  Philbrook  has  joined  the  regular  Baptist  Church  in  Jefferson 
&  Lancaster,  March  t),  1803." 

On  the  last  of  February,  I860,  the  Rev.  Henry  I.  Campbell  from  the 
Danville  association  (Vermont)  came  with  a  view  to  look  up  and  call  together 
the  scattered  Baptists  in  this  vicinity.  He  visited  from  house  to  house, 
talked  and  prayed,  encouraged  the  brethren  to  move  onward  in  the  organ- 
ization of  a  church;  and,  through  his  persevering  efforts  and  the  blessing 
of  God,  there  were  found  about  twenty  who  were  ready  to  unite  in  church 
responsibility;  hence,  by  virtue  of  "letters-missive,1'  a  council  was  con- 
vened on  May  12th,  "at  Lancaster  Street,  in  the  Court  House,  1  o'clock  p. 
m.  Consisting  of  Delegates  from  the  following  Churches:  Lunenburgh, 
Jefferson,  North  Stratford,  Carroll  and  Rumney." 

"  Call  Inviting  the  Council. 

"Lancastkk,  April  II,  1*G0. 
"  We  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed  do  signify  by  this  instrument  our  desire  to  form  our- 
selves into  a  Baptist  Church  for  the  mutual  purpose  of  worshipping  God  according  to  Mie  dictates 
of  our  own  consciences  &  to  maintain  the  ordinances  of  his  house  in  conformity  to  the  Divine  in- 
junction the  authority  of  Christ,  the  examples  of  the  Apostles,  and  the  practice-  of  the  primitive 
Christians.  We  therefore  mutually  unite  in  calling  a  delegation  from  the  Baptist  Churches  in  this 
vicinity  to  meet  in  the  Court  House,  Saturday  1  o'clock  p.  M.,  May  12,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
into  consideration  the  propriety  of  the  organization  of  a  Baptist  Church  in  this  place  Rev.  II.  I. 
Campbell  <fc  his  wife  Ellen  F.  Campbell,  Benjamin  Webster  &  his  wife  Eliza  Webster,  Orange 
Smith,  Emily  Congdon,  David  Young,  Arthur  Gage,  his  wife  Nancy  Gage,  Seneca  B.  Congden 
his  wife  Hannah  D.  Congdon,  Francis  Burrell  his  wife  Mary  Ann  Burrell." 

The  council  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  Rev.  H.  I.  Campbell,  mod- 
erator.    The  articles  of  faith  that  are  generally  adopted  by  Baptist  churches 


322  History  of  Coos  County. 

were  read  and  adopted.  This  church  was  formed  with  the  following 
members:  Rev.  H.  I.  Campbell,  Ellen  F.  Campbell,  Benjamin  Webster, 
Eliza  Webster,  Samuel  Twombly,  Dorcas  Twombly,  Arthur  Gage,  Nancy 
Gage,  Seneca  B.  Congdou,  Hannah  D.  Congdon,  Francis  Burrell,  Mary 
Ann  Burrell,  Orange  Smith,  Pratia  Smith,  Reuben  McFarland,  Artemas 
Gotham,  Lucy  Thomas,  Deborah  Thomas  and  Emily  Congdon.  Rev.  Mr. 
Campbell  was  their  pastor  for  a  few  years.  Rev.  George  A.  Glines  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  from  1863  to  1866.  Rev.  Kilburn  Holt  preached  from  1871 
until  August,  18 71,  when  he  resigned.  The  society  no  longer  hold  services. 
Their  church  building  was  the  old  academy  which  was  sold  at  auction  in 
1861,  and  purchased  by  the  Baptists  for  seventy  dollars,  moved  and  re- 
modeled.    It  is  now  occupied  by  the  library. 

St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church*. — The  Protestant  Episcopal  church  has 
held  occasional  services  here  for  thirty  years.  In  the  summer  of  1856, 
Bishop  Chase  visited  Lancaster  and  confirmed  one  person,  Mrs.  Susan 
Heywood.  In  1863  he  again  came  to  Lancaster  and  confirmed  seven  per- 
sons. From  1856  to  1875  services  were  often  held,  usually  in  the  summer, 
by  ministers  visiting  the  mountains,  and  stopping  a  short  time  in  this 
vicinity. 

In  1873  the  foundation  for  a  church  edifice  was  laid;  the  lot  with  the 
building  cost  87,000.  In  1876  there  were  about  forty  families  who  aided 
in  building  the  church  and  in  the  support  of  a  minister.  The  rectors  have 
been,  from  1875  to  1880,  Rev.  James  B.  Goodrich;  1S80  to  1S86,  Rev.  Ed- 
ward P.  Little.  Rev.  C.  J.  Hendley  began  his  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  church,  in  May,  1887. 

Catholicity  in  Cods.  —In  the  development  of  the  various  interests  which 
have  added  to  the  wealth  and  importance  of  the  county  of  Coos,  many 
people,  some  of  Irish  birth,  and  others  reared  in  the  faith  and  forms  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church,  have  become  residents,  acquired  property  and 
social  standing,  and  form  an  important  element  in  its  political,  social,  and 
religious  affairs. 

Prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  diocese  of  Portland,  in  1855,  the  scat- 
tered Catholic  families  in  Coos  were  visited  by  missionary  priests  from  the 
diocese  of  Boston.  These  visits  were  at  irregular  intervals  of  from  one  to 
two  years.  The  first  public  service  was  held  at  Lancaster,  in  the  Town 
Hall,  in  1854,  by  Father  Daley,  a  missionary  priest.  In  October,  1855, 
Bishop  Bacon,  of  Portland,  sent  Rev.  Isidore  Noiseaux  to  take  charge  of 
the  missions  of  Northern  New  Hampshire.  Father  Noiseaux  purchased 
the  property  known  as  the  Farrar  place,  and  built  a  small  chapel  in  the 
rear  of  the  dwelling  house,  and  public  service  was  held  once  or  twice  a 
month.     He  continued  in  charge  of  the  Lancaster  society  and  the  missions 

*By  Hon.  William  Heywood. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  323 


until  1876,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Brunswick,  Me.  During  the  last 
years  of  his  service  in  Coos,  the  church  at  Gorham  was  erected,  hi  De- 
cember. L876,  Rev.  M.  P.  Danner  was  placed  in  charge  at  Lancaster,  and 
continued  until  January,  1880.  During  Father  Danner's  pastorate  the 
present  church  building  was  constructed  (in  l>77t,  the  society  increased 
largely  in  numbers  and  took  a  prominent  place  among  the  religious  in- 
terests of  Lancaster.  In  January,  1880,  Father  Danner  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  F.  McKenna,  who  died  in  Portland,  in  1881,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  H.  A.  Lessard,  who  was  pastor  of  Lancaster  and  missions  from  1881 
to  1885.  Rev.  M.  J.  B.  Creamer,  the  present  pastor,  has  a  parish  of  from 
six  to  seven  hundred,  besides  the  missions  at  Groveton,  Stratford,  Cole- 
brook,  Jefferson,  and  Carroll. 

Catholicity  has  largely  increased  since  1854,  when  there  were  but  a  few 
families  of  this  faith  in  the  county,  most  of  these  living  along  the  line  of 
the  Grand  Trunk  railway. 

At  present  (1887)  there  are  four  churches  with  resident  pastors;  Lan- 
caster with  six  hundred  communicants,  Gorham  with  four  hundred,  Ber- 
lin with  fifteen  hundred,  Whitefield  with  five  hundred,  besides  some  three 
hundred  in  the  missions. 

Temperance  Union. — This  society  is  working  quietly  but  effectively, 
and  is  creating  and  keeping  alive  an  interest  in  temperance.  The  officers 
for  the  ensuing  year  are:  president,  N.  H.  Richardson;  vice-president.  Rev. 
C.  J.  Hendley;  chaplain.  Rev.  J.  A.  Bowler;  secretary,  Rev.  J.  B.  Morri- 
son; treasurer,  W.  F.  Burns. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Chronicles  from  R.  P.  Kent's  Diary. 

^T  ULY  27,  1815.      The  old  meeting  house,  after  its  removal  from  the 
\    hill,  finally  placed  upon  its  foundation  &  converted  into  a  Town  Hall 
OJ   and  store.     Dec.  11.    Dr.  Leero  died. 

1846,  Jan.  1.  New  bell  raised  on  Congregational  meeting  house.  Feb. 
27.    Col.  Willson  died. 

1847,  Jan.  25.  Adino  N.  Brackett  died.  April  11.  Recruiting  officers 
around  to  get  recruits  for  the  army  in  Mexico.  April  13.  Detachment  of 
recruits  started  off  by  stage.  May  L0.  Very  high  freshet.  River  up  over  all 
the  meadows.  Sept.  7-10.  Brigade  Officers  drill,  120  officers  present.  Nov. 
26.    Had  willows  transplanted  from  my  garden  to  the  burying  ground. 


324  History  of  Coos  County. 

Dec.  13.  Weather  warm;  worked  in  my  garden  half  the  day  in  my  shirt- 
sleeves, trimming  fruit  trees  and  transplanting  raspberries.  No  frost  in 
the  ground  at  all. 

1848,  Jan.  3.  Cattle  grazing  in  the  fields  and  weather  warm  like  May. 
Jan.  11.  Very  cold.  Mercury  26  degrees  below  zero.  13th,  good  sleighing, 
15th,  sleighing  gone.  29th.  Mails  from  the  North  and  South  both  brought 
on  wheels.  March  25.  Ground  sparrows  and  robins  appear  in  the  fields 
and  sleighing  gone.  Aug.  16.  Ebenezer  Twombly,  a  revolutionary  pen- 
sioner, died  aged  93.  Oct.  27.  Eeceived  a  load  of  stoves  from  Albany, 
freighted  by  boats  to  Burlington,  and  from  there  by  team. 

1819,  Jan.  10.  Old  Mrs.  Stanley  died.  Nov.  10.  The  Great  Elm  blown 
down,  supposed  to  be  170  years  old;  was  100  feet  high,  stood  in  the  middle 
of  the  street  a  little  north  of  my  house. 

1850,  Jan.  23.  Horse-sheds  of  the  Congregational  Meeting  house  broke 
down  from  the  weight  of  snow  on  the  roofs.  Feb.  10.  $275  in  gold  dust 
received  by  express  from  Mr.  Cargill  in  California.  Feb.  16.  Railroad 
meeting  at  Town  Hall;  the  object  being  to  obtain  a  survey  by  the  Atlantic 
&  St.  Lawrence  R.  R.  Co.  of  the  Israels'  River  route  from  Gorham. 

March  3.  Mr.  Wm.  Farrar  died  this  evening.  March  20.  Railroad  meet- 
ing. Addresses  by  the  directors  of  the  A.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.  March  25.  Sur- 
vey party  went  down  to  Gorham  to  explore  railroad  route.  April  30. 
Water  up  over  Indian  Brook  bridge,  and  is  higher  than  has  been  known 
to  be  for  25  years.  May  2.  Wells'  River  &  John's  River  bridges  carried 
away  by  the  flood.  May  6.  Went  to  the  bridge;  found  the  road  literally 
destroyed,  deep  holes  &  channels  being  cut  through  it  by  the  water. 
May  18.  Joseph  C.  Cady,  landlord  of  the  Coos  Hotel  since  1835,  died.  July 
27.  Samuel  S.  Wentworth,  a  revolutionary  pensioner,  died,  aged  91.  Oct. 
9.  Stages  commence  running  to  meet  the  cars  at  Mclndoes  Falls,  making 
the  trip  to  Boston  in  one  day.  Oct.  11.  Railroad  route  through  Randolph 
surveyed.  Grade  from  the  Bowman  place  to  Shelburne  found  to  be  60  ft. 
per  mile. 

1851,  April  23.  Mr.  Guy  C.  Cargill  reached  home  at  Lancaster,  sick 
and  exhausted,  having  been  absent  in  California  since  January,  1819.  He 
died  the  25th.  May  3.  Mrs.  David  Stockwell  died.  May  3.  Contractors  at 
work  this  season  grading  the  track  of  the  Atlantic  road  from  Gorham  to 
Stark  &  Northumberland;  the  supply  of  flour  for  their  use  comes  by  way 
of  Lake  Champlain,  and  is  mostly  bought  of  dealers  in  this  place.  July 
21.  Mr.  Samuel  Hunnux  died;  a  native  of  England,  he  emigrated  to  this 
place  from  London  half  a  century  ago,  was  supposed  to  be  nearly  a  hun- 
dred years  old.  July  23.  Dinner  at  Gorham  at  the  opening  of  the  railroad 
to  that  place.  Dec.  22.  Rev:  John  Pierpont  delivered  a  Temperance  lecture 
at  the  Congregational  Church. 

1852,  Jan.  22.     Hon.  Richard  Eastman  died,  aged  74.    Protracted  meet- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  325 


ing  at  the  Congregational  Church  during  this  month.  May  9.  High 
freshet;  water  one  foot  higher  than  in  the  great  freshet  of  1*50.  July  13. 
Stages  cease  running  to  Gorhain,  and  commence  running  to  meet  the  cars 
to  Northumberland.  16th.  Had  my  first  load  of  goods  brought  from 
Northumberland  depot  by  team.  Oct.  14.  A.  J.  Marshall's  carriage  shop 
burned  at  night. 

1S53.  After  several  warm  then  rainy  days  the  ice  disappeared  out  of 
Israel's  River  on  February  6th.  April  3.  Major  John  W.  Weeks  died 
aged  72.  April  13.  Mrs.  Persis,  wife  of  Major  Weeks,  died.  May  1 7. 
New  store  raised.  June  16.  Mercury  100  degrees  above  zero.  July  4. 
Celebration  in  bower  back  of  Methodist  Church  by  Sons  of  Temperance 
and  the  Sabbath  Schools.  Aug.  31.  Mr.  Manasseh  Wilder,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  town  died.  Sept.  2.  Commenced  moving  goods  into 
my  new  store.  Dec.  1.  Weather  mild.  Men  finished  laying  aqueduct  of 
60  rods  for  Edward  Defoe  and  myself.  Dec.  31.  Communication  on  the 
railroads  impeded  by  the  storms  of  the  past  week. 

1854,  March  15.  Town  meeting  adopted  strong  resolutions  against  the 
repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise.  June  11.  Geo.  W.  Lucas,  died; 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  Dec.  1.  Railroad  disaster  at  Stark.  Freight 
ran  into  passenger  train.  William  Burns  and  others  badly  injured;  Mrs. 
Taylor,  daughter  of  Joseph  Howe,  mortally.  Nov.  15.  Mr.  Seth  Eames 
died  at  Northumberland. 

1855,  Jan.  10.  Earthquake  in  the  evening;  shock  quite  light.  May  27. 
Fires  burning  in  the  woods  doing  much  damage.  Two  dwelling  houses, 
with  out-buildings,  belonging  to  the  Lumber  Co.  at  Whitefield  burned. 
July  4.  Ladies  Fair  (of  the  Congregational  Society)  at  the  Court  House. 
Receipts  $145.  August  4.  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Perkins,  an  old  resident  died. 
Nov.  15.  Mr.  Zadoc  Cady,  died,  aged  82.  Nov.  21.  Mr.  William  Jones 
died  aged  81. 

185G,  March  9.  Snow  deep  and  roads  badly  drifted;  no  rain  or  thaw 
since  December  20.  March  11.  Annual  Town  Meeting.  1 1,500  raised  for 
highway  tax,  $2, 10<)  for  Town  expenses,  and  $200  more  to  aid  in  paying 
expense  of  prosecuting  claim  against  Atlantic  R.  R.  Votes  for  ( rovernor, 
John  S.  Wells,  Democrat,  133;  Ralph  Metcalf,  Republican,  261;  I.  Good- 
win. 4.  March  19.  Republicans  celebrated  the  result  of  the  election  by 
supper  and  speeches  at  the  American  House.  March  25.  James  M.  Rix.  edi- 
tor of  Coos  Democrat,  died  at  City  Hotel,  Boston.  March  31.  In  the  morn- 
ing walked  to  the  store  on  the  top  of  a  big  snow  drift  aearly  as  high 
as  the  top  of  the  fences.  April  1.  Town  Meeting.  Voted  not  to  build 
bridge  at  the  head  of  what  is  now  Mechanic  street.  May  31.  Mountain 
tops  still  white  with  snow.  June  !».  Frame  of  the  Unitarian  Meeting 
House  raised.  June  20.  Buying  wool  at  32  cts.  July  3.  High  wind.  Two 
barns  blown  down  on  John  L.  Clark's  farm,  Lunenburg,  and  damage  done 


326  History  of  Coos  County 


to  crops  by  wind  and  hail.  Sunday,  July  20.  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
preached  in  the  Congregational  church.  July  22.  Claim  against  the  At- 
lantic &  St.  Lawrence  E.  E.  for  a  branch  from  Northumberland,  compro- 
mised by  payment  of  sis, ooo,  conditioned  that  a  first-class  hotel  be  built 
with  the  money.  July  31.  Adjourned  hotel  meeting  held  at  Town  Hall. 
Building  committee  chosen:  William  Burns,  Jacob  Benton,  John  W. 
Barney,  John  H.  White,  &  E.  P.  Kent.  August  2.  Mercury  for  three 
weeks  has  ranged  from  88  to  94  degrees  above  zero — crops  of  hay  abun- 
dant and  well  got— price  $0  per  ton.  August  10.  Mrs.  Eeuben  Stephenson, 
formerly  of  this  town,  died  at  St.  Johnsbury.  August  23.  Eain  every  day 
this  month  so  far.  September  1.  Political  campaign  briskly  prosecuted. 
A  meeting  of  ladies  at  my  house  to  take  measures  to  procure  a  banner  for 
the  Fremont  Club.  Sept.  8.  Meeting  of  Fremont  Club  at  Town  Hall  and 
new  banner  presented  by  Mrs.  S.  E.  Burnside  and  received  by  W.  E.  Joys- 
lin.  (This  was  a  very  handsome  silk  banner,  on  the  one  side  the  motto 
"God  save  Kansas.-'  on  the  other  Fremont  &  Dayton,  with  their  portraits. 
This  banner  was  kept  by  Mrs.  E.  P.  Kent,  after  the  campaign,  until  about 
four  years  since,  when  it  was  presented  by  her  to  the  Kansas  State  Histor- 
ical Society.)  Oct.  22.  Packed  and  directed  the  first  box  of  clothing  (a 
very  large  one),  for  the  Free  State  settlers  in  Kansas,  contributed  by  the 
friends  of  "  Free  Kansas. "  Oct.  19.  Took  deed  of  land  for  hotel  of  Dr. 
Dewey.  Price  $2,000,  10  rods  front  running  back  20  rods.  Oct.  20  &  21. 
Located  the  foundations  of  the  new  hotel;  front  of  the  building  standing- 
due  north  &  south;  job  for  building  let  to  John  Lindsey  afterward  for 
$13,000. 

1857,  Jan.  9.  Eoads  obstructed  by  drifted  snows,  no  southern  mails 
from  the  17th  to  the  22d  from  the  same  cause.  No  newspapers  from  Bos- 
ton from  the  20th  to  the  25th.  Jan.  24.  The  coldest  day  lever  witnessed; 
thermometer  at  sunrise  at  store  :^  degrees  below;  at  8  a.  m.  45  degrees 
below;  at  9  a.  m.  38,  at  10  A.  M.  35  degrees,  &  at  11  a.  m.  22  degrees  below 
zero;  a  thick  mist  or  fog  prevailing  till  10  A.  M.  Feb.  3.  The  Coos  hotel 
took  fire  &  was  much  injured.  Feb.  4.  Lucy  Stone  Blackwell  lectured  to 
a  very  crowded  house  on  "Woman's  Eights."  March  22.  Daniel  A.  Bowe, 
Editor  of  Coos  Republican,  died.  March  31.  Samuel  Rowell  died  of  old 
age,  over  90.  May  6.  Went  down  to  the  great  bridge  which  has  a  great 
jam  of  logs  resting  against  it;  coming  back  the  water  came  up  within  two 
inches  of  the  seat  in  my  wagon.  June  16.  Men  commenced  raising  the 
frame  of  the  new  hotel,  the  Lancaster  House.  July  13.  Two  sons  of 
Fielding  Smith,  aged  15  &  17,  drowned  in  the  mill  pond  near  their  father's 
house.  Aug.  24.  Rev.  T.  Starr  King  delivered  a  lecture  in  the  Town  Hall 
on  the  "Laws  of  Disorder."  Oct.  27,  Israel's  River  very  high.  Freeman's 
boom  carried  away  with  the  logs  in  it;  a  part  of  Eines'  saw-mill  with 
shingle  machine  also  carried  off.     Nov.  20.     David  Stockwell,  84  years  old, 


Town  of  Lancaster.  327 


the  first  white  child  born  in  town,  burned  to  death  in  his  house,  which  was 
consumed  in  the  night.  Dec.  27.  Dea.  William  Chamberlain,  of  Jeffer- 
son, died,  aged  82. 

1858,  Jan.  9.  The  old  jail  burned;  built  in  1805  of  elm  timbers  hewed 
L8  inches  square;  builders  Col.  Chessman  &  Nathaniel  White.  March  19. 
James  B.  Weeks  died  aged  73.  April  2.  Guns  fired  at  night  to  celebrate 
the  defeat  of  the  "  Lecompton  Bill  "  in  the  National  House  of  Representa- 
tives. April  4.  Religious  excitement;  morning  &  evening  meetings  held 
for  a  long  time  at  the  Town  Hall.  April  28.  Hotel  committee  organized 
under  an  act  of  incorporation.  May  1.  Hotel  meeting  at  Town  Hall.  Re- 
ligions meetings  of  all  the  societies  commenced  four  weeks  since  still  kept 
up.  May  12.  The  prayer  meetings  held  continuously  for  six  weeks  closed 
this  evening.  May  15.  Directed  men  in  setting  out  two  rows  of  trees 
bordering  the  avenue  in  front  of  Congregational  Church,  and  others  on  the 
north  &  south  sides. 

The  Methodist  Church,  built  in  1834,  undergoes  extensive  repairs  this 
summer.  The  old  pews  replaced  by  more  modern  ones,  gallery  removed, 
new  and  larger  windows  substituted,  and  a  new  tower  &  steeple  added. 
July  19.  Dr.  Eliphalet  Lyman  died  of  paralysis.  Had  lived  in  Lancaster 
about  43  years.  For  many  years  did  a  large  business  as  physician  and  sur- 
geon. Aug.  10.  The  Lancaster  House  opened  for  company.  The  Littleton 
stage  stopping  there  with  passengers  at  night  for  the  first  time.  Nov.  14. 
The  Farrar  place  bought  and  a  Catholic  Church  fitted  up;  a  priest  stationed 
here,  for  the  first  time,  this  month.     First  service  held  the  28th. 

1859,  July  28.  Mr.  Joseph  Twombly,  aged  90  years,  died;  one  of  the 
early  inhabitants. 

1860,  Feb.  1.  Attended  trustees  meeting.  Vote  passed  to  sell  hotel  prop- 
erty to  D.  A.  Burnside  for  $5,000. 

1861,  April  28,  Sunday.  An  enthusiastic  war  meeting  at  the  Town 
Hall.  Number  of  enlistments  to  this  date,  53.  April  29.  Meeting  of 
ladies  at  R.  P.  Kent's  residence;  they  raised  funds  to  buy  rubber  blankets 
and  other  articles  for  the  soldiers.  (The  rubber  blankets,  46  in  number, ' 
were  left  on  the  field  for  the  rebels,  at  Bull  Run  60  days  later.)  June  1  8. 
Job  for  building  new  Academy  let  to  G.  Calley  for  $2,350.  July*',.  Old 
Academy  building  sold  at  auction  to  the  Baptist  Society  for  $70.  Aug. 
15.  The  two  brass  guns  belonging  to  the  21th  &  42d  Regiments  ordered 
off  for  war  use.  Oct.  3.  The  old  Academy,  erected  in  1805,  at  the  inter- 
section of  Bridge  &  Main  streets  for  a  Court  House,  in  L836,  moved  and 
fitted  for  an  Academy,  is  to  day  placed  on  the  ground  where  it  is  to  be  con- 
verted into  a  Baptist  Church.  Nov.  16.  Packed  three  large  boxes  for  the 
Sanitary  Commission,  value  $220,  and  $30  in  money. 

1863.  Final  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  Lancaster  Bank.  Virtual 
close  of  the  business  by  voting  cash  dividend  of  $1.47.]  a  share,  and  giving 


328  History  of  Coos  County. 

up  all  stocks,  bonds  and  notes  against  stockholders.     Bank  chartered  1832, 
commenced  business  July,  1833. 

1864,  April  21.  The  "Coos  Hotel"  built  by  Ephraira  Cross  moved 
back  from  the  street.  May  21.  Harvey  Adams'  blacksmith  &  carriage 
shop,  and  old  factory  building  used  as  a  saw-mill  by  0.  E.  Freeman,  were 
burned.  June  21.  Edward  Kent  &  J.  I.  Williams  went  to  Boston  and 
bought  a  fire  engine,  "Lafayette."  July  11.  3,000  people  participate  in 
the  celebration  of  the  100th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  Lancaster, 
by  a  procession,  addresses,  music,  songs  &  dinner  in  a  bower  in  "Centen- 
nial Park."  -At  this  celebration  contributions  of  money  were  made  suf- 
ficient to  buy  Centennial  Park,  which  was  conveyed  to  the  town,  to  be 
held  in  trust  as  a  public  park. 

1864,  Presidential  vote  in  Lancaster,  Lincoln  284,  McClellan  123. 

1865,  April  22.  Thomas  J.  Crawford,  landlord  of  the  American 
House,  who  built  the  first  Crawford  House,  White  Mountains,  died  this 
day.  May  28.  Israel  Hicks,  soldier  of  1812,  died.  Aug.  13.  Eight  cases 
of  small-pox  in  town. 

1866,  Feb.  7.  Antiquarian  supper  at  Court  House  for  benefit  of  Con- 
gregational Society.  Net  receipts  $112.  March  20.  Ephraim  Stockwell 
died  aged  92.  May  26.  Last  post  set  for  telegraph  line  to  Boston,  via 
Littleton.  July  30.  Two-story  building,  100  by  50  feet  raised;  built  by 
Lancaster  Starch  Company,  an  association  of  farmers,  the  business  result- 
ing very  disastrously.  Aug.  2.  First  dividend  55  per  cent  paid  the  cred- 
itors of  the  White  Mountain  Bank.  Aug.  18.  Porter  G.  Freeman  died. 
Nov.  10.     New  organ  set  up  at  the  Congregational  Church. 

1867,  April.  Town  Poor  Farm  sold  at  auction  to  John  Lindsey  for 
xf,635;  cost,  in  1857,  $5,300. 

1868,  Jan.  13.  Telegraph  poles  put  up  for  line  to  Northumberland. 
Jan.  22.  New  Library  opened  for  taking  out  books,  kept  at  the  office  of 
G.  O.  Rogers,  dentist.  July  3.  Workmen  pulling  down  the  Court  House, 
erected  in  1830.  Materials  to  be  used  in  building  a  new  and  larger  one. 
Aug.  7.  Men  engaged  in  taking  down  County  building  on  Middle  St. 
Materials  to  be  used  in  erecting  a  new  Court  House.  Dec.  8.  Dr.  Benja- 
min Hunking  died  aged  86. 

I860,  Feb.  5.  Emmons  Stockwell  died  aged  88.  Feb.  7.  Lancaster 
Starch  Co.'s  building,  Moore,  Griswold  &  Bailey's  peg  mill,  Richardson  Bros. 
&  Co. 's  furniture  works  burned.  Loss  $30,000.  March  28.  Ziba  Lynds, 
an  eccentric  bachelor,  died  aged  72.  May  6.  Francis  Willson  died  aged 
83.  June  8.  Town  voted  256  to  50  to  issue  bonds  of  5  per  cent,  on  the 
valuation  to  the  B.  C.  &  M.  R.  R.  upon  condition  that  the  road  shall  be 
completed  to  Lancaster,  Jan.  1,  1871.  Sept.  IS.  Town  voted  to  purchase 
20  acres  of  land  lying  east  of  Summer  St.  for  a  new  cemetery.  Oct.  3-8. 
Freshets  in  all  the  streams.     Great  losses  in  this  village.     Saw-mill  under- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  329 


mined  and  swept  away.  Small  steamboat  built  to  run  on  the  Connecticut 
Eiver  this  season,  proved  a  financial  failure.  Oct.  22.  Smart  shock  of 
earthquake  felt  through  New  England. 

1870,  Feb.  18.  Israel's  river  breaks  up.  Upper  bridge  carried  off  by  the 
ice;  a  large  body  of  water  flows  down  Mechanic  St.,  several  buildings  dam- 
aged &  destroyed;  water  two  feet  deep  runs  across  the  road  between  the 
bridge  and  the  American  House.  April  25.  Farmers  commence  plowing; 
considered  very  early.  May  is.  Old  district  school-house  (about  sixty 
years  old)  moved  down  to  the  lot  recently  occupied  by  County  building. 
May  31  B.  C.  &  M.  R.  E.  opened  to  Whitefield.  July  21.  Great  fire  at 
Colebi-ook.  Aug.  9.  Douglass  Spaulding  died  aged  86.  Oct.  4.  Rail- 
road track  laid  to  the  Chessman  crossing.  Ten  cars  came  up  from  Woods- 
ville  to  the  Agricultural  Fair.  Oct.  15.  21  cars  loaded  with  sheep  &  cal 
tie  (the  first  cattle  shipped)  left  this  morning  for  Boston.  Oct.  20.  Smart 
shock  of  earthquake,  bells  rung  &  clocks  stopped.  Oct.  31.  Regular 
passenger  trains  commence  running.  Nov.  12.  Railroad  bridge  across 
Israel's  River  in  course  of  construction.  Nov.  29.  Formal  railroad  open- 
ing, with  di nner  at  Lancaster  &  American  Houses;  eleven  cars  came,  loaded 
with  visitors.  Nov.  22.  Funeral  of  Dr.  John  Bucknam,  at  Congregational 
Church ;  he  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire  Regt.,  lived  at 
Great  Falls 

1871,  March  5.  New  maple-sugar  brought  in;  unusually  early.  July 
20.     Slight  shock  of  earthquake. 

1872,  Mar.  9.  Town  committee,  Richard  P.  Kent,  chairman,  recom- 
mend the  annual  payment  of  the  R.  R.  bonds,  §3,251.13  each  year,  and  the 
interest  on  the  remaining  debt,  till  the  bonds  are  paid,  (original  amount 
of  bonds  832,513.10.)  Recommendation  adopted  at  Town  meeting,  March 
11.  August  21.  The  Brick  magazine  property  of  the  State  purchased  by 
R.  P.  Kent,  price  §15.  Presidential  vote,  Grant,  304,  Greeley,  251.  Dec. 
19.  Snow  measures  2f>  inches  in  depth.  Christmas  eve.  Temperature  at 
10  p.  m.  30 J  below.  Christmas  morning.  Temperature  at  Lancaster 
House  46°  below,  ax  E.  Savage's  52°  below,  at  Mr.  Ray's  55°  below;  cold- 
est morning  since  1857. 

1873,  Jan.  1.  Snow  lies  two  feet  deep.  Jan.  8.  Thompson,  Williams 
&  Co.'s  machine  shop  &  the  grist-mill  adjoining  burned  at  midnight; 
A.  J.  Marshall  badly  injured  by  falling  bricks.  May  9.  Alpheus  Hutch- 
ins,  soldier  of  the  war  of  L812,  died.  May  10.  Large  amount  of  lumber 
burned  at  Browns' mill,  Whitefield;  estimated  loss  $211,000.  July  7.  Men 
engaged  in  putting  in  foundations  of  the  new  Episcopal  Church. 

1874,  April  12.     Sally  Stanley,  a  native  of  Lancaster,  died  unmarried, 
aged  82.     April  22.     Baker  Pond  covered  with  solid  ice.    May  9.    Remark 
ably  dark;  had  lamps  lighted  at  half  past  twelve  to  eat  dinner  by.     May 
10.     Men  removing  logs  (supposed  to  be  two  million  feet  in  quantity) 

22 


33()  History  of  Coos  County. 

lodged  against  the  toll  bridge.  Sept.  26.  The  guage  of  the  Grand  Trunk 
road  was  changed  from  5  ft.  to  4  ft.  S  inches  from  Portland  to  Montreal. 
1S75,  June  24.  The  Episcopal  Church  raised  this  afternoon.  Nov.  27. 
William  Lovejoy,  an  old  resident,  died.  Dec.  22.  The  first  passenger 
train  crossed  the  new  Connecticut  River  bridge  in  Dalton,  on  P.  &  0.  R.  R. 

1876,  Feb.  15.  Daily  Republican  commenced  publication.  May  4. 
Congregational  society  hold  a  meeting  to  organize  under  the  ''Statutes." 
June  1.  Lancaster  Village  now  contains  275  houses.  June  24.  Timber, 
estimated  at  thirty  million  feet,  passing  down  the  river;  twenty  millions 
in  one  drive. 

1S76  Centennial  Celebration,  July  4.  Guns  fired  at  sunrise,  and  fire- 
works at  night.  Processions  of  "Antiques  &  Horribles"  followed  by 
another  of  citizens,  fire  companies,  etc.,  with  bands  of  music.  Historical 
account  of  early  settlement  of  Lancaster  read  by  J.  S.  Brackett.  Sept.  9. 
Col.  E.  E.  Cross,  who  died  the  6th,  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors. 
Nov.  7.  Jacob  Benton  and  William  Burns  elected  delegates  to  the  State 
Constitutional  Convention.  Dec.  25.  Father  Noisseaux,  who  for  twenty 
years  had  been  Catholic  Priest  here,  removes  to  Brunswick,  Maine. 

1877.  This  winter  is  characterized  by  very  frequent  and  sudden  changes. 
March  23.  Fire  Engine  House  moved  from  Canal  Street  to  Baker  block 
east  of  the  grist-mill.  March  29.  Books  of  Lancaster  Library  Association 
placed  in  my  store  chamber,  Mrs.  Hutchins  to  be  Librarian.  April  14.  The 
roads  near  the  village  dry  as  in  Summer.  April  15.  The  first  robin  in  the 
season  made  its  appearance.  June  12.  Meeting  of  the  Coos  County  Con- 
ference at  the  Congregational  Church.  July  11.  Price  of  wool  this  season 
33  to  40  cts.  per  pound.  Aug.  12.  Roswell  Chessman,  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter, who  owned  a  fine  meadow  farm  known  as  "Egypt,"  but  who  has 
been  for  years  an  inmate  of  the  State  Insane  Asylum,  died  to-day,  aged  78. 
Nov.  10.  New  furnace  has  been  recently  placed  in  the  Congregational 
Church.  Nov.  22.  Steam-mill,  furniture  &  chair  shop  of  E.  C.  Garland 
burned;  loss  four  to  five  thousand  dollars. 

L878,  April  4.  Mr.  Warren  Porter,  a  resident  of  Lancaster  since  1809, 
died  to-day,  aged  84  years.  April  9.  A  fire  broke  out  in  the  stable  back 
of  Rowell  &  Allen's  store,  which  burned  the  tinshop  &  store  of  Cobleigh, 
Kent  &  Co  ,  harness  shop  of  H.  Whitcomb  &  Co.,  store  of  Kent  &  Gris- 
wold,  Republican  office,  Rowell  and  Allen's  store,  Frank  Smith  &  Co's 
Flour  &  Grain  store,  Grocery,  dwellings  &  barns  of  G.  W.  Smith,  butcher 
shop  of  Hosea  Gray,  and  dwelling  house  of  Mrs.  Stickney.  Loss  nearly 
$40,000.  May  1.  Frame  of  Cobleigh,  Kent  &  Go's  new  shop  raised  this 
afternoon.  June  7.  Semicentennial  of  the  Lancaster  Academy  observed 
in  the  evening  at  Academy  Hall.  Address  by  Hon.  B.  F.  Whidden;  re- 
marks by  D.  C.  Pinkham,  J.  W.  Weeks  &  Henry  O.  Kent.  Sept.  27. 
The  Lancaster  House  built  in  1857,  from  funds  received  from  the  Atlantic 


Town  of  Lancaster.  331 


&  St.  Lawrence  E.  E.  was  burned  this  morning  with  out  buildings  and 
stables,  a  large  amount  of  the  furniture,  horses  &  sleighs  &  carriages  saved. 
The  first  bridge  across  the  Connecticut  connecting  Lancaster  with  Guild- 
hall was  built  in  1804,  rebuilt  in  1824,  again  in  1840.  Tbe  last  a  covered 
one  still  standing.  The  two  first  were  open,  with  long  string  pieces  of 
pine,  hewed  16  by  18  in.  &  from  60  to  TO  ft.  long.  Nov.  l;..  Amos  LeGro 
died  aged  85,  has  lived  in  Lancaster  since  1798.  Dec.  14.  Town  meeting. 
Voted  to  exempt  a  new  hotel  from  taxation  (cost  to  be  ten  thousand  dollars) 
for  five  years. 

1879,  Feb.  27.  George  Howe  died  aged  76.  A  simple-minded,  eccen- 
tric person  known  as  Dr.  Howe  for  many  years.  He  was  a  monomaniac 
on  theology,  &  medicine.  March  13.  A  very  spirited  contest  occurred 
this  evening  at  the  Annual  District  School  Meeting.  Under  the  new  law 
women  voted  for  the  first  time,  about  fifty  were  present.  Oct.  7.  The 
telegraph  office  moved  to  Noyes'  book  store.  Miss  Mary  N.  Brackett  oper- 
ator. Oct.  21.  From  1,500  to  2,000  bushels  of  potatoes  are  sent  to  Boston, 
weekly,  by  rail.     Prices  30  cts.  per  bushel. 

1880,  April  13.  Mrs.  Edward  Melcher,  a  blind  woman  eighty  years  old, 
was  burned  to  death  by  her  clothing  taking  fire.  July  26.  American 
House  burned.  The  Horace  T.  Holton  house,  built  by  Mr.  Wilder,  is  said 
to  have  been  raised  100  years  ago  to-day.  August  10,  copied  deed  from 
Ephraim  Cross  to  Orthodox  Congregational  church  of  church  plat,  dated 
Nov.  23,  1840.  Price  $200.  Aug.  14.  First  parade  of  Lancaster  Eifle  Com- 
pany since  receiving  new  breech-loading  guns.  Aug.  24.  Judge  Stanley 
holding  a  term  of  court  to  try  the  "Starch  Mill"  cases.  Sept.  6.  Doctor 
Frank  Bugbee  died  as  was  supposed  of  diphtheria.  Oct.  12.  Great  incon- 
venience is  felt  for  want  of  water  caused  by  the  failure  of  wells  and  springs. 
Water  is  brought  from  Martin  Meadow  pond  by  teams  for  family  use. 
The  cattle  on  the  farms  in  that  vicinity  are  driven  to  the  pond  daily  to 
drink. 

1881,  Feb.  3.  People  speak  of  the  last  week  as  one  of  almost  unprece- 
dented severity^  of  cold;  cellars  have  frozen,  water  pipes  freeze  up,  and 
double  the  amount  of  wood  used  necessary  in  ordinary  winter  weather.  Feb. 
4.  Shop  opened  for  manufacture  of  bobbins  by  Mr.  Bowles  of  Lisbon,  steam 
power.  March  10.  Mrs.  William  Heywood  died  this  morning  aged  73. 
May  3<).  Decoration  Day  observed  by  a  lengthy  procession  of  the  military 
company,  members  of  the  G.  A.  E.  post,  fire  companies,  Sabbath  School 
children,  and  citizens;  the  band  numbering  120,  out  in  their  new  uniform. 
June  4.  Fire  at  South  Lancaster.  Beattie's  Steam  Saw-mill  burned,  with 
railroad  depot,  hay -press,  large  storehouse  and  a  great  amount  of  sawed 
lumber,  with  13  platform  cars  loaded  with  wood.  William  A.  White, 
depot  master,  saved  his  store-building,  barn,  and  small  house  east  of  the 
road.     Sept.  6.  Was  obliged  to  light  my  desk  lamp  in  the  morning  to  see  to 


332  History  of  Coos  County. 

write,  did  not  put  it  out  until  9  a.  m.  The  sky  throughout  the  morning 
was  of  a  dull,  saffron  hue,  and  the  air  seemed  full  of  smoke.  (This  was 
the  day  known  in  New  England  as  "the  Yellow  Day".)  Oct.  5.  Apples 
on  the  trees  frozen  hard;  all  leaves  on  the  forest  trees  killed;  a  cold  wave 
pervaded  the  whole  country,  injuring  tobacco  in  Virginia  &  cotton  in  the 
more  Southern  States.  c.  31.     Last  year  (1880)  good  sleighing  com- 

menced Nov.  20,  and  continued  good,  without  interruption,  till  the  close  of 
the  first  week  in  March.  This  year,  no  sleighing  in  December,  only  two 
or  three  inches  of  snow.  Mercury  only  two  mornings  below  zero,  and 
then  but  two  degrees. 

1882,  May  8.  Lancaster  House  to  be  re-built  by  John  Lindsey,  to  have 
50  rooms  with  all  modern  improvements.  Commences  work  on  barn 
to-day.  A  number  of  guns  fired  to  celebrate  the  event.  June  12.  Frame 
of  the  main  building  of  Lancaster  House  raised.  Sept  12.  State  Conven- 
tion of  Congregational  ministers  commences  its  session.  Dec.  ly.  Slight 
shock  of  earthquake  felt  this  evening.  Dec.  29.  Meeting  of  the  Bar  Asso- 
ciation of  Coos  &  Grafton  Counties  held  at  the  Court  House.  The  Presi- 
dent, Wm.  Heywood,  delivering  the  address. 

1883,  March  3.  The  Everett  Spring  from  which  the  supply  of  water 
comes  to  my  house,  yields  less  than  two  quarts  per  minute— the  usual 
amount  when  water  is  plenty,  being  twelve  quarts  per  minute.  Great 
complaint  comes  from  all  quarters  of  failures  of  the  water  supply  for 
domestic  purposes.  March  16.  Orange  Wilder  died  aged  75  years;  a  native 
of  Lancaster,  and  occupying  through  life  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born. 
March  24.  The  snow  lies  nearly  two  feet  deep  in  the  open  fields,  and  three 
feet  deep  in  the  woods.  May  9.  Extensive  fires  in  the  woods.  Saw-mill 
&  houses  at  Jefferson,  owned  by  Jeremiah  Ricker,  burned.  July  14.  Seth 
Adams,  aged  78,  died.  A  native  and  life  long  resident  of  this  town,  a 
strictly  honest  and  conscientious  man.  Mrs.  Abigail,  wife  of  Col.  Ephraim 
Cross,  died  aged  7s.  August  3.  Seth  Savage  died,  aged  77  years,  a  native 
and  life  long  resident  of  Lancaster.  Oct.  28.  Mr.  Samuel  Rowell  died,  aged 
73  years.  Nov.  11.  Attended  church.  This  is  the  400  anniversary  of  the 
birth  of  Martin  Luther.  The  discourse  was  an  appropriate  one  for  the 
occasion.  Nov.  30.  Meeting  of  gentlemen,  the  object  being  to  organize  an 
association  to  collect  &  preserve  facts  in  relation  to  the  early  history  of  the 
town  &  county.     Adjourned  to  Saturday,  Dec.  8. 

1884,  April  7.  The  Lancaster  library  which  was  donated  to  the  town 
by  its  owners,  was  removed  to-day  to  the  building  north  of  my  house, 
formerly  the  Baptist  Church,  &  more  recently  used  as  the  Armory  of  the 
Lancaster  Rifle  Company.  May  23.  The  Library  building  has  been  recently 
thoroughly  repaired,  refitted,  painted,  &  surrounded  by  a  new  fence  by 
the  present  owner,  George  P.  Rowell.  Aug.  28.  A  new  "lock-up,"  con- 
taining four  cells  for  prisoners,  has  recently  been  constructed  in  the  base- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  333 


ment  of  the  Town  Hall  building.  Dec.  6.  There  is  a  complaint  through- 
out the  country  of  dullness  of  trade  &  stagnation  of  business.  Most 
manufacturing  companies  cutting  down  wages,  or  discharging  workmen. 
Dec.  31.  Mr.  Sylvester  Marsh,  the  inventor  and  President  of  the  Mount 
Washington  railway,  died  at  Concord  yesterday. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


Early  Education,  Etc.  —  The  Public  Library  —  Schools — Union  Graded  School  -  Lancaster 
Academy  —  Sketch  of  the  First  Principal  —  "Raising  Men." 

t~Y  ARL Y Education,  Etc.- — The  people  of  Lancaster  from  the  earliest 
|7  r  date  of  its  settlement  have  ever  been  greatly  interested  in  literature. 
*\T  All  the  best  books,  as  they  were  published,  appeared  among  them, 
and  passed  from  hand  to  hand.  They  had  the  Boston  and  Concord  papers 
once  a  week,  and  if  their  news  was  old,  it  was  news  to  them.  There  was 
one  source  of  information  which  is  little  appreciated  now,  when  books  are 
so  numerous.  I  mean  talking.  The  public  house,  described  in  Goldsmith's 
"  Deserted  Village,"  well  illustrates  the  public  house  of  Lancaster  sixty  or 
more  years  ago.  I  have  seen  the  reception  rooms  of  b<  >th  of  the  <  >ld  taverns 
packed  full  of  people  standing,  all  as  quiet  as  at  a  public  lecture,  to  hear 
the  old  men  talk  of  the  books  they  had  read,  the  subjects  treated  upon, 
the  merits  of  the  authors,  their  ideas  upon  the  topics  named,  the  news  in 
the  papers  and  other  matters.  And  if  they  did  "discuss  news  older  than 
their  ale,"  it  was  news  to  the  listeners  and  not  lost  upon  them. 

William  Love  joy  was  the  best  talker.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  figure, 
possessed  a  clear,  good  voice,  and  had  original  and  decided  views  upon  all 
important  subjects,  and  was  liked  by  everybody.  He  was  a  joiner  by 
trade.  He  was  appointed  register  of  probate  in  L829,  but  died  soon  after. 
Mr.  Lovejoy  possessed  great  influence,  and  was  more  instrumental  in  organ- 
izing the  Methodist  society  upon  a  permanent  basis  than  any  other  man  in 
Lancaster.  He  had  one  son,  who  became  an  eminenl  preacher  of  that  de- 
nomination. Mr.  Lovejoy  came  to  Lancaster  from  Conway  about  17'.'.'-. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Moore  (one  of  the  most  substantial 
citizens  of  the  time)  and  had  a  large  and  very  respectable  family.  Adino 
N.  Brackett  was  more  of  a  scientific  man  than  others  of  his  coterie.  He 
was  an  exceedingly  pleasant  talker,  the  most  accurate  land  surveyor  in  the 

*By  James  W.  Weeks. 


334  History  of  Coos  County. 

northern  country.  John  W.  Weeks,  who  came  to  the  town  in  1787,  when 
there  were  not  inhabitants  to  have  schools,  became  one  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent men  on  general  subjects  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

Another  prominent  man  and  good  talker  was  Richard  Eastman.  He 
or  Mr.  Brackett  for  a  long  time  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature. 
When  Mr.  Eastman  came  home  he  brought  the  latest  books,  and  was  al- 
ways glad  to  lend  them  to  any  who  would  read  them.  He  came  to  this 
town  about  1798.  In  conversation  he  was  very  happy  in  illustration,  and 
told  a  story  admirably.  He  was  very  pleasant  in  his  family;  his  four  sons 
and  two  daughters  attained  maturity,  and  were  highly  respectable  citizens. 
His  wife  was  one  of  the  best  of  women,  and  lived  to  a  great  age.  Mr. 
Eastman  died  in  1812.  Asahel  Going,  the  clothier,  was  worthy  of  note. 
He  was  a  man  of  courtly  manners,  with  a  pleasant  voice,  of  clear,  well  de- 
fined ideas,  often  original,  and  kept  himself  thoroughly  informed  upon  the 
general  topics  of  the  day.  These  men,  with  many  others  whose  influence 
was  potent  for  good  in  the  town,  had  a  wonderful  power  in  shaping  the 
character  of  the  young  men  and  boys  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  know 
them. 

I  knew  most  of  these  people  as  well  as  a  boy  would  be  likely  to  know 
men  somewhat  advanced  in  life.  Most  of  the  persons  I  have  named  were 
leading  spirits  in  the  settlement,  all  of  fair  education  and  many  of  them 
of  most  courtly  manners.  The  English  language  I  never  heard  murdered 
by  them  as  we  often  hear  it  in  our  day.  That  flat  nasal  tone  in  conversa- 
tion or  singing  that  we  sometime  hear  I  never  heard  from  them  or  their 
descendants.  The  ladies  were  not  a  whit  behind  their  husbands,  and  in 
taste  of  dress,  deportment  and  conversation  would  compare  favorably  with 
their  great-granddaughters.  In  a  religious  point  of  view  I  think  few  could 
claim  descent  from  Pilgrim  or  Puritan  ancestors.  Some  were  Episcopal- 
ians, and  all  extremely  liberal,  so  much  so  that  the  creed  of  the  church 
was  so  broad  that  any  professed  Christian  could  subscribe  to  it. 

As  early  as  1835  a  library  association  was  inaugurated  under  the  aus- 
pices of  Sylvester  P.  Williams,  Eliphalet  Lyman,  R.  P.  Kent,  Reuben 
Stephenson,  and  "associates." 

The  Public  Library. — In  1860  a  reading  club  was  organized  for  mutual 
improvement,  and  at  once  adopted  measures  to  purchase  books  for  the  use 
of  the  members.  A  public  entertainment  was  given  for  this  purpose  Nov- 
ember 27,  1860,  and  the  first  money  raised  for  the  library  came  from  it. 
From  time  to  time  a  few  books  were  added,  but  the  club  was  small,  and 
only  a  few  persons  were  interested  in  its  welfare.  The  members,  how- 
ever, kept  the  library  together,  and,  in  1867,  there  was  a  decided  interest 
aroused  for  a  permanent  library  placed  upon  a  subscription  basis.  A  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  town  hall,  October  21,  1867,  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
ization.    A  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted,  and  it  was  voted  to 


Town  of  Lancaster.  335 


issue  shares  at  twenty  dollars  each,  to  he  paid  in  annual  installments  of 
five  dollars,  and  to  restrict  the  use  of  the  books  to  the  purchasers  of  shares. 
Hon.  William  Hey  wood  was  elected  president  of  the  Association,  and  Dr. 
George  0.  Rogers  was  selected  to  be  the  librarian.  The  books  were  placed 
in  his  office,  and  through  the  persistent  efforts  of  Rev.  Henry  V.  Emmons 
and  other  friends  who  gave  much  time  and  strength  to  the  library,  it  grew 
steadily  from  that  time  forth.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  of  its  renewed 
growth,  the  library  contained  554  volumes, — sixty-six  were  donated  as  a 
nucleus  from  the  reading  club,  14o  were  donated  by  friends,  and  318  were 
purchased. 

In  1870  the  library,  which  then  contained  1,102  books,  was  removed  from 
the  office  of  Dr.  Rogers  to  a  room  belonging  to  Parker  J.  Noyes.  A  catalogue 
was  printed  at  this  date.  The  next  year  the  books  were  removed  to  the 
office  of  Dr.  Rogers,  and,  after  several  changes,  they  were  placed  in  the 
R.  P.  Kent  building.  The  library  was  successful  from  the  start  on  its  sub- 
scription basis;  new  shares  were  sold  every  year,  and  additional  volumes 
purchased.  These  books  were  largely  selected  by  Rev.  H.  V.  Emmons 
and  Hon.  W.  S.  Ladd,  both  scholarly  men;  consequently  the  selection  was 
made  with  good  taste  and  judgment,  and  the  library  has  become  an  un- 
usually fine  one.  But  many  of  its  patrons  were  not  satisfied  to  have  it 
held  only  for  the  benefit  of  the  association  as  a  subscription  library;  George 
P.  Rowell,  of  New  York,  a  most  loyal  friend  of  education  and  intellectual 
improvement,  who  had  made  many  liberal  gifts  to  the  association,  was 
very  desirous  that  there  should  be  a  free  public  library  in  Lancaster,  and 
through  his  influence  steps  were  taken  to  bring  about  this  result.  The 
association  then  voted  to  surrender  its  books  to  the  town  of  Lancaster,  on 
condition  that  the  town  should  maintain  a  free  public  library,  and  appro- 
priate yearly  for  its  use  not  less  than  $400,  and,  at  the  annual  town  meet- 
ing of  March,  1884,  the  proposition  was  accepted,  and  a  board  of  trustees 
was  elected:  Jared  I.  Williams,  Frank  D.  Hutchins,  George  P.  Rowell, 
Irving  W.  Drew,  Emily  Rowell,  who  still  continue  in  office. 

To  make  a  permanent  home  for  the  library,  George  P.  Rowell  offered 
to  give  the  use  of  the  building  owned  by  him,  (which  had  been  occupied  as 
an  armory,)  for  five  years,  provided  an  equal  sum  to  his  gift  ($500)  was 
raised  by  general  subscription.  This  was  cheerfully  done  by  the  citizens 
of  the  town.  Francis  Leggett,  of  New  York,  gave  |50  towards  the  pur- 
chase of  books.  Mr.  Rowell  offered  to  pay  the  expense  of  cataloguing  the 
books,  and  give  a  catalogue  to  every  family  in  town.  In  April.  lvS4,  the 
library  was  established  in  its  present  location,  Mr.  Rowell  fitting  the  build- 
ing up  at  his  own  expense;  the  cataloguing  was  done  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Mor- 
rison assisted  by  Mrs.  Philip  Carpenter,  now  of  New  York,  and  July  29, 
1884,  the  public  was  admitted  to  its  benefits,  which  have  been  and  are 
greatly  appreciated. 


336  History  of  Coos  County. 

Mr.  Rowell  still  continues  to  show  his  interest  in  its  growth  and  per- 
manent usefulness  by  generous  gifts.  In  1886  Miss  Emily  Eowell.  who 
has  devoted  much  time  to  the  library,  prepared  a  supplementary  catalogue. 
The  number  of  volumes  is  about  4,000.  The  first  librarian  was  Mrs.  Eugene 
S.  Leavitt;  the  present  one  Mrs.  E.  W.  Wyman. 

Schools. — The  data  relating  to  our  schools  is  more  difficult  to  obtain 
than  that  of  any  other  interest  of  the  town.  Therefore  a  detailed  account 
of  their  origin  and  progress  cannot  be  given,  it  is  certain,  however,  that  the 
town  took  early  action  in  the  matter,  and  has  always  maintained  its 
schools  up  to  a  high  standard  of  excellence  and  efficiency. 

The  town  was  divided  into  three  school  districts  about  the  year  1790,. 
the  first  embracing  what  is  now  the  village  proper  or  the  Union  school 
district;  the  second  the  territory  from  the  Parson  Willard  place  or  parson- 
age, to  Dalton  line,  and  covering  the  northerly  side  of  the  Martin  Meadow 
Hills;  the  third  extended  from  the  northern  limits  of  what  is  now  the  vil- 
lage, to  Northumberland  line.  The  Stockwells,  Pages  and  Stanleys  were  in 
this  district. 

In  1830  there  were  ten  districts  with  400  pupils  in  all  the  schools;  with 
an  average  attendance  of  fifteen  to  100  in  each,  and  a  "term  of  continu- 
ance," of  two  to  four  months.  The  discipline  was  kindly  but  rigid;  the 
text  books  comprised  the  New  National  Spelling  Book,  Marshall's  Spelling 
Book,  National  Reader,  History  of  the  United  States,  Woodbury's  Geogra- 
phy, Morse's  Geography,  Colburn's  Arithmetic,  Lindley  Murray's  Grammar, 
and  a  punctuated  pronouncing  testament.  A  law  was  in  vogue  at  this 
period  requiring  school  committees  to  report  the  number  of  children 
between  four  and  fourteen  who  had  never  attended  school,  also  of  older 
persons  between  fourteen  and  twenty-one  who  could  not  read  and  write. 
The  report  of  1830  was  made  by  Jared  W.  Williams,  who  congratulates 
the  citizens  that  none  of  the  above  classes  exist  in  the  community. 

As  the  settlements  extended  east  and  south  new  districts  were  formed, 
and  at  the  present  time  there  are  fourteen  school  districts,  the  first  and 
twelfth  making  the  Union  district,  the  number  of  scholars  therein  exceed- 
ing all  the  other  districts  in  town.  This  school  is  conducted  by  an  able 
committee  with  a  well  qualified  and  efficient  corps  of  instructors.  The 
number  of  scholars  in  attendance  in  the  various  districts  according  to  the 
report  of  the  school  board  for  1885-86  was  1,214,  the  average  attendance 
for  the  same  terms  was  1,139.  Whole  amount  of  taxes  for  school  purposes 
$4,070.83. 

Union  Graded  School. — This  was  formed  about  1867  with  three  teach- 
ers, and  a  school-house  was  erected  in  1868.  The  pupils  then  numbered 
about  one  hundred.  There  are  now  two  hundred  and  seventy  scholars, 
divided  thus:  two  hundred  in  the  school  building,  and  a  grammar  class 
of  fifty  in  the  academy  building.     From  twenty-five  to  thirty  high  school 


Town  of  Lancaster.  :;::7 

scholars  attended  the  academy  under  the  provisions  of  the  Soraersworth 
act.  Great  pains  are  taken  to  supply  the  school  with  the  most  competent 
teachers.  Normal  school  graduates  being  in  nearly  all  instances  employed. 
The  present  instructors  are:  Principal  and  Second  Intermediate  depart- 
ment, Hattie  Gordon;  First  Intermediate,  Frank  B.  Flanders;  Second  Pri- 
mary, Lillie  P.  Shaw;  First  Primary,  Carrie  A.  Curtis;  Grammar  school, 
Mary  M.  Moore.  Board  of  Education — president,  J.  I.  Williams;  clerk,  W. 
F.  Burns;  treasurer,  E.  R.  Kent;  Frank  Smith,  M.  A.  Hastings,  Charles 
E.  Howe.  It  cost  $2,600  annually  to  support  this  school,  $1,100  of  which 
comes  from  the  town. 

Lancaster  Academy  r — The  early  settlers  of  Lancaster  were  marked 
men.  One  of  their  most  striking  characteristics  was  individuality. 
They  were  thoughtful,  original  men.  They  were  composed  of  such 
stuff  as  heroes  are  made  of.  They  were  brave  and  self-sacrificing, 
unflinching  and  self-reliant.  The  men  had  courage,  and  the  women 
fortitude.  No  other  men  or  women  than  such  as  these  would  have  left 
their  early  comfortable  homes  to  push  their  way  over  such  then 
long  journeys,  through  unbroken  forests,  without  roads  or  comforts  on 
the  way.  They  mastered  the  difficulties;  they  were  superior  to  circum- 
cumstances;  they  conquered.  They  saw,  or  thought  they  saw,  in  this  north- 
ern country,  rich  lands  for  themselves  and  their  children  where  they  could 
improve  their  condition.  Descendants  of  an  ancestry  deprived  of  owning 
real  estate  in  another  country,  they  coveted  lands.  Whatever  the  labor, 
whatever  the  sacrifice,  whatever  the  present  deprivation,  they  risked  all  for 
their  new  homes;  never  faltering,  never  regretting.  The  next  generation, 
reared  in  this  hardy  school  which  strengthens  the  brain  as  well  as  the 
muscle,  made  their  mark  in  this  communit}^,  which  deserves  a  passing 
notice.  They  stood  far  enough  away  from  the  pioneer  to  see  the  necessity 
of  a  molding  influence  on  the  young  mind;  and  to  realize  the  importance 
of  culture. 

One  of  the  most  important  things  of  this  generation,  and  which  has 
perhaps  done  more  to  give  character  to  the  town  and  elevate  society  than 
any  other  one  thing,  was  the  founding  of  Lancaster  academy.  I  propose 
in  this  paper  to  speak  of  this  institution,  its  founders,  teachers  and  schol- 
ars, and  its  influence  in  this  community.  This  generation  just  spoken  of 
was  the  natural  outcome  from  the  rough  life  of  these  hardy  pioneers. 
Reared  in  such  a  school  they  had  sound  minds  in  sound  bodies.  They 
thirsted  for  knowledge  and  improvement.  They  were  self-made  men.  and 
many  of  them  well  educated,  though  schools  were  few  and  means  scanty. 
By  the  light  of  pitch  knots  and  tallow  candles  before  the  broad  old  fire- 
place, they  literally  devoured  all  the  books  in  the  neighborhood,  such  as 

*Paper  read  before  the  Lancaster  Historical  Association  by  B:  F.  Whidden. 


338  History  of  Coos  County. 

Rollin's  i^ncient  History,  Plutarch's  Lives,  the  English  Classics,  American 
History  from  the  landing  of  Columbus,  and  the  United  States'  Constitution. 
Many  of  them  rose  to  distinction  and  gave  tone  to  society.  These  and  such 
as  these  were  the  founders  of  Lancaster  academy.  For  their  children  they 
sought  a  more  liberal  education  than  was  afforded  in  the  public  schools. 
To  this  end  the  leading  spirits  of  the  town  united,  and  out  of  their  private 
means  pledged  money  for  the  support  of  a  school  for  a  more  liberal  edu- 
cation. 

I  am  this  evening  in  the  company  of  scholars  whose  laudable  object  is  to 
collect  scraps  of  the  history  of  the  town  before  it  is  too  late.  As  much  of 
what  I  have  hereafter  to  say  has  transpired  within  my  time  and  come 
within  my  observation,  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  in  this  instance,  to  speak 
in  the  first  person,  for  I  can  say  of  myself  what  Eneas  said  to  Queen  Dido 
in  relating  to  her  his  wanderings  after  the  Sacking  of  Troy;  changing  the 
superlative  adjective  of  the  sod  to  one  of  only  'pleasant  memory,  "  quce 
que  ipse  pulcherima  vidi  et  quorum  pars  magna  fui."  Thus  to  secure  the 
benefits  of  a  more  liberal  education  for  the  rising  generation,  the  leading 
citizens  of  Lancaster  applied  to  the  legislature  for  a  charter  to  be  organized 
for  this  special  purpose.  In  1828  Lancaster  academy  was  chartered,  with 
all  the  privileges,  immunities,  and  liabilities  common  to  literary  institu- 
tions; and  William  Lovejoy,  John  W.  Weeks,  Jared  W.Williams,  Eichard 
Eastman,  William  Farrar,  Thomas  Carlisle,  Samuel  A.  Pearson,  Reuben 
Stephenson,  and  Adino  N.  Brackett,  were  made  the  grantees.  This  char- 
ter was  signed  by  James  Wilson,  Jr.,  speaker  of  the  House;  Nahum  Par- 
ker, president  of  the  Senate,  and  approved  by  John  Bell,  governor.  Under 
this  charter  Lancaster  academy  was  organized  February  2,  1829.  All  the 
grantees,  nine  in  number,  accepted  the  place  of  trustees,  under  its  provis- 
ions, and  William  Lovejoy  was  chosen  president,  Jared  W.  Williams, 
secretary,  and  John  W.  Weeks,  treasurer.  The  charter  was  amended  July  2, 
183],  making  a  few  additional  provisions,  and  remains  to-day  as  then  en- 
acted. Not  one  of  the  members  of  the  first  board  of  trustees  is  now  living. 
In  the  intermediate  time  the  list  has  been  made  up  of  many  of  the  most 
influential  men  in  town,  and  useful  members  of  society,  who  now  have 
passed  away.  The  names  of  the  present  members  of  the  board  in  the  order 
of  appointment,  are  as  follows:  Richard  P.  Kent,  James  V\r.  Weeks, 
William  Burns,  Benjamin  F  Whidden.  Henry  O.  Kent,  Edward  Spaul- 
ding,  George  S.  Stock  well,  William  S.  Ladd,  and  Jared  I.  Williams.  The 
names  of  the  trustees  between  the  first  and  the  present  board  are  as  fol- 
lows: John  H.  White.  Joshua  Marshall,  John  Wilson,  John  S.  Wells, 
Royal  Joyslin,  James  M.  Rix,  S.  A.  Barnard,  Robert  Ingalls,  John  Pendex- 
ter,  Samuel  A.  Pearson,  Barton  G.  Towne  and  Warren  Porter. 

By  an  article  in  the  by-laws,  the  principal  of  the  academy  was  called 
preceptor,  and  that  ancient  name  has  obtained   ever  since.     The  follow- 


Town  of  Lancastkk.  339 


ing  are  the  names  of  the  different  preceptors  in  the  order  of  time:  Na- 
thaniel Wilson,  Walter  P.  Flanders,  William  H.  Hadley,  Moses  Johnson, 
Ezra  E.  Adams,  George  Barstow,  Harry  Hibbard,  Benjamin  F.  Whidden, 
John  H.  Wakefield,  Elihu  T.  Rowe,  Moses  H.  White'  Thomas  L.  Wake- 
field, Daniel  C.  Pinkham,  Tinman  Ricard,  Samuel  A.  Lord,  S.  E.  Cum 
mings,  Adino  J.  Burbank,  David  R.  Lang,  Daniel  A.  Bowe,  Sylvester 
Marsh,  Harlan  W.  Page,  William  A.  Odell,  Lyman  Walker,  A.  W.  T<  n- 
ney,  0.  C.  Palmer,  J.  C.  Irish,  S.  A.  Jones,  A.  K.  Whitcomb,  Jonathan 
Smith,  William  W.  Holman,  William  W.  Morrill,  G.  C.  Fisher,  -  San- 
born,   Rolfe,  ■  Armington,   W.   A.    Burbeck,   Thomas  Macomber, 

Isaac  L.  Rogers,  F.  B.  Spaulding,  and  D.  T.  Timberlake. 

The  first  session  of  the  academy  was  opened  by  Nathaniel  Wilson,  in 
September,  1829,  in  the  old-court  house,  on  the  spot  where  Kimball  B. 
Fletcher's  house  now  stands.  It  was  a  primitive  old  house  with  high-back 
plank  seats,  and  the  windows  so  high  that  the  students  could  not  look  out 
on  the  passers  by.  The  stove  was  an  inverted  pot-ash  kettle,  perched  upon 
a  high  brick  arch.  The  pipe  was  adjusted  at  the  top  of  the  kettle,  where 
a  hole  had  been  broken  through  to  make  way  for  the  smoke.  In  this 
same  old  building  justice  had  been  administered  under  Richardson,  Green, 
Harris,  and  Livermore,  in  that  quaint  old  style  we  read  of  in  the  early 
history  of  New  Hampshire.  Here  had  been  heard  within  the  bar  the  im- 
pressive tones  of  Webster,  the  sharp  repartee  of  Bartlett,  and  the  clean, 
sweeping  argument  of  Mason.  A  little  later  James  Wilson,  Joel  Parker, 
and  Joseph  Bell. 

Let  us  go  back  to  the  early  days  of  the  academy  under  Nathaniel  Wil- 
son, Waiter  P.  Flanders,  and  William  H.  Hadley,  in  this  old  building  at 
the  head  of  Main  street.  At  nine  o'clock  by  the  watch  precisely,  the 
stately  preceptor  walks  in  with  books  and  manuscripts  under  his  arm, 
watched  by  all  eyes.  Every  student  is  supposed  to  be  in  his  seat  to  answer 
to  the  roll  call.  The  answer  to  the  last  W  and  Y  on  the  list,  is  a  signal  for 
business.  The  school-room  is  the  study-room,  and  the  contest  is  over 
books,  slates,  manuscripts,  and  the  black-board.  As  we  go  round  the 
room  let  us  take  a  list  of  the  text-books  in  use.  English: — National  Reader, 
Adams'  old  Arithmetic,  Davie's  Algebra,  Conversation  on  Natural  Philos- 
ophy and  Chemistry,  Playfair's  Euclid,  Murray's  Grammar,  Blair's  Rhetoric. 
Watts  on  the  Mind,  and  AValker's  Dictionary.  Latin:  —  Gould's  Adams' 
Grammar,  Liber  Primus,  Latin  Reader,  Cooper's  Virgil,  Folsom's  Cicero, 
Anthon's  Sallust,  Ainsworth's  Dictionary,  and  Anthon's  Classical  Diction- 
ary. Greek: — Fisk's  Grammar,  Jacob's  Reader,  Greek  Testament,  and 
Donegan's  Lexicon.  In  comparing  this  list  with  the  text-books  of  to-day, 
I  find  a  very  great  improvement  in  the  latter,  particularly  in  the  way  of 
presenting  things  to  the  mind.     In  English  grammar,  however,  I  cannot 


340  History  of  Coos  County. 

quite  agree  that  any  modern  author  has  ever  got  much  in  advance  of  old 
Lindley  Murray;  particularly  in  syntax  and  prosody. 

The  art  of  teaching  has  not  only  changed,  but  very  much  improved 
within  the  life  of  the  academy.  From  Wilson  to  Timberlake  the  change 
has  been  great,  and  the  improvement  so  decidedly  marked  that  I  will  not 
draw  a  parallel.  Yet,  with  all  this  marked  improvement  in  favor  of  the 
present  in  teachers,  books,  and  systems  of  instructions,  there  is  much  to 
be  said  in  favor  of  those  early  days.  The  teachers  were  good  drill-masters, 
good  disciplinarians;  and  the  students,  seeming  in  dead  earnest,  made  the 
most  of  their  time.  They  dug  gold  out  of  solid  rock.  It  was  not  brought 
to  their  doors.  "Ponies  "and  "  keys  "  were  not  known  then — were  not 
needed.  Many  of  the  young  men  of  that  early  day,  seeking  an  education, 
walked  from  one  to  three  miles  of  a  morning,  with  books  under  their  arms 
to  school,  and  were  not  tardy.  This  produced  in  them  what  they  learned 
in  their  classics,  "  Mens  sana  in  corpore  sano"  and  sent  along  into  another 
generation  what  the  founders  of  the  academy  inherited  from  the  pioneers. 

This  academy  was  the  pride  of  the  town,  and  its  influence  was  marked 
among  all  its  inhabitants,  and  incited  in  the  young  an  ambition  for  sound  an  d 
liberal  education.  The  old  building  at  the  head  of  Main  street  was  moved 
down,  in  1836,  to  where  the  present  academy  stands,  and  enlarged  and 
improved.  This  was  used  till  1862,  when  the  present  one  was  built,  and 
the  old  moved  across  the  way  for  a  Babtist  church. 

The  influence  of  this  institution  has  not  been  circumscribed.  Its  alumni 
are  to  day  in  almost  every  prominent  city  in  the  Union.  I  recall  those  in 
Boston,  New  York,  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  Newark, 
San  Francisco,  Stockton,  Portland,  Bangor,  Springfield,  and  the  distant 
state  of  Oregon.  They  hold  their  own  and  make  their  mark  among 
bankers,  engineers,  merchants,  lawyers,  teachers,  doctors,  and  divines,  and 
reflect  credit  on  their  Alma  Mater.  I  have  no  knowledge  that  any  one  of 
them  has  ever  committed  a  crime. 

We  are  to-night  to  collect  facts  and  gather  up  the  incidents  in  the  life 
of  the  town,  and  then  extract  their  meaning  for  history.  This  human 
mind,  which  creates  and  writes  history,  must  also  read  it;  and  this  same 
human  mind  must  solve  it.  The  hours  make  up  the  centuries.  The  his- 
tory of  an  epoch  is  all  to  be  explained  by  individual  experience  What 
others  have  felt,  we  can  feel;  what  others  have  known,  we  can  learn;  else 
to  us  all  history  is  a  riddle.  Every  fact  related  must  find  some  internal 
correspondence  in  us,  or  it  is  not  intelligible.  The  history  of  the  academy 
is  an  important  chapter  in  the  work,  and  when  written  it  will  find  an  im- 
portant place  in  the  history  of  the  town.  All  honor,  then,  to  the  founders 
of  this  institution!  And  I  shall  have  accomplished  my  work  of  the  even- 
ing, if  I  shall  have  drawn  your  minds  into  the  light  of  their  influence  upon 
the  then  rising  generation. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  341 


They  sleep  in  the  old  cemetery  yonder,  beside  which  stands  their  monu- 
ment, the  academy.  As  one  of  the  alumni,  I  would  place  on  their  cenotaph 
these  words: — 

"Founders  of  Lancaster  Academy." 

"Beneath  those  ancient  elms  and  pine-tree  shade, 
Where  heaves  the  turf  in  many  a  mouldering-  heap, 

Each  in  his  narrow  cell  forever  laid, 

These  worthy  fathers  of  the  village  sleep." 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Wilson,  the  first  preceptor  of  Lancaster  academy, 
was  born  in  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  September  18,  L808.  He  fitted  for  college 
at  Haverhill  academy,  entered  Dartmouth  college  in  July.  L825,  and  grad- 
uated in  July,  1829.  He  came  to  Lancaster  in  September  following  and 
took  charge  of  the  academy,  just  chartered  and  organized.  He  was  a 
thorough  scholar,  an  able  teacher,  and  well  adapted  to  the  discipline  and 
drill  of  that  day.  Educated  and  graduated  while  yet  the  spirit  and  man- 
ners of  the  men  of  the  Revolution  remained  with  their  descendants,  by 
his  commanding  presence  and  genial  manners  he  brought  and  cultivated 
respect  in  the  schoolroom.  The  academy  under  his  tuition  made  its  mark 
in  the  cultivation  of  literary  taste,  the  love  of  reading,  and  a  desire  for 
advanced  scholarship.  He  occupied  the  chair  in  this  institution  two  years; 
and  there  are  many  of  his  pupils  now  occupying  places  of  distinction  in 
various  states  of  the  Lmion  to  bear  witness  to  the  formative  influence  of 
their  early  preceptor.  Mr.  Wilson  then  read  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon. 
George  Evans,  in  Gardner,  Me.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  August, 
1833.  He  located  at  Orono,  Me.,  in  1834,  and  is  still  in  the  active  practice 
of  law  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight.  The  local  and  later  history 
of  Mr.  Wilson  are  specially  set  forth  in  the  published  history  of  Penob- 
scot county,  Maine. 

liaising  Men. — Noticeable  in  that  early  period,  was  the  large  families 
and  the  prevailing  good  health  of  the  mothers  and  children.  James  W. 
Weeks  says:  "There  were  in  my  boyhood,  nine  families  residing  near 
Mount  Prospect,  their  children  numbered  sixty-five,  sixty  three  of  these 
attained  maturity.  I  hazard  nothing  in  saying  that  not  one  of  these  chil- 
dren ever,  of  necessity,  went  to  bed  hungry  or  cold.  There  were  many 
families  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  children,  and  few  with  less  than  live  or  six. 
Many  of  those  mothers  who  brought  up  those  great  families  were  women 
of  refined  tastes,  cultivated  minds,  and  mothers  that  any  good  man  would 
be  happy  to  own.  It  was  a  proud  saying  of  an  old  stage-driver  of  years 
ago,  when  a  gentleman  from  a  more  favored  clime,  who.  noticing  our 
short  seasons,  and  as  he  thought  unfruitful  soil,  said  to  him.  'Why,  this 
is  a  poor  country!  What  can  you  raise  here?'  ' Raise  men,  sir  !  '  was  the 
reply.  Truly,  Lancaster  has  done  well  her  part  in  raising  good  men  and 
true  to  fill  honorable  and  high  positions." 


34r2  History  of  Coos  County, 


CHAPTER  XXIX.* 

Merchants -Manufacturers -Physicians,  Apothecaries  and  Druggists  -  Hotels. 


M 


ERCHiNTS  —Our  merchants  have  always  heen  among  our  lead- 
ing men  They  used  to  be  called  "  store  keepers,"  and  of  those  ot 
the  olden  time,  one  of  the  first  was  a  native  of  France  by  the 
name  of  Tuscan,  who  had  served  under  the  Bourbons  as  c^buI  at  Ports- 
mouth, but,  who,  on  the  accession  of  Napoleon,  came  to  Lancaste  and 
kept  a  variety  of  articles  on  sale  near  the  res.dence  of  Allen  Chase,  in  dis- 
trict No  2  His  dwelling  and  store  was  burned  out  about  1804,  whereupon 
he  retmmed  to  Portsmouth,  and,  after  the  overthrow  of  the  empire,  went 

back  to  his  native  land.  t  .      •    Pn:ifi, 

Titus  0  Brown,  who  exported  the  first  and  only  tobacco  from  Coos, 
had  his  residence  near  the  south  end  of  the  lower  bridge  and  near  y  on  the 
site  of  the  building  now  occupied  by  Charles  Howe  as  a  harness  £op 

Col.  Stephen  Wilson  was  located  at  the  north  end,  as  was  Ben  amm 
Boardman,  Thomas  Carlisle,  John  M.  Denis^n  and^ *™*.^™£* 
Cargill.  Samuel  White,  father  of  the  late  Nathamel  White,  of  Concord 
kept  his  goods  in  the  bar-room  of  his  tavern,  as  late  as  182o.  these  men 
wet  succeeded  by  Royal  Joy  slim  R.  P.  ^^^^^^^^ 
Bellows,  William  Sampson,  Lewis  C.  Porter,  Hosea  Gray,  D A ^Burnside, 
and  a  long  list  of  others,  who,  for  a  time,  were  associated  with  them  lo- 
davthe  ofdest  firm  in  town  is  that  of  «  R.  P.  Kent  &  Son,"  represented  by 
Col  E.  R.  Kent,  surviving  partner.  This  house  is  the  largest  purely  mer- 
cantile establishment  in  Coos  county,  with  an  immense  stock  of  dry  goods, 
ready-made  clothing,  carpets,  groceries,  farming  utensils,  etc.  eta  Next 
in  order  come  those  of  James  A  Smith  (forty  years  a  merchant  he  e), 
Kent  &  Roberts  (Nelson  Kentf  and  Burleigh  Roberts),  Bailey  &  Smith, 
and  S.  G.  Evans,  each  carrying  a  stock  of  dry  goods  unsurpassed  m  variety 

111  Frank  Smith  &  Co.  (Smith  &  Billiard),  besides  being  general  grocers 

*  This  chapter  was  chiefly  prepared  by  James  S.  Brackett. 

kelson  Kent  was  born  in  Lyman,  N.  H.     He  married  Debby  N.,  ^f^^^Z^ 
Sarah  A    (Goss)  Spaulding.     He  came  to  Lancaster  in  1836,  and  was  clerk  for  his  brothei K  P. 
Kent"  wit~  V  e  entered  into  partnership  in  1840,  and  continued  for  three  yea,.      n 
became  a  partner  of  R.  P.  Kent  &  Son,  with  firm  name  of  R.  P.  Kent,  Son  &  Co^    In  1870  ne 
ZZl  he  bus  ness  house  of  Kent  &  Spaulding  (John  W.).     C.  L.  Griswold  succeeded  M,  Spauld- 
Sg,  who  die  1  in  1883,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Burleigh  Roberts,  f orming  thepresen £m  of  Ken 
&  Roberts.     Mr.  Kent,  for  half  a  century,  has  been  among  the  business  men  of  Lancaster,  and 
courteous  manners,  strict  integrity  and  honorable  dealings  are  known  to  all. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  343 


and  provision  dealers,  have  a  large  trade  in  flour  and  grain,  coal,  wood  and 
lumber,  supplying  with  these  articles,  to  a  great  extent,  a  large  surround- 
ing country.  The  grocery  and  provision  trade  is  further  represented  by 
D.  W.  Smith,  Howe  Brothers,  C.  C.  Noyes.  A.  G.  Evans,  W.  R.  Evans, 
Joseph  McGee,  and  in  East  Lancaster  by  George  S.  Stockwell. 

Boohs  and  Stationery. — George  H.  Colby  has  the  largest  and  best  se- 
lected stock  of  books  in  the  county.  On  his  shelves  can  be  found  the  stand- 
ard authors,  and  a  great  variety  of  miscellaneous  works.  Orders  for 
magazines,  subscription  books,  and  other  publications  are  made  a  specialty. 
In  connection  with  his  book  trade,  he  has  a  job  printing  office.  He  is  one 
of  the  best  book-buyers  and  book-sellers  in  the  state. 

Hardware  and  Agricultural  Implements  are  extensively  sold  by  Cob- 
leigh  &  Moore,  who  keep  as  fine  a  stock  as  can  be  found  in  any  country 
town — also  by  George  S.  Morse  in  more  limited  variety. 

Tailoring  and  clothing  establishments  are  represented  by  Thomas  S. 
Underwood,  Nelson  Sparks.  C.  Deitrich  and  George  W.  Lane,  while  many 
of  the  merchants  keep  ready-made  clothing  on  hand. 

Boots,  Shoes,  Etc.,  by  Vernon  R.  Smith,  Hazo  Woodward  and  0.  E. 
Allen. 

Millinery  and  dress  goods,  by  Mrs.  S.  G.  Evans,  Mrs.  Mallard  and  Mrs. 
Cross. 

The  trade  of  to-day  is  chiefly  a  cash  trade,  whereas,  before  the  construc- 
tion of  the  railroad  it  was  a  system  of  barter,  hay,  grain  and  farm  products 
being  exchanged  for  the  various  commodities  the  merchants  had  on  hand, 
and  it  was  not  always  by  any  means  that  their  stocks  in  trade  embraced  a 
great  variety. 

Manufactures. — Years  ago  the  spinning  wheel,  flax  wheel,  and  the  old 
fashioned  hand  loom,  were  heard  in  almost  every  house  and  cabin  in  this 
section.  "Homespun  "  and  hand- woven  fabrics  were  worn  by  all  classes; 
and  of  course  fulling  mills  were  necessary,  where  the  cloth  was  not  only 
fulled,  but  dyed,  and,  as  it  was  called,  dressed.  At  one  time,  the  town 
had  two  of  these  mills  in  successful  operation,  one  of  these  being  the 
Going  mill — taking  its  name  from  Asahel  Going — on  or  near  the  site  of 
the  furniture  factory  of  N.  H.  Richardson,  on  Water  street,  and  the  other 
on  or  near  the  site  of  the  saw-mill  now  owned  and  run  by  F.  Smith  &  Co.; 
but  the  necessity  for  these  mills  has  ceased,  as  cloths  and  clothing  are 
manufactured  elsewhere. 

Carriages  and  the  various  vehicles  for  comforl  and  use  in  transporta- 
tion and  conveyance  have  been  extensively  manufactured  here  since  aboul 
L842;  Harvey  Adams  being  the  first  to  make  a  specialty  of  tins  branch  of 
business.  His  shops  were  at  various  times  in  different  localities,  once  at 
the  old  trip  hammer  shop,  so-called,  where  Mathew  Monahan  now  does 
business  as  blacksmith,  again  where  James  McCarten  now  works  and  does 


344  History  of  Coos  County. 


a  large  business  as  blacksmith,  and  again,  and  lastly,  in  the  building 
where  is  now  Charles  Howe's  harness  shop.  Edward  DuFoe  at  one  time 
had  a  carriage  and  furniture  shop  on  the  premises  recently  owned  and 
occupied  by  Hon.  B.  F.  Whidden,  but  now  the  residence  of  George  Van 
Dyke.  DnFoe  brought  to  public  notice  the  Elliptic  spring  buggy;  such  an 
improvement  on  the  old  thorough  brace  wagon,  that  its  elegance  and  ease 
was  unquestioned. 

Thompson  Manufacturing  Co. — Samuel  Rines  had  been  for  many  years 
engaged  in  the  business  of  blacksmithing,  had  acquired  some  property, 
and  was  the  owner  of  the  saw-mill,  which  had  long  been  a  feature  in  the 
business  of  the  town,  located  on  the  northern  side  of  Israel's  river,  near 
where  his  blacksmith  shop  was  situated;  there,  in  connection  with  his  son, 
W.  M.  Rines,  he  began  the  manufacture  of  plows  and  various  agri- 
cultural implements.  The  "  Rines  plow  "  had  a  celebrity  which  was  well 
deserved,  and  some  of  them  are  still  doing  service  on  the  farms  of  Coos. 
In  1858  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  Jared  I.  Williams  &  Co.,  who 
conducted  it.  with  improvements  in  machinery  and  a  more  extensive 
business,  until  May,  1860,  when  Alexander  and  Daniel  Thompson  bought 
an  interest,  and  the  firm  became  Thompson,  Williams  &  Co.,  making 
nearly  all  the  kinds  of  machinery  then  in  use.  The  genius  and  taste  of 
Alexander  Thompson  added  largely  to  the  success  of  this  establishment. 
(See  biography.) 

In  1869  au  incorporated  company  was  formed,  "The  Lancaster  Iron 
Works  " — which,  after  an  existence  of  a  year,  was  dissolved,  the  business 
passing  into  the  hands  of  Alexander  Thompson.  January  9,  1873,  the  old 
.machine  shop  was  burned,  and  Mr.  Thompson  lost  the  results  of  years  of 
labor,  inventive  genius,  and  industry.  Fifteen  thousand  dollars  was  an 
enormous  loss  to  the  enterprising  man,  but  he  did  not  slacken  his  labor. 
He  at  once  purchased  the  property  of  the  defunct  '"Lancaster  Starch  Co.," 
on  Canal  street,  and  put  up  a  new  shop,  the  same  year.  The  quality  of 
the  work  done,  the  high  character  of  the  proprietor,  and  the  pains  taken 
to  give  satisfaction  to  patrons,  brought  a  large  and  constantly  increasing 
amount  of  orders.  After  conducting  a  prosperous  business  until  October 
19,  1874,  and  making  the  industry  one  of  the  solid  institutions  of  Coos 
county,  and  a  valuable  auxiliary  to  the  prosperity  of  Lancaster,  Mr. 
Thompson  admitted  Kimball  B.  Fletcher,  Jr.,  who  had  been  trained  into  a 
skillful  workman  under  Mr.  Thompson's  own  supervision,  and  Frank  H. 
Twitchell,  his  brother-in-law,  as  partners  under  the  firm  name  of  "Alex. 
Thompson  &  Co."  This  continued,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Thompson,  in 
L882,  until  May  7,  L884,  when  the  "Thompson  Manufacturing  Company" 
was  formed  with  these  members:  K.  B.  Fletcher,  Jr.,  F.  H.  Twitchell, 
W.  T.  Jones,  and  C.  H.  Balch.  They  do  an  annual  business  of  over  $25,- 
000,  employ  from  eighteen  to  twenty  workmen,  with  a  pay-roll  of  about 


Town  of  Lancaster.  345 


$1,000  a  month.  Practical  mechanics  themselves,  the  partners  give  their 
own  services  and  labors  to  the  work  and  maintain  the  high  reputation  of 
the  establishment  for  producing  excellent  machinery,  while  their  reliabil- 
ity and  accuracy  in  filling  orders  is  steadily  increasing  the  demand  for 
their  goods.  In  addition  to  iron  foundry  work  they  are  machinists  and 
millwrights,  and  manufacture  wood-working  machinery,  shafting,  gear- 
ing planers,  special  machinery,  etc.,  etc. 

Anderson  J.  Marshall,  who  had  been  quite  extensively  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  furniture,  commenced,  in  1817,  the  construction  of  car- 
riages on  a  rather  small  scale,  and  had  built  up  quite  a  business,  when,  in 
L852,  his  shops  were  burned;  but,  with  a  rare  energy,  he  erected  larger 
buildings,  and  with  improved  machinery  and  facilities  went  ahead  in  a 
work  that  required  skill  and  capital  and  achieved  a  success  profitable  to 
himself,  and  which  added  largely  to  the  interests  of  the  town.  (See  biog 
raphy.)  His  health  failing,  he  turned  over  his  business  to  his  son.  Anti- 
pas  P.  Marshall,  who  associated  with  himself  Wright  Chamberlain,  whose 
connection  with  the  firm  was  soon  dissolved,  and  Hon.  George  R.  Eaton 
became  a  partner,  and  the  business  is  now  conducted  under  the  firm  name 
of  " Marshall  &  Eaton."  Their  work  has  a  high  reputation.  In  busy 
times  they  employ  thirty  men.  They  have  received  orders  for  their  car- 
riages from  nearly  every  state  in  the  Union. 

Paper  Mill. — At  a  town  meeting  held  April  15,  1864,  it  was  voted, 
■"  that  the  selectmen  be,  and  hereby  are,  instructed  to  lease  in  perpetuity 
to  K.  B.  Fletcher,  Edmond  Brown,  Henry  0.  Kent,  Jason  H.  Woodward, 
J.  W.  Spaulding,  Charles  W.  Roby,  Frank  Smith  and  C.  E.  Allen,  doing 
business  as  '  K.  B  Fletcher  &  Co.,'  or  their  assigns,  the  waters  of  Israel- 
river  and  its  bed,  and  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  same,  being  the  same 
which  was  granted  or  given  to  the  town  by  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
town  of  Lancaster  to  the  said  town  for  the  benefit  of  schools,  viz. :  Com- 
mencing at  the  east  abutment  of  the  upper  bridge  and  running  up  [srael's 
river  seventy  six  rods,  and  as  much  farther  as  a  dam  ten  feet  high  at  said 
terminus  would  flow  back  the  water  of  said  Israel's  river,  for  the  sum  of 
one  dollar  annually  for  the  benefit  of  schools  in  said  town;  and  also,  in 
consideration  that  said  lessees  shall  erect,  or  cause  to  be  erected,  a  straw 
board  mill,  or  some  other  manufacturing  of  like  importance  to  the  town 
within  a  suitable  time,  and  keep  the  same  in  operation." 

The  Lancaster  Manufacturing  Company  was  soon  formed,  and  a  mill 
built  with  a  capacity  for  producing  several  tons  of  straw  board  a  week. 
In  1867  S.  H.  LeGro  became  treasurer  and  superintendent,  and  was  in 
charge  until  August,  1871,  when  H.  0.  Kent  became  treasurer,  and  J.  H. 
Woodward,  agent.  Mr.  Woodward  held  his  office  until  January  1,  187!*. 
It  was  not  a  financial  success,  and  Mr.  LeGro  and  Col.  Kent  took  the  mill 
off  the  stockholders'  hands,  and  agreed  to  pay  the  indebtedness.     In  1871 

23 


346  History  of  Coos  County. 

it  was  fitted  to  manufacture  paper.  Its  production  has  been  from  nine  to 
ten  tons  per  week  of  wrapping  and  manilla  paper,  and  gave  employment 
to  about  ten  men.  In  November,  1885,  the  mill  was  sold  to  T.  M.  Stevens, 
of  Boston,  and  the  business  is  now  conducted  by  E.  A.  Booth  and  H.  E. 
Stevens. 

Next  in  importance  in  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  town  is  the 
furniture  factory  of  N.  H.  Richardson  &  Son  (late  Richardson  &  Folsom), 
who  employ  from  eight  to  ten  men,  and  whose  sales  of  furniture,  finished 
and  unfinished,  are  very  extensive.  Mr.  Richardson  came  here  in  1867 
and  purchased  the  property  formerly  owned  by  Oliver  Baker,  (one  of  the 
first  who  made  the  manufacture  of  bedsteads,  bureaus  and  house  furnish- 
ing goods  a  specialty  in  Lancaster).  Mr.  Richardson  has  manifested  an 
enterprise  in  his  business  well  calculated  to  advance  the  pecuniary,  social, 
and  moral  interests  of  the  community. 

In  speaking  of  the  manufacture  of  household  furniture,  which  of  course 
was  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  times,  we  should  not  omit 
the  name  of  Samuel  Philbrook,  who  made  bureaus,  chairs,  and  bedsteads 
that  did  not,  perhaps,  rival  in  artistic  beauty  and  grace  those  of  modern 
times,  yet  still  had  the  qualities  of  ease  and  endurance.  Many  of  those  old 
arm  chairs  are  to  be  seen  in  the  houses  of  our  people,  and  weary  bodies 
recline  on  those  bedsteads,  made  comfortable  and  happy  by  the  beds  of 
feathers  plucked  from  the  geese  which  swam  and  cackled  in  the  passing- 
brook,  and  the  real  wool  blankets  made  from  the  fleece  of  the  flocks  that 
grazed  on  the  neighboring  hills. 

Frank  Sui  itJi  &  Co.  (Frank  Smith  and  Willie  E.  Bullard)  employ  a 
larger  number  of  men  and  teams  than  any  firm  in  town,  aside  from  their 
large  store — of  which  mention  has  already  been  made.  The  grist-mill,  em- 
bracing all  the  necessary  appliances  for  custom  work,  has  also  the  means 
for  converting  a  large  amount  of  foreign  grain  into  flour  and  meal.  Wheat 
and  corn  is  shipped  in  large  quantities  to  their  mills  from  the  west,  and 
then  retailed  throughout  the  surrounding  country.  Their  planing-mill 
and  hay-pressing  establishment,  located  just  east  of  the  flouring-mill.  the 
saw-mill  on  the  south  side  of  the  river, — each  are  emplo}red  most  of  the 
time,  and  the  amount  of  hay  pressed,  and  of  lumber  manufactured  and 
sent  away,  would  have  astonished  the  towns  people  of  twenty  years  ago. 
The  public  spirit  which  characterizes  the  firm  has  done  much  to  develop 
the  resources  of  the  town  and  has  added  to  its  wealth  and  material  pros- 
perity. 

Tlie  Door,  Sash,  and  Blind  Factory  of  Leavitt  &  Hartford  (Eugene 
Leavitt  and  N.  E.  Hartford)  does  an  extensive  business,  and  consequently 
employs  a  number  of  men. 

The  Carding  Works  of  Ira  E.  Woodward  (he  being  also  engaged  in 


Town  of  Lancaster.  347 


the  manufacture  of  carriages)  is  another  quite  important  elemenl   in  the 
prosperity  of  the  town. 

East  Lancaster. — There  are  several  saw-mills  in  town,  one  known  as  the 
Stockwell  mill,  on  the  site  of  theold  mill  once  owned  and  inn  by  Major  Joel 
Hemmenway,  in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  And  let  me  say,  that  around 
that  locality  has  sprung  up  quite  a  little  village  known  as  "East  Lancas- 
ter," with  its  store  (dry  goods  and  groceries),  of  which  George  S.  Stock- 
well  is  the  proprietor,  a  shoe  store,  William  G.  Ellis,  proprietor  (who  is 
also  postmaster  of  "Grange  "  postoffice),  three  shops,  and  a  general  air  of 
enterprise  and  thrift,  where  only  a  few  years  ago  there  was  the  solitary 
saw-mill,  and  a  single  dwelling  house. 

Other  Saiv-31 ills. — Higher  up  the  brook  is  the  sawmill  of  John  M. 
Whipple,  who  manufactures  almost  exclusively  hard  wood  lumber.  This 
mill  was  built  by  John  H.  Spaulding  more  than  forty  years  ago,  and  has 
done  a  good  deal  of  work.  Shattuck  &  Amidon  have  a  small  water-mill 
on  Beaver  brook.  John  M.  Clark  has  quite  a  manufactory  in  connection 
with  his  saw-mill,  near  the  south  line  of  the  town,  near  Scott's  Junction. 
On  the  Great  Brook  in  the  "  Gore,"  is  a  saw-mill  now  run  by  steam,  George 
W.  Garland,  proprietor,  and  where  the  immense  quantities  of  timber  on 
the  Pliny  range  of  hills,  and  in  their  valleys  in  the  township  of  Kilkenny, 
is  rapidly  being  cut  into  boards,  etc.  In  1878  D.  &  H.  Beattie  had  a  steam 
saw-mill  at  South  Lancaster  with  a  capacity  for  cutting  2,000,000  feet  of 
lumber  between  April  and  December.  They  made  a  specialty  of  headings 
for  molasses  hogsheads.  This  mill  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire,  and  was 
never  rebuilt.  Halliard  &  Allen  owned  a  steam  saw-mill  one  mile  north  of 
the  court-house,  in  the  same  year,  which  cut  about  1,500,000  feet  of  lum- 
ber per  annum,  from  logs  brought  down  the  Connecticut. 

Miscellaneous. — The  manufacture  of  potato  starch  was  formerly  ex- 
tensively carried  on,  but  the  business  has  dwindled  to  merely  nothing,  in 
fact  nearly  faded  out  of  existence. 

At  one  time,  sixty  years  ago,  Benjamin  Adams  distilled  potato  whisky; 
the  "  still-house"  standing  opposite  the  house  where  Aaron  Guernsey  now 
lives.  There  were  other  distilleries  in  town,  but  their  location  is  some- 
what uncertain.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  blacksmith,  and  made  the  best  hoes, 
shovels,  and  hay  forks  then  in  use.  Sylvanus  Chesman,  who  owned  a 
large  tract  of  land,  embracing  what  is  now  "  Egypt,"  extending  easterly 
up  Israel's  river,  above  the  present  village  limits  in  that  direction,  was  one 
of  the  old-time  blacksmiths,  who  accumulated  a  large  property.  He  was 
the  builder  and  proprietor  of  the  "Chesman  Tavern,"  afterwards  called 
the  "  American  House. ''  The  blacksmiths  of  to-day  are  those  connected 
with  Marshall  &  Eaton's  carriage  manufactory.  Kiley  Hosmer,  James  and 
Matthew  Monahan,  James  and  Robert  McCarten. 

Apothecaries,  Druggists,  and  Physicians. — The  first  to  set  up  a  dis- 


34:8  History  of  Coos  County. 

tinctive  "apothecary  shop  "  in  town  was  Dr.  John  W.  Barney,  who  was, 
for  a  long  time,  a  leading  physician  in  this  county.  Previous  to  his  enter- 
prise, drugs  and  medicines  were  retailed  at  the  various  stores,  notahly  by 
Kichard  P.  Kent,  at  whose  establishment  anything  could  be  procured  in  all 
the  range  of  articles  needed  in  the  community,  from  a  grindstone  to  a 
grain  of  quinine. 

The  doctors  of  old  times  bought  their  medicines  in  bulk,  and  com- 
pounded them  as  occasion  required;  it  was  a  part  of  the  medical  student's 
duty,  who  "read"  with  the  local  doctors,  to  make  the  pills,  and  do  the 
other  work  necessary  for  filling  the  "  saddle-bags"  of  their  instructors,  as 
they  went  out  to  visit  their  patients.  Dr.  Barney  was  succeeded  by  Ed- 
ward Savage,  and  he  in  turn  by  Dr.  Frank  Colby,  who  associated  with 
himself  his  brother,  Charles  F.  Colby.  This  firm,  with  some  changes,  has 
carried  on  a  very  successful  business  to  the  present  time,  and  now  requires 
a  capital  and  skill  greater  than  any  establishment  of  the  kind  which  had 
preceded  it  in  the  county. 

Parker  J.  Noyes,  a  native  of  this  county,  and  a  soldier  in  the  late  war, 
learned  the  business  of  pharmacist  at  St.  Johnsbury,  and  came  here  in 
1868.  and  purchased  the  plot  and  building  where  the  office  of  James  M. 
Rix  had  formerly  stood,  but  which  was  burned  with  all  the  court  records 
in  1846.  Here  Mr.  Noyes  commenced  business;  he  has  enlarged  and  de- 
veloped it  until  now  it  is  one  of  the  leading  interests  in  town.  He  em- 
ployes, in  the  various  departments  of  the  establishment,  twelve,  and  some- 
times fifteen  persons.  Orders  are  received  from  many  of  the  leading  drug- 
gists and  physicians  of  New  England,  and  the  south  and  west,  and  they 
are  filled  daily  by  express  and  mail. 

Physicians. — The  physicians  prior  to  1800  were  not  men  of  very  scien- 
tific attainments;  but  they  possessed  a  certain  kind  of  skill  sufficient  for 
the  times.  Dr.  Samuel  White,  the  first  settled  physician  in  the  Coos 
country,  located  at  Newbury,  Vt.,  in  1773,  and  visited  Lancaster  profes- 
sionally in  its  early  days.  Dr.  Francis  Willson  and  a  Dr.  Chapman  were 
the  first  settled  physicians;  of  them  much  might  be  truthfully  said  in 
praise.  In  1776  a  woman  afterward  known  as  "  Granny  "  Stalbird  came 
from  Portsmouth  with  the  family  of  Col.  Whipple,  who  settled  in  Jeffer- 
son, and  resided  with  them  a  number  of  years,  and  was  undoubtedly  a 
most  excellent  nurse;  but  she  styled  herself  a  "doctor,"  and  had  a  great 
reputation  in  certain  families  for  the  art  of  healing  diseases.  Dr.  Samuel 
Legro  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  leading  physician  in  town,  a  man  of 
very  strong  natural  ability  and  sterling  worth.  Many  anecdotes  are  related 
of  him,  illustrating  his  sense  of  humor  and  professional  skill,  which  will 
live  long  in  the  traditions  of  the  times. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Hunking  was  born  in  Newbury,  Vt.  He  graduated  from 
the   medical   department  of  Dartmouth    college  in  1808.     He  received  a 


Town  of  Lancaster.  349 


commission  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  U.  S.  navy,  ami  was  stationed  at 
several  naval  stations,  and  on  hoard  ship,  dining  the  War  of  1812.  He 
came  to  Lancaster  from  Portsmouth  about  1815.  He  married  Drusilla, 
eldest  daughter  of  Hon.  Richard  C.  Everett.  His  descendants  air  among 
the  first  people  of  Lancaster.  His  practice  extended  to  the  limits  of  the 
county,  and  he  was  everywhere  reckoned  skillful  and  honesl  in  his  calling. 
He  held  various  offices,  was  postmaster  a  long  time,  and  judge  of  pro- 
bate for  twenty-three  years,  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fel- 
low citizens  is  proof  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  His  death 
occurred  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

Dr.  Eliphalet  Lyman,  whose  ancestors  were  of  the  best  lineage  of  New 
England,  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  Medical  school,  and  came  to  town 
in  1815.  His  science  was  unquestioned,  and  he  immediately  took  a  stand 
as  one  of  the  ablest  practitioners  in  all  Northern  New  Hampshire;  and,  in 
all  difficult  cases,  whether  in  physic  or  surgery,  was  consulted  and  his  opin- 
ions were  of  great  weight.  During  the  later  years  of  his  life.  Dr.  Lyman 
relinquished  medical  practice,  and  opened  an  office  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
the  lawyers  esteeming  him  on  account  of  his  mental  ability,  and  giving 
him  their  business.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  North  Star  Lodge, 
F.  A.  M.,  and  was  buried  with  the  honors  of  the  order,  July,  1858. 

Dr.  Jacob  E.  Stickney  was  a  native  of  Maine,  came  to  Lancaster  in 
1823,  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Nye)  Gross,  and 
continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  near  the  time  of  his  death. 
which  occurred  in  1869.  Dr.  Stickney  was  eminently  a  man  of  good  judg- 
ment and  painstaking  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  his  profession.  Dr. 
George  T.  Dexter  was  for  a  short  time  associated  with  him.  In  1S43  Dr. 
John  W.  Barney  came  here  from  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  anil  soon  took  a  very 
high  place  as  a  skillful  physician  and  surgeon.  Dr.  Barney  represented 
the  old  senatorial  district,  No.  12,  in  the  legislature  of  New  Hampshire, 
for  two  terms.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Concord,  and  died  there  in 
18S3,  but  his  remains,  at  his  request,  were  brought  here  and  buried  with 
Masonic  honors.  He  was  one  of  the  best  informed  physicians  in  north- 
ern New  Hampshire. 

Dr.  James  D.  Folsom,  now  of  St.  Johnsbury,  was  for  a  number  of 
years  located  in  town  and  attained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  skillful 
member  of  the  medical  fraternity. 

Dr.  John  W.  Bucknam,  a  grandson  of  Gen.  Edwards  Bucknam,  com- 
menced practice  in  town,  but  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
"Fighting  Fifth,"  in  which  he  served,  being  promoted  to  surgeon,  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  settled  at  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  where  he  died 
several  years  ago,  greatly  respected  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

The  present  medical  practitioners  are:  Dr.  Ezra  Mitchell,  a  native  of 
Maine,  Dr.  E.  R.  Stockwell,  a  native  of   this  town,  and  a  descendant  of 


350  History  of  Coos  County. 

Emmons  Stockwell,  Dr.  Oscar  Worthier,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  2d  X. 
H.  Vols,  in  the  late  war,  and  Dr.  W.  H.  Leith,  who  are  of  the  "  old  school " 
or  allopathists.  Drs.  D.  L.  Jones  and  Frank  Spooner,  homeopathists,  Dr. 
Samuel  L.  Wellington  and  A.  W.  Wark,  dentists. 

White  Mountain,  Medical  Society. — This  was  organized  at  White's  Inn, 
Lancaster,  May  17,  1820.  Dr.  John  Willard,  moderator;  Dr.  William 
Burns,  of  Littleton,  secretary  pro  tern.  The  society  was  incorporated  June 
23,  1821.  Dr.  Eliphalet  Lyman  was  the  first  permanent  president.  Its 
membership  came  from  both  sides  of  the  Connecticut,  and  it  has  had  an 
uninterrupted  activity  in  usefulness. 

Hotels. — Lancaster  House  is  a  modern  structure  where  150  guests  can 
be  accommodated.  Gas  and  steam  heat.  N.  A.  Lindsey  &  Co.,  propri- 
etors. 

Williams  House  has  accommodations  for  fifty  guests.  John  N.  Hop- 
kins proprietor. 

Mt.  Prospect  House,  built  on  the  summit  of  Mt.  Prospect,  in  1883,  by  W. 
H.  Smith.  Its  elevation  is  1,240  feet  above  the  station,  and  2,090  feet 
above  tide  water. 

Hillside  Cottage  is  a  pleasant  summer  boarding  place.  W.  L.  Eowell, 
proprietor.  A  mineral  spring  of  medicinal  virtues  has  recently  been  dis- 
covered on  the  grounds. 

Elm  Cottage,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Hunking,  proprietor,  is  a  brick  building,  sur- 
rounded by  magnificent  trees,  and  has  been  a  favorite  stopping  place  with 
many  for  a  long  time.  Before  the  Lancaster  House  was  rebuilt  it  was  for 
some  time  the  only  hotel  in  town. 


CHAPTER  X? 

Civil  List,  Town  Clerks,  Selectmen,  and  Representatives — Mails,  Postoftices  and  Postmasters 
— Lancaster  Bank — White  Mountain  Bank — Lancaster  National  Bank— Lancaster  Savings  Bank — 
Siwooganock  Savings  Bank — The  New  Cemetery — Societies,  Grand  Army,  Relief  Corps,  Etc. 

TOWN  Clerks.— 1769  to  1789,  Edwards  Bucknam;  1790,  Samuel  Johusou;  1791  to  1796.  Jonas  Baker; 
1796  to  1800,  Isaac  Chafee;  1800.  William  Lovejoy.  (We  cannot  find  any  record  for  a  long  time.) 
1834  to  1836,  Thomas  Denison;  1837,  John  W.  Lovejoy;  1837  to  1845,  Reuben  L.  Adams;  1845  to  1849^ 
John  S.  Roby;  1849  to  1857,  R.  L.  Adams;  1857  to  1859,  David  B.  Allison;  1859  to  1864,  R.  L.  Adams;  1864 
to  1H66,  Charles E.  Allen;  1866  to  1876,  Edward  Savage;  1877,  Charles  E.  Mclntire;  1878,  John  G.  Crawford; 
1879,  George  H.  Emerson;  1879  to  1881,  Charles  E.  Mclntire;  1881  to  1883,  Charles  B.  Allen:  1883  to  1886, 
Charles  E.  Mclntire;  1887,  Charles  B.  Allen. 

Selectmen. — 1769,  David  Page,  Abner  Osgood. George  Wheeler,  Emmons  Stockwell.Edwards  Bucknam;  1770, 
David  Page,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Emmons  Stockwell;  1771,  David  Page,  Emmons  Stockwell,  Edwards  Bucknam; 
1772,  David  Page,  Emmons  Stockwell,  Daniel  Cross;  1773.  David  Page,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Emmons  Stockwell; 


Town  of  Laxcastkk.  :;;, i 


1774.  David  Page,  Dani<  I  Cross,  David  Page,  Jr.;  1775,  David  Page,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Emmons  StockweU;  1776, 
David  Page,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Emmons  Stockwell;  1777.  Emmons  Stockwell,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Moses 
Page;  1778,  Emmons  Stockwell,  Edwards  Bucknam,  David  Page,  Jr.;  1779,  Jonas  Wilder,  Emmons  Stockwell, 
Edwards  Bucknam;  L780,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Jonas  Wilder,  Emmons  Stockwell;  1781,  Jonas  Wilder,  Edwards 
Bucknam,  Emmons  Stockwell;  1782,  Jonas  Wilder,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Emmons  Stockwell;  1783,  Edwa 
Bucknam.  Jonas  Wilder,  Emmons  Stockwell;  L784,  Jonas  Wilder,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Emmons  Stockwell; 
1785,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Jonas  Wilder.  David  Pa<je;  1786,  Edwards  Bucknam,  David  Page,  Emmons  Stock- 
well;  1787,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Jonas  Wilder.  Samuel  Johnson;  17*8,  Col.  Jonas  Wilder.  Edwards  Bucknam, 
Emmons  Stockwell,  Samuel  Johnson.  Jonas  Baker;  1789,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Capt.  John  Weeks,  Col.  Jonaa 
Wilder;  1790,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Emmons  Stockwell,  Francis  Willson;  1791,  Emmons  Stockwell,  Edwards 
Bucknam,  Francis  Willson;  1792,  Emmons  Stockwell.  John  Weeks,  Jeremiah  Willcox;  I7i>3,  John  Weeks  Jon- 
athan Cram,  Jeremiah  Willcox;  1794,  Jonathan  Cram,  John  Roshrook,  Titus  O.  Brown;  L795;  John  Rosbrook, 
David  Page,  Dennis  Stanley;  1796,  Joseph  Farnham,  Stephen  Willson;  1797,  Richard  C.  Ever  tt,  Titus  0. 
Brown,  Nathaniel  White;  1798,  Stephen  Willson,  Nathaniel  White.  Titus  0.  Brown;  1799,  Stephen  Willson, 
Nathaniel  White,  Titus  O.  Brown;  1800,  David  Page,  Joseph  Wilder.  Levi  Willard;  1801,  David  Page,  Ben- 
jamin Twombly,  Jr.,  William  Bruce;  1802,  William  Bruce,  A.  N.  Brackett,  Sylvanus  Chapman,  Levi  Willard; 

1803,  :  1S04.  Adino  N.  Brackett,  Richard  Eastman.   Elias  Chapman;  L805,  Adino  N.  Brackett,    Richard 

Eastman.  Elias  Chapman;  1806,  Adino  N.  Brackett,  Richard  Eastman,  Nathaniel  White;  1807,  Adino  N.  Brack- 
i  tt.  Nathaniel  White.  Richard  Eastman:  1808,  Adino  N.  Brackett,  John  W.  Weeks.  Benjamin  Boardman;  1809, 
A.  N.  Brackett,  Richard  Eastman,  Jonas  Baker;  1810,  Richard  Eastman,  John  W.  Weeks,  1'rial  Rosbrook;  1811, 
Richard  Eastman,  John  W.  Weeks;  1812,  Richard  Eastman,  Ebenezer  Twombly;  1813,  Richard  Eastman.  Ben- 
jamin Boardman,  Reuben  W.  Freeman;  1814,  Stephen  Willson,  Abie!  Lovejoy,  Sylvanus  Chesman;  1815,  Adino 
N.  Brackett,  Abiel  Lovejoy,  Richard  Eastman;  1816,  Richard  Eastman,  William  Lovejoy,  John  Aspenwall;  1817, 
Adino  N.  Brackett,  John  W.  Weeks;  1818,  Adino  N.  Brackett;  1819,  Adino  N.  Brackett.  Richard  Eastman,  John 
W.  Weeks;  1820.  Adino  N.  Brackett,  John  W.  Weeks.  Richard  Eastman;  1821,  Richard  Eastman.  Sylvanus 
Chesman,  Joel  Hemenway;  1822;  Richard  Eastman.  J.  W.  Wee!,,-,;  1823,  John  W.  Weeks,  William  Lovejoy.  Joel 
Hemenway;  1824,  John  W.  Weeks.  William  Lovejoy.  Nathaniel  Goss;  1825,  John  W.  Weeks.  Nathaniel  Goss, 
Samuel  White;  1826.  Richard  Eastman.  Ephraim  Cross:  1827,  Nathaniel  Goss,  John  EL  White,  Ephraim  Cross; 
1828,  William  Lovejoy,  Edward  C.  Spaulding,  Benjamin  Stephenson;  1829,  Ephraim  Cross,  Richard  Eastman; 
1830,  John  H.  White,  Reuben  Stephenson;  1831,  Richard  Eastman.  Reuben  Stephenson,  Ephraim  Cross;  1832, 
Reuben  Stephenson,  Amos  Legro,  John  Smith;  1833,  John  H.  White,  Adino  N.  Brackett,  Richard  Eastman: 
1834,  John  W.  Weeks,  Abiel  Lovejoy,  Reuben  Stephenson;  1835,  Reuben  Stephenson,  John  II.  White,  Elijah 

D.  Twombly:  1836,  Reuben  Stephenson,  Elijah  Twombly,  Harvey  Adams;  1837,  Solomon  Hemenway,  Reuben 
Stephenson.  Harvey  Adams:  1838,  John  H.  White,  Harvey  Adams,  William  Holkens;  1839,  Reuben  Stephenson, 
Harvey  Adams,  Edwin  F.  Eastman;  1840,  Reuben  Stephenson,  WiUiam  D.  Spaulding,  Barton  (1.  Towne;  1841, 
William  D.  Spaulding,  Barton  G.  Towne.  Richard  Eastman;  1842,  Reuben  Stephenson,  William  Lovejoy,  Will- 
iam Holkins;  1843.  Reuben  Stephenson,  John  W.  Hodgdon,  William  Lovejoy;  1844.  Adino  \.  Brackett, Samuel 
Mclntire,  John  W.  Hodgdon ;  1845.  Barton  G.  Towne,  Samuel  Mclntire,  James  W.  Weeks;  1846,  Reuben  Stephen- 
son, James  Harden,  Fielding  Smith;  1847,  Reuben  Stephenson,  James  Marden,  Edward  B.  Mclntire;  1848, 
James  W.  Weeks,  Edward  B.  Mclntire,  Barton  G.Towne;1849,  Reuben  L.  Adams,  William  R.  Stockwell,  James 
Mclntire;  1850,  John  H.  White,  John  W.  Hodgdon,  Joseph  B.  Moore;  1851,  George  Alexander,  William  R.  Stock- 
well,  Joseph  B.  Moore;  1852,  Seth  Savage,  Silas  Mclntire,  Hiram  Twitchell;  1853,  Seth  Savage,  William  S. 
Clark,  John  W.  Hodgdon;  1854.  Seth  Savage,  William  S.  Clark,  (till  August  i.  James  Legro,  William  R.  Stock- 
well,  (from  August  26);  1855.  Seth  Savage,  James  Legro,  Seth  Adams;  1856,  Charles  Plaisted,  William  A. 
White.  SethAdams;  1857,  Charles  Plaisted,  William  A.  White,  Freed,,,,,  M.  Rhodes;  1858,  F.  M.  Rhodes,  WiU- 
iam D.  Weeks.  Hiram  Savage;  1859,  William  D.  Weeks,  Hiram  Savage,  S.  H.  Legro;1860,  S.  11.  Legro,  William 

E.  Smith,  Charles  B.Allen;  1861,  William  F.  Smith,  CharlesB.  Allen,  James  W.  Weeks;  L862,  S.  II.  Legro,  Ed- 
ward Spaulding,  Horace  F.  Holton;  1863,  E.  Spaulding,  H.  F.  Holton,  Horace  Whitcomb;  1864,  Seth  Savage, 
Joseph  B.  Moore.  Fielding  Smith;  1865,  Samuel  H.  Legro,  Jason  W.  Savage,  Charles  B.  All.  n:  1866,  S.  II. 
Legro,  J.  W.  Weeks,  C.  B.  Allen;  1867,  S.  II.  Legro,  J.  W.  Weeks,  C.  B.  Allen;  1868,  S.  H.  Legro,  C.  B.  Allen, 
Jason  W.  Savage;  1869,  S.H.  Legro,  J.  W.  Weeks.  C.  15.  Allen:  1870.  S.  H.  Legro,  J.  W.  Weeks.  Hiram  Savage; 
1871,  S.  H.  Legro,  J.  W.  Weeks,  H.  Savage;  1872,  Seth  Savage,  Charles  S.  Hodgdon,  William  J.  Harriman;1873, 
Seth  Savage.  Barton  G.  Towne,  Edward  Emerson;  1*74,  William  Clough,  Francis  Kelburn,  E.  Emerson;  1875, 
Seth  Savage,  Barton  G.  Towne,  Philip  Hartley;  L876,  Seth  Savage,  Philip  Hartley,  Thomas  S.  Ellis;  1877. 
Samuel  H.  Legro,  Roswell  W.  Chesman,  John  Daley;  L878,  S.  H.  Legro,  K.  W.  Chesman,  John  Daley;  1879,  S. 
H.  Legro;  R.  W.  Chesman,  John  Daley;  1880,  Roswell  W.  Chesman,  Edward  Spaulding,  Isaac  W.  Eopkinson; 
1881,  Edward  Spaulding,  ErastnsV.  Cobleigh,  Sylvanus  II.  Chesman;  1882,  E.  Spaulding,  E.  V.  Cobleigh,  Jonas 
Powers;  1883,  Samuel  H.  Legro,  John  M.  Clark,  Daniel  Trueland;  1884,  S.  H.  Legro,  J.  M.  Clark,  Daniel  True- 


352  History  of  Coos- County. 

land;  1885,  S.  H.  Legro,  James  Baiu,  Charles  C.  Noyes;  1886,  S.  H.  Legro,  James  Bain,  Charles  C.  Noyes;  1887, 
Edward  Spaulding,  H.  J.  Guernsey,  W.  E.  Bullard. 

Representatives. — (See  Early  Representatives  in  County  Chapter,  page  200.)  1801,  Richard  C.  Everett; 
1802,  Richard  C.  Everett;  1807,  William  Lovejoy;  1809,  Willam  Lovejoy;  1811,  William  Lovejoy;  1813. 
Adino  N.  Brackett;  1815,  Adino  N.  Bracket t.  1817,  Adino  N.  Brackett;  1818,  Richard  Eastman;  1819, 
Adino  N.  Brackett;  1820.  Richard  Eastman;  1821,  Adino  N.  Brackett;  1822,  Adino  N.  Brackett;  1823, 
John  Wilson;  1824,  John  Wilson;  1825,  John  Wilson;  1826,  Richard  Eastman;  1827,  Richard  Eastman; 
1828,  Adino  N.  Brackett;  1829,  Richard  Eastman;  1830,  J.  W.  Williams;  1831,  J.  W.  Williams;  1832, 
Richard  Eastman;  1833,  Richard  Eastman;  1834,  Richard  Eastman;  1836,  J.  W.  Williams;  1837,  Adino  N. 
Brackett;  1838,  Richard  Eastman;  1839,  John  S.  Wells;  1840,  John  S.  Wells;  1841,  John  S.  Wells;  1842,  John 
S.  Wells;  1843,  no  choice;  1844,  William  D.  Weeks;  1845,  Harvey  Adams;  1846,  Harvey  Adams;  1847,  James 
M.  Rix;  1848,  James  M.  Rix;  1849,  Benjamin  F.  Whidden;  1850,  Benjamin  F.  Whidden;  1851,  no  choice; 
1852,  George  A.  Cossitt ;  1853,  Royal  Joyslin ;  1854,  Jacoh  Benton ;  1855,  Jacob  Benton,  Edward  Brown ;  1856,  Jacob 
Benton,  Edward  Brown;  1857,  John  M.  Whipple,  Jacob  E.  Stickney;  1858,  John  M.  Whipple,  Jacob  E.  Stick- 
ney;  1859,  George  C.  Williams,  Seth  Savage;  1860,  George  C.  Williams,  Seth  Savage;  1861,  no  choice; 
1862,  Moody  P.  Marshall,  Henry  O.  Kent;  1863,  M.  P.  Marshall,  .Samuel  H.  Legro;  1864,  S.  H.  Legro, 
James  D.  Folsom;  1865,  William  F.  Smith,  Edward  Spauldiug;  1866,  no  choice;  1867,  Benjamin  F. 
Whidden,  Charles  Plaisted;  1868,  H.  O.  Kent,  Ossian  Ray;  1869,  H.  O.  Kent,  Ossian  Ray;  1870, 
no  choice;  1871,  Benjamin  F.  Hunking,  James  Legro;  1872.  John  W.  Spaulding,  Seneca  B.  Congdon; 
1873,  J.  W.  Spaulding,  S.  B.  Congdon;  1874,  George  S.  Stockwell,  Edward  Savage:  1875,  John  E. 
Dimick,  James  McCarten;  1776,  J.  E.  Dimick,  James  McCarten;  1877,  George  S.  Stockwell,  Francis 
Kelburn;  1878-80,  George  S.  Stockwell,  Francis  Kelburn;  1880-82,  Chester  B.  Jordan,  James  Monahan;  1882-84, 
Henry  O.  Kent,  William  S.  Ladd;  1884-86,  Frank  Smith,  Matthew  Monahan;  1886-87,  Charles  A.  Cleaveland, 
Robert  McCarten. 

Mails,  Postoffices  and  Postmasters. — The  first  we  can  ascertain  con- 
cerning the  mail  service  is  that  Stephen  Wilson  was  postmaster  in  1803, 
and  that  the  mail  was  carried  to  and  from  Haverhill  at  that  time  once  a 
week  on  horseback.  Col.  Wilson  was  succeeded  in  1807  by  Abraham 
Hinds.  In  1812  Samuel  A.  Pearson  Avas  appointed  and  held  the  office 
until  1829.  In  1S25  the  mail  was  carried  semi  weekly  to  Haverhill  on  a 
two-horse  wagon,  weekly  to  Colebrook  on  a  one-horse  wagon,  wTeekly  to 
Bethel,  Me.,  and  to  Waterford,  Yt.,  on  horseback.  From  an  article  writ- 
ten by  James  S.  Brackett  for  the  Lancaster  Gazette  in  1885,  we  quote: — 

"Fifty  years  ago  the  mail  was  brought  from  Haverhill  in  a  barouche 
drawn  by  two  horses.  The  barouche  was  succeeded  by  the  more  preten- 
tious and  elegant  coach  drawn  by  four  horses,  and  the  Jehu  who  handled 
the  '  ribbons '  and  with  mighty  flourish  and  crack  of  whip  reined  in 
the  fiery  steeds  at  the  postoffice  door,  and  with  pride  and  pomp  whirled 
his  panting,  foaming  team  around  to  the  hotel,  where,  with  politeness  and 
dignity,  he  handed  down  the  passengers,  was  the  envy  of  all  the  boys  who 
stood  agape  and  witnessed  the  wonderful  feat. 

"  Those  were  days  of  simplicity  in  the  country  towns,  and  the  arrival 
and  departure  of  the  mail  three  times  in  each  week  were  occasions  of  mo- 
ment. Some  anxious  hearts  were  in  waiting  to  hear  from  absent  friends 
or  the  news  from  distant  places,  but  there  was  no  rush  to  the  '  delivery  ' 
as  now;  the  postmaster  took  with  care  the  letters  and  papers  from  the 
mail-bag,  and  called  the  name  of  each  person  who  had  the  fortune  to 
receive  a  letter  or  package,  and  if  the  person  were  present  it  was  handed 
out  to  him ;  if  not,  the  package  was  put  into  a  drawer  or  laid  upon  a  shelf 


Town  of  Lancaster.  353 


or  table  to  await  the  time  it  should  he  called  for  After  a  while  it  was 
found  convenient  to  have  letter  'pigeonholes'  constructed  and  arranged 
alphabetically  that  time  might  be  saved  in  looking  over  the  accumulation, 
as  a  paper  or  letter  might  be  required.  Postage  was  not  prepaid  as  now- 
adays, but  the  postmaster  charged  the  amount  due  on  a  package  to  the 
receiver,  if  he  was  known  and  able  to  pay  his  debts,  and  once  a  quarter 
presented  his  bill.  If  the  receiver  was  a  stranger  or  an  impecunious  indi- 
vidual the  postage  was  required  before  delivery. 

"Dr.  Benjamin  Hunking  was  the  first  postmaster  whom  I  remember. 
succeeding  Samuel  A.  Pearson  in  L829.  Dr.  Hunking  was  an  earnest  and 
consistent  Jacksonian  Democrat,  and  for  that  reason  was  appointed  to  the 
office  of  postmaster.  For  several  years  the  office  was  kept  in  the  house 
where  he  lived,  now  '  Elm  Cottage.'  The  mail  matter  was  so  limited  in 
supply  that  the  little  closet  in  his  sitting  room  sufficed  for  the  reception  of 
all  that  came  and  went,  and  when  a  letter  was  called  for,  the  doctor, 
and  in  his  absence,  any  member  of  the  family,  would  go  to  that  small 
closet,  look  over  the  letters  and  papers  and  hand  out  the  required  package. 
The  doctor,  owing  to  professional  and  other  business,  soon,  however,  ap- 
pointed as  his  deputy  Reuben  L.  Adams,  a  man  well  and  favorably  known 
in  this  vicinity;  whereupon  the  office  was  moved  down  street,  and  kept 
for  a  while  in  a  little  room  of  the  house  built  by  Harvey  Adams,  which 
afterward  became  the  property  of  Presbury  West,  and  is  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Nelson  Sparks.  In  1842  Dr.  Hunking  resigned,  'rather,'  he 
said,  'than  to  be  removed  from  office, 'and  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Adams 
was  secured. 

"When  Gen.  Taylor  became  president,  Robert  Sawyer,  being  a  Whig, 
and  quite  ardent  in  his  political  faith,  was  given  the  office.  It  was  at  that 
time  considered  quite  singular  that  a  man  who  had  become  so  recently  a 
resident  of  the  town  should  receive  the  appointment,  but  Mr.  Sawyer  dis- 
charged his  duties  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the  citizens.  Of  course 
when  Franklin  Pierce,  New  Hampshire's  favorite  son,  assumed  the  adminis- 
tration, Mr.  Sawyer  stepped  'down  and  out,"  and  Harvey  Adams,  who  had 
always  been  a  Democrat,  a  native  of  the  town,  and  a  very  respectable  citi- 
zen, succeeded  to  the  office  of  postmaster.  An  office  was  fixed  up  in  what 
is  now  the  Shannon  building,  and  was  presided  over  by  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Darling.  James  A.  Smith  having  rendered  important  services  to  the  party 
was  next  made  postmaster  and  performed  its  duties  well. 

"Royal  Joyslin,  an  old  time  Whig,  who  had  long  resided  in  town  and 
been  identified  with  its  interests,  and  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  under  President  Lincoln.  It  was  tilting  that  such  a 
man  should  at  last  receive  recognition,  for  he  was  a  gent  Ionian,  honest  in 
his  convictions  and  honest  in  his  business  transact  i<  >ns.  M  r.  (  diver  Nutter, 
who  had  been  in  town  but  a  few  years,  a  Republican,  was  appointed  in 


354  History  of  Coos  County. 

place  of  Mr.  Joyslin;  was  succeeded  by  John  W.  Spaulding,  and  he  by 
Charles  E.  Allen." 

In  October,  1886,  Charles  E.  Mclntire  was  made  postmaster,  and  cele- 
brated his  accession  to  the  position  by  fitting  up  an  elegant  office  com- 
mensurate to  the  demands  of  the  times.  "South  Lancaster"  office  was 
established  in  188K;  the  postmaster  is  E  A.  Steele.  "Grange"  office,  at 
East  Lancaster,  was  created  in  the  latter  part  of  1886,  with  William  G. 
Ellis,  postmaster.  "  Scott's  "  postoffice  is  at  present  in  Lancaster,  kept  at 
the  residence  of  J.  M.  Clark,  postmaster. 

The  Lancaster  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1833  with  John  H.  White, 
president,  and  Royal  Joyslin,  cashier.  In  a  very  short  time  Mr.  Joyslin 
became  president  and  held  the  office  until  the  winding  up  the  affairs  in 
1855.  R.  P.  Kent  succeeded  him  as  cashier  and  retained  the  office  until 
1843,  when  George  A.  Cossit  came  in  and  acted  until  the  bank  went  out  of 
existence.  The  capital  was  $50,000.  The  stock  was  entirely  lost  by  the 
failure  of  debtors  of  the  bank.  The  charter  expired  and  the  bank  closed 
in  1855.  The  incorporators  were  the  solid  men  of  that  day,  among  them 
being  David  Burnside,  Benjamin  and  Turner  Stephenson,  Ephraim  Cross, 
Warren  Porter. 

The  White  Mountain  Bank  was  formed  in  1852  with  a  capital  of  $50,- 
000,  and  these  officers:  President,  James  B.  Sumner;  cashier,  G.  C. 
Williams;  directors,  J.  B.  Sumner,  Barton  G.  Towne,  James  W.  Weeks, 
E.  C.  Spaulding,  Oliver  B.  Howe,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.,  Moses  Wood- 
ward. It  was  largely  patronized,  did  a  fine  business  and  declared  good 
dividends  for  some  years.  Gov.  J.  W.  Williams  became  president  in  1858, 
and  was  succeeded  at  his  death,  in  1801,  by  William  Burns.  J.  I.  Williams 
soon  was  chosen  cashier,  and  in  redeeming  the  notes  to  close  up  the  affairs 
of  the  bank,  it  was  discovered  that  there  had  been  an  over  issue  of  notes 
amounting  to  $53,000,  and  the  former  cashier,  who  had  left  the  country, 
carried  away  $10,000  more  of  the  funds.  All  the  stock  was  lost,  but  all 
the  obligations  were  paid.  William  Burns,  J.  I.  Williams,  J.  W.  Weeks 
and  Barton  G.  Towne  gave  their  skill  to  the  settlement.  John  Farr,  of 
Littleton,  was  receiver,  and  the  bank  was  closed  by  the  directors  paying 
their  prorata  amount  of  the  indebtedness.  J.  I.  Williams  paid  on  all  the 
stock  held  by  his  father  and  brother,  and  the  whole  estate  of  the  Gover- 
nor was  swallowed  up  in  the  wreck. 

The  Lancaster  National  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1881  with  a  capital 
of  $125,000  and  commenced  business  in  its  present  location  in  1882  with 
George  R.  Eaton,  president;  Everett  Fletcher,  vice-president;  Frank  D. 
Hutchins,  cashier;  board  of  directors:  Ossian  Ray,  George  R.  Eaton, 
William  Clough,  C.  B.  Jordan,  A.  J.  Marshall,  Everett  Fletcher,  Lancas- 
ter; Seneca  S.  Merrill,  CoJebrook;  R.  H.  Porter,  H.  0.  Coolidge,  Keene. 
As  it  is  in  very  able  financial  hands,  and  the  only  bank  in  the  Connec- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  355 


ticut  Valley  north  of  Littleton,  it  ranks  high  among  the  banks  of  the 
state,  and  does  an  unusually  large  and  prosperous  business.  Its  officers 
are  gentlemen  of  extensive  acquaintance  and  well  known  as  business  men 
of  high  order.  Lancaster  can  well  be  proud  of  its  national  bank.  It  has 
now  no  vice-president,  and  the  president  and  cashier  first  chosen  still  hold 
office.     The  present  directors  are:    George  R.  Eaton.  William  Clough,  I'. 

D.  Hutchins,  Burleigh  Roberts,  William  8.  Ladd,  George  M.  Stevens, 
Irving  W.  Drew.     The  surplus  is  $12,500. 

Lancaster  Savings  Bank. — This  solid  institution  occupies  a  prominent 
position.  Its  formation  was  due  to  Col.  Henry  0.  Kent.  While  bank 
commissioner  he  became  convinced  thatasavings  bank  in  Lancaster  would 
be  both  useful  and  profitable,  and  through  his  efforts  the  legislature  was 
petitioned  for  a  charter  in  1808.  The  charter  was  granted  and  the  bank 
organized  July  29,  186S,  as  "  The  Savings  Bank  of  the  County  of  Coos. " 
It  has  occupied  its  location  in  the  Kent  building  from  that  time  The 
original  trustees  were  H.  A.  Fletcher,  R.  P.  Kent,  A.  J.  Marshall.  B.  F. 
Whidden,  Edmund  Brown,  S.  H.  LeGro,  J.  I.  Williams,  LaF.  Moore, 
C.  W.  Smith,  E.  Savage  and  E.  V.  Cobleigh.  J.  W.  Weeks,  William 
Burns,  Hosea  Gray,  A.  Guernsey,  J.  H.  Hopkinson,  and  J.  H.  Woodward 
became  trustees  in  1876.  In  1883  the  name  was  changed  to  "Lancaster 
Savings  Bank,"  and  Ave  find  among  the  trustees  of  this  year  George  P. 
Rowell  and  Charles  L.  Griswold.  The  president  first  chosen  was  Hiram 
A.  Fletcher,  Esq.,  a  man  of  great  business  ability,  caution  and  integrity. 
The  second  president  was  Anderson  J.  Marshall,  who  was  greatly  interested 
in  this  bank.  The  third  and  present  president,  James  W.  Weeks,  is  noted 
for  his  sagacity  in  the  management  of  financial  trusts.  Col.  Kent,  the 
treasurer  from  organization,  has,  also,  a  high  rank  as  a  financier.  The 
management  has  always  been  of  the  most  conservative  character.  Abso- 
lute safety,  so  far  as  human  foresight  can  secure  it,  has  always  been 
regarded  as  a  prerequisite  of  a  loan.  Its  securities  are  varied,  well  selected 
and  desirable.  Its  depositors  are  scattered  not  only  through  Coos  county, 
but  over  a  much  larger  area,  and  the  great  increase  in  deposits  shows  the 
public  confidence  in  its  management.  July  1,  1887,  the  bank  had  assets 
amounting  to  $369,406.28,  a  gain  during  the  last  year  of  $69,023  55.  The 
guaranty  fund  and  surplus,  also  belonging  to  the  depositors,  was  SI  '■'>.'■'>■>'■'>.  11. 
The  officers  now  are  J.  W.  Weeks,  president;  H.  O.  Kent,  treasurer;  S.  H. 
LeGro,  assistant  treasurer;  Frances  E.  LeGro,  teller;  H.  O.  Kent,  S.  H. 
LeGro,  E.  V.  Cobleigh,  Ezra  Mitchell,  Jr.,  J.  W.  Weeks,  Parker  J.  Noyes, 

E.  R.  Kent,  George  S.  Stockwell,  James  H.  Curtis,  trustees. 

The  Siwooganock  Guaranty  Sarings  Bank  was  organized  in  L887  with 
the  following  officers:  William  S.  Ladd,  president;  F.  D.  Hutchins.  treas- 
urer. Trustees:  George  R.  Eaton,  Wrilliam  S.  Ladd,  William  Clough, 
C.  B.  Jordan,  Everett  Fletcher,  Charles  A.  Bailey,  F.  D.  Hutchins.    Incor- 


356  History  of  Coos  County. 

porators:  William  S.  Ladd,  Chester  B.  Jordan,  Irving  W  Drew,  George 
VanDyke,  William  Clough,  Frank  P.  Brown,  Charles  T.  McNally,  Jason 
H.  Dudley,  Ossian  Ray,  William  R.  Danforth,  George  M.  Stevens,  Charles 
A.  Cleaveland,  Benjamin  C.  Garland,  William  F.  Dodge,  Bert  A.  Taylor, 
D.  H.  Beattie,  George  R.  Eaton,  Frank  D.  Hutchins,  Everett  Fletcher, 
Burleigh  Roberts,  Charles  A.  Bailey,  Alexander  M.  Beattie,  James  I.  Par- 
sons, Alfred  R.  Evans,  Fred  N.  Day,  John  C.  Pattee,  E.  W.  Scribner, 
Robert  McCarten,  Sylvester  Cole,  L.  T    Hazen,  Samuel  E.  Paine. 

The  New  Cemetery.  —At  the  annual  town  meetiug,  March,  186S,  there 
was  considered  to  be  a  pressing  and  immediate  demand  for  a  new  place  of 
interment.  "  The  old  yard  was  declared  to  be  full,1'  audit  was  understood 
that  subsequent  burial  therein  (except  in  family  lots)  would  be  inter- 
dicted; and  haste  was  urged  in  preparing  new  grounds  for  occupancy.  The 
subject  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  three,  who  were  authorized  to  re- 
ceive proposals,  and  report  at  the  November  election.  This  committee  re- 
ported a  site  on  the  Holton  farm,  and  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to 
appoint  a  committee  of  five  "to  examine  relative  to  a  cemetery  plot." 
This  last  committee  made  their  report  at  a  special  meeting  July  17,  1869, 
on  which  was  based  a  warrant  calling  another  meeting  September  18, 
1S69,  "  to  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  purchase  a  new  cemetery,  and  raise 
money  for  the  payment  of  the  same,  and,  also,  appoint  a  committee  to 
select  a  suitable  place  for  a  cemetery,  purchase,  and  take  a  deed  of  it  in 
the  name  of  the  Town,  and  be  authorized  to  prepare  the  same  in  a  suitable 
manner."  At  this  meeting  the  committee,  consisting  of  B.  F.  Whidden, 
H.  O.  Kent,  W.  F.  Smith,  E.  D.  Stockwell,  submitted,  through  their  chair- 
man, Mr.  Whidden,  a  report  recommending  the  purchase  of  nineteen  acres 
east  of  Summer  street,  of  B.  F.  Hunking  and  Sallie  E.  Burnside.  The 
report  was  unanimously  adopted.  It  was  then  voted  that  a  committee  of 
three  be  appointed  by  the  selectmen  to  purchase  this  land,  and  to  properly 
fence  the  same,  and  that  the  committee  be  entrusted  with  the  laying  out 
of  lots,  avenues,  and  foot-paths,  planting  of  trees  and  shrubbery,  etc., 
etc. ;  also,  that  they  be  authorized  to  manage  and  control  the  cemetery. 
The  selectmen  appointed  as  this  committee  B.  F.  Whidden,  H.  0.  Kent, 
and  K.  B.  Fletcher.  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1870,  they  surrounded 
the  whole  cemetery  lot  with  a  picket  fence,  erected  gateways,  made  the 
roads,  graded  and  laid  out  the  level  portion  of  the  ground  for  immediate 
use.  In  1870  and  1871  the  grounds  were  well  graded,  stumps  and  stones 
removed,  roads  and  avenues  constructed,  lots  laid  out  and  numbered, 
fences,  gateways  and  approaches  completed.  Mr.  Fletcher  declined  to  act 
soon  after  his  appointment,  and  Mr.  Whidden  and  Col.  Kent,  for  twelve 
years  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  cemetery,  resigning  their  position  March 
8, 1881.  To  their  faithful  services  Lancaster  is  much  indebted  for  the  beau- 
tiful and  artistic  appearance  of  this  "  city  of  the  dead." 


Town  of  Lancaster.  357 


W.  E.  Bullard.  J.  I.  Williams,  and  George  U.  Kent  were  appointed  a 
cemetery  committee  March  19,  L881.  The  present  committee  is  ( '.  E. 
Mclntire  and  C.  A.  Howe 

Masonry.— (See  "Masonry  in  Coos,"  page  L39.)  We  are  indebted 
for  this  valuable  chapter  to  the  enterprise  of  Brother  [.  W.  Quimby,  of 
the  Lancaster  Gazette,  for  which  journal  he  personally  prepared  the  his- 
tories of  the  Masonic  bodies  of  this  town,  and  secured  those  of  the  lodges 
of  Gorham  and  Whitefield,  and  the  early  history  of  that  at  Colebrook. 
Herewith  we  acknowledge  the  many  other  courtesies  received  from  him. 

Olive  Branch  Chapter,  order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Adoptive  Masonry, was 
instituted  in  Lancaster  March  L6,  L870,with  these  members:  Ann  I.  Savage, 
Ruth  A.  Hovey,  Helen  Cherry,  Martha  A.  Rowell,  Richard  Bovey,  Abner 
Thompson,  Philo  S.  Cherry,  Ellen  E.  Cobleigh,  Sarah  B.  Cleaveland,  Mar- 
tha J.  Thompson,  Edward  Savage.  Erastus  V.  Cobleigh,  Charles  A.  Cleave- 
land, William  L.  Rowell;  and  these  officers:  Edward  Savage.  W.  P.; 
Ann  I.  Savage,  W.  M. :  Ellen  E.  Cobleigh,  A.  M. ;  Martha  J.  Thompson,  Treas.; 
Helen  Cherry,  Sec'y;  Sarah  B.  Cleaveland,  C. ;  Ruth  A.  Hovey.  A.  C.  The 
first  public  installation  of  officers  was  January  26,  1877.  The  degrees  have 
been  conferred  on  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  and  there  are  now 
seventy-five  resident  members.  The  Worthy  Patrons  have  been  Edward 
Savage.  H.  H.  Porter,  Frank  Peabody,  Dan  Lee  Jones.  Edward  R.  Kent, 
Eugene  Leavitt.  The  Worthy  Matrons  have  been  Ann  I.  Savage,  Ellen  E. 
Cobleigh,  Eliza  M.  Spaulding,  Emma.F.  M.  Jones,  Martha  A.  Corning, 
Grace  Whitcomb,  Hattie  Smith. 

Odd  Fellowship—  About  1850  a  number  of  lovers  and  members  of  this 
order,  among  them  several  civil  engineers  on  the  line  of  the  Atlantic  cS:  St. 
Lawrence  R.  R.,  organized  the  old  White  Mountain  Lodge,  which  did  a 
good  work  for  some  years,  but  finally  died  out.  But  few  of  its  members  are 
now  alive,  among  them  are  William  Hey  wood  and  John  Lindsey. 

Coos  Lodge,  No.  25,  has  been  in  existence  for  some  years,  hut  we  have 
vainlv  endeavored  to  obtain  its  history. 

Col.  E.  E.  Cross  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  16.— A  charter  for  the  post  was 
received  from  the  State  Encampment,  January  1»'>.  1869,  and  an  organization 
perfected;  but  for  some  reason,  after  a  tew  years  the  charter  was  returned, 
and  the  organization  ceased  to  exist,  and  as  the  records  are  lost  it  is  impos- 
sible to  give  its  history  for  the  time  it  had  a  being.  November  1,'  ls7s,  the 
present  post  was  organized  under  a  new  charter  (with  the  same  name 
and  number  as  the  old  post).  The  charter  members  were:  William  G. 
Ellis,  Solon  L.  Simonds/H.  D.  F.  Young,  E.  W.  Wvn.an,  B.  T.  Olcott, 
Parker  J.  Noyes.  H.  S.  Hilliard,  Thomas  S.  Ellis,  H.  O.  Kent,  L.  H.  Parker, 
Ira  E.  Woodward,  Thomas  Sweetser,  A.  A.  Dow,  Charles  E.  Mclntire, 
Richard   Fletcher,  J.  I.  Williams,  H.  Richardson,  G.  E.  Chandler,  E.  A. 


35S  History  of  Coos  County. 


Rhodes,  Zeb  Twitchell,  G.  H.  Emerson,  F.  H.  Perkins,  J.  M.  Morse,  J.  G. 
Sutton,  R.  M.  J.  Grant  and  George  W.  Morgan. 

The  first  officers  elected  and  installed  under  this  charter  were  Thomas 
S.  Ellis,  Commander;  P.  J.  Noyes,  S.  V.  Com. ;  B.  T.  Olcott,  J.  V.  Com.: 
E.  A.  Rhodes,  Adjutant;  Ira  E.  Woodward,  Quarter  Master;  R.  M.  J. 
Grant,  Chaplain;  William  G.  Ellis,  Officer  of  Day;  F.  H.  Perkins,  Officer 
of  Guard;  S.  L.  Simonds,  Sergt. -Major;  George  E.  Chandler,  Q.  M.  Sergt. 
No  Surgeon  appointed  or  installed. 

The  post  very  soon  mustered  into  its  ranks  a  good  many  veterans  of 
the  war,  and  its  success  was  assured.  A  special  feature  of  the  principles 
of  the  order  has  been  developed  in  the  fact  that  the  post  has  done  a  great 
deal  to  help  needy  and  destitute  comrades  and  their  families 

Memorial  Day  has  been  observed  in  a  fitting  manner  on  its  occurrence 
each  year,  the  occasion  calling  out  not  only  the  members  of  the  post,  and 
old  soldiers  not  connected  with  the  order,  but  people  of  the  town  and 
towns  surrounding  in  very  large  numbers.  Some  of  the  best  known  men 
in  the  country  and  participants  in  the  conflicts  of  the  war,  have  given  their 
experiences,  and  still  spoken  words  of  cheer  and  hope  for  an  undivided 
country,  and  good  will  to  all.  The  Commanders  of  the  post  since  its  organ- 
ization have  been:  Thomas  S.  Ellis,  from  November  1,  L878,  to  January 
1881;  Henry  0.  Kent,  from  January  1881  to  January  1882.  (Re-elected 
but  declined  second  term.)  Levi  H.  Parker,  from  January  1882  to  Janu- 
ary 1883;  Jared  I.  Williams,  from  January  1883  to  January  1881;  Parker 
J.  Noyes,  from  January  1881  to  January  1885;  Thomas  Sweetser,  from 
January  1885  to  January  1886;  Samuel  L.  Wellington,  from  January  1886 
to  January  1887.  The  officers  for  1887  are:  S.  L.  Wellington,  Commander; 
I.  E.  Woodward,  S.  V.  Com. :  W.  W.  Hendrick,  J.  V.  Com. ;  J.  S.  Brackett, 
Adjutant;  J.  I.  Williams,  Quarter  Master;  Oscar  Worthley,  M.  D.,  Sur- 
geon; George  R.  Bush,  Chaplain;  L.  H.  Parker,  Officer  of  Day;  George 
W.  Morgan,  Officer  of  Guard;  Joseph  B.  Cloudman,  Sergeant  Major; 
David  Legro,  Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

The  post  is  entitled  to  four  delegates  to  the  State  Encampment.  It  has 
a  relief  committee  of  great  efficiency,  which  looks  after  the  wants  of  deserv- 
ing comrades  and  their  families.  It  now  ranks  with  the  best  Post  in  this 
department  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  three 
in  good  standing;  the  whole  number  of  mustered  members  having  been 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine,  twenty-six  having  died,  been  demitted,  or 
dropped  from  the  rolls.  It  is  a  matter  of  pride  with  our  people  that  the 
veterans  of  the  war  are  so  earnest  and  enthusiastic  in  the  great  work  of 
Fraternity,  Charity  and  Loyalty. 

Col.  E.  E.  Cross  Women's  Relief  Corps,  No.  30,  was  organized  September 
21,  1 886,  with  a  membership  of  twenty-one.  The  organization  was  effected 
by  the  choice  and  installation  of  the  following  named  officers,  viz. :    presi- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  :;;,:» 


dent,  Mrs.  Persis  F.Chase;  first  vice-president,  Mrs.  Clara  I.  Nbyes;second 
vice-president,  Mrs.   Sarah  W.  Brown;  secretary.  Miss   May   M.  Wyman; 
treasurer.  Mrs.  Emma  Sweetser;  chaplain,  Mrs.  Bernice  Kent:  conductor. 
Miss  Carrie  Smith;  assistant  conductor,  Mrs.  Josephine  A.  Bailey;  assi 
ant  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  Carter;  assistant  treasurer,  Mrs.  E.  J.  Cram;  Mrs. 
Addie  M.  Hughes,  of  Ashland,  inspector  of  the  department,  acting  as  in- 
stalling officer.     The  membership  at  the  time,  all  being  charter  members, 
was  twenty-one.     At  the  meeting  requiring  the  election  of  officers  of  the 
Corps  for  the  full  term  of  one  year  from  the  8th  day  of  January,  1887,  the 
officers  were  re  elected  with  the  exception  of  the  treasurer,  Mrs.  Sweetser, 
and  the  chaplain,   Mrs.  Kent,    who   declined  re-election.     Those   ofiie> 
were  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Clara  J.  Tuell,  as  treasurer,  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Wyman, 
as   chaplain,    and  on  the   8th   of  January.    L887,   they  were  installed  by 
Mrs.  Hughes,  the  Corps  showing  then  a  membership  of  thirty-five. 

Eire  Department. — LaFayette Engine  Co.,  No.  1.  meetings  last  Saturday 
of  each  month.  JEtna  Engine  Co..  No.  2,  meetings  first  Saturday  evening 
in  the  month.  E.  E.  Kent  Hose  Co.,  No.  1,  meetings  first  Monday  of  each 
month. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Brief  Personal  Sketches  —  Miscellaneous. 

fy APTAIN  Emmons  Stockwell,  was  a  man  of  remarkable  courage, 
I  /«%  and  it  seems  the  Indians  who  were  his  neighbors  both  feared  and 
i£  loved  him.  But  what  is  most  remarkable  in  the  history  of  this  couple 
is  their  numerous  progeny.  Emmons  and  Ruth  Stockwell  lived  together 
fifty-five  years.  At  the  time  of  her  decease  their  descendants  were  known  to 
be  about  two  hundred,  one  hundred  and  eighty  of  whom  are  supposed  to 
be  living.  Their  children  were  fifteen  in  number,  and  no  death  occurred 
in  the  family  until  the  youngest  was  more  than  twenty  years  of  age. 
Their  grandchildren  numbered  ninety-two,  and  great-grandchildren  ninety. 
Captain  Stockwell  died  November,  L819,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his 
age.     Mrs.  Stockwell  died  March  21,  1828. 

Edwards  Bucknam,  born  at  Athol,  Mass.,  June  21,  1711.  was  a  reside ni 
of  Lancaster  in  1764,  and  became  a  prominent  and  leading  man.  He  mar- 
ried Susannah  Page,  and  settled  at  the  mouth  of  Beaver  brook.  Their 
daughter  Eunice  was  the  first  white  female  child  born  in  I  .ancaster.  'Mr. 
Bucknam  was  a  man  of  unbounded  hospitality  and  usefulness,  was  a  dead 


360  History  of  Coos  County. 

shot  with  his  '  smooth  bore. '  could  draw  teeth,  '  let  blood, '  perform  the  duties 
of  priest  in  marrying,  was  one  of  the  most  skillful  and  accurate  surveyors 
in  the  state,  was  proprietors'  and  town  clerk  (his  house  and  records  were 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1772).  He  became  general  of  the  militia;  surveyed 
for  towns  and  people  in  all  quarters;  wrote  deeds,  tried  causes,  drafted 
agreements,  etc.,  etc."  He  died  March  9,  1813. 

Lieut.  Dennis  Stanley  came,  with  Col.  Whipple,  from  Kittery,  Me.,  to 
Dartmouth  (Jefferson).  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade  and  commenced  busi- 
ness there,  but  moved  to  Lancaster,  prior  to  1776,  where  he  married  Sarah 
Bishop,  from  Boscawen,  N.  H  They  had  a  large  family  of  children,  whose 
descendants  are  most  respectable  people.  He  followed  his  vocation  till  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1S13.  He  owned  the  best  farm  north  of  Haver- 
hill. It  contained  050  acres,  and  now  belongs  to  Capt.  A.  M.  Beattie-  The 
house  still  retains  its  shape  and  size  as  when  he  occupied  it,  and  was  the 
resort,  and  almost  the  home,  of  the  halt,  the  lame,  and  the  blind.  As  can 
be  seen  to-day,  the  house  could  almost  quarter  a  regiment.  Like  all 
others,  when  in  want  of  fresh  meat,  Lieut.  Stanley  hunted  the  moose, 
whose  nearest  feeding  ground  was  Cherry  pond.  Many  of  the  skins 
of  the  moose  killed  in  this  section  found  their  way  into  his  tan-vats, 
and  made  valuable  material  for  clothing.  He  was  a  man  of  fair  educa- 
tion, of  strong  mental  power,  prominent  in  town  affairs  and  liberal  in  his 
views.  His  house  was  a  place  where  the  early  Methodists — Rosebrook, 
Crawford,  Reeves  and  others — held  their  meetings,  although  neither  he 
nor  his  family  were  of  that  denomination.  Mrs.  Stanley  died  January  ]  1, 
1849,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  She  had  resided  in  Lancaster  more  than 
seventy  years. 

Major  Jonas  Wilder  came  here  about  1778,  from  Templeton,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  purchased  a  square  mile  of  land  extending  from  the  "Hol- 
ton  House  "  to  Israel's  river.  He  built  the  house  in  Lancaster  now  (1887) 
occupied  by  Horace  Holton,  and  also  erected  the  first  grist  and  saw-mill 
here.  He  was  on  a  committee  to  select  a  public  burial  ground,  in  March, 
177(.»,  and  presented  the  mound  known  as  the  "old  grave-yard"  to  he  used 
for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Wilder  was  enterprising  and  public-spirited,  enter- 
ing with  his  whole  heart  into  any  movement  tending  to  the  good  of  the 
community.  He  died  in  1810,  at  the  age  of  seventy  eight.  In  the  "old 
grave-yard  "  is  a  handsome  white  granite  monument,  erected  to  his  mem- 
ory in  1885. 

Joseph  Brackett  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  minute-men  in  the  time  of 
the  Revolution,  and  was  called  to  the  defense  of  Portsmouth  when  an 
attack  was  apprehended  from  the  royal  troops.  In  1787  he  purchased  two 
rights  of  land  in  Lancaster,  about  610  acres.  In  March,  1 788,  he  mounted 
his  horse  and  started  from  Lee,  N.  H.,  for  Lancaster.  Arriving  at  Bart- 
lett,  he  learned  that  the  road  through  the  Notch  was  impassable  for  his 


Town  of  Lancaster.  361 


horse.  The  next  morning,  finding  a  snow-shoe  track  which  Led  to  Dart- 
mouth (Jefferson),  he  shouldered  his  saddle-hags  and  proceeded  on  loot, 
and  alone,  through  the  Notch  to  Col.  Whipple's,  a  distance  of  thirty-one 
miles;  from  there,  where  he  had  comfortable  accommodations  for  the 
night,  he  easily  reached  Capt.  Weeks's  house,  the  distance  being  twelve 
miles.  At  that  time  there  was  only  one  house  between  Obed  Hall's  in 
Bartlett,  and  Col.  Whipple's  in  Jefferson;  that  occupied  the  site  now  known 
as  the  Fabyan  House.  During  the  summer  Mr.  Brackett  cleared  a  few 
acres,  built  a  log  house  and  returned  in  the  fall  to  Lee  (  Mi  the  20th  of 
January,  1789,  he  set  out  on  his  upward  journey  of  130  miles,  with  his 
family,  one  ox-team,  a  few  cows  and  sheep;  after  eleven  days  of  travel 
they  reached  their  home  in  the  then  wilderness  of  Lancaster.  Joseph 
Brackett  was  a  man  of  genial  humor  and  vivacity,  which  endeared  him  to 
many  friends.  He  was  for  many  years  a  deacon  in  the  church.  He  died 
April  5,  1813. 

Adino  Nye  Brackett,  son  of  Lieut.  Joseph  and  Mary  i  Weeks)  Brackett, 
was  born  in  Lee,  N.  H.,  in  1777,  came  to  Lancaster  in  1.789,  and  married 
Mary  W.  Weeks  in  1807.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom  two  are  now- 
living,  Adino  Nye  and  James  Spaulding.  In  1800  he  was  elected  hog  reeve, 
highway  surveyor  and  tything-man.  In  1S03,  chosen  selectman,  which 
office  he  held  for  seven  years,;  representative  in  1814  and  at  various  subse- 
quent dates;  was  clerk  of  the  superior  court,  and  one  of  the  most  valuable 
and  useful  citizens.  He  possessed  an  open  and  frank  disposition,  was  ac- 
curate and  prompt  in  the  discharge  of  all  duties.  Professional  men  sought 
his  society  for  his  extensive  and  varied  knowlege,  gathered  largely  by  long 
years  of  steady  and  continuous  reading,  and  close  and  scientific  observation 
of  nature.  He  was  a  great  lover  of  history.  He  was  an  accurate  and  re- 
liable surveyor,  and  became  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  White  Moun- 
tains and  vicinity,  and  established  by  actual  survey  the  altitudes  of  the 
various  mountain  heights. 

Mi-.  Brackett  was  a  man  of  commanding  appearance  and  a  gentleman 
by  nature,  and  was  held  in  the  very  highest  estimation  by  all  who  had  the 
honor  of  his  acquaintance.  Whatever  tended  to  elevate  and  improve  so- 
ciety and  enlighten  the  people,  found  in  Adino  N.  Brackett  an  ardent,  con- 
sistent and  faithful  friend.  He  was  a  graphic  writer  and  speaker,  and 
contributed  much  of  value  to  the  literature  of  the  day.  He  died  in  18-17. 
Adino  Nye  is  a  physician  in  Virginia,  James  Spaulding  Brackett  inherited 
many  traits  from  his  father  and  is  a  ready  writer,  and  interested  in  his 
torical  researcl  i . 

Titus  Olcott  Brown,  born  in  Tolland,  Conn.,  August  25,  L764,  after  his 
marriage  settled  in  Lancaster.  He  engaged  in  the  hotel  and  transportation 
business,  and  was  the  first  person  to  carry  the  produce  of  Upper  Coos 
through  the  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains  to  Portland.     He  afterwards 

24 


362  History  of  Coos  County. 

moved  to  Bartlett,  and  was  an  inn-keeper  at  Gray  Corner.  In  1833  he 
went  to  Norway,  Me.,  and  kept  a  hotel  until  1842.  He  resided  in  Norway 
until  his  death,  in  1S55.  His  son,  J.  B.  Brown,  born  in  Lancaster,  was 
for  many  years  a  leading  business  man  in  Portland,  one  of  the  principal 
movers  in  establishing  and  constructing  the  Atlantic  &  Pacific  R.  R.,  and 
in  creating  the  Berlin  Mills  Company. 

Col.  Stephen  Wilson  had  a  clearing  and  a  log  hut  on  the  interval  near 
the  present  village,  as  early  as  1786.  He  kept  hotel  in  many  towns  of 
Coos  county;  he  was  also  a  veteran  stage  proprietor,  and  even  after  he  was 
seventy  years  of  age  acted  as  a  mail  carrier,  and  for  many  years  did  the 
freighting  for  Lancaster,  via  the  White  Mountain  Notch,  with  Carlos  Page 
for  wagon  master.  Mr.  Wilson  was  an  active,  kindly  and  genial  man. 
He  died  in  Northumberland,  N.  H.,  May  6,  I860. 

James  Perkins  came  before  1800,  married  Lucy,  daughter  of  Major 
Jonas  Wilder,  and  lived  in  the  first  house  built  on  the  "common,"  near 
the  old  meeting-house.  He  traded  this  place  to  his  brother  Daniel,  who 
moved  from  Wakefield  to  Lancaster  in  1805,  and  returned  to  Dover. 
Daniel  Perkins  was  a  native  of  Dover,  and  was  a  tailor  here  for  many 
years.  His  daughter  Adeline  married  Allen  Smith,  who  was  a  drummer 
in  the  War  of  1812.  After  the  war  Mr.  Smith  started  a  saddler's  and 
harnessmaker's  shop  in  Lancaster,  which,  with  his  house,  was  located  on 
the  lot  where  the  Hopkinson  stone  house  stands.  In  1836  he  bought  the 
place  where,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  his  venerable 
widow,  graceful  and  interesting,  now  resides.  His  shop  was  where  George 
W.  Lane's  clothing  store  is  now,  and  here,  for  over  thirty  years,  he  carried 
on  a  constant  business.  He  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  N.  H.,  a  valued 
member  of  North  Star  Lodge  of  Masons,  a  steward,  and  class  leader  of  the 
Methodist  church,  to  which  both  he  and  his  wife  belonged  for  many  years. 
He  died  in  1873,  aged  eighty- two.  Among  their  ten  children  were  William 
and  James  A.,  so  long  business  men  of  Lancaster.  The  latter  is  probably 
the  oldest  merchant  now  in  actual  trade  in  the  county.     (See  merchants.) 

Major  Moses  White  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  gifts  and  culture, 
and  a  model  business  man.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  actively  a  par- 
ticipant, and  for  quite  a  period  served  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Moses  Hazen. 
His  business  abilities  rendered  him  of  use  to  his  uncle  in  his  extensive 
operations,  and  his  counsel  and  active  interference  were  often  required  in 
untangling  complications.  The  Lancaster  lands  of  Gen.  Hazen  became 
the  property  of  Major  White  under  the  will  of  the  General;  but  in  such  an 
involved  condition  as  to  require  years  of  time,  much  expense  and  litiga- 
tion before  they  were  cleared.  Major  White  became  a  resident  of  Lancas- 
ter in  1815.  He  was  from  Rutland,  Mass.,  a  merchant,  and  in  the  lan- 
guage of  those  who  remember  him,  "a  most  courtly,  and  aristocratic  gen- 
tleman." 


Town  of  Lancastkk.  363 


John  H.  White,  son  of  Moses  White,  was  register  of  deeds  for  several 
years,  sheriff  ten  successive  years,  an  influential  member  of  Gov.  Page's 
Council;  at  one  time  a  candidate  for  governor.  He  was  for  years  a  trus- 
tee of  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum.  Honorable  and  true  in  all  relations.  He 
filled  all  local  town  offices  with  marked  ability  and  was  one  of  the  foremost 
in  every  public  enterprise. 

Royal  Joy 'si in  came  to  Lancaster  from  Bath  in  June,  1825,  and  was  in 
trade  from  that  time,  alone,  and  with  partners,  until  1867,  when  lie  sold  his 
store  building  to  Porter  Brothers,  and  closed  out  his  goods  by  auction.  He 
was  a  typical  old-style  country  merchant,  and  was  the  leading  business 
man  for  many  years,  and  quite  successful;  but  he  could  not  adapt  himself 
to  the  changes  of  business  methods  in  later  years,  and  he  gradually  lost 
his  customers,  and  when  he  died  had  little  property.  He  ahvays  held  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people  as  a  thoroughly  honest  man.  He  died 
July  16,  1880,  in  his  eighty-fifth  year. 

CoJ.  Ephraim  Cross  was,  during  a  long  life,  a  prominent  man  in  North- 
ern New  Hampshire,  holding  offices  of  honor  and  trust — town,  county, 
state  and  national.  He  was  always  a  leader  in  society,  a  kind  neighbor, 
a  genial  companion  and  warm  friend.     He  died  in  1876. 

Setlt  Savage,  born  in  Lancaster,  January  27,  1807,  died  August  4,  1883. 
He  married  Martha  Spaulding.  Of  their  children,  nine  attained  maturity: 
Edward,  Hubbard,  Sarah  (Mrs.  Alden  Lewis),  Lucy  (Mrs.  James  Bain), 
Henry,  John,  Charlotte,  Mattie,  and  Cyrus,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  civil 
war,  and  died  while  at  the  front  from  the  hardships  and  exposures  of  the 
military  service.  When  a  young  man  Mr.  Savage  became  well  known  as 
an  excellent  school  teacher,  and  he  taught  in  Lancaster,  Jefferson,  White- 
field  and  adjoining  towns.  Before  1840  probably  no  person  in  this  vicinity 
was  more  noted  as  a  teacher  of  our  common  schools.  In  his  younger  days 
he  was  also  quite  successful  in  teaching  singing  schools.  He  was  a  good 
singer,  and  for  many  years  sang  in  the  Congregational  church  choir  of 
Lancaster.  He  was  a  selectman  for  twelve  or  fifteen  years.  He  was  rep- 
resentative to  the  General  Court  of  New  Hampshire  in  L859  and  I860. 
Originally  a  Whig  in  politics,  he  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  organ- 
ization, and  remained  a  sturdy  Republican  to  the  end  of  his  life.  Mr.  Sav- 
age  was  an  affectionate  husband  and  father,  a  kind  friend  and  neighbor, 
a  generous  and  public-spirited  citizen.  In  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow- 
men  he  was  just,  faithful  and  capable. 

Early  Marriages. —  William  Johnson  to  Polly  Stockwell,  November  13v 
lTsr,;  (itoige  Brown  to  Polly  Bucknam,  September  3,  L789;  Nathan  Love- 
w( -11  to  Charlotte  Stockwell,  December  27,  1792;  John  Mclntyre  to  Sally 
Stock  well,  March  19, 1792;  Ilichard  C.Everett  to  lVrsis  Wilder,  December  17. 
L793;  John  Sanborn  to  Sally  Crawford,  of  Guildhall,   November   12,  L795. 

In  1750  a  small  tribe  of  Indians  near  Litchfield,  Conn.,  removed  to  the 


361  History  of  Coos  County. 

mouth  of  White  river,  Vermont,  to  find  a  peaceful  home,  and  became 
farmers  and  mechanics.  John,  a  son  of  Annawanski,  their  chief,  often 
came  in  hunting  expeditions  to  the  Upper  Cohos,  and  moved,  in  1806,  with 
his  white  wife,  to  Lancaster,  where  he  built  his  camp  in  Indian  style,  on 
Beaver  brook,  near  Israel's  river.  Of  his  thirteen  children,  eight  married 
whites. 

Zadoc  Cady,  in  the  early  days  of  Lancaster,  was  a  character.  He  was 
a  mason  by  trade,  and  always  had  a  "  puttering  job."  At  one  time  he  was 
messenger  to  the  court.  The  old  court-house  was  warmed  by  the  first  stove 
I  ever  saw.  This  stove  was  a  brick  structure  about  five  feet  square,  and 
two  and  a  half  feet  high,  surmounted  by  a  potash-kettle  turned  bottom  up, 
with  a  hole  through  the  bottom,  over  which  the  smoke-pipe  was  riveted. 
It  was  capable  of  heating  half  an  acre.  On  one  occasion  Judge  Liver- 
more,  who  was  to  hold  the  court,  came  up  at  night,  and  walking  out  in  the 
morning  saw  the  court-house  door  open,  walked  in,  and  saw  Cady  (who 
did  not  know  the  Judge)  stuffing  wood  into  the  stove.  "  You  are  getting 
up  a  pretty  good  heat  here,"  said  the  Judge.  "Yes,"  says  Uncle  Zadoc, 
"  I  understand  Livermore  is  a  frozen  old  cuss,  and  I'll  see  if  I  can't  get  it 
warm  enough  for  him  once."  The  Judge  went  out,  and  in  due  time  the 
court  was  opened  in  great  state.  Mr.  Sheriff,  with  cockade  on  his  hat, 
sword  at  a  "carry,"  and  as  straight  as  half  a  dozen  ramrods,  escorting 
Judge  Livermore.  Cady  saw  he  was  caught  and  was  in  a  pickle.  As  there 
was  nothing  else  for  him  to  do,  he  kept  cramming  wood  into  the  stove  till 
it  was  almost  at  a  red  heat.  The  old  Judge  stopped  and  said:  "Mr. 
Messenger,  you  need  not  put  any  more  wood  in  the  stove,  the  '  old  cuss ' 
is  warm  enough." 

Cady  was  sexton,  and  George  W.  Ingerson  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 
In  his  rage  and  spite  at  the  loss  of  his  place,  he  said  "he  hoped  to  God 
that  there  would  not  be  a  person  die  in  town  that  year."  He  had  a  good 
and  amiable  wife,  and  a  large  and  respectable  family. 

Ziba  Lynds  was  well-known  to  many  of  the  present  generation.  He 
knew  or  cared  little  about  the  ways  of  society,  legal  or  moral,  preferring 
to  live  a  hermit  life  in  his  little  cabin  near  the  pine  woods  above  the  vil- 
lage. Many  years  ago  Ziba  appeared  one  Lord's  day  in  the  old  meeting- 
house with  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  silver  coin,  which  he  wished  to 
deposit  as  an  "offering  to  the  Lord."  It  being  suggested  that  some  one 
take  care  of  it,  he  concluded  that  he  would  take  care  of  it  himself.  After 
a  time  it  was  reported  that  he  had  buried  it,  and  soon  the  rumor  grew, 
and  was  believed  by  many  that  he  had  large  treasures  hidden  away,  which 
he  had  forgotten.  He  was  under  guardianship  as  an  insane  person  during 
his  later  years.  Previous  to  his  death  in  1869  he  strongly  desired  to  return 
to  his  native  town,  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  but  he  was  not  allowed  to  go. 
His  last  request  was  that  he  might  be  buried  there,  and  fifteen  dollars  in 


Town  of  Lancaster.  365 


gold  were  found  sewed  in  the  arm-pit  of  his  shirt  to  pay  the  expense  of 
transportation.     His  request  was  complied  with. 

Historical  and  Personal  Notes  in  Royal  Joy slinks  Ledger.  An  interest- 
ing relic  is  in  the  possession  of  Edward  R.  Kent.  It  is  an  old  Ledger  of  the 
early  merchant,  Royal  Joyslin,  for  the  years  L825  to  L828  inclusive.  The 
entries  were  all  made  by  Richard  P.  Kent,  then  clerk  for  Mr.  Joyslin. 
Some  few  years  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Kent,  this  old  book  became  his 
property,  and  he  made  many  historical  notes  and  descriptions  under  the 
accounts  of  various  persons  which  add  largely  to  the  value  of  the  volume. 
By  the  kindness  of  Col.  E.  R.  Kent  we  are  permitted  to  give  our  readers 
the  benefit  of  these: — 

"  Seth  Adams,  living  in  Lancaster  Jan.  1,  1883,  (died  July,  1883,)  a  truly  honest,  conscientious 
man."  "Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  First  settled  Minister,  ordained  1794,  had  the  minister's  lot  of  land 
of  which  he  made  a  farm.  Salary  £50,  to  he  increased  to  £80  when  the  increase  of  population 
would  warrant  it;  was  dismissed  1822.  Succeeded  hy  Mr.  Wheelock  who  filled  the  pulpit  one 
year  Mr.  Willard,  in  1824,  engaged  to  preach,  with  privilege  of  reading  liis  old  sermon*,  at  a 
salary  of  $150  per  year.  He  died  suddenly  Sunday  morning,  July  22,  1826."  "  Samuel  Phelps, 
Guildhall,  Revolutionary  pensioner,  for  many  years  toll  gatherer  at  the  Lancaster  Toll  Bridge." 
"  John  Hicks,  Jefferson,  soldier  in  Major  Weeks'  Company,  11th  Regiment,  in  the  War  of  1812." 
"Charles  A.  Going,  a  young  physician  of  good  talents,  killed  himself  hy  hard  drinking  al  the  age 
of  26."  "  John  Burgin,  a  lieutenant  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  drew  a  pension  under  the  act 
of  1818."  "Ebenezer  Twomhley,  Revolutionary^  pensioner."  "  Jonas  Baker,  Land  Surveyor,  long 
known  as  'Squire  Baker."  "  Ephraim  Cross,  hatter  hy  trade,  afterwards  deputy  Sheriff  and 
Custom  House  officer,  died  of  cancer,  father  of  Col.  Edward  E.  Cross,  of  the  5th  N.  H.  Regiment 
who  was  killed  at  Gettyshurgh,  July  1863."  "Eunice  White,  maiden  lady  long  known  as  Aunt 
Eunice."  (She  was  a  kind  hearted  body,  went  from  house  to  house  as  a  seamstress.  Many  of  the 
men  of  Lancaster  will  remember  her  kindliness,  and  the  little  presents  of  beech  nuts,  popped  corn, 
etc.,  put  into  the  pockets  of  the  new  garments  she  had  made  for  them.)  "  Richard  Darby,  lives  in 
Laucaster."  A  note  in  a  subsequent  hand  says  "  after  R.  P.  Kent's  death.  Darby  came  to  see  the 
remains  and  wept  likea  child."  "  Benjamin  Hicks,  Jefferson,  Revolutionary  pensioner."  "  Charles 
J.  Stuart,  Lawyer,  intemperate,  poor,  died  suddenly  while  seated  at  the  dinner  table  in  1834." 
"Jacob  E.  Stickney,  physician  in  practice  in  Lancaster  forty-five  years,  died  of  consumption  July 
1869."  "  Jacob  Barras,  Dalton,  Revolutionary  pensioner,  made  brown  pottery  which  was  largely 
used  in  early  times."  "  William  Ingerson,  Jefferson,  known  as  '  Billy  '  Pngerson,  famous  I'm-  tell- 
ing great  stories."  "Eliphalet  Lyman,  from  Woodstock,  CI.,  was  reputed  to  be  an  able  physician 
and  surgeon,  for  mauy  years  enjoyed  an  extensive  practice,  but  fell  into  habits  of  intemperance, 
became  poor  and  lost  his  business,  was  divorced  from  his  wife,  the  mother  of  his  children,  married 
a  second  time:  the  second  also  obtained  a  divorce.  He  died  al  the  Coin  Hotel  of  paralysis." 
"  Daniel  Pinkham,  Adams,  known  as  Elder  Pinkham,  projector  of  the  Pinkham  road  from  Adams 
(now  Jackson)  to  Gorham  leading  (to)  the  Glen  House."  "Ethan  A.Crawford,  for  many  years 
kept  a  teamster's  tavern  near  where  the  large  Fabyan  House  now  stands  al  the  White  Mountains  " 
"Jared  W.Williams  came  from  Woodstock,  Ct.,  read  law  in  S.A.Pearson's  office,  became  a 
politician,  was  a  member  of  the  legislature,  state  senator,  four  years  member  of  Congress,  and  two 
years  Governor  of  New  Hampshire,  and  the  last  years  of  his  life  served  as  judge  of  probate  of 
Coos  County."  "  Abner  Hinds,  Milan,  was  a  farmer  and  hunter,  supposed  to  have  been  killed.'' 
"John  Smith,  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812."  ".Major  John  Burns,  Whitefield,  a  soldier  of  the 
War  of  the  Revolution,  also  of  the  War  of  1812.  in  the  latter  as  a  member  of  Major  Weeks'  com- 
pany. He  was  elected  Representative  from  Whitefield  at  theageof  87."  "Samuels.  Wentworth, 
a  soldier  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution  and  a  pensioner."  "  Reuben  Stephenson,  trader,  deputy 
sheriff,  register  of  deeds,  and  held  other  town  offices."     "  William  Lovejoy,  Jr.,  know  as  Judge 


366  History  of  Coos  County. 

Lovejoy,  he  being  once  side  judge,  by  trade  a  joiner,  was  always  poor,  but  a  man  of  influence, 
was  one  of  the  electors  of  President  in  1828,  and  voted  for  John  Adams."  "  Charles  Bellows,  a 
trader,  hotel-keeper,  lumber  manufacturer,  sheriff  of  Coos  County,  and  dealer  in  wild  lands,  died 
in  1883.''  "  Gratia  Stebbins,  a  seamstress,  never  married,  worked  at  making  men's  garments,  known 
as  a  tailoress,  going  from  house  to  house  to  make  garments  of  the  home  made  cloth  spun  and  woven 
by  the  female  portion  of  the  family,  for  her  services  she  received  25  cents  per  day,  and,  when  at  a 
little  over  seventy  years  of  age,  she  was  obliged  to  give  up  labor,  she  had  money  laid  up  to  '  carry 
her  through',  and  at  her  decease,  a  few  years  later,  left  $1,100  which  she  had  at  interest."  "  Allen 
Smith,  a  drummer  in  the  War  of  1812,  for  many  years  a  harness  maker  in  shop  opposite  our  store, 
a  Free  Mason."     "  John  Bickford,  Northumberland,  soldier  of  War  of  1812." 

Mr.  Kent  had  evidently  only  partially  finished  his  work  on  the  ledger. 
It  is  a  pity  he  was  not  spared  to  rescue  from  oblivion  facts  concerning  all 
whose  names  appear  on  these  pages.  On  a  blank  page  in  the  latter  part 
Mr.  Kent  wrote:  "Of  the  six  hundred  or  more  names  on  this  ledger 
entered  during  the  years  1825,  1826,  1827  and  the  early  part  of  1828,  it  is 
ascertained  that  the  following  43  persons  were  alive  Jan.  1,  1883."  This 
entry  made  by  R.  P.  Kent,  March  10,  1883. 

"  Anson  Fisk,  at  Haverhill,  N.  H. ;  Ralph  Fisk,  Orlando  James,  Horatio  P.  Lougee,  Joseph 
Colby,  Whitefield;  Joseph  Greenleaf,  millwright,  Massachusetts;  David  Hicks,  Emmons  S.  Mc- 
Intyre,  Jefferson;  James  Curtis,  Stratford;  Zeph.  K.  Washburn,  Guildhall;  Hazo  Woodward, 
Minot,  Me.;  Wm.  M.  Smith,  Normand  Smith,  Virginia;  James  H.  Johnson,  Bath;  Levi  F.  Ranlet, 
Littleton;  Sam.  Rines,  Strafford  Co.;  Thomas  D.  Blake,  New  York  city;  Ira  White,  Wells  River, 
Vt. ;  John  Bishop,  Brighton,  Vt. ;  Francis  Bingham,  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt, ;  Joseph  Wiswall,  Clarks- 
ville;  Lucinda  Greenleaf  (Mrs.  Pearson),  Boston;  Arnold  Blood,  Bethlehem;  Alex.  Brown,  Oregon; 
Timothy  Estes,  Springfield,  Mass.;  Geo.  V.  Eastman,  Coneaut,  O.;  Samuel  Bell,  Lunenburg,  Vt.; 
F,  G.  Messer,  Portland,  Me. ;  Shepard  Knight,  James  Legro,  Mary  Perkins  (Mrs.  Ingerson),  John 
Stalbird,  Seth  Adams,  Ezra  Derby,  Charles  Bellows,  George  Bellows,  Alva  Twombly,  Enoch  F. 
Conner,  Samuel  Mclntyre,  Richard  P.  Kent,  Harvey  Goodall." 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


RICHARD   PEABODY   KENT. 

For  almost  sixty  years  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  identified  with 
the  business,  the  development,  the  prosperity  of  Lancaster  aud  the  region 
round  about.  During  this  long  period,  his  career  was  marked  by  un- 
tiring energy,  persistent  industry  and  unswerving  integrity.  In  the 
manifold  transactions  that  passed  under  his  direction,  there  was  never  an 
instance  of  deviation  from  the  straight  path  of  business  and  personal 
honor.  His  name  for  more  than  a  generation,  has  been  the  synonym  of 
commercial  integrity  and  absolute  truth.  Generous  in  public  matters  de- 
serving support,  devoted  to  his  home  and  his  family;  it  seems  fitting  that 
more  than  a  passing  notice  should  be  bestowed  upon  him  and  his  memory. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  367 


Richard  Peabody  Kent  came  of  a  thoroughly  New  England  family. 
His  ancestors  landing  at  Newbury,  Mass.,  in  L635,  the  differenl  branches 
of  their  descendants  being  represented  later  by  Chancellor  James  Kent,  ot 
New  York  Edward  Kent,  Governor  of  Maine,  and  Moody  Kent,  of  Con- 
cord His'  immediate  paternal  ancestor  was  John  Kent,  son  of  Jacob,  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Newbury,  Vt.,  then  in  the  New  Hampshire 
Grants-a  lieutenant  in  the  "Old  French  War  "-and  a  colonel  m  the  A\  ar 

of  the  Revolution.  .        .  . 

In  1700  a  regiment  of  eight  hundred  men  was  raised  in  the  I  rovmce  ot 
New  Hampshire,  for  the  army  destined  for  the  invasion  of  Canada,  and 
placed  under  command  of  General  Amherst.     Of  this  regiment,  one  com- 
pany was  officered  by  John  Hazen,  captain;  Jacob  Kent,  (a  descendant  of 
the  pioneer,  who  landed  at  Parker's  river,   in  Old  Newbury ,  m  1635-and 
then  of  Plaistow,  N.  H.,)  1st  lieutenant,  and  Timothy  Bedel,  (lather  of  Gen 
Moody  Bedel  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  grandfather  of  Gen.   John  Bedel 
and   Col.  Hazen  Bedel,)  2d  lieutenant.     The  regiment   rendezvoused  at 
Litchfield,  and  inarched,  by  Peterborough  and  Keene,  to  "Number  Four 
(Charlestown),    thence   cut   a  road   through   the   wilderness,    twenty-six 
miles  to  the  Green  Mountains,  and  thence  to  Lake  Champlam,  crossing 
to  Crown  Point,  where  it  took  water  transportation.     After  a  successful 
campaign  they  returned  through  the  wilderness  via  the  meadows  of  New- 
bury ( Vt.)  and  Haverhill,  or  the  "  Cohos  Country." 

While  returning,  Lieut. -Col.  Jacob  Bayley,  Capt.  Hazen  and  Lieuten- 
ants Kent  and  Bedel  were  so  favorably  impressed  with  the  fertility  of  these 
meadows  that  they  determined  to  found  a  settlement  there.  This  project 
was  speedily  carried  out,  Bayley  and  Kent  locating  on  the  western  side, 
and  Hazen  and  Bedel  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  from  which  settle- 
ments sprung  the  towns  of  Newbury  (named  for  the  old  home  of  the  race 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimack),  then  in  the  "  New  Hampshire  Grants 
now  in  Vermont— and  Haverhill,  N.  H. 

Jacob  Kent,  here  referred  to,  died  at  Newbury  in  1812,  aged  eighty-six 
years  He  was  a  noted  man  in  his  section,  commander  of  the  first  com- 
pany of  militia  raised  in  the  towns  of  Newbury  and  Haverhill,  m  our 
Province  of  New  Hampshire"-as  says  his  commission  signed  in  L764  by 
Benning  Wentworth.  He  was  a  leader  in  church  matters,  was  for  yea  i  s 
town  clerk,  and  county  clerk  of  Orange  county,  and  subsequently,  and 
for  a  long  time,  judge  in  the  Vermont  judiciary.  In  the  Revolution  while 
burdened  with  the  cares  of  the  infant  settlement,  he  was  an  earnest  actor 
in  those  scenes  which  gave  us  our  independence.  He  was  colonel  of  the 
forces  in  his  vicinity,  and  on  the  advance  of  Burgoyne,  started  with  his 
regiment  for  the  field,  and  was  present  with  it  at  the  capitulation  at  bara- 

On  his  mother's  side  his  ancestry  was  equally  notable  and  deserving. 


368  History  op  Coos  County. 

His  mother  was  Tabitha,  daughter  of  Lieut.  Richard  Peabody,  of  Wood- 
stock, Conn.,  an  officer  of  distinction  in  the  Continental  army,  and  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Littleton  in  Grafton  county.  Sprung  from  this  hardy 
and  patriotic  stock,  from  which  he  inherited  the  indomitable  will  and  re- 
sistless energy  which  characterized  his  life,  the  career  of  Mr.  Kent  was 
almost  the  typical  progress  of  the  New  England  boy  of  the  period.  He 
was  born  at  Newbury  on  the  family  homestead,  December  21,  1805,  and  in 
1810  removed  with  his  father  to  "  Parker  Hill,"  in  Lyman,  N.  H.  In  1811 
he  received  an  injury  from  a  cut,  on  his  right  knee,  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  never  recovered,  and  which  event  had  an  important  influence  in 
shaping  his  subsequent  career.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  commenced  his 
mercantile  life  as  a  clerk  for  William  B.  Eastman  in  a  little  store  in  Ly- 
man, remaining  two  years  at  a  compensation  of  $30  for  the  first  year  and 
$70  for  the  second.  He  then  entered  the  store  of  William  Eames,  at  Wells 
River,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  two  years,  from  whence  he  went  to  Lisbon 
in  the  employ  of  John  A.  Smith,  where  he  remained  until  1825,  when  he 
engaged  with  Royal  Joyslin,  for  two  years,  at  $150  a  year,  in  a  store  he 
was  about  to  open  at  Lancaster.  He  came  to  Lancaster  on  the  first  day  of 
June,  1825;  his  diary  recording  that  he  passed  through  Littleton  village 
"then  a  place  of  a  dozen  houses,  some  mills  and  one  store,  kept  by  Major 
Aaron  Brackett."  Arrived  at  Lancaster,  he  stopped  at  the  stage  tavern  at 
the  north  end  of  the  street,  kept  by  William  Cargill.  It  being  "Election 
Day,"  the  people  were  observing  it  as  a  holiday,  and  he  "  engaged  in  a  game 
of  long  ball,  on  the  Holton  Common."  At  that  date,  says  the  diary,  there 
were  from  Parson  Willard's  (the  present  W.  H.  Hanson  house)  to  the 
Rosebrook  farm  (now  George  H.  Emerson's),  thirty-four  houses  only,  in- 
cluding the  two  taverns,  one  at  each  end  of  the  street;  the  one  at  the  south 
end,  at  a  later  date  was  christened  the  American  House  and  kept  by  Samuel 
White.  The  public  buildings  were  the  old  church  on  the  Common,  now 
the  Town  Hall  building,  the  court-house,  (the  present  Library  building, 
which  for  many  years  served  as  an  academy,)  the  village  school-house,  in 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  present  court-house  yard,  the  jail  of  elm  logs, 
built  in  1805  and  burned  January  9,  1858,  and  the  Red  Gun  House  of  the 
(then)  24th  Regiment,  where  the  Unitarian  church  now  is.  There  was  a 
saw  and  grist-mill  at  the  upper  or  Wesson  dam,  conducted  by  Isaac  Derby, 
familiarly  known  as  "Squire  Derby."  On  the  site  of  the  present  dam  of 
Frank  Smith  &  Co.  was  a  saw  and  grist-mill  on  the  north  side,  owned  by 
Ephraim  Stockwell,  the  grist-mill  managed  by  David  Greenleaf,  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier.  On  the  south  side  were  clothing  and  carding  works. 
Asahel  Going  had  a  smaller  clothing  mill  on  the  lower  dam,  where  Rich- 
ards. >n  &  Folsom's  shop  now  is.  Gen.  Wilson  had  a  pearl-ash  on  Indian 
brook,  in  rear  of  Irving  W.  Drew's,  William  Cargill  one  twenty  rods  south 
of  it.  Mr.  Boardman  one  opposite  J.  H.  Hopkinson's,  Reuben  Stephenson 


Town  op  Lancaster.  369 


one  where  Marshall  &  Eaton's  carnage  shop  sheds  arc  and  Samuel  White 
one  where  N.  B.  Wilson's  shop  stood  near  the  south  end  of  the  bridge. 
The  postoffice  was  kept  by  Samuel  A.  Pearson,  in  the  house  known  as  the 
Hiram  A.  Fletcher  house.  Reuben  Stephenson  had  a  store  on  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Middle  streets,  in  his  house,  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Coburn,  on 
High  street.  Samuel  White  a  small  stock  in  his  tavern.  Mr.  Boardman 
a  store  in  the  house  near  the  railroad  crossing  on  Main  street,  and  Perkins, 
Eastman  &  Co.,  (Gen.  John  Wilson,  George  W.  Perkins  and  George  V. 
Eastman,)  a  store  on  ground  now  occupied  by  I.  W.  Drew's  house.  The 
Masonic  hall  was  in  this  structure,  which,  after  several  metamorphoses,  is 
now  Charles  E.  Allen's  store.  There  was  the  Carlisle  store,  where  Jonas 
Powers's  house  stands,  and  David  Burnside  had  a  tannery  on  Elm  street. 
George  W.  Perkins  was  the  tailor,  Francis  Bingham  the  cabinet  maker, 
Ephraim  Cross  the  hatter,  Eliphalet  Lyman,  Benjamin  Hunking,  Jacob  E. 
Stickney  and  Samuel  LeGro  the  physicians;  John  L.  Sheafe,  Samuel  A. 
Pearson,  William  Farrar,  Levi  Barnard,  Charles  J.  Stuart  and  Jared  W. 
Williams  the  lawyers,  and  Joseph  Willardthe  clergyman.  Such  was  Lan- 
caster sixty- two  years  ago,  and  during  the  long  period  that  has  since 
elapsed,  no  man  did  more  to  accomplish  its  development  and  prosperity, 
than  did  Richard  P.  Kent. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  from  June  1.  1825,  to  March  11,  1885,  when 
he  took  his  bed,  Mr.  Kent  kept  a  daily  record  of  all  events  of  interest  trail- 
spiring  in  Lancaster,  and  largely  in  the  region  around  about.  There  is  no 
break  in  the  chronicle,  which  furishes  an  invaluable  fund  of  biographical 
and  historic  information,  which  it  is  proper  to  add,  has  been  largely  drawn 
upon  already,  in  preparing  this  County  History  and  other  works,  and  which 
must  grow  more  valuable  with  each  passing  year. 

The  limits  of  a  memorial  sketch  necessarily  preclude  anything  like  the 
complete  story  of  so  long  a  business  life,  as  well  as  of  the  growth  of  the 
enterprises  with  which  it  was  identified.  Mr.  Kent  was  never  in  what  is 
known  as  "public  life,"  he  reserving  his  energies  for  business  pursuits  and 
the  society  of  his  family  and  friends.  He  was,  however,  years  ago.  iden- 
tified with  earlier  public  educational  and  business  plans  of  the  town  and 
region.  For  over  forty  years  he  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  Lancaster 
bridge,  built,  not  as  an  investment,  but  to  draw  business  from  the  Vermont 
side  of  the  river.  For  fifty  years  he  was  a  trusteeof  Lancaster  Academy, 
and  was  president  of  the  corporation  at  his  decease.  He  was,  for  several 
years,  cashier  of  the  Lancaster  Bank,  the  first  bank  in  this  region,  and  an 
institution  which,  though  expensive  to  its  stockholders,  by  reason  of  had 
debts  incurred,  never  lost  the  public  or  any  person  a  cent  through  failure 
to  redeem  its  bills  or  obligations.  He  was  a  corporator  in  the  firsl  railway 
charter  crossing  Coos,  the  "  Portland  and  Connecticut  River,"  coveringthe 
entire  county,  a  franchise  which  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  were  obliged 


370  History  of  Coos  County. 

to  retire  before  they  could  build.  It  was  believed  by  some  that  to  hold  the 
charter  would  compel  the  new  promoters  to  build  under  it,  and  through 
Lancaster,  thus  securing  a  junction  with  southern  roads  at  this  point,  to 
the  advantage  of  the  town.  Mr.  Kent  was  of  this  opinion,  and  strenuously 
opposed  the  relinquishment  of  the  old  charter  which  was  asked  by  the 
Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  people,  who,  however,  procured  the  acquiescence 
of  sufficient  grantees  to  annul  it,  which  abdication  was  followed  by  a  new 
charter,  and  the  construction  of  the  road  up  the  Androscoggin.  He  was  a 
trustee  of  the  Lancaster  Savings  Bank  from  its  incorporation  to  his  decease. 
Aside  from  these  matters  his  attention  was  methodically  and  diligently 
bestowed  upon  business,  in  which,  after  serious  reverses  consequent  upon 
losses  and  destruction  of  property  by  fire,  he  attained  a  career  of  success 
which,  for  many  years,  was  the  reward  of  patient  toil  and  honorable  en- 
deavor, recognized  wherever  he  was  known.  He  was  first  in  business  in 
Lancaster  as  a  clerk  for  Royal  Joyslin,  but  speedily  assumed  care  of  a  con- 
cern of  his  own.  He  has  had  as  partners,  Royal  Joyslin,  Lewis  C.  Porter, 
John  C.  Kent  (at  Lyman),  Nelson  Kent,  and  his  son.  Edwin  R.  Kent.  In 
the  hardware  branch  of  his  business,  Mr.  E  V.  Cobleigh  was  associated 
with  him  as  partner.  The  clerks  whom  he  trained  have  been  numerous, 
and  his  methods  of  book-keeping  and  of  business,  practiced  by  them,  best 
exemplify  his  correct  mercantile  viewTs  and  habits  of  application,  which 
have  borne  abundant  fruitage  in  the  successful  career  of  many  of  his  for- 
mer employes.  His  places  of  business  have  been  the  Carlisle  store,  at  the 
north  end  of  the  street,  moved  by  Royal  Joyslin  later  to  the  site  of  t-he 
present  National  bank,  and  again  to  the  sight  of  Cobleigh  &  Moore's  store 
on  Middle  street,  and  destroyed  by  the  great  fire  of  1878;  the  "Red,"  or 
Sampson  store,  remodeled,  and  now  standing  next  Mrs.  Hosea  Gray's,  on 
Elm  street;  the  "  Green  Store,"  in  which  was  also  the  bank,  afterwards 
owned  by  Samuel  G.  Evans,  on  Main  street,  and  burned  in  1880;  and  the 
site  occupied  by  him  on  Main  street  since  1837.  Of  this  building  the  old 
ell  was  the  original  store,  and  formerly  stood  in  the  present  garden  of  Mrs. 
John  H.  Hopkinson.     The  main  store  wTas  built  by  Mr.  Kent  in  1853. 

In  his  married  relations  Mr.  Kent  was  especially  contented  and  happy. 
He  was  married  at  Littleton,  June  5,  1832,  to  Emily  Mann  Oakes,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Oakes,  a  deceased  merchant,  formerly  of  Waterford,  Fairlee 
and  Barnet,  Vermont,  her  mother  being  of  the  Manns  of  Orford,  the  orig- 
inal settlers  of  that  town.  In  the  summer  of  1882  the  golden  anniversary 
of  this  auspicious  union  was  quietly  observed  by  the  family  and  immediate 
relatives. 

Mr.  Kent  was  a  member  of  the  Orthodox  Congregational  church  and 
for  many  years  had  been  a  consistent  supporter  of  the  society.  He  was 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  temperance  and  education,  liberal  in  his  benefac- 
tions for  public  good,  and  an  unostentatious  bestower   of  deserved  charity 


Town  of  Lancaster.  37] 


through  numerous  private  sources.  In  his  home  he  was  devote. 1  as  a  hus- 
band, just  and  kind  as  a  parent,  thoughtful  and  considerate  in  all  things. 
He  left  an  ineffacable  impress  upon  those  with  whom  he  was  associated. 

It  was  evident,  for  the  year  preceding  his  decease,  that  the  si  rength  so 
long  given  to  his  duties  was  flagging,  and  that  he  was  approaching  the 
confines  of  his  labor,  but  he  was  persistent  to  the  end.  completing  .Janu- 
ary 1,  a  detailed  statement  of  his  extensive  stock  and  demands,  a  work 
that  would  have  taxed  the  prolonged  devotion  of  a  younger  man.  It  was 
uot  until  into  February  that  he  abandoned  his  familiar  seat  at  the  desk  in 
his  counting-room,  although  thereafter  he  accomplished  considerable  work 
at  his  home.  Tuesday,  March  10,  was  his  last  day  about  the  house,  his 
last  entry  in  his  diary  recording  the  result  of  the  town  meeting  of  that 
day.  From  then,  until  his  decease,  which  occurred  Monday,  M arch  30, 
1885,  his  decline  was  rapid.  There  was  no  disease,  the  mechanism  of  life 
was  wearing  out,  and  when  he  breathed  his  last  it  was  as  quietly  as  a 
child  falling  away  to  sleep. 

The  interment  occurred,  after  obsequies  at  his  residence,  in  the  lot  pre- 
pared by  himself  on  the  summit  of  the  hill,  in  the  Summer  street  cemetery, 
overlooking  the  valley  and  the  now  prosperous  village  where  his  life  work 
was  accomplished.  It  is  entirely  proper  to  say,  that  as  the  mould  closed 
above  him,  it  shrouded  an  honored  citizen  whose  unobtrusive  but  per- 
sistent labors  accomplished  much  to  give  prosperity  to  the  town  and  char- 
acter to  its  people. 

To  each  community  there  comes  loss  when  a  man  active  in  affairs  rests 
from  his  labors.  To  every  household  there  comes  grief,  when  those  be- 
loved take  up  their  final  journey.  The  language  of  sympathy  and 
condolence  is  well  nigh  identical  on  all  occasions,  and  so  frequent  is  the 
inevitable  summons,  that  there  remains  nothing  new  to  say,  when  another 
name  is  called.  The  memory  of  a  good  man  is  his  best  eulog}T,  and  the  life  of 
a  just  citizen  the  best  example  for  imitation.  It  is,  however,  well  to  draw 
from  these  sources  lessons  that  may  profitably  be  heeded,  and  the  career  of 
Richard  Peabody  Kent  points  and  illustrates  the  possibilities  and  the  use- 
fulness of  a  quiet  well  ordered  life.  Thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at 
the  age  of  fifteen,  passing  over  all  his  earnings  (as  was  then  the  custom) 
until  he  was  twenty-one.  to  his  father,  clerking  in  a  small  way,  gradually 
ascending  the  scale,  avoiding  extravagance  and  ill  habits,  laying  carefully 
aside  his  small  earnings,  as  the  basis  of  his  future  success,  prosperous, 
with  the  early  prosperity  that  often  comes,  to  beguile  and  wreck  the  weak, 
meeting  unexpected  reverses  with  undaunted  front,  battling  financial  loss, 
and  the  destruction  of  his  savings,  by  fire,  building  alike  store,  house  and 
home  from  the  ruin  of  former  prosperity,  compelling  the  success  that 
came  after  years  of  toil  and  unintermitted  endeavor,  rearing  a  family  and 
making  the  home  circle  the  center  of  his  love,  the  acme  of  his  ambitions, 


?>7-2  History  of  Coos  County. 

generous,  public-spirited,  just  and  kind,  he  walked  for  sixty  active  years 
among  the  people  of  this  town  and  county,  his  name  a  synonym  for  integ- 
rity, industry  and  kindness,  and  as  he  closed  his  long  life,  replete  with 
good  example  and  honorable  labors  well  performed,  he  left  behind  him  the 
most  precious  inheritance  that  can  come  to  children,  the  tenderest  sym- 
pathy that  can  come  to  widow  and  kindred;  the  universal  esteem  and 
regard  of  the  people  who  knew  him  so  intimately  and  so  well.  By  many 
years  the  senior  business  man  of  the  region,  an  honored  merchant,  a 
valued  citizen,  he  left  a  community  better  for  his  life,  and  a  town  and 
region  wherein  that  good  repute  that  is  better  than  riches,  endures  to 
honor  his  memory. 


HON.    HENRY   O.    KENT.* 

One  of  the  best  known  and  most  prominent  of  New  Hampshire's  dis- 
tinguished sons  is  Henry  O.  Kent,  of  Lancaster,  at  the  present  time  (1887) 
Naval  Officer  of  the  Port  of  Boston. 

Henry  Oakes  Kent  was  born  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  February  7,  1834. 
The  genealogy  of  his  family  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  in  the 
sketch  of  the  life  of  his  father,  Richard  Peabody  Kent.  It  may  be  added 
that  on  the  maternal  side  his  ancestry  is  traced  to  Richard  Mann,  "a 
planter  in  the  family  of  Elder  Brewster,"  who  was  one  of  the  colony  of 
the  Mayflower,  and  from  whom  descended  that  John  Mann  who  was  the 
first  permanent  settler  of  the  town  of  Orford,  N.  H.,  in  October,  1765. 

Young  Kent  attended  the  district  school  and  Lancaster  Academy  and 
graduated  from  Norwich  (Vt.)  University  in  the  class  of  1851.  He  then 
entered  the  office  of  Hon.  Jacob  Benton,  and  pursued  his  studies  for  four 
years,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858.  Shortly  afterward  he  became 
the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Cods  Republican,  published  at  Lancaster, 
which  he  conducted  with  rare  skill  and  ability  for  the  period  of  twelve 
years.  Daring  this  time  the  paper  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  one 
of  the  ablest  conducted  and  most  successfully  managed  newspapers  in  the 
state.  It  was  counted  as  a  power  in  the  party,  and  performed  valuable 
service  in  advancing  the  material  prosperity  of  the  county  and  section 
where  it  was  located.  Its  leading  articles  from  the  pen  of  Colonel  Kent 
were  always  strong,  vigorous  and  earnest,  and  secured  a  reputation  for  the 
paper  widely  beyond  the  limits  of  the  state. 

After  disposing  of  the  paper,  and  retiring  from  its  management,  Colonel 
Kent  continued  to  give  his  attention  to  a  large  general  office  business, 
which  had  grown  up  during  his  journalistic  career,  and  also  to  the  Lan- 
caster Savings  Bank  as  its  treasurer,  for  which  institution  he  obtained  a 
charter  in  1868,  and  to  other  manufacturing  and  business  enterprises,  in 

*By  L.  B.  Brown. 


&Pisus   (P,    OCe^& 


Town  of  Lancaster.  373 


which  he  became  actively  engaged.  The  encouragement  of  local  cuter- 
prise  and  industry  has  always  been  one  of  his  characteristics,  and  he  lias 
promptly  and  freely  given  of  his  means,  talents  and  influence  to  promote 
all  such. 

Colonel  Kent  began  public  life  as  a  Republican,  his  newspaper  being 
one  of  the  leading  party  journals  in  the  state.  Believing  the  issues  in- 
volved in  the  war  to  have  been  finally  settled,  both  by  the  decree  of  arms 
and  the  constitutional  amendments,  he  came  to  differ  with  his  former  party 
relative  to  its  policy,  and  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Liberal  Repub- 
lican movement  of  1872,  which  resulted  in  the  nomination  of  Horace  ( iree- 
ley  at  Cincinnati  and  Baltimore,  Colonel  Kent  being  a  member  of  the  Na- 
tional, and  chairman  of  the  State  Liberal  Republican  committees  of  that 
year,  acting  in  unison  with  the  Democrats  in  the  fall  campaign.  In  1873 
the  Liberals  ran  a  state  ticket,  but  in  1874  united  with  the  Democrats  on  a 
common  platform  and  candidate,  James  A.  Weston,  Democrat,  being  elected 
governor.  From  this  time  he  has  taken  an  active  and  influential  part  in 
directing  the  councils  and  shaping  the  policy  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
state  and  nation.  Bnt,  though  active  in  political  affairs  for  years,  he  has 
always  subordinated  politics  to  the  desire  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
community.  Throughout  all  his  active  Jbusiness  life  he  has  been  most 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  enterests  of  Coos  county,  and  closely  con- 
nected with  its  development.  Its  political,  social,  military,  business,  edu- 
cational and  Masonic  history  would  not  be  complete  without  prominent 
mention  of  his  name.  He  has  represented  Lancaster  frequently  111  the 
House  of  Representatives  since  1862,andthe  district  comprising  his  county  in 
the  Senate,  serving  with  distinction  upon  the  active  committees,  and  largely 
aiding  in  shaping  important  legislation.  He  has  also  served  as  state  bank 
commissioner,  presidential  elector,  commissioner  to  adjust  the  state  bound- 
ary line,  and  been  three  times  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  representa- 
tive in  Congress,  each  time  running  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket.  lie  has 
served  the  greater  part  of  twenty-five  consecutive  years  as  moderator  of 
Lancaster,  and,  on  many  memorable  occasions,  to  the  universal  satisfac- 
tion, alike  of  political  opponents  and  political  friends. 

Of  Colonel  Kent's  military  history,  much  of  credit  and  repute  might 
be  truthfully  written.  He  was  a  cadet  of  a  military  school  and  colonel  of 
the  Governor's  Horse  Guard.  At  the  opening  of  the  Rebellion,  lie  was 
early  called  in  consultation  by  the  state  authorities  to  arrange  recruiting 
stations,  and  opened  one  of  the  first  in  the  state.  He  was  then  commis- 
sioned assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  state  by  Governor  Goodwin,  and 
sent  to  Portsmouth  to  aid  in  the  formation  of  the  Second  New  Hampshire 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  continued  active  in  organizing  the  earlier 
New  Hampshire  regiments  and  was  subsequently  commissioned  colonel  of 
the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Infantry,  performing  his  entire  duty,  as 


374  History  of  Coos  County. 


ordered  by  the  then  authorities,  efficiently  and  creditably.  He  is  past  com- 
mander of  his  post  of  the  GK  A.  R.,  and  past  judge  advocate  of  the  state 
department. 

In  the  legislature  he  was  House  chairman  of  the  railroad  committee  in 
1868,  and  took  an  active  part  in  securing  the  extension  of  the  railroad  into 
Coos  county.  In  L883  he  zealously  labored  for  the  passage  of  the  general 
railroad  act  of  that  year,  securing  the  development  of  the  railroad  system 
of  the  state.  He  also  actively  supported  the  bill  to  relieve  church  property 
from  taxation;  and  in  1885  was  largely  instrumental  in  defeating,  by  veto, 
the  bill  preventing  hunting  and  trapping,  and  favored  legislation  making 
the  forests  and  waters  of  the  state  free  to  its  people.  He  warmly  favored 
the  insurance  measure  known  as  the  valued  policy  bill,  and  the  bill  provid- 
ing for  the  careful  investment  and  control  of  the  funds  of  savings  banks; 
and  strongly  opposed  the  bill  abolishing  the  school  district  system.  He 
took  an  active  and  leading  part  in  securing  existing  legislation  in  behalf  of 
the  soldiers,  and  won  their  warmest  gratitude  by  his  patriotic  efforts. 

Colonel  Kent  is  prominent  in  the  Masonic  order,  and  was  made  master 
of  ancient  North  Star  Lodge  of  Lancaster  at  the  age  of  twenty-five.  He 
also  served  as  grand  lecturer,  deputy  grand  master  and  commander,  and 
grand  commander  of  Knights  Templar,  and  is  also  a  Mason  of  the  thirty- 
second  degree.  In  the  advancement  of  educational  interests  he  has  alwavs 
been  earnestly  engaged.  He  is  B.  S.  and  A.  M.  of  his  college,  and  for 
twenty  years  was  president  of  its  associated  alumni;  he  is  also  trustee  of 
Norwich  University  and  of  Lancaster  Academy. 

In  business  connections  he  has  been  manager  of  a  paper-mill,  director 
of  insurance  companies,  and  trustee  and  treasurer  of  a  most  successful 
savings  bank.  In  all  his  business  and  financial  dealings  he  has  never  at- 
tempted sharp  practice  or  exacted  exorbitant  fees,  but  been  fair,  honora- 
ble and  just.  He  has  thus  properly  enjoyed  the  fullest  confidence  of  the 
community,  regarding  their  interests  as  his  interests  and  fully  believing  in 
the  people  as  they  in  him,  and  his  business  integrity  and  sagacity  have 
become  well  known  and  thoroughly  understood. 

A  glance  at  Colonel  Kent's  career  shows  that  he  has  filled  eminent  and 
responsible  public  and  business  stations;  and  that  while  intimately  known 
in  his  own  county  of  Coos,  he  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  New 
Hampshire  and  New  England.  As  a  public  speaker,  he  has  long  been 
actively  engaged.  Before  an  audience  he  is  spirited,  earnest  and  convinc- 
ing. He  has  a  pleasing,  well-cultivated  voice,  and  speaks  with  fluency  and 
rapidity.  He  combines  his  statements  and  arguments  in  such  a  manner 
that  he  invariably  arrests  the  attention  of  his  hearers  and  steadily  holds  it 
to  the  close.  Some  of  his  more  important  special  public  speeches  and 
addresses  are  the  address  before  the  New  Hampshire  Fish  and  Game  League 
in  18S5;  before  Norwich  University;  Memorial  Day  addresses  at  Lancaster, 


Town  of  Lancaster.  375 


Portsmouth  and  Laconia;  Masonic  address  at  Whitefield;  the  speech  sec 
onding  the  nomination,  on  behalf  of  the  New  Hampshire  delegation,  of 
President  Cleveland  in  the  Chicago  convention  of  1 384,  which  gave  him  a 
national  reputation  as  an  orator;  at  the  Boston  banquet  to  Governor  Hill 
of  New  York,  in  June,  1886,  where  he  responded  to  the  toast,  "The  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States;  "  and  in  Faneuil  Hall  at  the  reception  of  Robert 
E.  Lee  Camp  of  Virginia,  by  John  A.  Andrew  Post  of  Massachusetts,  on 
Bunker  Hill  Day,  1887.  In  lsTs  he  closed  his  Congressional  canvass  in  his 
own  town  of  Lancaster,  holding  an  immense  mass  meeting,  after  an  ex- 
tended speaking  tour,  and  meeting  his  old  friends  and  neighbors,  includ- 
ing many  political  opponents,  face  to  face,  and  held  them  for  two  hours  in 
a  speech  of  masterly  power  and  eloquence,  and  was  rewarded  for  his  effort 
by  receiving  at  the  polls  the  largest  and  heartiest  endorsement  ever  given 
to  him  by  his  townsmen. 

Colonel  "Kent  was  also  president  of  the  New  Hampshire  Democratic 
State  conventions  in  1*77  and  1881,  and  delivered  speeches  on  both  occa- 
sions, which  struck  the  key-note  of  the  campaigns  of  those  years.  In  the 
latter  year  he  also  drafted  the  resolutions  adopted,  which  constituted  a 
terse  and  comprehensive  statement  of  party  doctrine,  and  were  widely 
copied  by  the  press  throughout  the  country.  They  are  worth}r  a  place  in 
this  volume,  as  they  are  such  a  true  index  of  the  character  and  sentiments 
of  their  author: — 

RESOLUTIONS  ADOPTED  AT  CONCORD,  MAY  21,  lNSf. 

"The  Democrats  of  New  Hampshire,  iu  State  convention  assembled — deeming  it  fitting  to  de- 
clare the  principles  that  govern  their  political  action,  assert  their  adherence  to  the  following 
principles  and  beliefs:— 

"1.  Government  exists  by  right  through  the  consent  of  the  people  and  for  their  benefit— to  the 
end  that  they  may  be  protected  in  the  exercise  of  natural  rights  —and  enabled  to  accumulate,  to 
build  and  to  enjoy. 

"2.  Simple  and  exact  laws  expressing  or  directing-  fundamental  facts,  are  alone  necessary  to 
the  attainment  of  these  ends,  and  all  complex  systems  reaching  beyond  this  are  unnecessary  and 
productive  of  evil. 

"3.  All  citizens  are  equal  under  the  laws  and  all  are  entitled  to  equal  rights  and  privileges. 
Our  republican  structure  can  only  exist  intact,  based  upon  an  independent  and  untrammelled  peo- 
ple, and  hence  all  laws  tending  toward   the  centralization  of  power,  wealth  or  political  influenci 
are  undemocratic  and  subversive  of  the  best  interests  of  the  State. 

"4.  Taxation  is  an  incident — not  an  object  of  government.  It  should  be  levied  in  such  simple 
and  efficacious  manner,  as  to  provide  the  means  for  the  economical  maintenance  of  the governmenl 
machinery  and  the  timely  discharge  of  the  national  obligations,  through  a  system  of  imposts  bear- 
ing as  lightly  as  is  consistent,  upon  those  articles  in  common  use.  All  surplus  derived  from  taxa- 
tion, above  such  amount,  is  unnecessary,  a  burden  upon  the  people,  and  provocative  of  legislative 
steals,  waste  and  corruption  in  official  and  legislative  quarters. 

"5.  We  demand  a  reduction  of  the  war  tariff  in  accordance  with  these  principles,  to  a  sum 
required  for  the  honest,  frugal  and  unostentatious  administration  of  affairs,  fully  believing  that 
the  proper  distribution  of  such  levy,  will  encourage  business,  relieve  the  people  of  onerous  burdens- 
and  afford  all  proper  encouragement  to  deserving  American  industry." 


376  History  of  Coos  County. 

Colonel  Kent's  writing  is  characterized  by  elegance  of  style  and  terseness 
of  expression,  and  several  bits  of  poetry  from  his  pen  give  evidence  that 
he  might  easily  have  won  a  place  in  literature  had  he  chosen  to  apply  his 
talents  in  that  direction.  The  following  was  read  at  the  Lancaster  centen- 
nial celebration,  July  14,  1864: — 

WELCOME  HOME. 

The  mountains  look  down,  in  their  grandeur  and  pride, 

On  the  home  of  our  childhood  to-day; 
On  the  wandering  children  who  strayed  from  their  side 

To  gather  rare  flowers  by  the  way. 
Ye  are  united  again  in  the  dear  old  town, 

'Mong  the  streams  and  the  hills  of  yore; 
Ye  have  fought  well  the  light  for  gold  and  renown, 

And  ye  turn  to  your  childhood's  door. 

There  are  those  who  have  lingered  around  the  old  home, 

While  their  brethren  were  far  in  the  strife, 
Who  have  tilled  the  old  fields  in  the  years  that  have  flown, 

In  the  quiet  and  comfort  of  life. 
These  welcome  ye  back,  with  hearts  full  of  joy, 

A  joy  that  commingles  with  pride, 
As  they  greet,  with  warm  fervor,  each  wandering  boy 

To  the  town  where  his  forefathers  died. 

We  gather,  to-day,  amid  scenes  so  endeared. 

To  crown  with  the  fame  of  her  sons 
The  time-silvered  locks  of  the  mother  revered, 

While  an  hundred  long  winters  have  flown; 
To  wreathe  a  full  chaplet  of  daughters'  warm  love 

'Mid  the  silvery  sheen  of  her  hair, — 
As  enduringly  pure  as  the  azure  above 

That  smiles  on  an  homage  so  fair. 

Welcome  home  from  the  east,  and  the  west,  and  the  south, 

Welcome  home  on  this  dear  natal  day; 
The  kiss  of  some  loved  one  is  warm  on  each  mouth; 

Ye  have  tarried  a  long  time  away, — 
Welcome  home,  and  forgetting  the  wearying  care 

That  compassed  the  pathway  ye  trod, 
Throw  off  the  chill  years  and  be  young  again  here, 

In  the  smile  of  a  love  born  of  God. 

Welcome  home  to  each  spot  so  remembered  of  yore, 

Welcome  home  to  each  love  that  endures; 
Gather  strength  forthe  journey  that  stretches  before, 

Ere  our  sails  leave  life's  vanishing  shores; 
1 1  >  forth  from  among  us  with  tokens  of  love, 

Glad  burden-  each  pilgrim  to  crown; 
So  shall  memory's  banquet  lie  spread  as  ye  rove 

From  the  home  ye  have  cherished— our  dear  old  town. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  d" 


The  following  lines  were  read  by  him  at  the  observance  of  the  Festival 
of  St.  John,  June  24,  1S80,  at  which  time  he  was  presented  a  past  master's 
jewel  by  North  Star  Lodge — on  his  retiring  as  master: — 

There's  mony  a  badge,  dial's  unco  braw, 

Wi'  ribbon,  lace  and  tape  on, 

Let  kings  and  princes  wear  them  a'; 

Gie  me  the  master's  apron, — 

The  honest  craftsman's  apron, — 

The  jolly  Free  Mason's  apron. 

Bide  he  at  hame  or  roam  afar, 

Before  his  touch  fa's  bolt  and  bar. 

The  gates  of  fortune  fly  ajar, 

'Gin  he  but  wears  the  apron  ! 

For  w'alth  and  honors,  pride  and  power, 

Are  crumbling-  stanes  to  base  on; 

Fraternity  suld  rule  the  hour, 

And  ilka  worthy  Mason, — 

Each  Free  Accepted  Mason, — 

Each  ancient  crafted  Mason. 

Then  blithers  let  a  halesame  sang 

Arise  your  friendly  ranks  alang; 

Gude  wives  and  bairnies  blithely  sing 

To  the  ancient  badge,  wi'  the  apron  string, 

That  is  worn  by  the  Master  Mason. 

At  the  dinner  of  the  New  Hampshire  Club  in  Boston,  in  February, 
1886,  of  which  Colonel  Kent  was  the  principal  guest,  he  included  in  his 
response  the  following  original  lines  "To  the  Old  Granite  State,"  written 
in  1856:— 

Old  Granite  State!     Thy  name  recalls 

Tales  of  privation,  many  dark  ami  drear. 

Since  first  was  set  in  thy  primeval  forests,  vast, 

The  footprints  of  the  daring  pioneer. 

Years  in  their  onward  course  have  rolled  away, 

And  left  behind  their  trace,  deep  graved  in  living  characters,  unaltered,  unelTaced, 

Upon  the  page  of  history,  and  upon  the  hearts  of  all  thy  stalwart  sons, 

Reared  'mid  thy  rocky  fastness,  or  where  Connecticut,  New  England's  pride,  to  ocean  runs. 

Our  fathers'  hero  deeds  are  known  and  loved, 

As  the  recurring  years  their  measure  till. 

Their  names  are  graven  on  Fame's  sounding  shield, 

From  Yorktown's  triumph  back  to  Bunker  Hill. 

New  Hampshire's  glorious  dead!     Oh,  where 

Are  names  more  dear  to  us  in  song  or  story 

Than  those  that  frame  a  halo  round  her  brow  of  never-fading  glory? 

The  Delaware's  bright  waters  How  lightly  past  her  dead; 

Virginia's  lovely  daughters  know  their  lowly,  quiet  hed; 

St.  Lawrence  guards  their  slumbers  and  the  wilderness  of  Maine; 

For  them  poetic  numbers  wake  Bennington  again. 

25 


378  History  of  Coos  County. 

Round  thy  rock  height  Carilon,*  New  Hampshire's  sons  repose; 
Near  Mexican  pavilions  and  'neath  chill  Canadian  snows; 
Then  shout  for  the  Old  Granite  State,  each  rock  and  stream  and  sod; 
We  keep  the  faith  they  pledged  for  us;  we  bow  to  none  but  God. 

In  personal  appearance,  Col.  Kent  is  above  the  medium  height  and 
build,  of  erect  carriage  and  elastic  step.  He  wears  a  heavy  dark  mous- 
tache, which  sets  off  a  face  full  of  pleasant  expression,  lighted  up  by 
bright,  dark  eyes.  He  was  married  January  11,  1859,  to  Berenice  A. 
Rowell,  daughter  of  Samuel  Ro well,  of  Lancaster.  They  have  two  child- 
ren, a  daughter,  Berenice  Emily,  and  a  son,  Henry  Percy.  Their  home 
is  one  of  domestic  happiness,  comfort  and  content.  Colonel  Kent's  relig- 
ious associations  are  with  the  Episcopal  worship,  and  he  and  his  family  are 
regular  attendants  upon  that  service. 

Of  fine  presenc3,  with  genial  and  courteous  manners,  and  strong  per- 
sonal magnetism,  public  spirited,  generous  and  obliging,  in  the  prime  of 
life,  and  endowed  with  strong  mental  and  physical  powers,  he  is  well  fitted 
for  the  performance  of  important  business,  and  public  labors. 


THE   WEEKS   FAMILY. 

The  Weeks  Family  in  England  was  entitled  to  armorial  bearings. 
Leonard  Weeks,  the  emigrant,  was  born  in  Wells,  Somersetshire,  Eng- 
land, in  1635.  In  January,  1656,  he  had  a  grant  of  eight  acres  of  land  in 
Portsmouth,  and  four  years  later  he  settled  at  Winicut  (a  part  of  Ports- 
mouth now  in  Greenland).  Mr.  Weeks  was  an  influential  man,  and  held 
positions  of  responsibility.  He  is  spoken  of  as  "one  of  the  men  who 
stood  rather  for  Massachusetts  than  the  crown."  In  1661  he  was  select- 
man of  Portsmouth.  In  1669  he  was  one  of  a  committee  with  men  of 
Dover  and  Hampton  to  lay  a  road  between  Greenland  and  Bloody  Point. 
He  was  several  years  constable  and  some  time  sheriff.  In  166"  he  mar- 
ried Mary,  daughter  of  Deacon  Samuel  Haines,  of  Portsmouth.  Leonard 
Weeks  was  a  man  of  property.  In  1706  he  deeded  farms  to  three  of  his  sonsr 
and  made  further  provision  for  his  oldest  son,  John.  He  died  in  1707. 
His  children  were  John,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Joshua,  Mary,  Jonathan,  Mar- 
garet, and  Sarah.  One  of  the  daughters  married  the  grandfather  of  Gov. 
John  Langdon. 

Capt.  Joshua  Weeks,  son  of  Leonard,  was  born  in  Greenland,  1674. 
He  became  a  farmer,  and  married,  November  1,  L699,  Comfort  Hubbard*  a 
sister  of  Thomas  Hubbard,  a  Boston  merchant.  They  had  nine  children, 
Martha,  Comfort,  Mary,  Ichabod,  John,  Thankful,  William,  Richard,  and 
Margaret.   (A  daughter  of  Margaret  Weeks  married  Hon.  William  Plumer. ) 


*The  Indian  name  for  Ticondern-.i . 


Town  of  Lancaster.  379 


Martha  married  Capt.  Benjamin  Randall;  Comfort  married  Dr  Coffin 
Moore.  The  house  of  Capt.  Weeks  was  at  the  Bay-side,  and  afterwards 
occupied  by  Deacon  William  Weeks.  Capt.  Weeks  died  .lime  13,  1758, 
aged  eighty-four  years. 

Dr.  John  Weeks,  son  of  Captain  Joshua,  was  born  in  Greenland  in  1716, 
and  died  in  1703.  He  was  colonel  of  a  regiment,  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  an  eminent  and  successful  physician.  His  estate  was  valued  at 
£22,000.  He  married  Martha  Wingate,  sister  of  Hon.  Paine  Wingate. 
They  had  ten  children.  Of  these  Joshua  Wingate  Weeks,  born  1738,  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  L758,  and  became  rector  of  St.  Michael's 
church  at  Marblehead,  Mass.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  he 
left  the  country,  and  was  afterward  Bishop  of  Halifax,  N.  S.  His  wife 
was  Sarah  Treadwell.  They  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  Four  of 
the  sons  held  commissions  in  the  British  army,  and  the  other  was  an  Epis- 
copal minister.  Sarah  (Sally)  Weeks,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Weeks, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  married  Rev.  Jacob  Bailey,  a  classmate  at  Harvard  of 
President  John  Adams  and  Gov.  Went  worth.  He  was  ordained  an  Epis- 
copal clergyman  in  England,  espoused  the  cause  of  th«  mother  country  in 
the  Revolution,  and  served  fifteen  years  at  Pownalborough  (now  Dresden), 
Maine.  He  then  went  to  Annapolis,  N.  S.,  and  was  rector  of  St.  Luke's 
church.  He  resided  there  twenty-six  years,  until  his  death  in  1808.  His 
children  were  Charles  Percy,  Rebecca  L.,  Charlotte  M.,  Thomas  H.,  Will- 
iam G.,  and  Elizabeth  A.  Charles  Percy  Bailey  held  a  captain's  commis- 
sion in  the  Regiment  of  the  Duke  of  Kent,  "First  Royals."  In  1813  he 
was  ordered  to  Canada,  and  was  killed  July  5,  1813.  while  leading  a  charge 
at  the  Battle  of  Chippewa,  where  Capt.  John  W.  Weeks  was  fighting  on 
the  American  side.  Thomas  H.  held  an  army  commission;  William  G.  was 
a  lawyer. 

Capt.  John  Weeks  was  born  at  Hampton,  N.  H.,  February  17.  1749. 
He  was  the  sixth  child  of  Dr.  John  Weeks.     Tradition  says  it  was  designed 
he  should  follow  the  profession  of  his  father,  who  died   when  John   was 
fourteen  years  old.     Inheriting  what  seemed  to  him  a  fortune,  instead  of 
pursuing  his  studies  and  fitting  for  college,  he  devoted  himself  to  long  ex- 
peditions for  game  up  the  Kennebec  and  in  the  "Upper  Coos,"  visiting 
this  country  when  but  sixteen.     In  1770  he  married  Deborah,  daughter  of 
James  and  Martha  (Wingate)  Brackett.     She  was  an  educated  lad \ \  fitted 
to  adorn  any  position  in  life.     His  time  and  money   were  freely  spent  in 
the  service  of  his  country.     He  had  a  captain's  command  in  the  Revolu- 
tion; first,  under  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  then  under  the  provisional 
government,  by  whom  he  was  called  to  the  defenseof  Portsmouth  harbor. 
In  17s<;  he  came  to  Lancaster  and  purchased  lands,  and  returned   in    1787 
with  his  daughter  Patty  to  keep  his  house,  and  bis  son,  John  W\.  then 
six  years  old.     They  came  by  the  way  of  Baker's  fiver  .nil  the  Connecti- 


380  History  of  Coos  County. 

cut.  In  the  fall  Mrs.  Weeks  and  the  remainder  of  the  family,  accompanied 
by  relatives  and  friends,  came  to  their  new  home  through  the  White  Mount- 
ain Notch.  This  journey  Mrs.  Weeks  made  on  horseback,  bringing  her 
youngest  child,  seven  months  old,  in  her  lap,  and  James  B.,  three  years 
old,  riding  behind  her. 

The  log  house  Capt.  Weeks  first  constructed  stood  directly  back  of  the 
foundation  of  an  old  barn  on  land  now  owned  by  Jason  H.  Woodward, 
and  about  fifty  rods  towards  the  village  from  the  house  of  the  late  Will- 
iam D.  Weeks,  now  owned  by  Ephraim  Smith.  The  farm  he  then  occu- 
pied has  remained  in  the  Weeks  family  (except  for  a  brief  period)  for 
about  a  hundred  years.  Here  in  his  new  home,  as  in  Greenland,  Capt. 
Weeks  kept  open  house,  and  entertained  with  great  hospitality  the  new 
comers  to  the  settlement.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  common  sense,  genial 
presence,  and  good  cheer;  and  at  once  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of 
this  section.  In  1788  he  was  elected  delegate  from  Upper  Cohos  to  the 
convention  for  the  ratification  of  the  federal  constitution,  and  was  one  of 
the  fifty-seven  who  voted  in  the  affirmative  against  forty-six  in  the  nega- 
tive. In  1792  he  represented  this  whole  northern  country  in  the  General 
Court.  He  also  represented  the  district  several  times,  held  the  office  of 
selectman,  and  was  a  popular  moderator  of  the  town  meetings.  He  was  a 
good  man  in  the  community,  there  was  no  envy  or  jealousy  in  his  disposi- 
tion, and  he  was  always  ready  to  give  his  aid  to  any  enterprise  for  the 
welfare  and  development  of  the  town.  He  was  a  kind  friend  and  neighbor 
and  widely  known  and  appreciated.  He  died  suddenly  at  Wakefield,  N. 
H ,  September,  1818,  when  on  a  journey  from  Lancaster  to  Greenland. 
His  wife,  one  of  the  noble  women  of  that  day,  lived  to  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  dying  July  5,  1831.  They  had  seven  children  attain- 
ing maturity,  Martha,  Deborah,  Elizabeth,  John  Wingate,  James  Brackett, 
Polly  Wiggin,  Sally  Brackett.  Deborah,  born  February  29,  1776,  married 
first  William  Avers;  second,  Jacob  Emerson.  She  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  Elizabeth,  born  March  10,  1778,  married  Azariah  Webb, 
of  Lunenburg,  Vt.;  Mary  (Polly),  born  March  4,  1787,  married  Adino  N. 
Brackett;  Sally  B.,  born  August  13,  1789,  married  Edwards  Bucknam. 
Martha,  oldest  child  of  Capt.  John  Weeks,  was  born  in  Greenland,  Decem- 
ber 20,  1771.  She  married  Edward  Spaulding.  They  lived  on  the  northern 
slope  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  the  central  hill  of  the  three  Martin  Meadow  hills. 
They  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mrs.  Spaulding  was  a  woman  of 
great  industry,  and,  after  her  household  affairs  were  put  in  order,  had  time 
for  reading.  When  eighty-five  years  old  she  read  "  Mill's  Crusades,"  and 
could  discuss  the  merits  of  the  work,  the  causes  of  the  movement,  the 
style  of  the  author,  etc. ;  showing  an  unusual  memory  of  what  she  had 
read,  and  a  knowledge  of  general  history  which  would  be  remarkable  in  a 
much  younger  woman  of  the  present  day.     Her  sight  failed  soon  after, 


Town  of  Lancaster.  381 


buther  granddaughters  read  to  her.  She  died  January  LO,  1871,  in  the 
one  hundredth  year  of  her  age,  filling  out  the  measure  of  a  long  life  of 
usefulness,  kindness  and  Christian  charity. 

John  Wiuijute  Weeks,  oldest  son  of  Capt.  John  Weeks,  born  in  Ureen- 
land,  March  31,  1781,  came  to  Lancaster  in  1787.  He  was  a  bright  boy, 
fond  of  study,  and  although  his  educational  opportunities  were  meager, 
yet  he  became  one  of  the  most  intelligent  men  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state.  In  1805  he  married  Martha  Brackett,  who  died  about  two  years 
after.  In  1824  he  married  Persis  F.,  daughter  of  Hon.  Richard  (  !.  Everett. 
They  had  no  children.  In  June,  1812,  he  was  commissioned  captain.  His 
influence  is  shown  by  the  fact,  that,  when  he  received  his  commission,  he 
almost  immediately  "rendezvoused''  fifty  men  at  the  house  of  A.  X. 
Brackett.  With  these  he  started  for  the  Niagara  frontier,  where  he  served 
during  the  war.  He  was  attached  to  the  Eleventh  U.  S.  Infantry,  and  his 
company  formed  the  right  of  the  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  and 
he  had  the  honor  of  first  repeating  the  command  of  its  major  in  that  noted 
flank  movement  that  so  quickly  broke  the  British  column.  Capt.  Weeks 
was  brevetted  for  gallant  services  in  this  battle,  and  commissioned  major. 
We  find  copies  of  returns  in  1811:,  vouched  by  him  where  he  signs  himself 
"Major,  commanding  the  first  brigade,  U.  S.  A.,  consisting  of  the  11th, 
13th  &  23d  Regiments."  He  participated  in  many  of  the  most  severe  en- 
gagements of  the  war.  After  peace  was  restored  Major  Weeks  returned 
to  his  farm  in  Lancaster,  resumed  his  active  interest  in  local  affairs,  and 
held  many  offices.  His  name  appears  often  as  selectman;  he  was  county 
treasurer  from  1818  to  1822;  sheriff  from  1819  till  1821;  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners to  run  the  boundary  line  between  Maine  and  New  Hampshire;  mem- 
ber of  Congress  for  the  two  terms  ending  1833,  and  was  said  to  be  the 
finest  looking  man  in  the  House.  For  a  long  period  he  was  in  constant 
communication  with  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  nation.  He  died 
April  3,  1853. 

James  Brackett  Weeks,  born  in  Greenland  June  11,  1784,  came  to  Lan- 
caster in  the  fall  of  1787.  His  education  was  such  as  the  times  and  place 
afforded.  He  married,  January  1,  1810,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Lieut. 
Dennis  Stanley,  settled  upon  what  is  now  Prospect  farm,  which  he  occu- 
pied until  his  death,  March  in,  1858;  Mrs.  Weeks  died  in  L854.  she  wasan 
excellent  woman  of  rare  energy  and  sterling  worth.  Their  children  were 
James  Wingate,  Mary  Nye,  Sarah  Stanley,  William  Dennis,  John,  Martha 
Eliza  and  Persis  Fayette.  Mr.  Weeks  was  a  successful  farmer,  and  took 
pride  in  the  fine  cattle  that  he  raised.  He  inherited  a  love  of  hunting,  and 
was  so  cool  and  collected  when  in  pursuit  of  game,  that  his  gun  seldom 
failed  him.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  clear  head  and  sound  judgment. 
Simple  and  unpretending,  he  neither  sought  nor  wished  for  public  office, 
preferring  the  quiet  of  his  home  life.     However,  he  had  pronounced  and 


382  History  of  Coos  County. 

decided  opinions  and  expressed  them  strongly.  A  gentlemen  in  all  his  in- 
stincts, he  dispensed  his  hospitality  with  a  generous  hand.  He  belonged 
to  a  class  now,  unfortunately,  passing  away, — the  pleasant,  social,  unpre- 
tentious and  well  informed  New  England  farmer  of  the  last  generation. 

Mary  Nye  Weeks,  born  at  Lancaster  August  14,  1813,  married  Richard 
H.  Eastman,  and  died  in  1857.  Their  daughter,  Mary,  married  James  W. 
Weeks,  Jr.,  in  L886. 

Sarah  Stanley  Weeks,  born  at  Lancaster  November  16,  1815,  married 
Edmund  C.  Wilder,  of  Colebrook.     She  died  May  22,  1812. 

James  Wingate  Weeks  was  born  in  Lancaster,  July  15,  1811,  He  is  the 
oldest  child  of  James  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Stanley)  Weeks,  and  inherited  the 
strong  individuality  of  his  parents.  He  received  such  education  as  the 
common  schools  of  his  day  afforded,  supplemented  by  a  few  terms  at  Lan- 
caster academy.  He  is  a  close  student,  a  constant  reader  of  valuable 
books,  and  a  keen  and  correct  observer  of  human  and  animal  nature. 
During  his  boyhood  he  was  engaged  in  assisting  in  the  necessary  farm 
labor.  He  taught  school  five  winters,  and  was  a  successful  teacher  in 
some  of  the  largest  and  most  difficult  schools.  When  about  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  learned  the  trade  of  house  joiner,  but  did  not  follow  it  to  any 
extent.  In  1831  he  entered  the  employ  of  E.  &  T.  Fairbanks  &  Co.,  of 
St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  and  continued  with  them,  as  agent,  for  six  years;  two 
years  of  the  time  he  passed  in  Michigan  and  adjoining  states.  In  the  fall 
of  1810  Mr.  Weeks  returned  to  Lancaster  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His  mechanical  taste,  and  love  of  nature,  led  him  early  into  land  survey- 
ing, and  he  has  a  wide  reputation  as  a  surveyor.  In  1811  he  was  engaged 
in  the  survey  of  the  Pittsburg  lands.  In  1815  he  assisted  in  the  survey  of 
the  boundary  between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  from  the  mouth  of 
HalFs  stream  to  St.  Regis,  on  the  St.  Lawrence  (about  160  miles),  his  asso- 
ciates being  Capt.  Warner  and  Lieut.  Pope,  U.  S.  topographical  engineers. 
His  duty  was  to  survey  and  make  a  sketch  of  the  country  half  a  mile  each 
side  of  the  boundary,  and  connect  his  work  with  the  main  line.  On  reach- 
ing St.  Regis  be  was  given  the  field  notes  taken  by  Warner  and  Pope,  and, 
on  his  return  to  Lancaster  he  made  a  topographical  map  of  the  summer's 
work,  which  was  sent  to  Washington,  and  highly  complimented.  Mr. 
Weeks  has  been  extensively  employed  in  preparing  and  illustrating  land 
cases  for  the  courts  of  his  own  and  other  counties.  His  exactness  and 
wide  knowledge,  with  his  promptness  in  attending  to  the  work,  made  him 
a  most  valuable  man  in  this  business,  and  his  services  have  been  in  great 
requisition. 

In  1811  he  was  elected  road  commissioner,  which  office  he  held  two 
years.  In  the  spring  of  181s  he  was  appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the 
office  of  railroad  commissioner,  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Titus  O.  Brown, 
and  two  years  later  he  was  appointed  to  fill  a  full  term  in  that  office,  thus 


C-<^4^LSd 


Town  of  Lancaster.  383 


holding  that  position  five  years  in  the  most  active  period  of  railroad  build- 
ing in  New  Hampshire.  In  1854  he  succeeded  Gov.  J.  W.  Williams  as 
judge  of  prohate,  which  office  he  held  about  two  years,  when  the  "  Know 
nothings  "  came  into  power,  and  he,  not  choosing  to  take  the  oath  of  the 
order,  was  removed  with  all  others  not  members.  From  about  1*47  few 
men  have  been  more  employed  in  probate  business  than  Mr.  Weeks; 
although  not  a  lawyer,  he  was  an  excellent  judge  of  probate  law,  and 
thoroughly  conversant  with  all  its  forms.  His  good  judgment.,  sagacity 
and  keen  insight  into  the  characters  of  men,  were  of  great  advantage  to 
him,  and  he  has  acquitted  himself  with  credit,  and  to  the  approval  of 
interested  parties.  In  1870  he  was  elected  one  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners with  Amos  W.  Drew,  of  Colebrook.  They  found  an  enormous 
county  debt  drawing  the  highest  rate  of  interest,  and  interest  not  paid  on 
some  of  the  notes  '•afloat/*  with  large  arrearages  due  from  some  of  the 
towns.  They  succeeded  in  re-arranging,  satisfactorily,  the  financial 
affairs  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Weeks  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  consequently,  after  1854,  he 
belonged  to  the  minority  party.  In  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  town  as 
selectman,  etc.,  he  has  taken  a  lively  interest,  and  his  duties  have  been 
performed  disinterestedly,  and  he  has  liberally  contributed  for  public  pur- 
poses. In  1847  he  purchased  the  "  Hemenway  farm,"  two  miles  east  of 
Lancaster  village,  upon  which  he  has  lived  forty  years.  He  conducted  his 
farm  like  all  business  which  he  undertook,  and  was  financially  successful. 

In  1842,  May  30,  Mr.  Weeks  married  Martha  W.,  daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Clarissa  Hemenway,  a  lady  of  great  merit  and  high  social  standing. 
They  had  four  children,  Sarah  (Mrs.  Oxnard),  who  died  July,  L871,  aged 
twenty-five  years;  George,  James  W.,  Jr.,  and  Clara  H.  who  died  May  5, 
1881,  aged  twenty-nine  years.  These  daughters  were  cultured  and  refined 
ladies.  Mrs  WTeeks  died  September  5,  1853.  Mr.  Weeks  married,  in  1 859, 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  Burns,  of  Plymouth,  and  sister  of  Hon. 
William  Burns.  Socially  and  intellectually  she  ranked  among  the  first 
ladies  of  Northern  New  Hampshire.  She  died  February  2,  L878.  The  loss 
of  these  beloved  members  of  his  family  was  a  great  grief  to  Mr.  Weeks,  a 
sorrow  that  neither  time  nor  the  attention  of  friends  can  lessen. 

He  inherited  a  love  of  hunting  from  his  ancestors,  especially  large 
game.  Bears  were  his  favorite  sport,  and  he  has  trapped  and  killed  a 
great  number.  When  over  seventy-five  years  old  he  heard  of  one  eight 
miles  away  that  had  evidently  not  been  disturbed.  He  set  a  trap  and 
watched  it.  On  finding  the  trap  gone,  he,  after  a  chase  of  two  hours, 
came  up  with  "Bruin"  and  shot  him  as  he  would  have  done  in  the  prime 
of  life.  The  man  who  was  with  Mr.  Weeks  said  "  Mr.  Weeks  forgot  that 
he  was  over  thirty  years  old;  he  forgot  his  cane;  his  long  deer  gun  was  no 
incumbrance;  and  when  we  came  in  sight  of  the  game,  he  seemed  in  no 


384  History  of  Coos  County. 

need  of  glasses  to  shoot  it,  which  was  done  in  the  most  approved  style. ,r 
Bruin's  skin  dressed  by  Mr.  Weeks  makes  a  very  nice  robe. 

In  his  religious  belief  Mr.  Weeks  is  a  Unitarian.  He  dislikes  theologi- 
cal controversy,  and  believes  that  a  good  man  of  any  religious  denomina- 
tion is  a  good  Christian ;  and  that  a  villian  is  a  villian,  no  matter  to  what 
church  he  belongs.  Kind-hearted  and  sympathetic,  the  poor  and  needy 
always  find  in  him  a  friend;  the  stranger  and  wanderer  are  never  turned 
cold  or  hungry  from  his  door.  He  is  an  ardent  lover  of  history,  his  mem- 
ory is  retentive  and  accurate,  he  has  a  keen  sense  of  humor,  and  his 
unstudied  descriptions  of  men,  scenes,  and  events  are  very  vivid. 

Mr.  Weeks  is  an  able  man,  strong  in  mind,  strong  in  self  control,  strong 
in  will,  and  strong  in  sympathy.  True  to  all,  without  deceit  or  hypocrisy, 
he  is  appreciated  most  by  those  who  know  him  best,  and  is  known 
throughout  Coos  county  as  a  foremost  man  in  intelligence  and  ability. 

William  Dennis  Weeks,  born  in  Lancaster  February  28,  1818,  died  Feb- 
ruary 27,  18S5,  was  the  second  son  of  James  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Stanley) 
Weeks.  As  a  boy  he  lived  upon  his  father's  farm,  tilled  the  soil  and  care- 
fully improved  the  educational  advantages  afforded  him,  and  became  a  suc- 
cessful teacher.  For  some  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  E.  &  T.  Fair- 
banks, St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.  In  1848  he  married  Mary  Helen  Fowler,  a  niece 
of  Gov.  J.  W.  Williams,  a  lady  of  worth,  a  true  helpmate,  and  congenial 
companion.  Their  three  children  are  Emma  F.  (Mrs.  Burleigh  Eoberts), 
John  W.  and  William  C.  Mr.  Weeks  was  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead 
farm,  but  for  more  than  forty  years  was  identified  with  the  public  interests 
of  his  town  and  county.  In  1811  he  represented  Lancaster  in  the  legisla- 
ture, for  many  years  was  selectman,  and  held  other  positions  of  trust. 

In  1863  he  was  appointed  deputy  collector  of  internal  revenue,  which 
office  he  held  till  it  was  abolished.  At  one  time  he  was  proposed  by  his 
friends  as  a  candidate  for  governor,  and  quite  a  complimentary  vote  was 
secured  in  the  convention,  but  he  modestly  declined  the  candidacy.  In  the 
summer  of  1876  he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate.  Though  not  bred  to 
the  law  he  discharged  the  duties  of  probate  judge  justly,  honestly  and 
satisfactorily  until  his  death.  He  was  of  the  Unitarian  faith,  and  a  strong 
supporter  and  practicer  of  the  tenets  of  that  church.  A  man  more  honest, 
or  with  purer  motives  is  rarely  found.  There  was  much  of  grace,  courtli- 
ness, frankness  and  quiet  dignity  of  character  in  all  his  intercourse  with 
his  fellow-men.  He  gained  without  pretension  or  ostentation  by  the  noble- 
ness of  his  character  the  confidence  of  the  people;  by  his  daily  walk  and 
the  example  of  a  pure  life  whose  morality  never  taught  him  to  be  morose 
or  austere;  by  the  enduring  fidelity  of  the  husband,  the  deep  and  constant 
affection  of  the  father,  he  won  an  abiding  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  towns- 
men. His  example  and  influence  were  beneficent  in  all  the  relations  of 
life  and  his  memory  is  gratefully  cherished. 


C^^-^^eA.        e/V?"" O 


Town  of  Lancaster.  :»,.s 


Martha  Eliza  Weeks,  born  October  10,  L824,  was  a  woman  of  much 
ability,  and  somewhat  of  a  religious  enthusiast.  She  was  ever  working 
for  the  good  of  others,  and  striving  to  relieve  the  unfortunate.  During 
the  Civil  war  (1861)  she  went  to  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  was  head  nurse  in 
the  hospital  there  until  her  health  failed,  and  only  at  the  urgent  advice  of 
her  physician  left  her  post.  After  regaining  health  and  strength  she  went 
to  the  Soldier's  Home  in  Boston  and  occupied  the  same  position  for  two 
years.  In  1865  she  became  the  assistant  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cheney,  of  Hollis 
Street  church,  Boston,  acting  as  city  missionary  until  her  death,  which  oc- 
curred June  L,  1872.  (This  was  occasioned  by  caring  for  a  poor  and  desti- 
tute woman  who  was  ill  with  a  contagious  disease.) 

Persis  Fayette  Weeks,  born  February  3,  L831,  was  the  youngest  child 
of  James  B.  Weeks.  For  clear  good  sense  and  womanly  virtues  she  has 
few  equals.  January  2,  1855,  she  married  Rev.  George  M.  Rice,  who  died 
September  22,  1882.  Their  four  children  are  Laura  W.  (Mrs.  H.  H.  Piper), 
George  B.,  Mary  Nye  and  William,  all  true  children  of  such  a  mother. 
Mrs.  Rice's  home  is  in  Dublin,  N.  H.,  where  her  husband  was  a  pastor  for 
fifteen  vears. 


HOSEA    GRAY. 

Among  the  men  of  Coos  who  have  been  prominent  in  business  circles,, 
and  whose  activity  caused  his  to  be  a  familiar  form  in  every  part  of  this 
large  county,  must  be  especially  mentioned  Hosea  Gray.  For  nearly  half 
a  century  his  name  was  a  synonym  for  commercial  integrity  and  honor; 
and,  so  extensive  were  his  dealings,  that  nearly  every  man  of  any  conse- 
quence in  the  county  had  personal  transactions  with  him.  And  it  is  well 
in  making  up  the  record  of  the  men  who  have  impressed  themselves  upon 
the  progress  of  this  section  to  preserve  something  of  the  personality  of  one 
who  contributed  so  much  as  he  to  the  advancement  of  its  material  inter- 
ests. The  Gray  family  of  New  Hampshire  has  ever  been  noted  for  sturdy 
independence,  for  "push"  and  persistency,  and  other  sterling  qualities. 
Joseph  Gray,  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  a  participant  in  the  battle  of 
Ticonderoga,  and  especially  marked  for  his  energy  and  vigor. 

Hosea  Gray,  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Elkins)  Gray,  was  born  at  Jack- 
son, N.  H..  April  11.  1818.  He  inherited  a  strong  vitality  and  vigorous 
health  from  his  parents,  and  aided  his  physical  development  by  industri- 
ously laboring  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  attained  manhood.  His 
advantages  for  the  education  of  schools  were  meager,  but  he  had  a  disci- 
pline, and  acquired  a  practical  knowledge,  which  was  of  great  value  to 
him  in  after  life.  His  work  was  honestly  and  thoroughly  done,  and  we 
can  infer  that  it  was  not  from  any  dissatisfaction  with  agriculture,  except 
that  it  was  not  remunerative  enough  for  his  ambition,  that  when  he  be- 


386  History  of  Coos  County. 

came  of  age  he  came  to  Lancaster,  abandoning  the  avocation  of  his  father. 
He  did  not  do  this  in  search  of  an  easier  business,  for  we  soon  find  him 
owning  a  team,  and  drawing  produce  from  Lancaster  to  Portland  and  re- 
turning with  merchandise.  On  one  of  his  return  trips,  while  unloading 
his  goods,  he  met  with  quite  a  serious  accident  which  incapacitated  him 
for  labor  of  this  nature.  Accustomed  to  hardships,  vigilance,  and  labori- 
ous exertions,  he  had  developed  a  strong,  vigorous  and  thoughtful  man- 
hood, and  it  appeared  to  him  that  he  could  conduct  merchandising 
successfully;  and  he  engaged  in  trade  in  a  small  way  in  the  Eeuben  Steph- 
enson house,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Middle  streets.  Here  he  demon- 
strated that  his  ideas  were  right;  his  business  increased,  and  to  provide 
adequate  quarters  for  the  rapid  enlargement  of  his  trade,  he  removed  to 
the  "Cargill  store,"  where  he  remained  until  1857,  when  he  retired  from 
merchandising.  He  carried  his  operations  into  all  the  upper  towns  of  the 
•county  and  through  the  Androscoggin  valley,  bought  and  sold  cattle, 
horses,  wool,  flour,  any  thing  and  all  things  that  had  a  merchantable 
value,  and  personally  supervised  a  large  farm  with  financial  success.  He 
was  prospered  in  his  undertakings,  and  enjoyed  the  confidence,  esteem, 
and  friendship  of  the  best  people.  His  shrewd,  practical  advice  was  often 
solicited,  and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  bank  with  which 
he  was  connected,  his  judgment  and  common-sense  views  were  highly 
valued.  His  success  was  clue  to  his  far-reaching  sagacity,  his  energy,  his 
promptitude,  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  as  an  honest  and  reliable 
man.  He  possessed  strong  convictions,  bad  a  terse  and  incisive  manner 
of  expressing  them,  was  interested  in  all  matters  for  the  improvement  of 
the  town  and  county,  and  also  in  the  political  movements  of  these  organ- 
izations, but  never  aspired  to  official  position.  Long  years  of  unceasing 
toil  at  last  undermined  his  splendid  constitution,  and  he  died,  August  27, 
1 882,  after  an  illness  of  nearly  two  years.  By  his  death  Lancaster  lost  one 
of  its  best  citizens,  and  Coos  county  one  of  its  ablest  business  men,  for  by 
his  great  activity  and  indomitable  energy,  and  the  success  of  his  varied 
business  enterprises,  he  largely  benefitted  the  town,  and  was  an  important 
factor  in  the  development  of  the  county.  His  friendships  were  strong  and 
tenacious;  he  "was  kind  in  his  relations  as  neighbor  and  townsman;  liberal 
in  his  charities;  a  most  estimable  and  useful  citizen  whose  integrity  and 
worth  endeared  him  to  all;  and  loving  and  indulgent  as  a  husband  and 
father. 

Mr.  Gray  married  March  28,  1858,  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  (Perkins)  Sampson,  a  lady  eminently  fitted  to  make  the  home  life 
pleasant,  and  who  survives  him.  Their  only  child,  Jannett,  married,  and 
has  given  to  her  only  child,  a  son,  his  grandfather's  name. 


7cfhA    ffi  df/icvufdiM 


"J 


Town  of  Lancaster.  387 


JOHN   HUBBARD   SPAULDING.* 


Edward  Spaulding,  the  ancestor  of  the  Spaulding  family  in  America, 
settled  in  Braintree,  Mass.,  between  1630  and  It;:;:'..  Edward2,  born  L635 
at  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  died  1708.  Edward3,  was  born  Augusl  18,  1674  al 
Chelmsford.  Phineas*,  horn  in  Chelmsford  in  1706,  died  in  1748.  Daniel. 
born  November  5,  1737,  in  Hudson.  N.  H..  died  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.  His 
wife  was  Phebe  Dustin.  They  came  to  Northumberland,  from  London- 
deny,  with  their  son,  Edward6,  who  married  Martha  Weeks.  He  died  in 
Lancaster,  January  t>,  1845.  Their  son,  John  Wilson  Spaulding,  was  the 
father  of  John  Hubbard  Spaulding,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster,  August 
17,  1821.  His  grandfather,  Edward  Spaulding,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  the  town.  His  father,  John  Wilson  Spaulding,  and  his  mother.  Electa 
Stebbens  Spaulding,  died  when  he  was  about  three  years  old.  His  uncle 
and  aunt  (William  Dustin  Spaulding  and  Sarah  Ann  Spaulding)  adopted 
and  cared  for  him  affectionately  as  for  an  own  child.  From  boyhood  he 
worked  on  his  uncle's  farm,  and  in  good  time  acquired  a  common  school 
and  academic  education,  and  for  faithful  service  received  as  a  gift  one 
year  of  his  minority.  He  began  life  as  a  man  by  teaching  a  district  school 
in  the  winter  for  several  years,  and  working  on  a  farm  the  remainder  of 
the  year,  except  when  it  was  convenient  he  practiced  land-surveying. 
One  year  he  assisted  in  surveying  and  lotting  the  township  of  Pittsburg. 
He  was  employed  in  1845,  the  next  year  after  the  famous  "Webster  and 
Ashburton  Treaty"  under  Lieut.  W.  H.  Warner  and  Lieut,  John  Pope 
(now  General);  and,  as  a  surveyor,  assisted  in  establishing  the  United 
States  and  Canada  line  from  the  "Highlands"  in  Maine  westward  past 
New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  and  along  the  northern  boundary  of  New 
York  to  St.  Eegis  on  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  In  1847-48  he  purchased, 
mostly  on  credit,  several  hundred  acres  of  timber  land  in  Lancaster  and 
Northumberland;  and,  after  building  two  saw-mills,  successfully  manu- 
factured lumber  for  several  years.  In  1848  he  married  Miss  Emeline 
Corser,  of  Guildhall,  Vt.  They  have  tw^o  children;  the  oldest,  John  H.  Jr., 
is  married  and  lives  in  Whitefield;  the  second,  Debby  Ann.  married  and 
lives  in  Lancaster. 

In  1853  he  assisted  in  building  the  "  Tip-Top  "  House  on  the  summit  of 
Mt.  Washington,  and  the  next  year  became  half  owner  of  thai  and  the 
"Summit  House"  (so-called).  For  nine  seasons  he  was  chief  manager  of 
both  houses,  becoming  favorably  well  known  to  the  thousands  of  distin- 
guished visitors  to  that  renowned  resort.  February  10,  lKi.2,  with  two 
invited  companions,  he  accomplished  the  dangerous  enterprise  he  had 
planned  the  summer  before,  and  visited  the  top  of  Mt.  Washington  in  mid- 

*By  B.  F.  Whidden,  Esq. 


388  History  of  Coos  County. 

winter.  For  two  days  and  nights  this  party  was  storm-bound,  and  fully 
realized  the  terrors  of  that  place  in  a  hurricane  of  drifting  snow.  In  one 
place,  while  making  the  fearful  ascent,  he  was  obliged  to  cut  steps  for  a 
long  distance  past  an  icy  cliff,  the  waste  ice  from  which  rushed  down  two 
thousand  feet  into  the  woods  below.  In  1862  two  rival  claimants  to  the 
real  estate  title  of  Mt.  Washington  instituted  thorough  surveys  by  which 
to  prove  ownership,  and  during  two  different  seasons  he  assisted  each  of 
these  parties  in  making  their  surveys,  and,  though  protected  by  a  special 
charter  from  the  state  in  his  right  to  hold  the  hotel  improvements  on  Mt. 
Washington,  he  sold  his  interests  and  bade  farewell  to  mountain  life.  By 
invitation  from  an  old  business  associate,  he  went  to  Rosendale,  Ulster 
county,  N.  Y.,  March  9,  1865,  and,  from  that  date,  he  has  very  success- 
fully superintended  the  manufacture  of  hydraulic  cement  for  the  Law- 
renceville  Cement  Company,  with  only  a  short  vacation  each  year. 

Mr.  Spaulding,  graduating  from  the  schools  and  academy  of  his  native 
town,  entered  early  the  school  of  experience,  and  has  had  a  busy,  active, 
and  useful  life.  The  quality  of  his  mind  is  determined  and  strong,  and, 
without  being  rash  or  boastful,  he  is  very  decided  in  his  action.  He  has 
always  possessed  good  health,  and  his  large  vital  power  has  enabled  him  to 
endure  more  hardship  than  most  men.  Without  any  inclination  to  selfishly 
desire  favor,  he  has  a  remarkable  faculty  to  manage  men  well;  and  under 
all  circumstances  he  manifests  a  generous  inclination  to  assist  those  who 
are  poor  and  dependent  on  charity.  Though  shrewd  in  business  manage- 
ment he  will  not  stoop  to  a  mean  advantage,  and  his  associates  have  great 
confidence  in  his  integrity.  Though  not  over-zealous  in  religious  matters 
he  has  large  veneration  and  a  profound  regard  for  practical  piety;  and 
while  cherishing  extreme  contempt  for  hypocritical  pretence,  he  never 
fails  to  array  the  force  of  his  character  on  the  side  of  morality  and  justice. 
Having  often  endured  hardships  for  adventure's  sake,  and  from  his  experi- 
ence as  a  successful  mountaineer  and  hardy  woodsman,  very  many  inter- 
esting reminiscences  of  his  eventful  life  might  be  recited. 

Thus  much  is  due  to  be  said  in  regard  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
whose  life  has  been  so  strikingly  representative  of  New  England  charac- 
ter. He  is  a  man  of  cultivation  and  literary  taste,  and  a  very  ready,  racy 
writer. 


GEORGE  ROSCOE   EATON. 

The  Eaton  family  is  one  of  the  earliest  in  America.  Among  the  one 
hundred  and  two  passengers  of  the  "Mayflower,"  who  arrived  in  Cape 
Cod  harbor  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven  years  ago,  were  Francis  Eaton, 
his  wife,  and  Samuel  Eaton.  Francis  Eaton  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
first  compact  in  the  nature  of  a  constitution  of  government  in  the  Plym- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  :,v.i 


outh  Colony.  Samuel  Eaton  was  one  of  the  twenty-six  men  who  purchased 
what  became  the  First  Precinct  in  Middlehorough,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  died  in  1684,  leaving  descendants.  About  sixteen  years  after  the  ar- 
rival of  the  "Pilgrim  Band "(1636),  John  and  Anna  Eaton  came  from 
England  to  Boston,  and,  in  164-0,  were  living  in  Salisbury,  Mass.  They 
had  two  sons,  Thomas  and  John2.  Thomas  removed  with  his  father  to 
Haverhill,  Mass. ;  John2  remained  in  Salisbury,  married,  had  John3,  who,  in 
due  time  also  married,  and  became  the  father  of  Joseph4,  to  whom  a  son, 
John \  was  born.  The  birth  of  Wyman"  occurred  in  Salisbury,  July,  L725; 
he  married  Ruth  Merrill,  December  17,  1745,  and  settled  in  that  part  of 
Hampton,  N.  H.,  now  Seabrook.  [Five  generations  of  the  family  settled 
within  a  radius  of  five  or  six  miles  of  the  old  homestead  in  Salisbury, 
which  has  ever  been,  and  is  now,  occupied  by  their  decendants.  |  In  1765, 
Wyman  Eaton's  name  appears  on  the  petition  to  Gov.  Went  worth  for  a 
Presbyterian  society  in  Hampton  Falls,  which  shows  that  he  was  a  free- 
holder and  inhabitant  of  the  town.  His  son,  John7,  bought  land  in  Bux- 
ton, Maine,  in  1774:,  from  James  Gray,  of  Salisbury,  Mass.,  and  moved 
thither.  He  married  Jemima  Green.  Tristram8,  fourth  of  their  nine 
children,  was  born  December  16,  1781.  His  son,  Stephen  YV.,  was  born  in 
Buxton,  Me.,  educated  at  the  common  schools,  studied  civil  engineering, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  first  surveying  party  engaged  in  running  out 
the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  railroad.  He  married  Miranda  B.  Knox,  of 
Portland,  (a  descendant  of  Gen.  Henry  Knox,)  and  became  a  resident  of 
that  city.  They  had  eight  children;  Stephen  M.,  Samuel  K..  George  B., 
Minnie,  (Mrs.  Myron  Hovey,  of  Boston,)  Charles  P.,  Woodman  S..  Howard 
B.,  and  Edward. 

George  Roscoe  Eaton,  third  son  of  Stephen  W.  and  Miranda  B.  (Knox) 
Eaton,  was  born  in  Portland,  Me.,  November  16,  1837.  He  received  his 
school  education  at  the  high  schools  at  Portland  &  Yarmouth,  Me.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  entered  the  office  of  S.  T.  Corser,  superintendent  of  the 
Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  (Grand  Trunk)  railroad,  as  clerk,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years  and  a  half,  evincing  an  aptitude,  intelligence,  and  readi- 
ness for  business.  He  passed  the  next  two  years  and  a  half  in  the  Grand 
Trunk  freight  forwarding  office  at  Portland.  He  was  now  twenty  years 
old,  and  left  his  home,  eanie  to  Berlin,  and  engaged  in  the  employ  of  H. 
Winslow  &  Co.,  as  general  agent  of  their  mill  and  store.  Although  the 
firm  changed  several  times  in  the  course  of  his  stay,  Mr.  Eaton  was  con- 
nected with  its  management  for  fourteen  years.  During  this  long  period, 
however,  Mr.  Eaton's  business  keenness  foreseeing  the  future  possibilities 
of  the  broad  timber  lands  in  Coos  county,  he  invested  largely  in  them,  and 
his  investments  brought  solid  financial  results.  In  L872,  purchasing  a  stock 
of  goods  and  store  at  North  Stratford,  he  changed  his  residence  to  that 
place,  and  continued  in  trade  alone  until  1882,  when  he  admitted  E.  B. 


390  History  of  Coos  County. 

Merriam  as  a  partner,  and  the  firm  became  E.  B.  Merriam  &  Co.  By  this 
time  Mr.  Eaton's  lumber  interests  and  ownership  of  lands  had  become  ex- 
tensive, and  his  financial  ability  known  and  appreciated.  Upon  the  for- 
mation of  the  Lancaster  National  Bank,  in  1882,  Mr.  Eaton  was  elected  its 
president,  and,  yielding  to  the  solicitations  of  his  friends,  accepted  the 
office,  and  removed  to  Lancaster,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Democratic 
in  politics,  as  such,  Mr.  Eaton  has  often  been  called  to  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  He  represented  Berlin  in  the  legislature  of  1872  and  1873;  was 
selectman  for  several  years  in  Berlin  and  Stratford;  a  member  of  the  con- 
stitutional convention,  in  1876,  from  Stratford;  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer  in  1881,  and  re-elected  in  L886.  He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Eaton  &  Sawyer,  lumber  manufacturers  of  Columbia,  also  of  Marshall  & 
Eaton,  carriage  manufacturers,  of  Lancaster,  and  for  many  years  has 
loaned  money,  and  conducted  a  private  banking  business. 

In  1860  Mr.  Eaton  married  Sarah  J.  Parker.  They  have  three  daugh- 
ters; Minnie  P.,  Georgie  May  and  Sadie  Jane  (twins).  The  family  attend 
the  Unitarian  church,  of  which  Mr.  Eaton  is  a  generous  supporter. 

In  his  various  official  relations  Mr.  Eaton  is  ever  the  prompt  and 
faithful  officer,  performing  his  duties  with  the  efficiency  and  accuracy 
manifested  in  his  private  affairs.  His  success  should  be  an  incentive  to 
every  young  man,  who,  like  himself,  has  brains,  energy  and  a  capacity  to 
carry  ideas  into  practical  working.  He  has  been  successful  because  he 
deserves  to  be,  and  enjoys  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  the  leading  men  of 
this  section.  A  citizen  of  sterling  integrity,  kind  and  generous  impulses, 
and  frank  and  manly  bearing,  there  is  not  one  who  does  not  wish  him  a 
long  continuance  of  the  prosperity  which  has  in  no  wise  changed  his  genial 
and  cordial  nature. 


GEORGE   VAX  DYKE.^ 

George  Van  Dyke  was  born  in  Stan  bridge,  P.  Q.,  February  21,  1816, 
the  fifth  child  of  a  family  of  eight  children.  His  father,  George  Van  Dyke, 
was  a  native  of  Highgate,  Vt.  [The  Van  Dyke  family  came  originally  to 
Vermont  from  Kinderhook,  New  York,  and,  according  to  Washington 
Irving,  was  one  of  the  prominent  Dutch  families  which  so  early  brought 
civilization  to  the  valley  of  the  Hudson  under  the  administration  of  Peter 
Stuyvesant.  Among  them  were  "the  Van  Wvcks,  the  Van  Dycks,  the 
Van  Burens.  f  and  the  Brinkerhoffs  and  the  Schermerhorns."  Gov.  Stuyve- 
sanl  | tossessed  great  energy  of  character,  self-reliance  and  administrative 
ability;  but  was  impetuous,   turbulent,   self-willed,  and  recklessly  cour- 

*By  Rev.  J.  B.  Morrison. 

fMartin  Van  B  iren,  eighth  president  of  the  United  States,  was  a  descendant  of  this  family. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  391 


ageous  and  unscrupulous  in  his  absolutism.  He  was  appointed  Governor 
of  the  Dutch  possessions  in  the  New  World  in  1645,  with  two  promineni 
officers  associated  with  him  in  the  administration  of  all  civil  and  military 
affairs.  They  were  the  Vice  Director  and  the  Fiscal  (an  important  office 
corresponding  with  our  national  treasure!-).  To  this  latter  high  office 
was  appointed  a  soldier,  skilled  in  wise  counsels  and  of  valor,  Ensign  Van 
Dyck.  He  had  been  wounded  in  the  Indian  wars,  and,  in  1644,  was  in 
charge  of  the  expedition  which  exterminated  the  large  Indian  tribe  tint 
dwelt  on  the  site  of  Stamford,  Conn.  He  was  imprisoned  by  Gov.  Stuy  ve- 
sant  for  attempting  to  gain  that  place  in  the  Council  to  which  he  thought 
his  office  legitimately  entitled  him.  He  was  one  of  the  most  noted  men 
of  New  Amsterdam  (New  York),  for  many  years,  and  brought  an  Indian 
war  upon  the  colony  by  shooting  an  Indian  woman  gathering  peaches  in 
his  garden.  Many  lives  were  lost,  Hoboken  and  Pavonia  were  burned, 
Van  Dyck  was  shot  dead  by  an  arrow,  and  the  very  existence  of  the  col- 
ony imperilled. — Editor]  His  mother,  Abigail  Hatch  Dixon,  was  the 
granddaughter  of  Capt.  Thomas  Dixon,  of  South  Hero,  Vt.,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Joseph  Dixon,  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  IS  12,  a  man  of  great 
probity  of  character.  The  Dixon  family  was  of  marked  ability,  and  Mrs. 
Van  Dyke  inherited  the  chief  characteristics  of  her  sturdy  ancestry."  She 
married  George  Van  Dyke,  Sr.,  in  183*1;  they  emigrated  to  Stanbridge,  P. 
Q.,  where  they  built  their  log  house,  and  cleared  the  land  of  its  primeval 
forest. 

In  a  home  like  this,  George  Van  Dyke,  Jr.,  could  not  fail  to  get  that 
education  that  comes  from  experience  and  work.  He  attended  tbe  town 
schools  until  the  age  of  eleven,  and  henceforth  by  his  own  industry  and 
faithfulness  was  to  make  his  way,  and  show  by  his  ability  and  zeal  that 
the  real  essentials  of  a  strong  ma/nhood  can  be  learned  in  the  rough  dis- 
cipline of  the  woods  equally  as  well  as  in  the  seemingly  more  favorable 
surroundings  of  a  city  business  education.  At  the  age  of  eleven  he  began 
to  earn  his  own  living,  and  to  put  the  hard  conditions  of  poverty  and  lack 
of  worldly  advantages  under  his  feet.  To  him,  toil  meant  nothing;  what- 
ever had  to  be  done  was  accomplished.  He  had  robust  health  and  a  strong 
will.  He  cared  only  to  obtain  employment,  and  was  willing  to  work  day 
and  night  at  anything  that  offered.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  engaged  to 
chop  in  the  woods  on  the  Androscoggin,  and.  from  that  time,  with  a  stout 

*Capt.  Thomas  Dixon,  a  Revolutionary  pensioner,  sell  led  at  South  Hero,  \'t.,  about  1790, 
He  was  a  worthy  man.  of  kindly  disposition,  brave  and  heroic.  When  the  British  attacked  Pitts- 
burgh, Capt.  Dixon  took  his  gun  and  hastened  to  the  front,  where  lie  became  so  much  engaged  in 
firing,  that  he  did  not  notice  that  the  American';  were  falling  back  until  he  was  nearly  surrounded  by 
the  British.  Tint  be  had  boasted  that  he  "  never  had  and  never  would  turn  his  hack  to  the  British," 
and  he  faced  them  as  he  retreated,  and  continued  fighting.  He  received  several  indict  holes  in  his 
clothing,  but  by  little  less  than  a  miracle  escaped  unhurt.—  Vermont  Historical  Magazine,  Vol.  II, 
pp.  ■'57:3-4. 


392  History  of  Coos  County. 

heart,  began  to  be  the  architect  of  his  fortunes.  Labor  is  luck;  and  clear 
grit  in  Mr.  Van  Dyke's  case  triumphed  over  every  difficulty.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-six,  the  wood-chopper  of  the  Androscoggin  valley  became,  in 
company  with  Henry  and  Louis  Bowman,  at  Guildhall,  Vt.,  in  1872,  the 
manager  of  a  saw-mill  on  the  Connecticut.  From  Guildhall  he  went  to 
South  Lancaster,  taking  charge  of  the  mill  there  for  himself  in  the  spring 
of  1875.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he  removed  to  Mclndoes,  Vt.,  where  he 
accumulated  a  handsome  competency;  and,  making  wise  investments  in 
the  timber  lands  of  northern  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire  (which  rapidly 
rose  in  market  value),  he  soon  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  capitalists  in 
the  section.  In  1886  he  sold  all  his  interests  to  the  Connecticut  River  Lum- 
ber Company,  and  became  its  president.  Since  that  time  he  has  devoted 
himself  to  the  care  of  the  interests  of  the  company,  and  managed  them 
with  consummate  ability.  Through  his  indomitable  force  and  powers  of 
execution,  the  Upper  Coos  railroad,  of  which  he  is  president,  has  this  year 
become  an  accomplished  fact.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Hereford,  P.  Q., 
Branch  railroad. 

Althongh  Mr.  Van  Dyke  has  been  so  singularly  successful  in  business, 
his  prosperity  has  not  turned  him  away  from  the  amenities  of  life.  He  is 
a  very  devoted  son  and  brother,  and  a  sincere  friend.  He  generously 
shares  with  others  the  results  of  his  large  fortune.  At  his  beautiful  home 
in  Lancaster,  his  mother,  and  his  sister,  Miss  Eva,  dispense  an  elegant 
hospitality.  The  churches  of  Mclndoes  find  in  him  a  most  generous  sup- 
porter. He  is  a  Universalist  in  religious  belief.  Interested  in  everything 
pertaining  to  Mclndoes,  his  place  of  business,  and  Lancaster,  his  place  of 
residence,  both  towns  find  him  public  spirited  in  the  promotion  of  their 
welfare.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  does  not  seem  to  be  a  political 
aspirant,  content  to  be  a  voter  for  measures,  and  upholding  the  party  to 
the  best  of  his  strength  and  inclination.  Mr.  Van  Dyke  is  justly  esteemed 
for  all  the  elements  of  substantial  success.  In  the  proud  record  of  his  em- 
inent career  as  a  business  man,  Coos  can  point  to  him  as  an  example  of 
what  energy,  persistency  and  pluck  can  achieve  in  overcoming  obstacles. 
His  chief  characteristics,  and  to  which  his  success  is  pre-eminently  due, 
are  "  level-headedness,"  strong  common-sense,  excellent  practical  judg- 
ment concerning  men  and  things,  and  marvellous  executive  ability.  His 
hard  work  early  in  life  on  the  farm  and  in  the  ' '  woods, "  developed  an  iron 
constitution,  which  enables  him  to  do  the  work  of  half  a  dozen  men  daily. 
He  possesses  great  memory,  is  a  natural  mathematician,  is  vigilant,  untir- 
ing, and  a  man  of  excellent  habits 


FRANK  SMITH. 


Among  the  leading  men  whose  activity,  enterprise  and  persistent  in- 
dustry have  been  powerful  motors  in  furthering  the  growth  and  develop- 


Town  of  Lancaster.  393 


ing  the  business  interests  of  Lancaster  is  Frank  Smith,  son  of  Chester  and 
Betsey  (Hutchins)  Smith.  He  was  born  at  Lunenburg,  Yt..  September  12, 
1883,  and  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  His  chili  I  hood 
years  were  passed  with  his  parents,  and,  like  many  farmers'  sons,  he  had  to 
use  his  hands  to  help  move  the  wheels  of  the  household  economy.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  Newbury,  Vt.,  where  he  attended  the  seminary 
one  year  with  good  results;  having  acquired  sufficient  education  to  start 
him  in  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Boston,  where  he  remained  t  wo  years, 
gaining  a  knowledge  of  business  and  fitting  himself  in  various  ways  for 
his  future  field  of  labor.  In  the  fall  of  1852  he  came  to  Lancaster  and 
commenced  his  long  and  active  business  career  in  the  store  of  J.  A.  Smith. 
The  energy  and  ambition  of  Frank  Smith,  from  which  his  success  comes, 
would  not  allow  him  to  be  an  employe,  and  the  next  spring,  with  his  little 
savings,  he  began  trade  in  a  small  way  in  the  building,  now  the  Colby 
Brothers1  drug  store,  as  a  grocer  and  provision  dealer;  and,  from  that  small 
beginning,  he  has,  by  his  own  ability  and  honest  dealing,  placed  himself 
high  on  the  list  of  business  men,  as  having  achieved  a  justly  merited  suc- 
cess. For  four  years  Mr  Smith  conducted  this  store,  then  built,  and  occu- 
pied for  about  ten  years,  the  store  since  occupied  by  D.  W.  Smith,  but,  by 
his  unremitting  devotion  to  his  labors,  his  system  became  prostrated,  and 
he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  business  for  a  time. 

In  IS  TO,  however,  with  a  partner,  George  A.  Goodrich,  under  firm  name 
of  Smith  &  Goodrich,  he  engaged  in  the  same  line  in  the  Burnside  store, 
only  paving  more  attention  to  the  jobbing  of  flour,  feed  and  grain.  This 
partnership  continued  three  years,  when  the  firm  became  Frank  Smith  & 
Co.,  Mr.  Goodrich  being  succeeded  by  A.  M.  Bullard,  (who  died  in  L881, 
when  his  son,  Willie  E.  Bullard,  became  Mr.  Smith's  partner.)  At  this 
time  the  business  had  assumed  large  proportions  (over,  a  quarter  of  a  mil- 
lion per  annum),  and  included  grain,  flour,  agricultural  implements,  etc. 
In  1875  they  were  burned  out  in  the  great  fire,  losing  heavily;  but,  with 
characteristic  energy,  business  was  carried  on  without  intermission  in  a 
rented  building,  and  the  construction  of  the  large  mercantile  establishment 
now  occupied  by  them  was  begun  as  soon  as  the  land  could  be  bought. 
About  1873  th<j  firm  purchased  a  half-interest  in  the  grist-mill  in  the  village, 
and,  with  John  P.  Hodge,  conducted  it  until  it  was  burned  in  1875.  The 
next  year  they  rebuilt  it  with  facilities  for  grinding  150,000  bushels  of  grain 
per  annum.  In  1879  Mr.  Hodge  sold  Ins  half  to  Frank  Smith  &  Co.  In 
1881  they  bought  the  Freeman  mill,  remodelled  it,  put  in  machinery  to  cut 
annually  four  million  feet  of  lumber,  and  from  that  time  have  manufac- 
tured lumber.  They  are  also  largely  interested  in  the  Kilkenny  Lumber 
Company.  Their  business  has  steadily  increased.  They  own  and  cultivate 
the  Brooks  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  beautiful  meadow 
land,  on  which  they  have  cut  this  year  130  tons  of  hay.     They  give  con- 

26 


394  History  of  Coos  County. 

stant  employment  to  about  seventy-five  men,  and  in  the  winter  season  to 
many  more. 

Mr.  Smith  married,  first,  Harriet  B.,  daughter  of  Fielding  and  Mary 
(Bingham)  Smith,  on  May  8,  1855.  She  died  August  1,  1875.  They  had 
one  child,  Minnie.  (She  married  Edwin  T.  Morse,  of  Charlestown,  Mass., 
has  one  child,  Frank.)  Mr.  Smith  married,  second,  December  20,  1877, 
Esther  J.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eunice  (Bennett)  Rhodes.  She  was 
born  in  Cairo,  N.  Y.  They  have  two  children,  Florence  J.  and  Frank  C. 
Mrs.  Smith  was  for  several  years  a  successful  teacher  in  the  State  Normal 
school. 

Although  Mr.  Smith  has  been  an  assiduous  business  man,  yet  he  has 
been  mindful  of  the  civil  affairs  of  the  town.  He  has  had  the  entire  super- 
vision of  the  public  schools  in  Lancaster,  and  has  been  a  prominent  mem- 
ber on  the  Board  of  Education  for  twelve  years;  he  was  a  Republican  until 
the  Liberal  Republican  party  was  started,  when  he  joined  the  Greeley 
movement,  and  has  since  acted  with  the  Democrats;  in  1881  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  representative  to  run  against  the  very  popular  C.  B.  Jordan  and 
was  defeated  by  one  vote;  in  1885  he  was  again  nominated  and  elected  by 
seventy-five  majority  over  George  P.  Rowell;  he  was  chairman  of  the  im- 
portant county  convention  of  1886  which  decided  the  rebuilding  of  the 
court-house.  He  is  frequently  a  delegate  to  county  and  state  conventions. 
He  has  been  a  Free  Mason  for  twenty-five  years,  belonging  now  to  North 
Star  Lodge  and  North  Star  Oommanclery;  and  is  a  member  of  the  New 
Hampshire  club.  In  his  religious  preferences  he  is  a  Unitarian,  a  regular 
attendant  at  the  church  services,  loyal  to  its  principles  and  generous  to  its 
charities.  In  his  home-life  he  is  kind  and  attentive;  as  a  manufacturer 
and  business  man,  an  energetic  and  practical  worker:  and  his  labors  have 
been  crowned  with  financial  success.  Mr.  Smith  can  always  be  relied  upon 
as  a  hearty  co-operator  in  and  liberal  supporter  of  any  enterprise  pertain- 
ing to  the  public  good,  and  is  a  popular  and  esteemed  citizen. 


ANDERSON   J.    MARSHALL. 

Anderson  J.  Marshall,  one  of  the  leading  manufacturers  of  Coos  county 
for  a  long  period  of  years,  was  the  son  of  Antipas  P.  and  Nancy  A.  (Lucas) 
Marshall,  and  was  born  in  Northumberland,  July  13,  1819.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  a  child  of  six  years,  and  he  was  placed  under  the  guar- 
dianship of  his  uncle,  Hon.  Joshua  Marshall,  who  was  for  many  years  a 
county  judge.  He  passed  his  childhood  with  his  guardian  and  with  his 
mother,  who  became  Mrs.  Eri  Curtis.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  Benjamin  Rolfe,  of  Colebrook,  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  while  there  he  was  a  member  of  the  "  Colebrook  Guards,''  and  served 


^/^kuA^Ljtc. 


Town  of  Lancaster.  395 


in  the  fa i nous  "Indian  Stream  War."  In  1837 he  came  to  Lancaster  and 
attended  the  "Old  Academy,"  and  then  established  himself  in  busim 
here  as  a  carpenter,  and  when  twenty-one  built  the  house  so  long  occupied 
by  Richard  P.  Kent.  He  was  a  good,  faithful,  and  industrious  workman, 
and  his  services  were  in  d<  maud.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Lawrence, 
Mass.,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Abbott  Lawrence,  in  charge  of  the 
men  engaged  in  the  erection  of  the  noted  "  Pemberton  Mills."  He  after- 
wards spent  some  time  in  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  and  then  returned  to  Lancaster, 
and,  in  1847,  bought  out  the  carriage  business  of  James  W.  Weeks,  which 
he  continued  on  the  same  site  for  thirty-five  years.  Mr.  Marshall  entered 
upon  his  new  work  with  all  his  characteristic  perseverance,  and  everything 
promised  success.  On  the  night  of  October  14,  L852,  his  entire  plant  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  So  great  was  Mr.  Marshall's  popularity,  that  a  subscrip- 
tion was  raised  to  aid  him  to  rebuild,  and  a  "Benefit  Ball"  inaugurated  by 
the  young  people,  the  proceeds  of  which  were  devoted  to  the  same  benev- 
olent enterprise.  With  great  energy  M  r.  Marshall  immediately  commenced 
to  rebuild,  and  within  a  year  he  had  erected  a  fine  manufactory,  driven  by 
steam,  its  whistle  being  the  first  one  heard  in  Lancaster.  The  business 
grew  to  large  proportions:  and  he  continued  manufacturing  with  financial 
success  until  he  retired  from  active  life.  He  was  succeeded  by  Marshall  & 
Chamberlain,  which  firm  soon  became  Marshall  &  Eaton  (A.  P.  Marshall 
and  George  R.  Eaton). 

Mr.  Marshall's  death  occurred  August  28,  18S3.  His  wife,  Frauces, 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (WTaite)  Perkins,  of  Lancaster,  whom  he 
married  January  1,  1840,  survives  him.  Their  children  are.  Antipas  P. 
(who  has  three  children,  Fred  A.,  Frank  P.  and  Winnie  A.);  Emma  F. 
(Mrs.  George  L.  Williams,  of  Concord,  who  has  Jessie  and  Ethelyn);  Belle 
(Mrs.  George  S.  Locke,  who  resides  in  Concord,  has  one  son,  George  S.). 

Mr.  Marshall  was  a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and  untiring  indus- 
try. He  was  never  in  public  life,  but  was  esteemed  and  respected  in  the 
community  of  which  he  had  forso  long  a  time  been  a  producer  and  nota 
mere  consumer.  He  was  a  member  of  I.  0.  of  0.  F.,  and  a  worthy  mem- 
ber of  the  ancient  Lodge  of  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  president  of  the  "  S.iv 
ings  Bank  of  the  County  of  Coos,"  and  a  director  in  the  Lancaster  National 
hank.  His  religious  belief  was  that  of  the  Methodists,  and  for  many 
years  he  was  a  useful  and  faithful  officer  and  member  of  that  church.  By 
the  energy  of  his  character  and  devotion  to  business  he  accumulated  a 
handsome  estate.  A  long  life  well  spent,  and  the  respect  and  hoc  of 
friends  at  its  close,  marks  the  success  of  earthly  endeavor:  and  this  good 
citizen,  exemplary  husband  and  father  and  kind  friend   will  long  be  held 

in  pleasant  remembrance. 


396  History  of  Coos  County. 

alexander  thompson. 

( )£  the  numerous  emigrants  who  came  to  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  the  "ship 
Ann"  was  John  Thomson,  born  in  the  north  of  Wales  in  1616,  came  to 
America  in  the  third  embarkation  from  England,  and  arrived  at  Plymouth 
in  May,  1622.  The  first  knowledge  we  have  of  the  name  is  from  the 
ancient  book  of  heraldry.  The  name  was  familiarly  known  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland;  each  family  spelled  the  name  differently  and 
selected  a  different  badge  of  heraldry.  John  Thomson  was  probably  a 
descendant  of  the  Scottish  family.  The  letter  "p"  was  not  introduced 
into  the  name  by  his  descendants  until  a  century  and  a  half  had  rolled 
away. 

Alexander,  son  of  Daniel  and  Persis  (Ladd)  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Cornith,  Vt.,  July  11,  1819,  and  died  at  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  September  3, 
L882.  His  parents' circumstances  did  not  afford  him  the  advantages  of 
liberal  culture,  and  he  was  dependent  on  his  own  efforts  for  acquiring  the 
knowledge  he  sought,  which  should  open  to  him  a  wider  sphere  of  life  and 
a  larger  field  of  labor,  and,  while  working  in  his  father's  blacksmith  shop, 
he  studied  Latin  with  his  grammar  on  the  forge.  He  also  read  in  the  same 
way  works  of  philosophy,  science,  and  general  literature.  He  had  natural 
mechanical  powers  and  remarkable  inventive  faculties.  On  attaining  his 
majority  he  went  to  Boston  and  passed  some  years  in  manufacturing 
dental  instruments.-  He  was  afterwards  in  the  employ  of  E.  &  T.  Fair- 
banks, St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  in  their  scale  works.  Subsequently,  in  com- 
pany with  John  H.  Paddock,  he  established  a  machine  shop  at  Paddocks- 
ville,  Vt.  In  May.  1866,  he  came  to  Lancaster.  [See  "Thompson  Manu- 
facturing Co."]  Mr.  Thompson  was  a  great  student  and  possessed  a  rare 
fund  of  general  information,  was  well  informed  in  all  the  current  literature 
and  progress  of  the  times.  The  difficulties  he  had  to  contend  with  in 
acquiring  his  education  seemed  to  develop  his  manhood  and  bring  out 
those  qualities  which  constitute  a  truly  noble  character.  His  was  a 
peculiarly  refined  and  sensitive  spirit,  and  the  religious  element  in  him  was 
dominant.  During  his  residence  in  Boston,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
"  Old  South  Church,"  and  retained  his  membership  during  life.  He  was  a 
fine  singer  and  was  one  of  the  choir.  In  mature  life,  he  was  a  student  of 
Swedenborg.  and  a  believer  in  his  philosophy.  He  attended  the  services 
of  the  Orthodox  church  of  Lancaster,  and  here,  also,  his  favorite  seat  was 
in  the  choir;  and  reverence,  worship,  and  true  emotion  were  mingled  in 
his  inspiring  tones  of  song.  He  was  for  a  time  superintendent  of  the  Sab- 
bath-school, and  his  influence  was  of  a  refined  and  ennobling  nature. 
"  His  religion  was  that  of  love." 

Mr.  Thompson  was  three  times  married.  By  his  second  wife,  Ellen 
Armington,  he  had  one  daughter.     December  25,  1866,  he  married  Alice, 


Town  of  Lancaster.  397 


daughter  of  Hiram  and  Alice  (Child)  Twitchell,  a  native  of  Randolph,  Vt. 
She  survives  him.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are  Mary,  Mabel  C, 
Alice  T.,  Grace,  Sarah  Agnes,  and  Persis  A.  In  the  family  relation,  he 
was  a  devoted  husband  and  father,  finding  his  fullest  happiness  in  the 
home  circle.  As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Thompson  was  in  harmony  with  the  pro- 
gressive element  of  society.  He  was  a  Republican  in  polities,  and  a  valued 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His  large  and  generous  heart  was 
always  open  to  any  appeal.  As  a  business  man,  be  gained  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  man  of  honor  and  worth;  as  neighbor  and  friend,  he  was 
a  counselor,  and  sympathizer  in  trials,  and  his  advice  and  pecuniary  help, 
where  needed,  was  freely  given.  By  his  life  he  illustrated  the  best  quali- 
ties of  a  man,  and  won  the  respect  and  love  of  the  community;  and  when 
the  Lord  called  his  good  and  faithful  servant  home,  the  strong  man  and 
the  little  child  mourned  together. 


FRANK   BUGBEE,  M.  D."' 

The  Bugbee  family  is  of  undoubted  Scandinavian  (Danish)  origin,  but 
was  early  in  England.  In  the  reign  of  Edward  of  Wessex  (901  -925)  his 
minister  of  state  was  a  Mr.  Buga,  who  was  prominent  in  affairs;  and 
many  land  holders  and  landlords  were  of  that  name,  or  Bugga.  In  the 
last  century  there  arose  a  celebrated  Danish  astronomer  named  Buggee, 
which  name  is  often  found  now  in  Denmark  and  England.  It  has,  how- 
ever, undergone  various  changes  in  its  termination  during  these  many 
centuries.  Near  the  last  of  April,  1634,  two  ships,  the  "Francis,''  with 
eighty-four  passengers,  and  the  "  Elizabeth,"  with  one  hundred  and  four 
passengers,  sailed  from  Ipswich,  England,  the  same  day,  and  arrived  at 
Boston  nearly  together.  In  the  "Francis  "  came  Edward  Bugby,  then  forty 
years  old,  his  wife,  Rebecca,  thirty-four  years  old,  and  daughter.  Sarah,  four 
years  old.  Unto  this  good  couple  was  born,  June  6,  1640,  Joseph,  who 
married  Experience,  daughter  of  Andrew  Pitcher,  of  Dorchester,  Mass., 
and  moved,  with  quite  a  party  of  others,  to  Woodstock,  Conn.,  in  1686,  as 
one  of  the  original  proprietors  and  first  settlers.  Joseph  and  wife  bad 
nine  children.  Their  fifth  son,  Josiah,  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  No- 
vember 2,  1684.  Upon  arriving  at  maturity  be  took  a  wife,  and  moved 
to  the  new  town  of  Ashford,  Conn.,  and  was  among  its  pioneers.  I  !<•  was 
active  and  prominent,  both  in  church  and  state  affairs.  He  was  the  an- 
cestor of  Dr.  Frank  Bugbee,  the  direct  line  being  Edward,  born  in  Eng- 
land about  1594;  Joseph,  born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  June  ti,  lf,ni;  Josiah, 
born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  November  2,  1684;  Josiah,  2d,  born  in  Wood- 
stock, Conn.,  December  23,  LT08;  Amos,  born  in  Ashford.  Conn..  Xovem- 

*By  Hon.  C.  B.  Jordan. 


398  History  of  Coos  County. 

ber  3,  1740;  Ralph,  born  in  Ashford,  Conn.,  February  3,  1796;  Frank,  born 
in  Waterford,  Vt.,  September  18,  1836.  Ralph  Bugbee.  Frank's  father, 
married  Irena  Goss,  of  Waterford,  Vt.,  October  4,  1820.  They  had  six 
children.  The  third  son  died  in  childhood.  The  father  and  all  the  remain- 
ing children  were  doctors  of  medicine — some  eminent  in  their  profession. 
In  the  practice  of  surgery,  for  which  they  all  seemed  fitted,  both  by  taste 
and  nature,  they  excelled. 

Frank  was  the  fifth  child,  and  although  his  father  had  become  "well- 
to-do,"  yet  he  thought  it  best  for  all  his  children  to  know  how  to  earn  a 
living,  and  so  put  Frank  to  work  upon  the  home  farm  at  an  early  age. 
Frank  attended  the  district  school  summer  and  winter,  and  there  laid  the 
foundation  for  his  future  education.  He  was  a  quiet,  obedient,  manly 
child,  and  would  carry  out  his  childhood  plans  at  home  and  at  school  with- 
out bluster  or  ado.  When  a  mere  boy  he  was  much  with  his  father  in  his 
study  and  in  the  long  rides  a  country  physician  in  those  days  was  com- 
pelled to  take.  His  love  and  aptitude  for  medicine  were  thus  early  devel- 
oped. A  few  terms  at  the  academy  as  he  grew  older  only  made  more 
manifest  the  bent  of  his  mind.  He  then  applied  himself  the  more  dili- 
gently to  his  medical  studies,  and,  at  the  same  time,  with  his  father,  among 
his  patients  had  practical  illustrations  of  the  principles  and  theories  so 
recently  learned  from  the  books.  He  entered  the  medical  school  at  Dart- 
mouth college  aud  took  and  held  good  rank  among  his  fellows.  He  met 
there  Dr.  Frank  Towne,  now,  and  for  a  long  time,  a  surgeon  of  the  IT.  S. 
army.  Coming  to  Lancaster  with  him  for  a  visit,  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  his  sister,  Maria  P.  Towne,  daughter  of  Barton  G.  Towne,  and 
they  were  married  March  1,  1863.  He  made  his  home  in  Lancaster,  and 
at  once  engaged  in  medical  practice.  His  kindness  and  gentleness,  his 
good  nature,  quiet  humor,  and  sympathizing  heart  soon  made  him  popu- 
lar with  all  classes.  He  was  not  long  in  gaining  an  extensive  acquaintance 
and  a  consequent  large  practice,  extending  into  the  neighboring  towns  of 
Dalton,  Whitefield,  Jefferson  and  Northumberland,  and  Lunenburg, 
Guildhall  and  Maidstone  in  Vermont.  Soon  he  was  able  to  make  a  beau- 
tiful home  for  himself,  wife  and  only  child,  Hattie,  who  came  to  them  in 
December.  L864.  He  was  hospitable  and  generous,  and  entertained  his 
many  friends  most  royally.  In  his  later  years  he  purchased  a  large  farm 
and  took  much  comfort  with  his  horses  and  cattle.  In  all  enterprises  for 
the  improvement  of  the  village  and  town  he  was  in  the  front  rank.  As  a 
citizen  he  was  highly  esteemed.  As  a  surgeon  his  services  were  often 
sought  after  in  difficult  cases.  As  husband  and  father,  he  was  tender, 
kind  and  considerate.  His  daughter,  wife  and  himself  all  started  nearly 
together  for  the  "border-land."  Hattie  died  July  16,  1880;  her  mother, 
five  days  afterwards.  The  doctor  tarried  until  the  sixth  day  of  Septem- 
ber, and  then  followed  his  family  in  their  silent  march  to  the  far  country. 


JEFFERSON. 


Ii v  Ai'.M'.i!   Davis. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Name  and  Territory  Embraced  —  First  and  Second  Grants  — Second  Charter— Petition  —  In- 
corporation —  Record  of  First  Town  Meeting  —  Names  of  Voters  —  Roads  —  Bridges  —  Taverns  — 
Residents,  Polls,  Stocks  and  Improvements  in  1812. 

^TEFFERSOX  was  formerly  called  Dartmouth,  but  when  it  was  incorpo- 
\  rated  it  assumed  its  present  name  in  honor  of  Thomas  Jefferson.  It 
Qj  embraces  the  original  territory  of  Dartmouth,  and  a  part  of  Kilkenny. 
The  first  charter  of  Dartmouth,  granted  October  3,  LY65,  to  John  Goffe,  Esq., 
and  fifty-seven  others,  among  them  David  Page,  of  Lancaster,  was  forfeited; 
and  June  26,  1772,  it  was  again  granted,  but  to  different  persons  from  the 
first,  excepting  four,  whose  names  appear  as  grantees  in  both  charters. 
Theodore  Atkinson.  Daniel  Ward.  Mark  Hunking  Wentworth  and  Stephen 
Holland.  There  were  seventy  shares  and  seventy  grantees  named  in  the 
second  charter,  which  granted  "something  more  than  six  miles  square; 
twenty-four  thousand,  five  hundred  and  eighty-one  acres,"  bounded  thus: — 

'■Beginning'  at  a  white  pine  tree  (marked  I.  G.  October  1763-6)  standing  on  the  westerly  side 
of  Israels  River,  so-called,  nearly  opposite  the  second  crotch  from  Connecticut  river,  and  running 
west  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  rods  to  Lancaster  easterly  line:  thence  south  69°  west  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-eight  rods  by  Lancaster,  from  thence  soutli  six  miles  two  hundred  and  sixty  rods  to 
a  rock  maple  tree  (marked  V.  R.  1771),  then  turning  off  and  running  East  live  miles  and  an  half 
mile,  thence  wesl  four  miles  and  one  half  mile  to  the  hound  began  at." 

Among  the  conditions  of  the  charter  all  white  pine  suitable  for  masting 
the  Royal  Navy  was  reserved  to  the  Crown;  certain  improvements  were  to 
be  done;  and  all  the  reservations  and  specifications  of  the  formal  charter 
of  that  day  were  presented. 

Petition  for  Incorporation. 

"  State  of  New  Hampshire. 
"  To  the  honorable  Senate,  and  house  of  represent,! lives  convened  in  general  assembly. 

"  The  petition  of  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  a  place  called  Dartmouth,  in  the  County  of 
Grafton,  and  State  of  New  Hampshire,  humbly  sheweth,  that  said  Dartmouth  is  inhabited  by 


400  History  of  Coos  County. 

twenty  four  families,  which  labor  under  many  inconveniences  for  want  of  legal  authority  to  con- 
duct town  business,  in  consequence  of  which,  they  suffer  much  on  account  of  highways  being 
neglected,  which  not  only  injures  the  inhabitants,  but  has  a  tendency  to  retard  further  settlement: 
wherefore  your  petitioners  pray  this  honorable  court  to  consider  their  case,  and  incorporate  them 
into  a  town,  that  they  may  be  vested  with  such  authority  as  other  towns  within  said  State  by  law 
exercise  and  enjoy.  And  your  petitioners  shall  ever  pray 
"  Dartmouth  29th  May  1793. 

"  John  Harden  John  holmes 

"  Samuel  Hart  Samuel  holmes 

"Richard  Stalbird        Elijah Moulton " 
"  James  Rider 

111  House  of  Representatives,  June  12,  1793,  a  hearing  was  ordered  for 
the  second  Thursday  of  the  next  session.  This  petition  was  not  granted, 
and  another  was  presented  by  Col.  Joseph  Whipple,  as  agent  for  the  town, 
dated  May  20,  1706,  which  was  granted. 

Incorporation. — By  an  act  of  legislature  approved  December  8,  1796, 
the  territory  of  Dartmouth  was  incorporated  as  the  town  of  Jefferson. 
"John  Harden  (or  in  case  of  his  death,  other  disability  or  refusal,  Jonas 
Baker,)  is  hereby  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  inhabitants  to 
choose  all  necessary  and  customary  town  officers,  giving  fourteen  days 
notice  of  the  time,  place,  and  design  of  such  meeting." 

Town  Records. — As  early  as  March.  1798,  we  have  the  first  record  of  a 
town  meeting,  in  which  John  Marden  was  chosen  moderator,  Samuel 
Plaisted,  town  clerk,  and  Benning  Simes,  James  Hight  and  Samuel 
Plaisted,  selectmen.  John  Ingerson  was  collector  "at  five  pence  per 
pound,1'  and  James  Hight  and  Benning  Simes  were  his  bondsmen.  Will- 
iam Hewes,  Richard  Marden  and  Capt.  James  Rider  were  surveyors  of 
highways,  and  William  Summers  and  William  Moulton  tythingmen." 
Benjamin  Hicks  and  Daniel  Moulton,  "hog  reeves."  Daniel  Moulton  was 
engaged  to  get  a  copy  of  the  "charter  of  the  town'  "for  eight  dollars 
and  eighty-two  cents"  and  it  was  voted  to  raise  two  hundred  dollars  to  be 
"laid  out"  on  the  roads,  men's  labor  " four  shillings  and  six  pence  per 
day,1'  and  "  oxen  work  "  three  shillings  per  day.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise 
thirty  dollars  to  support  a  school,  (in  cash,  or  wheat  at  one  dollar  per 
bushel,)  and  also  to  raise  "nine  pounds"  to  pay  for  the  charter,  and  to 
defray  necessary  charges.  The  chairman  of  the  selectmen  received  two 
dollars  for  his  services,  and  the  town  clerk  one  dollar  for  the  year. 

There  were  at  this  time  about  twenty  voters  and  the  tax  list  contained 
the  names  of  Joseph  Whipple,  Richard  Marden,  James  Hight,  John  Mar- 
den, William  Hewes,  John  Ingerson,  William  Ingerson,  Samuel  Marden, 
William  Moulton,  George  Holmes,  Samuel  W.  Hart,  Samuel  Hart,  Sam- 
uel Plaisted,  Benning  Simes,  Ezekiel  Moulton,  John  Holmes,  Benjamin 
Hicks,  Lazarus  Holmes,  John  Garland,  John  Holmes,  James  Rider,  Rich- 
ard Stalbird,  Thomas  Whittam,  William  Shores,  Daniel  Moulton,  William 


Town  of  Jefferson.  mi 


Summers,  F.  K.  Foster,   James  Twombley,  Benjamin  Twombley,  Reuben 
Haywood,  James  Wentworth,  and  Joseph  Bachelder. 

Eoads  and  bridges,  schools,  and  the  care  of  the  poor  engaged  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people.  One  lame  widow  was  cared  for  many  years  by  differ- 
ent families  in  turn,  for  a  small  sum  per  week  or  month.  But  little  money 
was  in  circulation.  Wheat  was  sometimes  used  instead,  and  taxes  were 
not  easily  collected. 

Roads  and  Taverns. — The  "old  turnpike"  for  years  was  the  principal 
road  in  Jefferson.  It  was  the  great  thoroughfare  between  "the  Upper 
Coos''  and  Portland.  It  was  on  this  road  at  the  Meadows  that  the  Whip- 
ple farm  was  located,  and,  probably,  the  first  public  house  opened.  Here, 
on  a  wild  mountain  stream,  were  erected  a  saw-mill  and  a  mill  for  grinding 
provender.  Soon  after  mills  were  erected  on  Israel's  river,  at  "Jefferson 
Mills,"  by  Mr.  Whipple,  and  in  isniagood  bridge  was  built  across  the 
river  at  this  place,  and  rebuilt  in  1826. 

The  old  county  road  from  Gorham,  on  the  Androscoggin,  through  Ran- 
dolph, over  Jefferson  hill  to  Lancaster,  was  in  use  at  an  early  date;  and, 
May  26,  1820,  a  road  from  Jefferson  hill  to  "Whipple's"  on  the  turnpike 
was  "laid  out"  and  surveyed  by  Jonas  Baker,  Esq.  This  road  was  so 
straight  that  you  could  look  from  one  end  and  see  the  other,  distant  about 
four  miles,  through  heavily  timbered  woods.  No  engineering  instruments 
were  used;  nothing  but  a  true  eye  served  as  guide. 

In  1799  Eleazer  Dennison,  Esq.,  kept  a  public  house  situated  down  the 
river  about  four  miles  from  the  Whipple  place,  at  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Howe  farm.  From  this  point  on  the  turnpike  a  road  was  "laid  out  " 
to  Whitefield  line,  June  7,  1820.  This  place  is,  perhaps,  a  mile  up  the 
river  from  Jefferson  Mills.  Dennison's  license  was  signed  by  John  Mar- 
den,  James  Rider,  William  Hewes,  selectmen  of  Jefferson;  Reuben  Hay- 
wood, town  clerk. 

Samuel  Plaisted  was  also  licensed  as  a  "tavernor"  September  5,  1811. 
Mr.  Plaisted  was  an  agent  for  Mr.  Whipple,  and  probably  opened  the  first 
public  house  in  town.  His  son,  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Esq.,  kept  the  old  "Red 
tavern"  many  years,  and  in  1860  built  a  pari  of  the  famous  "  Waumbek 
Hotel,"  now  occupied  by  Charles  Hartshorn,  Esq.  In  1874  B.  H.  Plaisted 
built  the  "Plaisted  House,"  now  owned  by  his  son  Philip  C.  Plaisted. 

Residents,  rolls,  Stock  and  Improvements,  L812. — -Jack  Stocks,  one  poll. 
one  horse,  one  cow,  one  two  year  old;  George  Holmes,  one  poll,  one  cow, 
one  head  young  stock,  three  acres  arable  land,  six  acres  mowing,  and 
seven  acres  pasture;  William  Summers,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  two 
cows,  two  acres  plow  and  six  acres  mowing  land,  and  one  acre  pasture; 
Thomas  Willson,  one  poll,  two  horses,  two  steers,  one  acre  tillage  and  two 
acres  mowing  land;  Samuel  Plaisted,  Jr.,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen, 
three  cows,  three  young  cattle,  one  and  one-half  acres  arable  and   nine 


40-2  History  of  Coos  County. 

acres  mowing  land;  Ezra  Foster,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  one  young 
creature;  Joseph  Whipple,  Esq.,  seven  horses  and  colts,  six  oxen,  twenty 
cows,  ten  young  cattle,  ten  acres  arable,  forty-five  acres  mowing  and 
twenty-nine  acres  pasture;  Samuel  Plaisted,  Esq.,  one  poll,  one  colt,  four 
young  cattle,  five  acres  mowing  land;  William  Denison,  one  poll,  one 
horse,  three  cows,  two  young  cattle;  Abner  Flanders,  one  poll,  two  oxen, 
two  cows,  four  acres  mowing  land  and  four  acres  pasture;  Jabez  Garland, 
one  poll,  two  oxen,  five  cows,  three  young  cattle,  one  acre  arable  land  and 
six  acres  mowing;  Benning  Simes,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  three 
cows,  six  head  young  cattle,  two  acres  tillage,  thirteen  acres  mowing  and 
two  acres  pasture  land;  Isaac  Sawyer,  fifteen  acres  pasture;  Richard  Per- 
kins, one  poll,  one  cow,  two  young  cattle,  two  acres  tillage  and  nine  acres 
pasture;  Richard  Perkins,  Jr.,  one  poll,  two  horses,  four  oxen,  ten  acres 
mowing  land;  William  Chamberlain,  one  poll,  two  horses,  two  oxen,  five 
cows,  nine  young  cattle,  three  acres  tillage,  ten  acres  mowing,  and  ten 
acres  pasture  land;  John  Hart,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  six  cows, 
four  young  cattle,  three  acres  tillage  and  twelve  acres  mowing  land;  Nich- 
olas Stillings,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  steers,  one  cow  and  one  young  creat- 
ure, one  half  acre  tillage  and  two  acres  mowing  land;  George  Tngerson, 
one  poll,  one  horse;  Lazarus  Holmes,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  five 
cows,  three  young  cattle,  two  acres  tillage,  seven  acres  mowing,  one  acre 
pasture;  Mehitable  Hight,  one  heifer;  John  Garland,  one  poll,  two  horses, 
two  oxen,  four  cows,  two  acres  tillage,  four  acres  mowing  land;  Nathaniel 
Stalbird,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  three  cows,  two  young  cattle,  two 
acres  tillage  and  six  acres  mowing  land;  John  Ingerson,  one  poll,  one  cow, 
two  acres  tillage  and  five  acres  mowing  land;  William  Ingerson,  one  poll, 
one  colt,  two  oxen,  four  cows,  six  young  cattle,  two  acres  tillage  and  five 
acres  mowing  land;  Ephraim  Drew,  one  poll,  one  horse,  one  cow;  James 
Rider,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  three  cows,  two  young  cattle,  three 
acres  tillage,  twelve  acres  mowing  and  five  acres  pasture  land;  James 
Holmes,  one  poll;  James  Holmes,  Jr.,  one  poll,  one  cow,  one  young  creat- 
ure, one  acre  mowing  land;  John  Holmes,  one  cow,  one  calf,  two  acres 
mowing  land;  Nath.  Holmes,  one  poll,  one  cow,  two  young  cattle;  Daniel 
Deshong,  one  poll,  one  cow,  one  acre  tillage,  two  acres  mowing  land; 
Daniel  Moulton,  one  poll,  one  horse,  three  cows,  one  heifer,  one  acre  till- 
age, five  acres  mowing  land;  Samuel  Marden,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen, 
three  cows,  three  young  cattle,  one  and  one  half  acres  tillage,  six  acres 
mowing  and  one  acre  pasture  land;  John  Marden,  three  cows;  Jabez  Gar- 
land, Jr.,  one  poll;  George  Simes,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  one  cow, 
two  young  cattle;  William  Summers,  Jr.,  one  cow,  one  calf,  one  acre  mow- 
ing land;  Benjamin  Hicks,  one  poll,  one  cow;  David  Perkins,  one  poll,  one 
horse,  one  cow;  Ebenezer  Grant,  one  poll,  one  cow;  Thomas  Marden,  one 
poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  one  calf,  one  and  one  half  acres  tillage 


Town  of  Jefferson.  403 


and  six  acres  mowing  land;  Paul  Nute,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  six 
cows,  two  calves,  one  acre  tillage,  ten  acres  mowing,  three  acres  pasture 
land:  Thomas  D.  Bailey,  one  poll,  one  horse;  Bailey  Dennison,  on<>  poll, 
three  young  cattle;  Noyes  Dennison,  three  cows. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


Population  in  1775-1790-1800— Scenery— Jefferson  Hill— Traditions— Early  Proprietors— Col. 
Joseph  Whipple— Early  Settlers — First  Child — Pond  of  Safety— First  White  Woman— Delx  rah 
Vicker  or  "Granny  Stalhird" — First  Communication— Firsl  Cows— First  Barrel  of  Rum — Adino 
N.  Brackett's  Description  of  Jefferson  in  1821 — Boundaries — Population— Valuation. 

DR.  DWIGHT  says  of  Jefferson  at  the  commencement  of  this  century, 
'' Jefferson  contained  four  inhabitants  in  177.".;  in  17'.">,  111;  in  L800, 
112.  The  reason  why  the  population  increases  so  slowly,  is  said  to  be 
the  reluctance  of  the  proprietor  to  sell  the  lands.  The  prospect  in  this  val- 
ley is  very  noble.  On  a  rising  ground  upon  the  road,  about  two  miles 
southeastward  of  Lancaster,  we  were  presented  with  one  of  the  most 
interesting  scenes,  which  ever  met  the  eye.  From  Lancaster  a  vast  basin, 
somewhat  more  than  twenty  miles  in  length,  and  twelve  in  breadth,  opens 
to  the  southeast.  Jefferson  lies  in  the  bottom  of  the  great  basin.  At  the 
distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  on  the  southern  side  of  the  basin,  two 
mountains,  spurs  from  those  of  Littleton,  intrude  finely  into  the  valley. 
From  the  apparent  summit  of  the  farthest,  descended  a  stream,  till  it  was 
hidden  by  the  summit  of  the  nearest.  On  this,  from  the  highest  elevation 
also,  flowed  another,  somewhat  obliquely  to  the  course  of  the  first,  but  so 
nearly  coinciding  with  it,  that  for  some  time  we  thought  it  a  branch  of 
the  same,  for  we  did  not,  at  first,  take  notice  of  the  fact,  although  suffi- 
ciently obvious,  that  there  were  two  mountains.  A  moment's  attention. 
however,  presented  the  whole  scene  in  its  true  light.  The  nearer  stream 
came  from  a  southwestern  direction,  until  it  reached  the  point  of  vision. 
in  which  it  joined  the  course  of  the  other.  Both  appealed  to  the  eye, 
when  loosely  attentive,  as  a  single  cascade,  parted  from  the  summit  of  the 
nearer  mountain,  descending  a  vast  length  down  a  steep  precipice,  and 
glittering  in  the  sunbeams  like  a  torrent  of  liquid  silver.  The  effect  was 
magical;  and  the  objects  seemed  more  like  the  visions  of  fairy  land,  than 
the  coarse  realities  of  this  rude  world.  Our  company  consisted  of  five, 
and  whatever  diversities  of  taste  we  might  experience,  they  were  all 
harmonized  here,  in  a  single  gaze  of  astonishment  and  delight.  Even  the 
White  Mountains  were  forgotten." 


404  History  of  Coos  County. 

Jefferson  Hill  cannot  be  surpassed  for  mountain  scenery,  as  at  no  other 
point  in  New  Hampshire  can  the  "  White  Hills  "  be  seen  in  such  majestic 
splendor.  The  little  village  lies  on  the  high  slopes  of  Mt.  Starr  King,  and 
has  the  entire  Presidential  range  in  full  view.  Madison  with  its  lofty 
peak,  and  Mt.  Adams  in  all  its  grandeur  are  first  seen;  then  Jefferson's 
steep  sides  and  sharp  summits  are  shown,  and  next,  Mt.  Washington 
towers  above  them  in  all  its  stately  proportions,  while  farther  on  is 
Munroe,  flanked  by  the  smaller  hills.  But  Jefferson's  attractions  are  not 
limited  to  those  of  the  Presidential  range.  Franconia  range  is  within  easy 
reach,  and  near  at  hand  is  Pliny  range  of  which  Starr  King  is  the  monarch. 
The  top  of  Starr  King  is  easily  attained,  and  from  there  is  a  view  only 
excelled  by  that  from  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington.  Within  a  short 
distance  is  Cherry  mountain,  with  its  famous  slide.  Then  there  are  Jef- 
ferson meadows,  which  are  drained  by  Israel's  river,  into  which  numerous 
brooks  pour  their  waters,  and  these  brooks  are  all  trout  streams.  Cherry 
pond  is  the  principal  body  of  water.  The  drives  are  numerous,  and  over 
good  roads.  It  is  one  of  the  best  farming  towns  in  the  state;  and  the  pure 
air  and  general  healthfulness  of  the  place  make  it  justly  celebrated  as  a 
summer  resort. 

Traditions. — The  early  settlers  of  Cohos  found  relics  of  the  ill-fated 
Kangers,  and  tradition  keeps  green  their  memory  in  many  a  tale,  which 
almost  indicates  the  exact  spot  where  the  silver  image,  weighing  eight 
pounds,  which  they  brought  from  the  church  at  St.  Francis,  and  the  long 
rolls  of  guineas,  and  other  spoils  were  buried.  Here  is  one  which  has  so 
often  been  told  as  to  be  by  many  as  implicitly  believed  as  if  it  were  true. 
A  party  of  nine  Rangers  trusted  themselves  to  an  Indian  guide  on  the 
Connecticut  near  the  head  of  the  Fifteen-mile  falls,  who  agreed  to  take 
them  through  the  Great  Pass  (Notch)  of  the  mountains  to  the  settlements 
below.  They  had  the  silver  image,  which  in  their  weakened  condition 
was  a  heavy  load.  Their  guide  led  them  up  the  Connecticut  to  Israel's 
river,  and  up  this  to  the  deep  snow- laden  gorges  at  the  foot  of  the  great 
White  Hills.  Pretending  a  fear  that  the  Great  Spirit  would  kill  him  if 
he  ventured  on  the  region  of  Agiocochook,  the  Indian  made  a  rude  map 
on  birch  bark,  and  gave  it  to  one  of  the  Rangers,  at  the  same  time,  appar- 
ently accidentally,  scratching  his  hand  with  a  poisonous  fang  of  a  rattle- 
snake. Toiling  on  through  the  deep  snows  over  the  steep  rocks,  the  poison 
did  its  fatal  work,  and,  under  the  resulting  madness,  the  Ranger  flung 
himself  over  a  precipice  to  death.  The  survivors,  after  a  hasty  consulta- 
tion, concluded  to  bury  their  treasures  in  a  cave  where  the  fear  of  the 
Indians  would  prevent  their  discovery,  and  save  themselves.  The  false 
chart  of  their  guide  misled  them,  and  they  wandered  many  days,  suffer- 
ing extreme  hunger,  and,  one  by  one,  succumbed  to  the  fatigue  and  cold. 
Only  one,  it  is  said,  survived,  and  he  was  crazed  by  his  fearful  exposure 


Town  of  Jefferson.  405 


and  suffering.  Years  after  some  hunters  found  a  bark  less  spot  on  a  pine 
tree  at  the  mouth  of  a  wild  ravine,  on  which  were  many  half-obliterated 
characters  engraved  by  some  rude  tool.  Near  this  were  rusty  buttons, 
rotting  cloth,  a  small  copper  kettle  and  the  metallic  parts  of  a  gun.  At 
the  foot  of  a  steep  bank  six  rusty  gun-barrels  were  found  with  what  might 
once  have  been  a  pile  of  knapsacks.  An  old  hunter,  exploring  for  this 
hidden  treasure,  sought  shelter  from  a  terrible  storm  under  a  projecting 
cliff.  Here  he  discovered  in  the  farther  corner  of  the  cave  several  stones 
forming  a  symmetrical  pile.  Beneath  was  found  a  hatchet  deeply  en- 
crusted with  rust  and  a  roll  of  birch  bark  covered  with  the  wax  of  wild 
bees.  In  the  roll  was  an  Indian-tanned  fawn  skin  covered  with  mysterious 
characters.  Many  searches  have  been  made  for  this  hidden  treasure,  and 
yet  the  rocks  preserve  well  the  secret  of  the  truth  or  falsity  of  this  strange 
story. 

J.  H  Spaulding  gives  this  legend  in  his  work  on  the  White  Mount- 
ains:— 

"  Among  the  defiles  to  the  southeast  at  the  head  of  Israel's  river  tradi- 
tion locates  the  destruction  of  a  detachment  of  Roger's  Rangers,  under 
circumstances  weirdly  horrible.  The  church  plate,  candlesticks,  and  a 
massive  silver  image  were  carried  away  by  the  conquerors  of  St.  Francis. 
But  large  Indian  forces  rapidly  gathered  and  hung  on  the  line  of  their 
retreat,  while  heavy  snows  impeded  the  march.  The  Rangers  soon  broke 
up  in  small  parties,  each  of  which  made  its  independent  way  southward. 
Nine  of  them  attempted  to  carry  the  silver  image  to  civilization,  but  were 
led  astray  by  a  perfidious  Indian  guide,  who  piloted  them  up  Israel  s  river 
into  the  gloomy  labyrinths  of  pine  in  the  trackless  gorges  near  its  head, 
and  then  eluded  them,  after  having  poisoned  one  with  a  rattlesnake's  tang. 
Bewildered  among  these  dark  ravines  they  sank,  one  by  one,  under  terri- 
ble deprivation,  and  but  one  reached  the  settlements,  bearing  a  knapsack 
partly  filled  with  human  flesh.  The  golden  candlesticks  were  found  near 
Lake  Memphremagog  in  1816,  but  the  most  earnest  quest  has  not  yet 
availed  to  discover  the  silver  image. 

•■  Numerous  legends  have  been  developed  on  this  romantic  background, 
among  which  are  those  of  the  hunter  and  the  fawn-skin  and  parchment, 
the  skeleton  Indian  in  the  speaking  storm,  the  magic  stone,  the  fortune- 
teller and  the  midnight  quest,  and  the  screeching  of  lost  spirits.  The  most 
beautiful  of  these  traditions  is  that  of  a  lonely  hunter,  camping  at  night 
far  up  towards  Mt.  Adams,  before  whose  astonished  vision  the  mountain 
mist  rolled  hack  and  showed  a  great  stone  church,  and  within  this  was  an 
altar,  where  from  a  sparkling  censer  rose  a  curling  wreath  of  incense  smoke, 
and  around  it  lights  dispersed  a  mellow  glow,  by  which  in  groups  before 
the  altar  appeared  a  tribe  of  savages  kneeling  in  profound  silence.  A 
change  came  in  the  wind;  a  song  loud  and  long  rose  as  a  voice  offering  to 


406  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  Great  Spirit  !  then  church  spire,  church  and  altar  vanished,  and  down, 
the  steep  rock  trailed  a  long  line  of  strange  looking  men,  in  solemn  silence. 
Before  all,  as  borne  by  some  airy  spirit,  sported  a  glittering  image  of  silver, 
which  in  the  deep  shadows  changed  into  fairy  shape,  and,  with  sparkling 
wings,  disappeared  in  the  rent  rocks." 

Col.  Joseph  Whipple,  for  years  the  leading  man  in  this  section,  came 
in  177.">,  and  obtained  the  ownership  of  the  whole  town,  as  follows:     Feb- 
ruary 17,  1774,  he  purchased   of   Josiah   Willard,    of   Winchester,   three- 
sevenths   of   the   town,  being   twenty-six   of   the  original  rights,  paying 
therefor  £400.     April  12,  1774,  he  purchased  of  John  Hurd,  of  Portsmouth, 
for  £400  "proclamation  money,"  the  rights  of  twenty-six  other  grantees. 
September  29,  1774,  for  £45  he  bought  of  John  Hurd  the  rights  of  three  other 
grantees.     February  11,  1775,  he  paid  John  Hurd  £30  for  two  more  rights. 
Col.  Whipple   was   for   many  years   collector  of  taxes   for   the   proprie- 
tors, and  under  this  authority,  he  sold  five  shares  for  taxes  about  June  1, , 
1 785.     Each  share  was  sold  for  £6,  except  one  which  brought  £0-5-0.     By 
June  31,  17S5,  Col.  Whipple  had  bought  them  for  exactly  the  sums  for 
which  they  were  sold.     He  had  now  purchased  sixty-two  of  the  seventy 
shares,  paying   £905-5-0  (about  $4,023).      We  cannot  find  any  record  of  a 
transfer  to  Mr.  Whipple  of  the1  remaining  eight  shares;  but,  at  a  sheriff's 
sale  held  November  0,  1796,  by  David  Webster,  sheriff  of  Grafton  county, 
at  the  house  of  Capt.  Joseph  Bliss,  in  Haverhill,  Col.  Whipple  bid  off  the 
whole  township  for  $181.62.     This  sale  was  made  by  reason  of  non-pay- 
ment of  state  taxes  for  1786,  17s7,  1788,  1789,  1790.    He  had  now  acquired 
title  to  the  whole  town  for  about  $1,200,  an  average  of  $00.07  per  share. 
The  town  was  divided  into  eleven  ranges  with  twenty  four  lots  in  a  range, 
each  lot  containing  100  acres.     The  price  at  which  the  first  lots  wrere  sold 
was  one  dollar  per  acre.     It  was  customary,  however,  for  the  Colonel  to 
give  settlers  fifty  acres,  and  sell  them  the  other  half  of  the  lot.     This  was 
ostensibly  done  to  induce  settlers  to  come  here,  but  it  was  not  infrequently 
the  case  that  the  recipient  of  the  gift  had  to  pay  $100  for  the  other  fifty 
acres  of  the  lot.     But  notwithstanding  all  that  tradition  says  against  Col. 
Whipple,  he  was  more  than  a  common  man  and  active  in  the  early  im- 
provements.  Largely  by  him,  and  through  his  influence,  roads  were  made, 
mills  built,  taverns  opened,  stores,  civilization  introduced,  and  the  wilder- 
ness reclaimed  for  thriving  homes.     Many  years  ago,  however,  he  ceased 
to  own  any  portion  of  the  town. 

During  the  Revolution  Col.  Whipple  was  here  captured  in  his  own 
house  by  a  party  of  savages  headed  by  a  white  man.  He  asked  leave  to 
go  into  another  room  to  change  his  apparel,  and  to  get  some  necessary 
articles  for  his  march  to  Canada.  This  was  granted,  and  he  seized  the 
opportunity  to  jump  out  of  a  back  window  and  escape  into  the  woods, 
where  he  eluded  their  pursuit.    A  Mr.  Gotham,  who  lived  with  the  Colonel, 


Town  of  Jefferson.  k)7 


escaped  at  the  same  time,  and  running  directly  Cor  the  river,  he  was  shol 
at  while  crossing-  it  on  a  log,  but  the  ball  cut  down  an  alder  instead  of  the 
man,  and  he  escaped  without  any  harm  but  a  sad  fright.    The  party  plun- 
dered the  house,  supplied  themselves   plentifully   with   provisions,    and 
departed  without  further  injury. 

Ear///  Settlers. — James  Hight,  a  ship  carpenter  from  Portsmouth,  came 
in  1797  as  Whipple's  agent  to  take  charge  of  his  business.  He  paid.  Novem- 
ber 10,  L7!'7,  $100  for  one  half  of  lot  No.  3,  range  5,  the  other  half  of  the 
lot  being  given  him.  Mr.  Eight's  house  was  nearly  opposite  "The  Sunny 
Side  "  cottage.  His  daughter  Mehetable,  afterwards  Mrs.  John  Garland, 
was  the  first  child  born  to  the  settlers  in  town.  The  "old  pound"  was 
built  in  Mr.  Hight's  garden.  Eleazer  Dennison  was  Air.  Whipple's  next 
agent.  Samuel  Plaisted  was  his  third  agent,  and  settled  on  lot  13,  range 
10,  which  was  deeded  to  him,  September  20,  L792,  "said  Plaisted  to  settle 
on  the  same,  carry  on  the  blacksmith  trade,  and  pay  615."  November  2, 
17(.»7,  lot  No.  9,  range  7 — 100  acres — was  deeded  to  John  Holmes.  One  half 
was  given  him;  for  the  other  he  paid  $50.  The  "  Waumbek  Cottage" 
stands  en  this  lot.  John  Harden  settled  on  lot  8,  range  6.  He  paid  $100 
for  his  land,  November  11,  1799,  and  a  second  deed  was  given  after  ('el. 
Whipple  received  his  deed  of  the  township  from  the  sheriff.  William  Ln- 
gerson,  Samuel  Hart,  Maiden,  and  Holmes  came  together  from  the  navy 
yard  at  Portsmouth  in  the  fall  of  1707,  with  their  families.  They  all  lived 
in  one  small  log  house  during  the  winter,  and  settled  on  four  contiguous 
lots,  which  were  as  good  ones  as  were  in  the  town. 

Among  other  early  settlers  were  Benjamin  Hicks,  Capt.  James  Ryder, 
William  Danforth  and  Lazarus  Holmes.  While  serving  in  the  Revolution 
they  were  captured  by  the  British  and  paroled.  Their  officers  did  not 
rocognize  their  parole  on  their  return,  and,  on  their  refusing  to  serve  until 
exchanged,  pronounced  them  deserters.  Being  warned  of  approaching 
arrest  and  court  martial,  they  fled  to  Jefferson,  and  were  secreted  at  "Pond 
of  Safety  "  in  Durand  (Randolph)  until  the  close  of  the  war.  'This  gave 
the  name  to  the  pond.  After  the  war  closed  they  all  settled  in  Jefferson 
and  ranked  among  the  best  citizens.  Peter  and  Nicholas Stillings  were  also 
early  settlers.  While  some  of  the  settlers  knew  much  about  pioneer  life, 
many  were  entirely  unacquanted  with  its  hardships.  None,  however,  an- 
ticipated what  they  were  to  experience.  With  man}",  the  first  few  years 
were  absolute  struggles  for  life.  The  severities  of  winter,  scarcity  of 
clothing,  scantiness  and  lack  of  variety  of  food,  rudeness  and  inconvenience 
of  their  poor  log  houses,  remoteness  from  mills  and  markets,  lack  of  money 
and  of  means  of  getting  it.  the  cold  summers  and  short  crops,  combined 
with  the  barren  educal  tonal  facilities  and  destitution  of  religions  privileges 
would  have  utterly  discouraged  any  but  the  boldest  and  most  resolute. 
The  lack  of  salt  was  one  great  evil.     A  form  of  goitre,  or  swelled  throat, 


408  History  of  Coos  County. 

was  prevalent  from  this  cause,  particularly  among  the  children.  For  the 
use  of  a  horse  to  go  to  Portsmouth  and  return  with  two  bushels  of  salt, 
one  bushel  was  frequently  paid.  The  nearest  grist-mill,  at  Haverhill,  was 
fifty  miles  away.  Grists  were  carried  on  horseback,  or  on  "cars''  made  of 
two  poles  fastened  together;  the  horse  or  ox  being  attached  to  one  end  as  to 
a  pair  of  thills,  the  other,  bearing  the  burden,  dragging  on  the  ground. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  game  and  fish,  which  were  abundant,  many  must 
have  starved.  Trout  weighing  seven  pounds  were  not  uncommonly  found 
in  Israel's  river;  moose  could  be  killed  at  almost  any  time,  and  the  meat 
preserved  by  drying  or  smoking;  bear  were  equally  as  plenty.  After  corn 
and  wheat  were  raised,  much  of  it  was  pounded  in  large  wooden  mortars, 
and  cooked  and  eaten. 

The  first  white  woman  of  the  town  was  Nancy,  whose  story  has 
been  told  in  every  book  published  concerning  the  White  Mountains.  Her 
fall  name  is  said  by  some  to  be  Nancy  Livermore;  but  the  weight  of  au- 
thority gives  it  as  Nancy  Barton.  She  came  here  as  cook  for  Col.  Whip- 
ple, and  kept  a  boarding-house  for  the  men  who  were  clearing  land  for 
him.  She  was  a  hard-working  woman,  and  by  her  toil  in  this  wild  country, 
had  accumulated  some  money,  which,  in  the  fall  of  1788,  she  entrusted  to 
an  employe  of  Col.  Whipple,  with  the  intention  of  going  with  him  to 
Portsmouth  with  the  Colonel's  next  party,  and  settling  down  there  to  the 
enjoyment  of  married  life.  This  did  not  meet  the  Colonel's  wishes,  for 
he  did  not  desire  to  lose  his  competent  cook,  and  he  arranged  with  her 
treacherous  lover  to  start  during  her  temporary  absence  at  Lancaster.  She 
learned  this,  by  some  means,  the  day  of  their  departure,  at  once  walked 
to  Jefferson,  tied  up  a  small  bundle  of  clothing,  and  set  out  to  overtake 
them  at  their  first  stopping  place,  the  "  Notch,"  thirty  miles  distant 
through  an  unbroken  wilderness.  She  travelled  all  night  through  the 
freshly  fallen  snow,  reached  the  camp  soon  after  they  had  left,  tried  in 
vain  to  re-kindle  the  fire,  and  then  hastened  on  after  them  through  the 
"  Notch  "  and  wild  valley  of  the  Saco.  For  several  hours  she  continued 
her  course,  fording  and  re-fording  the  icy  river.  Exhausted  nature  at  last 
gave  way,  and  she  was  found,  frozen  to  death,  a  few  hours  afterwards,  by 
a  party  who  came  after  her  from  "Col.  Whipple's  farm.  Nancy's  bridge 
and  Nancy's  rock  in  Bartlett  both  claim  the  melancholy  honor  of  being 
the  place  where  she  expired. 

Deborah  Vicker. — The  second  woman  was  Deborah  Vicker,  who  came 
from  Portsmouth,  and  succeeded  Nancy  as  cook  for  Col.  Whipple.  She 
lived  here  eighteen  months  before  she  saw  a  white  woman.  She  brought 
with  her  the  first  Bible  in  the  town,  for  which  she  paid  ten  weeks'  work. 
at  fifty  cents  a  week.  Her  strong  mind,  energetic  will,  and  remarkable 
physical  endurance  gave  her  immense  influence  among  the  Indians  and 
settlers  of  a  broad  extent  of  territory.     Tradition   tells  us  that  she  made 


Town  of  Jefferson.  t09 


the  first  maple  sugar  of  the  settlement,  in  what  is  now  John  A.  Hicks's 
sugar  orchard.  Col.  Whipple  paid  her  over  a  year's  wages  in  depreciated 
Continental  currency  which  he  knew  to  be  nearly  valueless.  When  she 
learned  of  the  character  of  the  pay,  she  quietly  waited  until  the  Colonel 
came  again  from  Portsmouth,  when  she  remonstrated  with  him  in  such  a 
forcible  manner  that  he  gave  her  a  choice  of  any  unsold  fifty  acres  in  the 
town,  in  addition  to  what  she  had  been  paid.  She  chose  l  he  lower  half  of 
lot  No.  10,  range  6.  In  the  deed  made  by  Col.  Whipple,  December  10, 
1797,  the  consideration  is  given  as  "one  dollar  duly  and  truly  in  hand 
paid  before  the  delivery  hereof,  and  the  love  I  bear  to  the  said  Deborah 
Yicker."  She  at  once  employed  Benjamin  Hicks  to  fell  some  trees  and 
begin  a  clearing.  Returning  to  Portsmouth  in  a  few  months,  she  married 
Richard  Stalbird,  and  the  next  spring  came  to  Jefferson.  Mr.  Stalbird 
thought  this  land  too  rocky,  and  exchanged  it  with  Col.  Whipple  for  the 
upper  half  of  the  lot.  Here  Mr.  and  }.\\>.  Stalbird  settled  and  made  their 
life  residence.  In  later  years  she  added  to  her  natural  great  skill  in  nurs- 
ing a  knowledge  of  Indian  remedies,  and  travelled,  an  angel  of  mercy, 
through  northern  New  Hampshire,  braving  all  kinds  of  dangers  to  relieve 
.suffering,  and  was  welcomed  everywhere  as  "Granny  Stalbird." 

The  first  communication  with  Lancaster  was  by  a  bridle-path,  without 
bridges,  along  Israel's  river.  The  first  path  from  the  Notch  came  over  the 
hill  back  of  the  Elephant's  Head.  Col.  Whipple  did  a  great  labor  on  this. 
The  first  cows  brought  to  town  came  by  this  path.  The  first  barrel  of  rum 
in  the  settlement  came  on  a  car  along  this  route,  and  was  brought  by 
Samuel  Marden. 

Adino  N.  Bracket t  wrote  this  description  of  Jefferson  in  1821 : — 

"The  turnpike  road,  leading  from  Lancaster  to  Portland,  runs  through 
Jefferson;  and  a  road  of  considerable  travel,  which  passes  by  the  north 
end  of  the  White  Mountains,  branches  off  from  the  turnpike  in  this  town. 
The  easterly  side  runs  up  high  on  Mount  Pliny,  which  lies  mostly  in  this 
town.  Along  the  southwesterly  and  westerly  side  of  this  mountain  lie  a 
number  of  excellent  and  beautiful  farms,  which  command  a  most  delight- 
ful view  of  the  White  Mountains. 

"Israel's  river  runs  through  Jefferson  from  southeast  to  northwest. 
It  receives  a  considerable  southern  branch  a  little  southward  of  the  seat 
formerly  owned  by  Col.  Joseph  Whipple,  and  now  by  Daniel  Austin.  Esq. 
Here  the  river  forms  an  extensive  and  beautiful  meadow.  This  lies 
directly  in  front  of  the  house,  and,  during  the  spring  and  summer  months, 
is  clothed  in  the  richest  vegetable  green.  The  meadow  is  perfectly  level, 
which  might  fatigue  the  eye,  were  it  not  occasionally  caught  by  a  majestic 
spreading  elm,  which  the  taste  of  the  owner  has  suffered  to  occupy  the 
spot  where  it  has  stood  rooted  for  ages.  In  addition  to  these,  the  fine 
farms  before  mentioned  lie  directly  before  you  at  a  short  distance  beyond 

27 


410  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  meadow,  between  which,  and  the  farms  at  the  base  of  Mount  Pliny, 
stretches  a  zone  of  fine  forest  trees;  and,  to  complete  the  scenery,  a  little 
to  the  right  appear  the  lofty  domes  of  Mount  Washington,  Mount  Jeffer- 
son, and  Mount  Adams.  The  beauty,  the  variety,  and  the  grandeur  of 
the  objects  which  are  here  presented,  render  it  one  of  the  most  delightful 
spots,  during  a  clear  summer's  day,  which  is  anywhere  to  be  found  in 
actual  existence,  and  the  imagination  can  hardly  create  a  finer  scene.  But 
when  the  clouds  begin  to  roll  over  the  mountains  in  dreadful  haste,  all  is 
at  once  changed;  what  before  was  beautiful  now  becomes  terrible;  the 
clouds,  broken  by  the  violence  of  the  wind,  cover,  in  part,  the  mountains' 
heads,  or  roll  down  and  envelope  the  plains  in  darkness.  If  the  eye 
breaks  the  gloom,  the  mountain  resembles  a  gigantic  maniac  ready  to  seize 
the  affrighted  inhabitants. 

"  The  land  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town  is  too  wet  for  cultivation. 
The  high  land  is  covered  with  a  growth  of  hard  wood,  of  which  the  sugar 
maple  forms  a  considerable  part.  The  lowland  is  covered  with  spruce,  fir, 
and  larch.  There  are  a  few  pines  in  the  town,  but  not  enough  for  the  use 
of  the  inhabitants.  There  is  no  saw  or  grist  mill  in  Jefferson,  nor  any 
machinery  carried  by  water.  About  a  year  ago  (1820)  a  fine  set  of  mills, 
which  were  erected  by  Col.  Whipple  at  a  great  expense,  were  burned  down. 
Israel's  river  furnishes  water  and  sites  sufficient  for  any  number  of  mills. 
Jefferson  has  no  settled  minister,  but  it  is  believed  a  regular  Baptist  church 
exists  there.     It  has  an  handsome  and  convenient  school-house." 

Boundaries  and  Population. — Jefferson  is  bounded  north  by  Lancaster 
and  Kilkenny,  east  by  Randolph,  south  by  the  White  Mountain  region 
and  Carroll,  west  by  Whitefield.  The  population  in  1810  was  197;  in  1820, 
252;  in  1885.  965.  December  7,  1812,  all  the  inhabitable  portion  of  Kil- 
kenny was  annexed  to  Jefferson,  and  it  now  forms  the  east  and  south- 
eastern part  of  the  town.  The  total  valuation  of  the  town  in  March, 
1887,  was  $288,972;  the  number  of  polls,  318;  number  of  horses,  391; 
number  of  cattle,  988;  number  of  sheep,  661. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Civil  List — Representatives,  Town  Clerks,  Selectmen,  Supervisors. 

^REPRESENTATIVES.— -Immediately  after  the  annual  town  meeting, 

rY   that  day  when  the  citizens  of  each  little  republic  met  to  choose  their 

X  servants  for  "the  year  ensuing,"  came  the  great  day  of  the  year, 

the  district  meeting,  at  which  the  ambitious  would-be-representative  was 


Town  of  Jefferson.  411 


elected  to  go  to  Concord  or — to  stay  at  home.  Few  people  of  the  present 
day  realize  with  what  vim  and  energy  a  campaign  of  this  kind  was 
conducted.  Food  was  free,  and  "  refreshment"  flowed.  The  "  District" 
was  composed  of  Lancaster,  Jefferson,  Bretton  Woods  and  Nash  and  Saw- 
yer's Location.     Of  course  Lancaster  was  the  larger  town, and  in  the  words 

of  the  immortal  Sampson, "  What  in do  we  want  of  Giffersin?"     The 

records  show  that  at  a  meeting  held  in  Jefferson  in  1801,  Richard  ( '.  Ever- 
ett was  elected  representative;  in  L803,  L807,  L809,  1M1,  William  Love- 
joy;  in  1813,  1815,  1817,  A.  N.  Brackett. 

In  1809  Samuel  Plaisted,  of  Jefferson,  had  forty-six  votes  for  representa- 
tive, but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  was  elected  until  1820.  The  (list  rict  now 
was  composed  of  Jefferson,  Durand  (called  Randolph  a  few  years  later), 
Shelburne,  Shelburne  Addition  (Gorham),  Bretton  Woods,  and  Nash  and 
Sawyer's  Location.  This  year,  1820,  Samuel  Plaisted  was  elected.  In  182] 
and  1823,  Frederick  Ingalls  was  chosen.  In  1828  and  1830,  William  Cham- 
berlain was  chosen.  Air.  Chamberlain  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and 
evidently  a  prominent  man  in  the  town.  In  1832,  (To vis  Lowe  was  chosen; 
1834,  Daniel  Pinkham;  L836,  Robert  Tuttle;  L838,  David  Legro;  1840, 
Robert  Tuttle;  1841,  Justus  Low;  1S43,  Joseph  Meserve;  1845,  James  G. 
Summers;  1817,  Edward  Parsons.  In  1850  Jefferson  had  161  voters,  and 
was  entitled  to  send  a  representative  alone,  and  elected  Benjamin  H. 
Plaisted.  He  was  a,  son  of  Samuel  Plaisted,  who  was  representative  in 
L820.  B.  H.  Plaisted  was  also  representative  in  is;, l  and  in  1852.  In 
1853-51,  Moses  Woodward;  1855,  B.  H.  Plaisted;  1856-57,  Nathan  R.Per- 
kins; 1858-59,  Benjamin  Kenison;  L860-61,  Charles  L.  Plaisted;  1862-63, 
Nathan  R.  Perkins;  1864-65,  C.  L.  Plaisted;  1866,  X.  R.Perkins;  1867-68, 
Charles  Plight;  1869,  C.  L.  Plaisted;  1870-71,  Benjamin  F.  Howard; 
187i>-7:',,  William  Gray;  1S74-75,  Ezra  B.  Rogers:  ls7<>~77,  John  A.  Hicks; 
L878-79-80,  Lewis  J.  Palmer;  1881-82,  Abner  Davis;  1883  84,  William 
Crawshaw;   L885  -86,  Manasseh  Perkins;  1887,  Benjamin  Garland. 

Town  Clerks.— 1798.  Samuel  Plaisted;  17!)!),  Reuben  Haywood;  1800-01-02-03-04-05-00.  .Tames  Hight;  1807- 
08,  Eleazer  Dennisou;  1809-10-11-12.  John  Marden;  1813-14,  Samuel  Plaisted,  Jr. ;  1815-16-17,  William  Plaisted; 
lsis.  Josiah  Hight;  1819.  William  Plaisted;  1820-21-22-23,  Benjamin  Hicks,  Jr.;  1824-25-26,  Timothy  Faulk- 
ner; L827-28-29-30,  Benjamin  Hicks,  Jim  1831,  Hubbard  Holmes;  1832-33-34-35-36-37  ::^.  Benjamin  Hicks,  .Jr.. 
1839-40,  A.,-.,  ii  M.  Pottle;  1841,  Beajatnin  Hicks,  Jr.;  1842-43-44-45-46-47-48,  Edward  Parsons;  1849.  Francis 
W.  Town  was  chosen  town  clerk,  held  the  office  pari  of  the  year  ami  probably  moved  away.  Moses  Woodward 
tookhis  place;  1850,  Edward  Parsons;  1851.  Lucius  M.  Rosebrook;  1852,  J.  1'.  Plaisted;  1853-54-55-56-57-58-59, 

Charles  L.  Plaisted;  1860-61,  James  H.  G lall;  1862-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72,  C.  L.  Plaisted;  L873-74-75- 

76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-87,  John  A.  Hick-. 

Selectmen. — 1798,  Benning  Sinaes,  James  Hight,  Samuel  Plaisted;  1799,  John  Marden,  James  Rider,  Will- 
iam Hewes;  1800,  Samuel  Plaisted,  Eleazi  r  Dennison,  Benjamin  Hicks:  1801,  John  Marden,  .lam.  s  Rider, 
William  Hewes;  L802,  Samuel  Plaisted,  Timothy  Holmes,  A.sa  Grosvenor;  L803,  James  Rider,  Samuel  Plaisted, 
Benning  Simes;  ism.  Timothy  Holmes,  Thomas  Marden,   Samuel  Plaisted;    1805,  Thou  len,    William 

Summers,  Thomas  Hart;  1806,  Benning  Simes,*  Samuel  I  .  Samuel  Hart;  1807,  John  [ngerson,  Thomas 

♦Eliakim  Hartford,  a  young  man,  was  chosen  firsl  selectman,  but  not  being  a  "freeholder," 
the  vote  was  recalled  ami  Benning  Sim  ■-  chosen  in  his  place. 


412  History  of  Coos  County. 

Maiden.  Benning  Simes;  1808,  Samuel  Plaisted,  Eleazer  Denuison,  Lazerus  Holmes;  1809,  Beuning  Simes, 
Thomas  Marden,  William  Chamberlain;  1810,  James  Rider,  William  Summers,  Benning  Simes;  1811,  John 
Marden,  James  Rider,  Samuel  Plaisted;  1812.  Samuel  Plaisted,  John  Marden,  James  Rider;  1813,  Samuel 
Plaisted,  Richard  Perkins,  Samuel  Plaisted,  Jr. ;  1814,  Benjamin  Simes,  Samuel  Plaisted,  William  Plaisted; 
1815,  Levi  Seavey,  John  Ingerson,  Joshua  Hart;  1816,  James  Rider,  William  Chamberlain,  Samuel  Plaisted; 
1817,  Samuel  Plaisted,  James  Rider.  William  Chamberlain;  1818,  James  Hight,  Jared  Barker,  George  W. 
Simes;  1819,  Samuel  Plaisted,  William  Chamberlain,  James  Rider;  1820,  William  Chamberlain,  Samuel 
Plaisted,  Benjamin  Hick*,  Jr. ;  1821,  Samuel  Plaisted,  Benjamin  Hieks,  Jr.,  Israel  Hight;  1822,  George  P. 
Plaisted,  Timothy  Faulkner,  Benjamin  Hieks,  Jr.;  1823,  Timothy  Faulkner,  Richard  Perkins,  Timothy  Estes; 
1824,  G.  P.  Plaisted,  William  Chamberlain,  Timothy  Estes;  1825,  Richard  Perkins,  Jr.,  Timothy  Faulkner, 
Timothy  Estes;  182(3,  Richard  Perkins,  Timothy  Estes,  Timothy  Faulkner;  1827,  Luke  Woodward,  Timothy 
Faulkner,  G.  P.  Plaisted;  1828,  William.  Chamberlain,  William  Deimison,  William  Summers;  1829,  G.  P. 
Plaisted,  Peter  Stillings,  Timothy  Estes;  1830,  William  Denuison,  John  J.  Blaisdell,  David  Chamberlain; 
1831,  William  Dennison,  Clovis  Lowe,  Ezekiel  Drew;  1832,  John  J.  Blaisdell,  David  Chamberlain,  William 
Chamberlain;  1833,  John  J.  Blaisdell,  David  Chamberlain,  William  Plaisted;  1834,  William  Chamberlain, 
John  J.  Blaisdell,  Robert  Tuttle;  1835,  William  Chamberlain,  Robert  Tuttle,  David  Chamberlain;  1836, 
Robert  Tuttle,  William  Chamberlain,  Israel  Hight;  1837.  Robert  Tuttle,  Israel  Hight,  James  G.  Summers; 
1838,  David  Legro,  James  G.  Summers,  Nicholas  Tuttle;  1839.  David  Legro,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  Timothy  Estes; 
1810,  Benjamin  Reed,  William  Chamberlain,  David  Legro;  1841,  Benjamin  Reed,  William  Chamberlain,  J.  H. 
Perkins;  1S42.  Benjamin  Reed.  William  Summers,  Charles  Plaisted;  1843.  Elias  Hall,  Joshua  Plaisted,  Benja- 
min Hicks,  Jr.;  1844,  Elias  Hall,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  Charles  Plaisted;  1845,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  B.  H.  Plaisted, 
Francis  W.  Town;  1846,  Benjamin  Reed,  Moses  Woodward,  B.  H.  Plaisted;  1847,  B.  H.  Plaisted,  James  G. 
Summers,  Nicholas  Tuttle;  1848,  Edward  Parsons,  Lewis  J.  Palmer,  Nicholas  Tuttle;  1849,  B.  H.  Plaisted 
Anson  Stilliugs,  Jeremiah  Ricker;  1850,  B.  H.  Plaisted.  Charles  Hight,  Charles  Hutchinson;  1851,  Charles 
Hutchinson,  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Charles  Hight;  1852,  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Charles  Hight,  Nicholas  Tuttle;  1853,  B.  H. 
Plaisted,  Joseph  T,  Pinkham,  I.  H  Perkins;  1854,  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Charles  Hight,  Dan  Eastman;  1855,  Pres- 
bury  West,  Jr.  Lewis  J.  Palmer,  Edward  Parsons;  1856.  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Charles  Hight,  Anson  F.  Wesson; 
1857,  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Anson  F.  Wesson,  John  Goodall;  1858,  Emmons  S.  Mclntire,  John  Goodall,  William 
Gray;  1859,  John  Goodall,  William  Gray,  Amasa  Holmes;  1860,  Charles  Hight,  Amasa  Holmes,  Levi  Stalbird; 
1861,  Charles  Hight,  Levi  Stalbird,  James  F.  D.  Rosebrook;  1862,  Charles  Hight.  J.  F.  D.  Rosebrook,  Sylves- 
ter P.  Martin;  1863.  Charles  Hight,  John  Goodall,  J.  F.  D.  Rosebrook;  1864,  Charles  Hight,  Nathan  R.  Per- 
kins, John  P.  Plaisted;  1865,  Charles  Hight,  John  Goodall,  Moses  Roberts;  1866,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  John 
Crawshaw,  Benjamin  Tuttle;  1867,  John  Crawshaw,  Benjamin  Tuttle,  John  A.  Hicks;  1868,  C.  L.  Plaisted, 
John  A.  Hicks,  Nathan  R.  Perkins;  1869,  C.  L.  Plaisted,  E.  B.  Rogers,  Benjamin  Tuttle;  1870,  C.  L.  Plaisted, 
Ezra  B.  Rogers.  Benjamin  Tuttle;  1871,  Ezra  B.  Rogers,  Benjamin  Tuttle,  William  E.  Howe;  1872,  Benja- 
min Tuttle,  William  E.  Howe,  John  Crawshaw;  1873,  Benjamin  Tuttle,  John  Crawshaw,  William  E.  Howe; 
1874,  John  Crawshaw,  Alonzo  L.  Berry.  Charles  Crawford;  1875,  Benjamin  Tuttle,  Charles  Crawford,  James 
Hight;  1876,  Charles  Crawford,  James  Hight,  William  Crawshaw;  1877,  Benjamin  Tuttle;  William  Crawshaw, 
Ephraim  James;  1878,  William  Crawshaw,  Ephraim  James,  Alonzo  L.  Berry;  1879,  Benjamin  Tuttle,  Ezra  B. 
Rogers,  George  W.  Crawford;  1880,  Charles  H.  Burnham,  Jared  H.  Plaisted,  George  W.  Crawford;  1881,  Ezra 
B.  Rogers,  Benjamin  C.  Garland,  Manasseh  Perkins;  1882,  Charles  H.  Burnham,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  2d,  Albert 
L.  Martin;  1883,  C.  H.  Burnham,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  2d,  Albert  L.  Martin;  1884,  C.  H.  Burnham,  Manasseh 
Perkins.  William  F.  Jewett;  1885,  William  F.  Jewett,  William  J.  Chamberlain.  Charles  K.  Gile;  1886,  William 
J.  Chamberlain,  C.  K.  Gile,  John  W.  Crawshaw;  1887,  William  J.  Chamberlain,  Mark  Rines,  Edmund  J.  Mc- 
lntire. 

Supervisors. — 1880,  Nathan  R.  Perkins,  Jacob  Davis.  William  Crawshaw;  1882,  Jacob  Davis,  Abner  Davis, 
Lewis  H.  Palmer;  1884,  Abner  Davis,  Jacob  Davis,  Lewis  H.  Palmer;  1886,  Richard  B.  Eastman,  Ezra  B. 
Rogers,  John  B.  Mclntire. 


Town  of  Jefferson.  n:', 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

Educational  Interests—  Action  of  the  Town  in  Relation  to  Schools  1798-1827 —  "  Old  North 
School -House  "--School  Officers  —  Superintending  Committee — Board  of  Education. 

Yjf  DUCATION.—We  now  come  to  the  history  of  schools.  At  the  first 
rf  r  town  meeting  of  which  we  have  record,  Tuesday,  March  1 :'».  1 798,  it  was 
*\^  voted  to  raise  nine  pounds  to  pay  for  the  town  charter  and  necessary 
charges.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise  thirty  dollars  in  cash  or  wheat  to  support 
a  school.  March  12,  1799,  it  was  voted  to  raise  "twenty  dollars  to  be  laid 
out  in  schooling."  There  was  no  school- house,  and,  at  an  adjourned  meet- 
ing held  December  19,  it  was  voted  that  the  "  school  tax  "  be  used  to  pay 
town  charges.  March  8,  1803,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  school-house  and  a 
committee  chosen.  The  meeting  adjourned  to  March  i^lst,  when  ''the 
vote  to  build  a  school-house  was  reconsidered."  March  11,  1806,  it  was 
again  voted  to  build  a  school-house,  but  the  vote  was  "  recalled,"  and  meet- 
ing adjourned.  The  sturdy  friends  of  education  were  not  discouraged  by 
defeat.  March  19,  the  adjourned  meeting  was  "disolved,"  and  April  5, 
1806,  the  following  "Petition  "  was  presented  to  the  selectmen: — 

"State  op  New  Hampshire,  ) 

Coos,      \ ss- 

"  The  subscribers,  Freeholders,  in  Jefferson,  County  of  Coos,  do  humbly  request  you,  the  Se- 
lectmen of  the  town  of  Jefferson,  Benjamin  Simes,  Samuel  Hart,  and  Samuel  Plaisted,  to  call  a 
Town  Meeting  for  the  following  purposes: 

"  1st.  To  choose  a  moderator  to  govern  said  meeting. 

"  2d.  To  see  if  the  town  will  allow  the  selectmen's  bill  for  building  a  bridge  over  Israel's 
river,  and  raise  money  to  discharge  the  same. 

"  3d.  To  see  if  the  town  will  raise  money  to  maintain  a  school. 

"4th.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  build  one  or  more  school-houses,  and  to  agree  in  what 

manner  they  shall  be  built. 

"  Benjamin  Hicks,        Lazeras  Holmes, 

"James  Hight,  John  Garland. 

"John  Maiden,  Samuel  Marden 

"  Thomas  Marden,        William  Summers, 

"  John  Wentworth,      Nick  Stillings, 

"  Joshua  Hart," 

A  meeting  was  called  and  it  was  voted  to  build  a  school  house,  2±xl8, 
the  present  year,  and  that  James  Hight  and  James  Rider  should  be  a 
committee  to  "  conclude  where  it  should  be  built."  May  1<>.  isou,  it  was 
voted  that  John  Marden  and  Samuel  Hart  "be  a  committee  to  receive 
material  from  the  town  to  build  a  school-house  and  have  it  built  by  the 
last  of  November."  It  appears  that  the  committee  did  not  agree  upon  a 
location,  and  the  next  March  it  was  voted  to  build  two  houses,  and.  on  the 
9th  of  April,  1807,  Benniug  Simes,  Samuel  Plaisted  and  Eleazer  Dennison 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  divide  the  town  into  two  districts.     March  8, 


411  History  of  Coos  County. 

1808,  a  vote  to  raise  money  to  build  a  school-house  was  taken  and  lost. 
March  14,  1809,  it  was  voted  that  the  "  town  make  a  tax  to  the  amount  of 
two  hundred  dollars  for  building  school-houses." 

August  3,  1800,  a  regular  school  system  for  the  town  was  inaugurated. 
John  Marden  was  chosen  clerk  for  the  North  District,  and  Thomas  Marden, 
William  Chamberlain  and  Joshua  Hart,  committee.  Samuel  Plaisted  was 
chosen  clerk  for  the  South  District,  and  George  Holmes,  William  Sum- 
mers and  Nicholas  Stillings,  committee.  In  1812  a  vote  to  raise  money  to 
finish  the  school-houses  was  taken  and  lost.  In  1813  there  was  an  article 
in  the  warrant  "  to  see  if  the  town  will  accept  the  committee's  account  of 
what  they  have  expended  on  the  school-house,  and  whether  the  town  will 
accept  the  school-house,"  and  the  meeting  adjourned  without  taking  any 
action  on  the  article. 

The  first  record  we  find  of  the  use  of  the  school-house  was  the  second 
Tuesday  of  March,  1816.  The  town  meetings  heretofore  had  been  held  in 
private  dwellings,  Hight,  Holmes,  and  Plaisted  being  mentioned.  This 
year  the  meeting  was  warned  and  held  at  the  "North  school-house  in  said 
town,"  at  which  Nicholas  Stillings,  John  Marden  and  William  Plaisted 
were  chosen  school  committee.  In  1819  we  find  a  vote  to  allow  the  east 
part  of  the  town  a  part  of  the  school  money,  and  also  to  allow  the  school- 
master two  dollars  for  his  expenses  home.  In  1827  the  town  was  divided 
into  four  districts,  and  the  next  year  another  district  was  added,  and  the 
limits  and  bounds  of  each  district  defined.  It  was  also  voted  that  each 
district  should  elect  its  own  officers.  In  1S29  it  was  voted  that  the  "  liter- 
ary fund  "  be  divided  among  the  school  districts,  and  that  each  district 
should  have  the  control  of  its  own  money. 

This  year  there  were  seventy  votes  cast.  Benjamin  Pierce  for  governor 
had  fifty-six  and  John  Bell  fourteen.  The  town  tax  was  $73;  county  tax, 
$31;  state  tax,  $55;  and  school  tax,  $121.  There  probably  had  been  more 
or  less  schooling  up  to  this  time.  The  people  had  but  little  money  and 
had  to  work  hard  and  bear  many  privations;  but  a  few  determined, 
progressive  men  made  their  influence  felt,  and  to-day  their  descend- 
ants are  an  honor  to  the  town.  A  part  of  the  "Old  North  School- 
house  "  still  stands.  After  many  years'  service  as  school-house,  church 
and  public  hall,  it  makes  a  good  shop  for  a  busy  mechanic.  Its  old  walls 
are  almost  sacred.  Generations  have  come  and  gone.  Here  a  governor 
of  Maine  learned  his  A  B  Cs.  Here  old  Master  Grout  wielded  the  rod,  and 
old  men  mention  his  name  with  respect.  Here  the  old  itinerant,  after  a 
weary  horseback  ride  of  many  miles,  told  of  peace  and  good  will.  Here 
the  voters  came  and  chose  their  town  officers,  and  helped  elect  the  governor 
and  president,  and  from  here  they  sometimes  sadly  bore  their  dead  to  rest. 
The  prayer  meeting  and  the  singing  school  were  convened  within  its  walls, 
and  young  men  whispered  the  old,  old  story,  and  went  out,  and  lived,  and 


Town  of  Jefferson.  415 


loved,  and  died,  and  others  came,  and  are  hurrying  along,  in  the  same 
procession,  down  and  out,  perhaps,  to  a  better  life  beyond. 

School  Officers. — The  first  superintending  school  committee  of  which  we 
find  record  was  March  25,  1828,  and  their  names  were  John  J.  Blaisdell, 
Benjamin  Hicks,  Jr.,  and  David  Chamberlain.  After  this,  as  the  years 
pass  along,  we  find  the  names  of  Aaron  M.  Pottle,  B.  H.  Plaisted,  Francis 
M.  Town,  Nicholas  Tnttle,  Benjamin  Read,  Abraham  Bedell,  Charles  Hight 
and  Elisha  Bedell.  In  1855  it  was  voted  to  have  but  one  man,  and  Marshall 
C.  Dexter  was  chosen  for  one  year.  Then  we  find  L.  B.  Moulton,  Presbury 
West,  3d,  Nathan  R.  Perkins  (for  some  years),  then  L.  B.  Moulton,  James 
M.  Hartwell,  Truman  Carter  and  William  Crawshaw.  Haven  Palmer 
was  committee  two  years,  and  William  Crawshaw  again  in  1868  and  '69. 
In  1870  Abner  Davis  was  chosen  and  held  the  office  two  years.  In  1873 
Davis  was  elected  again  and  held  the  office  some  years,  after  which  Richard 
B.  Eastman  and  L.  H.  Palmer  were  chosen  Abner  Davis  was  the  last 
superintending  committee  chosen  under  the  old  district  system. 

Wealth  and  population  have  increased.  We  now  have  eight  school- 
houses  and  one  good  graded  school.  Good  school-houses  are  taking  the 
places  of  the  old  ones,  and  capable  teachers  are  fitting  the  children  for  the 
active  duties  of  life.  The  children  are  quick  to  learn,  and  many  of  them 
leave  the  school-room  as  students,  only  to  return  in  a  short  time  as  efficient 
teachers.  The  people  are  now,  not  only  voting  for  good  school-houses,  but 
are  voting  money  for  books,  globes  and  good  teachers.  The  board  of  edu- 
cation now  is  Abner  Davis,  John  M.  Morse  and  George  E.  Hutchins. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


Ecclesiastical  History — First  Sermon — Baptist  Church — Names  of  Early  Members — Pastors — 
Free  Will  Baptist  Church — Members— Pastors — Elder  Morse — Methodism — Progress  —  Leaders — 
Class  —  Members  —  Church  Organized  —  Pastors  —  Sabbath  School. 

FIRST  Sermon. — In  Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap's  account  of  his  tour  to  the 
White  Mountains  in  the  summer  of  1 784,  we  find  that  the  first  ser- 
mon preached  in  Jefferson  was  by  Dr.  Belknap.  His  text  was  from 
1  Corinthians,  6:  19,  20.  Rev.  Daniel  Little,  then  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Kennebunk,  Maine,  baptized  eight  children;  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler,  of 
Ipswich,  Mass.,  made  the  concluding  prayer.  Thirty-eight  people  of  the 
place  were  present.  This  religious  service  was  held  in  Colonel  Whipple's 
barn,  Tuesday  afternoon,  July  26,  during  a  thunder  shower. 


416  History  of  Coos  County. 

Churches  in  Jefferson. — As  soon  as  arrangements  had  been  made  for 
roads  and  schools,  the  people  in  town-meeting  voted  to  raise  eighty  dollars 
"  for  the  support  of  the  gospel."  It  does  not  appear  that  there  was  much 
sectarian  feeling  at  this  time,  though  it  is  probable  that  the  Baptists  were 
in  the  majority  when  the  town  was  organized.  Isaac  N.  Hobart  came 
here  from  Maine,  and  labored  sometime,  and,  about  the  year  1822,  a  Bap- 
tist church  was  established.  Among  the  members  were  Mr.  Plaisted  and 
wife,  William  Chamberlain  and  wife,  Absalom  Forbes,  and  Nathaniel 
Moulton.  Rev.  Mr.  McGregor  was  here  at  one  time,  and  Philip,  Chamber- 
lain, from  Hebron,  Me.,  was  a  successful  minister.  About  1S35,  under 
Chamberlain's  pastorate,  a  Baptist  church  was  built,  and  the  membership 
largely  increased.  George  W.  Kenny  and  Abram  Bedell  were  ministers  of 
note.  Rev.  Elisha  Bedell  was  also  a  successful  pastor,  and  continued  in 
active  service  some  time.  George  Butler  was  also  a  minister  here.  After 
Abram  Bedell  came  Leonard  Kingsbury,  followed  by  David  Hawly  and 
Charles  Perkins.  Then  came  Henry  Campbell  and  Elder  Woodruff.  Dur- 
ing Woodruff's  pastorate  the  church  building  was  remodelled,  enlarged,  a 
good  bell  added,  and  an  organ  bought,  mainly  at  the  expense  of  Nathaniel 
Moulton,  who  had  been  a  licensed  local  preacher  for  many  years.  After 
Woodruff  came  Rev.  Mr.  Atkinson,  then  Elders  Dalton,  Wheeler,  David 
Gage,  Rankin,  Crafts  and  Brooks. 

Free  Will  Baptist  Church.— About  1*21  a  Free  Will  Baptist  church 
was  organized  at  East  Jefferson,  and  was  in  the  care  of  Elder  John  Morse, 
of  Randolph.  This  was  in  active  work  from  1821  until  1837,  when  Elder 
Morse  moved  from  Randolph  to  Gorham.  Among  the  members  of  this 
church  were  Benjamin  Estes  and  wife,  Josiah  Hall,  Joseph  Hall,  Phebe 
Hall,  Thomas  Whittam,  Jonah  Hite,  Rebecca  Huntley,  Polly  Hite,  Will- 
ard  Huntley  and  Ketury  Estes.  Benjamin  Estes  was  probably  "  deacon." 
The  Quarterly  meeting  at  which  the  matter  of  organizing  the  church  was 
considered,  was  holden  at  Jackson,  and  John  Morse  and  Edward  Green 
were  the  delegates  who  attended.  The  members  of  the  council  to  act  on 
the  matter  were  Elder  Joshua  Quimby,  of  Lisbon,  Elder  Dudley  Pettengil, 
from  Sandwich,  and  Deacon  Moses  Aldrich,  of  Lisbon. 

Elder  Morse  was  a  citizen  of  Jefferson,  and  at  the  age  of  more  than 
ninety -two  years  was  well  and  active.  For  more  than  seventy  years  he 
was  an  energetic  laborer  among  the  hills  and  valleys  of  old  Coos,  and  the 
record  of  his  life  would  make  a  book  of  interest.  This  worthy  man  died 
in  l^s;. 

Methodism. — Here,  as  in  other  places,  the  pioneers  of  Methodism  were 
early  at  work.  In  1820  John  Smith,  from  Vermont,  preached  once  in  four 
weeks.  Other  circuit  ministers  came  from  time  to  time.  Wilbur  Latham 
lived  for  a  while  on  the  Tuttle  place  where  the  "Grand  View  "  House  now 
stands.      He  preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  Eliakim  Hartford,  who  was- 


Town  of  Jefferson.  417 


drowned  May  8,  1832.  Latham  and  Chamberlain  preached  in  the  "Old 
North  School-house "  and  each  had  his  friends  and  followers.  Near  the 
Hartford  grave,  in  a  secluded  shady  nook,  rest  the  remains  of  a  sister  who 
died  in  1819,  and  close  by,  lovingly  lean  toward  each  other,  the  grave 
stones  of  Hon.  Samuel  Plaisted  and  wife.  A  son  of  Mr.  Plaisted,  too, 
rests  here,  who,  a  mossy  slab  tells  us.  was  drowned  in  Connecticut  river. 
We  find  but  little  record  from  the  time  Latham  was  here  until  1856,  at 
which  time  a  Methodist  class  was  connected  with  the  Lancaster  station, 
William  D.  Cass,  presiding  elder,  and  J.  Hooper  in  charge.  The  "leader" 
of  this  class  was  Henry  W.  Marden,  and  the  members  were  Harriet  E. 
Marden,  T.  A.  Hall,  Mary  A.  Hall,  Edward  Parsons,  Maria  D.  Parsons, 
Joshua  Plaisted,  Eleanor  Plaisted,  Sarah  Woodward,  Rebecca  Drew, 
Louisa  Drew,  Lucy  P.  Pinkham,  Arvilla  Folsom,  Clarissa  Holmes,  Lydia 
Ann  Plaisted,  Reuben  Plaisted,  Vienna  Tuttle,  E.  S.  Mclntire,  Mahitable 
Mclntire,  Mary  A.  Bedell,  Caroline  D.  Garland,  Abial  Bedell,  and  Mercy 
Chamberlain. 

About  1860  a  Methodist  church  was  organized,  with  Rev.  Truman 
Carter,  preacher  in  charge.  Warren  Applebee  was  here  three  years;  and 
J.  H.  Knott  was  here  in  1868  and  1869,  during  which  time  a  church  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  about  four  thousand  dollars.  A  parsonage,  at  a  cost  of 
about  fifteen  hundred,  had  already  been  built. 

In  1870  William  E.  Bennett  came  and  was  here  two  years;  I.  J.  Tibbetts, 
1872;  William  E.  Tansom,  1873;  Lovejoy,  1874;  J.  H.  BroAvn,  1875-76-77: 
James  Crowley,  1878-79-80;  C  M.  Dinsmore,  1881-82-83;  Samuel  J.  Rob- 
inson, lssi-85;  and  James  Crowley  again  in  1886-87,  who  now  is  the 
preacher  in  charge. 

The  church  has  been  extensively  repaired  this  season,  and  there  are 
over  fifty  members.  Connected  with  the  church  is  an  interesting  Sabbath- 
school  and  a  library  of  several  hundred  volumes. 


CHAPTER  XXXA  II. 


Miscellaneous — Cherry  Mountain  Slide — reffersdn  Meadows  —  Postoffices —  Lumber —  Mer- 
chants—  Physician — Summer  Hotels  and  Boarding  Houses — -Benjamin  Hicks  —  Benjamin  H. 
Plaisted  —  Daniel  Austin  —  A  good  story. 

THE  Slide.  —  Cherry  mountain,  rising  3, 219  feet  in  air  and  beautifully 
wooded  to  the  summit,  with  the  bald  spur  known  as  "Owl's  Head" 
as  its  northern  limit,   is  a  striking  feature  of  the  landscape  in  the 
vicinity  of  Jefferson.     Nowhere  else  can  the  vast  arc  of  circling  peaks  com' 


418  History  of  Coos  County. 

prising  the  Pilot,  Presidential  and  Franconia  ranges  be  seen  in  such  grandeur 
of  array.  From  its  summit  the  winding  valley  of  Israel's  river  with  its  noble 
enclosing  hills,  the  Androscoggin  with  its  clean  banks  and  many  islands, 
can  be  traced  till  lost  in  the  dim  horizon.  The  slope  of  the  mountain  from 
the  spur  of  Owl's  Head  is  steep  and  heavily  wooded.  Following  an  irregu- 
lar course  down  the  mountain  side  at  this  point  flows  a  little  brook,  one  of 
the  feeders  of  Cherry  pond — an  attractive  sheet  of  water  in  the  plain  below. 
The  surface  of  the  ascent  while  precipitous  is  quite  regular  and  unbroken 
till  the  summit  is  approached.  Just  where  the  wood  and  hillside  merge 
into  the  fertile  and  level  meadow  begins  the  farm  of  John  Boudreau,  whose 
dwelling  house  stands  on  the  brow  of  the  shallow  ravine  through  which 
the  streamlet  runs.  Two  minutes'  walk  below  in  a  direct  line  was  the  home 
of  Oscar  Stanley,  one  of  the  worthy  farmers  of  Jefferson.  By  Stanley's 
house  ran  the  Cherry  mountain  road.  A  lofty  and  solid  stone  wall  girds 
the  road  on  either  side,  while  below  the  highway  was  a  grass  field  termi- 
nating in  a  thin  patch  of  woodland  sixty  rods  away.  Five  miles  to  east- 
ward lies  Whitefield,  and  across  the  valley  on  the  opposite  slope  is  Jefferson. 

Cherry  Mountain  Land  Slide  occurred  July  10,  1885,  about  six  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  There  had  been  heavy  rains  the  week  previous,  and 
especially  the  night  before;  the  mountain  rill  was  far  beyond  its  usual  size, 
and  had  become  an  angry  torrent.  Suddenly  there  was  a  loud  crash,  fol- 
lowed by  a  roaring,  rushing  sound  as  of  many  waters,  and  it  seemed  to 
Oscar  Stanley,  and  his  men,  who  were  at  work  with  him,  as  if  the  mount- 
ains were  coming  down.  They  sprang  to  a  place  of  safety,  when  imme- 
diately a  wave  of  solid  earth  surmounted  by  trees  and  rocks  came  surging 
down  the  green  fields.  Mr.  Stanley's  house,  which  was  in  process  of  erec- 
tion, was  entirely  demolished  and  swept  away  in  a  moment.  On  and  on 
this  tumultuous  mass  of  irresistible  motion  went  for  two  miles  from  the 
starting  point,  when  its  power  was  lessened  by  the  level  ground  below, 
where  it  spread  over  twenty  acres.  One  million  tons  of  earth  and  stone 
were  hurled  into  the  valley,  and  one  hundred  thousand  feet  of  timber  was 
strewn  over  the  plain;  huge  bowlders  were  uplifted  from  their  foundations, 
and  came  crashing  into  each  other  with  a  terrible  velocity.  This  slide  was 
from  fifty  to  100  feet  in  depth,  and  from  100  to  800  feet  in  width.  The 
only  loss  of  life  was  that  of  Donald  Walker,  who  died  of  his  injuries. 
The  slide  began  close  to  the  summit,  descending  in  a  straight  line  till  it 
struck  the  water-course, which  it  followed  truly  to  the  end.  A  huge  scar 
on  the  mountain  side  marks  the  track  with  amazing  distinctness. 

Jefferson  Meadows,  a  small  village  built  up  by,  and  belonging  to, 
Browns'  Lumber  Co.,  contains  from  fifteen  to  twenty  houses;  is  a  station  on 
the  Whitefield  &  Jefferson  railroad.  Edward  Ray  is  station  agent  and 
cashier  of  the  railroad.  Manasseh  Perkins  has  been  express  agent  and 
.conductor  on  the  railroad  from  its  opening  in  1879. 


Town  of  Jefferson.  419 


Postojfices.—  There  are  three  postoffices:  Jefferson,  Richard  B.  Eastman, 
postmaster;  Jefferson  Hit /h lands,  George  W.  Crawford,  postmaster;  Mead- 
ows,  Edward  Ray,  postmaster. 

T^nmber. — Besides  Browns'  Lumber  Co.,  G.  W.  &  N.  W.  Libbey,  Rims 
&  Simpson,  and  Jewett  &  Son  are  engaged  in  the  production  of  lumber. 

Merchants. — The  firm  of  Bowker  &  Co.  (Browns'  Lumber  Co.)  con- 
ducts a  large  establishment  at  Jefferson  Meadows.  J.  B.  Mclntire,  at  Jef- 
ferson Hill,  has  a  favorable  reputation  and  carries  a  good  stock  of  goods. 
E.  E.  Plaisted  conducts  another  long  established  house. 

Physician. — C.  H.  Burnham,  M.  D.,  at  Jefferson  Hill.  He  has  one  of 
the  most  attractive  and  artistic  residences  in  this  region. 

Summer  Hotels  and  Boarding  Houses. — The  chief  industry  of  the  town 
outside  of  the  lumber  business  is  the  conducting  of  houses  for  the  accom- 
modation of  summer  visitors.  Hundreds  come  annually  to  visit  this  charm- 
ing resort  where  they  can  hold  communion  with  Nature  in  one  of  its 
most  sublime  abodes,  and  breathe  the  exhilirating  air,  which  stimulates 
like  wine.  Jefferson  Hill  is  one  long  line  of  summer  hotels  and  boarding 
houses,  and  we  state  a  fact  when  we  say  that  nowhere  can  be  found  pleas- 
anter  resting  places,  more  satisfactory  tables,  or  more  genial  entertainers. 
Prices  and  accommodations  can  be  found  suited  to  all  purses.  We  affix 
a  list  of  the  more  prominent  ones  with  the  number  they  can  accommodate. 

Waumbek  Hotel Waumbek  Hotel  Co 250 

Plaisted  House P.  C.  Plaisted 125 

Starr  King  House C.  K.  Gile 80 

Maple  House Mrs.  M.  H.  Bowles 50 

Stalbird  House Levi  Stalbird 25 

Sunny  side  House Charles  Mclntire 25 

Cold  Spring  House W.  H.  Crawford. 30 

Jefferson  Hill  House E.  E.  Bedel  &  Co LOO 

Grand  View  House Mrs.  Benjamin  Tuttle 50 

Woodward  Cottage Mrs.  C.  A.  Woodward     20 

Hillside  Farmhouse N.  M.  Davenport 30 

Mount  Adams  House W.  Crawshaw   00 

Crawford  House E.  A.  Crawford   50 

Pliny  Range  House. George  W.  Crawford  &  Son    ...   30 

Highland  House G.  A.  &  G.  L.  Pottle   00 

Willow  Cottage J.  A.  Hicks  10 

Union  House         Hight  Brothers 30 

Cloverdale  Cottage John  Palmer 20 

Waumbek  Cottage     Oscar  Stanley 25 

Benjamin  Hicks,  of  Lee,  came  here  early.  When  but  sixteen  he  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Continental  army  of  the  Revolution,  so  his  birth  must  have 


420  History  of  Coos  County. 

been  in  1760  or  '61.  His  son,  David  Hicks,  was  born  in  Jefferson  August 
17,  1796.  He  bought  the  100  acre  lot,  on  which  he  has  since  lived,  from 
Samuel  Plaisted  in  1818,  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  John  and  Betsey 
(Hight)  Garland,  December  25,  1824.  Their  children  were  Horace  D., 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  N.  R.  Perkins),  Alice  J.  (Mrs.  James  Tate),  John  A.,  Har- 
riet T.  and  Joseph  Gr.  In  connection  with  farming  he  has  done  much  in 
nice  wood- work;  formerly  made  spinning  wheels,  clock  reels,  etc.  Demo- 
cratic in  politics,  he  has  always  been  a  quiet,  law-abiding  citizen,  very 
fond  of  his  rod  and  gun  and  of  trapping.  He  is  a  Calvinistic  Baptist  and 
was  called  "deacon." 

Benjamin  Hanking  Plaisted  was  born  May  16,  1808,  at  Jefferson 
Meadows,  on  the  Colonel  Whipple  place.  His  hotel  experience  began  in  a 
small  wayside  inn  on  Jefferson  Hill;  and,  at  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  Starr 
King,  he  erected  the  original  Waumbek  House,  which  he  sold,  and,  about 
1872,  built  the  popular  Plaisted  House.  He  was  a  landlord  who  entertained 
with  old-time  hospitality  and  generosity.  Mr.  Plaisted  was  also  conversant 
with  town  affairs,  represented  Jefferson  several  terms  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture, and  was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  railroad  commissioners  chosen 
by  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  He  died  December  16,  1881,  and  was 
buried  with  Masonic  honors.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Plaisted,  his  sons, 
Charles  and  Philip  C,  and  three  daughters  survived  him. 

Daniel  Austin,  who  purchased  the  Col.  Whipple  place,  was  originally 
from  Massachusetts,  a  refined  gentleman  and  a  Unitarian  clergyman. 
Farm  life  in  these  wild  regions  did  neither  agree  with  his  nature  nor  his 
finances,  for  he  lost  his  property,  returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  there 
married  a  very  wealthy  lady  which  brought  him  comfort  in  his  latter  days. 
When  he  left  Jefferson  he  said  he  would  not  return  until  he  came  with  a 
fine  pair  of  horses  of  his  own.     This  he  did  some  years  later. 

A  Good  Story. — Hon.  A.  S.  Batchellor,  of  Littleton,  relates  the  story  of 
a  good  natured  controversy  he  once  heard  on  the  White  Mountain  Express 
between  Plymouth  and  Littleton.  The  parties  were  Northern  New  Hamp- 
shire lawyers,  politicians  and  business  men.  "Whether  Jefferson  village 
had  a  higher  altitude  than  Bethlehem  Street,"  was  the  question.  Among 
the  Clouds  and  the  Echo  were  quoted.  The  testimony  of  members  of  the 
factions,  who  had  stood  in  one  village  and  looked  down  into  the  other, 
were  taken,  and  the  passengers  who  listened  to  the  argument  and  evidence 
soon  got  merry,  and  then  uproarious.  "Nate"  Perkins  led  the  Jefferson 
party,  and  John  Gr.  Sinclair  cited  a  passage  in  the  "organ  of  the  summit," 
which  summarized  Bethlehem  as  the  "ultima  thule"  of  the  mountain 
region.  "Nate"  called  upon  Maj.  Drew,  his  lawyer  backer,  to  translate  it, 
and  declared  in  triumph  when  the  "  English"  of  it  came,  that  it  must  be 
correct,  for  that  was  always  his  idea  of  the  place.  ""Ultima  thide"  said 
the  barrister,  "means  '  bottomless  pit.'       Thus  the  bantering  progressed 


Town  of  Jefferson.  1^1 


till  Sinclair's  muse  came  to  the  rescue  of  Bethlehem,  and.  as  the  conductor 
called  "change  for  Bethlehem,"  we  got  the  following  lines,  impromptu, 
from  the  genial  John,  and  then  a  truce  was  called: — 

The  Bethlehemites,  as  high  as  kites, 
Look  down  the  run  Inwards  Jefferson, 
Whose  people  there,  in  sheer  despair, 

'Neath  shadow  of  our  mountains, 
Sit  on  logs  and  fish  for  frogs, 

In  boy  bound  muddy  fountains. 
With  hay  disease,  oh!  hear  them  sneeze, 

The  poor  unhappy  creatures! 
While  clouds  of  Hies  around  them  rise, 

And  armies  of  mosquitoes. 

But  still  the  level  at  "Nate's"  house  in  Jefferson  pays  no  attention  to 
poetical  effusions,  and.  by  unerring  and  invincible  logic,  shows  the  superior 
altitude  of  Jefferson. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


HON.  NATHAN  RANDALL  PERKINS. 

In  1638,  scarcely  two  decades  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  on 
Massachusetts'  shores,  a  company  of  adventurous  pioneers  located  upon 
the  fertile  lands  of  what  is  now  Hampton,  N.  H.  They  were  mostly  of 
English  descent,  and  among  them  was  Abraham  Perkins,  of  the  Plym- 
outh colony,  probably  the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  this  state,  although 
John  Perkins,  born  in  1590,  at  Nervent,  Gloucester  county,  England,  who 
came  in  the  "Lion"  to  Boston,  February,  1631,  with  Roger  William's,  was 
the  first  emigrant.  Abraham  Perkins  is  described  as  being  superior  in 
point  of  education  to  the  most  of  his  contemporaries,  and  was  often  em- 
ployed as  an  appraiser  of  estates.  In  L 648  he  built  the  mill  in  Hampton 
known  as  Perkins's  mill.  He  died  in  L683.  The  name  of  Perkins  appears 
on  the  roll  of  Revolutionary  soldiers,  and  among  the  early  representatives 
of  Hampton.  John  Perkins,  born  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  who  married  a  Keniston,  had  a  son,  David  K.,  who  was  born  in 

New  Durham  in  1707,  and  married  Margaret  Runnels,  a  daughter  of 

Runnels,  and  his  wife  Margaret  Randall.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Elder 
Benjamin  Randall,  'k  the  patriarch  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  denomination." 
"  Elder  Randall  wasa  man  of  medium  size,  erect  and  gentlemanly  in  appear- 
ance. His  features  were  sharp,  his  eyes  of  a  hazel  color,  and  the  general 
expression  of  his  countenance  grave  and  dignified.  His  gestures  were  few. 
and  as  a  speaker  he  was  calm,  argumentative  and  very  impressive.     He 


422  History  of  Coos  County. 


was  a  man  of  deep  piety  and  fervent  spirit.  His  perception  was  great  and 
his  memory  strong.  He  had  a  good  business  education  for  the  times.  He 
studied  the  works  of  men,  but  was  emphatically  a  man  of  one  book,  and 
that  the  Bible."  The  Runnels  family  traces  its  descent  from  Ayrshire,  Scot- 
land. John  Runnels  settled  in  Dover,  in  1718;  his  son,  Abraham,  is  spoken 
of  as  a  brave  Scotch  patriot;  he,  with  five  of  his  sons,  served  in  the  Revo- 
lution. To  David  K.  and  Margaret  (Runnels)  Perkins  were  born  nine 
children:  Nathaniel,  Samuel  R.,  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  James  Eastman,  de- 
ceased), Manasseh  H.,  Nathan  R.,  William  Dana,  Joan  (Mrs.  Moses  Drew), 
David,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Perkins  resided  in  New  Durham 
and  Middleton  until  1829,  when  he  removed  to  Whitefield  and  settled  in 
the  east  part  of  the  town,  where  he  remained  until  1839,  when  he  located 
in  Manchester,  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  stone  mason.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 4,  1862.  Hon.  Nathan  Randall  Perkins  was  born  in  Middleton,  De- 
cember 13,  182S.  Descending  from  the  sturdy  Scotch  family,  Runnels, 
the  stroug  Free  Will  Baptist,  Elder  Randall,  and  the  colonist,  Abraham 
Perkins,  no  wonder  that  in  him  are  combined  the  traits  of  manly  inde- 
pendence, with  sound  health  of  blood,  and  an  incorruptible  integrity. 

Mr.  Perkins  has  been  an  energetic  worker  all  his  life;  when  but  a  mere 
lad  he  labored  on  the  farm,  and,  from  the  age  of  twelve,  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  old,  in  the  mills,  and  at  stone  work  in  Manchester,  when 
he  went  to  Lancaster,  learned  blacksmithing  of  L.  M.  Rosebrook,  and 
supplemented  his  common  school  education  with  an  attendance  at  Lacas- 
ter  academy.  He  formed  a  strong  friendship  for  Mr.  Rosebrook,  and 
worked  for  and  with  him  for  some  years.  In  1852  Mr.  Rosebrook,  who 
was  mountain  born,  conceived  the  idea  of  building  a  house  of  enter- 
tainment on  Mt.  Washington,  and  Mr.  Perkins,  who  had  saved  some 
money,  agreed  to  join  him  in  the  enterprise.  They  began  their  laborious 
work  on  the  first  hotel  on  Mt.  Washington  in  May,  1852.  Its  walls  were 
of  the  immense  granite  blocks  so  thickly  strewn  upon  that  high  eminence, 
and  the  timbers  and  the  boards  (which  came  from  Jefferson)  had  to  be  con- 
veyed on  horseback  up  the  steep  mountain  side  from  eight  miles  below. 
They  soon  took  Joseph  S.  Hall  as  a  partner,  Mr.  Perkins  retaining  one- 
fourth  interest.  The  house  was  called  the  "Summit  House,"  was  20x40 
feet  inside  measurement,  and,  although  not  finished,  was  opened  for 
guests  in  July,  L852.  In  1853  Mr.  Perkins  was  in  personal  charge  of  the 
Summit  House  during  the  season,  and  built  a  large  addition,  remaining  on 
the  mountain  from  the  last  of  May  until  the  middle  of  September.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1S51,  he  sold  bis  interest,  and,  in  the  spring,  purchased  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  which  L.  M.  Rosebrook  had  owned.  May  22,  he 
married  Elizabeth  C,  daughter  of  David  and  Eliza  (Garland)  Hicks.  Their 
only  child,  Manasseh,  was  born  October  28,  L855.  (He  has  been  conductor 
and  express  agent  of  the  W.  &  J.  R.  R.  since  1879     He  represented  Jeffer- 


Town  of  Jefferson.  423 


son  in  the  legislature  of  LsS5  L8S6.)  In  connection  with  farming  Mr. 
Perkins  carried  on  blacksmithing.  The  sturdy  blows  of  his  hammei  were 
heard  early  and  late  in  the  little  shop  opposite  his  house,  and  his  industry 
and  diligence  were  rewarded,  each  year  increasing  his  prosperity.  In  I860 
he  bought  the  Jefferson  mill  property,  and  rebuilt  the  saw  and  grist-mills 
on  an  enlarged  and  improved  scale,  erected  a  starch  factory,  and  conducted 
these  enterprises  for  twenty  years  with  financial  success.  About  L868  Mr. 
Perkins  obtained  by  purchase  some  three  thousand  acres  of  timber  Kind  of 
the  estate  of  Canning  Williams,  and  at  once  began  to  survey  it.  He  had 
acquired  civil  engineering  by  his  own  study  without  an  instructor,  his 
natural  tendency  for  mathematical  science  making  this  easy.  From  this 
time  to  the  present  he  has  done  much  in  this  field.  In  ls7i;  he  was  em- 
ployed, to  locate  and  lay  out  the  Whitefield  &  Jefferson  R.  R.,  and  has 
attended  to  all  the  civil  engineering  required  by  the  main  road  and  its 
lumber  branches.  The  work  has  been  accomplished  in  the  best  possible 
manner  to  facilitate  the  end  designed,  and  many  a  graduate  of  polytechnic 
schools  could  find  valuable  lessons  in  curves  and  gradients  along  this  line. 
The  attention  of  Mr.  Perkins  was  early  attracted  to  the  timber  lands,  and 
he  dealt  somewhat  extensively  in  them.  In  1872  he  purchased  three- 
fourths  of  Lowe  and  Burbank's  grant  (10,500  acres).  Upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  Browns'  Lumber  Company  in  1874,  Mr.  Perkins  became  a  member, 
and  has  since  been  in  charge  of  its  interests  in  Jeff erson  and  the  "woods." 
He  was  the  second  president  of  the  company.  He  superintended  the  entire 
building  of  the  railroad,  laying  out  and  putting  up  the  camps,  surveys  the 
land,  lets  the  contracts  for  getting  out  timber,  etc.,  etc.  The  company 
has  developed  a  large  farm  lying  along  both  sides  of  the  railroad  from 
Whitefield  to  Randolph,  and  this  is  supervised  by  him  in  addition  to  his 
own  home  farm  of  150  acres.  He  has  this  year  (  1 887)  cut  for  the  company 
about  125  tons  of  hay,  harvested  from  1,000  to  L,200  bushels  of  potatoes, 
and  1,000  bushels  of  oats,  and  will  add  100  more  acres  to  the  450  already  in 
pasture.  He  has  just  erected  a  new  set  of  buildings  on  "  Valley  farm  * 
near  Randolph  line. 

A  visit  to  their  "camps"  in  winter,  when  nearly  200  men  are  engaged 
in  cutting  and  hauling  the  Logs  to  supply  the  great  mills  in  Whitefield,  is 
fraught  with  interest.  The  "camps"  are  clean,  comfortable  and  capa- 
cious log -houses,  fitted  to  accommodate  from  sixty  to  seventy-five  men. 
while  the  best  of  provisions,  cooked  by  experienced  cooks  who  have  served 
at  leading  hotels  in  summer,  give  an  added  zest  to  the  appetites  caused  by 
active  labor  in  the  wintry  air.  The  employes  receive  the  best  treatment; 
temperance  is  rigidly  maintained,  no  liquor  being  allowed  in  the  camps. 
The  order  and  system  of  Mr.  Perkins  is  discernible,  and  every  thing  moves 
like  clock-work. 

Mr.  Perkins  has  been  a  standard  bearer  of  Democracy  Cor  many  years. 


424:  History  of  Coos  County. 

and  his  influence  is  prominent  in  county  and  state  affairs.  He  has  held 
all  important  town  offices;  was  county  commissioner  five  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  instrumental  in  building  the  large  barn  on  the  county 
farm,  and  personally  brought  about  the  introduction  of  steam  heat  into 
the  county-house,  and  furnaces  into  the  court-house.  Notwithstanding 
these  improvements,  the  county  debt  was  reduced  several  thousand  dollars. 
He  has  represented  Jefferson  five  terms  in  the  legislature;  was  a  member 
of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1876,  and  one  year  each  in  the  execu- 
tive councils  of  Governors  Straw  and  Weston.  He  aided  in  getting  the 
state  appropriation  for  opening  the  road  up  the  Androscoggin  from  Dum- 
mer  to  EltoI,  and,  with  James  W.  Weeks  and  George  R.  Eaton,  formed 
the  committee  which  decided  what  amount  each  town  should  pay.  (Their 
decision  was  never  controverted).  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  Democratic 
county,  state,  and  other  conventions  for  many  successive  years,  and  at- 
tended the  national  Democratic  convention  in  L868,  as  a  substitute.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  North  Star  Lodge  and  Commandery  for  many  years. 
Nature  has  endowed  Mr.  Perkins  with  a  magnificent  physique  and 
equally  large  and  liberal  ideas  and  heart.  His  presence  is  winning,  attract- 
ing all  who  come  within  the  sphere  of  his  personality.  He  dispenses  hos- 
pitality like  a  prince,  keeps  ''open  house,"  and  reminds  one  of  the  south- 
ern planter  of  ante  helium  days.  His  charities  are  wide  and  constant,  and 
nothing  more  delights  him  than  to  make  children  happy  by  unexpected 
gifts.  His  love  for  Jefferson  is  as  strong  and  steadfast  as  though  its  air 
was  the  first  he  breathed,  and  the  full  weight  of  his  well-balanced  char- 
acter and  influence  is  on  the  side  of  every  public  measure  for  the  prosper- 
ity of  the  community.  His  religion  is  not  that  of  creeds,  but  is  exempli- 
fied in  deeds  which  relieve  the  unfortunate  and  distressed,  and  by  generous 
contributions  to  religious  objects. 


THOMAS    STARR   KING. 

Thomas  Starr  King  was  the  son  of  a  Universalist  clergyman  of  Charles 
town,  Mass.  When  he  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  his  father  died,  and 
Starr  King  was  entirely  without  means,  and  with  the  burden  of  the  house- 
hold upon  him.  However,  he  was  a  manly  youth  of  much  promise,  and 
his  poverty  touched  the  heart  of  Warren  Sawyer,  who  wTas  then  president 
of  the  Mercantile  Library  Association,  Boston,  and  hearing  that  King 
had  a  lecture  on  Goethe,  he  consulted  E.  P.  Whipple  and  James  T.  Fields 
as  to  the  inviting  of  young  King  to  deliver  this  lecture  before  the  associa- 
tion; to  this  proposition  they  heartily  agreed,  but  the  young  man  shrank 
from  such  an  ordeal,  and  it  was  only  after  much  encouragement  that  he 
consented.     It  is  sufficient  to  say  the  lecture  was  a  success,  and  Whipple, 


Town  of  Jefferson.  t25 


who  took  much  interest  in<$  and  had  great  sympathy  for,  young  aspirants 
for  literary  fame,  took  him  by  the  hand  and  congratulated  him.  Bis  < 
ample  was  followed  by  Fields  and  others,  until  the  platform  was  thronged 
with  the  admiring  auditors.  This  was  the  commencement  of  Whipple's 
lifelong  friendship  for  King.  Both  Whipple  and  King  were  lovers  of  the 
White  Mountains,  and  visited  them  in  company,  and  "King's  brillianl 
letters  to  the  Boston  Transcript  which  formed  the  basis  of  his  '  White 
Hills*  were  the  description  of  the  mountains  as  seen  through  W hippie's 
eyes.  Great  were  the  story-telling  seasons  at  the  White  Mountains  when 
Fields,  and  King  and  Whipple  were  members  of  the  tramping  parties." 

It  was  at  the  suggestion  of  Starr  King  that  the  original  Waumbeck 
House  in  Jefferson  was  erected  Cor  the  accommodation  of  summer  travel- 
lers, and,  to  him  more  than  any  other  is  the  public  indebted  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  vast  magnificence  of  the  White  Mountains  and  their  surround- 
ings. Of  Jefferson  Hill  he  writes:  "It  may  without  exaggeration  be  called 
the  ultima  /hale  of  grandeur  in  au  artist's  pilgrimage  among  the  New 
Hampshire  mountains,  for  at  no  other  point  can  he  see  the  White  Hills 
themselves  in  such  array  and  force." 

Few  souls  in  the  world  have  the  gift  of  portraying  the  glories  of  nature 
in  language  that  will  live  forever.  Starr  King  was  one  of  this  immortal 
few,  and  the  joy  and  gladness  they  leave  behind  will  never  die,  and  the 
memory  of  the  author  of  the  "White  Hills"  will  last  as  long  as  the 
mountains  endure. 


THADDEUS  S.  C.  LOWE. 

Prof.  Thaddeus  S.  C.  Lowe,  now  of  Norristown,  Pa.,  the  distinguished 
inventor,  aeronaut  and  scientist,  was  born  August  20,  L832,  at  Jefferson,  N. 
H.,  and  is  the  son  of  Clovis  and  Alpha  Greene  Lowe,  of  that  town.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Greene,  of  Berlin  Falls,  N.  H. ,  and  on  both 
sides  the  ancestry  is  of  the  early  pilgrims  who  came  from  England  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  Mr.  Lowe  enjoyed  only  a  common  school  education 
in  early  life,  working  on  a  farm  between  theageof  ten  and  fourteen  years. 
The  only  opportunity  for  attending  school  was  about  three  months  in  the 
year  in  winter,  walking  two  miles  and  often  on  snow  shoes  at  that.  Dur- 
ing this  period  the  best  opportunity  for  study  was  in  the  evenings  by  the 
light  of  pine  knots  industriously  gathered  in  early  autumn  while  laying  in 
the  winter's  supply  of  wood.  Mr.  Lowe's  favorite  studies  were  chemistry, 
natural  philosophy  and  kindred  subjects.  In  his  fifteenth  year  he  left  his 
mountain  home,  walking  one  hundred  miles  to  Portland,  Maine,  and  from 
thence  went  by  water  to  Boston,  where  he  apprenticed  himself  out  for 
three  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  boot  and  shoe  cutting.  At  the  close  of  his 
apprenticeship  he  was  enabled  to  earn   money  sufficient    to  admit  of  his 


4251  History  of  Coos  County. 


pursuing  his  studies,  selecting  medicine  as  a  specialty,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  commenced  the  compounding  and  practice  of  medicine. 
Although  very  successful  for  his  years,  he  so  disliked  the  practice  that  in- 
stead of  permanently  establishing  himself,  he  went  on  a  lecturing  tour  of 
several  years  duration.  Before  this,  however,  he  taught  a  class  in  chem- 
istry for  a  short  time.  He  lectured  on  scientific  matters,  mostly  confined 
to  interesting  chemical  experiments  in  which  the  various  gases  played  an 
important  part.  In  this  he  was  eminently  successful,  pleasing  large 
audiences  and  constantly  gaining  for  himself  valuable  information. 

In  1855  Mr.  Lowe  was  married  to  Miss  Leontine  Augustine  Grachon,  of 
New  York,  who  was  born  and  educated  in  Paris,  France.  Very  soon  after,  in 
1857,  he  began  the  study  of  aeronautics,  and  made  numerous  aerial  voyages 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  his  first  being  one  from  Ottawa,  Canada, 
in  1858,  in  celebration  of  the  laying  of  the  first  Atlantic  cable.  In  1859  he 
constructed  the  largest  aerostat  ever  built.  It  was  intended  for  voyages 
across  the  ocean,  which  he  estimated  could  be  made  in  less  than  three  days 
by  taking  advantage  of  the  ever-constant  eastward  current  which  he  had 
discovered  to  always  prevail  in  all  the  numerous  voyages  he  had  made 
previous  to  that  time.  This  he  did  to,  in  some  way,  compensate  for  the 
temporary  failure  of  the  Atlantic  cable,  which  was  to  endeavor  to  com- 
municate more  rapidly  than  by  steamers,  which  in  that  day  were  quite 
slow  compared  with  the  present.  This  aerostat  was  150  feet  perpendicular 
diameter,  by  101  feet  transverse  diameter,  the  upper  portion  being  spherical. 
When  fully  inflated  with  hydrogen,  its  atmospheric  displacement  amounted 
to  a  lifting  force  of  twenty-two  and  one  half  tons.  It  had  for  its  outfit, 
besides  a  car  with  all  the  necessary  scientific  instruments,  provisions,  etc., 
a  complete  Francis  metallic  life-boat,  schooner  rigged,  much  larger  than 
several  that  have  successfully  crossed  the  ocean  since  that  time.  The 
gas  envelop  weighed  over  two  tons,  while  the  network  and  other  cordage 
weighed  over  one  and  one  half  tons.  It  was  quite  late  in  the  autumn  before 
this  monarch  of  ballons  was  completed.  Prof.  Lowe  procured  the  site  of 
the  New  York  Crystal  Palace,  which  had  been  destroyed  by  fire,  and  clean- 
ing away  the  debris  of  that  once  fine  edifice,  he,  on  the  first  of  November, 
1859,  began  the  inflation  of  this  monster  aerostat  for  the  voyage;  but  ow- 
ing to  a  lack  in  the  supply  of  gas  from  the  street  mains,  whereby  six  days 
would  be  required  to  inflate  instead  of  one  day,  which  wTas  necessary  for 
a  successful  use  of  the  gas,  the  attempt  at  that  time  had  to  be  abandoned. 
There  was  not  then  a  newspaper  in  the  civilized  world  but  what  noticed, 
more  or  less,  the  extensive  preparations  he  had  made  for  this  undertaking, 
and  all  sorts  of  comments  went  the  rounds  of  the  world. 

In  the  spring  of  1860,  by  invitation  of  a  number  of  members  of  the 
Franklin  institute,  Prof.  Lowe  came  to  Philadelphia  where  Prof.  John  C. 
Cresson,  then  president  of  the  Philadelphia  gas  works,  promised  the  neces- 


Town  of  Jefferson.  t259 


sary  rapid  supply  of  gas  for  a  trial  trip  to  test  the  feasibility  of  inflating  and 
launching  into  the  air  this  immense  aeronautic  machine.  Older  aeronauts 
from  all  parts  of  the  world  had  predicted  that  an  aerostat  of  this  size  could 
not  be  successfully  inflated  and  launched  into  the  air.  Notwithstanding 
these  predictions,  a  successful  trial  trip  was  made  from  the  Point  Breeze 
gas  works  in  June,  L860,  where  four  hundred  thousand  cubic  feet  of  gas 
were  furnished  in  four  hours.  On  this  trip  five  passengers  were  taken, 
including  Mr.  Garrick  Mallory,  of  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer,  who  wrote 
an  account  of  the  trip  which  was  published  in  that  journal  at  the  time. 
In  this  voyage  two  and  a  half  miles  altitude  was  obtained  in  passing  over 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  when  near  Atlantic  City  a  descent  was  made 
to  a  lower  current,  which  wafted  the  great  aerostat  back  to  within  eigh- 
teen miles  of  Philadelphia,  where  a  landing  was  effected.  This  immense 
balloon  was  handled  with  so  much  skill  that  the  departure  from  the  earth 
with  the  weight  of  over  eight  tons,  and  the  return  again,  were  so  gentle 
that  the  passengers  on  board  would  hardly  have  known  when  they  left  or 
when  they  landed  had  they  not  seen  it  accomplished. 

So  well  pleased  were  Prof.  Lowe's  friends  at  his  succesful  managing  of 
an  aerostat  six  times  larger  than  any  ever  before  built  that  they  recom- 
mended him  to  visit  Prof.  Henry,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute,  and,  if 
possible,  secure  his  cooperation,  and  to  that  end  furnished  him  with  the 
following  letter:— 

"  To  Prof.  Joseph  Henry,  Secretary  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute,  Washington,  D.  C 
"The  undersigned  citizens  of  Philadelphia  have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  attempt  of  Mr.  T.  S.  C 
Lowe  to  cross  the  Atlantic  by  aeronautic  machinery,  and  have  confidence  that  his  extensive  preparations  to 
effect  that  object  will  greatly  add  to  scientific  knowledge.  Mr.  Lowe  has  individually  spent  much  time  and 
money  in  the  enterprise,  and  in  addition  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia  have  contributed  several  thousand  dol- 
lars to  further  his  efforts  in  demonstrating  the  feasibility  of  transatlantic  air  navigation.  With  reliance 
upon  Mr.  Lowe  and  his  plans  we  cheerfully  recommend  him  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  Smithson- 
ian Institution,  and  trust  such  aid  and  advice  will  be  furnished  him  by  that  distinguished  body  as  may  assist 
in  the  success  of  the  attempt,  in  which  we  take  a  deep  interest. 

"John  C  Cresson,  William  Hamilton,  W.  H.  Harrison,  Henry  Seybert,  J.  Chiston  Morris,  M.  D.,  Isaac 
Lea,  Fairman  Rogers,  John  C.  Fisher,  Thomas  Stewardson,  M.  D.,  J.  B.  Lippincott,  George  W.  Childs,  John 
Grigg,  S.  S.  Haldeman,  John  E.  Frazer,  George  Harding,  Morton  McMichael." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  Prof.  Henry  received  Prof.  Lowe  with  extreme 
warmth  and  congeniality,  giving  him  the  freedom  of  the  Institution,  and 
from  this  meeting  sprang  a  lasting  friendship. 

During  Prof.  Lowe's  intercourse  with  Prof.  Henry  he  outlined  a  plan 
for  taking  meteoroligical  observations  at  different  parts  of  the  continent 
and  from  high  altitudes  by  means  of  balloons  and  communicating  the 
same  by  telegraph  to  a  bureau  to  be  established  in  Washington,  whereby 
weather  predictions  could  be  made  useful  exactly  in  the  same  way  as  it  is 
to-day  done  by  the  U.  S.  signal  service.  To  Prof.  Lowe  the  government 
is  as  much  indebted  as  to  any  other  one  man  for  the  successful  establish- 
ment of  that  service,  for  it  was  his  plans  frequently  and  freely  communi- 


425s  History  of  Coos  County. 

cated  to  Major  Myers,  during  the  war,  that  led  to  the  establishment  of  this 
service  after  the  close  of  the  war.  There  is  now  in  existence  considerable 
correspondence  between  Prof.  Lowe  and  the  late  Prof.  Joseph  Hemy, 
General  Myers  and  others,  upon  this  subject. 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  Prof.  Henry,  preparatory  to  a  trans- 
atlantic voyage.  Prof.  Lowe  made  a  trip  across  the  continent  in  a  smaller 
aerostat,  starting  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of 
April  20,  1861,  after  taking  leave  of  his  friends,  among  whom  were  Messrs. 
Potter  and  Murat  Halstead  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial;  he  landed  on 
the  South  Carolina  coast  at  twelve  o'clock  the  same  day,  making  the 
quickest  and  longest  voyage  on  record,  delivering  papers  at  about  a  thou- 
sand miles  distant,  still  damp  from  the  press  in  eight  hours  after  they  were 
printed.  This  voyage  was  fraught  with  great  interest,  both  scientific  and 
otherwise,  long  accounts  of  it  being  published  at  the  time.  Landing  in 
this  way  in  South  Carolina  two  weeks  after  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter 
caused  considerable  excitement  in  the  Rebel  armies,  and  Prof.  Lowe  was 
arrested  and  thrown  into  prison,  but  on  producing  proofs  relative  to  the 
scientific  objects  of  the  voyage,  he  was  released,  and  after  five  days  and 
nights  of  railroading  found  his  way  back  to  Cincinnati,  the  point  from 
which  he  had  so  recently  travelled  the  same  distance  in  eight  hours. 

Secretary  Chase,  then  a  member  of  President  Lincoln's  cabinet,  tele- 
graphed at  the  request  of  the  President  to  Prof.  Lowe  to  come  to  Wash- 
ington and  consult  with  him  as  to  the  use  of  balloons  for  war  purposes. 
He  went  and  was  received  by  the  President  with  marked  attention,  spend- 
ing a  night  at  the  Executive  Mansion.  These  interviews  resulted  in  ob- 
taining authority  for  the  organization  of  the  corps  of  observation  or 
aeronautic  corps,  with  Prof.  Lowe  at  its  head  as  chief  aeronaut  of  the 
United  States  army,  which  position  he  held  for  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  rendered  valuable  service  to  the  government.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  his  health  became  so  much  impaired  that  he  turned  his  department  over 
to  one  of  his  assistants,  and  retired  on  a  farm  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  with 
the  hope  of  regaining  his  health.  The  services  rendered  the  government 
during  his  stay  in  the  army  were  of  immense  value,  as  testified  to  by  the 
commander-in  chief,  and  numerous  corps  commanders,  who  had  received 
valuable  information  to  better  govern  their  movements.  During  this  time 
he  made,  personally,  over  three  thousand  cable  ascensions  and  was  the 
first  and  only  person  to  establish  telegraphic  communication  from  a  balloon 
to  various  portions  of  the  army  and  to  Washington  at  the  same  time. 
Conspicuous  among  these  occasions  were  those  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks. 
These  balloons,  with  assistant  aeronauts  instructed  by  Prof.  Lowe,  were 
sent  to  different  armies,  including  the  forces  on  the  southern  coast  and  in 
the  west.  To  make  these  war  balloons  efficient  on  land  and  water,  it  be- 
came necessary  to  make  many  new  inventions,  conspicuous  among  which 


Town  of  Jefferson.  Il'.v 


were  Prof.  Lowe's  hydrogen  gas  generators,  for  field  and  ship  service.  At 
any  time  within  three  hours  after  halting  beside  a  pool  of  water  he  would 
extract  sufficient  hydrogen  therefrom  to  inflate  one  of  these  balloons, 
whereby  himself  and  often  several  officers  would  mount  a  thousand  or  two 
feet  in  the  air  and  overlook  the  country.  His  renown  spread  over  Europe 
and  South  America,  and  his  field  system  of  aeronautics  was  introduced 
into  the  British,  French  and  Brazilian  armies.  The  Emperor  of  Brazil, 
through  his  ministers,  made  numerous  overtures  and  offered  large  induce- 
ments to  Prof.  Lowe  to  take  a  Major-General's  commission  in  the  Bra- 
zilian army  during  the  Paraguayan  war,  to  conduct  the  same  line  of  ser- 
vice as  that  rendered  to  the  U.  S.  government,  but  owing  to  other  <ngage- 
ments  he  was  compelled  to  decline.  He.  however,  furnished  the  necessary 
field  apparatus  and  balloons,  with  competent  assistants,  who  rendered 
valuable  aid  and  greatly  shortened  the  duration  of  that  war,  especially  by 
observations  on  the  river  in  Paraguay  at  Asuncion. 

In  1867  Prof.  Lowe  invented  and  brought  out  the  ice  machine  for 
refrigeration  and  the  manufacture  of  ice,  which  is  now  in  general  use  in 
warm  climates  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  In  ls7ii  75  he  invented  and 
brought  out  his  famous  water-gas  process  for  illumination  and  heating 
purposes,  which  is  already  lighting  over  two  hundred  cities,  and  is  pre- 
dicted to,  ere  long,  with  his  later  invention  in  the  production  of  fuel  water- 
gas,  and  his  indestructible  metal  compounds  for  incandescent  lighting. 
entirely  supersede  all  other  methods  of  light,  heat  and  power. 

At  the  last  exhibition  of  the  Franklin  Institute  of  Philadelphia,  Prof. 
Lowe  received  three  medals  and  a  diploma,  the  highest  award  ever  given 
to  any  one  man  by  that  Institution.  The  first  was  a  diploma  and  silver 
medal  for  his  general  exhibit  of  gas  works  and  appliances;  second,  the 
Elliot  Cresson  gold  medal,  for  ''water-gas  and  incandescent  lighting," 
third,  "grand  medal  of  honor  for  the  invention  held  to  be  the  most  useful 
to  mankind." 

This  sketch  may  be  properly  closed  by  quoting  the  following  from  a 
previous  publication:  "  He  has  little  more  than  reached  middle  life  and 
it  is  warrantable  to  suppose  that  his  speculative  and  fertile  mind  will  grasp 
and  produce  other  valuable  inventions."  He  has  already  made  a  number 
of  ingenious  lighting,  cooking  and  heating  appliance's  for  nsing  his  heat- 
ing gas,  the  numerous  patent  lights  of  which  he  holds  for  the  protection 
of  his  business. 

Prof.  Lowe  is  eminently  a  domestic  man.  having  a  large  family  of 
children,  whose  names  are  as  follows:  Louisa  F.,  Ida  Alpha,  Leon  Perci- 
val,  Ava Eugenie,  Augustine  Margaret,  Blanche,  Thaddeus,  Edna,  Zoe,  and 
Sobieski.     The  three  eldest  were  born- in  New  York. 


28 


KILKENNY. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

A.  N.  Brackett's  Description — Settled  Portions  Attached  to  Jefferson. 

pt  N.  BRACKETT,  in  1820,  gave  this  description  of  Kilkenny,  which  will 
r — I  do  for  to-day  as  well:  "  Kilkenny  is  bounded  westerly  by  Lancaster 
i,  *  and  Jefferson  and  Piercy,  northerly  by  Stratford,  easterly  by  Pauls- 
burgh,  Maynesborough  and  Durand,  and  southerly  by  ungranted  land  and 
that  which  will  never  be  granted,  as  nature  has  said  that  the  White  Mount- 
ains shall  be  the  common  property  of  mankind,  unless  indeed  they  contain 
treasures  within  their  bowels  which  have  never  been  discovered.  This  town 
now  contains  very  few  inhabitants,  and  they  are  very  poor,  and  for  aught 
that  appears  to  the  contrary  they  must  remain  so,  as  they  are  actual  tres- 
passers on  that  part  of  God's  heritage  which  he  designed  for  the  residence  of 
bears,  wolves,  moose  and  other  animals.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  an 
exception  favorable  to  the  south  part  of  the  town  may  be  made." 

This  southern  portion,  with  all  the  settlers,  has  been  attached  to  Jef- 
ferson, which  see.  The  town  is  covered  with  immense  timber  on  which 
the  Kilkenny  Lumber  Co.  is  preparing  for  extensive  logging  operations. 
The  Pilot  range  (Pilot  and  Willard  mountain)  includes  a  large  portion 
of  Kilkenny.  They  receive  their  name  from  a  hunter  named  Willard, 
who  was  once  lost  on  this  mountain,  while  out  hunting  with  his  dog.  His 
camp  was  on  the  east  side;  he  noticed  the  dog  left  him  each  day,  as  he 
supposed  in  pursuit  of  game,  but  towards  night  he  would  return.  At  last 
Willard  resolved  to  follow;  he  set  out  with  the  dog,  and  after  three  days 
of  hunger  and  fatigue,  was  brought  back  to  his  camp  by  his  faithful  guide 
and  companion. 


CARROLL. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


Carroll,  location  of  —  Boundaries  —  Bretton  Woods—  Soil  —  Pioneers,  Etc.  —Roads  —  Early 
Mills. 

ry ARROLL  lies  at  the  northwestern  base  of  the  White  Mountains.  Its 
I /}  surface  presents  a  rugged  and  mountainous  appearance;  the  scenery 
\j  is  wild,  picturesque  and  romantic,  and  is  attractive  to  lovers  of 
nature.  It  is  bounded  north  by  Jefferson,  east  by  the  White  Mountain 
territory,  south  by  Grafton  county,  and  west  by  Bethlehem  and  White- 
field,  and  had  an  area  of  24,6-10  acres. 

Pondicherry  mountain,  of  considerable  elevation,  is  situated  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town,  between  it  and  Jefferson.  John's  and  Israel's  rivers 
have  their  rise  partly  in  Carroll,  and  the  head  waters  of  the  Ammonoosuc 
from  the  neighboring  mountains  unite  and  pass  through  the  town. 

Carroll  was  originally  named  "Bretton  Woods  "  and  granted  to  Sir. 
Thomas  Wentworth,  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon  and  eighty-one  others  in  1772. 
It  was  incorporated  under  its  present  name,  June  22,  1832.  By  an  act 
approved  June  22,  1818,  a  portion  of  Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location  was 
annexed  to  it.  June  27,  1857,  several  lots  of  land  lying  south  of  the  town 
were  annexed.  July  2,  1878,  another  portion  of  Nash  and  Sawyer's  Loca- 
tion was  added,  and  by  act  of  legislature  this  year  (1887)  Crawford's  Grant 
and  all  of  Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location  become  part  of  Carroll. 

The  soil  in  some  parts  is  strong,  deep  and  productive,  and  there  are 
several  fine  farms  here,  but  the  prosperity  of  the  town  began  with  the 
opening  of  the  summer  hotels  and  the  coming  of  the  railroad.  It  has  been 
through  these  that  property  has  increased  in  value,  business  extended,  and 
intelligence  on  necessary  and  popular  topics  has  been  more  generally  dif- 
fused. 

At  the  time  of  the  settling  of  Carroll  there  was  an  immense  quantity 
of  pine  and  spruce  timber,  now  almost  entirely  cut  off  by  lumbermen. 
The  greater  part  of  the  pioneers  were  people  of  limited  means,  and  their 


428  History  of  Coos  County. 

struggles  to  obtain  homes  and  a  bare  living  were  many  times  without 
results;  some  became  disheartened  and  removed  to  other  towns;  others 
worked  on,  lived  their  hard  lives,  died  and  are  forgotten;  a  few,  who, 
although  dependent  on  their  own  exertions,  had  the  benefit  of  education, 
labored  and  accomplished  their  object,  built  comfortable  houses,  and  added 
to  the  wealth  of  the  town  by  their  industry. 

Pioneers. — One  of  the  first  to  settle  in  Carroll  was  an  Irishman,  Inger- 
son,  who,  about  the  year  1812,  located  on  the  east  side  of  Cherry  moun- 
tain. Beaver  were  numerous,  and  knowing  nothing  about  this  animal,  on 
seeing  a  hedge  hog,  Ingerson  shouted  to  his  son.  "  Jamie,  run  quick,  here's 
abaver";  and  ran  and  caught  hold  of  the  bristling  quills  of  the  animal 
with  both  hands.  He  then  shouted  to  Jamie.  "  Hould  on,  Jamie,  don't 
touch  him,  he's  a  coarse-haired  baver."  Although  nearly  three-quarters  of 
a  century  has  passed  since  that  time,  yet  in  1886,  a  Cherry  mountain  resi- 
dent saw  a  huge  black  bear  not  far  from  his  house,  which  "wobbled" 
along  with  a  very-much-at-home  air.  but  the  beaver  have  long  since  disap- 
peared. 

Stephen  Hartford  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood  later.  Thomas 
Applebee,  John  Eemick,  and  Henry  Rines  located  there  about  1825.  John 
Remick  was  a  farmer,  a  hard  worker,  and  a  most  industrious  man.  He 
was  small,  weighing  but  little  over  a  hundred  pounds.  He  took  a  job  to 
cut  one  hundred  cords  of  wood,  and  cut,  corded,  and  drew  it  in  twenty- 
five  days.  Asa  French  built  the  first  house  on  what  is  now  the  Ebenezer 
Glines'  place.  He  did  not  remain  many  years.  Levi  and  John  Muzzy  came 
from  Unity  and  located  on  the  west  side  of  Cherry  mountain.  They  were 
blacksmiths  by  trade,  and  were  here  a  number  of  years.  Joseph  Clark 
and  wife  were  from  Moultonborough,  and  became  permanent  settlers. 

Phineas  Rosebrook,  Sr.,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Carroll,  came  here  in  the 
spring  of  1807.  He  lived  in  a  small  log-house  put  up  some  time  before  by 
Abel  Crawford;  this  stood  about  where  Frank  B.  Rosebrook's  house  now 
stands.  A  piece  of  woodland  had  been  felled  the  year  before.  He  had  a 
yoke  of  oxen  and  a  cow.  He  cut  up  the  trees,  but  was  so  disabled  by 
lameness  that  his  wife  and  Betsey  Tuttle,  both  strong  women,  did  the 
logging  and  seeded  the  land.  His  son  Phineas  was  born  here  in  June  of 
that  year.  Mr.  Rosebrook  put  up  buildings,  raised  a  large  family,  was  a 
worker,  and  added  to  the  prosperity  of  the  town  in  its  early  struggle  for 
an  existence. 

Dearborn  Crawford,  son  of  Abel,  located  on  the  west  side  in  1820,  near 
where  the  town  house  stands.  He  was  a  stalwart  man,  and  possessed  good 
judgment  as  wTell  as  experience  in  all  matters  of  a  pioneer  life.  He  resided 
there  many  years  and  had  a  large  family. 

In  1827  John  Howe  came  from  Whitefield  and  settled  on  the  place  now 
occupied  by  four  generations  of  the  family.     He  was  a  deacon  of  the  Bap- 


Town  of  Carroll.  429 


tist  church  in  Whitefield,  and  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  church  organized 
in  Carroll.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  selectman  and  town  clerk  for 
many  years,  and  a  very  valuable  man  in  the  settlement.  He  was  the  first 
selectman  in  town,  and  the  first  postmaster.  Howe  was  followed  by  Levi 
Morrill,  Calvin  White,  Elijah  Curtis,  Asahel  Wheeler.  Four  brothers 
came  from  Moultonborough,  nephews  of  the  John  and  Israel  Glines  whose 
names  are  perpetuated  by  John's  and  Israel's  rivers;  James  H.,  William 
E.,  Ebenezer  and  Jesse.  All  settled  near  together,  cleared  farms,  and,  in 
L886,  all  but  James  H.  were  living.  Curtis  and  Wheeler  were  here  for  a 
time,  but  none  of  either  family  are  now  residents.  Among  others  was 
Elias  Moody.  He  made  his  home  near  the  side  of  Cherry  mountain.  His 
son,  Josiah.  was  a  useful  citizen,  conversant  with  town  affairs,  and  of 
service  to  the  little  community.  Lot  Jenness  became  a  permanent  resi- 
dent and,  in  the  inventory  of  1833,  William  Jenness  is  also  mentioned. 
Harley  E.  Jenness,  grandson  of  Lot  Jenness,  has  served  the  town  in  many 
official  capacities,  and  is  now  I  1887)  chairman  of  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners. Nathaniel  Bickford  acquired  property  and  his  descendants 
reside  on  the  homestead.  Edward  Melcher  came  from  Bartlett  about  1 820. 
Mr.  Melcher  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  discoverers  of  the  Willey  family 
after  the  great  slide  of  1826,  and  is  a  wonderfully  preserved  old  man. 
Many  others  came,,  but  cliduot  become  permanent  settlers;  they  built  rude 
dwellings,  made  a  little  clearing  and  wrung  a  portion  of  their  meager  sus- 
tenance from  among  the  stumps,  but  this  hard  battle  for  existence  soon 
discouraged  them. 

After  Phineas  Eosebrook,  Jr.,  attained  man's  estate,  he  built  and  oper- 
ated starch  mills,  and  this  industry  gave  employment  to  some,  and  a  mar- 
ket for  their  potatoes  to  others;  in  this  and  various  ways  the  settlement 
gained,  got  a  strong  foot-hold,  and  Carroll  to-day  is  a  prosperous  town. 

Roads. — Col.  Whipple  owned  most,  if  not  all  of  the  township,  and  he 
laid  out  from  the  k'Ryefield''  where  the  Twin  Mountain  House  is,  a  bridle 
path  to  Jefferson.  The  first  road  was  the  Tenth  New  Hampshire  Turnpike. 
The  road  to  Bethlehem  was  very  poor.  A  large  amount  of  teaming  (haul- 
ing pork)  from  Vermont  to  Portland  was  done  about  1815  to  1sl'<'.  and 
sometimes  a  hundred  teams  would  pass  in  a  day.  John  Guild,  of  Little- 
ton, Lot  Woodbury,  of  Bethlehem,  and  Phineas  Rosebrook,  Sr.,  all  keepers 
of  small  teamsters'  hotels,  took  up  a  subscription  in  Vermont  and  Portland, 
and  improved  the  highway  by  making  a  good  road  from  sixteen  to  eighteen 
feet  wide,  taking  out  the  stones  and  stumps,  and  turnpiking.  This  was 
about  1820. 

Mills.— Col.  Whipple  built  a  saw  and  grist-mill  on  the  Ammonoosuc 
falls  very  early.  It  was  a  cheap  affair,  with  but  one  run  of  stones,  and 
lasted  only  a  few  years.     In  182(3  Abel  Crawford  erected  a  saw-mill. 


430  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

First  Town  Record  —  Bretton  Woods  —  First  Residents  Inventory —  Non-resident  Land 
Owners  —  Highway  Districts  Established  — School  Money  —  Early  Births  Recorded. 

THE  first  town  record  now  in  existence  is  a  call  for  a  town  meeting, 
issued  April  13,  1831,  by  Thomas  Montgomery,  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Whitefield,  to  whom  application  had  been  made  for  that  purpose. 
This  notified  "  the  inhabitants  of  Breton  Woods"  and  others  interested, 
that  a  town  meeting  would  be  held  at  Asahel  Wheeler's  house,  in  said 
Breton  Woods,  on  Saturday,  the  thirteenth*  day  of  April,  for  the  follow- 
ing purposes:  First,  to  choose  a  moderator  to  govern  said  meeting;  second, 
to  choose  a  town  clerk  for  the  year  ensuing;  third,  to  choose  selectmen 
and  other  necessary  town  officers. 

Record  of  this  town  meeting.— Agreeably  to  the  foregoing  warrant  the 
meeting  was  opened,  and  proceeded  as  follows:  Chose  John  How  moder- 
ator to  govern  said  meeting;  chose  Thomas  Smith  town  clerk,  and  being 
present  took  the  oath  prescribed  by  law;  chose  John  How  first  selectman, 
chose  Thomas  Smith  second  selectman,  chose  John  Perkins  third  select- 
man; chose  Calvin  White  hog  reeve.  Attest  Ebenezer  Glines,  town  clerk 
of  Carroll. 

John  How,  Thomas  Smith  and  John  Perkins,  selectmen  of  Breton 
Woods,  call  a  town-meeting  for  Breton  woods,  which  was  held  at  the 
dwelling  house  of  Calvin  White,  March  13,  1832.  Phineas  Rosebrook  was 
chosen  moderator,  Thomas  Smith,  town  clerk,  John  How,  Thomas  Smith 
and  Levi  Morril,  selectmen.  "Voted  that  the  literary  fund  money  already 
received  in  Breton  woods  shall  be  paid  out  for  schools  already  taught." 
At  same  meeting  of  Breton  woods  there  were  seventeen  votes  cast  for 
Samuel  Dinsmore  for  governor,  seventeen  votes  for  Nathaniel  Rix  for  coun- 
cillor, and  seventeen  votes  for  Jared  W.  Williams  for  senator,  seventeen 
votes  for  Reuben  Stephenson  for  register  of  deeds,  and  the  same  number 
for  Robert  Ingalls  for  treasurer,  attest  Ebenezer  Glines,  town  clerk. 
Bretton  Woods  appears  no  more  in  calls  for  or  records  of  town  meetings, 
but  the  selectmen  above  named  call  the  next  meeting  recorded  as  select- 
men of  Carroll.  This  met  September  12,  1832,  at  the  same  place  as  before, 
and  chose  John  How,  moderator,  Thomas  Smith  (probably  clerk),  Will- 
iam Denison,  Phineas  Rosebrook,  and  John  Perkins,  selectmen,  Thomas 
Smith,  surveyor  of  lumber.  "Voted  to  that  the  selectmen  shall  be  author- 
ized to  purchase  books  suitable  to  keep  the  town  clerk's  and  selectmen's 


*  Mistake  in  record;  the  meeting  was  held  April  30. 


Town  of  Carroll.  431 


records  in,  and  paid  out  of  the  next  year's  tax,  provided  they  are  not  fur- 
nished by  the  state."  The  number  of  votes  had  increased  to  twenty -three, 
all  of  which  were  cast  for  the  same  candidates. 

1S33. — At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  L833,  seventy  dollars  was  voted  to 
be  raised  for  town  expenses.  A  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts 
was  made;  the  first  five  lots  in  all  the  ranges  in  the  town  shall  compose 
district  No.  one;  all  the  lots  in  the  tenth,  eleventh,  twelfth,  thirteenth  and 
fourteenth  (ranges)  shall  compose  district  No.  two;  all  the  lots  north  of 
No.  five,  in  the  sixth,  seventh,  eighth  and  ninth  ranges  shall  compose  dis- 
trict No.  three,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  lots  in  town  shall  compose  district 
No.  four.  Voted  that  hogs  shall  not  run  at  large;  voted  to  raise  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  dollars  to  repair  highways,  and  to  allow  men  and 
oxen  each  six  and  one-fourth  cents  per  hour's  work  on  the  roads.  William 
Denison  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  at  his  dwelling  house  for  one  years. 
The  First  Residents  Inventory  was  made  in  1833.  From  this  we  learn 
that  in  school  district  No.  1,  Lorenzo  D.  Hartford  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one 
cow,  100  acres  of  land  (lot  £6,  range  •-$);  John  Remick,  one  poll,  six  oxen, 
three  cows,  one  young  creature,  130  acres  land  (lots  14  and  15,  range  3); 
Henry  Eines,  one  poll,  one  horse,  30  acres  (lot  15,  range  2);  Nathaniel 
Rines,  one  poll,  one  horse,  one  cow,  50  acres  (lot  15,  range  3);  James  Rines, 
one  poll,  50  acres  (lot  16,  range  2);,  John  Woodman,  one  poll,  one  cow,  60 
acres  (lot  16,  range  3).  School  district  No.  3.  Samuel  Bartlet,  one  poll,  one 
cow;  Asa  French,  one  poll,  one  cow,  50  acres  (lot  14,  range  L2);  Lot  Jen- 
ness,  one  poll,  one  cow,  six  sheep,  100  acres  (lot  12,  range  9);  William  Jen- 
ness,  one  poll;  Levi  Muzzy,  one  poll,  one  cow,  two  young  cattle,  50  acres 
(lot  15,  range  9);  John  Muzzy,  one  poll,  one  horse,  50  acres  (lot  15,  range  9); 
Joseph  French,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  100  acres,  (lot  13,  range  8); 
Asa  French,  Jr.,  one  poll.  School  (^strict  No.  2.  Abel  Crawford,  Jr.,  one 
poll,  two  oxen,  100  acres  (lot  3,  range  11);  Dearborn  Crawford,  one  poll, 
two  cows,  124  acres  (lots  8  infcanges  10  and  11);  -Joseph Clark,  one  poll,  one 
horse,  one  cow,  seven  sheep!  50  acres;  (lot  14,  range  12);  Nathaniel  Bick- 
ford,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  50  acres  (lot  16,  range  13);  Elijah  (  urlis, 
one  poll,  100  acres  (lot  13,  range  10);  William  Burgin,  one  poll,  one  cow. 
76  acres  (lot  8,  range  11);  Ebenezer  Glines,  one  poll,  two  cows,  LOO  acres 
(lot  11,  range  12);  William  Glines,  one  poll;  Isaac  F.  Hodgdon,  one  poll,  one 
cow,  100  acres  (lot  6,  range  111);  John  How,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen, 
three  cows,  fifteen  sheep,  lOOacres  (lot  10,  range  11);  JonasHow.  one  poll; 
Levi  Morrill,  one  poll,  one  cow;  Edward  Melcher,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one 
cow,  100  acres  (lot  9,  range  10);  John  Perkins,  one  poll,  one  horse,  one 
cow,  100  acres  (lot  16,  range  12);  Marvin  R.  Proctor,  one  poll,  100  acres 
(lot  12,  range  11);  Asa  Place,  one  poll;  Luis  Place,  one  poll,  two  young 
horses  two  oxen,  two  cows,  200  acres  (lots  7  in  ranges  10  and  11);  William 
Rice,   one  poll,   one  horse,  four  oxen,   200  acres  (lot  1-2,  range  12,  lot  1."., 


J 


432  History  of  Coos  County. 

range  9);  Jonathan  Eice,  one  poll;  Phineas  Rosebrook,  Jr.,  one  poll,  two 
oxen,  one  cow,  100  acres  (lot  13,  range  12);  Thomas  Smith,  one  poll,  one 
young  horse,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  100  acres  (lot  15,  range  12);  Elijah 
Stanton,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  three  young  cattle,  six  sheep,  100 
acres  (lot  13,  range  11);  Calvin  White,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  two 
cows,  200  acres  (lot  9,  range  11,  lot  10,  range  10).  School  district  No.  1. 
William  Denison,  one  poll,  two  horses,  three  cows,  one  young  creature, 
sixteen  sheep,  200  acres  (lots  1,  ranges  4  and  5);  Phineas  Rosebrook,  one 
poll;  Charles  Remick,  one  poll;  John  Stalbird,  one  poll;  George  T.  Wilson, 
one  poll,  three  horses,  two  oxen,  six  cows,  six  young  cattle,  nineteen  sheep, 
496  acres  (lots  4  and  5,  range  14,  lots  3  and  4,  range  13). 

Non-resident  land  owners. — Alfred  W.  Haven  and  Lora  Odell  were 
taxed  on  eighty-six  lots;  Haven,  Ladd  and  Pierce  on  121  lots;  Ethan  A. 
Crawford,  lot  1,  range  6;  Samuel  Willey,  lot  11,  range  9;  Richard  Odell, 
lots  16  and  17,  range  9;  Dodge  &  Abbott,  lot  19,  range  14;  F.  P.  Pillsbury, 
lot  14,  range  9;  Asahel  Wheeler,  lot  11,  range  11. 

1834.  George  T.  Wilson  and  William  Denison  are  each  licensed  to  keep 
tavern  for  one  year.  The  town  meeting  meets  at  the  "  school-house"  for 
the  first  time. 

1835.  At  the  annual  town  meeting  March  12,  a  larger  number  of  new 
officers  were  voted  for  than  had  been  the  custom.  Highway  districts  hav- 
ing been  established,  five  surveyors  were  chosen;  four  hog  reeves  were 
elected;  Asahel  Wheeler  chosen  pound  keeper,  and  his  barn -yard  to  be  the 
pound.  Twenty-five  dollars  were  raised  for  schools.  Voted  to  buy  a  piece 
of  ground  for  a  burial  place,  and  John  How,  Samuel  Bartlett  and 
Thomas  Smith  chosen  committee  to  locate  and  buy  the  ground.  Twenty- 
six  votes  were  cast  for  William  Badger  for  governer  to  eight  for  Joseph 
Healy.  Reuben  Stephenson  gets  thirty-four  votes  for  register  of  deeds. 
The  line  between  Whitefield  and  Carroll  was  examined  and  re-marked  by 
the  selectmen  of  these  towns. 

1836.  The  town  voted  to  receive  its  proportion  of  the  public  money 
deposited  with  the  state;  appointed  Ebenezer  dines  as  the  agent  to  re- 
ceive the  money,  and  John  Howe,  Thomas  Smith  and  F.  J.  Pillsbury  to 
superintend  said  money;  also  voted  to  loan  it  to  the  inhabitants  of  Carroll 
at  six  per  cent,  interest,  in  sums  not  greater  than  fifty  nor  under  ten  dol- 
lars to  one  man,  he  to  give  his  note  with  three  good  signers. 

1837.  The  highway  taxes  have  now  reached  three  hundred  dollars  a 
year,  and  town  charges  forty  dollars.  George  T.  Wilson  is  allowed  four 
dollars  for  breaking  roads  last  winter,  the  same  to  be  allowed  on  his  next 
summer's  taxes. 

1838.  Voted  to  raise  as  much  money  for  schools  as  the  law  directs. 
Voted  the  sealer  of  weights  and  measures  get  the  letter  "  C  "  at  the  town's 


Town  of  Carroll.  t33 


expense.  Thirty  four  votes  were  cast  for  Isaac  Hill  for  governor  (no  op- 
posing candidate  here). 

L839.  John  Page  receives  thirty-six  votes  for  governor  to  four  scat- 
tering. 

1840.  One  hundred  and  thirteen  dollars  raised  for  schools,  fifty  dollars 
for  town  expenses. 

1841.  One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  voted  for  town  charges,  and  three 
hundred  dollars  to  repair  roads  and  bridges.  June  17.  Ira  R.  Glines, 
Ephraim  R.  Bartlett,  F.  A..  Bartlett,  Stephen  Hovey,  Edward  Melcher, 
Stephen  H.  Cale,  Elias  Bacon,  N.  L.  Richardson,  Elias  Moody,  David  B. 
Curtis,  Lot  Jenness,  John  Howe,  Phineas  Rosebrook,  Jr.,  and  Charles 
Phelps  petition  for  a  new  highway  two  rods  wide,  from  E.  F.  Bartlett's 
south  line,  thence  running  south  to  Ira  R.  Glines's  north  line.  Granted. 
On  petition  of  Nathaniel  Bickford,  John  Howe,  Charles  Phelps,  William 
Glines,  Alvah  Bickford,  Mitchell  W.  Howe  and  Samuel  Thompson  a  high- 
way is  laid  from  Nathaniel  Bickford's  dwelling  house  easterly  to  the  road 
leading  from  Whitefield  to  the  notch  of  the  White  Mountains. 

1813.     Raised  $400  to  repair  roads  and  build  bridges. 

1844.  Voted  thirty-four  votes  against  and  four  votes  for  the  abolition 
of  capital  punishment. * 

1845.  Raised  seventy-five  dollars  in  addition  to  what  the  law  compels 
for  school  purposes. 

1846.  Raised  $000  to  repair  and  build  bridges.  William  J.  Hobbs  is 
taxed  on  "  stock  in  trade." 

1847.  Raised  $600  for  highways  and  bridges.  Voted  $250  for  the  new 
highway  from  Eli  Parker's  to  Jefferson  line,  and  chose  Charles  Hanson 
committee  to  expend  it.  School  district  No.  2  divided  into  two  districts, 
forming  No.  5. 

1848.  Raised  $175  more  than  the  law  requires  for  support  of  schools. 

1851.  Eleazer  Rosebrook  farm  and  John  H.  White  farm  constituted  a 
school  district.  Vote  for  governor,  Samuel  Dinsmore  forty-nine  votes, 
John  Atwood  thirteen  votes. 

1852.  Raised  $150  above  what  the  law  required  for  schools.  School 
district  No.  6  formed. 

1853.  Voted  to  finish  the  town  house,  and  to  use  it  for  public  worship. 
Early  Births  Recorded. — Lee  Rosebrook,   son  of  Phineas  Rosebrook, 

Jr.,  born  July  8,  1829;  Hannah  Jane,  daughter  of  same,  born  December 
12,  1831;  Amasa,  son  of  same,  born  January  _'•">.  1835;  Mark,  son  of  same, 
born  December  18,  1838;  Franklin  B..  son  of  same,  born  December  L9, 
1840.     Children  of  Ebenezer  Glines— William  W.  W.,  born  November  2, 


*  This   year   Plan's  Location  had  a  school  house,  and  twenty-six  children  under  sixteen  years- 
of  age.     These  belonged  to  four  families. 


131  History  of  Coos  County. 

1832;  Elvira  P.  M.,  October  13,  1S33;  Woodbury  S.,  August  25,  1835;  Nel- 
son H.,  August  25,    1837;    Martha  A.,  November   11,   1815.     Children  of 

Francis  Pillsbury— Caroline  Pillsbury,  born  October  25,  1831;  Charles  Pills- 
bury,  born  November  12,  1836. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


Civil  List  —  Action  in  the  Rebellion — Population  —  Religion  —  Present  Valuation  —  Business 
Interests  —  Hotels. 


TOWN'  Officers  from  1832. — 1833.  Ebenezer  Glines,  clerk;  William  Denison,  Phineas  Rosebrook,  John 
How,  selectmen;  Thomas  Smith,  representative.     (He  was  afterwards  elected  to  represent  Dalton  and 
Carroll  for  the  same  year.) 
1834.     Ebenezer  Glines,  clerk;  Thomas  Smith,  Ebenezer  Grimes,  John  Perkins,  selectmen. 

1835.  Thomas  Smith,  clerk;  Thomas  Smith,  Francis  P.  Pillsbury,  Ebenezer  Glines,  selectmen. 

1836.  John  Howe,  clerk;  Thomas  Smith.  Nathaniel  Bickford,    Jonas  Howe,  selectmen;  Francis  J.  Pills- 
bury, treasurer. 

1837.  Ebenezer  Glines,  clerk;  William  Denison,  Phineas  Rosebrook,  Jonas  Howe,  selectmen. 

1838.  Ebenezer  Glines,  clerk;  William  Denison,  Ebenezer  Glines,  Phineas  Rosebrook,  Jr.,  selectmen. 

1839.  John  Howe,  clerk;  Edward  Melcher,  William  Denison,  Elijah  Curtis,  selectmen. 

1810.  John  Howe,  clerk;  Thomas  Smith,    Jonas  Howe,    Jesse  Glines,    selectmen;  Thomas  Smith,  repre- 
sentative. 

1811.  John  Howe,  clerk;  Jonas  Howe,  Robert  Tattle,  Josiah  Moody,  selectmen;  Ebenezer  Glines,  repre- 
sentative for  Carroll,  etc. 

1812.  John  Howe,  clerk;  Josiah  Moody,  Robert  Tuttle,  Jonas  Howe,  selectmen. 

1813.  John  Howe,  clerk;  Josiah  Moody,  Ebenezer  Glines,  Ephraim  F.  Bartlett,  selectmen;  Samuel  Law- 
rence, representative. 

1814.  John  Howe,  clerk;  Jonas  Howe,    Samuel  Holmes,    Phineas  Rosebrook,    selectmen;  Robert  Tuttle, 
representative. 

1845.  Ebenezer  Glines,  clerk;  Jonas  Howe,  Samuel  Holmes,  Robert  Tuttle,  selectmen. 

1846.  Jonas  Howe,  clerk:  Lot  Jenness,  David  Oilman,  Richard  Lane,  selectmen. 

1817.     Jonas  Howe,  clerk;  David  Gilman.  Levi  H.  Morgan,  Samuel  Worthley,  selectmen;  David  Oilman, 
representative. 

1848.  Jonas  Howe,  clerk;  Levi  H.  Morgan,  Phineas  Rosebrook,  John  T.  G.  Leavitt,  selectmen;  Samuel 
Worthley,  representative  for  Carroll,  etc. 

1849.  Jonas  Howe,  clerk;  Jonas  Howe,  Samuel  Holmes,  William  J.  Hobbs.  selectmen. 

1850.  Samuel  Worthley,    clerk;    Jonas  Howe,    Samuel  Holmes.    John  T.  G.  Leavitt.    selectmen;  Samuel 
Holmes,  representai  ive. 

1851.  Samuel  Worthley.  clerk;  Lewis  C.  Aldrich,  William  J.  Hobbs,  David  Gilman,  selectmen. 

1852.  Ebenezer   Glines,    clerk;  William  J.  Hobbs,    Phineas   Rosebrook,    Samuel   Morrison,   selectmen; 
Joseph  L.  Gibb,  representative. 

1853.  William  Baker,  clerk;  William  J.  Hobbs,  Phineas  Rosebrook,  Samuel  Morrison,  selectmen. 

1854.  William  Baker,  clerk;  William  J.  Hobbs,  Samuel  Worthley,  George  A.  Glines,  selectmen. 

1855.  Ebenezer  Glines,  clerk:  William  J.  Hobbs,  Samuel  Worthley,  George  A.  Glines,  selectmen. 

1856.  Ebenezer  Glines,    clerk;    Samuel  Worthley,    Phineas  Rosebrook,    Levi  Hardy,    selectmen;    John 
Hunt,  representative. 

1857.  Ebenezer  Glines,    clerk;    William  J.  Hobbs,    Levi  H.  Hardy,    Lewis  C.  Aldrich,   Charles  Phelps, 
selectmen. 

1858.  Amos  C.  Colby,  clerk;  Lewis  C.  Aldrich,  Gilbert  P.  Horton.  John  Hunt,  selectmen. 


Town  of  Carroll.  i... 


1859.     Levi  Glines,  clerk:  John  Hunt.  Charles  E.  King,  Samuel  Worthli  y.  selectmen. 
18G0.     William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  Charles  E.  King,  John  Hunt,  Haven  F.  Leavitt,  selectmen. 

1861.  George  A.  Glines,  clerk;  Charles  E.  King,  Haven  F.  Leavitt,  John  H.  Jenness,  sch  ctmen. 

1862.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  Lewis  C.  Aldrich,   John  Hunt,   Samuel  Thompson,   selectmen;  Phineas 
Rosebrook,  representative. 

1863.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  Lewis  C.  Aldrich,  Samuel  Thompson,  Ebenezer  Glines,  Beli  ctmen. 

1864.  William  F.  Hobbs.  clerk;  Lewis  C.  Aldrich,  Charles  >S.  Leavitt.  RobertL.  Brown,  selectmen;  George 
W.  Tuffts,  representative. 

1865.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  William  J.  Hobbs,  RobertL.  Brown,  John  T.  G.  Leavitt,  selectmen. 

1866.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  Samuel  Worthley,    Charles  S.  Leavitt,    Charles  O.  Burbank,    Beleofanen; 
Samuel  Worthley,  representative. 

1867.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  Phineas  Rosebrook,  William  Jenness,  George  Thompson,  selectmen. 

1868.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;    Josiah  Moody,    William  Jenness,   Gilbert  Howe,   selectmen;  Charles  S. 
Leavitt,  representative. 

1869.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clern;  Josiah  Moody,  William  J.  Hobbs.  Mark  P.  Rosebrook,  selectmen. 

1870.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  Josiah  Moody,  John  Hunt,  Holman  D.  Blood,  selectmen;  Mark  P.  Rose- 
brook, representative. 

1871.  William  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;    Holman  D.  Blood,    William  F.  Hobbs,    Hosea  E.  Whitcomb,  selectmen; 
M.  P.  Rosebrook,  representative. 

1872.  W.  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  W.  F.  Hobbs.    Oscar  Barron,   S.  R.  Aldrich,    selectmen;  Hosea  E.  Whitcomb, 
representative. 

1873.  W.  F.  Hobbs,    clerk;    W.  F.  Hobbs,    Oscar  Barron,    M.  P.  Horton,    selectmen;    H.  E.  Whitcomb, 
representative. 

1874.  W.  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;  W.  F.  Hobbs,    M.  P.  Horton.    H.  E.  Jenness,    selectmen;  John  Hunt,  repre- 
sentative. 

1875.  G.  H.  Hunt,  clerk;  M.  P.  Horton,  Oscar  Barron,  Josiah  Moody,  selectmen;  John  Hunt,  represent- 
ative. 

1876.  G.  H.  Hunt,  clerk;    M.  P.  Horton,    Oscar  Barron,    Josiah  Moody,    selectmen;  Charles  Pillsbury, 
representative. 

1877.  Harley  E.  Jenness,  clerk;    M.  P.  Horton,    Oscar  Barron,    Franklin  Worthley,    selectmen;  Charles 
Pillsbury,  representative. 

1878.  H.  E.  Jenness,  clerk;  M.  P.  Rosebrook,  E.  L.  Miles,  H.  E.  Jenness,  selectmen:  Franklin  Woithley, 
representative. 

1879.  H.  E.  Jenness,  clerk;    H.  E.  Jenness,    E.  L.  Miles,    H.  D.  Blood,    selectmen;    Franklin  Worthley, 
representative. 

1880.  W.  F.  Hobbs,  clerk;    W.   F.    Hobbs,    H.  E.  Whitcomb,    George  Thompson,    selectmen:  Franklin 
Worthley,  representative. 

1881.  H.  E.  Jenness,  clerk;  W.  F.  Hobbs,  F.  Worthley,  George  Thompson,  selectmen;  Franklin  B.  Rose- 
brook, represe  ntative. 

1882.  H.  E.  Jenness,  clerk;  Oscar  Barron,  George  Thompson,  N.  A.  Glines.  selectmen;  F.  1!.  Rosebrook, 
representative. 

1883.  H.  E.  Jenness,  clerk;  Oscar  Barron,  George  Thompson,  N.  A.  Glines,  selectmen;  1883-1885,  F.  B. 
Rosebrook,  representative. 

1884.  H.  E.  Jenness,  clerk:  Oscar  Barron.  George  Thompson,  N.  A.  (ilines.  selectmen. 

1885.  H.  E.  Jenness,  clerk;  Oscar  Barron,  George  Thompson,  N.  A.  Glines,  selectmen:  1885-1887,  Will- 
iam Jenness,  representative. 

1886.  J.  C.  Eastman,  clerk;  Isaac  Thompson,  L.  C.  Boyce,  G.  H.  Hunt,  selectmen;  1887-1889,  Daniel  M. 
Hardy,  representative. 

Action  in  the  Rebellion. — August  28,  L862,  the  town  voted  to  pay  to 
each  volunteer  that  has  enlisted  since  August  11,  and  will  enlist  for  three 
years  for  the  quota  of  Carroll;  also  to  pay  each  soldier  that  will  volunteer 
for  nine  months  fifty  dollars;  also  to  adopt  the  act  in  force  for  the  aid  of 
families  of  volunteers. 

December  5,  L863.  Voted  that  the  selectman  get  substitutes  to  fill  the 
town's  quota;  also  to  assume  payment  of  the  U.  S.  bounty. 


436  History  of  Coos  County. 

February  15,  1805.  Voted  to  raise  five  hundred  dollars  in  addition  to 
what  the  town  has  voted  to  raise. 

The  population  in  1800  was  18;  1850,  299;  1860,  276;  1870,  328;  1880,  632, 
In  1887  the  resident  valuation  is  8209,081;  the  non-resident  is  $29,432.  No, 
of  polls,  199;  horses,  298;  cows,  174;  oxen,  71;  sheep,  41. 

Religion. — The  prevailing  belief  of  this  community  is  that  of  the  Free 
Will  Baptists,  although  there  are  some  Methodists,  Baptists,  and  a  small 
number  of  Adventists.  A  Free  Will  Baptist  society  existed  here  early; 
Royal  Berry  was  pastor  at  one  time.  The  Methodists  have  had  clergymen 
of  their  faith  to  minister  to  them.  In  1885  the  Free  Will  Baptists  erected 
a  church  about  half  way  between  the  Twin  Mountain  House  and  the  town 
house.  This  seats  250  persons.  Regular  services  are  held  during  the  year. 
They  also  have  a  flourishing  Sunday-school,  with  Nathaniel  S.  Howe  as 
superintendent.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Dexter  Waterman,  although 
over  four  score  years  of  age,  is  a  very  active  and  efficient  worker,  and  is 
trying  to  raise  funds  to  cancel  the  debt  of  §500  on  this  church.  At  this 
writing  he  has  accomplished  more  than  half  his  work,  and  his  perseverance 
will  succeed. 

The  Adventists  hold  semi-monthly  meetings  in  the  town  hall,  Rev. 
Mr.  Eastman  coming  from  Littleton  to  preach. 

Postoffices. — Carroll  postoffice,  with  a  weekly  mail,  was  established 
early  at  Jonas  Howe's.  He  was  postmaster  for  many  years.  This  office 
was  discontinued  about  twenty  years  ago,  when  South  Carroll  office,  es- 
tablished ten  years  previously,  was  changed  to  Twin  Mountain.  H.  E. 
Jenness  is  postmaster  at  Twin  Mountain.  J.  E.  Henry  is  postmaster  of 
Zealand  postoffice,  established  in  1883.  Fabyan's  postoffice  is  at  the  Fabyan 
House;  L.  C.  Boyce  postmaster. 

Manufacturers  of  lumber  in  1870:  R.  D.  Rounsevel  &  Co  ,  John  T.  CI. 
Leavitt  &  Co.,  Libbey  &  Gove,  C.  O.  Burbank  &  Co.,  Benjamin  Calden. 
Starch  manufacturers:  Phineas  Rosebrook  &  Son,  Wilder  &  Gove.  1875, 
Lumber  Manufacturers:  M.  B.  Berry,  C.  O.  Burbank,  Rounsevel  &  Col- 
burn,  Leavitt,  Nason  &  Co.  Starch  manufacturers:  P.  Rosebrook  &  Son, 
Wilder  &  Swett.  1880,  Lumber:  George  Stewart,  Henry,  Joy  &  Baldwin. 
1887,  Lumber:  George  Van  Dyke  &  Co.  Charcoal:  J.  E.  Henry.  Merchants: 
J.  E.  Henry,  H   E.  Jenness,  J.  F.  Leavitt. 

J.  E.  Henry,  Charles  Joy,  and  H.  J.  Baldwin  started  manufacturing  as 
successors  to  Rounsevel  &  Colburn  on  the  site  of  Van  Dyke  &  Co.'s  present 
plant.  They  erected  large  charcoal  kilns  and  gave  employment  to  about 
300  men.  In  1880  they  put  up  the  large  steam  mill  now  in  operation.  It 
is  of  two  hundred  horse  power,  contains  a  rotary  saw,  shingle,  lath,  clap- 
board and  box  machine.  In  1881  the  firm  was  Henry  &  Baldwin.  In  1882 
J.  E.  Henry  became  sole  proprietor.  In  1885  a  railroad  was  commenced 
to  transport  logs  to  this  mill,  and  a  charter  has  since  been  obtained  to 


Town  of  Carroll.  i;;; 


extend  this  road  southerly  to  connect  with  the  Pemigewasset  Branch  rail- 
road, with  the  name  of  Zealand  Valley  railroad.  Van  Dyke  &  Co.  (Con- 
necticut Lumber  Company  and  J.  H.  Locke)  operate  the  Henry  mill  under 
a  five  years'  lease,  which  expires  in  November,  L890,  and  give  employment 
to  sixty  men.  They  produce  t5,000  feet  of  lumber,  from  20,000  to  25,000 
lath,  and  a  car-load  of  boxes  weekly.  J.  II.  Locke  is  manager.  They 
keep  a  small  stock  of  merchandize. 

Zealand  Village  has  been  built  to  accommodate  the  workmen  in  the 
employ  of  Mr.  Henry  and  Van  Dyke  &  Co. 

There  are  some  prosperous  farmers  in  Carroll,  prominent  among  whom 
are  H.  E.  Whitcomb,  Frank  B.  Rosebrook,  Isaac  Thompson,  Charles  Pills- 
bury  and  Sylvester  W.  Kelley. 

Fabyari's. — The  hotel  and  place  known  everywhere  by  this  name,  stands 
upon  what  was  once  the  Giant's  Grave.  Starr  King  tells  us  that  there  was 
a  tradition  that  an  Indian  maniac  once  stood  on  this  ridge,  and  swinging 
a  blazing  pitch-pine  torch,  which  he  had  kindled  at  a  tree  struck  by  light- 
ning, shouted  in  the  storm  this  prophecy,  — "  The  Great  Spirit  whispered 
in  my  ear,  no  pale-face  shall  take  deep  root  here."  The  site  was  first 
occupied  by  Abel  Crawford,  who  lived  in  a  log  hut  many  months.  In  the 
winter  of  1792,  Eleaz3r  Rosebrook  and  family  lived  in  this  cabin.  In  1803 
he  erected  a  rude  inn,  a  teamsters'  tavern,  here;  in  1S17  this  was  occupied 
by  E.  A.Crawford  as  a  hotel;  this  was  burned  in  1818.  In  1819  Ethan 
Allen  Crawford  put  up  a  two  story  tavern,  which  was  painted  red.  This 
wras  also  destroyed  by  fire.  A  hotel  erected  by  Mr.  Fabyan  was  burned 
about  1867.  The  present  Fabyan  House,  built  in  1*72-73,  is  a  big,  square 
hotel  where  400  guests  can  be  accommodated.  Here  all  the  railways  of 
the  White  Mountain  region  concentrate,  and,  during  the  season,  the  crowd 
of  people  coming  and  going  is  almost  innumerable. 

Crawford  House. — The  first  house  of  the  Crawfords  wTas  built  about 
1703,  twelve  miles  below  the  Gate  of  the  Notch.  This  was  known  as  the 
Mt.  Crawford  Tavern.  After  the  destruction  of  the  "Notch  Tavern,"  in 
1826,  the  Crawfords  erected  a  house  (120x36)  just  above  the  Gate  of  the 
Notch,  which  was  opened  in  January,  1829,  and  was  well  patronized  by 
teamsters  and  stage  travellers,  and  also  by  hunters  and  fishermen.  In  1840 
this  was  conducted  by  Thomas  J.  Crawford,  son  of  Abel,  who.  in  1851, 
began  the  erection  of  a  larger  house. 

In  1852  Eastman.  Tilton  &  Co.,  in  connection  with  E.  J.  M.  Hale  and 
James  H.  Carleton,  of  Haverhill.  Mass.,  purchased  the  interest  of  Thomas 
J.  Crawford,  in  the  Crawford  House,  and  completed  the  hotel  then  in 
process  of  construction.  This  was  burned  Saturday,  May  1,  1859.  On 
Monday  Colonel  Eastman  drew  the  rough  plan  of  a  new  hotel,  to  be  200 
feet  front,  with  two  wings  of  200  feet  each,  two  and  three  stories  in 
height.     On  conferring  with  his  partners,  they  seemed  to  consider  it  a  fore- 


438  History  of  Coos  County. 

gone  conclusion  that  no  hotel  could  be  put  up  to  take  the  place  of  the 
burned  Crawford  House  until  that  season  had  passed.  Colonel  Eastman's 
characteristic  energy  now  showed  itself.  "  I  will  guarantee  to  have  a  new 
house  ready  to  receive  guests  in  sixty  days,  with  three  days  grace."  The 
response  was  "go  ahead.'1  Colonel  Eastman  set  to  work,  sent  his  plans 
to  the  chosen  architect  for  arrangement,  made  a  flying  trip  to  all  the  mills 
within  quite  a  radius,  purchased  all  the  lumber  on  hand,  and  night  and 
day  devoted  himself  to  the  work  before  him.  As  the  cars  only  ran  to 
Littleton,  everything  had  to  be  hauled  from  that  point,  and  in  ten  days 
time  he  had  150  men  and  seventy  five  oxen  and  horses  at  work.  He  was 
everywhere  present,  superintended  everything,  averted  disaster  and  pre- 
vented delays,  and  opened  the  new  Crawford  House  to  travellers  July  13, 
1  359,  when  forty  received  dinner,  and  100  were  entertained  for  the  night. 

This  house  has  a  magnificent  location  upon  a  little  plateau  just  north  of 
the  Gate  of  Crawford  Notch.  In  front  of  the  house  is  a  picturesque  little 
lake,  the  source  of  the  Saco  river,  and,  just  beyond,  the  Elephant's  Head 
guards  the  entrance  to  the  narrow  pass.  Mt.  Willard  rears  its  shapely 
mass  upon  the  right,  and  partly  in  front  of  the  hotel;  and  the  long  ser- 
rated ridge  of  Mt.  Webster  forms  the  west  wall  of  the  Notch.  East  of  the 
lake,  and  lying  along  its  shores  and  upon  the  slopes  above,  is  a  luxuriant 
grove  of  old  trees  designated  as  Idlewild.  Streams  descend  from  the 
heights  on  either  side,  forming,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  hotel,  beau- 
tiful cascades.  Beyond  the  Gate  of  the  Notch,  and  within  the  confines  of 
the  pass,  are  other  cascades  and  several  rock  profiles. 

Oscar  and  Asa  Barron,  brothers,  largely  identified  themselves  with  the 
building  up  of  the  hotel  business  of  the  western  side  of  the  White  Moun- 
tains, and  did  much  to  develop  summer  travel.  Both  were  active  and 
energetic  men,  and  were  connected  with  the  erection  and  conducting  of 
the  Twin  Mountain  House,  Fabyan's,  Mt.  Pleasant  House,  Crawford's,  and 
the  Mt.  Washington  Houses.  Both  are  now  dead.  Col.  Oscar  G.  Barron 
is  their  successor. 

Twin  Mountain  House  takes  its  name  from  two  prominent  peaks  of 
the  Franconia  range.  This  house  is  well  known  as  a  quiet,  secluded 
mountain  retreat,  and  a  pleasant  resting-place  for  invalids.  It  was  built 
about  1870,  stands  upon  a  terrace,  faces  east,  is  surrounded  by  ornamental 
grounds,  and  has  room  for  300  guests.  The  boating  on  the  mill  pond  is 
very  enjoyable;  the  cuisine  is  excellent,  and  this  hotel  well  merits  the 
favor  it  meets  with  the  travelling  public. 

The  Twin  mountains  are  nearly  5,000  feet  in  height,  and  from  the 
northern  summit  can  be  seen  a  vast  panorama  of  valleys,  highways  and 
villages;  on  the  west  the  Presidential  range,  and  eastward,  the  Connecticut 
valley,  while  on  the  south  an  almost  boundless  stretch  of  craggy  and 
wooded  mountains  form  a  pleasing  variety  to  the  views. 


Town  of  Carroll.  t39 

Pleasant  View  House  is  capable  of  accommodating  twenty-five  guests, 
and  meets  the  wants  of  persons  who  prefer  a  small  house. 

The  Mount  Pleasant  House,  which  has  been  greatly  enlarged  within  a 
few  years  past,  is  situated  a  short  distance  from  Fabyan's,  with  a  glorious 
outlook  upon  the  grand  peaks  of  the  Presidential  range.  Mt.  Pleasant, 
from  which  the  hotel  takes  its  name,  rises  in  majestic  form  at  the  right; 
while  the  taller  Mt.  Washington  is  in  front,  flanked  by  Monroe  and  Frank- 
lin on  one  side,  and  Clay,  Jefferson  and  Adams  on  the  other.  The  railroad 
station  is  just  in  front  of  the  house,  and  from  the  front  piazzas  and  win- 
dows the  Mt.  Washington  cars  can  be  plainly  seen  on  their  winding  way 
up  the  mountain  side  and  frequently  into  the  clouds.  The  quietness,  with 
the  railway  conveniences,  the  attractions  of  the  grove  on  the  hillside  in 
the  rear,  and  the  substantial  comforts  of  this  house  combine  to  recom- 
mend it  to  a  large  class  of  people. 

White  Mountain  House. — This  hotel  site  was  first  built  upon  by  one 
Hartford.  He  commenced  a  house  which  Phineas  Rosebrook,  Jr.,  moved 
into  about  1827,  and  finished.  This  was  a  square,  two  story  house,  plas- 
tered on  the  outside.  In  1845  the  present  building  was  erected.  It  is  a 
mile  above  the  Lower  falls  of  the  Ammonoosuc  One  hundred  and  fifty 
guests  can  find  pleasant  rooms  and  a  good  table  here. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


THE     CRAWFORDS. 

Abel  Crawford,  "  the  Patriarch  of  the  Hills,"  was  born  about  1765. 
When  a  young  man  he  made  his  home  among  the  mountains.  He  was 
six  feet,  four  or  five  inches  in  height,  thin,  straight,  of  dark  complexion, 
pleasant  and  genial  in  disposition.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Eleazer  Rose- 
brook.  At  one  time  he  lived  in  a  log-hut  on  the  huge  mound  called  '  'Giants 
Grave"  for  many  months,  alone.  In  1792,  when  the  Rosebrook  family 
moved  into  it,  the  hut  was  so  buried  in  the  snow  that  the  entrance  could 
hardly  be  found.  The  weather  was  so  severe  that  for  six  weeks,  neither 
the  heat  of  the  sun  nor  the  warmth  from  the  cabin  would  cause  the  ice  to 
thaw  enough  to  make  a  drop  of  water  fall  from  the  eaves.  They  were  de- 
pendent upon  the  game  they  could  catch  for  their  sustenance,  and  often 
fearing  that  Mr.  Rosebrook  might  return  with  his  game-bag  empty,  Mrs. 
Rosebrook  would  send  the  children  down  through  the  Notch,  a  distance  of 
twelve  miles,  to  obtain  something  for  sustenance.  Abel  Crawford  never 
wearied  of  relating  stories  of  the  hardships  and  adventures  of  the  pioneers. 


440  History  of  Coos  County. 


He  was  rightly  named  the  "  veteran  pilot "  of  the  mountains,  for  he  was 
the  first  guide  to  the  grand  scenery  now  so  easily  reached.  When  he  was 
about  twenty-five  years  old,  he  wandered  through  the  region  alone — dressed 
in  tanned  moose  skin,  lord  of  the 

"Cradle,  hunting-ground,  and  bier 
Of  wolf  and  otter,  bear  and  deer." 

He  assisted  in  cutting  the  first  foot  path  to  the  ridge,  and,  in  1840,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five,  he  rode  the  first  horse  that  climbed  the  cone  of  Mt. 
Washington.  The  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  was  an  object  of  interest  to 
the  thousands  of  visitors  to  the  mountains.  His  greatest  pleasure  during 
this  time  was  to  sit  and  watch  the  crowds  of  people  come  and  go.  He  died 
when  eighty -five  years  old,  and  is  buried  near  Bemis's  station. 

In  1803  the  first  rude  inn  for  the  few  visitors  was  erected  on  the  "Giants 
Grave."  In  1819  the  first  rough  path  wTas  cut  through  the  forest  on  the 
side  of  the  Mt.  Washington  range  to  the  rocky  ridge.  Ethan  A.  Crawford, 
who  was  then  living  on  the  "Giants  Grave,"  together  with  his  father, 
Abel  Crawford,  who  then  resided  eight  miles  below  the  "  Notch,"  marked 
and  cleared  this  path.  Ethan  built  the  first  protection  for  visitors  under 
the  cone  of  Mt.  Washington.  This  was  a  stone  hut,  its  furniture  a  small 
stove,  an  iron  chest,  a  roll  of  sheet  lead,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  soft 
moss  and  hemlock  boughs  for  bedding.  The  lead  was  the  cabin-register 
on  which  visitors  wrote  their  names  with  a  piece  of  sharp  iron  or  nail. 
This  camp,  and  all  the  furniture,  was  swept  off  in  1826,  on  the  night  of  the 
storm  by  which  the  Willey  family  were  overwhelmed  and  destroyed. 

Ethan  Allen  Crawford,  the  stalwart  "son  of  the  mountains,"  was  born 
in  171*2.  His  childhood  was  passed  in  a  log-hut  a  few  miles  from  the 
Notch.  In  later  years,  after  a  fire,' in  1818,  had  consumed  his  home  on 
"  Giant's  Grave,"  he  lived  in  a  log  cabin  with  but  one  room  without  win- 
dows. He  afterwards  built  a  two-story  tavern;  this  was  lathed,  not  plas- 
tered, painted  red,  and  had  a  stone  chimney,  in  which  in  the  coldest  part 
of  the  winter,  over  a  cord  of  wood  would  be  consumed  in  twenty -four 
hours.  This  was  the  nucleus  of  the  Fabyan  House.  Twelve  miles  beyond 
was  the  Abel  Crawford  place,  and  these  two  houses  comprised  the  hostel- 
ries  of  the  White  Mountains  in  1S27. 

Ethan  A.  Crawford  rejoiced  in  a  giant's  strength  which  he  would  ex- 
hibit in  lifting  five  hundred  weight  into  a  boat  or  in  carrying  a  buck  home 
alive.  He  could  carry  an  old-fashioned  potash  kettle  on  his  head  for  a 
long  distance,  or  catch  a  young  bear,  tie  his  legs,  swing  him  over  his  shoul- 
ders and  take  him  home;  and  if  bruin  behaved  unruly,  would  unload,  take 
him  by  the  heels  and  rap  his  head  on  a  rock  or  tree  until  he  would  hold 
still.  At  one  time,  when  driving  a  load  of  hay  through  the  "  Notch,"  a 
furious  gust  of  wind  made  it  topple;  he  leaped  to  the  ground,  and  caught 


Town  of  Carroll.  1 1 1 


it  on  his  shoulder  to  prevent  it  falling  over  a  precipice.  He  would  break 
out  the  road  for  miles,  through  the  wild  winter  drifts;  he  carried  the  mail 
on  his  back  after  a  freshet  to  the  next  settlement,  when  a  horse  could  not 
cross  the  stream;  he  climbed  Mt.  Washington  laden  with  heavy  burdens, 
without  suffering  more  fatigue  than  ordinary  men  would  feel  after  a  level 
walk  of  ten  miles,  and  would  often  return  from  the  summit  bearing  some 
exhausted  person  on  his  back. 

The  wild  animals  in  a  circumference  of  twenty  miles  knew  him  well. 
Scarcely  a  week  passed  which  was  not  marked  by  some  encounter  with  a 
bear  or  a  wolf— and  with  the  latter  he  carried  on  a  warfare  of  years.  He 
trapped  the  sables  and  depopulated  the  banks  of  the  rivers  of  otters,  and 
cleared  the  hills  that  slope  toward  the  Ammonoosuc  of  the  furious  free- 
booters— the  wild  cats.  His  affection  for  all  these  creatures  of  the  forest 
was  rare,  and  he  tamed  bucks  and  sable,  and  often  had  young  wolves  and 
"well  behaved"  bears  around  his  premises;  and  his  love  for  the  Alpine 
plants  was  shown  by  his  beautiful  collection.  Ethai  1  ( !rawford  experienced 
many  changes  of  fortune.  In  his  manhood  and  old  age  he  entertained 
many  wise  and  distinguished  guests  under  his  plain  and  rude  shelter,  and 
this  bold  mountaineer,  educated  in  the  school  of  Mother  Nature,  was  never 
ill  at  ease  in  the  presence  of  these  men  learned  in  law,  literature  and  science. 

Ethan  Crawford's  wife  was  Lucy  Howe,  of  Guildhall.  Her  patience 
and  faithfulness  were  just  the  qualities  to  hold  in  check  his  impetuous  and 
hasty  spirit.  When  heavy  misfortune  came  upon  him,  her  courage  and 
cheer  gave  him  new  heart,  and  when  his  powerful  frame  was  shaken  and 
tortured  by  disease  and  pain,  her  kindness  and  trust  proved  an  unfailing 
comfort.  Every  form  of  adversity  seemed  to  beset  him — new  hotels 
drew  the  travellers  from  his  public-house;  the  bargain  for  the  sale  of  his 
lands  was  broken;  his  character  was  defamed  and  reputation  injured  by 
envious  men;  and,  worse  than  all  these,  this  man  whose  life  had  been  passed 
among  the  fresh  breezes  of  the  mountains,  was  confined  for  debt  in  the 
close  air  of  Lancaster  jail. 

After  leaving  his  home  at  Mt.  Washington,  he  went  to  Vermont,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife,  but  his  hard  fortune  continued,  and  he  returned  to 
Carroll  to  die;  an  old  man  before  his  time,  scarcely  fifty-six  years  of  age. 
Few  pioneers  have  done  more  faithful  work  or  borne  so  much  adversity 
and  suffering,  and,  in  his  own  words,  "So  it  is  that  men  suffer  in  various 
ways  in  advancing  civilization,  and  through  God,  mankind  are  indebted  to 
the  labors  of  their  fellow  beings  in  many  different  spheres  of  life.'' 

[Anecdotes  of  Ethan  Allen  Crawford,  "  King  of  the  White  Mountains," 
as  related  by  James  W.  Weeks.] 

He  was  fiearly  six  feet  and  a  half  in  height;  broad  shoulders,  stooped 
a  little;  thin  in  flesh,  of  light  complexion,  with  light  hair  and  beard,  and 
he  would  weigh  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.     He  delighted  in  a 

29 


442  History  of  Coos  County. 

rough  life,  but  must  "  rough  it  "  in  his  own  way.  He  enlisted  in  the  army 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  said  he  was  detailed  as  one  of  a  scouting  party 
one  night  under  Capt.  Weeks,  and,  after  a  watch  of  some  hours  in  the 
dark,  they  were  ordered  to  lie  down,  which  they  did,  and  covered  them- 
selves with  their  blankets.  In  the  morning  they  found  themselves  buried 
under  six  inches  of  snow,  so  that  the  men  looked  like  so  many  logs  of 
wood  under  their  snow  covering.  Ethan  said  "that  was  too  much  for 
him  and  he  got  out  of  it." 

He  lived  at  the  Fabyan  place,  and  seemed  to  have  a  queer  idea  of  har- 
mony. He  had  a  wolf,  a  bear,  a  jackass,  a  peacock,  a  flock  of  guinea 
hens  and  a  mountain  horn  six  or  seven  feet  long.  This  horn  he  delighted 
to  blow  to  hear  the  echo;  and  he  sounded  it  admirably.  He  would  blow 
his  horn,  the  wolf  would  howl,  the  old  bear  would  grunt  and  growl,  the 
ass  would  bray,  the  peacock  would  scream,  and  the  guinea  hens  would 
cackle.  If  that  did  not  make  "  music  fit  for  the  gods ' :  it  suited  Ethan, 
and  amused  his  visitors. 

At  one  time  Crawford  was  coining  down  Cherry  mountain  on  the  old 
turnpike  and  his  dog  treed  a  ''  gray  cat  "  or  Siberian  lynx,  a  truly  formid- 
able animal.  He  had  no  gun,  and  the  cat  was  beyond  his  reach  up  the 
tree;  so  he  cut  a  small  birch  sapling  ten  feet  long,  twisted  the  top  into  a 
noose,  then  climbing  the  tree,  he  quietly  slipped  the  noose  over  the  ani- 
mal's neck,  and  with  a  sudden  jerk  drew  it  tight,  and  brought  the  cat  from 
the  limb.  The  sapling  not  being  long  enough  to  reach  the  ground,  Ethan  ' 
came  tumbling  down,  very  much  mixed  up,  but,  with  the  help  of  the  dog, 
the  cat  was  killed  and  carried  home. 

In  the  winter  of  1S29  and  1830  Crawford  brought  into  the  old  "  Coos 
Hotel,"  at  Lancaster,  thirteen  bear  skins  at  one  time,  to  get  the  bounty  on 
them.  They  were  the  product  of  his  fall  hunting.  He  sat  up  to  a  very 
late  hour  that  night,  and  amused  a  large  company  telling  his  adventures, 
but  I  cannot  use  the  exact  language  which  gave  spice  to  his  stories.  He 
said  that  he  wanted  a  pet  bear  at  his  house,  and  could  not  wait  for  a  cub 
to  grow  up,  so  he  thought  to  tame  an  old  one.  When  he  went  to  look  at 
his  traps,  he  took  ropes  in  his  old  wagon  to  bind  one  if  he  found  one  there. 
He  said,  "I  found  a  great  lean,  long  legged  old  cuss,  hitched  by  one  fore 
paw,  about  half  a  mile  from  where  I  left  my  horse,  so  I  noosed  a  rope 
around  one  hind  foot,  drew  it  back  and  tied  it  to  a  tree;  then  the  other 
legs  in  the  same  way."  Crawford  now  got  on  the  bear,  tied  up  his  mouth, 
loosened  one  leg  at  a  time,  tied  them  together,  took  off  the  trap  and,  at 
last,  shouldered  the  brute.  He  said  the  weight  was  about  all  he  could 
stand  under.  He  started  for  his  wagon,  "  and,"  he  said,  "  the  bear  sweat, 
and  I  sweat;  his  mouth  being  tied  he  could  not  loll,  and  when  I  had  got 
almost  to  where  I  left  my  horse,  the  old  cuss  gave  up  the  ghost  and  died 
on  my  back."     Crawford  was  not  going  to  be  thwarted  in  this  way;  so  he 


Town  op  Carroll.  ii:; 


tried  another  bear  and  shouldered  him  as  he  did  the  first,  but,  before  he 
got  to  his  wagon,  the  bear  got  a  foot  loose;  and,  with  one  sweep  of  his  paw, 
made  sad  havoc  with  the  Mountain  King's  clothes;  tearing  out  the  back  of 
his  vest,  stripping  his  shirt  to  his  skin  which  also  suffered  somewhat,  and 
ripping  out  the  waistband  of  his  pantaloons.  Ethan  then  threw  the  bear 
over  his  head  with  such  force  that  when  it  struck  the  ground  it  was  killed. 

Ethan  was  quite  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  It  was  frequently  the  case 
that  they  would  insist  on  walking  to  the  top  of  Mt.  Washington,  and,  on 
such  occasions,  Ethan  always  accompanied  them.  They  would  usually 
reach  the  top,  but  more  than  one  gave  out  before  she  got  down,  and  his 
herculean  strength  and  good  nature  enabled  him  to  perform  grand  service 
as  a  pack  horse  at  such  a  time. 

I  have  shown  how  Ethan  dealt  with  wild  animals.  I  will  now  try  to 
give  an  idea  of  how  he  encountered  "  big  "  men.  He  was  a  Federalist  of 
the  Federalists,  consequently  a  great  admirer  of  Daniel  Webster.  In  the 
days  of  the  old  red  tavern  with  the  moose-horns  for  a  sign  (which  was 
superseded  by  a  better  house  in  1832),  Mr.  Webster  and  his  wife,  with 
horse  and  chaise,  were  quietly  passing  through  the  mountains  one  over- 
cast morning,  and  called  at  Crawford's.  He  came  to  the  door  in  his  shirt 
sleeves,  placed  his  hands  on  the  upper  casings,  leaned  upon  them,  and 
looked  out  between  his  arms  to  see  what  was  wanted.  Mr.  Webster  said, 
"Is  your  name  Crawford?"  •'Yes/'  was  the  reply.  "I  have  called  to  see 
if  you  will  go  with  me  to-day  to  the  top  of  Mt.  Washington?"  "No!" 
Ethan  replied,  ' '  In  the  first  place,  it  is  too  late  in  the  day;  then  the  weather 
ain't  suitable,  and  you  couldn't  see  anything  if  you  went."  Mrs.  Webster 
said,  "Mr.  Webster,  perhaps  we  had  better  stop  over  until  it  clears  up." 
Crawford  looked  for  a  moment,  took  down  his  hands,  stepped  out,  and 
asked,  "  Is  your  name  Webster?  "  "That  is  my  name,"  was  the  reply. 
"  What  Webster?  What's  yer  christian  name?  "  "  They  call  me  Daniel," 
answered  Webster.  Ethan  stepped  forward,  extended  his  hand,  and  said, 
"Daniel  Webster,  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  Give  us  yer  hand.  Get  out  and 
come  in.  lam  ready  to  go  to  the  top  of  Mt.  Washington,  or  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth  with  you,  to-day,  or  any  other  day  you  may  choose."  It  is 
needless  to  say  they  "  stopped  over." 


THE   ROSEBROOK   FAMILY. 


Captain  Eleazer  Rosebrook,  a  pioneer  from  Grafton,  Mass.,  where  he 
was  born  in  1747,  with  his  wife  Hannah  Haines,  a  native  of  Brimfield, 
and  one  daughter,  came  into  the  upper  Coos  as  far  as  Lancaster,  where 
they  stopped  temporarily,  until  Mr.  Rosebrook  should  find  a  place  to  settle. 
They  moved  into  the  woods  up  the  Connecticut  river  to  Monadnork.  mm 


441  History  of  Coos  County. 

Colebrook,  nearly  thirty  miles  from  any  inhabitant,  with  no  guide  to  his 
cabin  excepting  blazed  trees.  Daring  the  War  of  the  Ee volution,  in  1778, 
he  moved  to  Guildhall,  Vt.,  in  order  to  have  his  family  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  settlements  while  he  was  absent  performing  military  duty  on  the 
frontier, — not  in  the  regular  army,  but  in  the  more  hazardous  and  arduous 
service  of  scout  and  ranger.  Mrs.  Rosebrook  was  a  courageous  woman. 
The  Indians  were  troublesome  at  times  (after  having  made  free  use  of 
"  fire-water'),  yet  when  once  visited  by  them  in  her  husband's  absence,  she 
drove  them  all  from  the  house,  except  one  squaw  who  was  unable  to  move, 
and  she  dragged  her  out.  Mr.  Rosebrook  resided  in  Guildhall  fourteen 
years,  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  useful  citizens,  and  took  a  prom- 
inent part  in  the  town  affairs.  In  1792  he  sold  his  beautiful  Connecticut 
river  farm,  and  in  the  winter  went  into  the  wilderness  to  Nash  and  Saw- 
yer's Location.  Here  he  soon  built  a  large  two- story  house,  at  the  base  of 
what  was  known  as  the  "  Giant's  Grave,"  occupying  nearly  the  same  site 
as  the  Fabvan  House,  and  in  1803  opened  the  first  house  for  summer  vis- 
itors in  the  White  Mountains.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  enter- 
prise; he  erected  a  saw  and  grist-mill,  large  barns,  stables  and  sheds.  Just 
as  he  had  got  his  estate  in  good  condition,  and  was  about  to  enjoy  the  com- 
forts acquired  by  his  laborious  life,  a  cancer  broke  out  on  his  lip,  and 
after  patiently  bearing  his  intense  suffering  for  a  few  years,  he  died, 
September  27,  1817. 


PHINEAS   ROSEBROOK. 

Phineas  Rosebrook,  Sr.,  son  of  Eleazer  Rosebrook,  was  born  in  Guild- 
hall, Vt.,  about  1778,  and  died  in  Carroll,  September,  1846;  his  wife,  Han- 
nah Stillings,  a  native  of  Bartlett,  was  born  in  1780.  In  the  spring  of  1807 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rosebrook  moved  into  a  log  cabin  put  up  by  Abel  Crawford, 
some  time  previously,  upon  land  where  their  grandson,  Frank  B.  Rose- 
brook, now  resides,  where  some  trees  had  been  felled  the  year  before.  Mr. 
Rosebrook's  stock  consisted  of  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  cow.  He  immediately 
began  cutting  up  the  trees,  and  clearing  his  land,  but  his  laborious  and 
persistent  exertions  brought  on  a  lameness  of  the  back,  so  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  he  crawled  along  and  drove  the  oxen;  however,  his  brave 
wife,  with  her  hired  girl,  Betsey  Tuttle,  both  strong  women,  did  the 
logging  and  seeded  the  land.  The  next  season,  with  restored  health,  Mr. 
Rosebrook  engaged  in  farming,  and  also  made  black  salts  out  of  the  ashes 
of  elm  and  other  kinds  of  wood.  (" Salts''  was  their  principal  currency  in 
those  days.)  These  he  carried  to  Portland  and  exchanged  for  corn,  and 
other  necessaries  of  life.  After  many  long  years  of  poverty,  pinching 
economy,  and  hard  labor,  Mr.  Rosebrook  succeeded  in  paying  for  his  land, 
and  erected  substantial  buildings  for  a  permanent  and  comfortable  home. 


Town  of  Carroll.  i  1 5 


His  eleven  children  were  Franklin,  Leander  (dec.),  Phineas,  Mitchell  (died 
young),  Mitchell,  Louisa  (Mrs.  Eohert  Tuttle)  (dec),  Mary  (dec),  Laura 
(dec),  Lee,  Eleazer,  and  James  F.  1). 

Mr.  Rosebrook  was  a  well-formed,  muscular  man.  weighing  about  one 
hundred  and  sixty  pounds.  Ambitious  to  prosper,  he  was  industrious,  a 
hard  worker,  and  a  good  type  of  the  pioneers.  He  was  an  "  old  line " 
Democrat,  and  esteemed  for  his  sterling,  honest  worth.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church  of  Bethlehem.  When 
Ethan  Crawford's  house  was  burned,  Mrs.  Rosebrook,  although  a  woman 
of  extraordinary  strength,  injured  her  health  by  her  exertions  in  getting 
the  goods  out  of  his  house.  This  shortened  her  life;  she  died  in  1832,  aged 
fifty -two  years. 

Phineas  Rosebrook,  son  of  Phineas  and  Hannah  (Stillings)  Rosebrook, 
was  born  in  Carroll,  June  4,  1807.  He  was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in 
the  town.  His  education  was  acquired  from  female  teachers  hired  to  come 
to  the  house,  and  schools  at  Bethlehem.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  within  a  few  months  of  his  majority.  He  married,  December  16, 
1S27,  Sophronia,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Jane  (Folsom)  Tuttle.  [Mr. 
Tuttle  was  born  June  11,  1764,  and  died  October  20,  1847.  Mrs.  Tuttle 
was  born  September  26,  1761,  and  died  January  31,  1840.  They 
moved  at  an  early  date  from  Lee  to  Eaton,  where  Mrs.  Rosebrook  was 
born,  the  youngest  of  ten  children,  September  21,  1807.  In  1816  they 
removed  to  Hart's  Location,  afterwards  to  Jefferson,  where  they  passed 
their  last  days.  ]  Phineas  Rosebrook  and  wife  commenced  housekeeping 
in  an  unfinished  house,  which  had  been  built  by  Hartford,  on  the  site  of 
the  ''White  Mountain  House  ";  this  they  finished.  It  was  a  square,  two- 
story  house,  and,  from  the  great  expense  of  lumber,  plastered  on  the  out- 
side. Mrs.  Rosebrook  brought  to  her  new  home  a  few  articles  of  house- 
hold furniture  and  a  cow,  the  products  of  her  own  industry. 

Mr.  Rosebrook  had.  as  he  supposed,  purchased  this  lot  of  land,  but  in  time 
found  he  had  bought  the  wrong  lot,  and  was  compelled  to  buy  the  one  on 
which  his  house  stood.  Four  years  after,  he  sold  both  lots  to  a  Mr.  Den- 
nison,  taking  merely  his  personal  notes  for  payment,  but,  disposing  of  the 
property,  Dennison  left  the  country,  and  Mr.  Rosebrook  lost  the  whole. 
He  then  moved  to  his  father's  house  and  remained  two  or  three  years, 
until  his  mother's  death.  In  1832,  I  he  year  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
town,  he  located  on  the  east  branch  of  John's  river,  half  a  mile  from  his 
present  residence,  and  put  up  a  little  saw-mill,  which  he  conducted  for  four 
years,  but  lost  everything,  owing  to  the  bad  foundations  of  his  dam  and 
theresultant  injury  by  water.  He  sold  the  place  forathousand  dollars  which 
just  squared  him  with  the  world,  leaving  him  without  a  dollar.  Bui  these 
reverses  did  not  crush  his  strong  nature,  and,  cheered  and  assist. m!  by  his 
energetic  and  industrious  wife,  he  made  his  third  attempt  to  establish  a 


446  History  of  Coos  County. 

home,  and  purchased,  on  time,  a  lot  of  one  hundred  acres,  where  he  now 
resides,  from  the  heirs  of  Gen.  Joseph  Whipple,  and  moved  into  a  small 
unfinished  house  on  this  place  in  1836.  Here  he  worked  for  several  years 
getting  out  lumber,  farming,  etc. ,  without  adding  much  to  his  material 
wealth.  In  1S53  he  borrowed  one  thousand  dollars  of  his  brother-in-law, 
and  put  up  a  potato  starch-mill.  This  enterprise  was  very  successful.  At 
the  end  of  the  first  season  he  was  able  to  pay  the  borrowed  money,  and 
also,  for  the  building  of  the  mill  and  its  machinery.  He  raised  a  large 
amount  of  potatoes,  sometimes  5,000  bushels  a  year,  and  one  year  he  manu- 
factured 50,000  bushels  into  starch,  producing  250  tons.  His  product  he 
hauled  to  Littleton,  the  nearest  railroad  station,  as  it  was  mostly  sold  to 
Boston  firms.  While  manufacturing,  with  his  son,  Mark,  he  was  engaged 
in  buying  wild  land,  from  which  Mark  got  off  timber,  and,  for  a  few  years, 
Mr.  Eosebrook  had  a  small  store.  He  cleared  up  the  one  hundred  acres  on 
the  home  lot,  and  has  purchased  one  hundred  more,  has  erected  a  good 
house  and  out  buildings,  and  laid  a  large  amount  of  stone  wall;  he  also 
built  a  new  mill.  He  carried  on  manufacturing  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years, 
and  under  his  prudent  and  sagacious  management  it  was  a  financial 
success. 

The  children  of  Phineas  and  Sophronia  (Tuttle)  Eosebrook  attaining 
maturity  were,  Lee,  Jennie  (Mrs.  Augustus  Hodgkins),  Amasa,  Mark  P., 
Frank  B.,  Eliza  J.  (Mrs.  Nelson  A.  Glines),  Laura  A.  (Mrs.  Frank  Hobbs). 
and  John  W.     Those  surviving  are  Lee  and  Frank  B. 

This  worthy  couple  have  experienced  many  reverses  and  peculiar  sor- 
rows, but  have  not  succumbed  to  them.  Mrs.  Eosebrook,  although  four- 
score years  of  age,  is  yet  active  and  industrious,  and,  at  this  writing,  is 
busily  engaged  in  making  a  patch-work  bed-quilt  for  each  of  her  fifteen 
grandchildren.  She  is  a  cheerful  companion  and  faithful  nurse  to  her  hus- 
band. Mr.  Eosebrook's  vigor  and  health  is  much  impaired,  and  he  is 
quite  feeble  physically.  He  has  been  a  man  of  diligence,  shrewdness  and 
enterprise.  The  rigid  frugality  and  the  unflagging  industry  in  the  home 
life  of  the  pioneer,  supplemented  by  the  limited  but  practical  learning  of 
the  times,  have  produced  generations  of  clear  and  vigorous  minds.  Mr. 
Eosebrook  is  a  good  representative  of  this  class;  he  is  a  man  of  sound  judg- 
ment and  clear  understanding.  He  has  always  been  interested  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  town.  The  first  year  of  its  organization  he  was  elected  select- 
man, and  re-elected  many  times.  His  political  principles  have  ever  been  in 
accord  with  those  of  the  Democratic  party  as  enunciated  by  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson. He  represented  Carroll  in  the  state  legislature  in  1661-62,  but  has 
preferred  attending  to  his  private  affairs  to  political  preferment.  Although 
not  a  member  of  any  religious  denomination,  yet  his  motto  in  life  is  the 
Golden  Eule,  and  he  will  leave  to  his  many  descendants  the  record  of  an 
honorable  and  well-spent  life,  good  deeds,  and  pleasant  recollections. 


WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 


White  field's  Petition  for  Grant  —  The  Grant  —  Charter  of  Whiteflelds  —  Considerations  for 
Land  Granted —  Paul  and  Benuing  Wentworth  —  Other  Grantees  —  Gerrish  Survey  —  The  First 
Moderator  —  Capt.  Jonas  Minot  —  Samuel  Minot. 

THIS  pentangular  section  of  the  ancient  "  Laconia  "  is  situated  near 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  county  about  four  miles  east  from  where 
John's  river  enters  the  Connecticut,  at  the  head  of  the  "Fifteen- 
mile  falls."  It  lies  directly  north  from  Concord,  and  is  bounded  by  Lan- 
caster, Jefferson,  Carroll,  Bethlehem  and  Dalton.  All  of  these  surround- 
ing towns  having  been  chartered  previously  to  Whitefield,  it  was  literally 
"  what  was  left,"  and  its  metes  and  bounds  were  established  by  its  outly- 
ing surveys.  The  grant  of  this  unappropriated  section  was  in  answer  to 
the  following  petition  addressed  to  the  governor  and  council: — 

"Petition  for  a  Grant. — To  his  Excellency  John  Wentworth  Esquire  Governor  &  Commander  in 
Chief  of  ye  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  and  to  The  Honorable  His  Majesty's  Council  of  the  said 
Province. 

"The  Petition  of  Josiah  Moody  and  his  Associates  humbly  sheweth — Thai  your  Petitioners 
being  desirous  of  carrying  on  some  settlements  in  this  Province,  and  having  a  number  of  Families 
ready  to  remove  into  it,  if  they  can  be  accommodated  with  a  suitable  tract  of  Land:  pray  your  Ex- 
cellency it  Honors  that  they  may  have  liberty  to  look  out  for  such  a  Tract  among  the  unappropri- 
ated Lands  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  Province  which  they  will  engage  to  settle  very  speedily — 
And  that  your  Excellency  &  Honors  will  please  to  favor  them  with  a  Grant  of  the  same  on  the 
usual  conditions  and  reservations — And  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  &c.  &C. 

"  Josiah  Moody,  &  for  his  Associates. 

"Portsmouth  12th  April  177::." 

There  were  eighty-nine  petitioners,  principally  from  the  southern  part 
of  the  state  and  from  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  In  answer  to  the  foregoing 
petition,  a  township  was  granted  July  4,  1774,  purporting  to  contain  1(.»,<»77 
acres  with  an  allowance  of  1,070  acres  for  unimprovable  land,  and  named 
Whitefields.  The  name  occurs  three  times  in  the  record  of  the  grant,  and 
it  has  the  plural  termination  in  every  instance. 

[We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Levi  W.  Dodge  for  much  of  this  history  of  Whitefield. — Ed.] 


448  History  of  Coos  County. 

The  Grant. — Prior  to  1700,  following  the  conquest  of  Canada,  there 
were  no  white  settlements  in  the  Connecticut  valley  north  of  Charlestown, 
then  "  No.  4."  Indeed  many  of  our  fathers  well  remembered  when  no  foot 
of  white  man  had  penetrated  the  primeval  solitudes  of  Northern  New 
Hampshire,  save  that  of  the  daring  hunter,  or  the  unfortunate  Indian  cap- 
tive on  his  way  to  or  from  Canadian  exile.  But  the  capture  of  Montreal 
in  1761  was  the  signal  for  the  hostile  savage  to  retire  before  the  northern 
march  of  civilization. 

Immediately  upon  the  cessation  of  hostilities  there  was  an  unprece- 
dented rush  of  adventurers  and  speculators  for  the  ungranted  lands  upon 
both  sides  of  the  Connecticut.  Applications  for  charters  increased,  and 
Gov.  Wentworth,  in  no  wise  loth  to  grant  them,  filled  his  coffers  with  the 
required  fees,  and  opened  up  the  new  country  to  his  gratified  subjects. 

The  promised  rewards  to  returned  soldiers  were  not  forgotten  entirely, 
but  they  stood,  apparently,  no  better  chance  than  did  the  stranger  appli- 
cant, or  him  who  had  not  consented  to  bear  arms  during  the  long  and 
bloody  French  and  Indian  wars. 

The  survey  and  mapping  of  this  northern  country  along  the  line  of  the 
Connecticut  river  as  a  base,  was  made  by  Hubertus  Neal,  as  deputy  sur- 
veyor of  the  King's  Woods  in  1761-62.  He  was  directed  to  continue  the 
Blanchard  survey,  which  ended  at  the  mouth  of  the  lower  Ammonoosuc, 
observing  the  same  general  rule  of  marking  every  six  miles  along  the  river 
for  the  line  or  corner  of  a  future  township.  He  extended  his  survey  sixty 
miles,  or  to  the  present  north  line  of  the  town  of  Lemington,  Vermont.  It 
was  from  this  survey  that  a  plan  of  Connecticut  river  was  drawn,  and  three 
tiers  of  towships  projected  upon  either  side  of  the  river  (for  Vermont  was 
then  a  part  of  the  "  New  Hampshire  Grants  ").  Upon  the  east  side  the 
general  order  was  broken  above  the  towns  of  Lyman  and  Monroe,  which 
then  constituted  one  township.  Applications  were  made  for  these  un- 
granted divisions  as  soon  as  mapped;  and,  during  the  few  years  immedi- 
ately preceding  the  Revolution,  nearly  two  hundred  grants  of  townships 
were  made  between  the  White  and  Green  Mountains  above  Charlestown. 

It  was  during  this  new  township-fever,  or  season  of  ungranted  land- 
patents,  that  Benning  and  Paul  Wentworth  and  six  others  from  Ports- 
mouth, a  score  from  Massachusetts  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  and  sixty-two 
others,  mostly  from  Southern  New  Hampshire,  applied  for  a  tract  of  wild 
land  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  This  division  was  given  them.  It  was 
to  them  a  "  terra  incognita"  but  it,  like  western  lands  of  the  present  day, 
showed  well  by  the  map. 

The  petition  was  granted  under  date  of  July  4,  1774,  according  to  the 
following  instrument,  after  the  prescribed  formula  of  all  the  charters  of 
those  days,  emanating  from  King  George  the  Third. 


Town  of  Whitefield.  Mm 

Charter  of  Whitefields,  {verbatim  copy  of  Jonas  Minot's  manuscript.) 

"Province   of        j 
Newhampshire.     \ 

"George  the  Third  by  the  grace  of  God  of  Great  Brittain,  France  &  Ireland  King  Defender  of 
the  faith  &c.  To  all  to  whom  these  preseats  shall  Come,  Greeting.  Know  ye,  that  we  of  our 
especial,  certain  knowledge  and  mere  motion  for  the  due  encouragement  of  Settling  a  new  planta- 
tion: within  our  Said  province,  by  and  with  the  advice,  of  our  trusty  and  Well  beloved  John 
Wentworth  Esquire  our  Governor  &  Commander  in  Chief  of  our  Said  province  of  Newhampshire 
in  New  England  and  of  our  Council  of  the  Said  province,  Have  up  m  the  Conditions  and  reserva- 
tion* herein  after  made,  given  and  granted  and  by  These  Presents  for  us  our  heirs  &  Successors  do 
give  and  grant  in  Equal  Shares  unto  our  Loveing  Subjects  Inhabitants  of  our  Said  province  of 
Newhampshire,  &  our  other  Dominions  who  have  petitioned  us  for  the  same,  setting  forth  their 
readiness  to  make  immediate  settlement,  &  to  their  heirs  &  assigns  forever,  whose  names  are 
entered  on  this  Granl  to  be  Divided  to  &  amongst  them  into  ninety  four  Equal  Shares,  all  that 
Tract  or  parcel  of  Land  situate,  lying  &  being  within  our  Said  province  of  Newhampshire,  Con- 
taining by  admeasurement  Nineteen  Thousend  A:  Seventy-seven  acres  more  or  less,  out  of  which 
an  allowance  is  to  be  made  for  highways  &  unimprovable  lands  by  rocks,  mountains  &  water-. 
one  thousend  aud  Seventy  Seven  acres  free,  according  to  a  plan  or  Survey  thereof  exhibeted  by 
our  Surveyor  General  of  lands  for  our  Said  province  by  or  Said  Governors  order  and  returned  into 
the  Secretarys  office  of  our  Said  Province  a  Copy  whereof  is  hereunto  annext,  Butted  and  Bounded 
as  follows— viz.  Begening  at  a  Beech  Tree  on  the  Southeast  Corner  of  Lancaster  being  in  the 
Northerly  Line  of  Apthorp  >k  running  South  twenty  six  Degrees  Eist  one  mile  &  one  hundred 
eighty  rods  to  the  Northeasterly  Corner  of  Apthorp— thence  on  the  Easterly  Line  of  Apthorp 
South  fifty  six  Degrees  west  four  miles  one  hundred  twenty  rods  to  the  Northwest  Corner  of 
Lloyd's  Hills,  then  on  the  Northerly  line  of  Lloyds  Hills  South  fifty  eight  Degrees  East  five  miles 
ten  rods  to  the  west  Line  of  Britton  wood,  thence  on  the  West  Line  of  Britton  woods  North  two 
miles  one  hundred  Sixty  Six  rods  to  the  Northwest  Corner  of  Said  Britton  woods— then  on  the  North 
Line  of  Britton  woods  East  three  miles  and  one  half  to  the  westerly  Line  of  Dartmouth  then  on 
Said  Westerly  Line  of  Dartmouth  North  five  miles  two  hundred  Sixty  rods  to  the  Easterly  Line 
of  Lancaster  thence  on  Said  Easterly  Line  of  Lancaster  South  Sixty  nine  Degrees  west  five  miles 
fifty  rods  or  to  the  Bounds  first  mentioned. 

"To  have  and  to  hold  the  Said  Tract  of  Land  as  above  Expressed  togather  with  all  prevelidges 
and  appurtenances  to  them  and  to  their  respective  heirs  and  assigns  forever  by  the  Name  of  White- 
fields  uppon  the  following  Conditions  viz:  First  that  the  Grantees  at  their  own  Cost  Shall  Cut  & 
Clear  Bridge  and  make  pasable  for  Carriages  of  all  Kinds  a  road  of  four  rods  wide  through  the 
Said  Tract  hereby  Granted  as  shall  be  at  any  Time  hereafter  Directed  by  our  Said  Governor  and 
Counsel  which  road  Shall  be  Complected  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  Such  Direction  in  fail- 
ure of  which,  the  premises  and  Every  part  thereof  Shall  be  forlitted  and  revert  to  us  our  heirs  & 
Successors  to  be  by  us  or  them  re-entered  uppon  and  regranted  to  any  of  our  Loveing  Subjects, 
Secondly  that  all  white  pine  &  other  Pine  Trees  within  the  Said  Township  lit  for  masting  our 
Royal  Navy  be  Carefully  preserved  for  that  use  and  none  to  be  Cut  or  felled  without  one  Special 
Licance  for  So  Doing  first  had  and  obtained  upon  the  penalty  of  the  forfeeture  of  the  righl  of  the 
Grantee  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to  us  our  heirs  and  Successors  as  well  as  being  Subject  to  the  pen- 
alties of  any  act— or  acts  of  Parlimenl  that  are  or  hereafter  shall  lie  Enacted,  thirdly— that  before 
any  Division  of  the  Land  be  made  to  A  amongst  the  Grantees,  a  Tract  of  Land  as  near  the  Center 
of  Said  Township  as  the  Land  will  admit  of  Shall  be  reserved  ami  marked  out  for  Town  lots  on< 
of  which  Shall  be  allotted  to  Each  Grantee  of  the  Contents  of  one  acre, — Fourthly — Yelding  and 
paying  therefor  to  us  our  heirs  and  Successors  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January  1TT1I  the  rent 
of  one  Ear  of  Indian  Corn  only  if  Lawfully  Demanded  — Fifthly  that  Every  proprietor  Settler  or 
Inhabitant  Shall  yield  and  pay  to  us  our  heirs  and  Successors  yearly  and  Every  year  forever 
from  and  after  the  expiration  of  ten  years  from  the  Date  of  this  Grant  one  Shilling 
proclemation  money  for  Every  hundred  acres  he  So  ownes  Settles  or  possesses  and  So 
in  proportion    for  a    grator    or    Less    Tract  of    the   Said   Lands    which    money    Shall    be    paid 


450  History  of  Coos  County. 

by  the  respective  Persons  abovesaid  their  heirs  or  assigns  in  our  Counsel  Chamber  in 
Portsmouth,  or  to  such  officer  or  office  as  shall  be  apointed  to  receive  the  Same — Sixthly — that 
any  Part  of  the  premises  apearing  well  Adapted  to  the  groath  of  hemp  or  Flax  or  either  of  them 
Shall  be  Cultivated  with  those  useful  articles  of  Produce  in  the  proportion  of  ten  Acres  in  Each 
&  Every  hundred  of  these  granted  premises  within  ten  years  of  this  Date.  Seventhly — that  six 
Pamelies  Shall  be  Setled  and  actually  resident  in  the  Town  within  two  years  of  this  date;  Eathtly 
that  additional  Setlement  be  made  So  as  to  Complete  Sixty  Families  in  Eight  years  from  this  Date. 
Ninthly — that  this  Grant  Shall  not  interefere  with  any  of  our  Grants  formerly  mide  and  now  in 
force  nor  interrupt  the  Grantees  in  their  improvements  making  thereon  agreeable  to  the  Condi- 
tions thereof  these  to  be  in  Lieu  of  all  others  rents  and  Services  whatsoever.  In  Testimony  where- 
of wre  have  Caused  the  Seal  of  our  Province  to  be  here  unto  affixed.  Witness  John  Wentworth 
Esqr  our  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  aforesaid  the  fourth  Day  of  July  in  the  foarteenth 
year  of  our  reign  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Christ  1774  by  his  Exelenys  Command  with  Advice 
of  Counsel  Theadore  Atkinson  Sect  the  names  of  the  Grantees  of  Whitefields.  Josiah  Moodey, 
Thomas  Clough,  Leavit  Clough,  Jonathan  Moodey,  Jonathan  Bailey,  Jonah  Lang,  Nathan  John 
son,  Eliphalet  Neai,  William  Norton,  Samuel  Swan,  James  Merrick,  Phinehas  Merrick,  Aaron 
Merrick,  Jose  Merrick,  Obed  Merrick,  William  Prothingham,  Samuel  Cate,  Samuel  Gate,  Juner, 
Phinehas  Hodgdon,  Samuel  Langdon,  Jeremiah  Clough,  Esqr,  Peter  Green  Esqr,  John  Flagg 
Esqr,  David  Woods,  David  Waite,  David  Woods  Juner,  Samuel  Swan,  Juner,  Eleazer  Richard- 
son, William  Farrington,  Holten  Johnson,  Henry  Oliver,  Mathew  Farrington,  John  Stevens, 
Jonathan  Dix,  Stephen  Greenleaf,  Nathan  Waite,  Samuel  Nutter,  David  Gardner,  Timothy  Nast, 
Samuel  Boltwood,  Benjamin  Newell,  Aaron  Newell,  Ichabod  Weeks,  Benjamin  Johnson,  John 
Lewis,  Jeremiah  Clough  Jr,  Esqr,  James  Gibson,  John  Holden,  Aaron  Sargent,  Edward  Mar- 
deen.  Henry  Clough,  Abner  Hains,  Moses  Randal,  Jeremiah  Gibson,  Henry  Gerish,  Esqr,  Will- 
iam Simons,  Capt.  Stephen  Gerish,  Samuel  Pickering,  Joseph  White,  Increase  Newhall,  Joseph 
Hart,  John  Hurd  Esqr,  John  Hodgdon,  Benjamin  Hurd,  Benjamin  Hurd  Junr,  Joseph  Hurd, 
Isaac  Hurd,  Josiah  Harris,  Junr,  Samuel  Harris,  Nehemiah  Rand,  Thomas  Rand,  Patric  Dough- 
erty, James  Bradish,  James  Braddish  Junr,  Seth  Sweetsire,  Benjamin  Sweetser,  William  Harris, 
Josiah  Harris,  these  Last  fifteen  persons  are  all  of  Charlestown  in  the  province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay — Nehemiah  Estabrook  in  Lexington  of  Said  province  Benjamin  Rand  of  Weston  in 
Said  province  Roger  Bartlet  &  Samuel  Bartlet  of  Boston  in  Sd  province  John  Cockran  Esqr 
Benning  Wentworth,  Thomas  Macdonough,  Paul  Wentworth,  Revd  Jeremy  Belknap,  John 
Marshall  of  Portsmouth  Revd  Stephen  Peabody,  Ephraim  Pickering  one  whole  share  for  a 
Glebe  for  the  Church  of  England  as  by  Law  Established — one  whole  Share  for  the  propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Forrign  parts  one  whole  share  for  the  Benefett  of  a  School  in  Said  Town  &  one 
whole  Share  for  the  first  Setled  minister     [L.S.]     John  Wentworth. 

"Recorded  According  to  the  original  Charter  under  the  province  Seal  this  4th  of  July,  1774 
Attest  George  King  Deputy  Secretary." 

Considerations  for  land  grants  in  the  name  of  the  King  in  those  days 
were  various.  Many  individuals  were  in  that  way  rewarded  for  actual  or 
supposed  service  to  the  King  or  his  local  governments.  After  the  close  of 
the  French  and  Indian  wTars,  man}'  of  the  returned  soldiers  were  kindly 
remembered  in  that  way.  Some  of  those  are  found  among  the  grantees  of 
Whitefield.  Some  grants  were  made  for  stipulated  sums  of  money,  and 
some  were  only  required  to  pay  the  incidental  expenses,  perhaps  nominally 
expressed. 

It  is  a  fact  noticeable  to  those  interested  in  the  local  histories  of  the 
state,  that  many  of  the  grantees  of  townships  conveyed  during  the  last 
years  of  the  administration  of  New  Hampshire's  last  royal  governor,  John 
Wentworth,  Esq.,  wrere  of  those  holding  commissions,  civil  or  military, 


Town  of  Whitefield.  451 


under  the  royal  seal.  There  were  many  also  connected  with  the  governor's 
family,  either  by  marriage,  or  the  strong  ties  of  friendship. 

Striving  to  uphold  the  cause  of  the  King,  it  was  but  natural  he  should 
wish  to  retain  the  influence  of  his  principal  friends,  and  the  support  of  the 
more  active  minds  in  the  province,  both  civil  and  military;  nor  were  the 
clergy  to  be  overlooked,  for  many  of  them  were  wielding  political  influ- 
ence. It  was  reported  by  the  "Sons  of  Liberty," — "  We  cannot  depend 
on  the  countenance  of  many  persons  of  rank  here,  for  royal  commissions 
and  family  connections  influence  the  principal  gentleman  among  us,  at 
least  to  keep  silence  in  these  evil  times."  It  was  in  reward  for  this  "  keep- 
ing silence,"  or  for  open  support  of  the  governor  in  those  trying  days,  that 
we  find  many  of  their  names  among  the  grantees  of  new  towns  chartered 
at  that  time.  It  was  a  "favor-me-and-I-will-reward-you  "  policy,  and  it 
appeared  in  the  list  of  the  first  individual  owners  of  Whitefield. 

There  was  Paul  Wentworth,  a  relative  of  the  governor,  under  whose 
auspices  the  first  map  of  New  Hampshire  was  produced  according  to  Hol- 
land's survey.  He  received  an  appointment  in  the  governor's  council,  but 
never  took  his  seat.  He  was  one  of  the  benefactors  to  Dartmouth  college. 
He  died  at  Surinam,  in  December,  17(J3. 

Benning  Wentworth,  in  the  list  of  Grantees,  was  a  cousin  of  the  then 
governor,  and  brother  to  his  wife,  Frances.  He  was  one  of  the  "pro- 
scribed" upon  the  public  records  of  1788  for  espousing  the  cause  of  the 
King.  He  afterward  held  office  in  Nova  Scotia,  while  his  cousin  and 
brother-in-law  was  governor  of  that  province.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
born  in  1757,  and  died  in  Nova  Scotia,  February,  1808. 

Thomas  McDonough  was  private  secretary  to  Gov.  Wentworth,  and,  as 
recognition  for  faithful  service,  or  faithful  silence,  he  was  remembered  in 
Whitefields'  allotment.  He  fled  the  country,  and  was  among  the  con- 
scripted. After  the  return  of  peace  he  was  appointed  to  a  consulship  at 
Boston,  and  died  there  in  1805. 

John  Cochran  was  commander  at  Fort  William  and  Mary  in  Ports- 
mouth harbor  when  Paul  Eevere  rode  up  post-haste  from  Boston,  bring- 
ing a  copy  of  a  recent  act  of  the  King  prohibiting  the  exportation  of 
gunpowder  and  military  stores  to  America.  He  was  a  true  servitor  of  the 
King,  but  the  sop  of  one  ninety-fourth  part  of  the  wild  township  of  White- 
fields  proved  of  little  value;  for,  being  one  of  those  of  whom  it  was  written 
"certain  persons  who  have  left  the  state  and  joined  the  enemies  thereof," 
his  property  was  confiscated. 

One  of  the  alleged  petitioners  for  lands  in  Whitefields  in  1773  was 
Peter  Green,  Esq.,  who  held  a  justice's  commission  under  the  Wentworth 
seal.  He  was  an  outspoken  tory,  and  made  himself  so  obnoxious  that  he 
was  advertised  in  the  public  prints  as  an  enemy  to  his  country,  and  was 
threatened  with  violence  by  a  committee  of  his  own  neighbors.     He  was 


452  History  of  Coos  County. 

afterward  arrested  and  confined  in  the  jail  at  Exeter.  Upon  taking  the 
oath  of  allegiance  he  was  set  at  liberty,  and  he  afterward  became  one  of 
Concord's  most  loyal  and  influential  citizens. 

Capt.  Jeremiah  Clough  and  his  four  sons,  Jeremiah,  Leavitt,  Henry, 
and  Thomas,  received  each  a  ninety-fourth  part  of  Whitefields'  territory 
in  recognition  in  part  for  valuable  military  services  rendered  by  the  father 
during  the  French  and  Indian  war.  They  were  of  Canterbury,  and  Jere- 
miah. Sr.,  was  a  noted  scout  and  ranger.  He  was  afterward  a  captain  in 
the  Revolutionary  service,  and  his  descendants  are  men  of  mark  and  influ- 
ence in  Canterbury  and  Loudon  to  this  day.  Henry  joined  the  Shakers, 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  that  society  at  Lebanon,  N.  Y. 

Capt.  Stephen  Gerrish,  another  of  the  grantees,  was  of  Canterbury;  a 
zealous  leader  in  the  border  wars  of  those  days,  and  a  sterling  patriot  in 
the  time  of  the  Revolution.  Of  rough  nature,  unlettered,  unpolished,  yet 
worthy  of  honor,  he  died  in  1788,  aged  seventy-six. 

Henry  Gerrish,  Esq.,  son  of  Capt.  Stephen,  and  one  of  the  original 
owners,  (by  the  grace  of  George  III.,  and  doubtless  on  account  of  the  valu- 
able military  service  of  his  father, )  was  one  of  the  foremost  leaders,  both 
civil  and  military,  in  those  ''days  of  '76.*'  He,  in  company  with  Capt. 
Jeremiah  Clough,  made  the  first  known  survey  of  Whitefields  in  the  fall 
of  1774. 

This  is  the  survey  that  the  first  settlers  disclaimed  as  never  having 
actually  occurred,  as  no  trace  of  it  was  discernable  about  1798.  But  in 
1815,  cut  in  the  bark  of  an  ancient  hemlock  standing  near  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  town,  was  still  plainly  traceable  the  "  H.  G."  (Henry  Ger- 
rish) of  the  surveyor  of  1774;  and  the  writer  hereof  saw,  but  a  few  years 
since,  the  original  bill  for  services  (and  which  is  still  preserved)  of  Henry 
Gerrish  and  Jeremiah  Clough  in  this  same  survey.  It  is  in  the  hand- 
writing of  the  former,  and  is  as  follows: — 

"The  Proprietors  of  Whitefields  to  Henry  Gerrish  and  Jeremiah  Clough,  Dr. 
"  To  15  Days  of  each  of  them  at  6s.  per  day,  £9—0—0. 
"To  15  days  four  other  men  at  3s.  per  day,  9—0 — 0. 
"  The  above  is  for  cutting  a  horse  road  through  said  town  Dec.  5th,  1774. 
"  The  Proprietors  of  Whitefields  to  Henry  Gerrish,  Dr. 

"  To  21  days  service  in  laying  out  lots  in  said  town  at  7s.  per  day,  £7— 7s. — Od. 
"  To  75  days  labor  of  other  men  at  4s.  per  day,  Mar.  20,  1775,  15—0—0. 
'  The  Proprietors  of  Whitefields  to  Henry  Gerrish  Dr.,  for  8  days  service  in  surveying  of 
Whitefields  at  8s.  per  day,  £4—16—0. 

"  For  cutting  and  clearing  a  road  through  said  town  which  is  7  miles  and  200  rods,  24 — 0—0. 
"  To  Warning  Proprietors  Meeting,  Mar.  1777,  1—4—0.     £61-7s-0d." 

Then  follow  credits  to  the  proprietors  for  taxes  received  or  allowed 
upon  various  allotted  shares  under  dates  from  January  13,  1776,  to  April 
16,  L778.  So  much  in  proof  of  first  survey;  the  result  of  which  was  a 
roughly -marked  road  through  the  town,  and  104  lots  of  seventy -five  acres 


Town  of  Whitefield.  453 


each  located  upon  either  side  of  this  road  from  "  Lloyd's  Hill  "  northward 
toward  Lancaster. 

Jonathan  Dix  was  a  sharer  in  the  original  ownership  of  Whitefields. 
He  was  living  in  Canterbury  at  that  time,  espoused  the  cause  of  the  King, 
and  was  among  the  "  proscribed  "  of  1788.  He  was  the  great-grandfather 
of  Gen.  John  A.  Dix,  the  famous  war  governor  of  New  York.  In  the 
town  of  Dixville  is  commemorated  the  family  name  through  the  grand- 
son, Col.  Timothy  Dix,  Jr. 

Timothy  Nash,  the  re-discoverer  of  the  White  Mountain  Notch,  was  a 
grantee  of  Whitefields.  He  was  of  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  and  among  the 
first  settlers  of  Lunenburg,  Yt.,  while  it  was  yet  a  part  of  the  "New 
Hampshire  Grants,"  about  1764. 

Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap,  the  early  historian  of  the  state,  received  the 
royal  gift  of  one  ninety-fourth  part  of  Whitefields.  He  was  then  pastor 
of  the  first  church  in  Dover.  In  1784  he  was  one  of  a  party  of  explorers 
who  gave  to  Mt.  Washington  its  name.     He  died  in  Boston  in  17'.»s. 

Samuel  Langdon,  another  whose  good  will  and  influence  Gov.  Went- 
worth  sought  by  gifts  and  grants,  was  pastor  of  a  church  in  Portsmouth 
when  he  was  made  one  of  the  petitioners  for  a  share  in  the  division  of 
lands  in  "Whitefields,"  and  also  in  that  of  "Bretton  Woods,"  on  the 
south.  It  was  in  the  following  year,  1774,  that  he  was  called  and  accepted 
the  presidency  of  Harvard  university,  which  he  held  until  1780,  when,  re- 
signing, he  was  installed  over  the  church  at  Hampton  Falls,  where  he  died 
in  17U7.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution  he  zealously  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  patriots,  and,  at  the  gathering  for  battle  at  "  Breed's  Hill,"  it 
was  Dr.  Langdon  who  invoked  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  occasion.  He 
was  delegate  to  Exeter,  in  1788, as  member  of  the  convention  to  adopt  the 
Federal  Constitution.     In  religion  lie  was  a  Trinitarian  and  a  Calvinist. 

Rev.  Stephen  Peabody,  a  grantee,  and  who  was  chosen  by  the  proprie- 
tors to  draw  the  names  and  numbers  in  the  original  draft  of  lots  in  White- 
fields,  was  the  first  settled  minister  of  Atkinson,  some  time  prior  to  1772. 
He  was  a  man  of  large  social  and  political  influence,  but  no  gift  of  the 
provincial  governor  could  purchase  it  for  the  cause  of  the  King.  He  was 
chaplain  in  Col.  Poor's  regiment  when  stationed  at  Winter  Hill.  He 
preached  the  election  sermon  (as  was  a  custom  of  those  early  days)  before 
the  General  Court  of  New  Hampshire  in  1797.  Mr.  Peabody  died  in  1819, 
aged  seventy-seven  years. 

Gen.  Nathaniel  Peabody,  though  not  one  of  the  grantees,  was  chosen 
assessor  at  the  first  called  meeting  of  the  proprietors  alter  the  declaration 
of  peace.  He  also,  as  justice  of  the  peace,  signed  the  first  call  for  a  meet- 
ing in  the  interest  of  the  original  owners.  He  was  a  practicing  physician 
at  Atkinson  in  1774,  and  also  held  a  civil  commission  under  the  King,  and 
was  the  first  man  in  the  provinces  (so  it  is  said)  to  resign  his  commission 


454  History  of  Coos  County. 

on  account  of  political  differences.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Council  in 
1785,  and  afterward  member  of  Congress.  He  moved  to  Exeter,  where  he 
died  in  L82B,  aged  eighty-two.  The  early  records  of  the  town  contain  his 
signature  in  broad,  bold  characters. 

The  first  moderator  of  Whitefields'  proprietary  deliberations  was  CoL 
Samuel  Adams,  of  pre-Eevolutionary  and  subsequent  political  fame.  He 
was,  at  this  time,  lieutenant-governor  of  Massachusetts;  and,  as  he  was 
also  chosen  one  of  the  assessors  at  this  meeting,  it  is  more  than  likely  he 
had  either  become  by  purchase  owner  of  some  of  the  original  rights,  or 
was  acting  as  agent  for  the  Massachusetts  proprietors,  of  whom  there 
were  originally  nineteen.  And  here  let  me  note  a  fact  of  which  few  read- 
ers are,  perhaps,  aware,  that,  in  the  first  records  of  the  proceedings  of  these 
proprietors,  the  town  has  the  genuine  signature  of  Col.  Adams,  attesting, 
as  moderator,  to  the  election  of  Jonas  Minot  as  proprietors'  clerk.  He 
was  nearly  seventy  years  old  when  he  gave  to  the  town  this  autograph, 
but  it  is  in  the  same  bold,  unmistakable  characters  that  are  found  along 
with  Hancock's,  Franklin's,  Josiah  Bartlett's,  William  Whipple's,  and  the 
rest  of  the  immortal  band  of  "  the  Declaration."  We  all  remember  that 
he  was  one  of  the  marked  men  b}r  the  British  authorities  as  a  "stirrer-up 
of  faction," — one  of  whom  it  was  said  "he  could  not  be  conciliated  by  any 
offer  of  office  or  pension."  He  was  one  of  the  excepted  two  in  Gen.  Gage's 
proclamation  of  pardon  to  all  rebels — John  Hancock  being  the  other. 

Capt  Jonas  Minot.  — To  no  one  man  is  the  town  more  indebted  for  its  first 
awakening,  after  the  dawn  of  peace  to  the  country  following  the  Revolution, 
than  to  its  first  proprietors'  clerk  and  treasurer,  Capt.  Jonas  Minot,  grand- 
father of  Judge  Minot,  of  Concord.  Having  obtained,  by  purchase,  certain  of 
the  original  titles,  he  called  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  through  the  Ports- 
mouth Gazette,  to  look  after  their  almost  forgotten  interests  in  Whitefields. 
He  was,  at  the  time,  a  resident  of  Concord,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born  in  1735, 
and  there  he  died,  in  March,  1813.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  man  of  wealth, 
and  was  largely  interested  in  the  organization  and  settlement  of  several 
townships  in  New  Hampshire,  among  which  was  this  town,  of  which  he 
at  one  time  owned,  by  the  purchase  of  forfeited  land  titles,  more  than 
three-fourths.  The  ownership  of  other  lands  afterward  passed  to  his  son 
Samuel,  who  was  born  in  Concord,  Mass.,  in  April,  1774.  He  was  early 
interested  with  his  father  in  these  "up-country"  wild  lands,  and  many 
were  the  horseback  rides  taken  in  those  primitive  days  of  rude  highways 
and  little  travel  to  look  after  their  land  investments  in  this  section.  In 
1802  Samuel  Minot  settled  in  Bath,  then  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
towns  of  Northern  New  Hampshire,  the  better  to  superintend  the  sale  and 
settlement  of  his  Whitefields  possessions. 

The  first  settlers,  as  is  usual  in  a  new  country,  were  men  of  small 
means;  and  to  encourage  immigration,  Mr.  Minot  agreed  to  receive  from 


Town  of  Whitkkikld.  l.v> 


those- who  would  purchase  and  settle  upon  his  lands,  their  grain  in  pay- 
ment, to  he  delivered  at  his  house  in  Bath.  Wheat  was  more  largely 
grown  in  those  days  in  proportion  to  other  farm  products  than  now;  hence 
it  became  the  principal  purchasing  medium  with  the  pioneers  of  White- 
field,  and  a  descendant  of  the  Minots,  still  a  resident  of  Bath,  informs  us 
he  distinctly  remembers  how,  in  his  boyhood,  those  land  debtors  of  his 
father's  would  come  with  their  ox-sleds  loaded  with  wheat  for  his  granary, 
brought  in  barrels,  bags,  and  bed-ticks,  all  the  way  from  that  "terra  in- 
cognita" Whitefields,  (wherever  that  might  be!)  coming  to  day,  departing 
to-morrow. 

It  was  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Minot  that  Asa  King  was  induced 
to  exchange  his  farm  in  Sutton  for  a  thousand-acre  tract  around  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Whitefield,  of  which  Mr.  King  may  be  said  to  have  been  the 
founder,  and,  by  the  same  influence,  or  that  of  his  father,  some  years 
before,  came  Major  John  Burns,  from  New  Boston,  the  pioneer  of  several 
families  from  that  vicinity  and  Francestown  in  after  years.  So  that  to 
Jonas  Minot  and  his  son  Samuel  may  be  accorded  the  credit  of  White- 
fields'  first  awakening. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 


Organizing  under  the  Grant — First  Recorded  Civil  Officers— Important  Sale  of  Lands,  1795 — 
Col.  Joseph  Kimball — Proprietors'  Meeting,  December  3,  1800 — Committee  and  its  Powers — Ab- 
stract of  Proprietors'  Records — First  Draft  of  Lots — Names  of  Grantees  with  number  of  Lot. 

ORGANIZING  under  the  Grant. — We  will  here  notice  the  first  organ- 
ization of  the  proprietors,  and,  in  a  subsequent  place,  the  first  "  town 
meeting  "  of  the  actual  settlers. 
There  are  no  recorded  transactions  of  the  original  owners  in  possession 
of  the  town  prior  to  1702,  on  the  3d  day  of  April,  when  they  were  called 
together  by  the  published  notification  of  John  Calfe,  justice  of  the  peace, 
at  the  request  of  certain  of  the  proprietors  representing  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  shares  of  the  township.  They  met  at  the  inn  of  Capt  Benja- 
min French,  in  the  town  of  Dunstable,  Mass.,  and  Col.  Samuel  Adams — 
the  irrepressible  Samuel — was  chosen  moderator  of  the  meeting.  Capt. 
Jonas  Minot  was  chosen  proprietors'  clerk  and  treasurer,  and  the  proprie- 
tary records  for  the  next  ten  years  are  mostly  in  the  hand  writing  of 
Mr.  Minot,  and  were  very  well  kept.  Capt.  Robert  Foster,  Col.  Samuel 
Adams,  and  Mr.  Josiah  Melvin   were  chosen  assessors,  and  Mr.  Nathan 


456  History  of  Coos  County. 

Barrett,  collector.  These  were  the  first  recorded  civil  officers  of  the  town- 
ship. Capt.  Barrett  served  with  distinction  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  a 
young  officer  of  the  militia,  and  was  one  of  the  wounded  at  the  memor- 
able fight  on  Concord  Common  on  that  19th  of  April,  1775.  Capt.  Barrett 
was  connected  by  marriage  with  the  family  of  Mr.  Minot,  hence  his  inter- 
est in  the  town.  The  Orin  Chase  farm  immediately  south  of  the  village 
is  well  remembered  as  the  "Old  Barrett  Lot."  There  was  little  business 
done  at  this  preliminary  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  save  to  vote  a  tax  of 
"  twenty  shillings,  lawful  silver  money,  upon  each  original  right  of  land  in 
said  township  of  Whitefields,"  and  choose  an  agent  (Capt.  Jonas  Minot) 
to  "  survey,  cut  roads,  settle  the  lines  with  other  claimers.  introduce  settlers 
to  the  amount  of  twenty,"  by  giving  "not  more  than  one  hundred  acres 
to  each  of  said  twenty  settlers,  and  see  about  building  mills,  &c." 

Perhaps  the  most  important  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  between  the 
date  of  the  grant  and  the  coming  of  the  actual  settlers,  was  that  of  May 
21,  1794,  accepting  of  ratifying  and  confirming  all  previous  proceedings 
under  the  charter,  including  the  survey  and  place  of  Henry  Gerrish,  the 
draft  of  ninety-four  lots  by  Rev.  Stephen  Peabody  in  1776,  as  per  schedule, 
but  not  including  the  locating  of  the  western  boundary,  which  they  had 
been  led  to  suppose  should  be  about  three  miles  farther  west.  This  would 
have  included  most  of  the  John's  river  valley  and  the  Dalton  hills  within 
the  boundary  of  Whitefields;  but  the  final  adjustment  of  lines  between 
the  towns  proved  the  Gerrish  survey  correct,  and  the  coveted  valley  of  the 
John's  and  the  western  horizon  of  hills  remained  upon  the  Apthorp  side  of 
the  line,  the  seemingly  doubtful  corner  locating  itself  out  of  reach  in  the 
midst  of  the  little  lakelet  known  as  "  Blake's  pond,"  which  now  supplies 
"Brownsville"  with  water. 

June  IS,  1795,  occurred  the  most  important  sale  of  lands  in  Whitefields 
prior  to  the  coming  of  its  pioneer  settlers.  Some  of  King  George's  grantees 
had  fled  the  country  and  were  proscribed  by  act  of  the  General  Court  of 
1788.  Some  went  to  war  at  the  call  of  their  country  and  never  returned; 
most  of  them  failed  to  respond  to  the  tax-call  of  the  collectors;  so,  after  re- 
peated unpaid  assessments,  the  land  must- be  sold  to  satisfy  the  inevitable 
tax-gatherer.  This  was  done  in  accordance  with  the  laws  for  such  emer- 
gencies established;  and,  at  this  tax-sale,  holden  at  the  old  "way-side  inn  " 
of  Capt.  Benjamin  French,  in  Dunstable,  first  appears  in  connection  with 
the  affairs  of  the  towuship,  one  of  its  first  and  most  enterprising  settlers, 
Col.  Joseph  Kimball.  He  bought  the  tax-claims  of  eleven  original  rights, 
among  which  was  that  of  Peter  Green,  Esq.,  embracing  the  hill  lot  upon 
which  is  now  located  the  famous  "Mountain  View  House"  of  William  F. 
Dodge  &  Son. 

The  last,  and  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  "down  country  "  meet- 
ings of  the  original  proprietors  of  Whitefields,  was  holden  at  Atkinson  on 


Town  of  Whitepield.  45; 


the  3rd  day  of  December,  1800.  It  was  convened  by  the  action  of  Major- 
John  Burns,  who  journeyed  from  Concord,  Mass.,  to  Atkinson,  to  take  the 
necessary  legal  steps  to  warn  the  meeting;  and  this  is  the  first  appearance 
of  Major  Burns  in  connection  with  the  affairs  of  the  town;  and  it  is  also 
the  last  meeting  at  which  any  of  the  grantees  took  an  active  part.  Rev. 
Stephen  Peabody  was  chosen  moderator  of  the  meeting,  he  being  the  last 
of  the  original  ninety  individual  owners.  A  committee  was  chosen  at  this 
meeting  consisting  of  Burns  and  Peabody,  Jonas  Baker  and  Capt.  Jonas 
Minot,  ' '  to  make  arrangements  of  what  is  best  to  be  done  for  the  good 
and  interest  of  the  proprietors." 

This  committee  was  enabled  to  report  progress  from  time  to  time  as  to 
the  particulars  of  laying  out  and  making  a  road  through  the  town,  a  re- 
survey  and  a  general  allotment,  followed  by  a  re-assignment  to  each  in- 
dividual title,  and,  finally,  on  December  25,  1801,  it  was  "voted  that  twelve 
settlers  may  go  on  to  settle  in  said  Whitefields  on  or  before  the  month  of 
May  next,  on  condition  they  build  houses,  and  are  in  separate  families,  on 
or  before  that  time,  by  paying  the  proprietors  Nine  Shillings  per  acre  for 
each  one  hundred  acres  to  a  family,  or  receive  said  lot  as  a  part  of  his  or 
their  rights  at  his  or  their  election,  and  continue  settlement  for  the  term 
of  five  years  making  progressive  improvements;  and  that  Col.  Joseph  Kim- 
ball may  put  on  two  families.  Maj.  John  Burns  two,  Samuel  Minot  four, 
and  Jonas  Baker  one  family,  completing  said  number." 

Thus,  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  receiving  a  local  exis- 
tence and  a  name  by  the  will  of  the  crown  of  England,  were  its  affairs  al- 
lowed to  slumber,  and  not  a  settler's  axe  had  yet  awakened  the  forest  echoes 
of  Whitefields.  During  the  first  four  years  of  the  present  century,  how- 
ever, its  four  awakening  spirits,  Burns,  Kimball,  Minot  and  Baker,  were 
busy  locating  the  first  settlements,  marking  roads  to  accommodate  them, 
running  and  marking  the  outlines  of  the  township,  distributing  the  lands 
to  the  ancient  titles  in  accordance  with  the  latest  allotment  by  Capt.  Jere- 
miah Eames,  Jr.,  in  June  and  September,  1802,  and  laying  the  foundation 
for  a  future  organization. 

"  Abstract  of  Proprietors'  Records.  Proceedings  of  Proprietors.— The,  first  proprietors'  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  Inn  of  Capt.  Beuj.  French  in  Dunstable,  April  1,  1792,  pursuant  to  a  call 
of  Hon.  John  Calfe,  J.  P.  Col.  Samuel  Adams  was  chosen  Moderator;  Capt.  Jonas  Minot, 
Proprietors'  Clerk;  Capt.  Robert  Porter,  Col.  Samuel  Adams  and  Josiah  Melvin,  Assessors;  Mr. 
Nathan  Barrett,  Collector;  Capt.  Jonas  Minot,  Treasurer.  It  was  voted  to  raise  a  tax  of  20  shil- 
lings Lawful  silver  money  on  each  original  right  of  land  in  said  Township  of  Whitefields,  to  pay 
the  expense  '  of  allotting  out,  and  surveying  sd.  Township,'  &  bringing  forward  its  settlement, 
cutting  and  making  roads,  and  this  tax  to  be  assessed  and  collected  as  soon  as  may  be.  Capt. 
Jonas  Minot  was  chosen  agent  for  the  proprietors  to  act  as  he  thinks  best  for  their  interest,  and  is 
impowered  to  surrey,  cut  roads,  settle  the  lines  of  the  township  with  other  'claimers,'  or  as  he 
thinks  just  and  right,  to  introduce  settlers  into  the  township  to  the  number  of  twenty,  but  he  is 
not  to  give  more  than  one  hundred  acres  to  each  of  these  twenty  settlers,  to  see  about  building 
mills,  etc.,  and  to  report  from  time  to  time  to  the  Proprietors.  November  12,  1792.  The  Proprietors 
30 


458  History  of  Coos  County. 


voted  to  raise  a  tax  or  three  shillings  on  each  lot  of  land  '  already  severed,'  and  six  shillings  on  each 
right  of  common  land  in  the  township  of  Whitefields  to  pay  the  proprietors'  debts  and  expenses 
of  their  meetings  and  for  the  forwarding  of  the  settlement  of  the  township.  At  a  Proprietors'" 
meeting  held  April  25,  1793,  at  the  Inn  of  James  Dow,  Atkinson,  N.  H.,  Nathaniel  Peabody,  Esq., 
Mr.  Nathan  Barrett  and  Mr.  David  Page,  Jr. ,  were  chosen  Assessors;  Mr.  Jonas  Minot,  Treasurer; 
.Jonas  Minot,  Collector;  also,  voted  a  tax  often  shillings  on  each  lot,  and  twenty  shillings  on  each 
original  right  of  common  land,  those  persons  who  have  heretofore  paid  or  advanced  any  part  of 
former  taxes  to  be  credited  accordingly,  on  proving  payments.  Jonas  Minot  was  continued  as 
agent.  Various  meetings  were  held  at  Exeter,  Atkinson,  Dunstable,  etc..  with  little  result  for 
some  years — The  rights  of  '  delinquent '  taxpayers  were  sold  for  the  assessed  taxes;  some  were  re- 
deemed; some  became  the  property  of  the  purchasers.  August  20,  1793.  The  agent  was  voted 
'  six  shillings  per  day,  and  horse  hire  and  expenses  for  all  and  every  service  he  has  or  may  perform 
for  this  propriety,  together  with  all  monies  he  may  pay  for  this  propriety  in  any  case  whatsoever.'' 
May  24,  1794.  Col  Henry  Gerish  was  chosen  Collector.  The  next  day  the  proprietors  voted  to- 
accept  the  survey  of  one  hundred  and  four  lots  of  land,  of  seventy-five  acres  each  lot,  as  laid  down 
by  Henry  Gerish,  Esqr. ,  on  the  plan  returned  as  surveyed  by  him  to  the  proprietary  clerk's  office  — 
'  Altho'  the  proprietors  do  not  expect  to  except  of  or  be  confined  to  the  outermost  lines  of  said 
plan— as  the  boundaries  of  said  Township  of  Whitefields,  they,  the  proprietors,  supposing  the  line 
on  Lancaster  should  be  continued  south,  fifty-nine  degrees  west,  about  three  miles  further  than  is- 
laid  down  on  said  plan  ' — They  also  confirmed  the  first  draft  of  lots  made  by  Rev.  Stephen  Pea- 
body,  and  ratified  his  work;  voted  to  raise  a  tax  of  five  shillings  on  each  granted  lot,  and  one  of 
ten  shillings  on  each  original  common  right;  authorized  the  collector  to  pay  Henry  Gerish  sixty- 
one  Pound  seven  shillings  for  the  abovementioned  survey,  out  of  this  amount  when  collected^ 
chose  Jonas  Minot  agent  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  a  Committee  to  settle  the  lines  of  said 
township  so  far  as  they  run  on  unlocated  land,  and  instruct  him  to  join  with  other  towns  '  or  other 
ways'  to  effect  the  settlement  of  the  town  lines  as  the  case  may  in  his  opinion  require.  At  the 
same  meeting  the  <  'ollector  or  Treasurer  was  authorized  to  give  the  following  credits:— Original 
right  of  Benj.  Johnson  14  shillings,  6  pence;  Benj.  Newell,  14  shillings,  6  pence;  Phinehas  Hodg- 
don  10  shillings;  Farrington  10  shillings;  Henry  Oliver  14  shillings  6  pence;  Samuel  Swan  14  shil- 
lings, 6  pence;  Nathan  Waite  10  shillings;  Aaron  Newell  10  shillings;  Holton  Johnson  14 shillings, 
6  pence;  Samuel  Cate,  14  shillings,  6  pence;— a  sum  total  of  £6-6-0.  The  proprietors  also  voted 
'  to  give  credit  to  James  Barr,  Collector,  when  he  comes  and  settles  with  the  Treasurer,  his  coming 
in  due  season,  for  the  amount  of  2  Pounds,  10  shillings,  credited  by  Col.  Gerrish  in  his  account.' 
also  voted  '  credit  ba  given  to  Abraham  Safford  for  2  pounds,  17  shillings,  credited  by  Col.  Gerrish 
in  his  acompt,  if  he  comes  and  settles  with  the  Treasurer  or  agent  soon  for  the  moneys  he  has  col-- 
ected  and  respecting  his  tax  bill.'  " 

"  First  Draft  of  Lots. — Draft  of  one  lot  to  each  original  right  drawn  May  23,  1776,  by  Rev. 
Stephen  Peabody  for  the  Proprietors  as  follows :  Jonah  Lang,  No.  80;  William  Farrington,  No. 
64;  Samuel  Cate,  Jr.,  No.  96;  Minister,  104;  Benning  Wentworth,  11;  David  Woods,  74;  Ephraim 
Pickering,  62;  Jeremiah  Clough,  Jr.,  21;  Timothy  Nash,  13;  Jonathan  Dix,  29;  John  Stevens,  2; 
Paul  Wentworth,  87;  Henry  Gerrish,  Esq  ,  91;  William  Simons,  35;  Joseph  Hart,  56;  Peter  Green, 
Esq.,  73;  Ichabod  Weeks,  7;  Samuel  Cate,  15;  Jeremiah  Clough,  Esq.,  43;  Samuel  Swan,  61; 
Samuel  Swan,  Jr.,  52;  Holton  Johnson,  79;  John  Hurd,  Esq  ,  58;  John  Holden,  33;  Samuel  Lang- 
don,  18;  Aaron  Sargent,  27;  Josiah  Harris,  24;  Mathew  Harrington,  39;  James  Merrick,  25;  Jose 
Merrick,  81;  Jonathan  Bailey,  34;  William  Norton,  22;  Edward  Marden,  31;  Eleazer  Richardson, 
41;  Samuel  Nutter,  63;  Josiah  Harris,  12;  Benj.  Hurd,  44;  Nathan  Johnson,  67;  Benj.  Rand,  75; 
Joseph  Hurd,  32;  David  White.  60;  Joseph  White,  94;  Samuel  Bartlett,  14;  Benj.  Hurd,  40; 
Aaron  Newhall,  10;  John  Flagg,  Esq.,  9;  Increase  Newhall,  68;  John  Lewis,  28;  James  Gibson, 
8;  Leavitt  Clough,  70;  Nehemiah  Rand,  30;  School  lot,  101;  Isaac  Hurd,  36;  Eliphalet  Neal,  55; 
Nathan  Waite  23;  Samuel  Pickering,  76;  Thomas  Clough,  3;  Seth  Sweetser,  57;  John  Hodgdon, 
69;  Patrick  Dougherty,  100;  Samuel  Harris,  37;  Church  of  England,  78;  Phinehas  Merrick,  83; 
Benj.  Johnson,  16;  Abner  Hains,  1;  Henry  Oliver,  4;  Stephen  Peabody,  26;  John  Cockran,  Esq., 
59;  Phinehas  Hodgdon,  84;  Wm,  Frothingham,  82;  Stephen  Greenleaf,  86;  Society,  &c,  5;  Josiah 


Town  of  Wjiitefield. 


459 


Moody,  6;  Jonathan  Moody,  17;  Obed  Merrick,  89;  Thomas  McDonough,  51;  Aaron  Merrick.  88; 
Jeremiah  Gibson,  90;  Samuel  Boltwood,  66;  Neheiniah  Eastabrook,  99;  Roger  Bart  let  I,  92;  John 
Marshall,  65;  Jeremiah  Belknap,  95;  Henry  Clough,  71;  Col.  Stephen  Gerrish,  97;  Moses  Randall, 
19;  James  Bradish,  72;  Beuj.  Sweetser,  102;  James  Bradish,  53;  David  Woods,  Jr.,  103;  David 
Gardner,  77;   Win.  Harris,  20;  Benj.  Newell,  93;  Thomas  Rand,  98. 

"October  29,  1794.  The  Proprietors  at  a  meeting  held  at  Dunstable,  X.  II.,  voted  Jonas  Minot 
2,600  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Whitchelds  to  be  taken  in  100  acre  lots  at  his  election  in 
such  parts  of  said  Township  as  he  shall  choose,  on  condition  that  he  shall  cause  the  same  to  be 
settled  within  two  years  from  this  date:  or  any  proportionable  part  of  said  quantity,  according  to 
the  average  number  of  twenty  settlers  for  the  whole  quantity:  which  he  shall  cause  to  be  settled 
within  said  term  of  two  years.  One  of  the  conditions  of  the  purchase  of  lots  sold  for  delinquent 
taxes  was  the  payment,  by  the  purchaser  to  the  proprietors' agent,  Jonas  Minot,  at  Concord,  N.  II., 
after  the  time  of  redemption  allowed  by  law  to  the  original  owner  had  expired,  of  two  shillings 
and  nine  pence  on  each  lot  of  land,  exclusive  of  the  cost  of  the  deed,  if  one  be  given.  The  same 
amount  was  to  be  paid  on  each  common  right  bid  off  in  the  same  manner. 

"  September  28,  1802,  the  proprietors  met  at  the  Inn  of  Nathan  Field,  in  Bath.  Samuel  Minot 
was  elected  clerk;  Hezekiah  Smith,  Maj.  John  Burns,  Col.  Joseph  Kimball,  assessors;  Hezekiah 
Smith,  collector;  Samuel  Minot.  Treasurer.  The  plan  of  survey  made  in  1779  bv  Henry  Gerrish 
was  found  defective,  as  '  he  did  not  sufficiently  mark  the  bounds  or  outlines  of  the  several  lots,  and 
by  reason  of  length  of  time,  and  other  causes  the  lines  cannot  now  be  traced,  therefore  the  pro- 
prietors vote  to  nullify  the  acceptance  of  his  survey,  and  accept  the  survey  made  in  June  and  Sep- 
tember, 1802,  by  Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr. ;  and  to  divide  the  lands  of  the  township  according  to 
this  survey,  except  the  extending  the  outlines  to  Lloyd's  Hills  (Bethlehem),  this  to  be  done  here- 
after. This  was  done  September  29,  1802,  and  at  same  meeting  Maj.  John  Burns  was  voted  Lots 
No.  3  in  Ranges  3,  and  4,  if  he  pays  to  the  proprietors  $300,  and  gets  a  settler  on  each  of  said  lots. 
Ebenezer  Brown,  Esqr,  was  chosen  to  draw  two  lots  for  each  original  right  which  was  done  as 
follows: — 


Names  of  Grantees  with  Number  of  Lot  and  Range. — 


Josiah  Moody 17 

Thomas  Clough   13 

Leavitt  Clough 11 

Jonathan  Moody 9 

Jonathan  Bailey 10 

Jonah  Lang 2 

Nathan  Johnson 1 

Eliphalet  Neal 15 

William  Norton 1 

Samuel  Swan 14 

James  Merrick 8 

Phinehas  Merrick 5 

Jose  Merrick 4 

Obed    Merrick 5 

William  Frothingham 15 

Samuel  Gate 12 

Samuel  Cate,  Jr 13 

Phiuehas  Hodgdon ....    3 

Samuel  Langdon 8 

Jeremiah  Clough 11 

Peter  Green,  Esq 11 

John  Flagg,  Esq   10 

Aaron  Merrick 15 

David  Wood 14 

David  Waite 4 

David  Wood,  Jr 2 


RANGE 

LOT 

RANGE 

23 

5 

24 

25 

17 

24 

19 

1 

19 

19 

5 

2 

19 

1 

15 

24 

3 

24 

5 

2 

25 

24 

15 

22 

22 

16 

21 

24 

8 

25 

21 

7 

21 

10 

17 

22 

5 

8 

9 

3 

2 

4 

23 

6 

24 

21 

11 

21 

23 

8 

24 

20 

14 

20 

19 

6 

3 

24 

5 

25 

20 

16 

20 

22 

7 

22 

19 

14 

19 

23 

7 

24 

1 

4 

2 

1G 

2 

6 

Samuel  Swan,  Jr 13 

Eleazer  Richardson 9 

William  Farrington 12 

Holton  Johnson 9 

Henry  Oliver 13 

Matthew  Farrington    3 

John  Stevens 1 

Jonathan  Dix 18 

Stephen  Greenleaf 1 

Nathan  Wait 4 

Samuel  Nutter 2 

David  Gardner 2 

Timothy  Nash 1 

Samuel  Bolt  wood 9 

Benjamin  Newell . .  4 

Aaron  Newell 1 

Ichabod   Weeks 6 

Jere.  Clough,  Jr.,  Esqr 1 

James  Gibson 10 

John  Holden 7 

Aaron   Sargent,  Jr 12 

Benjamin  Johnson 12 

John  Lewis 18 

Edward   Maiden 18 

Henry  Clough 3 

Al  mtr  Hains 1 


RANGE. 

LOT. 

RANGE 

22 

17 

21 

25 

10 

23 

19 

7 

20 

22 

15 

21 

24 

7 

25 

6 

1 

9 

16 

4 

11 

25 

1 

4 

21 

12 

20 

3 

8 

8 

1 

6 

23 

3 

6 

7 

2 

2 

7 

20 

8 

20 

8 

1 

11 

24 

4 

24 

19 

19 

25 

18 

1 

17 

25 

16 

23 

19 

7 

4 

24 

6 

25 

23 

4 

23 

24 

5 

6 

23 

8 

23 

7 

9 

10 

25 

9 

23 

460 


History  of  Coos  County. 


Moses  Randall 13 

Jeremiah  Gibson 4 

Henry  Gerrish,  Esq 2 

"William  Simon 8 

Capt.  Stephen  Gerrish 2 

Samuel  Pickering 4 

Joseph  White 1 

Increase  Newell 14 

Joseph  Hart 2 

John  Hurd,  Esq 6 

John  Hodgdon 4 

Benjamin  Hurd 3 

Benjamin  Hurd,  Jr 2 

Joseph  Hurd 16 

Isaac  Hurd 2 

Josiah  Harris 5 

Samuel  Harris 3 

Nehemiah  Rand 2 

Thomas  Rand 10 

Patrick  Dougherty 6 

James  Braddish .12 


RANGE. 

LOT. 

KANGE 

19 

5 

19 

10 

1 

23 

13 

8 

G 

22 

14 

21 

20 

13 

20 

21 

2 

21 

14 

6 

6 

25 

2 

25 

11 

8 

7 

20 

5 

20 

7 

10 

10 

8 

19 

24 

2 

2 

8 

22 

14 

22 

19 

2 

18 

9 

2 

23 

11 

7 

7 

12 

7 

23 

21 

13 

21 

21 

5 

21 

22 

11 

22 

James  Braddish,  Jr 2 

Seth  Sweetser 11 

Benjamin  Sweetser 9 

William  Harris 5 

Josiah  Harris,  Jr 4 

Nehemiah  Easterbrook G 

Benjamin  Rand 10 

Roger  Bartlett 11 

Samuel  Bartlett 1 

John  Cockran,  Esq 3 

Benning  Wentworth 17 

Thomas  McDonough 12 

Paul  Wentworth 5 

Rev.  Jerome   Belknap 4 

John  Marshall 3 

Rev.  Stephen  Peabody 4 

Ephraim  Pickering 3 

Glebe  for  Church  of  England  4 
Prop.  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts  4 

School  right 10 

Minister  right 15 


ANGE. 

LOT. 

RANGE 

17 

7 

5 

23 

3 

23 

21 

3 

21 

8 

1 

1 

9 

5 

23 

22 

5 

22 

20 

15 

20 

25 

9 

24 

13 

7 

6 

22 

2 

22 

25 

16 

25 

25 

16 

24 

4 

6 

4 

6 

1 

10 

2 

6 

8 

20 

1 

20 

5 

9 

9 

19 

3 

19 

4 

10 

9 

24 

4 

25 

25 

3 

25 

From  the  time  of  this  draft  of  lots  until  1809  the  proprietors  held  occa- 
sional meetings  at  .Bath,  Franconia  and  Lancaster,  to  take  action  to  cor- 
rect mistakes,  make  up  deficiencies  in  certain  lots,  substitutions,  etc.,  etc. 
The  last  meeting  was  held  at  Lancaster,  July  11,  1809,  when  the  common 
land  was  appropriated  for  the  second  division  of  all  the  rights  not  pre- 
viously satisfactorily  arranged. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 


"What's  in  a  Name"  —  Rev.  George  Whitefield — Whitefield — Petition  for  Incorporation, 
Etc. —  First  Town  Meeting  and  Officers,  1805  — Major  John  Burns  —  Capt.  David  Burns,  Etc. — 
Col.  Joseph  Kimball  —  John  McMaster —  First  Innkeeper,  Asa  King — Col.  Joseph  Colby  —  First 
Merchant,  William  Dodge — First  Inventory  —  Early  Roads. 


WHAT1  $  in  a  Name. — Error  as  to  the  spelling  of  the  name  of  the 
town  came  in  early,  and  this  has  given  rise  to  doubts  expressed 
by  some  as  to  its  origin,  or  as  there  is  a  reason  for  every  estab- 
lished fact,  its  why  and  ivherefore.  It  is  true  that  in  the  original  grant,  as 
copied,  the  name  has  a  plural  ending  and  also  many  times  thus  appears  in 
some  of  the  earlier  records,  but  it  was  clearly  on  account  of  early  clerical 
lapsus  pennae,  or  lack  of  knowledge  of  the  true  intention  or  application  of 
the  name.     To  call  it  Whitefields  in  1774  would  have  been  a  misnomer,  as 


Town  of  Whitefield.  461 


there  was  no  place  for  a  field  of  white  throughout  the  dark,  boughy  wil- 
derness within  its  borders. 

No  intervals  existed,  suggestive  of  what  might  become  White  fields; 
black  forests  everywhere  prevailed,  save  upon  its  highlands,  which  were 
thickly  covered  with  maple,  beech  and  birch. 

The  writer  has  in  his  possession  several  musty  documents  relative  to 
early  affairs  in  the  town,  of  dates  from  177s  to  1802,  and,  in  most  cases, 
Whitefield  is  used  without  the  plural  ending.  One  of  these  is  a  deed  from 
one  Stephen  Cogan  conveying  the  "right  of  land  in  township  of  White- 
field  so-called,  being  the  same  I  purchased  of  Timothy  Nash.''  This  Nash 
wras  an  original  grantee,  and  the  only  one,  we  believe,  who  lived  in  the 
vicinity.  He  settled,  about  1704,  upon  the  Connecticut  (we  think),  in  the 
present  town  of  Lunenburg,  and  doubtless  knew  that  the  land  he  was 
granted,  and  which  he  reconveyed,  lay  in  Whitefield  without  an  "s." 

There  are  but  three  towns,  we  believe,  in  all  N^w  Hampshire  whose 
titles  were  not  suggested  by  the  parties  interested,  either  from  the  names 
of  older  places,  or  in  memory  of  individuals  or  families.  Nor  is  Whitefield 
the  only  one  that  has  suffered  from  misspelling  or  misinterpretation. 
Bretton  Woods,  now  Carroll,  was  originally  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Went- 
w^orth,  Bart,  (and  others),  whose  country  seat  was  "Bretton  Hall"  at  Bret- 
ton,  England.     The  grant  was  "  Britton  Woods,"  an  evident  error. 

When  in  1804  the  pioneers  of  Whitefields  petitioned  the  General  Court 
to  be  incorporated  as  a  town,  with  intent  to  settle  any  complications  that 
might  arise  from  the  dual  orthography,  and  to  inform  the  rest  of  the  world 
that  Whitefield  was  the  desired  and  proper  title,  they  asked  to  have  the 
insinuating  "s"  forever  dropped,  which  was  accorded  December  1,  1804. 
It  has  always  been  the  supposition,  and  the  writer  has  no  doubt  that  it 
was  the  intention  of  the  grantor,  either  in  accordance  with  his  own  idea, 
or  by  the  expressed  wish  of  some  of  those  upon  whom  this  grant  was  be- 
stowed, that  the  name  thereof  was  to  commemorate  that  of  the  Rev.  ( J-eorge 
Whitefield,  the  light  of  whose  life  had  but  recently  been  extinguished,  and 
whose  name  was  then,  at  the  date  of  the  grant,  a  household  word  in  the 
vicinity  where  the  grantees  resided.  It  is  a  fact  that  he  was  a  welcome 
guest  at  the  Wentworth  mansion,  and  that  the  governor  held  the  itinerat- 
ing ecclesiastic  in  high  esteem,  although  he  was  proselyting  followers  from 
the  established  church.  The  last  week  of  his  life  was  passed  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, during  which  time  he  preached  four  of  his  unique  sermons,  all  de- 
livered in  the  open  air,  for  there  was  no  church  large  enough  to  hold  the 
crowds  who  came  to  see  and  hear  him.  His  last  discourse  was  at  Exeter, 
the  day  before  his  death,  where,  in  God's  free,  vast  temple,  he  preached 
for  two  long  hours  to  a  crowd  of  interested  listeners.  At  Newburyporl ,  on 
the  following  day,  was  his  next  appointment;  but,  during  the  night,  he 


462  History  of  Coos  County. 

was  seized  with  an  asthmatic  paroxysm  of  which  he  died  suddenly  in  his 
fifty-sixth  year. 

Mr.  Whitefield  was  born  at  Gloucester,  England,  took  the  degree  of  A. 
B.  from  Pembroke  college,  and  was  ordained  in  1736  by  the  Bishop  of 
Gloucester,  and,  in  1740,  was  admitted  to  priestly  orders.  He  made  seven 
different  voyages  between  England  and  America,  always  in  the  cause  of 
religion  and  humanity.  It  was  said  of  him  that  "no  clergyman  ever  pos- 
sessed the  powers  of  oratory  in  a  higher  degree  or  led  a  more  useful  or  vir- 
tuous life.'1  Upon  the  day  of  his  death,  September  30,  1770,  all  the  bells  of 
Portsmouth  tolled  from  eleven  o'clock  till  sunset. 

The  house  where  Whitefield  died  is  still  standing,  upon  School  street  in 
Newburyport,  and  is  pointed  out  to  visitors  as  one  of  the  objects  of  interest 
in  that  historic  old  town.  The  church,  beneath  whose  sanctuary  lie  the 
ashes  of  this  founder  of  the  Calvinistic  order  of  Methodists,  is  hard  by, 
and  a  cenotaph,  placed  above  the  dead  by  an  eminent  friend  of  the  preacher, 
tells  the  story  of  his  life,  labors  and  virtues. 

"Whitefield.— Petition  for  Incorporation,  1804.— To  the  Honorable  the  General  Court  of  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire 

"Humbly  Sheweth  your  Petitioners  inhabitants  of  the  Township  of  Whiteflelds  in  the  County 
of  Grafton  in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  that  many  difficulties  they  labour  under  would  be 
removed  were  they  vested  with  priviledges  of  incorporated  Towns— therefore  they  pray  the  Tract 
of  Land  Situate  in  said  County  of  Grafton  Now  Called  Whiteflelds  Bounded  as  follows— Beginning 
at  a  Beach  Tree  on  the  Southeast  Corner  of  Lancaster  being  in  Northeasterly  Line  of  Apthorp  and 
running  South  twenty  six  degrees  East  one  mile  aud  one  hundred  Eighty  rods  to  the  Northeasterly 
Corner  of  Apthorp  thence  on  the  Easterly  line  of  Apthorp  South  fifty-six  degrees  West  four  miles 
one  hundred  and  twenty  rods  to  the  North  west  Corner  of  Lloyd  Hills  thence  on  the  Northerly 
line  of  Lloyd  Hills  South  fifty  eight  degrees  East  five  miles  ten  rods  to  the  West  Line  of  Britton 
Woods  thence  on  th«  West  Line  of  Britton  Woods  North  two  miles  one  hundred  sixty  six  rods  to 
the  North  West  Corner  of  said  Britton  Woods  then  on  the  North  Line  of  Britton  Woods  East  three 
miles  and  one  half  to  the  Westerly  Line  of  Dartmouth  then  on  said  Westerly  line  of  Dartmouth 
North  five  miles  two  hundred  and  sixty  rods  to  the  Easterly  liue  of  Lancaster  then  on  said  Easterly 
Line  of  Lancaster  South  sixty  nine  degrees  west  five  miles  fifty  rods  or  to  the  first  mentioned  Bound 
may  be  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Whitefield— and  as  in  Duty  Bound  Shall  ever  pray 

"Whiteflelds  May  25th  1804. 

'  'John  Burne  John  Mcmaster  amasa  Dutten 

Aaron  Bailey  Jur  David  Burns  Joseph  Kimball 

Jesse  Kelsa  William  Burne  Simon  Sanborn 

Benjamin  Sanbon  Abraham  Sanburn" 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  20,  1801,  it  was  "  Voted  that  the 
prayer  thereof  ba  granted."  The  Senate  did  not  concur,  but  voted  "that 
the  Petitioners  be  heard  on  their  Petition  and  order  of  court  thereon  to  be 
published  in  the  Newspaper  printed  at  Hanover  three  weeks  successively; 
the  first  publication  to  be  six  weeks  prior  to  said  day  of  hearing,  and  post 
up  the  like  Subitance  &  order  in  some  public  place  in  said  Town  of  White- 
fields." 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  November  27,  1801,  the  petitioners 


Town  of  Whitefield.  463 


were  granted  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill.  The  Senate  concurred.  The  act  of 
incorporation  passed  and  was  approved  December  1,  1804.  The  preamble 
reads  as  follows: — 

"Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  Whiteflelds  in  the  county  of  Grafton  have  petitioned  the  General 
•Court  praying  that  they  may  be  incorporated  into  a  township  by  the  name  of  Whitefield,  and 
invested  with  all  such  privileges  and  immunities  as  other  towns  in  this  State  hold  and  enjoy  which 
prayer  appearing  reasonable,"  etc. 

From  this  time  Whitefields  has  given  place  to  Whitefield,  and  the 
second  epoch  of  civilization  commences. 

First  Town  Meeting.  —  John  Burns  and  Joseph  Kimball,  or  either 
•of  them,  were  empowered  by  this  act  to  call  the  first  town  meeting,  which 
was  warned  to  convene  at  the  house  of  Maj.  John  Burns,  the  12th  day  of 
March,  1805.  The  officers  chosen  upon  this  occasion,  the  first  civil  officers 
in  the  legal  town  of  Whitefield,  were  as  follows:  John  Burns,  moderator; 
Col.  Joseph  Kimball,  town  clerk;  John  Burns,  Joseph  Kimball,  David 
Burns,  selectmen;  Jesse  Kelsey,  constable;  John  McMaster,  collector. 

There  were  but  eight  voters  in  town  at  this  first  election,  and  the  vote 
for  governor  was  for  John  Langdon,  six,  and  for  J.  T.  Gilman,  two,  a 
rousing  Republican  majority.  This  meeting  was  held  in  the  little  log 
house  of  Major  Burns,  situated  near  the  present  Burns  homestead  now 
occupied  by  the  family  of  John  Burns,  who  is  a  grandson  of  the  first  set- 
tler, and  there  are  the  same  two  lots  (No.  3  in  the  third  and  No.  3  in  the 
fourth  ranges)  that  were  granted  to  Maj.  John  Burns  in  September,  1802, 
by  the  proprietors  in  consideration  "  that  he  pay  to  the  owners  three  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  get  a  settler  upon  each  lot."  This  he  did,  settling  his  son 
David  upon  one,  and  a  relative,  Reuben  Smith,  upon  ten  acres  of  the  other, 
near  to  his  own  selected  division  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Moses 
Bowles  farm. 

Major  John  Burns,  one  of  the  original  organizers  and  most  active 
among  the  pioneers  of  the  town,  was  born  in  New  Boston,  August  17, 
1755.  His  immediate  ancestor,  John  Burns,  was  a  hardy  old  Scotchman, 
one  of  the  petitioners  for  the  grant  of  the  town  of  Bedford,  in  1750.  He 
was  a  distinguished  hunter  and  ranger  in  those  French  and  Indian  war 
days  when  "eternal  vigilance''  was  the  price  of  one's  scalp.  He  scouted 
with  Gapt.  Nehemiah  Lovewell,  whose  campaigns  against  the  red-skins 
were  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  avenging  the  death  of  his  father,  the  hero 
of  "  Pequauquauke,"  in  1720. 

Major  Burns,  of  Whitefield  memory,  at  twenty  years  of  age,  enlisted 
in  Col.  John  Stark's  regiment,  May  4,  1775.  This  regiment  was  in  active 
duty  around  Boston  for  three  months,  and  the  story  of  the  battle  of  Bun- 
ker Hill  is  a  part  of  the  illustrious  record  of  that  service.  The  Benedict 
Arnold  expedition  against  Quebec,  planned  by  Washington  in  August, 
1775,  took  from  New  Hampshire  about  ninety  men,   among  whom  was 


464:  History  of  Coos  County. 

John  Burns,  of  New  Boston.  In  June,  of  1776,  another  requisition  was 
made  for  troops  to  march  against  Canada,  and  again  John  Burns  enlisted. 
A  month's  advance — £3-18s,  and  a  bounty  of  £6 — were  the  extra  induce- 
ments for  enlisting  in  this  expedition.  The  regiment  left  No.  1  (Charles- 
town)  August  1,  1776,  and  reached  Ticonderoga  August  9  Here  they 
went  into  camp.  Sickness  soon  after  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent,  and 
many  were  discharged,  among  them  John  Burns,  October  26,  1776.  In 
the  War  of  1812  Mr.  Burns  was  also  a  soldier,  but  the  details  of  this  serv- 
ice are  not  at  command.  The  Major's  military  title,  which  clung  to  him 
familiarly  to  the  end  of  life,  was  acquired  in  the  early  militia  service  of 
the  state.  A  humble  monument  in  the  little  burying-ground  near  his  old 
home  recites  that  "  Maj.  John  Burns  died  May  6,  1852,  aged  96  years  and 
9  months." 

Capt.  David  Burns,  eldest  son  of  Major  John,  came  to  Whitefield  with 
his  father  when  he  "came  up  to  spy  out  the  land."  He  was  born  in  Fran- 
cestown,  July  31,  1782,  and  was,  therefore,  about  twenty  when  he  came 
to  this  town  as  a  settler.  He  married,  in  1807,  Susannah,  daughter  of 
Artemas  Knight,  of  Bethlehem.  They  built  in  after  years  a  more  commo- 
dious home  near  the  spot  where  was  first  rolled  up  the  little  log  house  of 
the  Major,  and  here  the  Captain  died,  April  30,  1864,  in  his  eighty  second 
year.  John  Burns,  eldest  son  of  Capt.  David,  and  grandson  of  Major 
John,  born  in  1808,  August  17th,  still  occupies  the  old  homestead,  and 
here  the  representatives  of  the  fourth  generation  from  the  first  settler  still 
cling  proudly  to  the  home  of  their  ancestors.  Calvin  W.  Burns,  second 
son  of  Capt.  David,  born  in  Whitefield,  March  1,  1811,  is  now  a  respected 
citizen  of  Lancaster.  He  early  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  White- 
field,  and,  at  the  outlet  of  the  little  pond  which  still  bears  the  family  name, 
was  for  many  years  a  leading  manufacturer  in  that  line. 

The  connection  of  Col.  Joseph  Kimball  with  the  affairs  of  Whitefield 
dates  from  the  land  sale  at  Dunstable,  in  1796,  at  which  he  purchased  sev- 
eral of  the  forfeited  titles.  He  was  at  that  time  a  resident  of  Plainfield, 
where  he  settled  in  1765,  a  native,  we  believe,  of  Preston,  Conn.  He  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  having  enlisted  in  1776  for  the  re-inforcement 
of  the  New  York  army,  in  Col.  Baldwin's  regiment.  He  was  also  in  the 
Canada  expedition  under  Col.  Wyman  in  the  same  year,  at  the  battle  of 
White  Plains  in  October  of  that  year,  and  was  dismissed  in  the  December 
following.  About  1780  lie  established  a  ferry  across  Connecticut  river  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Queechy,  and,  in  1785,  was  granted  the  sole  right  of 
ferry  privileges  "for  three  miles  south  from  Lebanon  south  line."  In 
1796  he  was  granted  the  "exclusive  right  of  locking  water — Queechy 
falls."  In  179-1  he  was  one  of  the  "selectmen"  of  Plainfield,  and  also 
held  the  commission  of  lieutenant-colonel,  commanding  the  Fifteenth 
regiment  state  militia.     This  he  probably  resigned  upon  his  removal  to 


Town  of  Whitefield.  t65 

Whitefield  in  1800  or  1801.  Col.  Kimball,  upon  locating  here,  "  pitched" 
upon  lot  No.  4,  in  the  sixth  range,  afterward  known  as  the  "  Holt  Kimball 
farm,"  and  now  occupied  by  Simon  B.  Howland.  Be  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  the  town  in  1805,  and  bore  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
chosen  town  clerk,  and  a  member  of  the  first  chosen  board  of  selectmen. 
But  once  thereafter  was  he  honored  with  the  election  to  any  town  office, 
although  always  taking  a  lively  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  new  town. 
Col.  Kimball  died  in  October,  1821. 

John  McMaster,  who  came  to  Whitefield  with  Maj.  Burns,  was  a  native 
of  Francestown,  born  August  17,  1775.  His  father  was  William,  a  veteran 
of  the  Revolution,  and  one  of  the  "  Committee  of  Safety  "  of  that  town, 
also  for  many  years  town  clerk  and  selectman  of  Francestown.  The  wife 
of  John  was  Lydia  Whittier  (or  Whicher),  and  they  brought  with  them 
children:  Sally,  born  in  1798,  who  married  Nathaniel  Hutchins,  and 
Janet,  born  in  September,  1801,  who  became  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Brown. 
Jr.  In  Whitefield  there  came  to  them  July,  1803,  Lydia,  the  first  white 
child  born  in  town,  who  wedded  with  George  Quimby;  and  Mary  B.,  June, 
1813,  who  became  Mrs.  David  Lang.  John  McMaster  settled  upon  what 
is  now  known  as  the  '''Jo1  Tayler"  farm,  where  he  resided  until  1820, 
when  he  removed  to  lot  15  in  the  19th  range,  afterward  known  as  the 
David  Lang  place,  near  the  "Blood  pond,"  and  here  he  died,  at  seventy- 
three,  in  March,  1818.  Mr.  McMaster  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace 
appointed  in  Whitefield,  and  repeatedly  served  in  the  several  offices  within 
the  gift  of  the  town.  His  only  son  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  March, 
1828.  Mrs.  McMaster  outlived  her  husband  many  years,  dying  in  1S66T 
aged  ninety  two. 

The  first  "  inn-keeper"  in  town  was  Asa  King,  the  founder  of  the  village, 
in  that  he  built  and  occupied  the  first  house  within  the  present  village  pre- 
cincts. It  was  a  low,  one  story  structure,  located  upon  the  spot  where  the 
residence  of  Frank  McKean  now  stands,  and  here  were  the  first  public 
"accommodations  for  man  and  beast."  In  after  years  a  large  and  com- 
modious tavern  was  erected  nearly  opposite,  upon  the  site  of,  and  a  part 
of  which  is  now  incorporated  in,  the  store  and  passenger  station  of  the 
Whitefield  &  Jefferson  railroad.  That  first  house  of  the  village  was  built 
in  1812;  the  tavern  house  in  L828.  Asa  King  was  a  native  of  Sutton. 
where  he  was  born  in  L779.  He  was  the  sixth  son  of  James  King,  a  Brit- 
ish soldier,  who  came  to  this  country  in  the  service  of  the  King  during  the 
French  and  Indian  war.  This  James  was  an  attendant  upon  (Ten.  Wolfe 
at  the  battle  of  Quebec,  and  seized  and  held  the  horse  of  his  brave  com- 
mander after  that  officer  had  received  his  death  wound.  The  wife  of  Asa 
King  was  Polly  Cheney,  of  Sutton,  and  February  20,  L801,  their  first  child 
was  born,  Nathaniel  Cheney,  followed  by  Sally,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Col.  Joseph  Colby;  Polly,  who  married  Stephen  Nichols,  an  early  writer 


466  History  of  Coos  County. 

and  lecturer  upon  phrenology;  Eliza,  who  wedded,  in  1S25,  with  Ashael 
Aldrich,  then  of  Whitefield;  and  James  A.,  who  became  a  mariner.  The 
family  of  Mr.  King  first  occupied  their  new  home  in  Whitefield  on  Thanks- 
giving day,  November,  1812.  Asa  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade, 
but  his  first  industry  after  locating  in  town  was  toward  the  development 
of  his  thousand-acre  land  purchase,  and  the  first  opening  north  of  the 
river  on  the  Lancaster  road,  was  made  by  Mr.  King  on  the  present  Dr. 
Waterston  farm,  and  the  land  cleared  for  the  spring  planting  of  1814.  The 
second  wife  of  Asa  King  was  Sarah,  daughter  of  Maj.  John  and  Sarah 
(Smith)  Burns.  They  were  married  in  March,  1811.  Their  children  were 
Hannah,  who  wedded  Richard  Lane;  John,  who  married  a  Stalbird,  and 
is  now  a  resident  of  Jefferson;  Jane,  who  became  Mrs.  Stiilman  Jenney, 
and  removed  to  Newbury,  Vt. ;  and  George,  born  in  1831,  now  a  resident 
of  Bethlehem.  Probably  to  no  one  resident  is  the  town  more  indebted  for 
its  first  glow  of  prosperity  than  to  Asa  King.  To  his  natural  endowment 
of  good  rugged  common  sense  he  added  a  mechanical  skill  not  among  the 
least  for  those  days,  and  being  physically  strong,  he  w^as  accounted  as  one 
of  the  foremost  among  the  practical  every-day  men  of  the  town.  Mr.  King 
died  in  June,  1855,  at  his  farm  home  opposite  the  present  homestead  of 
B.  F.  Lane. 

Col.  Joseph  Colby,  born  in  Lisbon,  January  21,  1793,  came  to  White- 
field  in  is  16,  and  with  his  brothers  located  upon  "  Comstock  Hill"  of 
which  he  subsequently  became  sole  possessor,  and  here  in  the  next  few 
years  he  carved  out  the  nucleus  for  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Benjamin 
F.  Lane  and  the  one  opposite.  In  politics  Mr.  Colby  was  an  old-time  abo- 
litionist, and,  after  its  organization,  a  staunch  leader  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  served  as  selectman  for  many  years,  and  in  1832-33-37,  repre- 
sented Whitefield  in  the  General  Court.  His  title  of  colonel  he  obtained 
under  the  old  militia  service.  He  was  colonel  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Reg- 
iment, but  resigned  his  commission  in  1832.     He  died  May  1,  1887. 

The  first  merchant  in  Whitefield  was  William  Dodge,  born  in  Frances- 
town,  August  15,  1705.  He  was  the  third  son  of  Simeon  Dodge,  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  who  migrated  from  Beverly,  Mass.,  to  Francestown 
about  L783.  The  emigrant,  William  Dodge,  came  from  Cheshire,  England, 
to  Salem,  in  1629.  He  was  of  old  Kentish  stock — the  only  one  of  the 
name  noticed  in  Burke. 

William  came  to  Whitefield  with  his  newly  wedded  wife,  Eunice  New- 
ell, in  December,  1823.  He  built,  and  occupied  until  his  death,  the  house 
still  standing  at  the  north  end  of  the  bridge  on  the  river  bank  upon  the 
east  side  of  Lancaster  street.  In  the  south  end,  next  the  bridge,  was 
placed  the  merchant's  k' stock  in  trade,"  and  here,  until  1830,  was  the  only 
store  in  town.  This  w^as  the  third  house  built  in  the  village.  About  1824: 
a  postofnce  and  mail  facilities  were  established,   and  William  Dodge  re- 


Town  of  Whitefield.  1»'»7 


ceived  the  appointment  of  postmaster,  a  position  which  he  held  through 
successive  administrations  until  his  death  in  November,  L837.  He  also 
for  many  years  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  pot  or  pearl  ash.  The  gray 
old  ashery  stood  upon  the  river  bank  in  the  rear  of  the  house  just  where 
the  livery  stable  is  now  situated.  Mr.  Dodge  was  a  man  of  liberal  edu- 
cation, and  his  abilities  were  early  recognized  in  the  conducting  of  the 
affairs  of  the  town.  He  was  town  clerk  for  seven  consecutive  years,  was 
superintendent  of  "schooling,"  and  represented  the  town  at  "General 
Court  "  for  the  years  of  1834-35-36,  and  in  all  his  official  course  his  work 
was  marked  by  eminent  ability  and  strict  integrity.  He  died  in  White- 
field  at  the  early  age  of  forty-two,  in  1837.  The  children  of  William  and 
Eunice  (Newell)  Dodge  who  lived  beyond  childhood  were  Eunice  N. ;  Will- 
iam Franklin,  now  of  the  "Mountain  View  House,"  in  Whitefield,  and  a 
well  known  citizen;  Levi  W.,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  a  writer  of  some  repute, 
and  a  local  historian  of  no  mean  ability;  and  Henry  C,  a  successful  busi- 
ness man  of  New  York  city. 

First  Inventory — 1800— shows  Reuben  Smith  taxed  on  one  poll  and  two 
oxen;  John  McMaster,  one  poll,  one  horse,  one  colt,  two  oxen,  one  cow, 
one  young  creature;  David  Burns,  one  poll,  one  cow,  two  young  cattle, 
one  acre  of  mowing;  Williams  Burns,  one  poll,  one  cow;  Benj.  Brown,  one 
poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  two  cows;  Aaron  Bailey,  one  poll,  one  horse; 
Joseph  Kimball,  four  horses  and  colts,  one  cow,  six  young  cattle;  Peter 
Russell,  one  poll,  one  cow. 

Early  Roads.  —  Roads  are  generally  constructed  to  meet  the  needs  of 
the  population;  but  Whitefield's  first  road  was  built  to  attract  what  she 
most  needed  at  that  time,  viz. :  settlers.  A  path  through  the  forest  marked 
by  "  blazed  trees,"  was  sufficient  to  answer  the  name  and  the  purpose  of  a 
"  horse  road,"  as  the  records  say.  It  was  constructed  about  1774  by  order 
of  the  proprietors  and  under  the  supervision  of  Henry  Gerrish,  the  first 
surveyor.  The  location  of  this  spotted-tree  pathway,  was  substantially 
where  the  present  road  from  Bethlehem  to  Lancaster  (north  and  south 
through  the  town)  now  runs,  and  upon  either  side  thereof  were  laid  out 
the  first  one  hundred  and  five  lots  of  seventy-five  acres  each.  The 
length  of  this  primitive  road  is  said  to  have  been  seven  miles  and  two 
hundred  rods.  There  is  no  mention  of  its  width.  Nature  immediately  set 
its  obliterating  forces  at  work,  and  in  a  score  of  years  there  was  little 
trace  left  of  this  ancient  road-way,  save  a  long  line  of  scarified  pines, 
beeches  and  maples,  for  it  was  an  unused  wood-path. 

The  next  steps  taken  toward  road-making  were  at  a  proprietors'  meet- 
ing held  at  Atkinson,  December  3,  1800,  at  which  a  committee  consisting 
of  Jonas  Minot,  Jonas  Baker,  John  Burns  and  Samuel  Minot,  was  ap- 
pointed to  look  and  lay  out  a  road  the  most  direct  way  from  Lancaster 
through  Whitefield  toward  Plymouth.     May  25,  1801.    Mr.  Jonas  Baker 


468  History  of  Coos  County. 

made  the  preliminary  survey,  followed  immediately  by  the  road-makers, 
under  Mr.  Minot,  whose  supervision  extended  to  a  point  in  the  road  a  little 
north  of  the  old  Simeon  Warner  place.  Thence  to  Lancaster  line  it  was 
built  under  the  direction  of  John  Gile,  then  of  Bethlehem,  and  finished  in 
the  autumn  of  1801.  It  was  inspected  and  measured  by  Moses  Eastmanr 
who  was  the  first  town  clerk  and  first  selectman  chosen  in  Bethlehem  after 
its  organization  as  a  town.  The  hill  east  of  the  road  and  above  the  Mont- 
gomery pond  was  designated  in  the  records  as  "Beech  Hill."  The  cost 
of  building  this  road  through  the  wilderness  of  Whitefield  was  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-one  dollars.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  building  of 
this  road  is  an  enterprise  of  the  proprietors  of  the  township,  for  as  yet 
there  are  no  settlers;  but  one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  town  after  its  organ- 
ization, was  the  laying  out  and  legalizing  of  this  same  route,  "  commenc- 
ing on  lot  No.  2,  second  range,  at  a  small  white  pine  tree  marked,  thence 
running  southwesterly  to  the  east  end  of  John  McMaster's  barn,  thence  to 
the  easterly  end  of  Maj.  Burns'  house,  thence  continuing  about  the  same 
course  to  the  easterly  side  of  Benjamin  Brown's,"  etc.,  etc.  This  first 
recorded  road  of  the  settlers  is  under  date  of  October  28,  1805,  and  is  along 
the  same  way  as  built  by  Minot  and  Gile  in  1801.  As  yet  the  McMaster 
opening  (upon  what  is  now  known  as  the  Jo  Tayler  place)  is  the  most 
northerly  settlement  in  town.  Two  years  afterward  (1807)  the  first  grist- 
mill was  built,  and  this  road  extended  to  the  river;  but  it  was  not  until 
1811  that  the  selectmen  continued  the  survey  and  record  of  the  road  from 
McMaster's  to  Lancaster,  or,  as  it  was  all  re-surveyed,  from  Bethlehem  to 
Lancaster,  making  the  distance  three  rods  less  than  did  the  proprietors' 
survey  in  1801. 

In  1815  the  road  from  Whitefield  village  through  the  "  East  Part  "  to 
Jefferson  was  built  past  the  Enoch  Kinney  opening  and  what  is  now 
-Bray  Hill." 

In  1816  the  town  voted  to  lav  out  a  road  from  Dalton  line  to  Bretton 
(Woods)  without  the  cost  of  a  court's  committee.  This,  however,  was  not 
sufficient  for  the  general  public,  for  it  was  soon  afterward  laid  out  by  a 
board  of  commissioners  consisting  of  Adino  N.  Brackett,  of  Lancaster, 
Asa  King,  of  Whitefield,  and  Abel  Crawford,  of  Hart's  Location,  assisted 
by  Edward  Spaulding  and  Joseph  Colby.  The  limits  of  the  survey  were 
from  the  Connecticut  river  in  Dalton,  through  Whitefield  and  Bretton 
Woods  (Carroll)  to  the  "  Old  Bye  Field." 


Town  of  Whitefield.  i<;:i 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

Ecclesiastical.  Provisions  for  Religious  Worship  —  Free  Will  Baptists  — Congregationalists — 
A.dventists  —Union  Meeting- House  —  Methodism  —  Young  .Men's  Christian  Association — Cathol- 
icism —  Temperance—  Schools  —  Societies. 

PRQl'ISIONS  for  Religious  Worship.  -The  importance  attached  to 
the  religious  education  of  the  people  of  New  Hampshire  by  its  early 
government  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  no  grant  for  a  town- 
ship outside  of  the  Masonian  claim  by  the  Governors  Went  worth,  was 
made  without  the  especial  specifications  that  one  equal  share  should  be 
reserved  for  "the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign 
parts,  one  whole  share  for  the  first  settled  minister,  and  one  equal  share 
for  a  Glebe  for  the  Church  of  England  "  as  by  law  established,  and  one  for 
the  benefit  of  schools  in  said  town,  and,  in  most  grants,  a  condition  was 
added  "  that  the  grantees  do  within  the  space  of  three  years  from  the  time 
they  are  admitted,  build  and  furnish  a  convenient  house  for  the  public 
worship  of  God,  and  settle  a  learned  orthodox  minister.''  In  many  of  the 
later  townships  the  provisions  of  the  grants  were  in  no  wise  carried  out  by 
reason  of  the  Revolution  which  followed,  as  was  the  case  with  Whitefield; 
but  this  fact  was  not  allowed  to  effect  the  titles  of  the  church  and  school 
reservation  as  per  royal  authority. 

This  "Propagation  of  the  Gospel  Society"  was  instituted  by  the 
"  Church  of  England,"  and  after  the  change  in  the  government  following 
the  Revolution  these  society  lands  were  turned  over  to  the  Episcopal 
church,  which  gave  all  its  chartered  lands  into  the  hands  of  a  board  of 
citizens  of  the  state  to  be  kept  in  trust  or  sold  for  its  benefit. 

The  original  "Church  of  England  reservation"  in  this  town  now  con- 
stitute the  Benjamin  F.  Lane  farm,  and  the  one  immediately  opposite  on 
the  road  going  to  Carroll.  Col.  Joseph  Colby  purchased  the  claim  from 
the  agent  of  the  church,  about  1818,  paying  therefor  thirty  dollars.  The 
well-known  "Kimball  Hill"  farm  formed  apart  of  the  "  Society  "  reser- 
vation, but  when  it  was  transferred  to  Col.  Kimball  or  his  son  Joseph  K. 
we  have  not  the  means  of  knowing.  The  "  one  ninety-fourth  part  of 
Whitefield  to  be  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  first  settled  minister,"  as  per 
the  mandate  of  the  royal  charier,  proved  a  source  of  no  little  contention 
among  the  friends  of  the  early  preachers  of  the  gospel  in  town.  It  was 
finally  decided  that  Elder  Beniah  Bean  should  receive  the  benefit  of  the 
grant,  although  the  vote  of  the  tax  pavers  in  1832  was  averse  to  the 
claim.  Elder  Nicholas  Bray  and  Mr.  Bean  both  paid  their  first  tax  here  in 
Is  10,  but  Mr.  Bray  did  not  become  a  resident  until  two  years  after,  and 
the  same  year,  L821,  came  Ira  Bowles,  who  twenty  years  after  became  an 


470  History  of  Coos  County. 

ardent  teacher  of  Millerism,  and  the  local  pastor  of  the  church  of  the 
Adventists.  Elder  Jonathan  Chase,  of  the  Methodists,  did  not  become  a 
settler  here  until  1825.  Of  the  final  adjustment  of  the  title  to  the  "minister's 
right  to  a  ninety-fourth  part  of  the  town  we  have  not  the  details,  for  the 
records  contain  them  not;  but  we  are  assured  by  an  old  resident,  Col. 
Joseph  Colby,  that  it  was  decided  in  favor  of  Mr.  Bean,  we  believe  by 
exchange,  as  the  allotments  to  this  share  (as  drawn  and  located  after  ' '  the 
Eames  survey  ")  were  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  settlement  at  that  early 
day,  and  then  were  of  little  value. 

Mr.  Bean's  log-house,  as  built  by  himself  and  neighbors  in  1819-1820, 
was  situated  just  at  the  top  of  the  hill  below  the  residence  of  B.  F.  Lane, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  and  is  well-remembered  when  the  writer 
hereof  was  a  school-boy  as  of  the  general  style  of  those  primitive  struc- 
tures— unpretentious  as  a  barn,  and  humble  as  a  Quaker — but  where  there 
is  contentment,  there  is  home  !  After  the  lapse  of  a  score  or  more  of 
years  the  gray  pile  grew  untenantable,  and  in  1850  was  a  ruin,  and  the  old 
elder  preached  his  last  sermon  many  years  ago. 

Material  for  the  spiritual  history  of  the  town  is  very  meager,  our 
fathers  hardly  thinking  that  in  their  humble  relations  they  were  "making 
history  "  for  their  posterity.  The  only  hints  in  the  "  records  "  of  the  town 
upon  religious  matters  are,  a  vote  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in 
1812  "to  raise  sixteen  dollars  to  hire  preaching,"  and  in  the  following 
year,  1813,  "  voted  not  to  raise  any  mony  for  preaching."  Upon  whom 
the  sixteen  dollars  of  1812  was  bestowed  we  have  no  record,  but  presume 
the  teacher  was  worthy  of  his  hire. 

Free  Will  Baptists. — The  claim  of  the  Free  Will  Baptists  as  the  first 
laborers  in  this  part  of  the  Lord's  vineyard  may  perhaps  not  be  inappro- 
priate, for  Rev.  Joshua  Quimby,  of  that  denomination,  itinerating  here  in 
1810-17,  formed  a  religious  society,  and  several  persons  were  baptized, 
the  first  being  two  brothers,  Paul  and  John  Buzzell.  The  place  of  baptism 
was  in  the  river  just  above  the  site  of  the  present  grist-mill.  Beniah 
Bean,  the  first  resident  minister  in  Whitefield,  settled  here  in  1819. 
He  was  ordained  in  1828,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years.  The  ceremonies 
incident  to  the  ordination  were  conducted  in  the  old  tavern  of  Asa  King, 
which  stood  where,  and  now  forms  a  part  of,  the  store  and  station  of  the 
Whitefield  &  Jefferson  R.  R.  Co.  The  first  meetings  of  this  society  were 
held  in  Mr.  King's  barn,  which  stood  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  road 
where  now  is  the  residence  of  Frank  McKean,  and  in  this  barn  was  organized 
the  first  church  society  in  town,  the  Baptist.  Among  the  early  laborers 
in  this  local  Baptist  field  were  Elders  Nicholas  Bray  and  Ira  Bowles — 
earnest,  pious  workers  in  the  Christian  cause. 

Prior  to  the  advent  of  Millerism  in  1842-43,  this  society  was  the 
strongest  in  numbers,  if  not  in  influence,  of  any  of  the  religious  organiza- 


Town  of  Whitffiflo.  471 


tions  that  had  gained  a  foot-hold  in  Whitefield;  hut  the  promulgation  of 
this  new  faith  caused  internal  doctrinal  discussions,  from  which  the  Bap- 
tists seemed  to  suffer  the  most;  for,  under  the  zealous  teachings  of  Elder 
Ira  Bowies,  and  the  leadership  of  Joseph  Colby,  John  M.  Gove,  Asa  King, 
and  others,  a  schism  was  effected,  which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Second  Advent  church. 

In  the  course  of  time  they  became  once  more  of  strength,  and,  in  1872, 
were  strong  enough  to  feel  that  the  interest  and  general  welfare  of  their 
church  demanded  that  they  abandon  the  idea  of  worshiping  in  a  Union 
house,  and  build  a  place  of  worship  of  their  own.  Hence  a  society  was 
organized  and  various  committees  appointed.  The  soliciting  committee 
was  very  successful,  and  in  a  few  months  enough  was  pledged  to  warrant 
their  going  on  with  their  cherished  undertaking.  A  building  committee 
was  appointed,  and  the  work  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1873.  Arery  little 
could  be  done  during  the  winter,  so  that  it  was  not  completed  until  Sep- 
tember, 1874.  This  beautiful  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  about  the 
middle  of  September.  It  has  an  excellent  site  on  Jefferson  street,  and 
contains  a  vestry,  ladies'  parlor,  kitchen,  and  various  anterooms,  together 
with  a  commodious  audience  room,  with  a  seating  capacity  for  five  hun- 
dred. In  the  organ  loft  is  a  beautiful  pipe  organ,  costing  a  little  over 
$1,600.  The  entire  expense  of  the  house  and  furnishing  was  not  far  from 
$14,000.  The  society  also  owns  a  good  parsonage,  situated  on  High  street, 
overlooking  the  entire  village.  Good  drainage,  pure  water,  as  well  as  pure 
air,  and  fine  scenery,  make  this  a  healthful  and  pleasant  home.  Rev.  G. 
H.  Pinkham  was  pastor  when  the  meeting-house  was  erected,  and  it  was 
through  his  earnest  labor  and  encouraging  words  that  so  great  a  work  was 
undertaken.  He  occupied  the  pulpit  until  the  spring  of  1*7*3.  This  was 
the  close  of  a  long  and  successful  pastorate.  In  the  summer  Rev.  F.  L. 
Wiley  was  called  as  pastor.  At  this  time  the  church  was  burdened  with 
a  debt  of  several  thousand  dollars,  and,  largely  through  the  heroic  endeav- 
ors of  his  faithful,  energetic  wife,  the  debt  was  raised.  Her  name  will 
ever  be  cherished  by  this  society,  because  of  her  efforts  in  this  direction 
as  well  as  her  untiring  labor  in  behalf  of  the  church  and  Sunday-school. 

Under  the  direction  and  faithful  labors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wiley,  the  church 
constantly  increased  in  strength  and  numbers.  In  the  spring  of  1880  he 
resigned,  thus  closing  a  successful  ministration  of  four  years.  During 
that  time  fifty-two  were  received  into  the  church.  In  April  of  the  same 
year  Rev.  Thomas  Spooner,  Jr.,  was  invited  to  assume  the  charge  of  this 
church.  The  work  progressed  finely  under  his  ministrations.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  pastorate,  which  terminated  early  in  1884,  that  the  parsonage  was 
bought  and,  while  he  was  here,  twenty-seven  were  received  into  the  church. 
In  April,  1884,  W.  W.  Hayden,  of  Bates  Theological  school,  was  invited  to 
labor  with  this  church.     He  entered  upon  his  duties  at  once,  supplying  the 


472  History  of  Coos  County. 

church  each  Sabbath  until  after  his  graduation  in  June.  July  found  him 
on  the  ground  ready  for  work.  The  church  at  once  requested  his  ordina- 
tion; accordingly  he  was  publicly  set  apart  to  the  gospel  ministry  on  August 
14,  1884.  Up  to  the  present  time  (1887)  twenty-six  have  united  with  the 
church.     Present  membership  17'J. 

In  connection  with  this  society  is  a  large,  well- organized  Sunday-school 
of  250  members.  A  library  containing  500  volumes,  selected  from  the  best 
literature,  is  owned  by  the  Sunday-school. 

Church  officers:  Pastor,  Rev.  W.  W.  Hayden;  deacons,  Alpha  S.  Bart- 
lett,  Benjamin  F.  Lane,  W.  F.  Dodge;  clerk,  W.  F.  Dodge;  treasurer,  M. 
B.  Dodge;  Sunday-school  superintendent,  C.  E.  King. 

Congregational ists. — Among  the  early  settlers  in  Whitefield  were  many 
Congregationalists,  notably  those  from  Francestown,  but  at  what  date  a 
society  was  organized  we  are  unable  to  say,  and  who  were  instrumental  in 
its  formation  are  not  positively  known .  There  was  an  agent  of  the  '  'Church 
of  England  "  here  as  early  as  1814-15,  who  taught  the  only  school  then  kept 
in  town;  he  may  have  also  looked  after  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  settle- 
ment. 

In  1820  the  Rev.  Drury  Fairbanks  was  settled  over  the  first  church  in 
Littleton;  and,  during  his  pastorate,  ministered  somewhat  to  the  wants  of 
the  Whitefield  society,  and  he  may  have  been  the  organizer  thereof.  In 
1826  the  church  numbered  but  six  members.  Two  years  afterward  it  had 
increased  to  eighteen. 

In  1830  Rev.  William  Hutchinson  was  appointed  to  the  two  charges, 
Bethlehem  and  Whitefield.  He  ministered  here  for  five  years,  when,  in 
1836,  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Edward  Buxton,  who  remained  with  the 
society  but  a  short  time,  being  called  to  Webster,  where,  in  1877,  he 
preached  his  fortieth  anniversary  sermon.  He  was  then  the  oldest  pastor 
in  the  state.  The  church  in  Whitefield  now  numbered  about  thirty  mem- 
bers. In  1830  came,  at  the  call  of  the  society,  Rev.  Horace  Wood,  who  for 
six  years  gave  one-half  his  ministerial  labors  here,  alternating  withDalton. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1816-47  by  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh,  whose  pastorate  was, 
we  believe,  the  last  this  society  enjoyed.  Some  of  its  members  had  passed 
to  other  earthly  fields,  some  had  gone  "  where  congregations  ne'er  break 
up,"  while  others,  grown  weary  of  the  puritanic  creed  of  our  fathers,  trans- 
ferred their  interests  to  the  newer  doctrines;  hence  the  society  dwindled, 
until  in  these  later  years  it  has  not  even  a  nominal  existence. 

Prior  to  the  building  of  the  town  house  the  Sabbath  meetings  were  held 
in  the  school-houses  and  at  the  dwellings  of  the  inhabitants;  but,  in  1831, 
it  was  decided  by  a  vote  of  the  people  to  prepare  the  new  town-hall  for  re- 
ligious meetings,  and  here  the  different  societies  worshiped  according  to 
tli  sir  convenience  until  the  winter  of  1849-50,  when,  by  a  union  of  ortho- 
dox sentiment  outside  the  Advent  church,  the  first  meeting-house  in  town 


Town  of  Whitefield.  it:; 


was  dedicated,  that  now  standing,  almost  neglected  and  unnoticed,  saveas 
a  monument  of  the  "  long  gone  years,"  upon  the  corner  of  Lancaster  and 
Jeff<Tsi»ii  si  reets. 

The  Aduentists,  about  the  same  time,  built  for  themselves  a  house  of 
worship  occupied  for  the  first  time  soon  after  %i  New  Years"  of  L850  and 
here,  by  the  peculiar  attractions  of  their  faith,  they  grew  prosperous  in 
numbers,  wealth  and  influ  mce.  During  these  later  years  the  church  lan- 
guishes —the  old  pillars  have  been  removed  to  be  united  to  the  everlasting 
Church  of  God  "over  yonder." 

The  "Union  Meeting  House.,"  built  by  the  combined  endeavors,  prin- 
cipally, of  the  Methodists  and  Baptists,  served  the  purposes  of  the  two 
societies  as  a  h  i  ise  of  worship  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century:  each 
org  mization  claiming  its  use  upon  alternate  Sabbaths. 

With  increase  of  population  came  increased  demand  for  religious  in- 
struction and  a  necessity  for  more  ample  and  modern  conveniences  for 
Sabbath  meetings  and  spiritual  intercourse;  therefore,  in  1-74.  the  bands 
of  church  union  were  severed;  and  each  society  built  for  itself  a  house  of 
worship  in  accordance  with  its  means  and  needs;  both  are  attractive  and 
commodious  structures;  that  of  the  Methodists,  near  the  ancient  burying- 
ground  on  Lancaster  street,  and  that  of  the  Baptists,  a  short  walk  east  of 
the  old  church  on  Jefferson  street.  The  original  structure,  having  out- 
lived its  usefulness  as  a  "  temple  of  God,"  will  doubtless  b  ■  turned  over  to 
the  town  to  be  used  for  secular  purposes. 

MstlvvJism. — It  many  not  be  generally  known  or  recognized  that  the 
first  teachings  of  Methodism  in  town  were  by  a  woman;  in  fact,  the  foun- 
dations of  this  northern  Methodist  circuit  are  said  to  have  been  laid  by  her. 
Many  of  us  remember  the  pious  declaimings  of  good  "  Mother  Hutchins," 
as  she  was  familiarly  called  wherever  known  in  those  days.  She  with  her 
family  came  to  the  newly  settled  Whitefield  about  18  L3.  They  established 
their  home  upon  what  is  now  a  part  of  the  farm  of  George  Harris,  and  the 
spot  upon  which  sto  >d  their  log-house  is  marked  by  a  pile  of  stones  where 
once  their  health  tire  blazed.  Stately  hollyhocks  nod  in  the  morning  wind, 
and  clusters  of  lilacs  and  he  Ig  ss  of  plum  trees  are  all  unmistakable  evi- 
dences of  a  generation  that  wis,  hut  is  not.  "Grandmother  Hutchins" 
brought  with  h  sr  from  Massachusetts  her  Methodistic  piety,  and  she  shed 
the  new  light  am  >ng  her  neighb  >v^.  Impressed  with  the  power  for  doing 
good,  she,  in  the  winter  of  1816  17,  went  to  Lancaster,  and  having  obtained 
permission  to  speak  on  Sunday,  created  an  interest  which  resulted  in  a 
series  of  evening  in ''ting-,  and  twenty  conversions  were  the  immediate 
fruits  of  her  labor.  Application  was  made  to  the  M.  E.  conference  for  a 
preacher,  when  Rev.  H.  Davis  was  sent,  by  whom  twelve  were  baptized, 
and  a  society  formed.  So  it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  the  first  kindling 
spark  of  Methodism  in  Whitefield  was  struck  by  Mrs.  — Hutchins, 

31 


474  History  of  Coos  County. 

about  1815-10.  That  faithful,  pious  soul  long  years  since  went  out  of 
this  life  (for  she  was  an  aged  grandmother  in  our  young  days),  and  the 
children  of  her  grandchildren  are  now  stalwart  men  and  pleasant  women. 
One  grandson  is  Hon.  Stilson  Hutchins,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  politician 
and  journalist.  Another,  William  B.  Hutchins,  Esq.,  is  present  postmas- 
ter of  Whitefield. 

There  was  no  organized  society  of  Methodists  here  until  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Revr.  Jonathan  Chase,  who  came  to  town  in  1824.  The  home  that 
he  reared  for  himself  and  family  was  located  just  north  of  the  present 
"Browns1  Mill,"  and  the  site  is  now  covered  by  the  lumber  sheds  of  that 
company,  and  exactly  at  the  foot  of  the  bank  in  front  of  the  passenger 
station  at  the  railway  junction.  For  nearly  twelve  years  he  labored  as  a 
Methodist  for  the  cause  of  Christ  in  this  and  the  neighboring  towns,  dying 
suddenly  in  1836. 

In  September,  1831,  was  held  the  first  camp-meeting  in  the  county  of 
Coos,  about  where  the  present  Chase  homestead  is  located.  Elder  J.  Hardy 
was  the  presiding  elder,  and  one  Baker  was  ministering  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  the  local  society  and  those  in  the  neighboring  towns  of  Bethlehem 
and  Dalton.  This  meeting  was  continued  about  a  week,  and  the  atten- 
dance is  said  to  have  been  from  300  to  400  daily,  a  large  gathering  for  those 
primitive  days. 

Pastors. — The  first  mention  of  a  pastor  for  Whitefield  in  the  conference 
minutes  is  in  1842.  Otis  Dunbar  is  the  pastor  here  and  at  Bethlehem  in 
184-2-43.  1844,  with  Littleton,  J.  S.  Lovelancl,  F.  A.  Hewes.  1845,  with 
Dalton,  Pickens  Boynton.  1846,  with  Dalton,  Andes  T.  Ballard.  1847, 
with  Bath,  supplied.  1818,  with  Dalton,  Benjamin  D.  Brewster.  1849, 
with  Littleton,  Charles  Cowing.  1850,  with  Dalton,  C.  Cowing.  1851, 
with  Bethlehem,  J.  M.  Blake.  1852-53,  with  Bethlehem  and  Dalton,  J. 
W.  Johnson.  1854,  with  same,  Dudley  P.  Leavitt.  1855,  with  same  and 
Carroll,  James  M.  Hartwell.  1850,  with  Dalton,  J.  M.  Hartwell.  1857, 
with  Bethlehem,  A.  K.  Howard.  1858-59,  supplied.  1800,  with  Bethle- 
hem, D.  B.  Barber,  L861,  with  Jefferson,  Truman  Carter.  1802,  supplied. 
1803-65,  with  Bethlehem,  L.  P.  Cushman.  1800-07,  with  same,  Hollis 
Kendall.  1808,  with  Jefferson  and  Bethlehem,  J.  H.  Knott,  H.  Kendall. 
L869,  the  same,  J.  H.  Knott,  W.  E.  Bennett.  1870,  with  Bethlehem,  J.  H. 
Knott.  1871,  same,  C.  H.  Smith.  1872,  same,  C.  H.  Smith.  1873,  with 
Carrol],  W.  E.  Tanson.  1874-75-70,  alone,  William  Eakins.  1877-78, 
George  A.  McLaughlin.  1879  -80-81,  Simeon  P.  Heath.  1SS2-S3-84,  James 
Cairns.     18S5,  O.  P.  Wright,     1886-87,  S.  E.  Quimby. 

In  July  and  August,  1875,  Rev.  Allen  Folger  held  a  wonderfully  suc- 
cessful revival  here  under  the  auspices  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  with  the  result 
of  largely  adding  to  the  church  membership.  In  1874  there  were  forty- 
nine  members;  in  1876  one  hundred  and  twenty-three. 


Town  of  Whitefield.  475 


We  quote  from  the  report  of  Rev.  T.  L.  Flood,  presiding  eider,  in  1  874:— 

"At  Whitefield,  the  survey  of  the  P.  &  O.  R.  R.  laid  the  line  of  the  road  through  the  old 
Union  church,  in  which  the  Freewill  Baptists  and  Methodists  have  held  union  meetings  for  ;i  meat 
many  years.  It  was  a  wise  Providence  that  thus  kindly  ordered.  The  results  that  followed  have 
been  these:  the  Baptists  built  a  new  church;  the  Methodists  promptly  purchased  a  piece  of  land; 
after  conference  last  spring,  they  started  a  subscription  paper,  commenced  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice,  and,  about  September  first,  completed  it  with  rejoicing.  It  is  two  stories  high,  with  ves- 
tries, well  arranged,  on  the  first  floor,  good  appointments  throughout,  and  an  audience  room  which 
is  a  gem  of  rare  beauty.     The  whole  cost  was  $7,893.43." 

The  church  has  a  membership  of  180.  The  Sabbath -school  connected 
with  it  was,  up  to  a  recent  date,  much  the  largest  of  any  one  held  in  the 
state  north  of  Concord,  numbering  in  18S5  86  over  300  attendants.  With 
its  present  roll  of  nearly  240  it  is  probably,  numerically,  stronger  than  any 
other  school  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  Richard  Lane  has  been  for 
years  its  efficient  superintendent. 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association. — A  branch  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  was 
established  here  in  April,  1885.  A  reading  room  was  opened  during  the 
summer.  The  Association  has  maintained  meetings  every  Sunday  after- 
noon during  each  summer  in  the  outlying  school  districts,  and  has  held 
Sunday  morning  and  Monday  evening  prayer  meetings.  The  reading- 
room  is  centrally  located,  and  furnished  with  current  papers  and  maga- 
zines which  are  accessible  to  the  public  at  any  time  during  the  day.  George 
Henry  is  the  secretary. 

Catholicism. — The  first  services  of  the  Catholic  society  held  in  this  town 
were  in  the  old  town  house  in  July,  1871,  about  thirty  five  present.  Since 
their  first  organization,  the  progress  has  been  steady,  sure  and  marked. 
To-day  from  eighty-five  to  ninety  families  represent  the  Catholic  society 
in  this  village.  Through  the  untiring  energy  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Plante,  a 
church  has  been  erected  this  year  (1887)  at  a  cost  of  about  $5,000  for  house 
and  lot.  The  location  is  a  most  beautiful  one.  The  society  has  a  ceme- 
tery of  two  acres  on  the  Dal  ton  road. 

Temperance. — The  first  temperance  movement  that  can  be  traced  with 
substantiated  facts  commenced  with  the  organizing  of  a  Good  Templar 
lodge  January  24,  1866.  It  did  a  good  work  for  several  years,  but  their 
meetings  were  finally  discontinued.  It  was  revived  and  re-organized  May 
8,  1878,  with  renewed  enthusiasm,  having  a  membership  of  one  hundred. 
The  Grand  Lodge  supplied  a  new  charter,  rituals,  manuals,  regalias,  and 
everything  necessary  for  the  working  of  the  order. 

Officers  were  installed  by  G.  W.  C  T.  Whittier;  C.  E.  King,  W.  C.  T.: 
Mrs.  L.  V.  Seavy,  W.  V.  T.;  James  F.  Walsh,  \V.  S.;  M.  B.  Dodge,  W. 
F.  S.;  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey,  W.  T.;  John  L.  McGregor.  W.  M.;  C.  J.  Colby, 
W.  C;  Mrs.  M.  I).  Quimby,  W.  R.  H.  S.;  Mrs.  Riva  Parker,  \V.  L.  H.  S.; 
Mrs.  <).  A.  Jenkins.  W.  A.  S. ;  Miss  Ida  Bray,  W.  D.  M. :  Mis.  George 
Bemis,  W.  I.  G.:  Riva  Parker,  W.  0.  G. 


476  History  of  Coos  County. 

A  great  work  was  accomplished  for  temperance  by  the  united  efforts  of 
the  officers,  and  other  zealous  members.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey 
are  entitled  to  special  attention,  having  laid  a  foundation  for  temperance 
work,  by  their  untiring  faithfulness,  and  patience  with  the  young  men, 
whom  they  were  pledged,  especially,  to  save  from  the  evils  of  intemper- 
ance. The  good  work  which  they  did  cannot  be  over-estimated.  The 
interest  gradually  waned,  and  the  charter  was  surrendered  August  27, 
1883. 

A  new  branch  of  temperance  was  organized  November  10,  1878,  by  M. 
T.  Holden  known  as  the  Holden  Reform  Club,  which  was  successful  in 
temperance  reform.  The  Ladies'  Temperance  Aid  Society  was  organized  at 
the  same  time,  and,  with  their  co-operation,  much  good  was  accomplished. 
Public  meetings  were  held  monthly;  earnest  temperance  lecturers  were 
frequently  secured  for  the  meetings,  among  whom  were  Francis  Murphy, 
M.  T.  Holden,  Mr.  Kidder,  Mrs.  Fitzgeralds,  Mr.  McElery.  This  society 
finally  merged  into  the  W.  C  T.  U.  in  1885.  This  was  organized  January 
24,  1884,  by  Mrs.  McLaughlin,  of  Boston.  The  following  officers  were 
elected:  Mrs.  James  Cairns,  president;  Mrs.  John  Libbey,  vice-president; 
Mrs.  Richard  Lane,  corresponding  and  recording  secretary;  Mrs.  B.  F. 
Lane,  treasurer.  There  has  been  no  change  of  officers,  and  Mrs.  F.  P. 
Brown  has  been  president  since  1885.  The  Union  has  a  membership  of 
seventy,  many  of  them  efficient  workers.  Among  the  active  ones  are  Mrs. 
F.  P.  Brown,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Fowler,  Mrs.  F.  C.  Rowell,  Mrs.  William  Bailey, 
Mrs.  E.  H  Weston,  Mrs.  David  Aldrich,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Hayden,  Mrs.  I.  E. 
Quimby,  Mrs.  Richard  Lane.  Prohibition  is  the  aim  of  the  Union,  earnest 
efforts  have  been  made  to  carry  out  all  the  measures  of  temperance 
reform.  Special  attention  has  been  given  to  juvenile  work.  A  Band  of 
Hope  was  organized  with  the  names  of  sixty  children  enrolled.  Temper- 
ance text-books  have  I  teen  introduced  into  the  district  schools.  Much  work 
lias  been  done  by  the  Sunday-schools;  their  libraries  are  well  supplied  with 
temperance  books,  and  temperance  literature  has  been  thoroughly  dis- 
tributed. 

The  interest  in  the  temperance  educative  law  and  its  enforcement  is 
steadily  increasing  in  the  town.  Sunday  night  meetings  have  been  held 
monthly;  with  lectures,  discussions  and  temperance  readings. 

WhitefMd  has  been  justly  called  the  banner  temperance  town  of  Coos 
county.  That  there  is  liquor  sold  in  Whitetield  cannot  be  denied.  Occa- 
sionally a  drunken  man  is  arrested,  or  the  rum  seller  arraigned  for  viola- 
tion of  the  law;  but  there  are  no  paupers  or  criminals  made  by  the  liquor 
I  raffle.  The  annual  "drink  bill "  is  less  than  any  other  town  in  the  county, 
according  to  population.  There  are  no  families  that  suffer  for  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  because  their  means  are  squandered  for  liquor. 

Schools. — Among   the    early  residents  of  Whitefield  not  a  few  were 


Town  of  Whitefield.  4  77 


men  of  education,  and  those  were  deeply  imbued  with  regard  for  educa- 
tional advantages  for  their  children,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  practicable  they 
took  active  measures  towards  providing  them. 

In  L805,  at  a  town  meeting,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  school  house,  and 
$100  was  appropriated.  The  first  school-house  was  of  logs,  and  located 
near  the  site  of  the  present  school  building  in  district  number  one.  It  was 
also  voted  "  to  raise  ninety  dollars  to  hire  schooling."'  As  there  were  but 
five  families  in  town,  and  their  total  valuation  of  property  but  $18.45,  this 
was  a  liberal  sum  for  them  to  assess  the  non-resident  proprietors.  The 
school-house  was  probably  built  that  year,  as  in  November,  at  a  business 
meeting  of  the  town,  action  was  taken  for  supplying  the  school  building 
with  fuel.  In  1806,  $50  was  voted  for  schooling;  in  1807,  $80  was  raised, 
and  in  1810  the  yearly  sum  was  increased  to  $100,  and  a  petition  was  pre- 
sented for  a  school-house  to  be  erected  at  the  east  part  of  the  town.  This 
was  granted,  and  $00  appropriated  for  the  building  thereof,  but  it  was  not 
finished  for  many  years. 

The  First  Board  of  School  Inspectors  was  chosen  in  1811.  These  were 
John  Burns,  Joseph  L.  Kimball,  and  Solomon  White.  The  first  public 
school-teacher  was  Elder  Catlin.  Some  families  residing  at  a  distance 
from  the  school  probably  had  private  teachers.  In  1815  it  was  voted  to 
divide  the  town  into  school  districts.  In  1 817  the  appropriation  for  schools 
was  $150.  In  1818  the  first  framed  school-house  was  built  in  the  first  dis- 
trict on  the  same  lot  of  the  original  log  one.  This  cost  $143,  and  only 
eighteen  residents  were  taxed  for  this  sum.  In  1821  the  first  school  build- 
ing was  erected  in  Whitefield  village  (No.  3).  This  was  repaired  in  1825, 
in  1832  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  "old  red  school-house"  took  its 
place.  (This  is  now  used  as  a  blacksmith's  shop.)  In  1824,  $235  was  voted, 
and  it  was  directed  "that  a  school-house  be  built  in  the  second  district 
before  January,  1825."  February,  1825,  district  number  four  was  set  off 
from  number  one.  In  1828  a  fifth  district  was  made  by  dividing  number 
three,  and  a  school  building  was  put  up  the  same  year.  In  l*2i>  there  were 
215  pupils  attending  school  in  the  five  districts.  From  1828  to  1838  the 
town  raised  from  $200  to  $250  per  year.  In  addition  to  this  was  the  state 
literary  fund.  The  next  ten  years  $350  per  year  was  appropriated  for 
school  purposes.  In  1841  school  district  number  six  was  organized.  In 
L845  the  district  known  as  number  seven  was  erected;  and,  in  1849,  the 
eighth  district  for  schools  came  into  existence.  The  district  schools  were 
well  supported  and  attended;  but  the  town  increased  in  wealth  and  popu- 
lation, and  the  growing  needs  of  the  young  people  required  a  school  for 
higher  culture  and  improvement.  This  might  be  obtained  in  their  native 
place  by  the  establishment  of  a  high  school.  Accordingly  one  was  organ- 
ized, under  a  special  act,  August  18,  1885;  and  the  first  term  was  com- 
menced September  10,  1885.     This  school  has  had  a  prosperous  existence 


478  History  of  Coos  County 


for  over  two  years.  A  board  of  education  has  been  established,  and  the 
educational  opportunities  of  Whitefield  now  compare  most  favorably  with 
wealthier  towns. 

St.  Johns  Lodge,  No.  58,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  September  14,  1875. 
This  was  brought  about  by  the  influence  and  earnest  personal  efforts  of 
Thomas  C.  Grey  and  J.  G.  Trulan.  The  first  N.  G.  of  this  lodge  was  Ira 
S.  M.  Gove.  He  was  followed  by  Thomas  C.  Grey,  E.  H.  Blossom,  John 
S.  Coffin,  John  G.  Trulan,  Frank  E.  Sanborn.  George  E.  Hutchins,  Dr. 
George  S.  Gove,  Horace  D.  Hicks,  Richard  H.  Rickaby,  M.  N.  Small, 
Fred  C.  Fearin,  James  C.  Trickey,  Dr.  George  E.  Huntley,  Andrew  B. 
Elliott,  Harlow  Connor,  H.  L.  Walker,  James  F.  Walsh,  D.  E.  Jeffers, 
John  M.  Quint,  Dr.  George  H.  Morrison,  and  A.  W.  Lane,  all  of  whom, 
except  three,  are  still  members.  The  total  membership  is  ninety-one. 
Since  this  lodge  was  organized  it  has  paid  about  $2,000  for  the  benefit  of 
sick  brethren,  widows  and  orphans;  and  the  treasury  is  in  condition  to 
meet  any  demand  likely  to  be  made.     H.  L.  Walker,  secretary. 

Excelsior  Chapter,  No.  5,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  Adoptive  Ma- 
sonry, was  instituted  in  Whitefield,  November  28,  1876,  with  these  mem- 
bers: Mary  D.  M.  Quimby,  Kate  H.  Brown,  Ora  A.  Conner,  MaryT.  Hill, 
Hannah  P.  McGregor,  Lillie  M.  Fletcher,  Sarah  R.  T.  Seavey,  Frances 
Hicks,  Clara  C.  Fearin,  Julia  M.  Proctor,  Susan  R.  Parker,  Annie  Sart- 
well,  Lizzie  Eakins,  Nettie  L.  Lane,  H.  D.  Bowen,  Mary  Whitcher,  Mar- 
tha Fiske;  and  the  following  officers  installed  by  Thomas  Fletcher,  D.  D. : 
L.  D.  Whitcher,  Worthy  Patron;  Mary  D.  M.  Quimby,  Worthy  Matron; 
Annie  E.  M.  Sartwell,  Associate  Matron;  Nettie  L.  Lane,  Secretary;  Maria 
P.  Gove,  Treasurer;  Kate  H.  Brown,  Conductress;  Frances  Hicks,  Asso- 
ciate Conductress;  Ora  A.  Conner,  Warden;  E.  Webster  Parker,  Sentinel; 
Martha  Fiske,  Ada;  Hannah  P.  McGregor,  Ruth;  Aurelia  C.  Libbey, 
Esther;  Lillie  M  Fletcher,  Martha;  Sarah  R.  T.  Seavey,  Electa.  The 
Worthy  Patrons  have  been,  L.  D.  Whitcher.  Joel  M.  Sartwell,  Asa  Hill, 
JohnQ.  A.  Libbey,  Daniel  Proctor  and  James  C.  Trickey;  Worthy  Matrons, 
Mary  D.  M.  Quimby,  Annie  E.  M.  Sartwell,  Nettie  L.  Lane,  Luseba 
Trickey.  The  degrees  have  been  conferred  upon  108  persons,  and  they 
"were  made  members  of  the  order. 


Town  of  Whitefield.  479 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

Records  Concerning  School-House,  Indian  Stream  Soldiers  and  Town  House — Action  of  the 
Town  Concerning  the  Rebellion — Representatives — Town  Officers. 

TOM'V  Records  Concerning  School-House,  Indian  Stream  Soldiers  and  Town  House. — 1821. 
'•  Voted  to  give  50  dollars  towards  building  a  School-house  in  the  3rd  school  district,  that  it 
might  be  large  enough  to  do  town  business  in. 
1838.  "  Voted  by  motion  of  Aurin  M.  Chase  that  the  soldiers  who  went  from  this  town  to 
defend  the  Indian  Stream  Territory  in  1835,  should  receive'  a  sum  in  addition  to  what  they  received 
from  the  State  sufficient  to  make  their  several]  wages  up  twelve  dollars  pei  month  for  the  time  they 
were  there." 

1828.  "Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  Town 
house.  Chose  Solomon  Cole,  Asa  King  and  Perley  Foster  a  committee  to  draw  a  plan  of  the 
Town  House.  Voted  that  the  town  house  be  set  on  the  plot  of  ground  between  the  burying  ground 
and  Jefferson  Road  so  called  near  the  school  house  in  third  school  district.  Voted  that  the  town 
house  bebuilded  36  ft  wide  and  45  ft  long,  and  14  ft  posted. 

"Jan.  28,  1830.     The  First  Town  meeting  was  held  in  the  Town  House." 

Action  of  the  Town  in  the  Great  Civil  War. — August  20,  L862.  At  a 
special  meeting  called  by  the  selectmen  to  answer  the  call  of  the  governor 
issued  July  10,  1S&2,  calling  upon  towns  to  encourage  enlistments. 

"  Voted  that  the  town  authorize  the  selectmeu  to  raise  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  and 
to  pay  each  volunteer  that  may  enlist  from  this  town  iu  the  three  years  service  of  the  United  States 
agreeable  to  an  order  from  the  secretary  of  war,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars.  Also  that  the 
selectmen  should  hire  money  to  pay  families  of  volunteers,  till  the  money  can  be  refunded  by  the 
State." 

October  17,  1863.  A  town  meeting  was  called  to  meet  November  3d  to 
act  on  the  following: — 

'  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  raise  in  money  all  or  any  part  of  the  commutation  fee  for  men 
now  drafted  to  go  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  from  this  town  and  wdio  pass  medical  and 
enrolment  board  and  pay  to  such  conscripts  as  either  enter  the  service  of  the  United  States  them- 
selves or  furnish  a  substitute,  ten  days  after  said  conscript  or  substitute  shall  be  mustered  into  said 
service,  and  to  see  what  action  the  town  will  take  in  regard  to  raising  money  for  the  benefit  of  men 
now  drafted  in  this  town  to  go  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  " 

November  3,  1863.  "Voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  each  conscript  or  substitute 
mustered  into  the  U.  S.  Service,  ten  days  after  said  conscript  or  substitute  is  mustered  into  said 
service,  and  to  pay  each  liable  man  who  passes  the  board  of  enrollment  or  his  substitute  the  sum 
of  three  hundred  dollars  ten  days  after  being  mustered  into  said  service  of  the  United  Slate-." 

November  28,  1863.  "  Voted  to  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars  for  each  of  the 
fourteen  men  called  for  by  the  President  and  t  > authorize  the  selectmen  to  procure  the  men  at  as 
cheap  a  rate  as  they  possibly  can  but  not  to  exceed  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  each  man 
mustered  not  exceeding  the  fourteen  men.  called  for." 

"  Voted  to  cash  the  bounties  offered  by  the  general  government,  so  that  each  voluntei  r  shall 
be  paid  in  full  when  mustered  into  service." 

January  4,  1864.  "  Voted  to  raise  one  thousand  dollars  in  addition  to  what  has  been  raised 
already  at  the  meeting  of  November  28,  1863,  and  that  it  be  left  with  the  selectmen  to  hire  the 
money  on  the  credit  of  the  town." 


4S0  History  of  Coos  County. 

August  9,  1S64-,  a  town  meeting  was  held  to  vote  on  raising  and  paying 
bounties  to  enlisted,  drafted  men  and  substitutes  and  responded  to  all  arti- 
cles in  the  warrant  by  voting  for  the  selectmen  to  hire  the  money  neces- 
sary to  pay  large  bounties  to  all  that  should  serve  their  country  in  its  need. 

January  11,  1865.  "  \Toted  to  pay  six  hundred  dollars  for  those  that  enlist  from  this  town  to 
fill  the  quota  of  this  town  under  the  last  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  300,000  troops, 
for  the  term  of  one  year;  then  voted  to  increase  the  amount  two  hundred  dollars  making  the  bounty 
eight  hundred  dollars." 

Representatives. — (For  "  classed,"  see  County  History,  page  201.)— 1831,  Simeon  Warner;  1832,  Joseph 
Colby;  1833  Joseph  Colby;  1834,  William  Dodge;  1835,  William  Dodge;  1836,  William  Dodge;  1837,  Joseph 
Colby:  1838,  Simeon  Warner;  1839,  Simeon  Warner;  1840.  Simeon  Warner;  1841,  Samuel  Cole;  1842,  Samuel 
Cole;  1843.  John  Burns;  1844,  Samuel  Cole;  1845,  Roswell  Carlton;  1846.  Roswell  Carlton,  1847,  Caleb  Eix; 
1848,  Caleb  Eix;  1849,  Morris  Clark;  1850,  Morris  Clark;  1851,  Ralph  Fiske;  1852,  John  M.  Gove;  1853.  John 
M.Gove;  1854,  Ralph  Fiske;  1855,  Almon  Shepherd;  1856,  Joel  McGregory;  1857,  William  Bunton;  1858, 
Charles  Parker;  1859,  Moses  H.  Gordon;  1860,  VV.  B.  Hutchins;  1861,  Moses  H.  Gordon:  1862,  W.  B.  Hutchins; 
1863,  D.  M.  Aldrich;  1864,  D.  M.  Aldrich;  1865,  H.  S.  Walker;  1866,  H.  S.  Walker;  1867,  Albert  Winch;  1868, 
G.  W.  Libbey;  1869,  G.  W.  Libbey;  1870,  Samuel  L.  Bray;  1871,  S.  L.  Bray;  1872,  W.  F.Dodge,  W.  G.  Brown; 
1873,  W.  F.  Dodge,  W.  G.  Brown:  1874,  B.  F.  Lane,  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey;  1875,  B.  F.  Lane,  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey;  1876, 
A.  W.  Lane,  Frank  P.  Brown:  1877,  A.  W.  Lane,  F.  P.  Brown;  1878;  1879.  E.  H.  Weston;  1880,  A.  L.  Brown; 
1881,  A.  L.  Brown;  1882,  voted  not  to  send;  1883-5,  voted  not  to  send;  1885-7,  L.  J.  Miner,  E.  B.  Lane,  Jr.; 
1887-9,  L.  T.  Hazen,  J.  C.  Trickey. 

Civil  List — Town  Officers: — 

1805.  Joseph  Kimball,  clerk;  John  Burns,  Joseph  Kimball,  John  McMaster,  selectmen. 

1806.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  John  McMaster,  Benjamin  Brown,  John  Burns,  selectmen. 

1807.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  John  Burns,  John  McMaster,  David  Burns,  selectmen. 

1808.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  John  Burns,  John  McMaster,  David  Burns,  selectmen. 

1809.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  John  McMaster,  Kobert  Smith,  Reuben  Smith,  selectmen. 

1810.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  John  McMaster,  John  F.  Buswell,  selectmen.  [Chose  Robert  Smith  third 
selectman  in  case  of  Henry  C.  Proofs  resignation.] 

1811.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  John  McMaster,  David  Burns,  Enoch  Kinney,  selectmen. 

1812.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  John  McMaster,  John  Burns,  Enoch  Kinney,  selectmen. 

1813.  Thomas  Montgomery,  clerk:  John  McMaster,  Thomas  Montgomery,  Keuben  Smith,  selectmen. 

1814.  John  McMaster,  clerk;  David  Burns,  Thomas  Montgomery,  John  F.  Buswell,  selectmen. 

1815.  Thomas  Montgomery,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Asa  King,  John  F.  Buswell,  selectmen. 

1816.  Thomas  Montgomery,  clerk:  Thomas  Montgomery.  Faul  S.  Buswell,  Asa  King,  selectmen. 

1817.  Thomas  Montgomery,  clerk;  Ephraim  James,  Asa  Johnson,  Thomas  Montgomery,  selectmen. 

1818.  Paul  S.  Buswell,  clerk;  David  Burns,  Asa  King,  Caleb  Rix,  selectmen. 

1819.  Paul  S.  Buswell.  clerk;  David  Burns,  Caleb  r.ix,  Paul  S.  Buswell,  selectmen. 

1820.  Paul  S.  Buswell.  clerk;  David  Burns.  Caleb  Rix,  Joseph  Colby,  selectmen. 

1821.  Paul's.  Buswell.  clerk;  David  Burns,  Paul  S.  Buswell,  Joseph  Colby,  selectmen. 

1822.  James  Snow,  clerk;  Paul  S.  Buswell,  Joseph  Colby,  Thomas  Montgomery,  selectmen. 

1823.  Paul  S.  Buswell,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Ephraim  James,  Solomon  Cook,  Jr.,  selectmen. 

1824.  Joseph  Colby,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Joseph  Colby,  Perley  Foster,  selectmen. 

1825.  Joseph  Colby,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Perley  Foster,  John  M.  Gove,  selectmen. 

1826.  William  Dodge,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Joseph  Colby,  Caleb  Rix.  selectmen. 

1827.  PaulS.  Buswell,  clerk;  Joseph  Colly,  Caleb  Bix,  Perley  Foster,  selectmen. 

1828.  William  Dodge,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  Thomas  Montgomery,  Caleb  Bix.  selectmen. 

1829.  John  M.  (rove,  clerk:  Joseph  Colby,  Thomas  Montgomery,  Caleb  Rix.  selectmen. 

1830.  William  Dodge,  clerk;  Paul  S.  Buswell,  Jonathan  C.  Chase,  Simeon  Warner,  selectmen. 

1831.  William  Dodge,  clerk:  Joseph  Colby,  Thomas  Montgomery,  Roswell  Carlton,  selectmen. 

1832.  William  Dodge,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Simeon  Warner,  Paul  S.  Buswell,  selectmen. 

1833.  William  Dodge,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Simeon  Warner,  Roswell  Carlton,  selectmen. 

1834.  William  Dodge,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Simeon  Warner,  Caleb  Rix,  selectmen. 

1835.  William  Dodge,  clerk;  Thomas  Montgomery,  Joseph  Colby.  Caleb  Rix,  selectmen. 
_  1836.     William  Dodge,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  Simeon  Warner,  Ralph  Fiske,  selectmen. 

1837.     William  Dodge,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  Ralph  Fiske,  Harvey  Abbott,  selectmen. 


Town  of  Whitefield.  -IM 


1838.  Baker  Dodge,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  Ralph  Fiske,  Joseph  K.  Kimball,  selectmen. 

1839.  Baker  Dodge,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  Ralph  Fiske,  Joseph  EL  Kimball,  selectmen. 

1840.  John  Burns,  2d,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  Ralph  Fiske,  Joseph  K.  Kimball,  selectmen. 

1841.  John  Burns,  2d.  clerk;  Ralph  Fiske,  Caleb  Kix,  Simeon  Warner,  selectmen. 

1842.  John  limn.-.  2d,  clerk;  Caleb  Rix,  Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr.,  Benry  S.  Walker,  selectmi  d. 
1813.  (I.  A.  Cossitt,  clerk;  Morris  Clark.  John  Burns,  2d,  Joseph  Colby,  selectmen. 

184  l.  John  Bums,  2.1.  clerk:  Thomas  Montgomery,  s.  Warner,  C.  Mix.  selectmen. 

1815.  John  Burns.  2.1.  clerk;  Simeon  Warner,  Ralph  Fiske.  John  ().  Montgomery,  selectmen. 

1846.  John  Burns,  2d.  clerk;  Simeon  Warner,  Ralph  Fiske,  Caleb  Rix,  si  Lectmen. 

1847.  W.  Carlton,  clerk;  S.  Warner.  R.  Fiske.  B.  S.  Batcheldi  r.  selectmen. 

1848.  J.  A.  McKean,  clerk;  S.  Warner,  W.  Carlton.  E.  Eastman,  selectmen. 

1849.  B.  Dodge,  clerk:  1!.  Fiske.  W.  Carlton,  J.  O.  Montgomery,  selectmi  a. 

1850.  B.  Dodge,  clerk;  W.  Carlton.  J.  O.  Montgomery,  J.  Colby,  selectmen. 

1851.  B.  Dodge,  clerk. 

1852.  B.  Dodge,  clerk;  Morris  Clark,  Clark  Goodwin,  Daniel  Jewell,  selectmen. 

1853.  Ira  P.  M.  Gove,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  C.  Goodwin,  D.  Jewell,  selectmen. 

1854.  W.B.  Hutchins,  clerk;  J.  McGregory,  R.  Fiske,  S.  T.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1855.  Moses  H.  Gordon,  clera;  Joseph  Colby,  Albert  Hall,  Aaron  Guernsey,  selectmen. 

1856.  William  F.  Dodge,  clerk;  Morris  Clark,  S.  F.  Cole,  Aaron  Guernsey,  selectmen. 

1857.  William  F.  Dodge,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  J.  G.  Montgomery.  C.  Libbey,  selectmen. 

1858.  William  B.  Hutchins,  clerk;  Simeon  Warner,  Zina  Goodall,  Lucius  Bond,  selectmen. 

1859.  J.  O.  Montgomery,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  Charles  Libbey.  Samuel  L.  Bray,  selectmen. 

1860.  John  G.  Trulan,  clerk;  11.  Fiske,  S.  T.  Cole,  F.  B.  Sawyer,  selectmen. 

1861.  J.  O.  Montgomery,  clerk;  J.  Colby,  C.  Libbey,  8.  B.  Howland,  selectmen. 

1862.  John  G.  Trulan,  clerk;  S.  Carleton,  J.  Bond,  J.  McGregory.  selectmen. 

1863.  J.  G.  Trulan,  clerk;  Sprague  Carleton.  J.  McGregory,  Julius  Bond,  selectmen. 
1861.  J.  G.  Trulan,  clerk;  S.  Carleton,  J.  McGregory,  G.  P.  Warner,  selectmen. 

1865.  J.  G.  Trulan,  clerk;  Greenleaf  P.  Warner,  Caleb  Walker,  selectmen. 

1866.  L.  V.  Slavey,  clerk;  S.  Carleton,  S.  T.  Cole,  E.  B.  Rogers,  selectmen. 

1867.  L.  V.  Seavey,  clerk;  H.  S.  Walker,  Julius  B  >nd,  Joseph  Colby,  selectmen. 

1868.  L.  V.  Seavey,  clerk;  S.  Carleton,  J.  Bond,  S.  T.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1869.  Joel  M   Sartwell,  clerk;  Joseph  Colby,  W.  F.  Dodge,  Lauren  J.  Miner,  selectmen. 

1870.  L.  V.  Seavey,  clerk;  Moses  H.  Cordon.   L.  J.  Miner,  Manson  Bowles,  selectmen. 

1871.  L.  D.  White,  clerk;  M.  H.  Gordon.  W.  F.  Dodge,  B.  F.  Lane,  selectmen. 
1872. 

1873.  L.  D.  White,  clerk;  M.  H.  Gordon.  G.  W.  Libbey.  L.  J.  Miner,  selectmen. 

187L  L.  D.  White,  clerk:  M.  H.  Gordon,  G.  W.  Libbey,  L.  J.  Miner,  selectmen. 

1875.  L.  D.  White,  clerk;  Julius  Bond,   A.  B.  Elliott,  C.  E.  King,  selectmen. 

1876.  H.  C.  Bond   clerk;  I.  S.  M.  Gove.  A.  B.  Elliott.  C.  E.  King,  selectmen. 

1877.  H.  C.  Bond,  clerk;  I.  S.  M.  Cove.  A.  B.  Elliott,  L.  D.  Whitcher,  selectmi  d. 

1878.  Julius  Bond,  clerk;  William  F.  Dodge,  D.  M.  Aldrich,  W.  T.  Jones,  selectmen. 

1879.  L.  V.  Seavey,  clerk:  William  F.  Dodge,  D.  M.  Aldrich,  W.  T.  Jones,  selectmen. 

1880.  J.  L.  McGregor,  clerk;  D.  M.. Aldrich,   W.  T.  Jones,  S.  L.  Bray,  selectmen. 

1881.  F.  P.  Brown,  clerk;  B.  F.  Lane,  L.  J.  Miner,  E.  M.  Bray,  selectmen. 

1882.  F.  P.  Brown,  clerk;  B.  F.  Lane.  L.  J.  Miner,  E.  M.  Bray,  selectmen. 

1883.  W.  N.  Armington,  clerk:  15.  F.  Lane,  L.  J.  Miner,  E.  M.  Bray,  selectmen. 
1881.  W.  B.  Hutchins.  clerk;  B.  F.  Lane,  A.  W.  Miner.  T.  J.  Twombly,  selectmen. 

1885.  F.  D.  Bell,  clerk;  A-  W.  Miner,  T.  J.  Twombly,  U.  H.  Dodge,  selectmen. 

1886.  F.  D.  Bell,  clerk:  A.  W.  .Miner.  T.  J.  Twombly,  U.  H.  Dodge,  selectmen. 

1887.  F.  D.  Bell,  clerk;  A.  W.  .Miner.  U.  H.  Dodge,  M.  B.  Dodge,  selectmen. 


482  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER   XLYII. 

Physicians— Lawyers,  Etc.— Merchants,  Manufacturer,  aud  Mills— White  Mountain  Lumber 
•Co.— Present  Business  Interests— East  Whitefield  Farmers'  Club  and  White  Mountain  Grange- 
White  Mountain  View  House. 

PHYSICIANS.—  The  first  regular  M.  D.  to  locate  in  Whitefield  was 
Dr.  Darius  Garnsey,  who  came  hither  from  Richmond  in  1821.  He 
studied  medicine  with  the  celebrated  Dr.  John  Parkhurst.  of  Rich- 
mond, and  received  his  diploma  from  Dartmouth  Medical  college.  Dr. 
Garnsey  soon  acquired  an  extensive  practice  throughout  lower  Coos,  for, 
until  after  his  death  in  1830,  there  was,  we  believe,  no  other  regular  med- 
ical practitioner  in  any  of  the  towns  of  Whitefield,  Carroll,  Bethlehem,  or 
Dalton.  His  professional  visits  were  almost  entirely  made  on  horseback, 
and  over  the  hills  and  along  the  wood  paths  of  the  new  country  Dr.  Garn- 
sey's  horse  and  saddle-bags  grew  into  a  familial*  picture. 

His  father  was  Cyril,  commonly  known  as  "Friend"  Garnsey  from  his 
Quaker  proclivities,  who  bought,  in  1822,  the  then  scarce-four-years-old 
farm  of  Jonathan  Scott,  just  south  of  the  present  Dr.  Waterston  place. 
He  was  a  native  of  Richmond,  one  of  the  "seed-towns"  of  Whitefield,  it 
having  furnished  several  of  the  early  families  of  the  town.  The  wife  of 
Cyril,  and  mother  of  Dr.  Darius,  was  Saloma  Garfield,  a  cousin  of  Presi- 
dent Garfield.     She  was  born  in  Warwick,  Mass.,  May,  1769. 

After  Dr.  Garnsey,  came  B.  F.  Sanborn,  from  Enfield.  He  lived  in  the 
house  just  north  and  opposite  the  Methodist  church.  Dr.  Sanborn  was  a 
well-educated  man,  and,  had  not  his  progress  been  cut  short  by  an  early 
death,  would  have  stood  high  in  his  profession.  He  was  much  interested 
in  educational  matters,  and  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  school  commis- 
sioners—Edmund Burke  and  William  Dodge  being  his  associates.  He  died 
in  1835. 

A  Dr.  Swazey  for  the  next  few  months  prescribed  for  the  sick  of  White- 
field,  but  his  professional  career  was  brief,  as  he  yielded  the  field  to  Dr. 
Albert  Winch,  who,  for  over  forty  years,  lived,  practiced  and  prospered 
here.  He  was  a  native  of  Bethlehem,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  and  born 
October  1(5,  18013.  He  came  here  in  1 836,  and  his  success  was  marked  from 
the  first.  What  an  earnest  worker  he  was!  What  an  enthusiastic  talker! 
always  bristling  with  facts!  and  with  a  love  for  his  profession  "passing 
the  love  of  woman."  His  first  pupil  was  Dr.  George  S.  Gove.  (See 
biography.) 

Dr.  Joseph  Patten,  born  in  Deering,  N.  H.,  was  a  student  with  Dr. 
Winch,  and  obtained   his  degree  from  Dartmouth  Medical  college.     He 


Town  of  Whitefield.  t83 


possesses  the  necessary  qualities  for  eminence  in  his  profession,  practiced 
several  years  in  Whitefield  and  vicinity,  and  removed  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
in  Ism,. 

Bukk  Gr.  Carleton,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Lucia  (Dexter)  Carleton,  is  a 
successful  practitioner  in  New  York  city.  He  is  a  follower  of  the  Hahne- 
mann theory  of  " similia,"  and  a  graduate  of  that  school  of  medicine. 
He  was  born  in  Whitefield,  and  with  a  fondness  for  his  native  place  born 
of  true  manhood,  he  still  calls  it  home,  and  here  his  family  pass  their 
summers,  and  he,  an  occasional  respite  among  the  friends' of  his  youth. 

Another  native  physician  of  the  homeopathic  school  is  Charles  E. 
Dodge,  son  of  William  F.  Dodge.  His  medical  instruction  was  obtained 
principally  at  the  Homeopathic  Institute  in  New  York  city,  and  after  grad- 
uation he  immediately  entered  upon  practice  at  Manchester,  N.  H.,  where 
he  is  meeting  with  marked  success.  Dr.  Dodge  seems  to  be  one  of  those 
of  whom  it  may  be  said,  "  He  was  born  to  his  work."  Dr.  Dodge's  wife 
is  Ida,  daughter  of  Samuel  L.  Bray,  of  Whitefield. 

Charles  Irwin  Lane,  a  bright,  particular  star  of  the  medical  profession, 
whose  light  suddenly  went  out  in  April,  1883,  was  a  son  of  Richard  and 
Hannah  (King)  Lane,  who  settled  in  Whitefield  in  1832,  and  where  they 
always  resided,  save  a  comparative  short  interval  of  residence  in  Carroll, 
during  which  Charles  I.  was  born,  November  27,  1854.  He  was  one  of 
twins,  the  other  being  Edward  Austin,  a  promising  lawyer  of  Pittsfield, 
N.  H.  Dr.  Charles  was  a  graduate  of  Hahnemann  Medical  college,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  commenced  practice  at  Concord,  in  April,  1878,  previous 
to  which  he  travelled  quite  extensively  in  Europe  His  brief  life  was  ended 
after  a  five  years'  practice,  during  which  he  had  gained  an  enviable  repu- 
tation as  a  man  and  a  physician. 

Dr.  John  L.  McGregor,  born  in  Whitefield  September  .">,  1855,  after  a 
preparatory  education,  took  the  Mechanic  Arts  course  at  Dartmouth  in 
the  class  of  1875.  He  then  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Gove.  He  next 
applied  himself  to  dentistry  under  the  teaching  of  Dr.  Olcott,  and  was 
graduated  in  1871,  at  the  Philadelphia  Dental  college.  He  located  in 
Whitefield,  where  he  purchased  the  drug  store  of  0.  S.  Blood,  and  con- 
ducted pharmacy  from  1878  till  1883.  In  the  spring  of  18SI3  he  was  a 
graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  Hahnemann  college,  and  in  November,  L883, 
of  the  Medical  department  at  Dartmouth.  He  commenced  the  practice  of 
medicine,  at  Whitefield,  in  1883,  and  immediately  entered  a  good  field  of 
labor.  His  practice  is  a  busy  and  successful  one,  and  extends  to  many  of 
the  towns  adjoining.  He  is  a  genial  companion,  and  a  ''live"  and  pro- 
gressive citizen.  Possessing  marked  abilities,  he  has  made  an  excellent 
reputation,  and  is  regarded  as  eminently  adapted  for  the  profession  he  has 
chosen. 

Dr.  George  H.  Morrison  is  a  physician  of  the  homeopathic  school.     He 


4s-t  History  of  Coos  County. 

has  a  large,  successful  and  growing  business  and  is  devoted  to  the  profes- 
sion which  he  has  made  his  life-work. 

Lawyers. — The  first  representative  of  the  legal  profession  resident  in 
Whiteneld  was  Hon.  Edmund  Burke,  who  located  here  in  1830.  He  re- 
mained three  years,  taking  a  deep  interest  in  town  affairs,  more  especially 
in  the  cause  of  education.  Mr.  Burke's  place  in  Whiteneld  was  afterward 
filled  by  George  A.  Cossitt,  now  of  Lancaster.  After  about  1840  White- 
field,  for  nearly  two-score  years,  was  without  a  resident  attorney-at-law, 
until  Everett  Fletcher  began  his  practice  here.  W.  N.  Armington,  Esq., 
located  here  later  to  look  after  the  people's  arguments  and  disagreements. 
Of  able,  unprofessional  counselors,  however,  the  town  has  had  its  full 
share,  prominent  among  whom  were  Col.  Joseph  Colby,  a  man  of  well- 
recognized  natural  ability  and  rough  common-sense,  whose  law  was  right 
and  justice;  Esquire  Thomas  Montgomery,  who,  in  his  day,  presided  at 
more  justice  trials  than  any  other  man  in  the  vicinity,  and  had  the  enviable 
record  of  never  having  but  one  decision  of  his  reversed  upon  an  appeal; 
Simeon  Warner,  Esq.,  a  zealous,  old-time  Democrat,  and  at  one  time  a 
prominent  candidate  for  the  nomination  of  governor;  Ebenezer  Carleton, 
Esq.,  once  a  leading  politician  of  acknowledged  ability  and  honor.  He 
was  formerly  a  resident  of  Bath,  and,  we  believe,  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
but  for  most  of  his  active  life  made  no  pretensions  as  a  professional  lawyer. 
His  counsel,  however,  was  often  sought  in  cases  of  equity  and  law,  and 
generally  impartially  given.  Mr.  Carleton  was  an  extensive  real  estate 
owner,  and,  at  one  time,  one  of  the  most  widely  known  dealers  in  land  and 
lumber  in  Coos  or  Grafton.  He,  many  years  ago,  purchased,  remodelled 
and  rebuilt  the  old  "Snow  corner,"  which,  since  the  abandonment  of  the 
"King-Gore  tavern  "  about  1851,  was  for  years  the  only  hotel  in  White- 
field.  Mr.  Carleton  has  gone  "beyond"  where  there  is  no  law  but  the 
"  higher  law." 

Major-General  John  Gray  Foster  was  born  in  Whiteneld  May  27,  1822. 
His  father  was  Capt.  Perley  Foster,  well  remembered  as  a  military  enthu- 
siast in  the  old-time  militia  days  of  the  county — and  who  that  saw  them 
does  not  remember  the  independent  company  of  "  Whiteneld  Highlanders  " 
in  their  picturesque  uniforms  and  well-ordered  movements  at  the  old- 
fashioned  annual  musterings,  under  the  dignified  conduct  of  their  leader, 
Capt.  Foster.  The  father's  military  spirit  was  intensified  in  the  son,  and 
as  a  lad  he  was  always  the  chosen  commander  in  those  boyish  sports. 

"()b,  were  you  ne'er  a  school  boy, 

And  did  you  never  train, 
And  feel  that  swelling  of  the  heart 

You  ne'er  will  feel  again? 
Didst  never  meet  far  down  the  street 

With  plumes  and  banners  gay, 
A  kettle  for  our  kettle  drum 

We  played  our  march,  march  away." 


Town  of  Whitefield.  485 


When  John  Foster  was  ten  years  old  the  family  settled  in  Nashua,  and 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  place  and  at  the  Baptisl  high  school  at  Han- 
cock were  laid  the  foundations  of  his  subsequent  career.  He  entered  West 
Point  at  twenty  years  of  age,  graduating  with  high  honors  in  1846.  The 
various  positions  occupied  by  Gen  Foster  during  the  War  of  tin;  Rebel- 
lion were  in  the  highest  degree  important,  and  he  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  accomplished,  brave  and  prudent  of  officers.  In  1847  he  joined 
(icn.  Scott  in  Mexico,  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  for  gallantry  at  Cheru- 
busco,  was  severely  wounded  at  Chapultepec,  and  for  his  heroism  brevetted 
captain.  After  the  war  he  became  a  teacher  at  West  Point.  In  1861,  at 
the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  Capt.  Foster  was  at  the  fort  superin- 
tending the  repair  of  the  fortifications  in  Charleston  harbor.  In  August, 
L861,  he  was  made  brigadier-general,  and  appointed  to  serve  under  Burn- 
side  in  the  Roanoke  expedition;  here  he  was  successful,  and  for  his  gal- 
lantry was  made  major-general,  and  placed  in  command  of  the  department 
of  North  Carolina.  In  1863  he  succeeded  Gen.  Burnside  in  Tennessee, 
and  in  1864  commanded  the  Southern  department.  In  1865  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  department  of  Florida,  and  there  served  during  the  war. 
He  died  of  consumption,  in  Nashua,  in  1873.  Young,  as  we  count  years, 
only  fifty-one,  those  years  were  full  of  living  experience.  His  life  is  a  part 
of  the  records  of  his  country,  and  monuments  of  marble  have  been  reared 
and  earthly  tablets  have  been  graven  reciting  the  deeds  and  virtues  of  far 
less  worthy  men  than  Major- General  John  Gray  Foster. 

Hon.  Stilson  Hatch  ins. — One  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  many  sons  of 
Coos  who  have  achieved  national  reputations  is  Hon.  Stilson  Hutchins, 
born  in  Whitefield,  November  14,  1838.  He  was  the  only  son  of  Stilson 
and  Clara  (Eaton)  Hutchins,  who  settled  in  Whitefield  in  1813.  As  a 
politician  Mr.  Hutchins  is  a  thorough  Democrat,  and  his  paper  published 
at  Washington,  though  intensely  partisan,  is  a  power  in  national  politics. 
Hon.  Aurin  M.  Chase,  son  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Chase,  was  one  of  White- 
field's  representative  men.  He  was  well  and  favorably  known  in  the 
world  of  politics  and  in  social  and  business  life  beyond  his  native  New 
Hampshire.  He  was  an  early  and  earnest  agitator  in  the  struggle  against 
slavery,  being  a  co-worker  with  Hale,  Sumner,  and  Wilson.  He  died  in 
Whitefield,  in  1876,  aged  sixty-nine  years. 

Merchants,  Manufacturers  and  Mills. — Asa  Fiske  came  from  Temple- 
ton,  Mass.,  in  1830,  firsl  to  Lunenburg,  Yt..  then  soon  to  Whitefield,  where 
he  settled  on  the  Jefferson  road  on  the  present  Arnold  Streeter  place. 
Ralph  Fiske,  son  of  Asa.  began  merchandising  in  1840,  in  the  building 
nowthe  "Coos  Hotel"  (which  was  originally  built  with  two  stories  early  in 
the  "thirties"  as  a  store),  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Brooks,  [Piske&  ( Jarle- 
ton,  which  succeeded  McKean  &  Carleton.  This  firm  went  out  of  busi- 
ness, and  Mr.  Fiske  conducted  a  small  country  store  in  the  Allen  store  on 


486  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  site  of  the  Libbey  &  Fiske  store  of  to-day  for  some  years  in  the  "for- 
ties." In  1848  Aurin  M.  Chase  and  Mr.  Fiske  began  trading  in  the  pres- 
ent barber  shop  of  W.  F.  Aldrich.  In  1849  Mr.  Chase  sold  to  Caleb  Walker, 
and,  in  1850,  Fiske  &  Walker  removed  to  the  Allen  store,  and  Mr.  Fiske 
soon  became  sole  owner.  In  1852  he  removed  to  the  present  postoffice 
building,  built  that  year,  and  continued  in  trade  till  L857,  forming  with 
Hazen  W.  the  firm  of  "  Ralph  Fiske  &  Son."  This  firm  conducted  the 
Carleton  (P.  0. )  store  for  some  time,  and  also  one  in  the  White  Mountain 
Lumber  Company's  building  from  1859  to  1861.  About  the  latter  year 
the  stock  of  G.  W.  Libbey,  then  trading  in  the  Carleton  sore,  was  bought 
by  the  firm.  In  1864  Mr.  Fiske  purchased  the  old  hotel  on  the  south  side 
of  John's  river  and  moved  the  store  there.  Here  R.  Fiske  &  Co.  and 
Fiske  &  Lane  (Richard  Lane)  continued  until  1872,  when  William  K, 
Quimby  bought  the  interest  of  Ralph  Fiske,  who  permanently  retired  from 
trade  after  a  long  and  successful  career,  in  which  his  common  sense,  busi- 
ness ability,  and  religious  integrity  had  been  component  parts  of  the  com- 
mercial interests  of  the  town. 

Francis  Fiske  built  the  old  Fiske  mill  above  the  village,  in,  or  before, 
1835,  put  in  an  up-and-down  saw,  with  clapboard  and  shingle  machines. 
He  ran  this  ten  years,  when  he  died.  His  brother,  Henry,  soon  became 
the  owner  and  conducted  the  mill  until  he  died  several  years  later. 
(Charles  H.  Fiske,  a  lad  of  fourteen,  w^as  killed  here  in  1851,  by  falling  on 
a  saw.)  Joel  McGregory  then  became  proprietor,  and  in  1852  merged  it 
with  that  of  R.  B.  Dunn  &  Co.,  becoming  afterwards  a  stockholder  of  the 
White  Mountain  Lumber  Co.  After  the  failure  of  this  company,  G.  Ste- 
vens &  Co.  came  into  ownership.  They  sold,  near  the  close  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, to  Libbey  Bros  ,  and  it  has  since  been  carried  on  by  them.  The  Fiske 
mill  served  a  long  period  of  usefulness,  but,  in  L877,  a  new  one  was  built 
across  the  river  close  to  the  W.  &  J.  R.  R.  This  had  a  capacity  of  30,000 
feet  per  day. 

White  Mountain  Lumber  Co.— In  1852  R.  B.  Dunn,  with  other  people 
from  Maine,  purchased  the  Allen  store,  built  the  present  store  of  Libbey 
Bros.  &  Fiske,  and  began  trade  in  connection  with  lumber  operations  on  a 
large  scale,  as  R.  B.  Dunn  &  Co.  Shortly  after,  they  formed  the  White  Mount- 
ain Lumber  Co.,  an  incorporated  stock  company,  which  monopolized  all 
the  important  mill-sites,  constructed  large  mills  where  Browns'  Lumber  Co.'s 
and  Hazen's  mills  now  stand,  and  issued  large  amounts  of  stock,  which  was 
sold  in  small  amounts  (mostly  to  people  of  moderate  means  in  Maine)  at  a 
high  figure.  The  large  mill  and  box  shop  at  Hazen's  Mills  were  burned, 
December,  15,  L856,  with  a  large  amount  of  manufactured  stock.  The 
company  shortly  after  failed,  and  cannot  be  said  to  have  been  a  benefit  to 
the  town. 

In  L839  the  manufacture  of  lumber  was  begun  at  Hazen's  mill  by  Dodge 


Town  of  Whitefield.  is7 


&  Abbott  who  put  up  an  old  style  mill,  with  clapboard  and  shingle 
machines.  Ira  Goodall  and  Joel  McGregoiy  bought  it  in  1*44  or  1845  and 
continued  in  business  until  1853.  After  the  fire  above  mentioned  the  site 
was  idle  till  1858,  when  Myron  P.  Aldrich  and  Joel  McGregory  purchased 
it,  and  built  the  mill  now  standing.  Gen.  E.  0  Kenney  became  the  owner 
in  1861  or  '62,  and,  with  Manson  Bowles,  formed  the  firm  of  Kenney  & 
Bowles  later.  Before  1870  Ha/en  \V.  Fiske  became  a  partner  of  the  firm 
of  Kenney,  Bowles  &  Fiske,  which  was  succeeded  by  Kenney,  Hazen  & 
Fiske.  and,  later,  by  L.  D.  &  L.  T.  Hazen. 

Charles  Libbey,  with  his  two  young  brothers,  Nathaniel  W.  and  Henry 
C,  came  to  Whitefield  from  Bethlehem  in  1S41  and  engaged  in  lumbering. 
He  bought  the  old  Greenwood  mill  about  1846,  enlarged  the  mills,  developed 
the  business  largely,  and  conducted  it  in  an  extensive  manner  until  L877, 
when  G.  W.  &  N.  W.  Libbey  came  into  possession.  (They  run  them  until 
the  convenient  timber  was  exhausted,  and  now  operate  but  a  shingle-mill 
there.)  J  Q.  A.  Libbey  came  here  first  in  1843  for  one  year's  residence. 
In  1853  he  returned,  married,  and  purchased  the  David  Brown  mill,  just 
below  the  village,  containing  board,  shingle,  and  clapboard  machines.  This 
he  conducted  with  various  partners  (J.  C.  Libbey,  Joel  McGregory,  N.  W. 
and  H.  C.  Libbey)  until  1865,  when  he  sold  it  to  George  W.  Libbey.  In  1870 
Mr.  Libbey  purchased  the  grist-mill  of  Fiske  &  Walker  which  he  now  oper- 
ates Henry  C.  Libbey  and  Lewis  D.  White,  about  1868,  started  the 
planing  and  carding-mill  at  the  village.  In  1871  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey  bought 
his  brother's  interest,  and  Libbey  &  White  conducted  it  until  1884  when 
Mr.  Libbey  became  sole  owner.  The  day  of  the  carding-mill  has  past,  and 
Brown,  Bray  &  Co.  now  make  a  superior  article  of  butter-tubs  in  the 
building. 

George  W.  Libbey  came  from  California  in  1855,  and  established  him- 
self as  a  trader  in  the  basement  near  the  iron  bridge  now  occupied  as  a 
barber  shop.  In  a  few  years  he  became  an  active  lumberman,  and,  with 
his  brothers,  has  been  a  constituent  element  of  business  prosperity  in  this 
locality  ever  since.  They  have  dealt  largely  in  lands,  employed  many  men . 
and  paid  out  much  money.  The  firm  of  G.W.  &N.W.  Libbey  dates  from 
near  the  close  of  the  Rebellion.  In  1867  or '68  they  bought  the  Round  Pond 
mills  in  Dalton,  and  did  a  large  business  in  making  lumber  for  some  years 
until  the  section  tributary  was  depleted  of  stock.  They  manufactured  at 
Burns  pond  for  some  time,  and  have  manufactured  at  Libbey's  mill 
(formerly  Fiske's).  They  have  made  Whitefield  their  headquarters  for 
their  lumber  operations  in  Kilkenny  and  Randolph. 

Moses  H.  Gordon  was  a  lumberman  for  many  years,  owning  and  oper- 
ating the  old  David  Brown  mill,  the  Dodge  and  Abbott  Lower  mill,  and  the 
Morris  Clark  mill. 


488  History  of  Coos  County. 

Calvin  W.  Burns  conducted  a  large  lumber  manufacture  for  many 
years  at  the  outlet  of  Burns  pond. 

In  1861,  or  early  in  the  war  time,  Gilmore  &  Stevens  purchased  the 
"  Company's  "  store,  and  opened  a  large  stock  of  goods.  This  was  sold 
with  their  mill  and  other  property  to  G.  W.  &  N.  W.  Libbey.  In  1878 
the  mercantile  firm  became  "Libbey  Bros.  &  Brown"  (Frank  P.  Brown). 
Mr.  Brown  retired  in  1884,  and  Hazen  W.  Fiske  became  a  member  of  the 
present  firm  of  "Libbey  Bros.  &  Fiske" — one  of  the  leading  mercantile 
houses  of  the  county. 

Davis  &  White  were  early  merchants  in  the  Coos  Hotel  building. 
About  1845  Mr.  White  retired,  and  S  E.  Davis  removed  shortly  after  to 
the  Allen  store  where  he  was  in  trade  until  1850. 

Lane  &  Quimby  moved  to  their  new  store,  built  in  1878  after  the  old 
hotel  store  was  sold  to  the  Whitefield  &  Jefferson  R.  R. 

The  celebrated  "Whitefield  overalls"  are  manufactured  by  Snow  & 
Baker.  H.  L.  Cole  has  manufactured  butter  tubs,  etc.,  for  some  years, 
and  employs  a  number  of  men.  Brown,  Bray  &  Co.,  in  the  same  busi- 
ness, employ  several  men.  John  Sperry  began  the  manufacture  of  veneers 
in  J886  and  also  furnishes  several  with  employment. 

Other  branches  of  industry  and  manufacturing  have  been  and  are 
carried  on.  J.  K.  Kimball  &  Co.  had  a  starch  mill  in  1857,  and  Kimball 
and  Gordon  Were  merchants.  Morris  Clark  conducted  a  saw- mill  for 
years.  V.  Blood  also  was  here  as  a  manufacturer  in  1857.  W.  B. 
Hutchins  was  a  merchant  for  some  years.  The  merchants  of  twenty 
years  ago  were  R.  &  H.  W.  Fiske,  G.  Stevens  &  Co.,  Gordon  &  Sartwell. 
The  manufacturers  at  the  same  time  were  Asa  Gile,  N.  W.  &  H.  C. 
Libbey,  Quimby  &  Sartwell,  C.  Libbey  &  Co.,  G.  Stevens  &  Co.,  Kenney  & 
Bowles. 

Present  Business  Interests. — Physicians,  George  S.  Gove,  John  L.  Mc- 
Gregor, George  Morrison;  lawyer  and  insurance,  W.  N.  Armington;  sta- 
tion agent,  W.  S.  Aldrich;  express  agent,  C.  H.  Gordon;  postmasters, 
Whitefield,  W.  B.  Hutchins,  Hazen's  Mills,  L  T.  Hazen;  drugs,  medicines, 
etc.,  George  W.  Darling  &  Co.  (Dr.  J.  L.  McGregor),  0.  S.  Blood;  millin- 
ery, etc.,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Lane,  Mrs.  Eliza  Eastman,  Mrs.  F.  A.  McKean;  sum- 
mer hotels,  Mountain  View  House,  W.  F.  Dodge  &  Son,  Kimball  Hill 
House,  H.  J  Bowles;  hotels,  Coos  Hotel,  J.  W.  Tibbetts,  Fiske  House, 
Mrs.  Hazen  W.  Fiske;  merchants,  Bowker  cc  Co.  (Browns'  Lumber  Co.), 
Lane  ec  Quimby  (Richard  Lane,  William  K.  Quimby),  Libbey  Bros.  & 
Fiske  (G.  W.  Libbey.  N.  W.  Libbey,  H.  W.  Fiske).  general  stores;  Charles 
Eastman,  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey,  Hour,  meal,  etc. ;  Byrne  Brothers,  clothing  and 
furnishing  goods;  (i.  W.  Darling  &  Co.,  O.  S.  Blood,  jewelry,  etc. ;  J.  G. 
Trulan,  tailor;  A.  D.  Hill,  J.  Q.  A.  Libbey,  stoves,  tinware,  etc.;  William 


Town  of  Whitefield.  t89 


Chamberlin,  news  dealer,  fruits  and  confectionery;  James  Hagan, 
variety  store;  livery,  T.  J.  Morse. 

Whitefield  Library  Association. — August  21,  1872,  a  meeting  of  the 
contributors  to  the  "Library  Fund"  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
ization, and  elected  JohnQ.  A.  Libbey,  president;  Mrs.  William  K.  Quimby, 
secretary;  Mrs.  Lyman  V.  Seavey,  treasurer;  Effie  J.  Libbey,  librarian. 
August  24.  p]liza  Woodbury  and  Kate  Crockett  paid  the  secretary  $103.50, 
which  they  had  collected  for  the  benefit  of  the  "  Whitefield  Library  Asso- 
ciation." Gen.  1).  K.  Jackman,  of  Bath,  sent  $50  to  help  forward  this 
worthy  enterprise.  This  library  was  opened  January  11,  1873,  at  the 
house  of  L.  V.  Seavey,  with  208  volumes.  In  ls?r>.  $21.45  was  received  of 
J.  G.  Trulan  (the  result  of  a  spelling  match).  In  1886  the  town  gave $20. 
At  the  present  time  there  are  about  600  volumes  in  the  library.  The  ladies 
have  taken  charge  of  the  books,  alternately,  at  their  homes,  and  the  good 
work  of  furnishing  good  literature  is  prospering.  The  officers  now  i  L887) 
are  John  Q.  A.  Libbey,  president;  M.  D.  M.  Quimby,  secretary;  A.  C. 
Libbey,  treasurer;  Willie  E.  Quimby,  librarian. 

East  Wltitefield  Farmers'  Club* — The  farmers  in  East  Whitefield  had 
for  a  long  time  talked  about  farmers'  meetings,  but  no  one  took  the  re- 
sponsibility of  calling  one  until  December,  1883,  when,  by  a  concert  of 
action,  one  was  appointed,  an  organization  made,  and  a  committee  chosen 
to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws,  whose  report  created  the  East  White- 
field  Farmers'  Club.  The  officers  were  to  hold  office  three  months,  and 
meetings  were  to  be  held  weekly.  The  first  president  was  William  F. 
Dodge,  a  man  well  qualified  for  the  position.  James  A.  Goodwin  was  vice- 
president;  Joseph  R.  Streeter,  secretary  and  treasurer.  Mr.  Dodge  served 
one  term,  declined  a  re-election,  and  Mr.  Goodwin  was  made  president, 
William  Barnett  vice-president,  Lauren  J.  Miner,  secretary  and  treasurer; 
these  last  named  officers  held  office  up  to  the  spring  of  1887,  when  the 
club  merged  into  "Mount  Washington  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
No.  116." 

The  club  was  formed,  as  the  by-laws  read,  "to  discuss  the  pros  and 
cons  of  farming";  and  they  have  been  discussed  seriously,  and  with  fun 
and  frolic;  and  those  who  may  chance  to  read  this  history  of  the  club  in 
the  years  to  come  need  not  think  we  did  not  have  fun  equal  to  any  in  their 
day.  The  good  done  by  this  club  is  plainly  seen  in  the  advanced  views  of 
its  members;  the  increase  of  stock;  better  modes  of  farming;  the  improved 
condition  of  buildings,  and  the  renovation  of  farm  premises.  Stock  has 
nearly  doubled  in  quantity  and  value,  and  crops  have  increased  propor- 
tionally.    Stables   arc  made   warmer,    fence  corners  and  door  yards  are 

*  By  L.  J.  Miuer. 
32 


490  History  of  Coos  County. 

clear  of  unsightly  weeds  and  thistles,  which  shows  that  the  club  was  not 
a  fruitless  organization. 

One  particular  feature  of  the  by-laws  was  that  "every  member  shall  do 
what  is  asked  of  him";  and,  reader,  in  the  days  to  come,  if  you  think  there 
was  no  sport  for  those  listening  to  such  fun-loving  members  as  S.  L.  Bray, 
E.  S.  James,  W.  F.  Dodge,  J.  T.  Twombly,  and  our  president,  not  forget- 
ting the  Barnetts,  William  and  Sherman  H..  on  being  called  upon  to 
speak  for  half  an  hour  without  any  preparation,  and  not  even  allowed  to 
have  any  subject,  just  try  it  once  and  see  for  yourselves. 

In  the  fall  of  18S4  it  was  decided  to  have  a  "  hunt."  The  old  men  were 
pitted  against  the  boys;  and  all  animals  and  birds  of  prey  slaughtered  were 
to  count  according  to  the  estimate  made  by  a  committee  of  three  members: 
J.  A.  Gordon,  S.  L.  Bray  and  J.  T.  Twombly.  The  boys  were  not  quite 
wide-awake  enough,  and  allowed  the  committee  to  be  chosen  from  the 
older  members,  but  they  needed  but  this  one  lesson.  The  day  of  reckoning 
came,  and,  by  agreement,  Timothy  T.  Baker  and  L.  J.  Miner  for  the  boys, 
and  J.  T.  Twombly  for  the  old  men,  gave  each  one  credit  according  to  his 
work.  Herewith  we  submit  a  part  of  the  report:  "First  boy,  three  squir- 
rels1 tails,  60,  one  crow's  head,  30;  second  boy,  one  fox-skin,  100,  three 
wood  chucks'  tails,  30,  one  skunk,  150."  The  boys'  count  amounted  to 
3,500.  and  the  old  men  came  in  at  first  with  no  count  at  all.  One  after 
another  came  with  their  excuses;  S.  L.  Bray  limps  in,  a  good  deal  lamer 
than  usual,  and  says  "I  am  old  and  lame,  and  hav'n't  but  one  little  squir- 
rel's tail  and  that  I  found  in  the  road  '  Sherman  Barnett  comes  in  with  a 
partridge  or  two,  a  few  squirrels'  tails,  and  a  little  hawk;  and  forthwith 
the  old  men  began  to  praise  him,  and  say  "  If  we  had  all  done  as  well  we 
wouldn't  have  been  so  badly  beaten,  and  have  to  pay  for  the  supper"; 
which  made  the  unsuspecting  boys  jubilant.  Yet  all  the  time  a  close  ob- 
server could  see  a  vein  of  humor  running  in  an  under-current  through  the 
old  men's  talk.  The  count  nears  completion,  only  a  few  more  to  be  heard 
from.  "Deacon"  E.  D.  Clark  comes  up  and  begins  to  excuse  himself  by 
saying  "  If  I  had  had  time  to  look  around  I  could  have  had  a  count  that  I 
wouldn't  have  been  ashamed  of;  at  the  same  time  producing  a  package 
from  bis  pocket  which  he  commenced  to  undo,  and,  at  last,  to  the  amaze- 
ment of  the  boys,  took  out  several  hundred  squirrels'  tails.  He  said  if  he 
hadn't  been  so  old.  and  John  hadn't  had  the  gun  all  the  time,  he  should 
have  had  more.  John  somewhat  doubting  said  he  did  not  believe  his 
father  shot  all  those  squirrels,  for  he  loaded  the  gun  for  him,  and  put  the  shot 
in  first.  This  made  I'm*  count  nearly  even;  but  one  or  two  more  were  to 
be  hoard  from.  The  boys  were  less  confident;  the  old  men  looked  wise. 
Now  comes  Asa  Eastman,  a  man  who  loves  fun,  but  is  a  good  friend  to  the 
boys,  and  asks  how  much  a  bear  counts;  the  committee  reply  "  1000";  he 
produces  a  fox-skin  which  is  duly  credited  to  him,  and,  then,  from  many 


Town  of  Whitefikld.  I'.'l 


wrappings  of  paper,  takes  something  about  eight  inches  long,  which  looks 
like  a  stick  whittled  to  a  point.  This  he  informs  them  is  a  "bare"  tail, 
and  claims  the  bear  count,  which,  of  course,  the  one-sided  committee  im- 
mediately give  to  him  amidst  the  protestations  of  the  boys  that  it  is  unfair. 
Mr.  Eastman  explains:  "The  'bare'  tail  is  simply  the  appendage  of  the 
fox  denuded  of  the  skin."  This  finishes  the  hunt,  and  the  oysters  are 
served  in  a  few  days  to  a  crowded  house,  free  of  charge  to  all  not  con- 
c.  i  ned  in  the  hunt,  and  the  boys  learn  an  expensive  lesson.  The  next  fall 
the  old  men  are  nowhere,  and  again  oysters  are  served  to  a  crowded  house 
but  the  4i  boys  "  do  not  pay. 

This  ended  the  hunting  but  not  the  labor,  for  in  the  fall  of  L886  was 
seen  at  the  school-house  and  on  the  surrounding  grounds  as  tine  a  display 
of  farm  products  and  handiwork  of  farmers'  wives  and  daughters  as  was 
ever  shown  in  any  town  in  Xew  Hampshire:  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and 
poultry  were  well  represented;  while  potatoes,  wheat,  corn,  pumpkins, 
squashes,  turnips  and  cabbages  of  mammoth  size  were  arranged  artistically 
about  the  grounds.  Indoors  there  were  articles  both  useful  and  ornamental 
from  the  hands  of  the  ladies,  and  a  "farmer's  dinner"  that  had  as 
many  admirers  as  all  the  rest  of  the  "  show."  In  the  fall  of  1  887,  the  club, 
now  the  "  Grange,"  united  with  the  granges  of  Coos  and  Grafton  and  held 
its  first  annual  fair  in  the  new  Grange  hall  at  Hazen's  Mills.  They  had  a 
fine  exhibit  and  a  large  attendance,  and  much  enthusiasm  was  manifested. 
The  grounds  connected  with  the  hall  are  fitted  to  accommodate  several 
hundred  cattle,  sheep,  horses  and  swine. 

White  Mountain  View  House— W.  F.  Dodge  &  Son— is  beautifully 
situated  on  an  elevated  plateau  about  two  miles  from  Whitefield  Station, 
in  the  center  of  a  vast  panorama  of  lake  and  mountain  scenery.  The 
house  was  recently  remodelled  and  enlarged,  and  accommodates  LOO  guests 
during  the  summer  season.  The  White  and  Franconia  Mountain  ranges, 
the  Green  Mountains  in  Vermont,  and  numerous  other  mountains  and 
ranges  can  be  seen  from  the  house,  comprising  extensive,  varied  and 
beautiful  views. 

"  Wide  sweeps  the  eye  in  Whitefield's  vale, 

Where  meadow,  wood,  and  lakelet  lie 
Hushed  by  the  balm}-  summer  gale 

To  sweet  repose  beneath  her  sky. 

From  where  Polaris  nightly  throws 

His  twinkling  splendors  o'er  the  earth, 
To  where  meridian  sunshine  glows, 

And  where  the  morning  has  its  birth. 


Far  circling  round  and  towering  high, 
.Majestic,  massive,  fair  and  grand, 

TlimultUOUS  piled  athwart  the  sky. 
Sec  the  immortal  mountains  stand." 


492  History  of  Coos  County. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


BROWNS  LUMBER  COMPANY. 

During  the  progress  of  civilization  in  White-field  and  vicinity  the  most 
important  factors  in  its  development  and  prosperity  have  been  Alson  L. 
and  Warren  G.  Brown.  To  them  and  their  energy  is  due  the  creation  of 
that  great  combination  of  lumbering,  manufacturing,  railroading  and  busi- 
ness interests  known  to-day  as  "Browns'  Lumber  Company,"  and  the  his- 
torian must,  to  properly  describe  the  advent  and  growth  of  this  industry, 
give  a  sketch,  not  only  of  the  business  operations,  but  of  the  men  who 
have  organized  and  conducted  it. 

A.  L.  and  W.  G.  Brown  spring  from  sturdy  English  stock,  and  their 
family  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  New  England.  Peter  Brown  was  one  of  the 
historic  passengers  of  the  "Mayflower"  in  1620,  received  a  lot  of  one  acre 
of  land  in  Plymouth,  Mass.,  and  his  house  was  one  of  the  first  seven  built 
there.  John  Brown,  a  resident  of  London,  set  sail  for  America  in  April, 
1635,  in  the  ship  "  Elizabeth  "  and  reached  Boston  in  June.  He  located  in 
Salem,  Mass.  About  1639  several  of  the  name  emigrated  from  England 
and  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mernmac  river  and  in  Salisbury,  Mass.  A 
little  more  than  a  century  after,  Josiah  Brown,  from  Salem,  with  others, 
removed  to  West  Dunstable  (now  Hollis,  N.  H.).  He  was  an  officer  of  the 
town  in  1747  and  1 748,  and,  in  1758,  an  ensign  in  the  French  war;  a  brave 
man  serving  his  day  and  generation  well.  In  1 762,  with  seven  companions, 
he  went  north  from  Hollis,  to  select  and  prepare  a  place  for  a  settlement, 
selecting  the  beautiful  country  at  Plymouth.  After  many  months  of  labor 
in  clearing  the  wilderness  and  putting  up  log  cabins,  they  removed  their 
families  thither  in  the  spring  of  1764.  Josiah  and  John  Brown  wrere 
grantees  and  valuable  citizens  of  the  town. 

Stephen  Brown,  son  of  the  pioneer,  the  second  male  child  born  in 
Plymouth,  married  Anna  Davis,  of  Goffstown,  and  settled  in  Bristol,  on  a 
farm  where  they  lived  long  and  usefully;  Mr.  Brown  attaining  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  Mrs.  Brown  that  of  eighty-five  years.  The  place  was  then  a 
comparative  wilderness,  and  they  experienced  all  the  vicissitudes  of  pio- 
neer life.  They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  eleven  living  to  maturity. 
Stephen  Brown  was  a  Quaker,  and  brought  up  his  children  in  the  plain 
simplicity  of  that  belief. 

Joseph,  son  of  Stephen  and  Anna  (Davis)  Brown,  was  born  in  Bristol, 
March  :'»,  17'.»»'>.  He  married  Relief,  daughter  of  Stephen  Ordway,  of  Salis- 
bury. Mass.,  whose  wife  was  a  Miss  Brown  of  a  prominent  family  in  Bow, 
N.  H.  They  had  eight  children:  Alson  L.,  Stephen,  Mary  A.  (Mrs.  H.  S. 
Chase),  Amos,  Warren  6r.,  Relief  (Mrs.  Elijah  Averill),    Joseph,  Augusta 


Town  of  Whitefield.  493 


(Mrs.  George  W.  Merrill).  Joseph  Brown  was  an  enterprising  man.  He 
erected  the  first  saw-mill— the  largest  establishment  of  the  kind  for  many 
miles — on  the  Pemigewasset  river,  five  miles  above  Bristol  village.  Her< 
he  did  an  extensive  business  for  seventeen  years,  being  principally  engaged 
in  getting  out  masts  and  spars,  factory  beams,  etc.;  and  rafted  his  lumber 
to  Newburyport and  Boston  by  river  and  canal.  But  he  was  unfortunate 
in  the  location  of  his  mills;  freshets  persistently  carried  away  his  dams,  and 
he  lost  all  which  he  had.  He  and  his  wife  kept  hack  nothing,  but  relin- 
quished all  to  his  creditors.  In  L843  he  moved  to  Campton,  put  up  a  saw- 
mill and  attended  to  farming  and  lumbering  for  forty  years,  ten  years  of 
the  time  residing  on  a  fine  farm  in  Thornton.  Mr.  Brown  was  an  early 
abolitionist;  firm  and  decided  in  all  his  opinions;  a  man  of  such  advanced 
thought  that  his  predictions  were  almost  in  the  nature  of  prophecies. 
More  than  fifty  years  ago  he  said  to  his  oldest  son,  'The  time  will  come  when 
friends  separated  by  miles  will  converse  with  one  another";  thus  predict- 
ing the  advent  of  the  telephone.  He  was  brought  up  a  rigid  Sabbatarian, 
and  to  keep  the  Sabbath  according  to  the  strict  Quaker  rule,  "  That  works 
of  necessity  and  mercy  only  should  be  performed  on  the  Lord's  day."  In 
early  life  he  was  an  Universalist;  later,  a  Spiritualist.  He  died  in  White- 
field,  March  26,  1884,  aged  eighty-eight  years.  Mrs.  Brown's  death  oc- 
curred in  May,   1867. 

Alson  L.  Brown  was  born  in  Bristol,  April  9,  1827.  At  an  early  age 
he  acquired  a  practical  business  knowledge  of  lumbering  from  his  father, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  after  he  attained  his  majority,  and  served  a 
long  apprenticeship  in  steady  hard  work,  accompanied  by  exposure  to  cold 
and  wet.  This  he  did  cheerfully,  and  was  of  great  assistance  to  his  father. 
When  twenty-two  vears  old  he  received  two  hundred  dollars  as  his  money 
capital  to  enter  the  world  for  himself .  He  married,  September  11.  L849, 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Sophia  Currier.  Their  surviving  child- 
ren are  William  Wallace,  Oscar  A.,  Alice  S.  (Mrs.  Edward  Ray),  Joseph 
W.,  and  Etta  C.  (Mrs.  E.  A.  Sanborn).  Mrs.  Brown  is  an  estimable  lady. 
She  is  interested  and  active  in  the  orders  of  the  "  Eastern  Star  "  and  the 
"  Daughters  of  Rebekah." 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Brown  purchased  the  place  in  Camp- 
ton  of  his  father,  and  a  half  interest  in  the  mill,  of  which  he  took  charge, 
making  lumber  until  1>'W,  when  he  sold  his  share  to  his  father,  who  re- 
turned to  Campton,  and  erected  a  fine  set  of  buildings.  Alson  then 
removed  to  a  large  interval  farm  across  the  river,  and  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture until  1*72:  also  carrying  on  lumbering  in  company  with  his  father 
until  L864,  when  Warren  G.  purchased  the  latters  interest,  from  which 
time  to  the  present  the  brothers  have  been  connected  in  business. 

In  1*72  Alson  removed  to  Whitefield.  where  he  has  since  been  a  resi- 
dent.    He  is  a  liberal  in  religion,  and  a  Republican  in  politics      He  was  a 


494  History  of  Coos  County. 

member  of  the  Constitutional  convention  of  1876,  and  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  National  convention  at  Chicago,  in  1880,  which  nominated 
James  A.  Garfield.  He  represented  Whitelield  in  the  legislatures  of  1881- 
1882,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  nearly  all  state  conventions  since  he  was 
thirty  years  old.  His  business,  rather  than  politics,  has,  however,  been 
his  principal  object  of  attention.  He  has  been  a  Free  Mason  since  1860, 
and  belongs  to  White  Mountain  Lodge,  Whitefield;  North  Star  Chapter 
and  North  Star  Commandery,  Lancaster;  Omega  Council,  Plymouth.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  58,  I.   0.  of  0.   F.,  Whitefield. 

As  an  employer  Mr.  Brown  is  considerate  of  his  workmen,  who  hold 
him  in  high  esteem,  as  was  pleasantly  evidenced  by  the  presentation  to 
him  from  them,  of  a  beautiful  gold  watch  and  chain  on  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  of  his  marriage.  Of  quick  decision  and  great  rapidity  of  ac- 
tion, Mr.  Brown  is  one  who  will  always  make  his  presence  felt  in  whatever 
sphere  he  may  be  placed,  and  from  his  integrity  and  ability  all  trusts  will 
be  faithfully  discharged.  Those  who  know  him  best  speak  highest  in 
praise  of  his  social  qualities,  his  kindliness  of  heart,  his  business  ability, 
and  the  promptness  with  which  he  attends  to  the  duties  devolving  on  him. 

WarreM  G.  Brown  was  born  in  Bristol,  July  27,  1834.  He  was  brought 
up  to  work.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  a  rugged  boy  with  a  willing 
heart,  strong  hands,  and  a  determination  to  assist  his  hard-working  father. 
He  aided  to  lift  the  mortgage  from  the  farm  by  cutting  timber,  working 
in  the  mills,  and  driving  logs,  giving  his  earnings  to  his  father,  and  re- 
maining with  him  until  he  was  twenty-one.  About  this  time,  he,  with  his 
brother  Amos,  took  a  contract  to  cut  and  deliver  two  thousand  cords  of 
wood,  at  §2.50  per  cord,  at  the  Pemigewassett  river.  The  next  June  he 
went  "on  the  drive"  to  Lowell,  and  the  winter  of  1855-56  he  began  saw- 
ing timber  by  the  thousand  for  his  father  and  Alson  at  their  mill  in  West 
Campton,  and  remained  there  one  year.  He  now  thought  that  in  some 
other  field  his  prospects  would  be  brighter,  and  he  would  sooner  arrive  at 
the  desired  goal— a  competency.  So  he  went  as  steerage  passenger  to 
California,  and,  in  December,  1857,  after  various  experiences,  to  Puget 
Sound,  Washington  Territory,  and  commenced  work  for  the  Puget  Mill 
Co.,  cutting  logs  for  one  dollar  per  thousand.  In  1860,  after  nearly  three 
years  continuous  labor  for  this  firm,  he  had  saved  from  five  to  six  thou- 
sand dollars.  [In  1864  he  was  offered  one  hundred  dollars  in  gold  per 
month,  equal  at  that  time  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  if  he  would 
come  and  take  charge  of  the  logging  of  this  firm.]  Returning  to  New 
Hampshire,  July  1.  I860,  he  purchased  his  father's  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  in  Thornton.  In  March,  1861,  he  married  Ruth  B.  Avery. 
She  died  in  September,  L863.  In  isr>4  he  sold  his  place  in  Thornton, 
and  in  connection  with  Alson  L.  formed  the  firm  of  A.  L  &  W.  G.  Brown. 

In   1865  lie  married  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Eliza  (Broat) 


OVcJO^vO      ^§-  C^^wvO 


Town  ok  Whitkfikld.  t95 


Elliott;  she  was  born  in  Brownfield,  Me.,  January  11,  L848.  Their  sur- 
viving children  are  Josie  R.,  Dasie  A.,  Carl  E.,  ami  Kenneth  \V.  Amos 
Broat,  Mrs.  Brown's  maternal  grandfather,  was  an  Englishman,  who  be- 
came quite  noted  as  a  hotel-keeper  and  man  of  affairs  in  Westbrook,  Me. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Thornton,  and  is  now  engaged  with  his  son  in 
the  management  of  his  hotel  in  Waterville.]  Mis.  Brown  is  a  lady  of 
practicality,  "looking  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household."  and  is  an  able 
helpmeet  and  companion.  In  1882  Mr.  Brown,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  two  children,  passed  six  months  in  Washington  Territory,  combining 
pleasure  with  business. 

Warren  Brown  commenced  political  life  by  voting  for  John  C.  Fremont, 
and  was  connected  with  the  Republicans  until  his  belief  brought  him  into 
harmony  with  the  "Greenback"  party,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
identified,  being  its  candidate  for  governor  in  1878  and  L880.  He  repre- 
sented Whitefield  in  the  state  legislature  of  1872-73;  was  a  delegate  in 
1880  to  the  National  Greenback  convention  in  Chicago,  which  nominated 
Gen.  Weaver  for  president;  was  a  member  of  the  Greenback  National 
committee  from  1884  to  1887;  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that  or- 
ganized the  Union  Labor  Party  in  February,    1887. 

Mr.  Brown  possesses  original  ideas,  honesty  of  purpose,  strict  integrity, 
and  has  a  blunt  frankness  of  expression  which  shows  not  only  his  energy, 
but  the  intense  courage  of  his  convictions.  He  is  active  in  temperance 
work,  a  strong  believer  in  Spiritualism,  and  has  many  friends.  A  firm 
adherence  to  his  word,  democratic  plainness  in  all  things,  and  broad  liber- 
ality combined  with  a  caution  almost  conservatism,  are  his  prominent 
characteristics. 

From  the  formation  of  the  firm  of  "A.  L.  &  W.  G.  Brown,"  in  1864, 
until  the  present,  the  Brown  Brothers  have  done  a  large  and  increasing 
business  in  the  manufacture  of  pine  and  spruce  lumber  from  the  stump, 
besides  adventures  of  magnitude  in  other  directions.  They  put  up  mills  at 
Rumney  in  1864,  which  they  operated  until  ls;o.  when  tiny  moved  their 
plant  to  Wentworth,  constructed  large  mills  at  the  fool  of  Orford  and 
Wentworth  ponds,  and  are  still  doing  business  there.  In  1867 they  bought 
a  large  tract  of  limber  near  Bellows  Falls.  Vt.  and  Walpole,  built  nulls, 
and  did  a  rushing  business  for  two  years  until  the  timber  was  exhausted, 
when  they  removed  the  machinery  to  Littleton.  W.  G.  Brown  moved  to 
Whitefield  in  August,  1869,  to  superintend  affairs.  They  commenced 
operations  on  the  site  and  with  the  buildings  of  the  defunct  White  .Moun- 
tain Lumber  Company,  which  consisted  of  a  boarding  house,  and  the  main 
building  of  the  Browns'  Lumber  ( lompany  mill  of  today  which  was  t  it  ted. 
with  one  saw  only.  They  at  once  put  in  machinery  to  cut  8,000,000  feet 
of  long  and  short  lumber  per  annum;  and.  in  L872,  increased  their  facili- 
ties to  enable  them  to  cut  15,000,000  feet  per  annum,     in   1869  there  was 


496  History  of  Coos  County. 

no  railroad  nearer  than  Littleton,  and  to  hasten  the  progress  of  the  White 
Mountain  railroad  to  Whitefield,  the  firm  gave  Mr.  Lyon,  president  of 
that  road,  $4,000  for  the  railroad  company  to  use  in  building  the  road 
from  Wing  Road  to  Whitefield.  They  owned  between  eight  and  nine 
thousand  acres  of  timber  land  lying  mostly  in  Carroll,  and,  in  June,  1870, 
began  the  construction  of  a  private  railroad  to  transport  this  timber  to 
their  mills  in  Whitefield.  This  was  called  "John's  River  Railroad,"  and 
was  extended  from  time  to  time  as  their  business  demanded.  In  1878 
they  obtained  a  charter  for  the  "Whitefield  &  Jefferson  Railroad,"  to 
run  from  Whitefield  to  Gorham,  and  commenced  to  build  the  present  road 
running  through  the  village  of  Whitefield,  which  connected  with  their  old 
road  about  four  miles  out,  and  avoided  the  long  detour  to  the  north  by 
which  the  old  road  reached  their  mills.  This  road  was  opened  for  public 
travel  to  Jefferson  Meadows  in  July,  1879,  and  has  since  been  continued 
three  miles  direct  toward  Randolph,  while  a  branch  road  of  three  miles  for 
conveying  lumber  has  also  been  added.  An  extension  of  the  charter  was 
granted  by  the  legislature  in  July,  1887,  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a 
railroad  from  the  present  terminus  of  the  Whitefield  &  Jefferson  rail- 
road, in  the  town  of  Jefferson,  thence  through  the  towns  of  Jefferson, 
Randolph,  Gorham,  Berlin,  Milan,  Dummer  and  Cambridge;  thence  in  a 
northerly  direction,  in  the  county  of  Coos,  to  some  point  on  the  Canada 
line,  or  to  some  point  on  the  easterly  line  of  the  state  of  New  Hampshire. 

The  firm  in  Whitefield  had  been  "A.  L.  &  W.  G.  Brown  &  Co.";  Dr. 
Aaron  Ordway,  of  Lawrence,  being  a  partner.  No  change  occurred  in  this 
firm  from  1869  till  September  1,  1S74,  when  "Browns'  Lumber  Company  " 
began  its  existence,  under  an  act  of  incorporation  granted  by  the  state 
legislature,  with  a  capital  of  $500,000,  and  these  officers:  Aaron  Ordway, 
president;  R.  H.  Tewksbury,  treasurer.  (He  served  but  a  short  time,  A. 
L.  Brown  succeeding  him  in  the  office.)  The  directors  #were  A.  L.  Brown, 
W.  G.  Brown,  Aaron  Ordway,  N.  R.  Perkins,  R.  H.  Tewksbury.  The 
company  now  (1887)  consists  of  the  Messrs.  Brown  (who  own  a  controll- 
ing interest),  N.  R.  Perkins,  0.  W.  King,  and  others;  A.  L.  Brown,  presi- 
dent; C.  W.  King,  treasurer.  The  directors  are  A.  L.  and  W.  G.  Brown, 
Nathan  R.  Perkins,  Ossian  Ray,  Charles  W.  King,  and  A.  G.  Folsom. 

Their  mill  is  the  largest  and  most  complete  lumber  mill  in  New  Eng- 
land. The  power  is  furnished  by  a  400-horse-power  steam  engine.  A  ten- 
lighted  machine  of  the  "Weston  electric  light '  was  introduced  in  1882, 
at  a  cost  of  $2,200,  enabling  them  to  run  full  time  the  whole  year.  Besides 
their  lumber-mills,  they  have  a  separate  establishment  with  a  150-horse- 
power  steam  engine,  in  which  they  manufacture  mouldings,  floorings,  and 
finishings  of  all  kinds;  box  shooks  (of  which  they  ship  5,000,000  feet 
annually),  butter-tubs,  etc.,  etc.  They  have  also  manufactured  here  some 
exquisite  furniture  of  the  native  hard  woods,  birch,  "  bird's  eye  "  maple. 


: 


Town   OF   WHITEFIELD.  497 


ash,  etc.  This  department  may  be  extensively  developed  when  pine  and 
spruce  become  exhausted.    In  and  about  the  mills  they  employ  L50  persons. 

During  their  operations  in  Whitefield  the  Rrowns  have  lost  at  least  $200,- 
000  by  fire.  A  first-class  pulp-board  mill  was  erected  in  L875,  at  a  cost  of 
$75,000;  when  fairly  in  operation,  and  producing  a  superior  article,  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  Within  six  months  of  this  event  their  moulding  and 
box  mill,  with  stock,  was  also  burned,  at  ;i  loss  of  from  $60,000  to  $75,000. 
No  insurance  on  either.  To  prevent  such  occurrences  in  the  future,  the 
company  now  has  a  steam  engine  with  2,500  feet  of  leal  her  hose,  and  a 
powerful  steam  fire-pump.  Water  is  brought  from  a  distant  reservoir  to 
the  numerous  hydrants  they  have  located. 

The  company  owns  40,000  acresof  pine  and  spruce  timber  lands,  winch 
will  furnish  material  for  their  mills  for  from  fifteen  to  twenty  years.  The 
value  of  this  is  constantly  increasing.  During  the  winter  season  they  em- 
ploy 3<)(>  men  and  200  horses  and  oxen  "in  the  woods"  and  on  the  rail- 
road, which  each  season  transports  from  1.1,0110. one  to  20,000,000  feet  of 
logs  belonging  to  the  company,  besides  logs  and  sawed  lumber  for  other 
parties,  making  an  average  of  200,000  feet  per  day.  The  annual  sales  of 
lumber  range  from  $350,000  to  $400,000,  and  some  years  have  reached 
$500,000.  They  own  about  fifty  tenement  houses  in  Whitefield  and  Jeff- 
erson, occupied  by  seventy-five  families.  They  have  conducted  an  exten- 
sive mercantile  business  in  Whitefield  since  September  1.  1879  mow  Bow- 
ker  &  Co.).  Its  annual  sales  are  about  $125,000.  Before  L880  they  built  a 
store  at  Jefferson  Meadows,  which  they  rebuilt  in  1882,  immediately  after 
its  destruction  by  fire.  This  is  a  fine  structure,  and  contains  the  store,  rail- 
road office  and  a  postoffice.  They  erected  a  telephone  line  in  L881,  and  now 
have  twenty  miles  in  operation.  They  use  this  in  place  of  a  telegraph  on 
their  railroad  line.  From  small  beginnings  has  been  developed  in  a  few 
years  the  large  mills  and  manufacturing  establishments  in  Whitefield;  a 
railroad  fourteen  miles  in  length,  with  four  engines,  running  seven  pas- 
senger trains  in  the  summer  season;  a  repair  shop;  two  mercantile  houses, 
and  a  well  organized  series  of  camps  in  the  woods,  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  N.  R.  Perkins.  [See  Jefferson.]  In  this  large  establishment  sys- 
tem and  order  prevail,  and  each  man  has  his  place. 

To  W.  G.  Brown  must  be  given  the  credit  of  first  suggesting  the  intro- 
duction of  the  yellow- fir  of  the  Pacific  coast,  as  spars  and  masts  into  the 
Atlantic  ship  yards.  This  fir  has  now  an  established  reputation,  and  the 
brothers  have  supplied  masts  of  this  wood  for  the  English.  French,  and 
Chinese  navies.  In  1875  A.  L.  &  W.  G.  Brown,  with  others,  built  a  ship 
of  1,500  tons,  at  Newburyport,  .Mass..  which  cost  $120,000  when  ready  for 
sea.  It  was  name  I  Ci  Br  >wn  Brothers."  and  was  designed  to  bring  spars 
from  Puget  Sound  to  eastern  ports.  They  were  the  pioneers  in  this  com- 
mercial field.    In  lsrt;  the  "  Brown  Brothers  "  brought  t  he  first  cargo  to  the 


498  History  of  Coos  County. 


east.  Since  then  they  have  brought  six  cargoes  at  a  cost  of  over  $250,000. 
W.  G.  Brown  has  had  the  spacial  superintendence  of  this,  and  has  been 
several  times  to  the  Pacific  coast.  The  following  incident  shows  the  energy 
and  executive  qualities  of  this  firm.  In  1879  A.  L.  &  W.  G.  Brown 
chartered,  at  Boston,  a  vessel  then  at  Puget  Sound.  By  terms  of  the  char- 
ter it  could  remain  there  only  sixty  days.  W.  G.  Brown  started  from  Bos- 
ton by  rail  to  California,  and,  during  his  journey,  traveled  275  miles  from 
Reading,  Gal.,  to  Roseburg,  Oregon,  in  fifty-two  hours.  Arriving  at  Puget 
Sound  he  engaged  his  men,  cut  down  the  trees,  hewed  the  timber,  and 
loaded  the  vessel  within  the  time  allowed.  The  beautiful  flag-staff  at  the 
Quincy  House,  B  >ston,  which  is  so  often  admired,  was  brought  by  them 
on  the  "  W.  W.  Crapo,"  in  18s:*>,  and  presented  to  the  late  Col.  J.  W. 
Johnson 

Charles  W.  King,  treasurer  of  Browns1  Lumber  Company,  a  native 
and  resident  of  Lunenburg,  Vt.,  is  a  quiet,  courteous  and  unassuming 
gentleman  He  possesses  quick  decision  and  untiling  energy,  and  is  rapid, 
clear  and  sure  in  his  reasonings,  conclusions,  and  results.  He  has  brought 
into  the  service  of  the  company  a  great  experience  in  successfully  dealing 
with  important  financial  operations,  and  performs  his  duties  with  acknowl- 
edged ability. 


LOUIS   TRACY    HAZEN. 

If  one  who  makes  two  blades  of  grass  grow  where  only  one  grew  before 
is  entitled  to  the  name  of  "public  benefactor,"  how  much  more  should 
this  term  be  applied  to  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Hazen,  who,  by  the  creation  of 
the  finest  farm  in  the  county,  his  development  of  what  is  destined  at  no 
distant  day  to  be  the  most  valuable  herd  of  registered  Jerseys  in  the  United 
States,  and  his  application  on  an  extensive  scale  of  the  teachings  of  'im- 
proved agriculture,*'  furnishes  a  practical  education  to  every  farmer  in  not 
only  Coos,  but  a  much  larger  area,  and  by  example  and  success,  and  the 
advantages  the  proximity  of  such  an  establishment  offers  for  the  better- 
ment of  stock,  confers  incalculable  benefit  upon  the  community,  and  in  re- 
lation to  the  agriculture  of  the, county  he  becomes  an  historic  personage  of 
whom  and  his  work  many  will  be  glad  to  read. 

Louis  Tracy  Hazen  comes  of  good  Anglo-Saxon  ancestry,  domiciled  in 
New  England  for  nearly  two  centuries  and  a  half.  He  is  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  Edward  Hazen.  (who  was  resident  in  Boxford,  Mass.,  in  1649,  where 
his  old  home  is  yet  si  aiding,)  and  was  born  in  Hartford,  Vt.,  July  11, 
1836,  the  son  of  Lucius  and  Hannah  (Downer)  Hazen. 

There  is  much  in  the  inheritance  of  traits  and  qualities  from  a  line  of 
reputable  ancestry  devoted  to  certain  channels  of  business,  and  much  in 
the  environment  of  the  individual  which  tend  unitedly   to  impress  a  pre- 


Town  of  Whitefield.  t99 


dilection  for  certain  pursuits  upon  one's  mind,  and  an  inherent  power  of 
winning  success  when  these  pursuits  are  followed  under  favorable  circum- 
stances. Let  us  see  if  we  can  find  from  whence  Mr.  Bazen  draws  his  in- 
terest in  agriculture. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Asa  Bazen,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford,  Vt..  where  the  farm  which  he  selected 
and  marked  as  his  by  "blazing  "  the  trees  around  it.  was  occupied  by  him 
during  his  life,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  one  of  his  grandsons.  Of 
keen  judgment,  he  was  a  prominent  and  influential  man  in  social,  religious 
and  civil  affairs,  and  a  successful  farmer.  Among  his  children  were  Allen, 
Thomas,  Austin,  Asa.  Lucius  and  Tracy.  Allen,  a  farmer,  succeeded  to 
the  homestead.  Thomas,  a  farmer,  settled  in  Norwich,  Vt.  Austin  \). 
C],  a  Congregational  minister,  was  settled  in  Berlin,  Vt.,  for  many  years, 
and  died  there.  [He  left  four  sons,  all  of  Dartmouth  and  A.ndover,  and 
Congregational  ministers.  Allen  was  a  missionary  in  India  over  thirty 
years,  and  is  now  a  settled  pastor  in  Deerfield,  Mass.;  Austin,  pastor  at 
Underhill,  Vt.,  for  twenty  years;  William,  settled  in  Northfield,  Vt.,  for 
twenty  years;  Asahel  had  a  pastorate  in  Middletown,  Conn. ;  a  daughter, 
Sophia,  a  teacher  in  South  Hadley  (Mass.)  seminary,  married  Rev.  David 
Stoddard.  She  went  with  him  as  a  missionary  to  Prussia  and  remained 
until  his  death  ten  or  twelve  years  later,  when  she  returned  to  America.] 
His  son,  Lucius,  remained  after  his  majority  as  a  farmer  on  the  homestead 
with  his  father,  receiving  education  sufficient  to  become  a  teacher,  and 
taught  several  winter  terms  with  satisfactory  results.  He  married  Hannah, 
daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  Downer. 

From  his  maternal  grandfather,  Mr.  Hazen  inherits  not  only  personal 
appearance,  but  mental  traits — rapidity  of  thought,  and  quickness  of  con- 
clusion and  execution.  John  Downer  walked  from  Coventry,  Conn,  to 
Sharon,  Vt,,  when  but  nine  years  old,  his  father  being  one  of  the  first  to 
claim  a  home  for  his  family  in  the  wilderness,  and  he  grew  up  familiar 
with  and  developed  by  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life,  and  early  learned 
to  rightly  estimate  the  value  of  a  dollar.  The  first  wheal  flour  used  in 
their  family  was  from  wheat  of  their  own  raising,  which  his  father  car- 
ried on  his  back  sixty  miles  to  mill,  at  Charlestown,  X.  11  .  wearing  snow- 
shoes.  He  became  one  of  the  most  prominent,  wealthy  and  active  men 
of  Windsor  county.  He  was  extensively  engaged  in  farming  and  droving. 
kept  a  hotel  where  as  many  as  250  guests  received  entertainment  at  onetime, 
and  was  one  of  the  three  owners  of  the  stage  route  from  Concord,  X.  M.. 
to  Burlington,  Vt.  His  active,  nervous  temperament  accomplished  much. 
He  was  an  able  financier,  and  acquired  wealth,  notwithstanding  large 
losses  by  endorsements,  into  which  he  was  led  by  his  accommodating  dis- 
position. After  the  marriage  «»f  his  daughter  to  Mr.  Bazen,  Mr.  Downer 
built  the  house  where  L.  T.  Ha/en  was  born,  removed  thither,  and  left  the 


500  History  of  Coos  County. 

hotel  in  possession  of  his  son-in-law,  who  conducted  it  five  years,  then 
sold  it  and  moved  to  the  farm,  in  Hartford,  to  live  with  Mr.  Downer. 
They  were  in  business  together  for  twenty-five  years,  when  they  moved 
to  Newbury.  Vt  ,  where  they  purchased  the  finest  interval  farm  in  that 
fruitful  section,  embracing  700  acres,  and  known  as  the  "Musquash 
Meadow,*"  or  Oxbow  farm.  Here  Lucius  D.,  Louis  T.,  and  Hannah  M. 
(Mrs.  Dr.  H.  C.  Newell),  the  children  of  Lucius  and  Hannah  D.  Hazen, 
were  reared.  Mr.  Downer  died  in  1861,  aged  ninety-one.  In  connection 
with  his  farm  Mr.  Hazen  dealt  largely  in  all  kinds  of  live  stock,  and  sent 
many  droves  to  market.  His  sons  were  early  trained  to  know  the  good 
points  of  oxen,  cows,  horses  and  sheep,  and  to  buy  and  sell  on  their  own 
judgment.  He  had  at  one  time  1,200  sheep  on  his  farm.  Eepublican  in 
politics,  Mr.  Hazen  represented  Hartford  several  times  in  the  Vermont 
legislature,  and  Newbury  during  the  whole  of  the  exciting  period  of  the 
War  of  18<3L-65.  He  was  a  Congregationalist  in  religion.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1861.     Mrs.  Hazen  died  in  1874. 

Louis  Tracy  Hazen  was  educated  at  Kimball  Union  academy,  Meridan, 
N.  H.,  and  introduced  to  business  ostensibly  as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store, 
but  really  was  a  trader  in  horses,  cattle  and  real  estate  from  an  early  age. 
He  began  trading  in  horses  when  but  twelve  years  old,  and  for  many  years 
followed  merchandising,  droving,  and  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  farm  stock. 
He  commenced  business  for  himself  as  a  stock  farmer  in  Newbury,  carry- 
ing on  in  connection  with  Lucius  D.,  extensive  operations  in  cattle  and 
sheep,  having  as  many  as  1,200  of  the  latter.  In  March,  1866,  they  sold 
the  farm,  removed  to  Barnet,  Vt.,  and  established  themselves  as  general 
merchants,  wool  buyers,  and  lumbermen,  as  "L.  D.  &  L.  T.  Hazen." 
After  five  years,  in  December,  1870,  they  purchased  Manson  Bowles's  in- 
terest in  the  lumber  business  of  "  Kenney,  Bowles  &  Fiske,"'  consisting  of 
the  mill  property  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Hazen,  3,000  acres  of  land,  and  a 
lumber  yard  in  Worcester,  Mass.  The  firm  of  Kenney,  Hazen  &  Fiske 
continued  two  years,  when  it  was  closed  by  the  Hazen  brothers  selling 
their  share  in  the  lumber  yard,  and  purchasing  the  entire  Whitefield  busi- 
ness. L.  D.  &  L.  T.  Hazen  continued  lumbering  and  merchandising  for 
about  ten  years,  conducting  a  large  lumbering  interest  in  Victory  and  Con- 
cord, Vt.,  with  mills  in  both  places,  for  six  years.  In  1881  the  brothers 
partially  divided  their  interests,  L.  T.  taking  the  Whitefield  property,  now 
consisting  of  6,000  acres  of  land.  His  lumber  operations  now  only  employ 
about  twenty  men  six  months  of  the  year. 

Mr.  Hazen  began  improved  agriculture  and  fine  stock-raising  in  Octo- 
ber,  L885,  having  been  preparing  his  farm  for  about  ten  years.  When  he 
first  came  to  Whitefield  he  cut  five  tons  of  hay;  within  two  years  he  cut 
twenty-five  tons  on  the  same  acreage.  He  had  120  acres  of  worn-out  land 
in  cultivation;  he  has  now  1,700  acres  in  tillage  and  pasture.     To  this  he 


Town  op  Whitefield.  501 


adds  L50  acres  this  season.  In  lss+  he  built  a  creamery,  :;i\\ls,  with  a 
basement  of  four  rooms,  containing  a  four-horse-power  steam  engine,  and 
apartments  for  setting  milk,  churning,  working  and  printing  butter,  etc. 
Making  a  specialty  of  Jersey  stock,  he  commenced  with  a  herd  of  seventy, 
which  has  increased  to  two  hundred  and  four,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
being  registered  Jerseys,  and  the  rest  of  high  grade.  Be  has  a  series  of 
model  barns,  chiefly  constructed  from  his  own  designs.  A  horse  barn, 
built  in  L883,  is  200  feet  long,  and  thirty-two  wide,  with  a  row  of  stalls  on 
each  side,  and  hay  above.  In  L884  lie  erected  cattle  barns;  one  of  three 
stories,  lso  feet  long  and  forty  wide,  with  two  rows  of  stalls,  and  one  of 
two  stories,  with  one  row  of  stalls.  These  barns  are  connected  by  a  build- 
ing fifty  feet  long.  The  hay  is  put  in  at  the  third  story  and  descends  to 
the  second  floor.  A  mile  from  these,  on  the  farm,  is  a  storage  barn  for 
hay.  This  has  two  stories,  is  sixty  feet  long  and  forty  wide:  connecting 
with  it  is  a  one-story  building  230  feet  long  ana  thirty-four  feet  wide  wit  h 
two  rows  of  stalls. 

Mr.  Hazen  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  ensilage,  and  considers  it  solves 
the  problem  of  restoring  worn-out  lands.  He  built  a  silo  of  L,000  tons 
in  1886,  and  has  another  of  600  tons  in  one  of  his  barns.  He  raised, 
in  1886,  fifty  acres  of  corn  (075  tons),  raised  this  year  sixty  four  acres 
of  corn,  200  acres  of  oats,  and  over  300  tons  of  hay,  and  bids  fair  to 
succeed  to  the  title  of  "Corn-King"  so  long  borne  by  Col.  Clough,  of  Can- 
terbury, In  his  herd  of  300  cattle  he  has  the  greater  number  of  Pansy 
A  bert  strain,  yet  has  fine  representatives  of  Victor,  St.  Helier,  Commassee, 
Victor  Hugo,  and  Stoke-Pogis  breeds.  His  most  valuable  bulls  are  Min- 
nie's Duke  of  Darlington,  No.  6934,  Fabyan,  No.  3014, Winner's  Lisgar,  No. 
11557,  St.  Helier  Lad,  No.  12875.  Some  of  his  cows  have  wonderful  records 
as  milk  and  butter  producers.  We  give  one  week's  production  of  butter  of 
four.  Countess  of  Lakeside,  No.  12135,  nineteen  pounds;  Matilda.  No. 
3238,  seventeen  pounds;  Pet  Clover,  No.  14624,  sixteen  pounds,  eight  ounces; 
Lily  Cross,  No.  17796,  fourteen  pounds.  Mr.  Hazen  kept  350  cow-  in  L886 
and  made  5,500  pounds  of  butter.  This  year  he  has  about  5<io  cows.  He 
has  a  centrifugal  cream  separator  which  separates  the  cream  from  the  milk 
of  ninety  cows  in  fifty  minutes.  His  butter  has  taken  the  prize  at  the  lasl 
two  meetings  of  the  Dairymen's  association. 

There  were  but  seven  houses  in  Hazen's  Mills  when  it  took  that  name, 
Now,  in  addition  to  the  buildings  already  described,  it  has  fifteen  houses,  a 
grist  and  saw-mill,  a  store,  a  railroad  station,  itostoflice,  telephone  office, 
b  acksmith  and  wood-working  shops. 

Mr.  Hazen  married,  October  6,  L863,  Ellen  Frances,  daughter  of  Frank 
and  Eleanor  (Stevens)  Johnson.  (She  decends  from  early  and  prominenl 
families  of  Newbury.  Vr..  where  she  was  born  in  the  house  built  by  her 


502  History  of  Coos  County. 

grandfather  in  177(3.)     They  have  four  children,  Frank  J.,  Maria  F.,  John 
D.,  and  Grace  8. 

Mr.  Hazen  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Republican  in  politics, 
he  represents  Whitefield  for  the  present  term,  1887-88,  in  the  state  legis- 
lature. He  has  a  genial  and  social  nature  combined  with  business  qualifi- 
cations of  a  high  order.  His  influence  is  felt  in  all  important  matters,  and 
he  has  ati  extended  circle  of  friends  among  leading  men. 


JOEL   MC GREGORY. 

The  McGregors  of  New  Hampshire  are  presumably  descendants  of  Rev, 
James  McGregor  (then  spelled  MacGregore),  one  of  the  Londonderry  emi- 
grants. These  emigrants  were  what  is  termed  Scotch-Irish;  that  is,  they 
were  of  Scotch  lineage,  born  on  Irish  soil,  but  their  difference  in  religion 
prevented  an  intermingling  of  blood,  and  they  were  as  distinct  from  the 
Catholic-Irish  as  though  an  ocean  rolled  between  them.  They  left  Ireland 
in  1718,  arrived  in  Boston  in  August,  and  in  the  spring  of  1719,  under  the 
guidance  of  their  pastor,  Rev.  James  McGregor,  a  small  company  made  a 
settlement  in  Londonderry,  N.  H.  These  pioneers  were  robust,  persever- 
ing and  adventurous  men.  They  left  their  country  to  secure  freedom  of 
conscience  and  religious  liberty,  and  not  from  hope  of  gain.  David,  son 
of  Rev.  James  McGregor,  born  in  1710,  accompanied  his  father,  and,  in 
1733,  became  the  pastor  of  the  West  Parish  Society  at  Londonderry, 
ministered  to  them  until  his  death,  in  1777.  The  name,  in  the  course  of 
years  was,  by  some,  written  McGregory,  but  the  present  generation  pre- 
serve the  original  spelling  of  the  Scotch  McGregors. 

Joel  McGregory,  son  of  Loma  and  Fanny  (White)  McGregory,  was  born 
in  Whitefield,  June  3,  1820.  His  school  facilities  were  necessarily  limited. 
At  the  age  of  ten  he  left  the  home  of  his  parents  permanently,  and  from 
that  time  henceforth  earned  his  living.  With  the  same  spirit  of  per- 
severance and  persistency  which  characterized  his  Scotch  ancestors,  he 
applied  himself  to  work.  By  steady,  unceasing  toil  in  various  mills,  he 
acquired  a  practical  education  in  making  lumber,  saved  a  part  of  his  wages, 
and  with  Ira  Goodall  purchased  the  mills  of  Dodge  &  Abbott,  which  were 
where  Hazen's  mills  are  now  located.  In  1845  Mr.  McGregory  went  into 
the  "woods,"  and  had  charge  of  these  mills  Here  he  continued  eight 
years,  and  the  place  took  the  name  of  McGregory  Mills.  Sixty  thousand 
of  long  clap  boards  a  week  were  produced,  a  large  amount  for  one  of  the 
primitive  structures  of  that  day;  these  were  hauled  to  Wells  River.  Mr. 
McGregory  then  removed  to  the  Chase  farm,  and  carried  on  agriculture 
for  nineteen  years,  and,  about  1854,  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  "vil- 
lage mills."     His  industry,  knowledge  of  general  farming,  and  excellent 


JdeI  McGregDry. 


Town  of  Whitefield.  503 


practical  judgment  brought  their  rewards,  and  he  was  able  to  give  1"  his 
children  the  opportunities  for  education  and  improvemenl  denied  him  in 
early  youth.  By  his  labor,  in  many  ways,  he  augmented  the  weal  of  his 
native  town.  Democratic  in  his  political  affiliations,  he  represented  White- 
field  in  L856;  and,  energetic  and  positive  by  nature,  he  was  an  active 
member  of  the  legislature.  He  was  selectman  for  several  years  and  an 
efficient  town  officer.  His  religious  belief  was  that  of  the  Baptists.  Hon- 
orable in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men,  Joel  McGregory  was  a  good 
citizen:  social,  kind,  and  obliging,  he  was  a  true  neighbor.  He  died  August 
11.  1st;;).  His  widow  survives  him.  Mr.  McGregory  married,  May  30, 
1846,  Hannah  (Philbrick)  Gove.  (See  sketch  of  \)v  (love  for  ancestry.) 
They  had  six  children,  Anna  E.  (Mrs.  Joel  M.  Sari  well  i,  ( reorge(  >..  ( lharles 
I.,  John  L.  (see  physicians),  Joel  \\\.  Stella  F. 


GEORGE   SULLIVAN    GOVE,    M.   I). 

The  Gove  family  is  not  unknown  in  the  annals  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
its  members  have  been  prominent  as  politicians,  professional  men,  and  in 
other  wTalks  in  life. 

George  Sullivan  Gove,  M.  D.,  son  of  John  Mills  and  Anna  (Montgomery) 
Gove,  was  born  in  Whitefield,  September  22,  1828.  His  grandfather, 
Elijah  Gove,  of  Weare,  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Association  Test  in 
1776,  which  reads  "We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  solemnly  engage  and 
promise,  that  we  will  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  at  the  risque  of  our  lives 
and  fortunes,  with  arms  oppose  the  hostile  proceedings  of  the  British  fleets 
and  armies  against  the  United  American  Colonies.*'  John  Mills  Gove,  son 
of  Elijah,  was  born  in  Weare,  in  1787.  He  moved  to  Ac  worth,  where  he 
carried  on  merchandizing  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  LS21 
he  came  to  Whitefield,  and  settled  on  the  first  farm  north  of  Burns  pond, 
where  Joseph  L.  Taylor  now  Lives,  and  very  soon  established  a  store  in 
connection  with  his  farm.  About  1831  he  moved  to  the  place  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Chase.  His  wife,  Anna  (Montgomery)  Gove,  was  a  native  of 
Prancestown,  and  born  about  L790.  They  had  eight  children:  Jellied,  died 
in  infancy.  Vienna  (Mrs.  Leonard  Bowles),  Laura  (Mrs.  Joseph  L.  Taylor), 
deceased,  John  T.,  who  died  in  bay  of  San  Francisco  in  LS59,  Elijah  B., 
Ira  S.  M.,  Hannah  P.  (Mrs.  Joel  McGregory),  George  S.,  and  Charles  P., 
who  died  at  an  early  age.  Mr.  Gove  was  a  man  of  ability,  and  conversant 
with  town  matters  for  many  years,  being  justice  of  the  peace,  selectman, 
and  holding  other  responsible  trusts.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  rep- 
resented Whitefield  in  the  stal  s  legislature,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  convention  in  L850.  In  his  younger  days  lie  was  a  Freewill 
Baptist,  but  about   1840  he  became  an  adherent  of  Rev.  Mr.  Miller,  was 


504  History  of  Coos  County. 

prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  "  Second-ad ventists,"  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  were  connected  with  that  church  until  their  death.  Mrs.  Gove 
died  in  1866;  Mr.  Gove's  death  occurred  in  1870. 

Dr.  Gove  participated  in  the  labors  of  his  father's  large  farm,  with  but 
limited  school  privileges,  until  he  was  of  age.  His  first  thought  and  desire 
then  was  for  education,  and  he  attended  private  schools  in  Whitefield 
two  or  three  years,  working  for  his  brother,  Elijah,  in  his  hotel  (for 
$12  per  month)  to  defray  his  expenses.  [The  site  of  the  hotel  is  now  occu- 
pied by  "Bowker  &  Co.'s"  store. J  His  next  venture  was  the  meat  busi- 
ness, which  he  conducted  in  the  summer  in  primitive,  pioneer  style.  His 
meat  cart  was  an  old-fashioned  Haynes  wagon,  in  which  was  a  dry-goods 
box  with  leathern  hinges.  During  this  time  he  taught  school  two  winters, 
1853  and  1851,  in  Whitefield.  In  the  spring  of  1851  he  went  to  Burling- 
ton, Wis.,  and  receiving  an  offer  of  $60  per  month  to  sell  lightning-rods, 
concluded  to  try  it  for  himself;  purchased  team  and  outfit,  and  travelled 
in  Eastern  Wisconsin  with  good  financial  results,  and  was  about  to  go 
farther  west  to  buy  land  and  make  a  settlement,  when  he  received  news 
of  his  father's  impaired  health,  and  returned  to  Whitefield. 

January  2,  1855,  Dr.  Gove  married  Maria  Pierce,  daughter  of  Morris 
and  Lucy  (Fisher)  Clark,  of  Whitefield.  [She  is  of  the  same  stock  as  the 
distinguished  Eev.  Raima  Cossitt. — is  granddaughter  of  Judge  Ambrose 
Cossitt,  of  Claremont,  and  niece  of  Hon.  George  A.  Cossitt,  of  Lancaster.] 
They  have  had  two  daughters;  the  elder,  Delia  Emily,  born  July  22,  1861, 
lived  but  a  few  months;  the  second,  Anna  Maria,  born  July  6,  1867,  was 
graduated  from  St.  Johnsbury  academy  in  June,  1887,  and  is  now  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  in  Boston. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Gove  commenced  housekeeping  in  the  old  unpainted  Will- 
iam Dodge  house,  now  standing  at  the  end  of  the  bridge.  This  year  he 
began  his  medical  studies  under  the  charge  of  and  with  Dr.  Albert  Winch, 
and  attended  lectures  at  Dartmouth  college  the  fall  terms  of  1856-57-58, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  medical  department  in  November,  1858.  In 
the  spring  of  1859  Dr.  Gove  commenced  his  long  aud  successful  career  as 
a  physician  in  Whitefield.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  attended  lectures  at 
Bellevue  college,  New  York,  in  order  to  perfect  himself  in  surgery,  of 
which  he  was  making  a  specialty;  but  contracted  a  cold,  which  resulted 
seriously,  and  during  the  years  of  1865  and  1866  he  was  unable  to  attend 
to  his  professional  duties;  since  then  he  has  not  given  much  attention  to 
surgery.  In  1880  he  performed  the  Caesarean  operation  successfully;  this 
was  said  to  be  the  first  case  of  the  kind  in  the  state,  and  he  reported  it,  by 
request  of  the  State  Medical  Society,  for  publication  in  the  "Transac- 
tions.*- He  has  been  a  member  of  the  New  Hampshire  Medical  Society  for 
several  years,  and  of  White  Mountain  Medical  Society  since  July,  1859.  In 
the  latter  body  he  has  been  censor,  secretary,  president,  and  held  other  offices, 


~:'ir,.. 


Gen.   S,    Gove,  M,   D. 


Town  of  Whitefield.  505 


and  was  twice  its  delegate  to  the  American  Medical  Association,  of  which 
he  is  a  permanent  member.  Since  1857  he  has  belonged  to  the  Masonic 
Fraternity,  and  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  Whitefield. 
His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  Democrats,  the  minority  party,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  frequent  nominee  for  representative.  In  connection 
witli  his  medical  practice  he  has  carried  on  fanning  to  some  extent  and 
takes  great  pride  in  his  fine  stock.  During  the  summer  months  of  the  past 
few  years  Dr.  Gove  has  been  located  at  the  Fabyan  House,  as  physician 
for  the  mountain  houses. 

( rifted  with  senses  remarkably  acute,  delicate  of  touch,  quick  and  keen 
in  observation,  taking  in  immediately  the  physiognomy  of  disease,  reading 
understanding!  v  books,  men  and  things,  Dr.  Gove's  judgment,  correct  and 
rapid,  appears  as  if  produced  by  intuition.  Probably  the  most  reliable 
guage  of  a  physician's  ability  is  his  reputation  with  his  professional  breth- 
ren. Many  who  stand  high  in  public  esteem  as  medical  practitioners 
speak  very  highly  of  Dr.  Gove's  abilities,  and  were  it  not  for  his  attach- 
ment to  his  home,  he  might  easily  have  found  a  larger  field  for  his  talents, 
better  compensation,  less  physical  and  mental  wear,  and  more  time  for 
scientific  study.  He  is  affable  and  courteous  to  all,  and  treats  the  indi- 
gent sufferer  with  the  same  kind  consideration  which  he  extends  to  the 
affluent.  He  is  not  wanting  in  ambition,  and  desires  and  appreciates  the 
good  will  and  approbation  of  the  public,  which  he  enjoys.  His  religion  is 
simple  Christianity. 


33 


DALTON. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

Grantees — Name,  Apthorp— Dalton — Tristram  Dalton— Petition  for  a  Division— Moses  Blake 
Petitions  for  a  Ferry — Recommendation  of  Bloss — Petitions  for  Taxing  Non- Residents — Petitions 
for  Tax  for  Repairing  Roads— Petition  of  Walter  Bloss  for  a  Ferry — First  Settlers. 

DALTON  was  formed  in  this  manner.  Moses  Little  &  Co. ,  who  had 
purchased  most  of  the  rights  in  Chiswick,  (granted  November  17, 
1764,)  discovered  that  a  large  tract  of  unclaimed  land  lay  adjoining 
on  the  north.  This  was  the  10,000  acres  vacated  by  Lancaster  when  it 
changed  its  boundaries.  These  gentlemen,  by  the  aid  of  Col.  John  Hurd, 
of  Haverhill,  who  was  influential  with  Gov.  Wentworth,  secured  a  charter,. 
January  18,  1770,  for  Apthorp,  which  covered  the  greater  part  of  Chiswick 
and  the  10,000  acres  of  unclaimed  land  on  each  side  of  John's  river.  The 
Apthorp  proprietors  soon  quit-claimed  the  10,000  acre  tract  to  Col.  Hurd 
for  a  nominal  sum.  He  sold  this  to  Dalton  &  Tracy,  who  purchased  6,000 
more  acres  from  the  Littles,  and,  November  1,  1781,  these  16,000  acres 
were  incorporated  as  the  town  of  Dalton;  the  remaining  part  of  Apthorp 
being  made  the  town  of  Littleton  on  the  same  day.  (The  lower  line  of 
Lancaster  originally  ran  near  the  old  Cushman  tavern,  and  its  southeast 
corner  was  near  Round  pond  in  Whitefield.) 

Tristram  Dalton,  born  in  Newburyport,  Mass.,  June.  1738,  graduated 
at  Harvard  college  when  but  seventeen,  and  became  a  lawyer.  He  was 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Massachusetts,  a  member  of 
the  state  Senate,  and  a  senator  in  the  first  United  States  Congress  after 
the  adoption  of  the  Federal  constitution.  After  a  long  life  of  wealth  and 
luxury,  he  was  reduced  to  poverty  by  a  villainous  partner  in  Washington, 
and  returned  to  Newburyport,  where  his  last  years  were  spent  as  surveyor 
of  the  ports  of  Boston  and  Charlestown.  He  died  in  is  L7.  He  was  a  most 
lovable  character,  an  earnest  Christian,  and  a  gentleman  of  the  purest 
type.     He  lived  in  habits  of  intimacy  and  friendship  with  the  first  four 


Town  of  Dai  /ion.  507 


presidents  of  the  United  States,  and  was  honored   by  their  confidence  and 
sympathy. 

The  first  settlers  were  Moses  Blake  and  \\  alter  Bloss;  Coffin  Moore  was 
the  third  settler.  In  177:')  the  whole  township,  comprising  what  is  now 
Littleton  and  Dalton,  contained  but  fourteen  inhabitants. 

PETITION    FOR    A    DIVISION    OF   APTHORP. 

"  To  the  Honourable  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire in  General  Court  assembled — 

"  Humbly  shew  the  Subscribers  owners  of  the  Town  of  Apthorp  in  the  County  of  Grafton 
within  the  said  State,  that  the  said  Town  of  Apthorp  is  large  and  capable  of  making  two  Towns 
bv  a  proper  division  of  the  same;  that  in  its  present  undivided  situation  the  settlement  and  culti- 
vation thereof  must  be  attended  with  very  great  difficulty  if  practicable;  that  the  subscribers  are 
greatly  desirous  to  settle  and  improve  their  lands  there  as  well  for  the  benefit  of  the  State  &  the 
country  adjacent  as  for  themselves — That  Tristram  Dalton  and  Nathaniel  Tracy  Esquires  two  of 
the  subscribers  own  in  fee  simple  in  severalty  from  the  other  proprietors  of  that  Town  the  follow- 
ing part  thereof  that  is  to  say  beginning  at  the  Easterly  corner  of  said  Town,  thence  running  South 
fifty-six  degrees  west  eighteen  hundred  n.ds  adjoining  on  the  South  East  side  line  of  said  Town 
thence  running  North  twenty  six  degrees  west  about  six  miles  or  be  the  same  more  or  less  until  it 
comes  to  Connecticut  River;  thence  by  Connecticut  River  Easterly  till  it  comes  to  the  Northerly 
corner  of  said  Town  then  North  twenty-six  degrees  East  adjoining  on  the  North  Easterly 
side  line  of  said  Town  about  five  miles  until  it  comes  to  the  Easterly  Corner  of  said  Town.  That 
your  petitioners  apprehend  that  the  lands  owned  by  said  Dalton  A: Tracy  are  sufficient  to  form  one 
Town  &  that  the  residue  of  the  lands  in  said  Apthorp  are  sufficient  for  another  Town — and  that  a 
division  of  the  Town  in  that  maimer  into  two  towns  would  be  exceedingly  beneficial  to  the  pro- 
prietors and  the  public— Wherefore  the  Subscribers  humbly  pray  that  your  honours  would  in  your 
wisdom  and  goodness  divide  the  said  Town  as  aforesaid  and  of  the  lands  therein  owned  by  the 
said  Dalton  and  Tracy  erect  and  incorporate  a  Town  by  such  name  as  shall  be  agreeable  to  your 
honours;  and  of  the  residue  of  the  lands  in  said  Apthorp  your  honours  would  erect  and  incorpo- 
rate a  Town  by  the  name  of  Apthorp.     And  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

"June  1783.  "  Tristram  Dalton,  Nat  Tracy." 

The  word  "  Franklin  "  was  pasted  under  the  word  Apthorp,  signifying 
that  they  had  that  name  under  consideration. 

PETITION   FOR   PERRY. 

"  State  of  Newhampshire  Grafton  ss 

"To  the  Hon!  General  Court  to  be  convened  &  holden  at  Portsmouth  on  the  last  Wednesday 
of  November  1791. 

"  Humbly  sheweth  Moses  Blake  of  Dalton  in  said  Dalton.  a  convenient  place  for  keeping  a 
public  ferry  across  the  River  Connecticutt,  &  that  the  keeping  thereof  will  very  much  commode 
the  public.  Therefore  he  prays  your  Honors  lo  Grant  him  his  Heirs  &  assigns  forever  the  Sole  & 
exclusive  privilege  of  opening  &  keeping  a  ferry  over  said  River,  beginning  at  the  head  of  the  fif- 
teen mile  falls,  so  called  &  so  far  up  said  River  as  may  appear  proper  to  your  Honors  &  he  as  in 
duty  bound  will  ever  pray  Arc  "  Moses  Blake 

"Dalton  Sept.  23d  1791." 

Recommendation  of  Selectmen  of  Littleton. — "  State  of  New-hampshire  County  of  Grafton  ^v 
We  the  subscribers  Selectmen  of  Littleton  in  the  County  aforesaid — hereby  certify— thai  we  have 
been  informed  thai  Mr.  Moses  Blake  of  Dalton  petitioned  the  General  Court  of  this  State  at  there 
last  Session,  for  the  Grant  of  a  Ferry  over  Connecticut  River  at  the  place  where  the  said  Blake  lives 

in  Said  Daltou—  and  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  a  Ferry  at  said  place  would  accomodate  the  public. 


508  History  of  Coos  County. 

and  further  that  he  is  the  most  proper  person  to  attend  a  Ferry  at  that  place — and  pray  your  Hon- 
ors (in  behalf  of  the  Public)  to  grant  the  prayer  of  Said  Blake — 
"  Dated  at  Littleton  the  27th  day  of  April  1792 

"Eben'r  Pingree  )S1  t 
"Eph'mBayley  t  ™, 
"James  Williams  \  meu 

'Recommendation  of  Seltctmen  of  Lancaster. — "  State  of  New-hampshire  County  of  Grafton  ss 
We  the  Subscribers  Select  of  the  Town  of  Lancaster  in  the  County  aforesaid  hereby  Certify — that 
Information  has  been  given  that  Mr.  Moses  Blake  of  Dalton,  adjoining  said  Lancaster,  Petitioned 
the  General  Court  of  said  State  at  their  Session  at  Portsmouth  last  winter,  for  a  Grant  of  a  public 
Ferry  over  Connecticutt  River  at  the  place  where  the  Said  Blake  lives  in  said  Dalton,  and  it  is  our 
opinion  that  Granting  the  prayer  of  said  Petition  would  be  of  public  utility — and  said  Blake  is  the 
most  proper  person  to  attend  to,  and  take  care  of  the  Same, — therefore  pray  Your  Honors  that  a 
Grant  be  made  accordingly 

"  Lancaster  the  26th  day  of  April  1792 

"  Emmons  Stockwell    )  Selectmen 

"John  Weeks  -         of 

' '  Jeremiah  Willson       )  Lancaster  " 

Recommendation  of  Walter  Bloss. — "  State  of  NewJaampshire  County  of  Grafton  ss 
"This  may  certify  that  Information  has  been  given  that  Mr.  Moses  Blake  of. Dalton  Petitioned 
the  General  Court  at  their  last  Session  for  a  Grant  of  a  Ferry  over  Connecticutt  River,  where  the 
said  Blake  live^  in  said  Dalton,  and  it  is  my  opinion  that  the  said  Blake  ought  to  have  the  privi- 
lege, and  that  he  is  the  most  proper  person  to  attend  the  Same — and  pray  Your  Honors  to  Grant 
the  Prayer  of  sd  Blake 

"  Dalton  April  27th  1792  "  Walter  Bloss  " 

The  ferry  petitioned  for  was  granted  June,  1792. 

Petitions  for  Taxing  Non-Residents. — "To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representitives 
in  General  Court  convened  and  now  sitting  this  12th  day  of  February  1791  — 

"  The  petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Littleton  in  said  state  Humbly  shew  that  an  act  passed  the 
General  Court  January  1789 — directing  the  Selectmen  of  said  Town  for  the  time  being  to  assess  and 
cause  to  be  collected  all  publick  Taxes  due  there  from  prior  to  the  first  day  of  January  1789  on  the 
lands  of  the  proprietors  of  said  Town  in  one  tax  bill  in  way  and  manner  as  taxes  by  Law  are  col- 
lected of  Non,  resident  proprietors  in  other  Towns  in  this  state  which  act  your  petitioners  would 
most  chearfully  complyed  with  had  it  been  in  their  power  but  said  Littleton  together  with  a  Town 
or  part  of  a  Town  known  by  the  name  of  Dalton,  was  first  granted  by  the  name  of  Chesuwich 
afterward  by  the  name  of  Apthorp  then  divided  into  Littleton  and  Dalton  to  particular  Gentle- 
men and  not  in  proprietory  shares  as  is  usually  the  custom  in  other  towns  in  this  state— your  peti- 
tioners would  further  Sugjest  that  the  act  for  taxing  Lands  in  said  Littleton  and  Dalton  for  the 
purpose  of  making  and  repairing  roads  therein  is  under  the  aforesaid  Imbarisments — 

"  Your  petitioners  would  therefore  pray  your  Honors  to  pass  an  act  Impowering  the  Selectmen 
of  said  Littleton  for  the  time  being  to  assess  and  cause  to  be  collected  all  publick  taxes  due  from 
said  town  in  one  tax  bill  on  the  lands  therein  not  confining  them  to  any  particular  rights  but  to  sell 
as  m  ich  of  said  Lauds  in  one  body  as  will  pay  said  tax  with  Incidental  charges  also  in  the  same 
way  and  manner  to  sell  as  much  land  as  will  compeat  said  road  throug  said  Town  as  also  that  they 
may  be  Impowered  in  the  same  way  and  manner  to  sell  as  much  land  in  Dalton  as  will  complete 
the  road  leading  through  the  same  and  give  a  reasonable  time  to  levy  and  collect  said  Taxes  or 
grant  such  other  relief  in  the  premises  as  to  your  Honors  may  appear  reasonable  and  Just  and  stay 
the  extents  against  said  Littleton  untill  a  final  determination  be  had  and  your  petitioners  as  in  duty 
bound  shall  ever  pray —  "  Sam'l  Young 

"in  behalf  of  the  Selectmen  of  Littleton  &  Inhabitants  of  Dalton." 

Petition  for  Authority  to  Assess  a  Tax  for  Repairing  Roads. — "  To  the  Honorable  General  Court 
of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  to  convene  at  Exeter  the  third  Wednesday  of  Nov'r  next. 

"  The  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  a  Place  called  Dolton,  and  others  of  a  Place  called  uper 


Town  of   Dai/ion. 


509 


Coos  Humbly  Sheweth— That  about  four  years  past  the  Honorable  General  Court  granted  a  Small 
land  Tax  on  all  the  lands  in  said  Dolton  Public  Rights  Bridges  in  said  Dolton.  Thai  by  some  un- 
foreseen fatallity  the  business  was  not  Accomplished  but  a  Considerable  pari  of  the  road  through 
said  Dolton  from  what  is  called  upcr  Coos  to  our  nearest  Shire  Town  (viz  Baverhill)  is  yet  almosl 
unpassable,  That  the  principle  pari  of  the  Townshipof  Dolton  is  now  own'd  by  persons  unknown 
to  us  who  do  very  little  or  nothing  to  the  Roads  and  only  two  Families  living  in  said  Townshipl 
the  repairs  of  the  said  Roads  and  Bridges  are  almost  entirely  neglected  to  the  almosl  incredible 
hardship  and  distress  of  those  who  are  obliged  to  travil  through  the  same— Wherefore  your  Pe- 
titioners pray  that  your  Honors  would  grant  a  tax  of  three  pence  on  each  Acre  of  land  in  said 
Townshipof  Dolton  for  the  purpose  of  making  and  Repairing  Roads  Bridges  &c  in  sain  Dolton 
in  such  way  and  manner  as  your  Honors  in  your  wisdom  may  think  proper,  and  that  a  Com 
mittee  may  be  appointed  in  or  as  near  said  Township  as  may  be  to  Superintend  said  Business 
with  full  power  to  Collect  said  Tax— and  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray 

"  Walter  Bloss  of  Dolton 


"October  ye  4th  1792 

"Inhabitants  of  Uper  Coos 

"  Daniel  Spaulding 
"Elisha  Wilder 
"Joseph  Wilder 
"  Jonas  Baker 
"  Walter  Philbrook 
"  A.saph  Darby 
"  Fortunatus  Eager 
''  Asahel  Biglow 
"  Abr'm  Gile 
"Jeremiah  Stiekney 
"  Nathan  Lovewell 
"Elisha  Gustin 
"Joseph  Brackett 


Jonas  Wilder 
John  Wilder 
David  Page 
Joshua  Lamkin 
Abijah  Darby 
John  Rosbrook  Ju'r 
Jonathan  Cram 
Benjamin  Orr 
John  Holmes 
Isaac  Mann 

Robert 

Edw'd  Spaulding 
Will'm  Johnson 


Emmens  Stockwell 
Will'm  Moore 
Isaac  Darby 
Benj'a  Twombly 

.Inh n  Rosbrook 
Jer'h  Eames 
Titus  O  Brown 
(  harles  Rosbrook 
Silvanus  Cheesman 
David  Stockwell 
Zadock  Sanisnn 
Moses  Page 
Dennis  Stanley" 


Walter  Bloss  for  a  Ferry.—"  To  the  honorable  the  General  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire to  be  convened  at  Concord  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  June  A.  D.  1799 
"  The  petition  of  Walter  Bloss  of  Dalton  in  said  State  humbly  shows 

"  That  at  a  place  called  Stillwater  in  Connecticut  river  about  two  miles  from  the  head  of  the  fif- 
teen mile  Falls  is  a  suitable  place  for  a  ferry,  he  therefore  prays  the  privilege  of  keeping  a  ferry  any- 
where from  the  head  of  said  Stillwater  down  said  river  the  distance  of  two  miles  to  he  granted 
to  him  under  such  regulations  as  the  Legislature  shall  think  proper,  and  as  in  duty  bound  he 
will  ever  be  duly  thankful—  "  Walter  Bloss." 

This  petition  was  granted  December,  1799. 

First  Settlers.'-—  Moses  Blake,  the  first  settler  of  Dalton,  was  horn  in 
Milton,  Mass.,  about  the  year  1744.  He  married  Lucy  Goodrich,  of  Lunen- 
burg, Mass.,  and  after  the  birth  of  two  daughters,  Sally  and  Lucy,  he 
removed  to  Xew  Hampshire  about  17*2.  Moses  Blake  became  acquainted 
with  Dalton  and  Tracy,  who  felt  much  interested  in  having  roads  and 
bridges  built  for  the  accommodation  of  people  that  were  disposed  to  visit 
this  new  country  to  make  themselves  homes.  An  offer  was  made  by  them 
to  give  two  160-acre  lots  to  any  one  who  would  cut  away  th<'  trees  and 
bushes  on  the  most  direct  route  between  Haverhill  and  Lancaster,  a  dis- 
tance then  supposed  to  be  about  fifty  miles,  and  make  a  road  passable  for 


*By  Nahum  Blake. 


510  History  of  Coos  County. 

a  one-horse  wagon  with  two  persons.  This  offer  was  accepted  by  Moses 
Blake,  and  in  due  time  the  work  was  done,  and  two  lots  of  his  choice  were 
accordingly  given  to  him.  They  were  the  two  lots  nearest  the  mouth  of 
John's  ri^er.  He  at  first  built  a  log  house  on  the  upper  lot  half  a  mile 
above  the  mouth  of  John's  river,  where  the  ferry  is  now  kept,  colonized 
only  by  wild  animals.  Blake's  family  consisted  of  himself,  wife,  and  two 
small  children.  Here  they  lived,  for  sometime,  the  only  inhabitants  of 
the  town. 

Probably  not  more  than  two  or  three  years  later,  Walter  Bloss  came 
and  settled  just  above  the  Sumner  House.  He  lived  on  this  place  many 
years  and  raised  up  a  family,  and,  in  course  of  time,  built  quite  a  respect- 
able sized  two-story  framed  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  a  short  dis- 
tance above  the  "Sumner  house."  This  house  stood  for  many  years 
after  the  property  passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Bloss  family.  Ever  since 
my  recollection  it  was  used  for  a  kind  of  tenement  house  for  the  town's 
people  who  had  no  other  home,  and  for  new-comers  to  stop  in  until  they 
could  secure  permanent  homes.  I  can  remember  many  families  who  occu- 
pied it,  among  them  were  Peter  Fuller,  Thomas  Fuller,  the  father  of 
Sheppard  Knights,  Willard  Harding,  Jehial  H.  Dodge,  Edmund  Holmes, 
Lewis  Messure,  Francis  Messure,  Robert  Crandall,  Asahel  Wallace,  Ahira 
Wight,  John  Somers,  Jesse  Underwood,  —  Drake,  Daniel  Banfield, 

-  Rolfe.     It  also  was  used  many  years  for  a  school-house.     The  first 
school  that  I  ever  attended  was  kept  in  it.     Oliver  P.  Brooks  was  teacher. 

The  Blake  and  Bloss  families  were  the  sole  inhabitants  of  Dalton  for 
quite  a  number  of  years.  It  was  here  Blake's  three  younger  children  were 
born,  viz.  Bathsheba,  Ruth  and  Dalton.  Lucy  married  Jared  Barker. 
They  lived  on  the  0.  M.  Brook's  place  on  the  hill,  afterwards  on  the  farm 
where  John  Tenney  lived  for  many  years.  Barker  sold  each  of  these  after 
a  short  residence  and  bought  a  lot  on  the  south  side  of  John's  river  nearly 
opposite  Scotts  He  sold  again,  and  moved  a  little  further  up  the  hill 
near  Alvin  Brooks.  He  sold  this  place  and  moved  to  Moriah,  N.  Y.,  about 
1834.  Sally  married  John  Blakeslee,  who  settled  on  a  farm  on  the  hill 
adjoining  the  Barker  Tenney  farm,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  His 
first  wife,  Sally,  died  about  1813  or  1814.  He  afterwards  married  her  sister, 
Bathsheba;  with  her  he  lived  until  she  died  about  1840.  He  lived  to  a 
good  old  age  on  the  place  he  first  took  up  in  Dalton,  and  has  many 
descendants.  His  son  John  is  living  on  the  old  farm.  Ruth,  the  young- 
est of  the  three  daughters,  married  William  Ewen,  Jr.,  son  of  William 
Ewens,  who  emigrated  from  England,  came  to  Dalton  and  took  a  farm  in 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  town  lying  on  the  Connecticut  river,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death.  His  son  that  married  Ruth  Blake,  William,  Jr., 
occupied  the  place  for  many  years,  but  finally  sold  out  to  a  Mr.  White. 
Mr.  Ewen  then  moved  to  his  hill  lot  (the  Hutchinson  lot)  where  he  died  a 


Town  of  I  >  \it<>.\.  511 


few  years  since.  His  surviving  children  are  all  inhabitants  of  Dalton. 
Daniel  E  wen  lived  on  and  owned  the  old  place  where  his  father  and  mother 
died,  and  where  he  died  October  12,  L887. 

Dalton  Blake  was  the  youngest  child  and  only  son  of  Moses  Blake.  He 
was  born  in  Dalton  about  1792  or  L793.  The  honor  of  being  the  first  male 
child  horn  in  Dalton  must  he  awarded  to  Aaron  Bloss,  who  for  a  long  lime 
lived  in  Lunenburg,  Vt.  The  first  female  horn  in  Dalton  was  Celia  Bloss. 
She  died  young,  and  was  buried  in  the  field  thirty  or  forty  rods  east  of  the 
old  Bloss  house. 

Moses  Blake,  after  some  time  living  in  his  log  house,  built  a  one  story 
frame  house  of  considerable  size  for  the  purpose  of  entertainment,  and  for 
a  long  time  it  was  known  as  Blake's  tavern.  This  was  the  house  in  which 
my  father,  Dalton  Blake,  was  horn,  and  it  was  the  same  in  which  I  was 
born  on  the  2nd  of  December,  1811,  and  also  one  of  my  own  children, 
Deborah  L.  Blake,  February  9,  1849.  There  were  families  of  three  gener- 
ations horn  in  that  house.  In  early  days,  while  Moses  Blake  was  living, 
this  used  to  be  a  very  noted  place. 

Moses  Blake  used  to  attend  to  his  ferry  in  connection  with  his  tavern. 
This  ferry  has  always  kept  in  operation,  excepting  thirteen  years  while 
the  Sumner  Company  had  a  bridge.  My  father  relinquished  his  privilege 
in  this  charter  to  the  Sumner  Company  for  the  paltry  sum  of  §45  in  order 
to  have  a  bridge.  The  bridge  was  built,  and  stood  about  thirteen  years, 
and  was  carried  off  by  the  ice  and  logs  in  the  spring  of  the  year.  Moses 
Blake  died  March  IS,  1818,  and  was  laid  in  the  burying-yard  a  short  dis- 
tance above  the  mouth  of  John's  river.  His  wife  survived  him  thirteen 
years,  or  until  June  8,  1831. 

Dalton  Blake  continued  on  the  old  place,  came  in  possession  of  the 
northern  lot  of  the  two  that  his  father  formerly  owned,  and  continued  to 
live  on  it  until  his  family  of  ten  children  had  either  died  or  grown  to  man 
and  womanhood.  He  then  sold  his  farm  to  Daniel  Ewen.  Dalton  Blake 
and  his  wife,  after  some  years,  moved  to  Peterborough  where  they  died. 
Five  of  their  ten  children  now  survive:  Nahum,  Paschal.  Mrs.  Julia  A. 
>Cook,  Mrs.  Deborah  W.  Hunt,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  White. 


512  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

Act  Authorizing  First  Town  Meeting— First  Town  Meeting— Dalton— Lands  and  Live  Stock,. 
1809— Town  Officers— Town  Expenses— First  Three  School  Districts— John's  River  Bridge— Ex- 
tracts from  Town  Records,  1810-1884. 

O-f  CT  Authorizing  First  Town  Meeting. — "State  of  Newhampshire.  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
/  j  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight.  An  act  authorizing  Paul  Cushman  to  call  the  first  town 
\^         meeting  in  Dalton. 

X  "Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  convened 

that  Paul  Cushman  of  said  Dalton,  be  and  hereby  is  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  Town 
of  Dalton,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  same  and  the  said  first  meeting  may  be  holden  at  such 
time  and  place  within  said  Town  of  Dalton,  as  the  said  Paul  Cushman  shall  direct  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  said  Cushman  to  notafy  and  warn  the  inhabitants  of  said  Town  to  meet  for  the  pur- 
poses afforesaid,  by  a  warrant  under  his  hand  and  seal  to  be  posted  up  in  some  Publick  place  in 
said  Town  fifteen  days  prior  to  the  day  of  meeting,  and  shall  insert  in  such  warrant  the  articles 
necessary  to  be  acted  upon  at  said  meeting,  and  the  said  Paul  Cushman  shall  Preside  over  said 
meeting  until  a  Moderator  be  chosen. 

"And  be  it  further  enacted  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  may  at  their  first  meeting,  warned 
as  afforesaid  procead  to  Chuse  a  Moderator  to  govern  said  meeting,  Town  Clerk,  and  selectmen 
who  when  Chosen  and  sworn  shall  be  invested  with  all  the  power  by  Law  appertaining  to  their 
respective  offices. — 

"State  of  JSTewhampshire. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives  June  7th,  1808. 

"  The  foregoing  Bill  having  had  three  several  readings  pased  to  be  enacted,  sent  up  for  con- 
currance. 

"  Charles  Cutts  Speaker. 
"  In  Senate  June  8th,  1808 
"  This  Bill  having  been  read  a  third  time  was  enacted 

"Samuel  Bell  President 
"Approved  June  8th,  1808 

"John  Langdon  Governor 
"A  true  Copy 

"Attest  Phillip  Carigain  Secretary 
"A  true  Copy, 

"  Attest  Agrippa  Warren  Town  Clerk." 

First  Town  Meeting.— Met  July  26,  1808,  "at  the  dwelling  house  of 
Joshua  Whitney,  innholder,"  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  town,  and 
chose  Joel  Crandal,  moderator;  Agrippa  Warren,  town  clerk;  Agrippa 
Warren,  John  Blaksley  and  Paul  Cushman,  selectmen.  July  28th  Agrippa 
Warren  was  sworn  into  office  as  town  clerk  and  selectman  by  Richard  C. 
Everett,  J.  P.,  at  Lancaster. 

Agrippa  Warren  appears  to  have  died  soon  after,  as  August  29,  1808, 
Joel  Crandal  acts  as  town  clerk,  and  Amos  Kidder  was  chosen  selectman 
in  place  of  Agrippa  Warren.  The  number  of  votes  cast  at  the  August 
meeting  was  thirty. 

Much  of  the  individuality  of  the  people  of  Dalton  is  shown  by  traces- 


Town  of  Dalton.  ~i  i  :-i 


clearly  defined  to  the  historian,  but  unnoticed  by  the  careless  observer  of 
events  until  pointed  out.  We  have  permitted  the  little  ''footprints  on  the 
sands  of  time"  contained  in  the  records  to  tell  their  own  story,  generally 
in  the  quaint  language  of  the  advocate  of  the  action  in  town  meeting,  or 
in  that  of  the  clerk,  gleaning  for  this  purpose  enough  to  portray  visibly  the 
politics,  life  and  manners.  Year  by  year  the  "Inventory"  grows  visibly 
and  rapidly  larger;  year  by  year  items  are  added  which  show  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  the  town;  the  annual  expenditure  for  roads  and  bridges 
attains  proportions  which  would  have  seemed  a  colossal  fortune  to  the 
hardy  pioneer.  The  necessities  of  to-day  would  have  appeared  to  him  un- 
called for,  extravagant,  superfluous  (if  not  sinful)  luxuries  not  to  be  toler- 
ated. And  yet  the  people  have  not  deteriorated.  Firm  in  principle,  they 
have  kept  true  to  their  political  affiliations,  Democratic  by  a  large  majority; 
a  firm  minority  has  steadily  responded  to  the  roll  call  at  election  with  as 
unwavering  a  column  as  if  it  were  marching  to  victory.  The  habits  of 
prudence,  industry  and  economy  so  essential  in  the  early  days  have  de- 
scended to  the  present  generation,  and  resulted  in  a  general  condition  of 
competency.  The  era  of  speculation  and  inflation  of  necessity  gave  its  im- 
press, but  those  most  affected  only  existed  for  a  time,  and  it  left  no  lasting- 
deleterious  effect.  None  are  millionaires,  but  the  Dalton  of  to-day  is  com- 
posed of  unassuming,  worthy  people,  owning  their  own  homes,  cultivating 
their  own  lands,  and  independent  in  their  circumstances.  The  large  war 
debt  causes  the  rate  of  taxation  to  be  high,  but,  as  one  of  its  worthy  citi- 
zens remarked  to  the  writer,  "We  seem  to  pay  our  taxes,  and  get  along  as 
well  as  neighboring  towns  with  much  lower  taxes."  With  a  generous 
hand  the  town  has  taken  care  of  the  unfortunate  poor  within  its  borders. 
The  young  men  who  have  sought  a  broader  field  of  activity  than  the  town 
of  their  birth  have  inherited  the  worthy  traits  of  their  ancestors,  and  have 
won  prosperity  and  honorable  positions,  and  reflect  credit  upon  their  native 
town. 

Lands  and  Live  Stock,  1809. — In  1809  the  live  stock  owned  was  thirty- 
four  horses  and  colts,  fourteen  yokes  of  oxen,  sixty-nine  cows  over  four 
years  old.  and  forty-three  steers  and  heifers  under  four  years  of  age. 
The  only  inventory  of  ''arable  land  "  in  the  first  tax  list  (issued  this 
year)  was  one  acre  in  the  possession  of  Moses  Blake.  He  had,  also,  eight 
acres  of  mowing  land,  two  acres  of  pasture,  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  one  horse,  one  colt,  one  yoke  of  oxen  and  two 
cows.  Paul  Cushman  had  one  acre  of  mowing  land,  one  hundred  and 
' eighty-four  acres  unimproved  land,  two  horses,  one  yoke  oxen,  and  three 
cows.  William  Wallace  had  one  acre  mowing  land,  ninety-four  acres 
unimproved  land,  two  horses  three  cows,  and  two  "three-year  olds." 
Joshua  Whitney  had  seven  acres  "mowing,"  three  acres  pasture,  two 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres  unimproved  land,  one  horse,  one  colt,  oni 


.514:  History  of  Coos  County. 

yoke  oxen,  three  cows,  and  three  young  cattle.  John  Blakslee  had  two 
acres  of  meadow,  one  of  pasture,  and  ninety- seven  unimproved,  with  one 
horse,  one  yoke  steers  and  two  cows.  William  Cram  had  two  acres  mow- 
ing, ninety-eight  acres  unimproved,  one 'horse,  two  cows,  and  one  young 
creature.  John  Cram  had  two  acres  mowing,  one  hundred  ninety  eight 
acres  unimproved  land,  one  horse  and  one  cow.  Robert  Cram  had  one 
acre  meadow,  sixty-five  acres  of  unimproved  land,  one  horse,  one  cow  and 
two  two-year  olds.  Richard  Taylor  has  one  hundred  acres  unimproved 
land,  one  yoke  steers,  two  cows  and  three  heads  of  young  stock.  William 
Ewen,  Jr.,  had  two  acres  of  meadow,  one  hundred  ninety-three  acres  un- 
improved land,  one  horse,  one  yoke  oxen,  four  cows,  and  four  young- 
cattle.  Amos  Kidder  owns  five  acres  meadow,  two  of  pasture,  one  hun- 
dred sixty-seven  acres  unimproved  land,  two  horses,  one  yoke  oxen,  four 
cows,  and  two  young  cattle.  Joel  Crandall  has  fifty  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  one  horse,  one  cow,  and  one  two-year  old.  Ashur  Evans  has  four 
acres  meadow,  two  of  pasture,  ninety-four  unimproved  land,  one  horse, 
one  yoke  of  oxen,  two  cows,  and  seven  young  cattle.  Abraham  Frisbee 
owns  two  acres  meadow,  one  of  pasture,  fifty-seven  acres  unimproved  land, 
one  horse,  two  cows  and  one  heifer.  Jared  Barker  has  one  acre  mowing- 
land,  one  hundred  thirteen  unimproved,  one  horse,  one  yoke  oxen,  two 
cows,  and  one  two-year-old.  Roswell  Evans  one  acre  mowing,  one  acre 
pasture,  forty-nine  acres  unimproved  land,  one  yoke  of  steers,  one  cow, 
and  a  two-year- old.  Levi  Osgood  has  four  acres  meadow  land,  one  acre  of 
pasture,  one  hundred  forty  acres  unimproved,  two  horses,  three  cows,  and 
four  three-year-olds.  Isaac  Osgood  has  three  acres  of  mowing  land,  one 
of  pasture,  eighty  acres  unimproved,  two  horses,  two  oxen,  three  cows, 
and  one  three-year  old.  Moses  Buck  has  one  acre  mowing  land  with  ninety- 
one  unimproved,  one  yoke  oxen  and  two  cows.  Nathaniel  Brown  has  four 
acres  mowing  land,  one  of  pasture,  and  one  hundred  unimproved,  with 
one  horse,  one  yoke  oxen,  four  cows,  and  two  heads  of  young  stock. 
Thomas  Fisher  has  two  acres  mowing  land,  two  of  pasture,  and  one  hun- 
dred thirty-one  acres  unimproved,  with  one  horse  and  one  three-year-old. 
Jonathan  Fisher  has  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  unimproved  land,  one 
horse,  and  one  cow.  Samuel  Atherton  has  one  acre  mowing  land  with 
eighty-two  acres  unimproved,  one  horse,  two  cows,  and  one  three-year-old. 
David  Hall  has  three  acres  mowing  land,  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
unimproved,  one  horse,  one  cow. 

These  persons  were  the  most  wealthy  of  the  early  settlers,  and  luxury 
had  no  place  in  this  hard  working  community. 

Abraham  Frisbee  took  the  collectorship  of  the  town  (excepting  high- 
way taxes)  for  $4.98  for  the  year.  At  the  annual  town  meeting  Levi 
Osgood,  Moses  Blake,  John  Blakslee,  Thomas  Fisher,  and  Nathaniel 
Brown  were  elected  surveyors  of  highways;  Jacob  Barrows,  Sr.,  and  Eber 


Town  of  Dalton.  515 


Miller, as iithingmen;  Capt.  PaulCushraan  and  Moses  Blake,  fence  viewers; 
Edward  Whipple,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures;  Roswell  Evans,  hog 
reeve:  Amos  Kidder,  John  Blakeslee,  and  Thomas  Fisher,  school  commit- 
tee. The  meeting  voted  to  raise  $30  on  the  grand  list  to  defray  the  town 
expenses,  also  to  raise  $200  to  be  expended  in  making  and  repairing  roads 
and  bridges,  also  to  allow  an  able  bodied  man  eight  cents  an  hour  on  the 
highways  from  June  1st  to  September  30,  he  finding  himself  tools  and  diet, 
and  six  cents  an  hour  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  chains. 

First  Three  School  Districts.— July  L5,  L809,  the  three  school  districts 
were  organized  as  follows:  "District  No.  I  shall  contain  all  the  settle- 
ments from  the  westerly  line  of  Joshua  Whitney's  farm  to  the  town  line 
adjoining  Lancaster,  thence  up  John's  river  to  David  Hall's,  and  all  the 
settlements  on  Blakeslee's  Hill,  so-called,  also  William  Loud,  Roswell 
Evans  and  Trial  Barrows.  District  No.  2  shall  contain  all  the  settlements 
from  the  westerly  line  of  Joshua  Whitney's  farm  to  the  town  line  adjoin- 
ing Littleton,  thence  southerly  to  Nathaniel  Brown's,  thence  easterly 
between  Joseph  Streeter's  and  John  Snow's  to  the  westerly  line  of  said 
Whitney's  farm.  District  No.  3  shall  contain  the  remainder  of  the  settlers 
now  in  said  Dalton." 

1809.  The  town  tax  on  residents  amounts  to  $21.12,  the  county  tax  $46.03,  and  school  tax 
to  $55.95, — a  total  tax  of  $123.10.  As  there  was  now  a  proper  tribunal  easy  of  access,  the  settlers 
•who  until  now  had  only  the  advantages  of  the  "  county  road,"  wished  to  replace  the  private  paths 
and  byways  Leading  to  their  several  places  of  abode  by  legal  roads,  and  the  selectmen  were  kept 
busy  in  hearing  applications,  laying  out,  and  considering  highways.  December  4,  ISO!),  John 
Blakeslee,  Amos  Kidder,  and  Jacob  Barrows  were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the  bridge 
over  John's  river.  They  report  that  it  will  last  two  or  three  years  longer  with  a  little  repair,  and 
no  new  one  is  voted.  At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  appoint  one  person  to 
be  commissioned  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  Dalton,  and  the  committee  reported  Edward  Reid  for 
that  office. 

1810.  At  the  town  meeting  held  March  13,  1810,  a  new  officer  was  elected,  Joshua  Whit- 
ney, "  Surveyor  of  lumber."  At  this  meeting  "  His  Excellency,  Jeremiah  Smith,  Esq'r  "  received 
thirty-five  votes  for  Governor,  while  "His  Honor,  John  Langdon,  Esq'r"  received  but  seven.  The 
town  voted  to  raise  $70  as  a  town  tax  this  year,  and  "  to  assess  "  x-.TiO  for  roads  and  bridges.  June  9, 
voted  in  town  meeting  "to  erect  a  post  witli  a  board  on  the  same  at  the  corner  of  Edward  Reid's 
wall,  the  upper  side  of  the  county  road,  for  the  posting  of  warrants  for  town  meetings  and  other 
papers  for  the  benefit  of  the  public."  In  July  "chose  Joshua  Whitney  pound  keeper,"  and  a  com- 
mittee "  to  inspect  John's  River  bridge,  and  wait  on  Mr.  Moses  Blake  to  look  out  a  piece  of  land 
for  a  burying  yard  and  take  a  deed  of  the  same." 

1811.  By  this  time  the  machinery  of  town  government  was  in  working  order,  nearly  all 
the  leading  and  ambitious  men  had  some  office  in  the  gift  of  the  people;  quite  a  lively  opposition 
had  arisen  in  local  politics,  for  while  Asa  W.  Burnap  receives  twenty  votes  for  county  register, 
John  Wilson  receives  seven.  "  His  Honor  Jeremiah  Smith"  receives  twenty-eight  votes  for  gov- 
ernor, "His  Excellency  John  Langdon"  getting  only  four.  School  district  No.  1  is  divided;  the 
new  district,  No.  4,  "  to  consist  of  all  the  inhabitants  south  of  Joel  Crandall's  south  line  and  from 
Lancaster  line  to  the  westerly  line  of  district  No.  1."  The  laying  out  of  roads  still  continues,  and 
points  and  distances  of  them  are  in  the  records.  The  arable  land  has  increased  to  four  acres  of 
which  Moses  Blake  has  three  and  Paul  Cushman  one.  Moses  Blake  has  now  eleven  acres  of 
"mowing"  land,  and  Joshua  Whitney  seven.     Several  have  from  four  to  five  acres  of  pasture 


516  History  of  Coos  County. 

land.  Levi  Osgood  and  Paul  Cusliman  have  each  six  cows.  John  Blakeslee  and  Edward  Reid 
each  four,  William  Ewen,  Jr.,  and  Ezra  Cushman  each  five.  The  non-resident  owners  now  num- 
ber several  other  names  than  the  two  chief  proprietors.  "Heirs  of  John  Innis  Clarke,  dec."  and 
"  John  B.  Murry  Esq.,"  and  are  Atkins  Hutcherson,  Nathaniel  Brown,  Sr.,  Daniel  Barnes,  Hubert 
Glidden,  Phineas  Olds,  Jeremiah  Turner,  Mariette  Mathews,  and  Abel  Moore. 

1812.  Twenty-five  dollars  voted  to  defray  town  expenses  the  current  year.  Abel  Moore 
chosen  agent  to  attend  the  Court  of  Judicature  held  in  May  at  Lancaster  and  defend  an  action 
1  nought  against  the  town  for  the  badness  of  the  roads.  A  resident  tax  of  $25.86  laid  to  pay 
expenses  of  muster. 

1813.  Dalton  Blake  and  Paul  Cushman  chosen  sextons.  Capt.  Paul  Cushman  and  John 
Blakeslee  chosen  grand  jurors.  One  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  raised  to  defray  town  expenses. 
One  hundred  dollars  raised  to  repair  roads  and  bridges. 

1814.  Daniel  Webster  receives  seventeen  votes  for  Member  of  Congress  to  John  K.  Par- 
rott  ten. 

1815.  The  arable  land  inventoried  at  six  acres,  meadow  land  seventy  acres,  and  pasture 
sixty-eight. 

1816.  Paul  Cushman  has  one  acre  arable  land,  Nathaniel  Hurlbutt  one,  Roswell  Evans 
one,  Dalton  Blake  four  acres,  and  William  Ewen,  Jr.,  one. 

1819.  Ten  years  have  passed  since  the  first  inventory  of  the  town.  The  acres  of  arable  land 
are  now  nineteen.  Paul  Cushman  has  three,  Levi  Osgood  one,  Nath'l  Hurlbutt,  one,  Nathan 
Wilder  one,  Roswell  Evans  three,  Sam'l  Atherton  one,  William  Ewen,  Jr.,  one,  John  Blakslee 
two,  Dalton  Blake  four,  Jacob  Barrows  one.  Abel  Moore  one.  Seventy  acres  mowing  land,  no  in- 
crease for  two  years. 

1820.  Voted  "  to  fence  the  grave  yards  now  occupied  as  such." 

1821.  Voted  to  build  a  pound  with  hewn  posts  and  sills  and  plates,  twenty-six  feet  square, 
or  such  as  would  answer  the  law,  and  located  the  site  near  the  horse  barn  of  Oliver  P.  Brooks. 

1822.  John  Blakslee  was  elected  sealer  of  leather. 

182:!.  Oliver  P.  Brooks.  John  Tenney  and  George  Carleton  appointed  a  committee  to  settle 
with  the  town  officers.  James  B.  Sumner  appears  to  have  settled  in  town  this  year  as  a  merchant. 
John  C.  Fletcher  has  buildings  inventoried  at  $100,  James  B.  Sumner  &  Co.  $350,  Thomas  Davis 
$75,  Joel  Craudall  $170,  Dalton  Blake  $250,  William  Ewen  $312.  About  this  time  the  desire  for 
more  convenient  buildings  and  the  example  of  a  few  progressive  people  seem  to  have  brought  forth 
fruit. 

1824.  This  year  there  is  a  large  increase  in  the  valuation  of  buildings,  the  total  sum  being 
$4,451. 

1826.  The  town  voted  to  fence  the  burying  grounds  by  John's  River,  and  by  Paul  Cush- 
man's  farm.  Oliver  P.  Brooks  was  chosen  town  agent  to  defend  the  suit  pending  in  the  Superior 
court  of  Coos  county  brought  by  the  "Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  who 
claim,  as  tenants  in  common,  one  fifty  first  part  of  the  whole  town. 

1827.  The  improved  condition  of  the  people  and  the  tangible  result  of  their  industry  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  the  inventory  of  1827  presents  "Money  at  Interest,"  John  Blakslee  has 
$300,  John  Tenney  $50,  Hiram  Moore  $100,  against  their  names  in  this  column. 

1829.  Town  meeting  was  held  at  Inn  of  B.  &  B.  Brooks,  Jr.,  Asa  Taylor  is  inventoried  as 
possessing  eighty  sheep.  $600  was  raised  for  highways  and  bridges  and  eight  cents  an  hour  was 
voted  as  "  wages  for  an  able-bodied  man  to  work  on  the  road,  he  finding  his  tools  and  dyet,  and  the 
same  for  yoak  of  oxen  ami  chain."  Eighty-one  votes  were  cast  for  Richard  Eastman  for  CouDty 
Treasurer.     Benj.  Pierce  received  forty  three  votes  for  governor  to  John  Bell  thirty-eight. 

1830.  O.  P.  Brooks  paid  one  dollar  for  recording  deed  of  grave-yard. 

1831.  The  town  meeting  voted  to  "  pass  by"  the  8th  article  in  the  warrant  calling  for  the 
purchase  of  a  stove  and  funnel  for  the  meeting-house.  Some  means  for  warming  this  edifice 
must  have  been  provided  by  private  enterprise,  for  the  town  meeting  held  March  12,  1832,  was 
held  "  in  the  meeting  house  " 


Town  of  Dai. ton.  517 


1833.  In  is:;:;  the  number  of  votes  had  increased  to  eighty-six.  Crandall  and  Sanborn  re- 
ceive an  order  of  $210  for  building  bridge. 

is:;i.     James  B.  Sunnier  inventoried  $1,200  on  bis  bridge. 

1836.  In  1836  an  able-bodied  man  is  allowed  ten  cents  an  hour  on  the  road.  Thirty-five 
"  Nays'"  to  one  "  Yea"  were  voted  on  the  question:  —  "Is  it  expedient  to  -rant  an  appropriation  to 
build  a  State  Insane  Hospital?" 

is:;;.  .las.  15.  Sumner,  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  and  Ben  j  Fay  were  chosen  a  committee  to  receive  the 
town's  apportionment  of  the  surplus  money  of  the  United  states,  whicb  shall  be  deposited  with  this 
state.  ■•  and  to  loan  the  same  to  residents  of  the  town  in  sums  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  nor  more 
than  fifty  dollars."  Benj.  Fay  was  chosen  agenl  to  trausacl  the  business  with  thestate,  and  instructed 
to  require  the  specie  of  tin- state  Treasurer.  It  appears  that  the  chilly  temperature  of  the  meeting 
house  had  not  been  appropriately  modified,  for  the  town  voted  this  year  "  to  purchase  stoves  and 
funnel  for  the  meeting  house,  on  condition  that  the  Society  or  owners  of  said  house  shall  granl  the 
use  of  the  same  to  hold  all  public  meetings  of  said  town  iu,  said  town  still  to  hold  and  have 
power  lo  control  all  said  stoves  and  funnel  and  remove  them  at  pleasure."  Voted  that  the  interest 
■  of  the  surplus  money  shall  be  used  for  schools.     Paid  $62.62  for  stoves  and   pipe. 

1838.  Jas.  B.  Sumner.  Amos  Parker,  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  <>.  P.  Brooks,  and  John  Young 
were  chosen  to  take  care  of  the  surplus  money,  and  voted  that  the  town  treasurer.  1!.  Fay,  hand 
over  the  notes  and  money  for  the  surplus  to  the  chairman  of  the  committee.  Some  of  the  largesl 
sheep  raisers  were  Samuel  Atherton.  forty-eight;  John  Bond,  fifty-two;  Moses  Buck,  thirty-three; 
John  Blakslee,  thirty-three;  Chester  Hurlbutt,  thirty-five;  Oliver  Ewen,  thirty  one:  Dexter  New- 
ton, forty-nine;  J.  B  Sumner,  sixty  five;  Asa  Taylor,  thirty-six;  John  Tenney,  thirty-three:  K. 
Crane,  fifty. 

1839.  William  B.  Crane  receives  $13  for  his  services  as  tax  collector. 

1841.  The  town  voted  that  whenever  the  company  of  infantry  of  Dalton  shall  have  uni- 
formed themselves  agreably  tolawin  such  case  provided,  that  the  selectmen  shall  take  measures  to 
procure  the  arms  provded  by  the  state. 

1842.  One  hundred  and  twelve  votes  cast  this  year.  William  Ewen  is  chosen  to  take  care 
of  the  state  arms  used  by  the  company  of  infantry. 

1843.  The  selectmen  "license  Daniel  Ewen  to  sell  wine  and  spirituous  liquors  for  four 
mouths,  at  his  store  at  Sumner's  bridge,  in  any  quantity  not  less  than  one  pint,  for  medicinal  pur- 
poses, and  upon  any  proper  occasion,  to  be  sold,  delivered,  and  carried  away."  The  town  dispenses 
this  year  with  the  services  of  town  treasurer,  and  elects  none. 

1844.  Election  of  treasurer,  tithingmen,  and  auditors  dispensed  and  ollices  kept  vacant. 
Paschal  Blake  &  Co.,  and  Oliver  D.  Ewen  were  licensed  to  sell  liquor  "  to  be  carried  away  before  be- 
ing drunk."  Ninety-two  votes  for  and  six  votes  against  altering  the  state  constitution.  Forty- 
eight  votes  for  and  forty -one  votes  against  abolition  of  capital  punishment  in  the  state.  Voted  to 
take  the  surplus  money  and  build  a  Town-House,  and  Aaron  Ballon,  Horace  Cushman,  Linus  Blaks- 
lee, Lorenzo  Farr,  and  Robert  Taylor  chosen  a  committee  to  locate  site,  purchase  land,  and  appro- 
priate money  for  the  building.     Paid  Daniel  Ewen  $5.76  for  gates  for  burying-yard. 

1845.  The  town  took  action  to  remove  "  one  stove  and  funnel  enough  to  go  with  it,  and  put 
it  iuto  the  Town  House  when  it  shall  he  ready,  and  to  let  the  other  remain  in  the  meeting-house 
for  the  present."    Paid  Nahum  Crane  five  dollars  for  making  guide  hoards. 

1846.  Elisha  Cushman  paid  seven  dollars  for  stone  guide  posts. 

1847.  Voted  to  build  a  bridge  with  stone  abutments  across  John's  river  before  April  1,  1848, 
also  to  use  the  Town  House  for  high  schools,  and  elected  Linus  Blakslee  to  see  that  the  town  be 
remunerated  for  any  damage  done  to  the  building.  [Among  the  teachers  of  this  high  school  were 
Alfred  Bix,  who  attained  some  prominence  in  after  life  in  California.]  At  a  town  meeting  warned 
a  few  days  later  the  vote  given  above  to  build  a  bridge  was  rescinded,  and  the  selectmen  authorized 
to  repair  the  "  existing  one."  Jared  W.  Williams  receives  eighty-one  votes  for  Governor,  to  Na- 
thaniel S.  Berry  forty  five. 

1X48.  The  financial  improvement  of  the  town  in  the  last  forty  years  will  be  plainly  shown 
by  the  necessity  of  now  introducing  into  the  inventory  of  the  town  such  items  as  "  money  in  Bank, 


518  History  of  Coos  County. 

and  other  corporations;"  "Carriages;"  "  money  on  hand  at  interest,  &c. ,"  "  Stock  in  Trade;"  "Lum- 
ber,'' etc. 

1849.  In  1849  the  lines  between  Dalton  and  the  towns  of  Littleton,  Bethlehem,  and  Lancas- 
ter were  adjusted,  run  out,  and  boundaries  properly  marked. 

1850.  The  town  voted  $600  to  build  a  new  bridge  across  John's  river  at  its  mouth,  and 
elected  Charles  C  Gordon  superintendent  of  its  construction.  Elijah  Baker,  Benjamin  Fay,  and 
John  Blakslee,  Jr.,  were  chosen  to  prosecute  those  who  "sell  aud  drink  spirituous  liquor  con- 
trary to  law."  Benjamin  Brewster  was  chosen  delegate  to  the  convention  at  Concord  to  revise  the 
state  constitution. 

1851.  Voted  unanimously  in  favor  of  a  State  Homestead  Exemption  law.  The  following 
were  inventoried  on  "stock  in  trade"  as  merchants:  J.  B.  Sumner  &  Co.,  $6,390;  O.  M.  Brooks 
&Co.,  $400;  William  Rigney,  $400;  Benjamin  F.  Fay,  $200;  A.  Morrison  &  Bradbury  &  Co., 
$1,500  on  100,000  feet  of  "mast-timber;"  Aldrich  Morrill,  $400  on  mast-timber;  J.  B.  Sumner, 
$5,000  on  "  mills."  The  following  have  "  money  at  interest:''  John  Blakslee,  $300;  Lucius  Bond, 
$200;  Horace  Cushman,  $200;  Charles  Dunsmore&  Co.,  $100;  John  Tenney,  $300;  Nelson  White, 
$300. 

1852.  William  Rigney  and  Dr.  J.  Brunson  were  licensed  to  sell  wines  and  liquors  in  quan- 
tities.    W.  G.  Cushman  licensed  as  a  "  taverner." 

1853.  The  town  raised  $150  for  "  schooling  in  addition  to  what  the  law  allows." 

1854.  Voted  $600  for  town  charges,  and  $800  for  highways. 

1855.  Voted  to  hire  a  farm  for  the  support  of  paupers;  voted  $700  for  town  charges,  and 
$600  for  roads  and  bridges;  Joseph  F.  Hurlbutt  appointed  town  agent  to  sell  liquors;  Ballou,  Bond 
ifc  Co.,  merchants,  are  inventoried  at  $3,850,  "  stock  in  trade." 

1857.  Voted  $150  to  fence  the  grave-yard  near  W.  G.  Cushmau's  with  a  good  post-and- 
board  fence. 

1859.     Moses  H.  Rix  received  ninety-nine  voles  for  county  commissioner.     He  is  elected. 

1863.  Voted  fifty-eight  against,  one  vote  for,  the  expediency  of  altering  the  State  Constitu- 
tion     The  first  tax  on  dogs  occurs.     Thirty -two  dogs  are  taxed  one  dollar  each. 

1865.  Frederick  Smythe  receives  fifty  six  votes  for  Governor  to  E.  W.  Harrington  seventy- 
five.     Harry  Bingham  gets  seventy-five  votes  for  member  of  Congress  to  J.  W.  Patterson  fifty-six. 

1866.  Voted  to  raise  $3,000  to  defray  town  charges  and  pay  the  debt  of  the  town,  also  to 
raise  $1,000  for  roads  and  bridges,  and  to  tax  all  money  at  interest,  on  deposit,  or  "on  demand," 
belonging  to  residents  of  the  town. 

1867.  Thomas  J.  Smith  received  eighty-five  votes  for  Senator  to  Ossian  Raj'  forty-nine. 
The  town  raises  $3,000  for  town  charges  aud  debts,  and  $1,000  for  highways  and  bridges.  The 
whole  number  of  votes  cast  on  the  question,  "Is  it  expedient  to  abolish  pauper  settlements  in  towns, 
and  throw  the  entire  support  of  paupers  upon  counties'?  "  was  seventy-three,  all  against  the  prop- 
osition. 

1868.  Walter  Harriman  for  governor  gets  fifty-six  votes  to  John  G.  Sinclair  one  hundred  and 
two.  The  town  voted  $3,000  for  town  charges,  $1,200  for  roads  and  bridges  and  allowed  twelve 
cents  an  hour  for  labor  on  highways. 

1869.  Voted  $1,650  for  roads  and  bridges,  and  to  allow  one  shilling  an  hour  for  labor  on  the 
highway. 

1870.  "  Sumner  &  Steele  &  Co."  inventoried  for  taxation  on  700,000  feet  of  lumber  at  Lit- 
tleton, 200,000  feet  at  Bethlehem.  300,000  feet  at  Whiteliekl,  500,000  feet  in  Round  pond.  Mrs. 
Buruside's  estate  is  taxed  in  addition  to  saw-mill  and  starch  factory  on  sixty-three  tons  of  starch. 

1873.  Laura  E.  Farr  and  Mrs.  Helen  Weston  were  appointed  to  the  office  of  Superintend- 
ing School  Committee. 

1875.  The  town  votes  to  fence  the  cemetery  in  the  Ladd  neighborhood,  the  town  to  fur- 
nish the  boards  and  posts  "provided  the  people  in  the  neighborhood  will  do  the  work."  Voted 
to  instruct  tin- selectmen  to  prosecute  every  case  of  illegal  liquor  selling  in  the  town  that  may 
come  to  their  notice;  also,  that  the  selectmen  put  every  man  upon  his  oath,  whom  they  have 
reason  to  believe  may  have  money  at  interest,  or  other  property  concealed  from  taxation,  in  re- 
gard to  the  same,  and  to  tax  the  same  as  the  law  directs. 


Town  of   Dalton.  519 


1876.  Voted  to  settle  accounts  with  the  liquor  agent  and  have  the  office  cease  from  this 
date.     Raised  $1,200  for  highways. 

1877.  Jonathan  M.  Lang  received  eighty-eight  votes  for  county  treasurer. 

1878.  Selectmen  are  empowered  to  fund  the  town  debt  if  it  can  be  done  at  5  per  cent: 
voted  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  cider  in  amounts  less  than  ten  gallons. 

1880.  Berl  A.  Taylor  receives  eighty-seven  votes  for  county  commissioner. 

1881.  The  Whitetield  Silver  Mining  Co.  is  incorporated  by  John  Lovering  of  Claremont, 
George  S.  Gove,  George  W.  Libby,  Nathaniel  W.  Libby,  and  Frank  P.  Brown  of  Whitefield  to 
operate  mines  in  Dalton  and  Whitetield.  Articles  of  incorporation  are  recorded  in  Dalton  in  May, 
1881.     Two  hundred  thousand  dollars  capital.     One  thousand  dollars  paid  in. 

1883.  John   Blakslee  had  fifty-eight  votes   for  county  treasurer.     Bert  A.Taylor  seventy- 
eight  votes  for  county  commissioner.     The  town  voted  to  raise  $5,000  to  defray   town  expenses- 
and  pay  on  the  debt  and  interest  of  the  town;  G.  W.   Carpenter  and  John  Page  elected   fish  and 
game  wardens. 

1884.  Voted  to  refund  the  whole  or  part  of  the  town  debt  to  5-20  bonds  at  4  per  cent. 

Nothing-  worthy  of  special  mention  is  on  the  records  since  1884. 


CHAPTER  L. 


Early  Births— Early   Marriages— Early  Residents— Ear   Marks— Dalton  in  1821— Early   Inn 
Keepers — Whitefield  Road — Bridge  across  the  Connecticut — Carriages-Mills — Residents'  Names 
1849 — Civil  War,  Action  of  the  Town,  Etc. — Mines — Murder— Personal  Sketches. 

[/ ARLY  Births. — The  first  birth  in  Dalton  was  Bathsheba,  daughter  of 
rf  f  Moses  and  Lucy  Blake,  born  March  16,  1785.  Ruth,  daughter  of 
\T  Moses  and  Lucy  Blake,  was  born  February  15,  1787.  It  is  stated  in 
the  "Gazetteer  of  New  Hampshire,"  1821,  and  by  others  since,  that  the 
first  white  male  child  born  in  Dalton  was  Dalton,"  son  of  Moses  and  Lucy 
Blake;  who,  on  this  account,  was  granted  100  acres  of  land.  His  birth  oc- 
curred March  21,  1789.  Abigail,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Esther  Whitney, 
was  born  July  15,  1788.  John  Whitney,  son  of  the  same  parents,  was  bora 
September  12,  1702.  Joshua  Whitney,  Jr.,  son  of  Joshua  and  Electa 
Whitney,  was  born  November  11,  1795.  Obadiah,  son  of  the  same  was 
born  April  6,  1799.  George  Whitney,  son  of  the  same,  was  born  February 
13,  1800.  Sally,  daughter  of  the  same,  born  March  30,  1803.  Xaliuin,  son 
of  Joel  and  Hannah  Crandal,  was  born  April  25,  1801.  Eliza,  da  tighter  of 
Joel  and  Susanna  Crandal,  was  born  March  30,  1808.  Robert  B.,  son  of 
the  same,  July  4,  1809.  Hannah  Bailey,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Hannah 
Kidder,  was  born  October  1  (.  L803.  Adeline,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Su- 
sanna Kidder,  was  born  November  -l.  L806.     Amos  Kidder,  Jr.,  was  born 


""'Nahuni  Blake  denies  this,  and  says  the  first  male  child  was  Aaron  Bloss. 


.520  History  of  Coos  County. 

October  15,  1808.  Robert  and  Polly  Crane's  daughter,  Juliana,  was  born 
November  8,  1804.  Mary  an,  daughter  of  the  same  parents,  was  born 
August  4,  1806.  Edward  L.,  their  son,  was  born  November  1,  1808. 
Robert  Crane,  Jr.,  was  born  July  29,  1810.  Calvin,  son  of  Tristram  and 
Polly  Cheney,  was  born  December  23,  1806.  Clarissa,  their  daughter,  was 
born  April  4,  1809.  Curtis,  another  son,  was  born  July  14,  1811.  Nahum, 
son  of  Dalton  and  Deborah  Blake,  was  born  December  2,  1811.  Sarah, 
daughter  of  the  above,  was  born  July  2,  1813.  Moses,  son  of  William  and 
Rhoda  Crane,  was  born  March  2,  1803.  Patty,  their  daughter,  was  born 
August  2,  1805.  Otis,  son  of  William  and  Rhoda  Crane,  born  April  17,  1807. 
Viana,  daughter  of  the  above,  born  August  2,  1809.  Nahum,  son  of  John 
and  Lydia  Grain,  was  born  November  12,  1801.  Lydia,  daughter  of  the 
same,  born  May  6,  1804.  Ona  Crain,  son  of  Nahum  and  Lydia,  born  No- 
vember 26,  1806.  Willard  H  ,  born  August  6, 1808  Mary  Ann,  daughter 
of  William  Ewen,  Jr.,  and  Ruth,  his  wife,  was  born  December  11,  1808. 
Edward  E wen,  son  of  the  same,  born  March  8,  1810.  Abigail,  daughter 
of  Edwards  and  Milly  Whipple,  born  May  11,  1802.  Matthew  W.,  their 
son,  born  October  23,  L803.  Benjamin,  son  of  Edwards  and  Milly  Whipple, 
December  11,  1804.  Louisa,  daughter  of  the  same,  May  26,  1806,  and 
Mary,  August  25,  1808.  Louis,  son  of  Louis  and  Polly  Buck,  was  born 
December  25,  1807.  Mary  Ann,  their  daughter,  was  born  September  4, 
1809.  Lyman  F. ,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Rebecca  Fisher,  was  born  March 
29,  1808.  Christopher  was  born  September  s,  lsoi).  Aaron,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Eunice  Fisher,  was  born  August  31,  1804.  Lorenzo  Dow,  son  of  the 
same,  was  born  October  18,  1806.  Olivet,  daughter,  born  December  25, 
lsoi.  Nathaniel  Atherton,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  May  9,  1809. 
Early  Marriages. — From  town  records: — 

"  This  may  certify  that  Mr.  Justis  Stephen  and  Miss  Lydia  Barrows  both  of  Dalton  ware  this 
day  joined  in  marriage  hy  me  Tristram  Cheney — Justis  of  Piece,  Dalton,  Nov.  22,  1810." 

"  This  may  Certify  that  John  Blakslee  and  Bathsheba  Blake  was  solemnised  in  marriage  by 
me  this  seventh  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1814,  in  the  Town  of  Dalton  County  &  State  aforesaid. 

"  Jonas  Baker  Justice  of  Peace." 

Early  Residents. — We  copy  from  the  town  records  the  list  of  taxable 
inhabitants  for  the  year  1809,  preserving  the  original  spelling: — 

"  Samuel  Artherton,  Moses  Blake,  John  Blakslee,  Jacob  Barrows,  Nathaniel  Brown,  Jared 
Barker,  Urial  Barrows,  Paul  Cushman,  Joel  Crandal,  William  Crain,  John  Crain,  Robert  Crain, 
Trustrim  Cheny,  John  Crandal,  Michael  Coner,  Moses  Buck,  AVilliam  Ewen,  Seign.,  William 
Ewen,  Jr.,  Asher  Evens,  Abraham  Frisbee,  Peter  Fuller,  Thomas  Fisher,  Jonathan  Fisher,  Ros- 
wel  Evens,  Solomon  McGun,  David  Hall,  Amos  Kidder,  Benjamin  Kent,  Eber  Miller,  Isaac  Osgood, 
Levi  Osgood,  Joel  Sartwell,  Austine  Skinner,  John  Snow,  Seignor,  John  Snow,  Jr.,  Joseph  Streetor, 
I'.dward  R?id,  Joshua  Whitney.  Edwards  Whipple,  William  Wallace,  Henry  Philbrook,  Richard 
Tailor,   Spaarvel  Tailor,  Justus  Stevens,   William  Loud." 

Ear-marks. — The  scarcity  of  cleared  pasture  land  or  woodland  under 
fence  made  it  necessary  for  the  early  settlers  to  have  some  means  of  iden- 


Town  of  Dalton.  521 


tifying  their  sheep  which  ran  at  large.  This  was  done  by  ear-marks  re- 
corded in  the  town  clerk's  office.  July  15,  L809,  Robert  Crain  records  his 
"ear-mark,"  "a  square  crop  off  the  left  ear  and  a  notch  on  the  upper  side 
of  the  right."  February  17,  L810,  Joshua  Whitney's  "ear-mark"  is  re- 
corded as  "a  square  crop  off  the  left  ear,  and  a  slit  in  the  end  of  the  same." 
March  L3,  1810,  Joseph  Streeter's  "ear-mark"  is  "a  slit  only  in  the  left 
ear."  June  9,  L810,  Edward  Reid's  "ear-mark  is  around  hole  in  both 
ears."  March  12,  1811,  Moses  Blake's  mark  for  his  sheep  "is  a  round 
hole  through  each  ear,  one  forth  of  an  inch."  Amos  Kidder  marks  his 
sheep,  in  1811,  by  "a  piece  cut  out  on  the  under  side  off  the  right  ear." 
Aaron  Edmands's  mark  was  "a  square  crop  off  the  left  ear,  and  a  slit  in 
the  same."  In  1813,  Benjamin  Kent's  ear-mark  was  " both  ears  cut  off 
square,  and  a  slit  in  each."  1815,  Nathaniel  Hurlbutt  marks  his  sheep 
by  "a  square  crop  off  the  left  ear."  Chester  Hurlbutt  records  his  mark, 
in  L827,  as  "a  swallow  tail  on  the  right  ear." 

Early  Merchants. — Oliver  P.  Brooks  was  probably  the  first  trader.  He 
was  inventoried  in  1819  three  hundred  dollars  on  his  stock  in  trade.  James 
B.  Sumner  &  Co.  (Asa  Taylor)  were  in  trade  in  1823  with  a  large  stock  of 
goods  for  the  time,  and  were  inventoried  $1 ,500  stock  in  trade.  Benjamin 
Fay  was  inventoried  in  1833  at  $500  stock  in  trade.  The  same  year  Moses 
Blakslee  had  $1,400  stock  in  trade.  Linus  Blakslee  was  in  trade  in  1840; 
Moses  Blakslee  &  Co.  in  1841  with  $1,200  in  stock. 

Dalton  in  1821. — Adino  N.  Brackett  writes  thus,  in  1821.  The  description 
of  the  town  applies  to-day  as  well  as  then:  "Dalton  is  a  post-town  situ- 
ated on  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river  directly  below  Lancaster,  by 
which  it  is  bounded  on  the  northeast  in  part,  and  part  by  Whitefield, 
southerly  by  Bethlehem,  southwesterly  by  Littleton,  and  north  and  north- 
westerly by  the  Connecticut  river.  The  '  fifteen-mile  falls '  commence  in 
Dalton,  and  roar  and  tumble  along  the  northwest  border,  not  of  Dalton 
only,  but  of  Littleton  and  Lyman.  Besides  the  Connecticut,  this  town  is 
watered  by  John's  river.  Its  course  is  nearly  northwest,  and  from  its 
source  in  Pond-i-cherry  pond,  it  runs  through  Whitefield  and  Dalton.  and 
falls  into  the  Connecticut  sixty  rods  above  the  head  of  the  fifteen-mile 
falls.  The  western  and  southern  part  of  Dalton  is  high,  hilly  land,  cov- 
ered with  a  thick  growth  of  maple,  birch,  beech,  ash,  some  hemlock,  and 
spruce.  Along  the  banks  of  John's  river  the  majestic  white  pine  abounds. 
A  remark  may  here  be  made  which  applies  to  the  whole  country  east  of 
Bath  and  west  of  the  White  Mountains,  that  the  pitch  pine  is  not  to  be 
found."1-]  The  soil  is  deep  on  the  high  lands,  and  well  adapted  to  grazing; 
some  of  it,  particularly  the  pine  land,  is  sandy,  and  of  easy  cultivation 
after  the  pine  roots  are  destroyed.     Dalton  is  divided  into  two  school  dis- 

*  The  pine  has  long  since  been  cut  into  lumber. 
34 


522  History  of  Coos  County. 

tricts,  in  both  of  which  there  are  convenient  and  well-finished  school- 
houses.  They  have  also  two  saw  and  grist-mills  in  town,  and  a  fulling- 
mill.  One  of  the  saw  and  grist-mills  stands  on  the  Connecticut  river  near 
the  head  of  the  falls.  A  pond  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Dalton,  and  the 
only  one  in  town,  bears  the  name  of  Blake's  pond.  Moses  Blake  was  a 
famous  hunter,  and  the  moose,  which  in  the  early  days  frequented  this 
pond  in  the  summer,  often  fell  by  his  accurate  shots.  He  often  related 
this  anecdote:  He  and  Capt.,  afterward  Brigadier-General,  Bucknam,  of 
Lancaster,  on  a  small  bet  fired  at  a  mark  on  one  of  their  hunting  excur- 
sions. Bucknam  fired  first  and  made  an  excellent  shot,  cutting  near  the 
center  of  a  mark  not  bigger  than  a  dollar  at  the  distance  of  twenty  rods. 
Blake  fired,  and  on  going  to  the  tree  no  mark  of  his  ball  could  be  seen. 
On  this,  Bucknam  exulted  excessively.  'Cut  out  your  ball,'  says  Blake, 
'and  you'll  find  mine  o'  top  oft.'  The  operation  being  done,  the  feat 
turned  out  as  Blake  had  predicted.  Both  were  men  of  truth,  and  I  have 
heard  the  feat  verified  by  both." 

Early  Inn-keepers. — Among  the  first  tavern-keepers  after  Blake  was 
Edward  Reid,  licensed  November  12,  1808,  "to  keep  a  tavern  and  Execute 
the  duties  of  a  tavern-keeper  within  the  Town  of  Dalton  one  year  from 
and  after  this  date."  and  "  to  sell  spiritous  liquors  of  all  kinds,"  according 
to  an  act  for  the  regulation  of  licensed  houses.  Joshua  Whitney  was  also 
an  inn-holder  the  same  year,  and  the  town  meetings  were  often  held  at  his 
house.  Capt.  Paul  Cushman  kept  a  house  for  the  entertainment  of  trav- 
ellers in  1810.  In  IS  19  and  1820  Capt.  Benjamin  Brooks  was  licensed  and 
permitted  to  keep  a  tavern,  and  to  sell  and  dispose  of  spirituous  liquors 
according  to  law,  he  being  a  person  of  sober  life  and  conversation  suitably 
qualified  for  a  tavern-keeper.  In  1841  the  "  Brooks  Inn  "  had  passed  into 
non-resident  ownership.  In  1845  Willard  G.  Cushman  is  licensed  as  a 
tavener. 

It  was  not  until  hard  years  of  self-denial,  industry,  deprivations,  and 
economical  existence  had  after  long  struggles  and  contentions,  and  legis- 
lative aid,  carved  out  rude  highways,  and  bridged  the  streams,  that  luxur- 
ious civilization  came  into  the  wilderness  to  cover  the  rough  floors  with 
carpets,  the  houses  and  barns  with  coats  of  paint,  or  break  the  springs  of 
its  carriages  upon  the  stumpy  and  irregular  surface  of  the  roads.  The 
people  were  shut  out  from  communication  with  the  outside  world,  except 
by  taking  long  journeys  on  foot,  through  hill  forests  and  swamps,  or  on 
horseback  along  almost  impassable  bridle  paths.  The  road  from  the  mouth 
of  John's  river  to  Whitefield  was  not  laid  out  until  January  6,  1816,  when 
it  was  located  by  the  selectmen  in  pursuance  of  a  petition  signed  by  Robert 
Hare,  Edward  Reid,  Joel  Crandal,  and  Jacob  Barrows.  In  1S32  James  B. 
Sumner  erected  a  bridge  across  the  Connecticut  river  on  nearly  the  same 


Town  of  Dalton. 


523 


spot  where  the  railroad  bridge  now  crosses  the  river.  This  was  used  many 
years. 

Not  until  1836  does  the  inventory  of  the  town  mention  any  carriages 
for  taxation;  then  James  B.  Sumner  and  Benjamin  Fay  are  owners  each 
of  two  carriages;  Aaron  Fisk  of*  one  "Jig";  0.  P.  Brooks,  Benjamin 
Brooks,  W.  G.  Cushman  of  one  chaise  each.  The  era  of  luxury  appear- 
by  this  time  to  be  fully  established. 

Nahum  Blake  says  the  only  mills  in  town  at  his  earliest  recollection 
were  Cushman's  saw  and  grist-mill,  and  Nathan  Wilder's  fulling-mill  a 
little  below  Cushman's.  An  old  saw  and  grist-mill  was  standing  at  the 
head  of  the  Fifteen-mile  falls.  The  dam  had  been  carried  away.  This 
was  built  by  Hare  and  Murray.  The  Sumner  Co.  repaired  these  mills, 
built  a  stone  dam,  which  caused  backwater  and  occasioned  much  litiga- 
tion, and  these  mills  were  destroyed  and  a  new  saw-mill  put  up  which  was 
in  operation  in  L859.  (This  mill  was  burned  and  never  rebuilt.)  Joel 
Fay  had  a  saw-mill  on  the  Wallace1  brook,  afterwards  owned  by  Lorenzo 
Fisher.  Two  saw-mills  were  on  John's  river  near  Whitefield,  one  erected 
by  a  Rev.  Mr.  Chase,  the  other  probably  by  a  Mr.  Brown.  A  saw  mill  was 
built  on  Sabbattis  brook  by  one  Richardson,  which  was  afterwards  owned 
by  Jonathan  Scott. 


Atherton,  Samuel 
Atherton,   William 
Atherton,  Jonathan 
Aldrich,  Elisha 
Blaksloe,  John 
Blakslee,  John,  Jr. 
Blakslee,  Linus 
Bede.  William 
Beede,  William 
Bede,  David 
Ballon,  Aaron 
Buck,  Moses 
Bond,  J  oil  n 
Bond,  Lucius 
Bond,  Julius 
Blake,  Dalton 
Bunnel,  Horatio  N. 
Brooks,  Benjamin 
Brooks,  Oliver  P. 
Brooks,  Oliver  M. 
Brooks,  Alvin 
Baker,  Elijah 
Brown,  John 
Bolls,  Obed 
Bolls,  Arnold 
Bolls,  Lewis 
Bolls,  James 


residents'  names,  1849. 

Bacon,  Henry 
Brewster,  Benjamin 
Buswell,  Francis 
Brownson,  Jonathan,    Jr. 
Brock,  James 
Cushman,  Paul 
Cushman,  Elisha 
Cushmau,  Willard  G. 
Cushman,  Horace 
Carpenter,  G.  W. 
Carter,  Jeremiah  M. 
Carter,  John 
Crane,  Ono 
Crane.  Wm.    B. 
Crane,  Nahum 
Crane,  Ebenezer 
Colby,  As; i 
Colby,  Moses 
Cram,  John 
( !arson,  Marvin 
Crouch,   John 
Clark,  George  P. 
Dodge,  Elijah 
Dunsmore,  Fred  W. 
Dunsinore,  Charles 
Dean,  Win.  P. 
Ewen,  William 


Ewen,  Wm,,  Jr. 
Ewen,  Oliver  D. 
Ewen,   Edward 
Ewen,  Daniel 
Ewen,  James  H. 
Ewen,  Moses  H. 
Edmauds,  Aaron 
Edmands,  Charles  W, 
Elliot,  Warren 
Elliot,  Foster 
Fuller.  Thomas 
Farr.    Lorenzo 
Fisher,  Lorenzo  D. 
Fay,  Benjamin 
Fay,  Ezra 
Fisk,  Charles 

Gaskell,    Samuel 

Griswuld,  Elam 
( tordon,  Charles  C. 
George,  William 
Hunter,  John 
Hurlimtt,  Chester 

Hurlbutt,  Samuel 
Hurlbutt,  Edmund 
Ilurlliutf,  Joseph,  Jr, 
Hani  man,    Moses 

Burlbutt,  Chester,   Jr. 


524: 


History  of  Coos  County. 


Harriman,  Closes,  Jr. 
Harriman,  Ira  C. 
Harriman,  William 
Holmes,  Edmund 
Howland,  Washington  W. 
How,  Elicn 
How,  Michael 
Johnson,  Arasmus 
Leigh  ton,  Liberty 
Ladd,  Hiram 
Ladd,  Hanibal  E. 
Loud,  Benjamin 
Lowd,  George 
Lewis,  Civilian 
Lang,  Andrew 
Locke,  Elbridge  G. 
Moore,  John  C. 
Moore,  John 
Miller,  Roswell 
Miller,  Willard 
Noble,  Alanson 
Newton,  Dexter 
Parker,  Amos 
Parker,  Reuben  J. 
Palmer.  Isaac 
Palmer,  Thomas 
Perkins,  Jubesh  L. 


Philips,  Nathan 
Quimby,  Joshua 
Quimby,  Obed 
Rix,  Hale,  Jr. 
Ruggles,  Samuel 
Rounsvell,  Elle,  Jr. 
Rounsvell,  Joseph 
Rounsvell,  Holmes 
Rix,  Hale 
Rix,  Jona  C. 
Rix,  Moses  H. 
Russell,  Oliver 
Steavens,  Jerimiah  M. 
Sartwell,  Roswell 
Scott,  Jonathan 
Scott,  Nathaniel  P. 
Smith,  Thomas 
Somers,  John 
Somers,  Edwin  B. 
Sumner,  James  B. 
Straw,  Willis 
Savage,  Roswell 
Savage,  Sylvester 
Sumner,  Alex  W. 
Taylor,   Asa 
Taylor,  Robert 


Taylor,  Amos 
Titus,  Asher 
Underwood,  Jesse 
Wallace,  Asahel 
Wallace,  George 
White,  Nelson 
Wilder,  Nathan 
Wilder,  Nathan  H. 
Woodward,  Isiah  A. 
Whitney,  Charles 
Weare  Daniel  0. 
Wilson,  William 
Young,  Samuel 
Tenney,  John 
Quimby,  Ira 
Parker,  Charles 
Farr,   Alba 
Brown,  George 
Wormwood,  John 
Blake,  Paschal 
Baly,  James 
Farr,  Norman 
Parker,  Daniel 
Walker,  Caleb 
Montgomery,  John  C. 
Burnham,  


Action  of  the  Town  in  the  Civil  War.  Extracts  from  Records.  —  "April  11,  1862.  At  a 
special  meeting  called  for  the  purpose,  the  town  voted  to  authorize  the  selectmen  to  hire  a  sum  of 
money  not  to  exceed  $12  per  month  for  all  the  persons  in  each  family  of  the  volunteers  who  have, 
or  may  enlist,  from  Dalton  into  the  military  service  of  the  United  States. 

•■  September  11,  1862.  Voted  to  raise  $100  for  each  man  who  volunteers  from  Dalton,  under 
the  last  call  of  the  President,  for  three  years,  to  be  paid  when  mustered  into  United  States  service; 
also,  to  pay  each  volunteer  for  nine  months  $75,  and  the  selectmen  were  empowered  to  raise  $2,500 
for  this  purpose 

"  August  25,  1863.  Voted,  on  motion  of  E.  P.  Brooks,  to  raise  .$300  to  pay  each  man  who  is 
drafted  and  goes  to  war,  or  to  his  substitute  if  he  procures  one,  and  to  authorize  the  selectmen  to 
hire  the  money  at  a  rate  of  interest  not  exceeding  six  per  cent. 

"December  12,  1st;:).  Voted  that  the  town  raise  money  to  cash  the  Government,  and  State 
bounties,  and  pay  the  same  to  each  volunteer  or  person  who  may  enlist  to  help  make  up  the  cpiota 
of  the  town  under  the  call  of  October  17,  1863,  at  the  proper  time:  also,  to  raise  not  to  exceed 
$300  in  addition  to  the  Government  and  State  bounties  to  pay  to  each  of  such  volunteers  or  en- 
listed  men. 

'•  May  31,  1864.  Voted,  on  motion  of  Nathaniel  P.  Scott,  to  raise  $300  to  pay  to  each  drafted 
man  or  his  substitute;  also,  on  motion  of  Arnold  Bolles  to  pay  such  volunteers  as  may  have  en- 
listed to  help  make  up  the  cpiota  of  the  town  under  the  last  call  prior  to  the  draft,  $300  each 

"  August  Hi.  1864.  Voted  to  raise  the  whole  amount  of  money  authorized  by  the  State  to  pay 
as  bounty  to  volunteers,  drafted  men,  or  their  substitutes,  for  one,  two,  three  or  more  years;  Ben- 
jamin B.  Brooks  and  John  Blakslee  were  chosen  a  committee  or  agents  to  till  the  quota  of  the 
town,  with  authority  to  bind  the  town  by  note  for  money  sufficient  to  fill  the  quota  from  insurgent 
States  if  expedient,  and  to  advance  the  same  and  pay  the  same  upon  credit  of  the  town  whether 
for  volunteers,  drafted  men,  or  their  substitutes,  and  to  receive  all  papers  of  assignment,  or  other- 
wise relating  to  the  business,  in  the  name  of  the  town. 


Town  of  Dalton.  525 


"September  3,  1864.     Voted,  on  motion  of  Nathaniel  P.  Scott,  thai  the  town  raise  $800to  pay 
as  bounty  to  resident  volunteers  to  fill  the  quota  under  the  present  call;  also,  oa  motion  of  Lorenzo 
Parr,  voted  to  pay  drafted  men  or  their  substitutes,  and  other  volunteers,  who  may  enlisl  asafore 
said,  as  much  as  the  law  allows.     The  committee,  chosen  previously  was  continued  in  office. 

"January  11.  1865      Voted  to  raise  $300  to  pay  each  volunteer  other  than  residenl  volunteers, 
and  assume  the  State  bounty  and  cash  the  same  for  three  years;  also,  to  raise  money  and  pay  resi 
dent  volunteers  $500  each  for  one  year:  also,  to  pay  each  drafted  man  or  his  substitute  $200.    The 
selectmen  were  chosen  agents  with  authority  t  >  hire  m  >ney  upon  the  credit  of  the  town  for  these 
purposes." 

Mines. — Several  attempts  have  been  made  to  mine  the  copp  >r  which  is 
found  in  several  parts  of  the  town.  On  the  hill  above  Scott's  si  ill  are  the 
buildings  covering-  a  shaft  which  was  sunk  seventy  or  eigty  feel  deep  but 
a  few  years  ago.  Nothing  remunerative  has  followed  the  labor,  and  prob- 
ably neither  the  copper,  gold,  silver  or  lead  that  may  exisi  in  the  hills  will 
ever  be  one-tenth  as  profitable  as  the  growth  of  the  productive  farms. 

Some  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county  are  to  be  found  on  Dalton  hills. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  name  all  in  a  work  of  this  character,  but  we 
should  not  fail  to  mention  Lucius  Bond,  who  has  not  only  a  tine  farm,  but 
has  been  for  long  years  one  of  the  leading,  solid  men  of  this  section:  the 
Aldrich  Brothers  who  are  developing  a  farm  that  would  be  a  credit  to  any 
town  in  this  state;  Preston  J.  Ruggles,  the  veteran  hop-raiser,  who  shows 
the  skill  of  the  true  farmer.  The  Blakslee  farm  is  also  an  old  and  noted 
one  in  a  picturesque  location.  N.  P.  Scott,  with  his  productive  farm  at 
the  railroad  station  bearing  his  name,  must  not  be  forgotten. 

In  1849  and  1850  a  large  amount  of  labor  was  given  by  a  gang  of  men 
in  blasting  a  channel  of  proper  depth  in  the  Connecticut  along  the  Fifteen- 
mile  falls  for  the  running  of  lumber. 

Murder. — In  March,  1877,  J.  G\  Kimball  murdered  his  wife,  for  which 
crime  he  was  sentenced  to  thirty  years  imprisonment  at  hard  labor  in  the 
State's  prison. 

The  following  sons  of  Dalton  became  physicians:  Dr.  N.  H.  Scott,  Dr. 
James  B.  Sumner,  Jr.,  Dr.  Edward  Farr,  Dr.  William  Gordon  (dec),  Dr. 
Harry  Hildreth. 

Brief  Personal  Sketches. — John  Blakslee,  Sr.,  came  to  Dalton  from 
North  Haven,  Conn.,  in  17!>7.  and  deeded,  in  1801,  the  farm  where  his  son 
John  Blakeslee  now  lives,  and  resided  there  ever  after— sixty-four  ye  us. 
This  is  truly  a  pleasant  place  and  a  sightly.  Mr.  Blakslee  married,  first, 
Sally  Blake,  second,  Bathsheba  Blake.  Both  were  daughters  of  Moses 
Blake,  the  pioneer.  .Mr.  Blakslee  died  in  1872,  in  his  ninety-fifth  year. 
The  present  owner,  John  Blakeslee,  Jr.,  is  now  in  his  seventy-sixth  year, 
the  oldest  male  resident  born  in  Dalton. 

John  Tenney  came  from  Alstead,  X.  II.,  in  .March,  l^i'o.  with  his  wife, 
Sophia,  and  two  daughters.  He  settled  on  the  next  farm  to  Mr.  Blakslee, 
(now  a  beautiful  and  productive  place,  and  owned  by  the  Aldrich  brothers,) 


520  History  of  Coos  County 


and  died  there  aged  seventy-six.  His  daughter,  Lucy  Ann,  married  John 
Blakeslee,  Jr.  His  son,  Hon.  Asa  W.  Tenney,  is  a  leading  lawyer  of  New 
York  city,  has  been  United  States  attorney,  and  is  a  prominent  Republican 
politician  and  speaker. 

William  Wallace  was  an  early  settler,  coming  to  Dalton  in  1798,  and 
rolled  up  his  log-cabin  on  what  was  afterward  known  as  the  ''Old  Wallace 
Place."  His  two  sons  were  Ira  and  Asahel,  who  were  residents  of  Dalton 
until  their  death.  They  were  useful,  industrious  men.  Ira  married  Keziah 
South  wick,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Wallace  was  a  Christian,  and 
an  earnest  worker  in  the  church.  His  wife  was  a  thoroughly  good  woman 
and  a  practical  housewife.  She  died  in  1875.  Of  their  children  only  one 
is  now  in  Dalton — Deacon  George  Wallace.  He  lives  on  the  farm  where 
his  parents  commenced  their  married  life;  he  inherits  the  sterling  virtues 
of  his  sturdy  ancestors,  and  is  much  esteemed  by  his  townsmen. 

John  Crane  came  to  Dalton  from  Richmond  in  1798,  and  was  a  school 
teacher  for  many  years.  Nahum  Crane  built  a  saw- mill  on  the  Valley 
brook,  and  later  a  wood- working  shop.  William  Crane  came  in  1800  and 
was  a  cooper.  Ebenezer  Crane  was  an  early  settler,  coming  to  Dalton  in 
1818.  He  resided  here  nearly  fifty  years,  dying  in  1867.  He  cleared  land, 
laid  foundations  for  houses,  barns,  bridges,  and  was  an  energetic  worker. 
He  owned  and  carried  on  three  farms  for  years.  He  married,  January  19, 
1822,  Rebecca  G.  Russel,  of  Dublin,  N.  H.,  who  survives  him,  and  with 
her  daughter,  Miss  M.  E.  Crane,  resides  on  the  "  Crane  farm." 

Rev.  Samuel  Hudson  Partridge,  born  in  Dalton,  was  a  faithful  minister 
of  the  gospel.  He  labored  in  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Maine  and  the 
Provinces.     He  died  in  Greenfield,  May,  1881,  aged  fifty- six  years. 

Andrew  Lang,  a  native  of  Barnet,  Vt.,  came  to  Dalton  in  1836.  His 
wife  was  Eliza  Scott,  of  Richmond.  They  have  been  residents  here  for 
over  half  a  century,  and  celebrated  his  golden  wedding  in  1885.  He  is  now 
the  station  agent,  is  active  for  his  years,  and  has  been  a  valuable  citizen. 
His  son,  J.  M.  Lang,  has  been  quite  prominent  in  town  affairs,  has  held 
numerous  official  positions,  and  has  been  county  treasurer.  His  daughter, 
Mrs.  M.  E  Britton,  resides  in  town. 

Jonathan  Scott,  a  native  of  Richmond,  came  here  in  1S35.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bowles.  His  only  son,  Nathaniel, 
married  Margaret  Harriman  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead  at  Scott's 
station.  He  is  an  enterprising  farmer  and  a  survival  of  the  quaint  honest 
Yankee  of  a  generation  ago.     He  has  a  son,  who  is  a  physician. 

Jacob  Barrows  came  in  1806  from  Hanover,  it  is  said,  and  built  a  pot- 
tery quite  early.  This  was  located  near  where  Bert  A.  Taylor's  store  and 
the  church  now  stand.  He  cleared  up  a  farm,  drew  a  pension  for  services 
in  the  Revolution,  but  had  not  the  faculty  of  acquiring  worldly  wealth. 
In  the  better  riches  of  religious  faith  and  enjoyment  he  was  opulent,  and 


Town  of  Dalton.  527 


his  was  one  of  the  earliest  houses  opened  for  religious  exercises  in  town. 
(See  Methodism  in  another  chapter  of  this  town's  history.)  In  later  life 
he  moved  to  Vermont. 

I  rial  Barrows,  son  of  Jacob,  came  with  his  father,  and  was  an  ener- 
getic clearer  of  land  for  many  years — an  untiring  worker. 

Jonathan  Fisher,  probably  a  native  of  Alstead  or  Unity,  came,  in  L800, 
and  purchased  a  lot  on  which  some  clearing  had  been  done,  and  developed 
a  fine  farm  It  is  said  that  lie  brought  to  bearing  the  first  orchard  in  a 
large  area.  Thomas,  a  son  of  Jonathan,  was  here  in  L809.  He  was  a 
stone-cutter,  and  combined  his  trade  with  developing  his  farm  (a  part  of  his 
father's).  Jonathan,  Jr.,  occupied  another  part  of  this  farm  after  his 
father's  death. 

In  1821  Alvin  and  Asa  Taylor,  David  Sumner,  James  B.  Sumner  and 
three  others  purchased  all  the  then  unsold  land  from  Messrs.  Clark,  Hare, 
Murray  e\:  Co.,  and  James  B.  Sumner  and  Asa  Taylor  became  residents 
and  exerted  for  years  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  town.  Mr.  Sumner 
engaged  extensively  in  lumbering,  purchased  large  tracts  of  pine  and 
spruce  land,  did  business  on  a  grand  scale,  built  mills,  stores,  the  large 
Sumner  House,  a  summer  hotel,  a  toll-bridge  across  the  Connecticut  on 
the  location  of  the  present  railroad  bridge,  controlled  largely  the  policy 
and  politics  of  the  town,  and,  when  he  died,  his  estate  was  found  to  be 
hopelessly  insolvent,  and  many  were  seriously  injured  financially  by  their 
connection  with  him.  The  high  taxes  paid  in  Dalton  are  a  constant  re- 
minder of  his  swray,  and  a  legacy  of  his  financial  policy.  The  first  Sum- 
ner House  was  burned,  and  soon  rebuilt  more  expensively,  and  is  now 
rapidly  going  to  decay,  only  inhabited  by  strolling  impecunious  people  who 
take  temporary  lodgment  there.  He,  at  one  time,  constructed  a  small 
steamer  to  run  to  Lancaster  on  the  Connecticut,  which  only  made 
one  trip. 

Lorenzo  Farr  was  a  resident  of  Dalton  from  his  youth,  lived  for  the 
most  of  the  time  on  the  farm  where  he  died  November  25,  1884.  He  was 
a  highly  esteemed  and  much  respected  citizen,  and  held  many  offices  within 
the  gift  of  his  townsmen. 

The  Brooks  fun/////  was  a  prominent  and  useful  one  in  town  for 
many  years.  Capt.  Benjamin  Brooks  and  his  son  Benjamin  were  often 
in  official  positions.  They  were  inn-keepers,  proprietors  of  stage  routes, 
and  Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr.,  served  many  years  consecutively  as  town  clerk, 
treasurer,  grand  and  petit  juror,  etc.,  etc  Oliver  P.  Brooks  also  held 
numerous  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  which  were  faithfully  discharged. 
He  was  a  candidate  for  state  senator  in  1832. 

Horace  Cushman,  son  of  Parker  Cushman  who  was  born  in  Charles- 
town,  X.  H.,  January  3,  1773,  and  died  at  North  Littleton,  in  1873,  aged 
MO  years  and  five  months,  was  born  in  1802,  spent  his  early  life  in  Little- 


528  History  of  Coos  County. 

ton.  He  married,  first,  Abigail  Oakes;  second,  Phebe  Williams.  He  re- 
sided a  few  years  in  the  south  part  of  Lancaster  near  "  Scotts."  N early- 
fifty  years  ago  he  removed  to  Dalton  and  settled  upon  what  was  their 
home  until  his  death  in  1886.  Mr.  Cushman  was  a  good  citizen,  a  man  of 
mark,  extensively  known  and  respected.  Of  his  children  were  Edward  F. ; 
Eliza  A.  (Mrs.  Brooks),  matron  of  the  Home  of  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  Boston,  Mass.;  Charles  M.  (deceased);  Mary  M.. 
wife  of  James  D.  Harriman,  M.  D.,  of  Hudson,  Mass.;  and  Cornelius  J., 
of  Dalton. 

John  Ladd,  first  selectman  of  Unity,  N.  H.,  was  father  of  Hiram  Ladd, 
who  was  born  in  Unity,  August  19,  1800,  and  married  Aurelia  Palmer,  of 
Castleton,  Vt.,  (born  February  1,  1801,)  February  1,  1827,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer they  moved  to  Dalton.  where  Mr.  Ladd  built  the  house  near  the 
Whitefield  depot,  occupied  now  by  Thomas  Ruggles.  The  whole  region 
between  the  house  and  the  mountain  was  a  wilderness.  Mr.  Ladd  had  a 
farm  of  300  acres,  and  also  engaged  in  merchandising.  After  a  few  years 
he  exchanged  his  place  for  one  covering  the  site  where  the  decaying 
"  Sumner  Mansion  "  now  stands.  His  children  were  Hannibal  E.,  William 
S.,  Mary,  Lucy,  and  Kate  G.  Mrs.  Ladd  was  a  very  domestic  woman, 
always  at  home,  and  a  hard  worker,  spinning  and  weaving  the  cloth  for 
her  whole  family's  winter  outfit;  yet  she  found  time  for  reading  all  that 
came  in  her  way,  kept  ahead  of  her  children  in  astronomy,  geology,  natural 
philosophy  and  chemistry,  and  was  a  most  agreeable  and  intelligent  conver- 
sationalist. She  died  in  1858.  Mrs.  Ladd's  mother  was  a  Bowling,  of 
Scotch  descent,  a  woman  of  extended  information  in  history  and  literature. 
Her  brother,  Dr.  Palmer,  a  celebrated  chemist,  was  the  founder  of  Castle- 
ton (Vt.)  Medical  college. 

Mr.  Ladd  was  a  Methodist  in  religious  belief,  Democrat  in  politics: 
served  as  justice  of  peace  and  selectman  in  Dalton,  was  social,  a  good 
neighbor,  and  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  people  for  his  good  strong 
judgment.  He  died  in  1871.  His  three  daughters  all  take  a  prominent 
position  in  society.  Mary  (Mrs.  George  X.  Abbott,  of  Newbury,  Vt.,)  is  a 
lady  of  culture,  artistic  tastes,  and  a  ready  writer.  Lucy  I  Mrs.  George  W. 
Stratton)  has  the  advantages  of  mauy  years'  residence  in  Europe,  where 
she  is  now.  Her  husband,  an  importer  of  musical  instruments,  went  to 
Europe  in  1^71  in  the  interest  of  his  business,  and  she  accompanied  him, 
visiting  America  but  once  since.  She  has  had  exceptional  opportunities, 
and  possesses  the  ability  to  profit  by  them.  She  has  written  the  librettos 
for  several  operettas.  "Laila,"  "  Genevieve,"  and  "The  Fairy  Grotto" 
have  been  published  and  are  well  known.  While  in  London  she  did  some 
missionary  work  among  the  London  poor — not  without  success.  She  is  an 
easy,  fluent  writer.  Kate  (Mrs.  William  Barry  Smith,  of  Erie,  Pa.,)  is 
one  of  the  most  active  missionary  women,  and  is  corresponding  secretary 


TOWN   OF    D ALTON.  529 


for  forty  churches.     Hannibal  E.  is  an  extensive  farmer,  resides  near  Erie, 
Pa.      William  S.  is  a  lawyer.     [See  Bench  and  Bar.  | 

Bert  A.  Taylor,  the  present  member  of  the  Legislature,  is  one  of  Coos 
county's  live  men.  He  is  a  merchant,  and  for  so  young  a  man  i  forty-five 
years)has  been  much  in  town  office,  as  school  superintendent,  clerk,  treas- 
urer, ]  lost  master,  selectman,  representative,  and  member  of  Constitutional 
convention  of  1876.  He  has  filled  each  position  with  wise  judgment  and 
creditably. 


CHAPTER   LI. 

By  Rev.  James  P.  Stone. 

Ecclesiastical.  Organization  of  Congregational  Church— Original  Members— Additional  Mem- 
bers—Action in  Relation  to  a  Church  Building— Erection  of  Church— Deacons— .Ministers— Mol- 
ing House — Parsonage — Methodist  Church. 

THE  Congregational  Church.  -From  the  imperfectly- kept  records  from 
which  much  that  should  appear,  if  ever  recorded,  lias  been  lost,  it  is 
impossible  to  prepare  a  history  by  any  means  full,  or  accurate:  but 
from  what  appears  upon  the  records  I  gather  the  following: — 

"  April  '25,  1816.  Agreeable  to  previous  agreement,  a  number  of  persons  met  for  the  purpose 
of  taking  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  forming  a  church.  A  few  expressed  their  desire  to  be 
united  with  others  in  church  relation.  The  time  was  spent  in  inquiry,  conversation,  and  exhor- 
tation, and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  for  two  days. 

"  April  27,  1816.  According  to  previous  adjournment,  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  met  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Brooks,  for  further  action  as  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  Congregational  church.  They  having  invited  Rev.  Samuel  Goddard,  of  Concord,  Vt.,  to 
meet  with  them;  in  compliance  with  their  request  he  was  present.  Several  persons  presented 
themselves,  expressing  a  desire  toenter  into  Church  relation  and  covenant.  Mr.  Goddard  inquired 
as  to  their  motives,  their  manner  of  life,  doctrinal  views,  and  experimental  knowledge  of  the 
Christian  religion,  and  gained  a  comfortable  hope  that  the  persons  here  mentioned  were  Children 
of  God,  viz.,  Abel  Moore,  Benjamin  Brooks,  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  John  Putnam,  Polly  Brooks,  Anna 
Moore,  Mercy  "Wilder,  Lydia  Brooks,  and  Vina  Moore.  A  confession  of  Faith,  and  Covenant  was 
then  presented  for  their  consideration  (substantially  the  same  as  thai  <>f  other  Evangelical  Con 
gational  Churches)  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  same  place  the  next  day. 

"Sabbath,  April  28,  1816.  The  above  named  candidates  for  church  membership,  met  ac- 
cording to  adjournment.  Rev.  Samuel  Goddard  conducted  devotional  services.  The  articles  of 
faith  were  read,  and  assented  to  by  all  the  candidates,  and  Mr.  Oliver  P.  Brooks  and  Mrs.  Mercj 
Wilder  were  baptized  (The  others  had  all  previously  received  the  ordinance.)  The  Covenant  was 
then  read,  to  which  all  heartily  assented,  upon  which  Mr.  Goddard  declared  them  to  be  a  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Christ  and  in  fellowship  with  all  other  Evangelical  Congregational  churches. 
Then  the  communion  service  was  observed,— the  Lord's  supper  being  administered  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Goddard. 

"The  above  is  a  true  record  of  the  establishment  of  a  Congregational  Church  of  Christ  iu 
Dalton,  New  Hampshire.  'Attest,  Oliver  1'.  Brooks,  Clerk.'' 


53o  History  of  Coos  County. 


To  this  little  church,  consisting  at  first  of  nine  members,  viz.:  Benjamin 
Brooks,  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  Abel  Moore,  John  Putnam,  Vina  Moore,  Mercy 
Wilder,  Anna  Moore,  Polly  Brooks  and  Lydia  Brooks,  there  were  soon  oc- 
casionally small  additions.  The  first  added  was  Dalton  Blake  and  his  wife, 
Deborah  Blake,  Lucy  B.,  widow  of  Moses  Blake,  and  Dan.  Clark.  That 
was  in  February,  1818.  In  May,  1820,  were  received  four  more,  viz.:  Joel 
Fay,  Betsey  Fay,  Maria  Moore  and  Louisa  Moore.  In  July,  1821.  were  re- 
ceived Rhoda  Crane,  Persis  Brooks,  Rachel  Crandel  and  Mary  Wallace;  in 
March,  1822,  Willard  Harding,  Polly  Harding  and  Joel  Crandel;  in  April, 
1824,  Mary  D.  Brooks,  Philemon  Ruggles  and  Eliza  Ruggles.  After  this 
no  more  were  received  before  May  10, 1829.  Then  on  the  church  catalogue 
appear  the  names  of  Mary  Fay,  Lewis  Partridge  and  Ezra  Fay;  in  1830, 
Sophia  Tenney.  Up  to  this  date,  if  the  records  are  correct,  all  the  names 
that  have  ever  been  recorded  upon  the  church  catalogue  amounted  to  but 
thirty. 

Up  to  this  time  the  little  church  had  never  had  a  meeting-house,  or  any 
very  convenient  place  for  worship.  Though  they  had  been  favored  from 
the  first  with  occasional  preaching;  and  though  with  or  without  a  minister 
they  were  accustomed  to  have  religious  service,  at  least  every  Sabbath, 
yet  their  meetings  must  be  held  in  some  private  house  or  in  an  inconvenient 
school- house.  It  was  not  till  the  year  1830  that  anything  effective  was 
done  about  a  meeting-house.  That  year  Rev.  Luke  A.  Spofford  having 
intimated  that  if  an  effort  should  be  made,  probably  other  churches  would 
assist  to  the  amount  of  $200,  a  subscription  was  started  and  $250  at  once 
subscribed,  and  pledges  given  to  pay  equal  proportions  of  what  the  house 
should  cost  more,  if  anything  aside  from  what  might  be  realized  from  the 
sale  of  pews  or  otherwise.  The  old  records  show  that  on  the  last  Monday 
of  March,  1830,  at  3  o'clock  p.  m.  ,  the  First  Congregational  church  and  society 
(a  society  was  legally  organized  June  25,  1828,)  met  at  the  inn  of  Benjamin 
Brooks,  in  Dalton,  agreeably  to  previous  notice;  chose  Dea.  Joel  Fay,  mod- 
erator, and  Benjamin  Brooks,  O.  P.  Brooks  and  Joel  Fay,  building  com- 
mittee. Voted  that  the  committee  proceed  to  the  erection  of  the  meeting 
house  without  delay;  also  voted  that  the  committee  be  authorized  to  pur- 
chase a  site  of  Jacob  Barrows,  for  said  meeting-house.  Voted  to  adjourn, 
O.  P.  Brooks,  clerk.     (See  old  church  and  society  records,  page  144.) 

The  committee,  as  instructed,  proceeded  at  once  to  the  erection  of  the 
meeting-house.  A  substantial  frame  was  soon  up  and  inclosed,  and  the 
house  was  occupied,  but  in  an  entirely  unfinished  state,  and  it  was  several 
years  before  it  was  completed.  For  a  long  time  hard  benches  served  for 
pews.  But  still  the  people  had  a  place,  such  as  it  was,  for  their  religious 
meetings,  for  which  they  were  thankful.  Soon  after  the  church  got  into 
their  new  meeting-house,  though  it  was  still  in  an  unfinished  state,  there 
.begun  to  be  more  of  religious  prosperity.     From  April,  1830,  to  the  end  of 


Town  of  Dalton.  531 


the  year  1838,  twenty-six  persons  united  with  the  church,  and  of  these 
eighteen  were  received  in  the  year  ls:;t.  During  the  ten  years  from  the 
close  of  1830  to  the  end  of  1840,  the  following  names  are  added  to  the  list 
of  church  members:  Joanna  Fay,  Hannah  Brooks,  Thaddeus  Metcalf,  Al- 
mira  Metcalf,  Abigail  C.  Blake,  Ruth  Holmes,  Betsey  Partridge,  Nathan 
Wilder.  Lydia  Wilder,  Mary  P.  Brooks,  Thomas  Dean,  Lucy  Dean,  Ezra 
Livermore,  Betsey  Livermore,  John  'Penney,  George  Loud,  John  Brown, 
Abigail  Blake,  L.  Pamelia  Brooks,  Harriet  Newell  Brooks,  Lucy  G.  Bil- 
ker, Louisa  Barker,  Emily  Tenney,  Lucy  Ann  Tenney,  Mary  A.  Hutchin- 
son, Ahnira  Banfield,  Esther  B.  Sumner,  Edmund  Holmes.  Louisa  F.  Rix, 
Emily  Metcalf  and  Thaddeus  Metcalf,  Jr.  From  the  foregoing  it  would 
appear  that  previous  to  January  1,  1811,  there  had  been  connected  with 
this  church  since  its  organization,  in  all  sixty-two  persons,  and  possibly 
more;  but  from  the  old  records  it  would  seem  that  previous  to  that  date, 
of  the  sixty-two  who  had  once  been  members,  thirty-two  had  been  by 
deaths,  dismissions  and  excommunications,  removed,  so  that  at  that  time 
the  whole  number  of  members  remaining  was  but  thirty,  of  whom  twelve 
were  males  and  eighteen  females.  And  although  from  that  date  to  Janu- 
ary 1,  1S50,  twenty-one  more  had  been  received,  still  we  read,  over  the 
signature  of  0.  P.  Brooks,  clerk,  January  1,  1850:  Total  membership  of  the 
church  at  this  date,  thirty  four;  whole  number  of  resident  male  members, 
eight;  whole  number  of  resident  female  members,  sixteen;  non-resident 
males,  five;  non-resident  females,  five;  total  of  resident  members,  twenty- 
four.  And  when,  after  seven  years  and  a  half,  seven  more  had  been  re- 
ceived, we  read,  July  1,  1857:  Whole  number  of  church  members,  twenty- 
eight;  male  members,  eight;  female  members,  twenty. 

Six  years  later,  when  twenty  more  had  been  added  to  the  church,  mak- 
ing, as  is  supposed,  a  total  of  103  who  have  sometime  been  members,  ap- 
pears upon  the  records  the  following  minute: — 

"First  Sabbath  in  July  1863, 
"Miss  Emily  Blakslee,  Miss  Sarah  Baker  and  Miss  Emily  Baker,  were  publicly  received  to 
the  Church,  making  a  membership  of  35  in  all.     Males  9,  Females  26 — total  35. 

"O.  P.  Brooks,  Clerk." 

Prom  the  foregoing  it  may  be  observed,  that  though  from  time  to  time 
the  accessions  to  the  church  had  been  considerable,  yet  the  numbers  re- 
moved had  so  well  nigh  kept  pace  with  the  numbers  received,  that  the 
church  was  never  otherwise  than  small.  There  have  been  during  the 
seventy  years  of  its  existence  152  members,  possibly  more,  and  yet,  so 
many  have  been  the  removals  that  the  whole  membership,  at  the  present 
time,  of  whom  four  are  non-residents,  is  but  forty-three  persons — nine 
males  and  thirty-four  females. 

Though  the  church  has  at  times  been  favored  with  seasons  of  special 
religious  interest,  yet  never  with  any  extensive  and  powerful  revival;  no 


532  History  of  Coos  County. 

very  great  number  of  conversions  has  ever  occurred  in  the  town  in  any 
one  year.  As  ascertained  from  the  imperfect  records,  the  greatest  num- 
ber ever  received  to  membership  in  one  year  was  twenty-two  (seventeen 
on  profession)  in  1834,  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  William  Hutchinson. 
The  next  greatest  number  was  in  1875,  when  seventeen  were  received,  all 
but  three  on  profession;  and  six  more  the  following  year,  making  twenty- 
three  in  two  years,  as  the  result  of  meetings  held  by  workers  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  during  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
A.  E.  Hall.  In  the  early  part  of  Mr.  Stone's  ministry  twelve  were  added 
to  the  church,  but  notwithstanding  a  protracted  effort  by  gospel  workers 
from  abroad,  no  additions  have  been  made  since,  and  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
not  a  single  conversion  has  occurred  in  the  place.  In  the  meanwhile,  by 
the  deaths  of  highly  valued  members,  and  by  removals,  the  church  is  di- 
minishing in  numbers,  and  becoming  gradually  weaker  in  moral  and  spir- 
itual power.  Nevertheless  Christians  do  not  despair,  but  wait  in  hope  for 
better  days. 

Deacons. — Joel  Crandell,  as  is  supposed,  was  the  first  deacon,  but  the 
date  of  his  election  is  not  known.  In  1825  he  left  the  church  and  joined  the 
Methodists.  Joel  Fay  is  supposed  to  have  succeeded  Deacon  Crandell. 
The  date  of  his  election  cannot  be  ascertained.  He  was  dismissed  and 
went  to  Peterboro,  in  1848.  0.  P  Brooks  and  O.  M.  Brooks  were  chosen 
deacons  January  1,  1862.  In  November,  1865,  they  were  dismissed,  0.  P. 
Brooks  to  the  church  in  Bethel,  Maine,  and  O.  M.  Brooks  to  a  church  in 
Portland;  Thaddeus  Met  calf  was  chosen  first  deacon  July  27,  1866,  and 
Julius  Bond  second  deacon;  Dea.  Metcalf  died  July  1*,  1876,  aged  eighty 
years;  Deacon  Bond  removed  to  Whitefield.  William  S.  Crouch  Avas  chosen 
deacon  July  18,  1876;  he  died  suddenly,  much  lamented,  June  22,  1884. 
George  E.  Wallace  was  chosen  deacon  May  13,  1877,  and  since  the  death 
of  Dea.  Crouch  has  served  alone. 

Ministers. — The  church  has  been  favored  with  the  labors  of  many  dif- 
ferent ministers.  The  following,  gathered  from  the  old  records,  is  deemed 
worth  preserving: — 


«< 


1816.     Church  formed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Goddard. 
'  1817.     Rev.  Jonathan  Hovey  preached  to  the  people,  and  remained  two  years,  or  more. 

"  1821.     Rev.  Drury  Pairbank,  of  Littleton,  supplied  occasionally  from  1821  to  1829. 

"  1830.  Rev.  Luke  A.  Spofford,  of  Lancaster,  supplied  one  fourth  of  the  time  at  Dalton  twa 
years,  and  through  his  efforts  and  influence  the  building  of  a  meeting  house  was  commenced. 

"  1833-1835.  Rev.  William  Hutchinson  preached  here,  during  which  time  there  was  an  in- 
teresting revival  and  a  goodly  number  united  with  the  church.  In  1834  sixteen  were  added  on 
profession.  While  here,  in  Sept.  1833,  his  beloved  wife,  Mary  A.  Hutchinson,  died,  aged  33 
years— most  deeply  lamented. 

"  1836-1837.     Rev.  Edward  Buckston  preached  several  months. 

"  1838.     Rev.  Horace  Wood  came  in  the  fall  and  preached  several  Sabbaths. 

"  1839.  July  10  Mr.  Wood  was  installed  Pastor  of  this  Church  by  an  Ecclesiastical  Council. 
'  The  exercises  were  as  follows:      Invocation  and  reading  of    Scriptures,    Rev.  Josiah   Morse;. 


Town  of   D  \i.t<>n.  533 


Introductory  Prayer,  Rev.  F.  P.  Smith;  Sermon,  by  Rev.  Moses  Gerould;  Consecrating  Prayer, 
Rev.  Drury  Fairbank;  Charge  to  the  Pastor,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Glines;  Charge  to  the  people,  Rev. 
Thomas  Hall;  Right  Hand  of  fellowship,  Rev.  Isaac  R.  Worcester;  Concluding  Prayer,  Rev.  C. 
W.  Richardson;  Benediction,  by  the  Pastor.  After  about  six  years  of  successful  and  acceptable 
labor,  during  which  time  26  persons  united  with  the  Church,  partly  for  want  of  adequate  sup- 
port; Mr.  Wood  was  on  the  30th  of  April,  1845,  dismissed  by  an  ecclesiastical  council  agreeably  to 
his  own  request,  and  cordially  and  fully  recommended  to  the  confidence  of  i  he  <  Ihurches. 

"From  Sept.,  L845,  lill  sometime  in  1848,  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh  was  the  minister  of  Dalton. 
He  removed  to  Guildhall,  Vt. 

"  1849.     Rev.  Jeremiah  Glines  supplied  for  a  while. 

"1850.     Rev.  J.  M.  Stearns  supplied  half  the  time. 

"1851.  Mr.  Norton  came,  senl  by  Rev  15.  P.  Stone,  Secretary  of  the  Home  Mission  Society, 
and  preached  a  few  Sabbaths.  In  the  autumn  came  Rev.  Charles  Hartwell  lor  a  few  weeks, 
when,  having  accepted  an  appointment  by  the  A.  B.  ('.  F.  M.,  he  left  for  China,  where  he  re- 
mains, as  missionary,  at  Foochow. 

"  1852.  Rev.  <).  Dickinson  preached  here  a  short  time,  also  Mr.  Teale,  who  became  a  Mission- 
ary to  the  Cherokees. 

"1853-1855.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Blake,  a  Baptist,  supplied  the  desk  acceptably  three  years. 
Next.  Mr.  Lawton,  a  student  from  Andover  (Mass.)  Seminary,  supplied  six  Sabbaths. 

"  1857.     Rev.  Mr.  Esta  supplied  half  the  time  during  the  summer. 

"  1858  Rev.  Thomas  Hall,  late  pastor  in  Water ford.Vt.,  supplied  half  thetime.  lie  preached 
his  last  sermon  here  at  Communion,  Jan..  1859,  and  went  to  Guildhall,  Vt.,  where  he  died.  His 
widow  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Ephraim  W.  Clark,  a  highly  esteemed  missionary  of 
the  Sandwich  Islands. 

"1859  till  July  1861.  Rev.  Mr.  Pinkham,  a  Baptist,  supplied  the  desk,  lie  was  immediately 
succeeded  by  Rev.  George  W.  Stinson,  who  closed  his  labors  at  the  end  of  two  years  and  removed 
to  Windsor,  Mass. 

•'  1S(>:J.  Alter  Mr.  Stinson  left,  Rev.  Mr.  Esta  supplied  till  November,  when  Rev.  Daniel 
McClenning  came,  and  remained  two  years.  He  was  much  beloved,  but  left  in  November,  1865 
on  account  of  failing  health. 

"1866.  Next  appears  on  the  Church  hook  the  name  of  Rev.  Henry  Farrar,  who  was,  July  2~, 
1866,  chosen  Moderator  and  Clerk  of  this  church.  He  was,  on  the  6th  of  Nov.,  1867,  ordained  as 
an  Evangelist.      After  this,  Mr.  Farrar  continued  with  his  people  some  three  years. 

"  1872.  During  this  year  Rev.  Israel  T.  Otis,  of  Exeter,  supplied  about  six  months.  After 
Mr.  Otis  there  appears  to  have  been  only  occasional  supplies  till  in  1874,  when  .Mr.  A.  E.  Hall,  a 
licentiate  came,  and  remained  till  the  spring  of  1878,  when,  declining  an  invitation  to  remain 
another  year,  lie  removed  to  Sandwich.  Rev.  James  P.  Stone,  who  had  been  many  years  pastor 
in  Vermont,  commenced  his  labors  with  this  church  July  1,  187s!,  and  remains  as  its  acting  pastor 
at  the  present  time  (1887).  The  church  has  from  an  early  date  had  an  interesting  Sabbath  school, 
sometimes  of  100 members." 

Meeting -House. — The  church  has  a  comfortable  place  of  worship.  It  is 
the  same  that  was  begun  in  1830,  the  only  meeting-house  ever  built  in 
town,  but  which  has  from  time  to  time  undergone  radical  changes  and  im- 
provements. Ai  first,  and  for  nearly  fifty  years,  it  was  without  vestibule, 
belfry  or  steeple.  Originally  all  the  pews  faced  the  doors,  the  pulpit  was 
between  the  doors,  and  very  high,  and  the  orchestra  very  spacious,  ex- 
tending entirely  across  the  rear  end  of*  the  house.  But  during  Mr.  Blake's 
ministry,  probably  in  L854,  the  pulpit  was  Lowered  to  a  more  suitable  posi- 
tion, and  a  sort  of  altar  built  about  and  in  front  of  it:  the  orchestra  so 
changed  as  to  extend  only  to  the  aisles,  or  as  far  as  the  length  of  the  body 


534  History  of  Coos  County. 

pews,  and  new  pews  took  the  place  before  occupied  by  the  extremes  of  the 
orchestra.  The  house  in  the  estimation  of  many  was  greatly  improved, 
and  thus  it  remained  for  more  than  twenty  years,  till  in  1875,  during  Mr. 
A.  E.  Hall's  ministry,  another  change  was  made;  all  the  pews  were  taken 
up  and  turned  so  a/  to  face  the  orchestra  at  the  rear  of  the  house,  and  a 
new  pulpit  set  in  front  of  the  orchestra.  But  with  a  defective  chimney 
and  leaky  stove-pipes,  the  house  rapidly  grew  old,  and  further  improve- 
ments were  evidently  much  needed.  Through  continued  and  strenuous 
effort  on  the  part  of  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  during  the  year  1879,  an  addition  of 
12x26  feet  was  made  to  the  front  of  the  house  for  a  vestibule,  belfry  and 
steeple.  This  gave  space  for  a  beautiful  orchestra  between  the  doors,  and 
a  new  pulpit  and  pulpit  platform  took  the  place  of  the  old  orchestra.  These 
changes  gave  room  for  a  half  dozen  new  pews.  So,  with  a  better  arrange- 
ment of  stove-pipes,  new  carpets  throughout,  newly-papered  walls,  and 
new  arras  upon  all  the  pews,  new  windows,  new  belfry,  steeple  and 
weather  vane,  the  house  presented  a  very  comely  appearance  without  and 
within.  The  amount  collected  and  paid  out  by  Mr.  Stone  for  these  various 
improvements  was  $768  36.  Of  this  the  Ladies'  Social  Circle  paid  $100, 
and  Mr.  S.  P.  Ruggles,  of  Boston,  $100,  besides  presenting  a  fine  reed 
organ  and  the  weather  vane.  The  sweet-toned  bell  of  600  pounds  in  the 
belfry  was  presented  by  Hon.  A.  W.  Tenney,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  The 
house,  with  its  renovations  and  additions,  was  rededicated  January  1,  1880. 
Parsonage. — Though  the  present  parsonage  is  not  the  first,  it  is  decidedly 
the  best  and  most  convenient  home  for  a  minister  this  church  and  society 
ever  owned.  It  was  secured  by  a  movement  of  the  Ladies'  Social  Circle 
in  1872,  Of  course  the  ladies  had  help  from  the  gentlemen,  but  they  were 
first  and  foremost  in  the  enterprise.  By  their  means  the  house  was  pur- 
chased at  $950,  and  soon  paid  for,  and  deeded  to  the  Congregational  church 
and  society.  It  was  even  then  a  very  comfortable  cottage;  but  it  has  since 
been  vaiiously  improved.  While  occupied  by  Mr.  Hall  considerable  sums 
were  expended  for  repairs,  etc.  Since  occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stone 
more  has  been  done,  and  mainly  through  their  efforts.  The  old  barn  has 
been  demolished,  and  a  new  and  better  one  built.  All  the  buildings  have 
been  painted,  and  now  present  an  appearance  of  neatness  and  comeliness 
from  every  point  of  view.  In  procuring  the  means  for  building  the  new 
barn,  which  cost  over  $300,  $133  were  secured  by  Mrs.  Stone  for  names 
upon  a  splendid  allium  bed  quilt,  which  she  purchased  and  sent  as  a  present 
to  a  nephew,  who  is  a  missionary  in  China. 

So  much  concerning  the  little  Congregational  church  of  Dalton.  It  has 
survived  the  age  of  threescore  years  and  ten;  of  the  152,  or  more,  who 
have  been  its  members,  so  many  have  passed  away  that  its  present  resi- 
dent members  are  but  thirty-nine — eight  males  and  thirty-one  females.  It 
has  a  good  and   comfortable  meeting-house;    a  pleasant  and  convenient 


Town  of  I) at/ton.  535 


parsonage;    regularly    maintains   public    worship,  and  hopes  to  live  and 
prosper,  and  be  a  light  in  Dalton  for  ages  yet  to  come. 

Methodism.  -Extracts  from  Abel  Stevens's  "  Memorials  of  the  Early 
Progress  of  Methodism  in  the  Eastern  States:" — 

"  Methodism  was  early  introduced  into  Dalton  from  Lunenburg.  The 
first  Methodist  in  Dalton  was  Jacob  Barrows.  He  became  an  exhorter  and 
held  meetings  in  his  house.  A  class  was  formed  soon  after  he  came.  In 
L803  Elijah  Willard,  from  Lunenburg,  preached  in  Dalton.  E.  Wells,  a 
local  preacher,  visited  it  about  the  same  time.  The  next  year  Joel  Winch 
preached  at  Mr.  Nichols's  in  the  lower  part  of  Dalton,  and  at  Mr.  Bar- 
rows's.  Not  far  from  the  same  time,  Mr.  Buffington,  a  local  preacher  fr<  mi 
Lunenburg,  also  preached  here. 

"  The  first  regular  Methodist  preaching  was  about  1805,  when  Susanna 
Braden  married  a  Orandall  and  moved  into  town.  Her  father,  an  old  Irish 
Methodist,  soon  came,  and  died  in  1812-13.  Rev.  Joseph  Lull  preached  his 
funeral  sermon,  and  he  was  regretted  as  one  of  the  lay-founders  of  Meth- 
odism in  Vermont.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  the  Brooks 
tavern.  Solomon  Langdon  was  the  circuit  preacher.  He  labored  mightily 
in  word  and  doctrine,  and  laid  permanently  the  foundations  of  Methodism 
in  this  region.  '  Lunenburg  circuit, '  including  both  sides  of  the  Connecticut 
valley  from  Lunenburg  to  the  '  Boundary  Line,'  was  formed  about  1815." 

There  was  once  a  Methodist  church  in  Dalton,  but  the  date  of  its  organ- 
ization is  not  known.  We  learn  that  as  early  as  1825  Deacon  Crandall 
left  the  Congregational  church  and  joined  the  Methodists  For  some  time 
the  Methodist  church  was  in  membership  about  equal  to  the  Congrega- 
tional church.  They  never  had  a  meeting-house,  and  did  not  long  sustain 
(regularly)  public  worship;  at  length  it  became  very  feeble,  and  about  the 
years  1875  and  'TO,  some  who  had  been  its  members,  and  others  who  were 
connected  with  Methodist  families,  united  with  the  Congregational  church, 
and  the  Methodist  church  is  regarded  as  extinct,  although  a  few  formerly 
belonging  to  it  have  not  yet  connected  themselves  with  any  other  church 
organization,  but  worship  with  the  Congregationalists. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

Civil  List,  Representatives,  Selectmen,  Town  Clerks. 

/~yIVIL  List— 1808.    Amos  Kidder  served  after  the  death  of  Agrippa  Warren,  John  Blakslee,  PaulCush- 
I    /     man,  selectmen;  Agrippa  Warren,  Joi  1  Crandal,  clerks. 

\\  *\        1809.    Moses  Blake,   Nathaniel   Brown,  Joel  Crandal,  selectmen;  Joel  Crandal,  clerk;  Capt.  Lot 
J^    Woodbury,  representative. 
1810.    Edward  Reid,  John  Blakslee,  Amos    Kidder,  selectmen;  Joel  Crandal,  clerk;  Edward  Reid,  treas- 
urer. 


536  History  of  Coos  County. 

1811.  Amos  Kidder,  Levi  Osgood,  Jared  Barker,  selectmen;  Amos  Kidder,  clerk;  Amos  Kidder,  treasurer. 

1812.  Amos  Kidder,  .Tori  Crandal,  John  Blakslee,  selectmen;  Amos  Kidder,  clerk;  Amos  Kidder, 
treasurer. 

1813.  Amos  Kidder,  John  Blakslee,  Nathan  Wilder,  selectmen;  Aaron  Edmands,  clerk;  Edward  Beid, 
treasurer;  Edward  Beid,  representative. 

1814.  Joel  Crandal,  Paul  Cushman,  Dal  ton  Blake,  selectmen;  Edward  Beid,  clerk;  Edward  Beid, 
treasurer. 

1815.  Paul  Cushman,  Benjamin  Brooks,  Aaron  Edmands,  selectmen;  Benjamin  Brooks,  clerk;  Aaron 
Edmands,  treasurer. 

1816.  Aaron  Edmands,  William  Ewen,  Jr.,  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  selectmen:  Aaron  Edmands,  clerk;  Benjamin 
Brooks,  treasurer;  Paul  Cushman,  representative. 

1817.  Aaron  Edmands,  Joel  Crandal.  Paul  Cushman.  selectmen ;  Aaron  Edmands, clerk;  Benjamin  Brooks, 
treasurer. 

1818.  Aaron  Edmands,  Joel  Crandal,  Ebenezer  Bix,  selectmen ;  Aaron  Edmands,  clerk;  Benjamin  Brooks 
treasurer. 

1819.  Aaron  Edmands,  Ebenezer  Bix,  Abel  Moore,  selectmen;  Elisha  Cushman,  clerk;  Capt.  Benjamin 
Brooks,  treasurer;  Paul  Cushman,  representative. 

1820.  Ebenezer  Bix,  Joel  Crandal,  Abel  Moore,  selectmen;  Elisha  Cushman,  clerk;  Capt.  Benjamin 
Brooks,  treasurer. 

1821.  Ebenezer  Rix.  John  Blakslee,  Joel  Crandal,  selectmen;  Elisha  Cushman,  clerk;  Capt.  Benjamin 
Brooks,  treasurer. 

1822.  Ebenezer  Bix,  John  Blakslee,  Joel  Crandal,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Capt.  Benjamin 
Brooks,  treasurer;  Ebenezer  Bix,  representative. 

1823.  Ebenezer  Bix.  Aaron  Edmands,  Abel  Moore,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks.  Jr.,  clerk;  Capt.  Benjamin 
Brooks,  treasurer. 

1824.  Joel  Crandal,  Ebenezer  liix,  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Capt.  Benja- 
min Brooks,  treasurer. 

1825.  Ebenezer  Bix,  Abel  Moore,  Aaron  Edmands,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr. 
treasurer;  Ebenezer  Bix,  representative. 

1826.  Joel  Crandal,  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  Aaron  Ballon,  selectmen:  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj.  Brooks, 
Jr.,  treasurer. 

1827.  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  Dalton  Blake,  William  Loud,  selectmen:  Benj.  Bro  >ks,  Jr.,  clerk.  Benj.  Brooks, 
Jr.,  treasurer:  Ebenezer  Bix.  representative. 

1828.  Michael  Fitzgerald.  Joel  Fay.  Willard  G.  Cushman,  selectmen:  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj. 
Brooks,  Jr.,  treasurer. 

1829.  Willard  G.  Cushman,  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  Joel  Fay,  selectmen:  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj.  Brooks, 
Jr..  treasurer. 

1830.  Ebenezer  Bix.  Michael  Fitzgerald,  Joel' Fay,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr..  clerk:  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr., 
treasurer. 

1831.  Oliver  P.  Brooks.  Joel  Fay,  James  Fisher,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr. 
treasurer;  Asa  Taylor,  representative. 

1832.  W.  G.  Cushman,  M.  Fitzgerald,  B.  Fay,  selectmen:  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr. 
treasurer;  Asa  Taylor,  representative. 

1833.  Michael  Fitzgerald,  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  Aaron  Ballon,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj. 
Brooks,  Jr.  .treasurer:  Asa  Taylor,  representative. 

L834.  Michael  Fitzgerald,  Oliver  P.Brooks,  Aaron  Ballon,  selectmen:  Benj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj. 
Brooks,  Jr.,  treasurer;  Asa  Taylor,  representative. 

L835.  Oliver  P.  Brooks,  Willard  <  r.  E  tstman,  Joel  Fay,  selectmen;  B  snj.  Brooks,  Jr.,  clerk;  Benj.  Brooks, 
Jr.,  treasurer:  Asa  Taylor,  representative. 

1836.  Wm.  Ewen.  Aaron  Fisk.  Ebenezer  Rix,  selectmen:  Benjamin  Fay,  clerk;  Benjamin  Fay,  treasurer; 
Asa  Taylor,  representative. 

1837.  Oliver  P.  Brooks.  Willard  G.  Cushman,  Joel  Fay,  selectmen:  Benjamin  Fay,  clerk;  Benjamin  Fay, 
treasurer;  James  B.  Sumner,  representative. 

L838.  Willard  G.  Cushman,  John  Smith,  Ebenezer  Rix,  selectmen;  Benj.  Brooks,  clerk:  Moses  Blakslee, 
treasurer;  James  ]'>.  Sumner,  representative. 

1839.  John  Smith.  Amos  Parker.  John  Bond,  selectmen;  Alex.  W.  Sumner,  clerk;  Alex.  W.Sumner, 
treasurer;  James  B.  Sumner,  representative. 

1840.  John  Bond.  Wm.  Ewen,  Hoses  H.  Bix,  selectmen;  Alex.  W.  Sumner,  clerk;  Alex.  W.  Sumner, 
treasurer;  Aaron  Ballon,  representative. 


Town  of  Dalton.  :>'-',7 


1841.  Wm.  Ewen,   Muses  H.  Rix,  William  B.  Crane,  selectmen;  Benj.  Fay,    clerk;  Alex.  W.    Sumner, 
treasurer;  Aaron  Ballon,  representative. 

1842.  Willard  G.  Cushman,  Sumner  Buggies,  Jonathan  Scott,  selectmen;  Benj.  Fay,  clerk;  Lewis  A. 
Messerve,  treasurer;  Hiram  Smith,  representative. 

1843.  Moses  H.  Rix,  Sumner  Ruggles,  John   Smith,   selectmen;  Benj.  Fay,  clerk;  no  treasurer;  Aaron 
Ballon,  representative. 

1844.  Moses  H.  ltix,  John  Smith,  John  Blakslee,  Jr.,  selectmen;  Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;  no  treasurer; 
Hiram  Smith,  representative. 

1845.  Moses  H.  liix.  John  Blakslee.   Jr..  Elijah  Baker,   selectmen;  Wm.    B.  Crane,  clerk;  Wm.  Ewen, 
treasurer;  John  Crane,  representative. 

1846.  Elijah  Baker,  George  Loud,  Linus  Blakslee,   selectmen;  Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;  Wm.  Ewen,   treas- 
urer; John  Crane,  representative. 

1847.  Wm.  Ewen,  George  Loud,    Linus  Blakslee,   selectmen;  Wm.  B.   Crane,   clerk:  Wm.   Ewen,   treas- 
urer; Moses  H.  Rix.  representative. 

1848.  George  Loud,  Elijah  Baker,  Hiram  Ladd,  selectmen;  Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;  William  Atherton, 
treasurer:  Mbses  H.  Rix,  representative. 

1849.  Elijah  Baker,   Hiram  Ladd,   Aaron  Ballou,    selectmen;  William   1!.    ( Irane,  clerk;  no   treasurer; 
Moses  H.  Rix,  representative. 

1850.  Moses  H.  liix,  John    Blakslee,  Jr.,  Lucius  Bond,  selectmen;  Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;  selectmen  per- 
form the  duties  of  treasurer;  Benj.D.  Brewster,  representative. 

1851.  Moses  H.  Rix,    John  Blakslee,  Jr.,   Lucius  Bond,  selectmen;  Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;  Moses  H.  Rix, 
treasurer;  Benjamin  D.  Brewster,  representative. 

1852.  Moses  H.  Rix,  Geo.  B.  Brown,  Sumner  Ruggles,  selectmen;    Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;    Moses  H.  liix, 
treasurer;  Moses  H.  Rix,  representative. 

1853.  Thomas  Smith.   Wm.  Atherton,   John  Crouch,  selectmen;    Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;    Thomas  Smith, 
treasurer;  Benj.  D.  Brewster,  representative. 

1854.  Wm.  Atherton,  Elijah  Baker,  Charles  C.  Gordon,  selectmen;    Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk,    J.A.Hani- 
man,  clerk  from  May  10;  Wm.  Atherton,  treasurer;  John  Couch,  representative. 

1855.  Elijah  Baker,    Charles  C.  Gordon,    George  B.  Brown,  selectmen;   Oliver  M.  Brooks,  clerk;  Elijah 
Baker,  treasurer;  John  Ci'ouch,  representative. 

1856.  John  Bond,    Hannibal  E.  Ladd,   Arnold  Bolles,    selectmen;    Wm.  B.  Crane,  clerk;    John  Bond, 
treasurer;  Aaron  Ballou,  representative. 

1857.  Hannibal  E.  Ladd,  Arnold  Bolles,  Joseph  P.  Taylor,  selectmen;  Moses  H.  Rix,  clerk;  Hannibal  E. 
Ladd,  treasurer;  John  M.  Tillotson,  representative. 

1858.  Arnold  Bolles,   Joseph  P.  Taylor,    Lorenzo  Farr,    selectmen;  Moses  H.  Rix,  clerk;   Moses  H.  Rix. 
treasurer;  John  M.  Tillotson,  representative. 

Is.".::.     Joseph  P.  Taylor,    Lorenzo  Farr,    Daniel  Ewen,    selectmen;    Moses  H.  Rix,  clerk;    Moses  H.  Rix, 
treasurer;  John  B;>nd,  representative. 

.1860.     Lorenzo  Farr,   Daniel  Ewen,    Robert  C.  Taylor,    selectmen;    Moses  H.  Rix,  clerk;   Lorenzo  Farr, 
treasurer;  John  Bond,  representative. 

1861.     Daniel  Ewen,  R.  C.  Taylor.  Thos.  J.  White,  selectmen;  Moses  H.  Rix.  clerk;  Daniel  Ewen,  treas- 
urer; Thomas  Smith,  representative. 

L862.     Lorenzo  Farr,    Thomas  J.  White,    James  Bolles,    selectmen;    Moses  H.  Rix,  clerk;  Lorenzo  Farr, 
treasurer;  Thomas  Smith,  representative. 

1863.  Moses  H.  liix,   Thomas  J.  White,   James  Bolles,   selectmen;    Moses  H.  Rix,  clerk;    Moses  H.  Rix, 
treasurer;  Robert  C.  Taylor,  representative. 

1864.  Moses  H.  liix.  Jami  i  Bolles,   Lucius  Bond,  selectmen;  Moses  H.  Rix,  clerk;  Moses H.  Rix,  treas- 
urer; Sumner  Ruggl(  s.  representative. 

1865.  Lorenzo  Fair.  Lucius  Bond,  John  p.  White,  selectmen;  Moses  M.  Rix,  clerk;  Lorenzo  Farr,  treas- 
urer; Sumner  Ruggles,  representative. 

1866.  Lorenzo  Fan-.  Lucius  Bond,  John  F.  White,  selectmen;  Moses  H.  liix,  clerk;  Lorenzo  Farr,  treas- 
urer; Arnold  Bolles,  representative. 

1867.  Daniel  Ewen,  Thomas  J.  Smith,  Thomas  J.  Ruggle.-.  select  men:  Moses  II.  liix,  clerk;  Daniel  Ewen, 
treasurer;  Arnold  Bolles,  representative. 

1868.  Daniel  Ewen.   Thos.  J.  Ruggles,   Aucil  C.  Hall,   selectmen;    Moses  H.  Rix,   clerk;    Daniel  E\\   n. 
treasurer;  Lucius  Bond,  representative. 

1869.  Thos.  J.  Ruggles,  James  Bolles,  Bert  A.  Taylor,  selectmen;  Moses  II.  liix,  clerk;  Thomas  J.  Bug- 
gies, treasurer;  Lucius  Bond    representative. 

35 


538  ,  History  of  Coos  County. 

1870.  Daniel  Ewen,    James  Bolles,    Win.  L.  Smith,  selectmen;    M.  H.  Rix,  clerk;    M.  H.  Rix,  treasurer- 
Lorenzo  Farr,  representative. 

1871.  Daniel  Ewen,  William  L.  Smith,  Hiram  Aldrich,  selectmen;    M.  H.  Rix,  clerk;    M.  H.  Rix,  treas- 
urer; Lorenzo  Farr,  representative. 

1872.  Bert  A.  Taylor,  Hiram  Aldrich,  Thos.  J.  White,  selectmen;  Bert  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  Lorenzo  Farr, 
treasurer;  Henry  Bacon,  representative. 

1873.  Bert  A.  Taylor,  Thos.  J.  White,  Jona.  M.  Lang,   selectmen;  Bert  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  Daniel  Ewen, 
treasurer;  Henry  Bacon,  representative. 

1874.  Jona.  M.  Lang,   Lucius  Bond,   Warren  L.  Gilman,  selectmen;  B.  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  Daniel  Ewen,. 
treasurer;  James  Bolles,  representative. 

1875.  Lucius  Bond,  W.  L.  Gilman,  Abraham  W.  Hubbard,  selectmen;  B.  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  Daniel  Ewen, 
treasurer;  James  Bolles,  representative. 

1876.  B.  A.  Taylor,  Ira  C.  Carleton,  Geo.  C.  Weston,  selectmen;  B.  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  B.  A.  Taylor,  treas- 
urer; James  B.  Sumner,  representative. 

1877.  Jona.  M.  Lang,    Ira  C.  Carleton,    George  Weston,    selectmen;    B.  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  B.  A.  Taylorr 
treasurer;  James  B.  Sumner,  representative. 

1878.  John  Blakslee,  Lucius  Bond,  Herbert  Blakslee,  selectmen;  Franklin  P.  Bond,  clerk;  B.  A.  Taylorr 
treasurer;  Hiram  Aldrich,  representative. 

1879.  B.  A.  Taylor,    Lucius  Bond,    Joseph  W.  Kelso,    selectmen;   F.  P.  Bond,  clerk;  B.  A.  Taylor,  treas- 
urer; Hiram  Aldrich  (biennial  elections),  representative. 

1880.  B.  A.  Taylor,    Jeremy  Dexter,    George  Carpenter,   selectmen;    F.  P.  Bond,  clerk;    B.  A.  Taylor, 
treasurer;  Hiram  Aldrich,  representative. 

1881.  B.  A.  Taylor,  George  Carpenter,  Wm.  S.  Crouch,  selectmen;  F.  P.  Bond,  clerk;  B.  A.  Taylor,  treas- 
urer; Jonathan  M.  Lang,  representative. 

1882.  Wm.  S.  Couch,  George  Carpenter,  Frank  R.  Powers,  selectmen;  F.  P.  Bond,  clerk;  Wm.  S.  Crouch, 
treasm-er;  J.  M.  Lang,  representative. 

1883.  Wm.  S.  Crouch,   Lorenzo  Farr,    Jeremy  Dexter,    selectmen;    F.  P.  Bond,  clerk;    Wm.  S.  Crouch, 
treasurer;  Frank  P.  Bond,  representative. 

1884.  Wm.  S.  Crouch.  George  E.  Wallace,  Joseph  W.  Kelso,  selectmen;  F.  P.Bond,  clerk:  W.  S.  Crouch, 
treasurer;  Frank.  P.  Bond,  representative. 

1885.  John  Blakslee,  Joseph  W.  Kelso,  George  A.  Wallace,  selectmen;  F.  P.  Bond,  clerk;  B.  A.  Taylor, 
treasurer;  Ora  A.  Mooney,  representative. 

1886.  Jona.  M.  Lang,  Joseph  W.  Kelso,  Geo.  E.  Wallace,  selectmen;  B.  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  B.  A.  Taylor, 
treasurer:  Ora  A.  Mooney,  representative. 

1887.  Jona.  M.  Lang,    Geo.  E.  Wallace,    J.  W.  Kelso,    selectmen;   Bert  A.  Taylor,  clerk;  Bert  A.  Taylor, 
treasurer;  Bert  A.  Taylor,  representative. 


NORTHUMBERLAND. 


By  Edwakd  F.  Bucknam,  Esq. 


CHAPTER  LIIL 

Origin  of  the  Name  "Northumberland" — Township  first  Granted — Regranted— Incor- 
porated—Soil— Rivers — Cape  Horn  Mountain — Scenery — Early  Population— Early  Buildings — 
Charter — Names  of  Grantees— Difficulty  with  Woodbury. 

y\  T  ORTHUMBERLAND  is,  in  England,  land  north  of  the  Humber. 
I  M  "The  Humber  was  a  Cimbric  river;  and  Northumberland  was  called 
\.  of  old,  North  Cumriland,  where  the  Cymri  were  driven  from  the 
plains  before  they  settled  in  Wales." 

The  township  was  first  granted,  October  20,  1701,  by  the  name  of  Ston- 
ington,  to  John  Hogg  and  others.  Settlements  were  made  in  June,  17<'>7, 
by  Thomas  Burnside,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  and  Daniel  Spauld- 
ing,  with  his  wife  and  son  Edward.  It  was  regranted  January  25, 
1771,  by  its  present  name,  and  incorporated  by  the  legislature  November 
16,  1779,  with  full  town  privileges. 

The  land  on  the  Connecticut  in  this  town  was  originally  covered  with  a 
growth  of  butternut  wood.  The  soil  is  free  from  stone  and  gravel,  and  is 
easily  cultivated.  A  large  portion  of  the  upland  is  good  for  pasturing  and 
tillage.  There  are  several  good  farms,  producing  excellent  corn,  oats  and 
barley.  The  Connecticut  river  washes  the  western  border,  and  it  is 
watered  by  the  Upper  Ammonoosuc  river,  which  passes  through  the  town 
in  a  southwesterly  direction.  Near  the  center  of  the  town  is  an  abrupt 
and  rugged  elevation  called  Cape  Horn,  of  an  altitude  of  nearly  1,000  feet. 
The  scenery  around  the  mountain  is  wild  and  picturesque.  Its  north  base 
is  separated  by  a  narrow  plain  from  the  Connecticut  river,  and  its  eastern 
side  is  washed  by  the  Upper  Ammonoosuc.  The  spring  freshets  sometimes 
overflow  the  meadows  at  this  point,  and  give  them  the  appearance  of  a 
large  lake. 


510  History  of  Coos  County. 

Northumberland  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Stratford,  east  by  Stark, 
south  by  Lancaster,  and  west  by  Vermont.  At  Groveton  village  on  the 
Grand  Trunk  railway  there  is  a  vein  of  hematic  iron  ore.  Although  agri- 
culture is  the  principal  employment  of  the  people,  manufacturing  is  an 
important  factor  in  the  business  interests  of  the  town.  In  1872  there 
were,  at  Northumberland  Falls,  starch,  straw-board  and  shoe-peg  mills;  at 
Groveton  there  were  manufactories  producing  leather,  clapboards,  shingles, 
timber,  etc.  The  population  in  1775  was  fifty-seven;  in  1700,  117;  1800, 
205;  1810,  281;  1820,  205;  1880,  1063.  In  1820  the  town  had  one  church, 
three  school-houses,  one  saw-mill,  two  grist-mills,  one  cloth-mill. 

Charter  of  Northumberland: — 

"  Province  of   )         George  the  Third  by  the  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain,  France  &  Ireland, 
New  Hampshire   |  King  Defender  of  the  Faith  &c 

"  Know  Ye,  that  we,  of  our  Special  grace  certain  knowledge  &  mere  motion,  for  the  due  encour- 
agement of  Settling  a  new  plantation  within  our  said  Province,  by  &  with  the  advice  of  our  trusty 
&  well  beloved  John  Wentworth,  Esquire,  Our  Governor  &  Commander  in  Chief  in  &  over  our 
said  Province  of  New-Hampshire,  &  of  our  Council  of  the  said  Province,  Have  upon  the  consider- 
ations &  reservations  herein-after  made,  given  &  granted,  &  by  these  presents  for  us,  our  heirs  & 
successors,  do  give  6c  grant  unto  our  Loving  Subjects,  Inhabitants  of  our  said  Province  of  New- 
Hampshire  &  our  other  Dominions  who  have  petitioned  us  for  the  same  setting  forth  their  readi 
ness  to  make  immediate  settlement;  &  to  their  heirs  &  assigns,  forever,  whose  names  are  entered 
on  this  Grant  to  be  divided  to  &  amongst  them  into  Seventy  tico  equal  shares,  all  that  tract  or  parcel 
of  Land  Situate,  lying,  &  being  within,  our  said  Province  of  New-Hampshire  called  &  known  by 
the  name  of  Stonington,  being  about  six  miles  Square,  &  containing  by  admeasurement  twenty 
three  thousand  and  fifty-three  acres,  out  of  which  an  allowance  is  to  be  made  for  Highways  &  un- 
improvable Lands  by  rocks,  Ponds,  mountains  &  rivers,  one  thousand  &  forty  acres  free  (accord- 
ing; to  a  plan  &  survey  thereof  exhibited  by  our  Surveyor  General  of  Laud  for  our  said  Province, 
by  our  said  Governor's  order,  &  returned  into  the  Secretary's  Office  of  our  said  Province,  a  Copy 
whereof  is  hereto  annexed),  butted  &  bounded  as  follows:  Videlicet.  Beginning  at  an  Ash  Tree 
standing  on  the  Easterly  side  of  Connecticut  River,  being  the  North  westerly  corner  bound  of  Lan- 
caster, from  thence  running  up  said  river  as  that  tends  to  an  Elm  Tree  standing  on  the  Southerly 
side  of  the  mouth  of  a  small  Brook  that  runs  into  the  said  River,  being  nine  miles  in  a  Straight 
line  from  said  Ash  tree.  From  thence  South,  fifty  five  degrees  East,  four  Miles  Sixty  eight  chains 
A:  seventy  five  Links  to  a  Spruce  Tree;  From  thence  South,  Seven  degrees  West,  nine  miles  to  a 
Spruce  Tree;  From  thence  North,  fifty  five  degrees  West,  four  Miles  Sixty  eight  chaias  &  Seventy 
five  Links  to  the  Ash  tree  began  at.  To  have  &  to  hold  the  said  tract  of  Land  as  above  expressed, 
together  with  all  the  priviledges  &  appurtenances  to  them,  the  said  Grantees  &  to  their  respective 
heirs  6c  assigns,  forever,  by  the  name  of  Nortficmi;i;kland,  ct  upon  the  following  conditions,  viz: 

"  First,  that  the  Grantees,  at  their  own  cost,  shall  cut  &  clear,  Bridge  &  make  passable  for 
carriages  of  all  kinds,  a  Road  of  eight  rods  wide  through  the  said  tract  hereby  granted,  &  this 
to  be  completed  within  two  years  from  the  date  of  this  Grant;  in  failure  of  which  the  premises  & 
every  part  thereof  shall  be  forfeited  6c  revert  to  us,  our  heirs  &  Successors,  to  be  by  us  &  them  re- 
entered upon  &  re-granted  to  any  of  our  Loving  Subjects. 

"Second,  That  the  said  Grantees  shall  settle,  or  cause  to  be  settled,  twelve  families  by  the 
twentieth  day  of  March,  1772,  who  shall  be  actually  cultivating  some  of  the  land,  &  Resident 
thereou,  &  continue  to  make  further  &  additional  improvement  cultivation  6z  Settlement  of  the 
premises  so  that  there  shall  be  actual  resident  &  settled  thereon  Sixty  families  by  the  first  day  of 
March  1776,  on  penalty  of  the  forfeiture  of  any  &  every  delinquent's  share,  &  of  such  shares  re- 
verting to  us, "our  heirs  &  Successors,  to  be  by  us  or  them  entered  upon  &  regranted  to  such  of  our 
subjects  as  shall  effectually  settle  &  cultivate  the  same. 


Town  of  Northumberland.  .'41 

"  Third,  That  all  White  &  other  Fine  Trees  within  the  said  Township  fit  for  Masting  our 
Royal  Navy,  be  carefully  preserved  for  thai  use,  and  that  none  be  cut  or  felled  without  our  Special 
License  for  so  doing  first  had  &  obtained,  upon  the  penalty  of  the  forfeiture  of  the  Right  of  such 
Grantee,  his  heirs  &  assigns  to  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  as  well  as  being  subject  to  the  penalty 
of  any  act  or  acts  of  Parliament  that  now  are  or  shall  be  hereafter  enacted. 

"Fourthly,  that  before  any  division  of  the  Land  lie  made  to  A:  among  the  Grantees,  a  tract 
of  Land,  as  near  the  center  of  the  said  Township  as  the  Land  will  admit  of,  shall  be  reserved  and 
marked  out  for  Town  Lots;  one  of  which  shall  be  allotted  to  each  Grantee  of  the  contents  of  one 
acre. 

"  Fifth,  Yielding  &  paying  therefor  to  us,  our  heirs  Sz  successors,  on  or  before  the  first  day 
of  January  1772,  the  Rent  of  One  Ear  of  Indian  Corn  only,  if  Lawfully  demanded. 

"Sixth,  that  every  Proprietor,  Settler,  or  Inhabitant,  shall  yield  and  pay  to  us,  our  heirs  A: 
successors,  yearly,  &  every  year  forever,  from  tfc  after  the  expiration  of  one  year  from  the  first  day 
of  January  (which  will  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1774),  One  Shilling  Proclamation  Money,  for 
every  one  hundred  acres  he  so  owns,  settles,  or  possesses,  Sz  so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  less  t  rac* 
of  the  said  Laud,  which  money  shall  be  paid  by  the  respective  persons  aforesaid,  their  heirs  & 
assigns,  in  our  Council  Chamber  in  Portsmouth,  or  to  such  Officers  as  shall  be  appointed  to  receive 
the  same,  &  these  to  be  in  Lieu  of  all  other  Rents  &  Services  whatsoever.  In  testimony  whereof, 
we  have  caused  the  Seal  of  our  Said  Province  to  be  hereunto  affixed.  Witness  our  aforesaid  Gov- 
ernor &  Commander  in  Chief,  the  25th  day  ot  January,  in  the  Eleventh  year  of  our  Reign,  A.  D. 
1771. 

"By  his  Excellency's  Command  with  )  m,      ,        . .,  •„_,  an„„^„„r 
advice  of  Council.  \  Tlieodl)re  Atkinson,  Secretary. 

"  Names  of  Grantees. — David  Warner,  Esqr.,  John  Penhallow,  James  Burnside,  Thomas  Burn- 
side,  Samuel  Burnside,  Daniel  Spaulding,  Win.  Moulton,  Benj.  Sawyer,  Edward  Ayres,  George 
Gains  Daniel  Fowle,  Joseph  Peverly,  John  Noble,  Jacob  Treadwell,  Joseph  Shillabear,  John 
Shillabear,  jr.,  Mark  Seavy,  Nehemiah  Wheeler,  Daniel  Lunt,  Jacob  Tilton,  Jon'a  Shillabear, 
Nath  Treadwell,  Ammi  R.  Cutter,  Daniel  R.  Rodgers,  Tho.  Martin,  Leverett  Hubbard,  Sam'l  Lean, 
Will  Stanwood,  Isaac  Williams,  Will'm  Brewster,  Peter  Porter,  Mark  Rogers,  Daniel  Brewster, 
Capt.  John  Parker,  Daniel  Davis,  John  Redin,  Will'm  Simpson,  Richard  Miles,  Jacob  Sheaffe, 
Jun.,  Nathaniel  Stanly  Parker,  Clement  March,  of  Portsmouth,  Math'w  Treadwell,  Jr.,  Moses 
Bartlett,  Eben'r  Noise,  Sam'l  White,  Peter  Morse,  Benj.  Currier,  Will'm  Marshall,  Caleb  Marshall, 
Edmond  Morse,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Benj'n  Kimball,  John  Cannadey,  Reuben  Harriman,  Caleb  John- 
son, John  Webster,  Esqr,  Joseph  Webster,  Enoch  Moulton,  Joseph  Moulton,  Jr..  of  Newburyport, 
Mass.,  Caleb  Tappen,  Edmund  Moulton,  Joseph  Moulton,  Jr.,  of  Newburyport,  Jesse  Johnson, 
James  Jewet,  James  Pease,  James  Flanders,  Phineas  Sargant,  Jon'n  Dustan,  James  Paul.  69 
Rights  above. 

"  One  Right  for  the  benefit  of  a  School  in  said  Town. 

"One  Right  for  incorporated  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  Parts. 

"  One  Right  for  the  first  Settled  Minister  in  said  to*  u. 

"Province  of  New  Hampshire,  March  4th  1771 

"Recorded  in  the  Book  of  Charters,  Lib.  4,  Fol.  555657. 

"  Theodore  Atkinson,  Secretary. 
"J.  Wentworth,  [P.  S.]" 

Difficulty  with  Woodbury.—  Woodbury  was  chartered  June  20,  1762, 
and  Stonington,  now  Northumberland,  was  chartered  March  4,  1771,  and 
by  the  change  of  boundaries  (see  Lancaster)  covered  some  of  the  land 
granted  to  Woodbury.  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Northumber- 
land holden  at  Jacob  Tilton's  inn,  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  the  following 
votes  were  passed: — 

"That  Messrs.  Jacob  Treadwell,  William  Moulton,  William  Marshall  &  Joseph  Peverly  be  a 


542  History  of  Coos  County. 

committee  to  enquire  of  Woodbury  Proprietors,  or  any  other  persons,  their  design  in  attempting  a 
Settlement  in  the  township  of  Northumberland,  &  to  warn  them  in  due  course  of  Law  to  depart. 
"That  Daniel  Rogers,  Esqr,  &  Mr.  A.  R.  Cutter  be  a  committee  to  get  extracts  of  the  Ston- 
ington  &  Woodbury  Charters  with  their  several  extensions,  &  to  advise  with  some  Learned  Gentle- 
man in  the  Law  how  to  conduct  respecting  any  trespasses,  or  what  steps  should  be  taken  properly 
to  warn  them  off." 

A  trespass  suit  was  commenced  against  the  proprietors  of  Woodbury, 
but  while  this  was  pending,  on  the  5th  day  of  Ma}r,  1773,  at  a  proprietors' 
meeting  holden  at  Jacob  Tilton's,  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  it  was  "Voted, 
that  Messrs.  John  Penhallow,  A.  R.  Cutter,  Thomas  Martin,  Jacob  Tread- 
well,  and  John  Herd,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  be  a  committee  to  settle 
all  disputes  now  pending  between  the  Proprietors  of  Woodbury,  and  the 
Proprietors  of  Northumberland,  also  with  full  power  to  refer  the  same  to 
any  person  or  persons  in  order  to  a  final  adjustment  of  the  same."  The 
aforesaid  committee,  with  Agur  Tomlinson,  John  Wendell,  and  Joseph 
Holbrook,  committee  of  Woodbury,  agreed  to  withdraw  their  actions  from 
the  courts  of  law,  and  submit  all  disputes  to  the  sole  judgment  and  de- 
termination of  John  Wentworth,  Esq.,  Governor.  This  submission  was 
signed  by  both  committees  on  the  13th  day  of  May,  1773,  and  on  the  15th 
day  of  May,  1773,  Gov.  John  Wentworth  made  his  decision.  [See  Strat- 
ford.] 


CHAPTER  LIV. 


Early  Settlers— Thomas  Burnside— Daniel  Spaulding— Capt,  Jeremiah  Eames—  Early  Pro- 
prietors—Proprietors' Meetings— Action  of  the  Same— First  Bridges— Last  Meeting  of  the  Proprie- 
tors, 1810. 

FIRST  Settlers.— The  sun  was  shining  brightly,  one  lovely  June  after- 
noon in  1767,  on  the  rippling  waters  of  the  Connecticut  and  the 
emerald  foliage  of  the  tangled  forests  and  luxuriant  bits  of  meadow 
of  what  is  now  Northumberland,  then  Stonington.  A  strange  sight  met 
the  eyes  of  the  feathered  warblers  and  scared  away  the  prowling  beasts  of 
prey.  Two  stalwart  men,  clad  in  buckskin,  with  rifles  in  hand,  were 
penetrating  the  wilderness  to  create  a  home  for  themselves  and  fami- 
lies, who  accompanied  them.  They  came  here  to  stay,  and  that  night 
Thomas  Burnside  and  Daniel  Spaulding  made  and  occupied— the  first  per- 
manent settlers— a  rude  camp  which  their  axes  hastily  cut,  and  they  as 
hastily  constructed.  Passing  up  the  Connecticut  until  they  reached  the 
great  bow  below  the  "Falls,"  they  there  made  their  "pitches"  and 
settled. 


." 


Town  of  Northumberland.  543 

Thomas  Burnsicle,  an  original  grantee,  "pitched  on  the  hank  of  the 
Connecticut,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  W.  W.  Hendrick.  The  stones  he 
brought  from  the  higher  ground  for  a  fireplace  in  his  rude  cabin  now 
mark  the  site  of  its  location.  This  spot  was  so  low  that  the  first  freshet 
covered  the  floor  of  the  cabin,  and  tradition  says  that,  as  becomes  a  thrifty 
Yankee,"  he  "swapped  "  his  "improvements"  for  an  overcoat  and  a  barrel 
of  New  England  rum,  and,  moving  up  the  river,  pitched  on  lot  35  and 
made  his  home  there  during  his  life  of  many  years.  (This  lot  constituted 
part  of  the  farm  lately  owned  by  Charles  H.  Rich.)  His  pitch  was  con- 
firmed to  him,  March  5,  1771,  at  the  first  proprietors'  meeting,  held  at 
Portsmouth;  and,  at  the  same  meeting,  he  was  exempted  from  paying  his 
proportion  of  the  tax  of  £00  assessed  upon  the  "  propriety  "  for  the  pur- 
pose of  paying  for  a  new  charter  and  making  a  re-survey  of  the  out-lines 
of  the  town.  Mr.  Burnside  came  from  Londonderry.  His  wife,  Susan,  was 
a  daughter  of  Rev.  James  McGregor,  the  celebrated  spiritual  leader  of 
the  Londonderry  colony.  They  had  a  number  of  children.  "  His  oldest  son, 
James,  settled  on  the  farm  next  south  of  Spaulding's,  where  he  passed  his 
life.  Two  other  sons  were  educated,  one,  Samuel,  became  a  lawyer  in 
Worchester,  Mass.;  Alexander,  after  studying  medicine,  settled  in  Toronto, 
Canada,  where  he  died,  unmarried,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  the  Church 
of  England;  a  daughter  married  Chauncey  Curtis,  a  member  of  Gen.  Wash- 
ington's body-guard."  Mr.  Burnside  was  no  ordinary  character,  coming 
of  the  strong  Scotch-Irish  stock,  he  showed  their  characteristics  plainly. 
He  was  one  of  Rogers's  famous  ' '  Rangers  "  in  the  French  and  Indian  war, 
and  was  highly  esteemed  and  trusted  by  his  commander.  He  had  little 
fear  in  his  composition,  and  little  veneration  or  respect  for  those  in  author- 
ity. One  or  two  anecdotes  concerning  him  will  indicate  the  nature  of  the 
man.  January  20,  1757,  a  fight  occurred  between  the  "  Rangers"  and  In- 
dians at  the  foot  of  Lake  Champlain.  Several  "  Rangers  "  were  wounded 
so  badly  that  they  could  not  be  carried  off  the  field.  The  nearest  point 
from  which  to  obtain  succor  was  Crown  Point,  forty  miles  away.  Burn- 
side (himself  wounded)  and  John  Stark,  started  for  aid.  They  travelled  to 
Crown  Point  through  the  snow  and  on  the  ice  in  about  twelve  hours,  and 
in  less  than  twenty-four  hours  their  disabled  comrades  were  being  conveyed 
by  teams  to  a  place  of  safety.  Some  years  after  the  settlement  of  Northum- 
berland, Mr.  Burnside  became  desirous  of  official  honors,  and,  taking  as  a 
present  to  Gov.  Wentworth  a  firkin  of  butter  and  a  roll  of  linen  cloth,  he 
journeyed  to  Portsmouth  and  waited  upon  the  governor.  After  presenting 
his  gifts  he  told  the  governor  that  the  people  of  his  town  could  no  longer 
live  peaceably  without  a  magistrate.  Gov.  Wentworth  enquired  how 
many  inhabitants  there  were  in  the  town,  and  whom  Mr.  Burnside  would 
recommend  for  the  office.  "  My  dear  Governor,"  said  Burnside,  "there  is 
but  neighbor  Spaulding  and  meself  living  in  the  town,  and  he  is  no  more 


5i4  History  of  Coos  County. 

fit  for  a  justice  of  the  peace  than  a  chestnut  burr  is  for  an  eye-stone"  ' '  Then 
T  think  I  shall  have  to  appoint  you,"  laughingly  said  the  governor,  and 
drew  up  a  commission  for  him.  "  Esquire  "  Burnside  was  duly  qualified; 
and,  putting  the  commission  in  his  pocket,  he  said,  "  Governor,  when  I  get 
home  to  me  folks,  what  shall  I  tell  'em  that  the  governor  gave  me  that 
was  good  to  drink?"  "Some  brandy,"  answered  the  governer,  bringing  a  ■ 
decanter  from  a  sideboard.  'Squire  Burnside  drank  his  health,  and  re- 
turned in  official  dignity  to  his  home. 

The  descendants  of  Mr.  Burnside  possessed  the  stern,  unflinching  na- 
tures of  their  forefathers,  and  several  were  noted  for  their  acquisition  of 
wealth. 

Daniel  Spaukling,  a  descendant  of  Edward  Spaulding,  an  early  settler 
of  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  came  from  Londonderry  to  Northumberland.  He, 
like  Burnside,  was  one  of  the  grantees  of  the  town.  He  settled  on  lot  66, 
and  his  "pitch"  was  confirmed  at  the  same  proprietors'  meeting,  and  his 
taxes  exempted.  (This  farm  is  now  owned  by  J.  A.  Smith.)  His  log 
house  was  built  on  the  first  ridge  back  from  the  river,  and  the  site  is  now 
shown  by  the  cellar  and  stone  chimney.  He  was  a  bold  and  resolute  man, 
anct  his  wife,  Phebe,  was  even  more  energetic  and  fearless.  Tradition  has 
handed  down  differing  versions  of  her  almost  solitary  journey  from  her 
down-country  home  through  a  trackless  wilderness,  guided  by  "blazed" 
trees,  bearing  her  baby,  Edward,  in  her  arms  along  the  perilous  way. 
This  she  accomplished,  while  brave  men  would  have  shrunk  from  the  fear- 
ful task.  But  she  came  of  brave  ancestry,  and  carried  the  blood  of  the 
celebrated  Hannah  Dustan  in  her  veins.  Northumberland  lay  on  the  war 
trail  of  the  Indians,  and  frequently  demonstrations  of  a  hostile  nature  were 
made  by  them.  Mrs.  Spaulding  never  was  in  fear  of  them,  and  even 
when  they  were  searching  for  her  husband  to  kill  him,  she  treated  them 
as  friends,  and,  after  they  had  convinced  themselves  that  he  was  not  at 
home,  they  departed,  leaving  the  family  unmolested.  Her  strong  charac- 
ter attracted  their  admiration,  and  aided  much  in  the  safety  of  the  little 
colony.  Their  descendants  are  quite  numerous  in  this  county  and  town. 
Among  those  resident  here  is  James  B.  Spaulding,  who  has  held  important 
town  offices,  etc. 

Captain  Jeremiah  Eames  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  an  original 
grantee.  He  was  of  an  impetuous  mold,  and  a  prompt  and  decided  actor 
in  all  important  matters.  He  "pitched"  upon  lot  53,  which  was  con- 
firmed to  him  at  the  first  proprietors'  meeting.  He  held  numerous  offices 
of  civil  and  military  trust,  and  the  town  meetings  were  often  held  at  his 
house.  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  was  a  surveyor,  and  was  employed  to  survey 
and  make  plans  of  several  towns  to  be  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  secre- 
tary of  state.  The  homestead  was  transmitted  to  another  son,  Seth  Eamesy 
Esq.,  who  held  important  offices— selectman,   treasurer,  and  clerk;— the 


Town  of  Northumberland.  545 

town  clerkship  he  held  for  thirty  years.  His  son,  John  Eames,  now  owns 
and  lives  in  the  home  of  his  ancestors.  He  has  enjoyed  largely  the  confi- 
dence of  his  townsmen  as  selectmen,  and  in  other  offices.  His  family  is 
the  only  one  in  this  town  living  upon  the  same  homestead  from  the  first 
settlement  until  the  present  time.  The  following  anecdote  is  related  of 
Thomas  Eames:  On  one  of  Col.  Carrigain's  explorations  and  surveys 
he  was  belated,  and  night  overtook  him  in  the  woods,  where  he  discovered 
two  a pparently  deserted  tents.  He  took  possession  of  one  of  them.  Hear- 
ing voices  not  long  after  in  the  other,  he  listened  and  found  the  sounds 
proceeded  from  two  persons,  evidently  a  white  man  and  an  Indian,  argu- 
ing very  warmly  the  question  as  to  the  superiority  of  the  Indians  or  the 
whites  in  the  matter  of  hunting,  fishing,  and  trapping.  The  Indian 
adduced,  in  support  of  his  position,  many  admitted  instances  of  adroitness 
and  skill.  The  white  man  in  his  argument  referred  mainly  to  one  individ- 
ual,— the  well-known  Thomas  Earn 3-;,  of  Northumberland.  He  thought 
this  would  be  a  poser  for  the  Indian.  It  was.  so  far  as  any  argument  was 
concerned;  but  he  at  once  got  over  his  difficulty  by  the  prompt  reply: 
"Tom  Eame!  Tom  Eame!  why  he  Indian,  and  more  too." 

The  original  grantees  or  proprietors  nearly  all  lived  in  Portsmouth, 
where  their  "propriety  meetings"  were  held.  But  few  of  them  ever 
made  any  improvement  or  settled  upon  their  lands.  The  long  distance 
(nearly  200  miles),  over  bad  roads,  in  a  wilderness  beset  with  savage  In- 
dians, without  mills  to  grind  their  grain,  or  anything  to  shelter  them  and 
their  families  from  the  storms  and  the  winter's  cold,  save  the  logs  and 
bark  of  the  trees  of  the  forest,  deterred  them  from  the  undertaking.  It 
is  not  surprising  that  so  few  of  the  original  owners  came  here  to  settle, 
but  a  wonder  that  any  should  have  courage  to  brave  and  bear  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  new  settlement. 

At  the  first  proprietors'  meeting  in  Portsmouth,  March  5,  1771,  Jona- 
than Dustan  engaged  to  build  a  saw  and  grist-mill.  Before  the  mills  were 
completed  they  were  burned,  and,  at  the  proprietors'  meeting,  December 
4,  1771,  they  voted  to  pay  him  ".£41-5  shillings  Lawful  Money,"  for  his 
mill  (as  per  agreement),  and  confirm  to  him  lots  60  and  61  in  consideration 
of  his  loss  by  fire. 

The  "  first  Division  "  of  seventy -five  acre  lots  lies  upon  the  Connecti- 
cut river,  and  was  surveyed  by  Edmond  Morse,  who  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal grantees  and  pitched  upon  lot  16.  He  returned  a  plan  of  the  survey 
to  the  proprietors  at  their  meeting  at  Portsmouth,  December  4,  1771 — 
" fifty-eight  lots,  No.  16  to  No.  73,  inclusive."  At  one  meeting  of  the 
proprietors  it  was  voted  "to  give  fifty  acres  of  land  and  twenty  dollars  as 
an  encouragement  to  a  good  blacksmith  to  settle  in  town,"  and  John  Herd, 
Ammi  R.  Cutter  and  Jacob  Treadwell  were  chosen  a  committee  to  agree 
with  the  blacksmith. 


546  History  of  Coos  County. 

First  Bridges. — The  first  bridge  across  Mill  brook  was  built  in  1789, 
and  the  first  bridge  across  the  Ammonoosuc  was  built  in  1790  and  1791,  at 
a  cost  of  £130  "lawful  money."  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Joseph  Peverly, 
Esquires,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Peverly  were  chosen  a  committee  to  build  the 
bridges. 

Two  five  hundred  acre  lots  were  surveyed  by  Edwards  Bucknam,  Esq., 
and  returned  at  the  proprietors'  meeting  held  at  Portsmouth  July  29,  1783. 
They  were  called  "John  Herd's  Location."  A  plan  of  the  second  and 
third  division  of  lots,  surveyed  by  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  was  returned  and 
accepted  at  a  proprietors'  meeting,  held  in  Portsmouth,  March  7,  1793. 

The  English  currency — pounds,  shillings,  pence  and  farthings — was 
used  till  1799. 

"  In  1783,  the  number  of  Male  Poles  from  twenty  one  years  of  Age  &  upwards,  in  the  Town 
•of  Northumberland,  paying  A  Pole  Tax,  sd  number  being  Seventeen,  as  sworn  to  by 

"S/Sf  Se,ect  Men." 

The  last  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph 
Peverly,  Esq.,  in  Northumberland,  October  10,  1810,  when  the  following 
vote  was  passed: — 

"  To  sett  off  &  assign  to  tbe  Original  Right  or  Share  of  the  Society  for  the  propagation  of 
tbe  Gospel  in  foreign  Parts  tbe  following  parcels  of  Land,  now  lying  in  common  &  undivided,  in 
full  of  the  Right  or  Share  of  said  Society  in  the  Propriety;  viz.  100  acre  lot  28,  lying  upon  Jona- 
than Pond  Brook,  so  called,  being  tbe  sixth  lot  South  from  Stratford  line  in  tbe  Third  Range. 
Also  100  acre  lot  108,  in  tbe  fourth  Range.  Also  a  piece  of  land  on  Percy  line,  commencing  at 
the  north  east  corner  of  lot  126,  Tbence  on  tbe  line  of  said  lot  &  lot  125  to  the  north  west  corner 
of  the  same,  Tbence  on  the  line  of  lot  119  &  118  to  the  north  east  corner  of  lot  118,  Tbence  by  the 
line  of  lot  117  &  extending  to  Percy  line  &  to  tbe  first  mentioned  corner." 


CHAPTER  LY 


Petition  for  Road  from  Conway  1780  —  Report  of  Committee  relative  to  said  Road  1780  — 
Petition  of  Enoch  Bartlett,  1780  —  Petition  for  a  Ferry  1785  —  Petition  for  a  Lottery  1791  —Peti- 
tion for  a  New  County  1791   -  Petition  to  Tax  for  a  Bridge  1799. 

PAPERS  of  Early  Date  Bearing  upon  Improvements,  etc. — We  extract 
from  "  Hammond's  Town  Papers"  the  following  documents,  which 
tell  in  the  quaint  language  of  the  early  inhabitants  themselves,  some 
of_the  difficulties  with  which  they  had  to  contend. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  relative  to  a  Road  from  Conway:  addressed  to  the  General  Court  1780. — 
"  Humbly  Sheweth— 
that    wbereas  their  is  a  Road  cut  and  Partly  Cleared  and  Bridged  Leading  from  uper  Coos  to 


Town  of  Northumberland.  5 1  i 

Conway  So  to  Wolfborough  and  Portsmouth  which  is  through  Considerable  uuapropriated  Lands 
unlikely  Soon  to  be  Seteled  at  or  near  the  white  hills  where  [f  Some  Expence  was  Properly  Laid 
out  would  Shorten  the  travel  from  Connecticut  River  to  the  Seaports  and  Prevent  the  People  al 
uper  Coos  being  under  Necessety  of  taking  the  tedious  Rout  of  Lower  Coos  of  al  Leasl  forty  or 
fifty  miles  farther  And  wheras  it  is  now  a  time  of  war  and  the  People  at  uper  Cofis  being  the 
frontier  of  this  State  or  the  Continaut  in  this  Northern  Quarter  Exposed  to  alarms  and  attacks  by 
the  Enemy  from  Canada  and  having  no  Resorce  for  help  or  way  of  Retreat  hut  by  the  way  of 
Lower  Coos,  (which  think  themselves  Equaly  Exposed)  wherefore  your  Petitioners  beg  the  Inter- 
position of  the  Hon'bl  Court  that  they  would  order  the  above  Said  Roadway  imeadiatly  be  made 
Passable  with  horses  or  Carriages  through  Said  unapropriated  Lands  at  the  Cosl  of  the  Stale  and 
through  the  apropriated  Lands  at  the  Cost  of  owner  that  So  Releif  may  soner  be  had  from  the 
Interior  to  the  Exterior  Part  of  the  State  which  will  be  of  great  importance  to  your  P<  titionersand 
of  advantage  to  this  State  and  the  Publick  in  general  and  Your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  hound  will 
Ever  Pray 

"Northumberland  May  25th  1780 

"Thomas  Burnside,  Nathan  Barlow,  John  Sawyer,  John  Holbrook,  Archippus  Bloggatt,  Dill 
Sawyer,  John  Gamsby,  Joseph  Barlow, George  Wheeler,  .Tames  Blake,  .lames  Brown,  SamTl  Nash, 
Joshua  Lamkin,  Benj'a  Byron,  David  Hopkinson,  James  Curtiss,  Ward  Bailey,  David  Page, 
David  Lamed,  Abner  Osgood,  Moses  Page,  Elijah  Blogget,  Benj'a  Sawyer,  Jonas  Wilder,  Luther 
Richardson,  Tim'o  Nash." 

Report  of  Committee  relative  to  building  a  Road. — 

"  State  of  New  Damp's  In  the  House  of  Representatives  June  14th  1780. 

"The  Committee  on  the  Petition  from  Northumberland  Reported  their  Opinion  that  they 
Recommend  the  passing  an  Act  appointing  &  authorizing  some  person  or  persons  to  sell  at  public 
Vendue  One  Thousand  Acres  of  the  Confiscated  Land  of  William  Stark  adjoining  to  Conway  & 
lay  out  the  money  arising  by  said  Sale  in  making  a  good  &  passable  Road  through  the  Unappro- 
priated Lands  Mentioned  by  the  Petitioners  A:  make  Return  of  such  doing  to  the  General  Court  as 
soon  as  may  be  which  is  Submitted  in  behalf  &  of  the  Committee,  by  E.  Thompson, —  Which  Report 
being  Rerd  &  Considered,  Voted  that  it  be  Received  and  Accepted — 

"  Sent  up  for  Concurrence  "John  Langdon,  Speaker 

"  In  Council  June  15th  1780,  read  &  concurred 

"E.  Thompson  Secy.'' 
Petition  of  Enoch  Bartlett.  —  "  To  the  Hon'ble  the  Council  and  Representatives  of  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  in  General  Court  Assembled. 

"The  Petition  Memorial  and  Address  of  Enoch  Bartlett  of  Haverhill  Humbly  Shews. — 
"  That  your  petitioner  has  lately  Suffered  Much  injury  by  a  Banditti  who  in  Contempt  of  all 
laws  did  at  Northumberland  in  the  County  of  Grafton  in  Said  State  in  September  hist  without  Any 
color  or  right  Commit  a  most  horrid  revenge,  by  entering  upon  his  Your  petitioners  GRIST  MILL 
And  SAW  MILL,  in  said  Northumberland  (lately  erected  or  repaired  at  a  great  expence)  And  cut 
and  destroyed  the  Wheels  Shafts  &C.  And  took  Away  all  the  Iron  Works  of  said  Mills,  Mill 
Stones  and  other  Gear  and  a  Quantity  of  Boards  and  Carried  them  a  Cross  Connecticut  River  into 
the  State  Called  Vermont  And  improved  them  for  other  Mills — And  have  Since  when  demanded 

refused  pay  for  the  Damage  done And  further  Says  that  he  cannot  Suppose  that  his  affairs 

(tho  not  the  most  trivial)  will  alone  put  you  Upon  Action  on  the  affair;  But  that  a  due  considera- 
tion of  the  many  Instances  of  Fraud,  Injustice  and  oppression  that  prevails  in  that  County 
Since  the  laws  were  suppressed — will  influence  You  to  make  the  Necessary  Provisions  Pray  d 
for  And  he  As  in  duty  Shall  ever  pray.  "Enoch  Bartlet. 

"June  22,  1780." 
Petition  for  a  Ferry. — 

"  To  the  Honourble  the  Seneate  &  House  of  Representatives  humbly  Sheweth. 
"  That  ever  since  the  first  Setelment  of  this  Town  and  Others  adjacent  in  Upper  Coos  the  In- 
habitants and  Travelers  have  been  Great  Sufferers  for  want  of  a  boat,   Suitable   to  Carry   People 
horses  and  Teams  over  Connecticute  River  and  a  branch  thereof  Called  ammiuoosuck  River  which 


5±8  History  of  Coos  County. 

Runs  in  to  Connecticute  River  in  Northumberland  and  whereas  Thomas  Burnside  Esq  r  hath  Pro- 
posed building  a  Suitable  boat  or  boats  if  he  Might  have  a  Charter  of  a  ferry  in  Such  manner  that 
the  ferry  to  Cross  Connecticut  River  might  take  in  Amminnu-Suck  which  your  Petitione-s  Supose 
might  be  without  Inconveniance  with  the  Same  boat  Therefore  Pray  the  Sole  Priveledge  of  Keep- 
ing a  boat  or  boats  in  Northumberland  for  the  above  Purposes  may  be  Granted  to  the  sd  Burnside 
he  being  Subject  to  Such  Regulations  and  Restrictions  as  your  Hon'rs  in  your  wisdom  Shall  See 
meet  and  your  Petetioners  will  ever  Pray 
"Northumberland  May  14th  1785 

' '  Thomas  Peverly  Archippas  Blogget        Hith  Balden 

"Thomas  Peverly jr      Josiah  Blogget  Barnard  Cole 

"  Jer'h  Eames  James  Brown  James  Blake 

"  Daniel  Spaldin  Newcomb  Blogget        Joshua  Lamkin 

"  David  Learned  John  Holbrook  Oliver  Lambln 

"  James  Learned  James  Curtiss  thomas  Lamkin 

"  Abel  Learned  William  Curtiss  James  Burnside 

"  Elijah  Blogget  Stephen  Curtiss  Phinehas  Hodgdon 

"  James  Luther  John  Smith  Nathan  Caswell " 

The  privilege  of  keeping  a  ferry  was  granted  to  Thomas  Burnside  in 

1786. 

Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Northumberland  and  Guildhall.  Vt.,  for  Authority  to  raise  Money 
by  Lottery:  addressed  to  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives. — 

"  Humbly  Sheweth— 

"  That  Whereas  Connecticut  River  Divides  the  Towns  of  Northumberland  and  Guildhall  and 
there  being  a  very  convenient  advantageous  place  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  Bridge  over  what 
is  called  the  little  Falls  on  said  River  which  would  be  very  advantagious  to  the  Public  in  general  as 
well  as  to  the  Inhabitance  of  sd  Towns  as  that  is  near  the  Centre  of  the  Inhabitance  of  the  Upper 
Coos — We  therefore  for  our  Selves  and  in  behalf  of  All  who  are  travilers  in  and  thro'  this  Country 
Humbly  Beseech  your  Honours  to  grant  us  Liberty  to  raise  by  Lottery  the  Sum  of  One  thousand 
Dollars  which  we  conceive  to  be  sufficient  together  with  what  Subscriptions  we  can  procure  to  erect 
a  good  and  perminent  Bridge  over  sd  Place  and  we  your  petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  will  ever 

pray— 

"Dated  at  Northumberland  this  25th  Day  of  May  1791  "  Benoni  Cutter      "] 

"Eben  W.  Judd      (    Select 
"  Joseph  Peverly  Men" 

"  Antipas  Marshal  J 
Petition  for  a  nt  w  County,  1791. — 

"  To  the  Honourable  the  General  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 
"  The  Potision  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Northumberland  In  the  County  of  Grafton — 

"  Humbly  Sheweth — 
"That  your  Potisioners  live  at  The  distance  of  neer  Sixty  miles  from  the  neerest  Shier  Town 
In  this  County — 

"  That  a  very  considerable  part  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the  County  live  above  us  and 
are  under  Similar  disadvantages  with  us — 

"  That  the  Road  to  Haverhill  our  neerest  Shier  Town  Are  Exceedingly  bad  and  at  Some  Sea- 
sons of  the  year  Unpassable — 

"Therefore  we  your  Potisioners  pray  that  we  may  Be  Seperated  from  the  Said  County  of 
Grafton  And  be  made  A  new  County  by  a  Line  drawn  from  Connecticut  River  between  the  Towns 
of  Concord  Alias  Gunthwait  and  Littleton  and  on  Eastward  Taking  in  the  Towns  of  Conway 

Eaton  &—  C to  the  Provinc  line  So  Call'd— And  we  as  in  duty  bound  Shall  ever  Pray. 

"  Northumberland  Nov'r  22nd— 1791 

"  Abel  Bennet  Antipas  Marshal  Anthony  Clifford 

"Caleb  Marshall  Abuer  Barlow  Thomas  Peverly 

"  Abel  Bennet  Jr  Jacob  Shuff  Thomas  Peverly'r 

"  Isaac  Meriam  Daniel  Rowell 

"  Eliphalet  Day  Thomas  Burnside 


Town  of  Northumberland.  :>}:> 

Petition  for  Authority  to  assess  a  Tax  to  build  a  Bridge:  addressed  to  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Represents  'ires,  1799. — 
"  Humbly  sheweth, 

"  That  the  Bridge  over  Amonnoosock  river  was  destroyed  by  an  extraordinary  Freshet  in 
June  last,— which  Bridge  being  on  the  main  road  from  Haverhill  to  the  upper  settlements  on  Con- 
necticut river  makes  it  highly  necessary  as  well  for  the  public,  as  for  the  individual  use  of  the  in- 
habitants that  another  should  be  built.— 

"  That  the  Inhabitants  being  few  in  number,  and  having  numerous  other  expensive  bridges  to 
maintain,  besides  being  at  present  involved  in  other  public  expeuces  by  lately  erecting  a  meeting 
house  ir.  said  town,  find  themselves  unable  to  rebuild  said  bridge  without  some  assistance. 

"  Your  Petitioners  therefore  pray  thai  a  Tax  of  Four  Cents  pr  Acre  on  all  the  lands  in  said 
Northumberland  public  rights  excepted  may  be  granted,  for  the  purpose  of  rebuilding  said  Bridge, 
and  that  the  overplus  if  any  there  should  be,  may  be  laid  out  on  the  public  roads  in  Northumber- 
land, in  such  manner  and  under  such  restrictions  as  in  your  wisdom  you  shall  see  tit. — And  your 
Petitioners  shall  ever  pray. — 

"Northumberland  7th  November  1799 

"Caleb  Marshall  James  Burnside  Antipas  Marshal 

"  Abel  Bennel  Jonathan  Crawford       Joseph  Daniels 

"  Daniel  Spaulding  Jur  Wm  Bothwell  Eliphalet  Day 

"  Zadock  Samson  John  moore  Thomas  Bickford 

"  Joseph  Peverly  Hez'h  Smith  Benj'a  Marshall 

' '  Jer'h  Eames  David  Burnside  Joel  Owen  " 

"  Thomas  Peverly         Isaac  Meriam 
' '  Daniel  Spaulding        James  Lewis 

This  petition  was  granted  by  an  act  approved  December  27.  17'.'!*,  and 
Jeremiah  Eames,  Joseph  Peverly  and  John  Moore  made  a  committee  to 
assess  the  tax. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 


Town  Officers— Selectmen— Town  Clerks— Treasurers— Representatives— Action  of  Town  on 
Various  Matters. 

THE  town  of  Northumberland  was  incorporated  in  November,  1779. 
The  act  of  incorporation  was  signed  by  John  Langdon,  speaker  of 
the   House  of   Representatives,    and   M.    Weare,    president   of   the 

Council. 

Joseph  Peverly,  Esq.,  was  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  said  town  to  choose  all  necessary  and  customary  town  offi- 
cers, and  he  was  required  "  to  give  fourteen  days  notice  and  call  the  meet- 
ing on  the  second  Tuesday  of  March,  and  said  annual  meeting  shall  be  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  March  forever. " 

Civil  List  and  Acts  of  FreeTiolders  at  Tom,,  Meetings.— 1780.  The  annual  town  meeting  was 
held  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames.  Capt.  Jeremiah  Karnes,  Joseph  Peverly 
and  Thomas  Burnside  were  chosen  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  clerk. 


550  History  of  Coos  County. 

1781.  Chose  Thomas  Burnsirle,  Jeremiah  Earaes  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly, town  clerk      Voted  to  raise  five  pounds  lawful  money  to  be  laid  out  in  preaching. 

1782.  Jeremiah  Eames,  Capt.  Marshall  and  Joseph  Peverly,  selectmen;  Jeremiah  Eames, 
town  clerk.     Raised  five  pounds  lawful  money  for  preaching. 

1783.  Chose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Thomas  Burnside  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly, town  clerk.  Voted,  Thomas  Burnside's  log  barn  to  be  a  pound.  Voted,  Jeremiah  Eames, 
Thomas  Burnside  and  Joseph  Peverly  be  a  committee  to  make  a  good  cart  road  through  the  town. 

1784  Chose  James  Blake,  Daniel  Spauiding  and  Jeremiah  Eames  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk.     Voted  to  raise  four  pounds  for  preaching. 

1785.  Chose  Joseph  Peverly,  Thomas  Burnside  and  Jeremiah  Eames  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly, town  clerk. 

1786.  Chose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Thomas  Burnside  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly, toAvn  clerk. 

1787.  Chose  Joseph  Peverly,  Thomas  Burnside  and  Jeremiah  Eames  selectmen;  Joseph 
Peverly,  town  clerk. 

1788.  Chose  Thomas  Burnside,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly, town  clerk.  Voted  to  raise  seven  pounds  and  four  shillings,  to  be  paid  in  wheat  at  cash 
price,  to  hire  preaching  for  the  ensuing  year. 

1789.  Chose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Thomas  Burnside  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly, town  clerk. 

1790.  Chose  Joseph  Peverly,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Thomas  Burnside  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly' town  clerk.     Voted  to  raise  twenty  four  bushels  of  wheat  for  preaching. 

1791.  Chose  William  Cargill,  Antipas  Marshall  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Pe- 
verly, town  clerk.  Voted  to  raise  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  to  be  laid  out  in  preaching  the  ensuing 
year. 

1792.  Chose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Nath'l  Herrick  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk.  Voted  to  raise  forty  bushels  of  wheat  to  hire  preaching,  and  Jeremiah  Eames,  Thomas 
Peverly  and  Antipas  Marshall  be  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  wheat. 

1793.  Chose  Jeremah  Eames,  Thomas  Peverly,  Jr.,  and  Nath'l  Herrick  selectmen;  Joseph 
Peverly,  town  clerk.  Voted  to  raise  nine  pounds  for  preaching.  Voted  to  release  Caleb  Marshall 
and  Eliphalet  Day  from  paying  any  part  of  the  nine  pounds. 

1794  Chose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Thomas  Peverly,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph 
Peverly,  town  clerk.     Voted  twelve  pounds  for  preaching;  17  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

179.").  Chose  Joseph  Peverly,  William  Cargill  and  Thomas  Peverly  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk.     Voted  to  raise  eighteen  pounds  for  preaching. 

1796.  Chose  Thomas  Eames,  John  Moore  and  Zadock  Samson  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
treasurer  (The  duties  of  town  treasurer  till  this  date  had  been  performed  by  the  selectmen.) 
Chose  Joseph  Peverly  town  clerk;  16  votes  were  cast  for  state  officers.  The  committee  to  measure 
the  road  through  the  town,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Antipas  Marshall  and  Joseph  Peverly.  report  the 
road  to  be  nine  miles  and  seventy  rods.  Voted  to  build  a  meeting-house,  48  feet  in  length  by 
36  feet  in  breadth. 

1797.  Chose  Rev.  Selden  Church,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Esq.,  and  Antipas  Marshall  selectmen; 
Joseph  Peverly,  town  clerk.  Voted,  that  the  committee,  Joseph  Peverly,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  An- 
tipas Marshall,  proceed  to  build  the  meeting-house;  15  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1793.  Chose  Joseph  Peverly,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Hezekiah  Smith,  selectmen;  Joseph  Pev- 
erly, town  clerk;  23  votes  were  casl  for  governor. 

1799.  Chose  Hezekiah  Smith,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Joseph  Peverly,  selectmen;  Joseph  Pev- 
erly, town  clerk;  12  votes  were  east  for  governor. 

1800.  Chose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Joseph  Peverly  and  Hezekiah  Smith,  selectmen;  Joseph  Pev- 
erly, town  clerk;  Jeremiah  Eames,  representative  to  the  General  Court;  14  votes  were  cast  for 
governor. 

1801.  Chose  Joseph  Peverly,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Hezekiah  Smith,  selectmen;  Hezekiah 
Smith,  town  clerk.  Voted  to  raise  thirty  dollars  to  procure  preaching;  14  votes  were  cast  for 
governor. 


Town  of  Northumberland.  551 

1802.  Chose  John  Moore,  Hezekiah  Smith  and  Antipas  Marshall,  selectmen;  Hezekiah  Smith, 
town  clerk;  15  votes  were  cast  for  John  Langdon  for  governor  and  8  votes  for  John  Taylor  Gilman. 

1803.  Chose  Antipas  Marshall,  Joseph  Peverly  and  Hezekiah  Smith,  selectmen;  James  Lucas, 
town  treasurer;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  clerk;  15  votes  were  cast  for  governor.  Nathan  Barlow  was 
chosen  represent  itive. 

1804.  Chose  John  M.  Tillotson,  James  Lucas  and  James  Burnside,  selectmen;  Jeremiah 
Eames,  town  treasurer;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  clerk;  24  votes  were  cast  for  governor;  voted  to  raise 
$60  for  preaching. 

1805  Chose  John  M.  Tillotson,  James  Lucas  and  James  Burnside,  selectmen;  Jeremiah 
Eames,  town  treasurer;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  clerk;  20  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

180(5.  Chose  James  Lucas,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Thomas  Peverly,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk;  Jeremiah  Eames,  town  treasurer;  20  votes  were  cast  for  governor.  Voted  to  raise  $52 
for  preaching.  Chose  Ebentzer  Clark  to  represent  Northumberland,  Stratford  and  Piercy  in  the 
legislature. 

1807.  Chose  Jonathan  Crawford,  Jeremiah  Eames  and  Francis  Wilson,  selectmen;  Joseph 
Peverly,  to  vn  clerk;  21  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1808.  Chose  James  Burnside,  James  Lucas  and  John  M.  Tillotson,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  treasurer;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  clerk;  24  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1809.  Chose  William  Heath,  John  M.  Tillotson  and  Joshua  Marshall,  selectmen;  Joseph  Pev- 
erly, town  clerk;  Jeremiah  Eames,  town  treasurer;  33  votes  were  cast  for  governor.  Chose  John 
M.  Tillotson  to  represent  Northumberland,  Stratford  and  Piercy  in  the  legislature. 

1810.  Chose  Thomas  Peverly,  William  Heath  and  James  Lucas,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk;  Jeremiah  Eames,  town  treasurer;  29  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1811.  Chose  William  Heath,  Thomas  Peverly  and  Joshua  Marshall,  selectmen;  Joseph  Pev- 
erly, town  clerk;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  treasurer;  25  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1812.  Chose  Thomas  Peverly,  William  Heath  and  James  Lucas,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk;  Joseph  Peverly  town  treasurer;  26  votes  were  cast  for  governor.  Chose  Joshua  Mar- 
shall representative  for  the  towns  of  Northumberland,  Stratford  and  Piercy. 

1813.  Chose  Benjamin  Peverly,  William  Heath  and  James  Lucas,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk;  27  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1514.  Chose  Thomas  Peverly,  Seth  Eames  and  James  Lucas,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly,  town 
clerk;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  treasurer;  43  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1815  Chose  Benjamin  Peverly,  Seth  Eames  and  James  Lucas,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly, 
town  clerk;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  treasurer;  40  votes  were  cast  for  governor.  Chose  James  Lucas 
representative  for  the  classed  towns. 

1810.  Chose  John  M.  Tillotson,  Seth  Eames  and  Antipas  Marshall,  selectmen;  Joseph  Peverly. 
town  clerk;  Joseph  Peverly,  town  treasurer;  42  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1817.  Chose  John  M.  Tillotson,  Charles  Church  and  Timothy  Lucas,  selectmen;  Setli  Eames, 
town  clerk ;  Seih  Eames,  town  treasurer;  40  votes  were  cast  for  governor.     Voted  $30  for  preaching. 

1515.  Chose  Stephen  Wilson,  Thomas  Eames  and  Timothy  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  Town  treasurer. 

l.sii).  Chose  Benjamin  Peverly,  Caleb  Marshall  and  Timothy  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seih  Eames,  town  treasurer. 

1820.  Chose  Stephen  Wilson,  Seth  Eames  and  Antipas  .Marshall,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer. 

1821.  Chose  Thomas  Peverly,  Leonard  Johnson  and  John  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk.  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer.     Chose  Joshua  Marshall  representative. 

1822.  Chose  Benjamin  Peverly,  Silas  Marshall  and  John  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seih  Eames,  town  treasurer;  54  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1823.  Chose  Benjamin  Peverly,  Silas  Marshall  and  John  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  clerk; 
Joseph  Peverly,  Jr.,  town  treasurer;  45  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1824.  Chose  Benjamin  Peverly,  Silas  Marshall  and  John  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
Clerk;  Joseph  Peverly,  Jr.,  town  treasurer;  47  votes  were  cast  for  governor;  chose  Joshua  Mar- 
shall, representative. 


552  History  of  Coos  County. 

1825.  Chose  William  Brooks,  Caleb  Marshall  aud  John  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  William  Brooks,  town  treasurer;  42  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1826.  Chose  Seth  Eames,  Thomas  L.  Tillotson  and  Lovel  Spaulding,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Silas  Marshall,  town  treasurer;  47  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1827.  Chose  William  Sampson,  Silas  Marshall  and  John  Lucas,  selectman;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer;  47  votes  were  cast  for  governor;  Thomas  Peverly,  Jr.,  repre- 
sentative. 

1828.  Chose  Thomas  Peverly,  Jr.,  Seth  Eames  and  James  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer;  61  votes  were  cast  for  governor;  chose  Thomas  Peverly 
representative,  classed  towns  Northumberland,  Stratford,  Piercy  and  Milan. 

1829  Chose  Stephen  xVmes.  Seth  Fames  and  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer;  55  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1830.  Chose  William  Brooks,  Seth  Eames  and  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer;  61  votes  were  cast  for  governor.  Chose  Joshua  Mar- 
shall representative,  classed  towns  Northumberland  and  Stratford. 

1831.  Chose  William  Sampson,  Silas  Marshall  and  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  selectmen;  Seth 
Eames,  town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer;  67  votes  were  cast  for  governor. 

1832.  Chose  Stephen  Ames,  Silas  Marshall  and  Leonard  Johnson,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer;  63  votes  were  cast  for  governor.  Chose  Nathan  Bald- 
win, representative. 

1833.  Chose  Seth  Eames,  Silas  Marshall  and  Leonard  Johnson,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer. 

1834.  Chose  Charles  Bellows,  Seth  Eames  and  Timothy  Lucas,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer.  Chose  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  representative,  Northumberland 
and  Stratford  classed  together;  Northumberland  has  80  names  on  the  check  list,  and  Stratford  86. 

1835.  Chose  Charles  Bellows,  Seth  Eames  and  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer. 

1836.  Chose  Seth  Eames,  Hiram  Lucas  and  Daniel  Wormwood,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer.     Chose  Samuel  F.  Brown,  representative. 

1837.  Chose  Seth  Eames,  Hiram  Lucas  and  Joel  C.  Howe,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  treasurer  no  choice. 

1838.  Chose  Roswell  M.  Richardson,  Joel  W.  Forbes  and  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  selectmen; 
Charles  Bellows,  town  clerk;  John  Dean,  town  treasurer.     Chose  Hiram  Lucas  representative. 

1839.  Chose  Roswell  M.  Richardson,  Joel  W.  Forbes  and  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  selectmen; 
Charles  Bellows,  town  clerk;  Roswell  M.  Richardson,  town  treasurer. 

1840.  Chose  Roswell  M.  Richardson,  Seth  Eames  and  Nahum  D.  Day,  selectmen;  Seth 
Eames,  town  clerk;  Roswell  M.  Richardson,  town  treasurer.  Chose  Abijah  S.  French,  repre- 
sentative. 

1841.  Chose  Nahum  D.  Day,  Joel  C.  Howe  and  Johu  Dean,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer. 

1X42.  Chose  Seth  Eames,  Joel  C.  Howe  and  Timothy  L.  Marshall,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk:  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer.     Chose  Nahum  D.  Day,  representative. 

1843.  Chose  Seth  Eames,  Henry  Hall  and  Dexter  Lucy,  selectmen,  Seth  Eames,  town  clerk; 
Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer. 

1844.  Chose  James  B.  Brown,  Joel  W.  Forbes  and  John  W.  Bennett,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer.     Chose  David  Ross  representative. 

1845.  Chose  James  B.  Brown,  Seth  Eames  and  John  W.  Bennett,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer. 

1846.  Chose  H.  N  Schoff,  Hiram  Lucas  and  James  W.  Abbott,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames,  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  town  treasurer;  James  B.  Brown,  representative. 

1847.  Chose  Hiram  Lucas,  James  W.  Abbott  and  Seth  Eames,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames  town 
clerk;  Seth  Eames,  treasurer. 

1848.  Chose  James  B.  Brown,  Timothy  L.  Marshall  and  John  Eames,  selectmen;  Seth  Eames, 
-town  clerk;  Seth  Eames,  treasurer;  Russel  Gamsby  representative  Northumberland  and  Stratford. 


Town  of  Northumberland.  553 

1849.  Chose  Hiram  Lucas,  Horatio  N.  SckofT  and  Dauiel  Rich,  selectmen;  James  B.  Brown, 
town  clerk;  Seth  Eanies,  treasurer. 

1850  Chose  Horatio  N.  Schoff,  Joel  W.  Forbes  and  James  B.  Brown,  selectmen.  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk; Horatio  N.  Schoff,  treasurer;  James  B.  Brown,  representative. 

1851.  Chose  Horatio  N.  Schoff,  Joel  W.  Forbes  and  William  II.  Poole,  selectmen;  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk;  Horatio  N.  Scboff,  treasurer. 

1852.  Chose  William  Mclntire,  John  Eames  and  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  selectmen;  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk:  Horatio  X.  Schoff,  treasurer;  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  representative. 

L853.  Chose  Horatio  N.  Schoff,  Joel  W.  Forbes  and  William  II.  Poole,  selectmen;  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk;  Horatio  N.  Schoff,  treasurer. 

lv"i!.  (hose  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  William  Mclntire  and  William  II.  Poole,  selectmen; 
James  B.  Brown,  town  clerk;  Horatio  N.  Schoff,  treasurer. 

1855.  Chose  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  George  \V.  McKellipsand  Asa  Batch,  selectmen;  William 
K.  Richer,  towii  clerk;  Horatio  X.  Schoff,  treasurer.  May  12th,  1855, William  K.  Rickey  removed 
from  town  and  Edward  F.  Bucknam  was  appointed  town  clerk. 

1856.  Chose  Joel  W.  Forbes,  George  W.  McKellips  and  Asa  Hatch,  selectmen:  John  Wilson, 
town  clerk;  Leonard  Johnson,  treasurer. 

1857.  Chose  James  B.  Brown,  Horace  H.  Richey  and  William  Mclntire,  selectmen;  John 
Wilson,  town  clerk;  John  Wilson,  treasurer. 

1858.  Chose  Joel  W.  Forbes,  Noah  B.  Hatch  and  Josiah  Morse,  selectmen;  John  Wilson, 
town  clerk;  Leonard  Johnson,  treasurer;  John  Wilson,  representative. 

1859.  Chose  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  James  W.  Abb 'tt  and  Horace  H.  Richey,  selectmen; 
James  B.  Brown,  town  clerk;  Leonard  Johnson,  treasurer;  James  II.  Curtis,  representative. 

1860.  Chose  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  Stephen  McKellips  and  Patrick  Connary,  selectmen; 
James  B.  Brown,  town  clerk;  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  treasurer;  James  II.  Curtis,   representative. 

1861.  Chose  John  Wilson,  Stephen  McKellips  and  Patrick  Connary,  selectmen:  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk;  George  B.  Cummings,  treasurer;  James  W.  Abbott,  representative. 

1862.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  John  M.  Cummings  and  Patrick  Connary,  selectmen;  James 
B.  Brown,  town  clerk;  James  W.  Abbott,  representative. 

1863.  Chose  Edwrard  F.  Bucknam,  Port  us  H.  Smith  and  Edward  Fox,  selectmen;  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk;  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  treasurer;  William  Mclntire,  representative. 

1864.  Chose  Hiram  Lucas,  James  W.  Abbott  and  Samuel  Moore,  selectmen;  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk;  William  Mclntire,  representative. 

1865.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  Joel  W.  Forbes  and  James  B.  Brown,  selectmen;  James  B. 
Brown,  town  clerk;  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  treasurer;  James  B.  Spaulding,  representative. 

1866.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  Horace  H.  Richey  and  Robert  Jaques,  selectmen;  Charles 
Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  B   Brown,  representative. 

1867.  Chose  James  II  Curtis,  William  Mclntire  and  Robert  Jaques,  selectmen;  Charles  Cob- 
leigh, town  cleik;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  James  B.  Brown,  representative. 

1868.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  William  Mclntire  and  Horace  H.  Richey,  selectmen;  Charles 
Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;   Wayne  Cobleigh,  representative. 

1869.  Chose  James  W.  Abbott,  Robert  Jaques  and  Horace  H.  Richey.  selectmen;  Charles 
Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  Wayne  Cobleigh,  representative. 

1870.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  Abel  D.  Benjamin  and  Patrick  Connary,  selectmen;  Charles 
Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  Louis  II.  Massure,  representative. 

1871.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  Abel  D.  Benjamin  and  Robert  Jaques,  selectmen;  Henry  B. 
Gilkey,  town  clerk;  James  II.  Curtis,  treasurer;  William  II.  Merriam,  representative 

1872.  Chose  Franklin  E.  Wood,  Winfield  S.  Robinson  and  Josiah  Shattuck,  selectmen; 
Charles  Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  II.  Curtis,  treasurer;  William  II.  Merriam,  representative. 

1873.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  Patrick  Connary  and  Abel  D.  Benjamin,  selectmen;  Charles 
Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  II.  Curtis,  treasurer;  Robert  Jaques,  representative. 

1874.  Chose  James  B.  Brown,  John  H.  Sargeant  and  Horace  II.  Richey,  selectmen;  Charles 
Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  George  W.  McKellips,  representative. 

36 


554:  History  op  Coos  County. 

1875.  Chose  James  B.  Brown,  Charles  Cobleigh  and  Patrick  Connary,  selectmen;  Charles 
Cobleigh,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  Roswell  C.  Chessman,  representative. 

1876.  Chose  James  B.  Brown,  John  Eames  and  Michael  Moffett,  selectmen;  Henry  B, 
Gilkey,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  Robert  Jaques,  representative. 

1877.  Chose  James  B.  Spaulding,  Frank  E.  Wood  and  John  Eames,  selectmen;  Henry  B, 
Gilkey,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  George  Hinman,  representative. 

1878.  Chose  James  B.  Spaulding,  John  Eames  and  Franklin  E.  Wood,  selectmen;  Henry  B. 
Gilkey,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  treasurer;  George  Hinman,  representative. 

1879.  Chose  Roswell  C.  Chessman,  Franklin  E  Wood  and  Addison  H.  Frizzell,  selectmen; 
Henry  B.  Gilkey,  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer;  Irving  A.  Watson,  representative 
for  two  years. 

1880.  Chose  Roswell  C.  Chessman,  Addison  H.  Frizzell  and  Horace  H.  Richey,  selectmen; 
Henry  B.  Gilkey  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer. 

1881.  Chose  Roswell  C.  Chessman,  Horace  H.  Richey  and  Robert  Scott,  selectmen;  Henry 
B.  Gilkey,  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer;  Irving  A.  Watson,  representative  for 
two  years. 

1882.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  Robert  Scott  and  Simon  T.  Connary,  selectmen;  Henry  B, 
Gilkey,  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer. 

1883.  Chose  Roswell  C.  Chessman,  David  S.  Moore  and  Simon  T.  Connary,  selectmen; 
Henry  B.  Gilkey,  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer;  Napoleon  B.  Perkius,  representa- 
tive. 

1884.  Chose  David  S.  Moore,  James  H.  Curtis  and  Simon  T.  Connary,  selectmen;  Henry  B. 
Gilkey,  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer. 

1885.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  John  D.  Cummings  and  Robert  Jaques,  Jr.,  selectmen;  Henry 
E.  Bellows,  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer;  Thomas  Keating,  representative. 

1886.  Chose  Edward  F.  Bucknam,  David  S.  Moore  and  Charles  Forbes,  selectmen;  William 
I.  Doty,  town  clerk;  Frank  G.  McKellips,  treasurer;  William  Hayes,  representative. 

1887.  Chose  James  H.  Curtis,  John  F.  Larfue  and  Orrison  L.  Cole,  selectmen;  Henry  E. 
Bellows,  town  clerk;  James  H.  Curtis,  moderator.  Voted  to  raise  $2,000  to  defray  town  charges, 
debts  and  existing  expenses.  Voted  to  raise  $300  in  money  for  highways  and  bridges  for  the 
ensuing  year.  Voted  to  raise  $1,200  in  labor  for  repairing  highways  and  bridges  for  the  ensuing 
year. 


CHAPTER   LVIL 


Ecclesiastical — Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Present  Members — Ammonoosuc  Lodge,  I.  O. 
O.  F. — Members— Lodge  of  Good  Templars— Members — Schools— Physicians— Fort  Wentworth 
and  Revolution— Soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812  and  Mexican  War— First  Judge  of  Probate— First 
Register  of  Probate— Business  Interests,  Etc. 

T7  CCLESIASTICAL.—  At  the  meetings  of  the  proprietors  of  North- 
j[  r  umberland  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  bushels  of  wheat 
^7  and  sums  of  money  were  raised  by  direct  taxation  for  the  ministra- 
tions of  the  gospel.     A  committee  was  chosen  to  hire  a  minister,  and  the 
money  raised  was  expended  for  preaching,  and  services  were  held  gener- 
ally from  two  to  three  months  in  each  year,  and  in  1799  a  town  meeting- 


Town  of  Northumberland.  555 

house  was  completed.  After  the  proprietors  ceased  their  efforts  in  this 
direction,  there  was  occasional  preaching  by  transient  ministers,  but  no 
church  organization  formed  until  June,  1867,  when  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  was  established  here,  and  the  same  year  the  society  commenced  the 
present  church  edifice  which  was  finished  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $2,700.  On 
the  21st  day  of  August,  1868,  this  house  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of 
God.  Warren  Applebee  was  the  first  pastor  and  remained  until  1869.  He 
was  succeeded  by  D.  J.  Smith  from  1869  to  1871;  Thomas  W.  Tyre  from 
1871  to  1872;  George  C.  Noyes  from  1872  to  1874;  Thomas  Mason  a  part  of 
1874;  C.  C.  Lovejoy  from  July,  1874,  to  September,  1*74;  L.  L.  Eastman 
from  September,  1874,  to  1876;  Eben  C.  Berry  from  1876  to  ls7s;  George 
H.  Hardy  from  1878  to  1879;  Charles  E.  Rodgers  from  1879  to  1881;  James 
Crowley  from  1S81  to  1884;  Leslie  R.  Danforth  from  18S4  to  18S7;  John  C. 
Langford  commenced  his  pastorate  April,  1887.  The  church  now  num- 
bers forty-six  members.  The  value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $3,500. 
The  Sabbath-school  connected  with  this  church  has  an  attendance  of  about 
sixty. 

During  the  pastorate  of  George  C.  Noyes  the  camp  meeting  grounds  of 
about  five  acres  were  purchased.  Improvements  have  been  made  and 
buildings  erected  on  them  at  a  cost  of  between  three  and  four  thousand 
dollars.  The  location  is  pleasant,  upon  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river, 
a  little  southerly  of  the  old  Fort  Wentworth,  with  the  highway  and  Bos- 
ton, Concord  &  Montreal  railroad  upon  its  southeasterly  border. 

The  Episcopal  church  has  a  mission  here,  monthly  evening  services 
being  conducted  by  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  church,  Lancaster,  in  the 
Methodist  church. 

The  Catholics  have  held  mission  services  here  for  a  number  of  years. 

Members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  November  5,  1887.—  Sada  Astelle,  Ada  E.  Brown,  Chauncy  L.  Brown, 
Sarah  A.  Chessman,  Stephen  A.  Cole,  Emma  Cole,  Lester  M.  Cole,  Hugh  H.  Cole,  Lizzie  Duran,  Lucy  Elling- 
wood,  Ellen  M.  Frizzed,  William  Fisk,  Jenette  Fisk,  Charles  Forbes,  Ann  Forbes,  Henry  F.  Forbes,  Ada  P. 
Forbes,  Nellie  M.  Forbes,  Helen  M.  Forbes,  William  H.  Forbes,  Willie  W.  Forbes,  Ellen  M.  Hayes,  Charles 
M.  Hayes.  Susan  Henson,  Moses  Henson.  Harriet  B.  Henson,  Susan  E.  Henson,  Helen  M.  Harris.  Moses  \V. 
Jackson.  Florence  Jackman,  AsburyF.  Jackman,  Manettie  Jackman,  Harry  F.  .Turkman,  Frank  H.  Jackman, 
Fred  M.  Jackman,  Lizzie  A.  Langford,  JaredD.  McFavland,  Chester  McFarland,  Lorinda  McFarland,  N<  ttie 
McKellips,  Harriet  W.  McKellips,  Lucy  Moody,  Jennie  M.  Montgomery,  Jennie  Main,  John  Q.  Main,  Sadie 
Miles.  Etta  McHary,  Jennie  E.  Potter,  Cora  D.  Potter,  Betsey  Richey,  Martha  Richey,  Emma  J.  Smith,  Mary 
Smith,  Charles  Smith,  Joel  E.  Smith,  Lucy  A.  Smith,  Mamie  L.  Smith,  Ella  Smith,  William  II.  Veasie,  Lu- 
cinda  M.  Veasie,  Lucy  A.  Whipple. 

Officers.— Charles  Forbes,  Willard  J.  Whipple,  Stephen  A.  Cole,  F.  A.  Jackman,  G.  W.  McKellips,  Will- 
iam Veasie,  F.  G.  Kellips,  W.  W.  Jackman.  trustees;  Charles  Forbes,  district  steward:  M.  W.  Jackman, 
recording  steward;  Harriet  McKellips,  Lucy  Moody,  Nettie  M.  Hayes,  stewards;  M.  W.  Jackman,  superin- 
tendent of  Sabbath-school;  S.  A.  Cole,  assistant  superintendent;  Mary  L.  Smith,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Ammonoosuc  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  was  organized  on  the  28th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  with  these  charter  members: — 

Irving  A.  Watson,  Henry  B.  Gilkey,  Fred  Scott,  Frank  F.  Richardson,  James  \Y.  McKeen,  Charles  N. 
Martin,  Alexander  Williamson,  Napoleon  B.  Perkins. 


556  History  of  Coos  County. 

Members,  November  5,  1887.— I.  A.  Watson,  H.  B.  Gilkey,  Fred  Scott,  N.  B.  Perkins,  George  W.  McKel- 
lips,  F.  Gr.  McKellips,  George  Hinman,  D.  8.  Moore,  William  Hayes,  C.  N.  Martin,  S.  W.  Thompson,  James 
McHarg,  A.  Wooster,  W.  W.  Pike,  Ezra  Merrill,  Horace  Hendrick,  Stephen  P.  Clook,  Thomas  G.  Rowan, 
William  Duran,  George  W.  Montgomery,  F.  G.  Bellows,  F.  F.  Richardson,  Albert  Thompson,  C.  P.  Stevens, 
John  F.  Thompson,  Thomas  Rating,  George  S.  Blake,  R.  C.  Chessman,  Charles  T.  Hayes,  Horace  P.  Moody, 
Samuel  W.  Connary,  W.  I.  Doty,  Allen  H.  Perkins,  Joseph  C.  Astelle,  Henry  H.  Hayes,  John  M.  Astelle, 
Stephen  A.  Cole.  FranK  N.  Piper,  Alvin  L.  Wheeler,  Edward  S.  Hickey,  Solomon  Leavitt;  Joseph  M.  Amey, 
E.  B.  Soule,  C.  R.  Beecher,  Charles  J.  Salomon,  I.  G.  Richey,  B.  B.  Ockington,  L.  R.  Danforth,  H.  B.  Hin- 
man, P.  G.  Abbott,  S.  F.  Gallagher,  Edward  Brooks,  Marcell  Thirris,  John  Gough,  Alva  I.  Warren,  Frank 
Harris,  Eli  Fuller,  Frank  F.  Warren,  Charles  H.  Witharu,  William  H.  Veasie,  C.  C.  O'Brion,  Robert  Scott, 
Charles  Isrealson,  O.  P.  Cummings,  G.  W.  Clough,  Willard  D.  Stinson,  Lee  F.  Schoff,  Addison  S.  Ellingwood, 
J.  W.  Wilson. 

The  lodge  has  purchased  a  pleasantly-located  and  desirable  lot  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Church  streets,  Groveton,  upon  which  it  is  intended 
to  erect  an  "  Odd  Fellows  Hall "  and  provide  better  accommodations  for 
the  increasing  membership. 

The  Lodge  of  Good  Templars  was  organized  November  16,  1882,  with 
these  officers  and  charter  members: — 

Officers.  —Edward  F.  Bucknam,  W.  G.  T.;  Julia  M.  Leavitt,  W.  V.  T.;  Rev.  James  Crowley,  W.  C;  Frank 
N.  Piper.  W.  S.;  Jennie  M.  Norcutt,  W.  A.  S.;  Solomon  Leavitt,  W.  F.  S.:  John  M.  Wilson,  W.  T;  Austin 
Astelle.  W.  M. ;  Clara  B.  Dresser,  W.  D.  M. ;  Edward  A.  Astelle,  W.  I.  G. ;  Jesse  Wilson,  W.  O.  G. ;  Lucy  Cole, 
W.  R.  II.  S.;Alma  McFarland,W.  L.  H.  S.;  Bell  McFarland.  P.  W.  G.  T. 

Charter  Members. — Edward  F.  Bucknam,  Frank  N.  Piper,  Jennie  M.  Norcutt.  Soloman  Leavitt.  John  M. 
Wilson,  James  Crowley,  Austin  Astelle,  Belle  A.  Piper,  Edward  A.  Steele,  Bell  McFarland,  James  B.  McFar- 
land, Melvin  J.  Hayes,  Frank  Warren,  Lucy  Cole.  Alma  McFarland,  Ella  Harvey,  Julia  M.  Leavitt,  Clara  B. 
Dresser.  Ada  M.  Benton,  Jesse  Wilson,  Amanda  J.  Frost,  Mary  E.  Frost,  Hannah  O.  McKeen. 

Members,  November,  1887. — Flora  Wilkinson.  Flora  Soule.  Archie  Soule,  Frank  Warren.  Fanny  McKeen, 
Hannah  O  McKeen,  Willie  McKeen,  George  Jones,  Jack  Rines,  David  Dorhity,  Daniel  Ellingwood,  Cyrus 
Messer,  Clayton  Henson,  William  Kittle,  Fred  Jones,  Emma  Wooster,  Ella  Smith.  Helena  Seott,  Charles  Wilds, 
Randal  Miller.  Fred  Kent,  James  Pike,  Frank  Keene,  Calvin  Stoddard,  Thomas  Gorman,  Charles  McKeen, 
John  Downer,  J.  E.Doile,  Henry  Moffett,  John  C.  Langford,  John  Dorhity. 

Officers,  November  ?>,  18S7.— John  H.  Langford.  C.  T.;  Hannah  O.  McKeen,  V.  T.;  Helena  Scott,  Secre- 
tary; Ella  Smith,  Financial  Secretary;  Fanny  McKeen,  Treasurer;  SolomoD  Leavitt,  Chaplain;  Willie 
McKeen.  Marshal;  Thomas  Gorman,  Dept.  Marshal;  William  Kittle  and  David  Dorhity  Sentinels  and  Guards. 

Fort  Wentworth  and  the  Revolution. — The  old  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Ammonoosuc  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  at  its  junction  with  the 
Connecticut.  It  has  long  since  gone  to  decay.  The  excavation  and  site 
are  still  visible  on  the  high  bank  near  the  Connecticut,  on  the  farm  of 
Aaron  and  Charles  Potter.  It  is  called  the  "  old  fort  "  merely;  but,  accord- 
ing to  the  attorney-general's  report,  it  was  erected  by  Capt.  Robert  Rogers, 
in  1755,  and  named  "  Fort  Wentworth,"  in  honor  of  the  royal  Governor. 
It  was  evidently  used  by  the  very  early  settlers  as  a  refuge  from  the  Indi- 
ans; and  the  next  mention  we  have  of  it  after  its  erection,  is  as  a  place  of 
rendezvous  for  Rogers's  expedition  after  the  destruction  of  St.  Francis. 
During  the  Revolution  the  "  old  fort  "  was  a  lively  place.  After  Col.  Be- 
dell's regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  Continental  army,  in  the  winter  of 
1775  and  1776,  several  companies  were  kept  on  the  western  frontiers  of  the 
Upper  Coos.  Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames,  to  accommodate  these  with  head- 
quarters, built  or  repaired  the  garrison  at  Northumberland  in  the  spring 


Town  of  Northumberland.  557 

of  1770.  It  was  in  use  until  1782.  Col.  Bedell  was  on  duty  here  in  1777 
and  1778.  Lieut.  Ladd  and  scouting  party  of  eleven  men  were  stationed 
here  in  1782,  as  were  another  party  of  ten  men  under  Sergt.  James 
Blake. 

Soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812. —  Our  sources  for  accurate  information 
in  regard  to  these  are  extremely  meager.  The  ;i<  1  j  u  I  ant-general's  re]  ><  >rt  gives 
only  the  names  of  the  men,  date  of  enlistment,  length  of  service,  and 
"remarks";  without  specifying  towns  of  which  they  were  residents  or 
from  which  they  enlisted.  We  have  ascertained,  however,  that  George 
W.  Lucas  enlisted  from  Northumberland  February  16,  1813,  for  eighteen 
months;  William  Merriam  enlisted  February  15,  1813,  ''dining  the  war"; 
John  Bickford  enlisted  February  13,  is  13,  for  two  years. 

In  the  Mexican  war  we  find  that  Michael  G.  Lawton  enlisted  April  13, 
1817,  as  a  drummer  in  Captain  Daniel  Batchelder's  company 

These  are  all  of  the  honored  sons  of  our  old  town  in  our  earlier  wars 
whose  memories  we  can  thus  crown  with  laurel.  Would  that  we  were 
able  to  preserve  green  the  memory  of  all. 

Francis  Willson  was  a  physician  of  considerable  note,  and  was  of  great 
value  to  the  people  of  Northumberland  and  the  surrounding  towns.  He 
was  an  early  settler  of  Lancaster,  locating  upon  the  farm  occupied  by 
Moses  Hibbard,  but  subsequently  removed  to  the  place  now  occupied  by 
Edward  Addin,  in  Northumberland.  He  was  the  first  judge  of  probate  for 
the  county  of  Coos,  was  appointed  in  1805  and  held  the  office  till  about  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1811. 

John  M.  Tillotson  was  an  active  business  man  and  extensively  known 
throughout  Coos  and  Essex  counties.  He  was  selectman  for  some  years, 
represented  Northumberland,  Stratford  and  Piercy  in  the  legislature  of 
1809.  He  was  the  first  register  of  probate  for  Coos  county,  and  held  the 
office  for  thirteen  years.     He  died  in  1822. 

Schools. — -There  were  ten  school  districts  in  town  when  the  district  sys- 
tem was  abrogated  in  1885.  They  are  conducted  in  the  same  manner  now 
by  the  town  board  of  education.  Groveton  village  school  lias  an  attend- 
ance of  about  100  scholars,  with  a  commodious  school  house,  costing  about 
$2,000,  arranged  for  three  teachers.  In  1800  a  school-house  was  erected  in 
district  No.  5,  which  is  still  used. 

Physicians. — Charles  C.  O'Brion,  M.  D.,  came  from  Maine  and  located  at 
Groveton  about  1881,  purchasing  the  practice  and  residence  of  Irving  A. 
Watson,  M.  D.,  who  had  been  in  practice  here  forten  years,  and  who  went 
to  Concord  to  take  the  position  of  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Health. 
Henry  W.  Sleeper,  M.  D.,  came  to  Groveton  about  1883,  and  practiced  here 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  December,  L887. 

*  [For  another  view  of  the  site  of  Fort  Went  worth  and  the  rendezvous  of  Rogers-  Rangers, 
see  County  History. — Ed.] 


558  History  of  Coos  County. 

Manufacturing  has  been  conducted  at  Northumberland  Falls  from  early 
days.  Edwards  Bucknam  constructed  mills  here;  later,  Enoch  Bartlett 
shortly  after  the  Revolution  constructed  both  grist  and  saw-mills.  (See 
his  petition  to  General  Court  in  another  chapter.)  The  vast  supplies  of 
pine  and  spruce  have  made  the  water  privileges  on  the  Ammonoosuc  at 
Groveton  profitable  investments  for  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  and 
various  firms  from  first  to  last  have  been  engaged  in  this.  In  1872  there 
were  at  Northumberland  Falls,  starch,  straw-board,  and  shoe-peg  mills;  at 
Groveton,  manufactories  of  leather,  clapboards,  shingles,  etc. 

Hon.  A.  C.  Denison,  a  merchant  of  Norway,  Me.,  was  largely  engaged 
in  supplying  contractors  on  the  line  of  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  R.  R., 
and  established  stores  in  connection  with  Clark  P.  True,  J.  H.  Dan  forth 
and  the  Gilkeys  at  South  Paris  and  Bethel,  Me.,  and  at  Gorham,  North- 
umberland and  Stratford.  The  largest  of  these  was  at  Northumberland. 
Here,  from  1850,  for  some  years,  the  firm  transacted  an  annual  business  of 
nearly  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  contributed  much  to  the  prosperity 
of  this  section. 

Business  Interests,  1887. — Gilbert  M.  Soule,  administrator  of  estate  of 
Gilbert  Soule,  Groveton,  manufactures  1,500,000  feet  of  long  and  short  lum- 
ber per  annum.  Wholesale  and  retail  trade  in  1886  w^as  over  $68,000.  He  em- 
ploys from  twenty  to  forty  men,  and  operates  a  grist  and  saw-mill  by  water- 
power.  The  latter  contains  a  rotary  board  saw,  clapboard,  lath,  shingle, 
matching,  and  planing  machines.  Fisk  &  Myers  (Payson  Fisk,  William 
Myers),  Groveton,  have  a  steam  mill  employing  from  ten  to  twelve  men. 
They  produce  about  300,000  feet  of  lumber  yearly.  Their  mill  contains 
clapboard,  shingle  and  planing  machines. 

Stoddard  &  Welch  (P.  T.  Stoddard,  C.  C.  Welch),  Groveton,  purchased 
the  old  Howley  water-mill  in  1886,  and  constructed  a  foundry  and  machine 
shop  at  a  total  cost  of  $30,000.  The  freshet  of  June,  1887,  undermined  the 
mill,  rendering  it  useless.  They  employ  from  six  to  ten  men,  and  are  doing 
a  business  of  about  $10,000  a  year. 

Robert  Chase,  Northumberland,  came  from  Pelham  to  Guildhall,  Vt., 
in  1865,  and  at  once  erected  a  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  straw-board, 
which  is  still  conducted,  the  firm  being  Robert  Chase  &  Company  (Charles 
D.  Chase).  They  also  manufacture  fine  tissue  paper.  Mr.  Chase  erected, 
in  Northumberland,  in  1869,  a  peg-mill  where  he  manufactures  40,000 
bushels  of  shoe  pegs  annually,  and  gives  employment  to  fifteen  or  twenty 
persons.     They  also  keep  a  general  store. 

Groveton  Merchants.  —James  W.  McKeen,  general  store,  retail  trade 
about  $15,000  yearly. 

Rosw-ellC.  Chessman,  dry  goods,  coffins,  caskets,  and  undertaker's  goods, 
does  an  annual  business  of  $10,000.  He  is  also  postmaster  of  "  Groveton  " 
postoffice. 


& 


Town  of  Northumberland.  559 

Charles  J.  Salomon,  dry  goods  and  clothing,  does  the  largest  mercantile 
business  in  town,  sells  both  at  wholesale  and  retail,  sends  out  many  ped- 
dlers, and  has  a  branch  store  at  West  Stewart stown. 

Charles  H.  Rich,  successor  to  Dewer  Rich,  carries  on  a  general  store; 
does  a  business  of  about  $10,000  yearly. 

Hotels.—  Melcher  House,  C.  T.  McNally  and  Edward  Tibbetts,  proprie- 
tors; Union  House,  Everett  F.  Bean,  proprietor. 

H'l/lroads. — The  Boston.  ( loncord  &  Montreal  railroad  forms  a  junction 
with  the  Grand  Trunk  at  Groveton  JuDction.  There  are  three  stations  in 
the  town,  which  gives  it  a  great  advantage  as  a  shipping  point.  Groveton 
station  does  a  freight  business  of  1,000  tons  a  mouth,  and  gives  the  Grand 
Trunk  about  ."><»<»  passengers  in  the  same  time.  W.  H.  Fowler,  station 
agent.  Groveton  Junction,  Stephen  M.  Mathews,  station  agent,  has  a 
freight  bnsinessof  6,000  tons  per  month,  passeng<  is  about  2,000  in  the  same 
time.     We  can  give  no  figures  for  Northumberland  or  Guildhall  station. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CAPTAIN  GILBERT  SOULE. 

The  name  Soule  was  formerly  spelled  Sole,  Soal,  Soul,  and  is  an  ancient 
English  name.  In  1591  the  Soles  of  London  were  granted  armorial  bear- 
ings. The  advent  of  the  Soule  family  in  New  England  dates  back  to  the 
arrival  of  the  "Mayflower"  in  1620,  when  George  Soule,  one  of  the  "Pil- 
grim Band,"  emigrated  to  America,  and  helped  to  plant  the  Plymouth 
Colony,  and  maintain  the  principles  in  defence  of  which  those  self-reliant 
pioneers  left  their  native  for  an  unknown  land.  George  Sonle  was  one  of 
the  forty-one  signers  of  the  first  compact  drawn  up  in  the  nature  of  a 
government  In  1621  he  received  one  acre  of  land  in  Plymouth,  between 
Sandwich  street  and  the  harbor.  In  1633  his  name  appears  on  the  first  list 
of  freemen  in  the  records  of  Plymouth.  About  1638  he  removed  to  Dnx- 
bury  and  settled  there.  He  married  Mary  Becket,  had  many  descendants, 
who  served  the  town  in  its  civil,  military  and  maritime  service.  Mr.  Soule 
was  of  essential  value  to  Duxbury,  which  he  represented  several  years  in 
the  court  of  deputies,  and  held  many  other  offices  which  showed  him  to 
be  a  man  of  integrity  and  probity.  In  1645  he  was  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  Bridgewater,  and.  with  Capt.  Miles  Standish,  John  Alden,  and  three 
others,  was  appointed  to  lay  out  and  divide  the  land  among  the  inhabitants. 
He  died  in  16S0,  "  very  aged";  willing  his  property  to  his  son  John,  viz.: 
"  And  for  as  much  as  my  eldest  son,  John  Soule.  and  his  family  hath  in 
my  extreme  old  age  and  weakness  bin  tender  and  caref  uFof  mee  and  very 


560  History  op  Coos  County. 


healpfull  to  raee;  and  is  likely  to  be  while  it  shall  please  God  to  continew 
my  life  heer,  therefore  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  said  son  John  Soule 
all  the  remainder  of  my  housings  and  lands  whatever."  John  Soule  died 
in  1707,  aged  seventy-five. 

Joshua3,  son  of  John",  married  Joanna  Studley.  He  died  in  1767. 
His  son,  Ezekiel4,  born  in  1711,  married  Hannah  Delano.  He  was  chosen 
deacon  of  the  church  in  1740,  and  was  an  important  adviser  in  its  affairs. 
He  removed  to  Woolwich,  Me.,  in  1766.  John6,  born  in  1735,  was  the 
father  of  Samuel",  who  was  born  January  18,  1769.  David  F.7  married 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Cyrus  Dole,  and  daughter  of  Archibald  and  Elizabeth 
(Holbrook)  McMurchie.  Their  children  were  Gilbert,  Hannah,  Sarah 
(Mrs.  James  Bailey),  Lewis,  Augusta  (Mrs.  Alden  P.  Goudy),  Lemuel. 
David  was  a  native  of  Woolwich.  He  followed  the  sea  for  many  years, 
was  captain,  and  at  one  time  captured  by  the  British.  The  latter  part  of 
his  life  he  passed  on  land.  He  died  about  1862  at  Woolwich,  where  he  is 
buried. 

Captain  Gilbert  Soule,  son  of  David  F.  and  Elizabeth  (McMurchie) 
Soule,  born  in  Woolwich,  Me  ,  December  6,  1820,  was  eighth  in  descent 
from  the  emigrant.  He  was  educated  at  the  local  schools.  When  quite 
young  he  accompanied  his  father  in  his  sea  voyages,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  a  ''seafarer."  He  then,  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
James  Bailey,  conducted  the  ferry  at  Bath,  Me.,  for  several  years.  After- 
wards he  was  at  St.  Anthony,  Minnesota,  for  some  years.  In  1852  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  state,  and,  with  a  half-brother,  Charles  E.  Dole,  began 
lumbering  on  the  Penobscot,  and  thereafter  this  was  his  principal  business. 
He  married,  August  21,  1853,  Eliza  A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Mercy  (Ad- 
ams) Mills.  (Mrs.  Mills's  mother  was  Anne  Hutchinson.)  Mrs.  Soule  was 
born  in  Detroit,  Me.,  March  6,  1829.  They  commenced  housekeeping  in 
Brewer.  Me.,  and  had  a  pleasant  home  there  for  seventeen  years,  and  there 
their  children  were  born;  Gilbert  Mills,  Annie  Laurie,  (married  Augustus 
S.  Thayer,  M.  D.,  of  Portland,)  Edward  Beecher,  and  James  Bailey. 

In  1869  Captain  Soule  came  to  Groveton,  and,  with  Robert  Holyoke, 
<;<>orge  Edward  Holyoke,  and  John  Eames,  purchased  the  mill  property 
now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Gilbert  Soule.  This  mill  had  a  cutting  capac- 
ity of  25,000  per  day,  and  contained  a  rotary  saw,  edger,  trimmer,  clap- 
board, shingle,  and  lath  machines,  and  a  planer.  The  enterprise  and 
energy  of  Capt.  Soule  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  business  in  Groveton, 
and  greatly  enhanced  its  progress.  In  1870  the  "Nash  Stream  Improve- 
ment Company'1  was  incorporated  to  provide  transportation  for  logs. 
This  company  expended  $30,000  in  blasting  rocks,  etc.;  four  or  five  dams 
were  also  constructed.  Capt.  Soule  was  the  first  president;  Gilbert  M. 
Soule  is  the  present  one.     In  the  fall  of  1871,  Capt.  Soule  moved  his  family 


Town  of  Nortiiumhkkland.  ."><;! 


to  Groveton,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  lumber  manufacturing  until  his 
death,  January  20,  1884. 

In  1883  a  new  "four-foot"  wheel  was  put  in  to  use  the  water  going 
over  the  dam.  One  wheel  of  the  original  mill  ran  a  grist-mill  and  clap- 
board planer,  but  in  October,  L8S5,  a  new  grist  mill  was  completed.  The 
main  mill  is  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet  in  length  by  thirty  six  in  width, 
an  addition  of  thirty  feet  being  made  in  the  spring  of  l^vt,  and  a  large 
"  Wood's  "  planer  added.  The  firm  name  at  Northumberland  was  at  first 
Gilbert  Soule  &  Co. ,  while  at  Portland  it  was  Holyoke,  Benson  &  Co. 
This  continued  until  1871,  when  it  became  Gilbert  Soule  in  both  places. 
Since  Captain  Soule's  death  the  business  has  been  carried  on  by  the  heirs 
as  "Gilbert  M.  Soule. "  The  production  of  the  mill  during  L887  was  about 
4,500,000  feet.  At  418  Commercial  street,  Portland,  they  have  a  wharf, 
office,  and  planing-mill. 

Capt.  Soule  was  of  vigorous  physique,  strong,  influential  and  energetic, 
an  industrious  and  valued  citizen,  a  reader  of  sterling  literature,  and  a  man 
of  independent  thought  and  reflection.  His  height  was  five  feet,  eleven 
inches,  and  average  weight  about  230  pounds.  His  light  blue  eyes  were 
accompanied  by  dark  brown  hair.  He  was  of  a  pleasant,  social  and  genial 
nature,  looking  rather  upon  the  bright  than  the  dark  side,  and  in  all  the 
relations  of  life  he  made  sunshine  by  his  cheery  presence.  Congregational 
in  his  religious  belief,  he  yet  gave  liberally  to  all  Christian  work.  Repub- 
lican in  his  politics,  ever  an  ardent  partisan,  yet  he  was  not  an  aspirant  for 
office. 

He  was  an  early  member  of  Ammonoosuc  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Grove- 
ton,  and  an  active  worker  for  its  interests.  As  an  employer  he  was  never 
dictatorial,  but  the  considerate  kindness  which  ever  actuated  him  and  was 
shown  in  his  intercourse  with  his  workmen  gained  for  him  their  good  will 
and  esteem.  He  was  much  interested  in  historical  and  genealogical  works, 
was  a  generous  contributor  to  the  Pilgrims'  monument  erected  at  Ply- 
mouth, Massachusetts,  and  was  justly  proud  of  being  a  descendant  of  the 
"Mayflower  "  band.  He  inherited  their  sterling  qualities,  and  many  traits 
of  the  Soule  family  have  descended  through  him  to  his  children.  That 
kindly,  filial  spirit  of  John  Soule  which  led  him  to  honor,  respect  and 
cherish  his  father  in  his  old  age,  is  also  shown  in  the  veneration  and  love 
of  the  present  generation  for  the  memory  of  their  father. 


CHAPTER   LVIIL 


Stark — "Devil's  Slide  "—"  Devil's  Hop-yard  "—Christine  Lake  and  Percy  Summer  Club — 
Soil — Minerals  —  Percy- — Boundaries  —  Legislative  Acts — Petition  for  Incorporation — Names  of 
Grantees — Proprietors'  Meeting — Records,  Etc. 

£f  TARK  lies  on  the  Upper  Ammonoosuc  river.  It  is  bounded  north  by 
v  j  Stratford  and  Odell,  east  by  Dummer  and  Milan,  south  by  Kilkenny, 
X**"-  and  west  by  Northumberland.  The  surface  is  broken  and  hilly,  but 
upon  the  river  there  are  many  good  farms.  The  north  and  south  branches 
of  the  Ammonoosuc  form  a  junction  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town. 
Nash's  stream,  flowing  from  Stratford,  falls  into  the  river  in  the  north, 
and  Percy  or  Christine  lake  is  in  the  eastern  portion.  Near  the  village  there 
is  a  narrow  passage-way  between  the  mountains,  through  which  runs  the 
river,  the  railroad,  and  a  wagon  road.  On  the  south  side  of  the  Ammo- 
noosuc is  Mill  mountain,  rising  very  abruptly  to  the  height  of  over  3,000 
feet. 

The  "Devil's  Slide'''  is  a  ledge  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  rising  per- 
pendicularly,  while  on  the  other  side,  cattle  may  be  driven  to  its  top.  The 
perpendicular  walls  of  this  precipitous  mountain  rise  to  the  height  of  740 
feet.  "The  Indians,  as  is  well  known,  peopled  all  these  mountain  regions 
with  invisible  spirits  who  controlled  the  winds  and  storms,  and  in  their 
quarrels  hurled  gleaming  thunderbolts  at  each  other,  the  effects  of  which 
were  seen  in  the  splintered  trees  and  shivered  rocks;  and  they  had  a  tra- 
dition that  in  a  remote  age  a  huge  mountain  barred  the  valley  where  now 
the  railroad  passes,  and  that  on  a  time  when  the  heavens  were  convulsed, 
the  earth  reeling,  and  the  atmosphere  blazing  with  the  terrible  warfare  of 
these  invisible  powers,  one-half  of  the  mountain  sunk  down  into  the 
bowels  of  the  earth,  leaving  the  precipitous  sides  of  the  other  bare  and 
shattered  as  they  are  to  the  present  day.     Hence  the  name." 

The  "  Devil's  Hop-yard"  is  located  nearly  three  miles  southeast  of  Stark 
station.     It  is  reached  through  a  path  winding  through  a  rugged  bowlder- 


Town  of  Stark.  563 


strewn  forest  along  a  noisy  brawling  mountain  stivain  for  the  Inst  part  of 
the  way.     The  last  half  mile  is,  however,  pathless,  and  Lies  in  a  tangled 
thicket  of  larch  and  birch,  with  moss  of  wonderful   variety  and    beauty 
ankle  deep      Suddenly  you  come  upon  a  ravine  a    mile  in  length.     The 
little  brook  at  the  bottom  runs  into  one  of  the  seven   beautiful  "  South 
ponds."    Where  you  first  arrive  you  stand  on  the  verge  and  look  down  a 
chasm   of   thirty   feet.     The  break   is  abrupt,   the  transition   surprising. 
Broken  ledges  are  on  either  side  of  a  gap  of  several  rods  in  width,  and  the 
bottom  of  the  gorge  is  filled  with  great  bowlders  which  line  both  of  the 
sloping  sides  of  the  chasm.     Between  the  rocks  the  slightly  wooded  slopes 
are  covered  with  thick  and  fine  gray  moss;  a  different    variety,  however, 
on  each  side.     No  water  is  seen,  as  the  bowlders  conceal  the  tiny  rill.    De- 
scending to  the  bottom,  we  follow  the  chasm  over  a  mile  through  impres- 
sive scenery.     Immense  trees  span  the  valley  with  their  roots  and  tower 
heavenward.     As  we  go  on,  the  brook  appears  as  the  bowlders  disappear, 
and  open  valley  succeeds  to  wild  defile.     Just  as  we  are  wondering  if  this 
is  all,  we  reach  the  brink  of  another  precipice,  over  which  the  brook  dashes 
in  a  foamy  fall  of  great  beauty  with  three  leaps  of  twenty  feet  each. 
Picking  our  way  cautiously,  we  are  soon  in  an  "ante-room''  of  the  yard. 
Here  ledges  rise  in  broken  courses  of  gigantic  masonry, — many  as  regular 
as  if  laid  with  plummet  and  square,  and  fantastic  and  weird  in  their  gray- 
brown  coloring — for   seventy  feet.     Turn  around!     The  amphitheater  in 
which  you  stand  has  an  opening  shaped  like  the  letter  U.     Advancing  to 
the  edge  and  looking  down,  the  eye  penetrates  nearly  200  feet  into  one  of 
the  wildest  gorges  of  wild  New  Hampshire.     Into  this  the  little  brook 
plunges  noisily,  and  in  a  few  feet  hides  itself  under  the  bowlders  filling 
the  upper  end,  and  by  aid  of  which  we  descend.     From  the  bottom  we 
look  up.     On  the  right  stands  "the  Look-out,"  a  huge  gray  sentinel,  lift- 
ing  its   250  feet  of  smooth  granite  precipitously,   square   as  a  die,    ami 
covered  with  pines,  into  the  air.     On  the  left,  great  giant  ledges,  broken 
but  yet  grand,  tower  sky-ward.     Further  south  rises  the  kk  choir  "  like  the 
facade  of  a  great  cathedral;  block  laid  on  block,  with  joints  broken  regu- 
larly like  a  masterpiece  of  masonry,  for  full  120  feet  in  height,  and  sur- 
mounted and  crowned  with  a  majestic  fretwork  of  pinnacles  of  evergreen 
trees.     Opposite  the  "  choir  "  a  break  in  the  wall  gives  a  way  of  egress. 
By  following  the  brook  other  cascades  and  bits  of  scenery  nearly  as  grand 
continue  for  an  eighth  of  a  mile  further,  when  the  ledges  disappear,  and 
the  brook  empties  into  South  pond,  a  pretty  sheet  of  water.     The  "  1  lop- 
yard  "  receives  its  name  from  a  fancied  resemblance  of  its  tall  evergreen 
trees  covered  with  trailing  streamers  of  gray  moss  to  a  hop-yard  with  its 
poles  covered  with  heavily  laden  vines. 

The  scenery  of  Stark  is  both  wild  and  picturesque  and  it  is  a  delightful 
ride  from  Groveton  up  the  narrow  and  winding  valley  of  the  upper  Am- 


561  History  of  Coos  County. 


monoosuc,  through  Stark,  to  the  high  land  beyond.  From  this  point  a 
full  view  of  the  mountains  is  had,  looking  away  to  the  southward,  while 
the  two  valleys,  still  heavily  wooded,  stretch  away  for  miles  on  either 
hand  The  scene  is  more  broken  and  varied  from  other  points  of  view,  the 
notches  being  cut  more  deeply  between  the  mountains,  and  the  mountains 
themselves  throwing  a  sharper  outline  against  the  sky.  It  is  pleasant  to 
linger  here  through  a  clear  autumn  afternoon  and  see  the  sun  go  down,  and 
return  to  the  valley  below  in  the  early  evening. 

Christine  Lake*— North  pond  for  many  years  was  a  favorite  fishing- 
ground  for  the  sportsmen  of  Northern  New  Hampshire.  It  is  a  beautiful 
sheet  of  water,  bordered  by  deep-foliaged  woods,  which  are  set  around 
about  by  the  granite  peaks  of  Stark  and  Stratford.  Right  in  this  glorious 
amphitheater  of  mountains  the  basin  of  the  lake  is  found.  Its  altitude  is 
about  2,000  feet  above  the  sea;  its  length  is  one  and  a  half  miles;  its  width 
one-half  mile.  The  lake  is  fed  by  spring  brooks  that  fall  into  the  upper 
end.  The  over-flow  emerges  at  the  eastern  rim  of  the  basin,  and  after 
tumbling  in  white  cascades  down  several  hundred  feet  in  a  distance  of 
half  a  mile,  falls  into  the  Upper  Ammonoosuc  river  at  Percy  station  on 
the  Grand  Trunk  railway. 

Trout  are  the  only  fish  in  the  lake.  In  early  times  great  numbers  were 
caught  and  carried  away  by  visiting  fishermen.  Before  1883  scores  of 
people  from  neighboring  towns  would  go  to  the  pond,  and,  cutting  holes  in 
the  ice,  take  large  quantities  for  the  market  as  well  as  for  their  own  use. 
It  was  estimated  by  a  competent  authority  that  in  the  spring  of  1883  at 
least  half  a  ton  of  trout  was  thus  caught  and  carried  off.  The  result  of 
this  wanton  destruction  was  to  reduce  the  supply  of  fish,  so  that  very  few 
were  taken  during  the  open  seasons  of  1883  and  1884.  Since  the  latter  year 
the  fishing  has  greatly  improved.  The  trout  are  from  four  to  eight  ounces 
in  weight,  and  are  of  the  finest  quality  of  real  "brook  trout." 

In  the  spring  of  1882  Mr.  George  P.  Rowell,  of  Lancaster,  thinking  it 
would  be  a  very  desirable  place  for  a  summer  camp,  made  enquiries  as  to 
tlic  feasibility  of  purchasing  the  land  about  the  pond.  Henry  Hey  wood, 
Esq.,  was  engaged  to  negotiate  for  the  land,  and,  as  the  result  of  his  en- 
deavors, lots  upon  which  the  pond  is  situated  were  purchased  of  the  owner, 
Mrs.  Charlotte  Rowell,  of  Lunenburg,  Vt.,  and  conveyed  to  Mr.  Rowell. 
He  invited  some  friends  to  unite  with  him  in  making  a  camp  at  the  pond, 
and,  in  the  fall  of  1882,  accompanied  by  Messrs.  Samuel  H.  Kauffmann,  of 
Washington,  1).  C,  Francis  H.  Leggett  and  W.  D.  Wilson,  of  New  York, 
and  ( >ssian  Ray,  of  Lancaster,  the  place  was  visited,  at  "Camp  Percy,"  so- 
called, — a  rude  structure  which  had  been  built  by  S.  M.  Crawford,  the 
noted  hunter  and  woodsman,  for  the  occasion. 

*By  Hon.  Ossian  Ray. 


Town  of  Stark.  ~>v>:> 


These  above  named  gentlemen,  with  Mr.  Charles  N.  Kent,  of  New  York, 
organized  themselves  into  a  voluntary  corporation,  under  the  laws  of  the 
state,  which  they  called  the  "Percy  Summer  Club,"  •'for  the  purpose  of  main- 
taining a  place  of  resort  and  recreation  for  its  members  and  its  guests; 
promoting  and  encouraging  field  sports;  propagating,  cultivating,  and  pro- 
tecting brook- trout  and  other  food  and  game  fishes  in  the  streams,  ponds  and 
lakes,  as  wvll  as  land-game  of  every  sort,  in  the  County  of  Coos  and  State 
of  New  Hampshire;  with  the  object  of  enjoying  the  sports  of  rod  and  gun, 
and  developing  the  resources  of  said  County  of  Coos  in  these  directions." 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  club  was  held  September  13,  L883.  At 
this  session  of  the  club  is  was  voted  to  re-name  North  pond  and  call  it 
"Christine  Lake"  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Christine  Coates,  of  Philadelphia,  the 
first  lady  visitor  entertained  at  the  camp  by  the  club. 

During  the  four  years  of  its  existence  the  club  has  worked  harmoniously 
together.  Five  comfortable  lodges  have  been  erected;  a  cottage  has  been 
built  for  the  superintendent;  a  path  has  been  cut  to  "Giant's  Grave,"  one 
mile;  and  one  to  North  Peak,  three  miles  away,  both  of  which  points  are 
aften  visited  by  guests;  a  fleet  of  first-class  boats  has  been  procured,  and 
a  hatching  house  established  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Leggett,  as  a  re- 
sult of  whose  efforts  upwards  of  90,000  young  trout  have  been  hatched,  and 
put  into  the  lake  and  its  tributaries.  The  club  is  very  hospitable,  and 
entertains  every  season  a  large  number  of  guests.  A  by-law  provides  that 
no  member  or  guest  shall  take  over  forty  fish  in  any  one  day.  The  officers 
are:  President,  George  P.  Rowell,  Lancaster;  vice-president.  Ossian  Ray, 
Lancaster;  'secretary,  Charles  N.  Kent.  New  York;  treasurer,  Francis  H. 
Leggett,  New  York;  auditor,  Samuel  H.  Kauffmann,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
superintendent,  Stephen  M.  Crawford,  Percy  N.  H. 

The  soil  is  rich,  free  from  stones,  and  productive  in  the  valleys;  hay, 
oats  and  potatoes  are  easily  raised,  and  agriculture  is  an  important  busi- 
ness with  the  inhabitants. 

Population  in  1790,  48;  1830,  134;  1850,  118;  1800,  426;  1870,  464;  L880, 
690. 

Minerals,  etc. — A  red  biotite  granite  resembling  somewhat  the  red 
Scotch  granite,  but  finer,  and  not  permeated  with  the  "  pin  holes"  occur- 
ring in  that,  has  been  quite  extensively  quarried.  A  monument  of  this 
granite  exhibited  at  the  Centennial  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia,  in  1876,  re- 
ceived a  medal  and  diploma  "  for  the  good  quality  of  the  material." 

Pike's  pond  has  a  deposit  of  the  white  light  earth  sometimes  called  in- 
fusorial silica.  It  seems  to  be  distributed  over  the  entire  bottom  of  the 
pond,  is  known  to  be  three  feet  in  depth,  and  is  probably  much  more.  It 
is  of  excellent  quality,  and  the  quantity  sufficient  for  commercial  use. 

Many  people  have  taken  specimens  from  the  well-known  labradorite 


566  History  of  Coos  County. 


bowlders  of  this  town.     They  are  found  in  no  other  place  in  this  section, 
but  are  abundant  here. 

Stark  was  originally  Percy,  which  name  was  given  to  the  territory 
granted  August  3,  1774,  by  Gov.  John  Wentworth  to  Jacob  Walden  and 
others.  Percy  was  the  family  name  of  the  Duke  or  Earl  of  Northumber- 
land, and  one  of  the  family,  Rev.  Thomas  Percy,  was  at  that  time  chap- 
lain to  the  King.  This  probably  indicates  the  origin  of  the  name  inserted 
in  the  charter,  and  also  of  that  of  the  adjacent  town  of  Northumberland. 

Bound/ttyit  J  Given  in  f'<e  Oharter. — "  Beginning  at  a  red  birch  tree  in  the  north  side  of  Lancas- 
ter from  thence  running  north,  seventy-one  decrees  east,  six  mile?  and  seventy  rods  to  a  red  birch, 
the  southwesterly  corner  of  land  laid  out  for  Gen.  Winston,  thence  north,  eight  degrees  east,  six 
miles  and  forty  rods  to  a  beech,  the  northwesterly  corner  of  said  Winston's  location,  thence  north, 
eighty-tw  o  degrees  west,  five  hundred  and  seventy  rods  to  the  line  of  Stratford;  thence  south,  two 
degrees  east,  seven  hundred  and  fifty  rods  to  the  southwesterly  corner  of  said  Stratford,  thence 
o  'i  Hi,  fifty-five  degrees  west,  lour  miles  two  hundred  and  seventy  rods  to  a  spruce,  the  northeast- 
erly corner  of  Northumberland,  thence  south,  seven  degrees  west,  nine  miles  to  the  bounds  be- 
gan at." 

The  town  was  incorporated  as  "Piercy,"  January  9,  1705.  By  act 
passed  June  21,  1832,  the  tract  of  land  embraced  in  ranges  17,  18,  19  and 
20,  in  the  southeast  part  of  Stratford,  was  annexed  to  this  town,  and  on 
the  21st  of  December  of  the  same  year,  the  tract  of  land  granted  to  Gen. 
John  Wlnslow,  of  Marshfield,  Mass.,  October  21,  1773,  containing  5,060 
acres,  was  also  annexed  to  this  town.  By  an  act  passed  December  2S,  1832, 
the  name  of  the  town  was  changed  from  Piercy  to  Stark,  in  honor  of  Gen. 
John  Stark,  then  recently  deceased.  December  4,  1840,  a  tract  of  land 
owned  by  Elhanan  Winchester  was  severed  from  this  town  and  annexed 
to  Lancaster.  July  1,  1868,  a  small  tract  of  land  was  severed  from  Stark 
anil  annexed  to  Dummer. 

Petition  of  Incorporation:  addressed  to  tin  General  Court,  1794. — "  The  petition  of  the  sub- 
scribers Inhabitants  of  a  New  Township  called  Piercy  in  the  County  of  Grafton  State  aforesaid 
Humbly  Shews  — 

"  That  we  sd  subscribers  labouring  under  many  inconveniences  on  Account  of  our  Not  being 
vested  with  Town  Authority  by  Incorporation,  Not  only  in  laying  out  Roads,  and  establishing 
them  in  the  m  >sf  convenient  Routs,  but  many  other  inconveniences  to  the  great  detriment  and  pre- 
venting the  settlemeal  of  sd  New  Township—  Therefore  praying  that  the  Flon'bl  General  Court, 
would  Incorporate  sd  N~ew  Township  into  a  Town  by  the  Name  of  Piercy  as  afores'd  thereby 
ing  them  with  Town  privileges  as  other  Towns  in  the  State  by  Law  do  enjoy — And  as  in  duty 
Bound  will  ever  pray — 

" Piercy  May  10th  1791—  "Caleb  Smith        Elisha  Blake 

' '  Jonathan  Cole      Anthonj^  Cleff ord  Jun 
"  Barnard  Cole      Nath'll  Dodge 
"  Clafford  Cole      Peter  Leavitt 
"Edmund  Cole      James  Leavitt 
"  Abner  Clark        Peter  Leavitt  Jur 
"  Aaron  Jackson    Daniel  Miles 
"  Edward  Rowell  James  Massuere 
"  John  Waid         Dauiel  Rowell" 


Town  of  Stark.  567 


Names  of  Grantees  with,  lots  drawn  in  tsl  and  2d  Divisions:  Jacob  Walden,  152-136; Thomas 
Walden,  13-56;  Nath.  Tread  well,  Jr.,  130-169;  George  (Jains,  10-63;  Daniel  Lunt,  16-61;  Mark 
Sevey,  7-2-57;  Clement  March,  159-109;  Thomas  Ransom,  116-31;  Nehemiah  Rowell,  148-135; 
Phillip  Pendexter,  129-65;  Joshua  Crockett,  96-52;  Richard  Fitzgerald,  117-91;  John  Hard,  Esq., 
154-K):):  John  Sewarda,  Jr.,  12-9;  Jacob  Treadwell,  147-7;  George  Rogers  Treadwell,  18-47; 
Nath.  Treadwell,  35-119;  Frederic  Holm,  157-100;  Ammiruhamah  Cutler,  Esq.,  118-26;  Charles 
Cutler,  15-138;  Daniel  Cutler,  153-45;  Thos.  Martin,  Esq.,  123-68;  Joshua  Martin,  25-58;  Joseph 
Holbrook,  95-55;  John  Melcher,  2-75;  Jona.  M.  Sewall,  107-69;  William  Blunt,  155-83;  Stephen 
Somner,  21-137;  Francis  Little,  124-134;  Edward  Ayres,  34  89;  Samuel  Lear,  140-79;  John  Noble, 
151-38;  Daniel  Rindge  Rogers,  71-62;  Mark  Rogers,  74  80;  Bubartus  Neal,  32-44;  Jos.  Peverly, 
Esq.,  144-20;  Thos.  Peverly,  Jr.,  93-86;  Daniel  Spaulding,  110-1;  John  Sanborn,  139-48;  Wm. 
Marshall.  23-43;  Caleb  Marshall,  70-98;  Silas  Marshall,  105-54;  Eliphalel  Day,  131-67;  Moses  Da- 
vis, 121  ;;i):  Moses  Marshall,  94-81;  Jesse  Johnson,  113-50;  Stephen  Wells.  24-41;  Jesse  Johnson, 
Jr.,  128-99;  Moses  Bartlett,  106-82;  Jere.  Eames,  145-19;  Caleb  Johnson,  28-164;  John  Hodgdon, 
156-146;  Edmund  Morse,  162-29;  Reuben  Harriman,  127-78;  Sainl.  White.  Esq.,  3-66;  Benjamin 
Currier.  73-42:  James  Paul,  150-90;  Thomas  Burnside,  17-60;  James  Burnside,  22-40;  David  Bum- 
side,  33-85;  David  Paul,  141-51;  Aimer  Osgood,  122-164;  William  Moulton,  158-49;  Arthur  Wors- 
ter,  125-133;  Jacob  Tilton,  160-36;  Joseph  Moulton,  112-37,  and  Caleb  Toppan,  30-59:  Nathaniel 
Healy,  Esq  .  14-27;  Geo.  Walton,  Jr.,  115-50;  Jonas  Clark  March,  111-87;  Daniel  Humphreys, 
142-84;  Thomas  McDonough,  6-108;  Captain  John  Knight,  114-102;  William  Lee  Perkins,  11-120; 
William  Stanwood,  4-77;  Mark  Sanborn,  132-46;  Josiah  Bishop,  161-97;  Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq., 
5-143;  School  right,  126-104;  Glebe,  149-101. 

The  proprietors  organized  at  the  inn  of  Capt.  Jacob  Tilton,  in  Ports- 
mouth, November  22,  1774,  under  a  call  issued  by  Daniel  Warner,  J.  P., 
October  25,  1774.  Committees  were  appointed  at  this  meeting  to  "view*' 
the  town;  for  advising  the  best  method  of  settling;  for  agreeing  with  ten 
settlers,  "but  not  to  give  said  settlers  more  than  1,500  acres  of  land,  of 
which  also  not  more  than  150  acres  is  to  be  interval! ";  to  treat  with  the 
proprietors  of  Stratford  for  the  purchase  of  "  a  certain  gore  of  land  wh. 
will  accommodate  our  lines";  chose  Jacob  Treadwell  collector  to  collect  the 
tax  of  twenty  shillings  which  the  meeting  levied  on  each  original  right  to 
pay  charges  already  accrued.  February  17,  1779,  voted  "  that  there  be  10 
lots  of  L20  acres  of  good  land  surveyed  and  lotted  together  with  ten  lots  of 
Intervil  of  10  acres  each,  convenient  to  the  afore  said  lots  as  may  be,  which 
lots  are  to  be  given  to  the  first  10  persons  that  will  go  on  and  settle  in  said 
town;  also  that  5  lots  of*  100  acres  with  5  lots  of  Interval  of  10  acres  each 
be  allotted  as  aforesaid,  for  the  five  next  that  shall  go  on  and  settle,  and 
that  a  road  be  looked  out  from  Connecticut  river  into  said  town,  and 
cleared  to  and  through  said  lots  sufficient  for  a  loaded  horse  to  pass  well," 
and  committees  were  appointed  to  attend  to  these  matters,  and  "  also  to 
cause  to  be  fell  from  20  to  30  acres  of  trees  on  four  or  five  of  said  lots"; 
also  a  tax  of  $12  on  each  share  was  "raised."  The  next  day  the  proprie- 
tors voted  "to  Lay  out  15  upland  and  15  interval  lots  to  give  to  settlers," 
and  "if  said  committee  can  engage  some  good  man  with  property  to  conn 
whom  they  shall  think  will  much  facilitate  the  settlement  they  may  give 
such  a  person  as  much  land  as  the  majority  shall  think  proper."  June  15, 
1779,  Jacob  Treadwell  mak  ss  report:   "  he  had  proceeded  to  Northumber- 


568  History  of  Coos  County. 

land,  and  did  his  utmost  endeavors  previous  to  his  going  and  while  there 
but  could  not  effect  the  designed  purpose  (clear  a  road) :  that  he  had  made 
great  offers  to  persons  if  they  would  go  and  settle,  without  success,  by 
reason  of  the  very  great  demand  for  men  in  the  present  war — which, 
together  with  the  several  alarms  in  that  country,  put  it  totally  out  of  his 
power  to  comply  with  the  vote  of  the  Propriety  concerning  the  settle- 
ment of  the  town."  Caleb  Marshall  and  Jeremiah  Eames  had  sold  their 
i i Merest  shortly  before  this. 

July  29,  1783,  Jacob  Tread  well  appointed  to  agree  with  persons  to  the 
number  of  fifteen  to  settle  in  Percy,  reports  "  that  he  had  verbally  agreed 
with  nine  men,  each  to  fell  about  five  acres  of  trees  this  fall  and  to  clear 
and  cultivate  the  same  next  summer,  and  to  reside  on  the  premises  or 
some  person  or  persons  under  them,  said  settlers  to  have  120  acres  of 
upland  and  10  acres  of  interval."  Report  accepted  and  Capt.  William 
Marshall,  Joseph  Peverly,  Esq,  Thomas  Peverly,  and  Jacob  Treadwell 
made  a  committee  "  to  look  out  a  good  mill  stream,  and  obtain  the  best 
information  what  sum  of  money  or  quantity  of  land,  a  good  set  of  mills 
may  be  built  for  in  said  town." 

July  2:;,  1  7^7,  Jacob  Treadwell  reported  that  he  had  agreed  with  twenty- 
six  persons  to  settle;  additional  settlers  lots  were  laid  out  to  accommodate 
more  settlers;  voted  that  "the  report  of  Jacob  Treadwell  having  agreed 
with  Caleb  Smith  to  build  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  for  which  said  Smith  is  to 
have  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  upland  chosen  by  him  and  thirty 
acres  of  interval,  is  accepted,  and  that  said  Treadwell  cause  said  lands  to 
be  located  for  said  Smith";  to  cut  and  make  a  road  through  Percy;  voted 
"that  John  Cole  have  50  acres  of  upland  with  interval  not  exceeding  5 
acres,  as  a  gratuity  for  his  having  continued  in  Percy  these  3  last  years"; 
"that  Jacob  Treadwell  have  a  right  to  pitch  5  lots  of  100  acres  each  of 
upland,  and  a  proportionate  quantity  of  interval — to  be  his  first  division  of 
5  rights." 

November  26,  1787,  voted  "that  in  consideration  of  Elisha  Blake's  early 
moving  into  the  town  with  his  family  and  considerable  property,  it  is 
agreed  that  should  his  eldest  son  live  in  said  town  until  the  age  of  twenty  - 
one  years,  that  he  shall  be  entitled  to  .fifty  acres  of  upland  and  five  acres 
of  interval  in  said  town  upon  his  compliance  with  the  duty  of  a  settler." 
April  21,  1789,  voted  to  lay  a  tax  of  twelve  shillings  to  complete  the  road 
through  the  town,  and  to  finish  laying  out  lots  for  the  settlers;  that  Thomas 
Martin,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Daniel  K.  Rogers  execute  deeds  to  settlers;  that  Han- 
nah Cole  be  confirmed  in  all  the  land  voted  to  her  husband,  John  Cole,  pro- 
viding the  settling  duty  is  complied  with;  that  the  time  for  the  settlers 
going. into  the  town  be  prolonged  to  July  20,  1790.  February  11,  1790. 
The  proceedings  of  this  meeting  are  interesting.  This  preamble  and  vote 
was  the  first  action:  — 


Town  of  Stark.  5G9 


"  Whereas,  Mr.  Peter  Leavitt  engages  to  move  himself  and  family  into  the  town  the  ensuing 
spring;  and  making  application  for  settlers'  lots  for  three  of  his  sons  which  are  under  age;  voted 
that  each  of  said  sons  have  a  settlers'  lot  when  they  are  of  lawful  age,  on  their  complying  with  the 
duty  of  settlers,  provided  the  thirty  lots  voted  to  settlers  are  not  taken  up;  it  was  further  voted, 
that  Mr.  Daniel  Rowel's  son  Daniel  Rowell,  have  a  settlers  lot  on  same  conditions;  also,  that  Daniel 
B.  Rogers  send  Mr.  Rowel  the  sum  of  12  shillings  in  behalf  of  the  propriety,  he  having  the  first 
mah'  rhihl  horn  in  the  town." 

[Daniel  Rowell,  Jr.,  came  to  Stark  with  his  father,  and,  as  mentioned 
above,  although  under  age,  was  granted  a  lot,  and  in  1803  is  spoken  of  as 
a  resident  on  lot  16  The  child  for  whom  the  proprietors  sent  the  twelve 
shillings  to  Mr.  Rowell  was  born  January  20,  1700,  and  named  Piercy, 
after  the  town.] 

Business  in  forming  civilization  in  the  new  town  went  on  slowly  but 
steadily.  The  first  proprietors'  meeting  held  outside  of  Portsmouth  was  at 
Northumberland,  September  15,  1796,  at  the  house  of  Jeremiah  Eames. 
This  and  several  subsequent  meetings  were  occupied  with  arrangements  to 
settle  all  accounts;  to  give  deeds  to  actual  settlers;  to  complete  survey  of 
the  town  and  finish  laying  out  lots;  in  taxing  for  making  and  improving 
roads,  particularly  the  one  laid  out  from  Shelburne  to  Stratford.  Heze- 
kiah  Smith  is  made  clerk,  and  occupies  a  responsible  and  prominent  place 
on  committees  and  in  affairs.  October  2,  17i»'.»,  ;' voted  that  Emerson  Cole 
shall  have  100  acres  of  land,  one  half  of  which  he  has  bought  of  Abner 
Clark,  adjoining  the  land  of  Daniel  Rowel,  Jr.,  at  Ammonusick,  provided  he 
shall  continue  to  live  on  the  same  or  some  person  under  him  for  five  years, 
if  he  will  procure  Jere.  Eames,  Jr.,  to  lay  out  the  same  at  his  own  expense; 
also,  that  Elisha  Blake  shall  have  20  acres  given  him  on  the  rear  of  his  lot." 
January  3,  1803,  Hezekiah  Smith,  Joseph  Peverly,  Esq.,  and  Jonathan 
Rowel  were  chosen  committee  to  lay  out  the  town,  "  draughting  "  the  lots, 
and  drawing  the  same. 

A  few  meetings  were  held  after  the  above,  but  after  lSO-l  no  action  was 
taken  until  1872,  when  a  meeting  was  called  by  the  three,  Benjamin 
Thompson,  John  Eames,  John  M.  Whipple,  who  had  come  into  possesion 
of  the  proprietors'  land  yet  undivided,  and  James  W.  Weeks,  of  Lancas- 
ter, Adams  Tvvitchel,  of  Milan,  and  C.  E.  Benton,  of  Guildhall,  Vt.,  were 
chosen  to  divide  the  undivided  unappropriated  lands  between  them.  This 
was  done  August  4,  1872,  and  ended  the  history  of  the  original  propriety 
of  Percy. 


37 


570  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

Early  Set  l  k>rs— Residents  in  1803— Early  Births  and  Marriages — First  Town  Meeting— Extracts 
from  Records  in  Relation  to  Schools,  Roads,  Etc. — Civil  List. 

T"7  ABLY  Settlers. — John  Cole,  James  Massuere,  Edward  Rowell,  Caleb, 
\~lr   Isaac  and  Benjamin  Smith,  with  Elisha  Blake,  were  early  settlers. 

\;  Their  hardships  were  beyond  belief.  Elisha  Blake  drew  on  a  hand- 
sled  from  Barrington  to  Stark,  a  distance  of  over  a  hundred  miles,  a  heavy 
forty-gallon  kettle,  and  an  equal  weight  in  other  articles;  James  Massuere 
frequently  carried  forty  pounds  weight  on  his  back  the  same  distance. 

These  early  settlers  located  on  Beech  hill,  the  soil  was  warmer  and 
crops  not  so  liable  to  be  killed  by  frosts  as  on  the  uncleared  and  swampy 
intervals,  but  as  time  passed  and  improvements  became  general,  one  by 
one  the  old  homes  were  abandoned  for  the  more  fertile  valley  lands,  and, 
probably,  to-day,  the  lots  first  ' '  pitched  upon  "  would  be  considered  the 
least  desirable  locations.  Aunt  Hannah  Cole's  claim,  where  she  toiled  to 
make  a  home  after  the  early  death  of  her  husband,  is  valueless  and  aban- 
doned now. 

Settlers  in  Percy,  January,  1803. — John  Cole  on  lot  6;  Caleb  Smith,  25; 
Isaac  Smith.  12;  Daniel  Rowel,  11;  Elisha  Blake,  13;  Anthony  Clifford,  8; 
James  Massuere,  3;PeterLeavitt,  10;  Peter  Leavitt,  Jr.,  19;  Joseph  Lownd, 
2;  James  Leavitt,  1;  Daniel  Miles,  9;  Joseph  Leavitt,  18;  Nathaniel  Dodge, 
17;  James  Waid,  14;  John  Waid,  26;  Edward  Rowel,  23;  Thomas  Eames, 
15;  Jonathan  Cole,  20;  Barnard  Cole,  21;  Aaron  Jackson,  22;  Moses  Dustiu, 
21;  Thomas  Leavitt,  29;  Peter  Massuere,  27;  Benjamin  Smith,  7;  Robert 
Leavitt,  5;  Daniel  Rowell,  Jr.,  16;  Hannah  Cole,  1;  Hannah  Cole  (55  acres), 
28;  Abner  Clark  (40  acres),  30;  Abner  Clark  (50  acres),  31;  Abner  Clark 
(160  acres),  32. 

Early  Births  and  Marriages. — Piercy  Rowell,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
January  20,  1790.  Lydia,  daughter  of  same,  June  20,  1792.  Edward  and 
Abigail  Rowell  were  married  April  24,  1794.  Robert  Pike  and  Libby 
Smith  married  March  5,  1797.  Olive,  daughter  of  Abner  Clark,  was  born 
June  4,  17!>6.  Edmund  Cole  and  Judith  Rowell  married  April  9,  1797. 
Sarah,  born  March  28,  1790;  Lois,  born  October  15,  1791;  Marcy,  born  Sep- 
tember 17.  L793;  Rachel,  born  June  21,  1795;  Olive,  born  February  9,  1797; 
Alice,  born  November  11,  1798;  Almira,  August  26,  1800;  all  daughters  of 
Moses  Dustin.  Clifford  Cole  and  "  Jint"  Rowell  married  October  6,  1799. 
Children  of  Benjamin  Smith:  Sally,  born  April  1,  1787;  Nancy,  June  6, 
L789;  Benjamin,  March  2,  1792;  Nathan,  August  27,  1794;  Hannah,  Janu- 
ary 18,  1798.     Jared,  son  of  Abner  Clark,  born  February  5,  1800.     Jona- 


Town  of  Stark.  571 


than,  son  of  Jonathan  Rowell,  born  February  3,  1800.  John  Massuere, 
born  June  28,  1795;  Marcy,  June  8,  1797;  James,  August  23,  1799;  children 
of  James  Massuere.  Weedon,  son  of  Clifford  Cole,  born  October  20,  1800. 
Nancy,  born  August  10,  1799;  Eleanor,  born  January  7,  1802;  daughters  of 
Emerson  Cole.  Rev.  James  Tread  way  and  Elizabeth  Blake  married  May 
10,  1802. 

Piercy — Civil  List. — By  an  act  approved  January  9,  1795,  the  town  of 
Piercy  was  incorporated,  and  held  its  first  town  meeting  January  26, 1795, 
electing  Abner  Clark,  moderator;  Daniel  Rowell,  clerk;  Peter  Leavitt, 
Barnard  Cole,  David  Rowell,  selectmen. 

1795.  March  3.  The  animal  town  meeting  was  held.  Daniel  Rowell  was  elected  clerk;  Aaron  Jackson. 
Peter  Leavitt,  Caleb  Smith,  selectmen.  May  10,  a  meeting  was  called  to  nominate  a  suitable  person  to  the 
governor  for  appointment  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  Abner  Clark  was  recommended  and  duly  appointed. 

1796.  Abner  Clark,  town  clerk;  Abner  Clark,  Daniel  Miles,  Elisha  Blake,  selectmen.  Moses  Barker  re- 
ceives thirteen  votes  for  senator.  Voted  "  not  to  raise  any  money  for  schooling."  August  29,  a  committee 
was  chosen  "to  rectify  and  regulate  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  town  officers  from  the  incorporation." 

1797.  Abner  Clark,  clerk;  Abner  Clark,  Elisha  Blake,  Barnard  Cole,  selectmen;  voted  to  raise  eight  dol- 
lars in  cash  to  pay  town  debts. 

1798.  Abner  Clark,  clerk;  Abner  Clark,  Daniel  Rowell,  Elisha  Blake,  selectmen.  The  fifth  article  in  the 
warrant  calling  the  annual  town  meeting  reads:  "  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  pay  Rev.  Wm.  Treadway  for 
one  day's  preaching  out  of  the  town  treasury,"  and  he  is  voted  $3.33.  At  a  later  meeting  Ensign  Barnard 
Cole  is  voted  $2.67  for  a  copy  of  the  charter  of  the  town,  and  thirty-three  cents  for  postage  on  the  town 
books. 

1799.  Abner  Clark,  clerk;  Daniel  Miles,  Barnard  Cole,  John  Waid,  selectmen;  John  F.  Gilman  gets 
twenty-one  (all)  votes  for  governor.  At  a  meeting  called  on  April  1,  John  Waid  is  voted  "  disqualified  for  a 
selectman,"  and  Aaron  Jackson  chosen  in  his  place. 

1800.  Abner  Clark,  clerk  and  treasurer;  Aaron  Jackson,  Barnard  Cole,  Abner  Clark,  selectmen.  Voted 
"  to  raise  830  for  schooling  to  be  paid  in  rye,  wheat  or  Indian  corn."  Jonathan  Rowell  licensed  to  keep  a 
house  of  entertainment. 

1801.  Abner  Clark,  clerk  and  treasurer;  Edward  Rowell,  Samuel  Stone,  Jonathan  Rowell,  selectmen; 
twenty-two  votes  cast  for  governor.  Voted  "to  raise  $30  for  schooling  to  be  paid  in  wheat  at  6  shillings,  rye 
at  5  shillings  or  Indian  (corn)  at  i  shillings  per  bushel."  Divided  the  town  into  school  districts:  "from  the 
crotch  of  the  road  on  the  lot  called  Lunn'slot  westerly  over  Beach  Hill  to  form  the  west  district;  from  the  sd. 
crotch  of  sd.  road  easterly  to  the  top  of  Mill  mountain  on  the  road  to  form  the  middle  district;  from  the 
top  of  Mill  mountain  easterly  to  the  town  line  to  form  the  eastern  district." 

1802.  Abner  Clark,  clerk  and  treasurer;  Abner  Clark,  Edward  Rowell,  Samuel  Stone,  selectmen.  $120 
raised  for  highways;  $30  for  schools,  to  be  paid  in  wheat  at  one  dollar,  rye  eighty-three  cents,  Indian  corn 
sixty-six  cents.  Joseph  Blair  licensed  to  sell  liquors.  December  27  elected  Jonathan  Rowell  clerk;  Eli>ha 
Blake,  treasurer  and  selectman  in  place  of  Abner  Clark  who  removes  from  town. 

1803.  Jonathan  Rowell.  clerk;  Edward  Rowell,  Jonathan  Rowell,  James  Massuere,  selectmen.  John  T. 
Gilman  gets  seventeen  to  John  Langdon  two  votes  for  governor.  $120  for  highways,  $30  for  schools  raised 
this  year.     Jonathan  Rowell  recommended  for  justice. 

1804.  Daniel  Miles,  clerk  and  treasurer;  Daniel  Miles,  John  Waid,  Aaron  Jackson,  selectmen.  Abner 
Clark  and  Elisha  Blake  chosen  delegates  to  the  convention  at  Northumberland  meeting  house  concerning  the 
county  of  Coos.  The  most  valuable  settlers'  lots  are  No.  4,  valued  at  $300;  No.  5,  at  $200;  No.  6,  $200;  No. 
15,  $250.     Edward  Rowell  licensed  inn  keeper. 

1805.  Abner  Clark,  clerk;  Abner  Clark,  Daniel  Miles,  Robert  Pike,  selectmen.  Raised  $50  for  schooling. 
Elisha  Blake  chosen  grand  juror,  James  Blair  drawn  as  petit  juror. 

1806.  Samuel  Stone,  clerk;  Abner  Clark,  Aaron  Jackson,  James  Massuere,  selectmen.  $50  raised  for 
schools;  $30  to  procure  a  plan  of  the  town,  "waits  and  mashures,"  and  to  support  the  poor.  Capt.  Peter 
Harwood  licensed  to  sell  licpiors. 

1807.  Abner  Clark,  clerk;  Abner  Clark,  Timothy  Faulkner,  Edward  Rowell,  selectmen;  Voted  to  raise 
$75  for  schooling,  and  $210  for  building  school  houses. 


572  History  of  Coos  County. 


1808.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  James  Massuere.  Elisha  Blake,  Edward  Rowell,  selectmen.  Votes  for  gov- 
ernor, John  T.  Gilman,  Esq.,  seventeen,  John  Langdon.  one.  Raised  $100  for  schooling,  $150  for  roads  and 
bridges. 

1809.  Robert  Pike,  clerk;  Robert  Pike,  Joshua  Rowell,  Lewis  H.  Massuere,  selectmen. 

Inventory  of  Polls  and  Personal  Property,  1809. — Emerson  Cole,  one 
poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  one  acre  mowing,  one  of  arable  land.  Caleb 
Smith,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  one  acre  mowing  land.  Daniel  Row- 
ell, Jr.,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  five  young  cattle,  one  acre  each  past- 
ure, arable,  and  mowing.  Clifford  Cole,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  cows, 
three  young  cattle,  two  acres  mowing,  one  of  arable  land.  Edward  Rowell, 
one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  three  cows,  four  young  cattle,  three  acres 
pasture,  four  mowing,  two  arable.  Aaron  Jackson,  one  poll,  one  horse, 
two  oxen,  four  cows,  two  acres  pasture,  one  arable,  two  mowing  land. 
Abijah  Potter,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  five  cows,  three  young  cattle, 
three  acres  pasture,  four  mowing,  two  arable.  Abijah  Potter,  Jr.,  one 
horse,  two  acres  mowing.  Isaac  Hagar,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  acres 
mowing,  one  arable  land.  Robert  Pike,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen, 
two  cows,  one  acre  each  mowing  and  arable  land.  John  Waid,  one  poll, 
two  horses,  three  cows,  four  young  cattle,  three  acres  pasture,  two  each 
mowing  and  arable.  John  Blake,  one  poll,  two  horses,  one  cow,  three 
young  cattle.  Elisha  Blake,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  one  young  creat- 
ure, six  acres  of  mowing  and  tw^o  arable.  Dr.  Nathan  Cummings,  one 
poll,  three  horses,  two  cows,  one  young  creature,  nine  acres  pasture,  ten 
mowing,  four  arable.  Thomas  Minor,  one  poll,  one  horse,  one  cow.  David 
Dodge,  one  poll,  one  horse,  twro  oxen,  one  cow,  one  acre  mowing,  one 
arable  land.  Edmond  Cole,  one  poll,  one  colt,  two  oxen,  three  cows,  one 
young  creature,  two  acres  mowing  and  two  arable  land.  Capt.  Samuel 
Stone,  one  cow.  Benjamin  Smith,  one  poll,  one  horse,  one  colt,  two  oxen, 
one  cow,  five  young  cattle,  three  acres  pasture,  five  mowing,  two  arable. 
James  Leavitt,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  four  cows,  one  heifer. 
Peter  Leavitt,  Jr.,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  two  acres 
mowing.  Joseph  Leavitt,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  one  three-year-old, 
two  acres  mowing.  Jeremiah  Scates,  two  acres  mowing,  one  arable  land. 
Joshua  Rowell,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow.  Andrew  Cole,  one  poll,  one 
cow.  Anthony  Clifford,  one  poll,  one  horse,  one  cow,  one  acre  each  past- 
ure, mowing  and  arable  land.  Capt.  Daniel  Miles,  one  poll,  three  horses, 
two  oxen,  one  cow,  five  acres  pasture,  six  of  mowing,  one  of  arable  land. 
Thomas  Leavitt,  one  poll,  one  cow,  one  acre  of  mowing,  one  of  arable. 
Nathaniel  Leavitt.  one  poll,  one  cow,  two  young  cattle,  one  acre  each  mow- 
ing and  arable.  Peter  Massuere,  one  poll.  Lewis  H.  Massuere,  one  poll, 
two  oxen,  two  cows,  two  young  cattle,  tw^o  acres  mowing,  one  of  arable. 
Timothy  Faulkner,  one  poll,  one  cow,  two  acres  pasture,  three  mowing, 
one  arable.  James  Massuere,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  four  cows, 
three  acres  pasture,  three  mowing,  one  arable.   Nathaniel  Dodge,  one  poll, 


Town  of  Stark.  573 

one  cow,  one  acre  pasture.  Joseph  Lunn,  one  poll,  one  cow.  two  young 
cattle.  Peter  Leavitt,  one  poll,  one  cow.  Jacob  Puck,  two  oxen,  seven 
acres  pasture,  four  acres  mowing.  John  Leavitt,  2d,  one  poll,  two  horses. 
David  Page.     The  resident  county  tax  is  $31.52;  the  town  tax  $7.38. 

1810.  Edward  Howell,  clerk;  Edward  Rowell,  James  Massuere,  James  Leavitt,  selectmen.  $100  each 
raised  for  schools  and  reads.  Eplrraim  Mclntire  licensed  innkeeper.  Edward  Rowell  receives  $6.54  for 
services  as  selectman  and  town  clerk.  James  Massuere  and  James  Leavitl  each  for  services  as  selectmen, 
$3.00. 

1811.  Edward  Rowell.  clerk;  Abijah  Potter,  Daniel  Miles.  Elisha  Blake,  selectmen.  Politics  have 
changed  surprisingly.  John  Langdon  gets  twenty-one  votes  for  governor,  to  Jeremiah  Smith  fourteen.  Have 
the  heavy  creditors  of  individuals  concluded  to  keep  their  influence  out  of  town  on  election  days?  School 
tax,  district  No.  1,  812.81;  No.  2,  818.46;  No.  3,  89.29.  December  19,  Edward  Rowell  chosen  selectman  in 
place  of  Daniel  Miles  absent  from  town. 

1812.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Joshua  Rowell,  Robert  Pike,  Edward  Powell,  selectmen.  $60  for  schools; 
$120  for  highways. 

1813.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Daniel  Rowell,  James  Leavitt,  Ebenezer  Holmes,  selectmen.  870  for 
schools;  8120  roads  and  bridges. 

1814.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Daniel  Rowell,  Ebenezer  S.  Sanborn.  Ebenezer  Holmes,  selectmen. 

1815.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Edward  Rowell,  James  Massuere,  Ebenezer  K  Sanborn,  selectmen.  Raised 
$120  for  roads;  880  for  schools;  $30  for  town  expenses. 

1816.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Daniel  Miles,  Reuben  Mclntire,  Sylvanus  Robbins,  selectmen.  Raised  $100 
each  for  schools  and  roads.  Robert  Pike  chosen  selectman  in  April,  in  place  of  Daniel  Miles,  absent  from 
town. 

1817.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Daniel  Rowell,  Jr.,  Aaron  Jackson,  Jr.,  Abijah  Potter,  Jr.,  selectmen.  8100 
each  raised  for  schools  and  roads. 

1818.  Abijah  Potter,  clerk;  Daniel  Rowell,  Jr..  James  Massuere,  Aaron  Jackson,  Jr.,  selectmen.  Voted 
$100  each  for  roads  and  schools. 

1819.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  DanielRowe.il,  Jr.,  Aaron  Jackson,  Jr.,  James  Massuere,  selectmen.  $150 
for  roads;  $100  for  schools. 

1820.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  John  Blake,  James  Massuere,  Edward  Rowell,  selectmen.  Raised  $100  for 
schools;  $150  for  roads. 

1821.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Abijah  Potter,  Jr.,  Daniel  Rowell,  Jr.,  Edinond  Cole,  selectmen. 

1822.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Abijah  Potter,  Jr.,  John  Blake,  Daniel  Rowell,  selectmen.  Raised  $120  for 
roads;  $100  for  schools;  $25  town  expenses. 

1823.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Daniel  Rowell,  Jr.,  John  Blake.  Daniel  Miles,  James  Massuere,  David 
Hines,  selectmen.  $100  for  highways  and  bridges;  $60  for  schools. 

1824.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Edward  Rowell,  John  Waid,  Jr.,  Clark  McFarland,  selectmen.  Voted  to 
set  off  a  school  district  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ammonoosuc;  to  raise  $125  for  highways. 

1825.  Edward  Rowell,  clerk;  Edward  Rowell,  Abijah  Potter,  Jr.,  Aaron  Potter,  selectmen.  Several 
paupers  are  being  supported  by  the  town. 

1826.  Aaron  Potter,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Moses  Jackson,  David  Hines,  selectmen. 

1827.  Aaron  Potter,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Abijah  Potter,  David  Hinds,  selectmen. 

1828.  Aaron  Potter,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Daniel  Rowell,  Robert  Pike,  selectmen. 

1829.  Aaron  Potter,  clerk;  Daniel  Rowell,  Aaron  Potter.  Asa  Stone,  selectmen. 

1830.  Aaron  Potter,  clerk;  Abijah  Potter,  Jr.,  Joshua  Cole,  Benj.  Cole,  selectmen.  A  portion  of  Strat- 
ford is  added  to  the  town.  8200  highway  money  raised. 

1831.  Aaron  Potter,  clerk;  Joshua  Cole,  Aaron  Potter,  Benjamin  Cole,  selectmen. 

1832.  Aaron  Potter,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Solomon  Cole,  Benjamin  Cole,  selectmen.  Voted  to  lay  out 
road  around  Mill  mountain  and  Cole  hill. 

Stark.—  Officers  and  action  of  Town: — 

1833.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Solomon  Cole,  Harwood  Pike,  selectmen. 

1834.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Harwood  Pike,  Aaron  J.  Smith,  Aaron  Potter,  selectmen.  $400  for  high- 
ways; $180  for  town  debts.  School  districts  5,  6  and  7  formed.  School  house  voted  to  be  erected  in  district 
No.  4,  near  the  foot  of  the  long  hill. 

1835.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Solomon  Cole,  William  G.  Hodgdon,  selectmen.  Voted  8200 
town  charges;  $300  for  roads  and  bridges;  $200  to  build  the  Mill  mountain  road. 


574  History  of  Coos  County. 

1836.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Solomon  Cole,  Harwood  Pike,  William  C.  Hodgdon,  selectmen.  School 
district  No.  8  formed  from  No.  2. 

1837.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Harwood  Pike,  George  W.  Rowell,  Stephen  Cole,  selectmen.  $450  raised 
for  roads. 

1838.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Abijah  Potter,  Jr.,  Andrew  Cole,  Jr.,  selectmen. 

1839.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Solomon  Cole,  Aaron  Potter,  Justus  Potter,  selectmen.  Raised  $175  for 
town  expenses  and  debts;  $800  for  highways,  $75  of  this  to  be  expended  in  building  bridges  near  Samuel 
Stone's  and  Aaron  J.  Smith's. 

1840.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Solomon  Cole,  Benjamin  Cole,  selectmen. 

1841.  A.  J.  Smith, clerk;  Solomon  Cole,  H.  Pike,  Joel  Hinds,  selectmen. 

1842.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Abiathar  Pike,  Moses  Jackson,  selectmen. 

1843.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Moses  Jackson,  Solomon  Cole,  Aaron  Potter,  selectmen. 

1844.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  Moses  Jackson,  C.  Perkins,  J.  Blake,  selectmen. 

1845.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  Harwood  Pike,  Clifford  Cole,  Jr.,  Levi  Rowell,  selectmen. 

1846.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  Aaron  J.  Smith,  Levi  Rowell,  Joseph  Hinds,  selectmen. 

1847.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  Aaron  Potter,  Joseph  Hinds,  John  Massuere,  selectmen. 

1848.  Harwood  Pike,  clerk;  A.  J.  Smith,  John  Massuere,  Leonard  Potter,  selectmen. 

1849.  Harwood  Pike,  clerk:  Solomon  Cole,  Charles  Rowell,  Calvin  Perkins,  selectmen. 

1850.  S.  Cole,  clerk;  Moses  Jackson,  Calvin  Perkins,  Aaron  J.  Smith,  selectmen. 

1851.  S.  Cole,  clerk;  Harwood  Pike,  Moses  Jackson,  Aaron  J.  Smith,  selectmen. 

1852.  S.  Cole,  clerk;  James  G.  Summers,  Harwood  Pike,  Sylvester  Cole,  selectmen. 

1853.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  A.  J.  Smith,  S.  Cole,  E.  Hinds,  selectmen. 

1854.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  S.  Cole,  J.  A.  Pike,  VV.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1855.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  Levi  Rowell,  Aaron  J.  Smith,  Luke  Cole,  selectmen. 

1856.  Solomon  Cole,  clerk;  Luke  Cole.  Harwood  Pike,  Sylvester  Cole,  selectmen. 

1857.  Aaron  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole,  Luke  Cole,  Aaron  A.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1858.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk:  Aaron  J.  Smith,  Solomon  Cole,  Woodbury  Cole,  selectmen. 

1859.  A.  J.Smith,  clerk;  Harwood  Pike,  Woodbury  Cole,  Lorenzo  D.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1860.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Woodbury  Colo,  Solomon  Cole,  Moses  Jackson,  selectmen. 

1861.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;    Solomon    Cole,  Luke  Cole,  Nehemiah  Cole,  selectmen. 

1862.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Solomon  Cole,  Nehemiah  Cole,  W.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1863.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk:  Harwood  Pike,  Andrew  Cole,  Aaron  A.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1864.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Harwood  Pike,  S.  Cole,  Luke  Cole,  selectmen. 

1865.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  S.  Cole,  Solomon  Cole,  Woodbury  Cole,  selectmen. 

1866.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Woodbury  Cole,  J.  A.  Pike,  Luke  Cole,  selectmen. 

1867.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Nehemiah  Cole,  Luke  Cole,  Aaron  A.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1868.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole,  Woodbury  Cole,  Joseph  A.  Pike,  selectmen. 

1869.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole,  J.  A.  Pike,  Dexter  Cole,  selectmen. 

1870.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  J.  A.  Pike,  Woodbury  Cole.  Daniel  Cole,  selectmen. 

1871.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  W.  Cole,  J.  A.  Pike,  D.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1872.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole.  J.  A.  Pike,  G.  M.  Smith,  selectmen. 

1873.  Dexter  Cole,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole,  B.  Thompson,  Silas  Cole,  selectmen. 

1874.  Dexter  Cole,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole,  B.  Thompson,  Silas  Cole,  selectmen. 

1875.  L.  F.  Henry,  clerk;  B.  Thompson,  E.  R.  Forbush,  Silas  Cole,  selectmen. 

1876.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Nehemiah  Cole,  Woodbury  Cole,  Silas  Cole,  selectmen. 

1877.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  J.  A.  Pike,  Woodbury  Cole,  F.  T.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1878.  Albert  Thompson,  clerk;  J.  A.  Pike,  George  S.  Blake,  F.  T.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1879.  Albert  Thompson,  clerk;  J.  A.  Pike,  George  S.  Blake,  F.  T.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1880.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  J.  A.  Pike,  N.  E.  Hinds,  F.  T.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1881.  A.J.  Smith,  clerk;  J.  A.  Pike,  N.  E.  Hinds.  Sylvester  Cole,  selectmen. 

1882.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole,  E.  R.  Forbush,  Seth  Cole,  selectmen. 

1883.  A.  J.  Smith,  clerk;  Sylvester  Cole,  N.  E.  Hinds,  Seth  Cole,  selectmen. 

1884.  W.  T.  Pike,  clerk;  J.  A.  Pike.  L.  F.  Hervey,  C.  A.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1885.  L.  F.  Hervey,  clerk;  W.  T.  Pike,  G.  S.  Blake,  C.  A.  Cole,  selectmen. 

1886.  L.  F.  Hervey.  clerk;  W.  T.  Pike.  G.  S.  Blake,  Milton  I.  Cole,  selectmen. 

Bepresentatives.  [For  classed  representatives,  see  county  history.]  1872,  James  A.  Pike;  1873,  Albert 
Thompson;  1874,  Woodbury  Cole;  1875,  Albert  Thompson;  1876,  Sylvester  Cole;  1877.  Sylvester  Cole;  1878, 
Joseph  A.  Pike;  1879-81,  George  M.  Smith;  1881-83,  George  M.  Smith;  1883-85,  Ephraim  R.  Forbush;  1885-87, 
Freeman  T.  Potter;  1887-89,  Andrew  Jackson. 


Town  of  Stark.  575 


CHAPTER  LX. 

Union  Church— Missionaries— Schools  ami  Districts— Town  Hall— Town  Library-  Action  of 
Town  in  the  Rebellion — Lumber — Business  Interests — Brief  Sketches. 

UNION  Church. — Not  long  after  the  coming  of  the  railroad  the  citi- 
zens of  Stark  decided  to  build  a  church.  Solomon  Cole,  Benjamin 
Thompson  and  Andrew  Cole  were  chosen  building  committee,  and 
business  was  carried  on  rapidly.  The  church  was  soon  completed,  and 
was  the  finest  church  for  the  cost  (about  $1,050)  ever  put  up  in  the  county. 
It  was  not  built  by  any  denomination,  and  is  controlled  entirely  by  the 
pew-owners.  It  will  seat  250  comfortably,  and  services  have  been  held 
regularly  most  of  the  time  since  its  erection,  principally  by  Methodists 
and  Free  Will  Baptists.  Rev.  Clifford  Cole  of  the  latter  church  did  good 
service  as  preacher  for  many  years.  A  Sunday-school  of  from  fifty  to 
sixty  scholars  is  conducted  through  the  year. 

The  original  Christian  element  of  the  town  was  Congregational.  As 
early  as  1810  a  church  of  that  belief  was  formed  with  seven  members,  but 
it  never  assumed  large  proportions  nor  influence. 

Missionaries. — Rev.  Royal  M.  Cole,  son  of  Solomon  Cole,  a  graduate  of 
Bangor  (Me.)  Theological  seminary,  went  as  missionary  to  Turkey  in 
August,  1868,  and  has  been  in  active  and  continuous  service  in  that  field 
ever  since. 

John  W.  Cole,  brother  of  the  above,  graduated  at  Bangor  Theological 
seminary  in  1862,  and  had  made  preparations  to  go  to  California  as  a  mis- 
sionary, but  died  shortly  after  his  graduation.  Elvira  Cole,  of  the  same 
family,  graduated  at  Mt.  Holyoke  (Mass.)  seminary  in  1870,  married  Rev. 
Nelson  Cobleigh,  and  accompanied  him  as  missionary  to  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington Territory,  where  she  is  now  connected  with  the  management  of 
Whitman  college,  Walla  Walla,  W.  T. 

Schools,  Districts,  etc. — The  people  of  Stark  have  ever  felt  a  deep  in- 
terest in  education.  Some  of  the  actions  of  the  town  meetings  are  told 
in  brief  and  meager  language  on  the  town  records,  but  it  is  the  unwritten 
that  most  shows  the  difficulties  surrounding  the  acquisition  of  knowledge 
dispensed  in  the  early  log  school-house  situated  at  a  long  distance  from 
many  of  the  primitive  homes,  but  a  good  intellectuality  was  developed; 
and  in  later  years  the  children  of  the  parents  educated  in  these  primitive 
days  were  given  advantages  of  learning  of  which  their  parents  had  no  con- 
ception in  their  youth,  but  no  school  of  a  higher  grade  than  the  common 
school  has  flourished  in  the  town.  The  town  was  early  divided  into  school 
districts.     [See  extracts  from  records.]     Later  divisions  were  as  follows: 


576  History  of  Coos  County. 


At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1846,  a  committee  previously  appointed  to 
district  the  town  made  a  report  dividing  the  town  into  nine  districts,  the 
boundaries  of  which  are  duly  spread  upon  the  town  record  book.  In  1879 
Joseph  A.  Pike,  George  S.  Blake  and  Freeman  T.  Potter,  as  a  committee 
of  the  town,  re- arranged  the  school  districts,  constituting  eight;  and  the 
educational  plan  thereafter  existing  has  continued  substantially  the  same 
until  the  present. 

In  1876  these  rules  were  adopted  for  the  schools: — 

"School-rooms  shall  be  kept  warm  and  clean,  and  teachers  in  their  discretion  require  scholars 
to  kindle  fires  and  sweep  school-rooms.  Scholars  shall  be  responsible  to  teachers  for  any  miscon- 
duct in  going  to  or  returning  from  school,  except  when  in  the  immediate  care  of  their  parents, 
masters,  or  guardians.  No  profane  swearing,  obscene  or  vulgar  language  or  expressions  will  be 
allowed  to  be  used  in  or  about  the  school-houses  or  grounds." 

The  penalty  for  a  "  willful  offense"  of  these  rules  was  expulsion  from 
the  school  and  its  benefits. 

Town  Hall. — At  the  annual  meeting  in  1846  it  was  voted  to  build  a 
town-house  "near  the  bridge  on  the  south  road,  near  Clifford  Cole,  Jr.'s"; 
the  site  to  be  selected  by  a  committee  of  nine— one  from  each  highway 
district— Daniel  Rowell,  Solomon  Cole,  John  Massuere,  Abiathar  Pike, 
Ezra  Hinds,  Weeden  Cole,  Moses  Jackson,  John  Roberts,  and  Joshua 
Lunn,  and  $300  was  voted  for  the  purpose.  The  neat  and  commodious 
town  hall  on  its  pleasant  situation  was  the  outgrowth  of  this  movement. 

Town  Library.— In  July,  1873,  a  movement  was  made  for  a  library  for 
the  use  of  the  people.  A  subscription  paper  was  circulated,  and  very  soon 
the  handsome  sum  of  §328  was  raised  for  the  purchase  of  books,  and  the 
"Stark  Library  Association"  formed.  In  the  call  for  the  annual  meeting 
of  March,  1874,  the  eleventh  article  in  the  warrant  read  "to  see  what  ac- 
tion the  town  will  take  with  regard  to  a  town  library";  and  it  was  voted 
"to  accept  the  library  of  the  Association  now  existing,  and  to  pay  $100  a 
year"  for  its  benefit.  Albert  Thompson  was  appointed  librarian;  Albert 
Thompson,  W.  T.  Pike,  and  Joshua  Rowell  chosen  to  purchase  books.  The 
town  voted  $100  annually  for  some  time  thereafter,  and  of  late  years  has 
appropriated  $50  a  year  for  the  benefit  of  the  library.  This  library  has 
been  well  patronized,  has  wrought  a  perceptibly  good  work  among  the 
community,  and  now  consists  of  over  1,200  well  selected  volumes.  George 
P.  Rowell,  of  the  Percy  Summer  Club,  gave  to  the  town  recently  about 
seventy  fine  books  for  the  town  library.     Electa  M.  Pike  is  the  librarian. 

Action  of  Town  in  the  Rebellion.  Monk  11,  1862.— Voted  that  $100  of  money  already  raised 
be  applied  if  necessary  to  the  support  of  families  of  volunteers,  to  be  appropriated  under  and  in 
accordance  with  law. 

August  80,  1862.  Voted  to  raise  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  pay  to  each  soldier  the  sum  of 
$100,  who  may  volunteer  for  three  years  to  be  paid  on  his  being  mustered  into  U.  S.  service,  until 
the  quota  of  three  years  men  from  this  town  shall  be  obtained;  also,  to  include  all  those  that  en- 
listed on  or  since  the  13th  day  of  August  instant;  also,  to  pay  to  each  volunteer  for  nine  month* 


Town  of  Stark.  .-77 


$50  on  his  being  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service  until  the  nine  months  men  shall  be  obtained;  also, 
instructed  the  selectmen  to  borrow  the  necessary  money. 

March  10,  1863.     Voted  to  pay  Daniel  Potter  $50  to  make  up  $100  the  same  as  other  t  hree 
year  soldiers. 

December  5,  1863.  Voted  to  pay  to  the  men  that  have  been  drafted  and  provided  substitutes 
$300  each,  including  the  $100  voted  at  a  previous  meeting,  and  to  extend  the  same  bounty  of  $300 
to  all  that  may  be  hereafter  drafted,  and  actually  serve  either  in  person  or  by  a  substitute;  to  be 
paid  in  ten  days  after  they  have  been  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  provided  it  be  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war:  also  voted  to  pay  $100  to  each  volunteer  from  this  tbne  to  the  fourth  day 
of  January  next  or  until  the  town  quota  is  filled;  also  instructed  the  selectmen  to  "cash"  the 
state  and  United  States  bounties;  also  chose  Aaron  J.  Smith  agent  to  fill  the  quota  of  eight  men  by 
volunteers  or  substitutes. 

August  29,  1864.  Instructed  the  selectmen  to  pay  volunteers  or  substitute?  for  drafted  men, 
substitutes  for  enrolled  men.  and  representative  substitutes  for  citizens  not  enrolled  for  one  year, 
$100;  voted  to  pay  to  drafted  men  mustered  into  U.  S.  service  $200;  also  authorized  the  selectmen 
to  pay  to  citizens  enlisting  for  the  term  of  one  year  $500  as  soon  as  mustered  into  service  and 
credited  to  Stark. 

January  19,  1865.  Voted  to  pay  volunteers  from  Stark  to  fill  the  quota  on  the  last  call  for 
troops  $500  to  each  for  one  year  until  the  quota  is  filled,  and  the  selectmen  are  authorized  to  hire 
the  necessary  money  for  all  expenses  conneced  with  this. 

March  14,  1865.  Voted  to  indemnify  the  selectmen  for  filling  the  quota  under  the  last  call  for 
volunteers. 

Lumber. — Manufacturing  has  been  the  chief  business  of  the  town  since 
the  completion  of  the  railroad,  and  the  pine  and  spruce,  which  until  then 
had  no  value  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  transportation,  have  been 
rapidly  cut  off.  The  veteran  surveyor,  A.  J.  Pike,  says  that  over  100,000,- 
000  feet  of  spruce  has  already  been  cut.  Mills  were  soon  erected,  and  both 
steam  and  water  were  taxed  to  aid  in  the  production  of  lumber.  The  sup- 
ply still  exists  in  large  quantities,  millions  of  feet  of  spruce  having  been 
cut  during  the  past  winter.  The  pine,  however,  which  at  first  stood  thickly 
in  the  valleys  of  the  western  part  of  the  town,  was  long  ago  used  up. 
Agriculture  has  been  somewhat  neglected  during  this  episode  of  making 
lumber,  but  many  valuable  farms  exist  along  the  streams  on  the  produc- 
tive intervals,  and  the  condition  of  the  town  is  prosperous. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  are  represented  in  the  families  living  here 
to-day.  The  Coles  are  numerous  and  are  valuable  and  well-to  do  citizens; 
the  Smiths  are  also  men  of  substance,  enterprise,  and  intelligence;  the 
Potters  are  among  the  solid  and  substantial  people,  and  quite  numerous; 
the  Rowells  have  been  well  represented  from  the  time  of  the  birth  of  the 
first  son  of  the  town — Piercv  Rowell. 

Among  other  families  now  for  a  long  time  settlers  and  residents  that 
have  had  much  to  do  with  forming  the  course  of  events,  business  and  pub- 
lic affairs,  are  the  Pike  and  Thompson  families.  As  business  men  and 
public  spirited  citizens  they  have  done  their  full  share. 

Business  Interests. — The  Thompsons  were  early  settlers  of  Berlin  (which 
see).  In  1S53  Benjamin  Thompson  purchased  the  mill  privilege  on  the 
Ammonoosuc,  at  Stark,  built  a  water  mill,  and  conducted  it  for  some  years, 


578  History  of  Coos  County. 

employing  from  twenty  to  thirty  men.  He  sold  to  Cobb  &  Sturtevant, 
who  soon  sold  to  other  parties;  the  latter  put  in  steam  power  and  enlarged 
the  mill.  Charles  E.  Dole  is  the  present  owner,  and  from  forty  to  fifty 
men  are  employed.  Albert  Thompson,  son  of  Benjamin,  is  an  extensive 
and  prosperous  lumberman  in  Pennsylvania. 

In  1867  Sumner  W.  Thompson  was  postmaster,  Edmund  Green,  mer- 
chant, Benjamin  Thompson,  manufacturer  of  lumber. 

In  1877  the  merchants  were  Edmund  Green,  John  Thompson;  the  manu- 
facturers of  lumber,  Sylvester  Cole,  Dexter  Cole.  E.  Hinckney  &  Co.,  J. 
M.  Pike,  and  Milan  Steam  Mill  Co.  Postmasters,  Stark,  Clifford  Cole; 
Starkwater  Station,  G.  W.  Perkins. 

In  1887  there  are  several  mills  for  making  lumber.  Dole  &  Stewart 
manufacture  by  steam  and  water-power,  at  Stark  station,  dimension  lum- 
ber, laths,  shingles,  clapboards  and  pickets  to  the  amount  of  7,000,000 
feet  annually;  Milan  Steam  Mill  (F.  A.  Pitcher)  dimension  lumber,  laths, 
clap-boards  and  pickets,  5, 000, 000 feet  per  annum;  Burney,  Rumery&Co., 
steam  mill,  1,000,000  feet.  Andrew  Jackson  has  a  shingle-mill  producing 
o.DOojKio  shingles  annually,  and  a  grist-mill,  both  run  by  water-power; 
Baldwin  &  Smith  run  shingle  and  grist-mills,  and  produce  3,000,000 
shingles  yearly.  James  Baldwin  &  Co/s  bobbin  mill,  carried  on  by  J.  H. 
Bowles  &  Co.,  use  about  3,000  cords  of  hard  wood  yearly.  The  saw-mills 
have  planing  machines  connected.  Sumner  W.  Thompson  carries  on  manu- 
facturing both  in  Stark  and  Dummer,  and  does  an  extensive  business. 
George  M.  Smith,  Sylvester  Cole,  and  W.  T.  Pike,  engage  extensively 
winters  in  cutting  and  drawing  timber. 

Merchants. — George  M.  Smith,  A.  G.  Peabody  &  Co.,  Andrew  Jackson, 
George  P.  Ockington,  M.  T.  Thurston. 

Breeders  of  Fine  Horses. — J.  A.  &  W.  T.  Pike. 

Recently  the  culture  of  strawberries  has  been  commenced  by  Norris 
Hinds  with  flattering  indications  of  great  success. 

Of  the  first  settlers  Caleb  and  Benjamin  Smith  were  well  fitted  for  pio- 
neers in  this  section.  Both  were  strong,  sinewy  men,  active  and  indus- 
trious. They  came  here  from  Boscawen  in  1785.  At  one  time,  Caleb 
Smith  wagered  that  he  could  bring  three  bushels  of  wheat  on  his  shoulder 
from  Northumberland  Falls  to  Beech  hill,  a  distance  of  nine  miles,  with 
the  privilege  of  stopping  to  rest  once,  and  won  the  wager.  On  seeing 
a  number  of  salmon  in  the  Ammonoosuc  river  where  it  runs  through  Stark, 
there  being  no  dams  then  to  keep  the  fish  from  running  up  river,  he  shot 
three  of  them,  one  of  which  weighed  twenty-seven  pounds.  His  name  ap- 
pears first  on  the  petition  for  incorporation  in  I7i>4.  Benjamin  Smith  built 
the  first  house  on  a  hillside  at  the  center  of  the  town,  near  the  Ammonoo- 
suc river.  It  is  related  that  a  sheriff  came  over  to  arrest  him  for  a  small 
-debt.     The  sheriff  took  hold  of  Mr.  Smith,  who  started  homeward.     The 


Town  of  Stark.  579 


sheriff  kept  his  hold  upon  Mr.  Smith  and  once  sprang  upon  him,  hut  he 
continued  his  home  journey  at  a  rapid  gait,  leaping  five-foot  fences,  and 
clearing  everything  that  came  in  his  way  until  the  sheriff,  completely  ex- 
hausted, gave  up  his  game,  and  never  renewed  the  attempt  at  capture. 
His  son,  Jeremiah  E.  Smith,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  and  useful 
citizen.  He  died  in  1885.  His  son  and  heir.  George  M.  Smith,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Stark,  has  represented  his  town  in  the  legislature,  and  is  an  active 
business  man. 

Joseph  Leavitt,  an  old  settler,  was  a  great  hunter  and  trapper,  and  an 
exceedingly  courageous  man.  Once,  in  the  depths  of  the  forest,  he  found 
he  was  stealthily  pursued  by  a  panther,  and  knowing  that  the  attack  was  a 
matter  of  life  and  death,  he  turned  back  on  his  tracks  and  met  the  animal — 
a  powerful  one — shot  at  him,  and  was  ready,  with  a  bullet  in  his  teeth,  to 
load  and  fire  again;  but  the  first  shot  had  been  an  effectual  one,  and  the 
panther  lay  lifeless  before  him.  These  old  hunters  were  very  valuable 
auxiliaries  in  new  and  unsettled  regions,  and  the  people  retired  to  their 
rest  with  a  feeling  of  security,  when  they  were  near  to  protect  them  from 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest.  Joshua  Eoberts,  a  great  bear  and  moose 
hunter,  was  out  at  one  time  with  his  dog  without  his  gun.  His  dog  chased 
a  bear  into  the  swamp,  where  a  fierce  battle  ensued.  Mr.  Roberts,  think- 
ing the  odds  might  be  in  favor  of  the  bear,  rushed  in,  grasped  the  animal 
and  captured  him  alive. 

As  the  Cole  family  has  been  so  conspicuous  in  the  town,  and  served  so 
many  continuous  years  in  its  public  offices,  a  few  words  relative  to  the 
origin  of  the  family  in  America  will  doubtless  be  of  interest  to  its  mem- 
bers. James  Cole,  the  first  of  the  name  in  New  England,  came  to  the 
Plymouth  Colony  in  its  early  days,  and  his  name  appears  on  the  first  list  of 
freemen  recorded  in  1633.  The  family  is  an  old  and  honored  one,  was 
strongly  patriotic,  and  some  of  the  members  served  in  the  Revolution. 

Robert  Pike,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Betsey  (Bush)  Pike,  born  at  Ports- 
mouth, December,  1766,  came  to  Stark  in  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century.  His  father,  Nathaniel,  was  an  officer  on  a  privateersman  in  the 
Revolution,  and  was  put  in  charge  of  a  prize  that  he  brought  into  Ports- 
mouth. Robert  Pike  had  a  farm  in  the  eastern  part  of  Stark,  on  which  his 
grandson,  Joseph  A.,  now  resides.  He  served  as  selectman  and  town  clerk. 
He  married  Deborah  Smith.  Harwood  Pike,  son  of  Robert,  was  born 
January  11,  1808.  He  was  a  farmer,  carpenter,  school-master,  surveyor, 
and  a  scholarly  man  of  unusual  ability.  He  had  a  remarkable  memory, 
was  well-read  in  history  and  the  classics,  and  was  able  to  give  information 
on  many  subjects,  and  was  accurate  in  dates  of  events.  He  was  a  life-long 
Jacksonian  Democrat  and  his  official  positions  were  all  that  were  within 
the  gift  of  his  townsmen.  He  was  representative  two  terms,  and  twice 
delegate  to  constitutional  conventions;  county  commissioner  three  years. 


580  History  of  Coos  County. 


He  was  six  feet  in  height,  straight  as  an  arrow,  and  bore  himself  with  gen- 
tlemanly dignity.  His  wife  was  a  Cole.  He  died  in  1871.  His  son,  Joseph 
A.  Pike,  has  been  first  selectman  of  Stark  many  years;  representative  two 
terms;  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention;  and  was  a  prominent 
candidate  before  the  Democratic  convention  of  1SS6  for  state  senator. 
William  T.  Pike,  youngest  son  of  Harwood  Pike,  has  been  selectman, 
clerk,  etc.  He  was  sheriff  of  Coos  county  from  1879  until  1883  inclusive, 
his  re-election  proving  his  efficiency  in  official  duties.  Mr.  Pike  succeeds 
S.  G.  Hannaford  in  charge  of  the  Coos  county  alms-house  and  farm. 

Aaron  Jackson  Smith,  born  December  3,  1810,  married,  first,  Lucinda 
Cole;  second,  Louisa  Cole.  He  died  June  T,  1881.  He  was  for  many  terms 
selectman,  thirty  years  consecutively  town  clerk,  also  town  treasurer,  on 
the  board  of  school  committee,  representative  and  county  treasurer.  He 
was  a  fine  mathematician,  a  good  school  teacher  and  a  very  valuable  man 
in  the  community. 


Coos  County, 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


History  of  Towns. 


CONNECTICUT  VALLEY.— UPPER  DIVISION. 


COLEBROOK,  DIXVILLE,   STEWARTSTOWN, 

CLARKSVILLE,    PITTSBURG, 

COLUMBIA,  STRATFORD. 


OOLEBROOK. 


By  J.  H.  Dudley. 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

Location,  Size,  Topography  and  General  Features— Soil — Productions — First  Settlers— In- 
dians, Metallak  and  Wife — Petition  for  Incorporation— Sketch  of  Petitioners. 

y\  Jf  AN  in  his  youth  looks  forward.  His  life  is  all  before  him,  and  with 
(  y  joyous  anticipations  of  the  pleasure  and  happiness  the  future  will 
X  bring  him,  he  presses  forward,  seldom  looking  back  till  the  sum- 
mit has  been  gained,  so  far  as  he  may  be  able  to  reach  it.  But  when  he 
passes  the  meridian  and  begins  to  go  down  the  decline  of  life,  he  is  prone 
to  look  backward.  The  pleasures  of  anticipation  yield  to  the  pleasures  of 
reminiscence,  and  as  he  gets  nearer  to  the  end  of  life,  having  nothing  to 
which  he  may  look  forward,  all  his  thoughts  are  of  the  past.  With  child- 
ish glee  he  relates  the  feats  and  struggles  of  his  boyhood,  the  stirring 
scenes  through  which  he  has  passed,  and  believes  in  his  heart  that  the 
coming  generations  will  never  see  the  like  of  his  early  years.  Happy  that 
this  is  so;  for,  having  no  future,  he  can  dwell  only  in  that  which  he 
has — the  past.  Let  us,  too,  look  back  at  the  early  history  of  Colebrook, 
and  trace,  as  briefly  as  we  may,  its  early  settlement;  and,  if  perchance 
errors  are  committed,  and  statements  are  made  which  are  not  borne 
out  by  facts,  lay  it  not  up  against  the  historian,  but  rather  to  the  Obscurity 
of  a  large  part  of  his  subject,  and  the  meager  sources  from  which  his 
knowledge  is  derived. 

Colebrook  is  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river,  being 
the  fourth  town  from  the  extreme  north  part  of  the  state  of  New  Hamp- 
shire; Pittsburg,  Clarksville,  and  Stewartstown  lying  north  of  it.  It  is 
about  150  miles  from  Concord,  thirty-six  miles  from  Lancaster,  and  not 
far  from  the  center  of  the  county  in  a  north  and  south  direction.  It  is 
bounded  north  by  Stewartstown,  east  by  Dixville,  south  by  Columbia,  and 


.584  History  of  Coos  County. 


west  by  the  Connecticut  river,  across  which  are  the  towns  of  Lemington 
and  Canaan  in  Essex  county,  Vermont.  Colebrook  is  about  ten  miles  in 
length,  and  four  and  one-half  miles  in  breadth.  It  contains  218  lots  of 
100  acres  each,  eighteen  lots  of  fifty-six  acres  each,  and  nineteen  "set- 
tlers' lots."  containing  about  100  acres  each,  making  in  all  about  24,700 
acres.  The  early  settlers  who  cast  their  lots  in  this  town,  took  up,  or,  as 
they  called  it,  "pitched  upon,"  irregularly  shaped  lots,  and,  when  the 
town  was  lotted  out  some  years  later,  these  lots  were  not  meddled  with, 
or  reckoned  in  the  survey,  but  were  left,  and  are,  to-day,  the  original 
"settlers' lots." 

The  general  topography  of  Colebrook  is  uneven.  On  the  east  the  Dix- 
ville  mountains  slope  down  into  the  town.  Rippling  down  from  the  same 
mountains  the  Mohawk  river  flows  about  twelve  miles  to  the  Connecticut 
river,  and  from  the  northerly  part  of  the  town  several  branches  help  to 
swell  its  volume  till  it  becomes  quite  a  "  sizable  "  stream.  South  of  the 
Mohawk  a  high  range  of  hills  reaches  back  into  Columbia,  and  northerly 
from  the  same  stream  the  land  is  bold  and  hilly,  but  never  rough  or  pre- 
cipitous. On  the  Connecticut  river  broad  and  beautiful  meadows  stretch 
out  to  the  sunshine,  and  every  hill  is  smooth  and  round,  and  capable  of 
cultivation  to  its  very  top.  Few  ledges  are  to  be  found,  and  fields  where 
there  are  many  loose  stones  are  seldom  seen.  Towards  the  westerly  part 
of  the  town  Beaver  brook  comes  down  over  a  sharp  hill,  falling  in  broken 
masses  several  hundred  feet,  forming  a  beautiful  cascade,  and  then  hurry- 
ing down  to-  meet  the  Mohawk  just  above  the  Connecticut.  By  these 
streams  and  their  many  branches  the  town  is  well -watered,  and  no  pasture 
is  without  its  living  springs  which  help  to  make  them  up. 

The  soil  of  Colebrook  is  almost  matchless  in  New  England.  It  produces 
in  abundance,  and  its  inhabitants  say,  with  perhaps  pardonable  pride,  that 
there  is  not  a  single  lot  of  land  in  town  that  would  not  make  a  good  farm 
and  produce  abundant  crops.  The  principal  productions  are  first  of  all 
hay;  then  oats,  barley,  buckwheat,  wheat  and  potatoes.  There  is  a  large 
amount  of  fine  pasture  land.  And  this,  with  the  hay,  furnishes  a  large  num- 
ber of  fat  cattle  and  sheep,  a  great  many  of  which  are  shipped  every  year 
to  market.  The  oats,  barley,  wheat  and  buckwheat  are  consumed  at  home. 
The  potatoes  are  partly  manufactured  into  potato  starch,  and  partly  shipped 
for  sale.  The  farmers  of  Colebrook  have  taken  a  great  interest  in  improving 
their  stock,  and  many  thoroughbred  cattle  are  found  among  them.  The 
Devon,  the  Durham,  the  Hereford,  the  Jersey,  the  Ayrshire,  the  Holstein 
and  the  Polled  Angus  are  all  represented,  and  all  have  their  respective 
champions.  Great  pains  has  also  been  taken  to  improve  the  breeds  of 
horses,  and  no  town  in  Northern  New  Hampshire  furnishes  the  cities  with 
so  many  excellent  horses.     The  inhabitants  are  thrifty,  intelligent  and  in- 


Town  of  Colebrook.  585 


dustrious,  and  consequently  largely  independent.     It  is  a  town  of  much 
wealth,  being  probably  the  first  in  the  state  in  proportion  to  its  population. 

So  much  may  be  said  in  a  general  way  of  Colebrook  in  its  present  condi- 
tion, as  bearing  upon  the  character  of  its  early  history.  Who  the  very  first 
settler  of  this  town  was,  is  involved  in  obscurity.  Certain  it  is  that  one 
hundred  and  twenty  years  ago  these  fertile  meadows  were  covered  with  a 
growth  of  maple,  elm,  and  underbrush;  the  hills  with  spruce,  fir,  pine, 
hemlock,  maple,  beech,  birch  and  other  woods,  and  the  foot-print  of  the 
white  man  was  unknown.  Through  these  forests  roamed  the  bear  and  wolf; 
at  the  sparkling  streams  the  moose,  caribou  and  deer  quenched  their  thirst; 
and  under  every  waterfall  were  great  numbers  of  the  speckled  trout.  In 
the  river  the  lordly  salmon  held  undisputed  sway,  and  dreamed  not  of 
dams,  sluices,  fishways,  and  other  abominations,  which,  in  time  to  come, 
should  prevent  his  descendants  from  visiting  the  homes  of  their  fathers. 

There  was  a  tribe  of  Indians  who  made  the  town  of  Colebrook  and 
vicinity  their  "  stamping-ground,''  and  Metallak  was  their  chief.  They 
were  said  to  be  members  of  the  Mohawk  tribe,  and  from  them  the  name 
of  the  river  is  supposed  to  be  derived.  They  made  their  homes  on  the  hill 
east  of  the  farm  known  as  the  J.  F.  Keazer  farm,  and  dropped  off,  a  few 
at  a  time,  till  only  their  chief,  Metallak,  and  his  squaw,  Molly,  remained. 
Their  history  can  be  told  in  a  few  words.  They  lived  a  wandering  life; 
fishing  and  hunting,  generally,  together,  through  this  part  of  the  country, 
going  frequently  to  Lake  Umbagog  and  the  Magalloway  river.  On  one  of 
these  occasions  the  squaw  died  and  was  buried  by  Metallak  on  Lake  Um- 
bagog, near  a  rock  which  still  bears  her  name.  "Moll's  Rock"  is  well 
known  to  every  visitor  to  that  beautiful  lake.  After  her  death,  the  old 
chief  continued  his  wanderings  alone.  When  he  became  qtrret  an  old  man 
he  went  trapping  on  the  Magalloway  river.  He  lay  down  at  night  in  his 
rude  bark  camp  and  slept  the  sleep  of  the  weary.  In  the  morning  he 
awoke,  and  lay  there  waiting  for  the  sun  to  rise,  but  it  rose  not,  and  was 
never  to  rise  for  him  again.  He  heard  the  birds  singing,  and,  creeping- 
out  from  his  camp,  felt  the  sun  warm  on  his  upturned  face,  but  he  could  not 
see  it.  He  was  stone  blind.  Stone  blind,  and  miles  on  miles  away  from  every 
human  being.  Cautiously  he  made  his  way  over  the  well-known  path, 
and,  by  feeling  alone,  after  many  days  he  found  human  companionship, 
but  he  nearly  perished  before  doing  so.  For  several  years  he  lived  in 
blindness,  wandering  about  his  old  haunts,  and  died,  at  last,  a  pauper.  His 
memory  still  lives  in  the  two  ponds  bearing  his  name  on  the  Magalloway 
river,  and  a  certain  class  of  chub  is  known  among  the  frequenters  of  those 
waters  as  "Metallak's  strangers." 

This  township,  with  Columbia,  formerly  called  Cockburn,  and  Stewarts- 
town,  was  granted  December  1,  1770,  to  Sir  George  Colebrook,  Sir  James 
Cockburn,  John  Stewarts,  Esq.,  of  London,  England,  and  John  Nelson,  of 

38 


586  History  of  Coos  County. 


Grenada,  West  India  Islands,  and  this  town  was  at  first  known  as  "Cole- 
brook  Town,"  after  the  grantee.  There  were  few  inhabitants,  but  from 
time  to  time  they  increased,  till  December  15,  1795,  when  the  people  became 
uncasv  at  being  unincorporated,  and  took  steps  to  procure  a  charter,  as  fol- 
lows:— 

"State  of  New)  ^0  tne  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled — 
Hampshire.    ) 

"  The  p  tition  of  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  a  place  called  Colebrook  in  the  County  of  Grafton  and 
State  of  New  Hampshire  humbly  shewith  that  your  petitioners  have  with  much  difficulty  effected  a  settle- 
ment in  said  Township  and  the  Inhabitants  thereof  are  so  increased  that  about  •  thirty  ratable  polls  are  resi- 
dent an  1  settled  therein,  that  they  suffer  many  inconveniences  on  account  of  their  unincorporated  State, 
the  want  df  authority  to  lay  out  highways  and  riise  money  to  make  and  repair  them,  to  maintain  regular 
Schoolsfor  the  instruction  of  Youth  and  to  conduct  many  other  matters  necessary  to  promote  the  interests- 
of  the  inhabitants  and  encourage  the  settlement  of  said  Township. 

"Therefore  your  petitioners  pray  this  honorable  Court  to  incorporate  them  and  vest  them  with  all  that 
power  ami  authority  which  other  towns  in  said  St&te  do  by  law  exercise  and  enjoy,  and  your  petitioners  will 
ever  pray. 

'•Colebrook  15th  December  1795. 

''  Andrew  Mc Allan,  Joseph  Goddard, 

"  Josiah  King,  Isaac  Covil, 

"  And  McAllaster,  Joseph  Griswold, 

''  Moses  Smith.  Wil'm  McAllaster, 

"  Ebenezer  Brainard,  Nchemiah  Spencer." 

Although  the  foregoing  petition  states  that  there  were  about  thirty 
ratable  polls  at  that  time  in  Colebrook,  it  is  probable  that  there  were  not 
more  than  fifteen  men  who  had  commenced  to  clear  the  land  and  make 
homes  for  their  families.  What  became  of  McAllan  and  King  is  unknown 
— the  records  of  Colebrook  having  been  burned  July  24,  1870.  William 
McAllaster  and  Andrew  McAllaster  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Martin  B.  Noyes,  and  they  built  the  square  house  still  standing  at  that 
place.  They  also  built  a  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  near  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent grist-mill.     They  moved  to  Marrietta,Ohio,  in  1815. 

Joseph  Goddard  lived  at  various  places  in  town,  but  the  latter  part  of 
his  life  he  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Elbridge  G.  Arlin.  Joseph 
Griswold  and  Nehemiah  Spencer  are  also  unknown  to  those  now  walking 
in  their  footsteps,  and  no  descendants  of  theirs  are  known  to  be  in  this 
part  of  the  country. 

Isaac  Covil  has  a  better  record.  He  was  born  in  Enfield,  N.  H.,  in 
LY49.  lie  removed  to  Colebrook  about  1700,  and  went  on  to  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  Richard  Tibbetts.  He  had  numerous  sons  and 
daughters,  to  wit,  Content,  who  married  Asa  Terry;  Ruth,  who 
married  Danforth  Wallace;  and  Sally,  who  married  Ephraim  Benedict. 
The  boys  were  Judah,  whose  wife  was  Charlotte  Luther,  and  who 
lived  on  the  James  M.  Mathews  farm;  Ebenezer,  whose  wife  was  Mary 
Fellows,  who  lived  on  the  George  E.  Hammond  farm,  and  afterwards  on 
the  Joseph  Tibbetts  farm,  with  his  father;  Nathaniel  and  Daniel,  who  died 
unmarried.     The  children  of  Judah  and  Ebenezer  have  largely  settled  in 


Town  op  Colebrook.  :>s7 


this  town  and  vicinity.  The  children  of  Judah  were  James,  who  married 
Clarissa  Mills;  William,  who  married  Hannah  Corbett;  Timothy,  who 
married  Abiah  Cogswell;  John  W.,  who  married Phebe  Pulsifer;  Joseph  Y., 
who  married  Jane  Mills;  Elmira,  who  married  Mack  Springer;  Mary  P., 
who  married  Charles  Cooledge;  Susan,  who  married  Henry  Burnham;  and 
Phebe  A. ,  who  married  Samuel  E.  Day.  The  children  of  Ebenezer  Covell 
were  Orrin,  who  married  Julia  A.  Kidder;  Otis  E.,  who  went  to  California 
among  the  "forty-niners,"  and  was  killed  there;  Loring  G.,  who  married 
Mrs.  Burnside;  Ezra  S.  and  Eleanor,  who  died  unmarried;  and  Freeman 
P.  Covell,  who  married  Rebecca  Hicks.  James  and  Joseph  Y.,  the  sons  of 
Judah,  are  still  living  in  Colebrook,  as  is  also  Freeman  P.,  son  of  Ebenezer. 
The  last  has  held  many  positions  of  trust  in  the  town.  For  a  hundred 
years  this  family  has  been  well  represented  in  Colebrook,  and  the  younger 
stock  bid  fair  to  do  their  part  for  the  next  hundred. 

So  much  for  the  briefest  possible  sketch  of  the  petitioners  for  the  incor- 
poration of  Colebrook. 


CHAPTER  LXII. 


Colebrook  from  1796  to  1815— Road  through  Dixville  Notch — Whiskey  Manufacture— Contract 
of  Smith  <fc  Pratt—  Their  Various  Enterprises— McAllaster  Mills— Dugway— Amount  Invested  by 
Smith  &  Pratt. 

ON  the  11th  day  of   June,   1796,  the  town  was  incorporated.     Up  to 
this  time  there  had  been  but  little  business  done  in  the  town,  but  it 
increased  rapidly  from  this  time,  till  in  1800  it  is  said  to  have  had  160 
inhabitants,  or  about  forty  families.      From  this  time  to  1810  the  number 
steadily  gained,  when  the  census  shows  325  souls  in  the  town. 

In  1803  the  county  of  Coos  was  created.  At  that  time  there  was  in  this 
town  the  river  road,  running  substantially  as  now,  a  road  up  the  Mohawk 
as  far  as  Factory  Village,  and  then  up  past  the  John  Moses  farm,  over  to 
the  Reed  district,  and  a  road  from  the  river  road  near  the  George  Heath 
farm  up  to  South  hill  in  Stewartstown.  In  1804  the  people  of  this  com- 
munity began  to  see  the  necessity  of  some  means  of  getting  to  some 
market,  not  only  for  procuring  supplies  for  themselves,  but  also  to  enable 
them  to  dispose  of  the  articles  of  produce  which  they  were  able  to  spare. 
Portland,  Me.,  was  their  nearest  point  of  trade,  but  there  was  no  respect- 
able road,  on  account  of  the  Dixville  mountains,  which  rose  between  the 
Connecticut  valley  and  that  of  the  Androscoggin.     A  road  was  projected 


5.ss  History  of  Coos  County. 


and  built  through  Dixville  Notch,  and  each  winter  thereafter  the  farmer  of 
Colebrook  loaded  his  sled  with  wheat,  potash,  pearlash  or  potato-whiskey, 
and  hauled  it  to  Portland,  where  he  exchanged  it  for  molasses,  salt  fish, 
and  such  other  necessaries  as  were  required  for  the  year  to  come. 

There  was  very  little  money  in  the  town,  and  everything  was  ki  bartered" 
instead  of  bought.  Whiskey  was  quite  an  important  article  of  manufac- 
ture, being  made  of  potatoes.  There  was  a  still  on  the  river  road,  near 
Columbia  line,  owned  by  Mr.  Hezekiah  Parsons,  another  at  the  Factory 
Village,  and  still  another,  owned  by  Nathan  Beecher,  on  the  Elbridge  Arlin 
farm.  The  farmers  carried  the  potatoes  to  the  still,  and  bartered  them  for 
whiskey  at  the  rate  of  three  bushels  of  potatoes  for  one  gallon  of  whiskey. 
It  was  a  common  and  frequent  beverage,  and  hardly  any  family  was  with- 
out it.  It  is  told  that  a  certain  family  used  to  send  one  of  the  boys  to  the 
"Factory"  still  after  a  gallon  of  whiskey  at  a  time,  and  he  came  nearly 
every  day.  On  being  told  that  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  to  come  pretty  often, 
he  replied:  "What  is  a  gallon  of  whiskey  in  a  house  where  they  haven't 
any  cow  ?"  Fortunately  the  whiskey  was  pure,  and  a  person  would  get 
drunk  and  sober  half  a  dozen  times  a  day  on  it  without  the  disastrous 
effect  of  the  spirit  of  modern  times. 

In  1809  there  was  an  enterprise  set  on  foot  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  which 
materially  increased  the  interests  of  Colebrook.  John  Smith,  of  Hartford, 
and  Samuel  Pratt,  of  Marshfield,  Vt.,  made  an  agreement  which  itself  best 
shows  what  was  contemplated,  and  it  is  herein  inserted  exactly  as  it  was 
written : — 

"Citty  Hartford,  February  10th,  1809. 
"  These  articles  of  agreement  made  this  day  between  John  Smith  of  the  city  &  County  of  Hartford  on 
the  one  part  and  Samuel  Pratt  of  Marshfield  in  Vermont  on  the  other  part.  Whereby  the  said  Smith  having 
five  lots  of  Land  In  the  Township  of  Colebrook,  New  Hampshire  State,  &  is  known  by  No.  10  in  the  first 
Range  of  lots  and  Lot  No.  10  In  the  Second  range  and  lot  No.  11  In  the  third  range  and  Lot  No  12  In  the 
Second  Range  and  Lot  No  2  in  the  Sixth  Range  &  whereas  it  is  mutually  agreed  to  make  of  them  two  or 
more  farms  and  that  it  is  agreed  that  they  will  each  bear  there  half  of  expence  of  clearing,  fencing  &  build- 
ing Houses  &  Barns  and  finding  material  for  carrying  it  into  effect  &  all  other  necessary  things  which  will 
increase  the  Interest  of  them  both  In  proportion,  and  will  mutually  consult  each  other  for  the  general  good 
of  both  &  for  what  one  is  In  advance  over  his  part  he  shall  be  allowed  Interest  for:  that  said  Pratt  is  to  take 
the  Management  of  the  business  and  to  Imploy  two  or  more  hands  besides  himself  &  to  go  on  in  Clearing  & 
sowing  &  fencing  &  building  for  term  of  five  years  &  to  give  said  Smith  credit  for  one  half  of  all  that  is 
raised  on  Said  farm  &  at  the  expiration  of  five  years  Said  farms  to  be  aprized  by  good  judges  of  land  to  be 
aprized  as  though  the  joint  concern  of  John  Smith  &  Samuel  Pratt  had  not  done  any  thing  on  said  farm  & 
said  Pratt  to  paj  said  Smith  for  one  half  of  said  (land)  in  a  State  of  Nater  according  to  the  aprizal  at  the 
end  of  five  years  &  then  said  Fratt  is  equal  with  said  Smith  as  Owner  in  five  Lots  one  half  each  &  at  the  ex- 
piration of  five  years  there  shall  be  a  division  or  sale  if  either  of  the  partys  Shall  wish  giving  the  other  Sufi- 
cient  time,  notice  &  preference  of  purchase,  that  they  are  to  be  equal  owners  of  all  the  Stock  in  Said  farms 
either  Raised  on  or  brought  or  purchased  for  said  farm  &  said  pratt  to  be  allowed  the  Customary  price  of  La- 
bor acording  to  the  time  he  Shall  work  &  be  in  actual  service  in  Said  Farm,  that  whenever  the  Spring  shall 

come  on  that  i pie  may  work  to  advantage  to  said  Smith  &  Pratt,  that  said  Pratt  Shall  hire  not  less  than 

two  faithful!  able  bodyed  men  &  fence  said  farm  through  the  Summer  Season  until  said  time  Shall  arive  in 
the  fall  when  said  men  canot  work  to  advantage  &  then  said  pratt  Shall  discharge  alibis  workmen  &  all 
wages  shall  cease  from  that  time  both  for  himself  &  others,  that  nothing  shall  be  turned  into  Said  farm  nor 
bartend  for  to  raise  the  charge  to  said  farm  but  at  the  Lowest  Cash  price  in  hand  &  that  there  shall  not  be 
any  charge  made  to  said  farm  by  said  Smith  nor  Pratt  for  their  gowing  or  coming  from  said  farm  to  their 


Town  of  Colebrook.  589 


homes,  but  each  one  Shall  bare  his  own  expense,  that  shall  not  be  any  Comission  charged  by  either  forarti- 
cles  purchased  or  sold  for  said  farm  &  thai  said  Pratt  shall  be  concerned  in  all  mills  erected  on  Said  farm  if 
he  shall  think  it  for  his  interest  <$  if  any  thing  shall  turn  out  to  be  a  dissatisfaction  to  either  said  Smith  or 
Said  Pratt  that  is  not  mentioned  above  or  in  this  agreement  it  Shall  be  Settled  by  leaving  il  to  indifferent 
Persons  which  shall  be  binding  on  both.  (Sigm  d  I  "Samuel  Pratt 

"John  Smith." 

Under  this  agreement  Samuel  Pratt  came  to  Colebrook  in  L809  and 
commenced  work  on  their  lots  mentioned  in  the  agreement.  These  lots 
comprised  the  lots  now  owned  by  George  Fairman,  James  B.  Clough, 
Schuyler  H.  Aldrich,  and  the  Wellman  farm  now  occupied  by  Edward 
W.  Carleton,  and  they  soon  after  acquired  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Benjamin  R.  Gilman.  They  cleared  these  lots,  built  buildings,  and  made 
great  improvements.  They  built  a  saw-mill,  and,  in  18 12,  commenced 
building  a  cotton  factory  near  the  site  of  the  present  building  on  the  Mo- 
hawk. The  mill  was  completed  and  labor  in  the  same  commenced.  All 
the  weaving  was  done  by  hand,  there  being  no  power-loom  on  the  prem- 
ises. Soon  after  this  they  built  a  store,  for  years  known  as  the  Pitkin 
store,  at  the  Factory  Village,  and  stocked  it  with  the  usual  variety  of  goods 
suited  to  the  wants  of  the  community;  and  here  the  people  brought  their 
wheat,  barley,  and  other  products  for  exchange  for  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Previous  to  this  time  there  had  been  a  little  "  grocery  "  store  in  Colebrook, 
on  the  river  road  near  where  the  old  house  stands,  on  the  George  W. 
Heath  farm,  kept  by  a  man  named  Elisha  Bundy.  In  1815  Bellows  & 
Carlisle,  who  had  been  in  trade  at  Columbia  Valley,  built  a  store  where 
the  old  Colby  store  used  to  stand  before  the  fire;  and,  in  1816,  Smith  & 
Pratt  built  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  store  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Pleas- 
ant streets,  and  commenced  trade  there.  These  stores  were  the  beginning 
of  the  mercantile  business  in  the  town  of  Colebrook. 

Messrs.  Smith  &  Pratt  were  enterprising  and  pushing  people,  and  their 
efforts  brought  many  new  settlers  to  Colebrook  About  the  year  1800  the 
McAUasters  had  built  a  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  near  the  present  grist-mill 
site,  which  depended  on  the  water  from  Beaver  brook  alone  for  their  power. 
Smith  &  Pratt  purchased  these  mills,  and,  realizing  that  their  power  was 
insufficient,  made  a  contract  with  one  Caleb  Titus  to  dig  through  the  hill 
from  the  Mohawk,  and  to  dig  a  channel  to  the  mill-pond,  and  to  thereby 
draw  a  part  of  the  water  of  the  Mohawk  to  their  aid.  From  1  S09  or  1810 
they  carried  on  their  enterprises,  and,  in  1815,  they  added  to  the  former 
contract  that  which  follows: — 

"Colebuook,  N.  EL,  An- ust  7th,  1815. 
"It  is  furthermore  agreed  In  adition  to  the  former  agreement  dated  loth  Feb.  LSD1.)  that  whereas  we  have 
enlarged  the  establishment  more  than  was  first  proposed  by  erecting  factorys  ,Sc  purchasing  lands  and  build- 
ings &  as  it  is  not  yet  known  lm«  much  more  it  will  be  necessary  for  John  Smith  to  advance  to  complete  and 
furnish  capitol  to  Stock  said  establishment,  it  is  omitted  coming  to  a  Settlement  until  next  year,  when  said 
buildings  are  expected  to  be  finished,  that  after  which,  said  sum  which  said   Smith  has  advanced  together 

with  the  Lawful  interest  added  to  the  principal  making  up  whatever  sum  m;i\    be  thought sessary  to  carry 

on  the  business  to  advantage  &  then  a  Settlement  Shall  take  place  and  shall  be  a  joint  concern  of  which  John 
Smith  shall  be  three  fourths  owner  and    Samuel   Pratt  one  fourth  owner,  it  is  mutually  agreed  that  all  Lands 


590  History  of  Coos  County. 


that  said  Pratt  shall  purchase  by  private  or  publick  Sale  he  shall  dead  back  to  said  Smith  and  then  said  Smith 
shall  give  said  Pratt  a  dead  of  one  fourth  of  the  whole  establishment  in  a  joint  concern  with  said  Smith  after 
which  said  Pratt  agrees  to  give  said  Smith  a  Mortgage  Dead  on  interest  of  his  one  fourth  of  the  establish- 
ment &  the  joint  concern  to  continue  not  less  than  five  years  or  ten  if  they  can  mutually  agree  and  the  Mort- 
gage to  run  while  the  concern  lasts  or  at  least  ten  years  &  Mr.  Pratt  agrees  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
the  joint  Interest  of  the  establishment  &  that  his  Services  and  the  Services  of  his  family  goes  as  full  payment 
for  the  support  of  his  family  while  on  the  Farm  in  Victualling,  Schooling,  doctors  bill  and  clothing  and  all 
other  necessaries  in  the  family  while  they  live  on  said  farm  with  said  Pratt. 

"  Said  Pratt  to  manage  the  whole  concern,  to  hire  Clerks,  workmen  &  laborers  and  make  contracts  to  pay 
off,  collect  debts  &  every  thing  necessary  for  the  joint  concern  or  Interest  &  the  profits  to  be  laid  out  in  clear- 
ing land  on  the  premises  &  inlarging  the  establishment  as  far  as  Shall  be  thought  necessary 

"It  is  further  understood  that  said  Pratt  is  to  pay  for  the  boarding  and  schooling  of  his  own  children 
when  from  home. 

"  In  witness  whereof  we  have  each  of  us  set  our  hand  and  seal  this  7  day  of  August  1815. 

Attest  "Anderson  Dana  John  Smith  L.  S. 

"  Timo  Farrar  Samuel  Pratt       L.  S." 

Under  this  new  contract  business  was  done  a  little  over  a  year  when 
the  following  was  added:— 

"  Sept  17th  1816.  It  is  now  ascertained  that  the  capital  actually  employed  by  and  between  us  is  fifty-four 
thousand  four  hundred  two  Dollars  &  twenty  Nine  cts.  of  which  sd.  Smith  owns  three  fourths,  sd.  Pratt  one 
fourth  and  the  Profits  or  Losses  which  may  arise  are  to  be  Borne  in  the  Proportion  as  above  &  the  business  is 
to  be  conducted  by  sd.  Pratt  in  behalf  of  himself  and  sd.  Smith  as  is  provided  in  the  foregoing  agreements. 

••  Witness  Anderson  Dana.  '-John  Smith,  L.  S. 

"Samuel  Pratt,         L.S." 

Some  pains  has  been  taken  to  include  the  whole  of  this  agreement  in 
this  history  in  order  to  show  the  amount  of  capital  invested,  and  the  in- 
fluence of  Smith  &  Pratt  in  forwarding  the  prosperity  of  Colebrook  during 
those  years.  They  gave  a  lot  for  the  Congregational  church  and  an  addi- 
tion to  the  cemetery.  They  at  one  time  owned  nearly  all  the  land  from 
the  George  Parsons  farm  northerly  to  the  David  Heath  farm,  and  from 
the  Connecticut  river  easterly  beyond  the  Factory  Village.  They  had  ex- 
pended over  $50,000  in  Colebrook  in  about  five  years,  and  the  effects  were 
apparent.  Framed  houses  began  to  take  the  place  of  the  log  and  block 
huts  before  that  time,  the  roads  had  been  improved,  some  steps  had  been 
taken  in  regard  to  education,  and  the  population  had  largely  increased. 


CHAPTER,  LXIII. 


Invoice  of  1816  —  Residence  of  Tax  Payers  —  Number  of  Polls,  Horses  and  Cattle  —  Taxes  of 
1816  —  Cold  Seasons  of  1816  and  1817  —  Burning  of  Cotton  Factory  —  Rebuilding  of  the  Same  — 
Roasting  1'i^s — John  Whittemore. 

I Y  great  good  fortune  the  invoice  of  1816  is  preserved,  and  below  is 
given  the  names  of  the  tax  payers  of  that  year  with  the  property  on 
which  each  was  taxed,  and  as  far  as  possible  the  residence  of  each  at 
that  time  is  given. 


Town  of  Golebrook.  591 


Mark  Aldrich,  one  poll,  one  house,  four  horses,  four  oxen,  lour  cows, 
five  cattle,  200  acres  of  land,  the  farm  still  belonging  to  the  estate  of  his 
son  the  late  George  Aldrich.  (This  farm  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the 
Aldrich  family  for  eighty-one  years.)  Joab  Aldrich,  one  poll,  one  horse, 
two  oxen,  two  cows,  two  cattle;  Joseph  Adams,  one  poll;  John  Acres,  one 
poll;  Moses  Annis,  one  poll;  Ozias  Bissell,  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen, 
one  cow  and  two  cattle.  (He  lived  on  the  Severance  farm  now  owned  by 
E.  H.  Williams  and  others.)  David  Bissell,  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen, 
three  cows,  seven  cattle.  (Mr.  Bissell  owned  and  occupied  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Dan.  Stevens.)  Austin  Bissell,  one  poll,  two  houses,  one  cow. 
(He  lived  on  the  Eufus  Reed  farm.)  Martin  Bissell,  one  poll;  Benjamin 
Buell,  one  poll,  two  houses,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  five  cattle.  (He  lived  on 
the  farm  where  the  buildings  were  lately  burned  where  Bunnell  lived,  just 
above  the  Hosea  Aldrich  farm.)  Charles  Baker,  one  poll;  Harvey  Barnes, 
one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  "one  cattle."  (He  lived  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Michael  Shallow.)  David  Butler,  one  poll,  two  cows;  Nathan 
Beecher  lived  on  the  Elbridge  G.  Arlin  farm.  He  was  taxed  for  one  poll, 
two  houses,  two  horses,  two  oxen,  four  cows  and  four  cattle.  Ebenezer 
Brainard  at  that  time  probably  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  William 
G.  Luther.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  cow.  Isaac  Covil,  one  poll. 
Judah  Covil  lived  on  the  George  E.  Hammond  farm  in  a  house  built  well 
into  the  bank.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen  and  two 
cows.  Ebenezer  Covil  lived  where  George  E.  Hammond  now  lives.  He 
was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two  cows  and  three  cattle.  Nathaniel  Covil  lived 
with  his  father,  Isaac  Covil,  on  the  Richard  Tibbettsfarm.  He  was  taxed 
on  one  poll,  two  houses,  two  horses,  one  cow  and  nine  cattle.  Edmund 
Chamberlain  lived  on  the  John  C.  Tibbetts  farm.  He  was  taxed  on  one 
poll,  two  houses,  two  horses,  two  oxen,  six  cows  and  five  cattle.  Joseph 
Chandler  lived  on  the  John  Chase  farm  in  the  Reed  district.  He  was  taxed 
on  one  poll,  one  house,  one  cow  and  two  cattle.  David  Chandler  one  poll. 
Zenas  Chopin,  one  poll.  Samuel  Chandler  probably  lived  on  the  John 
Moses  farm,  or  perhaps  on  the  farm  owned  by  William  H.  Mulliken.  He 
was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen  and  one  cow.  John  Corey 
lived  on  the  William  D.  Trask  farm  on  Titus  hill.  He  wis  taxed  on  one 
poll,  two  houses  three  cows  and  one  cattle.  Thomas  Chase  owned  the 
Harvey  Brooks  farm  but  did  not  live  there.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll  and 
one  cow.  Zebediah  Dinsmore  had  to  be  taxed  one  poll,  two  houses,  two 
horses,  two  oxen  and  two  cows.  Anderson  Dana,  one  poll.  Amos  Dart, 
one  poll.  Phillip  Flanders  one  poll  and  one  cow.  Timothy  Farrar  lived 
in  a  block  house  where  Ethan  Colby  now  lives.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll, 
one  house,  two  oxen,  ten  cattle.  Thomas  Flanders,  one  poll,  one  bouse. 
He  lived  in  some  house  in  the  village.  Levi  Grover  probably  Lived  on  the 
Charles  Hicks  farm  in  Raed  district,  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen,  one 


592  History  of  Coos  County. 


cow.  Daniel  Harvey  lived  on  the  old  Harvey  farm  near  the  village.  The 
red  house  there  was  built  in  1S04,  and  was  one  of  the  first  frame  houses 
built  in  Colebrook.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen,  four 
cows  and  one  cattle.  Joseph  Holkins  lived  on  the  Darwin  R.  Shattuck 
farm.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen,  two  cows.  John 
Hugh  first  built  a  house  where  Francis  B.  Crawford  now  lives,  a  block 
house,  and  lived  there  owning  and  carrying  on  the  Henry  Gilfoil  farm.  He 
was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house  and  two  cows.  Abel  Hyde  owDed  the 
Hezekiah  Parsons  farm.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two  houses,  two 
oxen,  three  cows  and  six  cattle.  Salmon  Hyde,  one  poll.  Joseph  Hilliard 
and  Charles  Hilliard  owned  the  Orin  Hilliard  farm.  Joseph  was  taxed  on 
one  poll,  three  cows  and  three  cattle.  Charles  Hilliard  was  taxed  on  one 
poll,  two  houses  and  four  oxen.  William  Holkins,  one  poll.  John  Holmes 
lived  on  the  Ransom  Harrimau  farm.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two 
houses,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  six  cows  and  four  cattle.  Orrin  Hollister, 
one  poll.  Harris  Hollister,  one  poll.  Jess 3  Keazer  one  poll,  three  cattle. 
James  Keazer,  one  poll,  one  cow,  two  cattle.  Ha  lived  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  William  G.  Luther.  Lyman  Lombard,  one  poll,  one  house. 
The  doctor  lived,  where  he  resided  so  many  years,  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Bridge  streets.  Joseph  Loornis  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Loi  ing 
G.  Piper.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  four  cows  and  five  cattle. 
Lswis  Loomis  lived  on  the  old  Loomis  farm  now  occupied  by  James  L. 
Loomis.  He  had  one  poll  and  two  houses.  Sylvanus  W.  Laniard,  one  poll. 
Gaorge  W.  Linds,  one  poll.  Caleb  Little  lived  on  the  John  C.  Bean  farm. 
He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen  and  three  cows.  Sylvanus 
X  >yes  lived  on  the  George  Fairman  farm.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two 
oxen  and  three  cows.  Samuel  Porter  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
James  Covell,  Senior.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen 
and  three  cows.  Heirs  of  John  Presba  lived  on  the  Leroy  W.  Merrill  farm. 
They  were  taxed  on  two  houses,  three  cows  and  two  cattle.  Hezekiah 
Parsons  and  Jonathan  Parsons  owned,  and  lived  on,  the  George  Parsous 
farm.  They  owned  about  four  hundred  acres  of  land  here  all  together. 
Hezekiah  Parsons  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  three  houses,  six  oxen,  five  cows 
and  three  cattle.  Jonathan  Parsons  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two  houses, 
I  wo  oxen,  five  cowTs  and  two  cattle.  Benjamin  Spencer,  one  poll,  two 
cows.  .Moses  Stacy  lived  on  the  Moses  Brown  farm.  He  was  taxed  on 
one  poll  and  one  cow.  John  Sloane,  one  poll.  David  L.  Swain,  one  poll. 
Smith  &  Pratt  paid  taxes  on  one  poll,  two  houses,  four  oxen  and  four 
<ows.  besides  all  the  factory  property.  John  Smith  was  taxed  on  four 
houses  and  two  oxen.  David  Titus  lived  on  Titus  Hill  on  the  Charles  E. 
Moses  farm.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  two  oxen,  four  cows 
and  two  cattle.  Samuel  Sargent  lived  on  the  John  Brackett  farm.  He 
was  taxed  on  one  poll,  one  house,  four  oxen,  one  cow  and  five  cattle. 


Town  of  Colebrook.  r>93 


Eleazer  Titus  lived  on  the  George  W.  Martin  farm.  He  was  taxed  on  one 
poll,  one  house,  two  oxen  and  three  cows.  .John  C.  Titus  lived  on  the 
Wellman  farm  at  the  factory.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two  oxen  and 
two  cows.  Caleb  Titus  lived  on  the  Schuyler  H.  Aldrich  farm.  Besides 
the  land  he  was  taxed  one  poll  tax.  Eleazer  Titus,  Jr.,  one  poll.  Eleazer 
Terry  lived  on  the  Carleton  farm  between  the  Shattuck  farm  and  that  of 
John  Brackett.  He  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two  oxen  and  two  cows. 
Danford  Wallace  lived  on  part  of  the  Darwin  Shattuck  farm.  Ho  was 
taxed  on  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  one  cow  and  three  cattle. 

By  an  examination  of  the  foregoing  invoice  it  will  be  seen  that  in  1816 
there  were  sixty -eight  persons  paying  a  poll  tax  in  Colebrook.  There  were 
fifty -six  houses  and  fourteen  horses,  while  there  were  seventy- four  oxen, 
and  116  cows,  and  1 12  young  cattle.  The  proportion  of  horses  shows  con- 
clusively that  the  people  relied  on  their  own  powers  of  locomotion  rather 
than  on  horses,  and  also  that  the  farmers  performed  their  farm  work 
largely  with  oxen — a  practice  which  the  modern  farmer  would  do  well  to 
imitate. 

The  taxes  for  1816  were  as  follows:  School  tax,  $83.12;  state  tax,  $16.96; 
town  tax,  $88.12;  county  tax,  $50.21;  total,  $268.41;  while  the  total  valu- 
ation  of  the  town  was  $33,206. 

The  years  1816  and  1817  were  very  cold  seasons  and  hard  ones  for  the 
settlers  in  a  country  so  far  from  civilization  as  Colebrook.  There  were 
heavy  frosts  all  through  the  year,  and  the  crops  were  badly  frost-bitten. 
In  1816  the  sheep  that  had  been  sheared  nearly  all  died  from  the  severe 
cold,  and  everything  was  cut  off  by  severe  freezes  in  June  and  July. 
Smith  &  Pratt  had  forty  acres  of  wheat  all  badly  damaged.  They  harvested 
and  threshed  it,  but  the  wheat  was  very  poor.  The  bread  made  from  it 
was  so  soft  and  sticky  that  old  Mrs.  Pitkin  said  the  only  way  they  could 
get  it  out  of  the  oven  was  to  reel  it  out  on  a  yarn  reel.  Everybody  was 
put  on  a  short  allowance.  The  year  1817  was  another  bad  year,  though 
better  than  the  year  previous,  but  it  required  several  seasons  for  the  set- 
tlers to  recover  from  the  blow  they  received  in  these  two  "  cold  years." 

The  operations  of  Smith  &  Pratt  went  on  smoothly,  and  they  were 
doing  a  good  business  in  the  mill  till  June  19,  1820,  when  the  mill  took  fire 
and  was  entirely  consumed.  They  immediately  took  measures  to  rebuild, 
and  put  up  the  lower  part  of  a  saw-mill,  and  put  in  the  machinery,  so  as 
to  saw  out  the  timber  they  needed  for  the  new  work.  The  old  mill  was 
built  of  wood,  but  they  built  the  new  one  of  brick,  as  it  stands  to-day. 
They  burned  the  brick  on  the  David  Bissellfarm,  where  Dan.  Stevens  now 
lives.  They  had  a  large  gang  of  men  at  work,  and,  like  most  men,  they  some- 
times became  boyish  in  their  pranks.  One  night  the  crowd  drew  lots  to  see 
what  two  men  should  go  out  foraging  and  get  a  pig  to  roast  at  the  kiln  where 
they  were. burning  brick.     The  lot  fell  on  James   Luther  and  Caleb  Titus. 


591  History  of  Coos  County. 

They  departed  on  their  errand,  and  soon  returned,  each  with  a  dead  pig  in 
a.  bag.  They  turned  them  out  upon  the  ground,  when,  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  each  other,  and  the  amusement  of  everybody  else,  Luther  had 
stolen  his  pig  from  Titus,  and  Titus  had  returned  the  compliment  by  steal- 
ing his  pig  from  Luther. 

The  new  mill  was  made  a  woolen-mill,  and,  since  1822,  has  been  run 
for  the  carding  of  wool  for  the  farmers,  and  the  weaving  of  cloth,  both  for 
them,  and  for  retail  trade.  One  man  who  was  intimately  connected  with 
this  work,  has,  since  1816,  been  a  sort  of  land-mark  in  the  town. 

John  Whittemore  was  born  in  Rumford,  Me.,  December  14,  1805.  His 
father,  John  Whittemore,  Sr.,  moved  to  Dixville,  N.  H.,  when  John  was 
seven  years  old.  In  1816  Mr.  Whittemore  commenced  work  in  the  mill  of 
Smith  &  Pratt,  and  followed  it  through  the  hands  of  various  owners  for 
fifty-five  years.  In  the  last  fifteen  years  his  familiar  form,  clad  in  the 
"swallow-tailed"  coat,  which  he  disdains  to  put  away  for  the  modern 
abomination,  has  been  seen  almost  weekly  in  every  part  of  the  county, 
taking  subscriptions  for  newspapers  and  applications  for  insurance.  Eighty- 
two  years  of  age,  his  memory  is  clear,  his  form  as  erect,  and  his  step  as 
rapid  as  fifty  years  ago. 

About  1826  Smith  &  Pratt  failed  in  business,  and  their  property  in  Cole- 
brook  went  into  other  hands,  and,  in  a  few  years,  was  scattered  among 
many  owners  They  had  been  instruments  of  much  good  to  the  town,  and 
gave  it  a  start  that  is  still  visible  in  its  results. 

From  this  time  the  growth  of  Colebrook  was  steady  and  even;  and,  year 
by  year,  the  farmers  pushed  the  wilderness  back,  till  to-day  every  lot  in 
town  has  its  improvements. 


CHAPTER  LXIV. 


Education  in  Colebrook — The  Common  Schools— Colebrook  Academy— Original  Grantees — 
Grant  of  Lund  from  the  State— Mercantile  Interests — Traders  of  former  Days  and  Now — Fire  of 
July  24,  1870— Rebuilding  of  Village-Odd  Fellows-Physicians. 

VKRY  soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  town  the  pioneers,  coming  from 
a  country  where  education  was  highly  prized,  established  a  school  in 
what  is  now  district  No.  1,  in  Colebrook  village.     On  the  bank  of  the 
Mohawk,  near  where  the  barn  of  Francis  B.  Crawford  now  stands,  they 
built  a  log  building  in  which  school  was  kept  and  church  services  held. 
Here  Rev.  Dyer  Burge,  Capt.  Benjamin  Buell,  and  James  Cogswell,  as 


Town  of  Colebrook.  595 


early  as  from  1 7 '. » 5  to  1810,  wielded  the  birch,  and  instilled  into  the  pupils 
the  elements  of  knowledge.  Reading,  spelling,  writing,  arithmetic,  gram- 
mar, and,  later,  geography  were  the  studies  pursued  by  the  pupils.  The 
school-house  was  old,  rough,  and  uncomfortable,  the  seats  roughly-hewn 
benches,  the  fire  in  a  huge  fire-place  when  logs  six  feet  long  were  burned 
— scorching  the  searcher  for  heat  in  front  and  freezing  his  hack — yet  the 
scholars,  clad  in  homespun  and  home-made  garments,  would  put  to  shame 
many  a  modern  pupil  by  their  ambition  and  perseverance.  Later,  Jonas 
Rolfe  held  sway  in  this  old  house,  and  his  reputation  as  a  teacher  of  youth 
has  come  down  all  these  years  to  the  present  generation. 

When  the  Factory  Village  began  to  assume  some  proportions,  a  school- 
house  was  built  there.  Joseph  Halliard  built  this  house  in  L814.  Not  long 
after,  the  Loring  G.  Piper  district  was  organized,  and  a  school-house  built 
there,  and  rapidly  thereafter  the  new  school  districts  were  formed,  (ill  in 
L885,  when  the  school  districts  were  abolished,  there  were  thirteen  dis- 
tricts and  thirteen  school -houses  in  the  town. 

In  the  early  days  a  good  deal  of  attention  was  paid  to  the  spelling  book, 
and  the  olci-fashioned  '%  spelling-school'' was  one  of  the  fixed  institutions 
of  the  time.  A  poor  speller  was  supposed  to  be  poor  in  every  thing  else, 
and  each  district  vied  with  every  other  in  spelling.  Judging  from  the  cor- 
respondence received  in  these  days,  the  standard  of  spelling  has  fallen,  or 
the  spellers  have  decided  to  adopt  the  phonetic  style. 

At  the  December  session  of  the  General  Court,  1832,  a  charter  for  Cole- 
brook  academy  was  granted  to  Joseph  Loomis,  Daniel  Harvey,  Edmund 
Chamberlain,  Lyman  Lombard,  Ira  Young,  Lewis  Loomis,  Frederick  G. 
Messer,  Albert  Pitkin,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jonas  Rolfe  and  William  Haw- 
kins. The  people  were  not  satisfied  with  the  common  schools,  and  desired 
something  better,  so  that  their  children  might  proceed  farther  with  their 
education.  After  they  procured  the  charter  they  had  no  means  to  build 
an  academy,  and  the  matter  remained  without  further  action  until  Octo- 
ber, 1848,  when  the  corporation  was  organized,  and  the  following  persons 
were  chosen  trustees:  Nathaniel  Kennison,  Milton  Harvey,  Pickens 
Boynton,  Harvey  Hobart,  Jonas  Rolfe,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.,  Hazen 
Bedel,  Daniel  G.  Hutchinson,  John  Flanders,  Joseph  Gleason,  Archelaus 
Cummings,  John  Harriman  and  Frederick  G.  Messer. 

At  the  session  of  the  legislature  just  previous  to  this  meeting,  the  state 
had  granted  to  the  corporation  10,000  acres  of  land  situated  between  Hall's 
and  Indian  streams,  in  Pittsburg,  and  this  grant  incited  the  trustees  to 
action  looking  towards  the  erection  of  an  academy  building.  The  land 
was,  by  vote  of  the  trustees,  put  on  the  market  at  twenty -five  cents  per 
acre.  It  was  sold  to  John  Bailey  at  that  price,  and  the  corporation  became 
possessor  of  the  munificent  sum  of  $2,500. 

They  contracted  with  Charles  Bailey  to  build  the  academy  building  for 


596  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  sum  of  $1,200,  and  the  present  building  was  the  result.  After  a  law- 
suit with  Bailey,  which  resulted  in  a  verdict  for  the  corporation,  the  school 
was  put  in  motion  and,  from  that  time  forward,  it  has  had  its  two  terms 
each  year,  and  many  a  pupil  has  gone  from  its  walls  well  fitted  to  battle 
with  the  world. 

As  has  been  previously  stated,  the  first  attempt  at  a  store  in  Colebrook 
was  a  little  grocery,  on  the  Heath  farm  on  the  river  road,  kept  by  Elisha 
Bundy.  Previous  to  this  time  there  was  a  store  at  Columbia  Valley,  be- 
longing to  Bellows  &  Carlisle,  where  a  mill  was  built,  probably  as  early  as 
1790.  In  1810  Smith  &  Pratt  opened  the  store  at  Factory  Village,  which 
was  then  the  only  store  in  town.  A  little  later  they  built  a  store  at  Cole- 
brook  village  on  the  corner  where  the  store  of  W.  E.  Drew  now  stands. 
Bellows  &  Carlisle  built  a  store  where  that  of  Mrs.  Gamsby  now  stands, 
which  was  run  by  William  Cargill.  It  is  said  that  Bellows  &  Carlisle  found 
fault  with  Cargill's  success  in  trade,  and  that  Cargill  told  them,  *'I  have 
kept  false  books,  I  have  cheated  in  weight  and  measure,  and  got  every 
dollar  out  of  the  people  that  it  was  possible  to  wring  from  them,  and  still 
you  are  not  satisfied."  Such  unreasonable  employers  were  more  than 
Cargill  could  bear,  and  he  resigned.  Bellows  &  Carlisle  sold  out  to  David 
J.  Bundy,  and,  in  1838,  Kittridge  &  Colby  took  the  store  for  five  years.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  Ethan  Colby  bought  out  Mr.  Kittridge,  and  run  the  busi- 
ness alone  till  1856,  when  he  sold  out  to  George  W.  Brackett.  Mr.  Brackett 
remained  here  till  about  1865,  when  he  removed  to  the  store  which  for- 
merly stood  where  the  hardware  store  now  is,  and  remained  there  while 
he  built  the  new  store  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Parsons  streets  now  occu- 
pied by  Dudley's  block.  The  old  store  of  Bellows  &  Carlisle,  soon  after 
Brackett  left  it,  was  run  a  year  or  two  by  Rogers  &  Stacy,  and  then  by 
Went  worth  &  Capen,  who  remained  there  till  July,  1870. 

The  corner  store,  now  owned  by  W.  E.  Drew,  has  about  as  varied  a 
history.  Smith  &  Pratt  built  the  store,  and  carried  on  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness there  till  1820,  when  Albert  Pitkin  rented  it,  and  commenced  business 
for  himself,  where  he  had  been  clerk  for  the  three  years  previous.  In  1826 
Smith  &  Pratt  failed,  and,  by  that  means,  Pitkin  also  failed.  In  1834 
Frederick  G.  Messer  bought  the  stand,  rebuilt  the  store,  filled  it  with  goods, 
and  there  remained  in  trade  till  I860,  when  James  A.  Pitkin  bought  the 
business,  remodelled  the  building,  and  commenced  a  large  and  thriving 
trade.  He,  however,  a  young  man,  just  starting  out  with  the  most  flat- 
tering prospects,  died  in  August,  1863.  The  store  and  stock  was  sold  to 
Crawford  &  Mitchell,  who  carried  on  the  business  one  year,  when  the  in- 
terest of  Mitchell  was  purchased  by  Frank  Aldrich,  who,  for  fourteen  years, 
did  business  as  (  iawford  &  Aldrich.  In  1877  they  sold  to  J.  W.  Cooper  & 
Son,  succeeded  later  by  Jesse  Cooper,  who  run  the  store  till  1886,  when 
he  sold  out  the  goods  and  closed  the  store.     For  the  first  time  for  seventy 


Town  of  Colebrook.  597 


years  business  was  now  suspended  at  the  "corner  store'';  but  in  May, 
1886,  W.  E.  Drew,  of  the  old  firm  of  Merrill  &  Drew,  bought  and  refitted 
the  building  and  moved  his  goods  into  it.  The  business  of  this  store  has 
laid  the  foundations  of  several  fortunes.  Albert  Pitkin,  F.  G.  Messer, 
James  A.  Pitkin,  Francis  B.  Crawford,  and  Frank  Aldrich  all  made  them- 
selves comfortable  fortunes  in  trade  at  the  "corner  store,  "  and  the  pres- 
ent owner  will  be  behind  none  of  them  in  this  respect,  if  the  "reaper"  will 
give  hi  m  a  fair  chance  to  compete. 

In  1844  Hazen  Bedel  was  desirous  of  going  into  trade  in  Colebrook, 
having  served  an  apprenticeship  under  F.  G.  Messer.  The  other  traders 
were  unwilling  to  have  him  do  this,  and  the  owners  of  land  on  Main  street 
refused  to  sell  him  a  building  lot.  Determined  not  to  be  "  frozen  out,"  he 
bought  a  lot  across  the  Mohawk,  near  where  Aaron  B.  Haynes's  house 
now  stands,  and  built  a  small  store  on  it.  Here  he  did  a  large  and  pros- 
perous business  till  1858,  when  he  built  the  large  and  commodious  build- 
ing known  as  the  "  Bedel  store,"  now  occupied  by  George  H.  Lang.  In 
company  with  M.  S.  Marshall,  as  H.  Bedel  &  Co.,  he  continued  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  the  new  building  for  several  years,  when  he  sold  out  his 
interest  to  Benjamin  Gathercole,  and  the  firm  was  Gathercole  &  Marshall. 
On  Marshall's  death  in  1876  the  business  was  closed  out,  and  the  store  was 
last  filled  by  George  H.  Lang,  who  now  occupies  the  premises. 

About  1855  and  1856  Morse  &  Hutchinson  were  in  trade  in  a  store  on 
the  hill  where  Walter  Drew  now  lives,  and  about  the  same  time  one  Henry 
D.  Cutler  came  to  Colebrook  and  built  the  store  so  long  known  as  the  Mer- 
rill store.  He  conducted  the  business  here  for  a  few  years,  and  then  it 
came  into  the  hands  of  S.  E.  Merrill  and  E.  N.  Cummings,  and  later  into 
that  of  S.  R.  &  S.  S.  Merrill.  For  many  years  they  did  business  under 
this  style,  and  as  Merrill  &  Williams,  and,  later,  as  Merrill  &  Drew.  On 
the  death  of  S.  S.  Merrill,  W.  E.  Drew  bought  the  whole  of  the  business, 
and  removed  it  to  the  "  corner  store,"  and  the  old  store  is  closed,  quite 
likely  for  many  a  year. 

About  1S66  and  1867  trade  seemed  to  take  a  new  start  in  Colebrook. 
George  W.  Brackett  had  built  his  new  store.  Albert  S.  Eustis  had  bought 
the  Joseph  Brackett  store,  and  filled  it  with  hardware.  Hiram  C.  Young 
had  a  general  store  next  to  Eustis,  and  John  W.  Savage  a  building  next 
to  Young.  Volney  F.  Day  had  built  a  new  store,  and  stocked  it  hand- 
somely with  boots  and  shoes.  Joseph  T.  Toby  had  a  nice  jeweler's  shop, 
and  G.  S.  Joslyn  a  drug  store.  All  the  trade  was  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion and  all  the  traders  prospering.  On  Sunday,  July  24,  1870,  afire  broke 
out  in  the  rear  of  the  old  Colby  store,  and,  as  the  day  was  hot  and  dry, 
and  Colebrook  had  no  fire  department,  it  was  impossible  for  a  long  time 
to  stop  the  progress  of  the  flames.  Every  store  from  Parsons  street  to 
Pleasant  street  was  burned,  with  the  tenements  and  offices  in  the  row. 


598  History  of  Coos  County. 


The  dwellings  of  Charles  Parsons,  Hazen  Bedel,  Drew,  Little,  and  the  car- 
riage shop  of  J.  D.  &  J.  R.  Little  were  burned,  besides  many  barns  and 
out-buildings.  In  all  about  forty  buildings  were  consumed  that  day,  and 
$?;,,  01  mi  worth  of  property.  The  law  offices  of  J.  H.Dudley,  E.  Aldrich, 
W.  H.  Shurtloff  and  0.  P.  Ray  shared  the  conflagration,  and,  worse  than 
all,  the  entire  records  of  the  town  were  burned.  Owing  to  this  misfor- 
tune the  civil  list  in  this  history  is  necessarily  very  incomplete. 

The  citizens  of  Colebrook  were  by  no  means  daunted  by  the  loss  occa- 
sioned by  the  fire,  and  the  ashes  were  not  cold  when  steps  were  taken  to 
rebuild  the  burnt  district.  Before  cold  weather  came  the  stores  of  Craw- 
ford &  Aldrich,  Toby,  Joslyn,  Day,  Young  and  Eustis  were  rebuilt  and  re- 
occupied,  and  the  buildings  were  all  of  a  much  better  class  than  those  that 
preceded  them.  The  next  year  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Gamsby  built  the  block 
known  as  Central  block,  and  many  new  dwellings  were  erected  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  village.  The  Brackett  corner  remained  vacant  till  1878, 
when  J.  H.  Dudley  built  a  three-story  building  on  it  known  as  Dudley's 
block.  Thus  the  entire  part  of  the  village  that  had  been  destroyed  by  fire 
was  rebuilt,  and,  with  the  improvement  made  by  Wentworth  &  Capen  by 
building  over  the  Toby  store,  no  finer  row  of  business  buildings  can  be 
found  in  the  state. 

In  1871  Ethan  Colby  built  a  fine  store  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street, 
which  was  occupied  as  soon  as  completed  by  Mr.  Colby  and  his  son  Charles, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Charles  Colby  &  Co.  During  the  present  season 
Ethan  Colby  has  retired,  and  Charles  Colby  now  does  business  alone.  In 
1885  Dr.  C.  C.  Norris  built  the  large  block  now  occupied  by  him  which  he 
uses  as  a  drug  store  and  dwelling.  In  1870  E  H.  Williams  built  the  store 
now  occupied  by  him  at  the  lower  end  of  Main  street,  and,  about  the 
same  time,  the  Qnimby  store,  now  occupied  by  D.  Stevens  &  Co.  as  a  fur- 
niture store,  was  built.  There  have  been  from  time  to  time  many  other 
traders  in  Colebrook  either  for  short  periods,  or  they  have  escaped  the  re- 
searches of  the  writer,  and  they,  therefore,  must  be  left  out  of  this 
sketch. 

The  present  traders  in  Colebrook  are:  W.  E.  Drew,  J.  W.  Drew, 
Wentworth  &  Capen,  H.  C.  Young,  C.  Colby,  and  E.  H.  Williams,  gen- 
eral stock;  F.  D.  Whipple  and  G.  S.  Remich,  jewelers;  C.  C.  Norris  and 
Mrs.  J.  B.  Coburn,  druggists;  V.  F.  Day,  dry  goods,  millinery,  and  boots 
and  shoes;  Colebrook  Hardware  Co.,  hardware;  A.  B.  Gaskell,  W.  G.  Ly- 
man and  W.  H.  Marshall,  grocers;  C.  C  Carleton  and  A.  G.  Day,  harness- 
makers;  D.  Stevens  &  Co.,  furniture  dealers  and  undertakers;  E.  C. 
Wilder,  clothing. 

The  large  surrounding  country  furnishes  to  Colebrook  village  a  large 
amount  of  trade,  and  in  the  stores  can  be  found  as  fine  an  assortment  of 
goods  as  in  any  country  town  in  the  state. 

[For  Evening  Star  Lodge,  F.  Sc  A.  M  ,  see  General  History.] 


Town  of  Colebrook.  599 


Excelsior  Lodge,  No.  23,  /.  O.  O.  F.,  was  chartered  in  December,  1886, 
and  already  has  a  large  membership.  The  lodge  room  is  over  Went  worth 
&  Capen's  store. 

Physicians. — The  earliest  physician  in  Colebrook  was  one  Dr.  Good- 
win. Previous  to  him  there  had  been  a  sort  of  transient  doctor  by  the 
nams  of  Laisdell,  but  he  was  not  s  sttled  in  Colebrook  any  length  of  time. 
After  Dr.  Goodwin  came  Dr.  Thomas  Flanders,  who  built  a  house  which 
is  the  back  part  of  the  Lombard  house  at  the  present  time.  He  remained 
here  till  1816,  when  he  sold  out  to  Dr.  Lyman  Lombard,  a  sketch  of  whom 
will  be  found  on  another  page.  He  was  a  strong  man,  physically  and 
mentally,  and  held  many  positions  of  honor  in  the  town.  A  few  years 
after  Dr.  Lombard  cams  to  Colebrook,  Dr.  H  Wuite  settled  here  and 

built  the  house  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Edward  P.  Tibbetts,  just  south  of 
the  store  of  Charles  Colby.  Here  Horace  White,  for  many  years  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Tribune,  was  born.  In  1835  the  doctor  removed  west  and 
Horace  went  into  literary  pursuits,  and  finally  reached  the  prominent  posi- 
tion he  so  many  years  well  filled. 

In  1S38  Dr.  Augustus  Harris  came  to  Colebrook  and  bought  the  Dr. 
White  house.  He  was  born  in  Paris,  Me.,  September  29,  1811.  He  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Millet,  of  Norway,  and  afterward  attended  the  Medical 
college  at  Hanover,  N.  H.  He  was  then  unmarried,  but  in  February,  1810, 
he  wedded  Miss  Louisa  A.  Cox,  of  Norway,  Me.  They  had  two  beautiful 
daughters,  both  of  whom  died  in  early  maidenhood.  Dr.  Harris  was  a 
man  of  kind  and  generous  disposition,  and  for  thirty-six  years  his  gig  was 
daily  seen  in  all  parts  of  the  surrounding  country.  On  the  20th  day  of 
April,  1871,  he,  by  mistake,  took  a  potion  of  aconite,  mistaking  it  for  rhu- 
barb, and  died  in  a  few  minutes.  His  wife  preceded  him  "  across  the  river  " 
but  a  few  weeks. 

Erasmus  Darwin  Lombard  was  born  in  Colebrook,  Coos  county,  N.  H., 
January  27,  1S35.  His  parents  were  Dr.  Lyman  and  Betsey  (Loomis)  Lom- 
bard, he  being  the  fourth  child  and  eldest  son.  He  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  his  father  when  a  mere  boy,  subsequently  graduating  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  in  March,  1858.  He  then  came  to  the  home  of  his  boy- 
hood to  assist  his  aged  father  in  his  professional  duties,  and  for  twenty  years 
no  physician  of  Northern  New  Hampshire  had  a  more  successful  or  exten- 
sive practice,  and  none  won  more  completely  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
the  community  in  which  he  dwelt.  Night  and  day  he  answered  to  the  call 
of  rich  and  poor  alike,  and  by  his  faithful  care  and  ready  skill,  brought 
relief  to  many  a  sufferer,  and  hope  to  many  a  household.  Dr.  Lombard 
was  made  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  June  10,  1859,  became  a 
member  of  the  Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  37,  of  Colebrook,  May  3,  1860, 
and  was  exalted  to  Royal  Arch  Mason,  April  28,  1801,  at  Franklin  chapter, 
No.  5,  Lisbon,  N.  H.     In  politics  he  was  a  staunch  Democrat,  and  a  candi- 


600  History  of  Coos  County. 

date  for  representative  at  the  age  of  twenty-five.  May  1,  1865,  Dr.  Lom- 
bard married  Minnie  Dudley,  of  Hanover,  N.  H.,  and  to  them  was  born 
one  daughter,  Bessie.  Dr  Erasmus  Darwin  Lombard  died  at  the  home  of 
his  birth,  July  8,  1882,  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  his  life  plans  incomplete. 
He  was  ill  for  several  months  preceding  his  death,  but  bore  his  suffering 
with  the  greatest  fortitude  throughout.  He  fought  the  fight  bravely,  and 
his  end  was  peace. 

Clark  C.  Norris  is  the  son  of  March  and  Polly  (Sleeman)  Norris.  He 
was  born  in  Corinth,  Vt.,  October  3,  1826.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and 
drover,  and  Clark  attended  the  common  school  till  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Maidstone,  Vt.  He  attended  Lan- 
caster academy,  and  Starkey  academy  in  New  York.  He  then  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Stickney,  of  Lancaster,  attending  lectures 
at  Dartmouth  Medical  college,  and  graduating  at  Vermont  Medical  col- 
lege, Woodstock,  Vt.,  in  1856,  since  which  he  has  practiced  his  profession 
in  Colebrook,  except  a  short  time  at  Guildhall,  Vt.  For  the  last  two  years 
he  has  been  more  particularly  engaged  in  the  drug  business,  having  built  a 
handsome  block  at  the  north  end,  in  which  he  deals  out  medicine  and  does 
some  work  in  his  profession. 

Dr.  Guy  Holbrook  was  born  at  Lemington,  Vt.,  in  1845,  the  son  of 
Thomas  Holbrook,  Jr.  Guy  received  his  early  education  at  the  common 
schools  and  academies,  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Darwin  Lombard,  at  Colebrook.  He  attended  Dartmouth  Medical  col- 
lege, the  University  of  Michigan,  and  graduated  at  the  medical  school  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  commenced  practice  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  and  after- 
wards removed  to  West  Stewartstown.  He  remained  there  several  years, 
when  from  hard  labor  his  health  broke  down,  and  for  two  years  he  was 
unable  to  do  any  work.  On  his  recovery  he  96m e  to  Colebrook,  where  he 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  In  1885  he  removed  to  Manches- 
ter, N.  H. 


CHAPTER   LXV. 


Postofflces  and  Postmasters  in  Colebrook — Saw-mills— Grist-mills — Starch-mills — Manufacture 
of  Potash  and  Pearlash. 

PREVIOUS  to  January  5,  1811,  there  was  no  postoffice  in  Colebrook. 
The  nearest  was  at  Columbia  Valley— the  largest  village  in  Upper 
Coos  at  that  time.     On  that  date  a  postoffice  was  established  in  Cole- 
brook, and  James  Hugh  was  appointed  postmaster;  the  first  office  was 


Town  of  Colebrook.  601 


probably  in  a  house  which  stood  where  Crawford's  now  stands.  Hugh 
held  the  office  till  September  8,  1817,  when  Thomas  Flanders  was  made 
postmaster.  He  lived  on  the  Dr.  Lombard  place  and  the  office  was  there. 
December  22,  1819,  Dr.  Lyman  Lombard  had  bought  out  Flanders,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  office,  and  kept  it  in  the  same  place. 

After  him  one  Stephen  Eaton  held  the  office  a  short  time,  and  February 
12,  1821,  Albert  Pitkin  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  held  the  office  ten 
years,  till  February  5,  1831,  during  which  time  the  mail  was  distributed  in 
the  store  at  the  corner.  On  that  date  Frederick  G.  Messer  succeeded 
Pitkin,  and  kept  the  office  at  the  same  place  till  June  4,  1815,  when  Hazen 
Bedel  was  appointed,  and  moved  the  office  over  the  river  to  the  old  store. 
He  held  the  position  till  April  18,  1849,  when  Ethan  Colby  succeeded  him, 
and  the  office  was  moved  back  to  the  Bellows  &  Carlisle  store,  better 
known  to  the  people  of  this  generation  as  the  "old  Colby  store."'  In  the 
whirligig  of  politics  Colby  went  out,  and,  May  3,  L853,  D.  Allen  Rogers 
was  appointed,  and  moved  the  office  over  to  the  little  building  now  occu- 
pied by  Albert  Barker  as  a  law  office.  Hezekiah  B.  Parsons  became  his 
successor,  October  26,  1851,  and  had  the  office  for  a  short  time  at  the  same 
place,  and  afterwards  in  the  store  of  F.  G.  Messer.  December  11,  1856, 
Alonzo  Eastman,  the  shoemaker,  was  appointed  to  distribute  the  mails, 
and  had  the  office  in  his  shoemaker's  shop,  now  called  the  Gathercole  build- 
ing. Sherburn  E.  Merrill  was  made  postmaster,  December  15,  1860,  and 
kept  the  office  in  the  Bedel  store  till  August  3,  1861,  when  James  A.  Pitkin 
succeeded  him,  and  the  office  returned  to  the  old  home,  the  "corner  store." 
September  18,  1863,  Edward  N.  Cummings  was  appointed,  and  had  the 
office  in  the  Colby  store,  and,  afterwards,  in  the  new  Brackett  store, 
corner  of  Main  and  Parsons  streets.  He  held  the  position  till  March  22, 
1869,  when  Volney  F.  Day  was  made  his  successor,  and  moved  the  office 
to  his  store.  Jesse  Cooper,  appointed  June  23,  1874,  moved  it  back  to 
the  corner.  John  B.  Riley  succeeded  Cooper,  March  27,  1882,  and  the 
office  was  moved  to  the  drug  store,  and,  January  12,  1885,  Wesley  Went- 
worth  took  the  position,  with  the  office  in  Mrs.  Gamsby's  block,  where  it 
still  remains.  In  seventy-six  years  Colebrook  has  had  eighteen  postmastei  s, 
some  good,  some  bad,  and  some  indifferent,  but  all  honest,  and  no 
defalcation  was  ever  found  among  them. 

The  settlers  of  Colebrook  at  an  early  date  were  impressed  with  the  need 
of  a  saw-mill.  Although  the  houses  were  all  log-houses,  it  was  necessaiv 
that  for  all  their  conveniences  they  should  have  sawed  lumber.  Some 
where  from  1795  to  L800,  the  McAllasters,  who  lived  on  the  Martin  B. 
Noyes  farm,  built  a  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  not  far  from  where  the  grist- 
mill is  now.  The  old  grist-mill  stood  on  the  site  of  the  starch-mill,  which 
belonged  to  Crawford  and  others,  recently  removed.  After  Smith  &  Pratt 
came  into  this  country  and  began  to  operate,  they  bought  these  mills  of  the 

39 


602  History  of  Coos  County. 


McAllasters,  and  owned  them  up  to  the  time  of  their  failure  in  1826,  when, 
with  their  other  property,  they  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Tremont  bank, 
of  Boston.  Not  far  from  1830  the  bank  sold  to  Cole  &  Huntington,  who, 
in  turn,  sold  to  one  Joel  Tilden.  Joel  Tilden  to  Jonas  Mills,  and  Mills- 
transferred  the  property  to  Hezekiah  Parsons,  through  whom,  as  heir, 
George  Parsons  received  and  still  owns  it.  The  old  saw-mill  was  allowed 
to  go  to  ruin  and  was  taken  down  (as  mills  were  built  which  were  more 
convenient  for  logs),  but  the  grist-mill  was  rebuilt  in  L846,'47  and  '48,  by  Mr. 
Parsons,  on  its  present  location.  About  1807  or  1808  Edmund  Chamber- 
lain built  a  saw-mill  on  Beaver  brook,  which  rotted  down  and  was  twice 
rebuilt,  and  the  last  many  years  ago  succumbed  to  the  elements  and  com- 
paratively few  at  the  present  day  know  that  a  mill  ever  existed  at  that 
place. 

The  next  mill  built  in  town  was  that  built  by  Smith  &  Pratt  at  Factory 
Village.  When  their  new  factory  was  built,  in  1820,  the  saw- mill  was  first 
set  running  in  order  to  saw  out  the  necessary  timber  for  its  erection.  This 
mill  was  only  torn  down  within  a  few  years. 

A  number  of  years  later  Caleb  Little  built  a  mill  on  the  Mohawk  at 
what  is  known  as  the  Rich  &  Spencer  site.  This  has  been  repaired  from 
time  to  time  and  run  for  a  good  many  years.  About  five  years  ago  Messrs. 
Rich  &  Spencer  built  a  grist-mill  across  the  stream  and  divided  the  prop- 
erty, Calvin  F.  Rich  taking  the  grist-mill,  and  James  W.  Spencer  the 
saw- mill  property. 

After  the  sale  of  the  above  mentioned  mill  Caleb  Little  was  unsatisfied 
without  a  saw-mill,  and  proceeded  to  build  another  on  the  north  branch  of 
the  M<  >hawk.  This  mill  did  quite  a  business  for  a  long  time  under  the  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Little,  but  getting  old  and  infirm,  he  sold  it  to  Henry  W. 
Woodrow,  who  enlarged  and  repaired  it,  and  now  does  a  large  and  flour- 
ishing business. 

Somewhere  about  1830  Moody  Little  built  a  saw-mill  at  Kidderville, 
which  was  afterwards  purchased  and  refitted  by  Abial  Kidder,  who  gave 
his  name  to  the  collection  of  dwellings  which  has  since  borne  his  name  as 
Kidderville. 

William  Hibbard  also  built  a  grist-mill  not  far  below  the  Kidderville 
saw-mill,  and  Spiller  &  Chandler  built  a  shop  where  they  manufactured 
chairs  and  other  furniture.  This  shop  was  afterwards  bought  by  Amos 
Cummings,  who  changed  it  into  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  doors,  sash 
and  blinds.  The  machinery  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  shop  now 
owned  by  Henry  Hammond,  and  the  old  shop  has  gone  to  ruin  and  been 
removed. 

There  was  a  saw-mill  many  years  ago  just  above  the  present  one  run  by 
Henry  W.  Woodrow,  but  who  built  or  used  it  seems  to  be  now  unknown. 
It  was  known  as  the  Crane  mill.     Another  saw-mill  was  built  on  the  Mo- 


Town  of  Colebrook.  603 


hawk  by  Caleb  Little,  below  the  Ira  Young  mill,  a  good  many  years  ago,  as 
early  as  1830,  probably,  and,  when  it  went  to  decay,  Mr.  Young  built  the 
new  one  on  the  present  site.  The  only  saw- mills  now  in  running  order  in 
Colebrook  are  those  of  Ira  Young,  Henry  W.  Woodrow  and  James  W. 
Spencer;  which,  with  the  shops  of  Joseph  D.  Little  and  Henry  Hammond, 
is  the  extent  to  which  the  Mohawk  is  utilized  for  these  purposes. 

About  1846  a  new  industry  arose  in  Colebrook.  Sherburn  R.  Merrill 
came  into  town  and  built  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  potato-starch. 
The  soil  was  peculiarly  adapted  for  the  cultivation  of  potatoes,  and  the 
farmers  could  raise  easily  from  200  to  400  bushels  to  the  acre.  There  was 
an  old  seed-mill  just  above  the  woolen  factory,  and  the  new  starch  factory 
was  built  near  it.  Previous  to  this  time  only  potatoes  enough  were  raised 
for  the  family  use  of  the  farmer  and  seed  for  the  next  year;  but  when 
cash  could  be  obtained  for  them  at  ten,  twelve  and  fifteen  cents  per  bushel, 
their  cultivation  rapidly  increased.  Moses  Woodward  built  a  starch  fac- 
tory at  Kidderville,  which  was  soon  bought  by  Mr.  Merrill,  and  the  supply 
of  potatoes  increased  so  rapidly  that  the  brothers  S.  R.  &  S.  S.  Merrill  built 
another  mill  at  Colebrook  village,  northerly  of  the  grist-mill.  From  this 
time  till  1867  the  Merrills  had  a  monopoly  of  the  starch  business  in  Cole- 
brook, when  Samuel  Harriman,  James  A.  Gould  and  Simeon  Cross  built  a 
factory  on  north  branch  of  the  Mohawk  in  Harvey  Swell  district.  In  1869 
Joseph  W.  Cooper,  Loring  G.  Piper  and  Ira  Young  built  a  factory  near  the 
Young  saw-mill. 

Competition  now  became  general,  and  a  new  mill  was  built  by  the  Mer- 
rills at  the  village,  and  Alfred  Lovering  and  D.  W.  Patrick  built  another 
in  the  Whittemore  district.  The  price  of  potatoes  had  advanced  from  time 
to  time  till  some  years  as  high  as  fifty  cents  per  bushel  was  paid  for  them; 
and  starch  was  one  year  as  high  as  $180  per  ton.  Colebrook  was  then  one 
of  the  great  potato-starch  centers,  one-twentieth  of  all  the  starch  manu- 
factured in  the  United  States  going  from  this  community.  After  a  few 
years  the  farmers  learned  that  planting  potatoes  and  selling  them  all  off 
their  farms,  leaving  nothing  to  be  returned,  was  the  cause  of  a  too  rapid 
depreciation  of  the  soil,  and  the  best  farmers  planted  less  and  less  each 
year  for  the  starch-mill.  Aroostook  county,  Maine,  attracted  many  of  our 
starch  manufacturers,  and  the  starch  made  in  Colebrook  has  decreased  from 
year  to  year,  till,  instead  of  1,500  tons,  it  only  sends  out  about  500  tons 
yearly.  The  loss  to  the  starch  manufacturers  has  been  gain  to  the  farmer, 
for  he  now  raises  crops  that  leave  his  land  in  better  condition,  and  his  po- 
tatoes are  largely  sold  to  be  shipped  to  market,  bringing  him  such  prices 
that  he  can  purchase  the  commercial  fertilizers,  and  so  keep  his  farm  in  a 
state  of  fertility.  The  starch  manufacturers  of  Colebrook  and  vicinity 
have  become  wealthy  and  have  realized  fortunes  from  the  industry. 

One  branch  of  business  which  was  carried  on  in  Colebrook  at  an  early 


60i  History  of  Coos  County. 


date  to  quite  an  extent  has  been  omitted — the  manufacture  of  potash  and 
pearlash  There  were  two  pearlashes  in  town  within  the  memory  of 
many  of  the  present  inhabitants,  one  in  the  rear  of  the  old  Colby  store, 
and  one  further  down  the  Mohawk  near  the  Huntoon  shop,  the  former 
being  owned  by  Ethan  Colby,  and  the  latter  by  F.  G.  Messer.  Potash  was 
frequently  made  in  the  woods  when  the  land  was  being  cleared  for  culti- 
vation, but  pearlash  required  more  elaborate  arrangements  than  could  be 
set  up  in  the  forest.  A  word  as  to  the  process  may  not  be  out  of  place,  as 
it  is  probably  a  mystery  to  most  people  at  this  day.  Ashes  were  placed  in 
barrels,  or,  more  often,  in  a  long  vat  made  for  that  purpose,  and  carefully 
leached,  the  lye  being  collected  in  a  long  trough.  This  was  boiled  till  the 
water  was  all  evaporated  and  the  result  was  potash.  To  make  the  pearl- 
ash, a  large  brick  oven  was  heated  to  a  very  high  temperature,  and  the 
potash  melted,  or  rather  baked,  till  the  impurities  were  burned  out,  and 
the  purified  material  was  the  pearlash,  which  was  barrelled  and  sent  to 
market. 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 


The  Churches  of  Colebrook  —  Organization  of  Congregational  Church  —  Creed  and  Doctrine 
—  Pastors  of  the  Church  —  The  Methodist  Church  —  Sketches  of  Members  of  the  Churches  —  East 
Colebrook  Church. 

THE  Congregational  Church. — The  early  settlers  of  Colebrook  were 
imbued  with  the  spirit  and  principles  that  characterized  New 
England  at  that  period.  Coming  largely  from  the  supervision  of  the 
Connecticut  blue  laws,  they  soon  found  themselves  inquiring  for  a  leader 
in  a  spiritual  capacity.  In  1802  there  were  about  200  inhabitants  in  the 
town  of  Colebrook,  making  with  those  of  Columbia,  Stewartstown,  and 
Lemington,  quite  a  community,  probably  some  300  in  all,  and  in  that  year 
Rev.  John  Willard  came  to  Colebrook,  and  organized  the  "  Monadnock 
Congregational  Church."  Who  he  was,  or  by  what  society  he  was  sent,  no 
one  now  knows,  but  he  set  in  motion  an  institution  for  good  that  for 
eighty  five  years  has  been  throwing  out  an  influence  which  cannot  be  esti- 
mated.  Their  creed  was  short  and  spirited,  their  covenant  earnest  and  full 
of  faith,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  copy  which  follows: — 

"  The  Greed,  or  Articles  of  Faith,  adopted  by  the  church  of  Colebrook  and  vicinity. 

••  You  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  old  and  new  testament  to  be  divinely  inspired,  that  they  constitute 
tin'  only  unerring  guide  of  faith  and  practice  of  men,  and  you  now  publicly  declare  that  you  cordially  em- 
brace  the  precious  doctrines  they  contain.    You  believe  that  there  is  one  only  the  living  and  true  God,  that  he 


Town  of  Colebrook.  605 


exists  in  three  persons,  t lie  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  these  three  persona  arc  equal  and 
divine  and  that  united  they  constitute  the  glorious  Godhead.  Von  believe  also  thai  in  God  are  united  all 
moral  and  rational  perfections,  that  he  created  and  governs  the  world,  and  that  all  creatures  owe  to  Him 
alone,  supreme  love,  homage  and  adoration,  thai  God  made  man  at  first  upright  m  his  moral  image,  but  that 
he  apostatized  and  thai  the  whole  human  fallen  family  are  under  sentence  of  condemnation,  justly  exposed 
to  eternal  punishment. 

••  You  believe  that  in  this  ruined  condition,  the  only  consist!  nt  hope  of  man  is  buill  on  the  atonemenl  of 
Christ,  which  you  deem  sufficient  to  justify  the  pardon  of  sin.  and  you  rect  ive  Him  as  the  only  Mediator,  the 
glorious,  prevalent  Advocate  for  all  his  people  and  the  ever  living  head  of  the  church. 

"You  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  particular  election  as  tan-lit  in  the  scriptures  that  the  3alvation  of  the 
soul  is  the  gift  of  Sovereign  mercy,  that  the  heart  of  man  is  by  nature  destitute  of  holiness  and  must  be 
renewed  by  divine  Spirit,  that  man  is  justified  byfaith  in  Christ  ami  that  the  only  satisfying  evidence  of  miv- 
ing  faith  is  a  holy  life. 

"You  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints,  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  the 
final  judgment,  the  everlasting  life  of  the  righteous  and  the  eternal  punishmenl  of  the  wicked. 

"Baptism  and  the  Lords  supper  you  believe  to  be  ordinances  of  the  Gospel!  that  believers  and  their  off- 
spring are  proper  subjects  for  baptism  and  that  none  but  such  as  profess  to  be  saints  and  live  in  a  manner 
consistent  with  such  a  profession  should  be  received  at  the  Lords  supper  and  be  considered  as  suitable  mem- 
bers of  the  church. 

••You  believe  the  Sabbath  to  be  appointed  of  God,  that  the  first  day  of  the  week  is  now  to  be  observed 
as  the  true  Christian  Sabbath  and  to  be  kept  holy  to  the  Lord. 

"  Thus  you  believe." 

Covenant.— "  You  do  now  in  the  presence  of  God,  angels  and  before  this  assembly  dedicate  yourself  to 
his  service  to  be  His  forever,  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  your  entire  dependence,  guilt  and  insufficiency. 
You  rely  for  acceptance  solely  on  the  mercy  of  God  through  the  merits  of  a  crucified  Redeemer. 

"As  a  member  of  this  church,  you  engage  to  strive  to  promote  her  welfare  and  promise  by  the  aid  of  the 
Spirit  to  walk  with  the  members  in  all  the  ordinances  and  duties  of  the  Gospel. 

"You  engage  to  attend  upon  the  duties  of  the  closet,  of  the  family  and  of  the  Sanctuary  as  God  bath 
appointed  in  his  word,  to  submit  yourself  to  the  laws  of  Christ  in  the  discipline  of  His  church  to  perform  the 
offices  of  love  and  duty  to  each  member  and  to  walk  in  christian  fellowship  with  all  the  true  followers  ol 
Christ  as  in  divine  providence  you  may  be  called  ami  so  to  conduct  towards  those  who  are  without,  that  they 
shall  have  no  just  occasion  to  speak  evil  of  you  or  of  the  holy  religion  you  profess. 

"Thus  you  covenant." 

"Agreeably  to  a  previous  vote  of  the  church  we  now  receive  you  into  covenant  engaging  to  treat  you  as 
a  disciple  of  our  common  Lord,  and  while  we  bid  you  welcome  to  our  communion  we  trust  that  you  will 
unite  your  heart  with  ours  in  habitual  and  fervent  prayer  for  the  gracious  influences  of  the  Spirit  to  enlighten, 
to  guide,  to  support,  and  comfort  us  on  the  journey  of  life  and  in  the  great  holy  christian  warfare.  May  we 
all  experience  that  fellowship  of  kindred  minds  which  is  '  like  to  that  above.' " 

This  creed,  with  some  minor  changes,  remains  the  creed  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  of  Colebrook  to-day,  and  for  eighty-five  years  under  this 
covenant,  the  tree,  at  that  time  planted,  has  lived  and  flourished. 

When  the  "Monadnock  Congregational  church"  was  first  organized 
by  Mr.  Willard  it  had  but  ten  members:  Emily  Beach,  Thankful  Wallace, 
Nathaniel  Beach,  Edna  Porter,  William  AVallace,  Elizabeth  La< Id.  Abel 
Hobart,  Susanna  DeForest,  James  Ladd,  Betsey  Hobart.  It  is  evident  that 
the  people  who  were  interested  in  church  affairs  were  few  and  poor  at  t  hat 
time,  for  while  there  was  a  desire  for  church  organization  and  its  helpful 
influence,  there  seems  to  have  been  lack  of  means  to  support  it.  This  ap- 
pears from  the  fact  that  the  only  preaching  in  the  town  for  the  next  eight 
years  was  that  of  the  missionaries  who  from  time  to  time  visited  the  place. 
But  few  additions  were  made  to  the  church  during  this  time,  and  it  speaks 
well  for  the  spirit  of  the  people  that  there  were  any.  In  L806  Sally  Thomp- 
son, Phebe  DeForest,  and  in  L807  Jeremiah  Eames,  became  members,  and 
in  1809  Jonathan  Bancroft  and  Bethiah  Bancroft  also  became  members. 


606  History  of  Coos  County. 


In  1810  Rev.  Dyer  Burge  became  minister  to  this  people  and  remained 
till  L815.  Daring  his  ministry  twenty-eight  members  were  added  to  the 
church.  Among  these  were  Mary  Beach,  Harvey  Johnson,  Timothy  Lock- 
wood,  Timothy  Farrar,  Anna  Eames,  Sarah  Ashley,  Hannah  Goodwin, 
Mrs.  Lockwood,  Caroline  Cone,  Stephen  Lane,  Joseph  Bancroft,  Nathaniel 
Bancroft,  Nathaniel  Beach,  2d,  Triphena  Lines,  Mrs.  Lane,  Hannah  De- 
Forest,  Mehifcable  Holkins,  Melinda  Wallace,  Patty  Burnside,  Lydia  Os- 
burne,  Eunitia  Beach,  Lydia  Aldrich,  Mary  Kibber,  and  Anna  Curtis.  Mr. 
Burge  seems  to  have  been  a  vigorous  and  keen,  as  well  as  a  merciful,  man, 
for  we  find  that  February  7,  1811,  he  commenced  labor  with  Timothy 
Lockwood  for  intemperance  and  other  improprieties,  but  his  sense  of 
mercy  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  on  June  5,  1811,  Timothy  Lockwood  was 
"restored  upon  confession."  On  the  3  5th  day  of  May,  1815,  Mr.  Burge 
having  requested  his  dismissal,  the  church  voted  to  dismiss  him,  having 
first  passed  resolutions  that  the  "  moral  and  ministerial  character  of  Eev. 
Dyer  Burge  be  good  and  recommended." 

From  1815  to  1819  the  church  seems  to  have  been  without  a  pastor,  at 
which  time  Rev.  Nathan  Waldo  came  among  them,  and  preached  till  some 
time  in  1822,  during  which  time  he  admitted  nine  members  to  the  church. 
During  the  next  year  Rev.  Andrew  Rankin  preached,  staying  till  July, 
1  ^2o.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  L.  Hale,  who  remained  till  some 
time  in  the  year  1824.  Under  the  ministry  of  these  two  men,  forty -three 
members  were  added  to  the  previous  number.  It  had  now  become  a  body 
that  might  well  make  its  influence  felt,  since  there  were  ninety-five  souls 
within  its  communion. 

In  January,  1825,  Rev.  Orlando  G-.  Thatcher  became  the  minister  of  the 
church,  and  continued  to  be  with  them  till  February,  1829.  The  number 
of  members  regularly  and  steadily  increased  under  his  ministration,  thirty- 
one  persons  being  received  into  the  fellowship  of  the  church  during  that 
period. 

Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no  church,  or,  as  called  at  that  time, 
meeting-house,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  The  meetings  had  been 
held  in  the  log  school-houses,  sometimes  in  Colebrook,  sometimes  in  Colum- 
bia, and  the  meetings  of  the  church  members  were  held  at  the  dwelling- 
house  of  some  one  of  their  number.  They  had  begun  to  discuss  the 
question  of  building  a  meeting-house,  and  by  this  time  Colebrook  village 
li.nl  grown  to  such  an  extent  that  that  place  was  chosen  for  its  location. 
The  site  selected  was  where  the  church  now  stands.  Smith  &  Pratt  had 
given  the  land  to  the  society,  but  in  the  time  intervening  between  taking  a 
deed  and  building  the  house  they  had  become  insolvent,  and  their  property 
had  parsed  into  the  hands  of  the  Tremont  Bank  of  Boston. 

"  At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Tremont  Bank  at  the  Banking  House  in  Boston  on  Monday 
tlic  2;)il  nl'  May  ls;',i;.  Voted  -That  the  President  be  and  hereby  is  authorized  and  requested  to  execute  and  de- 


Town  of  Colebrook.  607 


liver  a  quitclaim  deed  of  a  piece  of  land  about  one  half  an  acre  lj  bag  in  Colebrook,  to  Edmund  Chamberlain 
and  Predi  rick  G.  Mi  sser  as  a  committee  and  trusteesof  the  Congregational  church  and  Society  in  said  Cole- 
brook for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said  Church  and  society  forever." 

In  accordance  with  said  vote,  Sam.  T.  Armstrong,  president  of  the 
Tremont  bank,  on  the  23d  of  May,  L836,  executed  a  deed  of  the  present 
church  lot  to  Messrs.  Chamberlain  and  Messer. 

Previous  to  this  time,  about  1829,  a  subscription  was  started  for  build- 
ing the  church,  and  enough  subscribed  to  get  up  the  frame  and  board  in 
the  building.  The  funds  gave  out,  and  for  sometime  it  stood  there  in  its 
unfinished  state,  awaiting  further  funds.  In  1830  Jonas  Mills,  who  lived 
at  that  time  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Martin  B.  Noyes,  came  forward, 
and  was  prominent  in  giving  it  a  second  start.  The  peWs  were  sold,  and  in 
this  way  sufficient  means  were  obtained  to  bring  it  to  a  completion.  It  was 
low-built,  with  low  square  tower,  and  was  not  furnished  with  a  bell;  the 
people  being  called  to  church  service  by  ringing  the  academy  bell  after  the 
academy  was  built.  The  church  was  finished  and  dedicated  in  the  winter 
of  1830-31,  and,  for  the  first  time,  the  "Congregational  church  of  Cole- 
brook "  had  a  local  habitation,  and  was  on  a  firm  foundation. 

After  the  labors  of  Rev.  0  G.  Thatcher  were  finished,  Rev.  Moses 
Bradford  preached  thirteen  months,  when  his  son,  Ebenezer  G.  Bradford, 
accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  church.  He  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled February  29,  1S32,  and  remained  till  February  14,  1836. 

At  this  point  it  may  be  interesting  briefly  to  notice  the  manner  in  which 
the  authority  of  the  church  was  exercised  over  its  members.  The  tend- 
ency of  the  present  age  seems  to  be  for  the  sexton  to  ring  the  bell,  the 
minister  to  enter  the  pulpit  and  preach  to  such  as  choose  to  come  and  hear 
him,  without  particular  regard  to  the  going  or  coming  of  any  of  the  mem- 
bers; but,  in  1820,  we  find  brethren  Capt.  Abel  Hobart  and  Col.  Jeremiah 
Eames  a  committee  to  attend  to  any  matter  of  difficulty  and  discipline  in 
the  church,  and,  from  time  to  time,  various  members  of  the  church  were 
called  upon  to  answer  for  their  irregularities.  Later,  we  find  Harvey 
Barnes,  Noyes  S.  Dennison  and  Peter  R.  Field  such  a  committee,  and  on 
the  3d  day  of  May,  1833,  we  find  they  report  that  they  "had  visited  John- 
son Jordan  who  confessed  that  he  had  labored  at  haying  on  the  Sabbath, 
professed  sorrow  for  it,  and  said  that  he  was  willing  to  make  a  public  con- 
fession." They  further  reported  that  they  had  visited  Mr.  Emery  Bissell, 
charged  with  unchristian  behavior  on  the  way  to  Portland.  This  he  de- 
nied. They  heard  also  that  he  was  guilty  of  working  in  the  field  on  the 
Sabbath.  This  he  confessed  was  true.  One  other  case  they  had  exam- 
ined, and  the  particulars  they  brought  before  the  church,  viz.:  That  of 
Isaac  Wallace,  accused  of  intemperate  drinking.  Brother  Wallace  made 
such  a  statement  respecting  the  charge  brought  against  him,  and  brought 
forward  such  evidence  that  the  church  concluded  to  pass  it  over.     Brother 


608  History  op  Coos  County. 

Johnson  Jordan  made  a  public  confession  of  his  sin  in  violating  the  Sab- 
bath, by  hay-making  on  that  day,  and  was  forgiven  by  the  church.  On 
the  1st  day  of  July,  1833,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  members,  Brother 
Harvey  Hoi  cut  was  appointed  to  go  to  Mr.  Emery  Bissell  and  take  the 
first  and  second  steps  with  him  in  regard  to  his  conduct  on  the  way  to 
Portland  and  laboring  on  the  Sabbath.     They  also  passed  the  resolve: — 

"  That  it  is  a  violation  of  the  fourth  commandment  to  team  to  and  from  market  on  the  sabbath  in  any 
case;  and  that  it  is  also  a  violation  to  journey  on  the  sabbath  in  any  case  excepting  in  cases  of  sickness 
or  to  relieve  want  or  distress  and  that  cither  of  these  violations  is  a  disciplinary  offence." 

At  the  next  meeting  Mr.  Emery  Bissell  confessed  that  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  his  father  he  had  labored  in  the  field  at  haying  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  that  on  the  way  to  Portland  he  had  behaved  in  too  light  and  trivial 
manner  to  become  a  Christian,  but  not  on  the  Sabbath;  and  at  a  future 
meeting  Mr.  Bissell  made  a  further  confession  which  the  church  voted 
"satisfactory,"  and  he  was  restored.  Certain  other  parties  were  from 
time  to  time  brought  up  before  the  church  for  breaches  of  discipline,  of 
which  some  were  '"admonished,"  some  were  "  forgiven  and  restored,"  and 
a  few  were  ''excommunicated." 

Such  was  the  care  and  oversight  of  the  church  over  its  members  in  the 
earlier  days  of  its  struggle  for  existence;  but  a  little  later  they  seem  to 
have  been  willing  to  throw  off  a  trifle  of  their  responsibility,  for,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1839,  we  find  they  voted  that  '''  all  members  of  the  church  having 
been  removed  from  Colebrook  and  vicinity  for  more  than  one  year,  shall 
no  longer  be  considered  under  the  watch  and  care  of  the  church,"  and 
about  a  dozen  members  were  deprived  of  their  membership  under  this 
vote.  A  few  years  later,  however,  they  seem  to  have  repented  of  their 
action,  and  by  their  vote  expressed  the  reason  for  the  same,  for  it  was 
unanimously  voted  at  a  regular  church  meeting,  February  22,  1842,  that 
"  on  consideration  the  church  rescind  the  vote  passed  September,  1837, 
excluding  all  members  who  have  been  absent  from  Colebrook  and  vicinity 
more  than  one  year,  the  church  being  convinced  that  said  vote  was  incon- 
sistent with  scripture  directions." 

Alter  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Bradford,  February  14,  1836,  the  church  was 
without  a  pastor  till  October,  1837.  The  number  of  members  had  increased 
to  111,  ;md  had  become  a  body  whose  influence  might  well  be  felt. 

In  May,  1836,  several  members  from  South  Columbia  presented  a  re- 
quest for  dismissal  in  order  that  they  might  organize  a  society  of  their 
own  in  Columbia.  It  speaks  of  their  devotion,  that  for  years  they  had 
lived  so  Car  away  and  yet  maintained  their  walk  with  the  church  in  Cole- 
brook. where  many  of  them  must  walk  a'distance  from  seven  to  ten  miles 
each  way  in  order  to  worship  with  the  church  upon  the  Sabbath.  It  would 
seem  that  the  request  presented  was  a  reasonable  one,  but,  for  some  rea- 
son, it  was  denied 


Town  of  Colebrook.  601P 


In  October,  L837,  Rev.  William  E.  Holmes  began  to  preach  in  Colebrook, 
and  remained  till  the  spring  of  1840.  He  received  thirty-seven  to  the 
church  during  that  time.  Soon  after  he  left,  Rev.  Charles  W.  Richardson 
began  work  among  the  people,  and  stayed  till  the  fall  of  1.846,  during  which 
time  twenty-three  were  added  to  the  church. 

When  the  meeting-house  was  completed  the  pews  were  bought  by  vari- 
ous parties,  many  of  them  not  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 
In  fact  quite  a  number  of  pews  were  owned  by  those  who  were  really  or 
nominally  Universalists.  In  January,  1845,  the  Universalists  proposed  to 
hold  a  two  days'  meeting  at  Colebrook  and  requested  the  Congregational- 
ists  to  give  them  the  use  of  the  meeting-house  for  that  purpose.  A  meet- 
ing of  the  members  was  called  and  the  following  vote  was  passed:— 

"  On  the  Friday  preceding  the  first  Sabbatb  in  January,  1845,  at  a  regular  church  meeting  held  on  the 

occasion  of  a  preparatory  meeting:  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  request  of  the  rniversalists  to  occupy 
our  house  fora  two  days'  meeting,  next  week,  cannot  consistently  be  assented  to  by  as;  inasmuch  as  we  hon- 
estly believe  that  Universalist  preaching  has  a  pernicious  influence  on  society,  especially  on  the  risin.u  gener- 
ation." 

In  accordance  with  this  vote  the  meeting-house  was  kept  closed  and 
locked.  On  the  day  when  the  Universalist  meeting  was  proposed  to  be 
held  some  of  those  who  believed  in  that  doctrine  called  upon  Mr.  Joseph 
Gleason,  who  at  that  time  had  charge  of  the  church,  for  the  key  to  the 
meeting-house.  He  refused  to  give  it  up,  and  immediately  relinquished  its 
custody  to  Deacon  Edmund  0.  Wilder,  saying,  "he  was  a  man  of  peace,  and 
would  have  nothing  further  to  do  with  the  matter. "  A  demand  was  made  on 
Mr.  Wilder  by  various  persons,  but  the  deacon  was  steadfast,  and  refused  to 
give  them  admittance  to  the  sacred  building.  The  other  party  was  equally 
determined,  and,  led  by  Seth  Tirrell,  of  Stewartstown,  they  broke  open 
the  church  and  held  their  service.  At  night  the  Congregationalists  again 
fastened  the  meeting-house  strongly,  but  the  next  day  it  was  again  broken 
open,  and  again  the  members  of  the  Universalist  persuasion  held  service 
unmolested.  There  was  much  excitement  and  loud  talk  of  prosecution, 
but  it  soon  subsided,  and  the  matter  was  quietly  dropped.  In  the  last  ten 
years  nearly  every  denomination  has  been  represented  in  the  pulpit  of  the 
remodelled  church,  so  much  has  liberality  towards  other  denominations 
increased  in  the  Congregational  church  of  Colebrook. 

In  1838  and  1839  quite  a  colony  of  people  went  from  Colebrook  and 
vicinity  to  Beloit,  Wis.,  and,  among  them,  nearly  thirty  members  of  this 
church.  They  were  dismissed,  and  organized  themselves  as  the  "First 
Congregational  church  of  Beloit,"  and,  ever  since,  the  cion  cut  from  this 
society  has  thrived  and  flourished  till  it  has  grown  greater  than  its  parent. 

In  May,  1846,  letters  of  dismission  were  given  to  twenty-five  members 
living  in  Stewarstown  and  in  Canaan,  Vt.,  who  organized  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  West  Stewartstown.  Following  are  the  names  of  those 
thus  dismissed:     Nathaniel  Beach,  Mary  Beach,  William  Fletcher,  Thomas 


610  History  of  Coos  County. 

Johnson.  William  Ellis,  Daniel  Norris,  Jeremiah  Pickard,  Jeremiah  Eames, 
Mrs.  Sargeant,  Abigail  Sargeant,  Polly  Blodgett,  Mrs.  Nathan  Frizzle,  Mrs. 
Beach,  Elizabeth  Fletcher,  Betsey  Abbott,  Sarah  Johnson,  Mrs.  Ellis,  Emily 
E.  Norris,  Mrs.  Pickard,  Abigail  Pickard,  Mary  Pickard,  Sarah  Harvey, 
Hezekiah  Stoddard,  Moses  Pickard,  Mary  Barms. 

On  the  3d  day  of  October,  1847,  Eev.  Joseph  B.  Hill  came  from  Mason, 
N.  H  ,  to  Colebrook,  and  commenced  his  labors  with  this  people  and  re- 
mained  till  October  15,  1850,  a  period  of  nine  years.  Under  his  adminis- 
tration sixteen  were  added  to  the  church.  From  October,  1856,  the  church 
was  without  a  minister,  until,  as  is  naively  stated  in  the  record: — 

'•  The  first  of  August,  1857,  though  laudable  efforts  were  made  by  the  cburehto  find  a  Minister,  but  with- 
out success,  at  which  time  Elder  Joseph  Little  commenced  and  continued  to  preach  in  our  house  of  worship 
(being  a  Methodist)  till,  we  trust,  through  the  kind  hand  of  the  Head  of  the  Church,  he  sent  us  the  Eev. 
Horace  Fratt  in  accordance  with  our  request  and  invitation  who  preached  his  first  sermon  in  this  place  very 
much  to  the  acceptance  of  the  congregation,  Oct.  18,  1857." 

Under  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Pratt  everything  seemed  to  prosper.  In 
January,  1858,  they  commenced  to  repair  the  church,  and,  for  four  months, 
held  service  in  the  academy.  In  May,  1858,  they  commenced  service 
again  in  the  meeting-house,  and  Deacon  Edwin  Lamson,  of  Boston,  pre- 
sented them  with  a  silver-plated  communion  service  consisting  of  one 
tankard,  two  cups,  and  two  plates,  which  they  say  "they  cheerfully  ac- 
cepted, and  voted  unanimous  thanks  to  Deacon  Lamson,  and  their  pastor 
should  convey  the  same."  It  seems  that  a  liberal  streak  had  been  struck 
by  the  people  of  the  community  about  this  time,  for,  on  July  9,  185S,  we 
find  that  the  church  gave  an  "unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  Mrs.  Clarissa 
Bissell  for  the  gift  of  a  communion  table  (which  cost  $7.50)  to  the  church." 
The  question  naturally  arises  whether  the  vote  would  have  been  unani- 
mous if  the  table  had  cost  only  five  dollars. 

While  Mr.  Pratt  was  at  Colebrook  eight  additions  were  made  to  the 
church.  He  was  dismissed  February  7,  1859.  It  seems  that  the  society 
by  their  records  above  quoted  was  ready  to  recognize  the  kind  hand  of 
the  Head  of  the  Church  where  the  work  of  that  hand  was  in  accordance 
with  their  ideas,  for  they  did  so  recognize  it  when  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  was 
engaged  to  preach  to  them;  but,  when,  later,  in  the  fall  of  1858,  Mr.  Pratt 
saw  fit  to  offer  himself  in  marriage  to  a  certain  young  woman  who  lived  in 
Colebrook,  they  failed  to  see  the  "directing  hand,"  for  they  "objected, 
and  took  exceptions"  to  his  course,  and  very  kindly  permitted  him  to  re- 
sign, although  they  admitted  that  he  had  preached  very  much  to  the  accept- 
ance of  all. 

"  O  wad  some  power  the  giftie  gie  us 
To  see  oursels  as  others  see  us!" 

For  nearly  a  year  the  society  was  without  a  pastor,  though  several  min- 
isters were  present  two  or  three  Sabbaths  at  a  time,  but  on  January  1, 
L860,  Rev.  Henry  M.  Bridge,  from  Warwick,  Mass.,  commenced  to  preach. 


Town  of  Colebrook.  611 


August  6,  I860,  he  was  installed  and  settled  among  them.  During  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1861  his  health  failed  rapidly,  and  on  December  20 
of  that  year  he  died.  He  was  universally  loved  and  esteemed,  and  his 
death  cast  a  gloom  over  the  church  and  community. 

Rev.  Caleb  F.  Page  came  next,  commencing  in  August.  1862,  and  re- 
mained four  years.  The  church  had  grown  steadily,  till  at  this  time  it 
had  the  names  of  230  members  on  its  rolls.  It  was  the  strongest  Congre- 
gational church  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  and  its  future  seemed 
bright  with  promise,  but,  while,  from  time  to  time,  additions  were  made 
to  its  membership,  from  this  date  it  declined,  owing  to  various  causes, 
till  it  became  almost  a  question,  in  some  minds  at  least,  whether  it  would 
not  become  extinct. 

In  August,  1866,  Rev.  Hugh  McLeod  became  the  minister  of  this  people, 
and  for  four  years  lived  and  worked  among  them  in  such  a  way  as  to  com- 
mend himself  as  a  devout  man  of  God.  About  this  time  a  move  was  made 
to  improve  the  house  of  worship.  Alterations  and  repairs  were  made  at 
an  expense  of  $6,000.  The  old  square  tower  and  the  high  gallery  were  de- 
molished, the  church  was  raised,  a  vestry  finished  below,  and,  in  all  re- 
spects, it  was  made  a  modern  church.  A  bell  was  placed  in  the  belfry, 
and,  for  the  first  time,  people  were  called  to  their  place  of  worship  by  their 
own  bell.  The  house  was  rededicated  June  17,  1ST:;.  While  the  house  was 
being  repaired  there  was  a  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  what  ought  to  be 
done  about  keeping  up  the  services,  much  valuable  time  was  allowed  to 
run  to  waste,  the  members  of  the  church  became  somewhat  scattered,  and 
the  organization  suffered  in  consequence. 

October  12,  1873,  Rev.  L.  W.  Harris  began  preaching,  and  remained 
four  and  one-half  years,  in  which  time  he  received  twenty-six  into  the 
church.  He  was  an  earnest,  liberal-minded  Christian,  and  was  much 
respected  by  the  community.  Rev.  N.  S.  Moore  served  the  church  one 
year,  from  November  3,  1878;  and  from  December  7,  1879,  till  January  2, 
1881,  bore  the  same  relation  to  this  church  and  people.  From  March  27, 
1881,  to  February  22,  1885,  Rev.  N.  W.  Grover  was  the  acting  pastor  of 
the  church,  and  April  1,  1886,  Rev.  G.  A.  Curtis  became  the  pastor,  and  is 
still  serving. 

Thus  in  a  period  of  seventy-seven  years  the  church  has  had  eight- 
een men  in  its  ministry,  a  fact  which  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the 
people  believe  in  itineracy,  whether  such  be  the  faith  of  the  ministry  or  not. 

In  all  conscience  this  church  ought  to  be  a  power  for  righteousness. 
Situated  in  a  large  and  thriving  community,  havinga  very  attractive  house 
of  worship — and  needing  only  to  bring  to  bear  the  power  of  a  genuine 
faith  by  which  the  life  is  squared,  all  reason  seems  to  demand  that  it 
thrive  and  bless  humanity. 

There  are  a  good  many  people  who  have  been  identified  with  this  church. 


612  History  of  Coos  County. 

who  deserve  more  than  a  passing  notice,  but  lack  of  sufficiently  accurate 
data  limits  the  notice  to  very  few. 

Among  the  early  deacons  was  Harvey  Barnes.  He  lived  on  the  high  hill 
on  the  farm  later  owned  by  Charles  A.  Buffington,  and  now  by  Michael 
Shallow.  He  was  a  man  eminently  religious,  like  the  house  he  lived  in 
high  above  his  neighbors.  He  held  offices  of  trust  in  the  town  and  church, 
and.  wherever  he  was  placed,  filled  the  position  well.  He  was  quite  a  me- 
chanic, and  had  a  way  of  utilizing  natural  crooks  for  everything  which  he 
used  when  it  was  possible.  His  gate  tops  and  milking  stools,  and  many  of 
his  tools  were  of  these  crooks.  He  built  a  windmill  in  a  shed,  and  when- 
ever the  wind  blew  through  the  shed  it  set  a  wheel  in  motion,  by  means  of 
which  lie  sawed  his  wood.  Going  upon  this  farm  when  it  was  but  little 
cleared,  by  hard  labor  he  succeeded  in  making  a  modest  competence  besides 
a  comfortable  living,  and  died  "full  of  years,"  loved  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him. 

Joseph  B.  Hill  was  born  in  Mason,  N.  H.,  November  25,  1706.  His 
father,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill,  was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  at 
Mason  from  1790  till  1854,  a  term  of  sixty-four  years.  Joseph  B.  worked 
on  a  farm  and  attended  the  common  schools  in  his  youth.  He  attended  the 
academies  at  Tyngsboro,  Mass.,  and  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.,  and  entered 
Harvard  college,  October,  1817.  He  graduated  in  1823,  and  taught  in 
various  places  for  a  few  years,  when  he  went  to  Tennessee,  and,  with  his 
brother,  engaged  in  the  newspaper  and  publishing  business.  They  com- 
menced the  publication  of  an  almanac  whose  title  said  that  it  was  calculated 
by  J.  B.  Hill;  but  he  says,  "I  made  every  exertion  in  my  power  to  obtain 
the  books  requisite  for  that  purpose,  but  failed.  A  part  of  the  calculation 
I  '  cabbaged  '  by  hook  or  by  crook,  and,  as  there  were  no  visible  eclipses,  I 
succeeded  so  well  in  making  out  and  remodelling  the  whole  that  I  question 
whether  one  solitary  reader  has  been  able  to  find  a- flaw  in  it." 

After  a  few  years  he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  practice,  but  never 
followed  the  profession.  Still  later,  he  became  converted  and  commenced 
preaching.  He  remained  in  Tennessee  sixteen  years,  and  returned  to 
Mason,  and,  as  colleague  with  his  father,  served  the  church  as  minister  till 
April,  L84/T.  October  3,  1817,  Mr.  Hill  commenced  his  labors  inColebrook. 
Two  years  before  he  had  married  Miss  Harriet  Brown,  of  Antrim.  He  re- 
mained in  Colebrook  ten  years,  and  then  removed  to  West  Stewartstown, 
where  he  remained  five  years.  During  these  fifteen  years  while  he  re- 
mained in  Coos  county  he  was  an  earnest,  honest  christian,  strongly  iden- 
tified with  temperance,  purity  and  good  morals.  He  was  erratic  and 
had  many  peculiarities  in  public  and  private;  his  style  of  writing  was  loose 
and  unmethodical ;  but  he  was  an  honest  man,  in  earnest  in  every  good  word 
and  work.  Ee  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  Colebrook  academy  for  many  years, 
and  was  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  being  for  two  years 


Town  of  Colebrook.  613 


school  commissioner  for  Coos  county.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  purchased 
a  house  and  a  few  acres  of  land  in  Temple,  and  designed  making  a  home 
for  himself  and  family.  Mr.  Hill  was  much  interested  in  the  soldiers  of 
the  Rebellion  in  progress  when  he  moved  to  Temple,  and,  in  March,  1864, 
he  received  an  appointment  on  the  Christian  commission.  He  did  good 
service  on  this  commission  till  June  16,  1864,  when,  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
in  the  night,  while  attempting  to  get  upon  a  train  alter  having  been  to 
look  after  some  wounded  soldiers,  he  fell  beneath  the  car  and  received  in- 
juries which  caused  his  death.  His  epitaph  may  well  sum  up  his  life — 
"  Here  lies  an  honest  man." 

Another  man  who,  for  a  long  time,  was  identified  with  the  Congrega- 
tionalist  church,  was  Hosea  Aldrich.  He  was  born  August  1,  ls<»4.  on  the 
farm  so  long  owned  by  the  Aldrich  family.  His  father,  Mark  Aldrich,  was 
born  in  Shutesbury,  Mass.,  April  3,  1769.  His  mother,  becoming  a  widow, 
bound  him  out  to  a  man  named  Torrey,  who  removed  to  Maidstone.  Yt., 
where  he  lived  till  Mark  Aldrich  became  of  age.  Soon  after  he  came  to 
Columbia,  became  acquainted  with  Lydia  Terry,  and  was  married  to  her  in 
1704.  They  lived  at  first  in  a  log  house  at  the  foot  of  the  Thompson  hill 
for  a  short  time,  but,  the  house  having  burned,  they  moved  to  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  James  L.  Loomis,  where  they  lived  till  1799,  when  he 
bought  the  farm  so  long  known  as  the  Aldrich  farm  (still  owned  by  the 
George  Aldrich  estate)  and  lived  there  till  his  death  in  1837.  Mark  Aldrich, 
Sr.,  was  a  man  of  medium  size,  of  a  muscular  and  vigorous  frame.  He 
cleared  the  farm  where  he  lived,  and  much  land  for  other  people.  His  wife, 
Lydia  Terry,  was  a  strong,  healthy,  vigorous  woman,  not  easily  daunted, 
and,  in  mind  and  body,  able  to  cope  with  all  the  disagreeable  annoyances 
of  a  new  settlement.  They  had  fourteen  children,  of  whom  Hosea  Aldrich 
was  seventh.  He  was  born  August  1,  lso4,  at  the  old  home  on  the  hill, 
and  lived  there  a  large  part  of  the  time  till  he  became  of  age.  He  was 
educated  at  the  common  schools  of  Colebrook,  and,  being  an  apt  scholar, 
acquired  a  better  education  than  was  general  at  that  time.  He  was  quite 
a  grammarian,  and  took  great  pleasure  in  his  later  years  in  propounding 
difficult  sentences  to  the  young  people  for  analysis  and  parsing.  He  taught 
several  terms  of  school  when  a  young  man,  and  was  always  interested  in 
the  cause  of  education.  He  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  Colebrook  academy.  Early  in  life  he  became  interested  in 
religious  affairs,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Congregationalist  church  of 
Colebrook.  For  many  years  he  was  deacon  of  the  church,  and  took  great 
interest  in  its  welfare.  He  married  Electa  Barnes,  adopted  daughter  of 
Deacon  Harvey  Barnes,  who  survives  him.  He  had  a  strong,  retentive 
memory,  and  had  stored  up  a  great  amount  of  information  in  regard  to 
the  early  history  of  Colebrook  and  vicinity,  part  of  which  he  gave  to  the 


614:  History  of  Coos  County. 


public  in  some  articles  published  in  the  Northern  Sentinel  several  years 
ago.     He  died  March  30,  1886,  aged  eighty-one  years. 

Thomas  W.  Atherton  is  another,  who.  for  many  years,  was  a  promi- 
nent exponent  of  the  New  England  church  deacons.  A  bachelor,  prim, 
neat  and  correct,  Deacon  Thomas  was  an  institution  by  himself.  His 
quaint  savings  and  quiet  love  of  humor  will  long  be  remembered  by  those 
who  knew  him.     He  was  born  in  1810  and  died  December  12,  1876. 

Joseph  Gleason  was  for  a  long  time  a  member  of  this  church,  and  did 
good  service  for  it  in  many  ways.  Sunday  after  Sunday  this  honest  old 
blacksmith  called  the  worshipers  together  by  ringing  the  bell  at  the 
academy,  and  all  weathers  found  him  at  his  post.  A  man  of  strong  con- 
victions, he  stood  firmly  for  them,  and  was  ever  ready  to  maintain  them. 
A  kind  neighbor,  and  an  earnest  christian,  he  was  much  respected,  and 
was  greatly  missed  when  he  dropped  out  of  the  niche  he  had  well  filled  so 
long.     He  was  born  in  1805  and  died  in  1877. 

There  are  many,  many  more  whom  it  would  be  a  pleasure  to  mention, 
but  lack  of  data  makes  it  impossible  to  fitly  write  of  them,  and  they  must 
live  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  know  them,  unnoted  by  the  pen  of  the 
historian. 

Colebrook  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Although  Methodism  was 
preached  in  Colebrook  and  vicinity  as  early  as  1816,  there  was  no  Meth- 
odist church  till  the  year  1870.  In  1869  Rev.  Moses  Potter  preached  occa- 
sionally at  the  school  house,  and  in  the  following  year  a  society  was  organ- 
ized and  the  present  church  edifice  built.  The  enterprise  was  largely  due 
to  the  perseverance  of  the  late  Russell  Darling,  though  many  others  were 
interested  in  the  work.  The  church  was  dedicated  in  September,  1870,  by 
the  late  Rev.  Elisha  Adams,  D.  D.  The  first  trustees  were  Russell  Darling, 
Oman  P.  Ray,  Elmon  H.  Williams,  Almon  M.  Grout,  John  Gilman, 
George  Marshall,  Caleb  Fuller,  and  Hazen  Bedel  who  is  one  of  the  pres- 
ent trustees.  There  was  no  pastor  till  April,  1871,  when  Rev.  J.  H.  Knott 
was  appointed  to  the  position.  During  his  pastorate  the  parsonage  was 
built,  and  some  new  members  were  added  to  the  church.  In  1873  Rev. 
Truman  Carter  became  pastor  and  remained  three  years.  He  was  a  forci- 
ble and  popular  preacher,  and  the  number  of  church  members  increased 
largely  during  his  ministration.  At  the  close  of  his  labor  he  said:  "  The 
pasl  three  years  have  been  the  most  pleasant  of  my  ministry." 

In  1876  Rev.  D.  J.  Smith  entered  the  field,  and  his  memory  will  linger 
long  in  the  hearts  of  his  people.  Affable  and  cheerful  in  manner,  by  his 
devoted  life  and  untiring  efforts  he  accomplished  much  good  during  his 
three  years'  stay.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  N.  C.  Alger,  who  began  his 
work  in  1879  and  remained  two  years.  In  1881  came  Rev.  A.  F.  Baxter, 
who  stayed  one  year  and  a  half.  While  at  Colebrook  the  hand  of  affliction 
was  laid  heavily  upon  him  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  and  Rev.  L.  W.  Pres- 


Town  of  Colebrook.  615 


cott  finished  the  year.  Rev.  0.  P.  Wright  commenced  serving  this  church 
in  1883.  Frank  and  open,  jovial,  and  a  strong  preacher,  he  made  many 
warm  friends,  and  his  wife  was  truly  a  helpmeet  lor  him.  They  lost  tin  ii 
only  child  while  in  Colebrook.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Claudius  Byrne, 
entered  upon  his  labors  here  in  1885.  The  church  has  been  thoroughly 
repaired,  and  other  improvements  made  on  the  church  property,  and  now, 
in  the  midst  of  his  third  year,  he  says,  "surely  his  lines  have  fallen  in 
pleasant  places." 

East  Colebrook  Meeting  House. — In  1854  there  was  a  move  made  by 
various  persons  of  various  denominations  in  the  east  part  of  Colebrook, 
looking  towards  building  a  meeting-house  in  that  part  of  the  town.  There 
were  not  enough  of  any  one  belief  to  accomplish  such  an  object,  and  so 
they  joined  together  and  built  the  East  Colebrook  meeting-house.  The 
constitution  provided  that  it  should  be  a  "  Union  meeting-house,"  and  that 
any  preacher,  in  good  standing  in  his  own  denomination,  should  have  the 
right  to  preach  in  the  house,  and  any  transient  preacher  of  like  standing 
might  preach  there  at  any  time  to  the  exclusion  of  any  regular  preacher. 
It  consequently  sometimes  happened  that  when  the  regular  preacher  was 
all  ready  to  deliver  his  sermon  that  he  was  set  aside  for  some  visiting 
clergyman.  The  house  was  built  and  dedicated  December,  1851,  and,  in 
1855,  a  Free-will  Baptist  church  was  organized  there,  with  Benaiah  Bean  as 
first  pastor.  He  preached  there  every  other  Sabbath  for  a  little  more  than 
a  year,  when  he  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  I.  M.  Russell,  who  remained 
there  preaching  alternate  Sundays  till  I860.  The  other  Sabbaths  the 
house  was  occupied  by,  first,  W.  H.  Nason,  and,  afterward,  Seth  Ross, 
ministers  of  the  Christian  denomination,  till  about  the  same  time. 

W.  S.  Merrill,  Free-will  Baptist,  preached  here  from  1860  to  1862,  John 
Pettingill  from  1862  to  1861,  and  Calvin  S.  Shattuck  to  1866.  After  this 
there  was  preaching  only  at  irregular  intervals,  and  the  house  went  rapidly 
to  ruin;  but,  in  1875,  a  majority  of  the  pew-owners  voted  to  repair  the 
house,  and  an  assessment  was  made  on  the  pews  for  that  purpose.  Daniel 
Fletcher,  Henry  W.  Woodrow,  and  AsaNoyes  were  the  building  committee, 
and  they  carried  out  their  purpose  well.  After  the  repairs  the  house  was 
re-dedicated  and  Rev.  E.  K.  Amazeen,  of  the  Christian  denomination. 
preached  three  years.  After  him  Rev.  W.  H.  H.  Collins,  a  Methodist, 
preached  till  the  spring  of  1881,  after  whom  Rev.  L,  R.  Danforth,  a  Meth- 
odist, came  and  remained  three  years.  During  his  stay,  September  25, 
1883,  a  Methodist  church  was  organized  with  the  following  members: 
Samuel  T.  Noyes,  Anna  Noyes,  Asa  Noyes,  Fred  Forbes,  Saphenia  Willis, 
Saphenia  Hardy,  Maggie  Forgrave,  Marietta  Banister,  Fanny  Hanson, 
Mary  A.  Cree. 

Some  thirty  members  have  since  been  added  to  the  society.  After  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Danforth,  Rev.  G.  A.  Luce  was  the  pastor,  and  remained 


,616  History  of  Coos  County. 

till  the  spring  of  1887,  and  the  church  has  since  been  supplied  by  Mr.  C.  A. 
Anderson.  The  church  is  now  in  a  prosperous  and  flourishing  condition. 
The  present  clerk  of  the  society  is  Fred  E.  Forbes. 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 

Early  Settlers — Old  Documents. 


T"7DMUND  Chamberlain  was  born  in  Rockingham,  Vt.,  in  1776.  He 
|7  r  came  to  Lancaster  about  1804,  and  remained  about  three  years,  when 
"\7  ne  came  to  Colebrook  and  moved  on  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
John  C.  Tibbetts.  His  wife,  before  their  marriage,  was  Polly  Simonds. 
Mr.  Chamberlain  was  an  active,  stirring  man,  and  besides  clearing  the 
farm,  built  the  mill  already  alluded  to  on  Beaver  brook,  and  did  quite  a 
large  business  in  sawing  lumber  for  his  rapidly  increasing  neighbors.  He 
lived  on  the  farm  till  1816.  when  he  purchased  the  Ethan  Colby  farm  of 
Timothy  Farrar,  and  moved  to  the  village  (if  it  could  be  called  such).  He 
removed  the  old  Farrar  house,  and  built  the  one  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Colby, 
and  kept  a  tavern  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers.  At  the  annual 
"  trainings,"  and  the  less  frequent  "  musters  "  of  the  old  militia,  Chamber- 
lain's tavern  was  the  institution  of  Colebrook.  He  held  important  posi- 
tions in  the  town,  and  was  universally  respected.  He  died  November  2, 
L855,  aged  seventy-nine  years.  He  had  two  children,  Susan,  wife  of  Fred- 
erick G.  Messer,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Ethan  Colby. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Colebrook  was  Capt.  Benjamin  Buel,  with 
his  wife  Violetta  (Sessions),  and  their  eldest  daughter,  Minerva,  who  came 
from  Connecticut  to  this  town  in  1803.  They  were  all  natives  of  that  state. 
Benjamin,  born  in  1767;  Violetta,  in  1778.  and  Minerva  in  1801.  Capt. 
Buel  was  an  excellent  scholar  for  those  days,  an  elegant  penman,  and  a 
gentleman  on  all  occasions.  He  was  a  man  of  refined  tastes  and  sensibili- 
ties. For  many  winters  after  he  came  he  taught  school,  and  Edmund 
Chamberlain,  the  elder  Baldwins,  of  Stratford,  and  others  of  his  pupils, 
pioneers  of  Coos,  now  dead  and  gone,  bore  willing  testimony  to  his  high 
character  as  a  man,  and  to  his  efficiency  as  a  teacher.  Evidently  he  left 
his  impress  on  many  minds.  He  was  of  a  nervous,  sensitive  temperament, 
and  died  of  a  nervous  difficulty,  March  24,  1829,  and  now  sleeps  his  last 
sleep  in  the  old  cemetery  above  our  village.  One  of  his  sisters  married 
'Esquire'1  (Oliver)  Ingham,  of  Canaan,  Vt.,  one  of  the  noted  men  of  his 


Town  of  Colebrook.  617 


section, — father  of  ex-Congressman  Samuel  Ingham,  of  Connecticut,  and 
grandfather  of  ex-Sheriff  Bailey,  of  Columbia.  After  settling  in  Cole- 
brook  (on  the  Hosea  Aid  rich  place),  Benjamin  and  Violetta  had  two  more 
children,  both  daughters,  added  to  their  family,  viz. :  Sharlie  Maria  and 
Abigail.  Minerva  married  Johnson  Jordan,  in  1S22,  with  whom  she  lived 
in  this  town  until  her  death,  March  13,  1S53.  Maria  married  Sidney  Allen, 
and  lived  in  Chelsea,  Vt.  Abigail  married  Daniel  Egery,  and  went  to 
Beloit,  Wis.,  to  live  when  that  town  contained  less  than  a  dozen  families. 
All  three  were  noble  women,  inheriting  largely  of  their  father's  refine- 
ment of  manners,  temperament,  disposition  and  tastes.  All  died  of  the 
same  trouble  that  carried  him  to  the  other  shore  before  his  days  of  use- 
fulness were  nearly  spent  here  below.  The  mother,  after  her  husband's 
decease,  resided  with  her  daughter  Minerva,  until  the  latter's  death,  and 
then  returned  to  her  native  state,  where  she  died  in  1855.  She  is  still  re- 
membered by  older  citizens  as  a  lady  of  culture,  aristocratic  tendencies 
and  bearing. 

The  earliest  settler  on  Titus  hill  was  David  Titus.  He  came  to  Cole- 
brook  about  1790,  and  made  the  first  start  on  the  Moses  Titus  farm,  after- 
wards the  C.  E.  Moses  farm.  He  was  a  hard-working,  industrious  man, 
and  a  successful  farmer.  As  has  been  said  by  one  of  Colebrook's  oldest 
living  citizens,  "David  Titus  was  a  father  to  everybody."  He  had  wheat, 
potatoes,  butter,  cheese,  and  everything  that  could  be  raised  or  made  on 
the  farm,  and  no  one  who  was  in  need  ever  went  from  him  empty-handed. 
At  the  time  of  his  settlement  on  Titus  hill,  and  for  several  years  afterward, 
there  was  no  road  from  that  part  of  the  town  to  the  village;  Columbia 
Valley  was  their  trading  point,  and  their  means  of  reaching  it  was  by  a 
road  leading  past  the  "Lime  Pond"  to  the  mill  and  store  there  situated. 
David  Titus  was  successful  as  a  farmer  and  owned  quite  a  large  tract  of 
land.  He  had  four  children,  one  son,  Moses,  to  whom  he  gave  the  home 
farm,  and  three  daughters.  The  oldest  married  Gilman  Corser,  and  she 
was  given  the  Alvin  Ariin  farm;  the  second  married  David  Young,  and  to 
her  he  gave  the  Harvey  McAllaster  farm;  while  to  the  third  daughter,  who 
married  David  Hodge,  he  gave  the  farm  belonging  now  to  the  Noah  Cum- 
mings  estate.  He  saw  his  children  all  settled  around  him,  and  in  prosper- 
ous circumstances  before  he  died.  Eleazer  Titus,  brother  of  David,  cleared 
part  of  the  farm  now  occupied  by  the  Merrill  brothers,  and  his  son,  Samuel, 
the  John  Libbey  farm,  they  coming  to  Colebrook  soon  after  David. 

In  1799  Sylvanus  Noyes  came  to  Titus  hill  from  Maidstone,  Vt.  He 
was  born  in  Plaistow,  N.  H.,  in  December,  1769,  and  his  wife,  Betsey 
Jewitt,  was  born  in  Landaff,  in  1770.  Mr.  Noyes  purchased  the  lot  of 
land  where  George  Martin  lives,  and  the  house  was  near  the  present  one. 
The  land  was  a  wilderness  when  the  sturdy  farmer  made  his  "pitch,"  but 
hard  labor  and  honest  industry  soon  made  the  land  productive.     He  had 

40 


c,ls  History  of  Coos  County. 


seven  children  who  reached  adult  age:  John,  who  lived  in  Bath  and 
vicinity;  Mary,  who  married  Jeremy  George,  and  lived  in  Pittsburg  and 
Bath;  Michael,  who  lived  on  the  old  farm  on  Titus  hill  till  he  went  with 
the  colony  to  Beloit,  Wis. ;  and  Mehitable,  who  married  Reuben  Ash,  and 
removed  to  Grafton  county.  The  fifth  child  was  Asa,  He  was  born  in 
Colebrook,  on  the  home  farm,  May  3,  1804.  There  was  a  large  family, 
and  his  father  sometimes  had  hard  times  to  make  both  ends  meet,  Asa 
worked  on  the  farm  till  he  was  eighteen  years  old.  Their  "milling"  was 
done  at  the  Valley,  and  Asa,  when  a  boy,  used  to  take  a  bag  of  wheat  on 
horseback,  and  carry  it  to  the  mill  to  be  ground.  The  road  was  through 
the  woods  all  the  way,  and  he,  like  the  other  boys,  was  much  afraid  of  the 
Indians  At  one  time,  near  the  mill,  there  was  a  camp  of  Indians,  all 
moderately  drunk.  Young  Asa  saw  a  big  "buck"  Indian  take  a  squaw 
by  the  hair  and  drag  her  across  the  road,  which  so  wrought  upon  his  fears 
that  he  got  the  miller  to  see  him  safely  past  them.  When  Asa  was  eight- 
een years  old  he  went  down  to  LandafT,  Lisbon,  and  Bath,  where  he  re- 
mained several  years,  and  married  Lydia  Eaton,  from  Landaff.  He  then 
returned  to  Upper  Coos,  and  cleared  the  farm  where  Enoch  Kelsea  lives  in 
Columbia,  and,  in  1856,  removed  to  the  farm  on  Harvey  Swell,  in  Cole- 
brook,  where  he  yet  lives  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He 
has  had  ten  children :  Mrs.  Hiram  Howe,  Eben,  Chester,  Violetta  (who 
married  Daniel  Young),  Gilman,  Eleazer  (who  was  in  the  service  and  was 
killed  in  the  late  Rebellion),  and  Samuel  P.  lived  to  become  men  and 
women.  Samuel  P.  lives  with  his  father,  and  Asa  Noyes  &  Son  are 
always  well  represented  in  the  fairs  and  shows  of  stock  in  Colebrook. 
Hobart  Noyes,  sixth  child  of  Sylvanus,  lived  in  Colebrook  many  years,  run- 
ning the  woolen  factory.  He  was  collector  of  taxes  in  1844,  1845  and  1846. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  Beecher.  Several  years  ago  they  moved  to  Stewarts- 
town  where  they  still  reside. 

Frederick  Gould  Messer  was  born  in  Jericho.  Vt,  December  22,  1799. 
He,  in  early  life,  seemed  to  have  an  aptitude  for  mercantile  life.  He  was 
for  six  years  clerk  in  a  store  at  Lancaster,  and  was  one  year  in  trade  there, 
and  one  year  in  trade  at  Columbia  Valley.  In  1822  he  came  to  Colebrook 
and  went  into  business  and  remained  in  trade  in  this  town  till  1860, 
wmen  he  removed  to  Portland,  Me.,  where  he  still  resides  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-eight  years.  While  he  lived  in  Colebrook  he  was  postmaster 
ben  years,  selectmen,  town  clerk  for  several  years  and  town  treasurer. 
Since  he  moved  to  Maine  he  has  been  bank  director  twenty-six  years,  bank 
president  many  years,  alderman  two  years,  state  representative,  and  two 
years  in  the  state  Senate.  He  married  Susan  Chamberlain,  daughter  of 
Edmund  Chamberlain,  I  >ecember  21,  1828.  Mrs.  Messer  was  born  Septem- 
ber 15,  1804,  and  is  still  living. 

Ethan  Colby  was  born  at  Sanbornton,  August  29,  1810.     In  1829  he 


Town  of  Colebrook.  619 


went  to  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  as  clerk  for  Moses  Kittredge,  and  afterwards 
was  in  company  with  Mr.  Kittredge  till  L836,  when  he  went  to  Littleton 
and  into  trade  with  Cyrns  Eastman,  as  Colby  &  Eastman.  Id  1838  Mr. 
Colby  sold  out  and  came  to  Colebrook  and  commenced  the  mercantile  business 
in  company  with  his  old  partner,  Moses  Kittredge, but,  at  the  end  of  five  years, 
purchased  the  entire  business  and  remained  in  trade  at  the  same  place  till 
1856,  when  he  sold  out  to  George  W.  Brackett  and  retired.  Mr.  Colby  was 
postmaster  for  several  years,  representative  in  1861,  and  councillor  in  1862. 
He  was  an  old  line  Whig,  and  afterwards,  and  still,  a  Republican  with  very 
positive  ideas.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Edmund  Chamberlain,  March 
29,  1813.  They  had  three  children,  Edward  (deceased),  Charles  (now  in 
trade  in  Colebrook),  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Melrose  V.  Knight,  for  several 
years  in  the  hardware  business  in  Colebrook. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  was  Caleb  Little,  Sr.,  and  not  long  afterwards, 
his  brother,  Ebenezer,  followed  him  to  Colebrook.  They  came  from  the 
vicinity  of  Goffstown,  N.  H.  The  Littles  were  naturally  mechanics,  and 
were  interested  in  building  the  mills  in  town.  The  sons  of  Caleb  were  Moo dy. 
Caleb,  Jr.,  and  Benjamin,  the  last  two  still  living  in  Colebrook.  Ebenezer 
is  also  living  at  a  very  advanced  age.  (His  children  were  Joseph  D.,  John 
R.,  Eben,  who  died  from  disease  contracted  in  the  army,  and  James  C); 
Dolly,  who  married  Seth  W.  Tirrell;  Susan,  who  married  Freeman  Stevens, 
from  Milton,  Me. ;  Ann,  who  married  William  T.  Keyes;  and  Marietta,  who 
married  William  Lindsay. 

Alfred  Loverin  was  born  in  Loudon,  December  11,  1813,  and  came  to 
Colebrook  with  his  parents  in  1819.  His  father  lived  on  the  Harvey  Brooks 
farm.  In  1838  he  married  Lucy  Drew,  sister  of  Hon.  Amos  W.  and  Edwin 
W.  Drew,  and  settled  on  the  John  Gould  farm.  His  wife  died  in  1842, 
and  he  afterward  married  Susan  Fletcher.  He  lived  on  the  farm  till  1873, 
when  he  removed  to  Colebrook  village,  where  he  died  April  7,  1881.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  during  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  largely  interested 
in  starch  business,  both  in  Colebrook  and  in  Aroostook  county,  Me.  His 
wife,  Susan,  still  lives  in  the  old  home. 

Charles  Thompson  was  born  at  East  Windsor,  Conn.,  September  16, 
1776.  He  came  to  Colebrook  about  1800,  perhaps  a  little  earlier.  He  acted 
as  packman  for  Jeremiah  Eames  in  making  the  survey  of  Colebrook,  Colum- 
bia and  Stewartstown.  He  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  near  where  the 
village  now  is  built.  Soon  after  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Columbia  Valley 
where  he  and  his  brother  bought  and  rebuilt  the  saw-mill.  He  was  a  very 
kind-hearted,  generous  man,  and  became  bondsman  for  several  people  who 
had  been  arrested  for  debt.  The  result  was  that  he  lost  all  his  property, 
and  was  himself  arrested  for  these  debts,  and  taken  to  Lancaster  jail. 
Being  well  known,  he  was  not  confined,  but  given  "the  liberty  of  the 
yard"  as  it  was  called;  the  yard  being  all  "out  of  doors  "  provided  he  did 


620  History  of  Coos  County. 


not  stray  far  enough  so  as  to  be  unable  to  come  to  the  jail  at  night.  At 
length  his  wife's  father,  Timothy  Holton,  paid  the  indebtedness  and 
Thompson  came  home.  A  strange  method  to  collect  a  debt!  Thompson 
in  jail,  and  Holton  paying  a  debt  for  which  neither  had  received  a  penny. 

Mr.  Holton  purchased  the  farm  below  the  village  known  as  the  Thomp- 
son farm,  and,  about  1S20,  Charles  Thompson  went  there  to  live,  and 
remained  till  his  death,  October  4,  1855.  His  wife,  Sally  Holton,  was  born 
October  13,  1777,  and  died  February  28,  1862.  Their  children  were  Mary 
H.,  who  was  born  March  1,  1803.  She  married  Grant  Fuller,  of  Stratford, 
became  a  widow,  and  spent  the  latter  part  of  her  life  at  the  old  homestead, 
dying  September  27,  1876.  Harriet  was  born  March  12,  1805.  November 
9,  1826,  she  married  William  Loo  mis,  with  whom  she  still  lives  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two.  Kind  hearted  like  her  father,  she  has  been  a 
most  generous  neighbor,  and,  when  illness  visited  the  homes  of  those  about 
her,  none  have  been  more  prompt  to  extend  a  helping  hand  than  "Aunt 
Harriet."  The  third  child,  Charles  H.  Thompson,  was  born  June  21,  1807. 
With  his  father,  in  1820,  he  went  on  to  the  farm  still  occupied  by  him,  and 
his  home  has  been  there  for  sixty-seven  years.  He  has  never  married, 
but  retains  his  youthful  heart  to  the  present  day.  He  has  been  selectman 
of  the  town,  and  was  representative  in  1849  and  1850.  He  has  been  a 
hunter  and  trapper,  and  many  a  bear  has  yielded  to  his  snares.  Elizabeth 
M.  Thompson  was  born  May  16,  1809.  She  never  married,  and  lived  with 
her  brother  Charles.  She  was  a  woman  of  literary  tastes  and  habits,  a 
great  reader  and  quite  a  writer.  She  died  September  16,  1861.  The  elder 
Thompson  was  colonel  of  the  24th  Regiment  of  militia. 

Another  family  has  for  nearly  a  hundred  years  helped  along  the  pros- 
perity of  Colebrook. 

Joseph  Loomis  was  born  at  Hebron,  Conn.,  July  7,  1766.  His  wife, 
Anna  Bissell,  to  whom  he  was  married  November  2r>,  1789,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 20,  1763.  They  removed  to  Colebrook  in  1800,  having  purchased  the 
farm  known  as  the  Heath  farm,  on  the  river.  There  was  no  house  on  this 
place  at  this  time,  and  he  moved  into  a  house  on  the  next  farm,  while  he 
built  the  house  lately  occupied  by  David  Heath.  He  then  moved  into  the 
new  house  and  lived  there  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a 
strong  man  in  every  respect,  and  one  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the  com- 
munity. On  the  13th  of  June,  1801,  he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  county  of  Grafton,  and  January  30,  1805,  was  appointed 
"Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  one  County  of  Coos."  Both 
these  commissions  are  signed  by  John  Taylor  Oilman,  governor,  and 
Joseph  Pearson,  secretary.  Joseph  Loomis  had  six  children:  Abial  Anson, 
born  May  6,  1791,  who  died  February  17,  1836;  Lewis  Loomis,  born  May 
10,  1793,  who  died  October  18,  1S69.  Lewis  was  a  tall,  strongly  built,  and 
muscular  man,  a  great  wrestler,  and  for  many  years  at  the  trainings,. 


Town  of  Colebrook.  621 


musters,  and  raisings,  held  the  championship  against  all  comers.  He 
was  sheriff  and  deputy  sheriff,  and,  in  company  with  Hezekiah  Par- 
sons, Jr.,  arrested  the  celebrated  David  Bobbins  tor  the  murder  of  Abner 
Hinds  and  his  son.  Robbins  and  Hinds  trapped  in  company,  and  Rob- 
bins  burned  the  camp,  having  stolen  the  furs.  Robbins  was  arrested  and 
settled  with  Hinds,  giving  him  $350.  The  next  year  Robbins  induced 
Hinds  and  his  son  to  go  into  the  woods  trapping  with  him  again,  professing 
great  penitence  for  what  had  happened.  On  this  trip  Robbins  killed  both 
father  and  son.  Warrants  were  issued  for  his  arrest,  and  Lewis  Loom  is 
was  entrusted  with  its  service.  Robbins  then  lived  out  on  the  Magalloway 
river,  and  Mr.  Loomis,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Parsons,  and  one  Ellingwood, 
from  Milan,  started  to  find  him.  On  reaching  his  house  they  learned  that 
he  had  gone  up  the  river.  They  followed  cautiously  till  they  found  where 
he  had  reached  a  point  where  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  carry  his  traps 
by  a  fall,  and  he  had  gone  with  one  load,  leaving  another  for  which  he  had 
to  return.  Concealing  themselves  by  the  path,  they  awaited  his  coming, 
and  when  he  was  about  to  pass  them,  Mr.  Loomis  leaped  upon  his  back 
and  held  him  while  he  was  bound.  He  was  taken  to  Lancaster  jail,  hut 
escaped,  and  was  said  afterwards  to  have  been  hanged  in  Canada  for  a 
murder  committed  there. 

Lewis  Loomis  died  October  18,  1869.  His  children  were  Rollin,  who 
died  unmarried;  Eliza,  who  married  Alger  Baldwin;  Martha,  who  married 
Cornelius  Adams;  Marion,  who  married  Lyman  W.  Alger,  and  James  Lewis 
Loomis,  who  married  Martha  Hall.  Anna  Loomis,  the  third  child  of 
Joseph  Loomis,  married  Heman  Beach.  Horace  Loomis,  the  fourth  child, 
lived  on  the  home  farm  with  his  father.  Betsey  Loomis,  the  fifth  child, 
married  Dr.  Lyman  Lombard,  and  was  a  woman  much  loved  by  all  who 
knew  her.  William  Loomis,  the  youngest  child  of  Joseph  Loomis,  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  He  married  Harriet  Thompson,  as 
before  stated,  and  hand  in  hand  they  have  nearly  reached  the  decline  of 
life.  Their  children  are  Maria  E.,  wife  of  John  L.  Harvey;  Helen  M., 
wife  of  Sumner  Cummings;  Edwin,  who  married  Ellen  Folsom;  Anson, 
who  married  Sarah  Garfield,  and  Harriet  Isabel,  who  married  Preston 
Claflin. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  Mark  Aldrich,  who  married  Lydia 
Terry,  in  connection  with  a  sketch  of  Hosea  Aldrich.  Mark  had  a  large 
family,  twelve  children  in  all:  Mark,  Jr.,  George,  Artemas,  Aurilla, 
Alpheus,  Jonathan  Northum,  Hosea,  Jacob  Terry,  Lydia,  Horatio  Nel- 
son, Mary  Tevey,  and  Charles.  Mark,  Jr.,  married  Polly  Lovering,  and, 
till  his  death,  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  T.  G.  Rowan,  near  John 
Brackett's.  George  married  Sarah  Morrison.  In  1799  he  with  his  father 
moved  on  to  the  farm  owned  by  him  as  well  as  George  at  the  time  of  their 
respective  deaths.     He  was  born  November  21,  1 7'. '»,,  and  died  August  31r 


622  History  of  Coos  County. 


1883.  He  left  one  daughter,  Mahala,  now  the  widow  of  Hezekiah  B.  Par- 
sons. Artemas  married  one  Keziah  Eowe,  of  Eddington,  Me.,  where  he 
lived  and  died.  Aurilla  died  unmarried.  Alpheus  married  Isabel  Amy, 
and  for  many  years  lived  on  the  farm  southeast  of  the  factory,  now  occu- 
pied by  his  son,  Schuyler  H.  He  had  also  two  other  sons,  Samuel,  who 
was  drowned,  and  Mark,  who  died  several  years  ago.  Jonathan  lived  and 
died  in  Bradford,  Me.  llosea  married  Electa  Barnes,  and  a  sketch  of  him 
will  be  found  in  the  church  history.  His  children  were  Ezra,  now  a  physi- 
cian in  Manchester;  Melinda,  unmarried,  and  Persis  who  married  Charles 
Huntoon.  Jacob  married  and  lived  in  some  place  in  Maine.  Lydia  married 
Samuel  McMahon,  and  is  still  living  at  Eddington,  Me.  Horatio  married 
Adaline  French,  and  is  still  living  at  Bradford,  Me.  Mary  T.  married  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Nichols,  and  died  at  Bradford,  Me.  Charles  mar- 
ried Lydia  Hathorn,  and  died  in  Maine.  He  had  one  child,  Charles  S.,  who 
runs  the  drug  store  in  Colebrook. 

Benjamin  Whittemore  was  another  of  the  strong  men  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Colebrook.  He  was  born  at  Rumford,  Me.,  January,  1799.  He 
came  to  Colebrook  soon  after  he  became  of  age,  when  he  married  Almira, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Chandler.  He  first  lived  for  a  time  on  the  Joseph 
Covill  farm  near  John  Brackett's,  afterwards  on  the  John  F.  Gould  farm 
in  the  Reed  district,  and,  later,  he  moved  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Sidney  B. Whittemore,  where  he  lived  till  his  decease.  He  was  one  of  those 
men  who  was  a  peacemaker  among  the  neighbors,  being  often  chosen  to 
arbitrate  matters  of  dispute.  He  was  frequently  selectman,  and  repre- 
sentative from  Colebrook  in  1839,  1840,  1855  and  1S56.  He  left  two  sons, 
Harvey,  unmarried,  and  Sidney  B.,  who  married  Emeline  Corbett.  Sidney  B. 
Whittemore  has  been  selectman  several  years,  collector,  county  treasurer, 
and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  board  of  agriculture  and  one  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  State  Agricultural  college,     fie  represented  the  town  in  1885. 

John  F.  Gould  was  born  at  Guilford,  Vt.,  October  11,  1799.  He  lived 
there  and  at  Norwich,  Vt.,  till  1831,  when  he  removed  to  Colebrook,  to  the 
old  farm  in  the  Reed  district.  He  died  April  15,  18S7.  He  had  four  child- 
ren, all  settled  in  Colebrook:  Hannah,  wife  of  John  Brackett,  Ellen  A., 
wife  of  Joseph  Y.  Keazer,  James  A.  Gould,  who  married  Helen  Fletcher, 
and  John  Gould,  who  married  Julia  L.  Gamsby. 

Noah  Cummings,  son  of  Adams  and  Leah  Hubbard  Cummings,  was 
born  September  3.  is  10.'  in  Lyndon,  Vt.,  and  came  to  this  town  in  1828. 
He  married  Almira  J.  Kidder,  March  13,  1837,  who  was  born  in  Bristol,  N. 
H.,  February  1,  1813.  He  commenced  farming  on  the  farm  now  occupied 
t>y  Milton  Harriman,  and  lived  there  till  his  death,  which  took  place  Febru- 
ary 0,  lsOo.  He  left  two  children,  Daniel  E.  and  Elvira  Cummings.  Daniel 
E.  was  in  trade  with  H.  C.  Young,  as  Young  &  Cummings,  from  1870  to 
ls73,  was  representative  of  Colebrook  in  1871  and  1875,  and  has  been  town 


Town  of  Colebrook.  623 

clerk  since  June  12,  1SS2.  He  married  Lucy  A.  Eceleston,  of  Rocks  Brook, 
R.  L,  July  13,  1874.  Elvira,  the  daughter,  married  Milton  Harriman, 
November  9,  L882. 

Samuel  Harriman  was  born  at  Bridgewater,  N.  H.,  November  8,  1814, 
and  moved  to  Stewartstown  in  1820.  After  a  few  years  he  came  to  Cole- 
brook  and  engaged  in  farming,  and  afterwards  in  the  starch  business.  He 
cleared  the  Asa  Noyes  farm  on  the  "  Harvey  Swell."  He  married  Eunice 
Gould,  daughter  of  Augustine  Gould,  March  29,  L843. 

Daniel  G.  Hutchinson  came  from  Lyndeborough  in  L819  and  settled  in 
Colebrook.  His  first  wife  was  Nancy  Capen,  from  Stewartstown,  and  his 
second,  Eliza  Blodgett,  daughter  of  Marcena  Blodgel  t.  For  many  years  he 
lived  on  the  Shattuck  farm,  and  was  a  prominent  citizen,  holding  several 
town  offices.  His  son,  Erasmus  D.  Hutchinson,  was  born  December  7, 
L823,  and  has  always  made  Colebrook  his  home.  He  was  in  trade  a  few 
years,  has  been  town  clerk,  and  represented  Colebrook  in  the  legislature  of 
L863.  He  calls  himself  a  farmer,  but  the  amount  of  land  he  tills  is  small, 
and  the  sweat  of  his  brow  is  easily  wiped  away.  His  independent  means 
enable  him  to  take  life  easily. 

Benjamin  E.  Gilman  is  another  of  Colebrook's  hard-working  farmers. 
He  was  born  in  Columbia,  April  16,  183-1.  During  the  building  of  the 
Boston,  Concord  &  Montreal  railroad  he  worked  at  Haverhill,  for  W. 
H.  Smith.  He  commenced  clerking  for  James  A.  Pitkin,  September, 
1853,  staying  with  him  three  years,  and  then  went  into  company  with  him 
as  "  Pitkin  &  Gilman,"  remaining  in  trade  till  1863,  when  he  retired.  He 
lives  on  the  old  Albert  Pitkin  farm  at  Factory  Village,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  has  been  also  engaged  in  the  starch  business.  He  married  R.  A. 
Pitkin,  February  3,  1858,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Annie  Gilman. 
Their  home  is  a  most  pleasant  one,  and  "Ben''  is  one  of  those  happy  dis- 
positioned  persons  who  makes  himself  a  favorite  with  everybody.  A 
staunch  Republican,  he  uses  the  most  potent  and  plausible  arguments  to 
bring  others  to  his  way  of  thinking,  and,  generally,  with  good  success. 

Jonas  Rolfe  has  already  been  mentioned  incidentally  in  these  pages. 
He  was  born  at  Lyme,  March  26,  1793.  He  married  Martha  P.  Sloan,  May 
3,  1819,  and  came  to  Colebrook  in  1820.  He  was  town  clerk  from  L823  to 
L826,  and  again  from  is;1,;  to  1859  inclusive,  and  was  representative  of  the 
town  in  1857  and  1858.  He  was  treasurer  several  years  about  L825.  Mr. 
Rolfe  was  a  well  educated  man  for  those  days,  and  kept  school  several 
terms  in  the  old  school-house  on  the  bank  of  the  Mohawk.  He  was  a  first- 
class  teacher,  holding  the  reins  very  firmly.  In  later  years  he  acted  as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  trying  nearly  all  the  cases  coming  within  his  juris- 
diction in  this  part  of  the  county.  Of  a  stern  and  rather  unyielding  dispo- 
sition, he  had  rigid  ideas  of  justice,  and  his  decisions  generally  stood.  He 
was  a  first-class  mechanic,  and  could  make  or  mend    anything   from  a 


62-1  History  of  Coos  County. 

threshing-machine  to  a  French  clock.  His  work  on  the  houses  which  he 
finished  was  the  perfection  of  a  carpenters'  art.  Jonas  Rolfe  died  October 
27,  1865,  and  Mrs.  Rolfe,  April  20,  1865.  They  left  six  children  who  had 
reached  adult  life.  Mariel  W.  Rolfe,  born  July  17,  1822,  died  unmarried, 
January  15,  1873.  William  Smith  Rolfe,  born  December  17,  1821.  He 
married  Lois  Hobart.  The  next  child  was  Mary  E.  Rolfe,  who  married 
George  S.  Leavitt,  and  died  January,  18S0.  Morton  B.  Rolfe,  born  August 
11,  L832,  now  lives  in  Florida.  Fitz  C.  Rolfe,  born  February  8,  1831,  and 
Frank  M.  Rolfe,  now  living  in  Ohio,  complete  the  list. 

Archelaus  Cummings  is  another  of  those  who  for  many  years  were 
well  known  in  Colebrook.  He  was  born  in  Temple,  January  11,  1809,  and 
in  his  boyhood  came  to  Pittsburg.  When  he  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age  he  married  Mary  Fletcher,  sister  of  Hiram  A.  Fletcher,  and  lived  in 
Canaan,  Yt.,  till  1811,  when  he  came  to  Colebrook  and  engaged  in  the 
shoe  and  leather  business,  which  he  carried  on  successfully  for  fifteen  years. 
In  1850  he  opened  the  old  hotel  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk,  and  kept 
it  seventeen  years.  He  held  the  office  of  deputy  sheriff  for  a  long  time. 
He  knew  everybody  far  and  wide,  and  anybody  wanting  information  on 
any  subject  had  only  to  apply  to  Archelaus  Cummings,  and  he  was  sure 
of  learning  something  to  his  advantage.  He  left  three  children,  Edward 
N.,  who  married  Lucretia  Merrill,  now  living  in  Lynn,  Mass.;  Augusta  P., 
who  married  Charles  Parsons;  and  Anna,  who  married  John  Bucking- 
ham, of  Boston,  Mass. 

One  of  the  successful  starch  manufacturers  of  Colebrook  is  Benjamin 
Gathercole.  He  was  born  in  England,  and  came  to  Colebrook  in  1838. 
He  worked  out  by  the  month  when  a  young  man,  and,  careful  and  pru- 
dent, soon  saved  means  enough  to  become  interested  in  one  of  the  early 
starch  mills.  When  the  mills  became  less  profitable  in  Coos  county,  he 
built  several  starch  mills  in  Aroostook  county,  Me.,  and,  for  the  last  few 
years,  while  his  home  has  been  in  Colebrook,  his  business  has  been  in 
Maine.  A  good  citizen  and  a  generous  person,  those  in  whom  he  is 
interested  have  abundant  reason  to  be  gratified. 

Levi  O.  Hicks  was  born  in  Dalton,  October  18,  1808,  and  came  to  Cole- 
brook nearly  sixty  years  ago.  His  wife,  Betsey,  was  the  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Jordan,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  The  venerable  couple  lived 
together  fifty-eight  years  and  six  months.  They  had  eleven  children,  of 
whom  ten  are  still  living,  nine  of  them  in  Colebrook.  Levi  0.  Hicks  was 
an  obliging  neighbor  and  good  citizen. 

A  few  old  documents  are  appended  to  this  chapter  to  show  the  differ- 
ence  Wet  ween  then  and  now. 

"  No.  6.     Certificate  of  dutj  paid  at  one  dollar. 

"This  is  to  certify  thai  Samuel  Pratt  of  the  town  of  Colebrook  in  the  County  of  Coos  in  the  fifth  collec- 

district  of  New  Hampshire  has  paid  the  duty  of  one  dollar  for  the  year  1816,  for  and  upon  a  four  wheel 


Town  of  Colebrook.  (.25 


carriage  called  a  single  waggon  owned  by  him  and  the  harness  used  therefor.  This  certificate  to  bi  of  no 
avail  any  longer  than  the  aforesaid  carriage  shall  be  owned  bj  the  said  Pratt  unless  said  certificate  shall  In- 
produced  to  a  collector  and  an  entry  be  made  thereon,  specifying  the  name  o I'  the  then  owner  of  said  carriage, 
and  the  time  when  became  possessed  thereof. 

"Given  in  conformity  with  the  laws  of  the  United  States  this  1th  day  of  March  1*1<>. 

"Sam']  A.  Dennet. 

"Collector  of  the  Revenue 
"for   the  fifth    collection 
'•district    of    New   Hamp- 
shire." 
"L.  S.        State  of  New  Hampshire    Coos,  ss. 

"  To  Asa  Stoddard,  surveyor  of  the  Holmes  Hill  district  in  the  town  of  Colebrook  for  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-six  the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  you  are  required 
to  notify  the  several  inhabitants  of  said  district  named  in  the  list  herewith  committed  to  you  to  work  on  the 
highways  in  said  district  under  your  direction  until  they  have  paid  the  sums  respectively  set  against  them  in 
the  list  aforesaid  at  the  following  prices.  For  every  man  at  the  rate  of  ten  cents  an  hour,  and  for  each  yoke 
of  oxen  including  necessary  tools  at  the  rate  of  seventy-five  cents  per  day,  carts,  ploughs,  &C,  are  left  discre- 
tionary with  the  surveyor  to  determine  the  price  per  day  and  you  are  to  cause  said  work  to  be  applied  to  the 
repairs  of  the  highways  in  said  district  when  and  where  it  may  be  most  usefully  applied. 
********* 
"Given  under  our  hands  and  seal  this  twenty-ninth  day  of  April  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

eight  hundred  and  thirty. 

••Albert  Pitkin  t    Selectmen 

"Lyman  Lumbard  >  of 

••Jonas  Mills  )  Colebrook." 

Names.  Highway  Tax. 

"Carr,  Daniel  .56 

"  Little,  Caleb  2d  2.06 

"Little,  Moody  1.93 

"Little,  Thomas  J.  1.25 

"Little,  Ebenezer  3.67 

"  Stoddard,  Asa  110 

"Teal,  Benjamin  1.12 

"The  foregoing  is  a  list  of  the  assessment  of  the  Highway  Tax  for  the  year  1830  ou  the  polls  and  ratable 
estate  of  the  inhabitants  and  residents  of  Colebrook  in  the  highway  district  limited  as  follows,  viz.  Begin- 
ning at  the  east  bank  of  Swamp  brook,  so-called,  on  the  north  road  and  extending  east  to  the  town  line. 
Committed  to  Asa  Stoddard,  Collector,  April  29,  1830. 

"A.  Pitkin        )    Selectmen 

t  oi 

"Jonas  Mills    )  Colebrook." 

"Colebrook.  June  12,  1830. 

" In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  warrant,  I  have  notifyed  the  within  named  inhabitants  and  they  have 
appeared  and  honorably  worked  out  their  tax  set  to  their  respective  names  according  to  the  foregoing  tax 
bill.  "Asa  Stoddard 

"Highway  Surveyor." 

Either  times  are  changed  or  Mr.  Stoddard's  idea  of  honorably  working 
the  tax  was  leaning  on  a  hoe-handle,  as  that  is  the  way  a  large  part  of  the 
tax  is  worked  at  the  present  time. 

On  the  inside  cover  of  a  copy  of  "The  Mothers'  Magazine"  for  Febru- 
ary, 1833,  is  pasted  a  slip,  a  copy  of  which  follows: — 

"Mis.  M.  Mills,  Mrs.  Chamberlain,  Mrs.  Jewell,  Mrs.  M.  Rolph,  Mrs.  White,  Mrs.  Messer,  Mrs.  Eames, 
Mrs.  Parsons,  Mrs.  Crosby,  Mrs.  Lombard,  Mrs.  Beach,  Mrs.  x.  Mills,  Mrs.  A.  T.  Bradford. 
"Each  lady  on  reading  this  book  will  please  to  cross  out  her  name  and  pass  it  to  the  i 


41 


626  History  of  Coos  County. 

CHAPTER  LXVIIL 

Civil  List— Selectmen,  Treasurers,  Collectors,  Town  Clerks  and  Representatives— Conclusion. 

THE  civil  list  of  Colebrook  is  very  imperfect,   owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  records  of  the  town  were  all  burned  in  the  disastrous  fire  of  1870. 
As  far  as  it  can  be  ascertained  it  is  as  follows,  the  earliest  being  that  of 
1801:— 

ln, en. — 1801.    James    Hugh,  Charles   Thompson,    Joseph  Looinis;  1815,  Daniel  Harvey,  Ozias  Bis- 
sell,  John  C  Titus;  1816,    Daniel  Harvey,  Joseph  Loomis.  Mark  Aldrich;  1817,  Joseph  Loomis,  Daniel  Har- 
vey, Mark  Aldrich;  1818,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Samuel  Porter,  John  Corey;  1819,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Samuel 
Porter,  John  Corey;  1820,  David  L.  Isham.  Joseph  Loomis,   Harvey  Barns;  1821,  David  L.  Isham,   Nathan 
Beecher;  1822,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Daniel  Harvey,  Jonas  Kolfe;  1823.   Edmund  Chamberlain,  Harvey  Barns, 
Daniel  Harvey;  1824,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Edmund  Chamberlain,  Harvey  Barns;  1825,  E.  Chamberlain.  Daniel 
Harvey;  1826,  E.  Chamberlain,  Daniel  Harvey.  Harvey  Burns:  1827.  William  Halkins,  Moses  Johnson,  Daniel 
G.Hutchinson;  1828,  Edmund   Chamberlain,  Daniel  Harvey,  Harvey  Barns;  1829,  Daniel  Harvey.  Harvey 
Barns,  Caleb  Titus;  1830,  Lyman  Lombard,  Jonas  Mills,  Albert  Pitkin;  1831,  Albert  Pitkin,  Lyman  Lombard, 
Jonas  Mills;  1835,  Lyman  Lombard,  Gilman  Corser;  1838,  Benjamin  Whittemore,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr., 
Bufus  Bead;  1839,  Benjamin  Whittemore,  Hezekiah   Parsons.  Jr.,  But'us  Read;  1840,  Moses   Johnson,   D.  G. 
Hutchinson.  Nathaniel  Kenison;  1841,  Moses  Johnson,  D.  G.   Hutchinson,  Nathaniel  Kenison;  1842,    Daniel 
G.  Hutchinson,  Thomas  Severance,  George  W.  Vesper;  1843,  Thomas  Severance,  Benjamin  Whittemore,  Mil- 
ton Harvey;  1844.  Benjamin  Whittemore,  Milton  Harvey,  Amos  W.  Drew;  1845,  Benjamin  Whittemore  Mil- 
ton Harvey,  Amos  W.  Drew;  1846,  Benjamin   Whittemore,  Milton  Harvey.    Amoa   W.  Drew;  1847,  Amos  W. 
Drew,  Nathaniel  Kenison,  Aaron  Gould;  1848,  Amos  W.  Drew,  Nathaniel  Kenison.  Aaron  Gould;  1849,   Ben- 
jamin Whittemore,  John  C.  Bean,  Rufus  Bead;    1850,  John  Fletcher,  Merritt  Gilkey,  Alfred  Lovering;  1851, 
John  Fletcher,  Merritt  Gilkey,  Alfred  Lovering;  1852,  Milton  Harvey,  Hazen  Bedel,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.; 
1853,  H.  Bedel,  H.  Parsons,  Jr.,  Milton  Harvey;  1854,  Benjamin  Whittemore,  Daniel  C.  Bumford,  Charles  H. 
Thompson;  1855,  Benjamin  Whittemore,  Daniel  C.  Bumford,  Charles  H.  Thomyjson;  1856,  Benjamin  Whitte- 
more, Daniel  C.  Bumford,  John  Fletcher;  1857,  Daniel  C.  Bumford,  John  Fletcher,  Alfred  Lovering;  1858, 
Alfred  Lovering,  Daniel  C.  Bumford,  John  Fletcher;  1859,  Daniel  Fletcher,  John  Bracket  t,  Milton  Harvey; 
1860,  Milton  Harvey,  John  Brackett,  Daniel  Fletcher;  1861,    Simeon  Cross.  Henry   E.  VViggin,  Hiram  Titus; 
1862,  Simeon  Cross,  Henry  E.  Wiggin.  Hiram  Titus;  1863,  Samuel  P.  Pitkin.  David  Heath,  Alfred  Lovering: 
1864,  Samuel  P.  Pitkin,  David  Heath,  Albert  S.  Eustis;  1865,  David  Heath,  Albert  S.  Eustis,  Chester  B.  Jor- 
dan: 1866,  David  Heath,  Seneca  S.  Merrill,  Hezekiah  Parsons;  1867,   George  S.  Leavitt,  Chester  B.  Jordan, 
Seneca  S.  Merrill;  1868,  Ira  Young,  Freeman  P.  Covell,  Loring  G.  Piper;  1869,  Ira  Young,  Freeman  P.  Co- 
veil,  Loring  G.  Piper;  1870,  Loring  G.  Piper.  Sidney  B.  Whittemore,  William  H.  Mulliken;  1871,  S.  B.  Whitte- 
more, W.  H.  Mulliken,  H.  W.  Woodrow;  1872,  H.  W.  Woodrow.    J.  F.  Atherton,  Alba  C.  Hicks;  1873,  James 
F.  Atherton,    Alba  C.  Hicks,  Joseph  E.  Lombard;  1874,  J.  E.  Lombard,  Charles  Tucker,  John  S.  Capen;  1875, 
Charles  Tucker,  John  S.  Capen,  Henry  W.  Woodrow;  1876,  Joseph  W.  Cooper,  S.  K.  Bemich,  Milton  Harri- 
man;  1877,  Milton  Harriman,   Ransom  Harriman,  Robert  G.  Jameson;  1878,   Ransom  Harriman,  George  S. 
Leavitt,  Samuel  T.  Noyes;  1879,  Sidney  B.  Whittemore,    Dan   Fletcher,   Freeman  P.  Covell;  1880,  Sidney  B. 
Whittemore,  Dan  Fletcher,  Freeman   P.    Covell;    1881,  S.  B.  Whittemore,  F.  P.  Covell,  Dan  Fletcher;  1882, 
H.  W.Woodrow.  S.  B.  Whittemore,  John  S.  Capen;  1883;  H.  W.  Woodrow,   J.  S.   Capen,  John  Gould;  1884, 
John  Gould,  W.  H.  Mulliken.  F.  P.  Covell:  1885,  W.  H.  Mulliken,  F.  P.  Covell,  J.  A.  Gould;  1886,  W.  H.  Mul- 
liken, F.  P.  Covell,  J.  A.  Gould;  1887,  J.  A.  Gould.  G.  W.  Martin,  Daniel  Stevens.     • 

rs  — 1803-180$.  Daniel  Harvey:  1809-11,  Edmund  Chamberlain;  1812-15,  David  Bissell;  1816,  Caleb 
Titus;  1817-18,  Lewis  Loomis;  1819-20,  David  Bissell;  1821,  Caleb  Titus;  1826-28,  David  Bissell;  1829-30,  J.  M. 
Hilliard;  1831,  David  Bissell;  1842-43,  H.  Parsons,  Jr.;  1845-47,  Hobart Noyes;  1848-50,  H.  Parsons,  Jr.;  1861, 
David  Heath;  1863,  B.  R.  Gilman;  1864,  J.  E.  Lombard;  1865-67,  F.  P.  Covell;  1868-69,  J.  F.  Atherton;  1870, 
S.  S.  Merrill:  1871.  II.  M.  Leavitt:  1872-73.  Robert  Gathercole;  1874,  W.  H.  Mulliken;  1875-79,  H.  M.  Leavitt; 
1880-81,  E.  P.  Hicks;  1882,  F.  P.  Covell;  1883-85,  S.  B.  Whittemore;  1886-87,  B.  G.  Jameson. 

Treasurers.— 1825,  Jonas  Rolfe;  L826,  Abel  Hyde;  1827,  Jonas  Rolfe;  1828,  Abel  Hyde;  1829,  Jonas  Rolfe; 
1863.  J.  A.  Pitkin;  1864-67,  A.  S.  Eustis:  1868-75,  H.  Bedel;  1876-78,  Charles  Colby;  1879-82,  Wesley  Went- 
worth;  1883-87,  W.  E.  Drew. 


Town  of  Colebrook.  627 

Town  Clerks.— 1821-22,  Lyman  Lombard;  1823,  Jonas  Rolfe;  1826,  Jonas  llolfe;  1830,  F.  G.  Messer;  1831, 

CargiU;  1832,  HezeMah  Parsons,  Jr.;  1835-36,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.;  1837-59,  Jonas  Rolfe;  1860-61,  E. 

D.  Hutchinson;  1862,  E.  N.  Cummings;  1863-64,  C.  P.  Garfield;  1865-68,  E.  II.  Williams;  1869-70,  J.H.  Dudley; 
1871-74,  M.  S.  Marshall;  1875,  L.  A.  Lovering;  1876-82,  H.  B.  Parsons;  1883-87,  D.  E.  Cummings. 

Representatives— 1807,  Hezekiah  Parsons;  1808-10,  Jeremiah  Eames;  1811,  Charles  Thompson;  1812-13, 
Jeremiah  Eames;  1814,  Edmund  Keazer;  1815-16,  Jared  Cone:  1817-18,  Hezekiah  Parsons;  1819-20,  Samuel 
Pratt;  1821,  Jeremiah  Eames;  1822-23,  Lewis  Loomis;  1824-25,  Ephraim  11.  Mahurin;  1826-27,  Hezekiah  Par- 
nous;  1828,  AbramBoynton;  1829,  Roswell  Hobart;  1830-31,  William  Holkins;  1832,  Abram  Boynton;  1833, 
Jonas  Mills;  1834,  Abram  Boynton;  1835,  Hezekiah  Parsons;  1836,  Roswell  Hobart;  1837-38,  Samuel  Drown; 
1839-40,  Benjamin  Whittemore;  1811-42,  Moses  Johuson;  1843,  Samuel  Drown;  1844,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.; 
1845,  Thomas  Severance;  1846,  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Jr.;  1847-48,  Amos  W.  Drew;  1849-50,  Charles  H.  Thomp- 
son; 1851-52.  Lyman  Lombard:  1853-54,  Hazen  Bedel;  1855-56,  Benjamin  Whittemore;  1857-58,  Jonas  Rolfe; 
1859-60,  Daniel  Fletcher;  1861,  Ethan  Colby;  1862-63,  Erasmus  D.  Hutchinson;  1864-65,  Augustus  Harris;  1866, 
David  Heath;  1867,  Joseph  E.  Lombard;  1868,  Albert  S.  Eustis;  1869-70,  William  S.  Rolfe;  1871,  J.  E.Lombard: 
1872-73,  Sherburn  R.  Merrill;  1874-75,  Daniel  E.  Cummings;  1876,  Albert  S.  Eustis,  Francis  B.  Crawford;  1877, 
David  Heath,  William  H.  Shurtleff;  1878-79,  Benjamin  Drew;  1880-81,  Seneca  S.  Merrill;  1882-83,  Loriug  G, 
Piper;  1884-85,  Sidney  B.  Whittemore;  1886-87,  Henry  W.  Woodrow, 

There  are  many,  many  others  who  were  identified  with  the  early  his- 
tory of  Colebrook,  and  who  helped  to  make  the  town  what  it  is,  whom  I 
would  gladly  mention  with  particularity,  but  lack  of  data  compels  me  to 
pass  them  by. 

In  closing,  I  desire  to  extend  my  thanks  to  Mrs.  Benjamin  Gilman  and 
Miss  Annie  Gilman  for  their  important  assistance  in  looking  up  the  old 
papers  belonging  to  the  late  Albert  Pitkin;  to  Rev.  C.  A.  Curtis  and  Eev. 
Claudius  Byrne,  for  information  in  regard  to  their  respective  churches,  and 
to  the  many  others  who  have  so  willingly  aided  me  in  getting  together 
this  desultory  history  of  Colebrook. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


THE   PARSONS   FAMILY." 

The  Parsons'  families  that  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Coos  and 
adjoining  counties,  and  are  found  in  many  localities  in  New  England,  seem 
to  have  descended  from  a  common  ancestor,  Thomas  Parsons,  of  Great 
Milton,  Oxfordshire,  England,  who  married,  October  19,  1555,  Katherine 
Hester,  and  was  buried  May  23,  1507.  His  second  son,  Hugh,  was  bap- 
tized November  23,  1563.  He  married  Elizabeth  (Bagshaw)  Thomkins. 
Deacon  Benjamin  Parsons,  tenth  child  of  Hugh,  was  baptized  March  17, 
1627,  and  came  to  Massachusetts  with  an  older  brother,  Hugh,  before  1615, 
tradition  says  in  the  ' '  Mayflower. "  Deacon  Benjamin  settled  in  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Richard  Vore,  of  Windsor,  Conn., 
November  6,  1653.  He  died  August  21,  16S9.  His  fifth  child,  Samuel 
Parsons,  was  born  October  10,  1666,  and,  March  IS,  1683,  married  Hannah 


By  James  I.  Parsons,  Esq. 


628  History  of  Coos  County. 


Hitchcock,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Chapin)  Hitchcock,  of  Spring- 
field. She  was  born  September  10,  1668,  and  died  July  17,  1718,  at  En- 
field, Conn.,  where  her  husband  had  died  February  17,  1736.  Their  fifth 
son,  Capt.  Hezekiah  Parsons,  was  born  at  Enfield  April  13,  1698,  and  died 
there  July  11,  1748.  He  married  Rebecca  Bart,  (who  died  November  18, 
1721,)  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter.  He  then  married  Anna  Evans,  who 
died  May  3,  1711,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  the  oldest  of  whom, 
Capt.  Hezekiah  Parsons,  was  born  in  1728,  at  Enfield,  where  he  died 
August  21,  1813.  He  married,  January  23,  1718,  Sarah  (Abbe)  Chapinr 
daughter  of  Thomas  Abbe,  and  widow  of  Nathaniel  Chapin.  She  died 
May  12,  1785. 

He  had  four  sons  by  his  second  wife,  of  whom  the  oldest  two  were 
Hezekiah  (3d),  born  February  3,  [February  15,  N.  S.]  1752;  and  Major 
Jabez  Parsons,  born  July  16,  1751.  Major  Jabez  Parsons  early  became 
interested  in  this  section  of  New  Hampshire,  and  was  mainly  instrumental 
in  getting  a  considerable  immigration  to  it.  He  had  a  mill,  and  Hezekiah 
did  work  for  him  in  it  in  17y6  and  1797.  He  married  Martha  Terry,  and 
an  aunt,  Sarah  Parsons,  had  married  a  Mr.  Terry.  He  and  his  elder 
brother,  two  or  three  families  of  the  Terrys,  including  his  aunt's  family, 
an  uncle,  an  elderly  man  named  Jonathan  Parsons,  and  his  wife  Triphena 
(Bement),  and  his  son,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  with  a  large  family,  and  a  Mr.  Be- 
ment  and  Joseph  G-ocldard,  who  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Parsons,  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Colebrook  and  Columbia.  Jon- 
athan Parsons,  St\,  soon  died,  and  with  his  wife  have  the  earliest  head- 
stones in  the  Colebrook  cemetery,  marked  "  T.  Parsons"  and  i(J.  Par- 
sons,'' made  from  the  native  rock  by  a  younger  son.  They  lived  on  the 
Charles  Thompson  farm.  Goddard  lived  opposite  E.  G.  Arlins,  the  Ter- 
rys all  probably  in  Columbia,  Jabez  Parsons  on  the  Edmund  Chamberlain 
farm,  while  Hezekiah  Parsons,  grandfather  of  George,  lived  on  the  farm 
George  Parsons  now  owns.  He  was  Hezekiah  Parsons  3d,  but  the  fourth 
of  the  name;  the  first  bearing  the  name  being  an  uncle  of  his  grandfather. 
He  was  born  in  1752,  and  married  Margaret  Kibbee,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Terry)  Kibbee,  of  Enfield,  Conn,  a  niece  of  Jacob  Terry,  and  cousin 
of  Mrs.  Jabez  Parsons,  in  1775.  They  moved  from  Enfield  to  Colebrook 
in  1789,  bringing  with  them  five  sons,  all  the  children  they  ever  had  who 
lived  beyond  infancy.  They  buried  one  son  before  they  left  Enfield,  and 
one  son  was  born  in  Colebrook,  July  6,  1793,  and  was  buried  in  the  first 
buryiug-ground,  on  the  knoll  easterly  of  the  village  school-house,  as  were 
many  who  now  occupy  the  unmarked  (or  earliest  marked)  graves  in  our 
cemetery,  to  which  the  dead  were  moved  from  that  cemetery,  and  from 
the  one  between  W.  E.  Drew's  store  and  the  Mohawk.  He  was  the  first 
boy,  and  perhaps  the  first  white  child  born  in  Colebrook.  The  five  sons, 
all  born  at  Enfield,  were  Hezekiah,  born  May  29,  1776,  who  died  in  Colum- 


»®^;™|f' 


o^t-O 


Town  of  Colebrook.  629 

bia,  N.  H.,  January  11,  1857;  Abdiel,  born  May  4,  1779,  died  at  Quincy, 
111.,  May  L2,  L851;  George,  born  April  LO,  1781,  died  at  Warren,  Ohio, 
August  2,  1800;  Samuel  Burt,  born  November  27,  17*:;,  died  at  Rosendale 
(?),  Wisconsin,  about  1800;  Jeremiah,  born  September  17,  1787,  died  at 
Philadelphia,  July  7,  [877.  The  older  sons,  especially  George  (who  became 
very  wealthy),  were  remarkable  for  the  generous  assistance  they  gave  to 
their  relatives  by  birth  or  marriage,  and  to  each  other  when  needed,  and 
all  of  them  in  their  last  years  were  equally  inclined  to  aid  all  their  descend- 
ants, who  were  quite  numerous.  Jeremiah  left  Colebrook  in  1800  and 
never  returned.  The  others  left  about  the  same  time  but  returned  on  acca- 
sional  visits.  Their  father  first  built  a  log-house,  and  soon,  a  two-story 
frame  house  a  few  rods  n<  »rth  of  the  Columbia  line,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  road.  He  sold  the  farm  to  his  son  Hezekiah,  and  returned  to  Enfield 
in  the  fall  of  1799,  or  soon  after.  He  died  suddenly,  March  17,  1808,  at 
Thompsonville,  Conn.  His  wife  and  children  continued  their  home  in 
Colebrook.  The  second  son,  about  1800,  went  on  to  another  farm,  from 
which  he  emigrated  to  the  west  about  1810.  The  others  went  to  school, 
while  the  mother  remained  at  the  head  of  the  house,  and,  to  a  considera- 
ble degree,  of  the  farm.  She  also  attended  to  her  professional  duties. 
She  was,  from  her  first  settlement  here,  known  as  "  Granny  Parsons,  the 
Doctor,"  and  continued  to  practice  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  until  she 
moved  away  in  1815;  and,  upon  her  horse  at  all  times  and  seasons,  was  a 
familiar  sight  to  the  early  settlers  of  this  and  all  the  adjoining  towns. 
For  a  long  time  the  only  doctor,  she  retained  a  considerable  portion  of  cer- 
tain branches  of  the  practice  after  regular  physicians  had  located  here. 
She  married  Samuel  Leavitt  about  1817,  and  died  at  Warren,  Ohio,  March 
5,  1841.  She  had  a  brother,  Gaius  Kibbee,  who  brought  his  family  to  Co- 
lumbia in  the  fall  of  1797,  but  probably  settled  there  earlier  himself.  He 
soon  moved  to  Bloomfield,  Vt.,  where  he  had  considerable  real  estate,  and 
was  prominent  in  business  and  town  affairs  as  his  family  was  socially. 

Hezekiah  Parsons  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  at  Fryeburg, 
Maine,  where  he  attended  the  academy  several  terms.  He  was  a  teacher 
for  a  few  terms  in  our  district  schools.  He  and  his  mother  took  care  of 
the  family  until  December  12,  L802,  when  he  married  "Polly,'*  later  called 
••  Mary,"  Bevins,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sa- 
rah (Powers)  Bevins,  who  was  born  January  31,    L778,  and  died  July  3, 

He  soon  began  to  acquire  real  estate,  and  in  the  course  of  fifty  years 
became  the  largest  owner  of  land  in  this  portion  of  the  state.  He  owned 
many  improved  farms,  and  considerable  tracts  of  timber  lands  in  Leming- 
ton,  Canaan,  Colebrook  and  Columbia;  while  his  lands  in  Stewartstown, 
Millsfield  and  Errol  were  at  times  a  very  large  fraction  of  the  towns.  He 
was  engaged  in  lumbering  on  the  Androscoggin  from  about  L825  to  about 


630  History  of  Coos  County. 


1847,  and  cleared  or  sold  his  pine  and  other  salable  lands.  After  his  death, 
tracts  of  his  remaining  spruce  lands  became  valuable. 

He  built  a  still  in  early  life  and  made  potato-whiskey  until  1825.  He 
took  out  a  patent,  July  9,  1812,  for  an  improvement  in  malting  and  kiln- 
drying.  He  sold  whiskey  in  January,  1812,  for  $1.00;  gin,  81.00;  proof 
spirits.  $1.25;  and  paid  for  potatoes  25c.  per  bushel;  wood,  50c.  per  cord; 
barley,  83c;  rye.  $1.25;  and  wheat,  $1.50;  for  ashes,  6c;  beef,  4c;  hay, 
$5.00.  In  the  spring  he  sold  seed-wheat  at  $2.00;  rye,  $1.50;  barley,  $1.00; 
potatoes  at  42c,  and  the  seed  ends  of  potatoes  used  in  the  still  at  02c. 
That  fall  the  prices  he  paid,  and  of  liquors  sold,  were  about  twenty-five  per 
cent,  higher,  and  remained  very  uniform  for  several  years. 

He  was  elected  representative  of  the  classed  towns  of  Columbia,  Cole- 
brook,  Stewartstown,  Errol  and  Shelburne  in  1807,  and  secured  the  pass- 
age of  "an  act  to  raise  $5,000  by  a  public  lottery  for  the  purpose  of  making 
a  road  through  the  Notch,  in  township  No.  2  (Dixvilie),  in  the  county  of 
Coos."  The  road  through  Col eb rook  to  the  Maine  line  in  Cambridge  was 
established  and  a  tax  on  these  and  intermediate  towns  authorized  by  an 
act  passed  in  1810.  In  1817  and  1818  he  was  representative  for  Colebrook, 
Columbia,  Stewartstown,  Errol,  Dixvilie,  Millsfield  and  College  Grant;  in 
1817  he  secured  the  charter  for  the  Stewartstown  toll  bridge;  in  1818  he  was 
also  a  selectman  and  deputy  sheriff,  which  last  office  he  held  continuously 
from  before  1815  to  1832,  and  did  some  business  as  sheriff  after  1840.  In 
1826  and  1827  he  was  representative  for  Colebrook,  Columbia  and  Errol. 
In  1835  he  served  his  seventh  term  as  representative.  He  was  several 
times  one  of  the  board  of  selectmen  and  held  other  town  offices  from  time 
to  time. 

He  bought  the  saw  and  grist-mill  in  Colebrook  village  in  1833.  He 
built  the  buildings  that  ( reorge  Parsons  occupies,  then  the  best  in  the 
county,  in  1843.  The  mills  were  old,  and  he  built  a  new  grist  mill  in  1846- 
L848.  He  kept  about  seventy  head  of  cattle  on  his  home  farm,  besides 
those  in  Errol  and  Millsfield,  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows,  and  as  many  horses, 
and  a  large  number  of  sheep  and  hogs,  and  used  a  large  portion  of  his  mill- 
tolls  on  his  farm. 

He  always  had  a  large  family.  His  wife's  mother,  Sarah  Bevins,  spent 
her  last  years  with  him,  and  died  March  26,  1836,  aged  eighty-seven.  His 
wife's  I  not  her,  Ezra  Bevins,  came  there  in  1847  and  died  about  1854,  aged 
eighty -four.  His  daughters,  Jane,  born  May  23,  1817,  who  died  January 
30,  1832;  Sarah  Ann.  born  March  29,  1813,  who  died  January  25,  1844,  and 
Mary,  born  January  !»,  lson,  who  survived  him  and  died  March  26,  1863, 
never  left  home. 

His  son  Samuel  Bevins,  born  September  23,  1820,  was  graduated  in  1840 
from  the  Rensselaer  Institute,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a  clerk  for  a  time  at 
Burlington,  and  afterwards  taught  in  Virginia  some  years;  then  returned 


Town  of  Colebrook.  631 


home  and  was  active  in  his  father's  and  his  own  business,  and  died  April  L8, 
1850.  He  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  very  active  in  the  railroad 
movements  of  ls-14  45  and  L847,  and  the  Free  Soil  and  temperance  move- 
ment of  1846  and  1848,  and  secretary  of  the  state  committee.  He  gained 
something  of  a  reputation  as  a  campaign  speaker  a!  this  time  throughout 
the  state,  and  his  death  was  a  severe  blow  to  his  father. 

His  son  George,  horn  May  23,  L815,  always  lived  with  him,  and  still 
occupies  the  old  homestead.  After  the  death  of  his  parents  and  sister, 
George  married  Clara  Lyman  Martin.  They  have  one  child,  Frederick 
George,  born  July  31,  1*71.  A  daughter,  Clara  Bell,  died  in  infancy.  He 
has  the  old  farm  and  mill  and  a  hotel,  the  "  Dix  House." 

His  son  Charles,  born  July  13,  1811,  learned  the  wheelwright  trade,  and 
when  twenty-one  went  to  Connecticut,  as  a  carriage  painter.  About  1836 
he  went  to  Burlington.  Vt.,  as  a  carriage  and  sleigh  manufacturer,  then 
turned  to  the  manufacture  of  matches.  He  moved  to  Montreal  and  manu- 
factured matches  for  several  years,  then  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
Parson's  rat  exterminator.  In  1850  he  transferred  that  business  to  Cole- 
brook,  where  he  still  continues  it,  and  has  expended  a  great  portion  of  the 
profits  in  building  up  the  village.  The  Parsons  House  was  built  by  him, 
and  the  Mohawk  House  is  owned  by  him.  June  2,  I860,  he  married 
Augusta,  daughter  of  Archelaus  and  Mary  (Fletcher)  Cummings.  They 
have  two  children,  Mary  Augusta,  born  June  11,  1866,  who  married  Joseph 
Smith  Pierce,  June  28,  1885;  and  Charles,  Jr.,  born  Februarv  »;,  l  s7 1 . 

His  daughter  Margaret,  born  September  15,  1803,  married  Jonathan 
Eolfe,  January  1,  1824,  and  died  June  20,  1834.  She  had  six  children, 
who  all  died  or  now  live  near  Colebrook.  Susan  Jane,  born  September  T, 
1831,  married  Allen  Hatch  Forbes;  Almera  B.,  born  April  29,  1828,  mar- 
ried George  Brower,  and  died  November  26,  L86Y;  Charles  E.,  born  Sep- 
tember 10,  1826,  married  Ellen  Faulkner;  Harriet  A.,  born  September  17, 
1*33,  married  Daniel  Munroe  Smith,  of  Brunswick,  Vt..  and  died  November 
19,  1880;  and  two  who  died  in  March,  1*32.  Susan  lived  with  Mr.  Parsons 
from  early  childhood.  Almera  lived  with  him  for  a  long  time  in  childhood, 
and  also,  with  her  family,  after  marriage  for  some  years,  and  was  provided, 
as  were  Charles,  Harriet  and  Susan,  with  substantial  assistance  in  afterlife 
by  gifts  and  bequests. 

His  son  William,  born  March  21.  1807,  married  Lucy  Mooney  and  died  at 
Colebrook  April  1.  1839.  They  had  three  sons,  William  F.,  born  L835; 
Hiram  Charles,  born  1836;  Abdiel  Charles,  horn  183*.  They  areatthe  head 
of  various  business  colleges  in  the  western  states.  They  all  lived  for  a  time, 
and  Abdiel  for  many  years,  with  Mr.  Parsons,  and  had  aid  about  their 
education  and  subsequent  business. 

Mr.  Parsons,  in  the  winter  of  1*33,  started  on  ;i  journey  to  the  west. 
He  went  to  Cleveland,  0.,  Louisville,  Ky.,  St.  Louis,  "Louisiana.'*  and  back 
via  Wisconsin,  Ohio,  Montreal,  etc.,  and  visited  numerous  relatives  and 


632  History  of  Coos  County 


former  neighbors.  He  was  considering  a  removal  to  the  west.  He  sold 
the  horse  with  which  he  started,  and  returned  with  one  on  which  he  rode 
for  the  last  fourteen  hundred  miles  of  his  journey. 

One  of  the  incidents  connected  with  his  career  as  deputy  sheriff  became 
the  theme  of  several  pamphlets  and  newspaper  stories,  and  finally  of  the 
novel  "Gaut  Gurley,"  by  Thompson,  the  author  of  the  "Green  Mountain 
Boys,"  etc.  A  hunter,  Daniel  Bobbins,  who  lived  near  the  mouth  of 
Diamond,  was  believed  to  have  killed  a  child  in  Maine  and  used  it  for  bait, 
and  also  one  Hinds  and  his  son,  of  Milan,  in  1828,  whose  bodies  were 
found  covered  with  brush  in  a  brook  near  Little  Kennebago  lake.  Sub- 
script ions  were  raised,  and  Capt.  Eames  also  furnished  Parsons  $34-  public 
money  and  twenty-four  pounds  of  pork  and  fourteen  pounds  of  cheese,  and 
Mr.  Parsons  went  to  investigate.  He  took  Lewis  Loomis  and  started  Sep- 
tember 29,  1828.  They  got  Hezekiah  Cloutman,  who  had  hunted  with  Hinds 
previous  falls,  but  not  that  year,  as  guide,  and  staid  in  the  woods  searching 
for  Robbins  and  looking  for  evidence  until  the  last  of  October,  when  they 
went  to  Farmington,  Me. ,  to  arrange  about  an  indictment  and  a  Maine  depu- 
tation for  Loomis  for  Robbins's  arrest  if  found  in  Maine,  and  separated  and 
went  northerly  through  the  woods  home,  where  Parsons  arrived  November 
1,  1828,  and  Loomis  the  same  day,  probably,  as  each  were  paid  for  thirty- 
three  days  in  the  woods  at  $1  per  day,  and  Cloutman  for  twenty-eight 
days.  The  neighbors  of  Hinds  also  sent  out  an  expedition  prior  to  this 
which  was  gone  a  few  days.  Soon  after  Robbins  was  supposed  to  be  at 
home  they  went  to  his  house,  but  he  had  fled;  they  overtook  him  at  the 
Aziscoos  Falls  (which  were  then  supposed  to  be  in  New  Hampshire)  where 
he  had  carried  a  load  of  his  baggage  over  the  carry  on  a  moose  sled.  They 
went  up  the  opposite  sides  of  the  river,  leaving  a  young  Ellingwood  to 
guard  the  landing  to  prevent  their  tracks  in  the  snow  being  discovered  and 
a  surprise  from  the  rear.  Loomis  met  Robbins,  who,  contrary  to  their 
fears,  was  unsuspicious,  and  was  following  his  own  tracks  back,  jumped  be- 
tween him  and  his  sled  on  which  his  rifle  la}r,  and  had  him  secured  before 
he  could  draw  a  knife.  He  would  have  shot  either  on  sight,  or  Ellingwood, 
if  he  had  suspected  his  errand.  He  escaped  from  the  block  jail  at  Lancas- 
ter before  extradition,  and  was  believed  to  have  perished  in  the  woods  that 
fall,  as  the  future  rumors  of  him  were  not  confirmed.  This  was  considered 
an  act  of  great  daring  at  the  time.  The  whole  population  was  in  terror 
during  thai  fall,  and  was  surprised  that  Mr.  Parsons  should  be  about  and 
also  sleep  in  the  room  with  Robbins,  without  putting  him  in  irons.  They 
tied  him  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat  on  their  way  to  Errol,  as  they  believed 
he  would  try  to  overturn  it  and  drown  himself  with  as  many  of  them  as 
possible.  William  Loomis,  still  living,  slept  one  night  with  Mr.  Parsons,  at 
Northumberland,  in  Robbins's  room,  who  was  on  his  way  to  jail. 

Mr.   Parsons  left  records  of  very  frequent  trips  to  the  cities  of  New 


\#**| 


S^o^^^^ 


Town  of  Colebrook.  633 


England,  Canada  and  New  York,  and  the  purchase  of  supplies,  etc.,  which 
he  kept  to  sell  to  jobbers  and  neighbors  for  some  thirty  years. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Hill  in  his  obituary  said,     "  •■     Mr.   Parsons  was  the 

last  survivor  of  the  original  settlers  of  Colebrook.  ::"     Self-reliance  and 

untiring  application  were  marked  features  in  his  character  and  conduct,  to 
which  he  was  in  no  small  degree  indebted  for  his  triumph  and  ultimate 
success.  For  a  period  of  more  than  sixty  years  his  was  a  Life  of  ad  ion  by 
day  and  night,  in  summer  and  winter,  in  sunshine  and  storm,  in  the  fori 
and  in  the  city.  To  those  best  acquainted  with  him  it  would  not  be  deemed 
extravagant  to  say  that  no  other  one  could  probably  be  found  who  had 
devoted  so  many  hours  to  business  of  the  most  active  mental  and  physical 
character.  As  a  business  man  he  was  personally  known  from  QuebectoNew 
York,  and  from  Portland  to  Wisconsin.  His  traits  of  character  he  carried 
with  him  into  public  life  in  various  offices  in  which  he  was  repeatedly 
placed  by  his  fellow  townsmen.  As  a  deputy  sheriff,  in  which  office  he 
was  continued  under  various  administrations,  he  was  greal  ly  (list  inguished, 
and  left  a  character  for  ability,  and  successful  discharge  of  duty  second  to 
none  in  this  portion  of  the  state.  The  cause  of  his  death  is  supposed  to 
have  been  injuries  received  in  consequence  of  falling  in  his  carriage  from 
the  abutments  of  a  bridge  in  Bethel,  Me.  When  he  became  sensible  that  his 
hitherto  almost  incessant  activity  must  soon  cease,  he  calmly  closed  his 
business,  and  in  the  exercise  of  strong  confidence  in  the  Savior,  committed 
his  soul  to  his  God,  and  bade  the  world  adieu." 

Hezekiah  Parsons,  son  of  Hezekiah  and  Mary  (Polly  Bevins)  Parsons, 
was  born  in  Colebrook  February  11,  1  so;,.  In  him  was  combined  much  of 
the  energy  and  courage  of  his  father,  and  much  of  the  patient,  quiet  kind- 
ness of  his  mother.  He  married  Sarah  Merrill,  daughter  of  James  Five, 
and  Sallie  (Chandler)  Bragg,  of  Errol,  April  21,  1832.  They  had  eight  child- 
ren: Ellen  Sarah,  born  April  6,  1833,  who  married  November  8,  1870, 
Reuben  Sylvester  Parks,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  son  of  Sylvester  and 
Laura  A.  Parks,  of  Russell,  Mass.,  and  has  since  lived  in  Washington.  She 
has  one  child,  Alice  Mary,  born  January  6,  1  872.  Mrs.  Parks  taught  in  War- 
ren, Ohio,  for  three  years  from  1  857;  also  before  and  afterwards  in  the  schools 
and  academy  of  Colebrook.  She  was  a  well-known  teacher  in  Columbia, 
Lemington,  Canaan,  Stratford  and  Lancaster  before  her  marriage.  Heze- 
kiah Bragg,  born  March  16,  1835,  married,  February  22,  is;;:,  Mahala, 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  I  Morrison  i  Aldrich  of  Colebrook.  He  died 
June  11,  1882.  They  had  no  children.  He  was  postmaster  of  Colebrook 
from  1854  to  L856,  register  of  deeds  from  L858  to  L864.  He  built  the 
telegraph  from  Stratford  to  Colebrook  in  L868,  and  the  management  of 
that  and  his  duties  as  town  clerk  occupied  his  time  until  his  death. 

James  Ingalls,  an  attorney,  is  mentioned  in  the  "Bench  and  Bar." 
Mary  Alice,  born  May  2,  L850,  was  graduated  from  Robinson  Female  sem- 


634  History  of  Coos  County. 

inary,  Exeter.  N.  H..  in  1870,  and  in  1ST3  from  the  Medical  department  of 
Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  which  city  she  has  since  prac- 
ticed medicine.  She  was  the  first  woman  licensed  to  practice,  consulted 
with  by  regular  physicians,  or  admitted  to  a  medical  society  in  that  city, 
or,  it  is  probable,  south  of  Pennsylvania.  They  also  had  four  daughters, 
born  December  25,  1836,  January  21,  1839,  March  18,  1840,  and  May  16, 
1846,  of  whom  none  lived  more  than  a  few  weeks. 

Mr.  Parsons  attended  the  academy  at  Haverhill,  N.  H. ;  and  some  years 
later  that  at  Lancaster,  to  qualify  himself  as  a  surveyor.  He  did  a  great 
deal  of  work  as  a  surveyor  until  past  fifty,  when  he  gave  up  all  employ- 
ments requiring  much  walking. 

He  commenced  teaching  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  at  which  age  his  father  and 
grandfather,  and  his  children  also  became  teachers;  but  soon  took  charge  of 
his  father's  still  and  farm,  and  later  of  his  father's  lumbering  and  river  driv- 
ing on  the  Androscoggin  until  1832,  when  he  married  and  commenced 
farming  on  the  farm  that  his  children  still  own,  which  his  father  had 
bought  for  him  a  few  years  before  in  payment  for  his  work.  He  taught 
several  winters  after  his  marriage.  He  was  town  clerk  for  several  years  at 
about  this  time.  He  brought  into  Colebrook  a  little  later  the  first  stock  of 
stoves,  pipe,  stove  and  general  hardware,  and  added  plows,  horse  rakes,  &c, 
and  later,  wagons  and  sleighs,  robes,  &c.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  hard- 
ware business  in  1859  by  A.  S.  Eustis,  and  afterwards  attended  exclusively 
to  his  real  estate,  of  which  he  had  become  a  large  owner.  In  1838  and  '39 
was  selectman,  also  in  1853-54  and  1867.  In  1S44-45  and  '46  was  county 
commissioner.  In  1844  he  was  also  elected  representative.  That  year  he 
attempted  to  get  a  grant  of  5,000  acres  of  state  lands  to  Colebrook 
academy,  which  had  been  chartered  in  1832  but  had  been  unable  to  get  funds, 
but  the  matter  was  "postponed  to  the  next  year."  He  secured  the  char- 
ter for  the  Colebrook  railroad,  of  which  his  father  was  first  incorporator. 
The  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  R.  R.  Co.,  of  Maine,  was  granted  a  charter, 
in  lsi7,  upon  condition  that  these  incorporators  should  surrender  their 
charter,  anil  surveyed  through  Colebrook  to  the  boundary,  and  verbally 
promised  to  build  on  that  route;  and  the  incorporators  against  Mr.  Parsons's 
protest  and  to  his  life- long  regret,  surrendered  the  Colebrook  charter.  The 
road  was  afterwards  surveyed  and  built  up  the  Nulhegan.  Again  elected 
in  L846  ho  scoured  by  a  close  vote  a  land  grant  of  10,000  acres  to  the 
academy.  He  was  one  of  the  building  committee,  trustee  and  treasurer 
wl ion  it  was  built,  and  president  of  the  trustees  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  also  got  an  act  passed  to  divide  the  county,  but  later  it  failed  to  become 
a  law.  He  was  the  first  incorporator  of  the  Colebrook  Bridge  Co.,  and 
activo  in  building  the  bridge  across  the  Connecticut.  He  was  a  deputy 
sheriff  for  some  years,  and  afterwards  sheriff,  from  which  office  he  was 
removed  in  L856,  in  common  with  the  other  Democratic  officials  in  the  state, 


Town  of  Colebrook.  635 


and  retired  with  a  reputation  for  unusual  efficiency  and  accuracy.  He 
held  no  public  offices  afterwards,  except  that  during  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, though  not  of  the  dominant  party,  he  was  elected  agent  of  the  town 
to  procure  money  and  fill  the  town's  quota,  and  went  to  Washington  for 
that  purpose.  Also  in  L867  he  was  elected  one  of  the  selectmen  in  an 
exciting  election  in  which  each  party  had  a  part  of  their  members  elected. 
He  held  other  minor  offices,  especially  that  of  collector  and  town  clerk  for 
several  years.  In  religion  he  was  a  very  positive  Universalist,  and  in 
politics  a  very  decided  Democrat,  and  enjoyed  a  wide  and  often  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  leaders  of  his  denomination  and  party  in  the  state, 
and  to  some  extent  in  the  nation.  The  last  years  of  his  life  were  years  of 
leisure,  and,  after  lsyo,  he  spent  his  winters  in  Washington,  1).  ('..  where 
he  celebrated  his  golden  wedding,  and  received  among  his  presents  a  gold 
mounted  cane  presented  by  Congressman  Ray  in  behalf  of  the  citizens  of 
Colebrook,  who  in  his  address  said:  "  I  quote  from  the  letter  from  a  half 
a  hundred  doners:  '  You  may  say  to  Mr.  Parsons,  that  there  is  not  one  of 
the  doners  who  has  not  often  been  made  the  recipient  of  his  neighborly 
kindness;  and  with  Hezekiah  Parsons  neighborly  kindness  means  some- 
thing. In  fact  he  has  reduced  it  to  a  science.  In  a  long  life  of  active 
usefulness,  spent  almost  wholly  in  his  native  town,  he  has  endeared  him- 
self to  the  hearts  of  all  the  people  to  an  extent  very  seldom  realized.' : 

He  was  active  and  very  generous  in  all  public  enterprizes,  particularly 
in  the  various  surveys  and  efforts  to  secure  a  railroad  through  Colebrook; 
the  establishment  of  the  Northern  Judicial  District,  and  building  a  court- 
house; procuring  funds  for  rebuilding  the  Notch  road  which  his  father  had 
been  a  prime  mover  in  establishing,  and  the  building  and  repairing  of  the 
various  churches  in  the  village  and  vicinity.  Until  past  seventy  he  was 
noted  for  his  activity,  and  always  for  his  accommodating  disposition,  which 
was  the  subject  of  numerous  anecdotes,  and  the  cause  of  the  unusual  and 
universal  affection  with  which  he  is  remembered.  He  died  July  o,  L885. 
His  last  words,  "I  am  at  peace  with  all  the  world,"  characterized  his  gentle 
ways  and  dearest  success,  and  were  fully  justified. 


DR.    LYMAN    LOMBARD. 

There  is  no  more  valuable  member  of  any  community  than  the  intel- 
ligent and  devoted  physician.  He  is  a  benefactor  of  his  race,  and.  when 
death  takes  from  our  midst  an  old,  tried  and  reliable  medical  practitioner, 
one  whose  professional  skill  and  tender  care  of  his  patients  has  won  the 
esteem  and  love  of  all,  we  feel  in  our  hearts,  and  utter  with  our  lips,  "  a 
good  man  is  gone."  The  "old-school  country  doctors  "  are  rapidly  passing 
away;  and  it  is  well  that  their  memory  should  be  cherished,  and  that  a 


636  History  of  Coos  County, 

niche  should  be  kept  for  them  in  the  history  of  the  county  where  their 
laborious  lives  were  passed.  Among  this  number  Dr.  Lyman  Lombard 
takes  foremost  rank,  not  only  for  his  many  years  of  professional  service  in 
"Upper  Coos,"  but  for  his  skill  as  a  surgeon,  and  devotion  to  and  sym- 
pathy for  suffering  humanity. 

Dr.  Lombard  descended  from  an  early  Massachusetts  family;  the  first 
American  ancestor,  John,  settled  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  1646.  The  line 
to  Dr.  Lyman  is  John1,  David2,  John3,  Joseph1,  Joseph5,  Joseph6,  Lyman7. 

Lyman,  eighth  child  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Faulkner)  Lombard,  was  born 
in  Brimfield,  Mass.,  March  15,  1788.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  Lyman 
worked  on  the  farm,  acquiring  a  healthful  physique,  and  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Keyes,  of  Brimfield.  He  was  in  service  nine  months  during  the 
War  of  1812.  In  1815,  after  completing  his  medical  studies,  Dr.  Lombard 
settled  in  Columbia,  N.  H.,  and  October  3,  1818,  purchased  the  residence 
of  Dr.  Thomas  Flanders,  in  Colebrook,  to  which  he  removed  and  became 
a  life  resident  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Lombard  entered  immediately  upon  the  duties  of  his  profession. 
His  practice  soon  extended  over  a  large  area;  through  the  Connecticut  val- 
ley from  the  Canada  line  on  the  north  to  Northumberland  and  Guildhall  on 
the  south,  and  east  to  Erroll  and  Du miner.  For  nearly  fifty  years  he  toiled 
in  the  winter's  cold  and  summer's  heat,  riding  on  horseback  over  the  hills 
and  through  the  valleys  of  this  northern  section,  over  rough  roads  and 
bridgeless  streams,  and  encountering  difficulties  surmountable  only  by  an 
iron  will  and  an  iron  constitution.  [It  was  not  until  after  years  of  prac- 
tice that  that  luxurious  article,  the  gig,  was  brought  into  requisition.] 
Not  only  did  he  excel  as  a  physician,  but  his  reputation  was  great  as  a 
surgeon.  He  held  the  commission  of  surgeon  for  the  24th  Regiment  of  N.  H. 
militia  for  several  years.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  M.  D.  from 
Dartmouth  college,  July  27,  1860.  He  was  a  member  of  various  medical 
societies,  and  a  hearty  laborer  in  all  directions  to  advance  the  standard 
of  his  profession.  Of  fine  physique,  five  feet  ten  and  one-half  inches  in 
height,  well-proportioned,  of  erect  carriage  and  of  commanding  presence, 
combined  with  a  social  nature  and  a  keen  sense  of  humor,  his  entrance  into 
a  sick  room  inspired  confidence.  He  continued  in  active  practice  all  of 
his  life,  only  laying  down  his  duties  with  the  short  illness  preceding  his 
death,  which  occurred  October  21,  1867. 

\h-.  Lombard  was  an  earnest  Freemason.  Entering  the  Fraternity  in 
the  early  days  of  his  manhood,  he  loved  the  institution  for  its  merits  and 
for  the  moral  principles  inculcated  in  its  teachings.  He  was  "raised  "  to 
the  membership  of  Evening  Star  Lodge,  February  19,  1823,  and  was  its 
secretary  for  many  years.  In  February,  1859,  he  was  one  of  seven  petition- 
ers for  the  restoration  of  the  charter,  and  March  31,  1859,  he  was  chosen 
Worshipful  Master. 


Ir^  GuUlebaud   HoboKetv.'N  J 


a^^t^  /J^cSe^ 


Town  of  Colebrook.  637 

Democratic  in  his  politics,  unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to  his  party 
under  all  circumstances,  yet  he  did  not  enter  much  into  political  life,  his 
extreme  devotion  to  his  profession  precluding  this;  however,  he  repre- 
sented Colebrook  in  1851  and  L852,  in  the  state  legislature.  He  was  a  loyal 
citizen,  taking  great  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  weal  of  the 
people.  Bred  and  reared  in  the  Orthodox  (  ongregational  faith,  he  became 
quite  liberal,  and  never  affiliated  with  any  church  organization;  yet  his 
house  was  a  home  to  clergymen  of  all  denominations. 

In  L820,  December  21,  Dr.  Lombard  married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Anna  (Bissell)  Loomis,  a  native  of  Hebron,  Conn.  Their  children 
were  Ann  Smith  (Mrs.  llazen  Bedel);  Mary  F.  (died  February  26,  1887); 
Isabel  A.  (Mrs.  Corydon  Farr);  Emma  E.  (married  S.  S.  Merrill,  diedMarcb 
18,  1872);  Erasmus  D.  (died  July  8,  1882);  and  Joseph  Erastus.  Mrs  Lom- 
bard died  March  22,  L872.  She  was  an  intelligent  lady,  and  ably  seconded 
her  husband  in  making  a  happy  and  attractive  home.  She  kept  a  diary 
for  over  fifty  years,  in  which  were  noted  matters  of  importance  to  the 
community.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lombard  commenced  house-keeping  in  the 
pleasant  home  where  they  passed  long  years;  here,  they  experienced  many 
joys  and  few  sorrows;  here,  their  children  were  born  and  attained  man- 
hood and  womanhood;  here,  they  dispensed  a  generous  hospitality:  and, 
here,  after  active  and  useful  lives,  the  evening  shadows  fell,  and  the  night 
came  upon  them. 


COL.    HAZEN  BEDEL. 

The  Bedel  family  is  an  early  American  one,  originating  in  England. 
Two  English  gentlemen,  Gabriel  and  John  Beadle,  (according  to  Capt.  John 
Smith's  History  of  Virginia,  published  in  1629,)  arrived  in  Virginia  in  the 
autumn  of  1608.  Samuel  Bedel  was  an  early  resident  of  Salem,  Mass., 
and  probably  the  ancestor  of  the  Bedels  of  the  Upper  Connecticut.  Tim- 
othy Bedel,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  in  17e7.  By  his  first  wife, 
Elizabeth,  he  had  one  son.  Moody,  born  in  Salem,  N.  H.,  May  12,  L764. 
Timothy  Bedel  represented  Salem,  in  1761,  in  the  legislature  of  this  state. 
In  17i;.")  he  removed  to  Haverhill,  and  resided  there  and  in  Bath  until  his 
death,  February  24,  17*7.  He  was  much  more  than  an  ordinary  man.  He 
was  one  of  the  grantees  of  Haverhill  and  Piermout.  and  in  1769  is  given 
as  a  resident  of  Bath.  He  had  an  extended  and  brilliant  military  service. 
In  1754  he  served  under  Col.  Blanchard  at  "No.  1**:  17.v>.  under  <ien. 
Johnson  in  his  expedition,  stationed  at  Crown  Point;  in  L756,  in  William 
Stark's  rangers,  in  second  expedition  against  Crown  Point;  17.">7.  went 
to  Halifax  as  lieutenant  under  Col.  Meserve;  17~»s.  at  the  capture  of 
Louisburg;    1759,    as  lieutenant   under  Wolfe  at  the  taking  of   Quebec; 


■63S  History  of  Coos  County. 

1760,  lieutenant  in  Capt.  John  Hazen's  company,  at  Isle  Aux  Noix,  St. 
Johns,  Chambly  and  Montreal;  1761,  lieutenant  under  Gen.  Amherst, 
guarding  conquests  on  Western  frontiers;  1762,  went  to  Havana  with 
Royal  Provincials  as  lieutenant,  was  at  the  six  weeks'  siege  and  capture  of 
that  city;  was  appointed  captain  October  13,  1762,  and  remained  in  service 
until  after  peace  was  declared,  in  1763.  During  the  Revolution,  as  colonel, 
he  raised  and  commanded  a  regiment,  and  was  a  distinguished  and  brave 
officer  through  the  war. 

Gen.  Moody  Bedel  was  an  active  officer  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  ren- 
dered efficient  aid  to  his  country.  He  was  liberally  educated,  represented 
Haverhill  and  Coventry  in  the  legislature  of  1802;  made  a  settlement  in 
"Indian  Stream  Territory"  after  his  return  from  the  scenes  of  war;  re- 
moved to  Bath  in  1828,  where  he  died,  January  13,  1811.  Gen.  Bedel  mar- 
ried, for  his  second  wife,  Mary  Hunt,  of  Bath.    They  had  nine  children. 

Col.  Hazen  Bedel,  second  son  of  Gen.  Moody  and  Mary  (Hunt)  Bedel, 
was  born  in  the  pleasant  town  of  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  July  31,  1818.  When 
he  was  a  year  old  his  father  moved  the  family  to  "Indian  Stream  Terri- 
tory ";  but  Mrs.  Bedel  could  not  endure  the  hardships  and  privations  of  her 
life  there,  and  after  four  years  she  returned  with  her  three  children  to 
Haverhill.  Hazen,  then  five  years  of  age,  became  an  inmate  of  Jacob 
Williams's  household,  where  he  remained,  attending  school  constantly, 
until  he  was  ten  years  old.  His  father  then  established  his  family  at  Bath, 
and  Hazen  continued  his  school  attendance  for  two  years.  Here  his  school 
life  closed;  but  he  had  the  advantage  of  a  good  elementary  education, 
which,  supplemented  by  his  habits  of  thought  and  observation,  gave  him 
what  he  most  needed  for  the  line  of  business  he  ultimately  entered.  He 
went  to  Montpelier,  Vt..  and  worked  with  his  brother.  Moody,  at  shoe- 
making  for  two  years,  then  returned  to  Bath  and  made  shoes  two  years. 
An  uncle,  residing  in  Lancaster,  sent  for  him,  and  he  was  engaged  as  clerk 
for  "Sampson  &  Perkins,"  merchants,  for  three  years,  when  they  failed. 
Mr.  Bedel  closed  up  their  affairs,  which  occupied  him  about  a  year,  and  by 
his  skillful  management,  he  acquired  a  reputation  as  a  business  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability. 

August  10,  1838,  Mr.  Bedel  came  to  Colebrook,  and  began  his  long  life 
of  activity  here  as  a  clerk  for  F.  G.  Messer.  In  four  years'  time  he  became 
a  partner  with  one-third  interest  for  two  years.  In  October,  1811:,  he  began 
merchandizing  for  himself  in  a  building  he  had  erected  on  Factory  road, 
now  Pleasant  street,  and  conducted  this  there  until  1861,  when  he  trans- 
ferred it  to  the  new  building  containing  the  Masonic  hall,  which  he  had 
built  on  Main  street,  just  north  of  the  Mohawk,  and,  forming  the  firm  of 
H.  Bedel  &  Co.,  by  admitting  M.  S.  Marshall  into  partnership,  carried  on 
i  general  store  until  September  27,  1869,  when  he  retired  from  trade.  On 
'he  arrival  of  the  Grand  Trunk  railway  at  North  Stratford,  in  1852,  Mr. 


Town  of  Colebkook.  «;:vj 


Bedel  formed  a  mercantile  partnership  with  Albe  Holmes,  and  put  up  a 
store  in  that  place,  which  they  stocked  with  goods,  and  carried  on  until  1862. 
This  building  is  now  standing  next  to  the  Willard  House,  which  was  also 
built  by  Mr.  Bedel  and  Mr.  Holmes.  About  L858  Mr.  Bedel  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  Columbia  Valley  Mills,  comprising  a  saw.  a  grist,  and  a 
potato  starch  mill,  and  has  operated  them  since.  From  1^77  he  has  been 
interested  in  starch  manufacturing  in  Aroostook  count  \.  Me.,  with  various 
partners,  passing  three  months  of  each  year,  from  September  to  December, 
in  looking  after  this  business. 

Col.  Bedel  is  one  of  Colebrook's  representative  men.  of  strict  integrity 
and  frank  courtesy,  his  sterling  worth  and  business  qualifications  have  won 
for  him  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  community,  and  an  unusually 
large  range  of  personal  acquaintance  reaching  to  all  pa  its  of  the  state. 

He  married,  December  15,  lst7,  Ann  S.,  eldest  child  of  Dr.  Lyman 
Lombard.  She  had  been  for  years  the  companion  and  helper  of  her  father, 
from  whom  she  had  received  many  valuable  lessons  that  served  to  qualify 
her  in  more  than  an  ordinary  degree  to  be  the  companion  and  helpmeet  of 
a  man  of  the  active  and  extensive  relations  of  Col.  Bedel,  and  the  union 
has  been  a  most  felicitous  one.  Their  children  have  been  Ellen  (died 
young),  Lyman  L.  (died  at  two  years),  Alice  (a  student  of  medicine  in 
Washington,  D.  C),  Isabel  L.  (died  young),  Hazen,  and  Mary. 

In  politics  Col.  Bedel  has  ever  been  a  Democrat, — true  to  his  convictions 
in  adversity  as  in  prosperity.  As  such,  he  has  been  called  to  fill  many 
offices  of  honor  and  trust, which  have  been  discharged  with  conceded  ability. 
He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Colebrook  in  1844,  after  conducting  the 
office  six  years,  and  held  the  position  ten  years.  He  was  delegate  to  the 
Constitutional  conventions  of  1850  and  1876;  representative  from  Colebrook 
in  1853  and  1851;  county  commissioner  from  1859  to  1802;  member  of  Gov. 
Harriman's  council  in  I8G7  and  1868;  judge  of  probate  from  ls71  to  1^7t'.. 
In  addition  to  these,  he  has  held  for  long  periods  the  important  town 
offices;  been  state  commissioner  of  roads,  and  in  many  other  and  varied 
ways  has  been  called  upon  to  render  service  to  the  state  and  people.  He 
has  been  treasurer  of  Colebrook  academy  for  more  than  thirty  years.  He 
acquired  his  title  of  colonel  from  his  service  in  the  militia,  in  which  he 
took  great  interest. 

He  has  been  a  Freemason  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  ranks  high 
in  the  order.  He  was  made  a  Mason,  December  20,  1855,  at  North  Star 
Lodge,  of  Lancaster;  was  one  of  the  seven  petitioners  for  the  restoration 
of  the  charter  of  Evening  Star  Lodge  of  Colebrook,  in  L859,  and  is  the  only 
one  now  living:  from  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  been  an  active  and  a 
useful  member.  He  built  his  store  on  Main  street  to  furnish  a  Masonic 
hall  in  the  upper  story,  and  leased  it  to  the  lodge  at  a  nominal  rent  for  a 
long  series  of  years.     He  was  exalted  to  a  Royal  Arch  Mason.   April  26, 


640  History  of  Coos  County. 

1864,  at  Franklin  Chapter  of  Lisbon;  made  Royal,  Select,  and  Super-Excel- 
lent Master,  December  14,  1876,  in  Horace  Chase  Council  of  Concord; 
created  Knight  of  the  Red  Cross,  Knight  Templar,  and  Knight  of  Maltar 
November  9,  lvi>s  in  North  Star  Commandery,  Lancaster;  and  was  Dis- 
trict Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  1868  and  1869. 

During  the  Rebellion  the  duties  of  enlisting  men  to  fill  the  town  quota 
devolved  on  Col.  Bedel.  He  enlisted  eighty-four  men,  and  took  charge  of 
the  relief  of  the  families,  and  in  this  way  did  more  service  to  the  country 
than  many  who  went  to  the  front. 

From  early  manhood  to  hale  old  age  Col.  Bedel  has  been  adding  to  the 
welfare  of  his  town,  his  county  and  his  state.  To  his  exertions  and  labors 
is  largely  due  the  establishment  of  the  Northern  Judicial  District  of  Coos 
county.  He  raised  the  money  for  the  court-house  by  subscription,  and 
personally  supervised  its  construction.  He  has  been  often  called  upon  to 
administer  on  estates,  as  referee,  and  as  counselor  in  intricate  business 
affairs  No  citizen  has  been  more  noted  for  public  spirit,  generosity, 
integrity  and  uprightness.  Without  pretension  as  a  writer  or  speaker,  few 
men  present  arguments  more  cogently,  forcibly,  or  candidly.  He  is  unpre- 
tending in  his  manners,  firm  in  his  opinions,  and  his  honesty  and  sincerity 
are  apparent  to  all. 


HON.    SHERBURN   R.  MERRILL. 

The  incidents  of  Mr.  Merrill's  life  present  a  valuable  lesson  to  the  poor 
but  ambitious  boy,  starting  as  he  did,  with  nothing  but  willing  hands,  a 
stout  heart,  and  a  determination  to  succeed;  and  by  industry,  sagacity  and 
integrity  accumulating  a  handsome  property,  and  an  independent  position 
among  men. 

The  Merrill  family  is  of  French  origin,  and  the  name  was  formerly 
spelled  "  Merle."  Nathaniel  Merrill  was  one  of  the  first  American  ances- 
tors of  this  numerous  family.  Many  of  his  descendants  are  prominent  as 
clergyman,  and  in  business  and  fanancial  circles.  Nathaniel,  whose  wife 
was  Susanna  Jourdaine,  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass.,  in  1634.  Some  of  his 
posterity  removed  to  New  Hampshire.  In  1750  Jonathan  Merrill,  grand- 
father of  Sherbum  \l.,  was  born  in  Newbury,  N.  H.,  where  he  died  about 
Is  hi.  His  children  were  Jonathan,  Abraham,  Mehitable,  Sally,  Samuel 
and  Jane. 

Sherburn  Rowell  Merrill,  oldest  son  of  Samuel  and  Fanny  (Bancroft) 
Merrill,  was  born  in  Kisherfield  in  Newbury,  N.  H.,  January  2,  1810.  His 
mother  was  a  native  of  Dunbarton,  and  a  relative  of  George  Bancroft,  the 
historian.  Sherburn  resided  in  Newbury  until  1818,  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Croydon.     His  uncle,  Daniel  Hastings,  took  the  family,  furni- 


^f  M,J/(JLSU^Ul 


Town  of  Colebrook.  641 


ture,  and  provisions  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  pair  of  horses.  They  first 
occupied  a  part  of  Luke  Paul's  house,  situated  about  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  from  the  piece  of  wild  laud  Mr.  Merrill  had  purchased  on  credit,  and 
which  he  partially  cleared  during  the  summer  of  1818,  working  also  as  a 
day  laborer  for  the  maintenance  of  his  family.  In  the  fall  he  put  up  a  log- 
house.  The  logs  were  neither  split  nor  peeled;  the  roof  was  made  of  sin- 
gle boards,  battened;  the  gable  ends  the  same.  The  cellar  was  a  hole  dug 
in  the  ground,  not  stoned.  The  lower  floor  was  rough  boards,  the  upper 
one  single  rough  boards  not  nailed.  The  chimney  was  rough  stones,  laid 
in  clay  up  to  the  beams;  above  these,  split  sticks  and  clay.  The  upper 
story  was  reached  by  a  ladder.  The  crevices  in  the  walls  were  stuffed  with 
moss.  The  door  was  made  of  single  rough  boards,  battened,  with  wooden 
hinges.  A  stone  hearth  and  wooden  mantel  completed  this  primitive 
dwelling.  The  family  first  occupied  it  in  the  winter  of  lsls  19,  ami  for 
nearly  seven  years  this  was  their  home.  The  winter's  snows  easily  torn  id 
entrance  through  the  roof,  and  covered  the  bed  of  the  young  lad  from  one 
to  two  inches  deep  Sherburn  became  early  accustomed  to  work.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  his  hard  labors,  and,  when  opportunity  offered, 
worked  for  some  one  who  could  pay  him  money,  even  if  small  wages; 
working  one  year  for  Aaron  Whipple,  of  Croydon,  for  *22,  and  clothing 
himself  when  fourteen.  In  1825  his  father  moved  his  family  to  Peeling 
(now  Woodstock).  In  April  of  the  same  year,  Sherburn,  now  fifteen  years 
old,  shouldered  his  pack,  walked  to  Croydon,  and  worked  for  Luke  Paul 
seven  months  for  - $7  a  month;  then  returned  to  Woodstock  with  all  the 
money  he  had  earned,  which  he  gave  to  his  father.  In  February,  18i't'>, 
Mr.  Merrill  and  his  wife  went  to  Amesbury,  Mass.,  to  make  the  first  pay- 
ment on  their  farm.  While  there  Mr.  Merrill  died  suddenly,  and  Mrs. 
Merrill  returned  home  nearly  penniless.  Samuel  Merrill  was  a  man  of 
independent  thought,  and  positive  in  his  expressions.  A  little  incident 
will  illustrate  this:  He  was  a  strong  Democrat,  and  one  time  when  he 
was  going  to  the  polls,  a  distance  of  two  or  three  miles,  on  foot,  one  Paul 
Clark  offered  him  a  ride  and  all  he  wanted  to  eat  and  drink  during  the 
day  if  he  would  vote  as  he  did.  Mr.  Merrill  declined  the  offer.  "  Well, 
jump  in  and  ride,  any  way."  was  the  reply.  "No,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Merrill, 
"I  will  not  ride  with  a  man  who  would  make  me  such  an  offer."  He  was 
a  hard-working  man,  with  limited  advantages,  but  brought  up  his  children 
to  do  what  was  right.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Free 
Will  Baptist  church,  and  devoted  Christians.  His  sudden  ileal  hat  the  age 
of  forty  was  a  great  loss  to  his  wife  and  family  of  little  ones.  Of  tin- 
children,  four  survive:  Sherburn  R.,  Joshua  B.,  Frances  (Mrs.  William 
Leavitt),  Mary  J.  (Mrs.  Morrill  Barnard).  Mrs.  Fanny  B.  Merrill  married, 
second.  Joseph  Sargent,  of  Thornton.  She  was  born  January  20,  L789, 
and  died  in  April,  1878. 

42 


642  History  of  Coos  County. 


At  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  Sherburn  was  sixteen,  and  Seneca  S. 
but  one  year  old.  Joshua  B.  remained  at  home  to  carry  on  the  farm,  and, 
in  April.  Sherburn  went  to  Croydon,  worked  until  haying  time,  when  he 
returned  home  (walking  the  seventy-five  miles  in  a  day  and  a  half)  to 
assist  in  cutting  the  hay.  To  pay  the  outstanding  debts,  they  were  obliged 
to  sell  all  their  crops  and  the  farm.  The  following  winter,  and  the  year 
of  1828,  Sherburn  worked  in  Littleton.  Here  he  worked  several  weeks 
for  E.  Going,  who  kept  him  busy  all  day  long,  and  five  nights  out  of  seven, 
and  by  his  employer's  failure  he  lost  nearly  all  his  wages.  In  March,  1829, 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  started  for  Boston,  on  foot,  to  try  his  fortune, 
and  arrived  in  that  city  with  $1.50.  He  was  willing  to  work,  did  not 
despise  any  honest  labor,  and  found  employment  immediately  in  driving  a 
truck  team  at  $12.50  per  month,  but,  after  working  six  weeks  and  receiv- 
ing but  $5.00,  he  went  to  work  in  Brookline  for  one  McNamara;  remained 
two  months,  and  only  got  his  pay  by  shrewd  management.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Boston,  and  worked  a  week  for  Mr.  Putnam,  of  Quincy  Market, 
for  his  board;  his  employer  then  gave  him  fifty  cents,  and  told  him  to  call 
at  his  stand  once  a  day,  and  he  would  endeavor  to  find  a  situation  for  him. 
The  second  day  he  said,  ' '  Go  to  Broad  street  to  Jacob  Gregg."  He  did  so, 
and  Mr.  Gregg  hired  him  to  drive  a  truck  team  for  $12.50  per  month,  and 
he  remained  in  his  employ  from  August,  1829,  until  November,  1830,  when 
he  engaged  with  a  Mr.  Pratt  until  April,  1831.  His  next  employment  was 
hauling  a  hand-cart  at  $13.00  per  month,  but,  in  about  six  weeks,  Mr. 
Sabin,  his  employer,  wished  him  to  sign  an  agreement  not  to  draw  a  hand- 
cart within  the  range  of  his  customers,  for  any  one  else,  and  added  if  he 
did  not  sign  it,  he  should  not  employ  him,  and  gave  him  a  week  to  con- 
sider it,  but  Sherburn  immediately  answered,  "I  will  quit  to-morrow 
morning."  The  next  day  Mr.  Hancock,  a  merchant,  told  him  if  he  would 
get  a  hand-cart  he  would  give  him  all  his  business.  The  young  man  had 
a  cart  made,  and  was  located  on  Cornhill  over  two  years.  He  worked  in- 
dustriously, was  frugal,  kept  good  company,  saved  his  money,  and  when 
he  sold  out  in  the  summer  of  1833,  on  account  of  his  impaired  health  (he 
had  a  "lung  fever"  in  March),  he  had  $1,300  deposited  in  the  U.  S.  Branch 
Bank.  He  passed  that  fall  in  travelling.  His  future  wife's  uncle,  Samuel 
Merrill,  persuaded  him  to  take  a  voyage  for  his  health  to  New  Orleans  on 
a.  brig  he  was  loading  with  ice  for  that  port.  They  left  Boston  about  Jan- 
uary 15,  1831.  Sherburn  took  with  him  furniture  costing  $900,  which  he 
thought  might  sell  at  a  profit  in  the  South,  and  $100  for  expenses.  On  the 
eighth  day  out  they  encountered  a  severe  gale,  and  after  sailing  all  night 
with  "chopped"  winds,  the  next  morning  there  was  a  perfect  calm,  but 
the  water  rose  like  great  stacks  of  hay.  The  vessel  could  make  no  head- 
way. In  less  than  an  hour  the  top-masts  and  top-sails  were  lost,  and  the 
brig  lay  helplessly  exposed  to  the  dashiug  waves.     For  hours  they  were  in 


Town  of  Colebrook.  »;■}:; 


this  dangerous  position,  with  the  helm  lashed,  expecting  the  brig  to  go  to 
pieces.  Finally,  however,  a  breeze  sprang  up,  and  getting  on  a  little  sail 
the  vessel  answered  the  helm.  It  took  two  days  to  partially  repair  the 
damage;  they  had  lost  their  reckoning,  and  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
thirteenth  day  out  struck  the  north  reef  of  the  Bermudas  in  a  heavy  storm, 
which  threw  the  vessel  on  her  "beams'  ends."  They  took  to  the  boats, 
and  did  not  see  land  until  about  one  o'clock,  when  it  was  fifteen  miles  dis- 
tant. They  drifted  down  opposite  the  lower  end  of  the  island,  and  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  were  picked  up.  Mr.  Merrill  was  carried  to  a  sea 
captain's  house,  for  he  had  been  in  the  water  so  long  he  was  almost  dead. 
After  a  sojourn  of  twenty  days  on  the  island,  he  embarked  on  board  a 
schooner  for  Charleston,  S.  C.  From  there  he  took  "passage  for  New  York; 
the  fare  was  $30,  which  was  all  the  money  he  had.  and  the  captain  kindly 
gave  him  $10  to  enable  him  to  reach  Boston,  which  he  did.  with  $5  left, 
about  the  middle  of  March,  very  much  improved  in  health,  but  with  a 
total  loss  of  his  furniture,  which  was  not  insured.  He  was  not  strong 
enough  for  hard  labor,  and,  after  a  short  stay  in  the  country,  returned  to 
Boston,  and  passed  the  summer  on  a  sand  lighter,  and  in  travelling,  buy- 
ing and  selling  horses.  In  the  fall  he  went  to  Woodstock,  and  during  the 
winter  of  1834-35  he  bought  and  sold  dried  apples,  and  in  the  spring  bought 
horses  for  the  Boston  market.  His  health  was  not  yet  re-established,  and 
he  returned  to  New  Hampshire,  purchased  five  tons  of  dried  apples,  which 
he  sold  through  the  country,  buying  wheat  and  oats  for  return  loading, 
and  brought  up  his  bank  account  to  $700. 

Mr.  Merrill  married,  March  31,  1836,  Sarah  B.,  daughter  of  William 
Merrill,  of  Noblesborough,  Me.  She  died,  September,  1877.  Their  children 
attaining  maturity  are  Lucretia  F.  (Mrs.  Edward  N.  Cummings),  who 
has  three  children,  Edward,  Jane  and  John;  Sarah  L.  (Mrs.  Ira  A.  Rani- 
say,  dec),  children,  Sherburn  R.  M.,  Ira  A.,  and  Louis;  Ellen  L.  (Mrs.  J. 
E.  Lombard),  children,  Darwin  and  Lyman;  Caroline  H.  (Mrs.  I.  W. 
Drew),  children,  Niel,  Pitt  and  Sara  M..;Mary  J.  (Mrs.  W.  H.  Shurtleff), 
children  are  Merrill  and  Harry.  January  1,  1879,  Mr.  Merrill  married 
Mrs.  Sarah  N.  McDole,  nee  Butler. 

About  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  purchased  a  house  and  ten  acres  of 
land  in  Woodstock  for  $300,  repaired  the  house  and  moved  into  it  the 
middle  of  April.  He  also  bought  an  old  grist  and  saw-mill  across  the  road, 
for  which  he  paid  $500.  In  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1 836-37,  he  had  them 
repaired  at  an  expense  of  $700,  but  the  man  in  charge  did  not  understand 
his  business,  and  Mr.  Merrill's  money  was  lost.  Three  years  after,  he  ex- 
changed this  property  for  a  farm  which  he  sold  for  $350.  He  lost  by  this 
investment  over  $1,000,  and  was  in  debt.  In  1837  was  the  great  panic 
year,  when  banks  suspended,  little  money  was  afloat,  business  prospects 
were  dark,  failures  were  frequent,  but,  in  spite  of  this,  and  his  money 


644  History  of  Coos  County. 

losses,  Mr.  Merrill  was  not  discouraged,  but  with  pluck,  persistency  and  a 
determination  to  succeed,  he  went  to  Sandwich  with  a  pair  of  horses  and 
a  sleigh,  and  bought  five  tons  of  dried  apples.  These  he  sold  through  the 
country,  taking  anything  he  could  get  for  a  return  load,  and  realized  8200 
that  winter.  In  the  fall  of  1S38  he  came  to  Colebrook,  bought  butter,  and 
carried  it  to  Boston  and  Lowell,  selling  it  at  an  advance  of  seven  cents  per 
pound,  and  made  about  $100.  Later  in  the  season  he  purchased  store- 
cattle  and  sold  them  on  the  road.  These  ventures  were  successful,  and 
serve  to  show  Mr.  Merrill's  perseverance  and  determination  to  succeed  in 
some  direction. 

In  December  he  came  to  Colebrook  and  bought  about  three  tons  of 
pork,  paying  six  cents  a  pound,  and  contracted  for  a  large  amount  the  next 
year  at  six  and  a  fourth  cents.  He  started  for  market,  but  was  stopped 
by  a  thaw  in  Columbia,  where  he  unloaded  his  pork,  packed  it  in  straw, 
and  put  it  in  an  old  school-house.  The  snow  disappeared,  and  the  weather 
was  warm  during  January.  When  the  next  snow  came  he  took  his  pork 
to  market,  but  this  winter's  work  was  not  a  profitable  one.  The  next  fall 
(1839)  he  bought  some  cattle  in  Colebrook  which  he  sold  at  a  good  advance. 
In  November  he  carried  the  pork  to  market  that  he  had  contracted  for, 
and  more  which  he  had  purchased  for  seven  and  seven  and  one-half  cents 
per  pound,  and  sold  it  for  ten  and  twelve  cents.  This  winter's  work 
brought  him  $300,  and  Mr.  Merrill  felt  that  his  prospects  were  brightening, 
as  he  was  now  "a  little  more  than  even  with  the  world."  In  February, 
1840,  he  hauled  a  two -horse  load  of  starch  to  Great  Falls  for  Barron  & 
Page,  of  Woodstock,  and  contracted  there  to  deliver  ten  tons  of  starch 
a  year  for  three  years,  and  sold  his  contract  to  Barron  &  Page  for  $150  on 
his  return.  The  season  was  very  dry  with  prospects  of  a  total  failure  of 
the  potato  crop,  and  Mr.  Page,  to  escape  from  his  contract,  offered,  in 
August,  to  sell  Mr.  Merrill  his  half  of  the  mill.  Mr.  Merrill  accepted  the 
offer,  and,  as  rain  came  early  in  September,  the  potato  crop  was  a  fair  one 
and  the  mill  was  busy.  After  one  year's  partnership  with  Mr.  Barron, 
Mr.  Merrill  hired  his  half  of  the  mill  for  two  years  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone.  The  same  year  (1841)  he  bought  100  acres  of  land;  five  acres 
were  in  grass,  ten  acres  felled,  burned  and  "  hand -piled."  This  he  prepared 
and  planted  with  potatoes.  Not  having  money,  he  went  to  John  Keniston, 
of  Campton,  who  gave  him  credit  for  what  he  should  want  for  the  season. 
After  harvesting  his  potatoes,  he  purchased  all  he  could,  made  starch,  filled 
his  contract,  and  felled  more  timber  on  his  land .  [For  clearing  this  land,  Mr. 
Merrill  paid  each  man  half  a  bushel  of  grain  per  day.  He  measured  the  grain 
according  to  their  labor.  Many  half-bushels  were  '"struck,"  some  slightly 
rounded,  while  others  were  heaped.  In  like  manner  Mr.  Merrill  has  through 
life  acknowledged  the  merits  of  his  employes.]  He  was  particularly  success- 
ful this  year,  and  paid  nearly  all  his  indebtedness.  In  1842  he  raised  potatoes, 


Town  of  Colebrook.  645 


made  starch,  and  "  did  not  have  to  get  trusted  for  anything."  In  1843  he 
built  a  starch  mill  in  East  Landaff,  and  the  next  three  years  made  starch 
there  and  at  Woodstock.  He  also  dealt  in  timber  land,  carried  on  farming, 
and  was  financially  successful.  In  1847  he  sold  his  mill  in  Landaff  for 
what  it  cost,  having  made  $4,000  during  the  time  he  owned  it.  Near  the 
close  of  1S47  he  came  to  Colebrook,  bought  the  water-power  at  Factory  - 
ville,  and  some  land  of  Caleb  Titus  near  the  seed-mill  just  above  Pitkin's 
factory.  He  contracted  for  potatoes,  for  wood  and  lumber  to  build  a  starch 
mill,  and,  in  1848,  put  up  one  of  150  tons  capacity.  The  potato  crop  was 
not  a  favorable  one,  but  he  manufactured  twenty  tons  of  starch,  which  he 
hauled  to  Portland.  In  1849  the  season  was  not  much  better,  but  the 
starch  could  reach  the  railroad  at  Paris.  For  the  next  two  years  he  dealt 
in  wild  land,  and  manufactured  shingles,  clapboards  and  starch,  in  con- 
nection with  farming.  In  August,  1852,  he  sold  his  house,  clapboard- mill 
and  starch  factory,  in  Woodstock,  and,  in  October,  moved  to  Colebrook, 
where  he  had  purchased  of  Ethan  Colby  the  house  in  which  he  has  since  re- 
sided. In  1854  he  made  starch,  bought  and  carried  on  the  Hutchinson 
farm,  loaned  money,  and  sold  timber  land  in  Benton. 

During  his  residence  in  Colebrook,  Mr.  Merrill  has  been  largely  and 
successfully  engaged  in  every  branch  of  important  enterprise  in  this  sec- 
tion. Although  always  in  delicate  health,  he  has  accomplished  much.  As 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  "S.  R.  &  S.  S.  Merrill"  he  has  had  exten- 
sive dealings  with  a  large  circle  for  many  years.  Commencing  starch 
manufacturing  here  before  he  was  a  resident,  he  continued  it  on  an  exten- 
sive scale,  and  has  been  sole  or  part  owner  in  seven  mills.  In  1856  ''S. 
R.  &  S.  S.  Merrill  "  purchased  of  Mr.  Woodward  the  Kiddersville  mill,  of 
100  tons  capacity,  and  made  starch  there  each  season  until  1886,  when  his 
interest  was  sold  to  Warren  E.  Drew.  After  running  the  Factoryville 
mill  some  years,  Mr.  Merrill  sold  it  to  Pitkin,  Harvey,  and  others,  and  with 
his  brother  Seneca  put  up  one  at  Colebrook  Corners,  in  1858,  with  a 
capacity  of  150  tons.  They  operated  this  fourteen  years,  then  took  it  down, 
and,  in  1872,  rebuilt  it  a  short  distance  from  its  former  site,  enlarging  it  to 
a  two-hundred-ton  mill.  This  they  conducted  until  1884.  Mr.  Merrill, 
with  Benjamin  Gathercole,  also  built  a  mill  on  Cedar  Brook,  in  Stewarts- 
town,  in  1807,  which  he  operated  seven  years.  Besides  these  he  had  for 
some  years  a  half -interest  in  two  mills  in  Columbia. 

Mr.  Merrill  began  merchandizing  about  1851),  in  the  store  opposite  the 
Congregational  church  where  Mr.  Cutler  had  traded  for  some  years.  The 
firm  was  "Cummings  &Co."  for  two  years;  then  S.  P.  Merrill  for  some 
years  until  E.  Williams  became  a  partner,  and  the  name  was  "S.  R.  Mer- 
rill &  Co."  for  nearly  six  years.  "  S.  R.  &  S  S.  Merrill"  were  their  suc- 
cessors in  1870,  and  conducted  trade  until  the  admission  of  W.  E.  Drew, 
September  14,  1875,   when  it  became  "Merrill   Bros.  &  Drew,"  for  five 


6i6  History  of  Coos  County. 

years,  when  S.  R.  Merrill  retired  from  merchandizing.  Under  its  various 
names  this  house  did  a  large  and  profitable  business,  and  was  for  a  long 
period  the  leading  mercantile  house  of  Northern  Coos,  drawing  custom 
from  a  wide  area  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  Mr.  Merrill  owned 
largely  of  the  stock  of  the  Colebrook  Toll  Bridge  Co.,  and  now  owns  forty- 
four  shares  of  the  one  hundred  of  the  Columbia  Union  Toll  Bridge  Co. 

In  early  life  he  took  a  great  interest  in  the  old  militia  system,  and  was 
captain  of  a  company  from  1841  to  18-19,  when  he  was  promoted  to  major, 
and  the  next  year  became  colonel.  He  has  always  been  a  strong  Democrat, 
and  has  at  various  times  rendered  great  service  to  the  Democratic  cause  in 
the  state,  but  has  preferred  giving  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
rather  than  to  devote  it  to  seeking  or  accepting  office.  He,  however,  rep- 
resented Woodstock  in  the  legislative  sessions  of  1850-1S51,  Colebrook  in 
those  of  1S72-1873,  and  his  senatorial  district  in  the  state  Senate  two  terms 
from  1879  to  1883  inclusive.  He  has  also  frequently  served  as  delegate  to 
state  and  congressional  conventions.  He  has  been  interested  in  the  advance- 
ment of  education  and  religion;  for  many  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  trus- 
tees of  Colebrook  academy,  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  soci- 
ety since  the  building  of  the  church.  He  was  also  a  committee  man  to 
locate  its  site,  and  to  settle  with  the  building  committee. 

All  his  life  Mr.  Merrill  has  been  an  indefatigable  worker;  giving  the 
strictest  attention  to  all  details  of  his  diversified  business  operations;  he 
has  been  prudent  and  frugal  in  his  method  of  living;  by  care  and  temper- 
ance he  has  brought  himself  from  an  enfeebled  physical  condition  to  good 
health ;  he  is  a  close  calculator,  shrewd  financier,  careful  investor,  and  his 
judgment  has  seldom  erred;  these  are  the  secrets  of  his  success. 


SENECA   SARGENT   MERRILL. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Colebrook  for  many  years  identified  with  its 
mercantile,  political  and  social  relations,  was  Seneca  Sargent  Merrill.  In 
the  words  of  an  old  philosopher, — k,All  men,  whatever  their  condition, 
who  have  done  anything  of  value,  ought  to  have  recorded  the  history  of 
their  lives";  and  one,  who,  by  his  own  efforts,  has  attained  affluence  and 
social  position,  and  through  all  the  changing  events  of  a  business  life  of 
over  thirty  years  preserved  his  integrity  unimpaired,  well  deserves  the  pen 
of  the  historian. 

Seneca  Sargent  Merrill,  youngest  son  of  Samuel  and  Fanny  B.  Merrill, 
was  born  in  Croydon,  N.  H.,  February  25,  1826.  His  father  died  a  year 
after,  and  Seneca  passed  his  early  years  in  the  home  of  stern  necessity  and 
close  economy.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  went  to  live  with  his  brother  Sher- 
burn,  and  was  a  member  of  his  household  until  he  was  forty-five  years 


£iAaa// 


Town  ob1  Colebrook.  64/i 


old.  He  worked  many  long  years,  assiduous  in  his  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness, and  faithful  to  his  brother's  interests.  When  thirty  years  of  age 
Mr.  Merrill  commenced  business  for  himself,  and  continued  it  with  marked 
success  in  the  different  enterprises  in  which  he  was  engaged.  In  1856  he 
was  the  junior  partner  of  the  firm  of  "  S.  R.  &  S.  S.  Merrill,"  carrying  on 
starch  manufacturing  at  Kiddersville,  and  had  an  interest  in  the  factory 
at  Colebrook  Corners,  and  others  in  Coos  county;  he  was  also  connected 
with  Piper  &  Libbey  in  the  starch  business  in  Aroostook  county,  Me.  He 
commenced  trade  in  1870,  as  partner  with  his  brother,  and  was  in  company 
with  him,  and  with  Warren  E.  Drew,  until  his  death,  March  L8,    L8S6. 

Mr.  Merrill  attended  mostly  to  the  outside  matters.  He  was  a  man  of 
good  judgment,  a  close  buyer,  an  exact  collector,  scrupulously  honest,  and 
punctilious  in  all  details  of  his  business;  his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond, 
and  he  won  the  confidence  and  patronage  of  the  community  and  of  the 
surrounding  towns;  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  wealthiest  man  of 
his  age  in  Colebrook. 

This  merchandizing  was  of  great  magnitude  and  produced  satisfactory 
financial  results.  The  enterprise  of  the  merchant  is  a  prime  factor  tending 
to  increase  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  the  section,  even  while  enhancing 
his  own  prosperity,  and,  to  insure  success  in'  trade,  requires  not  only  a 
high  degree  of  business  ability,  but  honesty  of  purpose  and  integrity, 
which  characteristics  Mr.  Merrill  possessed. 

Mr.  Merrill  married,  January  10.  1871,  Emma,  daughter  of  Dr.  Lyman 
and  Betsey  (Loomis)  Lombard.  She  died  in  March,  1872.  In  February, 
1876,  he  married  Arvilla,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Esther  (Beecher)  Piper, 
and  widow  of  Samuel  P.  Pitkin.  To  his  step-daughter,  Millie,  Mr.  Merrill 
manifested  the  tenderness  of  a  parent.  His  only  child  is  Seneca  Sherburn 
Merrill,  a  bright  lad  of  nine  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Merrill  was  a  Democrat,  ever  loyal  to  principle.  Faith- 
ful to  his  trust,  he  worked  for  the  good  of  the  party  and  not  for  political 
preferment,  and  held  many  public  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people.  He 
was  selectman  in  1SG6  and  1867;  county  commissioner  in  1867,  L868,  and 
1869;  represented  Colebrook  in  the  state  legislative  terms  of  1880-1881, 
and  was  supervisor  from  1883  until  March,  1886. 

He  was  much  interested  in  Freemasonry,  and  for  twenty-five  years 
was  an  esteemed  and  valued  member  of  Evening  Star  Lodge,  of  which  he 
was  treasurer  for  twenty  years  consecutively.  He  was  also  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason  of  the  Franklin  Chapter  of  Lisbon.  He  belonged  to  no  denomina- 
tional sect.  His  religion  was  the  "  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Universal 
Brotherhood  of  Man,"  as  exemplified  in  the  Masonic  order.  He  was.  how- 
ever, a  generous  and  strong  supporter  of  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  he 
was  trustee  for  many  years. 


648  History  of  Coos  County. 

Kind  and  affectionate  in  his  family  relations,  honored  and  respected  by 
his  business  associates,  loved  and  esteemed  by  many  friends,  his  memory 
will  long  be  cherished. 


SAMUEL  K.   REMICK. 

Samuel  Kelly  Eemick,  born  in  Danville,  Vt.,  September  15,  1815,  mar- 
ried Sophia  Cushman  in  1838,  was  for  many  years  a  woolen  manufacturer 
at  Danville  and  Hard  wick,  Vt.,  later  a  hotel  keeper  at  Hardwick  and  St. 
Johnsbury,  Vt.  In  1870  be  purchased  the  Parsons  House  (completed  in 
1862),  and  conducted  it  until  1873,  when  he  rented  it  to  Edwin  F.  Bailey 
for  five  years  (1878),  and  then  resumed  its  management.  Mr.  Eemick 
made  repairs,  added  veranda,  etc.,  to  the  hotel  in  1871,  and  built  a  large 
addition  in  1870.  In  1878  he  erected  the  Eemick  block  and  hall,  and  also  a 
large  tenement  house  in  Lawrence,  Mass.,  the  year  before  his  death.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  force  and  energy.  He  died  at  Colebrook,  December 
24,  1878;  his  wife  died  April  12,  1879.  Mr.  Bailey  occupied  the  Parsons 
House  from  1879  until  his  death,  in  May,  1S84.  Edwin  Small,  who  mar. 
ried  Mr.  Eemick's  oldest  child,  Kate  0.,  purchased  the  hotel,  November, 
1884,  and  has  conducted  it  since.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Small  do  all  in  their 
power  to  make  their  guests  comfortable. 


DIXVILLE. 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 
Roads — Hotels — Scenery,   Etc. 


DIXVILLE,  with  an  area  of  31,023  acres,  is  situated  immediately  east 
of  Colebrook,  Columbia  and  Stewartstown,  and  received  its  name 
from  Col.  Timothy  Dix,  father  of  Gen.  John  A.  Dix,  the  rioted  war 
governor  of  New  York,  to  whom  the  township  was  granted  in  L805.  As 
early  as  181 1  the  New  Hampshire  legislature  authorized  a  lottery  to  obtain 
funds  to  construct  a  wagon  road  from  Colebrook  to  the  Maine  line  through 
Dixville  Notch.  This  road  had  been  in  contemplation  from  about  1800, 
and,  although  the  lottery  proved  a  failure,  the  road  was  built,  and  made  a 
valuable  highway  to  the  sea-port  of  Portland.  Since  the  road  was  opened 
to  Errol  there  has  been  most  of  the  time  a  house  of  entertainment  in  the 
town.  The  wealth  of  Dixville  consists  in  wild  sublimity  of  grandeur 
appearing  in  the  famous  Notch,  and  the  timber  with  which  nature  so  gen- 
erously endowed  it.  (For  a  description  of  the  Notch  and  scenery,  see 
"  Scenery  of  Coos  "  in  General  History,  i 

John  Whittemore,  of  Salisbury,  came  to  Dixville  in  L812  to  take  charge 
of  the  interests  of  the  Dix  family  in  this  region.  He  was  employed  by 
Ezekiel  and  Daniel  Webster,  attorneys  ami  agents  of  Col.  Dix.  Mr.  Whit- 
temore resided,  here  many  years,  cleared  a  large  farm,  and  his  house  (on 
the  east  side  of  the  Notch)  was  the  wayside  inn,  and  a  famous  stopping 
place  in  its  day.  He  died  after  attaining  a  good  old  age;  and  with  his 
wife  lies  buried  on  the  desolate  and  forsaken  place  which  once  was  a  com- 
fortable homestead.  After  the  death  of  the  parents,  Benjamin,  who  had 
been  the  home  boy,  abandoned  the  town,  and  the  old  home  rapidly  fell 
into  decay.  Since  then,  about  1830,  there  has  been  no  permanent  inhab- 
itant. A  few  have  made  short  occupancies,  hut  that  is  all  that  civiliza- 
tion brought,  until  the  Alpine  scenery  of  the  Notch  attracted  summer 
travellers.     ( )ne  Walker  built  a  small  hotel  uear  the  western  entrance  of 

43 


650  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  Notch  in  1870.  This  was  burned  after  a  few  years  and  never  rebuilt. 
In  1874  George  Parsons,  of  Colebrook,  constructed  a  two-story  summer 
hotel,  with  accommodations  for  fifty  guests.  This  was  built  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Notch,  on  a  beautiful  plateau,  about  sixty  rods  from  the  high- 
way, directly  in  front  and  in  full  view  of  the  west  gate  of  the  Notch.  By 
request  of  the  Dix  family  it  was  named  the  "  Dix  House,"  and  was  ded- 
icated by  a  reunion  of  the  Dix  family.  The  house  is  conducted  personally 
by  Mr.  Parsons,  and  is  open  to  guests  from  June  to  October. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  rocky  and  rugged,  but  there  is  some  very 
good  land.  There  are  numerous  streams,  which  can  be  utilized  for  water- 
privileges. 


STEWARTSTOWN. 


By  C.  E.  Tewksbury,  Esq. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

Grants  and  Grantees — Petition  (1795)  to  Assess  Tax  on  Non-Resident  Lands— Petition  to 
Amend^Act  of  Incorporation — Call  for  First  Town  Meeting— Action  of  Said  Meeting — Bound- 
aries— Second  Town  Meeting — Election  of  First  Representative— First  Inventory — Settlers  Before 
1800— Early  Times — Hardships  Endured— First  Licenses— War  of  1812— Historic  half-bushel — 
First  River  Road — Earmarks — Taverns  and  Hotels — Corporations — Diamond  and  Nathan  Ponds, 
how  named— Metallak— James  Miner  Hilliard— The  Great  Hail  Storm — Bridges  across  the  Con- 
necticut. 

THIS  township  was  granted  as  "Stewarttown,"  December  1,  1770,  to 
Sir  James  Cockburne,  Sir  George  Colebrook,  John  Stuart,  of  London, 
and  John  Nelson,  of  the  Island  of  Grenada.  It  was  incorporated 
December  22,  1795,  by  the  name  of  Stuart,  but  doubts  arising  as  to  the 
legality,  it  was  again  incorporated,  December  24,  L799,  and  named  Stew- 
artstown,  Daniel  Brainard,  Jr.,  being  authorized  to  call  first  meeting.  The 
town  being  on  the  frontier  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  liable  to 
raids  by  Canadian  Indians,  no  permanent  settlements  were  made  until 
after  peace  was  declared. 

Petition  for  Authority  to  assess  a  Tax  on  Non-Resident  Lands,  Etc.:  addressed  to  (he  General  Assem- 
bly, 1795.— 

"The  petition  of  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  a  Township  called  Stuart  in  said  County  humbly  shew- 
eth,  that  your  petitioners  did  some  of  them  become  inhabitants  of  said  Township  previous  to  the  late  war 
with  Great  Britain,  and  in  addition  to  the  burden  of  war  which  they  felt  sevi  rely,  thi  y  have  Buffen  d  much 
hardship  in  traveling  through  the  desart  to  their  respective  settlements  without  roads,  although  under  neces- 
sity of  bringing  their  supplies  of  provision  &c  thirty  miles  and  upwards  and  notwithstanding  the  increas- 
ing settlements  of  Baid  township  and  the  must  strenuous  exertions  of  said  inhabitants  the  road  in  and 
through  saiil  Stuart  is  incomplete  and  impassible  for  teams;  and  your  petitioners  conceiving  it  to  be  highly 
reasonable  that  the  lands  in  said  township  whose  ralue  bath  been  increased  by  thi  ir  emigration  and  settle- 
ment should  bear  at  least  part  of  the  burden  of  making  roads  therein,  which  the  proprietors  of  said  town- 
ship have  hitherto  wholly  neglected  to  do;  therefore  yonr  petitioners  humbly  prays  this  honorable  court  to 
grant  a  tax  of  two  pence  on  each  acre  of  land  in  said  Stuart  for  the  purpose  of  making  and  repairing  roads 


652  History  of  Coos  County. 


and  bridges  therein  to  be  laid  out  in  the  direction  of  some  meet  persons  in  said  township  with  in  one  year  from 
the  last  day  of  November  next  ensuing  the  grant  of  said  tax — And  further  your  petitioners  considering  many 
inconveniences  to  which  they  are  subject  on  account  of  their  unincorporated  state,  the  want  of  authority  to 
raise  money  and  collect  the  same  for  the  purpose  of  making  roads,  keeping  schools,  and  conducting  other 
matters  for  the  benefit  of  said  inhabitants  pray  that  they  may  be  incorporated,  and  vested  with  all  the  power 
and  authority  which  the  towns  within  said  State  do  by  law  exercise  and  enjoy  and  your  petitioners  shall  ever 
pray— 

"Stuart  11th  May  A  D  1795— 

"Dan'l  Brainerd  Jr  Daniel  Hulbert 

"  Eieh'd  Smart  Elisha  Dyer 

"Abner  Powers  Theoph's  Durell 

"Abel  Bennet  Jr  Clement  Miner 

"John  French  Abner  wood  Jun'r 

"Luther  French  David  Lock 

"Longley  Willard  Nathaniel  Durell 

"Barzillai  Brainerd        Boswell  Merrill1' 
"John  Walls 

The  foregoing  petition  was  granted  December  9,  1795. 

Relative  to  amending  the  Act  of  Incorporation.  1799. — 

"  Whereas  a  petition  was  prepared  to  the  honorable  General  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  at 
their  Session  in  June,  in  the  Year  1795,  praying  that  a  place  called  Stuart;  in  the  County  of  Grafton  and 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  might  be  incorporated  into  a  Town,  and  also  that  a  tax  of  two  pence  on  each  acre 
of  Land  in  said  Stuart,  might  be  granted  for  the  purpose  of  making  roads  and  bridges;  Whereupon  the  said 
ral  Court  at  their  session  in  December  in  the  same  year  passed  an  Act  to  incorporate  the  said  place 
called  Stuart,  by  the  metes  and  bounds  mentioned  in  the  Charter  thereof ,  into  a  Town  by  the  name  of  Stuart; 
ami  at  their  session  in  December  in  the  year  1796,  passed  an  act  granting  a  tax  of  three  cents  on  each  acre  of 
land  in  said  Stuart,  public  rights  excepted,  for  the  purpose  of  making  roads  and  bridges.  And  as  the  said 
place  was  at  the  time  of  preferring  said  petition,  understood  and  known  to  said  petitioners  by  the  name  of 
Stuart,  when  in  reality  it  was  called  Stuartstown  in  the  Charter  thereof,  and  some  doubts  have  since  arisen 
respecting  the  legality  of  such  incorporation,  as  well  as  of  the  tax  granted  as  aforesaid;  Therefore  Your  peti- 
tioners, inhabitants  of  said  Stuartstown,  humbly  pray  this  honourable  Legislative  Body  to  make  such  Amend- 
ments to  the  before  mentioned  Acts,  as  they  shall  think  expedient,  to  answer  the  ends  and  purposes  for 
which  they  were  passed,  or  by  any  other  way  which  they  shall  think  proper  incorporate  the  said  Stuartstown, 
and  vest  it  with  such  previledges  as  other  Towns  in  said  State  enjoy,  and  enable  them  to  collect  and  lay 
out  a  tax  of  three  cents  on  each  acre  of  land  therein,  for  the  purpose  of  making  Boads  and  Bridges,  public 
Bights  excepted— And  your  petitioners  shall  ever  pray  &c — 
"Stuartstown  Nov'r  23d  A  D  1799 

"Dan'l  Brainerd  Jun'r  Dan'l  Hulbert 

""Richard  Smart  Eliphalet  Miner 

"Stephen  Kemp  Elisha  Dyer 

"  Jeremiah  Eames  Ju'r  David  Locke 

"Pellatiah  Nichols  Hanry  Sallanhim 

"John  Walls  Elijah  Benton  " 

Call  for  First.  Ton-,,  Meeting.—"  Whereas,  the  honorable  General  Court  of  the  state  of  New  Hampshire 
at  their  last  session  incorjiorai.il  a  place  called  Stewartstown  by  the  name  of  Stewartstown,  and  vest  the 
same  with  town  privileges  ami  did  appoint  and  authorize  me  the  subscriber  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  inhab- 
itants thereof  for  the  choice  of  town  officers.  I  do  therefore  notify  the  legal  voters  of  said  Stewartstown 
to  meet  together  at  my  house  in  Stewartstown  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  March  next  at  one  of  the 
clocli  in  the  afternoon  Eor  the  following  purposes  namely— first  to  choose  a  Moderator  to  govern  said  meet- 
ing secondly  to  choose  a  Town  Clerk,  Selectman,  Constable  and  all  other  necessary  and  customary  town 
offici  ling  to  law  .     Stewartstown,  Feb.  25,  1800.     Daniel  Brainard  Jun'r.'' 

Thr  First  Town  Meeting. — "Voted  Daniel  Brainard,  Jr.,  moderator.  Elisha  Dyer,  town  clerk,  who  took 
the  oath  of  office  in  open  meeting  'before  me  Daniel  Brainard  Justice  Pees,'  voted  Daniel  Brainard,  Jere- 
miah Eames,  jr.,  Elisha  Dyer  selectmen;  Peletiah  Nichols  constable;  Barzilla  Brainard  surveyor  of  lumber; 
Henry  Sullirj  len  Camp  fence  viewers." 

The  boundaries  described  in  the  act  of  incorporation  are  these: — 

"Beginning  at  a  white  maple  tree  standing  on  the  easterly  bank  of  Connecticut  River,  and  running 
south,   seventy  degrees  east,    nine    mill  m   thence   turning   off  at   right   angles,    and   running  south. 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  «;.-,:; 


twentj  degrees  west,  three  miles  and  one  hundred  and  forty-four  Rods;  from  thence,  turning  offal  right 
angles,  and  running  north,  seventy  degrees  west,  to  Connecticut  River;  from  thence  up  said  Riveras  that 
tends  to  the  maple  tree  afon  said  which  Bame  maple  tree  stands  four  Rods  north  of  Bishop  Brook,  bo  '-ailed, 
and  opposite  a  large  Island  in  said  River." 

Second  Town  Meeting. —  The  second  meeting  was  held  al  the  house  of 
Daniel  Brainard,  for  election  of  representative  to  Congress,  which  vote  is 
recorded  as  follows:  "For  Joseph  Pierce,  Samuel  Tenney,  A.bel  Foster 
and  George  B.  (Jpham,  Esquires,  thirteen  to  each  of  them";  also,  "Voted 
to  Raise  fourteen  Dollars  to  Defray  town  charges."  This  sum  was  not 
assessed  until  the  next  spring.  At  the  March  election.  L801,  the  whole 
number  of  votes  for  governor  (John  T.  Grilman)  was  eleven. 

The  first  representative  was  chosen  March  23,  L801,  as  follows:  — 

Call  for  Milting. — "  Thesi   an   to  notify  the  legal   inhabitants  oi  fcrict  of  Cockburne,  Colebrook 

Stewartstown,  Shelburne,  and  Wales's  Location  to  mi  ther  at  th  bam 

in  said  Stewartstown  on  monday  the  twenty  third  Day  of  March  annent  al  in    tbeafternoon  for 

the  following  purposes  viz 

"first— to  choose  a  Moderator  to  Govern  said  meeting. 

■•-  condlv  to  choose  by  ballot  one  person  qualified  as  e  itution  n  said  Dis- 

trict in  the  Gem  ral  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  one  year  from  the  first  Wednesdaj    of  June  next. 

••  Stewartstown  March  3d  1801. 

"Daniel  Brainard      | 

"  Jeremiah  EamesJrj  stewart8town.» 

At  this  meeting  "Voted  Daniel  Branard  Esqr  be  Moderator.  Voted 
Jeremiah  Eames  Jun'r,  be  our  Representative   in  the  General   Court  the 

ensuing  year  " 

First  Inventory,  1800. — From  this  inventory  we  gather  the  following: 
Henrv  Sullingham  is  taxed  on  one  poll,  two  oxen,  fourcows,  one  two  year- 
old,  nineteen  acres  improved,  and  seventy  one  acres  unimproved  land. 
Micajah  Leonard,  one  poll,  two  cows,  three  three  year-olds,  two  two-year- 
olds.  H.  Sullingham,  Jr.,  one  poll  and  one  horse  (or  ox).  Stephen 
Kemp,  one  poll,  one  cow.  David  Locke,  one  poll,  one  cow.  three  three- 
year  olds,  one  two  year-old.  two  yearlings,  two  and  one-halt'  acres  of  im- 
proved, and  forty-four  and  one-half  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Elisha 
Dyer,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  two  three  year-olds,  one  two-year  old, 
one  yearling,  thirteen  acres  of  improved,  and  one  hundred  thirteen  and  a 
half  of  unimproved  land.  Eliphalet  Miner,  one  poll,  on*1  cow.  one  yearling. 
Isaac  Stevens,  one  cow.  four  two  year-olds,  twelve  acres  of  improved,  and 
seventy- eight  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Clement  Miner,  eleven  acres  of 
improved,  and  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Benjamin  Allen,  one  poll, 
one  horse  (or  ox),  one  cow.  Elisha  Otis,  one  poll,  one  horse  or  ox).  Daniel 
Hurlbert,  one  poll,  two  horses  (or  oxen),  three  cows,  seven  young  cattle, 
fifteen  acres  improved,  and  sixty-seven  acresof  unimproved  land.  Daniel 
Brainard,  Jr.,  one  poll,  three  horses  and  oxen,  1  wo  cows,  t  wo  two  year  olds, 
nine  and  one-half  acres  of  improved,  and  eighty  five  and  one-hall'  acr<  -  ^\' 
unimproved   land.     John    Walls,  one    poll,   one    cow,  four   young   cattle, 


654  History  of  Coos  County. 

seven  and  one-half  acres  of  improved,  and  eighty-seven  and  a  half  acres  of 
unimproved  land.  Joanus  Hugh,  nine  acres  improved,  one  hundred  sixty- 
three  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Charles  Richards,  two  polls,  three  oxen 
and  horses,  two  cows,  five  three-year-olds.  Richard  Smart,  seventeen  acres 
improved,  and  fifty-five  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Barzilla  Brainard,  one 
poll,  two  oxen  (or  horses),  one  cow,  eighteen  acres  improved,  and  twenty- 
eight  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Peletiah  Nichols,  one  poll,  two  oxen  (or 
horses),  two  cows,  seven  young  cattle,  twenty-four  acres  improved,  and 
sixty-six  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  one  poll,  four 
oxen  and  horses,  four  cows,  eleven  head  of  young  cattle,  sixteen  acres  of 
improved,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  unimproved  land. 
James  Lewis,  one  poll.  Asa  Dearth,  one  poll,  one  cow.  Hobart  Spencer, 
one  poll. 

Settlers  before  1800. — These  were  all  on  "settlers'  lots."  Henry  Sulling- 
ham  located  on  lot  No.  1;  Daniel  Locke  and  Elisha  Dyer  on  lot  No.  2; 
Elisha  Dyer  on  No.  3;  Theophilus  Durrell  on  No.  4;  Clement  Miner  on  No. 
5;  Daniel  Hurlbert  on  No.  6;  Daniel  Brainard,  Jr.,  on  No.  7;  Abner  Wood- 
sum  on  No.  8;  Richard  Smart  and  Barzilla  Brainard  on  Nos.  9  and  10;  Abner 
Powan  on  No.  11;  John  French  on  No.  12;  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  on  No. 
L3;  John  Walls  on  No.  14. 

Karl//  Times. — During  the  rapid  settlement  from  1800  to  1810,  many 
bought  wild  land  and  came  with  their  families  before  a  tree  was  felled.  An 
old  "log  school  house,"  near  where  Alden  Fletcher's  house  now  stands,  was 
the  common  stopping  place;  the  family  making  it  their  home  while  the 
husband  cut  down  a  few  spruce  trees.  The  neighbors  would  turn  out  to 
the  "bee"  and  roll  up  a  log  cabin;  the  bark  peeled  from  the  logs  doing  ser- 
vice for  shingles,  boards  and  gables.  Thus  in  a  few  days  the  home  would 
be  ready,  and  the  "school  house  "  vacant  for  the  next  comer.  The  chim- 
ney was  made  of  clay  and  sticks,  or  stone,  with  a  stone  fire-place;  this  was- 
all  that  was  thought  necessary  for  heating  and  cooking  purposes;  then, 
with  a  coal  from  some  neighbor's  fire,  or  by  use  of  the  ever  present  flint- 
lock gun,  a  fire  was  started,  and  never  allowed  to  go  out;  the  coals  were 
carefully  covered  at  night,  as,  once  out,  it  was  difficult  to  start  again.  An 
old  resident  tells  of  his  being  obliged  to  go  over  a  mile  through  deep  snow 
for  a  fire  brand,  as  the  tinder  they  had  was  so  wet  that  the  sparks  from  the 
old  gun  would  not  ignite  it.  Matches  were  then  unknown.  Soon  after,  a 
preparation  of  phosphorus  was  put  up  in  vials;  by  dipping  a  splinter  in  this, 
and  exposing  it  to  the  air,  it  would  ignite,  and  those  who  could  afford  to 
buy  this  preparation  at  one  dollar  per  ounce  found  it  very  convenient.  I 
often  wonder  how  we  of  the  present  time  would  get  along  without  the 
matches  which  we  use  so  freely.  I  doubt  if  many  would  ever  know  either 
'  punk  "  or  "tinder"  if  they  saw  it,  much  less  be  able  to  collect  and  use 
it  for  light  ing  fires.     Tinder  was  a  kind  of  rotten  wood;  punk,  a  species  of 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  655 

fungus  which  -rows  upon  trees  partly  decayed;  this,  gathered  and  dried, 
will  take  fire  from  a  very  small  spark,  and  is  hard  to  extinguish. 

Hardships  Endured. — In  L816  William  Leah,  with  his  wife  and  several 
children,  lived  in  a  tent,  or  hut,  on  the  A.  H.  Tewksbun  place;  this  hut 
was  made  of  small  poles  inserted  in  the  ground,  forming  a,  cone,  fourteen 
feet  at  bottom  and  three  at  the  top,  with  the  earth  lor  a  Hoot-,  and  a  small 
place  in  the  center,  stoned  around,  in  which  they  made  their  fires,  the 
smoke  escaping  through  the  top  of  the  cone.  The  year  L816  was  very  cold. 
Grain  could  nor  he  raised  in  the  town,  and  farmers  were  obliged  to  go  fifty 
miles  for  wheat.  Snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  eight  inches  and  moreen  the  17th 
of  June.  The  sheared  sheep  had  to  he  covered  with  blankets  to  keep  t  hem 
from  freezing.  Snow  came  again  the  first  of  October  ;md  remained  until 
the  next  spring.  In  L817  David  Fellows  worked  three  months  piling  logs, 
living  on  three  roasted  potatoes  a  day,  without  salt  or  bread.  Moses 
Hodge,  who  lived  on  the  farm  where  C.  C.  Terrill  now  resides,  could  not 
obtain  shoes  for  his  children;  so  they  used  to  sew  on  cloth,  which  they 
wore  until  it  fell  off.  The  principal  living  of  the  children  was  milk,  thick- 
ened with  slippery-elm  hark,  or  with  flour  when  they  could  get  that 
luxury.  Libbeus  Hall,  when  three  years  old,  came  with  his  parents  from 
Connecticut.  They  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Thomas  Van 
Dyke.  Their  stock  consisted  of  one  cow.  Once,  in  the  absence  of  .Mi'. 
Hall,  a  sudden  rise  of  the  river  left  the  cow  on  an  island,  and  the  family 
were  obliged  to  subsist  on  the  "seed-ends"  of  potatoes  roasted  in  the 
ashes,  until  the  animal  could  get  home.  Another  time,  when  out  of  pro- 
vision, the  father  started  with  his  gun  and  shot  a  moose  within  half  a 
mile  of  his  house.  Libbeus  Hall,  in  speaking  of  this,  said:  "  You  bet  we 
lived  high  then  till  the  old  cow  calved."  An  illustration  of  the  endurance 
of  these  settlers  may  be  found  interesting.  In  JS4o  Moses  Heath,  wishing 
to  get  some  wheat  ground,  and  not  being  able  to  procure  a  t<  am  started, 
with  two  bushels  on  his  shoulders,  from  the  place  where  John  ('.  Poor 
now  lives,  and  carried  his  load  to  the  grist-mill  at  Colebrook,  via  "North 
and  South  Hills," had  it  ground  and  returned  with  it  the  same  day.  having 
walked  eleven  or  twelve  miles;  after  reaching  home,  he  cul  over  a  cord  of 
wood,  beside  "doing  the  chores."  Moses  Sargent,  in  L856,  carried,  from 
the  Messer  store  in  Colebrook,  to  his  home  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town 
of  Clarksville  (a  distance  of  seven  miles  and  a  half),  a  supply  of  flour  and 
other  groceries,  weighing  about  170  pounds,  and  only  pul  his  load  down 
three  times. 

First  Tavern  Licenses. — The  first  license  for  keeping  hotel  or  tavern 
was: — 

■•We  the  subscribers  license  Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames  to  ke<  p  ;i  tavern  in  Stewartstown  one  year  from  tliis 

Date  Stewartstown  April  22d  1802 

••  Dan']  Brainard      I    8el& 
••  Barzilla  Brainard  f   nun." 


65G  History  of  Coos  County. 

In  1^<»S  a  license  was  granted  to  "one  Amos  Cogswell  to  sell  spirituous 
Liquors  by  the  small  measure  for  one  year,"  signed  by  Jeremiah  Eames 
and  Stephen  Lane  as  selectmen. 

War  of  L812. — During  this  war,  a  company  of  fity-two,  including  offi- 
cers and  men,  under  command  of  Capt.  E.  H.  Mahurin,  was  stationed  at 
Stewartstown,  their  headquarters  being  near  West  Stewartstown.  They 
built  a  "block  house"  or  fort  on  the  hill  known  as  "Fort  Hill."  This 
company  entered  service  July  27,  1812,  and  was  discharged  January  27, 
1813.  being  drafted  for  six  months.  They  were  succeeded  by  Capt.  Edmund 
Freeman,  with  a  company  of  forty-seven,  in  March,  1813.  This  company 
remained  until  the  close  of  hostilities.  Samuel  Sargent  and  John  Tirrill, 
of  Stewartstown.  were  privates  in  Capt.  Freeman's  company. 

Historic  Half  bushel.— Ei.  T.  Tirrill  has  a  half-bushel  measure  which 
was  brought  into  this  country  over  eighty  years  ago,  and  the  property  of 
his  father,  grandfather  and  great-grandfather.  It  is  considerably  over  100 
years  old,  and  yet  in  good  condition.  It  is  said  that  years  ago  it  was  the 
only  half  bushel  owned  between  the  Benjamin  Young  hill  and  the  present 
residence  of  Henry  Wiggin,  and  when  an  accurate  measurement  wTas  de- 
sired, it  was  necessary  to  have  this,  and  people  often  travelled  a  distance 
of  several  miles  to  borrow  it. 

The  first  river  road  ran  up  the  river  from  the  bridge  to  the  mills, 
then  down  the  river  four  miles  and  a  quarter  to  the  Colebrook  line.  It 
was  surveyed  by  Jeremiah  Eames,  December  20,  1813,  located  by  Edmund 
Kezar  and  Howard  Blodgett,  selectmen,  and  recorded  January  24,  1814. 

Ear-Marks  of  Stock. — Cattle  and  sheep  ran  at  large  in  early  days  so 
that  the  owners  were  obliged  to  adopt  certain  marks  to  identify  them. 
The  following  arc  taken  from  the  town  records:  Heath  Flanders's  mark, 
"one  hole  in  left  ear";  Joseph  C  Flanders,  "one  hole  in  right  ear"; 
Stephen  Lane,  "crop  off  left  ear  and  slit  in  right  ear";  Jeremiah  Eames, 
"left  ear  cropped  square  *':  Joseph  Dyer,  "both  ears  cropt  square";  Will- 
iam Tirrill,  "a  swallow  tail  in  left  ear'*:  Jonathan  Young,  "crop  right  ear 
square  half  crop  off  left  ear";  Edmund  Keysar,  "right  ear  cropt  square  "; 
Isaiah  Fellers,  "left  ear  cropt  both  slit." 

Hotels  or  Tavern. — Jeremiah  Eames  opened  the  first  house  for  public 
entertainment  in  1802  at  West  Stewartstown.  Henry. D.  McKnight  kept 
one  in  1833,  Henry  Fling  in  1*47,  Albert  Weeks  in  1869,  Blodgett  &  Hart 
in  1^7:'..  and  William  W.  Lindsey.  who  kept  it  until  1886.  This  has  been 
much  improved,  is  now  owned  by  Daniel  Heath,  and  is  the  only  inn  in 
town.  Joseph  F.  AViswall  opened  one  on  South  hill  in  1844.  Daniel  C. 
Bumford  in  1848,  and  a  few  others  have  been  kept  for  short  periods. 

Colebrook,  Stewartstown  &  Connecticut  Lake  Telephone  Co.,  organized 
June  13,  l^s:'..  with  capital  stock  of  $5,000,  (divided  into  100  shares  of  $50 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  65? 

each,  registered  at  Concord  in  October.  L883,)  has  an  office  al  Wesl  Stewarts- 
town. 

Colebrook,  Stewartstown,  Clarksville&  Pittsburg  Telephone  Co., organ- 
ized Januarys,  L881,  with  capital  of  $2,500,  (50  shares,  $50  each,  registered 

at  Concord.  January  23,  1884,)  has  an  office  at  the  "  Hollow." 

We  never  had  a  Town  House,  but  the  town  holds  its  meetings  in  the 
hall  over  the  store  at  the  "Hollow."  Elections  have  been  held  there 
many  years,  the  town  paying  a  small  sum.  $10.  I  think,  lor  its  u 

North  Star  Grange,  P.  of  H.,  chartered  ls7."».  had  a  brief  existence, 
when  their  hall  and  records  were  burned,  and  organization  abandoned. 

t  The  Sons  of  Temperance  organized  a  few  years  ago,  and  still  hold  meel  - 
ings  at  West  Stewartstown. 

Diamond  ponds  derive  their  names  from  Isaac  Diamond,  who.  while 
hunting-  in  L778,  shot  and  wounded  a  large  hull  moose  in  the  woods 
between  these  ponds.  The  moose  sprang  towards  him  and  tore  his  cloth- 
ing nearly  off;  he,  however,  dodged  behind  a  tree,  around  which  the 
moose  chased  him.  until  he  jumped  behind  another  large  tree  unseen  by 
the  moose,  which  still  circled  around  the  first.  Diamond  now  reloaded  his 
gun  and  killed  the  infuriated  animal. 

Nathan's  pond  received  its  name  from  Nathan  Caswell,  an  old  hunter 
and  trapper,  who  camped  on  its  shores.  Cutting  his  foot  one  day  so  badly 
with  an  axe  that  he  could  not  walk,  he  was  forced  to  remain  quiet  until 
his  provision  was  exhausted,  and  he  was  nearly  starved.  One  day  he 
heard  his  dog  bark  loudly  but  a  short  distance  off.  Taking  his  gun.  he 
crawled  in  the  direction  of  the  sound  until  he  saw  a  large  bear  in  a  tree. 
He  was  fortunate  enough  to  shoot  it,  and  the  meat  kept  him  alive  until  he 
could  venture  further  toward  the  settlements.  After  skinning  the  hear. 
he  rolled  himself  in  the  hide  for  a  night's  sleep.  In  the  morning  the  skin 
was  frozen  stiff,  and  he  had  much  difficulty  in  extricating  himself.  He 
finally  crawled  eight  miles  to  a  settler's  house  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
narrowly  escaping  death  by  freezing. 

Metalldk,  the  Penobscot  chief,  so  famous  in  this  locality,  was  a  county 
charge  in  Stewartstown  after  he  became  blind  in  his  old  age.  and  was 
abandoned  by  his  tribe.  He  died  at  the  house  of  Leonard  H.  Fellows  in 
1841,  and  was  buried  in  a  corner  of  North  Hill  cemetery.     (See  Colebrook.) 

James  Miner  Hilliard  was  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Northern 
Coos.  He  was  a  robust  and  athletic  man.  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  native 
common-sense,  shrewdness  and  accuracy  of  judgment.  An  original 
thinker,  he  kept  himself  well-read  in  the  current  events  of  the  day.  and 
in  solid  and  historical  matters.  He  was  of  active  temperament  and  had 
much  to  do  with  the  progress  of  events  in  his  section.  His  son.  Henry  S., 
of  Lancaster,  served  bravely  in  the  Rebellion,  and  attained  the  rank  of 
captain.     Another  son,  George,  is  a  prominent  business  man  of  Colebrook. 


658  History  of  Coos  County 


"Miner"  Hilliard  was  an  ardent  lover  of  hunting,  and  many  are  the  anec- 
dotes in  circulation  concerning  him.  He  would  have  his  "hunts"  or  "tramps" 
in  the  forests.  These  often  lasted  for  weeks  and  sometimes  for  months.  He 
was  generally  accompanied  only  by  his  dog,  and  lived  on  the  game  he  killed. 
Once,  when  lie  had  been  out  about  ten  days,  he  was  attacked  by  measles, 
and  was  very  ill,  and  confined  to  his  camp  for  several  days.  At  another 
time  he  broke  through  the  ice  in  very  cold  weather  and  was  thoroughly 
wet.  his  clothes  freezing  to  him.  He  kindled  a  fire  in  a  dry  "  stub  "  with 
some  powder  which  he  had  fortunately  preserved  in  a  corked  phial  and 
thus  preserved  his  life.  Hon.  James  W.  Weeks  says:  "Hilliard  wras 
with  me  several  days  in  18i4  as  guide  on  the  survey  of  the  Pittsburg  lands. 
He  told  me  he  had  killed  seventeen  moose  during  the  previous  winter.  He 
was  a  man  of  mind,  and,  I  believe,  of  strict  veracity  In  the  spring  of 
L828  or  LS29,  while  bringing  in  the  acquisitions  of  his  winter's  hunt,  and, 
as  usual,  alone,  he  saw  where  some  large  animal  had  gone  in  and  out  of  a 
hollow  log,  so  he  crawled  in  to  see  what  it  meant,  and  found  nine  young 
wolves.  He  put  them  in  his  pack  and  carried  them  home,  but  only  two  or 
three  of  them  were  alive  when  he  arrived  there.  I  saw  two  of  them  when 
they  were  three  or  four  months  old.  They  were  as  playful  as  puppies,  but 
soon  became  wolfish.  I  asked  Hilliard  what  he  would  have  done  if  the 
old  mother  wolf  had  come  along  and  'tickled  him  up'  while  he  was  in  the 
log  after  her  whelps?     'I'd  have  kicked  her  to  hell! '  was  his  answer." 

The  Great  Hail  Storm. — North  and  South  hills  were  visited,  July  29, 
1883,  by  a  most  disastrous  hail  storm,  which  did  great  damage  to  all  crops, 
roads,  and  bridges.  All  bridges  on  Cedar  brook  were  carried  away. 
►uth  Hill"  road  was  so  badly  washed  as  to  call  for  a  special  town  meet- 
in-  to  decide  whether  to  repair  or  discontinue  it,  as  gullies  of  twelve  feet 
in  depth  had  been  washed  out  in  many  places.  Hail  fell  in  such  numbers 
as  to  form  drifts  four  feet  deep;  some  of  the  stones  measuring  an  inch  and 
a  quarter  in  diameter.  Crops  of  all  kinds  were  destroyed.  Maple  trees, 
two  feet  through,  standing  in  sugar  orchards,  were  killed.  All  small  trees 
on  "South  Hill"  were  destroyed,  and  as  about  one-half  of  the  grass  was 
uncut,  tiie  fanners  were  left  destitute  of  hay  as  well  as  grain.  Potatoes 
were  about  half  grown,  and  grew  no  larger.  Poultry  was  killed,  and 
many  cattle  and  other  animals  badly  bruised,  and  the  glass  was  broken 
out  of  all  exposed  windows.  Fortunately  the  storm  mainly  spent  its  force 
on  about  two  miles  square,  and  but  little  wind  accompanied  it.  Marks  left 
by  the  hail  stones  still  show  plainly  where  they  struck  on  buildings,  and, 
had  there  been  wind,  no  living  being  would  have  been  left  outside  of  the 
buildings,  even  if  the  buildings  bad  resisted  the  mighty  force  of  the  fear- 
ful avalanche  of  ice  and  water.  [The  writer  was  living  in  the  damaged 
territory,  and  lost  all  his  crops,  and  had  not  a  whole  light  of  glass  left  in 
the  east  side  of  his  house  or  shop.     His  dam,  wheel,  bridge,  etc.,  were- 


Town  of  Sti.w  hitstown.  659 


swept  away  by  the  deluge  which  followed.  He  saw  drifts  of  ice  which  the 
water  had  cut  through  for  four  feet  in  depth.]  In  front  of  Amos  \V. 
Drew's  house,  where  the  hail  came  off  from  the  eaves,  it  formed  a  drifl 
five  feet  deep,  some  of  the  ice  remaining  there  for  a  week. 

Another  severe  storm  visited  the  same  locality  in  L887. 

Bridges  Across  Connecticut  Hirer.  -The  first  one  was  built  forty-two 
rods  below  the  mills  at  West  Stewartstown.  This  went  out  in  the  freshet 
of  1M7.  was  rebuilt  about  L850  by  "Stewartstown  Bridge  Co.,"  and  sold  in 
1887  to  George  VanDyke,  who  was  repaid  by  subscription,  the  bridge  made 
a  free  one,  and  accepted  by  the  towns  of  Stewartstown  and  Canaan,  Vt. 
A  fne  bridge  was  built  across  the  Connecticut  in  1882,  at  the  mouth  oi 
Hall's  stream.     The  funds  were  raised  by  subscription. 


CHAPTER  LA  XL. 


Description,  Lots,  and  Settlement — West  Stewartstown— Settled  and  Unsettled  Territory — 
Ponds  and  Streams — Soil  and  Minerals— Game — Horses,  Cattle  and  Sheep — Grasses — Grass  Seed- 
Journeys  to  Portland— Roads  and  Sleighs — Clothing— Potatoes— Wheat,  Oats,  and  other  Products. 

DESCRIPTION,  Lots,  unit  Settlements. — Stewartstown  is  bounded 
north  by  Clarksville,  east  by  Dixville,  south  by  Colebrook,  and  west 
by  Vermont.  Its  surface  is  uneven  and  broken,  yet  the  soil  is  deep 
and  fertile,  producing  good  crops.  Its  population  in  1800  was  99;  1810, 
(.86;   1820,  363;  in  1880,  959,  and  an  assessed  valuation  of  $316,069. 

The  original  surveys  divided  the  town  into  lots  thus:  Beginning  at  the 
southwest  corner,  thirteen  lots,  varying  in  size,  were  laid  off  on  the  river 
towards  the  north,  and  called  " settlers'  lots. "  One  more  "settlers'  lot," 
No.  14,  lies  east  of  7  and  8.  The  rest  of  the  town  was  laid  off  into  thir- 
teen ranges,  averaging  100  rods  in  width,  running  nearly  east  and  west. 
These  ranges  are  crossed  by  " check- lines  "  running  north  and  south'1  at  a 
distance  of  half  a  mile  apart,  thus  giving  loo  acres  to  each  lot.  The  ranges 
are  numbered  from  the  south,  and  the  lots  from  the  east.  Ranges  1  and 
2  contain  nineteen  lots  each:  ranges  3,  4,  5,  6  and  7,  each  twenty  lots; 
range  8,  twenty-one  lots:  ranges  ;».  in.  11.  L2,  13,  each  twenty-two  lots. 
A  range  of  hills  about  two  miles  from  the  river  divides  the  town  into 
"Stewartstown  "  and  "  West  Stewartstown." 

West  Stewartstown  village,  on  the  Connecticut,  is  situated  on  "set- 
tlers'lot "  No.  13,  first  taken  up  by  Jeremiah  Eames.  Jr.,  for  the  mill- 
privilege.     The  river  valley  was  the  first  settled  portion,  and  few,   if  any, 


660  History  of  Coos  County, 

were  dwelling  east  of  the  hills  before  ism;.  The  advantages  which  caused 
the  early  settlement  of  this  place,  and  the  building  up  a  business  center 
here  early,  still  exist,  and  the  prominent  business  interests  of  the  town 
gravitated  here,  where  a  tine  village  has  been  brought  into  existence.  The 
beautiful  buildings  of  the  Coos  county -farm  are  located  near.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  lSs7  a  disastrous  tire  destroyed  most  of  the  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments, causing  much  loss.  This,  however,  was  more  than  compen- 
sated  tor  by  the  construction  in  the  same  year  of  the  Upper  Coos  railroad, 
which  was  opened  for  traffic  December  26,    1S87. 

Connected  as  West  Stewartstown  is  with  the  wealthy  town  of  Canaan, 
Vr.,  by  a  free  bridge,  and  forming  a  prominent  station  on  the  railroad,  and 
possessing  many  other  advantages,  it  has  an  assured  future  of  develop- 
ment and  growth.  The  manufactories  will  be  rebuilt  on  a  larger  scale, 
and  new  ones  will  he  established.  Its  mechanics  and  manufacturers  are 
energetic  and  intelligent:  its  merchants  shrewd  and  reliable,  carrying  good 
stocks;  its  hotel,  recently  enlarged  and  refitted,  is  a  first-class  place  of  en- 
tertainment. A  Congregational  church,  with  a  good  membership  and  a 
comfortable  meeting-house,  attends  to  spiritual  needs. 

Settled  and  Unsettled  Territory.  —With  the  laying  out  of  the  road  or 
highway  in  1810,  the  territory  of  "  North"  and  "  South  Hills  "  wasopened 
for  settlement,  and  soon  occupied.  Other  roads,  branching  from  this  main 
one,  led  to  the  occupation  of  the  "Hollow."  or  Bishop's  Brook  valley,  and 
territory  east.  Nearly  all  lots  west  of  Nos.  2,  in  ranges  1.  2,  3,  4  and  5, 
and  lots  No.  4.  in  ranges  6,  7.  8,  9,  10,11,  12,  i.">,  are  now  occupied.  Those 
east  of  this  are  still  covered  with  the  original  forest  growth,  except  the 
spruce  which  has  been  mostly  cut  by  lumbermen.  Many  "hard-wood" 
lots  remain,  however,  as  yet  untouched  by  the  chopper's  axe. 

Ponds  and  St  trains.  —There  are  four  ponds  in  Stewartstown.  Great 
Diamond  and  Little  Diamond,  the  largest  two,  discharge  their  waters  east- 
erly into  Dixville.  They  are  becoming  quite  well  known  as  pleasant  camp- 
ing places,  and  on  account  of  many  attractions  are  frequently  visited  in 
summer.  "Back,"  or  "Dearth  "  pond  lies  in  the  west  part,  and  is  tribu- 
tary to  the  Connecticut  river.  "  Ladd  pond"  discharges  its  clear  waters 
into  Cedar  brook,  a  branch  of  Bishop's  brook,  and  forms  the  valley  divid- 
ing "North"  and  "South"  hills.  Bishop's  brook  flows  southwesterly, 
then  northwesterly,  to  the  Connecticut,  and  forms  the  valley  north 
of  "North  hill."  and  a  part  of  what  is  called  the  "Hollow." 
The  '.Mohawk"  and  -' Dead  water  '  streams  have  their  source  on 
the  same  100  acre  lot  (lot  7.  range  8).  The  "Mohawk"  flows  southerly 
through  Colebrook  to  the  ( lonnecticut;  the  "  Dead  water  "  northerly  through 
Clarksville  to  the  same  stream.  All  other  streams  are  too  small  to  afford 
power  for  manufacturing.  Mills  are  now  in  operation  on  Cedar,  Mohawk, 
and  Bishop's  brooks,  but  as  the  "Deadwater,"  although  affording  plenty 


Town  of  Stewartst< >wn.  661 


of  falls,  is  still  surrounded  by  an  almost  unbroken  forest,  no  mills  have 
been  constructed  on  its  banks.  The  Connecticut  river  on  the  western 
border  is  the  only  stream  flowing  into  t lie  town.  Pure  springs  of  clear, 
cold  water  are  found  on  nearly  every  lot.  The  ponds  and  streams  were 
formerly  alive  with  trout.  These  arc  fast  disappearing  with  the  influx  of 
civilization.  Ladd  and  Little  Diamond  ponds  contain  a  peculiar  variety. 
Their  flesh  is  red  like  the  salmon,  and  they  arc  spotted  like  the  brook  trout. 
Those  formerly  caught  in  Great  Diamond  were  of  a  Lighter  color,  with  few 
red  spots. 

Soil  and  Minerals. — The  character  of  the  surface  differs  with  the 
unevenness  and  elevation.  It  is  broken  by  bills  and  valleys,  and  but  little 
swampy  or  sterile  land  can  be  found.  The  "river"  or  "hollow"  farms 
are  sandy,  and  free  from  stone  The  upland  is  more  of  agravelly  or  stony 
nature,  but  the  soil  everywhere  is  rich  in  the  elements  chemically  desig- 
nated "plant-food."  Thus  the  town  is  one  of  the  mosl  productive,  and 
best  farming  and  grazing  sections  of  the  state. 

No  mineral  deposits  of  any  great  extent  have  been  found.  Small  quan- 
tities of  lead.  iron,  and  lime  have  been  deposited  by  the  water  from  springs; 
and  a  large  amount  of  "bog  lime"'  has  accumulated  in  Ladd  pond,  which 
may  be  found  of  value.  Traces  of  the  precious  metals  occur  in  many 
places.  "Quartz  rock  "  abounds  on  "North  hill,"  and  it  is  believed  by 
many  that  gold  in  paying  quantity  exists  there,  but  none  appears  on  the 
surface.  Quartz  appears  also  near  John  K.  Owens's  house,  showing  traces 
of  both  gold  and  silver.  Nearly  all  the  springs  north  of  Cedar  brook  are 
heavily  charged  with  lime. 

Game. — Moose,  bears,  wolves,  and  "bob-cats"  were  very  numerous  at 
the  beginning  of  this  century;  but  they  have  been  driven  north  and  east 
into  the  wilderness,  or  destroyed  by  hunters,  only  an  occasional  one  being 
encountered.  Later,  deer  were  very  plenty,  and  still  range  in  the  east  part 
of  the  town.  Pigeons,  now  rarely  seen,  were  a  sore  plague  to  the  early 
residents;  the  large  flocks  making  sad  havoc  with  the  grain.  An  old 
settler  describes  one  of  these  flocks  as  covering  the  entire  sky  for  half  an 
hour  in  its  passage  south.  He  further  savs  that  he  once  sowed  two  aci 
to  wheat,  and  the  pigeons  "ate  up  every  kernel  while  he  was  gone  to  din- 
ner." Partridges  or  grouse  are  still  plenty,  as  are  also  hares  and  rabbits. 
Red  and  striped  squirrels  are  so  numerous  as  to  call  out  the  young  men 
nearly  every  season  to  "shooting  matches"  for  their  destruction.  Beaver 
dams  are  on  nearly  every  brook,  but  tin1  beaver  are  gone.  .Mink,  sable, 
foxes  are  still  to  be  found:  none,  except  the  latter,  however,  are  numer- 
ous. Grey  squirrels  and  raccoons,  although  occasionally  seen,  were  never 
plenty.  "  Ladd  pond."  which  takes  its  name  from  Daniel  Ladd.  who  first 
settled  near  it,  was  in  early  times  a  favorite  haunt  for  the  "  Loup-Sevier'5 
or  "bob-cat,"  and  Ladd  and  his  son  David  made  a  business  of  extermi- 


SG-2  History  of  Coos  County. 

nating  them,  both  to  rid  themselves  of  their  depredations,  and  for  the 
bounties  paid  for  the  scalps.  This  animal  is  very  wary,  and  the  success 
of  the  Laclds  in  capturing  them  was  quite  a  mystery.  In  later  years  David 
G.  Ladd  gave  the  writer  a  description  of  the  manner  of  capture.  There 
was  a  thick  undergrowth  around  the  pond,  and  by  weaving  small  sticks 
into  this,  an  impassable  hedge  was  formed  for  several  rods,  then  a  small 
opening  was  left,  and  the  hedge  continued.  Large  steel  traps  were  set  in 
these  openings  and  bait  placed  on  both  sides  a  rod  or  so  from  it;  thus  the 
"  cats  "  coming  from  either  way  would  devour  the  bait,  then,  scenting  the 
other,  would  attempt  to  get  it,  and,  passing  through  the  opening  in  the 
hedge,  would  fall  into  the  traps.  This  animal,  unlike  most  felines,  is 
partially  subdued  by  the  embrace  of  a  strong  trap,  and,  with  care,  may  be 
safely  managed.  An  amusing  anecdote  is  related  of  David  G.  Ladd.  At 
one  time,  he,  having  a  "Luc^ee"  in  a  trap,  was  exhibiting  it  to  some  of 
the  neighbors,  and  thought  to  show  his  courage  by  throwing  the  cat  over 
his  head  and  so  gave  it  a  swing.  When  directly  over  his  head,  the  cat 
gave  one  of  its  unearthly  yells,  whereupon  David  let  go  of  the  chain,  and 
ran  one  way,  and  the  cat  another.  It  was  hard  to  tell  which  was  most 
frightened. 

Agriculture. — The  raising  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  horses  has  been  the 
principal  branch  of  agriculture,  yet  grain,  potatoes,  etc.,  are  by  no  means 
neglected,  and  may  be  said  to  be  the  "money  crop";  but,  without  assist- 
ance from  commercial  fertilizers  to  supplement  that  supplied  by  the  farms, 
they  could  not  be  raised  at  a  profit.  The  inventory  of  1886  shows  1,105 
neat  cattle  over  eighteen  months  old,  valued  at  $26,000;  316  horses  over 
eighteen  months  old,  valued  at  $17,630;  1,795  sheep  over  six  months  old, 
valued  at  $5,101.  In  1880  the  number  of  sheep  was  2,126,  the  decrease, 
owing  to  low  prices  of  wool,  will  doubtless  soon  be  made  up  with  present 
improvement  in  values.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  above  list  does 
not  contain  any  yearlings  of  horses  and  cattle,  which  would  nearly  double 
the  list  if  an  invoice  had  been  taken  of  them.  Most  of  the  farm  work  is 
done  with  horses  now,  where  oxen  were  formerly  used.  The  hay  grown 
is  nearly  all  timothy.  Clover  is  usually  sown  at  seeding,  but  lasts  but  one 
or  two  years.  Red  top  and  other  grasses  are  not  sown  to  any  extent,  and 
it  is  doubtful  if  they  ever  grew  here.  There  are,  however,  several  varie- 
t  ies  of  native  grasses  found  along  the  banks  of  streams  in  the  forests,  and 
in  the  settled  portion  where  cultivation  has  not  exterminated  them.  The 
'  blue  joint  "  is  the  most  valuable  of  these.  No  native  grasses  are  found 
on  the  highlands,  and  here  timothy  was  found  best  adapted  to  the  soil  by 
the  early  settlers,  and  they  acquired  quite  a  reputation  for  the  quality  of 
the  seed,  which  formed  an  important  item  of  their  products.  The  land 
appears  to  be  just  suited  to  this  crop,  as  we  find  it  nourishes  wherever  the 
seed  is  scattered,  even  in  the  forest.    Nature  furnishes  nearly  all  the  drain- 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  »''»'>:>> 


age  we  require,  yet   under- drains    are   found  valuable  in  a    few   small 
swamps. 

The  first  settlers  depended  on  raising  grass  seed  (timothy)  for  money. 
They  carried  this  to  Portland,  Dover,  and  Concord,  through  Dixville  notch, 
with  their  own  teams,  occupying  sometimes  two  weeks  in  the  journey;  the 
old  double  sleighs  formed  quite  a  procession,  as  nearly  all  went  together 
for  company  and  aid  in  helping  each  other  up  the  steep  hills.  It  is  now 
generally  agreed  that  those  first  settlers  built  the  roads  over  the  worst  hills 
they  could  find.  One  reason  assigned  for  this  is  that  in  early  times  the 
valleys  were  so  wet  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  drive  across  them. 
One  old  teamster  said  he  had  rather  haul  a  load  up  "South  hill,"  than 
across  the  valley  between  that  and  "North  hill."  Several  of  these  old 
sleighs  are  still  to  be  found  in  this  section.  They  were  shod  with  cast 
iron  one  and  one-half  inches  wide,  by  an  inch  or  more  thick,  put  on  in 
sections  of  about  two  feet;  later,  these  were  plated  with  steel,  which  was 
an  improvement,  as  the  iron  ones  would  freeze  down  every  time  the  teams 
stopped  to  rest,  and  then  it  was  quite  an  exciting  thing  to  start  again.  This 
was  before  the  Grand  Trunk  road  was  built,  and  the  farmer  was  expected 
to  bring  back  most  of  the  family  supplies  for  the  next  year.  The  clothing 
was  all  home-made,  the  girls  doing  the  spinning,  and  the  wife  the  weav- 
ing. The  tailor  and  shoemaker  either  went  from  house  to  house  and  "cut 
and  made "  for  the  whole  family,  or  else  .all  went  to  the  shop,  were 
measured  and  their  garments  cut,  and  taken  home  to  be  made  by  the  ladies 
of  the  household.  In  many  cases  shoes  were  only  worn  for  "  meetin" 
and  "company," — "  old  rags,  "etc.,  taking  their  place  for  "every  day  wear." 

Prior  to  1850  potatoes  were  only  raised  for  family  use.  There  were  but 
few  varieties,  prominent  among  which  were  the  staple  "  Pink-eye  "  (even 
now  considered  the  best  table  potato  for  general  use).  The  Peach-blow, 
Cow-horn  or  Lady-finger,  and  those  co-partners,  the  Round-white  and 
Irish-apple,  comprise  most  of  them.  With  the  erection  of  starch-mills  we 
find  an  enormous  increase  in  acreage,  and  the  advent  of  the  "  Jenny 
Lind,"  or  "  California, "  an  extra  large  yielder,  used  for  manufacturing 
starch,  and  nearly  worthless  for  other  uses.  To  these  have  followed  nearly 
every  known  variety.  Wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye,  and  India- wheat  have 
been  raised  here  ever  since  the  town  was  settled,  and  many  varieties  of 
each  have  been  tested.  The  "  Bald  "  wheat  is  now  the  general  favorite,  and 
of  this  the  "  White  Russian"  and  "  Lost  Nation  "take  the  lead.  Oats,  as 
now  raised,  are  a  mixture  of  every  kind  and  variety.  Buckwheal  was 
once  raised  to  some  extent,  but  the  India-wheat  has  proved  most  profitable, 
and  little  of  the  white-blossomed  variety  can  now  be  found.  Corn  lias 
been  raised  quite  extensively  in  the  past,  but  latterly  the  farmers  buy 
western  corn;  yet  a  few  raise  sufficient  for  family  use,  and  consider  it  su- 
perior to  the  western  for  that  purpose.    Peas,  beans,  pumpkins  and  squashes 


664  History  of  Coos  County. 


find  a  place  on  nearly  every  farm,  and  are  of  endless  variety.  Nearly 
every  farmer  has  a  small  patch  on  which  are  grown  vegetables  for  family 
use,  and  a  few  grow  beets  and  turnips  for  stock  feeding.  Rye  was  formerly 
raised  for  bread,  but  little,  if  any,  can  now  be  found.  Flax  was  grown, 
and  the  fiber  converted  into  clothing  by  every  family,  but  none  has  been 
raised  or  spun  here  for  sometime,  although  the  industry  partially  revived 
during  the  Rebellion. 


CHAPTER    LXXII. 

Settlers  prior  to  1800— Non  Resident  Land— Settlers  early  in  this  Century— Settlers  in  1856 — 
Extracts  from  Records  giving  Action  of  Town  on  Roads,  Soldiers,  Etc. — Civil  List:  Representa- 
tives, Selectmen,  Town  Clerks — Votes  for  Governor. 

/T  ETTLERS  prior  to  1800.*— Henry  Sullingharn,  on  settlers'  lot  No.  1,  married  Amy ,  had  five 

'^^  children:  Katharine,  born  February  9.  1803;  Jacob,  October  1,  1804:  Elizabeth,  November  23,  1806, 
\J  Susanna,  June,  1808;  Tolly,  March  30, 1810.  David  Locke,on  settlers'  lot  No.  2,  married,  November,  1809- 
X  Rachael  Brainard.  Elisha  Dyer,  on  settlers'  lot  No.  37,  came  from  Brunswick, Vt.,  with  wife  and  three 

children,  Marshall,  Betsey, Orville,  and  there  were  born  here  Jerub,  March  27, 1806;  Joseph,  February  9, 1809.  He 
married,  second,  November,  1810,  Lucy  Curtis;  her  children  were  George  Nelson,  born  November  29,  1811; 
Fannie  July  21,  1813;  Mary  Ann,  May  26.  1815;  William  C,  April  27, 1818;  John,  August  28, 1824.  Theophilus 
Durrell.  on  settlers'  lot  No.  4;  Clement  Miner,  on  settlers' Lot  No.  5;  Daniel  Hurlbert,  on  settlers'  lot  No.  6; 
Daniel  Brainard,  on  settlers' lot  No.  7,  father  of  Barzilla,  Rachael  (Locke),  Daniel,  Jr. ;  Abner  Woodsum,  on 
settlers'  lot  No.  8;  Richard  Smart,  on  settlers' lot  No.  9;  Barzilla  Brainard,  on  settlers'  lot  No.  10,  married, 
January  22,  1811,  Sally  Dunning,  of  Canaan,  Vt.;  Abner  Powan,  on  settlers' lot  No.  11 ;  John  French,  on 
irs'lotNo.  L2;  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  on  settlers' lot  No.  13,  moved  from  Northumberland  in  1797  with 
wife,  Anna,  unil  three  children,  Jeremiah,  Anna,  William;  in  this  town  were  born,  Lois,  1799;  Persis,  1801; 
Cyrus,  1804;  Hiram.  1806;  Emily,  1808;  Susan,  1809;  Adeline,  1812.    John  Walls,  on  settlers'  lot  No.  14. 

Non  Resident  Lund. — The  non  resident  land  was  owned  by  Sir  George  Cockburne,  Sir  James  Cole- 
brook,  John  Stewart  and  John  Nelson,  who  each  held  a  grant  for  the  estimated  (not  surveyed)  amount  of 
6,660  acres. 

SetUers  eai  ///  in  this  Century. — 1800,  Abijah  Larned  settled,  and  his  name  appears  on  grand  list  until  1812. 
He  was  a  captain,  representative  for  many  years,  and  a  most  valuable  citizen.  Stephen  Kemp  settled  about 
1800,  married,  Maj  3,  1813,  Nancy  Blodgett.  Eiiphalet  Miner's  name  appears  in  1800;  also  Isaac  Stevens,  Ben- 
jamin Allen.  Elisha  Otis,  James  Hugh,  Charles  Richards,  Peletiah  Nichols,  James  Lewis,  Asa  Dearth,  and 
Hobart  Spencer.  1801,  Joseph  Stevens,  John  Richards,  Moses  Hodge;  1802,  Elijah  Benton,  John  Perry, 
James  Ladd:  L803,  Levi  Willard,  James  Walls;  1804,  no  new  names;  1805,  Royal  Merrill,  Elias  Sawyer, 
Lane,  a  native  of  Gilmanton,  came  with  four  children,  Sarah,  Charles,  Eliza  and  Hannah,  and  had 
Mary,  born  here,  1807;  L806,  Ebenezer  Capen,  Elias  Farnham,  and  William  Butler;  1807,  John  Keysar  and 
Edmund  Keysar;  L808,  Howard  Blodgett,  William  Tirrell,  Jonathan  Young,  Willoughby  Goodwin,  Amos  Cogs- 
well: 1800.  Elijah  Benton,  David  Curtis.  Samuel  Osborne,  William  Marshall  William  Chase  (probably  1808), 
John  M.  Tillotson.  Samuel  Sargent;  1810,  Era  Owen,  Benjamin  Jones,  Ethan  Owen,  Oliver  Ingham;  1811" 
Jonathan  Smith,  Timothy  and  Peter  Faulkner,  Caleb  Owen,  Jesse  Corbet t,  Jonathan  Sawyer,  Isaiah  Fellows; 
1812,  Joseph  Young,  Daniel  Young,  Joseph  Davis;  1813,  Benjamin  Hobart,  Samuel  Beach,  Gad  Beecher,  Benja- 
min Currier;  1814,  Joel  Webber,  Absalom  Bailey,  James  Heath,  Thomas  Beach,  Nathan  Frizzell,  Samuel 
Lathrop,  Jeremiah  Young,  [saac  .Mitchell. 


*These  name-  of  settlers  are  taken  from  the  tax-list  as  tax  payers  here.     Some  residents  of 
other  (owns  are  no  doubt  included. 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  665 

Settlers  to  1856.— 1815.  Libbeus  Hall.  Samuel  G.  Piper,  Oilman  Folsom,  Nathaniel  Chase,  Zebulon  Horn, 
Jeremiah  Lovering  (married  Betsej  Kenl  1817),  Charles  Wiggins,  William  Lyon,  Bichard  Tibhetts;  1816, 
Willinnt  Lear;  1817,  Joseph  Weston,  Hradley  Clough,  Muses  Farnham,  Ezekel  Hull,  John  Stevens,  Libbeus 
Hall,  Jr.,  Isaac  Farnliam,  Reuben  Mason,  Reuben  Sawyer,  Stephen  Tibbetts;  1818,  Micajah  Fletcher,  Moses 
Hodge,  David  Kent,  David  Kent,  Jr.,  Moses  Piekard,  John  Page,  Elisha  Tirrill,  James  Cogswell;  1819,  W. 
Cooper,  Jonathan  Hoit,  Asa  Heath.  Muses  Martin,  Obediah  Mooney,  Joseph  Kelley;  1820,  John  Dean,  Charles 
Sargent;  1821,  Benjamin  Jones,  Moses  Harriman, Samuel  Harriman,  Abial  Chandler,  Seth  Tirrill,  Simeon  Cross, 
Benjamin  Drew,  Amos  \V.  Drew,  Benjamin  Drew,  Jr.,  Edwin  W.  Drew.  George  Chandler,  Timothy  Mooney, 
Jotham  Sawyer,  Jr.,  Thomas  Heard,  Thomas  R.  Holden,  Thomas  Piper.  Stephen  Bailey,  Moses  Hastings, 
John  Thurston,  Daniel  B.  Heath,  James  Mooney,  Timothy  Mooney,  Daniel  Craig,  John  Harriman,  Jonathan 
G.  Bobbins;  1822,  Joseph  Goddard,  Stephen  and  Daniel  Harriman,  Hezekiah  Hurlbert,  Daniel  Kidder,  Ed- 
mund Chamberlin,  T.  Darling,  Jeremiah  Gleason,  Daniel Ladd;  1823,  David  Moses,  Levi  Bishop;  1824,  Harvey 
Howe,  Enoch  Emery,  Henry  Love  joy,  Jonathan  Chandler;  1825,  James  Herrick,  William  Tin-ill,  Moses  Heath; 
1826,  Robert  Morrison,  Moses  Bumford,  William  Dunning,  Joseph  Beecher,  CalebS.  Dalton;  1827,  Eliphalet 
Little,  Stephen  Morrison,  Jeremiah  Richard,  Ora  Stoddard,  Enoch  T.  Harvey;  1828,  Martin  Harriman,  Z. 
Ladd.  John  Morrison:  1829,  Hezekiah  Hurlbert,  Henry  D.  MoKnight,  Jonathan  Harvey;  1830,  Daniel 
Cheeney,  Leavitt  C.  Fletcher,  Noah  Harris;  1831,  Joel  Benton,  James  M.  Hilliard,  Joseph  Turner,  Paul 
Cheney,  Amos  Carleton,  George  Durgin,  John  Hoit  Durgin,  Jeremiah  C.  Durgin,  Martin  L.  Durgin;  1832, 
Smith  Arlin,  Marvin  H.  Oroutt,  Alanson  Warren;  1833,  William  B.  Fletcher,  James  Fletcher,  Jewett  S.Lang, 
Nathaniel  C.  Durgin,  Joseph  Turner,  Nathaniel  D.  Chase,  Daniel  Norris,  Fletcher  Russell;  1834,  Joseph  Weeks, 
Joseph  R.  Washburn,  Zebulon  Flanders;  1835,  Joseph  Small,  Alfred  Lovering,  Artemas  W.  Derby,  Daniel 
Aldrich,  Aaron  Goodwin,  Enoch  Emery,  Noah  Harris,  Jonathan  Bean.  Timothy  Underwood,  John  Flanders; 
1836,  Hiram  Cummings,  Samuel  Weeks,  Asa  Stoddard,  John  Neil.  William  M.  Smith.  Jeremiah  Pitkin  (Smith 
&  Pitkin,  Carding  Mill  Co.),  Nambs  &  Neal  (store);  1837,  Ebenezer Watson,  Matthias  Haynes,  Roswell  Laugh- 
ton,  Nathan  Colby,  Nehemiah  H.  Flanders;  1838,  Thomas  Johnson.  Henry  Stoddard;  1839,  Charles  Garfield, 
Hart  &  Albert  Barrus,  Calvin  L.  Palmer,  Erastus  Barrus,  Joseph  P.  Wiswall;  1840,  Davis  Graham.  Adams  M. 
Tewkslmry.  Henry  Tewksbury,  William  Webster,  Horatio  Kelley,  Joseph  R.  Cree,  Miner  Hilliard;  1841,  Job 
Poor,  Orrin  Covell,  George  W.  Chase,  William  Ellis;  1842,  John  Derby,  Thomas  L.  Duraut,  Abel  Cush- 
man,  Daniel  Rogers.  Elisha  P.  Tabor,  Simeon  Colby,  James  H.  Oaks,  Daniel  Fletcher,  Emanuel  S.  Forrest, 
Hiram  Martin,  Chapin  Brooks;  1842.  Henry  Fling;  1843,  Samuel  Carpenter,  James  A.  Morrill,  Moses  Smith, 
Heath  Flanders,  George  W.  Gerry,  Benjamin  Abbott,  Daniel  Tewkslmry,  Joseph  Taylor,  Dudley  S.  Bagley,. 
Daniel  F.  Collins,  Nelson  Nichols  and  Chapin  Brooks  (tannery),  Hezekiah  Stoddard,  Chauncy  Brooks:  1844, 
Isaac  Willey,  Joseph  C.  Flanders,  Ezekiel  Flanders,  John  Knight,  Oliver  L.  Fields,  ( !aleb(  lummings,  John  W. 
Adams:  1845,  Ashur  B.  Jones,  Benjamin  R.  Corbett,  Edwin  W.  Gaskell,  Moses  B.  Brown,  Bennett  Rand, 
Sylvester  Kent;  1846.  John  Hawse,  Michael  Lynch,  Timothy  Crawford,  Daniel  Day,  Alonzo  Perry,  Samuel  O. 
Huggings,  Michael  Comstock,  James  Snelling,  Charles  Knapp,  Thomas  Wilson,  John  Dennett,  Fernando  C. 
Jacobs.  Marvin  Fletcher;  1847.  Hiram  Johnson,  John  Rudd.  William  C.  Thomas,  Ira  Dennett,  Morrill  Towle, 
Horace  Whitcomb,  Samuel  Brown.  Robert  Snelling,  Josiah  Morse,  Joseph  Warren  (iron  foundry),  Edmund  C. 
Wilder,  Charles  Church,  John  Hogue;  1848,  Francis  Chamberlin,  Thomas  Cooper,  Orange  Hill.  Daniel  G. 
Ripley,  William  B.  Stewart,  William  Willard,  Sylvanus  M.  Jordan  (blacksmith);  1849,  John  McKnight  (black- 
smith), John  Reed,  Leonard  Simpson;  1850,  Nathaniel  Beach,  Eli  Collins,  George  E,  Hammond,  William  S. 
Morrill,  William  H.  Trull.  Robert  Taylor;  1851,  Erastus  Davis,  Thomas  Garfield,  Zebulon  D.  Home.  Libbeus 
Hodge,  George  Morrill,  Andrew  Rankin,  Stephen  D.  Stanton,  Hazen  Tyler,  Horace  Russell;  1852,  Asa  G. 
Chandler,  Erastus  Davis  and  Benjamin  Leland  (Davis  &  Leland),  Croydon  Farr,  H  rry  Gould.  William 
Hann,  Josiah  Morse;  1853,  John  W.  Adams,  Armin  Aldrich,  George  Bishop.  Russell  Darling,  John  Derby, 
Edmond  Heath,  Asa  Stoddard.  William  Trolop,  Hyde  C.  Trask.  Normand  Smith;  L854,  Arnold  Aldrich.  Will- 
iam Angier,  John  Hurlbert,  Stephen  Harris,  Dayton  G.  Piper;  1855,  Nathan  S.  Carr,  Janus  Drown,  Patrick 
and  Thomas  Gleason,  Charles  L.  Morse.  Hobart  Noyes,  Chester  Noyes,  Edward  Cai  Leton,  Newell  Towle;  1856, 
Emory  Barber,  James  Brennan,  Ferriu  Cross.  Andrew  J.  Hurlbert,  John  Jordan,  Thomas  H.  Mayo,  John 
McCloud,  Patrick  Hafford. 

The  Piekard  family  is  extinct  here.  Isaiah  H.  resided  her.'  longest,  and 
held  many  offices  of  trust. 

Extracts  from  Records. — At  the  annual  meeting  March  10,1807,  it  was  "Voted  thai  Phinihas  Will- 
ard's  Half  Bushel  shall  be  the  standard  for  this  Town."  "  Voted  said  Willard  Sealer."  At  annual  election, 
1809,  "  Voted  Jeremiah  Eames  be  treasurer,  and  also  to  keep  the  common  stock  of  powder,  balls,  &c."  What 
is  now  known  as  '•North  and  South  Hill  Road"  was  laid  in  1810,  as  follows: 

"  Beginning  at  Colebrook  line,  on  the  lot  line  between  lots  12  and  13,  laying  out  said  Road  four  Kids 
wide,  being  two  Rods  for  the  use  of  Baid  Road  taken  from  each  Lot,  where  said  road  runs  on  said  line.  But 
44 


qqq  History  of  Coos  County. 

where  we  had  occasion  to  vary  from  said  line,  the  whole  four  Rods  must  come  out  of  said  lot  where  we 
thought  propr  to  vary  from  said  line.  Said  Road  or  Highway  running  on  sd  line  to  the  middle  of  the  lot  in 
the  sixth  Range,  then  leaving  said  line  and  running  North,  two  Degrees  west,  25  Rods,  then  riming  North, 
sixteen  Degrees  west,  28  Rods;  then  running  North,  45  Degrees  east,  until  it  touches  the  lot  line  before  men- 
tioned; then  following  said  line  thro'  said  town  to  the  College  Grant  except  sum  small  variations. 

"Joseph  Dyer     )  Spwtmen  " 
"Stephen  Lane  )  belectmen 

[This  was  the  first  road  east  of  Piper  hill  and  the  only  one  to  Colebrook 
for  several  years.] 

The  total  vote  for  governor  1810,  was  twenty-four.  March,  1810.  "  Voted  to  Raise  Seventy  Dollars  for 
to  purchase  'Waits'  and  Measures  and  defray  town  charges";  also  "Voted  to  sett  off  a  School  District,  be- 
gining  at  Abijah  Learneds  &  running  on  the  Hill  Road  Northerly  to  John  Dearths;  also  set  off  a  School  Dis- 
trict begining  at  Colebrook  line  and  running  on  the  Road  thence  to  the  Keyser  settlement,  and  so  on  to 
William  Thrill's;  the  above  being  on  the  lot  line  between  12  and  13." 

1813.  Laid  road  from  Colebrook  to  Lot  20  in  10th  range,  begining  at  lot  18  and  19  on  Colebrook  line  on 
range  1;  also,  in  the  same  year,  a  road  from  Wall's  place  to  Capt.  Joseph  Dyer's  420  rods. 

1814.  River  road  surveyed  from  toll  bridge  to  Colebrook  by  Jeremiah  Eames. 

1816.  "  Voted  to  sett  up  the  town  Paupers  to  the  lowest  bidder— the  children  off  John  Dearth  were  bid 
off  as  follers,  Fanny  Dearth  bid  off  to  Edmund  Kezer  for  hir  work,  Jerusha  Dearth  to  Barzilla  Brainard  for 
twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  Anna  Dearth  to  Joseph  Young  at  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents." 

"  This  day  Layedout  and  established  a  Rode  Begining  at  the  N.  W.  corner  of  Lot  12  in  2d  &  3d  Rangs  S. 
70°  East  as  far  as  Jeremiah  Youngs  2d  that  is  on  No.  3  in  said  2d  Range,  three  Rods  wide  which  Rode  is  now 
partly  made  and  to  be  made  as  nigh  said  line  as  the  land  will  admit.     Stewartstown  Aug  6 — 1816 

"Edmund  Keazer  Selectman 
"Jeremiah  Eames  Selectman  &  Surveyor" 

1817.  Voted  "  to  give  Susannah  Dearth  six  Bushels  Rye,  twelve  Bushels  of  Potatoes  and  two  tons  of 
Hay  for  the  suport  of  her  two  youngest  children  till  the  first  of  October  next.  Sett  up  Betsey  Selinghani, 
Susanna  Selinghani  and  Katherine  Selingham  to  the  lowest  Bidder  *  *  *  *  *  Voted  to 
sell  the  Henry  Selingham  farm  to  pay  for  keeping  Polly  Sellingham  one  year.  Voted  the  next  annual  meet- 
ing be  held  in  some  convenient  place  in  the  east  part  of  the  town."  (The  former  meetings  were  held  at 
individuals'  dwellings  on  west  side.) 

Call  for  a  Senatorial  Election. — "To  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants,  this  warn  all  same  in  the 
Towns  comprising  the  district  of  Stewartstown,  Colebrook,  Columbia,  Millsfield,  Erroll  &  Shelburne,  qual- 
ified to  vote  for  Senator  of  this  State  to  meet  at  the  dwelling  House  of  Isaac  Mitchell  in  said  Stewartstown 
on  Wednesday  the  12th  day  of  march  1817  at  one  o'clock  P.  M.  to  transact  the  following  business  Viz 

"  1st  to  choose  Moderator  to  govern  said  meeting. 

"2d  to  choose  by  ballot  a  Suitable  person  to   Represent  this  district  in  the  General   Court  of  this  State 

for  one  year  from  and  after  the  first  Wednesday  of  June  next  given  under  our  hands  at   Stewartstown  21st 

day  of  Feb  1817  "Jeremiah  Eames  jr.       (Select 

"Barzilla  Brainard  2d      )    men. 
"  Chose  Joseph  Loomis  Moderator 

"Choose  Hezekiah  Tarsons  Representative 

"Attest  James  CogsweU  Town  Clerk" 
Annual  meeting  at  Joseph  Young's  house,  east  aide. 

1818.  Voted  •' to  divide  town  into  school  districts  and  choose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Barzilla  Brainard,  Gil- 
man  Folsom,  Charles  S.  Wiggin,  and  Richard  Tibbetts  committee  to  divide  as  above.  (See  Education.)  Voted 
tin  town  procure  two  chests  with  Lock  &  Key,  one  to  keep  the  town  papers  in,  and  one  for  Weights  & 
Measures,  sett  fchem  up  to  the  lowest  Bidder.  Struck  off  to  Richard  Tibbetts  for  $2.50."  Laid  road  from 
northwest  corner  lot  18,  6th  range  to  Colebrook  line. 

181!t.     Voted  the  Selectmen  do  with  town  Poor  as  they  see  fit. 
L821.     Annual  meeting  held  at  Obadiah  Mooney's  house. 

1822.  Voted  "to  Kaise  Seventy  dollars  in  wheat,  at  one  dollar  per  Bushel,  to  pay  the  town  tax."  Voted 
••  thai  tin-  School  Tax  !»■  paid  in  good  wheat  at  one  dollar  per  bushel,  and  that  one  person  in  each  district 
Receive  said  wheat,  if  paid  by  the  first  day  of  January  next."  Voted  "Jeremiah  Eames  to  Receive  Said 
wheat  in  Dist.  No.  1,  Thomas  Piper  in  No.  2,  Elisha  Dyer  in  No.  3,  Jeremiah  Lovering  in  No.  4,  David  Kent 
in  X".  .V  Voted  "the  Selectmen  Receive  the  wheat  for  the  town  tax  if  paid  by  the  1st  day  of  January  next.'' 
Road  laid  from  Capt.  Tibbett's  place  by  the  mill  to  Micajah  Fletcher's  land. 

1823.  Voted  "to  Raise  one  Hundred*  Sixty  dollars:  Forty  dollars  to  be  paid  in  money,  the  rest  in 
good  wheat  at  -rl  per  bushel." 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  667 


1824.  Voted  "the  Town  furnish  the  soldiers  a  good  inarm  Dinner  on  Muster  Day." 

1825.  Road  laid  on  town  line  of  Colebrook  from  lot  18,  first  range,  to  lot  16,  in  first  range. 

1826.  Voted  "the  School  Tax,  and  twenty  dollars  of  Town  Tax,  be  paid  in  good  wheat  on  or  before  the 
last  day  of  February  next,  and  the  Selectmen  appoint  an  agent  to  receive  said  wheat  at  one  dollar  per  bushel." 
Road  laid  from  Moses  Hodge  place,  by  Capt.  Piper's,  to  lot  18,  5th  range. 

1828.  Vetted  to  build  a  pound.  (Built  of  cedar  logs  at  foot  of  South  hill  and,  is  now  to  b<  Been.)  Voted 
"to  pay  Cyrus  Eames  ten  dollars  to  build  said  pound  and  clear  the  town  from  cost  or  lim-  respecting  the 
same  for  fifteen  years."  His  bondsmen  were  Jesse  Corbett  and  Benjamin  Drew.  Laid  mad  from  lot  12.  Kith 
range,  to  lot  10  in  12th  range;  also  road  from  lot  5  in  2d  range  to  Jeremiah  Young's. 

First  Record  of  Perambulation  of  Town  Lines,  made  by  Jeremiah  Pickard,  surveyor,  and  Barzilla  Brain- 
ard,  selectman.     Laid  road  from  lot  14  in  12th  range  to  15  in  13th  range. 

ls-J'.i.     Laid  road  from  Thomas  Piper's  to  John  Dearth's. 

1830.    Laid  road  from  Benj.  Drew's  to  Jesse  Corbett's  and  James  Mooney's. 

1832.  Laid  road  from  Micajah  Fletcher's  place  across  Moses  Heath's  to  Leavitt  < '.  Fletcher's  place.  (This 
is  the  road  leading  past  John  C.  Poor's.)  Also  same  year  laid  the  road  from  school-house  district  No.  1  to 
John  Dearth's. 

1833.  Appointed  James  Cogswell  to  perambulate  and  survey  town  linen. 

1839.  First  representative  elected  by  Stewartstown  alone.  River  mad  widened  to  four  rods  and  straight- 
ened.    Road  changed  from  Stephen  ( 'loss's  place  to  Micajah  Fletcher's  land. 

1840.  Voted  "  to  set  up  town  Poor  to  lowest  bidder.  Metallak  was  bid  off  by  Howard  Blodgett  for  forty 
eight  dollars  and  a  quarter:  he  is  to  clothe  him,  rind  him  in  tobacco,  and  return  him  to  the  town  clothed  as 
well  as  when  he  took  him.*'     *     *     *     *     (For  several  years  he  was  thus  taken  care  of.) 

1841.  Voted  that  "No  Cattle,  Horses,  Hogs,  or  Sheep  shall  ran  at  large  in  any  public  Highway  in  this 
town  nearer  than  one  half  mile  to  any  store,  mill,  Meeting-House,  or  other  public  places,  on  penalty  of  the 
owner,  or  persons  having  care,  of  Cattle,  Horses,  Hogs  or  Sheep  so  going  at  large,  shall  forfeit  a  sum  not  ex- 
ceeding four  dollars;  also  that  this  law  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  May  1st,  184L"  This  by-law  caused  so 
much  trouble  that  it  was  afterwards  voted  "  this  by  law  shall  be  in  force  only  from  the  first  of  November  to 
the  last  of  April."     Laid  road  past  Jonathan  Sawyer's  and  E.  S.  Forrest's. 

1844.  Laid  road  from  Richard  Tibbetts's  past  Moses  Bumford's;  also  road  from  S.  W.  corner  lot  16,  in  3d 
range,  across  said  lot;  also  road  from  South  Hill  road  past  the  old  Durgin  mill  to  James  Mooney's;  also  by  the 
commissioners  the  "Hollow  Road,"  so-called.     (This  was  built  in  1848.) 

1845.  Road  from  North  hill  to  Jewett  Lang's  place;  also  from  Bear  Rock  to  Colebrook. 

1848.  Laid  road  from  Hoit  Durgin's  past  Oliver  L.  Field's  to  Hollow  road,  and  so  on  to  David  G. 
Ladd's  and  Dudley  E.  Bagley's,  now  the  John  K.  Owens  place. 

1849.  Laid  road  from  bridge  at  South  hill  road  and  foot  of  South  hill  to  James  M.  Kidder's;  also  in  same 
year,  the  road  from  West  Stewartstown  over  "Fort  Hill"  to  Clarksville. 

1850.  Laid  road  from  Hollow  road  past  Charles  Lang's  and  Daniel  Tewksbury's  to  Thomas  Wilson's. 
(Daniel  Tewksbury's  was  the  Thomas  Gleason  farm.) 

1851.  Road  laid  from  Durgin's,  past  A.  M.  Tewksbury's  saw-mill  to  Hollow. 

1852.  Discontinued  road  from  Durgin's  to  Mooney's;  laid  road  from  "Bear  Rock"  to  Kidder  road;  also 
road  leading  past  Ira  D.  Goodwin's. 

1853.  Laid  road  to  Thomas  Durant's  place. 

1857.     Voted  to  discontinue  "  Old  Ladd  Road  "  from  E.  P.  Tibbett's  to  D.  Tewksbury's. 

1857.  Laid  road  from  Kidder  road  to  John  Knight's  and  Benjamin  Knight's  farms;  also  same  year,  the 
road  from  John  K.  Owens's  to  river  road  at  mouth  of  Bishop's  brook. 

1858.  Laid  road  from  Colebrook  line,  lot  4,  range  1,  to  George  H.  Bannister's  on  lot  4,  range  4. 

1859.  Laid  road  to  E.  P.  Kidder's  and  Alden  Fletcher's;  also  to  L.  C.  Fletcher's. 

1860.  Laid  road  from  pine  tree  to  J.  K.  Owens's  house  where  it  met  the  Bishop  brook  road. 

1861.  Voted  to  finish  building  Bishop  brook  road  from  "  Pine  Tree  "  to  river. 

1862.  Voted  to  adopt  the  act  for  the  relief  of  the  families  of  volunteers  now  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States;  voted  the  selectmen  hire,  on  the  credit  of  the  town,  a  sum  sufficient  for  the  aid  of  families  of 
volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  from  this  town;  said  sum  not  to  exceed  one  hundred  dollars. 
Laid  road  to  Daniel  F.  Collins's,  and  also  laid  road  to  John  Hogue's  place.  August  II.  Voted  to  pay  volunteers 
one  hundred  and  ten  dolhus  each  to  fill  quota  called  for  by  adjutant  general.  December  24th.  Voted  to 
raise  one  thousand  dollars  for  relief  of  soldiers'  families. 

1863.  Laid  road  pas!  I  (liver  L.  Field's  mill  from  Samuel  Comstock's,  to  the  road  Leading  past  the  Daniel 
G.  Ladd  place.  December,  1863.  Voted  to  pay  two  hundred  dollars  to  all  volunteers  to  fill  the  present  quota 
called  for. 

1864.  June  6.    Voted  to  pay   three  hundred   dollars  to  each  man  now  drafted,  or  who  may  he  drafted 


ccs  History  of  Coos  County. 

within  one  year  from  this  date.  July  9,  1864.  Voted  to  pay  three  hundred  dollars  to  each  man  who  will  en- 
list to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town.  Chose  Joseph  Y.  Tibbetts  agent  to  fill  quota.  August  13,  1864.  Voted  to  pay 
volunteers  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars  for  one  year's  men;  two  hundred  for  two  years'  men,  and  three 
hundred  for  three  years'  men,  and  chose  Jahzeel  Piper  agent  to  fill  quota.  Voted  to  advance  the  state  bounty. 
August  30.  1864.  Voted  "  that  the  selectmen  be  authorized  to  hire  the  money  to  pay  the  bounties  to  fill  the 
quota  of  the  Town."  Voted  "  to  pay  each  drafted  man,  or  his  substitute,  two  hundred  dollars,  that  may  be 
drafted  to  fill  the  present  quota  of  the  Town  in  conformity  to  law."  September  9,  1864.  Voted  "that  the 
Selectmen  be  authorized  to  hire  and  pay,  in  conformity  to  law,  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  to  each  citizen 
of  this  town  who  will  enlist  and  be  mustered  into  service  to  fill  the  present  quota  of  the  town." 

January  13,  1865.  Voted  "to  pay  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  one  year's  volunteers,  two  hun- 
dred to  two  years'  men,  and  three  hundred  to  three  years'  men  to  fill  the  present  quota."  Annual  meeting, 
1865.  Voted  "  to  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding  six  hundred  dollars  to  each  man  who  puts  in  a  substitute  to  fill 
the  present  quota;  said  man  to  be  mustered  in  for  three  years,  and  each  man  shall  pay  at  least  three  hun- 
dred dollars";  also,  1865,  voted  "to  raise  ten  thousand  dollars  to  defray  expenses  and  pay  town  debt."  May 
18,  1865.  Voted  "  to  authorize  the  selectmen  to  hire  money  and  pay  to  each  man  who  has  paid  commuta- 
tion, or  put  in  a  substitute,  the  full  amount  which  he  has  paid  out,  and  to  indemnify  the  selectmen  in  filling 
the  last  quota,  and  also  to  fill  all  future  quotas  which  may  be  assigned  to  said  town." 

1866.     Voted  to  raise  five  thousand  dollars  to  pay  charges  and  apply  on  town  debt. 

1868.     Laid  road  from  Horace  L.  Holden's  to  Charles  Fletcher's,  now  Alva  Sawyer's. 

1870.  Laid  road  across  land  of  E.  P.  Kidder  and  Alden  Fletcher. 

1871.  Changed  "  Hollow"  road  around  "Line  Hill  "  on  I.  C.  Flander's. 

1872.  Changed  "  Hollow  "  road  from  blacksmith  shop  to  school-house,  on  land  of  Milton  and  Frank 
Blodgett  and  Jeremiah  Y.  Keysar.     Changed  Cedar  brook  road  across  John  Knight's  to  Tewksbury  road. 

1874.  Voted  to  discontinue  the  old  Cedar  brook  road  as  far  as  the  new  road  takes  its  place;  also,  voted 
to  discontinue  the  old  Hollow  road  from  blacksmith  shop  to  school-house. 

1875.  Laid  road  from  Sawyer  road  to  Moses  P.  Sargent's;  also,  laid  road  from  Thomas  Gleason's  to 
"Pine  Tree,"  on  Bishop  brook  road. 

1877.     Road  on  river  changed,  and  laid  around  "Fort  Hill." 

1880.  Laid  road  f-om  C.  E.  Fletcher's  to  George  W.  Heath's. 

1881.  Laid  road  (subject  to  gates  or  bars)  from  James  Hart's  to  Moses  C.  Heath's.  Laid  what  is  known 
as  "Deadwater  road"  from  Bert  Brooks's  to  Bear  Rock  road. 

1882.  Laid  road  to  Amos  H.  Tewksbury's  across  land  of  Jeremiah  Keysar. 

1883.  Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  article  calling  for  the  town  to  discontinue  "  South  Hill  road,"  and 
instructed  selectmen  to  repair  said  road,  bridges,  etc. 

1885.  Laid  road  in  West  Stewartstown  village;  also  to  Thomas  H.  Holden's  from  across  Moses  C.  Heath's 
land;  also  one,  subject  to  gates,  from  Benjamin  Knight's  past  Hannibal  Holden's  to  the  "Cream  Poke  road;" 
also  a  road  from  " Deadwater  road  "  to  George  W.  Chamberlin's,  also  one  at  "Free  Bridge." 

1886-87.  The  most  important  actions  of  these  years  to  the  present  has  been  to  accept  the  old  toll  bridge 
as  a  gift:  it  having  been  purchased  by  subscription,  and  engaging  to  keep  it  in  repair  for  public  accommoda- 
tion. At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1887,  it  was  voted  to  cause  suitable  guide-boards  to  be  erected  at  all 
crossings  designated  by  the  selectmen;  also,  voted  to  dispense  with  liquor  agents,  but  chose  agents  to  pros- 
ecute illegal  sellers  of  liquors. 

Representatives. — (See  County  History  for  classed.)  1839,  Jeremiah  Young;  1840-41,  Jonathan  Young; 
1842,  Ebenezer  Watson;  1843-44,  Hiram  Martin;  1845-46,  Joseph  Y.  Tibbetts;  1847-48,  John  Flanders;  1849-50, 
Dudley  S.  Bagley;  1851-52,  William  B.  Fletcher;  1853-54.  Isaiah  H.  Pickard;  1855-56,  Edward  P.  Tibbetts; 
1857-5*.  Edwin  W.  Drew;  1859-60,  Horace  J.  Hall;  1861-62,  James  A.  Morrill;  1863-64,  Otis  Young;  1865-66, 
Stephen  Cross;  1867-68,  Henry  Tewksbury;  1869-70,  Sylvanus  M.  Jordan;  1871-72,  Guy  Holbrook;  1873-74, 
John  K.  Owen;  1875-76,  Hiram  Blanchard;  1877-78,  Hiram  D.Flanders;  1879-80,  John  P.  Blodgett;  1881-82, 
James  M.  Kidder;  18S3-84,  Oscar  Lang;  1885-86,  Milton  Blodgett;  1887-88,  Gad  Beecher. 

Selectmen.— Daniel  Brainard,  1800-05;  Jeremiah  Eames,  1800-08,  1811,  1815-17.  1819-25;  Elisha  Dyer, 
1800-01,  1804-05;  Barzilla  Brainard,  1802;  Joseph  Dyer,  1806-07,  1809-10;  John  Keazer,  1808;  Stephen  Lane, 
1806-13;  William  Tirrill.  1809;  Edmund  Keazer,  1811-18;  David  Locke.  1810;  Barzilla  Brainard,  Jr.,  1812, 
1815-16,  1818-19;  Howard  Blodgett,  1813;  Jonathan  Young,  1813,  1832;  Caleb  Owen,  1814;  Benjamin  Hobart, 
1814;  Oilman  Folsom,  1817;  Richard  Tibbetts,  1818,  1826;  Charles  S.  Wiggins,  1818;  Barzilla  Brainard,  3d, 
1820-21,  1823-25,  1827-29,  1831,  1833-36,  1838,  1844-45;  Daniel  Young,  1819;  Obadiah  Mooney,  1820;  David 
Kent,  1821-22;  Jeremiah  Lovering,  1822.  1828-29,  1831,  1835-36,  1843;  Benjamin  Drew,  1823-25,  1827,  1830, 
1833-34,  1837.  1842,  1846-47,  1849;  Jeremiah  Young,  1826;  Thomas  Piper,  1826;  Richard  Tibbetts,  Jr.,  1827- 
29.  1831,  is'.:;  34,  L838,  1841-42,  1847,  1850;  Jeremiah  Pickard,  1830,  1832;  Daniel  Kidder,  1830,  1832;  Howard 
Blodgett,  3d,   1832,  1841  42;  Seth  Tirrill,  1835-36,  1857-58;  Ebenezer  Watson,   1838-39:  John  Pickard,   1837; 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  c>d!» 

John  Harriman.  1837;  William  M.  Smith.  1839;  Amos  W.  Drew,  1839,  1859-60.  1879-80;  Joseph  Y.  Tibbetts, 
1843-44,  1859-60;  William  B.  Fletcher,  1840-41,  1844-45.  1850  52,  1854;  Stepben  Cross,  1840,  1855-56;  Samue] 
Weeks,  1843;  Job  Poor.  1845-46;  Hiram  Martin,  1846-47;  Dudley  8.  Bagley,  1848-49;  George  W.  Chase,  1848- 
49;  John  M.  Brainard,  1855-56;  James  A.  Morrill,  1848,  1865  66;  Charles  Lang,  1851-52;  Isaiah  II.  Pickard, 
1850-52,  1859-60,  1867;  Albert  C.  Hall,  1853-54;  Edward  P.  Tibbetts,  1853-54,  1875-76;  Thomas  B.  Blodgett, 
1853,  1855-56;  Loring  G.  Piper,  1861-62;  Otis  Young,  1857-58,  1871-73;  James  M.  Kidder,  1S57-58;  Henry 
Tewksbury,  1861-62.  1875-76:  Jahzeel  S.  Piper,  1861-62;  Edwin  W.  Drew.  1863-64,  1867-70,  1883-84:  Eben  P- 
Kidder.  1863-64,  1877-78;  Edwin  Loomis,  part  of  1863  (removed);  Gad  Beecher  (finished  Loomis'  term  1863), 
1864,  1879;  James  M.  Hilliard,  1865-66;  Charles  Fletcher,  1865-66;  John  Flanders,  1867-68;  John  H.  Heat b. 
1868-69;  Hiram  D.  Flanders.  1869-71;  Erastus  Hibbard,  1870-71;  William  \V.  Barnett.  1872-73;  John  C.  Poor, 
1872-73;  Fordyce  A.  Hannat'ord,  1875-76:  Stephen  W.  Carleton,  1877-78;  Alason  Owen,  1877-78;  Milton  Blod- 
gett, 1879-82;  Perley  C.  Knapp,  1880,  died  August;  Elwin  H.  Flanders,  1880,  finished  Knapp's  term.  lsSl-82; 
Hiram  Piper,  1880-82;  Benjamin  Fellows.  1883-84;  Willie  Hall.  1883-84;  Sylvanus  M.  Jordan.  L885  B6;  Isaiah 
Fletcher,  1885-86;  Ephraim  S.  Parker,  1885-86;  Frank  Blodgett,  1887;  Benjamin  H.  Blodgett,  1887;  B.  Fay 
Flanders,  1887. 

Town  Clerks.  — 1800,  Elisha  Dyer;  1801-03,  Dauiel  Brainard;  1804-05,  Daniel  Brainard,  Jr.;  1806-08,  and 
1825,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.;  1809-10,  Joseph  Dyer;  1811-12,  Stephen  Lane;  1813-14.  Edmund  Keazer;  1815-16, 
Elisha  Dyer:  1817-19,  James  Cogswell;  1820-21,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Esq.;  1822-23.  Richard  Tibbetts;  1824.  1831- 
32,  Caleb  S.  Dalton;  1826-27,  Elisha  A.  Tirrill;  1828-30,  1833-34,  1845-46,  Benjamin  Drew;  1835-36,  Howard 
Blodgett;  1837-38,  Amos  W.  Drew;  1839-40,  1843-44,  Hiram  Martin;  1841-42,  1858-60,  1863-64.  John  Flanders; 
1847,  John  Pickard;  1848-50,  William  M.  Smith;  1851-54,  Edwin  W.  Drew;  1855-57,  1861-62,  Isaiah  H.  Pick- 
ard; 1865-69,  1872-74,  Joseph  W.  Flanders;  1870-71,  Nathan  W.  H.  Potter;  1875-76,  Frank  Blodgett;  1877-78, 
Lorenzo  Farnham;  1879-80,  John  C.  Poor;  1881-82,  Oscar  Lang;  1883-87,  Charles  E.  Tewksbury. 

Vote  for  Governor.— 1810,  was  27;  1820,  was  48;  1830,  was  90;  1840,  was  126;  1850,  was  141;  1860,  was  141 » 
1870,  was  193;  1880,  was  229;  1886,  was  196. 


CHAPTER  LXXIII. 


Salts  and  Pearlasb.es — Flax— Brick — Leather— Shoes  and  Harnesses — Blacksmiths—  Saw-Mills 
— Grist-Mills— Starch  Factories— Shingle  and  Clapboard  Mills— Planing  and  Wood-turning — Ma- 
chine Shops — Wheelwrights— Furniture  and  House  Furnishings— Woolen  and  Carding  Mills — 
Foundry  and  Tinsmith— Merchants  and  Traders— Physicians,  Etc. 

QyALTS  and  Pearlashes. — "  Making  salts"  was  the  chief  means  of  get- 
^Tj  ting  money  in  the  early  times.  They  were  made  by  leaching  ashes 
l^^  and  boiling  the  lye  down  until  it  crystallized  in  a  black  mass  called 
"salts."  This  was  sold  to  parties  who  "  pearled"  it  in  large  ovens  made 
of  brick;  the  kettles  used  in  boiling  were  huge  affairs,  weighing  over  700 
pounds,  nearly  seven  inches  thick  at  the  bottom,  (I  well  remember  my  ex- 
perience in  overturning  one  in  the  sugar  place,  which,  like  the  "  bottle-imp," 
persisted  in  retaining  its  equilibrium.)  The  Yankee  propensity  for  adulter- 
ation finally  ruined  the  business,  and  it  was  abandoned  over  forty  years 
ago. 

Flanders  &  Wiswell  had  a  "pearlash  "  in  1S39,  on  the  farm  where  Ed- 
win W.  Drew  now  lives,  which  they  run  several  years;  Capt.  Tibbetts  had. 
one  on  a  brook  near  "North  Hill"  school-house  in  1820.     Harriman  & 


670  History  of  Coos  County. 

Tirrell  had  one  near  Benjamin  Fellows's  in  1830.  The  first  one  on  "South 
Hill"  was  built  by  John  Flanders,  near  E.  W.  Drew's  residence;  he  also 
later  put  up  one  on  M.  &  F.  Blodgett's  north  lot,  which  was  operated  by 
Thomas  Wilson. 

Flax.  — One  of  the  earliest  manufactures  was  that  of  flax.  This  was  car- 
ried on  at  every  farm  house  for  years.  The  flax,  after  being  "  rotted,1'  was 
first  put  through  the  "break,"  which  was  formed  of  four  stationary 
wooden  knives,  with  three  more  above,  which  fitted  between  those  in  the 
bed,  to  break  up  the  woody  fiber  of  the  flax;  the  flax  being  held  in  the 
left  hand,  while  the  knives  (fitted  into  blocks  with  a  hinge  behind)  were 
operated  by  the  right.  When  the  handful  was  broken  half  the  length,  it 
was  turned,  and  the  other  half  broken.  Then,  by  the  use  of  the  swing- 
ling-knife  and  board,  the  woody  parts  were  cut  or  beat  out,  the  flax  hang- 
ing over  the  top  of  the  board.  The  flax,  still  containing  tow  and  particles 
of  woody  fiber,  was  then  drawn  through  the  "  comb,"  or  "  hatchel  "  (made 
of  small  steel  pins  six  or  seven  inches  long),  thus  separating  all  the  remain- 
ing tow,  etc.  It  was  then  ready  for  the  housewife,  who  again  combed 
and  finished  it  ready  for  the  wheel,  wound  it  on  the  distaff,  and,  by  the 
aid  of  the  curiously-shaped  little  flax  wheels,  drew  it  out  into  threads  of 
various  sizes  for  the  manufacture  of  coarse  or  fine  cloth.  The  tow  was 
carded  on  small  hand  cards,  spun  on  the  wool  wheel,  and  used  for  "filling," 
or  woof  to  the  coarser  fabric.  Many  of  the  implements  can  be  found  to- 
day in  the  attics  of  our  old  farm  houses.  "Aunt"  Hannah  Fletcher  has 
a  full  set,  which  she  has  used  many  years,  doing  all  the  weaving,  etc.,  for 
a  large  family,  and  also  for  her  neighbors. 

Brick. — Micajah  Fletcher  and  Isaiah  Fellows  made  two  kilns  of  brick 
near  where  Isaiah  Fletcher  now  lives.  There  was  also  one  kiln  near  where 
John  Knight  resides.  These  were  made  years  ago,  none  having  been 
burned  since  1840. 

Leather. — James  Kennedy  or  Cyrus  Eames  built  a  tannery  in  1839,  at 
West  Stewartstown,  and  was  succeeded  later  by  Nichols  &  Brooks.  This 
was  abandoned  long  ago. 

Shoe  and  Harness  Shops. — This  business  was  started  by  Names  &  Neal 
in  1830.  Nelson  Nichols  and  Chapin  Brooks  had  a  shoe  shop  about  the  same 
time,  as  did  Franklin  Chamberlin  and  Antoine  Chamberlin  (who  united  shoe- 
making  with  the  duties  of  toll  collector  for  the  bridge  company).  George 
F.  Morgan  worked  at  shoemaking  on  "South  Hill"  for  several  years. 
Many  others  did  work  a  short  time  in  the  town  until  the  large  manufac- 
turers drove  them  out  of  the  business.  Daniel  G.  Ripley  opened  a  harness 
shop  before  the  Rebellion,  rind,  after  its  close,  returned,  and  re-opened  it  at 
West  Stewartstown.  Charles  F.  Corkum,  C.  W.  Dellibar,  and  Andrew 
Harian  have  also  worked  at  harness  making  there. 

Blacksm  Hits.—-  Andros  Tirrill  opened  a  shop  about  18i20  on  "North  Hill." 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  671 

He  was  followed  by  Caleb  S.  Dalton,  who  opened  a  shop  on  "South  Hill" 
in  1826,  and  was  succeeded  by  Sylvanus  M.  Jordan  in  1848,  who  carried 
on  the  business  there  and  at  the  Hollow,  until  he  gave  up  the  shop,  in 
1876,  to  his  son,  Andrew  Jackson  Jordan.  Fletcher  Russell  opened  a  shop 
at  West  Stewartstown  in  1833,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  McKnight  in 
1849.  Henry  D.  McKnight  also  had  a  shop  there  about  L826.  R.  G.  Jame- 
son worked  there  in  L862,  Felix  Ricord  in  L869,  Benjamin  Blodget  in  1879, 
Alamanzo  Parker  in  1881,  and  Albert  Quimby  now  occupies  the  shop. 
John  Derby  had  a  shop  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  in  L850. 

Saw-mills. — The  first  saw-mill  was  built  on  the  Connecticut  near  the 
bridge  at  West  Stewartstown  by  Capt.  Jeremiah  Earnes,  in  L803.  This 
was  burned  several  years  later  and  another  built,  owned  by  Daniel  Norris 
&  Co.,  and,  later  (1833),  by  Norris  &  Laugh  ton,  and,  later  yet,  by  Graham 
&  Co.  William  F.  Allen  owned  it  when  it  burned  a  few  years  ago.  He 
then  built  the  one  he  now  operates.  A  "union  "  mill  was  built  early  on 
"  Bishop's  brook,"  near  where  Henry  Hurd  now  lives,  and  another  just 
below,  in  1853,  by  Robert  and  Daniel  Cheney,  which  was  operated  several 
years  by  Daniel,  and  later  by  Martin  Harriman.  Both  of  the  mills  are 
gone  now;  only  the  foundation  of  dams  remaining  to  show  where  they 
were.  Jonathan  Chandler  built  a  saw-mill  in  1824,  on  Cedar  brook,  which 
was  afterward  operated  by  Ezekiel  Watson  and  J.  Hoit  Durgin  This  mill 
is  also  gone,  and  the  ruins  of  a  starch  mill  stand  in  its  place.  In  1*51  Ben- 
jamin Keazer  built  the  mill  now  operated  by  Alanson  Owen,  on  "  Bishop's 
brook,"  dying  before  it  was  finished.  The  mill  was  then  purchased  by 
Col.  Hazen  Bedel,  of  Colebrook,  who  sold  it  to  Oliver  L.  Field.  He  fin- 
ished it  as  a  saw-mill,  and,  about  1863,  added  a  grist  mill.  Hezekiah  Stod- 
dard purchased  it  in  1870,  and,  in  1876,  sold  it  to  Alonzo  Knapp,  who  sold 
to  Mr.  Owen,  the  present  owner,  in  1880.  Adams  M.  Tewksbury  built  a 
saw-mill  below  the  road  on  Cedar  brook,  in  1851,  which  was  operated  by 
him  and  Daniel  A.,  his  son,  until  about  1875,  when  Scott  Harriman  bought 
it,  and  after  repairing  it,  operated  it  until  it  was  destroyed  in  the  hail  storm 
of  July  29,  18S3.  The  machinery  is  now  in  Millsfield.  In  1856  Seth  Tir- 
rill  built  a  saw-mill  on  "  Back  Pond"  brook,  which  was  conducted  by  him 
and  Charles  C.  Tirrill  until  about  1860.  A  Mr.  Bouldry  built  a  saw-mill 
on  the  Mohawk  about  1865.  This  was  afterward  owned  by  Lawrence 
Heath.  About  1877  it  was  rebuilt  by  George  &  Perley  Knapp,  the  present 
owners.      All  mills  in  operation  now  use  circular  saws. 

Grist  mills. — Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames  owned  a  grist-mill  in  1804,  in  con- 
nection with  the  first  saw-mill,  at  West  Stewartstown.  After  the  fire, 
Bean  &  Norris  built  a  flouring  mill  below  their  saw-mill.  This  was  con- 
ducted by  them,  Laughton  and  others,  until  1870,  when  Seth  Tirrill  came 
into  possession.  Fordyce  A.  Hannaford  bought  it  in  1*77.  and  sold  it  to 
Gad  Beecher  &  Son.     In  1878  this  mill  was  burned  in  the  large  fire,  and 


672  History  of  Coos  County. 


rebuilt  by  "  Beecher  &  Sons,"  who  sold  it  to  George  Hammond,  the  pres- 
ent owner.  This  is  the  only  "  wheat  mill  "  in  town.  In  1863  Oliver  L. 
Field  built  a  buckwheat  bolting  and  provender  mill  under  the  saw-mill  on 
Bishop's  brook,  which  has  been  in  operation  ever  since,  and  is  now  owned 
by  Alanson  Owen.  Jonathan  Chandler  also  had  a  provender  mill  and  bolt 
for  buckwheat  at  his  saw- mill  on  Cedar  brook  several  years. 

Starch -mills. — John  Flanders  and  Adams  M.  Tewksbury  built  the  first 
"starch  factory"  in  1852,  where  C.  E.  Tewksbury's  shop  now  stands,  which 
they  carried  on  for  several  years.  Sherburn  R.  Merrill  and  Benjamin 
Gathercole  built  the  starch-mill  now  standing  on  Cedar  brook  in  1867,  and 
afterward  sold  to  Eustis  Lovering  &  Co.,  the  present  owners.  This  mill 
has  not  been  run  for  several  years,  and  is  fast  going  to  decay.  Josiah 
Abbott  &  Co.,  in  1866.  built  a  starch-mill  on  Back  Pond  brook,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  later.  A.  S.  Eustis  and  Alfred  Lovering,  in 
1875.  built  the  starch-mill  on  Bishop's  brook,  near  Jeremiah  Keazer's. 
After  Mr.  Lovering's  death,  Warren  E.  Drew,  of  Colebrook,  bought  his 
interest,  and,  in  company  with  Mr.  Eustis,  now  operates  it.  This  is  the 
only  starch  factory  now  conducted  here. 

Shingles  and  clapboards  were  made  at  the  old  saw-mill  at  West  Stew- 
artstown,  and  are  now  manufactured  there  by  William  F.  Allen;  also  at 
Perley  Knapp's  mill  on  Mohawk  stream.  Alanson  Owen  has  a  shingle 
machine. 

Planing  and  Wood  Turning. — William  F.  Allen,  E.  S.  Parker,  and  John 
R.  Little,  at  West  Stewartstown,  Perley  Knapp  and  C.  E.  Tewksbury,  on 
the  east  side,  all  run  planers  for  custom  work,  in  connection  with  other  busi- 
ness. Little,  Parker,  Allen  and  Tewksbury  also  have  lathes  for  turning 
wood. 

Machine-shops. — William  M.  Smith  and  Davis  Graham  run  the  first 
machine  shop  at  West  Stewartstown.  Calvin  T.  Stoddard  &  Co.  carried 
on  the  manufacture  of  machinery  at  West  Stewartstown,  in  E.  S.  Parker's 
building,  for  some  time,  removing  to  Groveton  in  1886. 

Wln'chn  i( jhls. — Adams  M.  Tewksbury  was  the  first  to  make  wheels  in 
town,  and  built  the  shop  now  occupied  by  his  nephew,  Charles  E.  Tewks- 
bury, who  also  carries  on  a  carriage  and  repairing  business.  C.  S.  Russell 
has  a  shop  at  West  Stewartstown  for  making  and  repairing  carriages. 
Charles  D.  Young  does  repairing  and  painting  at  his  house  near  Knapp's 
mill. 

Furniture  and  House  Finishing. — Ephraim  S.  Parker  manufactures 
doors,  sash,  moldings,  etc.,  at  his  shop  in  West  Stewartstown.  John  R. 
Little  &  Co.,  manufacture  furniture,  coffins,  etc.,  and  both  carry  a  stock 
for  sale.  Thomas  Johnson,  in  1810,  and  Trask  &  Johnson,  in  1847,  and 
Fling  &  .Johnson,  kept  furniture  for  sale,  and  manufactured  in  a  small  way. 
Woolen  Mi/Is,  Carding,  Etc. — William  M.  Smith  and  Samuel  Pitkin 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  673 

built  the  first  mill  for  manufacturing  woolen  goods,  and  custom  carding  at 
West  Stewartstown,  in  1836,  and  carried  it  on  for  many  years.  Isaiah 
Pickard  bought  it  in  1860,  and  L.  &  N.  Cole  succeeded  him  in  L870.  John 
M.  Hilliard  bought  it  in  1872,  and  the  mill  was  burned,  with  others,  in  L879. 
Ephraim  S.  Parker  had  a  carding  machine  in  his  building  burned  in    1887. 

Iron  Foundry  and  Tinsmith. — In  1840  Davis  Graham  and  Joseph  War- 
ren started  an  iron  foundry  at  West  Stewartstown.  for  the  manufacture  of 
stoves,  plows,  etc.,  and  carried  it  on  for  many  years,  until  Mr.  Graham 
removed  it  to  Colebrook.  Charles  M.  Quimby  lias  carried  on  the  tin  busi- 
ness in  West  Stewartstown  since  1880. 

Merchants  and  Traders. — In  1835  Joseph  P.  Wiswall  and  John  Flanders 
opened  a  store  on  South  hill,  for  the  sale  of  general  merchandise.  In  1856 
Mr.  Flanders  moved  his  stock  to  the  "Hollow,"  and  was  succeeded,  in  or 
near  1865,  by  his  son,  Benjamin  C.  Flanders.  He  was  followed  in  1867 
by  Charles  Fletcher  &  Co.,  and  in  1868  by  George  Flanders  &  Co.,  in  1872 
by  Francis  L.  Brown,  in  1874  by  Gathercole  &  Shurtleff.  This  firm  left 
the  store  vacant  until  1880,  when  Fernando  C.  Jacobs  came.  In  1 882  Lucius 
Parkhurst  bought  the  store,  and,  with  Jacobs,  formed  the  firm  of  Park- 
hurst  &  Jacobs. 

West  Stewartstown. — Graham  &  Brooks  were  early  traders  here.  Henry 
Fling  opened  a  store  at  West  Stewartstown  in  1811,  and  continued  in  busi- 
ness several  years,  when  Edwin  Loomis  succeeded  him  for  a  short  time. 
Josiah  Abbott  &  Co.  began  business  in  1866,  and  failed  a  few  years  later. 
Lyman  W.  Alger  began  trade  in  1869,  and  still  continues  in  business. 
Carlisle  N.  Green  commenced  in  1870,  and  was  followed  in  1877  by  Oscar 
Lang,  who  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  Van  Dyke  &  Heath,  and  later  by 
Daniel  Heath  &  Co.  who  still  trade  there.  Lorenzo  Farnham  began,  in 
the  store  he  now  occupies,  in  1873.  Gad  Beecher  &  Son  opened  a  grocery 
in  1884,  and  are  now  doing  business. 

Dry  Goods  and.  Millinery. — Isaac  F.  Jacobs,  clothing,  dry  goods,  etc., 
began  trade  at  West  Stewartstown  in  1878,  and  now  has  the  postoffice  in 
his  store,  succeeding  L.  W.  Alger  as  postmaster,  in  1886.  Mrs.  Ellen  M. 
Fling  engaged  in  millinery  in  1874,  and  continues  in  business. 

Drug  Store. — Lyman  H.  Amiable  began  the  druggist  business  in  1869, 
sold  to  Loverin  &  Holbrook  in  1873,  they  to  Caleb  S.  Dalton,  in  1881,  he 
to  Lyman  O.  Shurtleff,  who  is  still  in  trade. 

Painting. — Thomas  H.  Mayo,  sign  and  ornamental  painter,  came  about 
1850,  and  has  continued  in  business  until  the  present  time,  except  during 
the  war,  when  he  served  in  the  army. 

Physicians  and  Surgeons. — Henry  L.  Watson,  M.  D.,  practiced  in  1838. 
Rev.  Josiah  Morse  was  both  physician  and  preacher  at  West  Stewarts- 
town from  1846  to  1850.  A  doctor  Tirrell  (Thompsonian)  practiced  about 
JL830.     Oscar  Worthley  came  here  about  I860,  and  remained  several  years. 


674  History  of  Coos  County. 

Lyman  H.  Amiable  located  in  1867,  remaining  until  1S72.  Guy  Hol- 
brook  came  about  1870,  sold  to  Frank  E.  Henderson,  who  died  in  1883, 
and  was  succeeded  by  H.  H.  Lee  in  1881.  William  N.  Bryant  practiced 
here  in  1873-71.  Frank  I.  Ramos  came  in  1885,  and  enjoys  a  fine  practice. 
Dentists. — Dr.  Rogers  practiced  dentistry  a  few  years,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded, about  1870,  by  Daniel  0.  Rowell.  Alvin  Chase  came  about  five 
years  ago.  and  still  has  an  office. 


CHAPTER  LXXIV. 


Ecclesiastical — Congregational  Church — Organization — Names  of  First  Members — Pastors — 
Sunday-school,  Christian  Church — Organization— Action  of  the  Church — Original  Membership — 
Extracts  from  Records — Organization  of  "Union"  Church — Membership  and  Dates  of  Reception — 
Extracts  from  Records  and  other  History — Educational  Interests — First  School  Districs,  Etc. 

THE  First  Congregational  Church  of  Christ,  of  West  Stewartstown, 
Canaan,  and  vicinity,  was  organized  July  1,  1816,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances. Members  of  the  church  at  Colebrook  residing  in  the 
above  named  places  found  the  distance  so  far  from  Colebrook — the  only  place 
where  stated  means  of  grace  could  be  enjoyed — that  it  was  extremely  diffi- 
cult, and  almost  impossible  for  them  to  attend  regularly,  and  they  for  a 
long  time  were  deeply  anxious  to  devise  some  measure  to  furnish  themselves 
and  neighbors  with  better  advantages  of  enjoyment  of  gospel  ordinances. 
After  many  prayerful  communions  on  the  subject,  and  an  occasional  ser- 
mon from  the  Colebrook  minister,  they  established  a  "  Bible-class"  on  the 
principle  of  mutual  instruction.  As  many  as  could  went  to  Colebrook  on 
communion  Sabbaths.  About  this  time  a  zealous  brother  while  at  Lunen- 
burg, Vt.,  met  Dr.  Josiah  Morse  who  had  recently  been  dismissed  from  the 
pastorate  of  the  First  Congregational  church  of  St.  Johnsbury.  This  meet- 
ing resulted  in  the  removal  of  Dr.  Morse  and  family  to  West  Stewartstown 
in  April,  L816.  William  Smith  kindly  gave  the  use  of  his  store-house  for 
one  year  to  hold  services  in,  and  a  respectable  congregation  attended  relig- 
ious worship.  Movements  were  now  made  for  a  church  organization. 
Application  was  made  to  the  Colebrook  church  for  a  dismissal  from  that 
body.     This  was  given  in  this  letter: — 

"  By  request  of  the  members  of  this  church  residing  at  West  Stewartstown,  Canaan,  and  vicinity,  a  regu- 
lar meeting  of  the  church  was  notified  and  holden  on  the  27th  day  of  May,  1846;  at  which  meeting  the  request 
of  said  members  to  !>>■  dismissed  for  the  purpose  of  being  organized  into  a  separate  church,  together  with  the 
reasons  assigned  why  such  action  was  desirable  and  a  duty.  These  were  taken  into  seiious  and  careful  con- 
sideration, aud  the  members  present  unanimously  voted  that  the  request  be  granted:    And   furthermore 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  675 

being  informed  that  the  following  named  brethren  and  Bisters  wish  for  a  letter -of  dismissal  for  the  purposi 
above  named,  it  was  voted,  that,  in  accordance  with  this  desire,  Deacon  Nathaniel  Beach,  Mrs.  N.  Beach, 
Mary  Beach,  Elizabeth  Fletcher.  Wm.  Fletcher,  Betsej  Abbott,  Thomas  Johnson.  Sarah  Johnson,  Wm,  Ellis, 
Mrs.  Wm.  Ellis.  Daniel  Norris,  Emily  E.  Norris,  Jeremiah  Pickard,  Mrs.  J.  Pickard,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Dulcina 
Eames,  Abigail  Pickard,  Mary  Pickard.  Mrs.  diaries  Saruvant,  .Vln^ail  Sargeant,  Sarah  Earvey,  Mary  Barms, 
Hezekiah  Stoddard,  Mrs.  Nathan  Frizzle.  Polly  Blodgett  be  dismissed  according  to  their  request,  and  that 
when  they  should  be  organized  into  a  separate  church,  their  particular  connection  with  us  will  cease.  With 
an  expression  of  our  best  Christian  affections.  In  behalf  of  the  church  of  Colebrook  and  vicinity.  ('.  \V. 
Richardson,  acting  pastor  and  moderator." 

The  members  thus  dismissed  immediately  voted  to  call  a  council,  which 
met  July  1,  1846,  and  organized  this  church. 

Pastors.— Rev.  Josiah  Morse,  July  1,  1846;  Rev.  Albert  A.  Rankin, 
June.  1850;  Rev.  J.  Wooster  preached  half  the  time  for  some  years;  Rev. 
J.  B.  Hill,  1856;  Rev.  E.  Burt,  February  7,  1864;  Rev.  J.  W.  Starr,  July 
5,  1874,  (died  June,  1875);  Rev  W.  S.  Bugbee,  July  19,  1875;  Rev.  Abra- 
ham Burnham,  November,  1878,  (died  December  8,  1878);  Rev.  H.  P. 
Lamprey,  June  1,  1879;  Rev.  H.  H.  Coleburn,  May  2,  1880;  Rev.  W.  A. 
C.  Converse,  April  11,  1886;  Rev.  C.  W.  Wallace,' D.  D.,  July  4,  188C 
Deacon  William  Ellis  is  the  present  church  clerk. 

The  church  building  was  commenced  in  1848,  and  completed  November 
15,  1852,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,000.  Improvements  have  since  been  made, 
bringing  the  present  value  to  $1,500.  There  are  now  121  names  on  the 
church  books. 

The  Sabbath-school  has  an  average  attendance  of  about  sixty,  and  the 
interest  manifested  by  teachers  and  scholars  has  been  productive  of  much 
good.     William  F.  Allen,  superintendent;  T.  E.  Davies,  secretary. 

Christian  Church. — "Record  of  the  Church  of  God  in  the  connection  called  Christians,  at  Stewarts- 
town,  N.  H. 

"  Gathered  July  16th,  A.  D.,  1823,  in  Jesus  name. 

"Joseph  Banfield,  Pastor." 

"We  whose  names  are  herein  recorded,  viz.,  fifteen  brethren  and  sisters,  agree  to  consider  ourselves  a 
church,  to  acknowledge  Christ  our  Heal  Master,  Lord  and  Lawgiver,  whom  we  are  to  hear  to  in  all  things,  the 
New  Testament,  our  Rule  by  which  to  instruct  and  admonish  each  other,  without  the  addition  of  any  disci- 
pline invented  by  men,  and  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Christians  according  to  Acts  xi.— 26.  We  like- 
wise agree  to  strive  to  love  all  christians  of  any  denomination,  and  to  continue  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ, 
according  to  Heb.  6— 12." 

Action  of  Church,  from  Records. — "  Agreed  that  there  should  be  two  conferences  held  monthly,  one 
on  South  Hill,  and  the  other  on  North  hill,  or  '  College  Grant;'  that  on  South  hill  to  be  held  on  the  last 
Thursday,  and  the  other  on  the  second  Thursday  in  every  month.  Agreed  that  brother  Gideon  Tirrill  should 
be  the  clerk  of  the  church.  Agreed  to  acknowledge  and  approbate  brethren  Charles  Wiggin  and  Gideon  Tir- 
rill in  the  capacity  of  deacons.  At  a  conference  held  at  brother  Charles  Wiggin's,  Oct.  16,  18:10.  Agreed  to 
Dismiss  Eld.  Joseph  Banfield  at  his  request  from  the  Pastoral  charge  of  the  church,  and  to  receive  Eld.  John 
T.  Colby  as  their  pastor." 

This  conference  was  remarkably  interesting  on  account  of  the  divine 
spirit  that  was  made  manifest. 

First  Organization:  Members  and  Date  of  tin- ir  Reception. — Charles  Wiggin,  William  Tirrill.  Gideon 
Tirrill.  Willoughby  Goodwin,  Abigail  Wiggin.  Sarah  Young,  Jer-usha  Dearth.  Pamelia Hurlbert,  Sarah  Good- 
win, Polly  Chase,  Elizabeth  Lovering,  July  16.  1823;  Nancy  Hall,  Esther  Hall,  July  20,  1823;  Nancy  Batchel- 
dor,  July  22,  1823;  Hannah  Tirrill,  Miles  Hurlbert,  Richard  Tibbetts,  Jr.,  July  27.  1823;  Hubbard  Lovering, 
Abigail  Lovering,  August  10,  1823;  Hannah  Tirrill.  Susannah  Tirrill,  August  14,  1823;  Abigail  Little,  Whit- 


•676  History  of  Coos  County. 

comb  Tirrill,  August  17,  1823:  Moody  Little.  Thomas  I.  Little,  August  27,  1823;  Osgood  Lovering,  September 
1.  1823;  Aaron  Goodwin.  November  30.  1823;Mark  Springer,  October  18,  1828;  Benjamin  Young,  June  15.  1834; 
Betsey  Keazer,  Betsey  Goodwin,  Sally  Keazer.  Julia  E.  Lovering,  June  17,  1834;  Abial  Chandler,  November 
16,  1839;  Julia  Wright.  April  1,  1843;  John  Thurston,  Nancy  Dearth,  no  date  given. 

Extracts  from  Records,  etc. — In  1834  Stephen  Coffin,  of  Alton,  and 
T.  G.  Colby,  of  Wolf  borough,  held  a  series  of  meetings  here.  In  1837  Luke 
Waldron  held  services.  June  20,  183!).  T.  G.  Colby,  William  Demeritt, 
and  J.  Perkins  began  meetings,  and  at  the  class-meeting,  June  30,  Daniel 
Eogers  was  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  by  the  laying  on  of  hands. 
September  8,  1839,  Brothers  Blodgett  and  Barry,  from  the  south  part  of  the 
state,  held  meetings  here,  and  at  Hereford,  P.  Q.,  Clarksville  and  East  Co- 
lumbia with  good  results.  May,  1840,  Elder  Oliver  P.  Tuckerman  held 
meetings,  and  in  August,  Elder  E.  Shaw  officiated  for  several  Sabbaths. 
October,  1810,  Levi  Eldridge  visited  us,  and,  in  March,  1841,  moved  with 
his  family  to  Colebrook,  and  took  charge  of  the  Christian  churches  in  this 
section.  January,  1845,  Bro.  Samuel  S.  White,  of  Palmyra,  Me.,  came 
and  labored  until  fall.  January,  1850,  Elder  William  S.  Morrill  moved 
into  Stewartstown  to  labor  in  gospel  work  in  this  and  adjoining  towns;  in 
February,  Jeremiah  M.  Smith  paid  us  a  short  visit. 

The  church  ordinances  having  been  neglected  and  the  church  scattered, 
the  remaining  eleven  members  re-organized,  in  accordance  with  the  first 
organization,  July  5,  1851,  as  a  "  Christian"  or  "Union"  church. 

Christian  or  Union  Church. — Under  this  organization  the  following 
members  were  received  at  the  dates  mentioned: — 

Charles  S.  Wiggin,  Richard  Tibbetts,  Jr.,  John  Thurstin,  Gideon  Tirrill,  Henry  E.  Wiggin,  William  S. 
Morrill,  Nancy  Wiggin,  Sally  H.  Young.  Sabra  T.  Tirrill,  Jane  S.  Wiggin,  Minerva  T.  Morrill,  July  5,  1851; 
Stephen  Harriman,  Jerusha  Harriman,  Susan  Tibbetts,  Mary  Tibbetts,  Louisa  Young,  Eliza  A.  Rudd,  Persis 
Harriman.  Axigust  2,  1851;  Newell  Tibbetts,  August  17,  1851;  Sally  Keysar,  October  25,  1851;  Matthias  Haines, 
Mary  A.  Corbett,  Chloe  Haines,  October  26,  1851;  Mary  Wiswald,  November  22.  1851;  Sarah  Willey,  Sarah  R. 
Young,  November  7.  1852;  Sarah  M.  Brackett,  Caroline  Flanders,  August  25,  1853;  Isaac  Willey,  April  8,  1857; 
Samuel  R.  Dennett,  November  18,  1857;  Charles  W.  Brackett,  December  16,  1857;  Lucy  Di-e\v.  Mary  Keysar, 
Jane  Holden,  June  18.  1859;  Alvin  Kidder,  July  16,  1859;  Julia  A.  Morgan,  October  8,  1859;  Abbie  A.  Wiggin, 
September  6,  1863;  Oilman  C.  Noyes,  Patience  Harriman,  Emily  Lang,  September  1,  1867;  Asa  Noyes,  Sep- 
tember 1.  1871;  Harriet  Knight.  September  9,  1871;  Samuel  T.  Noyes,  October  1,  1871;  Anna  Noyes,  October  7, 
1871;  Sarah  Heath,  April  1,  1876. 

Extracts  from  Records.  —August  2,  1851,  chose  Elder  William  S.  Mor- 
rill pastor,  Charles  S.  Wiggin  and  Gideon  Tirrill  deacons,  and  Henry  E. 
Wiggin,  clerk.  September  2  and  3,  1856,  the  Free  Will  Baptists  held  a 
quarterly  meeting,  and  Elder  N.  K.  George  labored  three  weeks  and,  as  a 
result,  on  September  27,  1S56,  Elder  George  baptized  eighteen,  seventeen 
joined  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church  at  Clarksville,  and  seventy-five  par- 
took of  the  communion.  November  7,  1855,  Deacon  Charles  S.  Wiggin 
died;  a  brother  much  beloved,  who  had  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  office.  1859,  Henry  E.  Wiggin  chosen  deacon.  1867,  Gilman  C.  Noyes 
chosen  clerk. 

The  Christian  church  had  no  regular  pastor  from  June,  1862,  to   June, 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  077 

1867,  when  Elder  Stephen  M.  Andrews  came  and  labored  for  six  months. 
He  was  followed  by  Elder  R.  B.  Eld  ridge  who  was  here,  irregularly,  for 
about  two  years.  Then  there  was  no  pastor  until  April,  1871,  when  Elder 
W.  S.  Morrill  returned  and  preached  for  one  half  the  time.  During  these 
intervals  monthly  meetings  were  kept  up. 

June  3,  1871,  chose  Stephen  Harriman  deacon  in  place  of  G.  C.  Noyes, 
moved  away.  June  14-,  1873,  chose  Samuel  T.  Noyes,  clerk.  Elder  W.  S. 
Morrill  closed  his  labor  April.  1S71,  and  the  church  was  without  a  pastor 
until  December,  1874,  when  Clark  Simonds  engaged  for  a  year.  Septem- 
ber 30,  1870,  Elder  C.  D.  Burdick  was  chosen  pastor.  October  30,  1876, 
received  Martin  Harriman  into  church,  and  voted  to  grant  him  a  licentiate 
preacher's  license.     June  2,  1877,  chose  Martin  Harriman  clerk. 

The  church  became  again  disorganized,  and  so  remained  until  Rev.  W. 
H.  H.  Collins,  assisted  by  Rev.  Martin  Harriman,  and  Rev.  W.  A.  C. 
Converse,  framed  a  "Union  Constitution,"  and  the  church  under  the 
pastorate  of  Elder  Collins  struggled  a  few  years  longer.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev  Otis  S.  Danforth,  who  resigned  in  1881.  No  regular  services  have 
been  held  since,  except  a  few  weeks  in  summer,  and  occasional  services  by 
travelling  preachers.  This  is  much  to  be  regretted,  as  there  is  a  good 
church  building  here,  and  the  people  are  able,  and  should  unite  and  sus- 
tain a  pastor.  Rev.  Messrs.  Converse  and  Danforth  did  some  good  work, 
but  were  discouraged,  and  left  for  brighter  fields  before  the  seeds  sown 
here  had  borne  much  good  fruit.  Those  who  continue  faithful  now  attend 
churches  at  Colebrook  and  West  Stewartstown,  and  hold  occasional  class 
meetings  here. 

Education  was  of  vital  importance  to  the  first  settlers  as  the  following 
extracts  show: — 

1803.     Voted  to  raise  forty  dollars  for  schools,  $60  for  all  other  purposes. 

1801.     Raised  eighty  dollars  for  schools,  and  eighty  dollars  for  all  other  uses  of  town. 

1806.     680  for  schooling,  $80  for  school  house,  8100  for  highways  and  town  expenses. 

1808.     $100  for  schooling,  .*50  for  school  house,  $25  for  town  expenses. 

1818.  Voted  to  divide  Town  into  school  districts,  chose  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  Barzilla  Brainard,  Oilman 
Folsom.  Charles  S.  Wiggin  and  Richard  Tibbetts  commiteee  to  district  the  town,  which  they  did  as  follows: 

"District  No.  1,  to  contain  all  lots  and  gores  of  lots  within  following  roads,  beginning  at  mouth  of  Back 

pond  (or  Dearth  pond)  brook,  running  up  the  Brook  to  the  south  line  of thence  N.  20°  E.  on  back 

line  of  sd  lot  to  line  of  settlers  lot  14,  thence  south  on  said  line  to  the  N.  E.  corner  of  sd  lot.  thence  to  N.  W. 
corner  of  No.  21  in  10  Range,  thence  on  Range  line  between  10  and  11  to  N.  E.  corner  of  Lot  16,  in  10  Range, 
thence  North  on  cheek  line  to  College  grant  on  north  line  of  Town,  thence  on  town  line  to  River  thence 
down  River  to  first  mentioned  bound.  District  X".  2  to  contain  Lots  16,  17,  18,  19,  in  4th  Range.  16,  17,  18, 
and  19.  5th  Range,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  in  6th  Range,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  10th  Range,  16.  17,  18,  19.  20.  in  8th 
Range,  16,  17,  IS,  19,  20.  9th  Range  and  sane-  in  Kith.  District  No.  3.  Settlers  Lots  1.  2.  3,  4,  5,  6,  7.  and  14 
with  all  gores  adjoining  them,  also  16,  17,  18  ami  19.  in  first  Range,  No.  16.  17.  18  and  19,  in  2d  Range,  No. 
16,  17,  18  and  19.  in  3.1  Range.  District  No.  4,  Lots  No.  1  to  16  in  Ranges  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  Lots  1  to  8  in  Ranges 
6  and  7.  District  No.  5,  Lots  8  to  16  in  Range  6  and  all  lots  in  Ranges  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  from  No.  1  to  16.  the 
above  sett  oil'  Monday  the  30  day  of  March  1818." 

This  division  was  accepted  by  the  town  March  31,  1818, 

In  1822  and  "23  the  school  tax  was  paid  in  wheat  at  Si  per  bushel.  1825,  ;'chose  Caleb  S.  Dalton.  Jere 
Eames,  Jr.,  David  Kent,  Howard  Blodgett,  Jr.,  inspectors  of  schools.     1S33,  sett  off  Diamond  Pond  District. 


678  History  of  Coos  County. 


1843,  voted  to  sett  off  a  new  school  district  to  be  called  the  'Hollow  District,'  granting  leave  for  all  to  join 
it  who  wish.  1859,  the  town  was  again  redistricted  and  contained  seven  districts.  1865,  voted  to  raise  three 
hundred  dollars  for  schools  in  addition  to  what  the  law  requires.  1867,  voted  to  raise  five  hundred  dollars 
for  schools  above  the  demands  of  the  law." 

Resolution  o/1874.  "  Whereas  it  is  a  prevailing  practice  of  some,  if  not  all,  of  the  Prudential  committee 
in  the  town  of  Stewartstown  to  pay  the  school  Teachers  at  the  end  of  their  term  the  sum  agreed  upon, 
whether  said  Teachers  present  a  certificate  of  the  proper  return  of  their  Registers  or  not,  and,  whereas,  if 
said  registers  are  not  returned  properly  it  is  impossible  for  the  superintending  school  committee  to  make  a  proper 
report  of  the  schools  to  the  State  Board  of  Education,  therefore  be  it  resolved  that  the  superintending  school 
committee  be  instructed  to  commence  legal  proceedings  against  all  such  Prudential  Committees  who  shall  here- 
after pay  any  money,  belonging  to  any  school  district  in  Stewartstown,  to  any  Teacher  who  has  not  produced  a 
certificate  from  the  Superintending  Committee  that  they  have  returned  their  Registers  properly  filled  for  the 
District  under  their  charge.     (Adopted.)" 

Orders  Adopting  School  Books. — "  I  hereby  order  that  all  the  reading  books  of  every  kind  in  use  of  the 
schools  of  this  town  be  withdrawn,  and  the  series  known  as  "Franklin's  "  be  used  in  their  stead,  commenc- 
ing with  the  next  summer  term,  Given  under  my  hand  this  18th  of  January,  1878. 

"  Lorenzo  Farnham,  Supt.  Sch.  Committee." 

1880.  "This  certifies  that  I  have  adopted  for  the  use  in  the  schools  of  this  town  for  the  term  of  five 
years  the  following  books,  Monteith's  Elementary  Geography  and  Monteith's  Comprehensive  Geography. 

"  Walter  Drew,  S.  S.  C." 

1881.  "  I  have  adopted  Fish  &  Robinson's  Complete  Arithmetic  and  Fish  &  Robinson's  first  book  in 
Arithmetic.  Walter  Drew,  S.  S.  C." 

1883.     "  Adopted  Meserve's  Book-keeping  for  term  of  years  required  by  Law. 

"John  C.  Poor,  S.  S.  C." 

In  1884  the  town  adopted  the  following: — 

"Resolved,  That  the  superintending  committee  arrange  a  course  of  study  for  our  schools,  at  least  in 
Reading  &  Arithmetic,  and  classify  the  Pupils  in  those  branches." 

No  high  schools  or  academies  have  ever  been  in  operation  here,  the 
means  of  education  being  limited  to  district  and  private  or  select  schools. 

The  town,  as  last  divided,  had  thirteen  school  districts  with  206 
scholars,  and  $965.02  as  money  expended  for  teaching. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


HON.  AMOS   WEBSTER  DREW.'r 

For  more  than  half  a  century  one  of  the  prominent  characters  in  the 
history  of  Coos  county  has  been  Amos  W.  Drew.  During  that  time  he 
has  been  identified  with  her  interests,  has  carefully  noted  her  progress,  and 
rejoiced  in  her  development  and  prosperity.  Under  his  observation  many 
of  her  towns  have  been  almost  wholly  built  up.  When  he  first  knew  the 
county,  much  of  it  was  a  dense  forest.  Then  there  were  but  two  framed 
houses  between  the  line  of  Colebrook  and  the  north  line  of  Pittsburg.  In 
this  long  period  his  acquaintance  has  embraced  all  the  prominent  men  of 
his  county,  and  many  of  the  more  active  ones  throughout  the  state  For 
nearly  seventy  years  in  this  section  he  has  closely  watched  events  as  they 

*By  Hon.  C.  B.  Jordau. 


*m 


/ 


?~zu^ 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  6Y9 

have  come,  gone,  and  passed  into  history.  A  keen  scrutinizer  of  men  and 
things,  of  receptive  mind  and  retentive  memory,  lie  has  long  been  a  store- 
house of  valuable  information.  A  good  conversationalist,  his  home  and 
society  have  been  much  sought  by  those  in  quest  of  historic  facts  and  a 
friendly  chat.  He  comes  of  a  strong,  long-lived  race,  and  has  a  sinewy 
frame  that  has  well  withstood  the  toils  and  cares  of  four  score  years. 

[The  Drew  (Drewe)  family  of  England  descend  from  an  early  noble 
Norman,  tracing  the  line  through  centuries.  Members  of  the  family 
accompanied  William  the  Conqueror  to  England,  participated  in  the  memor- 
able battle  of  Hastings  (1060),  and  were  granted  lands  in  Devon,  Here- 
ford, and  elsewhere,  which  are  enrolled  in  the  Doomsday  Book.  Accord- 
ing to  a  preamble  to  the  Drew  pedigree,  given  by  the  King  of  Arms,  "  The 
ancient  and  knightly  family  of  Drew  of  Devonshire  arc  lineal  descend- 
ants from  Richard,  Duke  of  Normandy,  grandfather  of  William  the  Con- 
queror. (Descendants  of  this  line  are  now  residents  at  Drewscliffe,  Devon: 
a  younger  branch  was  transplanted  to  Ireland.  This  has  had  representa- 
tives in  the  counties  of  Cork,  Kerry,  and  Waterford,  notably  at  Mocollop 
Castle,  Waterford.)  On  their  escutcheon  is  an  ermined  lion  passant  (jutes, 
langued  and  armed.  The  quartering^  show  intermarriages  with  the  Clif- 
fords and  other  noble  families.  Crest:  a  bull's  head  erased  sable;  in  his 
mouth  three  ears  of  wheat,  or,  Motto:  Drogo;  nomen  et  virtas  arm  a 
dedit." — Editor] 

The  first  American  ancestor  was  John  Drew,  son  of  William,  and 
grandson  of  Sir  Edward  Drew.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1642,  came  to 
Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  1600,  where  he  married.  Of  his  descendants  many 
may  be  found  in  New  England.  Several  went  to  Maine  and  became  resi- 
dents. Samuel  Drew,  born  in  Shapleigh,  Maine,  married  Betsey  Webber, 
a  native  of  Rumney,  N.  H.  They  made  their  home  in  Plymouth,  also  in 
Bridgewater,  and  attained  a  ripe  old  age.  Their  son,  Benjamin,  born  in 
Plymouth,  April  17,  1785,  married  Sally,  daughter  of  John  and  Sally 
(Heath)  Harriman,  of  Hampstead.  "Squire"  Benjamin  Drew  was  a 
notable  citizen.  He  was  promoted  to  all  the  offices  within  the  gift  of  his 
townsmen;  was  representative  in  1830-31,  and  selectman  for  many  years. 
He  was  liberal  and  charitable,  and  his  creed  and  action  was  "Do  unto 
others  as  ye  would  that  they  should  do  unto  you."  His  wife  was  his 
equal  in  strength  of  mind,  and  in  every  virtue.  They  had  four  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Of  these  children  Amos  W.,  Edwin  W.,  and  Benjamin 
now  remain. 

Amos  W.  Drew  was  the  eldest,  and  was  born  at  Bridgewater,  April  5, 
1808.  His  parents  moved  to  New  Hampton  in  181 1,  and  resided  there  until 
January  2,  1S:_M.  when  the  family  started  for  Stewartstown.  Amos  going 
on  foot  to  drive  the  stock.  November  15,  1835,  he  married  Julia  Esther, 
daughter  of  Hubbard  and  Abigail  iBumford)  Lovering,  a  woman  of  strong 


680  History  of  Coos  County. 

mind  and  most  amiable  disposition.  She  was  born  in  London,  June  4, 
1815.  (Her  father  was  born  in  Loudon,  January  14,  1791,  and  her  mother 
in  Wakefield,  December  21,  1791.  They  were  thrifty  farmers,  and  Julia 
was  the  second  of  their  eight  children.  They  moved  to  Colebrook  when 
she  was  but  three  years  old.) 

Immediately  after  marriage  Mr.  Drew  established  a  home  in  Stewarts- 
town.  He  possessed  more  than  average  scholarship  and  ability,  and  his 
business  capacity  was  soon  recognized  by  his  fellow  citizens.  They  elected 
him  town  clerk  two  years,  and  selectman  several  terms  before  he  moved 
to  Colebrook  in  1843.  Here,  too,  his  services  were  soon  called  into  requisi- 
tion; for,  although  he  moved  back  to  Stewartstown  (near  the  old  home- 
stead on  South  hill)  in  1850,  he  had  served  as  selectman  six  years,  and  as 
representative  in  the  General  Court  for  1847  and  1848. 

At  that  time  Mr.  Drew,  though  a  strong  Democrat,  voted  for  the  anti- 
slavery  resolutions  that  for  the  next  twenty  years  were  much  talked  of  in 
New  Hampshire  political  circles.  Indeed,  Mr.  Drew  was  never  of  the  pro- 
slavery  wing  of  his  party.  His  impulses,  his  reason,  and  his  humanity, 
were  all  against  bondage  and  oppression.  He  was  a  conscientious  believer 
in  the  Constitution,  and  could  hardly  see  how,  under  that  instrument,  we 
had  any  right  to  forcibly  meddle  with  slavery  in  the  states  where  it  existed, 
but  believed  that  the  slaves  should  be  liberated  by  purchase,  and  that  the 
rights  and  powers  of  the  general  government  and  of  the  states  should  be  care- 
fully defined  and  maintained.  He  also  believed  fully  in  the  right  and  duty 
of  the  national  government  to  protect  and  preserve  itself  under  all  cir- 
cumstances, and  that  the  allegiance  of  every  citizen  was  due  to  the  Nation 
without  regard  to  state  or  party.  When  secession  asserted  itself,  his  hand 
and  voice  were  for  his  country.  We  remember  and  shall  not  forget  his 
speech,  at  Colebrook  town-hall  in  the  spring  of  1861,  when  swords  were 
presented  to  Capt.  Smith  and  Lieut.  Hutchinson.  It  was  full  of  good  feel- 
ing, fervor  and  patriotism.  From  then  to  the  close  of  the  Rebellion  Mr. 
Drew  was  a  hard  worker  in  the  Union  cause,  and  had  it  not  been  for  his 
age,  no  doubt  his  military  spirit  and  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his 
country  would  have  early  carried  him  into  the  struggle.  As  it  was  he 
kept  full  the  quota  of  his  town,  and,  November  11,  1863,  was  appointed 
special  recruiting  agent  for  Stewartstown,  Pittsburg,  and  Clarksville. 

In  his  earlier  years  he  had  a  liking  for  military  affairs.  March  25, 
L834,  he  was  commissioned  ensign  by  Gov.  Samuel  Dinsmore;  August  17, 
1836,  lieutenant  by  Gov.  Isaac  Hill;  March  2,  L838,  captain  by  the  same; 
July  19,  L842,  adjutant  of  the  Twenty-fourth  regiment  by  Gov.  Henry 
Hubbard.  Mr.  Drew  was  an  excellent  officer,  understood  "tactics" 
thoroughly,  and  was  a  good  disciplinarian.  He  participated  in  the  "Indian 
Stream  war/'   |  See  County  History.]   Yet  his  pursuits  were  those  of  peace, 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  681 

and,  as  a  loyal  citizen  in  the  civil  walks  of  life,  he  has  made  the  name  and 
fame  for  which  his  many  friends  most  delight  to  remember  him. 

He  became  the  business  man  of  the  community;  drew  many  wills,  deeds, 
and  other  papers;  was  frequently  called  upon  to  act  as  commissioner,  ad- 
ministrator, or  executor  in  the  settlement  of  estates.  In  L852-53  he  was 
elected  county  treasurer;  in  1862-63  he  was  state  senator  from  the  ''old 
Twelfth  district";  in  November,  1871,  he  was  appointed  county  commis- 
sioner to  succeed  to  the  unfinished  term  of  Isaiah  H.  Pickard,  and  was 
afterward  elected  twice  to  this  office,  serving  in  it  until  May,  1876.  He 
was  justice  of  the  peace  from  1848  to  1886,  and  coroner  from  1842  to  1873. 
In  all  these  positions  he  performed  his  duties  with  much  more  than  aver- 
age wisdom  and  judgment.  In  neighborhood  difficulties  his  services  and 
counsels  have  been  often  sought  and  followed  with  beneficial  results. 

He  has  a  high  appreciation  and  regard  for  personal  integrity,  and  is 
scrupulously  honest.  He  has  always  been  public-spirited  and  hospitable; 
has  done  much  for  the  schools,  public  and  private;  encouraged  and  aided 
all  local  schemes  for  the  promotion  of  educational  interests,  and  is  ever  on 
the  side  of  law,  order,  and  good  government.  During  his  active  life  he 
was  a  logical,  earnest  talker  when  occasion  demanded,  and  always  com- 
manded the  attention  of  his  listeners.  He  read  much,  and  by  the  fireside 
discussed  with  his  wife  and  children  politics,  morals,  religion,  and 
other  questions  of  the  day.  Though  a  strong  believer  in  the  ultimate  sal- 
vation of  all  men  (through  the  goodness  of  a  God  who  makes  no  mistakes) 
he  is  tolerant  of  the  beliefs  of  others,  and  no  one,  old  or  young,  ever  received 
from  him  other  than  good  advice. 

He  was  fortunate  in  his  domestic  relations.  Mrs.  Drew  possesses  in 
a  marked  degree  those  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  that  most  adorn  a  wife 
and  mother.  Of  their  thirteen  children,  six  sons  died  in  infancy  and 
childhood:  five  sons  and  two  daughters  grew  to  maturity:  Lucy  Abigail, 
Irving  W.  (see  Bench  and  Ban,  Benjamin  F.,  Warren  E.,  Ellen  J.,  Hol- 
liian  A.,  and  Edward  Everett.  All  except  Lucy,  the  elder  daughter,  are 
living.  She  was  born  May  4.  1  ^4-">,  and  died  October  -?:'>.  L886.  Her  life 
was  so  closely  interwoven  with  the  lives  of  her  father  and  mother  that  a 
word  here  is  due  to  her  memory  in  the  history  of  the  county  where  she 
was  so  well  and  so  favorably  known.  Her  excellencies  of  character  can 
not  all  be  portrayed.  She  had  a  strong,  logical  mind,  a  mental  grasp  of 
remarkable  comprehension  and  tenacity,  and  a  disposition  that  deservedly 
won  ami  kept  warm  friends  to  the  day  of  her  death.  She  was  an  apt, 
thorough  scholar.  Beginning  school-keeping  when  she  was  only  fourteen,, 
she  followed  it  successfully  until  disabled  by  disease,  and  was  a  wise,  pleas- 
ing instructor  and  a  safe  counsellor.  She  graduated  at  Kimball  Union 
academy  in  L863.  she  was  a  good  disputant,  wrote  well  and  easily  on  any 
subject  commanding  her  thought  and  study,  had   positive  convictions  on 

45 


682  History  of  Coos  County. 


all  questions  of  right  and  wrong,  and  maintained  the  right,  when  assailed, 
with  a  modesty  and  a  power  that  were  always  fascinating  and  irresistibly 
convincing.  She  was  of  great  help  to  her  parents,  and  rendered  valuable 
assistance  in  directing  the  minds  of  the  other  children  in  the  right  chan- 
nels. Her  offices  of  kindness  wherever  she  moved  were  many  and  appro- 
priate. More  than  twenty  years  before  her  death  she  suffered  an  attack  of 
diphtheria,  followed  by  partial  paralysis,  which  gradually  brought  an  active 
and  promising  young  life  to  an  invalid's  chair.  But  through  all  these  years 
the  light  of  a  fine  intellect  and  a  noble  christian  character  shone  out  in  words 
and  deeds  to  make  better  and  happier  those  around  her. 

Mr.  Drew,  now  in  his  eightieth  year,  has  passed  beyond  his  days  of  busi- 
ness activity,  but  he  still  watches  with  keen  interest  current  events — foreign, 
national,  and  local.  He  and  his  venerable  wife  are  now  contentedly  living 
at  their  home  in  Colebrook,  where  kind  friends  are  ever  welcome,  and 
where  the  ripeness  and  mellowness  that  crown  advancing  years  never  sat 
more  royally  than  upon  their  heads. 


EDWIN    W.    DREW. 

Edwin  W.  Drew,  youngest  child  of  Benjamin  and  Sally  H.  Drew,  was 
born  in  Stewartstown,  December  10,  1827.  He  was  educated  at  the  district 
and  private  schools  of  Stewartstown,  and,  aside  from  what  he  has  learned 
by  observation  and  private  study,  had  no  educational  advantages  equal  to 
those  enjoyed  by  the  boys  of  Stewartstown  to-day.  He  taught  eight  terms 
of  school  successfully.  He  was  brought  up  a  farmer,  and  such  he  has 
always  remained,  getting  a  comfortable  living,  and  keeping  a  farm  in  good 
productiveness  which  has  been  cultivated  nearly  a  century,  paying  little 
attention,  however,  to  "fancy''  breeds  or  crops,  and  has  always  lived 
"  within  a  stone's  throw  "  of  his  birthplace. 

Mr.  Drew  married,  March  28,  1852,  Marietta,  daughter  of  Luther  F.  and 
Mary  (Piper)  Hall,  also  a  native  of  this  town.  They  have  six  children: 
John  W.,  a  merchant  of  Colebrook;  Walter,  now  deputy  collector  of  cus- 
toms; Carrie,  (Mrs.  F.  H.  Noyes);  Byron;  Alice;  Hattie  H. 

Mr.  Drew  has  been  much  in  official  position,  and  with  considerate  judg- 
ment and  conceded  ability  has  filled  well  each  station  to  which  he  has  been 
called.  He  was  superintending  school  committee  of  Stewartstown  from 
L849  to  L857;  town  clerk  from  1851  to  1854;  selectman  in  1863,  '64,  '67,  '68, 
'69,  '70,  '83,  '85;  representative  in  1857-58;  county  commissioner  from  1861 
to  L864;  county  treasurer,  1868  to  1870;  a  member  of  the  state  board  of 
equalization  from  the  creation  of  the  office  to  the  present;  a  delegate  to  the 
constitutional  convention  of  1876.     He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  a  liberal 


rwi  u^l 


Town  of  Stewaktstown.  683 

in  religion,  and  a  man  of  strictly  temperate  habits.  He  has  never  belonged 
to  a  secret  society  except  the  Grange;  in  this  he  has  been  "  Master." 

A  man  of  strong  physique  and  endurance,  he  has  accomplished  much 
labor  and  has  proven  himself  equal  to  any  sudden  emergency;  e.  g.  Janu- 
ary 1,  1874, while  cutting  timber  alone  over  a  mile  from  his  house,  he  frac- 
tured both  bones  of  his  right  leg  below  the  knee.  Cutting  a  crotched  sap- 
ling for  a  crutch,  he  went  forty  rods  to  his  horse,  mounted  it  and  rode 
home. 

He  has  never  made  distinctions  in  his  treatment  of  men,  treating  the 
poor  with  the  same  consideration  as  the  rich,  and  always  from  the  stand- 
ard of  equity.  He  is  a  good  debater,  holds  pronounced  opinions  which 
are  formed  after  careful  consideration,  and  his  counsels  have  weight  in 
town,  county  and  state  affairs.  Socially  he  is  unpretending,  neighborly 
and  kind;  in  the  family,  enjoys  his  children's  respect  and  love;  in  the  com- 
munity, the  esteem  of  all. 


LYMAN   WILLIS   ALGER. 

In  1749  twenty-eight  persons  applied  for  dismission  from  the  Puritan 
church  of  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  on  account  of  difference  of  religious  opinion. 
They  were  not  dismissed,  but  suspended.  These  were  people  of  deep  re- 
ligious faith,  tender  conscience,  and  strong  tenacity  of  opinion,  and  were 
the  nucleus  of  the  First  Baptist  church  in  Bridgewater.  Among  these 
"Separatists"  were  members  of  the  Alger,  Lothrop,  Ames,  Hay  ward  and 
Willis  families,  all  prominent  and  representative  Massachusetts  people. 

The  Alger  family  is  well-known  in  New  England  for  its  connection 
with  iron  manufacture.  Thomas  Alger1  settled  in  America  during  the 
seventeenth  century,  and  was  one  of  the  first  of  his  name  in  this  country. 
He  made  his  home  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  near  the  Three  Mile  river,  and  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Packard.  His  son,  Israel2,  was  a  farmer  in  Bridgewater, 
and  a  man  of  influence  and  wealth.  His  wife  was  a  granddaughter  of 
Thomas  Hay  ward,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  and  first  settlers  of 
Bridgewater.  They  had  live  sons,  of  whom  Joseph"  was  the  second.  His 
son,  Joseph',  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  First  Baptist  church 
of  the  town. 

Edmund  Alger6  (grandfather  of  Lyman  W.  Alger)  was  born  in  Bridge- 
water,  Mass.,  in  1Y63,  married  Huldah  Lothrop,  and  had  seven  children. 
Mr.  Alger  carried  on  merchandizing  for  some  years  in  Massachusetts:  but, 
losing  his  property  by  the  failure  of  others,  he  determined  to  leave  New- 
England,  and  emigrate  to  some  place  where  he  could  provide  an  inherit- 
ance of  land  for  his  five  sons.  Accordingly,  in  1801,  he  became  a  resident 
of  Eaton,  P.  Q.,  a  place  then  thirty  miles  from  civilization:  but  land  was 
plenty,  and  capable,  persevering,  energetic  men  were  needed  to  develop 


684  History  of  Coos  County. 


and  improve  the  resources  of  that  section.  Mr.  Alger  proved  equal  to  the 
emergency;  as  a  carpenter  and  farmer  he  did  much  to  build  up  the  new 
settlement.  He  inherited  the  strong  religious  nature  of  his  progenitors, 
and  was  instrumental  in  forming  a  Baptist  society  in  the  town  of  his 
adoption,  and.  by  his  character  and  influence,  the  better  element  of  human 
nature  in  these  forest  wilds  was  fostered  and  nourished  and  brought  forth 
good  fruit.  In  this  good  work  he  was  aided  by  his  strong  friend  and 
companion,  Capt.  Josiah  Sawyer,  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Mass.,  born  in 
1.756.  ('apt.  Sawyer,  with  his  father  and  five  brothers,  served  in  the  Colo- 
nial army,  where  he  received  his  title.  The  English  government  to  settle 
the  Canadian  country  offered  to  give  a  township  to  any  one  obtaining  forty 
families  to  settle  in  any  locality  which  they  should  select,  and  Capt. 
Sawyer,  having  complied  with  the  requirements,  selected  Eaton,  and  there 
made  his  home,  and  here  the  two  men  were  the  propelling  forces  in  the  com- 
munity. Capt  Sawyer  was  an  Orthodox  Congregationalist,  and  the  prime 
factor  in  the  church  of  that  denomination.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy 
and  practical  common  sense.  He  built  saw  and  grist-mills,  and  his  name 
is  perpetuated  in  that  of  the  village  of  Sawyersville.  Edmund  Alger  died 
in  Elton,  P.  Q.,  in  1836,  aged  seventy-four  years.  His  third  son,  Asa, 
born  in  Bridge  water,  Mass.,  February  7,  1796,  came  to  Eaton  when  only 
five  years  old,  and  lived  the  life  of  the  pioneer.  He  labored  with  his  father 
and  brothers,  working  earnestly,  and  the  forest-clad  hills  were  converted 
into  smiling  fields,  and,  after  many  years,  they  gathered  around  them 
property  and  conveniences.  He  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Capt.  Josiah 
and  Susanna  (Green  )  Sawyer,  and  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  attained 
maturity:  Emily  (married  William  Lindsey);  Horace  (deceased);  Henry, 
(deceased);  Ruth;  Lyman  IT.;  Persis  (married  Eben  Goodwin). 

Asa  Alger  was  a  strong,  energetic  man,  of  indomitable  will  and  great 
endurance.  His  early  life  had  served  to  develop  rather  than  diminish  his 
mental  and  physical  nature.  He  was  a  man  of  clear  and  good  judgment, 
and  retained  his  mental  faculties  to  a  remarkable  degree  until  his  death. 
May  10,  1882,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  but  for  thirty  years  he  had 
been  totally  blind.  Mrs.  Alger  died  June  2,  1885,  at  Eaton,  in  her  nine- 
tieth \  (  ar,  after  an  illness  of  but  three  days — "  tired  Nature  going  to  rest." 
Her  mind  was  clear,  and  memory  retentive  to  the  last  of  her  long  life. 
Born  and  bred  in  a  religious  home,  her  children  were  brought  up  in  the 
fear  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

Lyman  Willis  Alger,  son  of  Asa  and  Abigail  (Sawyer)  Alger,  was  born 
in  Eaton,  P.  Q.,  June  29,  1831.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  twenty-one:  attended  school  about  three  months  a  year  until  he  was 
nineteen:  and  labored  on  the  farm,  and  learned  the  full  import  of  the 
words  'Thou  shalt  earn  thy  bread  by  the  sweat  of  thy  brow."  He  then 
attended  school  two  terms  at  the  academy  at  Derby,  Vt.,  and,  after  attain- 


Town  of  Stew  aims  town.  685 

ing  his  majority,  two  terms  at  Colebrook  academy,  lie  worked  in  the 
summer  of  L852  in  the  Nulhegan  Lumber-mill  at  Bloomfield,  Vt..  earning 
money  to  defray  his  academic  expenses  during  the  fall  term;  he  then 
taught  school  in  the  winter  in  Bloomfield,  and  the  next  springterm  iin 
ished  his  school  education  at  the  academy.  Here  lie  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Marion  Wallace,  daughter  of  Gen.  Lewi--  and  Rispah  (Beach) 
Loomis.  whom  he  married  January  '■'>.  L856.  Mrs.  Alger  is  a  most  estima- 
ble-lady, of  artistic  tastes  and  intellectual  culture;  she  is  also  a  practical 
worker,  and  able  assistant  of  her  husband.  July  18,  L853,  Mr.  Alger  re 
ceived  the  appoint n lent  of  station  agent  at  North  Stratford,  which  he  held 
until  April  6,  1851k  He  then  removed  to  Colebrook,  and  carried  on  the 
homestead  farm  of  Gen.  Loomis,  now  occupied  by  J.  L.  Loomis,  for  four 
years.  He  then  returned  to  North  Stratford  intending  to  engage  in  manu- 
facturing, but  was  taken  ill  with  a  rheumatic  fever,  which,  after  long 
months  of  suffering,  left  him  physically  enfeebled,  and  with  exhausted 
means.  Now  his  traits  of  pluck,  perseverance,  and  persistency,  inherited 
from  a  long  line  of  goodly  ancestors.  "stood  him  in  good  stead."  and  as- 
sisted and  encouraged  by  his  sympathetic  wile  he  commenced  anew  the 
battle  of  the  world.  In  the  spring  of  L861  he  became  the  agent  of  the  Pro- 
tective Union  store,  a  co-operative  mercantile  establishment  at  Canaan.  Vt... 
and  was  in  charge  of  it  five  years.  He  then  purchased  a  store  in  West 
Bethel,  Me.,  and  was  in  trade  there  from  June.  1866,  until  L869,  when  he 
removed  to  West  Stevvartstovvn  on  account  of  his  wife's  health,  and  en- 
gaged in  merchandizing  with  Dr.  Amiable  as  "Alger  &  Amiable,"  uniting 
Dr.  Annable's  stock  of  drugs  with  a  general  variety  of  goods.  This  firm 
continued  three  years;  then  Dr.  Amiable  moved  the  drug  business  to 
another  building,  and  Mr.  Alger  has  since  carried  on  trade  alone. 

Mr.  Alger  has  been  prospered.  He  says  the  key  to  his  success  was  the 
advice 'given  him  by  that  veteran  merchant,  F.  G.  Messer,  "Spend  your 
money,  but  not  your  credit."  Asa  Republican  in  politics,  he  wasappointed 
postmaster  of  West  Stevvartstovvn,  August,  1^72.  and  held  the  office  until 
October,  1886.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Temperance  Society,  and  has 
been  actively  connected  with  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
New  Hampshire  since  1876,  and  ha-  been  a  member  of  the  State  Execu- 
tive Committee  from  that  date.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alger,  by  their  Chris- 
tian kindness  and  sympathy,  have  exerted  a  strong  and  beneficial  influ- 
ence, and  they  have  been  the  means  of  helping  many  to  lead  a  better  life. 
Mr.  Alger  joined  the  Calvinistic  Baptist  church  when  he  was  fourteen 
years  old.  and  uow  holds  his  membership  at  North  Stratford.  In  1884 
this  church  voted  him  a  license  to  preach,  which  he  declined,  preferring  to 
work  in  connection  with  the  V.  M.  ( '.  A. 


<;m;  History  of  Coos  County. 

samuel  gray  hannaford. 

Among  those  who  have  had  charge  of  public  institutions  in  Coos  county, 
and  proved  faithful  to  the  interests  intrusted  to  them,  there  is  no  worthier 
representative  than  Samuel  G.  Hannaford,  the  superintendent  of  the 
county- farm. 

Samuel  Gray  Hannaford,  son  of  Amos  C.  and  Hannah  (Lyford)  Han- 
naford. was  born  at  Northfield,  N.  H.,  July  30,  1822.  (The  Hannafords 
belong  to  the  old  families  of  that  town.)  His  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town.  At  the  age  of  four- 
fceen  he  went  to  Sanbornton  Bridge  (Tilton),  and  learned  the  carpenter  and 
cabinet-maker's  trade  of  an  uncle,  and  established  himself  in  business 
there,  combining  agriculture  with  his  trades.  Mr.  Hannaford  married, 
October  4,  1842,  Lucy  M.,  daughter  of  Jabez  R.  and  Ruth  (Noyes)  Hanna- 
ford, a  native  of  Boscawen.  They  have  two  children,  Russell  and  For- 
dyce  A.,  who  reside  in  Northumberland,  and  carry  on  business  in  Lan- 
caster. 

He  resided  in  Sanbornton  nearly  thirty  years,  during  which  time  his 
reliability,  honesty  and  courtesy  gained  him  many  friends,  and  public 
trusts  were  committed  to  his  charge.  In  1861  and  1862  he  was  chosen  se- 
lectman, and  the  first  year  of  his  candidacy  received  all  the  votes  of  the 
town  save  sixteen.  His  political  opinions  are,  and  always  have  been,  Dem- 
ocratic; he  believes  with  Jefferson  that  "a  strict  adherence  to  the  Consti- 
tution is  the  one  thing  needful  to  the  perpetuity  of  the  Union."  He  was 
a  recruiting  officer  during  the  Rebellion,  and  has  held  a  commission  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

The  particular  field  of  Mr.  Hannaford's  activity  and  usefulness,  in 
which  he  has  been  ably  seconded  by  his  estimable  wife,  has  been  in  the 
management  of  public  institutions.  In  1865  he  received  the  appointment 
of  assistant  superintendent  of  Merrimac  county-farm,  under  Frank  S. 
Dodge,  now  warden  of  N.  H.  state  prison,  and  removed  to  the  farm  where 
he  resided  nearly  a  year.  The  care,  attention  and  skill  which  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hannaford  exhibited  in  the  performance  of  the  varied  duties  confided 
t  ( »  them  were  productive  of  such  good  results  that  they  were  highly  rec- 
ommended by  the  warden  and  one  of  the  Merrimac  county  commissioners 
to  the  Coos  county  commissioners  for  the  superintendency  of  the  county- 
farm  to  be  established  at  West  Stewartstown. 

Mr.  Hannaford  was  first  aware  of  his  selection  for  this  position  when 
asked  to  accept  it.  This  was  done  in  August,  1S6T,  and  after  due  delibera- 
tion it  was  accepted,  and  September  20,  1867,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannaford 
m<  tved  to  West  Stewartstown,  which  has  since  been  their  residence.  Under 
their  careful  supervision  the  county-farm  has  become  a  model  one,  and 
each  succeeding  year  has  shown  the  wisdom  of  the  appointment.  The 
affairs  are  conducted  ably  and  efficiently.     Mr.  Hannaford  possesses  good 


V 


a^fiji^r*9#n  •  c/u; 


Z£44*JLL4^c/4  ^f 


Town  of  Stewartstown.  68*1 

financial  ability,  both  in  purchasing  supplies  for  so  large  a  family  and  in 
the  sale  of  the  surplus  of  the  farm.  The  superintendent  and  matron  are 
very  careful  that  nothing  goes  to  waste  The  children,  numbering  now 
twenty-one,  have  the  advantage  of  a  good  school  six  months  in  a  year, 
and  their  intelligent  and  ready  replies  to  questions  from  strangers  evidence 
that  this  department  has  the  requisite  attention.  All  in  all  thegood  judg- 
ment and  care  of  the  institution,  the  humane  treatment  of  the  inmates, 
and  its  prosperous  condition  deserves  high  commendation. 

Mr.  Hannaford  was  the  first  person  initialed  in  Doric  Lodge  K.  oc  A. 
M..  Tilton,  X.  11..  and  lias  ever  held  his  membership  there.  His  duties 
preclude  him  from  accepting  any  office  in  Stewartstown.  but  be  has  fre- 
quently been  chosen  moderator.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  Lancaster  National 
bank.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannaford  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 


ISAIAH   H.  PICKARD. 

Isaiah  H.  Pickard,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  (Harvey)  Pickard. 
was  born  in  Canterbury.  March  is,  L819,  and  died  in  Stewartstown,  Octo- 
ber 13,  1*^4.  About  1826  his  parents  removed  to  Stewartstown,  and  located 
on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  county  buildings.  Mi-.  Pickard  married, 
Oct.  30,  1856,  Sarah  A.  Rogers,  of  Columbia.     She  died  January  27,  1871. 

Mr.  Pickard  was  an  unswerving  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  served  his  town  faithfully,  being  very  active  in  its  affairs.  He  was 
selectman,  town  treasurer,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  represented  Stewarts- 
town in  the  legislative  terms  of  1853  and  1854.  He  once  held  the  office  of 
county  commissioner,  and  in  all  these  responsible  positions,  fidelity  and 
integrity  marked  his  work.  Prompt  and  reliable  as  a  business  man.  he 
had  much  probate  business  intrusted  to  him,  and  was  requested  to  allow 
his  name  to  be  used  as  a  candidate  for  probate  judge,  but  Ins  modest  y 
caused  him  to  shrink  from  such  publicity.  He  did  not  belong  to  any 
church,  but  was  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  Congregational  church,  of 
which  Mrs.  Pickard  was  a  member,  and  was  ever  charitable  to  those  in 
want.  He  was  of  a  quiet  and  unobtrusive  nature,  always  genial  and 
social,  however,  and  often  had  an  appropriate  story  to  illustrate  his  ideas. 
Careful  and  conservative  in  business  dealings,  lie  acquired  some  pr  »perty. 


KKKXANDO    C.  JACOBS. 

Among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  town  of  Bingham,  Mass.,  was 
Nicholas  Jacobs  and  family.  They  came  there  aboul  L633.  Some  of  their 
descendants  settled  in  Scituate,  Mass.,  were  men  of  affairs  and  influence, 
and  erected  saw  and  grist-mills  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town.  These 
are  still  known  as  "  Jacobs's  mills,"  and  are  owned  by  the  family.  Nicholas 
was  the  first  American  ancestor  of  most  of  the  name  in  New  England. 


688  History  of  Coos  County. 


Fernando  C.  Jacobs,  son  of  Justin  and  Polly  (Sargent)  Jacobs,  was 
born  in  Warren,  Vt.,  January  16,  1813.  His  early  years  were  passed  with 
an  uncle,  with  whom  he  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y  After  some  years  he 
returned  to  Vermont,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  at  New  Haven. 
In  1835  lie  went  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  worked  at  his  trade  there  and  in 
Troy  for  two  years.  His  next  residence  was  in  Colebrook,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  tanner,  and  continued  three  years;  he  then  removed 
to  Stan st cad,  P.  Q.,  and  was  there  two  years.  His  next  base  of  operation 
was  in  Canaan.  A't.  Here  he  enlarged  his  business,  erected  a  tannery,  and 
carried  on  tanning,  shoe  and  harness  manufacturing  for  sixteen  years  so 
prosperously  that  from  the  results  of  his  industry  and  hard  labor  he  was 
enabled  to  carry  out  a  plan  which  for  sometime  he  had  been  considering. 
The  idea  had  suggested  itself  to  him  to  establish  a  tourists'  and  hunters' 
resort  in  the  delightful  region  of  the  Upper  Connecticut,  where  the  sports- 
man rinds  rare  game  and  fish,  and  the  tourist  pure  air  and  lovely  scenery. 
In  1860  he  built  the  Connecticut  Lake  House,  on  the  shore  of  that  beauti- 
ful body  of  water.  This  formed  the  terminus  of  a  lovely  carriage-drive 
of  twenty -five  miles  from  Colebrook,  and  became  headquarters  for  sports- 
men and  lumbermen.  His  management  of  this  house  for  the  next  eleven 
years  forms  quite  a  chapter  in  the  advance  of  civilizing  forces  into  the 
"woods."  Upon  closing  his  interests  here  Mr.  Jacobs  went  to  Lancaster, 
and  was  engaged  in  "  tilling  the  soil"  for  two  years.  The  following  three 
years  he  was  at  the  Brunswick  Springs  House;  from  there  he  returned  to 
Colebrook  and  was  in  the  grocery  business  for  three  years.  In  1880  he 
located  at  Stewartstown  Hollow,  and  opened  a  store  of  general  merchan- 
dise, under  the  firm  name  of  Parkhurst  &  Jacobs. 

Although  occupied  in  these  different  lines  of  business  enterprises,  Mr. 
Jacobs  has  also  been  interested  in  public  matters,  taking  an  active  part, 
and  strv.d  in  many  official  capacities  both  in  his  native  and  adopted  state. 
He  was  master  in  chancery  in  Essex  county,  Vt.,  from  1850  to  1860,  and 
a  notary  public  from  1857  to  1860,  in  the  same  county.  He  was  postmaster 
at  Canaan  four  years,  under  Republican  administration;  deputy  sheriff 
four  years;  was  lister,  and  held  other  offices.  He  was  deputy  provost- 
marshal  during  the  great  civil  war;  represented  Pittsburg  in  1865-66;  has 
served  as  collector  and  selectman  for  several  years;  has  held  the  office  of 
posl  master  Cor  six  years  in  Stewartstown;  was  justice  of  the  peace  in  Pitts- 
burg from  1861  to  1871,  and  of  Stewartstown  since  becoming  a  citizen  of 
that  place.  He  is  a  man  of  intelligence,  keeps  himself  informed  of  the 
topics  of  the  day,  and  attends  to  his  business  with  the  activity  and  vigor 
of  a  younger  man.  He  has  been  three  times  married.  His  first  wife, 
Julia  A.  Cooper,  was  the  mother  of  his  five  children:  Alma  P.  (married 
Capt.  II.  S.  Milliard);  Sarah  C.  (Mrs.  David  O.  Rowell);  Henry  F.,  Charles 
J.,  and  J.  Anna. 


OLARKSVILLB. 


CHAPTER  LXX  V 


Boundaries— Origin  of  Name — First  Proprietors— Early  Settlers — Firsl  Town  Meeting— Early 
Marriages — Civil  List. 

THIS  town  is  situated  in  the  north  part  of  the  county.  The  surface  is 
broken  and  hilly,  but  the  soil,  in  many  portions,  is  good  for  grass, 
oats  and  potatoes.  Starch  and  maple  sugar  are  manufactured  here. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Pittsburg,  east  by  Carlisle,  south  by  Dix- 
ville  and  Stewarfcstown,  and  west  by  Canaan,  Vt.  There  are  two  ponds 
in  Clarksville.  Clarksville  pond  contains  200  acres,  and  Can*  pond  about 
thirty.  In  the  latter,  trout  were  very  abundant  until  a  few  years  ago, 
when  some  pickerel  were  put  into  the  pond,  and  the  trout  have  disappeared. 

Clarksville  was  originally  known  as  Dartmouth  College  Grant.  In 
January,  1789,  "the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  passed  an  act 
granting  to  the  trustees  of  Dartmouth  college  a  valuable  tract  of  land 
eight  miles  square,  about  forty-two  thousand  acres,  lying  north  of  Stew- 
artstown."  In  1820  Benjamin  Clark,  from  whom  the  town  received  its 
name,  and  one  or  two  other  Dartmouth  students,  purchased  from  the  col- 
lege 10,000  acres  of  this  grant;  20,000  acres  were  also  bought  by  two  or 
more  New  York  men,  but  the  latter  failing  to  pay  their  taxes,  the  land 
was  advertised  and  sold  to  Gideon  Tirrill  and  Josiah  Young.  They  paid 
the  taxes  for  several  years,  and  then  sold  it  to  lumber  men.  These  were 
the  purchasers  of  much  of  the  territory  embraced  in  this  section. 

Early  Settlers. — The  first  comers  into  this  town  are  entitled  to  much 
admiration  and  gratitude  for  the  struggles  they  made  in  subduing  t he 
wilderness  and  opening  the  way  for  comfortable  homes.  Few  of  the 
present  day  can  conceive  the  sufferings  they  endured.  The  survey  of 
Clarksville  was  partly  made  during  the  winter  of  1799  and  L800,  and  one 
man  lost  his  life  (frozen  to  death  I  while  assist  ing  in  this  work. 

Among  the  early   inhabitants   were  Gideon    Tirrill,   .Joseph   Wiswall, 


<;(.)!)  History  of  Coos  County. 


Samuel  Comstock,  Benjamin  Young,  John  Robie,  Miles  Hurlbert,  Joseph 
Crawford,  Alexander  Smith  and  Josiah  Bumford. 

Gideon  Tirrill  was  the  first  to  settle  on  lot  No.  41,  where  he  lived  sev- 
eral years,  and  then  removed  to  Canada  where  he  died.  Joseph  Wiswall, 
brother-in-law  of  Benjamin  Clark,  settled  here  in  1822,  on  lot  No.  42;  he 
cleared  this  land;  after  a  few  years  he  moved  to  lot  No.  43,  and  resided 
there  during  his  life.  He  was  Mr.  Clark's  agent  for  the  sale  of  this  wild 
land,  and  lot  No.  44  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Comstock,  who,  with  his  two 
sons,  became  settlers.  John  Comstock  came  to  Clarksville  about  1819, 
from  Pittsburg,  where  he  had  resided  since  1812.  He  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  a  loyal  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  serving  his  country 
faithfully  through  her  dark  days.  His  death  occurred  in  Clarksville  in 
1 828.  His  sons,  Samuel  and  John,  also  were  residents  in  Clarksville,  and 
their  names  appear  often  on  the  board  of  selectmen.  His  grandson,  Horace 
Comstock,  is  the  present  town  clerk. 

During  the  decade  from  1820  to  1830  the  increase  in  population  could 
not  have  been  very  rapid,  as  October  5,  1S30,  when  the  first  town  meeting 
was  held,  there  were  but  twenty-one  voters;  yet  the  forest  showed  signs 
of  giving  way  before  the  sturdy  blows  of  the  woodman's  axe,  the  soil  had 
responded  to  the  early  farmer's  labors,  and  the  necessary  grains  and  vege- 
tables were  raised  for  the  current  wants  of  the  little  community. 

First  Town  Meeting. — The  signers  of  the  petition  to  call  the  first  town 
meeting  were  Benjamin  Young,  John  Roby,  Jr.,  Stephen  Harriman,  John 
Hurlbert,  John  Comstock,  Samuel  Comstock.  The  following  officers  were 
chosen:  Joseph  Wiswall,  town  clerk;  Joseph  Wiswall,  John  Harriman  and 
Josiah  A.  Young,  selectmen.  The  amount  of  taxes  raised  for  all  purposes 
was  $34.92.  They  voted  to  pay  the  collector  for  his  services  for  collecting 
the  same.  -84;  selectmen  §1  each,  and  the  town  clerk  $1.50. 

In  1832  John  Roby  gave  twelve  and  one-half  cents  for  the  privilege  of 
collecting  taxes.  In  1857  a  postoffice  was  established  in  the  town,  and 
Edmund  K.  Young  was  the  first  postmaster;  Charles  W.  Wiswall  is  the 
present  incumbent.  In  1858  the  financial  condition  of  the  town  necessi- 
tated the  choosing  a  town  treasurer,  and  Edmund  K.  Young  was  elected, 
and  performed  the  duties  of  that  position  for  many  years  in  a  creditable 
manner. 

There  are  four  schools  in  town,  but  no  church  building.  The  town  was 
endowed  with  corporate  privileges  in  1854,  and  is  classed  with  Pittsburg 
for  the  election  of  representative.     Population  in  1880,  328. 

Marriages  of(  '<>!lege  Grant  Settle?^  Recorded  in  Stewartstown. — April 
12,  1 827,  Stephen  Harriman  to  Geranta  Dearth,  both  of  College  Grant.  No- 
vember 29,  1827,  John  Harriman,  of  College  Grant,  to  Edith  Tirrill,  of 
Stewartstown.  April  28,  1S28,  Simon  Harriman,  of  College  Grant,  to 
Mary  Harriman,  of  Stewartstown.  December  10,  1831,  Enos  Brown,  of 
(  'larksville,  to  Lovina  Heath,  of  Stewartstown. 


Town  of  (  'i.a i :ks vn, ].i:.  691 


Civil  List.— 1830.    Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall;  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall,  John  Harriman,  Josiah  A. 
Young. 

Is  II.    Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall;  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall,  John  Goodwin,  John  Comstock. 

1832.  Town  clerk.  Gideon  Tirrill;  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall.  Gideon  Thrill.  John  Harriman. 

1833.  Town  clerk,  Gideon  Tirrill;  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill,  John  Goodwin,  Joseph  Wiswall. 

1834.  Town  clerk.  Gideon  Tirrill;  selectmen.  Gideon  Tirri  1,  -l  isiab  Young,  Edmund  Keysar. 

1835.  Towp  clerk.  Gideon  Tirrill:  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill,  Edmund  Keysar,  John  Goodwin. 
183(5.     Town  clerk.  Gid  ;on  Tirrill;  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill,  Josiah  A.  young,  Edmund  Keysar. 
14.17.     Town  clerk.  Gideon  Tirrill;  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill.  Josiah  A.  Young,  Edmund  Keysar. 
1833.     Town  clerk.  Joseph  Wiswall;  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall,  Edmund  1  nig. 

1839.  Town  clerk.  Gideon  Tirrill:  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill,  Josiah  A.  Young,  John  Comstock. 

1840.  Town  clerk.  Josiah  A.  young;  a,  Joseph  Wiswall,  Edmund  Keysai",  Samuel  Comstock. 

1841.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall;  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall.  Edmund  Keysar,  Samuel  Comstock. 

1842.  Town  clerk,  Josi  ph  Wiswall:  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall.  Samuel  Comstock,  Edmund  Keysar. 

1843.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall:  selectmen.  Joseph  Wiswall,  Edmund  Keysar,  Samuel  Comstock. 

1844.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall:  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall.  Josiah  A.  Young,  Samuel  Comsti 

1S45.     Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall;  selectmen,  John  A.  Tirrill.  Jeremiah  Y.  K  ysar,  Edmund  K.  young. 

1846.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wi-wal!;  selectmen,  John  Keysar.  Joseph  Wiswall,  Gideon  Tirrill. 

1847.  Town  clerk.  Joseph  Wiswall:  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill.  Samuel  Comstock,  Miles  II.  Keysar. 

1848.  Town  clerk.  Miles  II.  Keysar;  selectmen.  Edmund  Keysar.  Stephen  Cross,  Samuel  Comstock. 

1849.  Town  clerk,  Edmund  H.  Keysar;  selectmen,  Joseph  Wiswall.  Edmund   K.  Young,  Samuel  Com- 
stock. 

1850.  Town  clerk.  Stephen  G.  Fuller;  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill.  Edmund  K.  Young,  Peltiah  C.  Roby. 

1851.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall:  selectmen,  Hiram  H.  Kenney,  Stephen  Cross,  Edmund  Keysar. 

1852.  Town  clerk.  Joseph  Wiswall:  selectmen,  Edmund  H.  Keysar,  Samuel  Comstock,  Josiah  A.  young. 

1853.  Town  clerk.  Joseph  Wiswall:  selectmen,  Stephen  G.  Fuller.  .John  Ki  ysar,  Benjamin  Young. 

1854.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  Wiswall;  selectmen,  Stephen  G.  Fuller.  Edmund  H.  Keysar,  Benjamin  Young. 

1855.  Town  clerk,  John  Keysar:  selectmen,  Gideon  Tirrill,  Josiah  A.  Young,  Samuel  Comstock. 

1856.  Town  clerk.  John  Keysar;  selectmen.  Israel  W.Tyler,  John Thurstin,  Samuel  Comstock. 

1857.  Town  clerk,  John  Keysar:  selectmen,  Joseph  W.  Young,  Benjamin  < '.  Wiswall,  John  Keysar. 

1858.  Town  clerk,  John  Keysar;  treasurer,  Edmund  K.  Young;  sslectmi  n:  Stephen  G.  Fuller.  Israi  I   W. 
Tyler.  Levi  I).  Muncy. 

1859.  Town  clerk.  John  Keysar;  treasurer.  Josiah  A.  Young;  selectmen,   Israel  W.  Tyler,  Josiah  Yo 
John  Keysar. 

1860.  Town  clerk,  John  Keysar:  trea-uivr,  Josiah  A.  Young;  selectmen,  Edmund  K.  Young,  Orrin  Covill, 
Josiah  Young. 

1861.  Town  clerk,  John  Keysar:  treasurer,  Edmund  K.  Young;  selectmen.   Edmund  K.   Young,  Orrin 
Covill,  Levi  D.  Muncy. 

1862.  Town   clerk,     John   Keysar;    treasurer,    Edmund   K.    Young:    selectmen,   John  Keysar.     Josiah 
Young,  Andrew  J.  Barnett. 

1863.  Town  clerk,  Edmund  K.  Young:   treasurer,   Edmund  K.   Young;  selectmen,    Edmund   K.Young. 
Josiah  Young.  Andrew  J.  Barnett. 

1864.  Town   clerk,  Edmund   K.  Young;  treasurer,  Edmund  K.  Young;  selectmen,  John    Keysai-.    Oren 
F.  Tewksbury,  Levi  D.  Muncy. 

1865.  Town  clerk.  Edmund  K.  Young;  treasurer,  Edmund  K.Young:  selectmen,   Edmund  K.   Young, 
John  S.  Tirrill,  Josiah  Young. 

1866.  Town   clerk.  Edmund   K.  Young:  treasurer,  Edmund  K.   Young;  selectmen,  Edmund  K.  Young, 
Johns.  Tirrill.  Peltiah  C.  Roby. 

1867.  Town  clerk,  Edmund  K.Young;  tn  .   Edmund   K.   Young:  selectmen,  Stephen   G.    Fuller, 
-     phi  n  Goodwin.  Benjamin  Young. 

1868.  Town  clerk.  Edmund  K.  Young:  treasurer,  Edmund  K.  Young:  selectmen,  John    Keysar,  Horace 
Comstock,  David  F.  Hall. 

1869.  Town  clerk,  Edmund  K.  young;  treasurer,  Benjamin  C.  Wiswall:  selectmen,  Stephen   <..  Fuller, 
id  F.  Hall.  Stephen  Goodwin. 

1870.  Town  clerk.  Edmund  K.  Young:  treasurer,  Benjamin  ('.  Wiswall;  selectmen,  Edmund  K.  Young, 
Norman  C.  Young,  Ephraim  8.  Parker. 

1871.  Town  clerk,  John  Keysar:  treasurer.  Benjamin  C.  Wiswall;  selectmen,  John   Keysar,  Norman  C. 
Young,  Ephraim  S.  Parker. 

1872.  Town   clerk.    Charles  Young:    treasurer.   Jeremiah   H.   Young;  selecl Edmund    K.    Young, 

Horace  Comstock,  Oren  F.  Tewksbury. 


692  History  of  Coos  County. 


1873.  Town  clerk,  Charles  Young:  treasurer,  Joseph  W.  Young;  selectmen,  Edmund  K.  Young,  Horace 
Comstock,  Oren  F.  Tewksbury. 

1874.  Town  clerk.  Charles  Young;  treasurer,  Joseph  W.  Young;  selectmen,  Charles  W.  Wiswall,  David 
F.  Hall,  Josiiih  Young. 

ls75.  Town  clerk.  Joseph  W.  Young;  treasurer,  Joseph  W.  Young;  selectmen,  Horace  Comstock,  David 
F.  Hall.  Josiah  Young. 

IsTt;.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  Young;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Horace  Comstock,  Jeremiah 
II.  Young,  Hosea  Crawford. 

1.S77.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  W.  Young;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Jeremiah  H.Young,  Joel 
H.  Munn,  Hosea  Crawford. 

1878.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  W.  Young;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Joel  H.  Munn,  James  E. 
Hilliard.  Charles  Young. 

1879.  Town  clerk,  Joseph  W.  Young;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Charles  Young,  Josiah 
Young,  Joel  H.  Munn. 

1880.  Town  clerk,  Charles  Young;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Josiah  Young,  Charles 
Young,  Horace  Comstock. 

1881.  Town  clerk,  Charles  Young:  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Josiah  Young,  Hiram  A. 
Schorl',  John  Keysar. 

1882.  Town  clerk.  Charles  Young;  treasurer.  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Stephen  G.  Fuller,  John 
Keysar,  Hiram  A.  Schoff. 

1883.  Town  cleric.  Charles  Young:  treasurer.  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Joseph  W.  Young,  Berkley 
Keysar,  David  F.  Hall. 

is-u.  Town  clerk.  Charles  Young;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Charles  Young,  William  W. 
Scott.  Horace  Comstock. 

1885.  Town  clerk,  Charles  Young:  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young:  selectmen,  Horace  Comstock,  Charles 
Young,  Berkley  Keysar. 

1886.  Town  clerk,  Charles  Young;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Berkley  Keysar,  Noah  F. 
Kidder,  Charles  Young. 

1887.  Town  clerk,  Horace  Comstock;  treasurer,  Norman  C.  Young;  selectmen,  Stephen  G.  Fuller, 
Charles  W.  Wiswall,  David  F.  Hall. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


BENJAMIN    CLARK    WISWALL. 

Benjamin  Clark  Wiswall,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sally  (Clark)  Wiswall,  was 
born  in  Newton,  Mass..  June  10,  1S08.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  Capt. 
Norman  Clark,  a  resident  of  Rutland,  Mass.,  who  was  one  of  the  "em- 
battled  farmers"  of  the  Revolution,  where  he  held  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
was  wounded  while  gallantly  lighting  in  his  country's  service.  Capt. 
Clark  attained  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-eight  years  and  eight  months. 
Richard  Clark  was  a  passenger,  and  John  Clark  wras  mate  of  the  "May- 
flower" on  its  memorable  voyage  in  1620,  and  Clark's  island  in  Plymouth 
harbor  was  named  for  him.  The  Wisw^ell  family  was  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Plymouth  Colony,  as,  in  Kiss,  we  find  "that  Ichabod  Wiswell,  and 
Elder  Faunce  the  town  clerk  of  Plymouth,  were  arrested  (under  the  arbi- 
trary laws  of  King  -lames  It.)  for  levying  and  aiding  in  levying  taxes 
upon  his  majesty's  subjects  and  bound  over  to  the  Supreme  Court  at 
Boston." 

Benjamin   Clark,  son  of  Capt.  Norman  Clark,  for  whom  the  town  of 


if 


w& 


£*V?  r&,  9$fcu>+4c6c. 


Town  of  (Yakksville.  (»•»:? 


Clarksville  received  its  name,  was  the  materna]  uncle  of  B.C.  Wiswall, 
and  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  college.  While  a  student  there,  he,  with 
Joseph  B racket t  and  one  other,  purchased  of  the  college  10,000  acres  of 
land  in  "  Dartmouth  CollegeGrant  '*  (now  Clarksville),  ;ii id  engaged  Joseph 
Wiswall,  his  brother-in-law,  as  agent  for  its  sale.  Mr.  Wiswall  was  a 
hotel  keeper  and  farmer  in  Newton.  Mass.  In  1822  he  moved  his  family 
to  Clarksville.  and  became  the  agent  for  the  sale  of  this  wild  land  (about 
30,000  acres).  He  also  cleared  much  land,  made  many  improvements,  and 
was  a  resident  of  the  town  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  He 
was  an  efficient  town  office!-,  served  twelve  years  as  selectman  and  four- 
teen as  town  clerk,  and  was  an  active  business  man. 

Bejamin  Clark  Wiswall  came  from  Newton,  Mass..  where  he  received  a 
good  common-school  education,  to  Clarksville  with  his  father,  in  1822, 
when  he  was  about  fourteen  years  old.  This  section  was  then  almost  a 
wilderness,  and  the  hardships  and  privations  of  those  early  settlers  can 
only  be  conceived  by  thosewho  have  endured  them.  Benjamin  remained 
with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty  years  old.  assisting  him  in  his  arduous 
labors  in  felling  trees  and  bringing  land  into  cultivation,  and  helped  clear 
four  farms.  He  then  re  turned  to  Newton,  where  he  married,  in  1830,  Susan 
Sawyer,  of  Foxborough,  Mass.  She  was  born  April  4,  1808.  Their  child- 
ren were  Mary  (Mr.  Moody  B.  Haines)  deceased;  Albert  ('..  born  in  New- 
ton, November  4,  1835,  resides  in  Fox  Lake.  Wisconsin;  Joseph  X.  born 
in  Newton,  November  25,  1837;  William  H.,  deceased;  Charles  IT.,  born 
in  Clarksville,  February  <;,  1846;  George  ()..  born  in  Clarksville,  February 
17,  1853. 

About  1838  Mr.  Wiswall  returned  to  Clarksville.  became  a  tanner,  con- 
tinued in  agriculture  until  1878,  manufactured  starch  for  two  years,  and 
after  his  father's  death  succeeded  him  as  land  agent.  In  ls7^  Mrs.  Wis- 
wall died;  since  then  the  ownership  of  thehomestead  farm  of  L50  acres  has 
passed  to  his  son  Charles,  and  Mr.  Wiswall  resides  with  him.  Republican 
in  politics  in  a  town  where  the  majority  are  Democrats.  Mr.  Wiswall's 
fitness  for  position  has  been  recognized  by  his  political  opponents,  and  be 
has  filled  the  office  of  selectman,  treasurer  and  moderator  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  people.  He  also  holds  a  commission  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to  state  and  senatorial  convent  ion-.  He  does 
not  belong  to  any  religious  denomination,  bu!  is  a  believer  in  the  law  of 
love  and  good  will  to  man,  and  is  a  christian  in  his  morals  and  principles. 
Mr.  Wiswall  is  a  bright,  cheerful  old  gentleman,  who  has  made  friends 
allalong  the  path  of  life.  and.  while  keen  and  shrewd  in  business,  has  not  let 
the  love  of  money  crush  out  the  kindly  feelin  buating  him.  but  has 

ever  been  ready  to  aid  and  advance  all  benevolent  and  progressive  objects. 
He  possesses  a  quaint  humor  and  a  large  fund  of  sociality,  and  those  who 
know  him  best  attest  that  the  world  is  tb  r  for  his  having  lived. 


091  History  of  Coos  County. 


His  descendants  are,  and  should  be,  proud  of  his  unostentatious  life  which 
has  exhibited  the  sterling  qualities  of  usefulness,  honesty  and  integrity. 


JOHN   KEYSAR. 

All  readers  of  our  New  England  poet  Whittier  remember  the  "  Vis- 
ion "  of  the  "Cobbler  Keezar."  The  changes  therein  described  as  occur- 
ring in  his  dream,  whereby  the  forest  solitudes  were  transformed  into 
smiling  fields,  with  manufactories  and  villages  scattered  through  the 
intersecting  valleys,  have  been  realized  in  fact,  and  many  of  the  cobbler's 
descendants  and  namesakes  have  wrought  valiantly  in  bringing  them 
about.  First,  by  good  service  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution;  second,  by 
turning  their  swords  into  plowshares,  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks, 
and  erecting  buildings  and  factories,  thereby  promoting  the  prosperity  of 
the  community. 

Among  the  early  inhabitants  of  Hampstead  we  find  John  and  George 
Kezar.  In  Canterbury,  Edmond  Kizer's  name  appears  on  the  soldiers' 
roll  of  the  Revolution,  to  which  place  some  of  the  family  emigrated  from 
Hampstead.  Dr.  Keysar  was  prominent  among  the  early  settlers  of  North- 
field. 

Edmund  Keysar  was  a  native  of  Northfield,  emigrated  to  Stewartstown 
in  1807,  and  settled  on  the  Kent  place  on  North  hill,  where  he  and  John 
Keysar  owned  a  tract  of  land  two  miles  in  length.  Here  he  commenced 
the  difficult  labor  of  the  pioneer,  and  worked  for  more  than  ten  years, 
developing  his  land,  and  otherwise  enhancing  the  weal  of  the  settlement. 
In  1814  he  was  a  representative  to  the  General  Court.  His  wife  was  Betsey 
Young.  Of  their  fifteen  children  eleven  attained  maturity.  John,  Betsey 
(Mrs.  J.  P.  Wiswall),  and  Miles  H.  are  the  only  survivors  of  this  large 
family. 

In  1818  Mr.  Keysar  sold  his  property  in  Stewartstown  and  removed  to 
Canterbury,  where  he  bought  a  farm  and  resided  until  1832,  when  became 
again  to  Coos  county,  and  settled  in  Clarksville  on  lot  No.  2,  range  1, 
where  his  son  John  now  lives.  Here  he  bought  200  acres  of  land,  built 
a  saw-mill  which  he  conducted,  and  was  a  useful  citizen  of  Clarksville 
until  his  death.     He  served  as  selectman  for  several  years. 

Join/  Keysar,  son  of  Edmund  and  Betsey  (Young)  Keysar,  was  born  in 
Stewartstown.  July  lo,  L816.  He  received  such  educational  advantages 
:i-  the  common  schools  of  his  town  offered.  When  nineteen  years  old  he 
went  to  Colebrook  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  joiner,  and  worked  at  house 
building  for  several  years.  He  then  bought  the  home  place  at  Clarksville, 
and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  the  town.  In  1869  he  built  a  starch  mill 
of  one  hundred  tons  capacity,   and  carried  it  on   until    1882,    when  S.  S. 


/up  -e^yy 


Town  op  Clarksville.  695 


Merrill  ran  it  for  four  years:  since  Mr.  Merrill's  death,  the  mill  has  been 
conducted  by  W.  E.  Drew,  of  Colebrook.  Mr.  Keysar  has  also  made  clap- 
boards for  eight  years,  shingles  two  years,  and  been  engaged  in  agriculture 
quite  extensively.  On  retiring  from  starch  manufacturing,  he  sold  his 
farm  of  275  acres  to  his  son,  Berkley.  In  1883  the  telephone  line  from 
Colebrook  to  Clarksville  was  constructed,  and  June  LO,  L884,  the  first  mes- 
sage was  transmitted  and  received  by  Berkley,  who  was  the  first  operator. 

Mr.  Keysar  married  Sarah  Clark  Wiswall.  She  was  born  in  Clarks- 
ville, March  11.  is l  7.  (See  biography  of  B.  C.  Wiswall.)  Their  children 
were  Maria  C,  married  John  Gathercole,  has  three  children,  James  C, 
Sarah  E.,  and  Phebe  E.  Sarah;  Pliel><>  )'..  wife  of  E.  S.  Parker;  her 
children  are  John  R.  and  Otis  L.  Wiswall,  died  aged  twenty-two.  Clark, 
died  young.  Susan M. ,  married  Charles  F.  Hibbard;  she  <U<m1  February 
27,  1877,  leaving  one  child,  Harry.  Berkley,  married  Eliza  L.  Moses: 
their  children  are  Lula  E.,  Clyde  W  ,  Lottie  M.,  Jesse  L.  [Blakeley  M. 
died  in  infancy.  | 

Mr.  Keysar  is  a  good  and  reliable  citizen,  lie  has  been  connected  with 
the  town  affairs  of  Clarksville  for  many  years,  and  as  a  Democrat  rep- 
resented his  party  in  the  state  legislature  two  years;  has  served  as  select- 
man and  town  clerk,  and  in  his  avocations  as  farmer  and  manufacturer 
for  many  long  years  has  been  a  worker,  a  producer,  and  not  a  mere  con- 
sumer. Mrs.  Keysar  is  a  bright,  active  woman,  a  kind  mother  and 
pleasant  companion.  Berkley  Keysar  is  the  representative  for  Clarksville 
and  Pittsburg  for  1886-87. 


PITTSBURG. 


By  David  Blaxchard,  Esq. 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 


Pittsburg  —  Boundaries  —  First  Explored  — Topography— Lakes— Streams— Ponds — Rocks — 
Minerals. 

THE  town  of  Pittsburg,  formerly  known  as  "Indian  Stream  Territory,"' 
embraces  all  that  portion  of  the  state  lying  north  of  the  parallel  of 
4r»J  north  latitude,  excepting  a  small  tract  included  within  the  limits 
of  the  town  of  Clarksville,  and  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Maine,  southerly 
by  the  parallel  of  45°  and  the  Connecticut  river,  westerly  by  the  main 
easterly  branch  of  Hall's  stream,  and  northerly  by  the  Highlands  forming 
the  divide  between  the  Connecticut,  the  Androscoggin,  and  the  St.  Law- 
rence waters,  and  contains  an  area  of  360  square  miles,  of  which,  in  1880, 

there  were  L5, acres  under  improvement. 

It  was  first  explored  by  a  party  of  land  surveyors,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Canadian  government,  in  ITS",  by  whom  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  territory  was  divided  into  townships  during  the  following  year,  and 
included  a  part  of  the  present  municipal  corporations  of  Hereford,  Auk- 
land  and  Emberton.  Quebec,  and  the  whole  of  the  township  of  Drayton 
was  located  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  territory,  and  embraced  the  valley 
of  Indian  stream  northerly  to  the  south  line  of  Aukland.  This  territory 
at  that  period  formed  a  portion  of  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  St.  Francis 
Indians,  a  tribe  located  in  the  valley  of  the  St.  Francis  river  some  twenty 
miles  north  of  the  Highlands.  Large  parties  of  these  Indians  made  fre- 
quent visits  hither,  attracted  by  the  abundance  of  fur-bearing  animals 
and  moose,  and  deer  which  roamed  through  these  vast  forests,  otherwise 
undisturbed.  The  valleys  of  Indiam  stream  and  Connecticut  river  seem  to 
have  formed  the  principal  cam  ping-grounds  of  the  tribe  during  their  annual 
visits,  relics  of  which  are  not  infrequently  found  even  now. 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  697 


The  surface  presents  a  bold  and  rugged  appearance,  the  easterly  and 
northerly  portions  having  many  broken  and  abrupt  elevations  belonging 
to  lateral  spurs  of  the  White  Mountain  chain,  and  evidently  of  volcanic 
origin;  these  continue  northerly,  terminating  at  Megantic  mountain,  from 
whence  the  land  gradually  inclines  northwardly  to  the  valley  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.  This  elevated  plateau,  forming  the  divide  between  the  waters 
flowing  northerly  into  the  St.  Lawrence  and  southerly  into  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  was  considered  by  Professor  Agassiz  to  be  the  oldest  land  on  the 
continent;  which  opinion  is  strengthened  by  the  evidence  of  Plutonic,  vol- 
canic and  non-fossiliferous  stratified  rocks  showing  very  distinct  traces  of 
glacial  abrasion,  particularly  in  the  vicinity  of  Connecticut  lake  and  on 
the  heights  between  Indian  and  Perry  streams;  and,  further,  also,  by 
dikes  of  quartz  abundantly  dispersed,  and  ejected  through  the  superincum- 
bent slates  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  territory.  A  large  portion 
of  its  soil  evidently  consists  of  various  kinds  of  disintegrated  rock  and 
other  materials  transported  a  considerable  distance  in  a  southeasterly  direc- 
tion. 

Topographical  Features. — The  eastern  portion  of  the  town  (bordering 
on  the  state  of  Maine  for  a  distance  of  nineteen  miles)  is  separated  from 
the  westerly  portion  by  the  water-shed  between  the  Connecticut  and  the 
Androscoggin  waters.  It  contains  an  area  of  33,000  acres.  Mt.  Magallo- 
way  (having  an  elevation  of  2,800  feet,  and  on  which  the  United  Coast 
Survey  has  a  signal  station,  erected  in  1879,)  is  situated  in  the  south- 
westerly portion  of  this  tract;  also  Mt.  Carmel,  with  an  elevation  of  3,750 
feet — the  line  between  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  passing  midway  over 
its  summit.  The  three  main  branches  of  Dead  Diamond  stream  (a  tribu- 
tary of  the  Androscoggin)  have  their  rise  in  the  central  portion  of  this  part 
of  the  town:  Little  Magalloway,  flowing  into  the  main  river  of  that 
name  four  miles  below  Parmachenee  lake,  has  its  source  southwesterly  of 
Mt.  Carmel,  and  the  most  northwesterly  head  of  the  Androscoggin  river 
rises  in  a  small  pond  a  little  west  of  the  state  line,  and  one-half  mile  south 
of  the  iron  monument  on  which  are  cast  in  raised  letters  the  names  of 
Albert  Smith  and  Lieut. -Col.  I.  B.  B.  Escourt,  British  commissioners  ap- 
pointed under  the  treaty  of  Washington  to  mark  the  boundary  between 
the  United  States  and  Lower  Canada;  also  the  name  of  Col.  Henry  O.  Kent, 
commissioner  appointed  on  the  part  of  New  Hampshire  to  re-adjust  and 
straighten  the  boundary  line  between  Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  This 
monument  also  bears  the  date  of  the  treaty  ( L842),  and  was  placed  here  in 
L845,  at  the  extreme  northerly  point  of  the  state,  to  mark  the  boundary 
between  Maine.  New  Hampshire,  and  Canada'  At  this  poinl  a  person,  by 
walking  around  it  as  near  as  possible,  can  pass  through  a  portion  of  ear  1 1 
of  these  political  divisions.  Westerly  of  this  divide,  and  within  one  mile  of 
the  northern  boundary,  begins  the  chain  of  lakes  in  which  the  Connecticut 


698  History  of  Coos  County. 

river  takes  it  rise.  The  upper  one  of  the  chain,  commonly  called  "  Third ': 
lake,  and  more  correctly  known  by  its  Canadian  designation,  ''Lake  St. 
Sophia,"  is  small,  nearly  circular  in  form,  and  about  one  mile  in  width, 
with  an  extreme  depth  of  ninety  feet.  The  Connecticut  at  its  source  is  a 
small  stream,  twenty  feet  in  width,  flowing  due  south  a  distance  of  five 
miles,  receiving  a  considerable  tributary  on  the  easterly  side,  and  discharg- 
ing its  waters  into  the  second  of  the  chain,  commonly  known  as  "  Second  " 
lake,  and,  more  properly,  as  "LakeCarmel"  (from  the  mountain  of  that 
name  in  full  view  in  a  northeasterly  direction).  This  pond  is  two  miles 
in  lenth,  of  varying  width,  irregular  in  shape,  and  contains  an  area  of 
about  L.'OOO  acres;  its  greatest  depth  is  eighty  feet.  The  stream  flowing 
from  this  lake  is  eighty  feet  wide,  and  for  the  first  mile  after  leaving  the 
lake  has  a  fall  of  300  feet,  affording  excellent  water-power.  It  pursues  a 
southwesterly  direction  for  four  miles,  receiving  two  considerable  tribu- 
taries on  the  west,  and  falls  into  ,kLake  Connecticut,"  usually  considered 
the  main  source  of  the  Connecticut  river.  This  lake,  in  its  greatest  ex- 
tent, is  about  four  miles  in  length  by  three  in  breadth,  with  a  depth  of 
100  feet,  and  has  an  altitude  of  1,850  feet.  From  the  foot  of  this  lake  to 
the  southeasterly  part  of  the  town,  where  the  Connecticut  crosses  the 
parallel  of  forty-five  degrees  (thirteen  miles),  it  has  a  fall  of  450  feet, 
(principally  above  and  below  Fletcher's  mills,  for  a  distance  of  two  miles, 
and  in  the  first  two  miles  of  its  course  after  leaving  the  lake. )  Some  very 
fine  interval  lands  border  the  banks  of  this  river,  commencing  two  miles 
below  Connecticut  lake,  and  extending  for  five  miles  below;  and  again  at 
the  mouth  of  Indian  stream.  The  most  important  tributaries  received  in 
this  distance  are  Perry's  stream,  forming  its  junction  with  the  main  river 
one  and  one-half  miles  below"  the  lake,  Indian  stream,  seven  miles  below, 
and  Hall's  stream,  forming  the  western  boundary  of  the  town,  flowing 
into  the  Connecticut  fifteen  miles  below  the  lake,  in  the  town  of 
Canaan,  Vt. 

These  streams  have  their  sources  in  the  high  lands  forming  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  the  town,  have  a  general  uniform  parallel  southwesterly 
course,  and  are  each  about  twenty  miles  in  length,  and  of  sufficient  size 
to  float  the  large  spruce  which  grows  in  abundance  along  their  banks. 
Quite  extensive  tracts  of  good  interval  lands  are  found  along  their  banks, 
up  to  a  point  from  four  to  six  miles  from  their  source;  more  particularly  in 
the  valleys  of  Indian  and  Hall's  streams. 

Rogers's  pond,  in  the  center  of  the  town  near  the  main  highway,  is 
about  one  mile  in  length  by  three-fourths  in  width;  Round  pond,  one  mile 
north  of  Lake  Connecticut,  "a  gem  nestling  among  the  green-clad  hills  in 
their  summer  verdure;  and  numerous  smaller  ponds  dotting  the  landscape 
here  and  there,  unite  in  giving  a  pleasing  diversity  to  the  woodland  scenery. 

Rocks. — But  little  granite  is  found  near  the  surface.     Small  detached 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  »>'.»'.• 


bowlders  are  found  in  the  lower  valley  of  Hall's  stream,  and  a  very  little 
farther  east.  Conglomerate  rocks,  in  the  alluvial  formation  in  the  valley 
of  the  Connecticut,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Indian  stream,  are  frequent. 
Probably  the  most  widely  dispersed  rocks  are  a  sandstone  in  a  fragmentary 
state,  lying  near  the  surface,  and  a  species  of  argillaceous  slate,  in  the 
same  condition.  It  is  mainly  to  the  abundance  of  these  that  the  rough 
appearance  of  the  surface  of  the  country  is  owing,  and  in  many  localities 
they  materially  enhance  the  labor  in  the  successful  cultivation  of  the  soil. 
Near  the  center  of  the  town  is  a  belt  of  rock  extending  from  the  Connecti- 
cut river  in  a  northeasterly  direction  about  five  miles,  varying  in  width 
from  one  to  three  miles,  having  a  crystalline  structure  like  granite,  but  of 
a  darker  color,  very  readily  disintegrating  wherever  exposed  to  atmospheric 
influences,  called  by  Prof.  Huntington  a  kind  of  green  schist,  containing  a 
considerable  percentage  of  potash.  It  is  one  of  the  best  fertilizing  rocks  found 
in  New  England.  In  the  valley  of  Perry  stream,  and  extending  from  the 
Connecticut  northerly  a  distance  of  six  miles,  the  main  outcropping  rock 
is  a  light  sandstone  grit,  showing  a  very  clearly  defined  stratification,  hav- 
ing in  many  places  nearly  a  vertical  position,  and  bearing  abundant  evi- 
dence of  recent  displacement,  which  changed  the  direction  of  the  water- 
courses in  its  vicinity,  and  turning  the  main  stream,  flowed  over  its  bed  in 
a  new  direction,  forming  a  junction  with  the  Connecticut  five  miles  above 
its  former  outlet.  In  the  northeasterly  portion  of  the  town  a  species  of 
hornblende  is  found  in  considerable  abundance  in  massive  form,  and  in 
detached  bowlders,  and  forms  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  rugged 
hillside  which  so  prominently  mark  the  sources  of  the  streams  flowing- 
northerly,  easterly,  and  southerly.  The  high  ridge  of  land  forming  the 
elevation  or  divide  between  Indian  and  HalFs  streams  is  a  slate  forma- 
tion, through  which  large  and  frequent  dikes  of  quartz  have  been  ejected. 
The  most  southerly  point  of  its  surface-indications  is  one  mile  north  of  the 
Connecticut  river.  It  crops  out  quite  often  towards  the  boundary  north- 
wardly (a  distance  of  eighteen  miles),  varying  in  width  from  two  to  four 
miles,  and  covers  an  area  of  probably  not  less  than  35,000  acres.  It  is 
easily  quarried  into  slabs  of  any  required  size  and  thickness,  and  has 
been  pronounced  by  experts  good  roofing  slate.  This  proving  true,  it  only 
awaits  suitable  facilities  for  transportation  to  become  of  immense  value. 
It  is  in  this  formation  that  gold  has  been  found  on  the  head  waters  of 
Indian  stream,  at  several  points  over  an  area  of  4,000  acres,  and  more 
frequently  in  Annance  gulch,  a  vein  leading  into  the  middle  branch  on 
the  east  side  thereof,  three  miles  south  of  the  Highlands,  where  evidence 
of  (piite  extensive  mining  operations  (probably  by  parties  from  Canada), 
such  as  deep  excavations  in  the  banks  and  former  beds  of  the  stream, 
marks  of  quite  extensive  camping  grounds,  and  sluice-boxes  in  the  lasl 
stages  of  dacay,  are  found.     This  formation  forms  the  bed-rock  of  the 


700  History  of  Coos  County. 

celebrated  gold  mines  of  the  Hon.  John  H.  Pope  on  the  head-waters  of 
Little  Ditton  river  in  the  township  of  Ditton,  Quebec,  six  miles  north  of 
the  boundary  at  the  head  of  the  middle  or  main  branch  of  Indian  stream. 
These  have  been  worked  for  twenty  years,  with  large  profit  on  the  capital 
invested.  Traces  of  lead  and  copper  are  found  in  the  northeastern  portion 
of  the  town  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Carmel,  and  iron  in  small  quantities 
is  met  with  in  the  central  and  southwestern  sections. 


CHAPTER  LXXVII. 


Exploration  in  1789 — Resources — First  Settlers — Permanent  Settlers — Ebenezer   Fletcher — 
Growth  of  the  Settlement. 

THE  first  exploration  by  New  Hampshire  people  was  made  in  1789  by 
two  adventurous  rangers — David  Gibbs  and  Nathaniel  Wales,  the 
former  from  Haverhill,  the  latter  from  Concord,  N.H., — who,  push- 
ing their  way  through  the  thick  forests  on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut 
far  beyond  the  scattered  settlements  then  gradually  extending  up  the 
river  in  the  "Upper  Cohos,1' finally  reached  the  broad  intervals  at  the 
mouth  of  Indian  stream  late  in  the  month  of  September.  Here  they  re- 
mained nearly  a  month  engaged  in  trapping  the  fur-bearing  animals, 
exploring  the  adjacent  country,  and  tracing  the  Connecticut  river  to  the 
lake  which  bears  the  same  Indian  name.  Returning  home  in  the  late 
Indian-summer  days,  they  gave  glowing  accounts  of  the  country  they  had 
discovered;  representing  it,  as  it  then  appeared  in  its  primeval  solitude,  as 
a  country  of  vast  extent,  far  richer  in  its  flora  and  fauna  than  any  hitherto 
known  portion  of  New  England;  with  broad  meadows  bordering  the 
banks  of  the  streams  throu'gh  their  whole  extent;  with  huge  white  pines 
growing  plentifully  along  its  principal  water  courses,  and  towering  far 
above  the  surrounding  forests;  and  with  its  gently-sloping  hillsides  covered 
with  a  heavy  primitive  growth  of  rock  maple;  its  rich  autumnal  colors  blend- 
i  Qg  with  the  deeper  hues  of  the  evergreens,  then  unmarked  by  the  woodman's 
axe,  giving  a  pleasing  diversity  to  the  landscape,  when  illuminated  by  the 
slanting  rays  of  the  Indian-summer  sunlight. 

The  streams  and  ponds  are  abundantly  stocked  with  trout,  "lunge," 
and  various  other  kinds  of  edible  fish,  while  through  its  forests  moose, 
deer,  and  caribou  roamed  in  such  numbers  as  had  never  been  found  in  any 
of  the  more  southerly  portions  of  the  state.  Beaver  were  plenty,  and  the 
results  of  their  labors,  in  the  small  meadows  and  embankments  scattered 


Town  of  Prrrsr.i  i,<;.  701 


along  streams,  still  remain,  bearing  ample  evidence  of  their  intelligence 
and  indefatigable  industry.  Otter,  mink,  muskrat,  and  sable  were  found 
in  great  numbers,  and  to  the  discoverers  this  region  seemed  the  very  para- 
dise of  hunters.  They  are  said  to  have  represented  the  soil  as  being  of 
remarkable  fertility,  and  such  were  the  flattering  reports  they  gave  that 
in  June  following  (1790),  three  others  joined  them  in  an  expedition  to  this 
section,  with  a  view  of  forming  a  settlement.  Purchasing  such  supplies 
,as  were  needed  for  the  proposed  trip  from  the  frontier  settlers,  they  pushed 
boldly  into  the  wilderness  and  reached  the  Indian  stream  meadows.  Here 
they  proceeded  to  make  "pitches,"  or  preempt  their  claims,  by  cutting  a 
few  trees,  erecting  rude  cabins  or  camps  on  the  cleared  plots,  and  making 
such  improvements  as  should  show  their  intention  to  permanently  occupy 
these  lands. 

These  beginnings  or  "  pitches  "  were  located  as  follows:  David  Gibbs, 
on  the  farm  now  known  as  the  Baldwin  place,  and  occupied  by  the  Bald- 
win Brothers;  Nathaniel  Wales,  on  that  now  known  as  the  Nathaniel 
Perkins  farm;  Nathan  Smith,  on  the  Tabor  farm;  Royal  Gage,  on  the  Con- 
necticut river,  live  miles  below  the  lake,  at  the  mouth  of  the  brook  which 
still  bears  his  name.  The  other  member  of  the  party,  James  Smith,  located 
near  the  mouth  of  Dead  water  stream  in  the  present  territory  of  Clarks- 
ville. 

But  few  Indians  were  met  with,  and  these  were  appearing  friendly,  so 
little  apprehension  was  felt  from  that  source.  After  remaining  here  some 
three  months  or  more  exploring  the  country  nearly  to  the  Highlands,  sup- 
plementing their  scant  stock  of  provisions  from  the  forests  and  streams, 
and  becoming  somewhat  weary  of  their  solitary  life,  these  hardy  pioneers 
returned  to  their  respective  homes,  where  they  gave  very  flattering  reports 
of  the  country,  particularly  of  the  remarkable  fertility  of  the  soil  as  indi- 
cated by  the  luxuriance  of  the  wild  grasses  which  grew  in  great  abundance 
on  the  open  meadows.  These  several  beginnings  have  since  broadened 
into  large  interval  farms  with  elegant  and  commodious  farm  buildings, 
showing  the  wisdom  of  this  early  selection. 

This  country  was  only  visited  by  occasional  hunting  parties  after  this 
until  1796,  when  certain  individuals,  notably  Thomas  Eames,  John  Bradley, 
Jonathan  Eastman  and  Nathan  Hoit,  obtained  the  famous  deed  from  King 
Philip  and  claimed  possession  of  this  territory.  This  deed  was  acknowl- 
edged June  30,  1796,  "received  for  record"  November  22,  1796,  and  re- 
corded in  liber  23,  fol.  2<>6  of  the  records  of  Grafton  county.  They  imme- 
diately organized  under  the  proprietary  act,  and  opened  their  lands  to 
settlement,  offering  to  immigrants  lots  of  100  acres  each  to  a  limited  num- 
ber, allowing  them  to  select  the  locality,  on  condition  of  performing  "set- 
tler's duty  ";  which  consisted  in  clearing  five  acres  of  land,  erecting  a  log- 
cabin  or  some  structure  which  might  answer  for  a  domicile,  and  perform- 


702  History  of  Coos  County. 

ing  a  certain  amount  of  labor  annually,  during  a  stated  number  of  years, 
in  cutting  and  clearing  roads. 

It  was  supposed  by  most  of  the  early  settlers,  under  the  grants  from 
the  proprietors  claiming  to  hold  their  lands  by  virtue  of  the  title  derived 
from  this  Indian  chief,  that  they  were  secure  in  the  tenure  of  their  hold- 
ings as  against  any  claim  by  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  In  fact  it 
was  held  by  many  well-informed  in  colonial  matters  and  usages  that  the 
territory  lying  north  of  the  15th  parallel  and  south  of  the  Highlands, 
formed  a  sort  of  "terra  incognita"  wholly  outside  of  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  government  of  New  Hampshire,  or  that  of  Lower  Canada;  and,  at  this 
distant  clay,  it  is  difficult  to  perceive,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  has  long 
been  the  settled  policy  and  practice  of  theUnited  States  government  to  acquire 
the  lands  of  the  Indians  by  treaty  or  purchase,  how  the  state  of  New  Hamp- 
shire ever  acquired  any  title  to  this  territory  otherwise  than  by  usurpation. 
There  appears  very  little,  if  any,  evidence  that  it  Was  included  within  the 
limits  of  the  royal  patent  issued  by  Charles  II.,  in  1679,  constituting  the 
province  of  New  Hampshire.  Neither  does  it  appear  that  during  the  long 
period  of  forty-nine  years  when  New  Hampshire  formed  a  part  of  the 
province  of  Massachusetts,  that  the  northern  boundaries  of  the  colony  were 
understood  to  extend  north  of  the  Ammonoosuc. 

The  proprietors  claiming  under  this  Indian  deed  held  out  flattering  in- 
ducements to  settle  on  their  lands,  and  settlements  of  a  permanent  character 
were  soon  commenced.  Hither  came  Ebenezer  Fletcher,  from  Charlestown, 
N.  H.,  in  1811,  who  soon  after  built  a  frame  dwelling-house  and  a  saw  and 
grist-mill,  on  the  falls  on  the  Connecticut  which  still  bear  his  name.  The 
frames  of  the  barn  and  mill  were  massive  structures,  and  are  still  stand- 
ing in  a  very  tolerable  state  of  preservation,  as  monuments  of  his  indefati- 
gable industry.  He  was  reputed  to  be  a  man  of  considerable  wealth  for 
that  period,  kind  and  liberal  to  his  poorer  neighbors,  rendering  them  ma- 
terial assistance  in  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life. 
The  original  Fletcher  farm,  containing  500  acres,  has  been  much  sub- 
divided, and  now  forms  a  small  village.  In  the  same  year  came  Samuel 
Osborne  and  Daniel  Haines;  also  John  Comstock,  who  settled  on  Indian 
stream,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Tabor  farm.  John  Haines  came,  in 
L813,  from  Lisbon,  but  the  increase  and  prosperity  of  the  settlement  was 
seriously  retarded  by  the  war  with  Great  Britain;  many  left  fearing  hos- 
tile Indian  incursions  from  Canada,  as  straggling  parties  often  evinced  a 
very  unfriendly  disposition;  but  they  were  held  in  check  by  a  military  gar- 
rison  near  at  hand  on  the  frontier.  Under  its  protection  a  few  remained, 
and  some  additions  to  the  settlement  were  made,  as  will  hereafter  be  seen. 

Nathan  Judd  came,  in  1813,  from  Piermont,  and  Nathaniel  Perkins,  in 
L814,  from  New  Hampton.  The  latter  locating  on  the  westerly  bank  of 
Indian  stream  on  the  farm  bearing  his  name,  and  originally  containing 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  f03 


700  acres.  Clark  J.  Haines  and  William  Byland  came  in  L815;  the  former 
from  Lisbon,  the  latter  from  Bradford,  Vt.  Abner  B  viand  came  from  the 
same  place  in  1816;  Emer  Applebee,  from  Franconia,  in  1819;  also  (Jen. 
Moody  Bedel  and  Samuel  Danforth,  from  Haverhill;  Rufus  Brockway  (for 
along  period  a  private  mail-carrier,  during  which  there  was  no  postoffice 
nearer  than  Stewartstown);  David  Eaton,  from  Plymouth;  James  T. 
Boynton  and  Zebulon  Flanders,  from  Warner;  and  Enoch  Carr,  from 
Lisbon. 

The  year  1820  added  seventeen  families  to  tlie  new  settlement;  these 
locating  mainly  in  the  central  and  northeasterly  portions,  along  the  Con- 
necticut valley  and  north  side  of  Connecticut  lake.  Their  names  and  places 
of  residence,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  were  as  follows:  Paul  Tabor,  Jere- 
miah Tabor,  and  Elisha  P.  Tabor,  from  Bradford.  Vt..  located  on  Indian 
stream;  Simeon  Wright,  from  the  same  town,  settled  on  the  Connecticut, 
one  and  one-half  miles  above  Indian  stream:  .Moses  Thurston,  from  Cor- 
inth, Vt.,  bought  out  the  claim  of  Royal  Gage  near  the  mouth  of  the  brook 
which  still  bears  his  name;  Southwood  Sibley  settled  on  a  lot  easterly  and 
adjoining;  Richard  I.  Blanchard,  from  Haverhill,  and  Josiah  Rogers,  from 
Windsor,  Vt.,  located  in  the  center  of  the  town,  near  the  southerly  side  of 
Rogers's  pond;  Jeremy  George,  from  Newbury,  Vt.,  located  on  the  north 
side  of  this  pond;  Abiel  Holt,  (who  surveyed  and  lotted  2,000  acres  of  land 
in  the  same  year,  in  the  northeasterly  portion  of  the  settlement,  princi- 
pally along  the  north  shore  of  Connecticut  lake.)  Joshua  Parker,  Noah 
Fletcher,  Archelaus  Cummings,  Seth  Blood,  and  Burleigh  Blood,  all  from 
Temple,  located  in  the  "lake  settlement,"  the  last  named  locating  on,  and 
clearing,  the  farm  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  then,  as  now,  the  extreme 
northeasterly  farm  in  the  state;  David  Mitchell  (formerly  a  merchant  in 
Bath,  and  said  to  have  been  the  first  and  only  Freemason  in  the  colony  at 
that  period);  John  Langdon  Haynes,  from  Lisbon.  Sylvester  Hutchins, 
Reuben  Sawyer,  and  Jonathan  Hartwell  came  in  1821.  In  L822  only  five 
permanent  additional  settlements  were  made,  viz.:  by  John  Parker,  Jona- 
than French,  John  Parsons,  Elisha  Abbott,  and  Peter  Barns,  from  Cor- 
inth, Vt.,  who  built  a  saw  and  grist-mill  at  the  foot  of  the  lake.  Sampson 
Rowell,  from  Piermont,  Eben  and  Silas  Gettchell,  from  Haverhill, 
came  in  1823.  In  1824  three  additional  families  moved  in;  those  of  Col. 
Samuel  Huggins,  formerly  sheriff  of  Sullivan  county,  Britton  Cook,  and 
Ephraim  C.  Aldrich,  from  Bradford,  Vt. 

The  population  of  the  settlement  at  this  period  (1824)  was  285:  estimated 
area  of  the  territory  150,000  acres  (since  proving  by  actual  survey  to  be 
much  greater);  estimated  value  thereof  by  legislative  committee  of  inves- 
tigation twelve  and  one-half  cents  per  acre;  number  of  acres  under 
improvement  817,  valued  at  $5  per  acre. 

A  very  large  proportion  of  those  mentioned  remained  as  permanent 


704  History  of  Coos  County. 


residents.  They  were  mostly  strong,  stalwart  men  in  the  plentitude  of 
physical  strength,  possessing  in  a  large  degree  the  spirit  of  adventure 
united  with  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance,  and  aided  by  their  wives, 
who  generally  possessed  corresponding  traits  of  character,  they  cheerfully 
and  courageously  endured  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer 
life."  They  were  valuable  citizens,  gradually  clearing  up  large  farms, 
building  comfortable  homes,  and,  generally,  rearing  large  families  of 
rugged  and  healthy  children,  many  of  whom,  and  their  descendants,  are 
scattered  far  and  wide  throughout  the  country  (although  their  early  oppor- 
tunities for  acquiring  an  education  were  scant  and  limited  indeed),  have 
taken  prominent  parts,  and  are  now  occupying  prominent  positions,  in 
social,  political,  professional,  and  mercantile  life. 

*Bear  Story. — [As  a  specimen  of  what  might  occur  on  any  day,  or  night  rather,  to  the  early  settlers,  and 
as  throwing  a  little  light  on  their  surroundings  and  character,  we  insert  what  befell  Kimball  B.  Fletcher  in 
1834  in  Pittsburg,  using  in  the  greater  part  his  own  language. — Editok.] 

"I  then  lived  at  Fletcher's  Mills;  a  Canadian  sheriff  with  five  or  six  men  had  arrested  Luther  Parker, 
and  were  taking  him  to  Hereford  for  examination.  As  they  passed  my  house,  he  requested  me  to  go  to 
Clarksville  and  have  Miles  Hurlbert  go  to  Colebrook  and  procure  a  lawyer  for  him.  The  night  was  very  dark 
and  somewhat  rainy.  I  tried  for  an  hour  to  find  my  horse  but  could  not,  so  I  must  go  on  foot  two  miles  and 
a  half,  through  heavy  woods  most  of  the  way.  I  took  my  tin  lantern,  put  about  seven  inches  of  candle  in  it, 
and  lighted  it.  As  it  was  so  damp  I  thought  it  of  no  use  to  take  my  flint-lock  gun.  The  first  two  miles  of 
my  way  was  a  muddy  track  cut  through  solid  woods,  and  hardly  to  be  called  a  road.  After  going  about 
half  a  mile  (it  was  as  dark  as  a  negro's  pocket)  I  heard  it  thunder,  as  I  supposed.  I  walked  on  one  or  two 
rods  further  and  heard  the  noise  again.  This  time  I  knew  it  was  not  thunder,  so  I  stopped  to  see  what 
caused  it.  I  could  see  nothing,  but  all  the  time  heard  a  low  whining  and  growling.  I  knew  then  that  there 
was  business  close  by,  and  opened  the  lantern  door  a  little,  and  turned  the  lantern  around  until  the  light 
fell  on  the  object  I  was  looking  for,  and  there,  not  twenty-five  feet,  from  me,  and  right  in  my  path,  sitting 
up  as  straight  as  a  man  could  stand,  was  a  very  large  bear  weighing  at  least  300  pounds.  She  was  as  tall  as 
I  was,  and  she  had  two  cubs  of  about  fifty  pounds  each.  Now  what  could  I  do  ?  She  was  making  up  all 
kinds  of  faces  at  me,  and  showing  her  teeth  to  the  best  advantage.  I  had  killed  several  bears,  but  had 
never  met  one  in  a  dark  night  with  young  ones  at  her  side.  I  could  see,  however,  that  she  was  not  of  an 
amiable  disposition.  I  wished  for  the  old  gun;  with  that  I  could  have  settled  matters  quickly.  But  I  must 
go  on.  I  did  not  feel  in  the  least  afraid,  and  opened  the  door,  and  let  the  light  shine  right  on  to  the  bear, 
took  out  my  jack-knife,  opened  it,  and  with  it  in  my  right  hand  and  my  lantern  in  my  left,  I  walked  toward 
the  bear.  When  I  was  within  a  rod  of  her,  she  growled  and  grunted  and  bounded  out  off  the  road.  There 
sat  the  cubs,  however,  and  I  could  have  kicked  one  in  passing,  but  knew  it  would  not  do  as  the  old  one  would 
be  there  in  a  instant.  I  travelled  on,  and  soon  heard  something  behind  me.  I  kept  on,  looking  back  every 
now  and  then,  but  could  only  see  two  small  balls  of  fire  gleaming  at  me.  I  began  to  get  nervous.  I  knew  that 
any  moment  I  might  get  a  powerful  blow  from  the  bear  that  I  knew  was  within  four  or  five  rods  of  me  all  the 
time.  I  felt  queerly.  I  was  only  twenty-four  years  old,  and  weighed  180  pounds,  but  I  felt  as  light  as  a  feather. 
I  was  in  the  solid  woods  more  than  a  mile  from  a  human  being;  the  night  was  as  black  as  a  stack  of  black 
cats:  I  was  being  followed  by  a  huge  bear  in  whose  paws  an  unarmed  man  would  be  but  a  plaything.  I  have 
heard  that  when  a  person  was  scared  their  hair  would  stand  up  straight.  Was  that  the  case  with  me  ?  I  took 
off  my  hat,  put  up  my  hand,  and  my  hair  seemed  as  stiff  as  bristles.  I  crowded  it  down  hard,  but  it  rose 
right  up  again.  All  this  time  those  eyes  were  watching  me  as  closely  as  a  cat  would  watch  a  mouse.  You 
may  think  none  but  a  great  coward  would  feel  like  this,  but  if  you  had  been  in  my  boots  at  that  time  you 
would  have  seen  the  hand-writing  on  the  wall  as  Nebuchadnezzar  of  old  did.  I  stood  there  and  reasoned  in 
this  way.  •  Is  not  that  bear  as  afraid  of  me  as  I  am  of  her?  I  have  driven  her  out  of  the  road  away  from 
her  cubs  once,  and  she  dares  not  come  near  enough  to  me  to  hurt  me;  she  is  only  escorting  me  out  of  the 
woods  away  from  her  babies.'  So.  with  my  knife  in  one  hand,  determined  to  sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  possible, 
I  travelled  on.  She  followed  me  eighty  or  one  hundred  rods  further,  and  I  heard  no  more  of  her.  On  my 
return  the  next  morning  I  saw  her  tracks  along  the  road  for  a  mile.  Her  feet  were  as  long  as  mine,  and 
fully  six  inches  wide  across  the  toes.  I  am  in  my  seventy-fifth  year,  lived  in  the  woods  thirty-six  years,  have 
killed  eighteen  bears  and  one  large  wolf,  but  never  had  my  nervous  system  so  stirred  up  as  on  that  night." 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  ^05 


CHAPTER  LX  XVIII. 

Action  and  Report  of  Legislative  Committees  in  1834  Concerning  Titles  under  King  Philip's 
Deed. 

UT  little  attention  was  paid  by  che  state  to  this  section  prior  to  L820, 
at  which  period  information  was  filed  with  the  attorney-general 
against  "  certain  settlers  said  to  be  encroaching  upon  the  public 
domain."  north  of  the  parallel  of  -45  degrees  north  latitude,  and  suits  were 
subsequently  brought  to  eject  them  from  their  holdings  under  the  proprie- 
tary titles.  At  the  June  session  of  .the  legislature  of  L824  a  committeeof 
three  members  was  appointed  to  visit  the  ''Indian  Stream  Territory"  (as 
this  country  was  then  generally  designated)  and  report  at  the  November 
session  following. 

This  action  on  the  part  of  the  state  was  in  answer  to  a  petition  from 
the  proprietors,  claiming  under  this  Indian  deed,  and  from  the  settlers, 
asking  relief  from  certain  suits  which  had  been  brought  against  them  in 
the  Supreme  Court,  to  eject  them  from  their  holdings.  The  report  of  this 
committee  was  referred  to  a  select  committee  of  the  House,  at  the  Novem- 
ber session  of  the  same  year,  which  submitted  the  following  report:— 

"The  petitioners  claim  under  a  deed  from  one  Philip,  an  Indian  chieftain,  and  the  depositions  of  Daniel 
Farrington,  Ward  Bailey,  Andrew  Oilman,  Benjamin  Willey,  John  Osgood,  and  John  Evans  (taken  at  tin- 
expense  of  the  proprietors  in  1804  in  perpetua  re  memoriam).  were  laid  before  them  by  the  petitioners,  and 
that  the  grantor,  King  Philip,  was  the  chief,  or  sachem  of  the  Upper  Coos  tribe  of  Indians,  that  was  regarded 
as  such  by  the  Indians  inhabiting  the  Upper  Coos,  and  by  the  white  inhabitants  of  that  country.  The  com- 
mittee further  find  that  King  Philip,  from  and  after  the  execution  of  the  deed  and  until  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1797,  and  Molley  Mussell,  wife  or  companion  to  said  Philip,  until  her  death,  were  supported  at  the  exp 
of  the  original  proprietors.  The  committee  further  find  that  the  first  meeting  of  persons  claiming  rights  or 
shares  of  a  certain  tract  of  land  conveyed  to  John  Bradley,  Esq..  and  others  by  Philip,  an  Indian  chief,  at 
the  head  of  Connecticut,  Androscoggin,  and  other  rivers,  was  holden  at  Concord  on  the  17th  of  June,  1797. 
The  committee  further  find,  that  at  subsequent  meetings,  sixty-eight  in  number  (and  which  have  mostlj  bi  en 
held  at  Concord  during  the  session  of  the  legislature),  the  proprietors  have  'Voted  (December  10,  1798.)  to  lay 
out  a  township  six  miles  square  within  the  grant,  or  such  other  tract  as  the  committee  hereafter  named  may 
think  proper; — not  to  interfere  with  any  grant  heretofore  made  by  the  states  of  New  Hampshire,  Vermont, 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  or  the  Province  of  Lower  Canada;  to  give  one  hundred  acres  for  settling 
to  every  settler  who  may  settle  within  the  same,  and  another  one  hundred  acres  by  draught  within  the  same, 
and  the  settler  paying  the  proprietors  fifty  dollars  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  proprietors  in 
making  roads.  At  the  same  meeting  acommittee  was  appointed  for  the  proprietary  to  settle  or  compromise 
with  any  other  persons  who  may  have  trespassed  on  said  Philip's  Grant.'  At  the  meeting  held  at  Concord 
Jan.  7, 1800,  it  was  voted  'to  accept  the  survey  of  sixty-four  thousand  acres  of  said  Philip's  grant  lying  north 
of  the  parallel  of  forty-five  degrees  north  latitude,  being  laid  out  into  lots,  thirty-two  in  number,  and  con- 
taining two  thousand  acres  each';  and,  at  the  same  meeting,  the  proprietors  drew  lots  tor  the  lots.  June  11, 
1800,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  out  land  betwixt  Hall  and  Indian  streams,  and  authorized  to  agree 
with  settlers.  June  10,  1801,  voted,  'Jeremiah  Eames  be,  and  he  hereby  is.  authorized  to  put  on  settlers,  and 
give  quitclaim  deeds,  of  conveyance  of  such  number  of  acres  as  hath  been  heretofore  voti  d.'  June  14,  1804. 
voted  that  '  Captain  John  Eastman.  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Bradley  be  a  committei  to  lay  out  the 
whole  of  Philip's  Grant,  and  lot  the  same  in  such  a  way  and  manner  as  they  shall  think  most  conducivi  to 
the  interest  of  said  proprietors.'  August  10, 1819,  voted  'to  chooses  committee  to  go  around  and  Burvey  the 
remaining  part  of  the  land  in  Philip's  Grant,  or  such  part  thereof  as  their  judgment  may  direct  «  hen  on  the 


706  History  of  Coos  County. 


spot,  and  that  they  be  authorized  to  make  contracts  with  any  persons  who  are  now  settlers  or  who  may 
become  settlers  in  the  course  of  the  present  year  on  the  lands  in  Philip's  Grant,  giving  them  not  exceeding 
two  hundred  acres  of  land  each  as  settlers,  by  their  signing  an  instrument  that  they  hold  their  lands  by 
virtue  of  a  title  from  the  proprietors  of  Philip's  Grant,  and  from  no  other  quarter.'  The  committee  attended 
to  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  made  a  report  which,  at  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  Dec.  27,  1819,  was  ap- 
proved of  as  being  'very  intelligent,'  and  from  this  report  the  committee  ask  leave  of  the  House  to  submit 
for  their  consideration  the  following  extracts:  '  From  Fletcher's  Mills  we  took  our  departure  in  a  northerly 
direction  towards  the  lake  Connecticut,  distant  six  (eight?)  miles,  to  the  outlet  of  said  lake;  thence 
in  a  northerly  direction,  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  shore  of  said  lake;  from  there  we  proceeded 
up  the  inlet  in  a  canoe  about  two  miles,  and  then  proceeded  several  miles  into  the  forest,  and  then 
returned  to  the  canoe  and  came  down  about  the  middle  of  said  lake  from  the  inlet  to  the  outlet  which  is 
about  eight  miles,  which  gave  us  a  beautiful  view  of  the  land  explored.  We  found  the  whole  country  as  far 
explored  an  excellent  deep  soil,  rising  into  large,  gentle  swells,  admirably  adapted  to  cultivation  and 
covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  large  timber  remarkably  tall  and  very  little  underwood.  The  timber  is  chiefly 
the  sugar-maple,  beech,  and  birch.  We  discovered  very  little  of  what  is  called  beech  land.  The  land  is  not 
broken  into  mountains,  nor  so  stony  as  to  injure  the  cultivation,  as  is  the  case  in  many  of  the  towns  in  New 
Hampshire.  We  are  induced  to  believe  that  three  or  four  townships  may  be  located  within  the  boundaries  of 
said  tract,  which  for  fertility  of  soil,  and  pleasantness  of  situation  would  not  be  exceeded  by  any  town  in 
New  Hampshire.' 

•■  The  committee  further  find  that  the  proprietors  have  received  no  consideration  from  the  tenants  for  the 
lands  allotted  to  them;  that  they  have  expended  very  considerable  sums  of  money  in  making  roads,  erecting 
a  bridge,  and  building  grist-mills  and  saw-mills,  and  if  the  legislature  should  hereafter  consider  that  the 
petitioners  have  no  legal  claim,  the  committee  have  no  doubt  that  their  important  betterments  will  secure  for 
them  the  equitable  consideration  of  the  legislature.  And  the  committee  further  find,  that  an  act  entitled 
'  an  act  to  prevent  and  make  void  clandestine  and  illegal  purchases  of  lands  from  the  Indians'  passed  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  in  the  year  1719,  the  first  section  of  which  enacted  'that 
all  deeds  of  bargain,  sale,  lease,  release,  or  quitclaim,  titles  or  conveyances  whatsoever  of  any  lands,  tenements 
or  hereditaments,  within  this  province,  as  well  for  a  term  of  years  as  forever,  had,  made,  gotten,  procured  or 
obtained  from  any  Indian  or  Indians,  by  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever  at  any  time  or  times  since  1700, 
without  the  license  or  the  approbation  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  province,  and  all  deeds,  &c,  which  shall 
hereafter  be  had,  &c,  shall  be  judged  in  law  to  be  null,  void,  and  of  none  effect,  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 
as  though  they  had  never  been  made.'  And  the  committee  further  find  that  in  1792  this  act  was  repealed; 
and  that  the  legislature  of  this  state,  in  the  year  1789,  appointed  a  committee  for  the  purpose,  and  caused  the 
boundary  lines  between  this  state  and  that  part  of  Massachusetts  then  called  the  district  of  Maine,  and 
between  this  state  and  the  Province  of  Canada  to  be  ascertained  and  run,  and  monuments  to  be  erected 
thereon;  and  that  the  lines  there  run  include  within  this  state,  some  portions  at  least,  of  the  lands  claimed  by 
the  petitioners.  The  committee  further  find  that  Nathan  Hoit,  one  of  the  grantees  named  in  the  deed,  was 
a  member  of  the  above  committee.  And  the  committee  further  find  that  no  grants  have  been  made  by  this 
>tate  of  any  lands  lying  northerly  of  the  tract  of  land  granted  to  Dartmouth  college.  And  the  committee 
further  find  that  the  following  resolution  passed  the  legislature  at  the  November  session,  1820. 

••  •  Resolved,  That  the  Attorney-General  be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  to  institute  due  pro- 
ceedings in  law  against  such  of  said  persons  (the  settlers  on  the  lands  lying  northerly  of  the  tract  of  land 
granted  to  Dartmouth  College)  as  he  shall  deem  proper,  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  state,  and  the  same  to 
prosecute  to  final  judgment,  to  the  end  that  the  said  persons,  in  case  it  shall  be  found  that  they  have  unlaw- 
fully entered  and  infringed  upon  said  lands,  may  be  removed  therefrom.' 

"  And  the  committee  further  And  that  the  attorney-general,  in  compliance  with  the  above  resolution, 
did  institute  legal  proceedings  against  certain  of  the  settlers  in  the  Supreme  Court  in  and  for  the  county  of 
Coos.  And  the  committee  further  find  that  a  plea  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court  was  filed,  and  that 
the  (pns:  ion  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  state  involved  in  the  plea  remains  undecided.  And  the  committee 
further  find,  that  the  true  boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  the  Province  of  Canada  has  not  yet 
been  ascertained  and  determined. 

••  The  commit  iee  ask  leave  of  the  House  to  report  that  in  their  opinion  no  decisive  measures  can  be  recom- 
mended by  them  and  adopted  by  the  legislature  as  to  the  sale  and  conveyance  of  any  portion  of  the  lands 
lying  north  of  the  45th  degree,  until  the  question  of  the  extent  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  state  is  settled,  and 
that  this  must  depend  upon  the  determination  of  the  boundary  lines.  If,  ou  the  final  establishment  of  the 
boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  the  Province  of  Canada,  any  part  of  the  land  claimed  by  either 
bhe  state  or  the  petitioners,  should  be  found  to  fall  without  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States,  the  com- 
mittee have  no  reason  to  doubt,  that  on  proper  representation  being  made  by  the  senators  and  representa- 
tives of  this  state,  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  same  would  be  by  an  act,  annexed  to  this  state  to 
which  it  ought  of  right  to  belong.     Believing  as  the  committee  do  that  the  right  of  jurisdiction  (or  in  other 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  707 


words  its  right  to  legislate)  to  the  full  extent  over  the  lands  claimed  by  the  petitioner^  is  not  at  present  a 
proper  subject  for  judicial  decision;  and  believing  further  that  tin  tenants  had  reason  to  put  great  confidence 
in  the  representations  of  those  who  publicly  claimed  the  right  of  Boil  and  under  whom  they  entered,  the 
committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  tenants  are  entitled,  if  uot  to  be  fullj  quieted  in  their  possessions  of  land, 
at  least  to  exemption  from  prosecutions.  They  ask  leave  therefore  to  submit  for  the  consideration  of  the 
House  the  accompanying  resolution. 

"(Signed)  William  Smith. 

••  For  the  <  lommittee." 

"  Chapter  83. — Section  1.    Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  Huns.' of  Represenatives  in  General  Courtcon- 

\t  ned.  That  all  the  land  north  of  the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude,  which  has  been  at  anytime  rappoei  d  to 
be  within  the  limits  of  thw  state,  and  which  is  not  known  and  established  to  be  within  the  Btate  of  Vermont 

or  Maine,  Or  within  the  province  Of  Lower  <  'an tela,  shall  be  taken  and  deemed  to  be  within  the  limits,  and 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  state  and  shall  constitute  a  part  of  the  County  of  Coos. 

"Section'}.  And  he  it  further  enacted,  That  all  the  right  and  interest  which  the  state  of  New  Hamp- 
shire hath  or  may  have  to  such  parts  of  the  tract  or  parcel  of  land  situate  in  said  s'ate.  north  of  the  45th 
degree  of  north  latitude  commonly  called  King  '  Philip's  Grant '  which  are  now  in  the  possession  of  any 
actual  settler  be,  and  the  same  are,  hereby  granted  and  released  to  such  actual  settler,  his  heirs  and  assigns 
forever.  Provided  however,  that  no  such  actual  settler  shall  be  quieted  in  his  title  under  this  resolution  for 
moit  than  two  hundred  acres, excepting  Jeremiah  Tabor,  Esq.,  who  is  hereby  quieted  in  his  title  as  to  any 
claim  by  this  state  to  such  of  said  lands,  as  are  in  his  actual  possession  not  exceeding  live  hundred  acres;  and 
Nathaniel  Perkins  Esq..  who  is  hereby  quieted  in  his  title  as  to  any  claim  by  this  state  to  such  of  said  lands  as 
are  in  his  actual  possession,  not  exceeding  seven  hundred  acres. 

"  Provided  however,  that  nothing  hereby  contained,  shall  effect  any  actum  or  proces  now  pending  in 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Judicature  in  the  name  or  behalf  of  the  state  against  any  such  settler,  hut  said  court 
shall  proceed  in  the  same  to  final  judgment;  and  in  ease  Buch  judgment  shall  be  rendered  against  such  set- 
tler, no  writ  of  restitution,  execution,  or  other  process  shall  he  issued  on  such  judgment  without  the  further 
order  of  the  legislature. — Approved  Dec.  22.  1824." — Laws  of  New  Hampshire,  November  Session,  L824. 


CHAPTER  LXXIX. 


Progress  aud  Growth  for  the  Next  Decade— Independent  Government — Blanchard's  Arrest- 
Incorporation— Kimball  B.  Fletcher — Tornado. 

j\TO  further  attention  was  bestowed  on  the  territory  by  the  authorities 
[  \J  of  the  state  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  during  which  the  population 
V.  slowly  but  steadily  increased.  Neither  state  or  county  taxes  were 
levied,  as  is  done  in  other  unincorporated  places.  There  was  no  law  for 
the  prevention  or  punishment  of  crime,  the  enforcement  of  civil  contracts, 
or  any  of  the  multiform  necessities  of  civilized  communities,  for  which 
human  governments  are  instituted.  Private  schools  were  supported  by 
subscription.  Roads  were  cut  through  the  forests,  and  improved  by  vol- 
untary contributions  of  labor;  and  school-houses  were  built  in  the  same 
manner.  There  was  but  little  crime.  Every  one  found  work  enough  to 
do  in  clearing  up  the  forests,  and  providing  for  the  wants  of  their  families, 
in  a  newly  settled  country,  remote  from  market's,  where  there  was  but 
little  money  and  most  of  the  necessities  of  life  must  be  produced  at  home. 
Barter  was  an  important  factor  in  trade,  but  little  credit  was  given.  The 
payment  of  debts  was  a  matter  of  honor,  and  the  methods  of  modern 
commercial  and  financial  transactions  but  little  known. 


708  History  of  Coos  County. 

A  mild  form  of  Lynch  law,  never  proceeding  to  extreme  measures, 
sufficed  for  the  punishment  of  the  more  flagrant  offences  against  the 
public  peace,  and  for  a  while  everything  went  well.  But  disorganizing 
and  quarrelsome  elements  eventually  sprang  up,  and  the  necessity  for  a 
compact  or  form  of  government  for  mutual  protection  was  very  generally 
recognized  by  nearly  the  entire  community.  Accordingly,  on  the  6th  day 
of  April,  1829,  a  public  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  held  at  the  Center 
school-house,  the  "Independence  Hall"  of  Pittsburg,  at  which  they 
asserted  their  independence  of  both  the  governments  of  Great  Britain  and 
the  United  States;  drew  up  a  preamble  and  bill  of  rights,  and  adopted  a 
constitution  and  form  of  government,  very  democratic  in  its  provisions. 
It  consisted  of  three  distinct  departments — representative,  executive,  and 
judicial.  The  representative  branch  was  decidedly  primitive  in  its  organ- 
ization, being  composed  of  the  entire  voting  population  of  the  territory, 
each  directly  representing  his  own  interests.  The  executive  department 
consisted  of  five  persons  chosen  annually,  officially  known  as  the  "Su- 
preme Council,"  and  forming  a  semi- judicial  tribunal  or  court  of  appeal 
from  the  lower  courts.  The  judicial  branch  of  the  government  was  vested 
in  justices  of  the  peace  elected  by  the  people  in  their  municipal  capacity, 
and  had  provisions  for  trials  by  a  jury  of  six  persons,  whenever  demanded, 
with  right  of  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Council. 

At  the  meeting  for  the  organization  of  the  government  a  committee  of 
three  persons  was  chosen,  consisting  of  Nathaniel  Perkins,  John  Haines, 
and  David  Mitchell,  to  draft  a  code  of  laws  for  the  government  of  the  ter- 
ritory to  be  submitted  to  the  people,  when  assembled  in  their  legislative 
capacity,  for  approval.  This  "legislature''  met  in  June  following,  and 
the  code  reported  by  the  committee  was  substantially  adopted.  All  the 
offices  under  this  rather  novel  form  of  government  were  elective.  A  com- 
mon school  system  was  established.  A  military  organization  formed  for 
protection  against  foreign  invasion  or  domestic  violence,  consisting  of  one 
company  of  forty  men,  of  which  Hermon  Batchelder  was  chosen  captain. 
Taxes  were  levied  for  municipal  purposes,  the  boundaries  of  school  and 
highway  districts  defined,  and  schools  established,  to  be  supported  by  tax- 
ation. The  collection  of  debts  for  the  first  time  during  the  existence  of 
the  colony  was  enforced  by  legal  process,  and  all  the  varied  municipal 
functions  of  the  government  were  soon  placed  in  working  order.  Reuben 
Sawyer  was  elected  sheriff;  Nathaniel  Perkins,  John  Haines,  David 
Mitchell,  Jeremiah  Tabor,  and  Phineas  Willard,  councillors;  John  A. 
Mitchell,  clerk  and  register  of  deeds;  Richard  I.  Blanchard,  Clark  J. 
Haines,  and  Burleigh  Blood,  justices  of  the  peace. 

The  first  criminal  brought  to  trial  under  the  new  judicial  system  was 
an  old  offender  against  domestic  tranquility  on  a  charge  of  felonious  assault, 
who  claimed  a  trial  by  jury,  which  was  duly  empanelled.     After  a  rather 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  709 


lengthy  trial,  involving  a  large  amount  of  ludicrous  and  contradictory  tes- 
timony, the  complainant  relenting  somewhat  (her  evidence  was  not  of  a 
very  damaging  character),  the  case  was  given  to  the  jury,  which  returned 
a  verdict  of  'k not  guilty."  The  respondent  was  requested  by  the  presid- 
ing justice  to  stand  up  and  listen  to  the  verdict.  The  court  then  addressed 
him:  "  Prisoner  at  the  bar.  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  you 
have  been  honorably  acquitted  by  a  jury  of  your  countrymen  of  the  atro- 
cious crime  with  which  you  were  charged;  but  this  court  deems  it  its  duty 
to  admonish  you,  that,  if  you  are  ever  caught  in  another  nasty  scrape  of 
this  kind,  you  will  be  punished  severely.'" 

Everything  pertaining  to  this  new  government  worked  harmoniously 
for  a  period  of  four  years,  but  it  early  became  evident  that  it  contained  the 
germs  of  disintegration  and  decay.  To  be  sure,  slavery  had  no  existence 
within  its  limits.  There  were  no  violent  convulsions  of  nearly-balanced 
political  parties  fiercely  contending  for  places  at  the  public  crib,  or  ques- 
tions of  protection  as  against  free  trade,  civil  service  reform,  bimetallic 
currency;  nor  did  an  overflowing  treasury  threaten  its  perpetuity;  but 
from  its  weakness  it  became  inert,  and  soon  lost  all  power  to  enfore  the 
execution  of  its  laws.  Having  no  jail  or  secure  place  for  the  detention  and 
punishment  of  criminals,  it  could  only  resort  to  fines  (without  imprison- 
ment) in  default  of  payment.  Treason,  against  which  there  existed  no 
statutory  provisions,  eventually  crept  in,  and  completed  its  destruction  in 
1835.  Thus  disappeared  one  of  the  smallest  and  most  democratic  of  gov- 
ernments known  to  have  existed,  after  a  life  of  only  five  years. 

Society  was  again  chaotic.  Many  of  the  people  invoked  the  protection 
of  New  Hampshire;  some  that  of  the  Canadian  government.  Fierce  and 
bitter  quarrels  sprang  up  between  the  parties  seeking  these  diverse  protec- 
tions. New  Hampshire  had  shown  a  disposition  to  extend  a  quasi  juris- 
diction over  the  territory  in  the  early  part  of  the  year,  by  sending  officers. 
on  several  occasions,  here  to  serve  processes  issued  by  her  courts.  These 
met  with  some  resistance  from  the  Canadian  party,  and  nothing  furthei 
was  done  until  August  t>,  1835,  when  Col.  John  H.  White,  sheriff  of  Coos 
county,  had  an  interview  with  many  of  the  leading  citizens,  assuring  those 
favorably  disposed  of  the  protection  of  New  Hampshire,  ami  warning 
others  of  the  consequences  of  treasonable  acts,  and  appointed  Richard  I. 
Blanchard  (a  resident  citizen)  deputy  sheriff. 

Very  soon  after  this.  Alexander  Rae,  a  magistrate  of  the  County  «»(' 
Compton.  Lower  Canada,  also  visited  the  place;  and.  calling  a  meeting  of 
those  in  favor  of  Canadian  jurisdiction,  he  addressed  them  ai  considerable 
length,  and  in  quite  inflammatory  language,  assuring  them  of  the  iiiinn'- 
diate  protection  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  governmenl  and  advising  them 
to  resist,  by  any  and  all  means  within  their  power,  wh.it  he  termed,  "the 
encroachments  of  the  authorities  of  the  state  of  New  Hampshire."     Thus 


710  History  of  Coos  County. 


assured,  several  of  the  Canadians  openly  defied  the  authorities  of  the  state, 
fortified  their  houses,  armed  themselves  and  threatened  vengeance  on 
those  loyal  to  the  state.  Many  made  threats  against  Deputy-Sheriff 
Blanchard  in  his  attempts  to  discharge  his  official  duties,  and,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  2d  of  October,  he  awoke  to  find  his  dwelling  surrounded  by  a 
body  of  armed  men  from  Canada,  augmented  by  a  small  detachment  from 
the  immediate  neighborhood,  headed  by  a  sheriff,  who  immediately  arrested 
him  on  a  Canadian  warrant,  and  started  with  him  on  foot,  en  route  for 
Canada.  The  news  of  his  arrest  soon  spread  over  this  and  the  border- 
towns  in  New  Hampshire,  and  created  an  intense  excitement.  By  noon 
of  the  same  day  a  party  of  nearly  150  mounted  men,  armed  with  a  great 
diversity  of  implements  of  warfare,  were  in  close  pursuit,  paying  very 
little  attention  to  the  boundary  line.  They  came  up  with  the  party  having 
Blanchard  one  mile  from  the  boundary  on  the  Canadian  side,  and,  after  a 
short  skirmish,  in  which  two  of  the  Canadians  were  wounded,  (Bernard 
Young,  from  a  pistol  shot  in  the  groin,  and  Alexander  Rae,  by  a  sabre-cut 
across  the  head,^  Blanchard  was  rescued  and  conducted  to  Canaan,  Vt., 
where,  after  celebrating  their  victory  on  a  foreign  soil  in  their  happy  man- 
ner, these  patriotic  volunteers,  so  suddenly  organized  as  an  invading  mili- 
tary force,  as  suddenly  disbanded  and  quietly  returned  to  their  respective 
homes. 

These  counter  invasions  by  armed  men  formed  the  subject  of  a  long 
diplomatic  correspondence  between  the  governments  of  Great  Britain  and 
the  United  States,  and  was  finally  amicably  settled  by  the  treaty  of  Wash 
ington  in  1842.  Public  feeling  was  much  excited  along  the  frontier,  on 
both  sides,  by  these  events;  and  considerable  apprehension  was  felt  by 
many  of  the  citizens  of  this  territory  for  their  safety.  The  animosity  exist- 
ing between  the  parties  was  greatly  intensified  by  these  acts  of  violence. 
Most  of  the  citizens  armed  themselves  in  self-defense,  and  a  general  con- 
dition of  anarch v  and  confusion  existed. 

[See  "Indian  Stream  War"  in  County  History.] 

The  period  succeeding  the  "  war  "  for  seven  years  was  a  season  of  com- 
paratively quiet  rural  life,  unmarked  by  any  disturbing  element,  or  promi- 
nent political  or  social  action.  The  year  1836  brought  a  cold  season,  with 
frosts  every  month  in  the  year.  Crops  failed  to  ripen,  and  the  material 
prosperity  of  the  settlement  was  very  considerably  retarded  by  the  scarcity 
of  provisions  resulting  from  the  unfavorable  weather.  There  was  a  con- 
1  inuous  succesion  of  fa  v<  liable  seasons  after  this  for  a  long  period.  Exten- 
sive clearings  were  made  in  the  surrounding  forests,  the  virgin  soil  yielded 
abundant  returns  for  the  labors  of  the  husbandman,  and  a  very  marked 
degree  of  agricultural  prosperity  prevailed. 

Pittsburg  was  incorporated  at  the  November  session  of  the  legislature 
in  1840,  and  at   that   time  contained  about  sixty  ratable  polls,  fifty-four 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  711 


voters,  and  a  total  valuation  of  about  $50,000,  exclusive  of  the  state  lands, 
which  were  not  considered  subject  to  taxation  for  municipal  purposes, 
although  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town. 

[Kimball  B.  Fletcher,  son  of  Ebenezer,  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Indian  Stream,  December  12,  L836.  This  office  was  kept  at  his  residence 
near  Fletcher's  .Mills,  and  discontinued  after  three  years.  This  appoint- 
ment was  made  when  United  States  officials  were  held  in  little  respect, 
except  where  their  own  prowess  demanded  it,  and  Mr.  Fletcher  slept  at 
night  with  a  heavy,  loaded  hunting-rifle  hanging  within  reach  over  his 
head,  a  large  smooth-bore,  loaded  with  a  ball  and  six  buck  shots,  by  the 
side  of  his  bed,  and  a  double-barrelled  rifle-pistol  with  sixteen-inch  barrels 
under  his  pillow.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  if  there  had  been  any  attempt  to 
interfere  with  him,  some  one  Avould  have  been  hurt,  and  the  Canadian 
sympathizers  knew  it,  and  he  was  not  molested. 

In  early  times  '"raisings  "  of  barns  and  houses  were  matters  of  neigh- 
borhood jollity.  People  assembled  from  many  miles  around:  the  men  to 
lift  or  "raise"  the  heavy  timbers  into  position;  the  women  to  aid  in  the 
cooking  required  for  so  large  a  company.  When  the  "  raising "  was  com 
pleted,  some  bright  man  either  gave  a  name  to  the  building  or  a  toast  to 
the  owners.  The  day's  work  was  succeeded  by  a  night  of  merriment  and 
dancing.  The  subjoined  toast  was  composed  and  delivered  by  Kimball  B. 
Fletcher  at  the  raising  of  Parker  Tabor's  house  in  Pittsburg  in  1S35. — 
Editor.] 

"  Here  is  a  fine  frame  !    It  stands  high  on  dry  land. 
The  owner  is  rich,  and  a  very  fine  man. 
At  home  he  is  honored,  and  abroad  it's  the  same; 
May  he  still  keep  increasing  in  honor  and  fame. 
This  house  it  stands  square,  and  in  a  fair  view 
Of  a  river,  fine  meadows  and  neighbors  a  few. 
The  timber  is  square,  and  is  well  put  together: 
May  God  bless  the  owner  forever  and  ever  ! 
This  house  shall  be  finished  from  bottom  to  top. 
There's  one  thing  I'll  mention  I  like  to've  forgot: 
He  has  a  wife  ready  courted  that  is  worthy  of  praisi  . 
In  this  house  both  together  fat  babie's  they'll  raise." 

Tornado. — July  30,  1868,  a  fearful  hurricane  came  from  the  northwest, 
cut  through  the  dense  forests  a  breadth  of  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  tearing 
rocks  from  their  beds,  and  tossing  them  into  the  air.  A.S  it  came  through 
the  Tabor  Notch,  it  entirely  destroyed  the  Tabor  sugar-orchard  of  300  trees; 
passing  Indian  Stream,  it  tore  down  LOO  acres  of  massive  maples  and  elms 
belonging  to  E.  L.  Farnham;  continuing  over  the  southwesl  side  of 
Fletcher  mountains,  it  turned  its  course  northward,  and  nearly  demolished 
the  great  sugar-orchard  of  E.  C.  Aldrich.  Buildings  were  overthrown, 
the  old  Fletcher  house  rent  into  thousands  of  pi<  ces,  and  t  he  large  Fletcher 
barn,  made  of  immense  timbers  of  hardwood  built  by  Ebenezer  Fletcher 


712  History  of  Coos  County. 

very  early,  and  considered  the  strongest  structure  in  the  county,  after 
being  moved  some  inches  from  its  base,  had  its  roof  taken  off,  and  many 
of  its  timbers  carried  eighty  rods.  Mr.  Aldrich's  family  were  all  there  at 
the  time,  but  had  fled  to  the  shed  for  safety,  and  that,  strange  to  say, 
escaped  destruction.  The  tornado  also  did  much  damage  to  stock,  build- 
ings, and  crops;  but  the  only  serious  injury  to  man  was  the  breaking  of 
Mr.  Chappell's  leg  by  a  flying  timber. 


CHAPTER    LXXX. 


Legislative  Action  Concerning  Pittsburg,  1844-1867 — Action  of  Town  in  the  Rebellion — 
Civil'  List. 

*yi  T  the  June  session  of  the  legislature  in  1841  an  act  was  passed  author- 
t — I    izing  a  "survey  of  the  public  lands  in  the  town  of  Pittsburg,"  and 

X  Ephraim  Cross,  of  Lancaster,  was  appointed  agent.  James  W.  Weeks, 
of  Lancaster,  assisted  by  William  D.  Weeks,  was  employed  for  the  field 
work  under  the  direction  of  the  agent.  Work  was  commenced  on  the 
ground  in  August  following.  The  boundaries  of  the  town  were  traced  and 
plotted;  and  a  section  containing  20,000  acres,  embracing  a  considerable 
part  of  the  settled  portion  of  the  town  within  its  limits,  and  including  more 
than  two-thirds  of  the  lands  granted  to  the  original  settlers  by  the  act  of 
1S24,  and  which  had  been  surveyed  and  lotted,  and  the  lines  marked,  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  century  before.  Cross  proceeded  to  reorganize  the  old  bound- 
aries of  improved  lands,  cutting  up  and  dividing  farms  regardless  of  the 
rights  of  owners,  by  arbitrary  lines  traced  on  the  ground  and  monuments 
erected  at  the  corners  of  the  lots.  This  work  is  still  known  as  "Cross's 
survey,"  and  only  recognized  as  determining  the  boundaries  of  lots  not 
hitherto  granted.  A  map  of  the  work  was  prepared  by  J.  W.  Weeks,  and 
placed  on  file  at  Concord.  The  north  line  of  this  survey,  known  as  "Cross 
north  line,"  forms  the  southern  boundary  of  the  "  Colebrook  Academy 
Grant,"  and  the  "Pittsburg  School  Grant"  This  survey  was  indefinitely 
suspended  at  the  next  session  of  the  legislature. 

In  L848  an  act  was  passed  "defining  the  boundaries  of  the  town 
of  Pittsburg,"  and  adding  to  it  the  "township"  of  Carlisle,  includ- 
ing an  area  of  60,000  acres,  and  which  had  not  hitherto  been  con- 
sidered within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town.  Also,  in  the  same  year, 
another  act  was  passed,  exempting  the  town  from  the  provisions  of  the 
general  law  in  regard  to  dividing  towns  into  school  districts,  and  authoriz- 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  713 


ing  the  selectmen  of  the  town  to  divide  the  settled  portions  thereof  into 
districts  in  such  manner  as  they  might  deem  just  and  proper,  (some  act  of 
this  kind  being  deemed  necessary  from  the  fact  that  it  was  impossible  to 
comply  with  the  existing  statute  in  relation  thereto,  requiring  all  the  land 
in  the  several  towns  to  be  districted,  while  the  public  domain  within  the 
limits  of  this  town  was  not  subject  to  local  taxation.)  At  the  November 
session  of  the  legislature  in  1848,  an  act  was  passed  directing  a  further  sur- 
vey of  the  "state  lands  in  the  town  of  Pittsburg,"  and  David  Blanchard,  of 
Pittsburg,  and  John  Flanders,  of  Stewartstown,  were  appointed  agents  by 
Governor  Dinsmore  to  make  the  survey.  Field  work  was  commenced  in 
March,  1849,  by  David  Blanchard,  James  W.  Weeks,  and  John  H.  Spauld- 
ing.  The  principal  streams  were  surveyed  and  plotted;  the  boundaries 
between  the  public  lands,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  those  of  the  settlers, 
determined;  about  30,000  acres  of  the  state  lands  lotted  in  lots  of  206  acres, 
each  including  six  acres  as  allowance  for  highways;  the  boundaries  of  the 
"Colebrook  Academy  Grant  "  determined  and  marked;  and  a  plan  of  the 
work  filed  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state  in  June,  following.  This 
was  the  last  survey  by  the  state  of  the  public  lands  in  town.  At  the  June 
session  of  the  legislature  of  1850,  an  act  was  passed  "  granting  to  each 
actual  settler  on  the  public  lands  in  Pittsburg,  who  had  entered  on  the 
same  since  182-1,  the  lands  in  his  possession  not  exceeding  the  amount 
of  one  hundred  acres."  Another  supplementary  act  was  passed  July  4, 
1860,  as  follows: — 

"That  the  title  of  this  state  in  and  to  all  lots  of  land  in  the  town  of  Pittsburg,  upon  which  any  settler, 
his  heirs,  or  assigns  have  been  in  actual  possession,  bona  fide,  and  making  improvements  for  the  peril"!  of 
six  months  last  preceding  the  passage  of  this  act,  or  upon  which  any  settler,  having  heretofore  entered  and 
made  improvements,  or  the  assessors  of  said  town  have  so  far  considered  the  same  to  be  owned  by  any  indi- 
vidual as  to  tax  and  cause  the  same  to  be  sold  for  taxes,  is  hereby  confirmed  and  released  in  each  case  in,  and 
to,  said  settler,  his  heirs,  or  assigns  and  to  the  purchaser  under  said  sales." 

At  the  June  session.  1858,  an  act  was  passed  granting  to  the  town  a 
tract  of  6,000  acres  of  land  lying  between  Indian  and  Perry  streams  and 
north  of  Cross's  north  line,  for  the  aid  and  benefit  of  common  schools.  This 
grant  was  sold  the  following  year,  and  the  proceeds  invested  at  six  per 
cent.,  the  income  from  which  is  annually  expended  for  educational  pur- 
poses. 

In  1865  the  state  granted  to  the  town  a  tract  of  5,000  acres  to  aid  in  the 
construction  of  a  road  from  the  outlet  of  Connecticut  lake  to  the  town  of 
Aukland,  Quebec,  a  distance  of  eleven  miles.  This  road  was  subsequently 
located,  the  timber  cut  out,  and  the  section  between  Perry  and  Indian 
streams,  about  three  miles,  made  passable  for  carriages;  but  the  work 
proving  very  difficult,  and  the  prospective  benefit  to  be  derived  from  the 
road  when  completed  not  promising  to  be  sufficient  to  warrant  fcheexpense 
of  keeping  it  in  repair  if  built,  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.     The  town, 

47 


714  History  of  Coos  County. 

soon  after,  conveyed  its  right  to  the  land  to  Charles  H.  Weeks  and  Frank 
Aldrich  for  $5,800,  and  applied  the  proceeds  in  part  payment  of  the  war 
debt  of  the  town. 

In  June,  1S67,  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  the  sale  of  the  public 
lands  in  Pittsburg,  amounting  in  all  to  about  100,000  acres;  reserving  and 
excepting  from  such  sale,  however,  the  amount  of  100  acres  to  each  of  two 
actual  settlers  thereon.  These  lands  were  accordingly  sold,  on  the  17th  of 
October,  1807,  to  William  H  Smith,  of  Bangor,  Me.,  for  twenty  cents  per 
acre;  and,  thus  passing  into  private  hands,  became  subject  to  municipal 
taxation.  The  taxes  assessed  thereon  materially  lighten  the  burden  of 
the  residents  in  the  matter  of  town  expenditures. 

Action  of  the  Town  During  the  Rebellion. — At  a  meeting  holden  June  18,  1864,  it  was  voted  "to  raise 
$300  to  pay  each  man  who  was  drafted  May  18,  1861."  Also,  "voted  to  pay  each  inhabitant  the  sum  of  6300 
as  a  bounty,  who  may  be  drafted  to  serve  in  the  army  of  the  United  States  during  the  existing  Rebellion 
from  and  after  this  date,  or  to  the  substitutes  of  such  drafted  men."  At  a  meeting  held  July  5,  1864,  it  was 
voted  '"  to  pay  to  the  men  who  have  been,  or  shall  hereafter  be  drafted  from  this  town,  or  to  the  substitutes 
for  such  conscripts  the  sum  of  6100."  At  a  meeting  held  July  23,  1864,  it  was  voted  "to  furnish  a  substitute 
for  each  man  for  the  term  of  three  years  who  will  pay  into  the  town  treasury  the  sum  of  8200."  At  a  meet- 
ing held  August  29,  1864,  it  was  voted  "to  pay  non-residents  the  sum  of  6300  for  three  years  men."  Also 
i  ited  to  pay  residents  of  the  town  6300  for  one  year  men;  also  voted  "  to  pay  residents  of  the  town  6600  for 
three  years  men,  who  shall  enlist  and  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  to  fill  the  quota  of 
this  town  under  the  present  call  for  troops."  Chose  an  agent  to  fill  the  quota  under  the  present  call  for 
troops.  At  a  meeting  held  February  11,  1865.  it  was  voted  "  to  pay  the  sum  of  6500  to  residents  of  this 
town  who  shall  enlist  and  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  for  the  term  of  one  year  to  fill 
the  quota  of  this  town  under  the  President's  call  of  December  19,  1864,  for  300,000  volunteers."  Also,  voted 
"to  pay  the  sum  of  6300  to  each  non-resident  who  shall  enlist,  and  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  for  the  term  of  three  years  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town  under  said  call."  At  the  annual  meeting,  held 
March  14,  1865,  it  was  voted  "to  pay  the  sum  of  8200  to  each  drafted  man  who  may  be  accepted  to  serve  in 
the  army  of  the  United  States  for  one  year." 

Civil  List  and  action  of  Town  from  March  9,  1841,  to  March,  1887,  inclusive.     First  Annual  Meeting. — 

1841.  Nathaniel  Perkins,  clerk;  Nathaniel  Perkins,  Ross  C  Haines,  Abner  Hyland,  selectmen;  Nathan- 
iel Perkins,  Samuel  Mecham,  Samuel  Whitney,  superintending  school  committee.  Voted  to  raise  8100  for 
schooling  the  year  ensuing.  Voted  to  raise  8300  for  the  repair  of  highways  and  bridges.  Voted  "that  the 
selectmen  be  a  committee  to  district  the  town  anew,  both  school  and  highway,  and  report  at  the  next  annual 
town  meeting  their  doings  thereon."  The  whole  number  of  votes  cast  for  governor  was  fifty-three,  of  which 
John  Page,  Democrat,  received  forty-five,  and  Enos  Stevens,  Free  Soil,  eight. 

1842.  Nathaniel  Perkins,  clerk;  Burleigh  Blood,  Jeremiah  Tabor,  Samuel  Huggins,  selectmen;  Nathaniel 
Perkins.  Abner  Hyland,  Richard  I.  Blanchard,  superintending  school  committee.  Sixty-three  votes  were  cast 
for  governor,  of  which  Henry  Hubbard,  Democrat,  received  fifty-one,  and  Enos  Stevens,  Free  Soil,  twelve. 

1843.  Nathaniel  Perkins,  clerk;  Nathaniel  Perkins,  John  Haines,  Richard  Quimby,  selectmen;  David 
Blanchard,  Nathaniel  Perkins,  Jr.,  Ephraim  C.  Aldrich,  Jr.,  superintending  school  committee.  At  the  annual 
meeting,  March,  1843,  it  was  voted  "that  the  cattle  shall  have  the  privilege  of  running  at  large  this  year  as 
they  did  last."  Pittsburg,  Clarksville,  Dixville,  Millsfield,  and  Errol  were  classed  for  choice  of  representa- 
tive. 

1844.  Samuel  M<  cham,  clerk;  John  Haines,  Parker  Tabor,  David  Johnson,  selectmen;  Nathaniel  Perkins, 
treasurer;  Nathaniel  Perkins,  representative.  John  Haines  was  appointed  collector  of  taxes,  and  his  com- 
pensation  fixed  at  5  per  cent,  on  the  amount  collected.  Voted  to  puc  up  Adeline  Small,  a  town  pauper,  and 
dispose  of  her  at  the  lowest  bidder. 

1845.  Samuel  Mecham,  clerk;  Simon  Danforth,  Ira  C  Bowen,  Ross  C.  Haines,  selectmen;  Richard  I. 
Blanchard,  treasurer;  David  Blanchard,  Samuel  Mecham,  E.  C  Aldrich,  Jr.,  superintending  school  committee. 

1846.  Samuel  Mecham.  clerk;  Abner  Hyland,  Samuel  Mecham,  Hiram  Perkins,  selectmen;  David  Blan 
chard,  E.  C.  Aldrich,  John  T.  Amy.  superintending  school  committee. 

is  17.  Amos  1'.  Abbott,  clerk;  Richard  I.  Blanchard,  Burleigh  Blood,  Richard  Quimby,  selectmen;  Amos 
1'.  Abbott,  David  Blanchard,  Moody  B.  Haynes,   superintending   school  committee.     Voted  to  divide  the  pro- 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  715 


portion  of  the  surplus  revenue  of  the  United  States  belonging  to  said  town     one-half  on  the  invoice  of  the 
town,  and  the  other  half  per  capita,  and  chose  Richard  I.  Blanchard  agent  to  distribute  the  same. 

1848.  Samuel  Mecham,  clerk;  Richard il.  Blanchard,  Richard  Quimby,  Cyrus  E.  Farnham,  selectmen; 
David  Blanchard,  Samuel  Mecham,  William  C,  Locke,  superintending  school  committee;  Richard  [.Blanch- 
ard, representative.  Number  of  votes  castfor  governor  seventy-three.  Voted  thai  several  barn-yards  be  con- 
stituted "  pounds "  the  ensuing  year.  Voted  that  the  barn-yards  of  William  C.  Locke,  Clark  J.  Haines,  and 
Israel  W.  Tyler  be  constituted  "pounds."  (At  the  June  session  of  the  legislature  the  state  appropriated  -  150 
for  repairs  of  highways  in  town,  and  Richard  I.  Blanchard  was  appointed  agent  to  lay  out  the  same. 

1849.  Samuel  Mecham,  clerk;  Richard  I.  Blanchard,  Cyrus  E.  Farnham,  William  C.Locke,  selectmen; 
John  T.  Amy.  Amos  F.  Abbott,  Erasmus  D.  Hutchinson,  superintending  school  committee.  Chose  Josiah  A. 
Young,  of  clarksville,  to  represent  the  district. 

1850.  Erasmus  D.  Hutchinson,  clerk;  Parker  Tabor,  Ross  C.  Haines,  Burleigh  Blood,  selectmen;  JohnT. 

Amy,  Erasmus  D.  Hutchinson,    and  John  C.   Haynes,  superintending   school  committee;  Sii i    Danforth, 

treasurer.     Benjamin  Coon,  a  pauper,  was  bid  off  by  the  week;  and  it  was  voted  thai  ''thi   pay  was  to  cease 
at  his  death." 

1851.  JohnT.  Amy,  clerk;  Ross  C.  Haines,  Ephraim  C.  Aldrich,  Jr..  Elias  L.  Farnham,  selectmen;  John 
T.Amy,  Alonzo  Lyndsey,  Allen  15.  Young,  superintending  school  committee;  Parker  Tabor,  treasurer;  John 
T.  Amy,  representative. 

1852.  Erasmus  D.  Hutchinson,  clerk;  Ross  C.  Haines,  Amos  F.  Abb  >tt,  Samuel  Dailey,  u  Q;  John 
T.  Amy,  superintending  school  committee;  Ross  C.  Haines,  treasurer;  John  T.Amy,  representative.  Whole 
numberof  votes  cast  eighty-four, 

1S53.  E.  D.  Hutchinson,  clerk;  Samuel  Dailey,  John  T.  Amy,  Jonathan  Heath,  selectmen;  E.  D.  Hutch- 
inson, superintending  school  committee;  John  T.  Amy,  treasurer;  Amos  F.  Abbott,  representative.  Whole 
numberof  votes  cast  eighty-three. 

1854.  John  C.  Haines,  clerk;  Burleigh  Blood,  David  Johnson,  Jonathan  Heath,  selectmen;  John T.  Amy. 
superinti  udent  of  schools;  Samuel  Dailey,  treasurer:  Ira  Quimby,  collector  of  taxes,  with  compensation  fixed 
at  -1.     Number  of  votes  cast  eighty. 

1855.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  John  T.  Amy.  Samuel  Dailey,  Elijah  C.  Sawyer,  selectmen;  John  T.  Amy, 
superintendent  of  schools;  Samuel  Dailey,  treasurer;  Samuel  Comstock,  of  Clarksville,  representative.  Whole 
numberof  votes  cast  serenty-seven.  (It  was  during  this  year  that  the  extension  of  the  river  road  was  laid 
out,  from  the  east  line  of  the  Aldrich  farm  to  the  Center  school-house.) 

1856.  David  Blanchard,  clerk;  Elijah  C.  Sawyer,  David  Blanchard.  Ira  Quimby,  selectmen;  David  Blanch- 
ard, superintendent  of  schools;  Samuel  Dailey,  treasurer.    Number  of  votes  cast  seventy-two. 

1857.  David  Blanchard,  clerk;  Samuel  Dailey,  Thomas  P.  Judd,  John  C.  Haines,  selectmen;  Walter  W. 
Barnes,  superintendent  of  schools;  Ephraim  C.  Aldrich,  Jr.,  treasurer;  Moody  B.  Quimby,  representative. 
Numberof  votes  cast  sixty-eight;  whole  number  of  names  on  check-list  seventy-nine. 

1858.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  David  Johnson,  Samuel  Dailey,  Thomas  P.  Judd,  selectmen;  John  T. 
Amy,  superintendent  of  schools:  David  Johnson,  treasurer;  Moody  B.  Quimby.  representative. 

1859.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  David  Johnson,  Samuel  Dailey,  Sydney  P.  Luther,  selectmen;  John  T. 
Amy,  superintendent  of  sch  iols;  David  Johnson,  treasurer;  David  Johnson,  representative.  Number  of 
votes  cast  seventy-three. 

1860.  David  Blanchard,  clerk:  John  T.  Amy,  David  Johnson,  John  C.  Haines,  selectmen;  John  T.  Am\ , 
superintendent  of  schools;  David  Johnson,  treasurer.     Whole  number  of  votes  cast  eighty-five. 

1861.  David  Blanchard.  clerk;  John  T.  Amy,  Elias  L.  Farnham,  John  C.  Haines,  selectmi  tt;  J<  remiah 
W.  Tabor,  superintendent  of  schools;  Samuel  Dailey,  treasurer;  George  Washburne.  representative. 

1862.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  Moody  B.  Haines,  George  Dennett,  David  Johnson,  sell  ctmen;  Jeremiah 
W.  Tabor,  superintendent  of  schools;  Samuel  Dailey,  treasurer. 

1863.  David  Blanchard,  clerk;  Ephraim  C.  Aldrich.  David  Blanchard,  Roswell  W.  Danforth.  selectmi  n: 
Jeremiah  W.  Tabor,  superintended  of  schools;  Samuel  Dailey,  treasurer.  Number  of  votes  cast  ninety- 
nine. 

1864.  George  Dennett,  clerk:  John  T.  Amy.  Moody  B.  Haynes,  Otis  Parker,  selectmen;  Moody  B.  Haynes, 
superintendent  of  schools;  George  Washburne,  representative;  John  C.  Haines,  treasurer. 

1865.  John  C.  Haynes.  clerk;  John  C.  Haynes.  Cyrus  E.  Farnham,  George  Washburne,  sell  ctmi  a;  Fer- 
nando C.  Jacobs,  repn  sentative;  John  T.  Amy.  superintendent  of  schools:  John  C.  Haines,  treasurer. 

1866.  John  C.  Haines,  clerk:  John  T.  Amy.  Elias  L.  Farnham.  David  Johnson,  selectmen;  JohnT. 
Amy,  superintendent  of  schools;  Fernando  C.  Jacobs,  representative;  John  C.  Haines,  treasurer.  Number 
of  votes  cast  eighty-nine. 

1867.  John  C.  Haines,  clerk;  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  David  Johnson,  Elijah  ('.Sawyer,  selectmen;  John 
T.  Amy,  superintendent  of  schools;  John  C.  Haynes,  representative;  John  C.  Haines,  treasurer.  Whole 
number  of  votes  cast  eighty-nine. 


716  History  of  Coos  County. 


1868.  George  Dennett,  clerk;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  David  Johnson,  Hiram  B.  Shuff,  selectmen;  Lorenzo- 
Farnham,  superintendent  of  schools;  John  C.  Haines,  representative.     Number  of  votes  cast  105. 

1869.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Sydney  P.  Luther,  James  W.  Baldwin,  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  selectmen; 
John  T.  Amy,  superintendent  of  schools;  Thomas  C.  Hart,  representative;  Albert  Locke,  treasurer. 

1870.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  Parker  T.  Danforth,  Fernando  C.  Jacobs,  selectmen. 
Thomas  C.  Hart,  representative;  Samuel  Dailey, (?). 

1871.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  Sydney  P.  Luther,  Richmond  P.  Tabor,  Parker  T.  Danforth,  selectmen; 
Justus  W.  Baldwin,  superintendent  of  schools;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  Thomas  F.  Johnson,  represent- 
ative. 

1872.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Sydney  P.  Luther,  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  James  W.  Baldwin,  selectmen; 
Justus  W.  Baldwin,  superintendent  of  schools;  Samuel  Daily,  representative;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer. 
Whole  number  of  votes  cast  162. 

1873.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  Sydney  P.  Luther,  Richmond  P.  Tabor,  Timothy  Blanchard,  selectmen; 
Moody  B.  Haines,  superintendent  of  schools;  Elias  Farnham,  treasurer. 

1874.  Moody  B.  Haines,  clerk;  Calvin  J.  Danforth.  Sydney  P.  Luther,  Samuel  Dailey,  selectmen;  Moody 
B.  Haines,  superintendent  of  schools;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  Samuel  Dailey,  representative. 

1875.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  Elias  L.  Farnham,  Amasa  S.  Huggins,  selectmen; 
Moody  B.  Haines,  superintendent  of  schools;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  Pftrker  T.  Danforth,  representa- 
tive. Voted  not  to  appoint  a  liquor  agent.  For  governor,  Hiram  R.  Roberts,  Democrat,  had  fifty-two  votes; 
Person  C.  Cheney,  Republican,  fifty  votes. 

1876.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Sydney  P.  Luther,  Hiram  B.  Shuff,  George  F.  Farnham,  selectmen; 
David  Blanchard,  superintendent  of  schools;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  John  W.  Straw,  representative;. 
David  Blanchard,  delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention  to  be  held  at  Concord  in  December,  1876.  The 
vote  for  presidential  electors  in  November  was,  Democrat,  fifty-one;  Republican,  fifty-nine. 

1877.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  Hiram  A.  Shuff,  Harvey  S.  Shoppe.  selectmen; 
Justus  W.  Baldwin,  treasurer;  Moody  B.  Haines,  superintendent  of  schools;  John  W.  Straw,  representative. 
Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  $2,500  for  highways. 

1878.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  Hiram  A.  Shuff,  Charles  S.  Holmes,  selectmen; 
David  Blanchard,  superintendent  of  schools;  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  representative;  Charles  Judd,  James  H. 
Bacon.  Hiram  B.  Shuff,  supervisors. 

1879.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  John  H.  Hawes,  Harvey  S.  Shoppe,  selectmen;  Elias 
L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  David  Blanchard,  superintendent  of  schools:  Calvin  J.  Danforth,  representative. 

1880.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Moody  B.  Haines,  Charles  S.  Holmes,  William  H.  Tebbetts,  selectmen; 
Moody  B.  Haines,  superintendent  of  schools;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  Moody  B.  Haines,  representative. 
Voted  to  raise  $3,000  to  apply  on  the  town  debts.  (At  the  election,  November  2,  1880,  for  the  choice  of  pres- 
idential electors,  James  A.  Garfield  received  seventy-eight  votes,  and  Winfield  S.  Hancock  sixty-live  votes.) 
At  the  meeting  held  December  28,  1880,  for  the  election  of  member  of  Congress,  Jewett  D.  Hosley  received 
nineteen  votes  and  Ossian  Ray  fifty-three  votes. 

1881.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Moody  B.  Haines,  Samuel  Dailey,  Ernest  A.  Lyford,  selectmen;  David 
Blanchard,  superintendent  of  schools;  Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer.  Voted  to  raise  $3,000  for  building  and 
repairing  highways  and  bridges,  "  six  thousand  (6,000)  to  apply  on  town  debts.  "  $700  for  the  support  of 
schools,  and  $100  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

1882.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Dudley  S.  Keysar,  George F.  Farnham,  Albion  P.  Watts,  selectmen;  Her- 
bert M.  Smith,  representative;  E.  L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  David  Blanchard,  superintendent  of  schools.  Voted 
to  raise  $1,150,  including  the  amount  required  by  law  for  the  support  of  schools,  $150  to  purchase  a  uni- 
form system  of  text  books  for  the  public  schools,  $1,000  to  apply  on  town  debts,  $150  for  the  support  of 
the  poor,  $300  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  town,  and  $3,000  in  money,  and  $2,000  to  be  paid  in  labor, 
for  building  and  repairing  highways.  At  the  November  election  130  votes  were  cast — Democrat  forty-six, 
Republican  eighty-four.  A  census  of  the  town  taken  by  the  selectmen  in  April  of  this  year  showed  the  pop- 
ulation to  be  618. 

lss:j.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Albion  P.  Watts,  George  F.  Farnham,  William  A.  Abbott,  selectmen; 
Elias  L.  Farnham,  treasurer;  David  Blanchard,  superintendent  of  schools.  Voted  tin' school  money  amount- 
ing to  $1,200  be  divided  equally  anions  the  several  districts.  Voted  to  raise  $500  iu  $3,000  to  be  paid  in 
labor  to  build  ami  repair  highways,  also  to  build  a  town-house. 

1884.  Justus  YV.  Baldwin,  clerk:  Albion  P.  Watts,  John  W.  Straw,  William  A.  Abbott,  selectmen;  David 
Blanchard,  superintendent  of  schools;  George  F.  Farnham,  treasurer:  James  W.  Baldwin,  representative. 
At  the  meeting  for  the  choice  of  presidential  electors  eighty-five  votes  were  cast  for  Grover  Cleveland,  sixty- 
two  for  Jami  S  G.  Blaine  and  nine  "scattering."  Also  voted  that  the  use  of  the  town  hall  be  granted  to  G. 
A.  R.  Post,  No.  65,  for  public  purposes.  Samuel  E.  Watts,  James  W.  Baldwin,  Ivan  F.  Dennett  were  chosen 
supervisors. 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  717 


1885.  George  Dennett,  clerk;  John  W.  Straw,  Jamon  Perry,  Horace  Bi^elow,  seleettnen;  David  Blanch- 
ard,  superintendent  of  schools;  Hiram  B.  Shaft',  treasurer.  Voted  the  free  use  of  the  town  hall  to  the  I.  O. 
G.  T.;  Timothy  Blanchard  was  chosen  janitor  of  the  hall;  also  voted  the  free  use  of  the  hall  to  the  <>.  A.  li. 

1886.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,  clerk;  Ernest  A.  Lyford,  George  W.  Baldwin.  Jamon  Perry,  selectmen;  Justus 
W.  Baldwin,  treasurer;  chose  Ernest  A.  Lyford,  George  Dennett.  Sxiiney  1'.  Luther.  I  n»ard  of  education  under 
the  recently-enacted  law.  known  as  the  town  system. 

1887.  Justus  W.  Baldwin,    clerk;  George  W.    Baldwin,  Albion  P.  Watts,   Dudleys.    Keysar,   -> 
Justus  W.  Baldwin,  treasurer.    Town  indebtedness  as  per  treasurer's  report,  March,  $640.    Voted  fco  pur- 
chase a  road-machine,  and  to  raise  6250  to  pay  for  it.     Voted  to  raise  $1,750  for  highways,  $300  for  payment 
on  town  debt,  $200,  in  addition  to  the  amount  required  by  law,  for  the  support  of  schools,  $50  for  the  support 
of  the  poor.     Also  voted  the  free  use  of  the  hall  to  the  I.  0.  G.  T.  and  the  G.  A.  It. 


CHAPTER  LXXXI. 


The  First  Church — Religious  Societies — Schools — Agriculture — Connecticut  River  Lumber 
•Co.— Business,  Etc. — Upper  Connecticut  River  and  Lake  Improvement  Co. — Upper  Coos  Railroad 
— Advantages  to  Pittsburg. 

THE  first  church  organized  in  this  territory  was  the  Congregational,  in 
1822,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Rankin,  assisted  by  Dr.  Hale.  "This  church  soon 
failed  to  keep  up  its  organization,  and  was  succeeded  two  years  later 
by  a  Free  Will  Baptist  church  under  Rev.  Aaron  Buzzel,  from  Strafford, 
N.  H.,  an  able  but  somewhat  eccentric  divine,  who  occasionally  visited  the 
place,  and  ably  assisted  this  feeble  church  for  many  years  thereafter."  It 
existed,  under  various  pastorates,  for  a  period  of  twenty  years. 

A  Methodist  church  was  organized  here  about  L826,  by  Rev.  Henry  J. 
Woolley,  who  was  succeeded  in  his  missionary  labors  by  Rev.  Chester  Liv- 
ings, Joseph  Baker,  Charles  Cowan,  Harry  Latham,  George  Putnam,  Solo- 
mon Grleason,  Edmund  T.  Manering,  Holman  Drew,  James  Dow,  Lorenzo 

Dow, Blodgett,  Pickens  Boynton  and  D.  J.  Smith.     Samuel  Danforth 

officiated  as  deacon  of  the  church  for  a  long  period  of  years. 

The  first  church  edifice-  was  built  in  1875  by  the  M.  E.  church,  near  the 
center  of  the  town;  this  was  a  neat  and  commodious  structure.  The  first 
pastor  installed  was  Rev.  Mr.  Presby;  he  was  succeeded  by  E  C.  Langford, 
John  Wesley,  Albert  Brown,  Albert  Smith,  and  the  present  (1887)  incum- 
bent, Rev.  W.  Warren. 

Rev.  Samuel  Drown,  a  Free  Will  Baptist  minister,  moved  here  in  L829, 
from  Sheffield,  Vt.,  and  ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  his  parishioners 
for  a  period  of  ten  years.  He  was  an  eloquent  and  able  preacher.  He 
practiced  medicine  to  some  extent,  was  a  noted  horse-tamer,  and  very 
popular  with  all  classes.  The  church  of  the  Second  Advent  has  also  many 
followers  in  this  section,  but  does  not  maintain  regular  preaching. 


718  History  of  Coos  County. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  territory,  of  which  there  is  any  knowledger 
was  kept  about  1821,  in  a  log-house  on  Indian  stream,  by  Betsey  Rogers. 
The  first  school-house  built  was  a  log  structure  standing  near  the  road  on 
the  brook  between  the  Jonathan  Hartwell  place  and  Samuel  Danforth's;. 
Elisha  Abbott  was  the  first  teacher.  He  is  said  to  have  combined  with 
his  profession  as  a  teacher,  considerable  musical  talent,  and  one  of  his 
rather  novel  methods  of  school  discipline  was  the  promise,  as  a  reward  for 
good  behavior,  to  play  the  violin  for  his  pupils  to  dance  at  the  noon  recess. 
At  a  little  later  period  a  frame  school-house  was  built  at  Indian  Stream, 
near  what  is  known  as  "French  brook."  This  part  of  the  town  is  now 
known  as  school  district  No.  1. 

In  the  year  1828  a  substantial  and  convenient  frame  building  was  built 
for  school  purposes,  (since  known  as  the  Center  school-house,  district  No. 
3,)  by  voluntary  contribution;  and  for  along  period  served  as  school-house, 
town-hall,  court-house  and  church.  Private  schools  in  this  house  were 
supported  for  a  period  of  twelve  years  by  the  citizens  of  the  town.  The 
first  school  taught  here  was  by  Eunice  Bunnel  from  Claremont,  between 
forty  and  fifty  pupils  usually  attending.  She  was  succeeded  by  Alanson 
Cummings,  John  A.  Mitchell,  Mercy  Dauforth,  Ahaz  S.  French  and  Samuel 
White.  During  the  existence  of  the  "Indian  Stream  Government,"  at 
this  humble  institution  of  learning,  men,  now  holding  prominent  positions 
at  the  bar,  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  medical  profession,  and  in  mercantile  life, 
received  their  early  elementary  education.  This  building  has  been  kept 
in  good  repair;  and,  in  1880,  was  purchased  by  the  town  under  the  school 
law,  known  as  the  town  system.  This  town  has  nine  schools,  about  130 
pupils,  and  annually  expends  $1,000  for  educational  purposes,  usually  hav- 
ing two  terms  of  ten  weeks  in  each  district.  A  uniform  system  of  text- 
books has  been  supplied  by  the  town. 

Polls,  Valuation,  and  Agriculture. — The  whole  number  of  ratable  polls 
in  the  town  of  Pittsburg,  April  1,  1887,  was  175.  Its  taxable  valuation 
$300,815. 

Agriculture  forms  the  most  important  industry  of  the  town,  and  graz- 
ing, to  which  the  soil  is  particularly  well  adapted,  the  principal  branch 
thereof.  Considerable  attention  is  given  to  the  introduction  of  improved 
breeds  of  domestic  animals,  and  the  herds  of  cattle  of  most  of  the  leading 
farmers  show  many  high-grade  animals  of  Hereford,  Durham,  and  Jersey 
blood.  Shropshire,  Southdown,  and  Leicester  sheep  are  the  principal 
breeds  in  favor  with  the  farmers,  and  thrive  remarkably  well  in  the  luxur- 
ient  pastures  covering  the  hillsides.  The  raising  of  horses  for  the  lower 
New  England  markets,  from  standard  strains  of  blood,  is  becoming  one  of 
the  leading  branches  of  farming  in  this  section.  In  natural  adaptation  to 
agricultural  purposes  Pittsburg  has  but  few  equals  in  the  state,  more 
particularly  as  a  grazing  country,  producing,  where  cleared,  excellent  first 


Town  of  Pittsburg.  719 


crops  of  the  English  grasses,  and  being  abundantly  well  watered,  seldom 
suffers  from  drought.  With  the  advent  of  convenient  railway  facilities 
for  transportation,  which  the  Upper  Coos  railroad  will  furnish,  few 
sections  will  be  found  affording  better  opportunities  for  extensive  dairying 
operations.  In  reviewing  the  history  of  its  agriculture,  very  manifest 
improvement  is  observed  in  this  town.  The  stumps  and  surface-rocks 
have  mostly  been  cleared  from  the  upland  farms  during  the  last  half 
century,  and  improved  modern  agricultural  implements  very  generally 
introduced.  Good  substantial  farm  buildings  are  found  on  most  of  the 
farms;  and  many  very  fine  residences  have  recently  been  built,  which  will 
compare  favorably  with  country  homes  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
state.  There  are  upwards  of  sixty  miles  of  highway,  on  which  a  road- 
machine  is  used  for  the  purpose  of  repairs;  and,  although  somewhat  hilly, 
the  road-bed  is  generally  well  worked,  and  good  carriage  roads  extend  to 
every  part  of  the  town. 

Lumbering  forms  another  very  important  branch  of  domestic  industry. 
Many  of  the  farmers  having  teams  working  on  their  farms  during  the 
summer,  find  remunerative  employment  in  the  lumber  swamps  during  the 
winter,  either  in  cutting  and  hauling  from  their  own  lands,  or  in  working 
for  the  larger  companies. 

The  Connecticut  River  Lumber  Company,  chartered  in  1879,  under  the 
laws  of  the  state  of  Connecticut,  owns  upwards  of  125^000  acres  of  timber 
lands  in  this  town,  besides  a  large  amount  elsewhere,  and  has  one  of  its 
principal  offices  at  Connecticut  lake,  at  which  point  it  has  built  and  runs  a 
hotel  for  public  accommodation,  and  a  small  steamer,  the  "Hartford,"  in 
connection  therewith  on  Connecticut  lake.  The  company  has  also  erected 
several  commodious  barns,  a  store,  saw-mill  and  other  buildings  neccessary 
for  the  successful  operation  of  its  business  at  this  point.  New  York  capi- 
talists, together  with  George  Van  Dyke,  of  Lancaster,  president,  comprise 
the  company,  which  has  mills  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  Holyoke  and  North- 
ampton, Mass.,  Bellows  Falls,  Mclndoes  Falls  and  Guildhall,  Vt.,  and  on 
the  Androscoggin  river  in  Maine,  and  employ  in  the  woods  in  the  winter 
annually  some  400  men  and  200  horses,  cutting  and  hauling  annually  about 
40,000,000  feet  of  spruce  logs,  and  driving  them  down  the  Connecticut  in 
the  spring  to  their  various  mills  on  the  river.  They  employ  generally  from 
700  to  800  men  during  the  early  period  of  this  work.  This  business 
furnishes  a  good  market  for  the  surplus  agricultural  products  and  labor  of 
the  country  at  remunerative  prices;  and  on  its  large  invoice  of  taxable 
property  pays  a  very  important  proportion  of  the  local  taxes,  and  annually 
distributes  great  sums  of  money;  thus  contributing  largely  to  the  material 
prosperity  of  the  town. 

Hon.  Asa  Smith,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  lumber- 
ing business,  was  the  first  president,  and  business  manager  of  the  Connec- 


720  History  of  Coos  County. 


ticut  River  Lumber  Company  during  the  first  four  years  of  its  corporate 
existence.  He  is  kindly  remembered  by  the  many  friends  who  sustained 
business  relations  with  him,  and  enjoyed  his  friendship  during  his  admin- 
istration. He  was  succeeded  in  office  by  George  Van  Dyke,  a  man  possess- 
ing indomitable  energy  and  perseverance. 

This  town  has  four  saw-mills,  two  grist-mills,  one  machine  shop,  two 
hotels,  two  postoffices,  a  town  hall,  three  stores,  and  three  blacksmith 
shops.  It  has  telephonic  communication  with  North  Stratford  and  inter- 
mediate points. 

The  Upper  Cods  River  and  Lake  Improvement  Company,  chartered  by 
New  Hampshire,  together  with  the  Connecticut  River  Lumber  Company, 
has  expended  large  sums  in  the  clearing  of  obstructions  from  the  principal 
streams,  and  in  building  dams  at  the  lakes  to  facilitate  driving  lumber. 

The  Hereford  Branch  Railroad,  a  branch  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  rail- 
way, connecting  with  the  Upper  Coos  railroad  at  the  boundary  near  the 
mouth  of  Hall's  stream,  is  located  near,  and  extends  six  miles  along  the 
westerly  border  of  the  town.  These  railroads  have  given  a  new  impetus 
to  business  interests;  already  a  manifest  improvement  is  shown  in  the 
enhanced  value  of  real  estate;  and,  although  the  easterly  portion  of  the 
town  is  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  nearest  railroad  station,  yet, 
with  the  certain  prospect  of  an  early  construction  of  a  branch  road  to  Con- 
necticut lake,  Pittsburg,  with  its  vast  undeveloped  resources  of  forests, 
minerals,  abundant  water-power,  extensive  areas  of  uncleared  lands  well 
adapted  to  agricultural  purposes,  and  already  opened  to  settlement, 
unrivalled  attractions  as  a  place  of  summer  resort  for  tourists,  its  abun- 
dance of  cool,  refreshing,  spring  water,  its  altitude  and  healthful  climate 
where  hay-fever  is  an  unknown  disease,  can  hardly  fail  soon  to  become 
one  of  the  most  important  towns  of  New  Hampshire. 


COLUMBIA. 


By  William  E.  Cone. 


CHAPTER  LXXXII. 


Grant  of  Township — Signers  to  Petition — Wales's  Location — Boundaries— Lime  Pond— First 
Town  Meeting — Resident  Tax  List — Polls  and  Ratable  Estate  in  1810— Valuation  of  Buildings  in 
1824 — Schools — Town  Officers'  Fees — Politics — Cemeteries. 

THIS  township  was  granted  December  1,  1770,  to  the  same  men  to 
whom  the  grant  of  Colebrook  was  made,  and  called  Cockburne  Town, 
in  honor  of  Sir  James  Cockburne,  one  of  the  grantees.  It  was  incor- 
porated by  an  act  of  the  legislature  approved  December  16,  1797,  and 
named  Cockburne  in  response  to  a  petition  to  the  legislature  signed  by- 
Abel  Larned,  Philip  Jordan,  Julius  Terry,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Ebenezer 
Larned,  Jacob  Terry,  Jacob  Terry,  Jr  ,  Abner  Osgood,  Abel  Hobart,  Ahaz 
French,  William  Wallace,  Abijah  Learnard.  By  an  act  approved  Novem- 
ber 30,  1804,  Wales's  Location  was  annexed  to  the  town.  This  tract,  said 
to  contain  5,822  acres,  was  granted  May  4, 1773,  to  Seth  Wales  and  seven- 
teen others.  The  name  of  the  town  was  changed,  by  an  act  approved 
June  19,  1811,  to  Columbia.  Population  in  1775,  14;  1790,  26;  1800,  109; 
1810,  142;  1820,  219. 

Columbia  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Colebrook,  east  by  Dixville  and 
Millsfield,  south  by  Stratford  and  Odell,  and  west  by  Vermont. 

From  the  mountains  descend  a  number  of  streams  into  the  Connecticut 
river,  affording  many  excellent  water-privileges.  There  are  several  ponds; 
the  most  noted  is  Lime  pond,  the  bottom  of  which  is  covered  with  white 
calcareous  marl.  This  marl  deposit  has  been  used  somewhat  for  the  manu- 
facture of  quicklime,  and  is  fully  equal  to  the  best  imported  variety.  The 
pond  is  nearly  a  hundred  rods  long  and  fifty  wide.  Farming  and  hi  inher- 
ing are  the  principal  avocations  of  the  people,  and  there  is  some  manufac- 
turing done. 


722  History  of  Coos  County. 

Abel  Larnard  was  authorized  to  call  the  first  "town  meeting  which 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Widow  Anna  Larnard  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
March,  A.  D.,  1798."  At  this  meeting  the  record  shows  the  following  list 
of  officers  chosen  and  business  done: — 

"  Voted  Mi\  Jacob  Terry,  moderator;  voted  Mr.  Abel  Larnard,  town  clerk,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Jacob  Terry, 
Jr.,  selectman,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Noab  Buffington,  2d  selectman,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Abel  Hobart  to  be  a  3d 
selectman,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Cbauncey  Curtis,  constable,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Chauncey  Curtis,  collector  of 
taxes,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Philip  Jordan,  highway  surveyor,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Cummins  Buffington,  highway 
surveyor,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  William  Wallace  be  a  fence  viewer,  sworn;  voted  Mr.  Chauncey  Curtis,  hog  reeve, 
sworn;  voted  Mr.  Julius  Terry,  hog  reeve,  sworn:  voted  Mr.  Abel  Larnard,  hog  reeve,  sworn;  voted  to  Raise 
twelve  Dollars  to  Defray  the  expenditures  of  the  Town ;  voted  that  Mr.  Philip  Jordan's  Barn  yard  be  Consid- 
ered a  Pound  for  the  purpose  of  Impounding  Horses  or  Hogs  taken  Feasant  the  present  year;  voted  Mr. 
Philip  Jordan,  Pound  keeper,  sworn." 

Abel  Larnard,  town  clerk,  "after  being  duly  cautioned,"  took  the  oath 
of  office  before  Mills  Deforrest,  justice  of  the  peace  of  Lemington,  Vt., 
from  which  we  infer  that  the  town  had  no  "  Esquire."  The  new  board  of 
selectmen,  careful  alike  of  the  spiritual  and  physical  welfare  of  the  citi- 
zens of  the  new-born  town,  transacted  their  first  official  business  on  March 
15th,  by  promulgating  the  following:— 

"  We  the  Selectmen  of  the  Township  of  Cockburn  Conceive  it  for  the  benefit  of  the  Public  that  a  house  of 
Entertainment  should  be  kept  in  this  Town,  and  we,  Conceiving  Chauncey  Curtis  of  said  Cockburn,  a  suitable 
Person  to  keep  a  house  of  Entertainment  and  to  sell  any  kind  of  spiritous  Liquors  in  his  house  at  all  seasona- 
ble times  until  the  Next  Annual  Meeting  in  March,  and  we  Do  by  these  presents  give  him  our  Entire  Appro- 
bation for  that  purpose. 

"Abel  Hobart  \ 

"Jacob  Terry  /Selectmen" 

"Noah  Buffington     ) 

The  first  tax  list  was  made  out  May  28,  1798,  and  from  it  we  learn  who 
were  tax  payers  of  the  town,  as  well  as  what  it  cost  to  be  a  citizen  of  the 
new  town. 

"Non-resident — Being  for  the  whole  Town  excepting  1,300  acres  Lying  on  Connecticut  River  20,550 
Acres.  State  Tax  9  dollars  &  11  cts. ;  County  Tax  $4.69;  Residents  State  Tax  $4.89;  Residents  County  Tax 
$9.39." 

No  town  tax  appears  to  have  been  assessed  on  the  "non-residents,"  but 
the  "residents"  paid  $13.43  in  all.  Of  the  twenty -eight  "residents" 
Howard  Blodgett  got  off  the  cheapest,  being  called  on  for  only  ten  cents; 
while  his  neighbor,  Noah  Buffington,  was  called  on  for  two  dollars  seventy 
cents  and  five  mills.  We  copy  the  record  of  "resident  tax  payers,"  with 
the  amount  of  each  one's  tax,  town,  county  and  state.  Many  of  the  de- 
scendants of  these  early  tax  payers  may  be  inclined  to  envy  them  their 
small  taxes,  yet  we  doubt  not  these  apparently  insignificant  sums  were 
raised  with  as  much  difficulty  and  paid  with  as  much  reluctance  as  the 
larger  taxes  are  met  by  the  tax  payer  of  to-day: — 

Jacob  Terry $2,038  Bradford  Hammond $  .311  William  Wallace $2. 143 

Philip  Jordan 2.125  Abner   Curtis 311  Jarvis  Lounsbury 98 

Nath'l  Wales 1.65  Victory  Jennison 311  Noah  Buffington 2.705 

Andrew  G.  Huntington 601  Howard  Blodgett .10  Rial   Larnard 34 

Perly  Wallace 485  Julius  Terry 2.581  Jabez  Parsons 136 


Town  of  Columbia.  723 


Sylvanus  Larnard 1.25  Abel  Hobart 1.56  Orland  Wales 311 

Ebenezer  Brown 2.002  Abijer  Laniard 555  Cummins  Buffington 811 

Chauncey  Curtis 1.492  Danforth  Wallace 738  William  Jordan 311 

Isaac  Stephens 311  Abel  Laniard 1.2S8  llezekiah  Parsons,  Jr 828 

Linden  Hibart 38 

The  6th  of  June,  1798,  at  a  "legal  meeting,'"  $63.33  was  voted  for 
making  and  repairing  high  ways;  and,  in  September  of  the  same  year,  the 
highway  from  Colebrook  to  Wales's  Location,  was  surveyed  by  Christo- 
pher S.  Bailey,  who  made  the  distance  six  miles,  thirty-six  chains,,  and 
thirty-six  links.  At  a  meeting  held  April  i;,.»,  L799,  "voted  to  allow  resi- 
dents one  dollar  a  day  for  work  on  the  highway,  finding  his  own  tools  and 
victuals";  and  this,  for  many  years,  was  the  pay  voted  for  work  on  the 
highway.  Often  the  word  "  diet"  was  substituted  for  "victuals,"  but  the 
price  remained  the  same,  and  was  undoubtedly  considered  very  liberal 
pay.  But  we  knowr  that  very  many  days'  work  were  done  without  pay 
by  these  public-spirited  settlers. 

List  of  Polls  and  Ratable  Estate  in  the  Town  of  Con,khurn  for  1810. — Charles  Thompson,  poll,  horse  five 
years  old,  three  cows,  one  neat  stock  two  years  old,  one  acre  of  mowing  land,  ninety-six  acres  of  unim- 
proved land,  and  a  grist-mill,  on  which  the  tax  was  65.  The  whole  amount  of  his  tax  was  highway  ¥1.75, 
money  616.01.  James  Lewis,  poll,  a  five-year-old  horse,  two  cows,  one  two-year-old  neat  stock,  and  62  on 
"Tan  Works";  highway  tax  6.91.  money  68.36.  Austin  Bissel,  poll,  and  one  acre  of  tillage  land;  highway 
tax  6.71,  money  66.88.  James  Dewey,  for  Bellows  &  Carlisle,  stock  in  Trade.  $1,500;  highway  tax  61.58, 
money  614.41.  Jonathan  Carr  had  only  a  poll  tax;  highway  rax  6.27,  money  ?2.42.  Samuel  Bundy,  poll,  a 
three-year-old  horse,  two  cows,  two  neat  stock  two  years  old,  three  acres  of  tillage,  twelve  acres  of  mowing, 
twelve  acres  of  pasture,  twenty  acres  of  unimproved  land;  highway  tax  61.29,  money  $11.90.  William  Wal- 
lace, Jr.,  paid  two  doIIs,  two  old  horses,  two  four-year-old  oxen,  a  couple  of  cows,  a  two-year-old  and  a 
three-year-old  neat  stock,  four  acres  tillage,  twenty  acres  mowing,  twelve  acres  pasturing,  seventy-four  acres 
unimproved;  highway  tax  62.63,  money  621.36.  Sylvanus  Larnard — the  selectmen  could  only  find  one  cow 
to  add  to  his  poll  tax,  and  a  highway  tax  of  6.32,  and  a  money  tax  of  $2.89.  Samuel  Harvey,  poll,  one  horse 
five  years  old,  one  horse  three  years  old,  two  cows,  one  two-year-old  and  four  three-year-olds  neat  stock,  one 
acre  of  tillage  land,  nine  acres  of  mowing  land,  five  acres  of  pasture  land,  and  the  most  unimproved  land 
of  any  man  in  town,  being  taxed  with  1.474  acres;  but  that  class  of  land  was  cheap  in  those  days,  and  his 
whole  tax  was,  highway  62.63,  money  624.20.  We  pi'esume  these  unimproved  " lands  "  pay  more  tax  now 
than  the  tax  of  the  whole  town  was  in  1810.  Philip  Jordan,  poll,  two  cows,  three  acres  of  tillage,  fifteen 
acres  of  mowing,  the  same  of  pasturage,  and  fifty-seven  acres  of  unimproved  land;  highway  tax  61.33, 
money  612.19.  Bsnajah  Jordan,  poll,  two  old  horses,  one  yoke  of  oxen  five  years  old,  three  cows,  two  three- 
year-olds  neat  stock,  one  two-year-old  neat  stock.  How  he  kept  so  much  stock  is  a  little  mysterious,  as  he 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  the  owner  of  an  acre  of  land.  Highway  tax  6.91,  money  67.35.  Timothy 
Lockwood,  poll,  old  horse,  two  cows,  one  three-year-old,  two  two-year-olds  neat  stock,  and  fifty  acres  of  un- 
improved land.  We  supposed  he  "  browsed  "  his  cattle  in  the  winter,  and  let  them  run  in  the  "'long  pas- 
ture" summers.  Highway  tax  6.60,  money  $5.46.  Robert  Parkinson,  poll,  his  only  earthly  possessions  being 
one  old  horse ;  highway  tax  $.42,  money  63.84.  Abel  Hobart,  poll,  two  old  horses,  two  oxen  live  years  old, 
six  cows,  one  three-year-old,  and  three  two-year-olds  neat  stock,  three  acres  of  tillage,  fifteen  acres  of  mowing, 
twenty  acres  of  pasture,  and  102  acres  of  unimproved  land;  highway  tax  [$2. 1 1,  money  $19.30.  Jacob  Terr)-. 
Jr.,  poll,  one  horse,  three  oxenfive  years  old,  five  cows,  one  two-year-old,  two  acres  of  tillage,  fifteen  acres  of 
mowing,  twenty  acres  of  pasturage,  and  143  acres  of  unimproved  land;  highway  tax  --I.'.mi.  money  ~17.:'..i. 
Levi  Bailey,  poll,  two  two-year-olds,  one  acre  of  tillage,  one  acre  of  pasturage,  and  forty-eighi  acres  of  un- 
improved land;  highway  tax  6.41,  money$3.57.  Deacon  Jonathan  Bancroft,  two  polls,  one  horse,  two  oxen 
five  years  old,  one  cow,  one  three-year-old  neat  stock,  one  acre  of  tillage,  six  acres  of  mowing,  six  acres  oi 
pasturing,  and  eighty-seven  acres  of  unimproved  land;  highway  tax  $1.37,  money  $13.13.  Jared  Coin,  two 
polls,  two  horses,  one  two-year-old  colt,  two  oxen  five  years  old,  two  oxen  four  years  old,  fiv<  cows,  two  three- 
year-olds,  one  two-year-old  neat  stock,  four  acres  of  tillage,  twenty  acres  of  mowing,  twenty-five  acres  of 
pasturage,  and  eighty-one  acres  of  unimproved  land;  highway  tax  $2.77,  money  >25.24.  Isaac  Bundy.  poll, 
one  old  horse,  two  oxen  five  years  old,  three  cows,  four    two-year-olds,  and    two  two-year-old  in  at  stock,  four 


724  History  of  Coos  County. 

-acres  of  tillage,  twenty  acres  of  mowing,  fifteen  acres  of  pasturage,  and  115  acres  of  unimproved  land;  high- 
way tax  $2.07,  money  $18.83.  Elisha  Bennett,  poll,  one  old  horse,  and  two  cows;  highway  tax  $.52,  money 
$4.62.  Victory  Jennison,  poll,  three  old  horses,  two  oxen,  three  cows,  two  three  year-olds,  and  two  two-year- 
old  neat  stock,  three  acres  of  tillage,  eighteen  acres  of  mowing,  and  sixteen  acres  of  pasturage;  highway  tax 
$2.12,  money  1949.  Samuel  G.  Bishop,  one  cow,  one  acre  of  tillage,  one  of  mowing,  and  one  of  pasturage; 
highway  tax  8.14,  money  $1.25.  Charles  Kedpath,  poll,  one  five  year-old  horse,  one  cow,  three  acres  of  mow- 
ing, and  six  acres  of  pasturage;  highway  tax  $.65,  money  $5.94.  Jesse  Everet,  poll,  one  horse  five  years  old; 
highway  tax  $.55.  money  $5.64.     Christopher  Morey,  pall,  highway  tax  $.27,  money  $2.55. 

Valuation  of  Buildings  in  1824. — Thomas  Atherton.  $100;  Samuel  G.  Bishop,  $10;  Ward  Bailey,  $25; 
David  Bundy,  $90;  Amos  Bancroft,  $40;  Jonathan  Bancroft,  $10;  Marcena  Blodgett,  $75;  Abraham  Boyn- 
ton,  $100;  Jared  Cone,  $60;  Sylvester  Cone,  $100;  Jared  Cone,  Jr.,  $20;  Caleb  Cleaveland,  $10;  John  Cilly,  $10; 
James  L.  Chase,  $10;  Asa  Dustin,  $10;  Joseph  Eastman,  $12;  Benjamin  Frizzle,  $50;  Samuel  Harvey.  $250; 
Philip  Hadley,  $12;  William  Holkins,  $25;  Abel  Hobart.  $275;  Roswell  Hobart,  $75;  Asa  Jordan,  $250; 
Charles  Jordan,  $10;  Lyman  Jordin.  $10;  Noah  Lyman,  $20;  James  Lewis,  $50;  Ephraim  H.  Mahurin,  $325; 
John  Marshall,  $12;  Joshua  S.  Mathers,  $10;  Abner  Norcott,  $100;  Charles  Sperry,  $10;  Samuel  Smith,  $50; 
Augustus  Spencer,  $10;  John  Thomas,  $10;  William  Wallace,  $200;  Calvin  Willard,  $50;  Noah  Lyman,  mills 
on  Lyman  brook.  $12;  William  Holkins,  Charles   Thompson   mill,  $36. 

Schools. — The  early  times  were  the  days  of  many  children,  and  their 
training  and  education  were  of  the  greatest  moment  to  the  intelligent  pio- 
neers of  this  town.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1801  it  was  "  voted  that  the 
selectmen  be  a  school  committee."  Probably  their  duties  were  to  see  what 
could  be  done  about  establishing  schools,  as  no  money  appears  to  have  been 
voted  for  this  purpose  until  April,  1804,  when  the  town  voted  $200  for  the 
use  of  schools.  In  1805  the  town  was  divided  into  three  school  districts, 
and  $100  voted  for  school  purposes.  In  1807,  $450  was  voted  with  which  to 
build  school-houses,  and  $80  for  the  use  of  schools.  The  school-house  for 
district  No.  1  was  built  about  one-half  mile  south  of  the  site  of  the  present 
one,  that  of  No.  2  not  far  from  Samuel  Harvey's  residence,  and  the  one  in 
No.  3  on  the  hill-side  nearly  opposite  Nathan  Schoff's  barn.  These  school 
buildings  would  compare  favorably  with  those  of  the  present  day  in  farm- 
ing towns.  In  March,  1809,  a  school  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of 
William  Wallace,  Jr.,  Timothy  Lock  wood  and  Sylvester  Cone.  For  the 
next  ten  or  fifteen  years,  about  $200  was  raised  each  year  for  educational 
purposes.  In  1830  the  town  was  re-districted,  and  No.  4  created  on  the 
river,  and  as  East  Columbia  then  contained  twenty -four  families,  it  was 
made  into  No.  5,  and  a  school-house  erected  by  the  direction  of  the  select- 
men on  the  site  of  the  present  one.  In  1831  No.  5  was  divided  and  two 
more  districts  established.  There  are  now  ten  school  districts,  and  about 
■$1,000  a  year  is  expended  for  their  use  by  the  town. 

Town  Officers'  Fees. — The  financial  affairs  of  Columbia  have  generally 
been  conducted  with  prudence,  and  economy  has  been  the  rule;  the  tax 
payers  scanning  with  the  closest  scrutiny  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of 
its  officials.  No  mention  of  pay  or  salaries  is  made  by  the  records  until 
1807,  when  it  was  "  voted  to  pay  town  clerks  $1.50  a  year,  and  selectmen 
$2  a  year  for  services."  From  that  time  Columbia's  town  officers  have 
been  as  poorly  paid  as  the  average  Methodist  minister.  In  1814,  "  voted 
that  town  clerk  have  $5  for  his  services."  In  1818  the  town  charges  were 
$10. 


Town  of  Columbia.  725 


Politics. — In  March,  1808,  "  fourteen  votes  were  cast  for  Governor,  all 
for  John  Langdon,  Esq/'  The  29th  of  August,  of  the  same  year,  at  a  meet- 
ing to  vote  for  five  representatives  for  Congress,  fifteen  votes  were  cast  for 
the  Democratic  ticket,  and  ten  for  the  Whig.  This  marks  the  first  party 
division  of  the  voters  of  the  town.  But  since  that  peaceful  day,  party  strife 
has  been  active  here,  and  the  town  is  usually  equally  divided  in  political 
sentiment. 

Cemeteries. — At  a  special  meeting  in  April,  170!»,  the  town  "  voted  to 
raise  $10  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cockburn  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a 
burying  yard,  and  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  purchase  and  lay  out  a 
burying-yard  as  they  may  think  proper."  In  accordance  with  this  vote 
"one  acre  was  purchased  of  Abel  Larnard,"  and  the  "Columbia  burying- 
ground  "  established.  Since  that  time  very  many  dear  and  precious  ones 
have  been  laid  beneath  its  sacred  soil.  Little  has  been  done  by  man  to 
beautify  and  adorn  this  last  resting  place  of  his;  but  it  is  beautifully 
located,  and  commands  one  of  the  most  charming  bits  of  scenery  to  be 
found  in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut.  Later  in  the  history  of  the  town  a 
plot  of  land  was  secured  in  the  east  part  of  the  town  for  the  purpose  of 
burial;  but  it  was  little  used,  a  more  desirable  location  having  been  selected 
by  the  people,  while  those  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  have  still  another 
burial  place.  While  no  massive  monument  nor  costly  memorial  adorns 
our  "  homes  of  the  dead,"  our  little  cemeteries  are  better  cared  for  than  the 
average  "  burying-place  "  of  the  rural  districts. 


CHAPTER  LXXXIII. 


Pioneers.     Abel  Larnard — Abel  Hobart — The  Wallaces — Noah  Burlington — Philip  Jordan — 
Benjamin  Jordan. 

PIONEERS.— Abel  Larnard  was  the  first  settler  to  make  a  home  in 
the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  above  Lancaster.  He  came  from 
Windham,  Conn.,  where  he  had  married  Mary  Ann  Webb,  a  niece 
of  Col.  Webb,  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  He  pushed  his  way  far  beyond  all 
traces  of  civilization,  and  took  up  his  squatter's  claim,  and  built  his  log- 
cabin  on  the  hill  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  below  where  is  now  the  Co- 
lumbia burying-ground.  After  clearing  a  small  piece  of  land,  he  settled 
down  to  a  pioneer's  life.  From  the  river  near  by  he  obtained  an  abundance 
of  salmon  and  trout,  from  the  surrounding  forest,  venison,  fowl,  and 
an  occasional  "bar  steak,"  and  from  his  small  clearing  a  few  vegetables 


726  History  of  Coos  County. 


and  a  little  corn.  Two  sons  were  born  to  him;  but  when  the  oldest  was 
nine  years  of  age  the  father  died  of  fever,  and  his  heart-broken  widow, 
with  her  little  boys,  led  a  lonely  life  after  this  sad  event.  About  the  close 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  as  the  boys  were  making  sugar  near  the  bauk 
of  the  river,  they  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Indians  and  carried  to 
Quebec.  The  anxious  mother  in  some  way  sent  word  of  her  affliction  to 
her  uncle,  Col.  Webb,  then  on  Gen.  Washington's  staff;  he  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  Quebec,  secured  the  release  of  the  boys,  and  they  were  returned 
to  their  mother  under  an  escort  of  soldiers.  Some  years  after,  one  of  a 
party  of  Indians  passing  through  here  told  Mrs.  Laniard  that  he  was  one 
of  the  band  that  stole  her  boys,  and  that  the  sugar  kettle  could  be  found 
at  the  mouth  of  Sims  stream.  It  was  thus  found  and  kept  in  active  use 
many  years  after.  Many  dangers  and  privations  were  endured  by  this 
courageous  woman.  The  Indians  passing  up  and  down  the  river  usually 
camped  on  the  bank  opposite  her  cabin.  Often  the  "fire-water  "  was  too 
plenty,  when  their  orgies  would  be  kept  up  far  into  the  night.  Mrs. 
Laniard  was  in  constant  fear  of  their  savagery,  yet  she  never  was  mo- 
lested but  once,  when,  grasping  the  fire-poker,  she  laid  the  miscreant  out, 
and,  dragging  him  to  the  door,  pitched  him  into  the  snow;  she  then  kept 
watch,  expecting  the  whole  pack  down  upon  her;  but,  in  the  morning,  as 
sheepish  as  an  Indian  can  be,  he  came  and  said  to  her,  "Me  very  bad 
Indian,  you  done  just  right."  She  never  had  any  farther  trouble  from 
them.  The  wolves  often  prowled  round  her  little  cabin,  and  with  fierce, 
vicious  eyes  glared  through  the  little  window.  The  pangs  of  hunger 
were  felt  many  times  in  that  far-away  home.  For  nine  years  Mrs.  Larnard 
lived  here  without  seeing  a  white  woman,  when,  hearing  that  a  family 
from  near  her  old  home  had  moved  to  Northumberland,  she  told  her  boys 
that  she  "  must  see  that  woman  or  die."  When  winter  came  and  the 
river  was  frozen,  the  boys  took  their  bundle  of  furs  and  a  bag  of  corn, 
and  started  for  the  mill  at  Haverhill,  while  their  mother  went  to  make 
her  visit.  The  boys  had  their  corn  ground,  exchanged  their  furs  for  pow- 
der, tea  and  other  necessaries,  and  were  joined  by  their  once  more  cheerful 
mother  on  their  return.  After  Columbia  became  settled  to  some  extent 
the  family  moved  to  Canada,  where  Mrs.  Larnard  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
The  sons  never  married. 

In  the  spring  of  1786  Abel  Hobart,  then  in  his  seventeenth  year,  left 
the  home  of  his  childhood  in  Holland,  Mass.,  and,  on  foot,  made  his  way 
to  these  wilds  of  Northern  New  Hampshire.  "  The  clothes  on  his  back,  a 
sable  skin  and  a  tow  shirt  in  his  bundle;  an  axe  on  his  shoulder,  and  two- 
ami  sixpence  in  his  pocket"  constituted  his  available  means.  But  he  had 
in  addition  what  is  better  than  gold  and  silver  (especially  to  a  pioneer), 
-1  rong  hands,  good  judgment  and  faith  in  himself  and  his  God.  He  found 
bui    two  settlers  in  the  town,  Abel  Laniard's  widow,  living  just  above 


Town  of  Columbia.  727 


where  Samuel  M.  Harvey  now  lives,  who  had  been  here  some  years,  and 
Major  Jennison,  living  just  below  where  the  "Columbia  Hotel''  now 
stands.  Mrs.  Laniard  was  the  happy  owner  of  one  cow,  while  the  Major 
"  could  his  steed  bestride''  (from  which  fact  we  infer  him  to  have  been  a 
major  of  cavalry).  At  any  rate  a  horse  and  a  cow  constituted  the  live 
stock  of  the  town.  Several  others  had  been  here  and  made  small  clearings 
preparatory  to  bringing  their  families  later.  Among  them  weir  William 
Wallace,  (whose  clearing  was  where  Anson  Wallace,  his  grandson,  resides,) 
and  the  Terrvs.  who  established  themselves  where  Asa  Lang  now  lives. 
In  Lemington,  Vt.,  Colonel  Bailey  was  dealing  the  big  meadow;  Lulher 
was  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Ed  Capen  in  Canaan,  Vt. ;  while  at  Cole- 
brook,  Jim  Hugh  had  rolled  up  a  log-house  just  back  of  where  George 
Gleason's  house  is  now  located;  and  Luther  Chandler  had  a  home  where 
is  now  Crawford's  residence.  Hobart  selected  as  the  site  of  his  future 
home  the  place  now  owned  by  ex-Sheriff  Samuel  I.  Bailey.  He  at  once 
commenced  a  clearing,  and.  in  a  few  years,  large  fields  had  taken  the  place 
of  the  dense  forest,  and  a  comfortable  house  had  been  built,  to  which,  in 
the  summer  of  1794,  he  took  his  young  wife,  Betsey  Wallace.  For  sixty- 
five  years  they  walked  the  path  of  life  together,  ever  contented  with  their 
lot  and  happy  in  each  other's  love.  Honored  and  revered  and  full  of  years, 
they  passed  to  the  hereafter  mourned  by  all  who  knew  them,  while  "  their 
children  to  the  third  and  fourth  generation  rise  up  and  call  them  blessed." 
"And  they  builded  a  city!"  One  of  their  sons,  Horace,  and  three  of  their 
daughters  with  their  husbands,  were  pioneers  and  prominent  in  founding 
the  city  of  Beloit,  Wis.  Another  son,  Anson  L.,  is  a  successful  and  highly 
esteemed  physician  in  Worcester,  Mass.  Their  other  children  were  respected 
citizens  of  their  native  town;  two  of  the  sons,  Roswell  and  Harvey,  having 
received  all  the  offices  and  honor  their  townsmen  could  confer.  Abel 
Hobart  and  his  wife  were  consistent  Christians,  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  almost  puritanical  in  strict  observance  of  the  Sabbath, 
church  duties  and  family  worship.  Mr.  Hobart  was  an  excellent  neighbor, 
hospitable  and  strictly  temperate,  with  an  endless  fund  of  stories  for  the 
children,  and  one  of  the  most  companionable  of  men,  in  whose  society  all 
received  pleasure  and  profit.  Five  sons  and  five  daughters  were  reared  in 
habits  of  temperance  and  industry,  and  bore  evidence  of  the  wisdom  and 
excellence  of  their  parental  training. 

The  Wallaces  moved  here  in  the  spring  of  1787,  William,  then  a  small 
boy,  having  driven  the  first  team  that  came  up  from  Brunswick.  Vt.  He 
sat  on  the  sled,  and  "tended  "  the  oxen,  while  his  brother  Danforth  went 
ahead  and  trimmed  out  the  road  which  had  only  been  travelled  by  people 
on  foot  and  by  pack-horses.  Two  years  before  three  of  the  Wallace  boys 
came  here  on  horseback,  made  a  clearing,  raised  some  potatoes  and  other 
vegetables,  and  built  a  cabin.     Soon  after  they  had  harvested  their  nop 


728  History  of  Coos  County. 

their  cabin  was  burned  while  they  were  chopping  in  the  woods,  and  with 
it  their  saddles,  clothing  and  provision.  William,  the  youngest,  went  on 
horseback  to  Holland,  Mass.,  where  he  procured  supplies,  while  the  other 
two  boys  remained  to  build  another  cabin,  enlarge  the  clearing,  and  make 
ready  for  the  next  year's  work.  Disaster  only  added  zest  to  their  enter- 
prise and  spirit  to  their  energy,  and,  though  obliged  to  live  on  the  roasted 
potatoes  from  the  cabin  cellar  with  no  salt  to  give  them  flavor,  they  kept  up 
their  strength  so  that  when  William  returned  he  found  a  new  and  better 
cabin  all  completed.  The  two  older  boys  moved  away,  but  William  re- 
mained and  became  one  of  the  largest  farmers  and  most  successful  business 
men  of  the  town.  For  many  years  he  was  the  principal  cattle-drover  of 
this  section.  A  man  of  integrity,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and 
lived  to  a  good  old  age. 

Noah  Buffington  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Columbia,  coming  here 
about  1797.  With  his  brother,  Cummins  Buffington,  he  commenced  a  clear- 
ing on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Chauncey  H.  Fitts,  and  built  the  first  frame- 
house  in  the  town.  His  title  to  the  land  not  proving  good,  he  left  in  a  few 
years.  Noah  Buffington  was  a  Methodist  minister,  and  undoubtedly  the 
first  one  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

Philip  Jordan* — Among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Columbia  was  Philip 
Jordan.  The  Learneds  were  here  before  him.  "Uncle  Phil,"  as  he  was 
called  to  the  day  of  his  death,  came  about  the  same  time  the  Wallaces 
and  Hobarts  made  their  advent. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  in  1748,  and  went  to  Rhode 
Island,  where  he  married  Miss  Martha  Hill  and  for  a  time  resided.  In 
1 780  he  and  his  brother  Benjamin,  leaving  their  families  behind,  came  to 
Plainfield,  N.  H.,  and  took  up  the  lot  of  land  now  known  as  the  "Old 
Town  Farm."  On  this  they  pitched  their  tent,  felled  several  acres  of  trees, 
burned  and  cleared  them  off,  built  a  log  house,  planted  a  partial  crop,  and 
then  went  down  and  brought  their  families  to  their  primitive  home.  The 
brothers  lived  together  until  1790,  when,  their  household  fast  increasing, 
Philip,  who  had  been  first  married  and  having  the  largest  family, 
"  swarmed,"  as  it  is  termed,  and  with  his  wife  and  children  started  for 
Columbia.  In  this  town  he  located  on  the  lot  on  the  river  now  occupied 
by  David  Cook  as  his  homestead.  There  was  only  a  bridle-path  from 
Guildhall  Falls  to  his  new  home.  Thither,  by  boat  or  by  pack-horse,  he 
had  to  carry  his  corn  and  grain  for  several  years  to  be  ground.  His  child- 
ren wore  numerous  and  growing,  and  it  was  with  no  little  difficulty  that 
he  could  always  find  enough  to  fill  their  hungry  mouths.  One  season  the 
larder  ran  so  low  that  he  had  to  dig  up  the  potato  seed  already  planted  to 
keep  starvation  from  the  door;  soon  berries  came,  and  these,  with  the  milk 


*By  Hon.  C.  B.  Jordan. 


Town  of  Columbia.  729 


from  their  cow,  helped  to  keep  the  family  alive.  "Uncle Phil,"  however, 
denying  himself  so  long  for  the  sake  of  his  children,  had  grown  weak  for 
want  of  food,  and  a  good  deal  discouraged,  and  had  taken  his  couch  one 
day  fully  convinced  that  he  would  never  again  be  able  to  rise  from  it. 
This  feeling  had  not  long  possessed  him  before  one  of  the  children,  who 
had  been  down  on  the  meadow  berrying,  came  dashing  in  with  the  news 
that  a  bear  was  also  among  them  picking  berries.  The  old  gentleman  at 
once  arose,  took  his  cane,  and  grasping  his  trusty  rifle,  hobbled  along  in 
the  direction  pointed  out  by  the  child  until  he  caught  sight  of  old  bruin, 
and  then,  nerved  and  sustained  by  the  desperation  of  hunger  and  pros- 
pective starvation,  he  drew  a  head  upon  the  animal  and  laid  him  low.  The 
bear  proved  to  he  a  monster;  well  fattened  by  his  summer  explorations 
and  incursions,  and  made  glad  the  household  until  the  earlier  crops  came 
to  their  relief.  Mr.  Jordan  was  a  great  hunter  and  trapper,  and  spent 
most  of  his  winters  (until  old  age  and  decrepitude  prevented),  indulging 
his  favorite  pursuit.  (Moose  were  plenty  anywhere  in  his  locality,  and  it- 
is  said  that  in  one  winter  he  killed  seventeen  within  four  miles  of  Colum- 
bia Valley.  The  best  of  the  meat  was  kept  and  eaten  fresh  through  the 
winter  or  dried  for  the  summer.  The  skins  were  useful  for  chair-bottoms, 
snow  shoe  "filling,"  floor  mats,  and,  when  tanned,  served  to  cover  the 
children  in  their  beds,  while  the  moose's  "shanks"  were  worn  in  place  of 
boots  and  shoes.) 

Mr.  Jordan  was  always  calm  and  self-possessed,  let  what  would  happen, 
and  it  was  related  of  him  by  the  late  James  Cogswell,  another  old  hunter, 
that  while  "  Uncle  Phil  "  was  out  hunting  one  winter,  after  he  had  become 
old,  heavy  and  clumsy,  with  his  pack  upon  his  back  (into  which  was 
strapped  his  axe)  and  snow  shoes  on  his  feet,  he  undertook  to  pass  over 
what  appeared  to  be  a  knoll,  but  which  really  was  a  spruce  top  covered 
with  deep  snow.  As  the  old  fellow  got  about  midway  of  the  mound  his  snow 
shoes  canted  to  one  side,  and  down  he  went  into  the  snow  and  brush  clear 
to  his  arms,  and  had  not  sounded  bottom  then.  His  situation  was  perilous 
as  well  as  ludicrous.  He  could  neither  get  down  nor  up.  His  arms  were 
so  bound  by  the  limbs  of  the  tree  that  he  could  not  get  at  his  axe,  and  he 
vainly  struggled  to  extricate  himself.  Mr.  Cogswell  happened  to  come 
that  way,  and,  hearing  some  one  talking,  he  supposed  he  was  near  a  party 
of  hunters.  Looking  for  them  he  discovered  "  Uncle  Phil's  "  head  bobbing 
up  and  down  in  the  snow,  while  the  old  man  (as  was  his  habit)  kept  up 
an  incessant  conversation  with  himself.  At  last,  despairing  of  relief,  he 
ceased  his  efforts  and  settled  down  to  his  apparent  fate,  saying,  "  Well,  I 
swear,  I  guess  dog-days  will  fetch  old  Phil  out  of  this"  Mr.  Coggswell 
then  made  known  his  presence  and  helped  the  old  hunter  out.  This  was 
"  Uncle  Phil's"  last  trip  into  the  woods  unattended. 

He  and  his  good  wife  reared  a  large  family  of  large  children,  John, 

48 


730  History  of  Coos  County. 

Cynthia- J..  William,  Benajah,  Asa,  Huldah,  Nancy  and  Caleb.  They  were 
hardy  and  strong,  and  almost  a  race  of  giants.  John  early  removed  to 
Canada  where  he  embarked  in  the  business  of  buying  and  selling  cattle  and 
real  estate,  and  rapidly  grew  rich.  He  died  leaving  a  large  family,  and 
a  competency  for  each.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Jordans  now  in 
Eaton,  Cookshire,  Coaticook,  and  the  adjoining  towns  in  Canada.  Asa 
died  in  Jefferson;  Caleb  in  Colebrook;  Nancy  married  a  Mr.  Frizzell,  of 
Colebrook,  and  there  lived  and  died.  He  left  a  large  family,  the  youngest 
of  whom  is  Mrs.  Joseph  Robinson,  to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  dates, 
etc.,  for  this  sketch.  Philip  Jordan's  wife  died  April  18,  1827,  and  he  died 
July  6,  1836  Both  were  sincerely  mourned  as  pioneers  of  the  town  and 
section;  as  good  people,  kind  parents  and  friends  who  had  seen  much  of 
the  history  of  their  country,  passing  through  the  birth,  the  infancy  and 
wonderful  growth  of  the  Republic.  The  Revolutionary  war  and  that  of 
1812  were  matters  of  their  observation,  and  now,  having  seen  their  country 
established  on  an  enduring  basis,  this  old  couple  laid  themselves  down 
among  their  friends  and  quietly  fell  into  the  "sleep  that  kn<  iws  no  waking." 
Benjamin  Jordan  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  when  only  a  strip- 
ling enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  and  was  one  of  the  forty  capturing 
Gen.  Prescott,  commander  of  the  British  forces  on  Rhode  Island.  May  18, 
L780,  he  married  Mary  Walker,  who  was  born  in  Coventry,  R.  I.,  and  five 
months  later  they  came  to  Plainfield,  N.  H.,  where  they  cleared  up  the 
Old  Town  Farm.  "Aunt  Molly  "  made  annual  horseback  pilgrimages  to 
her  Rhode  Island  home  for  wool  and  things  to  keep  the  children  warm. 
In  1816  they  came  to  Jordan  hill,  in  Columbia,  which  received  its  name 
from  him.  They  had  fourteen  children.  Benjamin  and  Molly  made  them 
a  good  farm.  The  government  he  had  so  faithfully  served  remembered 
him  with  a  pension,  and  together  they  lived  for  sixty  six  years,  when  the 
husband  passed  on  to  the  final  reward  of  all  toilers,  patriots  and  Christians. 
The  good  wife  remained  until  she  lacked  but  five  months  of  100  full  years, 
when  she  lay  down  at  night  to  take  her  usual  rest,  and  fell  into  a  sleep 
from  which  the  morning  sun  failed  to  awake.  It  was  pleasant  to  talk 
with  the  old  lady  of  the  stirring  times  of  the  Revolution,  the  men  she 
knew  who  took  part  in  that  war,  of  the  War  of  1812,  the  Dark  Day,  the 
cold  season,  and  the  thousand  things  and  events  of  our  early  history  which 
she  kept  vividly  in  mind. 


Town  of  Columbia.  731 


CHAPTER  LXXXIV. 

Mills — Pearlashes  and  Potash— Tanning  and  Shoe  making— Cloth  Dressing— Potatoes,  Distil- 
leries and  Starch-Mills— Ferry  and  Toll  Bridge— Merchants— Stores. 

TV  X  ILLS,  Etc. — In  1801  Charles  Thompson  built  a  grist  and  saw-mill 
(  y  on  Sims's  stream  at  the  Valley,  on  the  site  now  owned  by  Eazen 
X  Bedel.  This  was  the  commencement  of  the  boom  in  business  at 
that  place,  which,  at  one  time,  bade  fair  to  make  this  town  the  center  of 
business  for  this  section,  and  warranted  the  proposition  to  make  Columbia 
the  county  seat  when  Coos  county  was  formed.  Previous  to  the  comple- 
tion of  Thompson's  mill,  the  settlors  had  to  go  to  Lancaster  for  their  mill- 
ing, and  we  can  well  conceive  that  the  completion  of  this  mill,  with  its 
"two  rims  of  stones  and  a  bolt,"  was  an  event  to  stir  the  placid  How  of 
affairs  into  unwonted  activity.  This  grist-mill  retained  a  monopoly  of 
business  for  some  time.  In  1819  Roswell  Hobart,  one  of  Columbia's  fav- 
orite boys,  built  a  small  mill  on  Roaring  brook,  where  the  grist-mill  of 
William  W.  Keach  now  stands.  This  mill  was  constructed  to  both  grind 
grain  and  saw  lumber,  and  was  what  would  now  be  called  "'a  cheap 
affair."  The  stones  were  quarried  from  a  ledge  in  Brunswick.  Vt.  It  was 
only  a  provender-mill,  while  the  saw  mill  had  an  upright  saw  driven  by  a 
"flutter"  wheel,  with  the  carriage  propelled  by  a  "ray"  wheel  and  carried 
back  by  a  friction  "gig  "  wheel.  This  style  of  mill  was  simple  and  unique, 
but,  with  all  its  complicated  simplicity  is  rapidly  becoming  obsolete.  These 
mills  were  common  along  all  the  small  streams,  and  we  stumble  upon  their 
remains  on  every  considerable  trout  stream.  There  are  the  ruins  of  three 
mills  built  by  the  Osgoods  for  sawing  lumber,  further  up  Roaring  brook; 
one  on  Cone  brook  back  of  John  F.  Locke's  buildings,  built  by  E.  H.  Ma- 
hurin  about  1830,  or  even  earlier,  which  both  sawed  lumber  and  made 
provender.  A  number  of  these  mills  on  Sims's  stream  furnished  lumber 
for  the  settlers  of  the  east  part  of  the  town  to  build  their  large  and  con- 
venient farm-buildings  and  their  long  lines  of  fences.  One  of  these,  built 
by  Merrill  at  the  outlet  of  Fish  pond,  is  still  in  use  in  a  small  way, 
although  remodelled  and  furnished  with  a  board-machine.  One  on  Sims's 
stream,  owned  and  operated  by  William  Cleaveland.  is  now  furnished  with 
a  board-machine,  clapboard- mill,  shingle-mill  and  other  machinery,  and 
has  a  provender-mill  attached.  The  ruins  of  the  first  saw-mill  built  in 
East  Columbia  still  remain,  and  are  further  up  the  stream  than  fche<  'leave- 
land  mill.  This  mill  was  built  by  George  and  Samuel  Marshall,  and  was 
known  as  the  "Marshall  mill."  At  the  present  time  Col.  Hazen  Bedel 
owns  a  large  saw  and  grist-mill,  doing  a  considerable  business,  on  the  site 


732  History  of  Coos  County. 


of  the  old  Thompson  mill.  Eaton  &  Sawyer  have  a  large  steam  saw- mill 
on  Roaring  brook,  capable  of  manufacturing  over  30,000  feet  of  lumber  a 
day.  This  mill  was  built  by  Edward  H.  Kingsley  in  1868  as  a  water  mill, 
but  it  was  purchased  in  1883  or  '84  by  its  present  owners,  and  steam  power 

added. 

In  L850  William  Gilkey  built  a  small,  old-style  saw-mill  on  Cone  brook, 
which  still  does  custom  work  for  the  neighborhood,  although  the  old  "  up- 
and-down  "  saw  has  given  place  to  a  circular.  The  same  year  S.  G.  Bishop 
built  a  mill  on  Roaring  brook,  and  put  in  a  clapboard  machine,  one  run  of 
stones,  and  a  bolt.  This  was  the  first  clapboard  machine  in  operation 
around  here,  and  was  quite  an  acquisition  as  well  as  a  curiosity.  The  grist- 
mill, though  a  rude  affair,  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  community:  but 
has  since  been  supplanted  by  a  more  modern  one,  while  the  old  one  has 
fallen  to  decay.  In  1851  Richard  Hammond  built  a  clapboard-mill  in  East 
Columbia,  but  it  was  abandoned  long  since. 

Pea  flushes  and  Potash. — Reference  was  made  in  a  road-survey  of  1802 
to  "  Laniard's  pearlash,"  which  was  situated  on  the  little  brook  at  the 
north  line  of  S.  M.  Harvey's  farm.  One  of  these  establishments  was  indis- 
pensable in  those  days  to  the  prosperity  of  every  neighborhood,  and  Colum- 
bia had  several,  the  largest  and  most  important  one  being  in  operation  as 
late  as  1851.  This  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  close  to  the  little 
stream  that  runs  down  the  steep  hill  just  above  the  hotel,  and  was  last 
operated  by  Jotham  Sawyer,  who  brought  ashes  down  from  all  the  north 
country,  where  he  paid  from  six  to  ten  cents  a  bushel  for  them.  Here  they 
were  put  into  great  tubs,  leached,  and  the  lye  placed  in  large  potash  kettles 
set  in  arches,  and  the  water  evaporated,  which  left  in  the  bottom  of  the 
kettles  a  great  cake  of  dirty-brown  matter,  called  "  potash."  These  lumps 
were  broken  up,  re  leached,  evaporated,  and  dried  in  brick  ovens,  produc- 
ing a  whiter,  purer  grade  of  potash  called  "  pearlash."  In  this  concen- 
trated form  the  great  forests  of  these  valleys  were,  with  much  labor,  turned 
into  money  by  the  hardy  settlers,  who,  in  the  winter,  conveyed  the  pearl- 
ash  to  Portland  in  their  long-runnered,  square,  red  boxed  sleds,  and  came 
back  laden  with  the  necessaries  of  life,  "rum,"  and  some  money.  Almost 
the  only  products  having  a  cash  value  even  as  late  as  1830  or  1S10  were 
potash  and  grass-seed. 

Tan  a  ing  and  Shoe-making. — The  first  tannery  in  northern  Coos  was  built 
by  James  Lewis  at  the  Valley  sometime  previous  to  1810,  as  we  their  find 
him  taxed  "two  dollars  for  tan  works."  This  was  a  small  affair  of  four 
vats,  located  on  the  north  bank  of  Sims's  stream  just  west  of  the  highway. 
Here  the  farmers  from  far  and  near  brought  their  "  hides  "  and  had  them 
tanned  "  on  shares."  Those  were  slow-going  times;  and  a  whole  year  was 
considered  none  too  long  for  the  hides  to  lie  in  the  vat.  Then  the  farmer 
took  his  half  to  the  local  shoe-maker,  and  had  it  worked  up  into  service- 


Town  of  Columbia.  733 


able,  if  not  ornamental,  foot  gear  for  himself  and  family;  or,  what  was  the 
earlier  mode,  waited  until  some  itinerant  shoe-maker  made  his  annual 
round  with  bench  and  kit  of  tools,  then  put  him  at  work  in  one  corner  of 
the  big  kitchen,  where  he  "  pegged  away  "  until  the  whole  family  was 
shod.  The  local  shoe-maker  of  Columbia  for  some  years  was  this  same 
James  Lewis,  who  worked  up  in  the  winter  his  share  of  the  leather  he  tan- 
ned in  summer;  while  Sam  Carr  went  from  house  to  house  to  protect  the 
"  understandings  "  of  the  more  prosperous  and  independent  families. 

Cloth-Dressing. — In  1810  came  here  one  Marsena  Blodgett,  a  cloth- 
dresser  by  trade.  He  bought  the  land  where  his  grandson,  Byron  A.  Lov- 
ering,  now  lives,  and  built  a  small  cloth-dressing  mill  on  the  small  brook, 
on  the  south  side  of  his  farm,  called  Beaver  brook.  He  merely  "dressed  " 
the  cloth  woven  in  the  families  of  the  industrious  settlers,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  abandoned  when  the  "factory"  was  built  at  Colebrook. 

Potatoes,  Distilleries,  and  Starch-mills. — The  potato  has  always  been 
a  favorite  product  of  the  Columbia  farmer,  and  its  manufacture  into 
potato-whiskey  and  potato-starch  has  involved  more  capital  and  enterprise 
than  anything  else.  One  of  the  road-surveys  of  1830  speaks  of  the  "old 
distillery,"  which  stood  on  the  little  brook  above  George  L.  Bailey's  house. 
The  first  of  these  distilleries  was  erected  at  the  Valley  and  operated  by 
Hezekiah  Parsons,  Esq.  Capt.  Abel  Hobart  built  one  later  on  the  little 
brook  crossing  the  road  just  above  the  house  of  Samuel  I.  Bailey.  Another 
that  helped  to  supply  the  appetite  of  this  people  for  spirit  stood  on  the  little 
brook  that  crosses  the  road  near  the  north  line  of  S.  M.  Harvey's  farm.  At 
these  our  convivial  ancestors  were  supplied  with  a  spirituous  beverage  of 
purity,  if  not  great  excellence.  These  distilleries  were  abandoned  from 
1820  to  1830;  one  at  least  because  the  owner,  Capt.  Hobart,  came  to  think 
the  business  a  wrong  one;  others  because  they  "did  not  pay";  the  rest, 
perhaps,  because  the  revenue  tax  took  all  the  profit.  From  this  time  until 
1842  the  potato  appears  to  have  led  a  pretty  secure  life.  The  writer  has 
been  told  by  his  uncle  that  he  secured  his  stock  of  potatoes  that  year  by 
digging  from  a  neighbor's  field  without  charge,  and,  that,  another  year  he 
left  a  large  crop  that  he  had  harvested  to  rot  in  the  holes  where  they  were 
buried  the  fall  before. 

In  1842  Huse  Lull  built  a  small  starch-mill  on  Sims's  stream  just  above 
the  pond  of  Bedel's  mills,  and  made  starch  for  two  or  three  years,  but 
high  water  carried  away  the  dam;  and,  as  it  was  not  profitable,  he  aban- 
doned the  enterprise.  Nothing  more  was  done  in  starch-making  until 
1800,  when  Hazen  Bedel  built  a  mill  at  the  Valley.  In  1st;;  Alba  Holmes 
moved  his  mill  from  the  Nulhegan  river,  in  Vermont,  to  Roaring  brook. 
The  large  profits  of  the  business  at  that  time  excited  the  entire  community, 
and  a  company  was  formed  in  1S68,  and  a  large  mill  built  on  Sims's  stream 
in  "No.  10."  In  1869  Rogers,  Libby  &  Co.  erected  a  large  one  in   "No.  6," 


731  History  of  Coos  County. 

and,  in  1874,  S.  M.  Harvey  built  near  his  residence  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  equipped  factories  in  the  county. 

Ferry  and  Toll-Bridge. — The  first  settlers  of  Columbia  and  of  Minehead 
(Bloomfield)  and  Lemington,  Vt.,  were  in  close  business  and  social  rela- 
tions, which  necessitated  frequent  crossings  of  the  Connecticut.  This  was 
easily  done  during  the  long  months  of  winter  upon  the  ice,  but  it  was  diffi- 
cult and  hazardous  for  the  rest  of  the  year.  Foot-bridges  were  readily 
made  by  felling  the  large  pine  trees  that  lined  the  river's  bank;  but  teams 
had  to  resort  to  the  treacherous  fords.  Somewhere  about  1820  a  toll-bridge 
was  constructed  across  the  river  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  W.  E.  Cone. 
This  was  the  principal  means  of  communication  between  the  people  on  the 
opposite  sides  until  1810,  when  it  was  swept  away  by  an  ice-freshet,  and 
they  again  resorted  to  the  fords  and  "Uncle"  Elihu  DeForest's  ferry;  an 
old-established  and  venerable  institution,  which  slowly  and  unhurriedly 
crossed  the  river  just  above  the  toll -bridge,  and  was  the  only  ferry  on  the 
Connecticut  for  over  forty  miles.  Christopher  Bailey  and  Luther  Hibbard 
tried  to  secure  the  charter,  but  the  legislature  deemed  Esquire  DeForest 
the  more  suitable  person,  and  he  was  granted  the  privilege  December  21, 
1799.  The  toll-bridge  was  built  in  1811  by  the  Columbia  Union  Toll-Bridge 
Company, — a  stock  company  consisting  of  those  to  be  benefitted  and  will- 
ing to  pay  $15  a  share. 

Merchants. — July  20,  1807,  the  selectmen  gave  Bellows  &  Carlisle  their 
"  entire  approbation  to  sell  all  kinds  of  spirituous  liquors  by  small  measure 
at  all  seasonable  hours  at  their  store."  This  was  the  first  reference  maae 
by  the  records  to  stores  or  merchants,  and  probably  marks  the  commence- 
ment of  mercantile  operations  in  Columbia,  as  the  sale  of  "rum  and 
molasses  "  would  be  the  first  thing  provided  for  by  a  merchant  in  those 
days,  before  the  "  cause  of  temperance  "  had  come  to  trouble  men's  con- 
sciences. 

Bellows  &  Carlisle  traded  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  Albert  P. 
Titus  as  a  dwelling-house,  and,  for  those  days,  carried  a  respectable  stock 
of  goods,  being  taxed  in  1810  for  "stock  in  trade"  $1,500.  In  1813  James 
Dewey,  who  had  for  some  time  been  clerk  for  Bellows  &  Carlisle,  succeeded 
them  in  trade,  and  offered  his  customers  a  stock  of  $750,  while  his  com- 
petitor in  trade,  Sam  Carr,  divided  the  business  with  him  on  a  stock  of 
$15i).  In  1810  William  Cargill  succeeded  James  Dewey,  and  traded  at  the 
old  store.  About  1830  or '31  Ephraim  H.  Mahurin  built  a  store  in  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  opposite  his  hotel,  and  commenced  trade  with  a 
stock  of  goods  valued  at  $150.  In  1832  his  son  John  succeeded  him,  but 
died  the  same  year,  and  Daniel  B.  SchorT  took  the  store  for  the  next  year. 
The  same  year  R.  G.  Atherton  and  Mr.  Jay  built  and  carried  on  the  store 
opposite  the  present  residence  of  Jonathan  Lang.  In  1835  Samuel  G. 
Bishop  and  Dr.  Lewis  Snow  commenced  trade  in  the  Mahurin  store,  and 


Town  of  Columbia. 


735 


carried  on  business  in  a  small  way  for  four  or  five  years.  The  same  year 
Huse  Lull  got  off  his  peddler's  cart,  and  commenced  trade  in  the  small 
store  formerly  occupied  by  Atherton  &  Jay.  The  next  year  he  associated 
Rodolphus  D.  Atherton  with  him.  and  increased  the  stock  of  goods  from 
$75  to  $400.  In  1839  Atherton  withdrew  from  the  firm,  and  Lull  con- 
tinued in  trade  for  another  Near  or  two,  when  he  returned  to  his  cart, 
which  he  diove  through  this  region  for  over  forty  years,  and.  for  far 
and  near,  Huse  Lull's  peddler  cart  was  one  of  the  institutions  of  this 
section  for  two  generations. 

Trade  never  drifted  readily  to  Columbia;  and  while  those  who 
engaged  in  merchandising  here  never  made  very  heavy  failures, 
neither  did  they  secure  great  profits,  and  the  abandonment  of  busi- 
ness by  Lull  may  be  said  to  be  the  end  of  merchandising  in  this 
town,  though  a  number  have  traded  ina  small  way  for  the  accommodation 
of  their  neighborhoods.  Among  these  we  find  Gould  Messer,  Harvey 
Hobart,  Alonzo  Eastman,  Erastus  Hutchinson,  Lorrin  Bundy,  and  Hiram 
Hammond  at  "  The  Valley";  Dr.  Lewis  Snow,  Fred  T.  Stevens,  and  Joseph 
Barnett,  in  South  Columbia;  Orson  Stevens  and  Jotham  Sawyer,  in  the 
old  Mahurin  store;  and  Enoch  R.  Kelsea,  who  is  now  doing  a  small  busi- 
ness for  the  convenience  of  the  people  of  the  east  part  of  the  town. 


CHAPTER  LXXXV. 


Civil  List:    Representatives,   Town   Clerks  and  Selectmen — War  of  the  Rebellion— Statis- 
tics of  1886. 


LIST  of  representatives  from  the  district  consisting  of  Cockburn  (1811 
Columbia),  Colebrook,  Stewartstown,  Wales's  Location  and  Shel- 
burn:— 


1799.  Lieut.  Abel  Laniard,  Cockburn. 

1800.  Daniel  Brainard,  Stewartstown. 

1801.  Henry  Sullingbam,  Stewartstown. 
1802. 

1803.  Joseph  Loomis,  Esq.,  Colebrook. 

1804.  Joseph  Loomis,  Esq.,  Colebrook. 
1805. 

1806. 

1807.  Hezekiah  Parsons,  Cockburn. 

1808. 

1809. 

1810.  Jeremiah  Eames,  Esq.,  Stewartstown. 

1811. 

1812. 


1813.  Jeremiah  Eames,  Esq..  Stewartstown. 

1814.  Edmund  Keysar,  Stewartstown. 
1815. 

1816.  Maj.  Jared  Cone.  Columbia. 

1817.  Hezekiab  Parsons,  Columbia. 
1818. 

1819.  Samuel  Pratt.  Colebrook, 

1820.  Samuel  Pratt,  Colebrook. 
1821. 

1822.  Lewis  Loomis. 

1823. 

1824. 

1825.  Jeremiah  Eames. 

1826.  Hezekiab  Parsons,  Columbia. 


736 


History  of  Coos  County. 


Hezekiah  Parsons,  Columbia. 
Maj.  Roswell  Hobart,  Columbia. 

William  Holkins,  Columbia. 


Abraham    Boynton, 
and  Columbia.) 


Roswell  Hobart,  Columbia. 
John  P.  Daniels,  (Columbia   sends   its   own 
representative.) 


1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830. 
1831. 
1832. 

1833. 
1834. 
1835. 
1836. 
1837. 

1838. 

1839.  Moody  Dustin. 

1840.  Moody  Dustin. 

1841.  Thomas  J.  Emerton. 

1842.  Thomas  J.  Emerton. 

1843.  Samuel  G.  Bishop. 

1844.  Samuel  G.  Bishop. 

1845.  Samuel  Marshall. 

1846.  Harvey  Hobart. 

1847.  Harvey  Hobart. 

1848.  Joshua  S.  Mathers. 

1849.  Abner  JNorcott. 

1850.  Abner  Norcott. 

1851.  Aaron  C.  Whipple. 

1852.  Aaron  C.Whipple. 

1853.  James  Lewis. 

1854.  James  Lewis. 

1855.  Joseph  W.  Emerton. 

1856.  John  Marshall. 


Columbia,  (Colebrook 


1858.  Samuel  I.  Bailey. 

1859.  Samuel  M.  Harvey. 

1860.  Samuel  M.  Harvey. 

1861.  John  R.  Annis. 

1862.  John  R.  Annis. 

1863.  Horatio  N.  Cone. 

1864.  Horatio  N.  Cone. 

1865.  Enoch  George  Rogers. 

1866.  Enoch  George  Rogers. 

1867.  Horace  M.  Hobart. 

1868.  Horace  M.  Hobart. 

1869.  Willard  Speneer. 

1870.  Rev.  Moses  C.  Pattee,    [afterwards  declined 

to  serve  and  town  unrepresented.] 

1871.  William  B.  Luey. 

1872.  William  B.  Luey. 

1873.  Moody  Dustin. 

1874.  Moody  Dustin. 

1875.  Albert  P.  Titus. 

1876.  Albert  P.  Titus. 

1877.  Almon  M.  Grout. 

1878.  Almon  M.  Grout. 

1879.  At  November  election,    1878,   voted  not   to 
send  representative. 
David  H.  Cook. 


1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 


Eben  E.  Noyes. 
Samuel  M.  Harvey. 
Asa  P.  Lanar. 


1857.  John  Marshall. 

Toion  Clerks— 1798,  Abel  Laniard;  1799,  Chauncey  Curtis;  1800-06.  AbelLarnard;  1807-12,  Jared  Cone. 
Columbia.— 1813-14,  James  Dewey;  1815,  Sylvester  W.  Cone;  1816-18,  Jared  Cone;  1819,  Sylvester  VV.  Cone; 
1820-22,  Jared  Cone;  1823-25,  William  Holkins;  1826-36,  Roswell  Hobart;  1837-38,  Pickens  Boynton  (resigned 
October,  1838);  Roswell  Hobart  (appointed  October,  1838,  resigned  November.  1843);  Harvey  Hobart  ^ ap- 
pointed November,  1843);  1844,  to  May,  1845,  Charles  Willard :  from  May.1845,  Samuel  Harvey;  1846-48,  Harvey 
Hobart;  1849-53,  Alonzo  Eastman;  1854,  Harvey  Hobart;  1855,  Samuel  M.  Harvey;  1856-58,  Samuel  I.  Bailey; 
1859-61,  Samuel  M.  Harvey;  1862-81,  William  C.  Buffington;  1882-83,  George  C.  Harvey;  1884;  Hazen  Bedel, 
Jr.;  1885,  George  C.  Harvey;  1886-87,  Hazen  Bedel,  Jr. 

Selectmen. — 1798,  Jacob  Terry,  Noah  Buffington,  Abel  Hobart;  1799,  Lyndon  Hibbard,  Noah  Buffington, 
Ebenezer  Brown;  1800,  Noah  Buffington,  Jacob  Terry,  Jr.,  Abel  Laniard;  1801-02,  Ebenezer  Brown,  Abel 
Laniard,  Philip  Jordan;  1803,  Ebenezer  Brown,  Abel  Laniard,  Chauncey  Curtis;  1804,  Ebenezer  Brown, 
Abel  Laniard,  Jacob  Terry,  Jr.;  1805,  Abel  Laniard,  Jacob  Terry,  Jr.,  Chauncey  Curtis;  1806,  Abel  Larnard, 

Jacob  Terry.  Jr..  Jenison;  1807,  Jared  Cone,  Jacob  Terry,   Jr.,    Abel  Laniard;  1808-11,    Maj.    Jared 

Cone,  Capt.  Abel  Hobart,  Samuel  Harvey,  Esq.  Columbia. — 1812,  Jared  Cone,  Jacob  Terry,  Jr.,  Abel  Hobart; 
1813,  Jared  Cone.  Abel  Hobart,  Marsena  Blodgett;  1814-15,  Jared  Cone,  Samuel  Harvey,  Abel  Hobart;  1816, 
Marsena  Blodgett,  David  Bundy,  Simeon  Alden;  1817,  Samuel  Harvey,  Marsena  Blodgett,  Robert  Parkinson; 
1818,  Marsena  Blodgett,  Abel  Hobart,  William  Wallace;  1819,  Sylvester  W.  Cone,  Ebenezer  Snow,  James 
Lewis;  1820-22,  Sylvester  W.  Cone,  Joshua  Mathers,  Benjamin  Erizzle;  1823,  William  Holkins.  Abraham 
Boynton,  John  Annis;  1824,  Abraham  Boynton,  Ephraim  H.  Mahurin,  John  Annis;  1825,  Marsena  Blodgett, 
Daniel  Herrick,  Benjamin  Frizzle;  1826,  Samuel  Harvey,  Daniel  Herrick,  William  Wallace;  1827,  Samuel 
Harvey,  Daniel  Rogers,  William  Wallace;  1828,  Samuel  Harvey,  Samuel  Marshall,  Samuel  Thomas;  1829-30, 
Sylvester  W.  Cone,  Abel  Hobart,  Samuel  Titus;  1831,  Abraham  Boynton,  John  P.  Daniels,  Roswell  Hobart; 
1832,  Abraham  Boynton,  John  P.  Daniels,  John  Thomas;  1833-34,  Samuel  Harvey,  John  P.  Daniels,  John 
Thomas;  1835,  John  P.  Daniels,  Willard  Spencer,  John  Marshall;  1836,  John  P.  Daniels,  Samuel  G.  Bishop, 
Samuel  Harvey;  1837,  Joshua  S.  Mathers,  Abraham  Boynton,  Samuel  Thomas;  1838,  Joshua  S.  Mathers,  John 
Bailey,  Moody  Dustin;  1839,  Moody  Dustin,  Harvey  Hobart,  William  Gilkey;  1840,  Harvey  Hobart,  Samuel  G. 


Town  of  Columbia.  737 


Bishop,  John  Annis;  1841,  Samuel  Marshall,  Samuel  Harvey,  Boswell  Hobart;  1842.  Samuel  Marshall,  John 
P.  Daniels,  Samuel  Thomas:  1843,  Samuel  Thomas,  Roswell  Hobart,  Abner  Norcott;  1844,  Mood;  Dustin, 
Thomas  J.  Emerton,  James  Lewis;  1845,  John  P.  Daniels,  James  Lewis,  Abner  Norcott;  1846,  John  P. 
Daniels.  Abner  Norcott,  William  Gilkey;  1847,  Roswell  Hobart,  Joseph  W.  Emerton,  John  S.  Lyman;  1848, 
Samuel  G.  Marshall,  John  S.  Lyman,  George  Parsons;  1849,  John  S.  Lyman,  Joseph  VY.  lbnei ■ton,  (ieorgc  Par- 
sons; 1850,  Enoch  Rogers,  Josiah  Atherton,  John  Mathers;  1851,  John  S.  Lyman,  John  Mathers,  Willard 
Spencer;  1852,  Daniel  Rogers,  RodolphuB  D.  Atherton,  Edward  Dimick;  1858.  Harvey  Hobart,  John  S.  Ly- 
man, Hezekiah  Colby;  1854,  Harvey  Hobart,  Willard  Spencer,  Aaron  C.  Whipple;  1855,  diaries  S.  Osgood, 
John  R.  Annis,  John  S.  Lyman;  1856,  John  Mathers,  David  Legroe,  John  Cilley;  1857,  John  Mathers,  Samuel 
I.  Bailey,  Orson  Stevens;  1858,  John  Mathers,  Samuel  Marshall,  John  Cilley;  1859,  William  Wallace,  Hiram 
H.  Kenny,  Jonathan  Gilman;  1860,  Jonathan  Oilman,  William  Wallace,  Charles  S.  Osgood;  1861,  Charles  S. 
Osgood,  Eben  E.  Noyes,  Horatio  N.  Cone;  1862,  John  S.  Lyman,  Eben  E.  Noyes,  Horace  M.  Hobart;  1863, 
Russell  Darling,  Albert  P.  Titus,  Horace  M.  Hobart;  1864,  Horace  M.  Hobart,  Almon  M.  Grout.  William  G. 
Lyman;  1865,  Horace  M.  Hobart,  William  G.  Lyman,  John  R.  Annis;  1866,  John  R.  Annis,  Willard  H.  Reach, 
Seth  Eames;  1867,  Seth  Eames.  Willard  H.  Keach,  Willard  Spencer;  1868,  John  S.  Lyman,  Willard  Spencer. 
Alfred  H.  Bundy;  1869,  Alfred  H.  Bundy,  Stephen  Richardson,  William  E.  Cone;  1871).  Samuel  I.  Bailey,  John 
H.  Libby,  William  E.  Cone;  1871,  Samuel  I.  Bailey,  John  H.  Libby,  Jonathan  Gilman;  1872,  Samuel  I.  Bailey, 
John  H.  Libbey,  Jonathan  Gilman;  1873,  Samuel  I.  Bailey,  Daniel  Q.  Cole,  Albert  H.  Barnett;  1874.  David 
H.  Cook,  Horatio  N.  Cone,  Stephen  Richardson;  1875,  David  H.  Cook,  Horatio  N.  Cone,  Almon  M.  Grout: 
1876,  Samuel  M.  Harvey,  Charles  C.  Titus,  Almon  M.  Grout;  1877,  Samuel  M.  Harvey,  Charles  C.  Titus,  John 
F.  Locke;  1878,  David  H.  Cook,  Chauncey  H.  Fitts,  Charles  E.  Howe;  1879,  David  H.  Cook,  George  A.  Cur- 
rier, William  C.  Lyman;  1880,  David  H.  Cook,  Charles  E.  Howe,  Freeman  G.  Marshall;  1881,  David  H.  Cook, 
Frank  P.  Lang,  Coleman  P.  Tibbetts;  1882,  Frank  P.  Laug,  Edwin  J.  Belville,  John  F.  Locke;  1883,  Edwin  J. 
Belville,  Ethan  A.  Titus,  John  Cook;  1884;  John  Cook,  Chauncey  H.  Fitts,  Freeman  G.  Marshall;  1885,  David 
H.  Cook,  Frank  P.  Lang.  Edwin  J.  Belville;  1886,  Chauncey  H.  Fitts,  John  A.  Bailey,  James  B.  Colby;  1887, 
David  H.  Cook,  Holman  J.  Tibbets,  Fay  Whipple. 

War  of  the  Rebellion. — Columbia  promptly  responded  to  all  calls  of  the 
general  government  for  soldiers  throughout  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and, 
giving  freely  of  both  men  and  money,  showed  that  the  same  patriotism 
and  love  of  country  that  burned  in  the  breasts  of  the  ancestors  of  her  child- 
ren, needed  but  the  breath  of  danger  to  their  country  to  fan  their  slum- 
bering embers  to  flames  as  bright,  and  deeds  as  brave  as  theirs.  Men  past 
the  years  of  military  service,  boys,  striplings  in  strength,  and  men  in  the 
flush  of  power,  alike  offered  their  services  to  guard  the  nation's  life;  while 
those  who  staid  behind  gave  time  and  money  to  care  for  their  families 
at  home  and  the  brave  soldiers  in  the  field.  The  women  gathered  in 
societies  to  prepare  such  articles  as  go  to  lessen  the  hardships  of  a  soldier's 
life;  and  while,  with  brave  hearts,  they  had  parted  with  those  who  were 
dearer  than  life  itself,  they  felt  that  no  sacrifice  was  too  great  to  make  for 
their  country,  and  no  one  can  tell  the  sadness,  the  prayers  and  tears  with 
which  the  bundles  of  bandages,  the  rolls  of  lint,  and  "the  boxes,"  were  pre- 
pared and  sent  to  their  "  Boys  in  Blue." 

The  first  action  of  the  town  was  taken  January  16,  1862,  in  voting  to 
"  raise  $100  to  expend  for  the  benefit  of  soldiers'  families."  August  18,  1 862, 
it  was  voted  to  pay  each  man  that  volunteered  for  three  years  $125. 

Following  this  was  the  largest  enlistment  made  at  one  time  in  the  town, 
fifteen  in  number.  [Their  names  will  be  found  in  the  article  by  Col.  H. 
O.  Kent,  "Coos  in  the  Rebellion,"  in  County  History.— Editor.]  October 4, 
1862,  it  was  voted  to  pay  $125  to  men  who  enlisted  for  nine  months.  From 
this  time  until  the  first  of  1861,  few  enlistments  were  made,  but  during 


738  History  of  Coos  County. 


that  year  the  number  of  enlistments  were  very  large.  The  following  votes 
were  taken  by  the  town  September  1,  1864,  and  under  them  a  large  enlist- 
ment was  made: — 

"To  pay  to  enrolled  men  who  enlisted  for  one  year  to  fill  quota  $1,000;  if  drafted,  $'200;  if  hiring  a  sub- 
stitute  $100."  February  8,  1865,  the  town  voted  as  follows:  "To  pay  $900  to  each  enrolled  man  who  enlists 
for  one  year,  and  $1,500  to  each  enrolled  man  who  enlists  for  three  years." 

Soldiers  enlisted  from  Columbia  not  credited  elsewhere:  G.  A.  Bedel, 
Thomas  Kinnery,  Charles  Rogers,  Wesley  Noyes,  Aaron  Simpson,  Richard 
Dunn.  Valentine  McSherry,  Enoch  Whipple,  Ruel  D.  Colby,  David  Coats, 
John  S.  Lyman,  Bushrod  Smith,  Orrin  Lombard,  Wesley  Chase,  William 
Cooper,  Scivillian  M.  Gilkey,  Julius  Mahurin,  Charles  Jordan.  Of  Colum- 
bia's boys  in  the  army,  a  few  were  killed  in  battle;  some  died  in  hospitals; 
but  a  larger  per  cent,  than  the  average  returned  at  the  end  of  their  service 
in  health;  none,  as  we  learn,  in  disgrace,  but  many  with  credit  for  great 
bravery. 

Statistics  of  1SSG.— There  were  174  polls,  312  horses,  98  oxen,  52S  cows, 
395  neat  stock,  948  sheep,  10  hogs,  11  carriages,  3  starch- mills,  3  grist-mills, 
4  saw-mills.  Land  valuation  8187,440.  Total  valuation  $269,622.  Total 
tax  for  the  year  $4,52(1, 10.     Population  752. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVI. 


(  hurch  History— Early  Services— Columbia  Church— Christian  Church — Profession  of  Faith — 
Preachers — Church  Edifice — Deacon  John  Annis. 

THE  settlers  of  Columbia  were  a  moral,  God-fearing  people,  accus- 
tomed to  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  and  the  enjoyment  of  relig- 
ious worship.  They  sorely  felt  the  want  of  the  opportunities  to 
which  they  had  been  used,  and  we  find  that  at  a  special  town  meeting, 
held  January  13,  1803,  the  following  article  was  inserted  in  the  warning: 
"To  see  if  they  will  accept  the  request  of  their  committee  in  order 
for  to  obtain  preaching  of  the  gospel,"  and  it  was  "voted  to  agree 
upon  some  measure  for  to  obtain  meeting."  But  this  agreement  shared 
the  fate  of  many  other  promises,  and  for  many  years  the  people  had  no 
regular  religious  services  in  town,  but  depended  upon  the  irregular  services 
of  itinerants,  upon  "deacon's  meetings,"  and  attendance  at  the  churches 
of  ( lolebrook  and  Stewartstown.  It  was  a  common  thing  in  those  days  of 
si  nm-  men  and  hardy  women  for  them  to  go  some  ten  or  fifteen  miles  to 
Stewartstown  to   attend   meeting,  often   riding   on  horseback,  the  man 


Town  of  Columbia.  739 


in  the  saddle  and  the  woman  on  the  pillion  behind  him.  and  so  "riding 
doable."  The  itinerants  were  more  noted  for  strength  of  lungs  and  fervor 
of  spirit  than  for  depth  of  erudition  or  grace  of  dicl  ion;  and  many  of  their 
utterances  as  handed  down  by  tradition,  were  decidedly  unique.  One 
preacher  called  on  the  Lord  to  "come  down  the  hank,  pass  over  the  river, 
and  up  through  the  hushes,  and  bless  brother  Bishop";  evidently  laboring 
under  much  the  same  error  as  to  the  residence  of  the  Lord  thai  the  little 
girl  did  who  wound  up  her  evening  prayer  by  bidding  the  Lord  "good-bye, 
as  she  was  going  to  New  -Jersey  in  the  morning."  We  recall  the  appeal 
of  another  of  these  men.  who  asked  the  Lord  to  send  a  "ram-shackling, 
devil  killing,  hell-destroying,  rim-racking  time." 

When  other. means  of  worship  failed,  what  was  known  as  "deacon's 
meetings"  were  held  at  some  convenient  school-house.  These,  for  many 
years,  were  conducted  by  Deacon  Bancroft,  who  offered  the  usual  prayer 
and  reading  from  the  Scriptures,  and  then  read  one  of  Baxter's  stirring 
sermons,  and  "deaconed  off"  the  hymn.  Many  efforts  were  made  to 
build  a  church,  but  they  could  only  agree  to  disagree,  though  they  once 
got  as  far  in  the  matter  as  to  hew  the  timber  for  the  frame;  dissentions, 
however,  arose  as  to  the  location  of  the  house,  resulting,  finally,  in  the  in- 
definite postponement  of  tin;  enterprise,  and  the  rotting  of  the  timber  on 
the  ground  where  it  was  hewed.  Finally,  in  L850,  the  Methodist  confer- 
ence took  the  town  in  charge,  and  sent  Mr.  Watkins  here  as  a  minister. 
He  was  a  stirring,  not-easily- discouraged  man:  and,  by  the  assistance  of 
Pickens  Boynton,  a  young  preacher  not  yet  connected  with  the  conference, 
the  people  were  stirred  up,  and  taking  the  matter  in  hand,  two  meeting- 
houses were  erected — one,  in  East  Columbia,  in  1850,  and  one  on  the  river 
the  following  year.  Until  about  1870  the  two  churches  supported  only 
one  minister,  who  occupied  the  pulpits  of  either  church  on  alternate  Sun- 
days.    Now  both  societies  maintain  a  minister  throughout  the  year. 

Columbia  C/mrch.  —  In  the  years  of  the  early  settlement  of  Columbia 
there  was  no  priest  norprophet  in  the  town,  and  every  man  did  that  which 
was  right  in  hisown  eyes.  About  the  year  1820  a  Congregationalist  minis- 
ter by  the  name  of  Rankin  came  and  preached,  and  labored  among  the 
people  for  a  time.  The  people  were  also  spiritually  instructed  by  Mr.  Hale, 
Mr.  Saunders,  and  Mr  Holmes.  The  latter  lived  on  the  hill  in  the  brick 
house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  George  Hammond.  Mr.  Holmes 
divided  his  time  and  services  between  the  people  of  Columbia  and  Cole- 
brook.  Mr.  Samuel  Holt  labored  here  as  a  missionary.  In  processof  time 
Mr.  Bradford  was  settled  over  this  people,  and  lived  on  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Charles  Russ.  'There  were  no  churches  in  those  days,  and 
religious  services  were  held  in  dwelling-houses,  school-houses,  and  barns. 
On  one  occasion,  when  a  service  was  being  held  in  the  barn  of  Major  Cone, 
a  certain  man,  whose  hearing  was  defective,  climed  up  and  sat  on  one  oi 


740  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  cross  timbers  of  the  barn  close  to  the  speaker  The  day  being  warm 
and  the  sermon  somewhat  lengthy,  Eutychus,  Jr.,  sank  into  a  deep  sleep 
and  fell  from  his  high  loft. 

Sometime  previous  to  1835  the  Methodist  circuit  riders  made  their  ap- 
pearance with  their  Bibles,  tracts  and  saddle-bags.  They  were  rough  and 
ready,  uncultured,  unpolished  and  often  un welcomed,  but  their  burning 
zeal,  earnest  piety  and  enthusiasm  gave  them  a  hearing,  and,  afterwards, 
followers.  Among  those  circuit  riders  we  have  the  names  of  Manning, 
Goddard,  B.  Fales,  W.  M.  Mann,  C.  Olin,  Woodard,  Adams,  Robertson, 
Beard,  S.  Wiggins,  W.  Johnson  and  E.  Pettengill.  They  encountered  a 
certain  amount  of  opposition,  but,  in  spite  of  all  hindrances,  they  achieved 
a  fair  degree  of  success;  and  the  cause  of  religion  gradually  increased 
in  numbers  and  strength  until  1850.  Mr.  Warner  was  minister  in  charge 
at  that  time,  and  the  church  was  blessed  with  an  extensive  revival  of 
religion.  They  now  felt  the  need  of  a  building  in  which  to  assemble  to 
worship  God,  and  Pickens  Boynton  secured  subscriptions  sufficient  to 
warrant  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  Horatio  N.  Cone  gave  a  lot  of  land 
for  a  building  site,  and  the  services  of  J.  F.  Luke  were  secured  to  erect  the 
church,  which  was  finished  in  1851,  and  dedicated  by  Henry  H.  Hartwell, 
Pickens  Boynton  and  Mr.  Warner  being  in  attendance.  Regular  services 
were  now  held.  The  following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  ministers  who  were 
sent  by  the  New  Hampshire  conference  to  serve  the  people:  J.  W.  Spen- 
cer, —    -  Watkins,  D.  W.  Barber, Tabor, Bryant,  Barnes, 

N.  Martin,  D.  J.  Smith, Kendall.     After  Mr.  Kendall's  term  of  service 

expired  there  was  no  regular  preaching  for  some  years.  The  pulpit  was 
supplied  a  portion  of  the  time  by  transient  laborers,  among  them  Mr. 
Evans,  a  theological  student,  Miss  Fickett  and  Elder  Pattee. .  In  1875  or 
'76  A.  B.  Russell  became  pastor  in  charge  of  the  society  and  held  this  con- 
nection three  years.  He  was  followed  by  W.  H.  H  Collins,  who  remained 
one  year,  and  was  followed  by  J.  T.  Davis,  who  labored  with  the  people 
two  years,  during  which  time  a  parsonage  was  built  on  a  lot  of  land  given 
by  Mr.  William  E.  Cone.  Joseph  Hayes  followed  Mr.  Davis  and  remained 
three  years.  Mr.  Hayes  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  John  Olin,  who  was  here 
three  years,  closing  his  appointment  in  1887. 

Christian  Church,  East  Columbia. — The  Christian  church  was  first 
organized  December  3.  L831.  Previous  to  this  time,  as  there  were  here  a 
few  members  of  this  church,  they  were  occasionally  visited  and  some  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  school-house  by  preachers  from  different  parts  of  the 
state  and  Massachusetts;  among  whom  Mark  Fernald,  Joseph  Banfield, 
John  T.  G.  Colby,  O.  P.  Tuckerman,  Simeon  Sweatt,  Daniel  P.  Pike  and 
Elijah  Shaw  were  grand  representatives. 

When  on  December  3,  1831,  a  church  was  formed  by  Elder  John  T.  G. 
(  olby,  it  was  composed  of  the  following  named  members:     William  Hoi- 


Town  of  Columbia!  741 


kins,  Daniel  Rogers,  John  Aimis,  Abel  Marshall,  Samuel  Marshall,  John 
P.  Daniels,  Stephen  Smith,  Augustus  Spencer,  Joshua  S.  .Mathes,  Elijah 
Mathes  and  Phebe  Rogers,  with  this 

Profession  of  Faith. — "We,  whose  names  are  herein  recorded,  agree  to  consider  ourselves  a  church;  to 
acknowledge  Christ  our  Bead.  Master,  Lord,  and  Lawgiver,  to  who  a  we  are  to  hear  in  all  things.  The  New 
Testament  our  Rule  l>v  which  to  walk,  instruct,  and  admonish  each  other,  without  the  addition  of  any 
Discipline  invented  by  men;  and  to  be  know  o  by  the  name  of  Christians  according  to  Acts  XI..  :i<>.  We  also 
agree  to  strive  to  love  all  Christians  of  any  denomination,  and  to  continue  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ  according 
to  Hebrew  VI.,  12."' 

The  church  then  chose  Bro.  Samuel  Marshall,  clerk;  and  agreed  to  hold 
a  regular  monthly  conference  every  first  Saturday  in  each  month.  There 
being  no  preacher  of  this  faith  in  the  then  sparsely-settled  town  of  Colum- 
bia, the  pastorate  was  given  to  Elder  Samuel  Drown,  a  Free  Will  Baptist 
clergyman  from  Colebrook.  The  church  struggled  along,  being  occasion- 
ally visited  by  Elder  ( !olby  and  others.  Their  meetings  were  held  in  school- 
houses  and  barns,  where  the  whole  country  around  would  gather  and  ex- 
hibit such  a  spirit  of  living  Christianity  as  would  put  to  shame  some  of  our 
more  modern  assemblages.  In  the  fall  of  18-12  Elder  Samuel  Durgin,  of 
Maine,  came  to  Columbia,  and  commenced  a  series  of  meetings  in  school- 
houses  and  private  dwellings.  A  large  number  of  persons  professed  to  be 
converted,  were  baptized,  and  joined  the  Christian  church;  of  this  number 
the  majority  were  young  people.  There  were  now  about  thirty-five  mem- 
bers. Agreeably  to  previous  notice,  the  church  met  December  10,  1842, 
and  voted  to  reorganize.  Elder  Samuel  Durgin  was  chosen  moderator  to 
preside  in  said  meeting.  Samuel  Marshall  was  chosen  clerk,  and  Elder 
Samuel  Durgin  to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church.  Bro.  John 
Annis  and  Bro.  Asa  Noyes  were  elected  deacons.  The  church  also  voted 
"that  the  monthly  conference  be  held  on  the  Saturday  before  the  third 
Sabbath  in  each  month  at  Bro.  Augustus  Spencer's,  and  that  the  old  mem- 
bers remain  at  present."  Samuel  Marshall,  John  Annis  and  Asa  Noyes 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  attend  to  the  prudential  affairs  of  the  church. 

During  all  this  time  everything  had  moved  along  harmoniously,  but 
now  discord  and  dissension  had  their  sway  for  awhile;  and,  but  for  their 
strong  faith  and  trust  in  God  and  his  wisdom,  these  Christians  would 
hardly  have  held  their  church  together.  A  good  number  kept  up  their 
meetings,  however,  although  after  a  year  and  a  half  they  were  virtually 
without  a  pastor.  They  continued  in  this  way,  with  occasional  and  spas- 
modic efforts  by  visiting  ministers,  until  about  1850,  when  Elder  William 
S.  Morrill  came,  and  finally,  settling  in  Stewartstown,  took  the  pastoral 
charge  of  this  church,  preaching  alternate  Sabbaths.  In  the  summer  of 
1850  a  Union  church  edifice,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  250,  was  erected  at 
East  Columbia,  in  connection  with  the  Methodist  church;  each  society  to 
have  its  exclusive  use  alternate  Sabbaths,  and  when  not  occupied  by  one 
society,  the  other  could  have  the  use  of  it  for  that  Sabbath  also.     The 


742  History  of  Coos  County. 

following  named  brethren  were  elected  as  trustees  to  take  the  deed  of  one- 
half  of  the  church  building  and  land  on  which  it  was  located:  John  Annis, 
J.  W.  Emerton,  John  Marshall,  William  Pilbro,  and  Asa  Noyes.  It  now 
seemed  as  if  the  church  was  well  established,  and  everything  moved  along 
apparently  prosperously.  In  the  winter  of  1854  and  1855,  Elder  W.  H. 
Nason  came  here  to  assist  Elder  Morrill  in  a  series  of  meetings  which 
resulted  in  the  greatest  reformation  that  was  ever  known  in  all  this  part 
of  the  state,  and  a  large  accession  was  made  to  the  church  membership. 
The  spring  following,  Elder  Nason  accepted  a  call  to  be  the  pastor,  and  in 
connection  with  that  young  Christian  (Methodist)  minister,  D.  J.  Smith, 
the  church  experienced  its  brightest  days.  They  were  assisted  by  a  most 
excellent  choir,  a  most  valuable  auxiliary  in  church  worship.  At  this 
time  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Hill,  of  Colebrook,  said  '"East  Columbia  is  the  only 
green  spot  in  Northern  New  Hampshire." 

At  the  expiration  of  two  years  Elder  Nason  was  succeeded  by  Elder 
Seth  Ross  from  Franklin.  Elder  Ross  was  a  good  mail,  sound  in  the  faith, 
scholarly,  and  quite  logical  in  his  preaching,  but  altogether  different  from 
Elder  Nason.  His  style  was  not  so  well  adapted  to  interest  the  class  of 
minds  belonging  to  his  audience,  consequently,  what  is  termed  "falling- 
away  "  ensued.  In  the  fall  of  1858  his  wife  died;  and,  as  a  result  of  this, 
he  moved  away  the  following  spring.  From  this  time  until  1S(>3  the  pulpit 
was  supplied  by  Willard  McDaniels,  William  S.  Morgan,  and  other  visit- 
ing ministers.  January,  L863,  Calvin  S.  Shattuck  came  from  Vermont  to 
assist  in  union  meetings,  which  resulted  in  such  an  awakening  as  was 
only  second  to  that  already  described  under  the  labors  of  Elder  Nason. 
The  cause  of  Christ  continued  to  advance  for  a  while,  when  a  controversy 
arose  between  the  ministers  on  the  subject  of  baptism,  annihilation,  and 
other  kindred  topics,  which  led  to  a  division  between  churches,  and  between 
brothers  and  sisters  of  the  same  society;  some  of  the  best  members 
removed  from  the  place,  and  after  four  years  this  religious  body  was 
virtually  a  nullity. 

In  August,  lsc,:,,  Bro.  Rufus  F.  Marshall  was  chosen  deacon,  and  Bro. 
Warren  R.  Marshall  clerk.  In  the  summer  of  1867  Elder  Shattuck  closed 
his  labors  with  the  Christian  church,  and  Stephen  Andrews,  a  young  man 
from  Massachusetts,  preached  a  few  months.  He  was  succeeded  by  Elder 
R.  B.  Eldrich.  an  educated  and  experienced  preacher,  and  a  devoted  Chris- 
tian gentleman.  He  labored  for  two  years;  but  with  all  of  his  eloquence 
;i!id  religious  example  there  was  but  little  accomplished  in  Zion's  cause. 
The  church  remained  without  a  pastor  for  a  year  after.  Then  W.  S. 
Morrill,  a  former  pastor,  preached  a  part  of  two  years;  he  was  followed  by 
A.  II.  Francis,  who  labored  for  a  few  months,  and  during  this  time  the 
church  edifice  was  repaired.  In  the  winter  of  ls75  Elder  W.  H.  Nason 
came  hick  to  his  old  society  to  find  the  members  in  a  very  unsettled  and 


TOWN    OF   COLVMI'.IA.  743 


unsatisfactory  condition.  He  had  faith  in  the  revival  of  the  religious 
spirit,  and  thought  best  to  stay  with  the  church.  After  a  year  and  a  half, 
on  account  of  illness,  he  was  unable  to  perform  his  ministerial  labors,  and 
returned  to  Springfield,  where  his  earthly  life  was  finished  and  he  entered 
upon  his  inheritance  in  Heaven.  He  had  served  his  Lord  and  Master  long 
and  zealously,  aided  by  his  good  and  faithful  Christian  wife.  All  hough 
they  were  not  successful  in  restoring  the  church  to  its  former  life,  still 
they  were  worthy  of  the  encomium  "well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants," 
and  its  accompanying  reward.  Elder  Nason's  successor  was  a  young  man, 
E.  R.  Amazeen,  who  preached  three  years.  Since  that  time  this  society 
has  been  without  a  settled  pastor,  and  the  Methodists  lfave  held  all  the 
services  until  the  present  writing. 

In  this  connection  mention  should  be  made  of  Dea.  John  Annis,  who 
was  born  in  Goffstown.  N.  H.,  October  11,  1797.  He  is,  probably,  now 
I  March.  L887)  the  only  living  member  of  the  original  Christian  church  of 
East  Columbia.  His  house  was.  and  always  has  been,  the  home  for  all 
the  visiting  preachers,  not  only  of  his  own  denomination,  but  those  of 
other  sects  have  been  made  welcome  to  his  generous  hospitality.  His  barn 
was  often  used  for  holding  religious  meetings  in  earlier  years.  By  his 
consistent  Christianity,  which  controlled  all  his  acts,  he  was  universally 
known,  and  was  esteemed  by  a  large  number  of  ministers  and  Christians. 
He  is  now  nearly  ninety  years  of  age,  and  until  three  years  ago,  when  he 
was  enfeebled  by  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  his  memory  of  the  early  history  of 
religious  societies  was  quite  marked  and  vivid.  By  him  and  such  as  he, 
the  church  was  sustained  through  all  its  vicissitudes;  he  was  never  falter- 
ing in  his  efforts  to  maintain  the  church  service;  and,  even  now,  under 
the  burden  of  his  four-score  years  and  ten,  his  love  for  the  church  and  all 
good  people  seems  stronger,  if  possible,  than  in  the  strength  of  his  early 
manhood.  Dea.  Annis  is  now  quite  infirm;  his  hearing  is  imperfect,  and 
his  eyesight  impaired  so  that  he  is  unable  to  read.  In  the  beautiful  words 
of  the  hymn  he  is 

"Only  waiting  till  the  shadows 
Are  a  little  longer  grown; 
Only  waiting  till  tin-  glimmer 
Of  the  day's  last  beam  is  flown; 

Till  the  light  of  earth  has  faded 
From  the  heart  once  full  of  day: 
Till  the  stars  of  Eeaven  are  breaking 
Thru'  the  twilight  sofl  and  gray.'1 


STRATFORD. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVII. 


Introductory— Woodbury— Names  of  Grantees— Difficulty  Concerning  Boundaries — Transfers 
Prior  to  1772— Proprietors'  Action— Call  for  Meeting— Gov.  Wentworth's  Decision. 

IN  the  extreme  western  part  of  Massachusetts,  in  Berkshire  county,  at 
the  foot  of  Saddle  mountain,  rises  the  Housatonic  river.  The  Indian 
name,  "Potatuck,"  signified  "  the  river  with  many  falls."  This  river 
runs  nearly  south  to  Dover  and  New  Milford,  Conn.,  then,  turning  sharply 
to  the  southeast,  flows  to  the  sound  through  Litchfield  and  Fairfield  count- 
ies. In  nearly  the  central  part  of  Connecticut,  measuring  north  and  south, 
and  about  twenty  miles  east  of  the  Housatonic,  rises  the  Naugatuck,  a 
smaller  river,  which  makes  its  way  to  the  sound  in  almost  a  southern 
course.  Midway  between  these  rivers,  and  about  thirty  miles  from  the 
sound,  is  situated  the  township  of  Woodbury,  while  on  the  shore  of  the 
sound,  at  the  confluence  of  these  streams,  is  the  ancient  territory  called 
"  Old  Stratford."  From  these  townships  in  the  "  land  of  steady  habits" 
came  the  first  inhabitants  of  what  is  now  Stratford,  N.  H. 

This  town  was  first  incorporated  as  Woodbury,  and  at  least  forty  of  the 
sixty-three  proprietors  were  residents  of  Woodbury,  Conn. ;  while,  of  the 
seventy-two  proprietors  of  the  later  town  of  Stratford,  thirty-two,  at  least, 
were  residents  of  "  Old  Stratford."  "  Old  Stratford  "  was  settled  in  1639 
by  a  company  formed  by  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  at  Wethersfield,  and  was 
the  seventh  plantation  in  the  Connecticut  colony  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  state.  In  a  fence-list,  published  as  early  as  1651,  the  names  of 
Wells,  Judson,  Curtis,  and  Beardsley  appear;  beyond  question  they  were 
the  progenitors  of  the  settlers  of  those  names  in  Stratford. 

Woodbury  was  chartered  June  30,  1762,  by  Gov.  Benning  Wentworth. 
It  contained  23,040  acres,  allowance  of  1,040  acres  being  made  for  high- 
ways and  unimprovable  lands.     It  was  bounded  thus:— 

|  Much  of  the  early  history  of  Woodbury  and  Stratford  has  been  furnished  by  Rev.  L.  W.  Prescott.— Ed.] 


Town  of  Stratford.  745 


"Beginning  at  a  Tree,  marked,  standing  on  the  Easterly  Side  of  Connecticut  river  at  a  place  called  the 
Upper  Coos,  and  at  the  North-westerly  corner  Bound  of  Stonington,  thence  Running  up  North-easterly  as  the 
said  river  trends,  till  the  contents  of  Six  Miles  upon  a  straight   line  be  accomplished,   thence  carrying  tl 
breadth  of  six  miles  back  south-easterly  so  far  as  that  a  Parallel  line  with  the  Straight  Line  aforesaid  will 
make  the  contents  of  Six  miles  square." 

Name  of  Grantees. — Those  marked  \V  are  from  Woodbury,  Conn.  John  Prindle,  Israel  Beardsley,  Matt 
Mallet t.  Joseph  Trowbridge,  w,  Benjamin  Bunnell,  Sam  Brownson,  w,  Ebenezer  Strong,  w,  Ebenezer  Doun,  w, 
Ebenezer  Hinmau,  w,  William  Rowland,  w,  Ebenezer  Brownson,  w,  Sam  Wheeler,  Gideon  Johnson,  w, 
Isaac  Stiles,  Jr..  w,  Gideon  Porter,  w,  Gideon  Hinman,  w,  Abijah  Tambling,  w,  Thaddeus Curtis,  John  John- 
son, w,  Justice  Doyle,  Elijah  Einman,  w,  Agur  Tomlinson,  Amos  Eickok,  w,  Francis  Hinman,  w,  Daniel 
Smith,  w,  Aaron  Doun,  w,  Jacob  Glascr,  w,  Gideon  Tuttle,  w,  John  Garritt,  w,  Ichabod  Tuttle,  w,  David 
Johnson,  w,  Jacob  Meek,  w,  Hnthuit  Tuttle.  w,  Gideon  Bristol,  w,  Seth  Curtis.  Peter  Nichols,  Timothy  Os- 
born,  w,  Moses  Johnson,  w,  II  szekiah  Porter,  w,  EldadKing,  w,  John  Skeel,  w,  Bushnel  Benedict,  w,  David 
Munn,  w,  Eleazer  Knowles,  w,  Stephen  Brownson,  w,  Abijah  Hinman,  w,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Esq.,  Caleb  Baldwin, 
2d,  Arthur  Wooster,  John  Leavenworth,  w,  John  Peck,  Ant.  Cole,  W,  Asa  Johnson,  w,  Israel  Curtis,  u .  8am. 
Jenner,  Jr.,  Justice  Hickok,  Eli  Demming,  Ezra  Demmine;.  Samuel  Averill,  Lt.  Joseph  Wright,  Capt.  Jona- 
than Carlton,   Hon.  Joseph  Newinarch,  James  Newton.  Esq.,  William  Temple. 

None  of  these  became  identified  with  the  settlement  of  Stratford.  The 
Elijah  Hinman  who  came  to  Stratford  was  probably  not  the  innkeeper  at 
old  Woodbury  who  was  a  grantee  of  the  new  town.  We  cannot  deter- 
mine whether  Ebenezer  Strong,  the  Johnsons,  the  Curtisses,  the  Baldwins, 
and  Nicholses  were  related  to  those  who  became  settlers  here,  but  it  is 
probable  that  they  were. 

The  Woodbury  charter  was  renewed;  and,  as  early  as  1772,  settlements, 
or  rather  "pitches,"  had  been  established,  and  people  had  come  here.  We 
extract  from  the  "Proprietors'  Records"  their  action  in  reference  to  the  diffi- 
culty concerning  the  boundaries,  caused  by  the  "  shoving-up  "  of  Lancas- 
ter (see  History  of  Lancaster  for  full  account  and  particulars),  and  also 
concerning  the  chartering  of  Stratford.  The  first  meeting  of  the  propri- 
etors of  Woodbury  was  called  by  Samuel  Averill  at  the  house  of  Elijah 
Hinman  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  August  11,  1762.  At  the  second  meeting 
"  Gideon  Tuttle,  John  Garrett,  and  Eleazer  Knowles  were  chosen  as  a  com- 
mittee to  view  and  survey  the  township  of  Woodbury  lately  granted  in 
the  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  and  to  lay  out  said  town,  if  they  shall 
think  it  best  for  the  interest  of  the  proprietors,  and  to  bring  back  a  true 
account  of  the  soil  and  situation  of  the  land,  and  deliver  it  to  the  proprie- 
tors' clerk  by  the  first  Monday  of  December  next  ensuing,"  and  it  was 
voted  "that  the  said  committee  be  paid  by  the  proprietors,  Thirteen  shil- 
lings and  six  pence  per  day  to  each  man  while  they  are  gone  on  said  busi- 
ness, if  performed."  No  record  of  their  report,  nor  of  any  other  meeting 
can  be  found  until  1773.  Nothing  permanent  towards  settling  the  new 
town  had  been  done.  Visits  of  prospecting  were  made,  some  "pitches" 
established,  and  confusion  had  arisen  about  the  south  boundary;  North- 
umberland, claiming  over  one  mile  of  the  present  territory  of  Stratford, 
and  up  the  river  above  the  present  homestead  of  Guy  Burnside.  These 
difficulties  and  contentions  led  to  the  re-chartering  of  the  territory  embrac- 
ing Woodbury  as  Stratford.     Forty-two  or  more  transfers  of  land  in  the 

49 


7-ti ;  History  of  Coos  County. 

new  settlement  are  found  in  the  records  of  the  Connecticut  Woodbury;  so, 
much  had  been  done  in  allotting,  if  no  real  improvement  had  been  made. 
No  less  than  twenty-three  of  these  deeds  are  given  by  Samuel  Averill, 
while  quite  a  number  of  transfers  to  him  are  recorded.  He  operated 
largely  in  Woodbury  lands  as  early  as  1767,  twenty  deeds  from  him  being 
dated  in  that  year.  One  of  these  is  to  Gov.  John  Went  worth,  another  to 
John  Wendell,  Esq.,  of  Portsmouth.  Many  were  given  to  residents  of 
Stratford,  Conn.,  and  this  probably  accounts  for  the  change  of  the  name 
to  Stratford. 

Recorded  Transfers  prior  to  1772. — Beach  Tonilinson,  of  Stratford,  Conn.,  to  Thomas  Blodgett  as  a 
settler;  Hezekiah  Burritt  of  same  place  to  Isaac  Johnson  as  a  settler;  Agur  Tomlinson  of  the  same  place  to  Ar- 
chippus  Blodgett  as  a  settler;  Joseph  Moss  to  Joseph  Barlow;  Joshua  Lanikin  to  Oliver  Lamkin;  Judson  Bur- 
ton to  Timothy  DeForest  as  a  settler;  Asa  Johnson,  of  Woodbury,  Conn.,  to  Joseph  Holbrook;  Thomas  Olcott 
to  Stephen  Curtis  (father  of  James,  Aaron,  and  William  Curtis),  all  of  Stratford;  Ebenezer  Doun,  of  Wood- 
bury, Conn.,  to  Elijah  Hinman,  consideration,  two  pounds:  Samuel  Wheeler  to  Elijah  Hinman,  consideration 
fine  pounds ;  Samuel  Averill  to  Jabez  Baldwin.  Samuel  Averill  deeds  to  Isaiah  Brown,  father  of  James  Brown, 
in  1767. 

This  establishes  the  fact  that  several  had  become  settlers,  in  anticipa- 
tion if  not  yet  in  reality,  before  the  issuing  of  the  charter  of  Stratford, 
and  were  residents  here  later.  Timothy  DeForest,  who  was  conveyed  a 
lot  by  Judson  Burton  "  as  a  settler,"  abandoned  the  field,  and  did  not  per- 
form the  duty  which  was  the  consideration,  and  the  sum  of  $10  in  lawful 
money  was  paid  to  Mr.  Burton  by  the  proprietors  to  make  him  whole.  The 
earliest  deed  preserved  is  dated  in  1703.  It  is  from  Hezekiah  Porter  to 
Samuel  Averill,  showing  that  the  latter  had  commenced  his  purchases  im- 
mediately after  the  obtaining  of  the  charter. 

1773.  The  next  meeting  of  which  we  have  record  was  held  March  31, 
1773,  at  Stratford,  Conn. 

The  proprietors  voted  Agur  Tonilinson,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Holbrook  "  a  Committee,  and  fully  Im- 
powered  to  proceed  forthwith  to  Portsmouth,  and  in  connection  with  John  Wendell  to  act  in  the  settlement  and 
compromise  of  all  matters  and  things  relating  to  a  controversy  subsisting  between  the  proprietors  of  Woodbury 
and  Northumbi  rland,  to  be  determined  and  decided  by  his  Excellency  the  Governor  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
to  surrender  and  give  up  the  old  charter  of  said  Township,  and  the  renewed  charter  of  extension,  if  neces- 
sary; also,  that  a  tax  of  forty  shillings  on  each  right  be  laid  and  immediately  collected  of  the  Proprietors 
that  they  may  be  enabled  to  pursue  the  settlement  propoped  to  with  the  proprietors  of  Northumberland,  and 
to  survey  the  township.  That  when  his  Excellency,  Gov.  Wentworth  shall  have  determined  the  controversy 
and  fixed  the  bounds  between  the  two  townships  of  Woodbury  and  Northumberland,  Messrs.  Holbrook  and 
Tomlinson,  or  either  of  them,  are  to  proceed  to  survey  said  township  of  Woodbury,  and,  after  that  is  done, 
and  the  first  Division  allotted,  either  shall  return  to  Portsmouth  for  the  new  charter."  It  was  also  voted 
"  thai  Lieut.  Elijah  Hinman  be,  and  is  appointed,  a  committee  to  proceed  to  said  township  and  assist  in 
allotting  the  first  Division,  and  second  Division  if  they  think  proper,  and  that  the  proprietors  and  settlers 
who  fust  proceeded  last  year,  and  had  their  choice  of  pitch  for  allottment,  do  take  their  first  choice  this 
3 1  ar,  and  the  rest  of  the  settlers  who  get  their  next  by  succession,  have  their  next  successive  choice  of  settle- 
ment; also  that  the  committee,  Messrs.  Holbrook,  Tomlinson  and  Hinman,  or  either  two  of  them,  do  layout 
a  Town  Plot  in  said  Township;  and  that  the  same  be  laid  upon  the  hill,  if  they  think  proper,  and  the  Place 
mosl  convenient,  and  thai  they  draw  lots  for  each  Proprietor's  Right  or  situation,  leaving  first  a  Suitable 
quantity  of  Land  in  the  most  convenient  Place  for  public  use." 

This  was  the  last  meeting  of  proprietors  in  Connecticut,  the  next  being 
held  at  Portsmouth,  and  made  legal  by  this  request  and  warning,  the 
request  being  dated  at  Woodbuiy,  N.  H. : — 


Town  of  Stratford.  747 


"To  the  Worshipful  Samuel  PenhaUow,  Esq'r,  one  «,f  liis  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County 

of  Rockingham,  etc.     We,  the  Subscribers,  being  owners  of  re   than  one-sixth  Part  of  the  Township  of 

Woodbury,  desire  that  you  would  call  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  said  Township  at  the  House  of  ('apt. 
Jacob  Tilton,  Innholder  in  Portsmouth  on  the  Seventh  Day  of  May  next,  at  two  o'clock,  p.  m.,  then  and  there 
to  act  upon  the  following  matters  and  things: 

"  1.  To  choose  a  Moderator  for  s'd  meeting. 

"2.  To  choose  a  Proprietors'  Clerk,  pro  tempore. 

"3.  To  choose  a  Proprietors'  Treasurer,  or  any  Collector  or  Collectors  that  may  be  found  necessary. 

"4.  To  agree  upon  some  method  to  call  all  future  meetings. 

'•5.  To  adopt,  confirm,  and  establish  all  such  votes  and  transactions  at  any  former  meetings  held  at 
Stratford,  Conn.,  or  elsewhere  out  of  said  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  agreable  to  the  Records  of  such 
meetings  as  they  now  stand  Recorded  in  the  Proprietors'  Book. 

"  6.  To  choose  a  Committee  of  one  or  more  Proprietors  to  defend  any  of  the  Proprietors,  or  others  act- 
ing under  them,  in  any  suit  or  suits  for  supposed  Trespasses  committed  in  the  Bounds  of  Woodbury  brought 
by  the  Proprietors  of  Northumberland  as  supposed  to  have  been  done  within  the  Bounds  [of]  Northumber- 
land, and  to  impower  the  said  Committee  to  com[promise]  Disputes  by  a  reference  of  the  whole  to  one  or 
[more  persons]  for  the  better  ascertaining  and  establishing  the  true  Limits  and  bounds  of  both  Townships, 
and  to  impower  said  Committee  to  join  in  a  mutual  agreement  of  any  Committee  that  may  be  appointed  by 
the  Proprietors  of  Northumberland  to  submit  the  settlement  of  the  dividing  Lines  of  both  Townships  to  any 
such  person  or  persons  that  may  be  mutually  chosen  as  the  Arbitrator  of  said  Limits,  and  further,  if  need 
be  to  make  a  surrender  of  said  Charter  and  its  renewal  for  the  better  and  more  final  adjustment  of  all  con- 
troversies about  said  Limits  or  Boundaries. 

"7.  To  determine  at  what  place  to  hold  Proprietors'  meetings  in  future. 

••William  Samuel  Johnson,  Joseph  Holbrook,  Samuel  Beers,  Samuel  Averill,  William  Thompson,  Stephen 
Curtis,  John  Wendell,  Agur  Tomhnson,  Isaiah  Brown,  Elijah  Hinman,  Daniel  Judson,  Joseph  Tomlinson, 
Issekiah  Wetmore." 

Call  for  Meeting.— "In.  pursuance  of  above  request  I  do  herein'  notify  and  warn  a  Meeting  of  said  Pro- 
prietors of  Woodbury,  at  the  time  and  place  above  requested,  then  and  there  to  act  upon  the  several  matters 
therein  requested. 

"Portsmouth,  April  21,  1773.  Samuel  Penhallow,  J.  P." 

Notices  of  the  meeting  were  published  in  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette, 
and  the  proprietors  met  in  due  form.  At  this  meeting  "Agur  Tomlinson. 
John  Wendell,  with  Joseph  Holbrook,  or  any  two  of  them  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  defend  all  suits  brought  for  trespass  on  land  claimed  in 
Woobury  as  belonging  to  Northumberland  at  the  expense  of  the  proprie- 
tors." They  were  also  empowered  to  refer  the  whole  matters  at  issue  be- 
tween the  townships  "to  the  judgment  and  wisdom  of  His  Excellency 
John  Wentworth,  Esq.,  (if  he  will  be  pleased  to  condescend  to  take  so  much 
trouble  upon  him)  to  decide  and  determine  where  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  townships  shall  be,"  etc.,  etc.  Legal  proceedings  had  been  com- 
menced, for  the  joint  committees  of  the  towns,  in  their  petition  to  the  gov- 
ernor requesting  his  decision,  deprecate  the  contest,  and  fear  that  the 
progress  and  settlement  of  both  townships  may  be  retarded,  and  offer  to 
waive  the  appeal  to  law  and  to  abide  by  his  decision. 

Gov.  WentwortKs  Decision. — "First,  That  all  parties  interested,  do,  from  this  day,  obliterate  all  former 
transactions  that  have  happened,  and  that  they  be  and  remain  in  perfect  amity:  rendering  to  each  other  all 
kind  offices  asfellow  citizens  embarked  in  onecommon  cause  of  mutual  benevolence  and  prosperity — Northum- 
berland to  quit-claim  and  release  to  W< » (dbury  all  the  lands  in  their  Township  from  the  Elm  Tree,  being  their 
Northerly  corner  on  the  River,  down  by  the  said  river  as  it  runs  unto  the  Southerly  line  of  Lot  No.  15,  and 
to  extend  from  the  end  thereof  in  the  same  course  as  said  line,  until  it  meets  the  boundary  line  of  North- 
umberland which  runs  from  a  certain  Elm  Tree  on  Connecticut  River  South,  55°  East,  four  miles,  two  hundri  d 
seventy-five  rods  to  a  certain  spruce  tree  marked  'S.  S.  D.C.70,'  all  the  lands  within  these  described  lines  includ- 
ing Lot  No.  15,  as  marked  and  delineated  upon  a  plan  returned  by  Edmond  Morse,  to  be  quit-claimed  to  Wood- 


748  History  of  Coos  County. 


bury — That  there  be  granted  to  Woodbury  a  certain  gore  of  land  lying  and  being  between  Northumberland  and 
'Whiting's  Woodbury'  (so  called),  surveyed  by  Edwards  Bucknam,  containing  Eight  Thousand  Seven  Hun- 
dred Fourteen  and  one  Half  acres,  as  by  his  plan  returned  appears— That  a  new  Patent  be  granted  to  Wood- 
bury to  include  Whiting's  Woodbury,  The  Gore,  and  the  Quit-claimed  lands  out  of  Northumberland,  allowing 
five  years  to  complete  the  settlement,  and  free  from  Governor's  fees — That  Woodbury  shall  quit-claim  to 
Northumberland  all  claims  or  pretentions  to  every  other  part  of  that  town— That  Woodbury  pay  the  cost  of 
the  survey  (if  the  Gore  they  obtain — That  there  be  granted  to  Northumberland  such  a  Tract  of  ungranted  or 
vacant  land  adjoining  to  the  south  Seven  degrees  East,  line  of  Northumberland  as  the  Governor  shall  direct, 
free  of  his  fees;  Northumberland  to  pay  the  cost  of  survey — That  each  town  shall  pay  their  own  cost  inclined 
hitherto — That  if  any  useful  labor  has  been  done  on  the  land  on  either  side,  it  shall  be  valued  on  oath  by  one 
man,  chosen  by  each  party,  and  a  third  by  those  two,  which  three,  or  any  two  of  them,  shall  awardhow  much 
shall  be  paid  by  the  possessor  for  labor  done  on  his  land— That  all  parties  forthwith  carry  this  judgment  into 
execution  as  far  as  in  them  lies." 

Woodbury  continued  from  June  30,  17(33,  until  its  charter  was  given 
up  May  26,  1773.  Few  of  the  people  of  the  county  to  day  are  aware  of  the 
existence  of  such  a  township. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVIII. 

Stratford— Conditions  of  Charter— Grantees'  Names, with  Number  of  Lot— First  Settlers— First 
Woman  Settler— Contest  of  Skill — Brief  Description  of  Settlers  and  their  Families — Description 
and  Topography  of  Town — The  First  Settlements — Pitches  Allotted — Extracts  from  Proprietors' 
Records;  Concerning  Mills,  Town  Plot,  Lots  and  Roads,  Trouble  about  First  Grist-Mill — First 
Settlers  have  First  Pitches. 

THE  township  of  Stratford,  containing  seventy-one  shares  and  48,603 
acres  of  land,  more  than  double  the  size  of  Woodbury,  was  chartered 
May  26,  1773,  by  John  Wentworth,  with  these  boundaries: — 


"  Beginning  at  a  Hemlock  Tree  standing  on  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river  which  was  marked  B.  W. 
by  Benj.  Whiting  for  the  north-west  corner  of  Woodbury,  thence  North,  88°  east,  Six  Miles  to  a  Fir  tree 
marked  by  said  Whiting  for  the  North-east  corner  of  Woodbm-y,  thence  on  the  same  course  One  mile  and  a 
half,  thence  south,  2°  east,  Eleven  Miles  and  Two  Hundred  and  Twenty  rods,  thence  North,  45°  west,  Four 
miles  and  Two  Hundred  and  Thirty  Eight  rods  to  a  Spruce  tree  at  the  North-east  corner  of  Northumberland, 
theiiee  Two  Hundred  and  Eighty  Eight  rods  on  Northumberland  line,  thence  West,  Two  Miles  and  One  Hun- 
ered  and  Fifty  two  rods  to  Connecticut  River,  thence  by  said  river  as  that  trends  to  the  Bound  began  at." 

Conditions  of  Charter. — Among  the  conditions  exacted  of  the  grantees 
by  the  charter  were  these:  — 

"  That  the  Cirantees  shall,  at  their  cost,  cut,  clear,  bridge,  and  make  passable  for  Carriages  of  all  kinds,  a 
Road  "I  four  rods  wide  through  the  said  Tract,  to  be  completed  in  two  years — That  the  Grantees  shall  settle 
or  cause  to  be  settled  Twelve  Families  by  the  First  of  June  1774,  who  shall  be  actually  cultivating  some 
part  of  the  land  and  resident  thereon  and  to  continue,  etc. — Before  any  division  of  the  Land  be  made  a  tract 
of  land  as  near  the  center  of  said  Township  as  the  land  will  admit  of,  shall  be  reserved  and  marked  out  for 
Town  Lots,  one  of  which  shall  be  allotted,  of  the  contents  of  one  acre,  to  each  Grantee." 

Grantees  of  Stratford  icitlt  Number  of  Lot  allotted  by  Survey  of  1788. — Perry  Averill,  58;  Capt,  Moses 
Averill,  63;  Samuel  Averill,  53;  Samuel  Averill,  Jr.,  59;  Heth  Baldwin,  47;  Jabez  Baldwin,  18;  William  Barker, 
64;  Joseph  Barlow,  20;  Joseph  Bass,  16;  Samuel  Beard,  26;  Capt.  Isaiah  Brown,  13;  Samuel  Beers,  7;  Nathan 


Town  of  Stratford.  749 


Booth,  27;  George  Boyd,  Esq.,  37;  Ncheniiah  Curtis,  23;  Samuel  Curtis,  44;  Stephen  Curtis,  10;  Stephen  Cur- 
tis, Jr.,  08;  George  Crague.  36;  Daniel  Fowle,  Esq.,  51;  William  Gardiner,  — ;  Richard  Hart,  52;  Aaron  llin- 
man,  15;  Capt.  Benjamin  Hinman,  2H;  Elijah  Hinman.  It;  Freeman  Hinnian.  21;  John  Holbrook,  Jr.,  39; 
Joseph  Holbrook,  17;  Joseph  Holbrook,  Jr..  50;  William  Samuel  Johnson,  43;  Abner  Judson,  8;  (apt.  Agar 
Judson,  5;  Agur  Judson,  Jr.,  6;  Capt.  Daniel  Judson,  22;  Daniel  Judson,  Jr.,  9;  David  Judson.  42:  Stiles 
Judson,  32;  Judah  Kellogg,  01;  William  King,  48;  George  Lewis,  51;  ('apt.  Moses  Little,  56;  George  Marshall, 
Jr.,  66;    Benold  Marvin,  Esq.,  34;    Elisha  Mills,  — ;    David  Munn,  19;    Morgan  Noble,  2;    Benj.  Parker,  19; 

Joseph  Seward,  — ;  Jacob  Slieaf'e,  Jr.,  12;   Stephen  Sherman,  45;    Samuel  Sherburn,  36;    Agur  T llnson,  4; 

Beach  Tomlinson,  30;  Hezekiah  Tomlinson,  24;  Capt.  Josej)h  Tomlinson,  62;  Stephen  Tomlinson,  35;  Will- 
iam Agur  Tomlinson,  25;  William  Tomlinson,  9;  Thomas  Tousey,  55;  Moses  Welkston,  33;  Jose])b  Wells.  .11 ; 
Nathan  Wells,  60;  John  Wendell,  Esq.,  67;  Joshua  Wentwortli,  — :  Col.  Josiah  Willard,  11;  Lev.  Ezeriah 
Wetmore,  29;  Arthur  Wooster,  46:  Ebenezer  Wooster,  65;  Joseph  Wooster,  2d,  41;  Thomas  Wooster,  Jr.,  57; 
Thomas  Wooster,  3d,  40. 

Thirty  of  these  were  resdents  of  "Old  Stratford,"  and  only  five  were 
grantees  of  Woodbury,  viz. :  Agur  Tomlinson,  Elijah  Hinman,  David 
Munn,  Arthur  Wooster,  and  Samuel  Averill.  The  Baldwins  were  from 
Newtown;  William  Barker  from  Norwich;  the  Hinmans  and  Holbrooks 
from  Southbury;  David  Munn  from  Woodbury;  Morgan  Noble  from  New 
Milford;  Ebenezer  and  Thomas  Wooster,  Jr.,  from  Derby.  Jabez  Bald- 
win, his  son  Heth,  Joseph  Barlow,  Elijah  Hinman,  Joseph  and  John  Hol- 
brook, wrere  the  only  grantees  who  became  settlers  of  the  new  township. 
Capt.  Isaiah  Brown  sent  his  son  James,  and  Isaac  Johnson  was  perhaps 
son  of  William  S.  Johnson.  James,  Aaron,  and  William  Curtis  were  sons 
of  Stephen  Curtis,  the  grantee. 

First  Settlers. — At  a  proprietors'  meeting  held  in  December,  1772,  it 
was  voted: — 

"  To  pay  those  persons  that  did  ye  last  summer  proceed  to  settle  and  improve,  and  shall  for  the  future 
so  continue  their  settlements  and  improvements,  viz.:  Joshua  Lamkin,  Arehippus  Blodgett,  James  Brown, 
James  Curtis,  Isaac  Johnson,  Timothy  DeForest,  Benajah  Blackman,  and  John  Smith,  be  paid,  and  do  receive 
the  sum  of  Three  Pounds  lawful  money  each,  for  some  reward  for  their  extraordinary  trouble  and  expense 
in  proceeding  to  settle  and  make  improvements  the  said  last  summer." 

First  Woman  Settler. — June  1,  1773,  it  was  voted  ''that  the  sum  of 
Ten  Dollars  be  paid  by  the  Proprietors  to  Mrs.  Barlow,  wife  of  Joseph  Bar- 
low, on  account  for  the  reason  only  that  she  hath  proceeded  with  her  hus- 
band and  family  of  children  to  Coos,  our  Township  of  Stratford,  and  is  the 
first  woman  that  hath  settled  upon  said  Township." 

Contest  of  Skill. — Tradition  states  that  Isaac  Johnson  and  Arehippus 
Blodgett  felled  the  first  trees;  each  selecting  a  tree  and  trying  to  cut  his 
tree  down  first.  Mr.  Johnson  succeeded  in  getting  his  cut  before  Mr. 
Blodgett  and  thus  won  the  victory.  The  grandson  of  this  Isaac  Johnson, 
also  named  Isaac,  now  living  in  town,  says  that  his  grandfather  first 
"pitched"  in  Northumberland;  so  this  contest  may  have  occurred  there. 

June  21,  1773,  the  proprietors  voted  to  add  James  Curtis  to  the  commit- 
tee for  clearing  the  road. 

Of  these  first  settlers,  all  excepting  two  did  good  service  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  town,   and  have  descendants,   doing  credit  to  their  daring 


750  History  of  Coos  County. 


ancestors,  resident  here  to-day.  Mr.  DeForest  is  said  in  the  records  "  to 
have  deserted  the  cause,"  and  Blackman  is  heard  of  no  more.  [Benajah 
Blackmail  was  a  soldier  from  Colebrook  in  Capt.  Young's  company  in  the 
Revolution.]  Joseph  Barlow  had  several  children,  Abner,  Nathan,  and 
Ephraim,  and  two  daughters,  one  of  whom,  Sarah,  married  James  Cur- 
tis, one  of  the  first  party  of  settlers;  Eunice,  another  daughter,  married 
Josiah  Blodgett.  Both  have  numerous  descendants.  Isaac  Johnson  came 
here  several  times,  but  did  not  bring  his  family  to  their  new  home  until 
after  the  Revolution.  Joshua  Lamkin  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
perhaps  more.  His  daughter  Hannah  married  James  Brown;  another, 
Tryphena,  married  Hezekiah  Fuller;  another,  Polly,  married  Elijah  Blod- 
gett. Mr.  Lamkin  lived  on  the  Guy  Burnside  place,  and  when  his  daugh- 
ter Betsey  died  (the  first  death  among  the  settlers)  she  was  buried  near  her 
home  on  the  same  lot.  Archippus  Blodgett  had  a  large  family.  And  we 
might  continue  the  list.  Enough  has  been  given,  however,  to  show  that  civ- 
ilized occupation  of  the  new  township  was  to  be  henceforth  a  permanent  one, 
and  prolific  in  strong  sons  and  handsome  daughters  to  perpetuate  the  tra- 
ditions of  the  trials  endured  in  transforming  the  forest  wilderness  into 
beautiful  and  productive  fields,  and  to  honor  the  memory  of  those  who  so 
grandly  wrought  this  almost  magical  change.  Joshua  Lamkin  lived  to  an 
old  age.  While  at  his  son's  residence  in  Brunswick,  Vt.,  at  the  time  of  a 
freshet,  he  rose  in  the  night,  went  out  of  the  door,  fell  into  the  water  and 
was  drowned.  Archippus  Blodgett  filled  many  important  offices.  James 
Curtis  was  much  in  public  life,  discharging  all  conferred  trusts  with  con- 
ceded ability.  James  Brown  was  another  strong  man;  appointed  to  call 
the  first  town  meeting,  a  military  officer,  and  commissary  of  the  Stratford 
fort  during  the  Revolution,  he  always  was  prominent  in  town.  Isaac 
Johnson  also  was  an  useful  and  able  citizen,  and  a  leader  in  religious 
movements. 

Stratford  extends  along  the  Connecticut  river  for  a  distance  of  ten  miles. 
The  interval  varies  from  eighty  rods  to  one  mile  in  width;  and  is  very 
fertile,  producing  fine  crops  of  corn,  oats,  hay,  etc.  The  soil  on  the  up- 
lands is  rocky,  and  more  suitable  for  pasturage  than  tillage.  The  valley 
of  the  Connecticut  is  narrower  here  than  in  most  places,  the  hills  crowd- 
in-  more  closely  to  the  stream,  and  consequently  making  the  location  one 
of  si  rategic  importance  in  the  Indian  warfare  of  the  early  days.  It  is  quite 
picturesque  in  its  scenery,  and  from  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town  rise 
two  peculiar  mountains,  conical  in  shape,  which  attract  attention  a  long- 
way  off  in  coining  from  the  south,  being  distinctly  seen  at  Dalton,  thirty 
miles  away.  They  are  called  "Stratford  or  Percy  peaks."  The  town  is 
watered  by  the  Connecticut  river  on  its  western  boundary;  Nash's  stream, 
which,  running  through  the  southeastern  part,  empties  into  the  Ammo- 
noosuc;  and  Bog  brook,  a  small  tributary  of  the  Connecticut,  in  the  western 


Town  of  Stratford.  751 


part.  It  is  a  pleasant  town  to  day,  with  its  productive  valley  farms  and 
pleasant  homes;  its  railroads,  and  its  business  interests  conducted  by  enter- 
prising and  energetic  men;  but  it  was  far  different  1 15  years  ago  when  the 
little  band  of  pioneers  came  from  their  homes  and  all  the  comforts  and 
luxuries  of  civilization  to  encounter  hardships  of  which  their  descendants 
have  but  the  faintest  conception. 

It  must  have  been  a  strange  contrast  to  the  lovely  scenery  along  the 
Sound  and  the  highly-cultivated  hillsides  of  Connecticut,  where  all  was 
staid,  and  well  provided  with  educational  and  religious  advantages,  where 
the  spacious  colonial  houses  with  their  broad  rooms,  often  supplied  with 
furniture  and  plate  from  "  Merrie  England,"  when  they  beheld  the  pathless 
forests,  the  wild  streams  unspanned  by  bridges,  and  the  dark  verdure  of 
the  fir-clad  hills  of  the  Upper  Coos.  "Trees  might  every  where  be  seen 
breaking  from  their  root  in  the  marshy  soil  or  threatening  to  fall  with  the 
first  rude  gust.  Somber  forests  shed  a  melancholy  grandeur  over  the  use- 
less magnificence  of  Nature,  and  hid  in  their  deep  shade  the  rich  soil  which 
the  sun  had  never  warmed."  The  journey  was  long  and  tedious,  requir- 
ing as  much  time  as  to  cross  the  continent  to-day.  Many  hardships  await 
them;  many  obstacles  are  in  their  way;  but  the  brave  adventurers  press  on 
in  obedience  to  the  great  law  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  which  forces  them 
to  carry  civilization  to  barbarous  regions  and  clear  the  way  for  a  Christian 
occupation.  The  beautiful  homes  of  the  lower  Connecticut  have  been  left 
behind.  As  they  come  northward,  gradually  the  cleared  fields  become 
fewer,  the  improvements  less;  while  closer  and  closer  comes  the  environing 
forests,  until  not  even  a  bridle-path  presents  itself  to  their  view,  and  all 
signs  of  civilization  are  gone,  except  the  "spots"  or  "blazes"  on  the 
trees  by  which  their  course  is  guided;  and  these  might  have  been  made 
by  the  tomahawk  of  the  Indian  as  well  as  by  the  axe  of  the  pioneer.  In 
Indian  file  they  came  along  the  solitary  way  with  pack  on  back,  axe  in 
hand,  and  gun  on  shoulder 

The  first  settlements  were  made  on  the  meadows.  A  few  log  houses, 
the  perfection  of  simplicity,  were  soon  constructed,  and  the  nucleus  for  a 
town  was  established.  For  some  reason  the  settlers  afterward  preferred 
the  high  lands  along  the  river.  Joshua  Lamkin  settled  on  Guy  Burnside's 
meadow;  next  to  him  ArchippusBlodgett;  then  James,  Aaron  and  William 
Curtis,  Capt.  John  Holbrook  and  James  Brown.  So  the  first  permanent 
settlement  in  town  was  located  on  the  ground  from  Guy  Burnside's  home 
to  that  of  W.  E.  Brown.  The  first  road  was  constructed  along  the  meadow, 
but  followed  the  settlement  to  the  high  land.  One  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  from  the  seaboard,  with  only  a  few  settlements  scattered  along  the 
greater  part  of  the  way,  their  salt,  their  iron,  and  other  necessary  articles 
of  merchandise  must  be  brought  upon  the  back  of  men  and  horses.     For 


752  History  of  Coos  County. 


quite  a  length  of  time  the  nearest  grist-mill  was  at  Haverhill,  sixty-five 
miles  off. 

Pitches  Allotted. — In  December,  1773,  the  proprietors  appointed  three 
disinterested  men  as  a  committee  to  decide  who,  by  doing  their  duty  as 
settlers,  were  entitled  to  their  pitches.  They  report  the  following  as 
legally  made: — 

"  Capt.  Agur  Judson,  No.  5;  William  Thompson,  No.  3;  Capt.  Samuel  Beers,  No.  1;  Ezeriah  Wetmore,No. 
29;  Capt.  Agur  Tomlinson,  No.  4;  David  Judson,  No.  7;  Capt.  Agur  Judson,  No.  8;  Agur  Judson,  Jr.,  No.  42; 
Ebenezer  Wooster,  No.  17;  James  Curtis,  No.  9;  Stephen  Curtis,  No.  10;  Joseph  Welkston.  No.  31;  Arthur 
Wooster  and  Jabish  Baldwin,  Nos.  18-47-48-49;  Thomas  Wooster,  No.  6;  Thomas  and  Joseph  Wooster,  2d,Nos. 
40  and  41;  Joseph  Holbrook,  No.  12;  Isaiah  Brown,  No  13;  Samuel  Curtis,  No.  11;  Samuel  Munn,  No.  19;  Sam 
William  Johnson,  Esq.,  No.  43;  Capt.  Daniel  Judson,  Nos.  22-25;  Judson  Burton,  No.  30;  Elijah  Hinman,  Nos. 
14-15;  Hezekiak  Tomlinson,  No.  24;  Stiles  Judson,  No.  24. 

Extracts  from  Proprietors'  Records. — To  shed  a  few  rays  of  light  upon 
the  progress  of  events  in  the  little  colony  we  have  no  better  recourse  than 
to  give  the  action  of  the  proprietors  as  from  time  to  time  we  are  enabled 
to  glean  them  from  the  quite  broken  and  imperfect  documents.  These  we 
shall  supplement  by  some  petitions  to  the  General  Court,  which,  in  quaint 
language,  throw  out  a  strong  picture  of  the  deprivations,  struggles  and 
hardihood  of  those  brave  men  who  builded  wiser  and  better  than  it  was 
given  them  to  know. 

Concerning  Hills. — March  15,  1775,  it  was  voted  "that  any  proprietor  or  other  person  that  will  undertake 
to  build  a  saw  and  grist-mill  within  two  years  from  this  time  in  this  town  shall  have  granted  him  and  his 
heirs  the  stream  or  brook,  called  Bog  Brook,  three  miles  from  Connecticut  River  in  a  straight  line,  together 
with  One  Hundred  acres  adjoining  to  said  mill,  to  be  in  two  fifty  acre  lots  on  each  side  of  the  brook  in  a 
square  piece.  Any  person  who  will  be  secure  to  the  clerk  in  the  sum  of  Two  Hundred  Pounds,  lawful  money, 
for  building  the  saw-mill  shall  be  entitled  to  the  privileges." 

May  5,  1776.  Voted  "whereas  it  has  been  found  inconvenient  to  build  a  Grist  and  Saw  Mill  in  the  man- 
ner [proposed]  it  is  now  voted  and  agreed  that  the  Proprietors  will  at  their  own  expense  erect  a  grist  and 
saw  mill  in  said  town,  and  that  one  hundred  acres  be  requested  [as  a  site] ;  and  John  Holbrook,  Moses  Welk- 
ston, James  Brown  and  James  Curtis  survey  and  lay  out  said  one  hundred  acres,  and  to  agree  with  some 
proper  and  able  workman  to  erect  and  finish  said  mills  with  all  possible  despatch."  A  tax  of  forty  shillings 
on  each  right  in  the  township  is  laid  to  defray  expenses. 

May  14,  1776.  "Whereas  the  appointed  [committee]  have  not  taken  any  steps  toward  building  the  mills 
— and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Perry  of  Derby  now  proposing  to  erect  such  mills  at  his  own  expense  upon  the  terms 
of  tin-  Proprietors — voted  that  the  said  Perry  have  the  said  privilege  if  he  will  within  eighteen  months  build 
a  good  Grist  and  Saw  Mill,  provided  he  commence  within  six  months." 

Town  Plot. — At  the  same  meeting  voted  "that  James  Brown,  James 
Curtis,  John  Holbrook,  Joseph  Barlow,  Abel  Hull,  Josiah  Walker,  Archip- 
pus  Blodgett,  be  a  committee  to  survey  and  lay  out  a  Town  Plot  upon  the 
hill  called  'Meeting-House  Hill'  in  proper  and  convenient  lots  to  each  Pro- 
prietor, with  necessary  highways,  reserving  a  convenient  and  spacious 
parade  not  less  than  six  acres  in  extent."  This  work  was  done  and  a 
report  made,  November  20,  1780,  by  Archippus  Blodgett  and  James  Curtis 
for  the  committee.  The  plan  contained  184  acres,  and  was  one  mile  in 
length.  The  end  lines  ran  north,  67°  west,  and  south,  67°  east,  100  rods. 
Broad  street  ran  through  the  middle,  and  was  eight  rods  wide.  The  other 
streets  were  four  rods  in  width.     Each  lot  contained  two  acres  and  forty 


Town  of  Stratford.  753 


rods.  The  parade  was  laid  out  on  the  hill  back  of  the  present  residence  of 
James  Curtis,  and  was  the  site  of  the  first  meeting-house.  The  parade 
and  streets  occupied  thirty-six  acres.  After  such  elaborate  preparations, 
nothing  was  ever  done  to  create  or  build  a  village. 

Lots  and  Roads. — ''November   11,    1783,  James   Curtis,  Joshua    Lamkin,    John    Holbrook,    Archippus 

Blodgett,  and  Joseph  Barlow  were  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  Third  Division  of  lots.  Another 
committee,  composed  of  Joshua  Lamkin,  Capt.  Benoni  Cutler,  Lieut.  John  Holbrook,  Capt.  Benajah  Strong, 
and  James  Brown,  was  chosen  to  lay  out  a  road  from  the  southerly  to  the  north  side  of  the  town;  also,  to 
erect  bounds  for  the  town,  and  for  the  rear  of  the  First  or  river  Division;  also,  to  lay  out  a  Second  Division 
to  each  Proprietor:    Shareo  of  Fifty  acres  of  land." 

The  road  alluded  to  is  doubtless  the  one  made  on  the  high  banks  of  the 
river  as  it  now  runs,  as  the  earlier  road  ran  on  the  meadows. 

The  same  committee  were  empowered  "to  lay  out  three  lots  of  Three  Hundred  acres  each,  for  public 
uses;  one  for  the  first  settled  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  town,  one  for  a  Parsonage  for  the  benefit  of  the  Min- 
istry, and  one  for  the  benefit  of  a  school  in  the  town,  as  near  the  Town  Plot  as  the  quality  of  the  land  will 
admit.  September  29,  1784.  "The  Committee  on  Roads  make  oath  before  Jeremiah  Eames,  J.  P.,  that  they 
have  faithfully  performed  their  trust." 

A  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  duly  called,  met  at  the  house  of  James 
Brown,  March  15,  1786.  Among  other  action,  it  was  voted  that  the  tract 
of  land  known  as  the  "  Governor's  farm  "  be  equal  to  two  rights;  that  the 
treasurer  pay  out  to  those  persons  who  have  advanced  money  in  defending 
this  state  in  the  late  war,  out  of  the  first  money  that  he  receives  of  the 
collector,  and  to  those  next,  who  have  any  demands  on  said  town  for 
scouting,  guarding  and  forting;  that  all  "pitches"  established  in  1773 
shall  be  recorded  in  proprietors  book;  that  a  certain  tract  of  pine  timber 
lying  east  of  Jonathan  pond,  so-called,  and  south  on  Northumberland  line, 
shall  be  reserved  for  the  benefit  of  the  proprietors,  and  that  a  committee 
lay  it  out,  giving  to  each  proprietor  his  equal  share;  that  Elijah  Hinman, 
Mr.  Jabez  Baldwin,  Mr.  Andrew  Beers  be  a  committee  to  see  Mr.  John 
Gamsby  and  talk  with  him  respecting  his  mill,  and  also  to  view  said  mill 
and  make  report;  that  a  tax  of  $300  be  laid  upon  each  original  right,  toward 
defraying  the  expense  of  cleaning  and  bridging  a  road  through  the  town; 
that  Andrew  Beers,  Elijah  Hinman,  and  Jabez  Baldwin  be  assessors, 
Archippus  Blodgett  collector,  and  Elijah  Hinman  be  surveyor  of  roads; 
that  each  man  have  four  shillings  and  six  pence  per  day,  he  providing  for 
himself. 

Trouble  Concerning  First  Grist-MUl. — June  17,  L788,  the  proprietors 
vote  "to  defend  James  Brown,  James  Curtis,  and  their  heirs,  and  the 
hers  of  the  late  John  Holbrook  against  any  suit  at  law  which  may  be 
commenced  by  John  Gamsby  for  giving  a  certain  Bond  respecting  a  Grist- 
mill." August  16,  voted  "that  we  will  not  accept  of  the  grist-mill  as 
built  by  John  Gamsby,  as  he  has  not  built  the  same  on  the  land  appropri- 
ated for  that  purpose,  neither  has  he  built  the  said  mill  sufficient  to  meet 
any  of  the  inducements  heretofore  voted." 


7;,4  History  of  Coos  County. 


First  Settlers  to  Have  First  Pitches.—  At  the  same  meeting  it  was 
voted  ''that  David  Judson  (by  his  settlers),  Joshua  Lamkin,  Archippus 
Blodgett,  John  Smith,  James  Brown,  and  James  Curtis,  were  the  first, 
which,  with  their  families,  made  settlement  in  this  town  and  have  con- 
tinued, shall  have  the  privilege  of  pitching  the  first  five  lots  in  the  Second 
Division;  and  that  Jabez  Baldwin  and  Eunice  Holbrook  be  permitted  to 
make  the  two  next  pitches." 

November  19,  1792,  it  was  voted  to  provide  by  tax  for  looking  out, 
clearing,  and  bridging  a  road  through  Stratford  from  the  main  road  to 
Percy.  Joshua  Lamkin,  selectman,  J.  Brown,  town  clerk.  In  1794,  Ben- 
jamin Strong  petitioned  the  General  Court  that  Governor's  Island,  so- 
called,  "  containing  about  forty  acres,  in  the  Connecticut  river,  and  a  little 
north  of  the  Mineral  Bow,  may  be  annexed  to  Stratford,  and  granted  to 
him  and  his  heirs." 


CHAPTER  LXXXIX. 


The  Revolution— Soldiers'  Claims  and  Orders— Condition  of  Matters,  Taxes,  Etc.,  in  1778— 
Petition  for  Abatement  and  Incorporation,  1778— First  Settlers,  Improvements  and  Stock,  1777— 
Petition  for  a  Guard,  1780— Certificate,  Burnside's  Ferry,  1786— Petition  for  a  New  County,  1791 
— Petition  for  Abatement  of  Taxes. 


THE  Revolution.— Only  seven  families  remained  here  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.     This  settlement  was  the  farthest  outpost  or  "  picket  " 
of  the  country  in  the  Connecticut  valley.    All  families  left  the  upper 
valley,  leaving  this  frontier  exposed  to  all  the  fierce  attacks  of  the  cruel, 
crafty  Indians,  whose  chief  trail  to  the  lower  settlements  came  down  the 
Nulhegan  river  to  Stratford,  joining  there  the  trail  of  the  upper  Connecti- 
cut, and  passed  down  through  the  town  before  it  deflected  in  different 
ways,  up  the  Ammonoosuc,  and  down  the  Connecticut.     And  they  did 
not  escape.     Six  of  the  men  were  enlisted  soldiers  in  the  Revolution,  viz. : 
Elijah  Hinman,   Josiah  Blodgett,  Thomas  Blodgett,  David  and  Richard 
Holbrook.  and  William  Curtis.     Elias  and  David  Chamberlin,  and  David 
Rich,  of  Stratford,  were  also  private  soldiers  in  Capt.   Ebenezer  Green's 
company  of  Col.  Bedel's  regiment  in  1770.     Nathan  Caswell,  also  of  Strat- 
ford, was  in  Capt.  Samuel  Young's  company  in  the  same  regiment.    James 
I  Aicas  is  credited  to  Stratford  on  the  same  roll.     Isaac  Stevens,  of  Strat- 
ford, has  this  history  in  the  original  muster  roll  of  the  same  regiment, 
which  we  have  had  the  privilege  of  examining  through  the  courtesy  of 
Col.  Hazen  Bedel: — 


Town  of  Stratford.  755 


"  1775.  Served  from  Jane  23  to  Dec.  31—6  mns.  9  days  in  Captain  and  Col.  Bedel's  Rangers  177.1.  Dec. 
31  to  last  of  May,  177(5,  5  mos.  in  Capt.  Charles  Nelson's  Co.  in  first  place,  and  afterwards  in  Capt  D.  Wil- 
kin's Company  of  Col.  Bedel's  lteg't.  1778,  from  Dec.  15,  1777,  to  last  March,  1778— one  month  or  more  as- 
Corporal  in  Capt.  Sam'l  Young's  Co.,  Col.  Bedel's  Regiment." 

Aside  from  these,  who  probably  had  not  made  any  permanent  estab- 
lishment in  the  town,  we  know  of  no  others.  Every  resident  of  the  set- 
tlement was,  however,  in  active  service  and  constantly  on  duty.  A  fort 
was  constructed,  Capt.  John  Holbrook  commanding  the  forces,  and  a  sys- 
tem of  signals  arranged  whereby  the  Guildhall  and  Northumberland  set- 
tlers could  be  warned  and  called  to  assist  in  repelling  attack,  or  in  conduct- 
ing the  women  and  children  to  less  exposed  positions.  James  Brown  was 
commissary  for  the  troops,  and  it  is  told  that  one  day  when  a  detachment 
of  soldiers  came  for  food  with  empty  haversacks,  Mrs.  Brown  was  puzzled 
what  to  give  them.  But  her  woman's  wit  was  equal  to  the  emergency. 
Swinging  the  four-pail  kettle  onto  the  crane  she  soon  had  an  ample  supply 
of  "hasty  pudding."  This  sufficed  for  supper,  and  the  next  morning,  by 
daylight,  Mr.  Brown  was  collecting  cattle  for  beef.  His  live  stock  was 
called  upon,  however,  until  it  had  disappeared;  as  one  of  his  children  ex- 
presses it,  "at  the  close  of  the  war  my  father  did  not  have  as  much  as 
a  live  hen." 

Among  the  papers  of  Elisha  Baldwin  in  possession  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  R.  R.  Thompson,  are  the  following  documents  which  we  copy  from 
the  originals: — 

'•  State  of  New  Hampshire  )      An  account  of  Joshua  Lamkin  Services  don  and  Damage  sustained   by  living 
'•  Stratford,  July  1775.     S  in  Stratford  frontteer  Town  through  the  whole  of  the  Unhappy  war  with  Oreat 

Bredon 
"  To  moving  my  famely  by  orders  of  Gen.  Bailey  with  expense  of  moving  my  famely  to  I'.     S.     D. 

Haverhill  and  supporting  them   10      0      U 

"  To  loss  of  time  three  months j    g      ( ,      q 

"Damage  that  I  suffered  by  moving j  10      0      0 

and  expense  moving  back I    0      0      0 

.£38       0      0 
"  Archippus  Bloggett  I  Selectmen  •• 

"James  Curtis  j 

"State  New  Hampshire  An  account  of  services   don  and  Damage  sustained  by  Living  in  Stratford 

Stratford  !  a  fronteer  town  thro'  the  whole  of  the  unhappy  War 

by 

James  Curtis  I 

"To  moving  my  family  by  order  of  Gen'l  Bailey  to  Northumberland  Expence  moving  £.  S.  D. 

&c...... '. 10  0  0 

"  To  supporting  my  famely  loss  time.  <vc .  12  0  0 

"To  damage  sustained  moving 10  0  0 

"To  12  days  scouting  to   I'm  a  magog  at  6s  pr  d 3  12  n 

"  To  Cash  paid  to  Capt.  Learned  for  going  after  powder  Ball  &c 6  0 

"  To  pair  snow  shoes  for  to  go  to  Canaday  Scout     18  0 

"To   work  done  by  Win  Curtis  at  North'd  fort  10  days  at  4s  per  Day 2  0  0 

"  Los  of  time  Damage  &c 3  0  0 

£il    10      0" 


756  History  of  Coos  County. 

"Stratford     )  An  account  of  Damage  and  Loss  that  I  Joseph  Barlow  hath  sustained  by  living  in  the 

State  of  New   V  town  of  Stratford  by  the  Enemy  in  living  in  the  fronteer  Town  through  the  whole  wan- 
Hampshire     ) 
"June  1776    To  moving  my  family  by  order  from  Gen'l   Bailey  Expences  in  moving  £.    S.     D. 

my  family  and  supporting  them  loss  crops  &c 35      0     0 

"  June  1780    To  moving  my  family  to  the  fort  Scouting  Garding  loss  of  time  &c . .    .        10      0      0 

"James  Curtis  ) 

"Joshua  Lamkin       \  Selectmen  " 
"Archippus  Blodgett ) 
"Stratford  State     )  An  account  of  Damage  &  loss  time  I  Nathan  Barlow  hath  Sustained  by  living  in 

•of  New  Hampshire     j  the  Town  of  Stratford  by  the  Enemy  in  the  fronteer  Town  through  the  hull  war 
"June  1776    To  moving  by  orders  from  Gen'l  Bailey  Expense  in  moving  loss  of  time  £. 

and  cropses 10      0      0 

"  June  1780    to  moving  into  fort  Scouting  garding  Loss  of  time  &  crops 5      0      0 

Soldier's  Order. — "  To  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Newhampshire: 

"  Please  to  Pay  the  Whole  of  the  wages  Due  to  me  as  a  Soldier  in  Major  Benjamin  Whitcomb  Choir  of 
Bangers  with  the  Deprecition  to  Major  Benjamin  Whitcomb  and  his  Beceipt  Shall  be  a  full  Discharge  for 
the  same. 

"  Stratford  9th  Jan'r— .  per  me  Josiah  Blogget." 

Relative  to  Two  Redeemed  Captives.— "  July  the  19th  1781  oure  friend  Indions  brought  in  Prisoners  of 
our  men  which  Desarted  from  Canady  which  S'd  Indians  found  in  the  woods  and  brought  in  which  S'd  Pris- 
oners Promised  to  Pay  S'd  Indians  30  Dollors  a  Pece  which  Prisoners  was  not  able  to  Pay  and  one  Elijah 
Blogget  Paid  the  S'd  Sum  to  S'd  Indians  for  the  Bedemtion  of  Gilbert  Borged  &  Josiah  Blogget  which  was 
•60  Dollors  [Sixty  dollars.] 

"  Stratford  January  ye  17th  1785  « Joshua  Lamkin  )  Selectmen  " 

"Partisienor  Elijah  Blogget  "  Archippus  Blogget  f 

Soldier's  Order. — "To  the  Hon'ble  Treasurer  of  the  State  of  New-hampshire 

"  Please  to  Pay  the  whole  wages  and  Depreciation  Due  to  Thomas  Blodget  late  a  soldier  in  Major  Benja- 
min Whitcomb's  Choir  of  Bangers  to  the  Said  Whitcomb  who  is  hereby  authorized  to  give  a  full  Discharge 

for  the  Same 

"  Josiah  Blodget        Levi  Blodget 
"Elijah  Blodget        Henry  Blodget 
"  Marv  Cole  Nuco'mb  Blodget 

"  Howard  Blodget " 
"  Stratford  13  of  July  1792 
"This  May  Certify  that  the  above  named  are  aU  the  hairs  of  the  above  named  Thomas  Blodget 

Certifyed  by  us  "Isaac  Johnson  \  Select- 

"James  Brown    j    men 

Statement  of  the  Condition  of  Matters,  Taxes,  Etc.,  Addressed  to  the  General  Court  in  1778. — "The  Pe- 
tition of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Stratford  humbly  shews:  That  your  petitioners,  now  and  ever 
willing  to  do  our  just  part  toward  the  Common  defence  of  our  Country  as  far  as  we  are  able  beg  leave  to 
show  our  inability  to  pay  the  State  tax  we  are  now  called  upon,  lor  &  pray  that  we  may  be  heard  and  Con- 
sidered under  our  present  circumstances  of  distress  &  which  we  have  laboured  under  ever  Since  we  came 
into  this  wilderness — We  began  to  Settle  in  the  Year  1773  &  there  are  now  but  Seven  families  in  the  town — 
We  have  lived  destitute  of  any  Assistance  from  the  rest  of  the  Propriety  who  were  to  make  equal  and  im- 
ediate  Settlement  with  us  and  to  build  Mills  which  they  have  Neglected  to  do— by  which  we  have  Suffered 
greatly— Our  Grain  has  cost  one  half  its  value  to  get  it  ground  into  Meal  ever  Since  we  have  been  here — the 
Cost  of  getting  Salt  and  other  Necessaries  owing  to  the  distance  and  badness  of  the  Boads  have  been  equally 
distressing — our  proprietary  Meeting  was  Adjourned  to  Connecticut  &  held  there  So  that  we  have  not  the 
priviledge  of  Acting  as  a  propriety  and  we  are  not  incorporated  as  other  townsare— We  are  destituteof  every 
previledge  -our  money  is  spent,  our  Families  are  naked — provisions  are  very  Scarce  by  reason  of  the  Inhab- 
itants moving  off  feu- fear  dl'  the  Enemy  leaving  all  our  Crops  &  we  were  obliged  to  part  with  our  Oxen  & 
Cows  to  get  back  again  We  area  frontier  town — exposed  to  the  enemy  .t  without  the  Means  of  defence — 
We  then  fore  pray  that  we  may  be  considered  in  our  Taxes  &  that  we  may  be  admitted  to  the  preveledges  of 

incorporation — And  your  petitioners  will  ever  pray — &c. 

"  Archippus  Blodget    John  Smith 
"  Joshua  Lambkin        Joseph  Barlow 
'•  James  Curtis  John  Holbrook 

"  James  Brown." 

Petition  for  an  Abatement  mid  for  Incorporation:  Addressed  to  the.  General  Court.  1778. — "  We  your 
h umbel  proticeners  do  pleade  for  an  abatement  of  taxes  Praying  that  the  Court  would  consider  us  under  our 
present  distressed  Curcumstances  and  wich  we  have  laboured  under  Ever  since  we  came  into  this  howling 
wilderness  we  Shall  now  proceed  to  Show  forth  what  we  have  Indured  Ever  Since  we  began  to  Settel  this 


Town  of  Stratford.  7.~>7 


town  whi<m  in  the  yeare  A  D' 1773  and  now  there  is  but  Seven  families  in  the  town  only  and  we  have  Lived 
destitute  of  anoy  asistance  from  the  rest  of  the  Propity  which  ware  to  make  emediate  Settlement  and  bould 
miles  which  is  all  neglected  by  which  means  we  have  Suffi  n  'l  rery  much  on  wheat  has  Cost  us  the  one  half 

of  it  get  it  ground  ever  since  we  have  lived  heare  oure  propritj  meting  was  Adjurned  toC lecticul  ami  held 

thare  So  that  we  have  not  had  the  privelige  of  acting  as  a  proprity  in  the  town  When  the  town  was  last 
Chartered  out  the  Publect  rites  ware  taking  away  so  that   we  Live  destitute  of  aney  privelige  both  Sivel  or 

Sacred  dure  mone\  is  Spent  our  Eamelys  arc  naked  and  provision  is  very  scars  by  reson  of  the  pepol \  Lng 

of  for  feire  the  Enemy  We  lost  all  our  Crops  and  was  Obliged  to  pari  with  our  oxan  and  cows  to  get  bak 
ag  in.  and  we  are  exp  >se  I  to  the  Eu  jmy  without  aney  protection  and  are  in  a  pour,'  sitawation  to  defend  oure 
Selves  we  are  the  frunteer  as  the  Pepol  is  all  with  drew  from  above  us  we  desire  thai  the  ('curt  would  in- 
corporate us  and  give  ns  Proper  athority 

"Stratford  Mav  ye  15  177s 

"Archippus  Bloggel    John  Smith 

"  Joshua  Lamkin        Joseph  Barlow 

"  James  Curtiss  John  Eolbrooks 

"  Janus  Brow  n." 

First  Settlers,  improvements  and  Stock. — From  an  inventory  taken 
April  28,  1777.  by  Archippus  Blodgett,  James  Brown  and  John  Holbrook, 
we  find  that  there  were  ten  polls,  three  of  them  credited  to  Archippus 
Blodgett;  he  also  had  two  oxen,  three  cows,  one  two-year-old,  two  year- 
lings, one  horse,  seven  acres  of  tillage  land  and  four  acres  of  mowing; 
John  Holbrook  has  one  poll,  one  cow,  one  two-year-old,  and  two  acres  of 
tillage  land;  James  Brown  has  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  horse,  six  acres  till- 
age land,  two  acres  mowing  land;  James  Curtis,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one 
two-year-old,  one  horse,  six  acres  tillage,  and  two  acres  of  mowing  land; 
John  Smith,  one  poll,  one  cow,  one  horse,  and  eight  acres  of  tillage  laud: 
Joshua  Lamkin,  one  poll,  four  cows,  one  horse,  five  acres  tillage,  and  five 
acres  mowing  land;  Joseph  Barlow  has  two  polls,  two  oxen,  two  cows, 
three  three-year-olds,  one  two-year  old,  two  horses,  eight  acres  tillage  and 
two  acres  mowing  land.  There  were  eight  oxen,  eleven  cows,  nine  young 
cattle  and  seven  horses  in  all,  with  forty  acres  of  tilling  land  and  fifteen 
acres  of  mowing. 

Petition  for  a  Guard,  1780. — "  The  Pettition  of  us  the  Subscribers  humbly  Sheweth  That  our  Exposed 
Situation  to  the  Enemy  in  Canada  and  having  the  Last  Summer  Suffered  from  that  Quarter  by  having  our 
houses  Plundered  and  Sum  of  our  men  Captivated  by  the  Indians  and  hearing  of  their  threatening  to  Come 
to  this  River  this  winter  Give  us  apprehension  of  imcadeate  Danger  then  fore  we  Pray  your  Hon'rs  to  take 
our  Case  into  your  -wise  Consideration  and  Relieve  our  Present  fears  by  Sending  of  us  help  Either  by  Sending 
a  Draught  of  the  millitia  or  that  your  Hon's  would  wright  to  some  General  ofieer  for  a  Detachement  of  Con- 
tinental Soldeirs  we  Supose  about  100  men  might  be  a  Suticent  Number  at  Present  and  your  Petitioners 
Shall  Ever  Pray 

"  Stratford  Jan'r  21st  1780 

•'James  Brown  Joseph  Barlow 

"Archippus  Blogget  .John  Gamsby 

"John  Smith  Nathan  Barlow 

"  Joshua  Lamkin  David  Hix" 

"State  Newhamp'r 

"A  True  and  Exact  Number  of  Poles  in  Stratford  twenty-one  years  and  upward  Paying  a  Pole  Tax  are 
thirteen  taken  this  2d  Dec'  r  1783  "Joshua  Lamkin 

"John  Holbrook 
"  Sworn  to  before  Jeremiah  Karnes  justice  of  the  peace." 

Certificate  Relative  to  Bumside's  Ferry,  1786. — "  We,  Jeremiah  Eames  &  Joseph  Peverly  Selectmen  of 
Northumberland  &  Joshua  Lamkin  Selectman  &  James  Brown  Town  Clerk  of  Stratford,  Certify  that  we  have 
been  notified  that  a  Petition  was  presented  or  about  to  be  presented  to  the  General  Court   for  a   Ferry  to  be 


:.> 


History  of  Coos  County. 


granted  to  Thomas  Burnside  to  begin  at  the  Ferry  bounds  of  Edwards  Bucknam  One  mile  above  the  Great 
falls  at  Northumberland  to  extend  Six  Miles  up  from  Said  Bounds,  on  the  Kiver  Connecticut  taking  in  the 
Mouth  of  the  Ammonoosook  Kiver  &  one  Mile  up  the  Same.  And  that  We  know  the  inhabitants  of  Said 
Towns  &  every  one  travelling  that  way  will  be  greatly  reliev'd  by  a  ferry  being  kept  there— And  we  further 
Certify  that  We  are  of  Opinian  No  person  in  either  of  those  Towns  or  in  the  State  would  Object  thereto  as  no 
one  would  be  injured  thereby  but  every  person  in  that  quarter  &  all  travellers  there  greatly  benefited 

"  February  1786—  "Jo'sPeverly  James  Brown 

"Jer'h  Fames  Joshua  Lamkin  " 

Petition  for  a  New  County:  Addressed  to  the  General  Court,  1791.— "The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Stratford  Humbly  Sheweth— 

"Thet  your  Petitioners  Live  at  the  Distance  of  Near  Seventy  Miles  from  the  Nearest  Shire  Town  in  the 
County — 

"That  A  very  Considerable  Part  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Capital  part  of  the  County  Live  Above  us  and 
Are  under  Simmerler  Circumstances  with  us  That  the  Roads  at  Some  Seasons  of  the  year  unpass able— Where- 
fore We  your  Peticioners  Pray  that  we  may  be  Set  of  from  the  County  of  Grafton  and  be  made  a  New  County 
by  A  Lyne  Drawn  from  Connecticut  River  between  the  towns  of  Concord  alias  Gunthwait  and  Littleton  and 
an  Eastward  takeing  in  the  towns  of  Conway  Eaton  &c  to  the  Province  Line  So  Called  and  Yours  in  Deuty 
Bound  will  Ever  Pray 


1  Stratford  Nov'r  21st  1791 
"  John  Gamsby 
"  Joseph  Holbrook  Jun'r 
"  W'm  Curtiss 
"  Nathan  Barlow 
"  Elijah  Blogget 
"  Jabez  Baldwin 
"David  Holdbrook 
"Thomas  Lamkin 


James  Brown 
Elijah  Hinman 
James  Curtiss 
Howard  Bloggett 
Andrew  Strong 
John  Smith 
Ezra  Lamkin 
Hezekiah  fuller 


Petitions  for  an  Abatement  of  Taxes.  Etc.: 


George  Gamsby 
Joseph  Barlow 
Henry  Bloggett 
Benj'a  Strong 
Heth  Baldwin 
Joshua  Lamkin 
Elisha  Webster 
Stephen  Curtis 
Addressed  to  the  General  Court.- 


John  Gamsby  Ju'r 
Aran   Curtiss 
Charles  Strong 
Ephraim  Barlow 
Josiah  Blogget 
Isaac  Johnson 
Richard  Holdbrook 
Abnor  Barlow  " 
"Humbly  Shews  The  Sub- 


scribers Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Stratford  in  the  County  of  Grafton,  that  prior  to  the  commencement  of 
the  Late  war  your  Petitioners  had  began  Settlements  in  Said  town  of  Stratford— which  ware  then  the  frontier 
Settlement  in  this  State  and  consequently  in  the  time  of  the  war  was  most  exposed  to  the  depredations  and 
ravages  of  the  Enemy,  and  that  at  the  repeated  solicitations  of  the  Inhabitants  and  the  Commanding  officer 
further  down  Connecticut  River  they  continued  at  their  settlements  though  in  continual  jeopardy  for  several 
years  and  untill  the  Enemy  came  upon  them,  took  some  of  the  Inhabitants  captive,  &  plundered  others, 
which  compelled  your  petitioners  to  remove  to  places  where  their  families  might  not  be  exposed  to  continual 
danger— That  your  petitioners;  though  verry  great  sufferers  during  the  continuance  of  the  war  have  since 
the  conclucion  thereof  exerted  themselves  (though  in  indigent  circumstances)  and  have  returned  to  their 
former  Settlements,  where  they  wish  to  continue  and  make  such  improvements  as  may  be  beneficial  to  them- 
selves and  the  Public; — But  find  themselves  under  new  embarrassments  occasioned  by  their  poverty  and  the 
distance  they  Live  from  Inhabitants  of  wealth  and  fortune,  which,  togather  with  the  expense  they  have 
necessarily  Inn  obliged  to  be  at  in  building  Bridges  and  a  Road  through  the  town — Renders  them  quite  un- 
able to  discharge  the  Taxes  laid  on  them  by  Government  though  well  disposed  and  desireous  of  doing  what 
is  in  their  power  to  the  support  thereof;  your  Petitioners  are  therefore  reduced  to  the  disagreeable  necessity 
of  Petitioning  your  Honours  to  take  their  unfortunate  case  under  your  wise  consideration  and  abate  so  much 
of  the  taxes  required  of  said  Town  as  the  present  Inhabitants  are  by  Law  subjected  to  pay  Or  in  any  other 
waj  releave  them  as  you  in  your  Great  Wiselom  my  see  meet — as  your  petitioners  in  duty  Bound  Shall  ever 
pray.  "  W'm  Cargill  In  behalf  of  the  Petitioners." 


Town  of  Stratford.  759 


CHAPTER  XC. 

Development,  Growth  and  Population — Early  Officers — First  Marriage — The  Town  of  Strat- 
ford— Call  for  First  Town  Meeting,  Etc. — Survey—Extract  from  Town  Records — War  of  1812 — 
Great  Civil  War — Stratford  Hollow;  Business,  Etc — Methodist  Church. 

DEVELOPMENT,  Growth  and  Population. — The  long  war  ended,  and 
the  labors  of  peace  resumed  activity.  Now  came  a  period  of  develop- 
ment and  growth.  Up  to  this  time  there  was  no  road  to  Haverhill 
as  we  call  roads  to-day.  An  eight  foot  road  with  "corduroy"  or  "causeys  " 
(very  much  out  of  order)  along  the  miry  and  swampy  places,  afforded  an 
opportunity  to  carry  grain  to  the  mill  from  Dal  ton  down  (fifty  miles  it  was 
then  called),  but  the  way  above  was  even  worse.  A  small  stock  of  goods, 
with  West  India  and  New  England  rum,  was  on  sale  in  Lancaster,  and  for 
years  that  was  the  nearest  trading-point.  The  currency  of  the  pioneer  was 
the  skins  of  the  wild  beasts  he  shot,  the  various  kinds  of  peltry,  or  the 
"  black  salts  "  made  from  the  ashes  of  the  trees  they  felled.  "  Many  a 
horse's  back  and  sides  have  been  made  sore  while  conveying  these  '  salts ' 
in  bags  across  its  back  to  market."  The  population  numbered  forty-one  in 
September,  1775;  in  1790,  14(3;  in  1800,  281;  in  1810,  330;  in  1820,  335;  in 
1880,  1,016. 

Early  Officers. — There  were  selectmen,  and  other  officers  incident  to  a 
town,  chosen  long  before  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  The  records  are 
scanty,  and  the  names  can  be  ascertained  only  from  documents  to  which 
their  names  were  officially  attached.  Archippus  Blodgett  and  James 
Curtis  were  selectmen  in  1775,  Isaac  Johnson  and  James  Brown  in  1774. 

First  Marriage. — The  first  marriage  in  town  was  that  of  James  Brown 
and  Hannah  Lamkin,  which  was  solemnized  in  1775,  by  Seth  Wales, 
justice  of  the  peace.  This  worthy  pair  had  nine  children,  whose  births  are 
duly  recorded,  their  oldest  child,  Anne,  being  born  March  17,  1776. 

The  Town  of  Stratford  was  incorporated  November  16,  1779.  By  an  act 
approved  June  21,  1832,  the  territory  embraced  in  ranges,  17.  1*,  1!»  and 
-_'<»,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  was  set  off  and  annexed  to  Percy. 
The  town  is  bounded  north  by  Columbia,  east  by  Odell,  south  by  Stark 
and  Northumberland,  and  west  by  Vermont.  In  1*23  there  was  one  meet- 
ing-house, five  school  districts  with  five  school-houses,  and  two  taverns. 

Call  for  First  Town  Meeting. — "  State  of  New  Hampshire.  Whereas  I  the  subscriber  am  authorized  and 
Impowered  By  the  General  Court  of  this  State  as  Expresst  in  the  Incorporation  of  Stratford  to  notify  an 
Town  Meeting  agreeable  to  said  order  I  do  hereby  Notify  all  the  Inhabitants  and  Freeholders  of  the  Town  of 
Stratford  to  meet  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  James  Curtis  on  Tuesday  the  Eleventh  Day  of  this  Instant 
at  one  of  the  clock  In  the  afternoon  to  act  upon  the  following  articles  firstly  to  chuse  an  moderator  to  govern 
said  meeting  2d  to  chuse  all  Necessary  Town  officers.  "James  Brown." 

"Stratford  April  ye  5  day  1780. 


760  History  of  Coos  County. 


Actum  of  First  Town  Meeting.— "At  an  Legal  Town  Meeting  held  at  the  House  of  James  Curtis  on  the 
18th  Day  of  Anril  1780  1st  voted  James  Brown  Moderator  an  2d  voted  James  Curtis  Town  Clerk  3d  voted 
Archippns  Blogget  and  John  Holbrook  &  James  Brown  Selectmen  for  ye  ensuing  year  4th  voted  James  Curtis 
to  be  <'  nstable." 

1781.  Town  meeting  was  held  at  the  dwelling  house  of  James  Brown.  Joseph  Barlow  was  chosen  mod- 
erator; James  Brown,  town  clerk;  Archippns  Blogget,  Joshua  Lamkin,  and  Joseph  Barlow,  selectmen;  John 
Holbrook,  constable;  John  Smith  and  Archippns  Blogget,  surveyors  of  highways. 

1782.  Annual  meeting  held  at  James  Curtis's.  John  Smith  was  chosen  moderator;  James  Brown,  town 
clerk;  John  Holbrook,  Joseph  Barlow,  James  Curtis,  selectmen;  Elijah  Blogget,  constable. 

1783.  Met  at  James  Curtis's  and  elected  Joseph  Barlow,  moderator;  James  Brown,  town  clerk;  Joseph 
Barlow.  Joshua  Lamkin,  and  John  Holbrook,  selectmen;  Gideon  Smith,  constable;  Joshua  Lamkin,  grand 
juror:  James  Curtis  surveyor  of  roads.     Thirteen  polls  were  returned  this  year. 

1784.  Met  at  James  Curtis's.  Elected  Joshua  Lamkin,  moderator;  James  Brown,  town  clerk;  Archippns 
Blogget,  James  Brown,  and  Joshua  Lamkin,  selectmen;  James  Brown,  constable;  James  Curtis  and  Archip- 
pns Blogget,  surveyors.     It  was  also  voted  to  raise  four  (4)  pounds  for  a  school  for  the  present  year. 

1786.     Isaac  Johnson  and  James  Brown  selectmen. 

A  survey  of  the  town  was  made  in  1TSS  by  E.  W.  Judd,  whose  journal 
is  still  in  existence  and  from  which  we  make  extracts: — 

"September  3,  1778,  began  to  survey  Stratford.  Began  at  an  Ash  bush  marked  'No.  5 — 1788.'  Run  north 
75°  east  about  a  mile  to  Gamsby's  mill  pond,  house,  etc.  Sept.  8,  Trained  our  utensils  for  Minehead,  set  out 
for  the  same  at  Two  o'clock  P.  M.  Gur  company  mess:  Shadrich  Osborn,  Mr.  Mitchell,  Eben  Strong,  Jere 
Eames,  Ben  Strong,  John  Garnsby.  Carried  out  of  my  own  provisions  1  lb  chocolate,  4  lbs  Sugar,  11  oz  Tea. 
Camped  at  the  mouth  of  Nulhegan  river.  Sept.  29,  Rainy  this  morning,  we  run  over  Goback  mountain. 
[One  of  the  prominent  mountains  of  the  town,  taking  its  name,  it  is  said,  from  its  great  steepness  on  one 
side,  where  all  climbers  had  to  "go  back."]  Oct.  4,  Came  to  Nash's  stream.  In  camp.  Rainy  all  the  after- 
noon and  night.  Snow  fell  on  the  hills  as  to  look  white.  Oct.  5,  Eat  dinner  in  an  old  dead  swamp.  Tone 
went  home  after  gun  and  sugar.  Oct  9,  Run  up  part  of  the  great  Mountain.  Climbed  a  tall  tree  and  viewed 
the  Land  in  Stratford,  and  judged  that  about  one-forth  of  the  land  of  the  town  will  admit  of  cultivation. 
Oct.  14,  Breakfast  at  Wait's,  one-half  pint  Rum  drawn.  Survey.  Oct.  16  &  17  Survey.  18,  Eat  supper  at 
Capt.  Lamkin s,  Lodged  at  Curtis's." 

Many  of  the  localities  of  the  town  are  mentioned  by  the  same  names 
they  bear  today.  Mineral  Bow,  Bog  brook,  Great  and  Little  Nash  streams, 
Gamsby's  mill-pond,  Judson's  mill,  Jonathan  pond,  etc.,  etc.  "Wait's" 
was  frequently  mentioned,  and  was  headquarters,  probably,  for  the  sur- 
veying party.  There  is  rarely  a  failure  to  mention  the  three  daily  meals, 
nor  where  they  were  taken.  Rum  is  mentioned  frequently,  but  in  small 
quantities.  All  accounts  are  kept  with  scrupulous  exactness.  The  jour- 
nal also  registers  the  weather.  Snow  storms  began  early  in  October;  often 
disagreeably  mixed  with  rain.  Heavy  winds  were  frequent.  Trees  were 
blown  down,  and  thunder  storms  swept  through  the  valley,  and  thundered 
on  the  hills.  The  journal  gives  but  one  entry  of  attending  public  worship 
on  Sunday,  and  this  was  held  in  a  barn  at  Col.  Bailey's  in  Vermont.  In 
the  same  connection  we  make  this  quotation.  Does  it  refer  to  the  cele- 
brated Rev.  George  Whitefield,  who  visited  America  about  this  time,  and 
of  whom  it  is  said  that  he  could,  at  his  pleasure,  make  a  congregation 
laugh  or  weep  by  his  varied  pronunciations  of  the  word  "Mesopotamia"? 
"One  Mr.  Whitefield,  a  Priest,  was  very  extraordinary  for  Thundering  out 
with  a  loud  voice  so  as  to  made  those  of  a  Week  mind  become  a  pray  to 
his  lamentations,  etc.,  particularly  one  '  Pomp,' a  Negro,  who  always  used 


Town  of  Stratford.  761 


to  fall  down."  Warm  and  pleasant  Indian- summer  weather  is  mentioned 
in  November.  The  record  ends  about  November  4,  when  they  camped  all 
night  on  Goback  mountain  in  a  rain  storm. 

The  town  records  from  1785  to  L800  are  not  preserved,  but  the  select- 
men of  1799  were  Joseph  Holbrook,  William  Johnson,  and  David  Hol- 
brook. 

Extracts  from  Town  Records. — At  a  special  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Henry  Schoff,  June  27,  1800, 

one  article  acted  upon  was  "to  see  if  they  will  vote  to  built  a  meeting  house,  and  appoint  a amittee  to  pitch 

upon  a  spot  to  set  it  on."  The  vote  on  revision  of  State  constitution  stood,  "Yeas  Is.  Nays  4."'  Amasiah 
Chase,  Jabez  Baldwin,  and  Nathan  Barlow  licensed  as  "taverners." 

1801.  "Voted  to  raise  a  tax  of  fifty  '1  'liars  to  be  paid  in  labor  on  the  highwaj  at  fifty  ci  ats  per  day.  To 
raise  eighteen  dollars  for  town  expenses  and  to  build  a  pound.  John  T.  Oilman  had  twenty  eight  votes  for 
governor,  and  Timothy  Walker,  eight.     Joseph  and  David  M.  Holbrook  licensed  taverners  " 

1803.  An  article  in  the  warrant  was  "to  see  if  the  Town  will  pass  a  vote  to  build  a  pest-house,  or  see 
what  measures  shall  be  taken  to  prevent  said  disorder  (small-pox)  from  spreading."  Meeting  was  held  at  Isaac 
Johnson's. 

1801.     The  annual  meeting  this  year  is  called  for  the  first  time  "to  meet  at  the  house  of   Isaac  Kb  \<  ns." 

1805.  A  petition  to  Nathan  Barlow,  J.  P.,  to  call  a  town  meeting  is  signed  by  quite  a  number  of  new- 
settlers.  The  signers  are  Benjamin  Strong,  Agur  Piatt,  Charles  Strong,  David  M.  Holbrook,  Jonah  Graves, 
Richard  Holbrook,  James  Curtis,  James  Brown,  Joseph  Barlow,  David  Holbrook,  Abner  Barlow,  Ephraim 
Malmrin.  Peletiah  Nichols  and  Isaac  Stevens,  licensed  as  taverners.  John  Langdon  recen  es  thirty-five  votes 
for  governor  to  John  T.  Oilman  eleven.  Voted  to  raise  6100  to  buy  weights  and  measures,  and  to  survey  the 
outlines  of  the  town  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  legislature. 

1808.  The  first  election  for  President  recorded  in  town  was  called  by  "command  "  of  Gov.  Langdon.  E. 
H.  Mahurin  was  moderator,  and  the  electoral  ticket,  headed  by  Jeremiah  Smith,  received  seventeen  votes;  the 
one  headed  by  John  Langdon  received  fifteen. 

1811.     Value  of  non-resident  land  85,143.75.     Ezra  Barnes  licensed  as  a  taverner  in  1811  and  1812. 

1813.  The  district  meeting  was  held  here,  and  Jeremiah  Eames  elected  moderator  and  Thomas  Eames 
representative  for  the  towns  of  Stratford,  Northumberland  and  Percy.  The  tax  list  falls  this  year  from  sixty- 
two  to  fifty.  James  Brown ,  a  most  prominent  citizen  died.  Agur  Piatt,  town  clerk  for  several  years,  moved  to 
Indiana.  Francis  Wilson  keeps  a  tavern  in  1809,  and  the  town  meetings  of  1819  and  1820  are  called  at  "  Wil- 
son's tavern."  In  1817  the  town  meeting  met  at  Faulkner's  tavern.  With  these  three  exceptions  the  meet- 
ings were  held  continuously  at  Isaac  Stevens's  tavern  from  1804  to  1820. 

War  of  1812. — Stratford  gave  of  her  sons  in  this  war  as  freely  as  in 
Revolutionary  times.  Among  those  going  as  soldiers  were  Luther  Fuller; 
his  sons  Samuel  and  Calvin;  Jerry,  son  of  Hezekiah  Fuller;  William,  son 
of  Isaac  Merriam;  and  Haines  French  and  his  three  sons.  Samuel  Fuller 
died  of  measles;  Calvin  Fuller  of  "  spotted  fever;"  Jerry  Fuller  had  his  head 
taken  off  by  a  cannon  ball;  William  Merriam  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chip- 
pewa; Haines  French  died  at  Plattsburg;  and  his  son  Homer  was  killed  in 
battle.  Probably  no  town  in  the  state  lost  so  large  a  percentage  of  the  sol- 
diers sent  in  this  war  as  did  Stratford. 

Capt.  James  Powers  went  to  the  Mexican  war  from  this  town. 

Great  Civil  War. — The  selectmen  report  to  the  adjutant-general  in 
1866  seven  installments  of  soldiers.  1st,  Twenty-eight  men,  no  bounty. 
2d,  Twenty-two  men  with  $100  each  as  bounty,  8-.-ll('  3d,  Seven  men 
with  $300  bounty  to  each,  $2.  loo.  4th,  Twelve  men  with  $200  bounty, 
$2,400.  5th,  Seven  men  with  $300  bounty,  $2,100.  6th,  Fourteen  men 
and  bounties  of  $9,400.  7th,  Eight  men  whose  bounties  were  $2,658.34. 
Total:  Ninety-eight  men,  with  bounties,  etc.,  of  $20,858.34.     The  necesary 

50 


762  History  of  Coos  County. 

incidental  expenses  on  the  fourth  call  were  $73.85,  of  which  Lucius 
Hartshorn  contributed  $23.00.  J.  H.  Danforth  was  agent  on  the  fifth  call. 
He  went  to  Washington  to  fill  quota;  expenses,  $110.73.  F.  Fisk  was 
agent  on  the  sixth  and  seventh  calls.  Expenses  on  the  sixth,  $314.52;  on 
the  seventh,  $254.85;  total  $730.05.  Andrew  J.  Ockington  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Sixth  Mass.  Vols,  which  made  the  historic  march  through  Baltimore  in 
April,  1801.  Harvey  Merriam  served  six  months  in  Forty- first  Iowa  Cav- 
alry, then  re-enlisted  and  was  killed  in  the  Red  River  (La.)  campaign.  Albert 
Curtis  served  in  the  U.  S.  navy. 

Stratford  Hollow. — In  the  early  history  of  the  town  and  until  the  rail- 
road days  this  was  the  business  center.  The  lumber-mills  give  some 
business  to  the  railroad  and  some  enterprises  flourish  in  the  little  village. 
Fred  N.  Day  is  station  agent  and  a  stirring  business  man  in  various  direc- 
tions. 

Fred  L.  Kenney  has  a  bobbin-factory,  a  rotary  saw-mill  and  a  clap- 
board machine,  employing  eighteen  men,  with  a  capacity  of  15,000  of 
lumber  per  day.     These  are  run  by  steam  and  water-power. 

L.  B.  Blodgett,  the  worthy  postmaster  of  "  Stratford  Hollow "  post- 
office,  deals  in  dry -goods,  groceries,  etc.,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest 
families  in  town. 

Noah  Waters  has  been  in  trade  for  many  years.  He  is  also  a  general 
merchant,  and  of  an  old  family. 

Library  Hall  (two  stories  high,  65x36  feet,)  was  erected  in  1885.  It 
furnishes  a  well-appointed  place  for  meetings,  entertainments,  and  the 
like.     A  subscription  library  is  connected;  Helen  M.  French,  librarian. 

Brookside  Cottage  is  a  neat  little  country  inn.  Johnson  &  Merriam, 
proprietors.     It  has  a  grocery  store  connected  with  it. 

Coos  Lodge,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  organized  October  20,  1882,  with  thirty- 
three  members.     It  has  now  forty-four  members. 

Ecclesiastical. — In  17S0  the  village  plat  was  under  consideration,  and 
was  located  on  "  Meeting-House  Hill."  In  1800,  in  a  call  for  a  special 
town  meeting,  one  article  was  "to  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  build  a 
meetinghouse,  and  appoint  a  committee  for  to  pitch  upon  a  spot."  The 
early  settlers  have  left  no  evidence  of  their  religious  preferences  except  in 
a  few  instances.  James  Brown  was  the  son  of  a  Congregational  deacon, 
and  brought  religious  books  in  his  saddle-bags.  His  house  became  the 
home  of  the  pioneer  preachers,  and  the  place  where  religious  services  were 
held.  Jabez  Baldwin  and  his  family,  according  to  tradition,  had  been 
reared  in  the  Church  of  England.  The  wife  of  Isaac  Johnson  was  Phoebe 
Grant,  whose  father  was  a  Congregational  clergyman.  Record  evidence 
concerning  any  religious  organization  cannot  be  obtained  until  at  least 
fifty  years  of  settlement  had  passed. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — This  was  the  pioneer  in  religious  move- 


Town  of  Stratford.  763 


ments.  James  Brown,  alluded  to  above,  not  only  welcomed  the  itinerants, 
who  travelled  the  rough  ways  on  horseback,  to  the  hospitality  of  his  home, 
but  became  a  member  of  this  church,  and  a  strong  tower  of  the  faith. 
The  "  quarterly  meetings  "  brought  the  people  sometimes  thirty  or  forty 
miles,  and  were  marked  periods  of  social  intercourse  and  religious  mani- 
festations. The  strong  sermons  of  the  often  unlettered  preachers  were 
full  of  practical  admonitions,  warnings,  and  good  advice;  and  the  doc- 
trines of  " glad  tidings "  which  they  brought  were  received  by  eager  lis- 
teners and  brought  forth  good  fruit.  Sometimes  the  preacher  was  of 
more  than  ordinary  power.  Jason  Lee,  Lorenzo  Dow.  and  other  kindred 
souls,  brought  their  eloquence  and  gifts  to  the  service  of  God  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  Methodism  became  a  living  force  in  the  community. 

A  Methodist  society  was  formed  in  the  first  of  this  century.  The  first 
church  was  erected  about  1808  on  "Meeting-House  Hill,"  on  the  road  that 
led  from  Bog  brook  mills  to  Stratford  Hollow.  It  was  never  finished;  the 
seats  were  formed  by  placing  sections  of  logs  on  the  floor  and  laying 
rough  boards  across  them.  It  was  raised  quite  a  distance  from  the 
ground,  and  furnished  a  refuge  from  the  heat  of  the  sun  for  the  sheep 
which  ranged  at  will  through  the  unfenced  wilds.  Their  noise  often  inter- 
fered with  the  services,  and  Elder  Marshall  once  called  to  them  in  the  mid- 
dle of  his  sermon,  "Bleat  away,  we  can  make  as  much  noise  as  you." 
The  house  was  evidently  not  well  taken  care  of;  the  door  was  left  open, 
and  the  sheep  found  entrance,  causing  such  disorder  that  Elder  Lord 
vehemently  declaimed  against  making  or  allowing  the  house  of  God  to  be 
made  a  "sheep-pen."  The  location  was  not  a  central  one,  and  Elder 
Lord  labored  earnestly  to  have  the  house  taken  down  and  rebuilt  in  a 
better  location.  Much  opposition  was  shown  to  this  movement,  but  he 
carried  his  point,  and  the  material  was  used  in  the  construction  of  the 
church  now  used  as  a  town-house,  which  is  thirty-six  feet  square,  and  was 
erected  about  1820  on  the  river  road,  about  midway  between  North  Strat- 
ford and  Stratford  Hollow.  The  trustees  in  1829  were  Antipas  Marshall, 
Benjamin  Brown,  Elisha  Johnson,  Joshua  Marshall,  RufusLamkin.  Rev. 
Antipas  Marshall  was  the  first  preacher  of  whom  we  learn  any  tiling.  He 
was  born  in  Tpswich,  Mass.,  about  1754,  and  came  to  Northumberland  as 
a  settlor  in  1796.  He  was  a  local  preacher,  deacon,  and  elder;  preached 
for  many  years,  and  attended  many  funerals.  He  was  one  of  the  old- 
fashioned  preachers,  proclaiming  the  Law  as  well  as  the  Gospel.  He  lived 
to  be  eighty-four,  and  was  active  to  the  last.  Being  invited  to  ride  to 
church  the  Sabbath  before  his  death,  he  declined,  saying,  "Let  old  folks 
ride,  and  young  ones  go  on  foot." 

Rev.  Benjamin  Brown,  a  travelling  Methodist  preacher,  a  native  of 
Wellfleet,  Mass.,  who  in  early  life  had  been  a  sailor,  and  had  risen  to  the 
command  of  a  merchantman  trading  in  foreign  countries,  settled  in  Bruns- 


764:  History  of  Coos  County. 


vvick,  Vt.,  where  he  purchased  the  Cargill  farm  and  mills.  Here  he  lived 
until  1854,  preaching  very  frequently  in  the  neighboring  towns.  Elders 
Branch,  Sabin,  Plumley,  Alden,  Latham,  Putnam,  and  Cowing  were  also 
here.  Elder  Plumley's  services  were  blessed  with  a  great  revival;  the  con- 
verts were  baptized  by  Elder  McGregor,  who  came  from  Northumberland 
for  this  purpose.     Isaac  Brown,  son  of  James,  was  the  first  one  baptized. 

List  of  Members  in  1843. — Class  No.  1.  J.W.Johnson,  leader;  Mary  Johnson,  Elisha  Johnson,  Lydia 
Johnson,  Marcus  D.  Johnson.  Maria  Johnson,  Jonathan  Bolfe,  Lydia  Rolfe,  Victory  Gamsby,  Elmira  Gamsby, 
Joshua  Marshall,  Betsey  Marshall,  George  Kimball,  Polly  Kimball,  Alfred  Martin,  Cynthia  Martin,  Sarah 
Stephens.  Emeline  Gamsby,  Sarah  J.  Johnson,  Polly  Gamsby,  Susanna  Day,  Lucinda  Baldwin,  Mary  Gamsbyj 
Priscilla  Johnson,  Mary  A.  Johnson,  Emily  J.  Johnson,  Albino  Kimball,  Susan  Schorl',  Mary  Ross,  Susan 
Gamsby,  Nathaniel  Biker,  John  MoCollister,  Edward  V.  Kimball,  Bernice  Kimball,  Ann  Curtis,  Delpha  A. 
Gamsby,  Betsey  A.  Mahurin.  Lucretia  A.  Johnson. 

A  second  class  of  thirty-six  members,  comprising  the  Waters,  Merriam, 
Byron,  and  Marshall  families,  included  some  residents  of  Northumberland. 

There  was  quite  a  revival  in  1S53,  and  a  new  church  was  determined 
upon  at  the  "  Hollow."  William  Mclntyre,  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  and  Noah 
B.  Waters  were  the  building  committee.  Hon.  N.  D.  Day  was  one  of  the 
active  promoters  of  its  erection.  This  church  has  a  seating  capacity  of  200, 
and  cost  $1,000.  It  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1854,  and 
in  1866  a  bell  costing  about  $175  was  purchased  by  subscription. 

The  early  clergy  had  a  hard  life;  meager  salaries  (often  unpaid),  large 
circuits,  many  sermons  was  the  rule;  and  only  those  who  looked  above 
earthly  rewards  and  emoluments  were  fitted  to  undergo  the  privations  and 
hardships  encountered.  Sometimes  the  circuit  reached  from  Northumber- 
land to  Pittsburg;  again  from  Stratford  to  Milan;  again  a  smaller  field 
would  be  given — Stratford  and  Columbia,  or  Stratford  and  Northumber- 
land— as  civilization  advanced  and  settlers  multiplied.  The  saddle-bags 
and  saddle-horse  have  gone.  The  "circuit  riders"  have,  in  many  cases, 
passed  over  the  last  river  whose  bridgeless  stream  they  had  to  cross;  and 
comfortable  homes  and  fewer  privations  fall  to  the  lot  of  their  successors. 
For  several  years  Northumberland  has  been  united  with  Stratford,  the 
pastor  residing  in  the  parsonage  at  Groveton,  with  afternoon  and  alter- 
nate Sunday  evening  services  at  Stratford.  We  cannot  give  a  list  of  pas- 
tors. They  remain  but  a  short  time,  and  are  not  permanently  connected 
with  the  town.  Rev.  L.  W.  Prescott,  a  former  pastor,  is  perhaps  the 
most  so  of  any  on  the  long  list.  He  is  now  preparing  what  is  intended  to 
be  a  full  and  comprehensive  history  of  Stratford  and  its  old  families.  Rev. 
Leslie  R.  Danforth  closed  a  three-years'  pastorate  of  great  usefulness  in 
L887.  The  church  record  has  borne  about  eighty-two  names  during  the 
last  thirty-five  years. 


Town  of  Stratford.  765 


CHAPTER  XCI. 

Civil  List:  Clerks,  Selectmen,  Treasurers,  Representatives. 

f~Y I VI L  List.— 1800.     Joseph  Holbrook,   clerk:  Benjamin   Strong,   Richard  Holbrook.  Joseph   Dyer  (till 
[    /      June  27),  William  Johnson  (from  June  27),  selectmen;  Joseph  Eolbrook,  treasurer. 
\VD         1801.     Joseph  Holbrook,  clerk;  Isaac  Johnson,  Benjamin  Strong,  Richard  Holbrook,  selectmen; 
^     Joseph  Holbrook,  treasurer. 

1802.  Isaac  Johnson.  Benjamin  Strong,  Richard  Holbrook,  selectmen. 

1803.  E.  H.  Mahurin,  Benjamin  Strong,  Nathan  Baldwin,  selectman. 

1801.     Isaac  Johnson,  clerk;  Benjamin  Strong,  E.  H.  Mahurin,  Nathan  Baldwin,  selectmen. 

1805.  Nathan  Barlow,  clerk;  Thomas  G.  French,  James  Brown,  Agur  Piatt,  selectmen;  James  Brown, 
treasurer. 

1806.  Nathan  Baldwin,  clerk;  Nathan  Carr,  Thomas  G.  French,  Agur  Piatt,  selectmen. 

1807.  Benjamin  Strong,  clerk;  Isaac  Stevens,  Thomas  G.  French,  Asa  Hall,  selectmen;  James  Brown, 
treasurer. 

1808.  Benjamin  Strong,  clerk;  Agur  Piatt,  Joseph  Daniels,  Asa  Hall,  selectmen;  James  Brown,  treasurer. 

1809.  Asa  Hall,  clerk;  E.  H.  Mahurin,  Paletiah  Nichols,  Isaac  Johnson,  Jr.,  selectmen;  Nathan  Baldwin, 
treasurer;  James  Lucas,  representative. 

1810.  Asa  Hall,  clerk;  E.  H.  Mahurin,  Peletiah  Nichols,  Thomas  G.  French,  selectmen;  Joseph  Dam.  Is, 
treasurer. 

1811.  Agur  Piatt,  clerk;  E.  H.  Mahurin,  Peletiah  Nichols,  Thomas  G.  French,  selectmen. 

1812.  Agur  Piatt,  clerk;  E.  H.  Mahurin,  Peletiah  Nichols,  Noah  Hatch,  selectmen. 

1813.  Agur  Piatt  (until   September  13),  E.  H.  Mahurin  (after   September  13),  clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin, 
Elisha  Johnson,  Aaron  Curtis,  selectmen. 

1814.  Joshua  Marshall,  clerk;  David  Piatt,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Noah  Hatch,  selectmen. 

1815.  Joshua  Marshall,  clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin,  David  Piatt,  Noah  Hatch,  selectmen. 

1816.  Joshua  Marshall,   clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin,    E.  H.  Mahurin,    Joseph  Daniels,  selectmen;  Nathan 
Baldwin,  representative. 

1817.  Joshua  Marshall,  clerk:  Nathan  Baldwin,  Elisha  Johnson,  David  Piatt,  selectmen. 

1818.  Joshua  Marshall,  clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin,  John  French.  Samuel  F.  Brown,  selectmen. 

1819.  Joshua  Marshall,  clerk;  Nathan   Baldwin,  John   French,    Samuel  F.  Brown,   selectmen;  Nathan 
Baldwin,  representative. 

1820.  Joshua  Marshall,  clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin,  Elisha  A.  Barlow,  Abner  Day,  selectmen;  Nathan  Bald- 
win, treasurer. 

[We  have  been  unable  to  procure  the  town  officers  from  1820  to  1835.] 

1831.  Joshua  Marshall,  representative. 

1832.  Nathan  Baldwin. 

1835.  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  clerk;  Joshua  Marshall.  Samuel  F.  Brown,  Robert  Bond,  selectmen;  Joshua 
Marshall,  treasurer;  Samuel  F.  Brown,  representative.     The  town  classed  with  Northumberland. 

1836.  Leonard  Hatch,  clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin,  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Abijah  S.  French,  selectmen;  Asa  B. 
Porter,  treasurer. 

1837.  George  F.  Barlow,   clerk;  David   Ross,  Abijah  S.  French,  Branch  Brown,    selectmen;  David  R  >ss, 
treasurer;  Hiram  Lucas,  representative. 

1838.  George  F.  Barlow,  clerk;  Abijah  S.  French,  Marcus D.  Johnson,  Branch  Brown,  selectmen;  Joshua 
Marshall,  treasurer. 

1839.  George  F.  Barlow,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  James  B.  Brown,  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  selectmen; 
Elisha  Baldwin,  treasurer;  Abijah  S.  French,  representative. 

1840.  George    F.  Barlow,  clerk:  James  B.  Brown.  Marcus   D.  Johnson,    Seneca  A.  Shoff,   selectmen; 
David  Ross,  treasurer. 

1841.  Samuel  W.  Johnson,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Levi   Colby,  Roberson   S.   Marshall,    selectmen; 
David  Ross,  treasurer;  Nahum  D.  Day,  representative. 

1842.  Samuel  W.  Johnson,  clerk;  Marcus  I).  Johnson,  Jabez    Baldwin,    Elisha    A.  Barlow,   selectmen; 
Elisha  Baldwin,  treasurer. 


766  History  of  Coos  County. 

1843.  Edward  Spraigue,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson;  Joseph  Johnson,  George  F.  Barlow,  selectmen;  David 
Ross,  representative. 

1844.  Edward  Spraigue,  clerk;  Abijah  S.  French,  Joseph  Johnson,  Seneca  A.  Shoff,  selectmen;  Joshua 
Marshall,  treasurer. 

1845.  Edward  Spraigue,  clerk;  Joseph  Johnson,  David  Ross,  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  selectmen;  Joshua 
Marshall,  treasurer;  James  B.  Brown,  representative. 

Is46.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin,  Branch  Brown,  Charles  H.  Lucas,  selectmen;  Joshua 
Marshall,  treasurer. 

1847.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Nathan  Baldwin,  Elisha  Baldwin,  Jr.,  John  B.  Crown,  selectmen:  Joshua 
Marshall,  treasurer;  Russell  Gamsby,  representative. 

1848.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  John  B.  Crown,  Elisha  Johnson,  Jr.,  Elbridge  G.  Gaskill,  selectmen; 
Joseph  Johnson,  treasurer. 

1849.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  Branch  Brown,  selectmen -r 
Joseph  Johnson,  treasurer;  Charles  Bellows,  representative. 

1850.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  Abijah  S.  French,  selectmen ; 
Joseph  Johnson,  treasurer. 

1851.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Abijah  S.  French,  Branch  Brown,  selectmen;  Joseph 
Johnson,  treasurer;  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  representative. 

1852.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Hiram  Lucas,  Joshua  Marshall,  William  G.  Fuller,  selectmen;  Joseph 
Johnson,  treasurer. 

1853.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  John  M.  Lucas,  Thomas  Connary,  selectmen;  Joseph 
Johnson,  treasurer;  Branch  Brown,  representative. 

1854.  Joseph  Johnson,  clerk;  Seneca  A.  Shoff,  Abijah  S.  French,  John  M.  Lucas,  selectmen ;  Joseph 
Johnson,  treasurer;  Branch  Brown,  representative. 

1855.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  Samuel  C.  Brown,  Charles  Mahurin,  selectmen: 
Roberson  S.  Marshall,  treasurer;  John  B.  Crown,  representative. 

1856.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Abijah  S.  French,  Henry  Baldwin,  Henry  O.  White,  selectmen;  John  F. 
Lock,  treasurer;  John  B.  Crown,  representative. 

1857.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Thomas  Connary,  William  K.  Riehey,  Darius  W.  Blodgett,  selectmen; 
Thomas  Connary,  treasurer;  Albe  Holmes,  representative. 

1858.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Irenus  K.  Waters,  Dennis  R.  Mclntire,  selectmen: 
Marcus  D.  Johnson,  treasurer;  Albe  Holmes,  representative. 

1859.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk:  Thomas  Connary,  Samuel  C.  Brown,  Nathan  B.  Shoff,  selectmen; 
Thomas  Connary,  treasurer;  Harvey  Hinman.  representative. 

1860.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Albe  Holmes,  Charles  Mahurin,  Darius  W.  Blodgett,  selectmen;  Albe 
Holmes,  treasurer;  Harvey  Hinman,  representative. 

1861.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Thomas  Connary,  Abner  Norcott,  Branch  Brown,  selectmen;  Thomas 
Connary,  treasurer;  Ephraim  M.  Swett,  representative. 

1862.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Albe  Holmes,  Melvin  Marshall,  Abner  Norcott,  selectmen;  William  G. 
Fuller,  representative. 

1863.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Thomas  Connary,  Melvin  Marshall,  Richard  S.  Ockington,  selectmen; 
Thomas  Connary,  treasurer;  William  G.  Fuller,  representative. 

1864.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Melvin  Marshall,  Charles  H.  Lucas,  Moses  B.  Clough,  selectmen;  Melvin 
Marshall,  treasurer;  Melvin  Marshall,  representative. 

1865.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Thomas  Connary,  Joseph  H.  Danforth,  Lowell  Simonds,  selectmen; 
Thomas  Connary,  treasurer;  Melvin  Marshall,  representative. 

1866.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Charles  Mahurin,  Lowell  Simonds,  John  I.  Crown,  selectmen;  Lowell 
Simonds,  treasurer;  Jefferson  V.  Wright,  representative. 

1867.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Melvin  Marshall,  Samuel  Brown,  selectmen;  Melvin 
Marshall,  treasurer:  Jefferson  V.  Wright,  representative. 

1868.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Melvin  Marshall,  Lowell  Simonds,  George  C.  Kimball,  selectmen;  Melvin 
Marshall,  treasurer;  Samuel  ('.  Brown,  representative. 

1869.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Marcus  D.  Johnson,  Charles  P.  Shoff,  William  C.  Fisk,  selectmen;  Isaac 
Johnson,  treasurer;  Samuel  C.  Brown,  representative. 

1870.  William  (i.  Fuller,  clerk;  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  Frederick  A.  Blodgett,  John   C.  Stone,  selectmen; 
Johnson,  treasurer;  Samuel  Brown,  representative. 

1>71.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Lowell  Simonds,  Seth  R.  Chase,  Arthur  H.  Carpenter,  selectmen;  Isaac 
Johnson,  treasurer;  Samuel  Brown,  representative. 

1872.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Roberson  S.  Marshall,  Brooks  B.  Ockington,  Hiram  H.  Wright,  select- 
in.  n;  [saac  Johnson,  treasurer;  Abner  Norcott,  representative. 


Town  of  Stratford.  767 


1873.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;   Melvin  Marshall,   William   B.   Brown,  Bamuel  W.  Johnson,  selectmen; 

Aimer  Norcott,  representative. 

1874.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;    Melvin  Marshall,   William  R.  Brown,   Havilah  B.  Hinman,   selectmen; 
Isaac  Johnson,  treasurer:  Fred  N.  Day.  representative. 

1875.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;    William  R.  Brown,    Havilah  B.  Hinman,    Guy  W.  Johnson,  selectmen; 

Isaac  Johnson,  treasurer:  George  C.  Kimball,  representative. 

1870.     William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Havilah  B.  Hinman,  Henry  Saunders,  William  B,  Danforth.  selectmen; 
Isaac  Johnson,  treasurer;  George  C.  Kimball,  representative. 

1877.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;    George  B.  Eaton,    Fred  N.  Day,    William  H.  Kimball,    selectmen;  B. 
Brooks  Ockington,  treasurer:  William  B.  Brown,  representative. 

1878.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;    Fred  N.  Day,    William  H.   Kimball,    William  K.  Danforth,    selectmen; 
B.  Brooks  Ockington,  treasurer:  William  B.  Brown,  representative. 

1879.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;    William  B.  Danforth,    Guy  W.  Johnson,    William  R.  Brown,  selectmen; 
B.  Brooks  Ockington,  treasurer. 

1880.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;    William  B.  Brown,    Guy  W.  Johnson,    Havilah  B.  Hinman,  selectmen; 
B.  Brooks  Ockington,  treasurer;  John  C.  Pattee,  representative. 

1881.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  William    B.  Brown,  Guy  W.  Johnson,   Havilah  B.  Hinman,   selectmen; 
Benjamin  B.  Ockington,  treasurer. 

1882.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;   William   R.    Brown,  Clark   Stevens,    Joseph   T.    Connary,  selectmen; 
Benjamin  B.  Ockington,  treasurer;  Hiram  H.  Wright,  representative. 

1S83.     William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Clark  Stevens,  Joseph  T.  Connary,  Fred  N.  Day,  selectmen:  William  R. 
Danforth.  treasurer. 

1884.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Clark  Stevens,  Joseph  T.  Connary.  William  H.  Kimball,  selectmen;  Will- 
iam R.  Danforth,   treasurer;  Clark  Stevens,  representative. 

1885.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Joseph   T.  Connary,  William  H.  Kimball,  Charles  E.  Clark,  selectmen; 
William  R.  Danforth,  treasurer. 

1886.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  William   H.  Kimball,   William  R.  Brown,  Guy  W.  Johnson,  selectmen; 
William  B.  Danforth,  treasurer;  John  I.  Crown,  representative. 

1887.  William  G.  Fuller,  clerk;  Charles  E.Clark,  W.  E.  Brown,  Fred  L.  Kinney,  selectmen;  William  R. 
Danforth,  treasurer. 


CHAPTER   XCIL 


North  Stratford;  Business  Interests,  Railroad,  Postoffice— Hinman's Island— Baptisl  Church- 
Education— Hotels— Societies— Granite  State  Stock -Farm—  Mills— Physicians—  Lawyers—  Brief 
Personal  Sketches. 

*K  Y  ORTH  Stratford.— Very  little  had  been  done  in  improvement  or  busi- 
(  ^  ness  in  this  now  lively  and  important  business  center  prior  to  the 
V.  advent  of  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  (now  Grand  Trunk i  R.  R.,  in 
1852.  The  "  Baldwin  Brothers"  had  built  mills  in  Bloomfield,  Vt.,  on  the 
Nulhegan  river  where  now  stand  those  of  the  "Nulhegan  Lumber  Co." 
These  gave  employment  to  numerous  persons,  and  caused  various  business 
enterprises  to  be  established.  The  "  Baldwin  Bridge  Co."  incorporated  in 
July,  1850,  composed  of  E.  A.,  William  L.  and  J.  M.  Baldwin,  afforded 
means  of  ready  communication  between  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  by 
constructing  the  bridge  across  the  river  which  was  opened  for  travel  in 


768  History  of  Coos  County. 

June,  1852.  The  railroad  was  the  direct  cause  of  the  growth  of  the  village. 
It  was  the  nearest  shipping-point  of  the  upper  Connecticut  valley,  and  soon 
became  a  great  center  of  trade.  Hotel  accomodations  were  demanded; 
livery  teams  were  called  for;  freighting  to  the  towns  above  assumed  large 
proportions;  starch  came  in  great  quantities  from  the  numerous  factories 
up  north,  and  buildings  were  constructed  with  great  rapidity  to  meet  the 
demand. 

Col.  Hazen  Bedel,  of  Colebrook,  in  company  with  Alba  Holmes  in  1852, 
put  up  the  first  store,  known  now  as  the  Marshall  building,  and  put  in  a 
stock  of  goods.  This  they  conducted  as  "Bedel  &  Holmes,"  until  1862, 
when  they  relinquished  trade.  E.  H.  Folsom  and  Melvin  Marshall  formed 
a  partnership  as  general  merchants  as  "  Folsom  &  Marshall "  in  1861  and 
occupied  this  building.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Folsom  retired,  and,  after 
some  time,  Mr.  Marshall  admitted  E.  B.  Merriam  as  a  partner,  the  firm 
becoming  Marshall  &  Merriam.  This  house  was  succeeded  three  years 
later  by  M.  Marshall  &  Co.,  Mr.  Merriam  retiring.  The  new  firm  was  in 
trade  some  years.  In  1882  Carpenter  Brothers,  (who  established  the  first 
drug  and  jewelry  store  at  this  point,  in  1877,  in  the  Barrett  building 
south  of  the  railroad.)  removed  to  the  Marshall  store.  They  sold  their 
goods  to  J.  C.  Hutchins  in  1886.  Mr.  Hutchins  added  a  furniture  depart- 
ment, and  is  now  in  trade  as  a  pharmacist,  jeweler,  and  dealer  in  station- 
ery, wall  paper,  and  furniture.  Clark  P.  True  built  the  store  now  occu- 
pied by  Danforth,  Pattee  &  Clark  in  1S52,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
opened  the  first  stock  of  goods  for  sale  in  the  place.  In  1853  William  R. 
and  Joseph  H.  Danforth  became  his  partners  under  the  name  of  True, 
Danforth  &  Co.  Mr.  True,  in  connection  with  A.  C.  Denison,  of  Norway, 
Me.,  the  Danforths  and  the  Gilkeys,  was  largely  engaged  in  supplying  con- 
tractors on  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  R.  R.,  and,  as  the  railroad  was 
completed,  established  stores  at  South  Paris  and  Bethel,  Me.,  and  Gorham, 
Northumberland  Falls,  and  North  Stratford,  which  was  the  last  of  the 
chain  and  closed  Mr.  True's  merchandising  here.  In  two  years  the  firm 
became  W.  R.  &  F.  A.  Danforth,  the  latter  selling  in  one  year  to  J.  H. 
Danforth.  W.  R.  &  J.  H.  Danforth  did  business  until  1871,  when  J.  H. 
Danforth  became  the  owner,  and  conducted  trade  alone  until  1881.  He  then 
formed  the  firm  of  Danforth  &  Pattee  by  taking  J.  C.  Pattee  as  a  partner. 
The  same  year  W.  R.  Danforth  took  the  place  of  his  brother  in  the  firm. 
In  1884  Danforth,  Pattee  &  Clark  succeeded  to  the  business,  Charles  E. 
Clark  receiving  an  interest.  This  house  is  the  largest  mercantile  estab- 
lishment of  this  section,  and  carries  a  diversified  stock  of  merchandise  and 
clothing,  and  does  an  annual  business  of  $40,000  or  $15,000.  There  was 
a  small  building  put  up  early  on  the  site  of  the  store  of  E.  B.  Merriam 
&  Co..  and  some  small  trading  adventures  were  here  conducted.  It  was 
burned  about    1863.     E.  H.  Folsom  put  up  the  present   building   shortly 


Town  of  Stratford.  769 


after,  and  used  it  as  a  wholesale  flour  and  feed  store  for  some  years.  It 
was  then  purchased  by  J.  H.  Danforth,  who  leased  it  to  \\  illiam  L.  Bald- 
win and  Carlton  Fuller.  They,  as  Baldwin  <x  Fuller,  carried  on  merchan- 
dising for  some  years.  Mr.  Danforth  then  sold  the  store  to  the  Bolyoke 
Lumber  Co.,  which  traded  there  for  one  year,  when,  in  1872,  (ieorgeR. 
Eaton  bought  their  stock.  He,  after  ten  years  of  successful  trade,  admit- 
ted E.  B.  Merriam  as  partner  in  1882,  the  firm  title  becoming  E.  B.  Mer- 
riam  &  Co.  This  house  is  now  in  trade,  doing  an  annual  business  of  from 
$35,000  to  $40,000. 

James  Ogle  came  herein  18(58  as  a  blacksmith,  and  located  near  the 
bridge  on  the  south  side  of  the  railroad.  In  1884,  forming  a  partnership 
with  C.  W.  Clough,  they  built  a  large  two-story  building  on  the  same  site, 
which  they  fitted  up  with  a  steam-engine  and  the  necessary  machinery 
for  a  well-equipped  wagon,  carriage,  and  blacksmith  shop.  This  furnishes 
employment  to  from  four  to  six  men. 

James  Twohey  put  up  Twohey's  building  <'3<ix<;<>,  three  stories  and  a 
basement,)  in  1884.  The  upper  story  is  a  hall  for  society  meetings,  the 
second  is  a  skating-rink,  and  the  first  was  occupied  as  a  clothing-store  by 
Jacobs  &  Kugleman  in  1885.  Levi  Jacobs  is  now  the  proprietor.  Mr. 
Kugleman  established  another  clothing  store  in  18S7  near  the  bridge. 

Clark  Stevens  and  W.  H.  Lovejoy  keep  meat-markets;  H.  B.  Hinman 
deals  in  groceries.  There  are  also  millinery  stores,  harness-shops,  a  bowl- 
ing-alley, a  billiard-saloon,  and  other  minor  establishments. 

J.  H.  Danforth  began  the  manufacture  of  last  blocks  shortly  after  the 
close  of  the  great  civil  war.  This  has  been  carried  on  ever  since,  Danforth, 
Pattee  &  Clark  making  about  100,000  during  the  winter  of  1886-87. 

The  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  R.  R.  was,  shortly  after  its  arrival  at 
North  Stratford,  leased  to  the  Grand  Trunk  railway,  which  now  conducts 
it.  The  business  done  at  this  station  has  increased  rapidly.  The  first  year 
there  were  500  passengers  purchasing  tickets,  and  about  $9,000  of  freights. 
In  1886  there  were  8,721  passengers,  the  freight  amounted  to  $81,267.35, 
and  the  earnings  of  the  road  at  this  point  $9,460.  The  money  handled  at 
this  station  during  the  first  year  did  not  exceed  $4,000,  while  in  1886  it 
reached  about  $70,000.  James  Twohey,  the  present  courteous  and  efficient 
agent,  has  been  stationed  here  since  1871.  The  first  station  agent  was  a 
quaint  old  sea-captain  from  Yarmouth,  Me.,  Captain  Porter.  He  remained 
but  a  few  months.  L.  W.  Alger  succeeded  him  for  three  years.  Since  then 
have  been  here  Charles  D.  Waterhouse,  Thomas  Waterhouse,  Hiram  Berry, 
Henry  Adams,  James  Twohey. 

"North  Stratford"  postoffice  was  established  in  1850  with  a  tri  weekly 
mail;  William  L.  Baldwin,  postmaster.  It  was  kept  at  the  store  of  Mr. 
Baldwin  on  the  Elisha  Baldwin  homestead.  In  1853  Alba  Holmes  was 
made  postmaster,  and  moved  the  office  to  the  store  of  Bedel  ec  Holmes.  It 


770  History  of  Coos  County. 

remained  there  until  1861,  the  name  during  this  time  being  changed  to 
"Coos."  Joseph  H.  Danforth  was  appointed  postmaster  in  July,  1861, 
and  held  the  office  for  twenty-four  years.  He  removed  it  to  its  present 
location,  where  it  has  since  remained.  John  C.  Pattee  has  been  post- 
master since  1885.  The  receipts  of  the  office  have  increased  commen- 
surately  with  the  advance  of  business.  In  1861  the  office  paid  about  $100; 
in  1886  about  $800. 

HinmarCs  Island  in  the  Connecticut  was  the  first  unsurveyed  island  in 
that  stream,  all  below  being  surveyed.  It  was  purchased  by  Harvey  Hin- 
man  in  April,  1854,  of  J.  S.  Lyman  for  $30,  and  consisted  of  about  six 
acres,  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  butternut  trees.  No  natural  growth 
of  this  wood  was  ever  found  above  this  island,  most  of  such  trees  being 
from  slips  from  this  island.     Only  about  three  acres  more  remain. 

Baptist  Church. — The  oldest  Baptist  church  in  America  is  in  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  and  was  formed  in  1639  by  Roger  Williams.  The  stern  old 
Puritan,  Rev.  Cotton  Mather,  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  says  "that 
many  of  the  earliest  European  settlers  of  that  colony  were  Baptists,  and 
they  were  as  holy,  watchful,  and  fruithful,  and  heavenly  people,  as,  per- 
haps, any  in  the  whole  world.''  The  few  earnest  adherents  of  this  faith  in 
Stratford  were  mostly  located  in  the  north  of  the  town,  and  were  not  of 
sufficient  numbers  to  form  a  church  until  1813,  when  they  deemed  the 
proper  time  for  organization  had  come,  and,  June  27,  1813,  a  society  was 
formed  with  thirteen  members,  viz. :  Elisha  Baldwin,  Huldah  Baldwin,  E. 
A.  Baldwin,  Jedediah  M.  Baldwin,  Ann  Thomas,  Lucretia  Beach,  Samuel 
Thomas,  William  L.  Baldwin,  Edmund  Baldwin,  Mary  R.  Blake,  J.  M. 
Forbes,  Phcebe  Forbes,  Sarah  Marshall.  There  is  now  a  membership  of 
thirty -three. 

It  was  not  until  1851  that  any  movement  was  made  for  a  church  edifice. 
This  was  done  by  the  Baldwin  Brothers,  and  a  church  was  erected  in  1855- 
56,  they  bearing  the  principal  part  of  the  expense.  The  building  committee 
was  E.  A.,  William  L.,  and  Elisha  Baldwin.  This  house  cost  $3,500,  and 
was  a  well-arranged  and  artistic  structure,  with  a  vestry  and  a  kitchen  in 
the  basement.  (The  vestry  was  used  as  a  school-room  for  some  years.) 
In  March,  1868,  it  wras  destroyed  by  fire.  The  present  church  was  built  in 
1868  and  L869.  The  pastor,  Rev.  Abram  Bedell,  wras  untiring  in  his  efforts 
to  replace  the  burned  church,  and  his  labors  were  successful.  The  build- 
ing committee  was  composed  of  three  leading  business  men, — J.  H.  Dan- 
forth, E.  A.  Baldwin,  and  E.  B.  Merriam.  Under  their  skillful  manage- 
ment the  church  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  only  $3,000.  It  was  dedicated 
in  1870.  In  1872  it  was  furnished  with  a  bell  weighing  450  pounds.  This 
became  broken,  and  another  was  bought  in  1875.  A  parsonage  was  built 
in  L882.  The  church  seats  200,  has  a  fine  auditorium,  and  possesses  excel- 
lent acoustic  proportion. 


Town  of  Stratford.  77 


Pastors.— In  1843  Rev.  A.  Bedell  supplied  the  pulpit  about  six  months. 
Rev.  Daniel  Rowley,  the  first  settled  minister,  was  here  two  years.  Rev. 
George  W.  Butler  was  here  from  1845  to  1851.  He  lived  in  the  house  at 
the  mill,  and  preached  in  the  town-house  and  Baldwin  school-house.  From 
his  pastorate  there  were  but  occasional  "supplies'*  until  1857.  Since  then 
have  officiated  C.  W.  Bailey,  Amos  Boardman,  E.  P.  Borden,  C.  W.  Walker. 
George  A.  Glines,  S.  D.  Ashby,  A.  Bedell,  J.  L.  Sanborn,  S.  A.  Reed, 
William  Beavins,  William  McGregor,  L.  A.  Cornwall,  C.  H.  Sisson.  E.  C. 
Goodwin  came  in  December,  1886. 

Deacons. — Samuel  Thomas,  J.  W.  Forbes,  Elisha  Baldwin,  E.  A.  Bald- 
win. 

Sunday-School. — An  interesting  Sunday-school  of  about  eighty  schol- 
ars is  held  in  connection  with  the  church.  The  superintendents  from 
organization  have  been  E.  A.  Baldwin,  G.  W.  Butler,  N.  W.  Alger,  Silas 
W.  Curtis,  Rollin  A.  Baldwin.  The  superintendent  in  L887  was  Deacon 
E.  A.  Baldwin;  the  teachers  Rev.  E.  C.  Goodwin.  Silas  W.  Curtis,  N.  W. 
Baldwin,  Mary  Baldwin,  Edith  Thompson. 

In  1887  a  Catholic  church  was  erected.  This  is  an  ornament  to  the 
place. 

Education.  —  Prior  to  1884  onhy  a  common  district  school  furnished  in- 
struction. The  vestry  of  the  church  was  used  for  some  years  as  a  school- 
room. In  1884  the  beautiful  two-story  school- house  now  occupied  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  two  of  the  three  rooms  seated  to  accommodate 
108  pupils,  and  the  school  properly  graded  and  supplied  with  apparatus. 
The  average  attendance  is  eighty.  Miss  Mary  A.  Danforth  is  principal; 
Miss  Mary  A.  Parker,  assistant.  The  board  of  education  is  Guy  W.  John- 
son, John  C.  Pat  tee,  Charles  D.  Piatt. 

Hotels. — The  first  place  opened  for  travellers  was  a  shanty  built  about 
1851,  on  land  leased  of  William  Fuller,  by  one  Gaskell.  It  stood  on  the 
ground  now  occupied  by  the  Hinman  House.  Gaskell  with  various  part- 
ners conducted  it  some  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  W.  H.  Crawford 
and  Harvey  Hinman  who  purchased  the  property  in  September,  1853.  The 
main  building  of  the  Hinman  House  was  put  up  about  the  same  time. 
Crawford  would  not  sell  to  Mr.  Hinman,  and  C.  P.  True  purchased  his  in- 
terest, August  1,  1854,  and  deeded  it  to  Mr.  Hinman  the  same  day.  Dur- 
ing the  few  weeks  it  was  afterward  occupied  by  Crawford,  it  is  said  he 
did  considerable  damage  to  the  property.  When  Mr.  Hinman  took  posses- 
sion he  repaired  and  refitted  it,  and  opened  it  the  same  season  as  the  Hinman 
House.  From  that  time  it  has  been  kept  as  a  hotel  by  Mr.  Hinman  and 
his  son,  H.  B.  Hinman.  who  leased  the  property  in  1869  and  became  its 
proprietor  in  1874.  For  some  years  it  was  the  chief  hotel  of  the  place;  the 
small  number  of  rooms,  however,  were  not  equal  to  the  requirements  of 
travel,  and  the  Willard  House  took  that  place.     No  more  enjoyable  meal 


772  History  of  Coos  County. 

can  be  obtained,  however,  than  here,  and  the  moderate  charges  cause 
much  patronage. 

In  1852  the  dwelling  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Elmina  Gamsby  was  built 
by  Clark  P.  True  and  opened  as  a  tavern  by  Andrew  Pitts.  In  a  short 
time  the  place  was  purchased  by  Mrs.  Gamsby,  who  kept  travellers  until 
other  accommodations  were  provided. 

The  Willard  House  was  opened  by  Jerry  Willard  in  November,  1858. 
He  kept  it  until  the  next  May,  when  E.  P.  Bailey  took  it  and  conducted  it 
for  two  years  and  a  half.  Mr.  Willard  then  was  its  landlord  until  1 865, 
when  he  sold  it  to  Jennison  &  Crane,  who  carried  it  on  until  1868,  when 
Mr.  Willard  again  became  proprietor  for  one  year.  He  leased  it  then  to 
Clark  Trask  for  two  years,  and  then  again  ran  it  for  one  year.  He  closed 
his  connection  with  the  house  by  selling  it  to  C.  S.  Bailey  and  E.  H.  Folsom. 
Mr.  Folsom  soon  bought  out  Mr.  Bailey  and  remained  seven  years.  He 
sold  to  Rowan  &  Gould.  C.  E.  Moses  purchased  Rowan's  interest  Febru- 
ary 18,  1879,  and  Gould's  interest  December  6,  1879,  and  ran  it  until 
November  19,  1883,  when  George  Hilliard  leased  the  hotel.  Mr.  Moses 
bought  Mr.  Hilliard's  lease  January  7,  18S6,  and  closed  and  repaired  the 
house,  which  he  re-opened  March  27,  1886,  with  J.  W.  Tibbetts  as  partner, 
to  whom  he  leased  one-half  interest  for  three  years.  Mr.  Tibbetts  sold  his 
lease  to  W.  H.  Bishop,  December  22,  1886.  This  house  has  rooms  for  fifty 
guests,  and  has  a  large  public  hall  connected.  Under  the  management  of 
Mr.  Moses  this  hotel  possesses  attractions  for  the  traveller  and  has  a  fine 
patronage.  The  table  is  one  of  the  best  in  Northern  New  Hampshire;  the 
rooms  are  kept  scrupulously  neat,  and  the  whole  service  of  the  house  is 
•excellent. 

The  Percy  House  was  built  about  1869  by  V.  R.  Davis,  who  carried  it  on 
lor  some  years.  Since  he  left  it  the  house  has  been  open  part  of  the  time, 
with  various  proprietors.  Those  who  were  the  longest  here  were  Mr. 
Smith  from  1879  to  1882,  and  J.  W.  Tibbetts  from  1883  to  1886. 

H.  B.  Hinman  began  the  livery  business  in  1869  with  one  horse.  He 
purchased  the  livery  attached  to  the  Willard  House  in  1886,  and  employs 
from  twenty  to  thirty  horses. 

Knights  of  Honor. — Coos  Lodge,  No.  2,533,  was  organized  August  26, 
1881,  with  twenty-two  members,  namely:  H.  B.  Hinman,  J.  C.  Pattee, 
E.  B.  Merriam,  Clark  Stevens,  A.  D.  Norcott,  C.  E.  Thompson,  Ayers 
Trufant.  George  C.  Kimball,  G.  J.  Schoff,  E.  S.  McCoy,  H.  S.  Goodwin, 
W.  C.  Carpenter,  R.  A.  Baldwin,  H.  A.  Beecher.  J.  H.  Danforth,  Lewis 
Titus,  E.  L.  Parlin,  James  Ogle,  E.  C.  Tibbetts,  G.  W.  Dalley,  Burton 
Beecher,  J.  M.  Baldwin.  First  officers:  Dictator,  H.  B.  Hinman;  Re- 
porter, \Y~.  C.  Carpenter;  Financial  Reporter,  E.  B.  Merriam;  Treasurer, 
J.  H.  Danforth.  The  present  membership  is  thirty  nine.  The  lodge  owns 
a  three-story  building,  thirty  by  sixty  feet    in  size,  which   cost  $2,600. 


Town  of  Stratford.  773 


The  upper  story  contains  a  well-appointed  hall  for  Lodge  meetings;  the  two 
lower  ones  are  leased  for  business  purposes.  The  officers  for  L887  are: 
Dictator,  W.  R.  Wilson;  Reporter,  C.  W.  Clongh;  Financial  Reporter,  0. 
E.  Moses;  Treasurer,  H  A.  Beecher;  Trustees,  Clark  Stevens,  A.  D.  Nor- 
cott,  William  11.  Dan  forth. 

Good  Templars. — Victory  Lodge,  No.  7i»,  was  instituted  February  15, 
L883,  with  thirty  four  members:  E.  A.  Baldwin,  Earvey  Hinman,  Mr. 
and  Mis.  Leonard  Williams,  F.  A.  Rohy,  Jennie  Thompson.  Ira  Day,  Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  J.  B.  Alger,  Mary  Whitcomb,  Charles  Day,  Charles  Blodgett, 
Willis  Alger,  E.  S.  Greenleaf,  Daniel  Phillips,  Burt  Stevens,  Lena  Perkins, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  A.  Bowker,  Fred  A.  Hinman,  Milton  Cook,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cyrus  Blodgett,  Dr.  Moses  Whitcomb,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Pattee,  Allie 
Bundy,  Leonard  Titus,  Willie  Beecher,  Alex.  Ogle,  Edith  Wilson,  Henry 
Burbank,  Harry  Bowker.  First  officers:  Cyrus  Blodgett,  W.  C.  T. ;  .Mrs. 
B.  A.  Bowker,  W.  V.  T.;  B.  A.  Bowker,  Sect.;  Milton  Cook,  Treas.;  E.  S. 
Greenleaf,  Chaplain.  This  lodge  has  about  fifty  members  now,  and  holds 
its  meetings  Tuesday  evenings  at  Tsvohey's  hall.  The  present  officers 
(April,  1887,)  are:  James  Tvvohey,  Chief  Templar;  Allie  Trufant,  Vice 
Templar;  Maud  Amey,  Sect.;  Ola  Thrasher,  Treas.;  E.  A.  Baldwin,  Chap- 
lain. 

G.  A.  R.—R.  R.  Thompson  Post,  No.  77,*  was  formed  April  16,  1884, 
under  a  charter  granted  April  6,  1884,  C.  P.  Schorr,  W.  H.  Lovejoy,  and 
Clark  Stevens  being  the  chief  promoters.  The  first  officers  were  C.  P. 
Schoff,  Commander;  W.  H.  Lovejoy,  S.  V.  C. ;  H.  B.  Gilkey,  J.  V.  C; 
Clark  Stevens,  Q.  M.;F.  A.  Roby,  Adjutant.  Charter  members:  Clark 
Stevens,  C.  P.  Schoff,  N.  M.  Johnson,  Myron  C.  Fuller,  Frank  C.  Roby, 
Fred  A.  Roby,  Edwin  Beach,  Simon  Grover,  Erastus  A.  Atherton,  Isaac 
M.  Wood,  George  W.  Rowell,  Silas  W.  Curtis,  H.  B.  Gilkey,  Edwin  Hol- 
brook,  Michael  Lynch,  W.  F.  Severy,  William  W.  Russ,  W.  E.  Crown. 
Present  officers:  W.  H.  Lovejoy,  Commander;  Edwin  Holbrook,  S.  A7". 
C;  Isaac  N.  Wood,  J.  V.  C;  Clark  Stevens,  Q.  M.;  F.  A.  Roby,  Adjutant. 
The  post  has  a  membership  of  thirty  -five,  and  holds  its  meetings  semi- 
monthly in  Twohey'shall. 

Knights  of  Labor. — T.  V,  Powderly  Lodge,  No.  8,161,  was  organized 
July  10,  1886,  with  fifty  seven  members.  The  number  is  now  about  350. 
Place  of  meeting,  Twohey's  hall. 

♦Robert  Riclmrdson  Thompson,  born  in  ltumford,  Ms.,  December  17.  1822,  was  a  descendant  of  John 
Thompson,  an  early  emigrant  of  the  Plymouth  Colony.  Robert  was  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  college,  and  a 
civil  engineer  of  marked  ability.  He  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth  New  Hampshire  (Co.  H),  in  August,  1862, 
as  a  private.  He  was  in  all  the  battles  m  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  until  August,  1863.,  ami  received 
a  second  lieutenant's  commission  July,  1863.  May  16,  1864,  he  was  wounded  at  Fort  Darling,  and  July  15 
he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Go.  D,  and  was  acting  adjutanl  of  the  regiment.  He  was  instantly 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Chapin's  Bluff,  September  29,  1864,  falling  almost  at  the  moment  of  victory,  as  he  was 
about  entering  the  fort  with  his  company.     He  was  a  brave  soldier,  ami  a  true  man  in  every  relation  of  life. 


774  History  of  Coos  County. 

Granite  Stale  Stock-Farm. — In  1884  Dr.  D.  0.  Eowell  purchased  the 
farm  of  350  acres,  known  as  the  ''Nathan  Baldwin"  farm,  of  which 
ninety-seven  acres  are  rich  interval  land,  and  is  developing  a  fine  stock- 
farm.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  standard-bred  horses  and  Jersey  and 
Polled- Angus  cattle,  and  now  has  thirty-one  horses,  and  twenty- five 
thorough-bred  cattle,  about  two-thirds  of  which  are  Jerseys.  He  is  pay- 
ing most  attention  to  horses  and  has  a  fine  stud;  at  the  head  is  "Pilotone," 
No.  4,204,  two  years  old.  Another  fine  animal  is  "  King  Arthur,'-  by  "  Con- 
stellation," half-brother  of  the  noted  "Glenharm,"  five  years  old,  with  a 
record  of  2:23f. 

Mills. — The  Turner's  Falls  Lumber  Company  purchased,  in  1887,  the 
mill  of  Ezra  F.  Merrill,  on  Bog  brook,  in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  This 
mill  has  been  conducted  by  Mr.  Merrill  for  forty  years.  It  is  now  run  by 
steam,  and  consists  of  a  rotary  saw-mill,  shingle  and  clapboard  machines, 
with  a  capacity  of  manufacturing  25,000  feet  a  day. 

David  Stone,  on  the  same  stream  a  short  distance  below,  has  a  rotary 
saw  and  shingle,  clapboard,  and  lath  machines,  run  by  water-power. 

Frank  N.  Piper  manufactures  flour  and  meal. 

Physicians. — Dr.  Cyrus  C.  Carpenter,  so  well-known  and  esteemed 
for  long  years  as  the  trusted  family  physician  of  a  large  circle,  was 
son  of  Dr.  Cyrus  Carpenter,  and  born  at  Whiting,  Vt.,  May  29,  1819. 
After  his  medical  studies  at  Castleton  and  New  York,  he  passed  some 
years  in  the  west,  and  was  then  in  practice  in  Vermont  until  1851,  when 
he  came  to  Stratford.  From  this  time  he  was  in  active  practice  until  his 
death,  November  13,  1886. 

Dr.  Moses  Win tcomb,  homeopathist,  located  here  in  1861,  and  is  now 
in  practice.  C.  E.  Thompson,  M.  D.,  a  graduate  of  Burlington,  (Vt.), 
Medical  college,  came  in  1880.  He  died  in  18s7.  H.  W.  Blanchard,  M.  D., 
son  of  David  Blanchard,  of  Pittsburg,  a  graduate  of  Burlington  Medi- 
cal college,  began  practice  here  in  1886  Of  pleasing  address,  winning 
manners,  high  moral  principles,  and  devoted  to  his  profession,  he  gave 
promise  of  much  usefulness,  but  died  suddenty  in  December,  1887. 

Lawyers. — Joseph  W.  Merriam,  son  of  David  and  Joanna  (Smith)  Mer- 
riman,  born  in  Stratford,  June  14,  1828,  studied  law  with  Burns  &  Fletcher, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Lancaster  in  1854.  He  was  of  literary 
tastes;  became  first  assistant  editor  of  the  Cods  Democrat,  and  afterwards 
was  connected  with,  and  did  able  work  for,  the  New  Hampshire  Patriot, 
Boston  Post,  and  Memphis  (Tenn.)  Avalanche.  The  civil  war  drove  him 
north,  and  after  practicing  law  in  Grinnell,  Iowa,  a  short  time,  he  estab- 
lished  himself  in  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative 
business. 

Charles  D.  Johnson,  son  of  Marcus  D.  and  Maria  (Marshall)  Johnson, 
was  born  in  Stratford,  June  13,  1S35.    He  studied  la  w  with  Gov.  Williams, 


Town  of  Stratford.  775 


and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  November,  1858.  He  at  once  commenced 
practice  in  North  Stratford,  but  soon  died.  (See  Press  of  Coos  county  in 
General  History.) 

Moses  Holbrook,  son  of  Oren  Holbrook,  born  in  Stratford,  November 
17,  1844,  studied  law  with  Hon.  B.  F.  Whidden,  and  at  the  University  of 
Michigan.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  now  in 
practice  in  Boston. 

Brief  Personal  Sketches. — Captain  Ephraim  Mahurin  was  born  in 
Westmoreland,  March  1, 1780.  He  married  Rebecca  Bundy,  of  Walpole, 
and  came  to  Stratford  in  1801.  He  was  a  man  of  much  more  than  ordi- 
nary abilities,  and  superior  in  education  to  most  of  his  associates,  entering 
Middlebury  college  before  he  was  seventeen.  Of  strong  frame,  tireless 
energy,  and  dauntless  nature,  he  was  peculiarly  well  adapted  to  make 
himself  felt  in  the  exigent  circumstances  of  the  times.  He  early  taught 
school;  he  was  U.  S.  customs  officers  on  the  frontier  during  the  War  of 
1812,  and  fearlessly  and  faithfully  performed  the  arduous  duties  contingent 
upon  the  position;  he  was  captain  of  a  company  of  regular  soldiers  en- 
listed from  Grafton  and  Coos  counties  to  serve  on  the  border;  he  was  sent 
repeatedly  to  the  legislature,  serving  his  last  term  in  1825;  he  was  sheriff 
from  1S25  to  1830,  and  deputy  sheriff  for  twenty-five  years;  he  did  much 
in  surveying,  in  which  he  was  an  acknowledged  expert,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  1836  by  the  Boundary  Commission  to  make  explorations  and 
surveys  along  the  border  in  Indian  Stream  Territory;  he  was  one  of  the 
party  that  rescued  Blanchard  from  the  "  King's-men  ";  in  company  with 
Samuel  White  he  was  for  a  time  in  trade  in  Lancaster;  educated  as  a 
lawyer,  he  did  much  legal  business,  and  in  his  last  years  was  noted  for 
his  skill  in  drafting  documents,  particularly  conveyances;  he  was  road 
commissioner  in  1850-51;  he  was  a  member  of  the  first  Masonic  lodge 
formed  in  Coos  county.  During  a  long,  extremely  active  and  useful  life, 
honor  and  integrity  marked  all  his  actions.  He  died  in  Stratford,  March  4, 
1859,  aged  seventy -nine  years  and  three  days. 

Joshua  Marshall  came  with  his  father,  Antipas,  from  Gloucester,  Mass., 
in  1796,  when  sixteen.  He  married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Eliphalet  and 
Tirzah  (French)  Day,  and  settled  in  Stratford.  He  was  chosen  town  clerk 
in  1814,  and  for  years  thereafter  was  in  public  office;  he  represented  this 
district  numerous  terms  in  the  legislature;  was  a  justice  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  from  1833  to  1850;  was  for  over  half  a  century  a  consistent 
and  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  holding  the  office  of 
steward  for  twenty  years.  "Judge"  Marshall,  as  he  was  universally 
called,  died  May  14.  1861. 

Nahum  Daniels  Day  was  born  in  Northumberland  February  24,  L807, 
and  was  early  in  life  a  teacher;  afterwards  he  became  a  merchanl  al  Strat- 
ford Hollow  in  company  with  Mark  Webb;  later  still  he  was  a  farmer. 


776  History  of  Coos  County. 


He  was  prominent  and  of  value  in  public  matters  and  office.  He  filled 
many  town  offices  wisely;  was  a  member  of  the  legislature;  succeeded 
Joshua  Marshall  in  1850  as  justice  of  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  held 
this  position  until  1855;  from  1861  to  1863  he  was  county  treasurer.  A 
gentleman  of  strong  convictions,  urbane  manners  and  wide-sweeping 
charity,  he  acquired  a  large  circle  of  personal  friends,  which  came  from  all 
shades  of  politics  and  religion.  He  was  quite  well  educated,  and  was  a 
close,  reflective  reader  and  a  man  of  deep  and  logical  reason.  He  died 
August  15.  1872. 

Marcus  D.  Johnson,  "the  old  surveyor,"  is  a  survival  of  the  plain,  un- 
assuming, yet  solid  men  of  another  generation.  He  has  been  for  long 
years  an  active  and  useful  citizen,  and  a  wTorthy  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  He  is  an  authority  on  lines  and  angles;  can  reproduce  from  mem- 
ory a  plot  of  nearly  every  lot  in  a  wide  radius,  and  is  as  vigorous  as  many 
men  now  in  the  prime  of  life;  with  an  accurate  memory,  reaching  through 
a  long  line  of  years,  he  is  a  treasure-house  of  information  to  the  historian. 

In  a  work  of  this  character  it  is  impossible  to  give  extended  sketches 
of  many  over  whom  our  pen  would  gladly  linger.  The  old  families,  nearly 
without  exception,  have  descendants  doing  credit  to  their  name  in  many 
fields  of  distinction  and  honor;  the  live  men  of  to-day  who  are  maintaining 
the  standard  of  the  town  by  their  financial,  business  and  official  ability  are 
worthy  of  more  than  a  mere  mention,  and  we  could  write  much  of  the 
Danforths,  the  Hinmans,  the  Stevenses,  and  other  enterprising  and  promi- 
nent men,  but  space  forbids;  and  we  leave  a  full  account  of  all  these  to  ap- 
pear in  the  town  history  now  in  preparation  by  Rev.  L.  W.  Prescott,  as 
being  more  in  accordance  with  such  a  work. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


THE   BALDWIN   FAMILY. 

The  Baldwin  family  for  nearly  a  century  has  been  connected  with  the 
improvement  and  progress  of  Stratford  in  its  civil,  business  and  ecclesias- 
tical  interests,  and  deserves  especial  mention  in  its  history.  They  were 
among  the  early  settlers,  people  of  education  and  culture,  and  of  Episco- 
palian  faith.  Jabez  Baldwin,  born  April  8,  1733,  married  Judith  Brace  in 
August,  177<»;  and  March  13,  1788,  they,  with  their  children,  Nathan,  John, 
Lucinda,  Lucia  and  Marcia,  left  their  home  in  Newtown,  Conn.,  and  emi- 
grated to  the  wilderness  town  of  Stratford.  Mr.  Baldwin  located,  January, 
1790,  upon  tlic  place  known  as  the  Baldwin  farm  (still  in  the  possession  of 
his   descendants),   where   lie   had   erected   a   framed   house  with  lumber 


Town  of  Stratford.  777 


brought  up  the  river  from  Guildhall,  V I .  This  was  the  first  framed  house  in 
the  section.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  one  of  the  grantees  of  Stratford,  and.  before 
coming,  selected  from  the  plan  of  the  town  the  lot  now  forming  the  inter- 
val of  the  Granite  State  Stock-Farm;  but,  on  arriving  here,  his  number 
called  for  the  lot  below,  yet  eventually  this  lot  came  into  the  possession  of 
his  children.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth  in  Connecticut,  but  the  greater 
part  of  his  property  was  lost  during  the  Revolution.  In  the  spirit  of  true 
manhood  he  left  his  old  home  to  create  a  new  one  in  the  "  woods,''  and  his 
family  bravely  bore  the  deprivations  and  hardships  of  the  life  in  the  new 
settlement.  September  19,  178S,  Elisha  was  born,  and  Charlotte  (Mrs. 
Enos  Alger),  October  s,  1792.  Several  years  passed,  and  although  they 
missed  the  luxuries  of  the  old  home,  yet  they  were  contented.  In  1803 
Mr.  Baldwin  went  to  Connecticut  to  attend  to  some  unsettled  business. 
During  his  absence  his  family  was  attacked  by  small-pox,  and  when  he 
reached  Lancaster  he  received  a  message  .from  his  wife  to  remain  there,, 
but  he  came  home,  took  the  disease,  and  died. 

Upon  his  eldest  son,  Nathan,  devolved  the  care  of  this  large  family.  He 
possessed  great  intellectual  ability,  became  prominent  in  town  affairs,  and 
was  several  times  elected  to  the  legislature.  He  was  appointed  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Sessions  in  1821.  He  married,  first,  Kate  Schoff;  second, 
Susan  Bundy.      His  last  years  were  passed  in  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1867. 

Elisha  Baldwin,  born  in  Stratford,  September  19, 1788,  became  a  farmer 
on  the  old  homestead;  received  his  education  at  home  under  a  private 
teacher,  and  at  the  schools  of  that  early  period;  was  a  Federalist  in  poli- 
tics, and  filled  the  several  duties  to  which  he  was  called  with  fidelity,  and 
was  prominent  in  the  organization  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  married 
Huldah,  daughter  of  Edmund  and  Huldah  (Lothrop)  Alger,  of  West 
Bridgewater,  Mass.  [See  biography  of  L.  W.  Alger,  Stewartstown.]  Their 
children  were  Elisha  Alger,  born  December  30,  1818;  William  Lothrop; 
John  Brace,  born  November  12,  1822;  Edmund  Willis,  born  March  24, 
1825;  Jedediah  Miller,  born  March  9,  1827;  Lucinda  Annette  (Mrs.  Jabez 
B.  Alger),  born  November  14.  1829;  and  Lucia  Annette  (Mrs.  Robert  R. 
Thompson),  born  February  i;7.  Is:'.:'..  Mrs.  Huldah  (Alger)  Baldwin  would 
have  been  a  prominent  woman  in  any  place  and  at  any  time.  Coming  in 
early  girlhood  from  Massachusetts,  she  took  an  active  interest  in  educa- 
tion, the  means  of  obtaining  which  were,  alas!  extremely  slender  in  the 
forest  wilderness  where  her  lot  was  cast.  Of  great  and  courageous  heart, 
indomitable  energy  and  executive  ability,  she  mastered  more  than  the 
rudiments  of  a  good  English  education,  and  her  letters  wore  models  of 
penmanship  and  correct  spelling.  She  had  a  wonderful  skill  in  nursing; 
never  forgot  a  "  prescription  "  for  any  disease,  and  in  mature  life  was  the 
"  beloved  physician  "  of  a  wide  extent  of  country.  Her  family  was  well 
brought   up.     She   instilled   her   habits   of   neatness,   force,    and    system 


778  History  of  Coos  County. 


thoroughly  into  their  natures,  and  did  a  noble  woman's  work  nobly 
through  a  long  course  of  years.  Her  charity  was  more  than  charity.  She 
was  the  "Lady  Bountiful  "of  the  community,  and  her  whole  life  was 
sustained  by  an  unfaltering  and  reverent  trust  in  God,  her  Heavenly 
Father. 

William  Lothrop  Baldwin  was  born  on  the  Baldwin  homestead  in 
Stratford,  May  18,  1820.  He  obtained  a  good  education  at  the  local  schools 
and  Lancaster  academy.  While  a  youth  he  had  quite  a  taste  for  agricul- 
ture, was  active  as  a  farmer,  and  developed  great  capacity  as  a  judge  of 
cattle;  but  his  health  was  impaired  by  overwork  before  he  was  twenty- 
one,  and  he  was  forced  to  change  his  avocation.  He  followed  teaching 
successfully  for  several  years  in  this  state,  Rhode  Island,  and  Quebec.  He 
also  taught  vocal  music.  About  1818  he  returned  to  Stratford,  and,  in 
connection  with  his  brother,  Elisha  A.  (a  natural  and  trained  mechanic), 
he  engaged  in  building  mills.  This  was  a  great  undertaking,  as  it  was 
previous  to  the  advent  of  the  railroad,  and  the  machinery  had  to  be  hauled 
from  Portland.  They  put  up  a  small  saw  and  grist-mill  on  Mill  brook, 
added  a  turning  lathe,  shingle  and  clapboard  machines,  and  manufactured 
machinery.  This  was  the  first  mill  of  modern  make  in  this  section,  and  a 
great  number  of  the  mills  erected  for  along  time  in  Upper  Coos  were  built 
by  E.  A.  Baldwin. 

In  1849  the  Baldwin  Brothers  erected  a  mill  on  the  Vermont  side  of 
the  Connecticut,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nulhegan  river.  (This  mill  was 
burned  February  20,  1885,  and  the  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  immense 
mills  of  the  Nulhegan  Lumber  Company.)  William  L.  Baldwin  changed 
his  residence  to  Bloomheld,  and  made  that  town  his  home  for  fourteen 
years.  The  first  lumber  sawn  was  rafted  in  May,  1851,  and  was  the  first 
sent  to  Massachusetts  through  the  canal  at  Fifteen-mile  falls,  and,  also, 
the  first  lumber  rafted  for  transportation  down  the  Upper  Connecticut. 
Employment  was  given  to  numerous  people,  and  the  flourishing  village  of 
North  Stratford  formed  from  an  old  blackberry  jungle.  LTnder  a  charter 
granted  July,  1850,  the  Baldwin  Bridge  Company  erected  the  toll-bridge 
across  the  Connecticut,  which  was  opened  for  travel  in  June,  1852.  Thus  in 
many  and  highly  important  ways  Mr.  Baldwin  was  identified  with  the 
development  and  business  interests  of  Stratford,  and  one  of  its  most  valued 
component  parts.  His  business  occupied  him  closely,  yet  he  served  as  se- 
lectman and  as  justice  in  Bloomfield;  and,  always  a  strong  Republican, 
was  the  first  postmaster  of  "North  Stratford"  postoffice.  From  1805  his 
business  life  was  in  Stratford,  and  comprised  lumbering,  merchandising, 
and  farming,  until  his  sudden  death  December  27,  1878. 

Mr  Baldwin  was  five  feet,  eight  inches  in  height;  remarkably  erect. 
His  disposition  was  sanguine,  and  he  was  generous  to  a  fault.  During  the 
hard  times,  when  to  run  his  mill  was  a  loss,  he  carried  it  on  for  two  years 


Town  of  Stratford.  779 


in  order  to  give  his  workmen  employment,  sacrificing  his  own  interests  to 
promote  that  of  others.  That  he  was  sagacious  and  far-seeing  was  evinced 
by  his  large  purchases  of  wild  lands;  the  value  of  which  was  apparent  to 
him  before  scarcely  any  had  dreamed  of  it.  As  a  religious  man  he  was 
especially  marked.  He  was  one  of  the  thirteen  original  members  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  Stratford,  and  was  a  consistent,  devoted  Christian.  His 
business  affairs  did  not  detain  him  from  the  church  meetings.  There  his 
voice  was  raised  in  song  and  prayer,  and  his  fervent  spirit  would  often  en- 
courage the  disheartened.  He  manifested  his  Christianity  in  his  daily  life, 
and  in  his  home,  where  he  was  ever  the  kind  husband  and  affectionate 
father,  never  speaking  an  angry  word.  Public-spirited,  trusted  by  all,  the 
world  was  the  better  for  his  having  lived. 

Mr.  Baldwin  married,  February  8,  1850,  Maria  Jane,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Towne)  Holmes,  a  native  of  Colebrook.  -  She  was  born  Decem- 
ber 17,  1822.  She  is  a  lady  of  strong  individuality  and  great  executive 
ability.  Her  energy  and  capability  were  powerful  factors  in  the  household, 
and  to  her  husband  she  was  an  efficient  helpmeet,  a  wise  counsellor,  and 
intelligent  companion.  Their  children  were  Edmund  William;  John 
Holmes;  Mary  Annette;  Mira  Agnes  (these  daughters  died  in  infancy, 
January,  1862,  of  diphtheria — John  H.  in  September  of  the  same  year); 
Isabella  Sarah,  who  early  showed  remarkable  facility  for  any  pursuit  and 
had  a  wonderful  memory.  She  spent  only  one  year  at  the  Ursuline  acad- 
emy in  Quebec,  and  received  first  prizes  with  young  lady  graduates  in 
English  literature,  poetry  and  composition;  she  could  also  speak  French 
with  ease.  "Her  personal  appearance  was  beautiful,  and  in  disposition 
she  was  angelic."  She  died  July,  1881,  aged  fifteen;  Janie  Maria,  the 
youngest,  equally  gifted  intellectually,  possessed  a  taste  and  eye  for  all 
that  was  beautiful.  She  died  June,  1884,  aged  sixteen.  Edmund  William 
resides  with  his  mother  in  Stratford.  He  married  Flora  Madison,  and  has 
two  children. — Bertie  Edith  and  Janie  Holmes. 

*The  Holmes  family  were  early  settlers  (if  Colebrook,  coming  from  Hanover  in  1815.  John  Holmes  was 
a  native  of  Woodstock,  Conn.;  his  wife  of  Oxford,  Mass.  Their  family  of  twelve  children  attained  maturity; 
some  of  them  wen-  distinguished  by  the  intellectual  traits  thai  have  made  the  descendants  of  tie-  name  from 
Woodstock  famous.  The  eldest  son.  Rev.  John  Holmes.  Jr.,  studied  at  Dartmouth  college  and  completed  his 
studies  at  Montreal.  Canada,  where  he  was  closely  identified  with  educational  matters.  In  is:((;  lie  was  com- 
missioned by  the  Provincial  government  to  inquire  into  the  system  of  Normal  schools  in  Europe,  and  re- 
turned in  1837  with  professors,  apparatus,  etc.,  for  the  schools  which  were  then  opened  in  Montreal  and 
other  parts  of  Canada.  Be  was  renowned  as  a  religious  orator;  was  the  author  of  several  hooks,  one  of 
which,  a  manual  of  modern  geography,  has  reached  its  sixth  edition.  Susan  Towne  Holmes,  the  seventh 
child,  called  in  religion  Mother  St.  Croix,  has  ranked  high  asateacher,  writer  of  histories  and  Bchool-books, 
She  is  at  present  i  1887  I,  at  the  age  of  seventy,  assistant  superior  of  the  Ursuline  Convent  at  Quebec. 


Cods  County, 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


History  of  Towns. 


ANDROSCOGGIN  DIVISION. 


BERLIN,  MILAN,  DUMMER, 

SHELBURNE,  GORHAM,  RANDOLPH, 

ERROL,    SUCCESS,    MILLSFIELD,    ETC. 


i — i 
pq 
Pi 

O      ■ 

fe    s 


< 
u     z 

Q 

cr. 

W 


BERLIN. 


CHAPTER  XCTII. 


Introductory — Topograph}-— Scenery— Mountains,  Streams,  Etc.— Tinker's  Brook,  Minerals, 
Etc.— Act  of  Incorporation— Call  for  First  Town  Meeting— Action  of  First  Town  Meeting— Res- 
idents' Names  and  Ages,  1829— Residents,  Stock,  and  Improvements  in  1830— Names  of  Voters  by 
Decades. 


*\  T  0  town  in  Coos  has  shown  such  growth  and  prosperity  during  the  last 
[  ^  decade  as  the,  to  that  time,  comparatively  obscure  and  unimportant 
\,  town  of  Berlin.  By  its  rapid  development  and  increase  in  popula- 
tion and  wealth  it  has  astonished  the  slower  towns,  assumed  an  influence 
equal  to  any,  and  stands  to-day  the  admiration  and  pride  of  the  county. 
This  has  been  accomplished  by  the  development  of  a  small  portion  of  the 
magnificent  water-power  afforded  by  the  Androscoggin  river  in  its  passage 
through  the  town.  Ten  years  ago  there  was  but  one  manufacturing 
establishment  here  which  conducted  a  large  business.  This  was  the  fore- 
runner of  the  many  gigantic  enterprises  which  Nature  has  intended  shall 
utilize  the  rushing  waters  and  be  established  on  the  rocky  banks  of  the 
Androscoggin. 

The  history  of  the  town  goes  back  to  the  years  previous  to  the  Revolu- 
tion ;  but  for  a  long  time  it  was  uninteresting  and  of  little  importance.  Hunt- 
ers and  trappers  camped  here  in  pursuit  of  game  and  peltry ;  later,  the  mag- 
nificent growth  of  pine  brought  lumbermen  from  the  lower  country  to 
cut  the  logs  which  they  transported  to  the  mills  below;  early  settlers,  on 
farms  further  down  the  valley,  when  in  want  of  ready  money  to  make 
payments  on  their  land  or  needed  supplies  for  their  families,  would  make 
a  temporary  occupancy  in  a  rude  camp  hastily  constructed,  and  by  hard 
labor  would  make  "salts"  from  the  ashes  of  the  large  elms  along  the 
valley;  then,  having  accomplished  the  object  of  their  visit,  would  return 
to  their  homes  to  tell  of  the  rocky  ledges,  the  beautiful  cascades,  and  the 
wonderful  growth  of  timber. 


781  History  of  Coos  County. 


The  surface  of  Berlin  is  broken  and  mountainous,  with  ledges  of  rock 
outcropping  in  many  places,  and,  in  others,  with  bowlders  of  varying 
sizes  scattered  over  the  ground.  It  is  not  an  agricultural  town,  although 
there  are  some  good  farms  in  the  eastern  part. 

The  town  was  granted  as  Maynesborough,  December  31,  1771,  to  Sir 
William  Mayne,  Bart.,  Robert,  Thomas,  and  Edward  Mayne,  and  others, 
of  Barbadoes,  and  was  incorporated  as  Berlin,  July  1,  1829.  Area  31,000 
acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Milan,  east  by  Success,  south  by 
Gorham  and  Randolph,  and  west  by  Kilkenny.  Many  fine  views  of 
mountain,  river  and  forest  scenery  are  afforded  from  various  points.  The 
view  from  Cates  hill  (Berlin  Heights)  is  especially  fine.  But  the  charm  of 
all  this  section  is  the  river  scenery  at  Berlin  Falls.  For  over  a  mile  a  suc- 
cession of  rapids  and  falls  whirl  along  the  rocky  banks  of  the  Androscog- 
gin, which  is  the  only  outlet  of  the  Umbagog  chain  of  lakes.  In  its  course 
above  it  receives  the  waters  of  the  Magalloway,  Diamond,  and  Clear  rivers, 
and  several  minor  streams;  and,  at  this  point,  it  is  scarcely  inferior  in  vol- 
ume to  the  Connecticut  at  Northumberland.  At  the  Glen  Manufacturing 
Company's  works  this  immense  mass  of  waters  is  poured  through  a  nar- 
row chasm  thirty-three  feet  in  width,  descending  in  the  space  of  100  yards 
nearly  twice  as  many  feet.  At  times  of  high  water,  notably  the  great 
flood  of  June,  1887,  the  view  combines  the  terrible,  majestic,  grand  and 
beautiful  in  a  wierd  and  fascinating  combination.  Seething  and  plunging 
and  whirling  itself  into  masses  of  snowy  foam,  it  rushes  down  the  narrow 
passage. 

"Rapid  as  the  light 
The  flashing  mass  foams,  shaking  the  abyss." 

Rev.  T.  Starr  King  says  that  he  does  not  think  "  in  New  England  there 
is  any  passage  of  river  passion  that  will  compare  with  the  Berlin  Falls. " 

Black  mountain,  Mt.  Forist,  Cave  mountain,  Berlin  Heights,  a  portion 
of  the  Pilot  range,  and  Mt.  Carbary  are  the  principal  elevations  of  the 
town.  Berlin  is  watered  by  the  Androscoggin,  Upper  Ammonoosuc, 
Plumpetoosuc  or  Dead  rivers,  Bean  and  Mollocket  brooks,  and  other  small 
streams.  Head  pond,  the  source  of  the  Ammonoosuc,  contains  about  100 
acres,  and  is  the  only  large  pond  in  town. 

Tinker  Brook,  Minerals  Etc. — Tinker  brook  derives  its  name  from 
Samuel  B.  Robbins,  an  eccentric  character,  who  lived  for  many  years  where 
Dexter  Blodgett  now  (1887)  resides.  He  was  a  travelling  tinker,  going 
from  house  to  house  through  the  country  with  his  kit,  mending  broken 
articles.  He  monopolized  the  fishing  in  this  brook  when  at  home,  much 
to  the  disgust  of  the  boys,  whom  he  used  to  drive  away,  thus  preventing 
their  indulgence  of  their  favorite  sport.  He  discovered  magnetic  iron  ore 
on  his  farm  during  the  ''forties,"  and  spent  much  time  in  looking  after 
more  precious  metals.     S.  D.  Blodgett  and  Ira  Mason  bonded  some  of  this 


Town  of  Berlin.  785 


land,  about  L876,  and  sunk  quite  a  shaft,  finding  nothing,  however,  to 
reward  their  efforts. 

In  this  connection  we  will  mention  that  two  Englishmen  employed  in 
building  the  railroad,  became  so  interested  in  a  piece  of  hind  on  Tinker 
brook,  about  half  a  mile  below  the  excavation  made  by  Bobbins,  that  they 
bonded  it,  returned  to  England  for  funds  to  purchase  and  make  sonic  kind 
of  developments,  and,  it  is  understood,  were  lost  on  the  return  voyage. 
They  made  no  confidants,  but,  as  they  had  fine  specimens  of  galena  in 
their  possession,  it  was  conjectured  that  they  had  discovered  this  metal 
there.     No  attempt  has  been  made  to  prove  this  conjecture  true. 

On  a  high  bluff  (Cave  mountain)  north  of  Dead  river  pond,  there  are 
several  veins  or  beds  of  a  compact  fields  par  (felsite),  having  the  appearance 
of  chalcedony  and  jasper.  The  beds  vary  in  thickness  from  a  few  inches 
to  several  feet,  and  at  one  point  there  is  a  cave  fourteen  feet  long,  nine 
feet  high,  and  six  feet  wide.  Fragments  of  the  felsite  are  scattered 
through  the  vegetable  mould  on  the  floor.  The  entrance  appears  to  have 
been  excavated  by  man,  and,  although  the  cave  is  doubtless  a  natural  one, 
the  Indians  who  resorted  here  to  obtain  the  rock  for  arrow  and  spear  heads, 
perhaps  enlarged  and  changed  its  form.  One  or  two  places  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  above  Berlin  Mills  were  evidently  the  places  where  this 
rock  was  wrought  into  desired  shapes,  as  the  "chips"  are  thickly  scat- 
tered in  these  localities.  On  Cates  hill  there  is  a  combination  of  minerals 
rarely  seen  on  the  surface.  It  appears  to  be  copper  and  tin,  which  are  ap- 
parently disseminated  through  the  rock.  No  concentration  of  either 
mineral  in  a  vein  has  been  found  as  yet. 

Act  of  Incorporation. — An  act  to  incorporate  a  town  by  the  name  of  Berlin,  passed  July  1,  1829. 

"Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  convened,  That 
the  tract  of  land  now  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  Maynesborough,  situate  in  the  county  of  Cods,  shall 
hereafter  be  known  by  the  name  of  Berlin,  and  shall  be  a  town  by  that  name. 

"Section  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  Th-it  the  inhabitants  of  said  township  be,  and  they  hereby  are 
made,  a  body  politic  and  corporate,  with  all  and  the  same  rights,  powers,  privileges,  immunities  and  liabili- 
ties of  similar  corporations  in  this  State;  and  the  said  town  of  Berlin  shall  be  classed  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  a  Representative,  and  shall  be  annexed  to  the  same  Councillor  and  Senatorial  districts  as  the  said 
Maynesborough  was  previous  to  the  passage  of  this  act. 

•'Section  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  for  the  purpose  of  duly  organizing  said  town  a  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  thereof  legally  qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs,  shall  be  holden  in  said  town  on  the  first 
Tuesday  of  September  next,  at  which  meeting  Selectmen  and  all  other  necessary  officers  may  be  elected  to 
■continue  in  office  until  others  are  chosen  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  this  State;  and  that  Benjamin  Thompson, 
Thomas  Ordway  and  Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr.,  or  any  two  of  them  be  authorized  to  call  said  uniting  of  said 
inhabitants  by  giving  such  notice  as  is  required  for  annual  town  meetings,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said 
Thompson,  Ordway  and  Wheeler,  or  some  one  of  them,  to  attend  and  open  said  meeting  and  preside  therein 
until  a  moderator  be  chosen. 

"Approved  July  1,  1829." 

Call  for  First  Town  Meeting.—"  State  of  New  Hampshire,  ss.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Berlin 
.qualified  by  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of  this  State  to  vote  in  town  affairs  are  hereby  notified  and  warned 
to  meet  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Andrew  Cates  in  said  Berlin  on  Tuesday  the  first  day  of  September  next, 
at  one  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon  of  said  day  for  and  to  act  on  the  following  particulars,  to  wit:  1.  To 
.choose  a  moderator  to  govern  said  meeting;  2,  To  choose atown  clerk  for  said  town.  3.  To  choose  three  suit- 
able persons  to  serve  as  Selectmen  and  assessors  for  said  town.    4,  To  choose  a  Treasurer  for  said  town.  5, 


786  History  of  Coos  County. 

To  choose  a  Constable,  Collector  of  Taxes.  Highway  Surveyor,  Surveyors  of  Lumber,  and  all  other  necessary 
officers  the  law  requires. 

"  Given  under  our  hands  and  seal  at  Berlin  this  tenth  day  of  August  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thous- 
and eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine 

"Thomas  Ordway  )  Organizing  Committee  appointed 

"  Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr.   f  by  the  Legislature." 

'"State  of  New  Hampshire,  Coos,  ss.     We  the  subscribers  hereby  certify  that  the  within  warrant  has  been 
posted  up  in  a  public  place  in  Berlin  more  than  fifteen  days  prior  to  this  day  of  meeting 
Berlin  September  1  1829 

"  gSSSSS,  Jr.   [Organizing  Committee^ 

Action  of  first  Town  Meeting. — "At  a  legal  meeting  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  warrant  duly  notified  and 
holden  at  Berlin  in  the  County  of  Coos  on  Tuesday  the  first  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Eigh- 
teen hundred  and  twenty-nine,  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  of  Berlin  having  a  right  to  vote  in  any  matter 
that  might  come  before  the  town,  by  a  major  vote  and  by  ballot:  1,  Chose  Andrew  Cates  moderator  to  preside 
in  said  meeting;  2,  Chose  Thomas  Ordway,  Town  Clerk;  3,  Chose  Amos  Green,  Thomas  Ordway  and  Thomas 
Wheeler,  Jr.,  Selectmen  and  Assessors;  4,  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  act  as  town  Treasurer;  5.  Chose  Peter 
Wheeler  Constable;  6,  Chose  Thomas  Green,  Jr.  Surveyor  of  Highways;  7,  Chose  Samuel  S.  Thompson  Surveyor 
of  Lumber;  8,  Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting." 

Residents'  Names  and  Ages,  1829. — The  following  are  the  names  of  all 
the  persons  resident  in  the  town  of  Berlin  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation, 
and  their  ages : — 

Thomas  Green,  Jr.,  born  February  12.  1783;  Lydia  Fairbanks  (Evans)  Green,  born  February  3,  1785; 
Amos  Green,  born  March  21, 1807;  Daniel  Green,  born  December  19,  1808;  Edmund  Green,  born  January  26, 
1812;  Aaron  Green,  January  4,  1814;  Lydia  Green,  born  August  17,  1817;  Livonia  Wallace  (Wallis(?))  born 
March  29,  1811;  Andrew  Cates,  born  May  30,  1784;  Batsey  (Scribner)  Cates,  born  July  14,  1785;  Daniel  Cates, 
born  August  11,  1813;  Lydia  Cates,  born  October  11,  1816;  Sinclair  Cates,  born  March  19,1820;  Scribner  Cates, 
born  October  13,  1821;  Hannah  Cates,  born  January  10.  1826:  Betsey  Cates,  born  September  16,  1810;  Andrew 
Cates,  Jr.,  born  April  2,  1808;  Betsey  (Griffin)  Gates,  born  September  28,  1805;  Nathaniel  Cates,  born  May  15, 
1829;  Peter  Wheeler,  born  December  18,  1790;  Sally  (Seavey)  Wheeler,  born  February  23,  1800;  Nathan 
Wheeler,  born  November  24,  1818;  James  Wheeler,  born  November  19,  1820:  Albion  Wheeler,  born  May  2, 
1823;  George  Wheeler,  born  November  13, 1825;  Lafayette  Wheeler,  born  March  9,  1828;  Thomas  Wheeler,  born 
December  29, 1783;  Sally  (Blodgett)  Wheeler,  born  April  2,  1787;Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr.,  born  June  18,  1806;  Cyrus 
Wheeler,  born  July  5,  1810;  Polly  Wheeler,  born  April  1,  1812;  Sally  Wheeler,  born  May  18,  1814;  Dexter 
Wheeler,  born  April  27,  1816;  Reuben  H.  Wheeler,  born  April  20,  1819:  Hiram  Wheeler,  April  8,  1822;  Daniel 
J.  Wheeler,  born  October  12,  1825;  Jonathan  W.  Wheeler,  born  November  1,  1829;  Samuel  Blodget,  born 
August  28.  1802:  Rebecca  (Bean)  Blodget,  born  October  10,  1800;  Samuel  D,  Blodget,  born  October  27,  1827; 
Zeruah  Blodget,  born  January  23,  1828;  Nathan  Blodget,  born  August  30,  1829;  Joseph  Blodget,  born  Decem- 
ber 6, 1804;  MaryL.  (Wright)  Blodget,    born  April  12,  1809;  Herman  A.  Blodget,  born   November  28,  1827; 

Ruby  Blodget,  born  November  30,  1829;  Abiathar  Bean,  born  June  30,1794;  Mercy  ( )Bean,  born  January 

1,  1797;  Eliza  Jane  Bean,  born  January  2,  1817;  Lydia  M.  Bean,  born  June  10,  1821;  Louisa  Bean,  born  Sep- 
tember 25,  1823;  Thomas  C.  Bean,  born   October  27,  1826;  Mary  A.  Bean,  born   August  13  1829;  Samuel  S. 

Thompson,    born   September    19.    1773;  Catharine   ( )  Thompson,   born  November   15,    1772;  Benjamin 

Thompson,  born  August  1,  1803;  Eliza  Thompson,  born  February  29, 1807;  Sarah  J.  Thompson,  born  Septem- 
ber  1.  1810;  Amos  Thompson,  born  July  19,  1818;  Simon  Evans,  born  September  13,  1780;  Mehetable  (Messer) 
Evans,  born  August  19,  1782;  Caroline  Evans,  born  March  28,  1799;  Lydia  Evans,  born  June  8,  1807;  Lovina 
Evans,  born  August  7.  1808;  Uriah  Evans,  born  February  25,  1810;  William  Evans,  born  January  21,  1812; 
P.  illy  Evans,  born  May  19,  1814;  Abigail  Evans,  born  April  15,  1816;  Betsey  Evans,  born  December  23,  1818; 
Esther  A.  R.  Evans,  September  3,  1823. 

Residents,  Stock  and  Improvements  in  1830. — From  the  first  inventory 
of  the  town  taken  in  1830,  we  give  this  list:  Samuel  Blodgett  is  taxed  for 
one  poll,  one  cow,  two  neat  cattle,  half-acre  arable  and  130  acres  of  unim- 
proved land.  Joseph  Blodgett,  one  poll  and  one  cow.  Andrew  Cates,  one 
poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  half-acre  arable,  110  acres  unimproved  land.  An- 
drew Cates,  Jr.,  one  poll.     Simon  Evans,  three  polls,  one  horse,  four  oxen, 


Town  of  Berlin. 


one  cow,  two  neat  cattle,  two  acres  arable,  two  and  one-half  acres  mowing 
and  100  acres  unimproved  land,  buildings  twenty-six  (?).  Thomas  Green, 
two  polls,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  half- acre  arable,  270  acres  un- 
improved land,  mills  three  (?).  Amos  Green,  one  poll,  300  acres  unim- 
proved land,  buildings  thirty  (?).  Daniel  Green,  one  poll,  two  oxen.  Sam- 
uel Stowell,  one  poll.  Samuel  S.  Thompson,  one  poll,  one  cow.  Benjamin 
Thompson,  one  poll,  four  oxen,  one  cow,  one  acre  arable,  two  acres  mow- 
ing, eighty  acres  unimproved  land,  buildings  twenty  six  ('.\  Thomas 
Wheeler,  two  polls,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  one  acre  arable,  one  and  one-half 
acres  mowing,  250  acres  unimproved  land,  buildings  thirty  (?).  Thomas 
Wheeler,  Jr.,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  three  neat  cattle,  one  acre  arable,  one 
acre  mowing,  100  acres  unimproved  land,  buildings  twenty-six  (?).  Peter 
Wheeler,  one  poll,  one  cow.  Joseph  Wheeler,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  half- 
acre  arable,  half  acre  mowing,  seventy  acres  unimproved  land,  buildings 
tv\;enty-six  (?). 

.Xnmes  of  Voters  by  Decades.— 1837.  Benjamin  Bean,  Lovel  Bean,  Fletcher  I.  Bean,  Insley  Bean,  Samuel 
Blodget,  Joseph  Blodget.  Daniel  Cates,  Daniel  Davis,  Simon  Evans,  William  Evan-.  Thomas  Green.  Amos 
Green.  Daniel  Green,  Edmond  Green,  Aaron  Green,  Seth  I.  Kimball,  John  Littlefield,  Enoch  Peabody,  Will- 
iam Sessions.  Benjamin  Thompson,  Thomas  Wheeler,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Thomas  Wight,  Joshua 
Bobbins.     Value  of  real  estate  $3,481. 

1847.  Samuel  M.  Andrews,  Samuel  Blodget,  Joseph  Blodget,  Lovel  Bean,  Fletcher  I.  Bean,  Insley  Bean, 
Bufus  A.  Cobb,  Milton  Chandler,  Hazen  Chandler,  Andrew  Cates.  Daniel  Cates,  Greenlief  Coffin,  Sinclair 
Cates,  Daniel  Davis,  Thomas  Green,  Daniel  Green,  Edmoud  Green,  Charles  Gates,  John  Grover,  Jeremiah 
Harden,  Stephen  Ladd,  Lorenzo  Mason,  Enoch  Peabody,  Allen  H.  Peabody,  Paul  Perkins.  Richard  Perkins, 
Benjamin  Thompson.  Thomas  Wheeler,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  Dexter  Wheeler,  Reuben  Wheeler,  Hiram  Wheeler, 
Daniel  J.  Wheeler,  William  W.  Whitney,  Oliver  S.  Wilkius. 

1857.  Stephen  Abbott.  Jonathan  Andrews,  Albert  Buzzell,  Stephen  Bevely,  Levi  W.  Blodgett,  Benjamin 
Bean,  Lovell  Bean,  Fletcher  I.  Bean.  Insley  Bean,  John  E.  Bean.  Edwin  S.  Brown.  Joseph  Blodgett.  Samuel 
D.  Blodgett,  Nathan  Blodgett,  Alton  Blodgett,  James  L.  Blake.  Nathaniel  Barker,  Edward  Babb,  Albert  Bill- 
ings, Daniel  Bradbury,  Andrew  Cates,  Andrew  Cates,  Jr.,  Daniel  Cates.  John  S.  Cates,  Sinclair  Cates,  Gr<  i  n- 
lief  Coffin,  Gilman  Connor.  Moses  T.  Cross,  Otis  Carter.  Aimer  Davis,  Daniel  Davis.  Bailey  K.  Davis,  Hollis 
Davis,  John  Y.  Dustin,  True  P.  Dustin,  John  L.  Dustin,  Moses  Foster.  Merrill  C.  Forist,  Charles  N.  Buzzell. 
Elijah  G.  Griffin,  Daniel  Green,  Edmond  Green,  Henry  B.  Goodwin,  Samuel  K.  Hammond,  John  R.  Horn. 
Austin  W.  Hobert,  Alvin  Hobert,  David  Holt,  Jeremiah  Harden,  Joel  H.  Herward,  Daniel  Hobbs.  Philemon 
Hibbard,  Horace  Haskell.  Stephen  Hanscom,  William  E.  Jorden,  Aaron  A  Knight,  Lorenzo  Mason,  Ira 
Mason,  Hartwell  V.  Mason,  Roscoe  Mason,  Oliver  H.  Mason,  Richard  Perkins.  George  W.  Page,  William  D. 
Sanborn,  Horace  C.  Sawyer,  Cha  les Whiting,  Nathaniel  T.  Wentworth.  E.  H.  Whiting.  Thomas  Wheeler.  Cyrus 
Wheeler,  Reuben  H.  Wheeler,  Hiram  Wheeler,  Dexter  Wheeler,  Charles  M.  Walker,  William  A.  Wilson,  Peter 
York,  Daniel  G.  York,  Jonathan  W.  Wheeler. 

1867.  Samuel  M.  Andrews,  Benjamin  Bean,  Fletcher  I.  Bean,  Daniel  C.  Bean,  Insley  Bean,  Chester  L. 
Bean,  Samuel  L.  Bean,  Fortescue  T.  Bean,  Charles  H.  Bennett,  Joseph  Blodgett,  Samuel  T).  Blodgett,  Andri  « 
J.  Burlingame,  Charles  N.  Buzzell,  Greenlief  C  iffin,  John  S.  Cites.  Sinclair  Cates,  Bela  I..  Churchill,  John  Y. 
Dustin,  Joseph  H.  Dustin,  George  A.  Dustin,  Hollis  Davis,  George  B.  Eaton,  William  EL  Ellis,  Merrill  C. 
Forist,  Edward  E.  Fernold,  Thomas  L.  Forbush,  Daniel  Green,  Albert  H.  Gerrish,  Andrew  J.  Howard,  Charles 
R.  Howard.  Jeremiah  Hardin.  William  Horn,  John  R.  Horn.  Harry  W.  Jordon,  Casper  Jewett,  Joseph  J. 
Lapham,  Lorenzo  Mason,  Hartwell  V.  Ma^on.  Lloscoe  Mason.  M  >rton  Mason.  Samuel  Martin,  Benjamin  F. 
Mitchell,  Charles  C.  Noyes,  Horatio  L.  Noyes,  Charles  K.  Noyes,  Gardner  C.  Paine,  William  D.Sanborn,  Daniel 
Si .aulding,  Jesse  Tuttle,  Thomas  Wheeler,  Cyrus  Wheeler.  Dexter  Wheeler.  I;,  ub.  n  II.  Wheeler,  Hiram 
Wheeler,  Jonathan  W.Wheeler.  Franklin  Wheeler,  William  A.  Wilson.  William  M.  \\  ilson,  John  Wilson, 
Thomas  W.  Willis. 

1877.     Jonathan  Andrews.  John  C.  Anderson.  Robert  Anderson,  Albert  K.  Allen,  John  A.  Av. ••  y,  David  W. 
Brown.  Lovell  Bean,  Chester  L.  Bean,  Sam'l  L.  Ban.  Fortescue  T.  [Jean,  Sam'l  Blodgett,  SanYl  D.  Blod 
Jos.  Blodgett,  Herman  A.  Blodgett.  Archibald  Blodgi  tt,  Xathan  Blodgett,  Moses  A.  Blodgett,  Freeland  Blodgett, 


788  History  of  Coos  County. 

Lawson  C.  Beattie,  Daniel  Cates,  John  S.  Cates,  Sinclair  Gates,  Lewis  N.  Clark,  Abner  K.  Cole,  Geo.  L.  Cote, 
Orlando  .T.  Condon.  Benjamin  S.  Cates,  Greenlief  Coffin,  Frank  M.  Coffin,  Frank  A.  Cobb,  Edward  Don aghue, 
Edward  F.  Donaghue,  Hollis  Davis.  Edmond  Decker,  John  T.  Dustin,  True  P.  Dnstin,  C.  F.  Dustin,  James  H. 
I  Iyer,  William  Ellis,  William  W.  Ellis,  Edward  E.  Fernald,  Merrill  C.  Forist,  Hiram  W.  Forist,  Chas.  H.  Gil- 
bert,  Zimri  E.  Gilbert,  Frank  Gene,  Daniel  Green,  John  W.Green,  Sullivan  D.  Green,  Joseph  G.  Hicks,  Albert 
N.  Hobbs,  John  R.  Horn,  Albert  Horn,  Andrew  J.  Howard,  Beiijamin  Hubbard,  Peter  Kelly,  John  M.  Keene, 
William  Jewell,  William  H.  Jewell,  Joseph  J.  Lapham,  Samuel  Lahay,  James  M.  Lavin,  John  D.  Lary, 
Andrew  J.  Magill,  Henry  F.  Marston,  Ira  Mason,  Hartwell  Mason,  Lorenzo  Mason,  Roscoe  Mason,  John 
McMann,  James  McMann.  Raimond  R.  McCaslin,  John  McPherson,  William  Moffit,  William  W.  Noyes,  Charles 
C  Noyes,  Charles  H.  Noyes.  John  B.  Noyes,  John  L.  Oswell,  Gardner  C.  Paine,  John  M.  Banerway,  Samuel 
E.  Paine.  James  W.  Parker,  Patrick  Pendergast,  Elliot  Perkins,  Frank  W.  Rowell,  Daniel  R,  Spaulding, 
William  D.  Sanborn,  Horace  C.  Sawyer.  Edson  B.  Sawyer,  Eugene  W.  Scribner,  H.  E.  Smith,  Erastus  F. 
Thurlow,  Will  C.  Turner.  Jesse  Tuttle,  X.  F.  Wardwell,  Frank  Weld,  Frank  L.  Wilson,  George  S.  Wilson, 
William  M.  Wilson,  John  Wilson,  Michael  Wilson,  Robert  Wilson,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  Dexter  Wheeler,  Reuben 
H.  Wheeler,  Hiram  Wheeler,  Franklin  Wheeler,  Ozman  Wheeler,  John  B.  Wheeler,  William  F.  Young,  David 
Walsh,  George  F.  Sibley,  Joseph  Scribner,  Henry  Richards,  Herman  E.  Oleson,  Otto  Oleson,  Alexander 
■Godette,  Alvin  Collins.  Louis  Careau,  Charles  Labrecke,  Chris  Barbue. 


CHAPTER  XCIY. 


Early  Settlers — First  House  (William  Sessions) — Second  House  (The  Lowes  and  Cates) — 
Simon  Evans— Joseph  Wheeler— The  Thompsons — Samuel  Blodgett— Thomas  Wheeler— Daniel 
Davis— The  Bean  Family — Joseph  Blodgett— Hazen  and  John  Chandler — Merrill  C.  Forist— John 
Y.  Dustin — Lorenzo  Mason — Past  and  Present  Business  Interests — Thomas  Green— J.  D.  Horner  & 
Co. — Daniel  Green— Ira  and  Oliver  H.  Mason  and  other  Early  Traders  and  Manufacturers — Rail- 
road, Station  Agents,  Etc. 

T~7 ARLY  Settlers. — First  House.—  William  Sessions  of  Grilead,  Me., 
|7r  came  to  Maynesborough  about  1S21  or  1822,  and  commenced  clear- 
\^  ing  what  is  now  the  Thompson  farm.  He  occupied  a  camp  which 
was  located  on  the  banks  of  the  Androscoggin  river,  on  the  south  side  of  Mol- 
locket  brook.  This  camp  was  built  by  parties  who  had  come  here  some 
years  previously  to  manufacture  "  salts  "  from  the  elm  trees  that  abounded 
in  that  part  of  the  valley.  Mr.  Sessions  felled  trees  and  continued  clearing 
the  land,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  Cyrus  Wheeler,  erected  the  first 
building  that  could  be  honored  with  the  name  of  house  about  1823  or  1824. 
March  27,  this  small  number  of  inhabitants  was  increased  by  eighteen 
persons  from  Gilead,  Me.,  who  accompanied  Mrs.  Sessions  and  her  three 
children  into  the  wilderness  to  her  new  home  and  to  make  their  homes  in 
this  and  adjoining  towns.  One  of  the  pleasantest  features  of  pioneer  life 
was  the  spirit  of  fraternity,  sociability,  and  mutual  helpfulness  which 
pervaded  every  locality.  Each  felt  an  impulse  to  assist  his  neighbor  when- 
ever and  wherever  assistance  was  needed,  realizing  that  he  might  any  day 
Jbecome  the  grateful  recipient  of  similar  service. 


Town  of  Berlin.  789 


Mr.  Sessions's  house  was  of  logs,  the  Horn-  being  made  of  very  large 
ones  nicely  split.  It  was  situated  just  east  of  the  present  fa i-m  buildings 
on  a  little  knoll.  All  signs  of  occupancy  are  nearly  obliterated.  There  has 
never  been  a  deed  given  of  this  land.  After  making  Ins  payment,  Mr. 
Sessions  walked  to  Boston  to  obtain  one  but  from  some  reason  did  not 
succeed.  No  claimant  ever  showed  a  conflicting  title.  He  sold  tins  prop- 
erty to  Benjamin  Thompson  prior  to  the  organization  of  Berlin,  and  it  has 
been  in  the  possession  of  the  Thompson  family  ever  since.  This  is  the 
best  farm  in  the  town.  Mr.  Sessions  was  a  noted  prospector,  settling  and 
clearing  thirteen  farms.  He  had  a  peculiar  faculty  for  selecting  the  best 
land  and  location.  After  selling  out  in  Berlin  he  went  to  Dummer  and 
settled  on  one  of  the  first  farms  developed  on  the  Andoscoggin,  at  a  point 
several  miles  from  any  inhabitant.  From  Dummer  he  removed  to  Stark. 
where  seven  of  his  children  died  from  the  terrible  throat  distemper.  This 
veteran  pioneer  died  at  Milton  Plantations,  Me.,  in  August,  1885,  aged  over 
ninety  years. 

Second  House. — Justus.  Amos  or  Levi  Lowe  (some  authorities  say 
Clovis  Lowe)  built  very  early  a  "  nice  little  camp"  on  lot  3,  range  4,  estab- 
lished a  shoe  shop,  remained  a  year  or  so,  then  removed  to  Randolph. 
"  Lascar"  Jackson  took  possession  of  this  camp  and  occupied  it  two  years. 
Andrew  Cates  came  three  or  four  years  later,  and  built  a  house  against 
the  end  of  the  camp  which  was  located  on  the  upper  end  of  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Harvey  Smith.     The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  this  house. 

Simon  Evans  came  from  Shelburne  in  1825,  and  settled  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river  on  the  next  lot  above  Sessions.  He  developed  a  good  farm 
which  was  afterwards  owned  by  Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr.  He  had  a  large 
family,  and  there  are  many  bearing  the  name. 

Joseph  Wheeler  cleared  the  farm  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  just  below 
that  of  Mr   Sessions,  but  sold  and  removed  to  Milan  in  a  short  time. 

Samuel  S.  Thompson,  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  bis  son  Benja- 
min came  in  1827.  He  was  a  carpenter,  and,  according  to  Mr.  Blodgett, 
he  made  and  painted  the  ballot  and  jury  boxes  now  in  use  in  Berlin.  He 
also  built  the  first  school-house;  this  was  in  the  Wheeler  district,  No.  1. 
He  has  no  descendants  living  here. 

The  first  settler  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  was  Samuel  Blodgett, 
brother  of  Mrs.  Sessions.  He  cleared  what  is  now  the  Reuben  Wheeler 
farm.  He  came  soon  after  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Sessions,  and  built  a  log  house 
on  the  bank  of  the  river,  but  did  not  remain  there  but  a  shorl  lime.  Ben- 
jamin Bean  came  from  Success,  purchased  Blodgett's  interest,  and  the 
latter  moved  to  the  lot  above,  which  subsequently  became  the  Daniel 
Davis  farm.  After  a  short  stay  Mr.  Blodgett  returned  to  Gilead,  Me., 
where  he  resided  for  a  vear  or  more,  then    removed  to  Berlin  and  settled 


;: mi  History  of  Coos  County. 

on  Cates  hill — Berlin  Heights.     He  has  numerous  descendants  in  town,  all 
reputable  citizens. 

Thomas  Wheeler,  son  of  Samuel  Wheeler,  (an  old  Eevolutionary  soldier 
and  original  settler  of  Gilead,  Me  ,  whither  he  removed  from  Temple,  N.  H., 
in  1799.)  located  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son  Cyrus.  He  came 
here  from  Shelburne,  in  1826,  with  his  wife  and  ten  children,  all  natives 
of  Gilead,  Me.,  Thomas,  Amos,  (who,  with  a  companion,  Samuel  Phipps, 
lost  his  life  by  the  burning  of  a  logging  camp  at  Jericho  in  1837,)  Cyrus, 
Polly  (Mrs.  Daniel  Green),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Benjamin  Thompson),  now  living 
in  Stark  at  an  advanced  age,  Dexter,  Hiram,  Reuben  H.,  Daniel,  and 
Jonathan.  This  honest  pioneer  has  a  large  posterity  in  Berlin  and  vicinity, 
besides  many  in  Pennsylvania  and  Arkansas.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and 
brought  his  children  up  to  work,  and  thus  add  to  the  weal  of  the  town. 

Daniel  Davis  came  to  Berlin  when  the  town  was  yet  in  its  infancy 
(December  31,  1831,)  from  Buxton,  Me.  He  lived  on  lot  4,  range  3,  had  a 
large  family  and  held  numerous  town  offices.  Fletcher  I.  Bean,  Job  Insley 
Bean,  Lovell  Bean,  and  a  family  by  the  name  of  Coffin  were  early  comers. 
Fletcher  I.  Bean  was  a  prominent  town  officer.  Greenlief  Coffin  is  still  a 
resident,  and  seventy  years  old. 

Joseph  Blodgett  (son  of  Jonathan,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,)  came  from 
Gilead,  Me  ,  January  1,  1823,  to  work  for  Mr.  Sessions.  He  married  Mary 
L.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Wight,  one  of  the  first  settlers  on  the  river  in 
Milan.  He  cleared  and  developed  the  farm  now  owned  by  William  D. 
Sanborn.  Here  he  lived  for  more  than  twenty  years,  then  removed  to 
Berlin  Falls  and  followed  the  avocation  of  a  carpenter,  in  which  he  excelled. 
It  was  said  that  he  could  cut  down  a  large  pine  tree  with  the  squarest, 
smoothest  cut  of  any  man  in  the  section.  He  has  but  three  children  sur- 
viving of  his  family  of  ten  or  eleven.  He  has  attained  the  age  of  ninety- 
two;  his  wife  is  seventy-eight.     They  are  still  residing  in  Berlin. 

Hazen  Chandler  came  quite  early  from  the  lower  part  of  the  state,  and 
purchased  the  farm  originally  settled  and  partially  cleared  by  Nathaniel 
Wight,  and  now  known  as  the  Dustin  farm,  the  buildings  of  which  are  in 
Berlin,  and  the  farm  in  Milan.  He  had  a  family  of  six  or  seven  children. 
The  oldest  daughter,  Daphne,  married  Reuben  H.  Wheeler.  Mrs.  Chand- 
ler is  now  living  in  town,  aged  ninety-one. 

John  Chandler,  a  brother  of  Hazen,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  also  land- 
lord of  the  Berlin  Falls  House  for  some  }^ears.  He  came  here  from  Shel- 
burne and  removed  to  Milan.  His  daughter,  Elizabeth  L.,  married  Merrill 
( '.  Forist,  who  was  a  prominent  man  in  Berlin  for  years.  He  was  a  school- 
teacher, superintendent  of  schools,  representative,  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
tilled  other  offices.  Mt.  Forist  bears  his  name.  This  was  originally  called 
'Plumer's  Fort"  in  honor  of  Gov.  William  Plumer.  who  was  a  large  land 
owner  in  the  town.     Mr.  Forist  built  theMt,  Forist  House  as  a  hotel  about 


Town  of  Berlin.  7'.' I 


L866,  and  was  its  landlord  until  his  death.  Before  building  this  house  he 
had  been  proprietor  of  the  Berlin  Falls  Hotel  for  many  years,  succeeding 
John  Chandler.  With  Mr.  Forist  departed  the  glory  of  this  old-time 
'k  hostelrie."  He  was  a  kind  hearted  man,  and  in  that  period  of  Berlin's 
growth  did  much  to  enhance  its  prosperity. 

John  Y.  Dustin,  of  Gilead,  Me.,  purchased  the  Chandler  farm  about 
1850,  and  now  resides  there  with  his  son  True  P.  Mr.  Dustin  attained  his 
eighty-ninth  year,  May,  L887. 

Lorenzo  Mason,  also  from  Gilead,  came  lure  about  LS50,  and  bought 
the  farm  cleared  by  Seth  Kimball  on  the  east  side  «f  the  river  opposite 
Pine  Island.  He  lived  here  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  1881,  aged 
eighty.  He  was  an  honest,  industrious  man,  and  left  a  numerous  pos- 
terity. 

Past  and  Present  Business  Interests.— The  first  trader,  hardly  to  be 
called  a  merchant,  was  Thomas  Green,  who  had  a  small  store  opposite  his 
grist  mill  as  early  as  1S35.  He  also  built  in  connection  with  his  grist-mill 
a  ''dry-house  "  for  the  purpose  of  hulling  oats  for  making  oatmeal.  After- 
wards, when  •' boughten"  flour  was  to  be  had,  this  enterprise  failed  to  be 
remunerative,  and,  taking  up  the  perforated  zinc  floor  of  the  dry-house, 
Mr.  Green  introduced  wool-carding  machinery,  which  was  operated  for 
half  a  dozen  years  or  more. 

The  advent  of  the  railroad  and  the  development  of  the  water-power 
gave  a  great  impetus  to  the  manufacturing  interest  and  traffic,  and  caused 
several  persons  to  embark  in  trade.  In  1851  J.  D.  Horner  &  Co.  built, 
and  stocked  with  general  merchandise,  the  building  at  Berlin  Falls  now 
occupied  as  a  clothing  store  by  A.  W.  Jones,  in  connection  with  the  mill 
which  they  had  erected  on  the  site  in  the  rear  of  the  Clement  block  on  what 
is  known  as  the  Horner  and  Hastings  privilege.  They  failed  after  some 
years,  and  the  store  was  vacant  until  Ira  Mason,  in  1868,  put  in  a  stock  of 
goods,  and  conducted  business  until  his  death  in  1883.  John  W.  Green 
then  sold  dry-goods  here  for  a  few  months.  E.  W.  Scribner  and  H.  H. 
Abbott,  as  ••  Scribner  &  Abbott,"  were  the  next  firm  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising here,  commencing  in  L881.  Mr.  Abbott  soon  gave  place  to  John  B. 
JSToyes,  who,  in  the  summer  of  L886,  purchased  Mr.  Scribner's  share  of  the 
business,  and.  in  the  autumn,  removed  to  his  present  location. 

Daniel  Green  opened  a  store  about  L850  very  near  the  site  of  the  drug 
-tore  of  J.  W.  Green,  and  conducted  it  nearly  two  years,  when  he  sold  it 
with  all  his  other  business  interests  in  town  to  Grower  &  Wilson.  This 
store  was  made  from  the  shop,  where  for  some  years  Mr,  ( rreen  had  man- 
ufactured clapboard  and  shingle  machines.  Grower  &  Wilson  conducted 
this  store  until  their  failure  in  L859,  when  itagain  came  into  the  possession 
of  Daniel  Green,  who  remodelled  it,  and  it  was  occupied  by  various  traders 
until  it  was  opened  as  the  first  drugstore  in   town   by   Henry  Marble  in 


792  History  of  Coos  County. 


1883.  George  P.  Emerton  succeeded  him;  in  a  short  time  he  sold  to  F.  L. 
Wilson,  who  moved  to  his  present  location.  It  was  then  refitted  by  John 
W.  Green,  who  put  in  a  fresh  stock  of  goods,  and  began  trade  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1886. 

Oliver  H.  Mason,  some  time  after  1850,  built  the  store  where  John  B. 
Noyes  now  trades,  and  conducted  merchandising  until  he  sold  to  Moses  T. 
Cross  in  I860.  Mr.  Cross  sold  to  J.  W.  Wheeler.  Dexter  Wheeler  pur- 
chased his  interest  and  admitted  G.  C.  Paine  as  partner  as  "Wheeler  & 
Paine."  They  afterwards  moved  into  Eagle  Hall,  and  were  in  business 
until  the  death  of*  Mr.  Wheeler  in  1881.  Wilson  Brothers  succeeded 
Wheeler  &  Paine  in  the  occupancy  of  the  0.  H.  Mason  building,  as  gen- 
eral traders.  After  two  years  they  failed:  and,  in  1868,  C.  C.  Gerrish  & 
Co.  established  themselves  as  merchants.  In  1885  they  moved  into  their 
new  building  where  they  are  now  located.  After  being  entirely  rebuilt 
and  enlarged  the  store  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Noyes. 

G.  C.  Paine,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Wheeler,  continued  business  in  the 
branch  store  which  they  had  established  near  the  railway  station,  and  now 
conducts  it  in  connection  with  his  extensive  trade  in  grain.  (Mr.  Paine 
died  July  5,  1887.) 

Eagle  Hall  building  was  built  by  the  Reform  Club  in  1875,  with  contri- 
butions from  the  friends  of  this  temperance  movement.  After  about  a 
year's  occupancy  by  the  club  as  a  reading-room,  Jecture-room,  etc,  the 
upper  story  became  and  remains  a  public  hall,  and  the  ground  floor  was 
occupied  by  Wheeler  &  Paine.  In  1881  Stahl  Brothers  opened  a  clothing 
house  and  grocery  store  here.  They  were  in  trade  here  some  months  after 
the  opening  of  their  large  store  in  the  Clement  block  in  1883.  They  were 
succeeded  by  F.  C.  Stevens  with  a  stock  of  clothing,  drugs  and  medicines. 
He  now  occupies  it  as  a  clothing  and  "  notions"  store.  In  1886  Mr.  Stevens 
erected  the  large  building  on  Main  street,  which  bears  his  name,  and 
removed  his  drug  business  there,  and  sold  it  to  F.  W.  Foster  in  December, 
Ism;. 

The  building  in  which  George  L.  Vincent  has  this  year  established  a 
book  and  variety  store  was  constructed  in  1881,  by  L.  J.  Cote.  Several 
people  have  dealt  in  fruit,  oysters,  etc,  there  previous  to  Mr.  Vincent's 
occupancy. 

In  Hie  spring  of  1886  "  Hodgdon  &  Crowell"  opened  their  hardware 
store  in  the  building  put  up  on  Depot  street  by  L.  N.  Clark.  They  erected 
their  present  store  the  same  year,  removing  their  goods  thither  in  the  fall 
of  1886.     They  do#a  business  of  nearly  $10,0no  per  annum. 

( '.  C.  Gerrish  &  Co.  built  their  "  great  store  "  in  1885,  at  an  expense  of 
from  $10,000  to  $12,000.  It  is  the  finest  mercantile  establishment  in  town, 
with  annual  sales  of  $60,000;  is  heated  by  steam,  and  has  machinery  for 


Town  of  Berlin.  793 


the  manufacture  of  gas,  by  which  it  is  lighted.     The  upper  story  is  Pyth- 
ian Hall. 

The  Clement  block  was  erected  in  1883,  by  F.  L.  Clement;  in  1886  he 
added  a  photographic  studio. 

The  Folsom  block,  put  up  in  1881:,  was  occupied  by  Lambert  Brothers 
&  Co.  as  a  grocery  store  until  the  completion  of  their  new  building  in 
1*86.  Then  Olivier  Lambert,  who  had  occupied  the  Fernald  block  (built 
in  1882),  removed  to  this  building,  where  he  is  now  doing  business. 

C.  C.  Leighton  started  a  blacksmith  shop  in  the  old  Grower  &  Wilson 
shop  near  Dead  River  bridge.  This  was  burned  in  1882.  He  then  put  up 
a  building  just  south  of  the  Clement  block,  and  carried  on  blacksmithing 
and  wagon-making  for  some  time.  Now,  after  various  removals,  he  is 
located  in  the  large  three-story  building  which  he  erected  in  1886,  on  the 
street  south  of  Dead  River  pond.  A  twenty  horse-power  engine,  black- 
smith shop,  band  and  bench  saws,  and  planer  occupy  the  first  floor;  a 
carpenter  and  wood-working  shops,  with  machinery  for  the  manufacture 
of  moldings,  the  second;  and  his  paint  shop  is  in  the  upper  story. 

Daniel  Green  began  the  manufacture  of  mill  machinery  in  a  small  way 
in  1813.  The  first  side-clapboard  machine  built  in  town  was  made  by  him 
in  that  year,  and  used  in  the  old  Green  mill  until  1819,  when  Mr.  Andrews 
bought  it  for  his  mill  at  "  Jericho." 

Thomas  and  Daniel  Green  used  to  haul  their  clapboards  forty  miles  to 
Harrison,  Me.,  from  whence  they  were  shipped  by  canal  to  Portland,  Bos- 
ton and  Providence,  where  they  were  marketed  once  a  year.  They  con- 
tinued to  do  this  until  the  railroad  was  built.  In  early  days  the  long 
lumber  was  rafted  down  the  Androscoggin  to  Bethel  and  Rum  ford  from 
Cascade  Falls.  The  last  raft  was  run  in  1851,  by  Daniel  Green.  Lumber 
was  sold  at  Gilead  and  Bethel  at  81  or  $5  a  thousand  for  good  pine;  extra 
quality  was  worth  $6. 

Ira  Mason,  in  1856,  built  a  shingle-mill  on  Bean  brook,  one  quarter  of 
a  mile  east  of  the  A.udroscoggin,  opposite  Berlin  bridge,  which  did  a  fine 
business  for  some  years  until  destroyed  by  fire. 

Samuel  M.  Andrews  came  from  Effingham,  Carroll  county,  in  1841, 
(after  marrying  the  widow  of  Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr.,)  and  carried  on  the 
Wheeler  farm  for  several  years.  He  then  purchased  timber  land  in  "Jer- 
icho," and  built  two  mills  on  Dead  river  in  J.S19,  about  half  a  mile  above 
the  steam  mill  now  run  by  Ezra  M.  Cross.  One  of  these  took  its  power 
from  an  immense  overshot  wheel  nearly  thirty -five  feet  in  diameter.  This 
was  destroyed  by  fire  after  several  years  of  good  work.  The  other  one 
had  a  "  tub  "  wheel,  and  was  carried  down  stream  by  a  freshet  in  1853  or 
1 854.  (Two  of  Mr.  Andrews's  sons  were  soldiers  in  the  Union  army  of 
the  great  civil  war. 

The  steam-mill  owned  by  E.  M.  Cross  at  "Jericho,"  succeeded  one  built 

52 


794  History  of  Coos  County. 

by  R.  H.  &  J.  W.  Wheeler  about  1870,  which  stood  on  a  steep  bank  some 
rods  above  the  present  mill.  This  was  operated  about  two  years,  when  it 
was  burned,  and  the  present  one  erected  by  J.  W.  Wheeler.  Mr.  Cross 
has  been  its  owner  since  1884.  A  large  amount  of  lumber  has  been  cut  by 
these  mills. 

R.  H.  Wheeler  built  a  small  steam  mill  back  of  his  residence,  and  cut 
the  timber  on  about  200  acres.  He  then  moved  the  engine  down  to  the 
interval,  and  used  it  to  run  the  starch  mill  which  he  built  there. 

Railroad,  Station  Agents,  Etc. — The  completion  of  the  railroad  to  Berlin 
was  the  first  step  to  the  permanent  prosperity  of  the  town.  The  first 
station  agent  was  Simon  Cole,  who  was  succeeded  by  Aaron  Knight,  who 
served  six  or  seven  years.  Dexter  Wheeler  was  appointed  in  1860,  and 
held  this  position  until  1869.  The  present  efficient  agent,  Abner  K.  Cole, 
began  his  long  term  of  service  February  15,  1870.  At  that  time  he  did  all 
the  work  of  the  station,  sold  tickets,  sent  messages,  attended  to  baggage 
and  freight,  etc.  The  next  year  he  had  one  assistant,  and  since  1S85  the 
work  has  kept  four  men  busily  employed.  The  passenger  traffic  has 
increased  fourfold  since  18S0,  and  the  freight  business  in  the  same  pro- 
portion. In  1870  the  net  earnings  of  the  road  at  this  station  were  $40,000: 
in  1886  about  $110,000.  June  22,  1872,  the  buildings  connected  with  the 
depot  were  burned  with  loss  of  life.  Others  have  since  been  erected,  but 
the  present  structure  is  by  no  means  adequate  to  the  commercial  needs  of 
the  town. 

The  height  of  land  between  the  Androscoggin  and  Connecticut  valleys 
is  six  miles  west  of  Berlin  Falls.  Berlin  Falls  station  is  1,011  feet  above 
tide  water. 

The  Berlin  Mills  branch  road  was  constructed  and  opened  in  1854,  by 
the  Grand  Trunk,  under  a  guaranty  that  a  definite  amount  of  business 
specified  was  to  be  done  annually. 

We  tract- 1  he  record  of  early  and  other  important  settlers  farther  as 
they  appear  in  describing  the  industries  of  the  town.  Those  already  named 
comprise  most  of  the  pioneers  who  came  here  when  the  country  was  an 
unbroken  wilderness,  and.  amid  untold  hardships  and  arduous  toils,  laid 
the  foundations  of  their  future  prosperous  homes,  and  prepared  the  way 
tor  an  intelligent  community.  As  the  settlements  increased,  roads  were 
laid  out,  mills  wore  built  on  the  Androscoggin,  schools  were  established, 
and  sociot  ies  organized.  The  lumber  interest  was  of  paramount  impor- 
tance. The  heavy  growth  of  pine  furnished  abundant  occupation  for  men 
and  mills.  It  was  not  until  after  the  pine  had  been  nearly  exhausted  that 
the  value  of  spruce  lumber  was  discovered.  The  apparently  inexhaustible 
supply  of  this  wood  gave  a  new  impetus  to  lumbering  operations;  larger 
mills  were  established,  more  men  employed;  a.  market  was  thus  provided 
for  the  products  of  the  farm'  and  the  growth  and  development  of  Berlin 


Town  of  Berlin.  795 


was  assured;  and  with  its  rush  of  business,  its  rapid  increase  of  popu- 
lation, fine  public  buildings,  and  electric  lights,  it  is  now  almost  a  city. 

In  the  sixty  years  of  her  existence  Berlin  has  developed  from  an  un- 
broken wilderness  into  a  thriving  and  prosperous  town.  She  has  always 
been  loyal  to  her  state  and  the  government  to  which  she  belongs.  She  has 
always  been  loyal  to  her  convictions  of  right  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
education,  religion,  and  politics;  and  where  her  heart  has  been,  there  her 
purse  has  been  also.  The  foundations  of  her  prosperity  are  struck  as  deep 
as  the  granite  that  underlies  her,  whilst  the  structure  she  has  and  is  build- 
ing, towers  upward  and  upward,  keeping  pace  with  the  hopes,  aspirations, 
and  enterprise  of  her  citizens. 


CHAPTER  XCV. 


Civil    List:    Town   Clerks,    Selectmen,    Treasurers,    Representatives— Extracts    from   Town 
Records — Berlin  in  the  Rebellion — Action  of  the  Town. 


/~YlYIL  List, — 1830.  Peter  Wheeler,  clerk:  Amos  Green,  Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr.,  Samuel  Blodget,  select- 
I  /  men.  (No  treasurer.)  "  Thomas  Wheeler  collector  of  taxes  at  one  cent  on  the  dollar." 
\Jj  1831.  Peter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Benjamin  Thompson,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Peter  Wheeler,  selectmen; 
>^  Peter  Wheeler,  treasurer;  Barker  Burbank,  of  Shelburne.  representative  from  the  classed  towns  of 
Berlin,  Shelburne,  Shelburne  Addition,  and  Success.  "Thomas  Wheeler  bid  off  the  taxes  at  nothing  per 
dollar." 

1832.  Peter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Benjamin  Thompson,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Peter  Wheeler,  selectmen. 

1833.  Daniel   Davis,   clerk;    Benjamin   Thompson,    Daniel  Green,  Uriah  Evans,    selectmen;  Benjamin 
Thompson,  treasurer.     "Seth  Kimball  agreed  to  collect  the  taxes,  and  to  give  five  dollars  for  the  privili  - 
Robert  Ingalls,  of  Shelburne,  representative. 

1834.  Daniel  Davis,  clerk;  Benjamin  Thompson,  Daniel  Green,   Fletcher  I.  Bean,   selectmen;  Benjamin 
Thompson,  treasurer. 

1835.  Daniel   Davis,    clerk:  Benjamin  Thompson,   Daniel   Davis,    Uriah    Evans,    selectmen;  Benjamin 
Thompson,  treasurer;  Benjamin  Thompson,  representative,  classed  as  above. 

1836.  Daniel  Davis,  clerk:  Benjamin  Thompson,  Fletcher  I.  Bean,  UriahEvans,  selectmen  and  a 

iel Davis,  treasurer.     May  11.  William  Evans  chosen  selectman  in  the  place  of  Uriah   Evans,  remos   d 
from  town. 

1837.  Fletcher  I.  Bean,  clerk;  Benjamin   Thompson,   Daniel    Green,  Cyrus   Wheeler,    selectmen   and 
( \  rus  Wheeler,  treasurer. 

1838.  F.  I.  Bean,  clerk:  Benjamin  Thompson,  Daniel  Green,  Cyrus  Win  (lei-,  selectmen  and   assessors; 
Cyrus  Wheeler,    treasurer. 

1839.  Benjamin   Thompson,  clerk;  Benjamin   Thompson,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  Edmond   Green,  selectmen; 

Cyrus  Wheeler,    treasurer. 

1840.  Daniel  Green,  clerk:  Daniel   Green,  Cyrus  Wheeler.  Thomas  Wheeler,  selectmen;  Thomas  Gi 
treasurer. 

1841.  Daniel  Green,  clerk ;  Insley  Bean.  Benjamin  Tl ipson,  Edmond  Green,  selectmen;   [nslej  Bean, 

treasurer. 

1842.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  F.  I.  Bean,  Insley  Bean,  Daniel  Davis,  selectmen;    Benjamin  Thompson, 
treasurer. 

Isi3.    F.  I.  Bean,  clerk:  F.  I.  Bean,  [nslej  Bean,  Daniel  Davis, 'selectmen;  Daniel  Davis,  treasurer. 


7ii<;  History  of  Coos  County. 

1844.  Dexter  Wheeler,   clerk;   F.  I.  Bean,  Daniel  Davis,  Samuel   Blodgett,  selectmen;  Dexter   Wheeler, 
treasurer;  John  Morse,  representative.     Classed  with  Gorham  and  Shelburne. 

1845.  Dexter   Wheeler,  clerk;   Benjamin   Thompson,  Insley   Bean,  Dexter   Wheeler,  selectmen;  Dexter 
Wheeler,  treasurer. 

1846.  Dexter   Wheeler,  clerk;   Benjamin  Thompson,  Dexter  Wheeler,  Insley  Bean,  selectmen;  Dexter 
Wheeler,  treasurer. 

1847.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Daniel  Green,  Samuel  M.  Andrews,  Benjamin  Thompson,  selectmen; Dexter 
Wheeler,  treasurer;  Thomas  J.  Hubbard,  representative.     Classed  with  Gorham  and  Shelburne. 

1848.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Daniel  Green,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  Insley  Bean,  selectmen;   Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer. 

1849.  F.  I.  Bean,  clerk;  Daniel  Davis,  F.  I.  Bean,  Paul  Perkins,  selectmen;  no  record  of  treasurer. 

1850.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Benjamin  Thompson,  Reuben  H.  Wheeler,  Daniel  Green,  selectmen;  Dexter 
Wheeler,  treasurer. 

1851.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Benjamin  Thompson,  Daniel  Green,  R.  H.  Wheeler,  selectmen;   no  record 
of  treasurer;  Hiram  T.  Ellingwood,  representative.     Classed  with  Milan. 

1852.  Charles  Mason,  clerk;  Daniel  Davis,  Timothy  H.  Hutchinson,  William  Y.  Merrill,  selectmen;  Dexter 
Wheeler,  treasurer.     Bailey  K.  Davis  appointed  town  clerk  July  30,  1852,  on  removal  of  Mr.  Mason  from  town . 

1853.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Daniel  Davis,  James  H.  Hall,  Daniel  Cates,  selectmen;   B.  K.  Davis,  treas- 
urer; Reuben  H.  Wheeler,  representative.     Town  classed  with  Milan. 

1854.  Dexter   Wheeler,  clerk;   Daniel  Davis,  Daniel   Cates,  Gilman   Connor,  selectmen;   B.  K.  Davis, 
treasurer. 

1855.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Daniel  Green,  Reuben  H.  Wheeler,  Ira  Mason,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer;  Daniel  Green,  representative.     Town  classed  with  Milan. 

1856.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Daniel  Green,  F.  I.  Bean,  Oliver  H.  Mason,  selectmen;  no  record  of  treas- 
urer; Merrill  C.  Forist,  representative.     Town  classed  with  Randolph. 

1857.  Oliver  H.  Mason,  clerk;  Daniel  Green,  O.  H.  Mason,  Insley  Bean,  selectmen;  0.  H.  Mason,  treasurer; 
Daniel  Green,  representative.     Town  classed  with  Randolph  and  Success. 

1858.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Daniel  Green,  M.  C.  Forist,  Insley  Bean,  selectmen.     Voted  not   to  choose 
town  treasurer. 

1859.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Daniel  Green,  Insley  Bean,  George  R.  Eaton,  selectmen;   Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer;  George  R.  Hodgdon,  representative.     Town  classed  with  Randolph  and  Success. 

1860.  Merrill  C.  Forist,  clerk;  F.  I.  Bean,  George   R.  Eaton,  Jesse   Tuttle,  selectmen;  Aaron   A.  Knight, 
treasurer. 

1861.  M.  C.  Forest,  clerk;F.  I.  Bean,  Jesse  Tuttle,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  selectmen;  Aaron  A.  Knight,  treasurer; 
Fletcher  I.  Bean,  representative.     Classed  as  above. 

1862.  M.  C.  Forist,  clerk;  F.  I.  Bean,  Cyrus  Fletcher,  Horace  C.  Sawyer,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer. 

1863.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  George  R.  Eaton.  Cyrus  Wheeler,  H.  C.  Sawyer,  selectmen;  George  R. 
Eaton,  treasurer;  John  C.  Leighton,  representative.     Classed  as  above. 

1864.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  Insley  Bean,  Jesse  Tuttle,  Daniel  C.  Bean,  selectmen;  George  R.Eaton 
treasurer.    F.  I.  Bean  elected  selectmen  in  August  to  succeed  D.  C.  Bean,  resigned. 

1865.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  F.  I.  Bean,  Charles  C.  Noyes,  J.  W.  Wheeler,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer;  William  A.  Wilson,  representative.     Classed  as  above. 

1866.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  William  A.  Wilson,  Joseph  H.  Dustin,  F.I.  Bean,  selectmen ;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer;  Robert  I.  Leighton,  representative.     Classed  as  above. 

L867.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  F.  I.  Bean,  Charles  C.  Noyes,  Greenlief  Coffin,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer. 

1868.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  F.  I.  Bean,  Edward  E.  Fernald,  J.  W.  Wheeler,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer. 

1869.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  J.  W.  Wheeler,  E.  E.  Fernald,  John  R.  Horn,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
tn  asurer;  Daniel  Green,  representative.     Classed  as  above. 

isTn.  Dexter  Wheeler,  elerk;  J.  W.  Wheeler,  J.  R.  Horn,  William  M.  Wilson,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer. 

1871.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  F.  I.  Bean,  W.  M.  Wilson,  J.  R.  Horn,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer;  -Joel  E.  Leighton.  representative.     Classed  as  above. 

L872.  Dexter  Wheeler,  clerk;  W.  M.  Wilson,  J.  R.  Horn,  Franklin  Wheeler,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer. 

1M73  Dexter  Wheeler,  elerk:  W.  M.  Wilson,  J.  R.  Horn;  Thomas  L.  Forbush,  selectmen;  Dexter  Wheeler, 
treasurer;  George  Et.  Eaton,  representative.    Classed  as  above. 


Town  of  Berlin.  797 


1874.  George  S.  Wilson,  clerk;  J.  R.  Horn,  Samuel  E.  Paine,  T.  L.  Forbush,  selectmen:  James  W.  Parker, 
treasurer. 

1875.  George  S. Wilson,  olerk;  J.  K.  Horn.  S.  E.  Paine,  II.  F.  Marston,  selectmen;  W.  M.  Wilson,  treasurer; 
J.  W.  Wheeler,  representative. 

1876.  George  S.  Wilson,  clerk;  Sullivan  D.  Green,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  Xerxes  F.  Wardwell,  selectmen:  W. 
M.  Wilson,  treasurer:  J.  R.  Horn,  representative. 

1M77.  George  s.  Wilson,  clerk;  S.  D.  Green,  Cyrus  Wheeler,  LawsonC.  Beattie,  selectmen;  W.  M.  Wilson, 
treasurer;  Samuel  E.  Paine,  representative. 

1878.  s.  D.  Green,  clerk;  S.  D.  Green.  Franklin  Wheeler,  Eugene  W.  Scribner,  3i  l(  ctmi  d.  J.  W.  Pai  ki  r, 
treasurer:  John  R.  Horn,  representative. 

1879.  S.  D.  Green,  cl«rk;  Franklin  Wheeler,  E.  W.  Scribner,  Jacob  Dn  li  ctmi  n;  J.  W.  Parker, 
treasure] ;  H.  C.  Sawyer,  representative  for  Berlin  and  Randolph. 

1880.  S.  D.Green,  clerk;  E.  W.  Scribner,  J.  Dresser,  Jesse  Iuttle,  Belectmi  a;  J.  W.  Parker,  treasurer. 

1881.  S.  D.  Green,  clerk:  Jacob  Dresser,  Jesse  Tuttle,  Lewis  N.  Clark,  selectmen;  John  B.  Noyes. 
treasurer. 

L882.  S.  D.  Green,  clerk:  H.  F.  Marston,  L.  N.  Olark,  X.  F.  Wardwell,  selectmen.  Mr.  Wai dwell  de- 
clined to  serve  and  S.  D.  Green  was  appointed.    John  B.  Noyes,  treasurer. 

1883.  S.  D.  Green,  clerk;  Jesse  Tuttle,  X.  F.  Wardwell,  S.  D.  Green,  selectmen;  John  P.  Noyes, 
treasurer;  Franklin  Wheeler,  representative. 

1884.  S.  D.  Green,  clerk;  Jesse  Tuttle,  X.  F.  Wardwell,  E.  E.  Fernald,  selectmen;  John  B.  Noyes, 
treasurer. 

1885.  William  H.  Gerrish,  clerk.  Clark  II.  Ladd,  Jacob  Dresser,  John  L.  Oswell,  -  i>  ctmen;  Hi  rman  E. 
Oleson,  treasurer:  S.  E.  Paine,  represi  ntative. 

1S8<;.  J.  A.  Hodgdon,  clerk:  S.  D.  Green.  W.  A.  Pingree,  Thomas  W.  Pickford,  selectmen;  P.  15  Mai -ton. 
treasurer  (Daniel  J.  Daley  appointed  treasurer  October  15.  LS86.) 

1887.  George  L.  Vincent,  clerk:  Charles  N.  Hodgdon,  Robert  N.  Chamberlin  Odixte  Lambert,  select- 
men; H.E.  Oleson.  treasurer. 

Extracts  from  Town  Records. — 1832.  January  16.  It  is  recorded  that  lot  19,  range  0,  is  redeemed  by 
the  payment  of  61.70  "taxes  and  cost"  by  "Tarhole  Garish,"  of  Boscawen. 

1833.  The  town  meetings  were  held  at  private  houses  until  1833,  when,  April  15,  a  meeting  was  called 
to  meet  at  "the  school-house  on  Saturday  the  fourth  day  of  May." 

1837.  Benjamin  Thompson  allowed  $7,  F.  I.  Bean  §6.50,  William  Evans  $2.50  for  services  as  selectmen 
in  1836. 

1838.  March  13.    "Chose  Edmund  Green  and  Insley  Bean  Odditers  for  said  town." 

1839.  March  12.  "Samuel  Blodget  bid  of  Oliver  L.  Cromwell  and  his  family  towns  poor  at  $2.70  per 
weak."  It  was  voted  "to  allow  F.  I.  Bean  for  paying  the  entry  of  the  Dead  River  Pi  >ad  petition  $1.20;  for 
getting  signers  to  the  petition  one  dollar. 

1844.     "Voted  to  consider  Thomas  Green's  barn  yard  as  the  pound." 

1853.  This  year  marks  the  first  political  strife  in  the  general  elections  of  the  town.  One  contrary  fel- 
low had  steadily  voted  in  opposition  to  all  the  rest;  but  now  we  find  thirty-eight  votes  for  Noah  Martin, 
Democrat,  for  governor,  and  seven  in  opposition.     From  this  time  politics  became  a  feature  of  the  elections. 

1853.  It  was  "voted  to  allow  Benj.  Thompson  as  much  for  defending  the  bridge  across  the  Androscog- 
gin last  fall  as  T.  H.  Hutchinson  for  trying  to  take  it  down." 

Berlin  in  the  Rebellion. — It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  town  was  not 
backward  in  giving  her  sons  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and 
more  than  one  half  of  those  who  went  as  soldiers  found  graves  on  southern 
soil.  Berlin  is  credited  on  state  and  United  States  muster  rolls  with 
"nineteen  three-years  men,  thirteen  one-year  men,  three  nine  months 
men." 

This  extract  from  a  letter  sent  to  the  adjutant-general  of  New  Hamp- 
shire by  the  selectmen  in  L886,  will  show  why  we  cannot  give  such  in- 
formation as  we  would  like: — 

"Blanks  were  distributed,  but  only  one  has  been  returned  to  us,  and  this  net  fully  tilled  out.  Tin  re  is 
but  one  man  now  living  in  Berlin  who  enlisted  from  the  town,   ami  of  the  13  or  14    who   belonged   here  and 

enlisted,  only  three  are  now  living,  two    of    them    residing    in  another    state.      Berlin    has    no  record  of    her 


798  History  of  Coos  County. 

soldiers,  papers  and  documents  are  lacking;  soldiers,  their  relatives  and  friends  are  gone,  hence  the  paucity 
of  facts  and  material." 

Three  of  Daniel  Green's  sons  were  in  service;  Sullivan  D.  in  the  24th 
Michigan,  Francis  D.  and  Charles  V.  enlisted  from  Berlin.  Charles  died 
at  New  Orleans  from  disease  contracted  on  the  Red  River  campaign,  and 
Francis  was  killed  at  Fredericksburgh,  Va.,  December  13,  1862.  Of  the 
other  Berlin  boys  of  which  we  have  information,  Scribner  Cates  died  at 
Ship  Island;  D.  W.  Blodgett,  badly  wounded  in  neck,  was  discharged,  and 
came  to  a  terrible  end  in  July,  1872,  by  being  burned  to  death  in  the  depot 
which  was  destroyed  on  that  date.  S.  A.  Andrews  was  killed  in  a  skirmish, 
Ethan  A.  Andrews  died  of  disease,  Nelson  Green  died  at  Ship  Island, 
Charles  S.  Green  and  Albert  Green  are  now  living  in  Maine,  and  Jesse 
Tuttle  in  Berlin. 

Action  of  Town  in  the  Rebellion. — The  second  article  in  the  warrant 
calling  the  town  meeting  of  August  23,  1862,  reads: — 

"  To  see  how  much  money  the  town  will  pay  to  each  man  who  will  enlist  and  be  accepted  by  the  Gov- 
ernment to  make  up  this  town's  quota  of  the  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers  lately  called  for  by  the 
President.  Also  to  see  what  action  they  will  take  in  paying  drafted  men  and  supporting  their  families  who 
may  need  assistance  while  gone  to  the  war." 

1863.  A  meeting  of  the  voters  was  called  to  be  held  December  2d,  "  To  see  if  said  voters  will  authorize 
the  selectmen  to  hire  a  sum  of  money  for  the  purpose  of  filling  the  town's  quota  of  three  hundred  thousand 
volunteers,  called  for  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  be  tilled  on  or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1864."  At  the  meeting  held  at  the  appointed  time  and  place  (hall  of  H.  Winslow  &  Co.),  voted  "  to 
authorize  the  Selectmen  to  hire  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  per  man  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the 
town's  quota  of  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers  called  for  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Dated 
October  17,  1863,  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  this  State  enacted  July  9,  1862,  Said  town  to  have  the  bene- 
fit of  the  State  and  General  Government  Bounties." 

1864.  March  5,  voted  "  to  take  up  the  notes  given  by  the  selectmen  to  hire  money  to  fill  the  town's 
quota  to  H.  Winslow."  August  2,  Warrant  issued  for  a  town  meeting  to  be  held  August  18.  "  To  see  if  said 
voters  will  authorize  the  selectmen  to  hire  a  sum  of  money  for  the  purpose  of  filling  the  town's  quota  of  three 
hundred  thousand  volunteers  called  for  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  to  be  filled  on  or  before  the 
fifth  day  of  September.  A.  D.  1864." 

1864.  August  18,  Voted  "  to  authorize  the  selectmen  to  hire  money  on  the  best  terms  they  can,  for  from 
one  to  five  years,  for  the  purpose  of  filling  the  town's  quota  of  volunteers  under  the  last  call  for  troops,  and 
pay  such  volunteers  or  substitutes,  or  pay  any  person  that  will  pay  and  put  in  a  substitute,  the  highest  terms 
authorized  by  the  Legislature  of  this  state,  to  meet  the  present  call  for  troops." 

1865.  January  11,  Voted,  "to  authorize  the  selectmen  to  hire  money  at  the  lowest   rates  of  interest  it1 
can  be  procured,  for  the  purpose  of  filling  the  town's  quota  of  soldiers   under    the  last  call  by  the  President 
for  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers  and  pay  volunteers  or  substitutes  the  highest  sum  authorized  by  the 
Legislature  of  this  State,  to  meet  the  present  call  for  troops." 

Voted,  '"to  have  the  selectmen  execute  the  previous  vote  with  promptness." 


Town  of  Berlin.  n»0 


CHAPTER  XCVI. 


Ecclesiastical:  Church  of  Christ—Formation— Original  .Members — Confession  of  Faith— Action 
■of  Church  Meetings— Pastors— Progress  of  the  Church — Young  People's  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor— The  Sunday-School— Organization  of  Parish— Church  Structure.— Origin,  Etc.,  I'ni- 
versalist  Church— Meetings — Articles  of  Faith— Parish  Society  Organized— Church  Building — 
Sabbath-School.— Catholic  Church— Priests— Church— Parsonage.— St.  Paul  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  Parish — Members — Pastor.— Second  Advent  Meetings. 

rrHURCHof  Christ— In  June,  1875,  Rev.  Arthur  J.  Benedict  of  Bethel 
(  (*\  Conn.,  a  graduate  from  the  theological  seminary  at  Yale  college, 
TZ  came  to  Berlin.  Young,  earnest  and  hopeful,  highly  educated  and 
vigorous,  he  commenced  laboring  to  build  up  a  church  and  society  in  the 
town.  He  was  ably  seconded  by  the  cooperation  of  the  better  class  of  the 
citizens,  and  as  a  result  of  their  combined  efforts,  November  6,  1^77,  the 
following  letter  was  addressed  to  the  Congregational  Church  of  Christ  in 
Gorham,  X.  H. : — 

"Dear  Brethren:  A  number  of  believers  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  this  place,  feeling  that  we  may  best 
serve  the  Master  by  becoming  associated  as  a  Church  of  Christ  in  fellowship  with  the  Congregational  Order. 
We  respectfully  invite  you.  by  your  pastor  and  delegate  to  meet  in  Council  at  Berlin  Mills  Hall  Nov.  22,  at  2 
o'clock  to  consider  the  expendiency  of  tin-  course  pursued  by  us  and  advise  us  in  reference  thereto,  and  should 
the  formation  of  such  a  Church  be  deemed  expedient,  to  assist  in  the  public  service  appropriate  to  its  for- 
mation and  recognition 

"Cordially  yours 

"  In  the  bonds  of  Christian  Fellowship 

"A.  J.  Benedict  f  Com.  of  those 

"John  Wilson     /•  proposing  to  become 
"L.T.Parker     )  a  Church."' 

The  council  called  met  on  the  day  appointed.  This  was  composed  of 
pastors  and  delegates  as  follows:  Rev.  C.  E.  Harrington,  Dea.  W.  P. 
Freeman,  from  Lancaster;  Rev.  A.  J.  Benedict,  Bro.  Orrin  Tubbs,  Gorham; 
Rev.  C.  L.  Mills  and  Bro.  David  F.  Brown,  Rev.  David  Garland,  Bro.  A. 
W.  Valentine  of  the  first  and  second  Congregational  churches  in  Bethel, 
Me.;  Rev.  Henry  Farrar  of  Gilead,  Me.,  Rev.  E.  Y.  Hincks  and  Bro.  W. 
W.  Brown,  of  Portland,  Me.  The  afternoon  was  passed  in  reading  and 
discussing  the  articles  of  faith  and  the  covenant;  examining  letters,  and 
persons  desiring  to  form  the  church;  listening  to  statements  by  Rev.  A.  J. 
Benedict  relative  to  the  organization  and  the  religions  character  of  those 
proposing  to  become  members  of  the  church.  These  statements  being 
satisfactory,  the  council  advised  that  a  church  should  be  formed  upon  the 
basis  of  the  submitted  articles  of  faith.  The  council  then  adjourned  until 
evening. 

The  order  of  exercises  for  the  evening  was  carried  out  according  to 
assignment  by  the  council,  and  the  church  was  constituted  with  these  mem- 


800  History  of  Coos  County. 

bers:  Arthur  J.  Benedict,  John  Wilson,  Sarah  M.  Bean,  Lizzie  Parker, 
Almira  Beattie,  Lowella  Coffin,  Lettie  A.  Parker,  Effie  Smith,  Hannah  M. 
Oleson,  Lucy  S.  Spaulding,  Betsey  A.  Wheeler,  Hannah  M.  Wilson,  Eva 
Hobbs,  Frank  M.  Coffin,  and  this 

Confession  of  Faith. — "We  confess  our  faith  in  God  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  only 
living  and  true  God;  in  Jesus  Christ,  the  incarnate  Word,  who  is  enabled  to  be  our  Redeemer  and  King;  and 
in  the  Holy  Comforter,  who  is  present  in  the  Church  to  regenerate  and  sanctify  the  soul. 

"  We  confess  the  common  sinfulness  and  ruin  of  our  race,  and  acknowledge  that  it  is  only  through  the 
work  accomplished  by  the  life  and  expiatory  death  of  Christ,  that  believers  in  him  are  justified  before  God, 
receive  the  remission  of  sins,  and  through  the  presence  and  grace  of  the  Holy  Comforter  are  delived  from 
the  power  of  sin,  and  perfected  in  holiness. 

"We  believe  also  in  the  organized  and  visible  Church,  in  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  in  the  sacraments  of 
baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  in  the  final  judgment,  the  issues  of  which 
are  eternal  life  and  everlasting  punishment. 

"  We  receive  these  truths  on  the  testimony  of  God  given  through  prophets  and  apostles,  and  in  the  life, 
the  miracles,  the  death,  the  resurrection  of  His  Son,  our  Divine  Redeemer;  a  testimony  preserved  for  the 
Church  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  old  and  New  Testaments,  which  were  composed  by  holy  men  as  they  were 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"Affirming  our  belief  that  those  who  thus  hold  'one  faith,  one  Lord,  one  baptism,'  together  constitute 
the  one  Catholic  Church,  the  several  households  of  which  called  by  different  names,  are  the  one  body  of 
Christ,  and  that  these  members  of  his  body  are  sacredly  bound  to  keep  'the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of 
peace,'  we  declare  that  we  will  co-operate  with  all  who  hold  these  truths.  May  He  to  whom  'all  power  is 
given  in  heaven  and  earth'  fulfil  the  promise  which  is  all  our  hope:  'Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway  even  to  the 
end  of  the  world'  Amen." 

Rev.  A.  J.  Benedict  conducted  the  services  of  the  newly-organized 
church  in  connection  with  the  church  at  Gorham,  of  which  he  was  pastor, 
the  meetings  being  held  in  Berlin  Mills  hall.  1877,  December  27.  Rev. 
A.  J.  Benedict  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  church.  Bros.  Frank  M.  Coffin 
and  John  Wilson  wTere  elected  deacons.  Bro.  Coffin  was  chosen  treasurer. 
1878,  January  10.  It  was  voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  church  be  tendered 
to  Bro.  W.  W.  Brown,  of  Portland,  for  his  gift  of  a  beautiful  communion 
service.  1870,  June  17  and  18.  The  session  of  the  Oxford  county  con- 
ference was  held  with  this  church.  During  these  two  years  additional 
members  were  admitted  by  profession  and  letter.  There  had  been  no  set- 
tled pastor,  Rev.  A.  J.  Benedict  having  been  the  acting  pastor  from  June 
1,  L876.  1881,  April  12.  Meeting  called  to  order  by  Deacon  Duke;  prayer 
by  Deacon  Wilson.  A  motion  was  made  to  support  a  pastor  independent 
of  the  church  at  Gorham.  Carried  unanimously.  Voted  to  raise  $700  for 
salary  of  pastor  the  ensuing  year.  April  19.  Meeting  called  to  order  by 
Deacon  Duke.  Motion  made  by  Deacon  Wilson  not  to  extend  a  call  to 
Rev.  A.  J.  Benedict  to  become  their  pastor.  Not  carried.  In  the  interval 
from  April  to  June,  Rev.  Mr.  Benedict  must  have  wished  to  resign  his 
charge,  as  on  the  10th  of  June  a  remonstrance  meeting  was  held  by  church 
members  and  citizens  to  ask  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation.  Unani- 
mous vote  in  favor  of  Rev.  Mr.  Benedict.  1882.  Mr.  Benedict  continued 
to  acl  as  pastor  until  June,  1882.  1883,  April  19.  The  church  voted  to  give- 
Rev.  A.  J.  Benedict  and  Mrs.  Ida  R.  Benedict  a  letter  of  dismissal  from  this 
church  and  a  letter  of  recommendation  to  the  church  in  Kensington,  Conn.,. 


Town  of  Berlin.  s<h 


at  their  request.  18S3,  May  17.  At  a  meeting  held  in  the  vestry,  it  was 
voted  to  nominate  Albert  Donnell  as  pastor  of  this  church  and  to  recom- 
mend to  the  parish  society  that  a  call  from  the  church  and  parish  be  for- 
warded to  him.  This  was  carried  unanimously,  and  in  June  the  call  was 
extended  to  and  accepted  by  Albert  Donnell.  and  June  27  the  ordination 
and  installation  services  took  place.  1884,  April  6.  Gospel  meetings  were 
held  by  Brothers  Allen  Folger  and  C.  L.  Jackson,  by  invitation  of  the 
church  in  this  place.  Much  interest  was  shown  by  the  people,  especially 
by  the  young  boys  of  the  Sabbath  school,  and  the  meetings  were  well  at- 
tended. 1885,  April  11.  Rev.  Albert  Donnell  tendered  his  resignation  as 
pastor  of  this  church  and  minister  to  this  people.  June  :'».  This  resigna- 
tion was  accepted,  and  the  council  dissolved  the  pastoral  relations  existing 
between  Rev.  Albert  Donnell  and  the  Church  of  Christ  and  parish  in  Ber- 
lin. 1885,  June  1.  Rev.  S  L.  Bowler  is  acting  pastor  of  this  church. 
L886,  July  8.  The  subject  of  installing  Rev.  S.  L.  Bowler  was  discussed, 
and  July  22  a  unanimous  vote  was  taken,  that  the  Rev.  S.  L.  Bowler  be 
installed  August  loth.  The  installation  services  were  very  edifying.  Rev. 
G.  F.  Tewksbury,  Prof.  E.  V.  Hincks,  Rev.  E.  H.  Greeley,  Rev.  George  F. 
\\  right,  Rev.  A.  J.  Benedict,  and  the  pastor  taking  part.  1886,  October  <',. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  East  Coos  Bible  Society  was  held  in  the  church 
building.  Many  questions  of  vital  importance  were  ably  discussed  by  Rev. 
J.  D.  LeGro,  Rev.  S.  L.  Bowler,  and  others. 

Rev.  Stephen  L.  Bowler  is  a  native  of  Palermo,  Waldo  county,  Me., 
and  a  graduate  of  Waterville  college  (now  Colby  university)  in  1S-17.  He 
attended  medical  lectures  at  Castleton,  Vt.,  and  Harvard  Medical  school, 
and  graduated  at  Bangor  Theological  seminary  in  1852.  He  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Machias,  Me.,  June  5,  1853, 
remained  one  year;  was  acting  pastor  at  Orono,  Me.,  eight  years;  he  then 
entered  the  U.  S.  Christian  Commission,  and  served  as  delegate  and  financial 
agent  until  September,  1863,  when  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
Washington  department  of  this  organization,  and  was  in  this  service  until 
May  15,  1865;  a  portion  of  the  time  he  was  engaged  in  organizing  the  home 
work  in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  He  was  the  pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  in  Hampden,  Me.,  from  September  :'-.  1  *•;.*>,  till  September 
1,  1871;  for  three  years  in  Saccarappa,  Me.;  then  in  Machias  from  November 
28,  1874,  until  May,  1879;  from  that  time  his  ministerial  charge  was  in 
Bethel,  Me.,  until  June  1,  1885,  when  he  came  to  Berlin,  and  is  now 
actively  engaged  in  preaching  the  Gospel,  promoting  the  cause  of  public 
education  and  all  social  reforms.  The  pleasant  parsonage  which  he  occu- 
pies with  his  estimable  wife,  was  completed  in  January,  lss»'»,  at  a  cost 
of  $2,000. 

The  church  has  slowly  but  steadily  increased  in  numbers  since  its  estab- 
lishment a  decade  ago;  the  small    band  of  fifteen   members,  in    1877,  was 


802  History  of  Coos  County. 


augumentedto  thirty  in  1882,  and  at  present,  May,  1887,  that  number  is 
more  than  doubled.  Forty  hopeful  conversions  have  occurred  during  the 
last  five  months,  of  which  sixteen  have  united  with  the  church.  During 
the  past  two  years  the  pastor  has  baptized  twenty  children.  This  church 
is  called  in  the  Oxford  conference  to  which  it  belongs  the  "  banner  church 
for  infant  baptism." 

A  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  organized  May 
•29,  1S77.  Officers:  Fred  R.  Oleson,  president;  Elmer  Bean,  vice-president; 
Miss  Mary  E.  Wilson,  secretary;  Miss  Gertrude  L.  Vincent,  treasurer.  This 
society  is  an  organized  effort  to  lead  young  people  to  Christ  and  into  his 
church,  to  establish  them  firmly  in  the  faith,  and  to  set  them  at  work  in 
the  Lord's  vineyard.  The  main  point  upon  which  the  constitution  insists, 
is  the  weekly  prayer  meeting;  which  each  active  member  pledges  himself 
or  herself  to  attend,  unless  necessarily  detained,  and  to  participate  in,  if 
only  by  the  repetition  of  a  verse  of  Scripture. 

The  Sunday-school,  in  1882,  numbered  seventy-five  members.  It  now 
has  a  membership  of  150,  having  in  the  last  five  years  doubled  its  mem- 
bers.    Irving  Stearns  is  superintendent. 

Organization  of  Parish. — W.  W.  Brown  and  associates  did,  on  the 
27th  day  of  June,  1881,  by  written  articles  signed  by  each  member,  form 
and  organize  themselves  into  a  religious  society  in  Berlin,  Coos  county, 
state  of  New  Hampshire,  by  and  under  the  name  of  "  Parish  of  the  Church 
of  Christ,"  agreeably  to  the  provision  of  Chapter  153  of  the  General  Laws 
of  this  state.  The  society  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  W.  W.  Brown, 
chairman;  H.  E.  Oleson,  clerk;  James  W.  Parker,  treasurer  and  collector; 
J.  D.  Duke,  Franklin  Wheeler  and  John  Wilson,  executive  committee. 

The  beautiful  Congregational  church,  which  is  such  an  ornament  to  the 
town,  had  its  origin  in  the  church  association  which  owed  its  formation 
largely  to  Mrs.  S.  D.  Green,  who  drew  up  and  circulated  this  compact  and 
obtained  the  signatures: — 

"  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  do  agree  to  constitute  ourselves  an  Association  to  be  called 
the  •  Church  Association  of  Berlin.' 

"  Our  object  in  becoming  members  of  this  Association  shall  be  to  promote  church  work  in  this  place,  and 
to  use  every  h  tnorable  means  in  our  power  to  have  a  church  edifice  built  in  Berlin:— one  that  will  be  pleasing 
to  God  and  our  fellowmen . 

••  We  also  pledge  ourselves  to  cultivate  an  interest  in  each  other,  and  to  remember  each  other,  and  par- 
ticularly our  Association  in  our  daily  visits  to  the  throne  of  Grace. 

"  To  tins  end  we  agree  to  meet,  unless  providentially  hindered,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  each  and  every 

i ith:  and  to  pay  into  the  treasury— or  in  other  words,  lend  to  the  Lord— what  in  our  judgment  we  can  best 

afford. 

"  Berlin,  N.  H.,  January,  1879. 

••  Mrs.  S.  D.  Green.  Mrs.  J.  \V.  Parker,  Mrs.  John  Wilson.   Mrs.  Frank   Wheeler,  Mrs.   S.  A.  Spaulding, 

James  W.  Parker,  Miss  Lettie  Parker,  John  Wilson,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Andrews,  S.  D.  Green,  A.  J.  Benedict,  Mrs.  Ida 

I:.  B  snedict,  Mrs.  C.  ('.  Bridges,  Mrs.  J.  D.  Porter,  Mrs.  Hannah  Oleson,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Farrington,  Mrs.  Fannie 

E.  I  >uke.  Mrs.  S.  M.  Bean,  Mrs.  H.  C  Sawyer,  Mrs.  Condon,  Mrs.  Huntley,  Mrs.  Warren,  Miss  S.   Wardwell." 

Through  the  active  efforts  of  the  ladies  a  fund  of  $200  was  accumulated. 
Then  a  meeting  of  the  society  was  called  and  it  was  resolved  to  build  a 


Town  of  Berlin.  *o:j, 


church.  The  site  was  given  by  the  Berlin  Mills  Company,  and  W.  W.  Brown 
has  been  a  most  generous  contributor  to  the  society  and  its  buildings.  The 
church  was  erected  in  1882  and  is  an  elegant  structure.  The  value  of  the 
lot  and  building  is  estimated  at  $10,0<><i.  It  is  modelled  after  the  Will- 
iston  church  in  Portland;  is  irregular  in  form,  and  measures41<i  feet  around 
it.  The  audience  room  is  thirty-five  feet  in  height;  the  vest  i  v  is  adjoining 
it,  with  sliding  doors,  and  the  main  room  can  accommodate  from  800  to 
1,000  persons.  The  organ  and  choir  occupy  a  recess  in  the  side  of  the 
church.  The  windows  are  of  stained  glass  in  different  forms.  Back  of  the 
pulpit  is  a  beautiful  memorial  window,  circular  in  form,  of  fine  European 
work  and  most  artistic  design.  This  is  to  commemorate  the  memory  of 
Mrs.  Emily  Hart  Brown,  a  most  zealous  and  generous  friend  of  the  society. 
This  is  by  far  the  finest  church  edifice  in  the  county.  Our  patrons  are  in- 
debted to  W.  W.  Brown  for  the  engraving  in  this  work. 

The  Universcdist  Church. — Previous  to  1805  the  laws  of  New  Hamp- 
shire had  not  recognized  Universalists  as  Christians  or  allowed  them  the 
privileges  of  other  religious  bodies.  To  be  a  Universalist  in  those  days  re- 
quired uot  a  little  moral  fortitude.  Of  course  there  were  and  are  some  in 
this  communion,  as  well  as  in  all  others,  who  profess  to  believe  the  faith, 
but  fail  to  live  it;  thereby  proving  that  they  are  not  its  disciples,  and  should 
never  be  regarded  as  its  representatives.  There  is  no  other  Christian  test 
than  the  one  that  the  Master  gave,  ' '  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them. " 

Among  the  early  inhabitants  of  Berlin  there  were  some  who  believed  in 
the  final  restitution  of  all  souls,  but  they  were  few  in  number,  their  means 
were  small,  and  they  were  unable  to  build  a  house  of  worship  or  pay  a 
settled  pastor.  Services,  however,  have  been  held  for  several  years  at 
Eagle  Hall,  and  different  clergymen  engaged.  The  veteran  minister, 
Father  Thompson  from  Maine,  Rev.  A.  Bosserman  from  Bethel,  Me.,  Rev. 
B.  K.  Russ,  of  Somerville,  Mass.,  and  others  have  preached  here  of  love  to 
God  and  men .     The  Articles  of  Faith  of  the  Universalists  of  this  town  are  :- 

•'Article  1.  We  believe  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  contain  a  revelation  of 
the  character  of  God.  and  of  the  duty,  interest  and  final  destination  of  mankind. 

" Article  2.  We  believe  that  there  is  one  God,  whose  nature  is  love,  revealed  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by 
one  Holy  Spirit  of  Grace,  who  will  finally  restore  the  whole  family  of  mankind  to  holiness  and  happim  as. 

"Articled.  We  believe  that  holiness  and  true  happiness  are  inseparably  connected,  and  that  believers 
ought  to  maintain  order  and  practice  good  works;  for  these  things  are  good  and  profitable  unto  men." 

About  two  years  ago  (1885)  Mrs.  G.  C.  Paine  and  other  ladies,  who  were 
interested  in  having  a  church  building,  circulated  a  subscription  paper, 
and,  as  a  result,  a  parish  society  was  organized  in  October,  L886,  and  a  new 
church  completed  this  year  at  an  expense  of  nearly  $4,000.  It  has  a  finely 
sounding  bell.  This  cost  $180.  The  building  is  thirty-eight  feet  by  sixty 
feet.  The  land  on  which  it  is  situated  was  donated  by  Daniel  Green,  No- 
vember 16,  1886.  The  building  association  was  formed  November,  L886. 
A.  H.  Gerrish,  E.  W.  Scribner  and  Xerxes  F.  Wardwell,  executive  com- 


804  History  of  Coos  County. 

mittee;  Moses  Hodgdon,  Samuel  E.  Paine  and  Wilson  A.  Pengree,  build- 
ing committee;  Moses  Hodgdon,  contractor. 

A  Sabbath -school  was  organized  April  10,  1887.  Present  membership, 
fifty  scholars.  L.  B.  Paine,  superintendent;  Annis  Gerrish,  secretary.  It 
has  a  fine  library  of  nearly  400  volumes,  the  gift  of  friends. 

Catholic  Church. — Among  the  people  who  settled  in  Berlin  in  1850, 
were  many  of  the  Catholic  faith,  and,  in  I860,  there  were  about  twenty- 
five  families.  Father  Noiseux,  a  priest  of  Lancaster,  used  to  come  and 
visit  them  three  or  four  times  during  the  year.  They  held  their  services 
in  a  private  house.  Later  on  Berlin  was  attended  from  Gorham;  first 
by  Father  Sullivan,  afterwards  by  Fathers  Charland,  Gorman,  and  Walsh. 
Father  Charland  first  agitated  the  question  of  building  a  church,  and 
bought  the  land  on  which  the  church  was  erected  in  1880  by  Father  Gor- 
man. This  edifice,  by  virtue  of  its  handsome  design  and  arrangement, 
does  credit'to  the  Catholic  communicants  in  Berlin.  The  Catholic  popula- 
tion increased  so  rapidly  that  in  August,  1885,  a  resident  pastor  was  deemed 
necessary,  and  .Right  Reverend  D.  M.  Bradley  sent  Rev.  N.  Cournoyer  to 
minister  to  them.  The  congregation  of  St.  Ann's  church  now  numbers 
about  1,500  souls,  the  greater  portion  being  of  the  French  nationality. 
Father  Cournoyer  erected  a  fine  parsonage  soon  after  his  arrival. 

St.  Paul  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  Parish  (Scandinavian)  was  or- 
ganized at  Berlin  Mills,  May  16,  1887,  with  fifty-seven  members,  Nels 
Erickson,  secretary;  H.  E.  Oleson,-  treasurer;  and  an  executive  committee 
of  six  members.  Services  have  for  some  time  been  held  monthly,  and  a 
Sabbath-school  has  been  conducted.  Rev.  George  T.  Rygh,  acting  pas- 
tor, comes  from  Portland  to  preach. 

The  Second  Advents  have  held  numerous  meetings  here.  Rev.  J.  T. 
McLucas  preaches  at  the  present  time,  but  there  is  no  organized  society. 


CHAPTER  XCVII. 

Education — First  School— First  Teacher — School  Districts — Amos  Mann — Berlin  High  School. 

THE  history  of  education  in  this  town  is  briefly  told,  for  it  is  not  much 
over  a  half  century  since  the  earliest  settler  planted  his  cabin  here, 
and  a  much  less  period  since  the  organization  of  the  town  and  the  es- 
tablishment of  schools.  And  yet  it  stands,  perhaps,  as  a  type  of  many,  if 
not  most,  of  the  new  and  backwoods  towns  of  the  northern  portion  of  the 
state.     Lying  amid  the  wild,  Alpine  scenery  of  the  White  Hills,  hemmed 


Town  of  Berlin.  805 


in  with  its  narrow  valleys  by  the  stern  and  sterile  mountain  ranges  which 
cover  full  three-fourths  of  its  total  area,  its  people  have  partaken  largely  of 
the  natural  characteristics  of  their  surroundings;  and  yet,  though  obliged 
from  the  beginning  to  battle  for  the  bread  of  their  daily  life  with  hardships 
unending,  and  against  obstacles  never  yet  quite  surmounted,  they  never 
forgot,  nor  failed  to  foster  from  their  scanty  means,  the  cause  of  education 
for  their  children.  The  first  settlers  were  men  entirely  without  other  re- 
sources than  their  hard  hands  and  sinewy  strength.  They  brought  with 
them,  one  might  almost  say  upon  their  backs,  all  their  worldly  possessions; 
their  wives  bearing  their  infants  in  their  arms,  while  a  train  of  from  two 
to  half  a  dozen  sons  and  daughters  made  up  the  complement  of  each  fam- 
ily. But  they  brought  their  Bible  also,  and  the  New  Testament,  the  "  Na- 
tional Reader,"  well-thumbed  pages  of  "Webster's  Elementary  Spelling 
Book,"  and  an  old  edition  of  the  "New  England  Primer"  -said  to  have 
been  the  first  school-book  printed  in  America.  Nor  was  there  wanting  an  old 
copy  of  Lindley  Murray. 

In  1822  the  first  family  settled  in  town;  in  1826  came  two  or  three  set- 
tlers bringing  large  families  of  children,  and  the  next  year  the  first  school 
was  taught  in  the  corner  bed-room  of  Thomas  Wheeler's  house,  and  paid 
for  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  parents  whose  children  attended. 
This  was  a  primitive  educational  institution,  but  it  paved  the  way  for  the 
neat  school-houses  that  now  furnish  most  excellent  privileges  to  the  many 
young  people  of  this  town. 

The  first  school  teacher  was  Rhoda  Rowell;  all  schools  were  taught  in 
private  houses  until  some  time  during  the  year  1831.  In  1S30  the  town 
was  divided  into  two  districts  for  school  purposes;  the  sum  of  $10  being 
raised  for  the  support  of  the  schools  for  the  year.  In  1831  a  school-house 
was  erected  in  district  No.  1,  at  a  cost  of  about  $150.  This  stood  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  at  the  junction  of  the  river  road  and  the  Cates  Hill 
road,  and  was  a  well -constructed  building,  a  credit  alike  to  the  people  and 
the  times.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  three  or  four  years  afterwards.  In 
this  house,  during  the  winter  of  1831,  Amos  Mann,  the  first  male  teacher, 
taught  the  first  public  school,  and  w&s  paid  $20  for  the  winter's  school. 
The  scholars  numbered  some  forty  boys  and  girls,  the  majority  being  from 
twelve  to  twenty  years  old.  In  the  words  of  some  of  those  pupils,  now 
gray-haired  citizens,  "Amos  Mann,  the  master  that  winter,  kept  the  best 
school  I  ever  attended."  The  school  teachers'  wages  were  very  low;  females 
only  receiving  from  $1  to  $2  per  week  with  board.  Mr.  Mann  at  first  in- 
dignantly spurned  the  offer  of  $11  per  month,  but  finally  accepted  it. 

Another  building  soon  replaced  the  one  destroyed.  In  Is  in  district  No. 
3  was  formed,  comprising  the  whole  of  the  town  east  of  the  Androscoggin, 
and  about  the  same  time  provided  a  small,  unpretending,  but  conveniently- 
arranged  building  for  its  educational  interests.     In  1844  or  L845,  a  school- 


mm;  History  of  Coos  County. 

house  was  built  in  No.  2.  This  was  sold  in  18S4,  and  was  converted  into 
the  stable  now  standing  next  to  the  book-store  of  George  L.  Vincent.  The 
money  raised  in  this  district  in  1831  and  1332  was  $18.10. 

District  No.  4  (Berlin  Mills)  was  formed  about  1853.  This  is  almost  ex- 
clusively within  the  limits  and  on  the  lands  of  the  lumber  corporation.  For 
several  years  the  schools  occupied  a  large  room  adjacent  to  the  Berlin 
Mills  Co.  's  store.  A  commodious  school  building  was  afterwards  erected  at  a 
cost  of  si,  (loo,  and  accommodated  two  teachers  and  two  departments.  No.  5, 
on  Cates  Hill,  was  located  about  the  same  time  as  No.  4.  A  few  years  later 
No.  6  (Jericho)  was  formed,  but  no  school-house  was  ever  built  there.  The 
number  of  scholars  in  the  district  for  the  year  1875-1876  was  173.  District 
No.  1,  twenty  three;  No.  2,  forty-five;  No.  3,  sixteen;  No.  4,  seventy-two; 
No.  5,  nine;  No.  <6,  eight. 

The  Cole  school-house  in  district  No.  2  was  built  in  1879,  at  a  cost  of 
$2,000,  and  opened  with  two  teachers  and  two  departments. 

District  No.  3  was  abolished  in  1885.  The  scholars  of  this  district  are 
conveyed  to  the  High  School  building  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

Berlin  High  School/-' — With  the  old  district  system  and  the  school- 
houses  of  the  last  generation,  the  course  of  education  in  Berlin  was  nearly 
the  same  as  in  Northern  New  England  generally.  But  the  wonderful 
water  power  of  the  town  began  to  be  developed,  the  solid  granite  founda- 
tions, by  degrees,  came  to  be  appreciated  as  the  most  reliable  situations  for 
dams  and  mill-sites,  and  the  population  began  to  increase.  With  brighter 
prospects  for  the  future,  the  people  awakened  to  the  necessity  for  larger  edu- 
cational facilities.  The  little  old,  red  school-house  at  the  "  Falls  "  was 
mentioned,  derisively,  as  "the  college,"  and  was  finally  converted  into  a 
cow-stable.  The  community  at  the  Mills  was  constituted  a  new  district  to 
be  known  as  district  No.  4.  The  Berlin  Mills  Co.  for  along  time  furnished 
a  room  for  the  school,  and  finally  built,  in  1S73,  a  very  respectable  school- 
house  for  the  accommodation  of  this  part  of  the  town.  H.  Winslow  and  W. 
W.  Brown  were  both  liberal  in  their  support  of  the  schools. 

A  higher  standard  of  scholarship  began  to  be  required  in  teachers. 
District  No.  2  at  the  Falls,  and  No.  4  at  the  Mills,  occasionally  united  for 
Bigh  School  purposes,  each  reserving  a  part  of  their  money  for  that  object. 
Under  this  plan  several  pupils  partially  fitted  for  college.  In  1881  the 
Falls  district  erected  a  new  school-house, — a  good  one  for  the  times, — sell- 
ing the  old  one,  it  is  said,  for  $5  for  a  stable.  About  this  time  the  subject 
of  a  town  Bigh  School  began  to  agitate  the  public  mind,  and  a  meeting 
was  called  April  28,  L883,  to  consider  the  propriety  of  the  undertaking. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  establish  a  town  High  School,  and  Jesse 
Tuttle,  Henry  F.  Marston,  E.  E.  Fernald,  J.  W.  Parker,  Andrew  J.  How- 


Bj  II.  1'.  Wardwell,  M.  D. 


2 

•- 


s. 

O 

EC 

z 

o 


Town  of  Berlin.  s,|T 


ard,  and  Jacob  Dresser,  were  appointed  a  committee,— one  being  from  each 
school  district  of  said  town, — to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  Superintend- 
ing School  Committee,  to  select  a  suitable  sit<\  ascertain  the  cost  of  it, 
also  to  consider  the  style  and  size  of  the  building  required,  the  probable 
cost,  and  any  other  matters  that  they  might  deem  proper  in  the  premises, 
and  report  at  an  adjourned  session  of  tins  meeting.  At  the  adjourned 
meeting  May  12,  1883,  K.  N.  Chamberlin,  for  the  committee  on  site  for  a 
High  School  building,  reported  that  they  had  been  offered  one  and  one  half 
acres  of  land  on  proposed  new  street  from  Libreville  in  Berlin  Mills  village, 
one  acre  to  be  donated  tor  that  purpose  by  Sullivan  I).  Green  and  one-half 
acre  by  Berlin  Mills  Co.  It  was  voted,  unanimously,  to  accept  the  site 
offered,  with  thanks  to  the  doners  for  their  generous  gift.  <  >n  account  of 
the  dimcutly  of  making  appropriations  at  special  meetings,  the  whole  sub- 
ject was  deferred  till  the  next  animal  meeting. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March    LI,  1884,  it   was   voted  to  appropriate 
$7,000  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  town  High  School  house;    the  whole 
plan,  style,  construction  and  arrangement  of  the  same  to  be  in  the  power 
and  at  the  direction  of  a  building  committee  to  be  appointed  at  this  meet- 
ing,  to   superintend   the   construction.     The   following   gentlemen    were 
appointed  committeemen:     Franklin   Wheeler,  James  W.  Parker,  Gardi- 
ner C.  Paine.     It  was  now  reasonably  sure  that  we  should  have  a  High 
School  house  before  the  expiration  of  another  school  year,  and  it  was 
voted,  on  motion  of  Dr.  II.  F.  Ward  well,  that  $400  of  the  money  appropri- 
ated for  schools  this  year  be  reserved  for  a  term  of  High  School.     Dr.  H. 
F.  Wardwell,  Dr.  F.  A.  Colby  and  R.  N.  Chamberlin,  Esq..  were  elected  a 
High  School  committee.     Two  rooms  in  the  new  school-house  being  com- 
pleted in  February,  1885,  the  High  School  was  opened  with  Holman  A. 
Drew,  A.  B.,  as  principal,  and  Miss  Adria   W.  Dresser  as  assistant.     The 
school  continued  under  the  same  management  through  the  spring  term  of 
this  year.     At  the  annual  meeting  in  1885  it,  was  voted  to  abolish   the 
district  system  and  adopt  the  town  system:  also  voted  on  motion  of  S.  E. 
Paine  to  appropriate  $4,000  more  to  complete  the  High  School  house.     Mr. 
Drew  having  resigned   his  position  as  principal  alter  the  spring  term  of 
L885,  the  fall  term  opened  with  Irving  Stearns.  A.  M  .  principal.  Adria  \Y. 
Dresser,  teacher  of  grammar  school.  Althea  L.  Sawyer,  teacher  of  inter- 
mediate.    The  Boai'd  of  Education  elected  for  1885  were  as  follows:  A.  K. 
Cole,  H.  F.  Wardwell,  M  D.,  F.  D.-Bartlett. 

Our  schools  having  now  been  fairly  working  lor  two  years  on  a  good 
systematized  plan,  all  are  doing  much  more  and  better  work  than  could 
have  been  done  by  the  old  mixed  system.  <  )ur.courseof  study  is  extensive, 
and  embraces  two  distincl  schedule-:  an  English  course  and  a  classical 
course.  It  is  optional  which  course  the  pupil  pursues.  The  English  course 
is  rich  in  language,  mat  hematics  and   sciences,  and   will  give  any  scholar 


808  History  of  Coos  County. 

a  good  fitting  for  the  active  business  enterprises  of  the  day.  The  classical 
course  includes  Latin,  Greek  and  the  higher  mathematics,  and  will  fit 
pupils  for  entrance  to  our  best  colleges  without  restrictions. 

From  these  small  beginnings  we  have  much  satisfaction  in  saying  at 
the  close  of  the  spring  term  of  1887  our  first  class  graduated.  Though  the 
class  was  small,  consisting  of  only  six,  still  they  graduated  with  honor  and 
credit  to  themselves  and  their  friends.  Three  of  them  will  enter  college  this 
year.  With  our  beautiful  school-house,  an  able  corps  of  teachers,  and  a 
good  system  of  education  fairly  inaugurated,  we  deem  it  safe  to  predict 
that  the  future  history  of  Berlin  schools  will  be  one  of  brilliancy. 

The  thanks  of  the  community  are  due  to  the  friends  of  education  gen- 
erally for  these  favorable  results,  but,  more  especially  to  the  building  com- 
mittee Franklin  Wheeler,  G.  C.  Paine,  and  J.  W.  Parker,  also  to  Berlin 
Mills  Co.,  A.  K.  Cole,  R.  N.  Chamberlin,  W.  I.  Davis,  Dr.  H.  F.  Ward- 
well,  F.  D.  Bartlett,  S.  E.  Paine,  Sullivan  D.  Green,  and  many  more  who 
did  equally  well.  May  our  future  success  be  proof  that  our  foundations 
are  as  firm  as  our  everlasting  hills. 


CHAPTER  XCVIII. 


Early  Roads  and  Bridges — First  Church  Organization — Unusual  Phenomena — Hotels — -Burial 
Places — Societies — Berlin  Mills — Forest  Fibre  Company— Glen  Manufacturing  Company — White 
Mountain  Pulp  and  Paper  Company — Physicians — Lawyers — Mercantile  and  Business  Houses, 
1887— Report  of  Selectmen,  1887. 

Y~V  ARLY  Roads  and  Bridges. — The  first   road   was  the  old   military 
||f   road,  made  about  1812  "through  the  woods"  by  way  of  West  Milan 
*\^   to  the  Connecticut.     This  is  still  a  public  thoroughfare.     The  first 
town  highwa}r   was  petitioned  for  in  June,  1830,  by  Thomas  Green  and 
Thomas  Wheeler.     This  was  five  miles  and  three-quarters  long,  and  was 
laid  June  30,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  from  the  Milan  line  to  the  line 
of  Shelburne  Addition.   The  road  is  now  the  principal  one  of  the  town.   Be- 
fore this  the  travelled  road  passed  from  the  junction  of  Glen  Manufactur- 
ing Company's  road  back  of  E.  W.  Scribner's  residence,  crossed  Dead  river 
1 ><  slow  Green's  mill,  passing  on  to  the  great  island.    It  then  crossed  the  canal 
to  the  main  land  back  of  Dr.  Wardwell's  house,  on  to  the  rear  of  the  Cath- 
olic church,  and  over  the  hill  to  Berlin  Mills  nearly  as  high  up  as  the  road 
in  front  of  the  High  School  building. 

The  first  bridge  across  the  Androscoggin  was  built  about  185-4,  on 
trestles,  from  the  old  Greenlief  Coffin  place  to  Benjamin  Coffin's  farm. 


Town  of  Berlin.  ^"'., 


Opposition  was  made  to  this  by  H.  Winslow  &  Co.,  as  it  obstructed  the 
course  of  their  logs  down  the  river.  They  sent  a  party  from  the  mill  to 
tear  it  up  by  force,  but  were  met  by  equally  resolute  men  who  prevented 
this  act.  The  subject  was  then  brought  into  town  meeting,  and  after 
several  years  the  bridge  was  taken  down,  and  a  new  bridge  built  about 
one  mile  farther  down  the  river,  and  a  highway  laid  out  to  cross  it  April 
6,  1858. 

First  Church  Or<j<(ui:ation  and  "Parsonage." — According  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  A.  Blodgett  there  was  an  early  religious  society  in  Berlin  and  Milan. 
Benjamin  Bean  was  the  active  power  of  this.  Rev.  Abel  Heath,  one  of  the 
pioneer  circuit-riders  of  the  Methodist  church,  who  visited  the  scattered 
settlements  of  the  Androscoggin  valley,  located  here  about  two  years, 
living  in  a  small  frame  parsonage  of  kitchen,  bedroom,  and  "  buttery  ,: 
built  for  him  near  Daniel  Davis's. 

/  "n  usual  Phenomena. — Thomas  J.  Wheeler  in  looking  over  an  old  mem- 
orandum book  found  these  records:  "Red  night,  Jan.  21,  1837."  *'Big 
snow  storm,  11  inches,  June  11,  1842."  The  first  phenomenon  was  of  such 
a  nature  as  to  be  long  held  by  the  memory  of  those  who  witnessed  it. 
There  appeared  to  be  something  in  the  air  which  caused  the  snow  to  as- 
sume a  blood-red  color  for  several  hours  during  the  first  part  of  the  night. 

J.  S.  Lary  says  that  he  drove  the  first  horse,  up  the  river- road  in  1819, 
that  was  ever  driven  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

The  first  house  with  ornamental  outside  work  was  the  one  now  occu- 
pied by  E.  W.  Scribner,  which  was  built  by  Richard  Wheeler,  the  frame 
being  raised  July  3,  1849. 

A  "Crooked"  Mill. — About  1819  T.  H.  Hutchinson  built  a  curious  mill 
on  the  "rips"  just  below  Berlin  bridge.  Every  bend,  brace,  and  other 
part  of  machinery  or  attachment  that  could  be  formed  from  a  "natural 
crook  "  of  timber  was  formed  from  one.  Even  in  the  boxing  around  the 
wheels,  in  the  gates,  etc.,  etc.,  the  same  queer  whim  prevailed,  and  during 
its  construction  the  surrounding  forests  were  diligently  searched  for  this 
peculiar  material.  The  power  was  produced  by  an  under-shot  water-wheel, 
with  not  over  three  or  four  feet  of  "head."  It  contained  an  "up-and-down  " 
saw,  which  local  tradition  says  "  went  up  one  day  and  down  the  next." 
The  mill  became  a  source  of  annoyance  to  the  large  mill  below,  and  was 
purchased  by  its  owners  and  torn  down. 

Wolves  were  plenty  until  about  1840,  and  bears  are  now  numerous.  S.  D. 
Blodgett  and  Cyrus  Wheeler  killed  ten  bears  in  1885,  for  which  they  re- 
ceived $100  bounty.     Two  bears  were  killed  in  the  town  in  1886. 

Hotels. — The  first  public  house  in  town  was  the  Berlin  Falls  House 
built  by  Amos  Green  in  1831  as  a  private  residence,  and  opened  by  James 
H.  Hall  as  a  hotel  about  L850,when  the  railroad  excitement  and  mill  build- 
ing called  for  accommodations  for  the  numerous  persons  desiring  entertain- 

53 


810  History  of  Coos  County. 


ment.  He  sold  his  interest  to  John  Chandler  after  a  brief  residence.  Mr. 
Chandler  was  here  for  some  years;  he  was  followed  as  landlord  by  Merrill 
C.  Forist,  who  built  the  Mt.  Forist  House.  Daniel  Green  then  obtained  the 
property  by  the  foreclosure  of  a  mortgage,  and  it  has  since  been  his  home. 
The  old  "  bar"  has  been  converted  into  an  alcove  library,  and  nothing  re- 
mains to  indicate  that  it  was  ever  an  inn. 

The  Cascade  House.— Henry  F.  Marston  built  a  house  in  1877,  which 
he  occupied  for  a  year,  then  made  an  addition  of  several  rooms,  and  opened 
it  as  the  Whirling  Eddy  House,  changing  the  name  to  Cascade  House 
after  a  while.     This  he  now  conducts. 

Alt.  Forist  House. — Merrill  C  Forist  purchased  the  premises  of  the  pres- 
ent Wilson  House  in  1866,  and  moved  into  the  small  cottage  which  then 
stood  there.  He  at  once  made  large  additions  for  hotel  purposes,  and 
opened  the  "  Mt.  Forist  House,"  which  he  conducted  until  his  death 
in  L879,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public.  S.  F.  Leighton  and  H.  F. 
Marston  then  successively  conducted  it  for  a  short  time,  then  Mrs.  Forist 
took  charge  of  it  until  February,  1885.  In  December,  1884,  she  sold  the 
property  to  A.  S.  Jewett,  of  Shelburne,  who,  after  a  brief  service  as  land- 
lord, leased  it  to  Joseph  Chapman.  He  soon  sold  his  lease  toF.W.  Foster, 
who  much  improved  the  house  and  changed  the  name  to  Wilson  House. 
He  in  turn  sold  to  Frank  Tibbetts,  the  present  landlord. 

Burial  Places — The  first  death  was  that  of  a  child  (name  and  age  un- 
known) of  "Laskey"  Jackson  which  died  January  1,  1826.  The  first 
burials  were  made  on  the  lots  of  the  settlers,  and  the  first  we  have  record 
of  a  public  burial  place  is  September  15,  1834,  when  f'at  a  town  meeting, 
the  voters  agreed  to  purchase  a  certain  tract  of  land  of  Allen  Peabody  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river  for  a  perpetual  burying-ground  and  have  it  fenced, 
and  have  said  piece  of  ground  contain  forty  two  square  rods,  that  is  to  say, 
seven  rods  on  the  road  and  run  six  rods  back  from  the  road,  and  give  said 
Peabody  two  dollars  for  said  piece  of  land ;  and  said  voters  agreed  to  give 
Fletcher  I.  Bean  the  sum  of  fifteen  dollars  and  twenty -five  cents  to  fence 
said  piece  of  land  with  good  cedar  posts  and  merchantable  boards,  with  a 
good  gate  well  hung,  all  to  be  done  in  a  workmanlike  manner."  This  is 
now  the  ''old  burying-ground,"  and  is  opposite  the  R.  H   Wheeler  place. 

The  good  health  of  the  people  did  not  demand  rapid  additions  to  this 
burial  place;  but  in  process  of  time  a  new  cemetery  was  deemed  necessary, 
and  action  was  taken  by  the  town  about  1873  to  provide  one.  A  commit- 
tee was  chosen,  of  which  M.  C.  Forist  was  chairman,  to  select  a  site  and 
locate  a  proper  cemetery.  They  chose  a  location  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Androscoggin  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  old  grounds.  This 
is  a  good  selection,  and  by  suitable  adornments  and  labor  can  be  made  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  "  cities  of  the  dead"  in  the  county. 


Town  of  Berlin.  M  I 


The  Catholic  society  purchased,  in  the  spring  of  1887,  a  lot  above  the 
Berlin  bridge  for  a  cemetery. 

Societies.— Knights  of  Pythias. — Coos  Lodge,  No.  25,  was  organized 
March  11,  L885,  with  these  charter  members:  F.  D.  Bartlett,  W.  A. 
Boothby,  A.  A.  Bridges,  F.  A.  Cobb,  F.  A.Colby,G.  L.  Cote,  Abner  K.Cole, 
('.('.  Gerrish,  W.  H.  Gerrish,  James  M.  Lavin.  Edward  B.  Marston,  H.  E. 
01eson,G.E.Oswell,  H.U  Oleson,  L.  B.  Paine,  Sam.  E.  Paine,  J.  W.  Parker, 
H.  C  Rowell,  L.  A.  Rowell,  P.  W.  Rowell,  E.  W.  Scribner,  F.  L.  Wilson. 
First  officers:  Chan.  ( !om.,  W.  H.  Gerrish;  Vice-Corn.,  II.  E.  <  Heson;  Prelate, 
F.  I).  Bartlett;  M.  at  A.,  F.  A.  Cobb;  M.  of  Ex.,  W.  A.  Boothby;  M.  of  F., 
L.  B.  Paine;  K.  of  R.  and  S.,  J.  M.  Lavin;  I.  G.,  F.  R.  Oleson;  0.  G., 
George  E.  Oswell.  Pythian  Hall,  where  theregular  meetings  arc  held 
every  Thursday  evening,  is  in  the  upper  story  of  the  Gerrish  store.  Berlin 
Falls,  and  is  a  model  one  for  beauty,  arrangement,  and  convenience. 
Present  membership  about  sixty.  Present  officers:  Chan.  Com,  F.  D. 
Bartlett;  Vice-Corn.,  Hiram  Rowell;  M.  of  F.,  Lorin  A.  Dresser:  M.  of  Ex.. 
Lowell  Paine;  K.  of  R.  and  S.,  E.  M.  Abbott;  M.  at  A.,  George  L.  Vincent; 
Prelate,  J.  M.  Lavin;  I.  G.,  George  Rowell;  0.  G.,  I.  G.  Marshall;  S.  P. 
Chan.,  H.  E.  Oleson;  D.  D.  G.  C,  H.  E.  Oleson.  The  Past  Chancellors 
are  William  H.  Gerrish  and  Charles  C.  Gerrish. 

Endowment  Rank,  Knights  of  Pythias,  No.  805,  was  organized  June 
13,  1887,  with  thirteen  members.  F.  A.  Colby,  Pres.;  W.  A.  Boothby,  V. 
P.;  L.  A.  Dresser,  Sect.;  F.  A.  Colby,  M.  D.,  Ex.-Surgeon. 

Union  Veterans'1  Union.— -U.  S.  Grant  Post,  No.  1,  was  chartered  Sep- 
tember 11,  1886,  with  twenty-four  charter  members,  among  them  Sulli- 
van D.  Green,  H.  F.  Wardwell,  Edward  M.  Abbott,  George  L.  Vincent, 
C.  W.  Delliber.  This  organization  includes  only  soldiers  who  actually  did 
service  for  three  months  or  more  in  the  field.  The  officers  are,  Colonel, 
George  L.  Vincent;  Lieut. -Col.,  E.  M.  Abbott;  Major, Burnett;  Adju- 
tant, Jesse  Tuttle;  Q.  M.  and  Department  Mustering  Officer,  C.  W.  Delli- 
ber; Chaplain,  Almon  Brown;  Officer  of  the  Guard,  Joseph  Pero;  Senti- 
nels, E.  Thurlow,  A.  0.  Harriman.  Col.  Vincent  is  Department  Inspector. 
No  meetings  are  now  held,  as  promises  made  by  the  National  Post  have 
not  been  fulfilled.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  organization  will  not  be 
suffered  to  die,  for  any  society  having  for  its  objects  the  perpetuation 
of  the  valor  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  army,  and.  the  inculcation  of 
patriotism  deserves  a  long  and  prosperous  existence. 

Knights  of  Labor. — This  body  has  a  large  membership,  and  holds  its 
meetings  in  the  Knights  of  Labor  Hall,  in  the  rear  of  Hodgdon  &  Crowell's 
hardware  store  in  Berlin  Falls. 

Subordinate  Association,  No.  67. — Protective  Mutual  Relief  Associa- 
tion was  organized  under  a  charter  granted  July  LO,  L883.  Charter  mem- 
bers:    F.  A.  Colby,  M.  D.,  A.  K.  Cole,  N.  J.  Marshall,   B.   S.   Morgan,  (i. 


812  History  of  Coos  County. 

L.  Cote,  J.  M.  Lavin,  J.  W.  Green,  Ada  H.  Colby,  W.  H.  Gerrish,  Fannie 
C.  E.  Green,  H.  E.  Oleson.  Directors,  A.  K.  Cole,  J.  M.  Lavin,  H.  E. 
Oleson;  F.A.Colby,  M.  D.,  Examining  Surgeon.  These  have  held  office  from 
organization.  F.  A.  Colby  was  first  clerk,  and  was  succeeded  by  H.  E. 
Oleson,  the  present  incumbent.  The  association  has  meetings  only  when 
called  by  the  directors. 

Young  Ladies'  Circulating  Library. — This  was  founded  at  Berlin 
Mills,  January  15,  1S79  with  twenty-five  volumes.  It  has  now  a  hand- 
some, well-selected  stock  of  between  600  and  TOO.  Mrs.  H.  E.  Oleson, 
librarian.     It  is  kept  over  Berlin  Mills  Company's  offices. 

A  Scandinavian  library  and  reading-room  has  been  established  this 
year  over  Berlin  Mills  Company's  offices.  This  is  designed  to  contain 
the  works  of  the  best  Scandinavian  authors,  and  the  leading  Scandinavian 
periodicals.  H.  E.  Oleson  is  entitled  to  much  of  the  credit  of  this  enter- 
prise. 

Two  French  benevolent  societies — "St.  John  the  Baptiste,"  Oliver 
Lambert,  president,  and  "St.  Joseph  Society."  J.  0.  Poilbert,  president — 
are  in  active  operation  with  good  memberships. 

The  Berlin  Literary  Club  was  organized  in  June,  1SS3.  Its  object  is 
"for  the  general  improvement  of  its  members,  either  in  literary,  musical, 
or  dramatic  culture."  Meetings  are  held  weekly  at  the  houses  of  members. 
Its  officers  are  president,  vice-president,  secretary,  treasurer,  prompter,  and 
critic.  Many  of  the  leading  people  in  town  have  been  members  of  the 
club,  which  has  done,  and  is  doing,  a  good  work  in  its  special  field. 

Berlin  Mills. — The  opening  of  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  R.  R.  to 
Berlin  threw  the  great  advantages  of  the  enormous  water-power  of  the 
Androscoggin  river  into  practical  availability,  and  those  wise  financiers 
and  far  seeing  business  men  to  whom  this  railroad  owed  its  existence  at 
once  took  measures  to  utilize  the  falls  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber.  J. 
B.  Brown,  Josiah  S.  Little,  Nathan  Winslow  and  Hezekiah  Winslow,  all 
of  Portland,  under  firm -name  of  H.  Winslow  &  Co.,  erected  a  mill,  in 
1  ^>-j!,  on  the  Thomas  Green  privilege  at  the  head  of  the  falls.  This  mill 
contained  one  gang  and  two  single  saws,  with  a  capacity  of  production  of 
from  ('.. ooii. (Mil)  to  8,000,000  feet  of  lumber  per  annum.  The  river  at  this 
point  has  a  fall  of  seventeen  feet,  with  an  estimated  power  of  20,000  horses, 
only  a  fraction  of  which  has  as  yet  been  utilized.  In  1855,  another  gang 
saw  was  added.  The  mill  was  in  good  operation  and  had  established  a 
demand  for  its  lumber,  when  the  disastrous  and  widely-sweeping  panic  of 
1 857  overwhelmed  the  business  world  and  carried  many  large  lumbering 
firms  to  destruction.  Through  skillful  management  and  judicious  care  H. 
Winslow  &  Co.  weathered  the  storm,  although  conducting  business  for 
some  years  at  a  loss  of  thousands  of  dollars.  This  was  the  critical  period 
of  the  prosperity  of  the  mills,  and,  once  passed,  nothing  but  success  has 


Town  of  Berlin.  813 


since  attended  its  progress.  In  1858  a  single  saw  and  a  grist-mill  were 
introduced,  and,  in  I860,  the  first  rotary  saw  was  placed  in  position  From 
that  time  to  the  present  many  changes  have  been  made,  numerous  build- 
ings erected,  and  machinery  added,  until  the  plant  to  day  is  one  of  the 
largest  in  Northeastern  New  England.  Its  present  production  is  L40,000 
feet  of  long  lumber  per  day,  30,000  shingles,  10,000  clapboards,  60,000 
laths,  10,000  pickets,  etc.  There  are  four  circular  saws,  a  gang  and  a  hand 
saw,  three  shingle  machines,  two  clapboard  machines,  lath  and  pickel 
sawrs,  etc.,  etc.  To  attend  to  the  labor  the  services  of  from  350  to  375  men 
are  required.  The  main  building  is  225  feet  by  60  feet  in  size;  bul  with 
the  outbuildings,  blacksmith  and  repair  shops,  offices,  store,  houses  of 
operatives,  etc.,  etc.,  a  flourishing  village  has  sprung  up,  with  a  beautiful 
church  and  parsonage.  In  the  winter  season  from  300  to  400  men  are 
employed  in  the  logging  operations  in  the  woods  on  the  upper  river. 

In  1866  the  Berlin  Mills  Company  was  formed,  the  members  of  the 
company  being  J.  B.  Brown,  Mrs.  Little,  and  Messrs.  Clemens,  Brigham 
and  Warren.  In  1868  J.  B.  Brown  sold  his  interest  to  William  W.  Brown, 
subsequently  the  interest  of  Clemens,  Brigham  and  Warren  was  purchased 
by  William  W.  Brown  and  Lewis  T.  Brown,  and  that  of  the  Little  heirs 
was  transferred  to  A.  I.  C.  Davis.  William  W.  Brown  has  shown  him- 
self possessed  of  rare  business  powers,  and  stands  prominently  among  the 
lumber  manufacturers  of  the  age.  He  has  taken  a  fatherly  interest  in  the 
progress  of  Berlin,  and  his  financial  assistance  is  always  to  be  relied  upon 
in  furtherance  of  any  movement  to  advance  or  improve  the  condition  of 
its  people.  Lewis  T.  Brown  was  for  many  years  the  superintendent,  and 
formed  an  extensive  acquaintance  in  Coos  county,  and  probably  no  one  in 
this  section  ever  stood  higher  in  the  esteem  of  the  leading  men.  He  died 
in  1886. 

The  firm  to-day  consists  of  William  W.  Brown,  Mrs.  A.  I.  C.  Davis, 
the  heirs  of  Lewis  T.  Brown,  J.  W.  Parker,  and  Thomas  Edwards.  J. 
W.  Parker  has  charge  of  the  logging  operations;  H.  J.  Brown,  superin- 
tendent; H.  E.  Oleson,  paymaster,  is  in  charge  of  the  store.  This  ''store" 
is  a  mammoth  affair,  conducted  with  the  same  system  and  rivalling  in 
extent  of  its  transactions  many  metropolitan  establishments.  There  are 
departments  for  dry  goods,  clothing,  groceries,  hardware,  stoves,  etc., 
paints,  oils,  etc.,  flour,  feed,  etc.  Berlin  Mills  postoffice  was  established 
in  1881  with  J.  W.  Parker,  postmaster.  L.  C.  Beattie  is  the  present 
incumbent. 

Forest  Fibre  Company. — The  large  chemical  pulp-mill  of  this  company 
attracts  prominently  the  attention  of  every  visitor  to  Berlin,  by  its  con- 
spicuous location,  the  prominence  and  size  of  the  buildings,  the  thick 
clouds  of  smoke  rising  from  the  massive  smoke-stacks  of  its  furnaces,  and 
in  the  evening  by  the  brilliancy  of  the  electric  lights  which  not  only  ilium- 


8 1 \  History  of  Coos  County. 


mate  the  large  grounds  of  the  plant,  but  a  much  larger  area.  In  the  manu- 
facture of  wood-pulp  in  this  manufactory,  the  wood  used  is  principally 
poplar  and  spruce;  the  poplar  is  brought  from  the  surrounding  country, 
and  the  spruce  consists  of  the  slabs  and  waste  product  from  the  saw-mills 
of  the  Berlin  Mills  Company,  several  hundred  yards  above,  and  connected 
with  the  pulp-mills  by  a  car  track.  The  logs  and  sticks,  of  any  and  all 
sizes,  are  fed  into  a  large  hopper  and  descend  upon  a  set  of  heavy  knives 
revolving  with  great  rapidity.  Here  they  are  speedily  converted  into  small 
chips,  which,  falling  on  an  elevator  belt,  are  carried  into  the  adjoining 
building,  and  dropped  upon  the  floor  of  the  mill.  They  are  then  shoveled 
into  iron  boilers  set  beneath  the  floor,  where  the  chemicals  are  added,  and 
the  chips  reduced  to  pulp  by  boiling.  After  coming  from  the  boilers  the 
pulp  is  taken  to  large  wooden  tanks  and  passed  through  heavy  rollers, 
thus  straightening  out  the  fibre  and  removing  a  large  proportion  of  the 
water  and  chemicals.  It  then  passes  to  the  pressing  room,  where  it  is 
made  into  cheeses  under  a  hydraulic  pressure  of  3,500  pounds  to  the  square 
inch,  after  which  it  is  tied  up  in  bags  and  is  ready  for  the  market.  The 
liquid  pressed  from  the  pulp  is  taken  to  an  adjoining  building,  and  the 
chemicals  reclaimed  with  very  little  loss;  (See  biography  of  H.  H.  Furbish.) 

Glen  Manufacturing  Company. — In  June,  1885,  availing  themselves  of 
the  grant  of  exemption  made  by  Berlin  to  any  establishment  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  wood-pulp,  which  should  be  erected  on  the  "great  pitch"  of 
the  Androscoggin,  a  number  of  wealthy  Massachusetts  capitalists  formed 
the  Glen  Manufacturing  Company,  and  erected  one  of  the  best  constructed 
and  equipped  pulp  and  paper-mills  in  New  England,  at  a  cost  running  into 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars.  Building  operations  were  commenced 
July  1,  1885,  and  the  mill  was  started  May  1,  1886.  The  special  feature  of 
this  mill  is  the  development  of  power — 6,000  horse-power  being  produced 
under  a  head  of  forty  feet.  Connected  with  the  mill  are  four  pairs  of 
forty-two  inch  horizontal  wheels,  one  thirty-six  inch  and  two  twenty-four 
inch  vertical  wheels,  sixteen  pulp-grinding  machines,  six  fifty-four  inch 
rag-engines,  two  ninety-two  inch  and  one  ninety  six  inch  paper  machines. 
A  large  and  complete  fire  service  has  been  provided,  consisting  of  auto- 
matic sprinklers,  steam  and  rotary  fire  pumps,  etc.  The  mill  produces 
thirty-two  tons  of  ground  wood-pulp,  and  twenty-four  tons  of  roll  paper  a 
day,  and  employs  200  workmen.  Seven  double  tenements  were  built  in 
1 886  by  the  company  for  rent  to  the  employes.  The  officers  are  D.  L.  Hob- 
son,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  president;  H.  M.  Knowles,  of  Boston,  treasurer; 
I.  B.  Hosford,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  manager;  H.  S.  Rice,  resident  agent 
and  superintendent. 

This  mill,  in  connection  with  the  Haverhill  (Mass.)  Paper  Company, 
furnishes  the  print  paper  for  the  New  York  Tribune,  New  York  Neivs, 
Boston  Globe,  Boston  Sunday  Herald,  besides  numerous  journals  of  smaller 


Z      if. 


Town  of  Berlin.  815 

circulation.  It  uses  in  the  manufacture  of  this  paper  4,500,000  feet  of 
spruce  lumber,  and  4,000  cords  of  poplar  annually. 

White  Mountain  Pulp  and  Paper  Company. — In  September,  L883,  P. 
W.  Locke  purchased  a  guaranteed  5(»i  liorsc  power  near  the  mouth  of 
Dead  river,  of  Daniel  Green,  and  at  once  began  the  creel  ion  of  a  three- 
ton  pulp-mill.  In  December,  1883,  the  White  Mountain  Pulp  and  Paper 
Company  was  organized,  with  a  capital  of  $40,000.  B.  S.  Gibson,  of 
Portland,  president;  P.  W.  Locke,  treasurer;  A.  M.  Munce,  clerk.  In  L885 
the  company  more  than  doubled  the  capacity  of  the  mill,  purchasing 
additional  power  sufficient  to  run  it.  Additions  were  made  in  lss(>  which 
have  increased  the  capacity  to  seven  tons  a  day,  and  gives  employment  to 
thirty  men.  The  mill  uses  about  1,800  cords  of  poplar  and  spruce  wood 
per  annum,  and  is  lighted  at  night  by  forty-one  of  Edison's  incandescent 
electric  lights.  In  1886  Benjamin  F.  Hosford,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  purchased 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Locke.  The  present  officers  (July,  1887,)  are  B.  F. 
Hosford,  president;  A.  M.  Munce,  treasurer,  superintendent,  and  clerk. 
[In  August,  18S7,  this  mill  (Kissed  into  the  hands  of  the  Glen  Manufactur- 
ing Co.,  and  Charles  Porter  succeeded  Mr.  Munce  in  his  offices.] 

Hon.  Samuel  E.  Paine,  state  senator  from  Coos  county  for  1887  88, 
has  been  a  resident  of  Berlin  for  eighteen  years,  and  one  of  its  keenest 
business  men.  His  active  life  has  been  mostly  passed  in  Milan  and  Berlin, 
and  wholesome  practical  results  testify  to  his  business  ability.  A  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  a  Universalis^  in  religion,  he  supports  in  the  most  ener- 
getic manner  anything  he  deems  for  the  good  of  the  public,  which  has 
often  called  him  to  positions  of  trust.  The  Senator  is  immensely  popular 
with  the  masses,  and  rarely  fails  to  carry  his  point.  He  was  representa- 
tive from  Berlin  in  1877,  1885,  1886. 

Physicians. — The  early  physicians  were  those  who  were  called  from 
a  distance.  The  visits  of  Dr.  John  Grover,  of  Bethel,  Me.,  Dr.  0.  B. 
Howe,  of  Shelburne,  and  Dr.  O.  M.  Twitchell,  are  remembered  by  the 
older  citizens  as  being  often  made,  and  furnishing  the  medical  aid  of  that 
day.  Later  Dr.  H.  F.  Wardwelland  Dr.  T.  M.  Wight  came  from  Gorham. 
Finally  Dr.  Wardwell  located  here,  the  first  settled  physician  of  Berlin. 
His  practice  has  been  a  large  one,  and  with  an  undiminished  clientage,  he 
is  to-day  as  brisk  and  cheerful,  as  cordially  welcomed  to  the  homes  of  the 
suffering,  as  when  he  first  threw  his  "  pill-bags "  over  the  back  of  his 
horse  for  a  trip  up  the  Androscoggin.  Dr.  F.  A.  Colby,  a  young  man  of 
cosmopolitan  experience  and  thorough  medical  knowledge,  came  here  in 
June,  1882,  and  after  a  stay  of  nearly  three  years,  sold  out  his  practice,  in 
April,  lSsv">.  to  Dr.  F.  B.  Locke.  After  two  years'  residence  on  the  Pacific 
coast  he  returned  to  Berlin,  purchased  his  practice  from  Dr.  Locke,  and 
permanently  located  here  in  February,  L887.  Dr.  J.  A.  Morris  came  here 
from  Littleton  in  1880.     Several  French  physicians  have  been  attracted 


816  History  of  Coos  County. 


here  by  the  large  number  of  that  nationality  in  this  vicinity,  but  none 
remained  long.  Dr.  J.  0.  Dutrizac  has  been  in  practice  since  early  in  1886, 
and  has  a  good  reputation  as  a  practitioner. 

Lawyers. — The  town  has  only  been  recently  of  sufficient  importance  to 
give  practice  to  located  lawyers.  R.  N.  Chamberlin  was  the  pioneer, 
coming  here  in  1881.  (See  biography  in  chapter  of  Bench  and  Bar.)  Dan- 
iel J.  Daley  came  here  in  1SS5.     (See  Bench  and  Bar.) 

Electric  Lights. — Through  the  public  spirit  of  H.  H.  Furbish  the 
principal  streets  and  many  buildings  and  residences  are  now  lighted  by 
electricity. 

Mercantile  and  Business  Houses,  June,  1887. — General  Merchants. — 
C.  C.  G-errish  &  Co.,  (W.  H.  Gerrish);  Stahl  Bros.,  (branch  houses:  G.  S. 
Clark  &  Co.  Gorham;  Stahl  Bros.  &  Lavin,  New  York);  John  B.  Noyes; 
Berlin  Mills  Company.  All  these  carry  stocks  of  dry  goods,  clothing,  car- 
pets, fancy  goods,  watches,  clocks  and  jewelry,  boots  and  shoes;  some  of 
them  sell  groceries,  guns  and  ammunition;  stoves  and  hardware,  paints, 
oils,  etc.,  etc.  The  Berlin  Mills  Company's  mercantile  establishment  carries 
one  of  the  largest  stocks  in  the  state,  and  its  amount  of  business  is  equalled 
by  few  houses  in  New  Hampshire. 

Clothing. — A.  W.  Jones. 

Clothing  and  Groceries. — F.  C.  Stevens. 

Millinery.— Miss  C.  L.  Kimball,  Mrs.  Brown,  Mrs.  J.  V.  Martin. 

Hardware,  Stoves,  Crockery,  Agricultural  Implements,  etc. — Hodgdon 
&  Ci-owell. 

Groceries. — Lambert  Bros.  &  Co.,  O.  Lambert,  Bickford  &  Carney, 
Portus  L.  Locke,  G.  C.  Paine,  W.  Tucker. 

Flour,  Grain,  Feed,  Etc. — Gardner  C.  Paine. 

Furniture. — O.  G.  Poilvert. 

Druggists.— J.  W.  Green,  F.  W.  Foster,  F.  L.  Wilson  &  Co. 

Books,  Stationery,  Etc. — George  L.  Vincent. 

Watches  and  Jewelry. — A.  B.  Forbush. 

Photographic  Studio. — F.  M.  Clement. 

Insurance  Agents. — R.  N.  Chamberlin,  D.  J.  Daley. 

Harnesses. — C.  W.  Delliber,  J.  H.  Coyle. 

Carriage  Shop. — C.  C.  Leighton. 

Restaurant. — N.  Mosso. 

Picture  Frames. — E.  Legro,  a  crippled  soldier  of  the  civil  war,  carries 
on  the  manufacture  of  picture  frames  in  connection  with  blacksmithing. 

There  are  also  several  minor  traders  and  mechanics,  such  as  black- 
smiths, carpenters,  shoe  makers,  besides  a  number  of  livery  stables,  board- 
ing houses,  a  bakery,  a  laundry,  etc. 

L88G. — From  the  selectmen's  report  made  March,  18S7,  we  extract  this 
graphic  statement  of  the  growth  of  the  town  in  ]  886 : — 


Town  of  Bkrlix.  817 


"  The  rapid  and  unprecedented  growth  of  Berlin,  which  in  the  space  of  little  more  than  a  half-dozen 
year-  has  increased  from  a  scattered  community  of  a  few  hundred  to  a  chain  of  villages  numbering  nearly 
four  thousand  men,  women  and  children,  brings  as  face  to  face  with  problems  and  responsibilities  worthy  of 
serious  consideration,  whether  socially,  morally,  economically  or  politically.  This  phenomenal  and  Midden 
grow ih  lias  sprung  upon  us  many  of  the  conditions  belonging  to  large  tow  ns  and  cities  alone,  and  finds  us  in 
a  degree  without  the  advantagi  a  of  that  experience  which  they,  in  their  slower  and  steadier  advancement  had 
benefit  of.    The  doubling  of  our  population  in  little  m  ire  than  a  year  has  forced  the   demand   for  additional 

accommodations    far  beyond  what    was  anticipated  Or    imagined,  and  has  compelled  extraordinary  effort  and 

outlay  to  meet  it.     A  hundred  tenements,  many  of  them  built  an e  the  crags  of  our  rough  and  Lnai 

places,  have  been  put  up,  and  the  mean-  of  communication  with  them  supplied,  though  at  considerable  i 
and  at  the  same  rune  thousands  of  dollars  have  been  added  t.>  the  future  taxable  value  of  the  town.  During  L886 
amoiiLT  other  improvements  of  ]>  irmanent  \  .dm-  have  been  created  <  Hen  street,  with  its  $10,000  worth  of  new 
cottages  and  room  for  expansion;  West  Railroad  street  with  twelve  new  buildings;  head  River  avenue  with 
live  ie  w  buildings,  (besides  a  large  three-story  blacksmith  shop  with  wood-working  machinery  attached,)  and 
Cashing  street;  all  new  highways." 

Valuation,  1887.  -Resident  real  estate,  $232,677;  non-residenl  estate, 
$22,760;  money  at  interest,  83,400;  slock  in  trade,  $66,650;  mills  and 
machinery,  $75,500;  727  polls,  $72,700;  L62  horses,  $11,695;  4  mules,  $300; 
242  cattle,  $5,795;  122  sheep,  $292;  13  hogs,  $103;  18  carriages,  $1,133;  total 
inventory  valuation.  $493,005. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


DANIEL  GREEN,  AND  THE  GREEN  FAMILY. 

The  record  of  the  lives  of  the  first  settlers  is  especially  interesting;  their 
progress  in  establishing  homes  and  industries,  their  successes,  and  courage 
under  reverses,  their  "  pluck "  and  self-sacrifice  may  serve  to  encourage 
the  discouraged,  strengthen  the  weak,  and  teach  a  lesson  to  all. 

Daniel  Green,  son  of  Thomas"  and  Lydia  Fairbanks  (Evans)  Green,  was 
horn  in  Shelburne,  N.  H.,  December  19,  1808.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Beading,  Mass.,  born  in  17s:',,  and  when  a  mere  lad  emigrated  with  his 
parents  to  Albany,  then  in  the  District  of  Maine.  Thomas  Green1,  grand- 
father of  Daniel,  after  living  a  short  time  on  his  settlement  in  Albany, 
moved  to  Shelburne,  and  located  on  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Androscoggin  river,  where  Manson  Green  now  lives.  Here  he  began 
the  struggle  of  making  a  productive  farm  and  a  comfortable  home  in  the 
wilderness.  His  industry  and  hard  labor  was  in  time  repaid,  lie  acquired 
considerable  property  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  could  have  bought 
half  of  the  town. 

Thomas  Green2  worked  on  his  father's  land  until  lie  was  nearly  twenty- 
one;  he  then  built  a  small  saw-mill  on  the  site  of  the  old  Austin  grist-mill 
on  Mill  brook,  Shelburne.  This  mill  had  not  the  requisite  capacity  to  do 
business  to  suit  the  enterprising  spirit  of  Mr.  Green,  and  he  located  on  a 
farm  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  where  is  now  the  village  of  Shelburne. 


8J8  History  of  Coos  County. 

He  afterwards  went  to  the  wild  unsettled  township  of  Errol,  built  a  camp 
and  began  to  construct  a  mill,  but  the  loss  of  his  camp  and  all  the  money 
he  possessed,  $800,  by  lire,  necessitated  his  returning  to  his  farm  in  Shel- 
burne where  he  lived  about  eight  years,  and  by  calculation  and  economy 
was  enabled  to  purchase  a  tract  of  wild  land,  which  he  developed,  clearing- 
it  in  two  years,  making  a  large  quantity  of  "  black  salts,"  potash  and  pearl- 
ash.  He  was  the  first  man  to  engage  in  merchandising  in  the  town  of 
Shelburne,  and  did  a  large  business  furnishing  supplies  to  lumbermen  and 
contractors  in  quite  an  area  in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  In  1826  he 
came  to  the  unorganized  town  of  Maynesborough  (Berlin),  and  located  at 
the  head  of  the  Falls  where  the  Berlin  Mills  Co.'s  mills  are  now  situated. 
He  raised  a  large  frame  for  a  mill,  and  had  the  dam  nearly  completed, 
and  fine  crops  were  standing  on  his  farm  in  Shelburne,  when  the  terrible 
freshet  of  August,  1S26,  destroyed  all.  These  misfortunes  only  seemed  to 
add  an  impetus  to  Mr.  Green's  natural  energy;  but  unable,  on  account  of 
his  impoverished  means,  to  immediately  rebuild  and  carry  out  his  plans, 
he  went  from  home,  and  worked  a  year  to  get  money  for  another  start. 
He  then  returned  to  Berlin,  got  out  a  large  quantity  of  pine  logs  and  the 
frame  for  another  mill.  In  1827  he  purchased  the  mill  privilege  and  land 
at  Berlin  Falls,  and  built  a  house  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  residence 
of  E.  W.  Scribner,  moving  his  family  thither.  He  then  proceeded  to  erect 
an  up-and  down  saw-mill,  and  a  grist-mill  of  one  run  of  stones.  This  stood 
back  of  the  store  of  Hodgdon&  Crowell,  where  is  now  the  pond.  He  con- 
ducted business  here  until  1851.  About  1835  he  moved  the  grist-mill  up 
tlif  river  to  a  site  nearly  opposite  the  present  store  of  C.  C.  Gerrish  &  Co., 
and  enlarged  it  to  three  runs  of  stones,  and  also  built  the  house,  now  occu- 
pied by  Dr.  Ward  well,  for  his  residence.  March  1(3,  1835  he  sold  his  saw- 
mill property  to  Barker  Burbank,  Dearborn  Lary,  and  John  Chandler.  In 
connection  with  his  grist-mill,  he  sold  flour,  feed  and  grain,  and  kept  a 
stock  of  groceries  for  sale  at  his  house.  February  1,  1853,  he  disposed  of 
this  mill  and  property  to  a  Mr.  Gower,  but  occupied  the  house  until  after 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Green  in  March,  1853. 

Mr.  Green  married,  first,  Lydia  F.,  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Eunice 
(Hayden)  Evans.  [Mr.  Evans  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Shelburne,  com- 
ing there  from  Foxborough,  Mass.]  Their  children  were  Alpha  (Mrs. 
Clovis  Lowe)  (dec);  Amos,  Daniel,  Edmund,  lives  in  Stark;  Aaron,  (dec); 
Lydia  (Mrs.  Paul  Perkins)  (dec.) 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Green  bought  a  farm  in  Guildhall, Vt., 
near  the  "Lancaster  Toll-Bridge."  Here  he  lived  a  few  years,  then  mar- 
ried Cynthia  Stanley,  a  descendant  of  Lieut.  Dennis  Stanley,  and  pur- 
chased a  place  about  one  mile  from  Lancaster  village  on  the  east  road,  re- 
siding there  until  his  death  in  July,  187L  Mr.  Green  had  but  limited 
educational  opportunities,  was  a  strong,  energetic  worker,  and  in  various 


ttZ^t^zY 


Town  of  Berlin.  819 

ways  did  a  great  work  in  developing  and  improving  the  many  resources  of 
this  part  of  the  county.  In  politics  lie  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  Methodisl 
in  his  religious  affiliations. 

Daniel  Green  received  the  minimum  of  Learning  usually  afforded  the 
children  of  pioneers;  he  inherited,  however,  sterling  I  raits  from  his  parents, 
and  was  early  taught  one  of  life's  hard  lessons:  "to  learn  to  labor  and  to 
wait."  About  1829  he,  with  his  brother  Amos,  secured  a  mill- privilege 
adjoining  the  saw-mill  of  their  father,  and  put  up  a  clapboard  mill  and 
shingle  machine,  which  they  conducted  until  April,  1835,  when  it  was 
burned,  and  they  sold  their  privilege  on  both  sides  of  the  river  to  Burbank, 
Lary  A:  Chandler,  who  put  up  another  mill,  which  they  sold  to  Dexter 
Wheeler  at  a  later  date.  In  1845  Daniel  Green  erected  a  mill  containing  a 
clapboard,  shingle  and  sapping  machine  on  the  Ammonoosuc,  in  Berlin, 
on  lot  21,  range  3,  and  carried  it  on  until  1849,  when  this  mill  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  and  1.000  acres  of  the  best  timber  he  possessed.  Like  his 
father,  losses  only  seemed  to  stimulate  him  to  renewed  effort  to  retrieve 
them,  and  his  next  enterprise  was  to  build  a  mill  .at  the  foot  of  the  Cran- 
berry meadow,  containing  machines  for  manufacturing  hoards,  shingles, 
clapboards,  piano  wood,  and  a  lathe  for  turning  iron,  which  cost  him  $10,- 
000.  By  this  time  he  owned  some  5,000  or  0,000  acres  of  timber  land, 
mostly  pine  and  spruce. 

August  5,  1859,  Mr.  Green  was  compelled  to  foreclose  a  mortgage  on 
the  large  mill  of  Gower  &  Wilson,  which  was  valued  at  $11,000,  became 
its  owner,  and  began  business  at  once,  employing  men  to  get  out  large 
quantities  of  spruce  and  pine,  which  were  here  manufactured.  The  greater 
part  was  a  fine  quality  of  pine,  and  made  into  door,  blind,  and  sash  ma- 
terial. A  large  amount  had  accumulated,  and  September  4,  1862,  this  mill 
and  lumber  was  consumed  by  fire,  with  but  $7,000  insurance  on  the  prop- 
erty. June  3,  1869,  his  mill  at  Cranberry  meadow  was  burned,  with  200,- 
000  feet  of  fine  pine  lumber.  Here  he  lost  $10,000.  His  indomitable 
energy  and  persevering  endeavor  continued,  and  he  re-built  both  mills;  the 
one  at  the  foot  of  the  meadow  was  destroyed  by  a  freshet  before  its  com- 
pletion, and  the  one  on  the  Gower  site  was  burned  in  the  winter  of  lss_  83. 
During  his  business  career  Mr.  Green  has  owned  all  the  water-] tower  along 
the  Androscoggin  at  Berlin.  The  original  survey  of  this  section  was  very 
poorly  done,  and  any  purchaser  of  land  was  liable  to  conflicting  claims  of 
title;  and  any  one  who  has  owned  so  many  different  tracts  of  land  as  Mr. 
Green  could  not  fail  to  be  drawn  into  much  litigation  over  lines  and  bound- 
aries. 

In  1874  Mr.  Green  commenced  the  cultivation  of  cranberries,  and  at 
great  cost  developed  a  splendid  cranberry  meadow  of  sixty  acres,  which 
experienced  raisers  of  the  fruit  valued  at  $100,000,  but  owing  to  the 
change  in  the  seasons  it  has  lately  become  almost  valueless,  as  the  fruit 


820  History  of  Coos  County 


has  not  matured  early  enough  to  escape  frost.  In  1870  he  first  visited 
Florida,  and  invested  $5,000  in  an  orange  grove  at  Boardman,  Marion 
county.  His  plantation  now  consists  of  350  acres,  on  which  is  an  orange 
orchard  of  4,000  trees.  Mr.  Green  passes  his  winters  in  Florida,  and  super- 
intends this  estate. 

In  1886  A.  H.  Gerrish  and  Mr.  Green  constructed  an  aqueduct  which 
supplies  about  loo  families  in  Berlin  Falls  with  water,  besides  numerous 
business  houses.  Mr.  Green  is  largely  interested  in  real  estate  here;  he 
owns  and  rents  two  stores,  and  numerous  tenements  and  dwellings.  He 
has  laid  out  and  sold  more  building  lots  in  Berlin  Falls  than  any  other  per- 
son. The  house  occupied  by  him  and  Sullivan  D.  was  built  by  his  brother, 
Amos,  in  1831. 

Mr.  Green  has  been  an  indefatigable  worker  all  his  life,  and  his  indus- 
try has  resulted  in  the  furtherance  of  the  prosperity  and  growth  of  the 
town  in  which  he  made  his  home  more  than  half  a  century  ago.  He  has 
borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day  for  sixty  long  years  in  Berlin;  and 
many  are  now  enjoying  the  fruit  of  his  labors;  while  he,  in  spite  of  many 
losses,  by  tire  and  water,  has  accumulated  a  handsome  property.  Although 
naturally  of  a  retiring  disposition,  his  sound  common  sense,  good  judg- 
ment and  patient  efforts  have  gained  for  him  the  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity and  many  friends.  Democratic  in  politics,  as  such  he  has  been 
elected  to  honorable  and  official  trusts  pertaining  to  town  and  county.  He 
represented  Berlin  six  years  in  the  legislature;  was  town  clerk  several 
years;  county  commissioner  three  years,  1855-1858,  and  selectman  for 
many  years.  He  has  been  a  regular  delegate  to  state,  senatorial  and  county 
conventions,  and  his  opinions  have  had  great  weight  in  the  councils  of 
his  party. 

Quiet,  unassuming  and  affable  in  his  manners,  of  a  kind  and  social 
nature,  and  a  believer  in  the  faith  of  the  Universalists,  Mr.  Green  has  ever 
tried  to  do  right  as  the  right  has  appeared  to  him.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  North  Star  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  for  many  years. 

Daniel  Green1  married,  August  2,  1831,  Polly,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Sally  (Blodgett)  Wheeler,  (born  at  Gilead,  Me.,  April  1,  1812,  died  June  3, 
1873.)     Their  descendants  are: — 

(1)  Sullivan  Z>.2,  born  in  Berlin,  September  4,  1832.  married,  January  11,  1866,  Catherine  E.  Carbary, 
born  in  Michigan,  September  18,  1841.  Children:  Fred  Dexter3,  born  December  22,  1867,  Detroit,  Mich.; 
Carrie  CarbaryS  born  January  25,  1870,  died  July  6,  1870,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Mary  Helens,  born  May  26,  1871, 
Detroit,  Mich.;  Gracie3,  born  December  26,  1874,  died  December  28,  1874,  Berlin,  N.  H.;  Harry  Daniel3,  born 
January  2,  1876,  Berlin,  N.  H. ;  an  infant  died  February  13,  1881,  Berlin,  N.  H. ;  Theodore  Albert*,  born  August 

1.  L884,  Berlin,  N.  K. 

(2)  Lucinda  Angelina*,  born  December  6,  1834,  died  September  4,  1873;  married,  1853,  Moses  Hodgdon, 
Jr.,  of  Milan,  N.  H.  Children:  Melvin  Elmer3,  born  Milan,  N.  H.,  Feburary  12,  1854;  Mary  EllaS,  born 
August  17,  1855,  married  W.  Eugene  Richards,  went  West  and  have  two  children*;  Charles  Dexter3,  born 
Novi  mber  11,  1856,  died  May  11,  1862;  Daniel  G.3,  born  May  27,  1858,  accidently  killed  at  mill  August  10,  1882; 
John  \IIm  it '■,  born  April  24,  1860;  Helen  Georgianna3,  born  February  24,  1862;  Minnie  E.3,  born  January  24, 
L864;  Waller  F.S,  born  January  19,  1866;  Moses  A. 3,  born  February  19,  1868;  Charles  DexterS,  born  May  16, 
1870:  Lewis  C.3,  Koni  April  11,  1872. 


Town  of  Bkhux.  x-2\ 


(3)  Francis  DanieW,  born  January  14,  1837,  killed  at  Fredericksburg,  Va..  December  13,  1862,  (Co.  B. 
5th  N.  H.  Vols.)  married  May  2,  1858,  Roancy  F.  Blodgett,  born  February  19,  1837,  Berlin,  died  after  2d  mar- 
riage, in  Maine.  Children:  Willie  Alfreds,  horn  May  27,  1859  (?);  Francis  BermanS,  born  August  7,  L861; 
lives  in  Mass. 

(4)  Nancy  Berden?,  horn  September  3,  1839,  died  October  28,  1860. 

(5)  Charles  Volneyi,  horn  December  3,  1841,  died  June  10,  L864  in  hospital  at  NYu  ( Irleana  1 1  !o.  11.  13th 
Me.  Vols.). 

(6)  Helen  Elimhcll it,  horn  Septeinher  25,  1843,  died  January  10,  1864,  married  Emerson  Cole  2d,  born 
in  Milan.  N.  II.;  Helen  AlzinellaS,  horn  Berlin.  December  28,  18(12. 

1 7 1  Persis  GeorgiannaZ,  horn  January  30,  1847,  married  Lewis  N.  Clark,  bora  in  Canada,  October  22, 
1847.  Children:  Saidee  F.3,  born  February  18.  1872;  Lewis  E.8,  born  May  80,  1874,  died  September  1,  1874; 
Leon  S.3,  born  January  2,  1876.  died  January  21,  1876;  Maude  H.3.  horn  October  2,  1877. 

(8)  John  Woodmarfi,  horn  June  12,  1850,  married  Fannie  E.  ('.  Mason,  horn  in  Berlin;  Ear]  S.:;,  horn  in 
Berlin.  February  14,  1882. 

Amos  Green  was  one  of  Berlin's  early  and  energetic  business  men. 
He  engaged  extensively,  for  that  day,  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  both 
alone  and  with  others,  and  did  his  full  share  in  building  up  the  early 
village.  He  moved  to  Milan  in  1839,  put  up  a  new  mill  on  the  site  of  the 
small  one  he  bought  of  Henry  Snow,  which  was  the  first  one  constructed 
on  the  Ammonoosuc,  continued  in  business  for  some  years  until  his  active 
and  ambitious  nature  carried  him  westward.  He  put  up  mills  and  manu- 
factured lumber,  and  after  a  long  life  of  active  usefulness,  he  is  now  resid- 
ing in  Nevada,  aged  over  eighty  years. 

Sullivan  Dexter  Green,  oldest  child  of  Daniel  and  Polly  (Wheeler) 
Green,  was  born  in  Berlin,  September  4,  1832,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
children  born  in  the  town.  He  was  brought  up  from  early  childhood  to 
work,  and  even  as  a  child  performed  labor  equal  to  a  man  in  different 
departments  of  his  fathers  diversified  business — working  in  saw  and  grist- 
mills— rafting  and  running  lumber — cooking  for  a  gang  of  men  when  but 
twelve  years  of  age— drawing  goods  from  Bethel — anywhere,  everywhere, 
where  steady,  industrious  work  was  in  demand,  with  but  the  most  circum- 
scribed opportunities  for  education  until  he  became  of  age. 

He  desired  education;  the  little  sips  he  had  taken  from  the  fountain  of 
knowledge  but  stimulated  him  to  deeper  draughts,  and  about  the  time  of 
attaining  his  majority  he  attended  that  excellent  school,  Bethel  (Me.) 
academy,  one-half  of  the  time  for  two  and  one  half  years.  In  1856  he 
went  to  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  to  avail  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the 
university  there.  Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  for  eighteen  months, 
and  made  rapid  progress,  learning  the  printer's  trade  during  his  vacations. 
Devotion  to  his  father's  interests  drew  him  from  Ann  Arbor  before  he  had 
finished  his  course  of  study.  After  a  year's  stay  in  Berlin,  he  returned  to 
Michigan  to  enter  upon  a  career  of  usefulness,  not  financially  profitable, 
but  of  valuable  results,  as  a  publisher  of  a  temperance  journal  in  Detroit, 
which  he  conducted  for  two  and  one  half  years  "  for  nothing,  and  board- 
ing himself." 

The  pressing  need  of  the  government  for  more  troops  for  the  Union 
army  was  being  responded  to  with  patriotic  enthusiasm  at  that  time. 


822  History  of  Coos  County, 


Detroit  volunteered  to  raise  an  extra  regiment,  which  was  accomplished 
in  the  short  space  of  two  weeks.  This  was  the  "Twenty  fourth  Michigan." 
August  L3,  1862.  Mr.  Green  enlisted  as  a  private  in  this  organization, 
accompanied  his  regiment  to  the  front,  and  was  in  active  service  until 
mustered  out  June  30,  1865.  The  regiment  reached  Washington  in  a 
season  of  great  depression,  for  the  demoralized  remnants  of  Pope's  defeated 
army  were  crossing  the  "long  bridge"  on  their  retreat.  After  the  battle 
of  Antietam  the  regiment  was  attached  to  McClellan's  army  and  became 
a  factor  of  the  famous  "Iron  Brigade,"  participating  among  others  in  the 
historic  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Mine  Run,  etc. 
Mr,  Green  was  on  duty  some  months  in  the  adjutant-general's  office,  and, 
in  June,  1864,  he  was  appointed  quartermaster's  sergeant,  and  was  in 
charge  of  wagon  trains.  While  in  the  service  he  was  a  regular  corre- 
spondent of  the  Detroit  Free  Press,  and  his  letters  were  so  acceptable  that 
after  the  war  he  became  a  member  of  the  local  staff  of  that  brilliant  paper, 
with  which  he  was  connected  for  nearly  eight  years,  winning  laurels  all 
the  way.  He  has  resided  in  Berlin  since  1874,  has  done  good  work  in 
many  directions,  and  has  never  eaten  the  bread  of  idleness.  He  has  been 
selectman  six  years,  town  clerk  seven  years,  and  several  years  a  member 
of  the  school  committee. 

Mr.  Green  is  kind  hearted,  sympathetic,  in  perfect  accord  with  every- 
thing tending  to  aid  and  benefit  humanity,  and  yet  so  unobtrusive  and 
modest  as  to  disclaim  credit  even  where  it  is  justly  his  due.  As  a  soldier, 
he  was  patriotic  and  brave;  as  a  writer,  he  has  won  an  enviable  reputation. 
We  give  the  following  written  by  his  associates  on  the  Free  Press  as  the 
best  evidence  of  his  ability,  worth  and  sterling  character: — 

''And  S.  D.  Green  !  Rare  old  "'Salathiel,'  quaintest,  brightest,  and  most  accomplished  of  all  the  old 
reportorial  crowd,  and  of  all  men  I  have  known  the  most  'repugnant  to  command.'  Journalism  lost  a  supe- 
rior writer  when  Green  threw  down  his  pen  and  went  home  to  New  Hampshire." 

"  S.  D.  Green  was  a  man  of  much  intellectual  power  and  a  writer  of  ability.  Few  soldiers  have  a  better 
military  record.  His  old  comrades  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Infantry  relate  with  pride  his  gallantry 
and  coolness  in  the  face  of  both  armies  at  the  crossing  of  the  Rappahannock,  near  Fredericksburg,  in  1862." 

The  citizens  of  Berlin  owe  Mr.  Green  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  early  history  of  the  town  gathered  from  the  pioneers. 


Dexter  Wheeler. 

Dexter  Wheeler,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sally  (Blodgett)  Wheeler,  was 
born  in  Gilead,  Me.,  April  27,  1816,  came  with  his  parents  to  Berlin  when 
about  ten  years  old,  and  for  more  than  half  a  century  his  labor  was  a  fac- 
tor in  the  growth  of  the  town.  During  his  minority  he  remained  at  home, 
but  his  aspirations  for  a  better  education  than  his  father's  limited  means 
afforded  Led  him,  on  becoming  of  age,  to  start  out  and  endeavor  to  make 


m 


/ 


¥ 


WA-Fz 


Town  of  Berlin.  823 


his  own  way  in  life.  Like  all  New  Hampshire  boys  he  knew  hew  to 
work,  and.  as  every  honest  workman  is  worthy  of  his  hire,  Dexlor 
Wheeler  soon  found  remunerative  employment  in  Keene  and  Swanzey, 
where  he  labored  on  the  farm  in  summer,  taught  school  in  winter,  and, 
by  judicious  management  of  his  earnings  was  aide  to  educate  himself  at 
the  academy  ai  Parsonsfield,  Me.  This  education  was  of  greal  advantage 
to  him  in  after  life  in  his  varied  business  enterprises  and  official  positions, 
and  fitted  him  in  a  more  than  ordinary  way  for  the  discharge  of  their 
duties. 

On  his  return  to  Berlin  he  was  employed  in  the  mill,  and  became  a 
skillful  sawyer.  In  those  days  only  from  $6  to  $10  per  month  could  he 
earned  in  that  way:  and  .Mi'.  Wheeler  was  not  of  a  nature  to  be  sati- 
ned with  such  a  position  and  meager  wages,  so,  carefully  saving  as  much 
as  possible,  he,  after  a  time,  purchased  the  Amos  Green  null-site,  and  old 
clapboard  mill  at  the  Falls,  where  he  carried  on  business  until  about  1851. 
He  was  the  station  agent  at  Berlin  Falls  for  several  years,  and  relinquished 
the  position  in  L869  to  go  into  merchandising.  He  admitted  (I.  C.  Paine 
as  partner,  forming  the  well  known  firm  of  "  Wheeler  &  Paine,"  and  con- 
tinued in  trade  until  his  death  February  7,  lssf.  He  left  a  reputation  of 
the  highest  type  of  New  England  character,  and  a  well-to-do  estate,  that 
was  in  no  way  tainted  or  fused  with  false  weights  or  measures.  AH  work- 
men employed  by  Mr.  Wheeler  had  the  most  implicit  faith  in  his  word, 
and  entire  confidence  in  him  as  a  man  and  employer. 

Mr.  Wheeler  married,  December,  1847,  Elizabeth  F.,  eldest  daughter  of 
Moses  Hodgdon,  of  Milan.  Mrs.  Wheeler  died  in  October,  1867,  and  the  last 
fourteen  years  of  his  life  were  passed  with  his  only  child  and  daughter, 
Sara  (Mrs.  E.  W.  Scribner).  Here,  surrounded  by  the  care  and  affection 
of  his  daughter  and  grandchildren,  he  died  after  a  short  illness.  In  his 
death  the  town  lost  an  experienced  and  valued  servant,  and  the  public 
an  esteemed  citizen,  the  poor  and  needy  a  warm  and  generous  friend. 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  a  very  efficient  man  in  town  affairs,  and  no  other 
resident  served  in  its  interests  more  years.  He  was  town  clerk  for  twenty- 
five  years;  and  nowhere  in  the  public  records  are  evidences  of  greater  care 
and  accuracy  than  through  the  volumes  where  his  scholarly  hand- writing 
is  found.  As  town  treasurer  for  twenty  years  he  faithfully  performed 
the  trusts  devolving  upon  him.  He  was  also  selectman  several  years, 
and  two  years.  L845,  1846,  he  was  town  clerk,  selectman,  and  treasurer. 
Untiring  in  his  labors,  strictly  methodical  in  all  his  ways,  he  was  able 
thereby  to  accomplish  more  than  most  men  could  have  done.  He  gained 
wealth  by  his  steady  application  to  business,  was  ever  ready  to  assist  his 
neighbors,  and  in  all  his  conduct  with  man  and  man  he  was  so  thoroughly 
honest  that,  when  the  sad  news  of  his  death  was  heard,  the  general  ex- 
pression of  all  who  knew  him  was  "  a  good  and  honest  man  is  gone."    He 


824  History  of  Coos  County. 

was  a  life-long  Democrat,  zealous  in  supporting  the  principles  of  that  party, 
and  represented  Berlin  in  the  state  legislature. 

It  is  needless  to  write  further  of  his  kindness  and  generosity,  of  his  in- 
tegrity of  character,  of  his  unswerving  honesty,  of  his  honorable  and 
upright  dealing  with  his  fellowmen,  of  his  influence  for  good  in  the  com- 
munity, ever  increasing  as  the  years  rolled  by.  In  the  good  life  which  he 
lived  was  embodied  his  religion,  that  of  a  Universalist. 

"  For  modes  of  faith  let  graceless  zealots  fight, 
His  can't  lie  wrong  whose  life  is  in  the  right." 


REUBKX  HOBART  WHEELER. 

Eeuben  Hobart  Wheeler,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected  citizens 
of  Berlin,  who  for  three-score  years  had  been  a  resident,  whose  life  was  as 
an  open  book  to  those  who  would  read,  of  whom  none  could  speak  words 
of  evil,  and  all  mentioned  with  respect,  died  after  an  illness  of  four  days, 
April  7,  1885. 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  the  sixth  child  of  Thomas  and  Sally  (Blodgett) 
Wheeler,  and  was  born  in  Gilead,  Me.,  on  the  20th  of  April,  1819,  and  was 
a  sturdy  child  of  seven  years,  when  his  father,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Berlin,  came  into  the  new,  wild  and  forbidding  region,  in  1826,  and 
hewed  out  his  home  in  the  forest.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  brief 
months'  absence  at  work  "down  East,"  Eeuben  H.  Wheeler  passed  the 
most  of  three-score  full  years  in  active  industry  here.  Of  medium  stature, 
but  of  strong  and  sinewy  arm,  his  axe  resounded  through  the  primeval 
forests,  and  in  clearing  farms  or  in  the  lumber  woods  he  was  always  active 
and  enterprising,  among  the  foremost  of  his  time.  On  the  23d  of  April, 
1>14,  he  married  Daphne,  daughter  of  Hazen  and  Betsey  (Lary)  Chandler, 
who  were  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  towns.  (Mrs.  Chandler  is  still 
living  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  one  years.)  They  had  three  children, 
only  one  of  whom,  Viola,  wife  of  John  W.  Greenlaw,  survives.  Hazen  C, 
born  September  20,  1847,  died  August  21,  1878;  Ozmon  T.,  born  January 
8,  1851,  died  April  21.  L879.  These  young  men  were  in  the  prime  of  the 
promise  of  useful  lives.  Mr.  Wheeler  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  purchased 
a  farm  adjoining  that  cleared  and  occupied  by  his  father,  and  now  owned 
by  Cyrus  Wheeler,  his  brother;  and  to  this  he  added  from  time  to  time  until 
he  had  a  handsome  home  property,  well  improved.  He  long  ago  had 
sufficient  of  this  world's  goods  to  enable  him  to  spend  his  later  years  in 
ease,  but  Ins  active  temperament  refused  him  retirement.  He  carried  on 
extensive  lumber  operations  in  different  sections  of  the  county,  and  was 
tor  many  years  one  of  the  most  energetic  and  successful  "drivers"  on  the 
Androscoggin  and  its  numerous  branches.     In  1801)  he  was  the   "master 


Town  of  Berlin.  825 


workman  "  of  the  first  drive  of  logs  sent  down  the  Connecticut  river.  In 
those  days  the  "drivers'"  had  no  carriages  to  convey  them  from  place  to 
place,  no  assistants  and  time-keepers  to  aid  in  their  arduous  duties.  In 
company  with  his  youngest  brother,  Jonathan  Woodman  Wheeler,  he 
built  the  ''Jericho  Mills''  in  Berlin,  which  they  carried  on  for  some  yens, 
when  he  sold  out  his  share  and  gave  more  particular  attention  to  large  and 
valuable  timber  interests  acquired  by  him  in  the  northeastern  portion  of 
the  county.  He  also  at  one  time  operated  a  small  lumbermill  on  a  portion 
of  his  home  farm,  and  about  L8Y5  erected  a  starch  mill  near  his  house, 
which  was  operated  until  competition  rendered  the  manufacture  unprofit- 
able. He  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  orange  grove  at  DeLand,  Florida,  which 
was  begun  and  planted  by  his  sons  a  few  years  before  their  decease,  and 
had,  in  company  with  his  wile,  been  on  a  brief  visit  there,  a  few  weeks 
before  his  death.  Most  of  his  operations  prospered  under  his  hands,  for  he 
possessed  good  judgment,  was  untiring  in  his  industry,  and  by  hard  and 
persistent  work  compelled  success.  An  honorable  man  and  conscientious 
employer,  while  he  demanded  faithful  service,  he  was  prompt  to  discharge 
every  obligation  of  whatever  nature.  Mr.  Wheeler  frequently  held  offices 
of  trust  at  the  hands  of  his  townsmen,  which  were  discharged  with  fidelity. 
He  served  as  selectman  some  years,  and,  as  a  good  Democrat,  represented 
Berlin  and  Milan  in  the  legislative  terms  of  1S53  and  1854. 

He  and  his  estimable  wife  were  of  generous  and  very  kindly  nature, 
and  there  are  many  among  their  acquaintances  whose  troubles  have  often 
been  soothed  by  their  friendly  offices.  It  was  in  their  family  that  the 
promising  young  vocalist.  Miss  Phila  M.  Griffin,  received  the  first  advan- 
tages which  developed  the  talent  that  her  ambition  afterwards  pushed 
forward  on  the  way  toward  success  in  her  profession. 

Although  never  a  member  of  any  religious  denomination  Mr.  Wheeler 
was  an  attendant  upon  divine  worship;  goodness  and  truth  were  stamped 
upon  his  face;  and  through  all  the  years  of  his  life  his  kind  acts  were 
quietly  and  unostentatiously  done.  He  was  quick  in  his  instincts,  could 
turn  his  hand  to  any  work,  was  never  discouraged,  and  one  of  the  bright- 
est of  men.  A  kind,  indulgent  husband  and  father,  a  noble  townsman,  a 
good  neighbor,  and  an  active,  energetic,  upright  and  honest  business  man, 
he  worthily  and  honorably  passed  a  useful  and  laborious  career,  and  his 
memory  is  a  sweet  remembrance  in  the  hearts  of  many  friends. 


HENRY   HART    FURIOSI  I. 


"  Successful  manufacturers  are  public  benefactors,  and  merit  the  grati- 
tude and  praise  of  their  countrymen.  The  nation  that  produces  the  mosl 
in  proportion  to  its  numbers  will  be  the  most  prosperous  and  powerful. 


54 


826  History  of  Coos  County. 


The  United  States  possess  all  the  natural  advantages  for  the  attainment  of 
a  result  so  desirable.  It  is  the  part  of  patriotism  to  turn  these  advantages 
to  the  best  account,  to  differentiate  the  industries  of  the  people,  and  to 
give  employment  to  all  classes  of  mind  and  capacity." 

The  citizens  of  Berlin  have  great  reason  to  congratulate  themselves  on 
the  formation  of  the  Forest  Fibre  Company,  and  the  establishment  of  this 
industry,  as  it  brought  to  the  town  one  who  identified  himself  with  its 
interests,  is  a  mosl  prominent  factor  in  its  development,  and  a  generous 
contributor  to  all  matters  having  for  their  object  the  weal  and  betterment 
of  the  community. 

Henry  J  fart  Furbish,  son  of  Dependence  H.  and  Persis  H.  (Brown) 
Furbish,  was  born  June  3,  1835,  in  Gray,  Me.,  where  for  many  years  his 
grandfather  had  conducted  one  of  the  largest  tanneries  in  the  state.  The 
family  removed  to  Portland  when  Mr.  Furbish  was  but  six  months  old, 
and  he  received  the  educational  advantages  of  the  excellent  schools  of  that 
city,  and  was  fitted  for  college.  Inheriting  business  qualities  of  a  high 
order  from  his  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
entered  the  sugar  house  of  J.  B.  Brown,  from  whom  he  received  the  best 
of  training  in  the  supervision  of  large  interests.  He  was  an  apt  pupil,  was 
made  manager  in  due  .  and  had  held  this  responsible  position  for  sev- 

eral years  when  the  works  were  closed  in  1870. 

In  1871  the  attention  of  Mr.  Furbish  was  attracted  to  the  manufacture 
of  wood  fibre  by  the  soda  process.  He  conducted  experiments  for  the 
perfection  ol  s  in  New  York  until  1873,  and  from  1873  to  1877 

was  manager  of  the  mental  works  at  Yarmouth,  Me. 

In  July.  LS77,  availing  himself  of  the  valuable  water-power  at  Berlin 
Falls.  M  r.  Furbish  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  present  large  operations  of  the 
Foresl  Fibre  Company,  by  starting  a  small  pulp  mill  (mill  "  A ")  which 
could  manufacture  three  tons  of  wood-pulp  a  day.  The  capacity  was  soon 
increased  to  six  tons,  and  the  industry  became  a  fixed  institution,  and  was 
the  signal  of  progress  and  development  to  the  town  The  demand  for  the 
product  becami  In  connection  with  J.  A.  Bacon,  of  Boston, 

Mr.  Furbish,  in   1880,  e  ill  B"  which  has  a  capacity  of  about 

twenty-live  tons  a  day.  The  Forest  Fibre  Company  has  now  the  largest 
plan!  tor  making  chemical  fibre  in  America,  if  not  in  the  world.  It  fur- 
nishes employment  to  nearly  300  men,  and  ships  its  product  to  paper  mills 
in  every  set  ion  of  the  United  Stab  This  establishment  is  the  pioneer 
of  the  many  like  enterprises  which  ere  long  will  utilize  the  waters  which 
now  go  rolling  almost  unchecked  along  the  rocky  bed  of  the  never- failing 
Androscoggin. 

In  1880  Mr.  Furbish  purchased  his  residence  which  is  beautifully  situ- 
ated, commanding  a  tine  outlook.  On  a  clear  day  the  summit  of  Mt. 
Washington   can   be  seen,  and,  at  all   times,    "Far,  vague,  and  dim,  the 


^^^ 


y 


^<^ 


Town  of  Berlin.  s-< 

mountains  swim  ";  and  the  many  pleasure  seekers  who  travel  miles,  and 
expose  themselves  to  the  perils  and  discomforts  of  sea  voyages,  can  find 
here  the  most  lovely  and  romantic  scenery.  The  river  which  lias  a  tall  of 
some  2oo  feet  in  a  mile  is  both  wild  and  picturesque.  The  cultured  taste 
of  Mr.  Furbish  lias  made  his  home,  with  its  accessories  of  comfort,  con- 
venience and  elegance,  one  of  the  most  attractive  places  to  be  found  in 
many  a  mile  of  distance. 

No  one  who  has  been  familiar  with  the  growth  of  Berlin  for  the  last 
decade  will  fail  to  award  to  Mr.  Furbish  much  of  the  credit  for  its  present 
prosperity.  His  energetic  force,  his  love  of  the  beautiful,  his  broad  liber- 
ality have  united  in  rendering  him  a  most  positive  power  in  the  community 
in  making  in  the  wilderness  comfortable  homes,  and  providing  for  the 
many  the  labor  by  which  their  daily  bread  may  be  earned.  He  has  laid  out 
a  large  territory  into  building  lots,  graded  streets,  introduced  electric  lights, 
made  other  valuable  improvements,  and  created  a  beautiful  village  of 
eighteeu  model  houses,  to  which  number  additions, are  being  rapidly  made. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  contemplating  a  systematic  sewerage  of  the  place, 
an  undertaking  of  no  small  moment,  when  we  consider  that  the  village  is 
located  on  immense  ledges  of  granite  everywhere  outcropping  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground.  From  his  agricultural  operations,  and  fine  Jersey 
stock,  the  farming  community  can  draw  useful  lessons  of  improved  agri- 
culture and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Furbish  married,  first,  in  September,  1856,  Harriet  A.,  daughter  of 
Reuben  Ordway.  of  Portland,  Me.,  who  died  in  December,  1871.  Of  their 
three  children,  but  one,  Willard  H.  (born  March  4,  1862,)  survives.  He  is 
in  business  with  Ins  father.  Mr.  Furbish  married,  second,  September  20, 
1883,  Susan  A.,  daughter  of  George  F.  Emery,  of  Portland.  They  have 
one  child.  Persis  E.,  born  June  11,  1884. 

Mr.  Furbish  was  made  a  Mason  in  Atlantic  Lodge.  Portland,  and  has 
taken  thirteen  degrees  in  .Masonry.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  an 
Episcopalian  in  religion,  a  valuable  citizen,  a  prosperous  manufacturer,  a 
progressive  leader  in  town  improvements,  and  by  his  public  spirit  andlarge- 
hearted  generosity,  proves  his  belief  that  he  lives  not  for  himself  alone. 


EUGENE  WILLTAM  SCRIBNER. 

Eugene  William  Scribner,  eldest  son  of  William  P.  and  Catherine  (Bur- 
bank)  Scribner,  was  born  in  Gilead.  Oxford  county,  Me..  March  12,  1852. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  and  lumberman,  and  a  nat  ive  of  Maine.  He  died 
in  1862,  in  Bethel.  Mrs.  Scribner  was  a  daughter  of  Gen.  James  Burbank, 
a  prominent  man  of  Oxford  county.  His  large  family  of  children  were 
all  remarkably  energetic  and  brilliant.     Prof.  Adino  J.  Burbank  was  an 


828  History  of  Coos  County. 

early  school  teacher  in  the  Androscoggin  valley,  and  for  fourteen  years 
principal  of  Keene  High  school;  Daniel,  another  son,  was  a  teacher,  and 
afterwards  an  able  business  man  in  New  York.  Mrs.  Scribner  was  a 
woman  of  great  energy  and  industry,  endowed  with  a  brain  fertile  in 
resources,  and,  by  her  skillful  management  of  the  small  property  left  by 
her  husband,  she  was  able  to  care  for  her  five  fatherless  children,  and  give 
them  a  good  education.     She  is  now  residing  in  Bethel,  Me. 

Eugene  attended  the  district  schools  in  Bethel,  where  his  father  had 
removed  a  short  tjme  previous  to  his  death,  and  Gould's  academy.  He  was 
active,  impulsive,  generous, — a  thorough  boy, — he  was  also  reliable  and 
faithful  to  every  required  duty.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  came  to  Berlin 
and  engaged  as  lumber  marker  for  the  Berlin  Mills  Co.,  and  was  in  their 
employ  for  several  years  in  various  capacities.  In  1876,  in  company  with 
Capt.  L.  P.  Adley,  Mr.  Scribner  went  to  California,  and  remained  one  year 
as  foreman  of  the  Flume  and  Lumber  Company,  Nevada  City.  He  then 
came  back  to  Berlin,  .with  the  intention,  however,  of  returning  to  the 
"  ( rolden  Land,"  but  his  plans  were  changed  b}7-  the  force  of  circumstances. 
For  some  years  thereafter  he  carried  on  carpentering  and  painting  in 
Berlin.  In  1883,  in  connection  with  H.  H.  Abbott,  he  formed  the  mercan- 
tile house  of  Scribner  &  Abbott,  which  afterwards,  by  change  of  partners, 
became  Scribner  &  Noyes.  Mr.  Scribner  retired  from  the  firm  in  1886, 
selling  his  interest  to  Mr.  Noyes.  For  quite  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Scrib- 
ner was  in  the  real  estate  business  inFlorida,  for  sometime  connected  with 
Hon.  John  G.  Sinclair,  and  now  owns  a  young  orange  grove  near  Orlando, 
with  other  valuable  unimproved  property. 

He  married,  October  25,  1871,  SaraE.,  daughter  of  Dexter  and  Elizabeth 
F.  (Hodgdon)  Wheeler.  She  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  of  strong 
character,  a  worthy  daughter  of  her  honored  father.  Their  children  are 
Claude  Dexter,  Leona  (dec.)  and  Isola  Genieve. 

Possessing  a  genial  and  friendly  disposition,  a  taste  and  an  ability  for 
the  discharge  of  public  duties,  and  an  integrity  of  character  that  was  never 
touched  by  whisper  or  reflection,  it  is  not  strange  that  Mr.  Scribner  was 
selected  early  in  life  by  his  fellow  citizens  as  one  fitted  to  assume  and  ad- 
minister  public  trusts.  Democratic  in  politics,  he  has  often  been  a  delegate 
to  state,  councillor  and  other  conventions;  was  a  member  of  the  state 
Democratic  Central  Committee  in  1886,  and  nowhere  has  the  party  a  more 
fearless,  zealous  or  intelligent  supporter.  He  was  selectman  of  Berlin  in 
L878  and  L879,  and  chairman  of  the  board  in  1880.  He  has  served  in  sev- 
eral minor  town  offices,  and  filled  that  very  difficult  position  of  moderator 
with  conceded  ability.  In  lss:_>  he  received  the  nomination  of  county  com- 
missioner and  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  running  ahead  of  his 
ticket  in  Berlin,  the  very  complimentary  number  of  seventy- eight  votes. 
In  L884  he  was  elected  to  his  second  term  as  county  commissioner,  and 


/^i^?s 


Town  of  Berlin.  829 


became  chairman  of  the  board,  his  term  of  office  expiring  -July  l.  L88Y. 
The  ordinary  duties  of  this  position  are  grave  and  responsible  enough  to 
well  tax  the  judgment  and  powers  of  men  of  years  and  experience;  but 
when  such  serious  complications  arise  as  have  occurred  during  his  last 
term  of  office,  it  requires  nerve,  force,  discrimination  and  tacl  to  ad ju si 
them.  Probably  no  board  of  commissioners  in  this  county  has  ever  had 
weightier  duties  devolving  upon  them.  As  chairman  Mr.  Scribner  has 
necessarily  borne  the  heavier  burden,  and  performed  Ids  work  in  a  credit- 
able manner,  and  proved  himself  equal  to  the  emergency. 

Naturally  social  in  his  instincts,  we  would  expect  to  find  him  in  har- 
mony with  Odd  Fellowship  and  Freemasonry.  He  is  a  member  of  Ml. 
Abraham  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Bethel,  Me.,  and  Mt.  Pleasant  Encampment, 
Bridgeton,  Me.  He  belongs  to  Gorham  Lodge,  Gorham,  North  Star  Chap- 
ter and  North  Star  Commandery,  Lancaster,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  member 
of  Coos  Lodge,  Kuights  of  Pythias,  Berlin,  of  which  he  was  a  charter 
member. 

Mr.  Scribner  is  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  town  in  speaking  and  work- 
ing for  its  interests.  He  believes  in  improvements  and  progress,  and  so 
fails  not  to  encourage  all  enterprises  at  home  and  abroad  which  tend  to 
ennoble.  From  boyhood  he  has  been  ever  active.  His  aspirations  and 
endeavors  have  pointed  upward.  His  ambition  in  no  small  degree  has 
seemed  to  be  to  help  others.  Of  exemplary  habits,  frank  and  sincere,  of 
broad  and  charitable  opinions,  and  by  the  strength  of  his  adherence  to  his 
principles,  although  yet  young  in  years  he  has  builded  for  himself  a  char- 
acter which  augurs  well  for  his  future.  His  affable,  courteous  manners, 
which  are  the  spontaneous  outflow  of  a  good  heart,  have  won  for  him 
many  firm  and  lasting  friends,  and  he  is  one  of  Berlin's  most  popular 
citizens. 


MILAN. 


CHAPTER  XCIX. 

Introductory — Surface— Soil — Grant — Boundaries— Pioneers — Character  of  Settlers — Inven- 
tory for  1825— Early  Conveyances. 

*y~[  GOOD  character  of  solidity,  intelligence  and  industry  has  ever  been 
r —     connected  with  the  inhabitants  of  Milan.     Even  in  the  infancy  of  its 

i,  settlement,  when  the  struggle  for  existence  occupied  the  time,  they 
took  care  to  plant  the  seeds  of  education  and  enlightened  Christianity  in 
the  minds  of  the  children.  Accompanying  these,  diligent  industry  and 
thoughtful  economy  went  hand  in  hand,  and  so,  to-day,  we  find  the  re- 
sults. From  the  high  grade  of  district  schools,  and  the  well-attended  high 
schools  of  Dr.  True  and  others,  have  come  an  intellectual  cultivation  not 
often  equalled  in  a  quiet,  rural  town,  and  Milan  teachers  are  at  a  premium 
in  the  surrounding  country.  Nowhere  has  more  active  Christian  endeavor 
been  shown  by  the  women  of  any  community  than  by  those  of  Milan. 
They  are  the  motive-power  in  all  good  works.  They  build  and  sustain  the 
religious  institutions  by  their  noble  deeds  and  exertions,  and  their  influence 
upon  the  sterner  sex.  The  town  has  been  elevated,  refined,  improved;  and 
every  movement  tending  to  make  better  the  moral  or  physical  condition  of 
I  in  inanity  finds  an  active  force  of  co-operators  in  this  pleasant  community. 

The  surface  of  Milan  is  uneven  and  broken,  and  there  are  no  mountains 
of  any  considerable  elevation.  The  soil  is  productive  and  few  towns  can 
raise  more  valuable  crops  to  the  acre.  The  valley  farms  are  the  finest. 
The  upper  Animonoosuc  and  Androscoggin  rivers  pass  through  this  town, 
flowing  in  nearly  opposite  directions.  The  latter  receives  several  tribu- 
taries in  ]\1  ilan.  Here  the  Androscoggin  river  is  quiet,  in  great  contrast  to 
the  roaring,  rushing  rapids  at  Berlin  Falls,  and  one  in  coming  to  the 
village  after  a  sojourn  at  the  "  Falls  "  enjoys  the  restfulness  and  beauty 
of  the  little  place.  There  are  several  ponds  of  which  Cedar  pond  is  the 
largest. 


Town  of  Milan.  831 


This  town  was  granted  to  Sir  William  Mayne  and  others,  under  the 
title  of  Paulsburg,  in  1771;  it  retained  this  name  until  December  It;,  L824, 
when  it  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Milan.  It  is  hounded  on  the 
north  by  Durnmer  and  Cambridge,  easl  by  Success,  south  by  Berlin,  west 
hy  Stark  and  Kilkenny.  Area,  31,154  acres.  The  Grand  Trunk  railway 
passes  through  the  west  part,  and  the  village  of  Wesl  Milan  gives  the 
name  to  one  station,  while  another  is  Milan  Water-Station  (Copperville.) 
Like  the  other  towns  around  it.  Milan's  hist  industries  were  lumbering 
operations,  and  agriculture  was  for  some  time  subordinate  to  this.  The 
first  farms  were  developed  on  Milan  hill.  The  soil  was  warmer,  more  free 
from  frost,  and,  for  some  years,  produced  quite  liberally  in  response  to  the 
labors  of  the  pioneers.  But  they  were  not  permanently  as  productive  as 
they  gave  promise,  and  many  of  those  settlers  who  remained  sought  the 
more  valuable  lands  along  the  river.  To-day,  however,  good  farms  are 
scattered  through  the  town. 

The  history  of  Milan  is  devoid  of  wide  significance;  its  annals  are 
marked  by  few  famous  names  or  conspicuous  happenings;  hut  the  beauti- 
ful farms  which  dot  its  surface,  and  the  comfortable  homes  of  to-day  tell 
the  story  of  the  patience  and  perseverance  of  the  few  settlers  who  came 
to  stay  in  the  half  century  and  more  ago.  The  very  hard,  unenviable  lot. 
endured  by  the  early  pioneers  in  this  region,  should  be  a  very  instinctive 
lesson  to  their  descendants.  Those  vigorous,  determined  pioneers  fought 
hard  with  adverse  elements,  in  their  efforts  to  support,  and  to  preserve 
those  precious  gifts  which  were  to  them  of  God.  Some  of  them  had  large 
families.  How  pitiful  their  poverty,  their  hardships,  their  deprivations, 
their  great  want  of  privileges  for  their  children,  both  educational  and 
religious!  With  some  the  best  they  could  do  for  their  "households  was  to 
provide  clothing  and  food.  Their  garments  were  of  the  coarsest  texture, 
and  of  the  most  simple  make.  Their  food  was  of  the  plainest,  most  frugal 
quality. 

Prior  to  1820  there  were  but  few  inhabitants.  In  L810  the  population 
was  but  fourteen;  ten  years  passed  and  the  number  was  increased  tour- 
fold.  About  1822  or  '23,  several  families  emigrated  from  Maine  and  settled 
on  Milan  hills. 

Early  Settlers. — Among  those  who  firsl  penetrated  this  wilderness  to 
make  permanent  homes  for  themselves  and  their  posterity  was  John 
Ellingwood.  He  came  about  1822  and  firsl  settled  on  .Milan  hill.  Eis  wife 
was  Rachel  Barrows,  of  Bethel,  Me.  <  >f  their  family  of  six  children  were 
Hester  Ann,  Isaac.  H.,  John  W.,  and  Freeman.  Mr.  Ellingwood  was  a 
farmer,  a  good  Christian,  and  deacon  of  the  Methodisl  church.  He  died 
about  1830.  His  son  Isaac  was  the  first  white  child  horn  on  Barrows 
mountain  (Milan  hill.) 

Isaac  Harris  came  from  Bethel  in  1822.     He  was  a  school-teacher  in 


832  History  of  Coos  County. 


Sutton.  Mass.,  and  very  well  educated  for  those  days.    His  daughter,  Mrs. 
Mary  Fogg,  resides  in  town. 

I  )aniel  G.  Ellingwood  was  probably  the  first  settler  on  the  Androscog- 
gin. He  located  where  Adams  Twitchel  now  lives.  Thomas  Lake  lived 
below  the  Ellingwood  place;  he  came  to  Milan  at  the  same  time,  but 
remained  only  a  few  years.  He  made  a  small  clearing.  Benjamin  Hibbard 
came  from  Newry,  Me.,  a  little  later  than  1822,  located  and  lived  several 
years  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  He  died  in  Milan.  The  Hutchinsons 
were  settlers  on  Milan  hill  in  1823  or  '24. 

Moses  Hodgdon  was  one  of  the  first  to  settle  on  Hodgdon  hill,  coming 
there  in  1829,  with  his  family  of  several  children.  He  located  on  the  top 
of  the  hill,  developed  a  good  farm,  and  brought  up  a  family  of  sturdy, 
strong  boys.  He  erected  an  up  and-down  saw-mill,  with  shingle-machine, 
edger,  etc.  He  and  his  sons  conducted  this  until  it  was  burned  in  May 
l^si.  Mr.  Hodgdon  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  He  was  collector  of  taxes, 
and  a  representative  man.  His  children  were  Samuel  F.,  Moses,  Charles 
N.,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Dexter  Wheeler),  (dec),  Emily  (Mrs.  J.  H.  Chandler), 
Ruth,  married  Capt.  L.  P.  Adley,  Charles  N.  and  Moses  are  now  residents 
of  Berlin. 

Amasa  Fogg  came  from  Ossipee  about  1824  and  settled  on  lot  1,  range 
8,  second  division. 

Abner  Hinds,  about  1821,  settled  on  lot  1,  range  1,  first  division.  He 
was  one  of  the  wealthiest  of  the  early  settlers,  a  great  hunter  and  trapper. 
His  murder  by  Eobbins  caused  great  excitement  throughout  the  county. 
He  was  much  esteemed  by  his  townsmen.  [See  Col.  Kent's  graphic  account 
in  General  History,  pages  110,  111.] 

George  T.  Roberts  came  from  Kennebunk,  Me.,  and  purchased,  in  1S34, 
of  his  father,  John  Roberts,  the  lot  mentioned  above,  which  had  been  owned 
previously  by  one  Walker.  Mr.  Roberts  resided  here,  engaged  in  farming 
and  lumbering,  until  1869.  He  now  lives  in  Deering,  Me.  Five  of  his  ten 
children  are  living — Benjamin  T.,  on  the  home  farm;  John,  in  Wisconsin; 
Burleigh,  a  member  of  the  mercantile  house  of  Kent  &  Roberts,  Lancas- 
ter; Marcia  A.  and  Lizzie  W. 

Isaac  Hagar  was  an  early  comer.  He  located  on  the  Ammonoosuc  near 
West  Milan.  He  was  a  farmer,  hunter,  and  trapper,  and  a  companion  of 
Robbins  and  Hinds  in  their  hunting  expeditions. 

Reuben  Sargent  was  another  early  settler,  lived  here  but  a  few  years, 
then  moved  away.  Anthony  Nay  located  in  the  west  part  of  the  town;  he 
lived  a  long  life,  left  descendants,  and  held  some  town  offices.  Charles 
Newell  was  in  Milan  for  a  short  time. 

The  Robbins  family  of  which  Sylvanus  and  Moses  were  members  came 
from  Massachusetts,  probably  Beverly,  before  1825,  and  were  residents 
for  years.     Sylvanus  was  insane  for  along  time,  and  some  of  the  people 


Town  of  Milan.  833 


sat  up  nights  to  watch  their  buildings  for  fear  of  his  burning  them.  Asa 
Barrows,  who  came  in  L822,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  L812,  passed  his 
life  and  died  here. 

Emerson  Cole  made  his  home  in  the  wesl  part  of  the  town,  cleared  a 

farm;  he  had  a  large  family  and  some  of  his  descendants  arc  now  resi- 
dents. He  was  prominent  in  town  affairs,  selectman  for  many  years,  and 
a  worthy  citizen.  Reuben  Eobart  came  from  Grilead,  Me.,  in  1825,  located 
on  the  place  where  Walter  Allen  now  lives.  He  was  .1  soldier  of  the  War 
of  1812.  The  Wight  family  were  of  the  earliest  to  settle  in  Milan,  com- 
ing here  in  1822;  they  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  Aaron,  Phillip 
and  Nathaniel  were  inhabitants  in  1825.  Aaron  moved  to  Dummer  in 
ls44.  Edward  Richardson  came  from  Bethel.  Me.,  about  1823  or  '24,  and 
settled  on  Milan  hill.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Ellis,  from  Sutton.  Mass. 
Their  family  was  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr.  Richardson  lived 
to  a  good  old  age,  was  one  of  the  first  selectmen  and  held  the  office  sev- 
eral years.  Isaac  Stearns  was  also  from  Bethel.  Me.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  ability  and  enterprise.  He  built  a  mill,  acquired  some  prop- 
erty, then  moved  to  Western  New  York.  He  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  where  C.  D.  Hamlin  now  resides.  Samuel  Crafts  was  from  Hebron, 
Me.;  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  1822.  He  had  a  large  family  of 
children.  His  wife  was  a  Sturtevant  from  Hebron.  One  son,  Rev.  F.  A. 
Crafts,  is  a  Methodist  clergyman,  a  resident  of  Connecticut.  Col.  Wel- 
come A.  Crafts  was  another  son  of  Samuel.  James  H.  Horn  located  at 
West  Milan,  was  the  first  elected  town  clerk.  He  was  licensed  to  sell 
liquor,  and  kept  a  hotel  at  West  Milan  at  the  time  of  the  construction  of 
the  railroad.  It  is  said  that  a  barrel  of  burning-fluid  was  sent  here  by 
mistake  in  place  of  liquor,  and  gave  such  satisfaction  that  another  barrel 
was  ordered  "just  exactly  the  same  kind." 

Peter  Wheeler,  the  first  clerk  elected  at  an  annual  meeting  in  Berlin, 
moved  to  Milan  in  1834.  He  settled  on  a  place  on  Milan  Hill  road,  was  a 
bricklayer.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1  s  1 2,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Plattsburgh.  He  took  active  part  in  town  matters  in  Milan,  was 
clerk,  selectman  and  treasurer,  also  representative  for  two  years  in  the 
legislature.  He  lived  a  long  and  useful  life,  and  died  in  1874.  aged  eighty- 
three. 

The  Twitchell  family  has  been  a  leading  one  in  Milan  since  the  first 
settlement,  coming  here  in  1824.  Cyrus  and  Ransom  Twitchell  were  taxed 
residents  in  1825'. 

Many  of  these  people  came  from  Maine,  a  state  well  known  and  noted 
for  its  enterprising  inhabitants.  They  brought  with  them  the  inherited 
traits  of  a  goodly  ancestry,  which  their  children  and  children's  children 
have  also  inherited.  Others  came  from  Massachusetts,  descendants  of  some 
of  the  early  and  prominent   families  there.     Thus    Milan's  pioneers  were 


834  History  of  Coos  County. 

well  equipped  with  the  necessary  characteristics  for  the  settlement  of  a 
town;  and,  today,  after  the  lapse  of  nearly  three  quarters  of  a  century, 
we  find  peaceful,  prosperous,  intelligent  and  thriving  residents  occupying 
comfortable  homes,  and  who  feel  indeed  that  "their  lines  have  fallen  in 
pleasanl  places." 

Inventory  for  1825. — Isaac  Hageu  (Hagar)  was  taxed  on  one  poll,  two 
horses,  two  cows,  four  neat  cattle.  James  H.  Horn,  three  polls,  two 
horses,  four  oxen,  two  cows,  five  neat  cattle,  one  and  one-half  acres  of 
mowing  land,  ninety  acres  of  unimproved  land.  Anthony  Nay,  one  cow, 
two  and  one-half  acres  of  mowing  and  one  acre  tillage  land,  ninety-seven 
arrcs  unimproved  land.  Reuben  T.  Sargent,  one  poll,  two  cows,  one  two- 
year-old.  Charles  Newell,  two  polls,  one  horse,  two  cows,  one  acre  mow- 
ing, and  ninety  nine  unimproved  land.  Abner  Hinds,  one  poll,  one  horse 
four  oxen,  one  cow.  one  three-year  old,  two  two-year-olds,  one  acre  mow- 
ing, one  acre  pasture,  ninety-eight  unimproved  land.  Emerson  Cole,  two 
polls,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  one  acre  mowing  land,  ninety-nine  acres  unim- 
proved land.  Joshua  Roberts,  one  poll.  Asa  Barrows,  one  poll,  one  cow, 
two  two-year  olds,  one  acre  pasture,  ninety-nine  acres  unimproved  land. 
Edward  Richardson,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows,  100  acres  unimproved 
land.  Isaac  Harris,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows  one  two-year  old,  100 
acres  unimproved  land.  Sylvanus  Robbins,  one  poll,  two  cows,  one  two- 
year-old,  one  acre  mowing,  one  acre  pasture,  198  acres  of  unimproved  land. 
Moses  Robbins,  one  poll,  one  horse,  three  oxen,  three  cows,  three  head 
young  cattle,  two  acres  mowing,  and  one  acre  pasture,  ninety-seven  acres 
unimproved  land  Cyrus  Twitchel,  one  poll,  one  horse,  two  oxen,  two  cows,' 
LOO  acres  unimproved  land.  Reuben  Hobard,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow. 
Samuel  Crafts,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  one  three  year-old,  200  acres 
unimproved  land.  Samuel  B.  Robbins,  one  poll,  one  cow,  100  acres  unim- 
proved land.  Ransom  Twitchell,  one  poll,  one  cow,  100  acres  unimproved 
land.  Benjamin  Hibbard,one  poll  one  cow.  Daniel  G.  Ellingwood,  one  poll, 
two  oxen,  one  cow.  300  acres  unimproved  land.  Thomas  Lake,  one  poll, 
'■Vh>  acres  unimproved  land.  Isaac  Stearns,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two  cows, 
l»'ii  acres  unimproved  land.  John  Ellingwood,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  two 
cows.  LOO  acres  unimproved  land.  Phillip  Wight,  one  poll,  one  cow. 
Aaron  Wight,  one  poll,  two  oxen,  one  cow,  two  three-year-olds,  200  acres 
of  unimproved  land.  Nathaniel  Wight,  two  polls,  two  oxen,  one  cow, 
LOO  acres  of  unimproved  land. 

Early  Conveyances. — November  12, 1796,  David  Webster,  of  Plymouth, 
sheriff  of  Grafton  county,  X.  H.,  conveyed  to  William  K.  Atkinson,  of 
Dover,  the  whole  town  of  Paulsburg  for  $21.31,  the  amount  of  the  pro- 
prietary lax  for  17'.' I. 

William  K.  Atkinson  conveyed  thirteen-fourteenths  of  Paulsburg,  as 
follows:  November  12,  L796,  to  William  Plumer,  of  Epping,  one  fourteenth 


Town  of  Milan.  s:"i5 


undivided.  Jonathan  Cilley,  of  Nottingham,  one-fourteenth  undivided. 
Greenleaf  Cilley,  of  Nottingham,  one-fourteenth.  Jonas  Minot,  of  Con- 
cord, one-fourteenth.  William  Webster,  of  Plymouth,  one-fourteenth. 
Thomas  Lea vitt,  of  North  Hampton,  one-fourteenth  and  one  fifty-sixth. 
William  Harper,  of  Sanborton,  one-fourteenth.  George  W.  Livermore, 
of  Holderness,  one  fourteenth.  Moore  Russell,  of  Haverhill,  one-four- 
teenth. William  Wallace,  of  Newbury,  Vt.,  one-fourteenth.  Na- 
thaniel Peabody,  of  Atkinson,  one-fourteenth,  and  three-fourths  of 
one-fourteenth.  Jabez  Parsons,  of  Colebrook,  one  fourteenth.  June 
3,  1797,  Jonathan  Cilley  deeded  to  William  Plumer  one-fourteenth 
part  undivided — 2,214  acres.  October  3,  William  Plumer,  collector,  to 
Samuel  Plumer,  one-fourteenth  undivided  of  each  original  right.  April 
14,  1801,  Samuel  Plumer.  Jr.,  to  William  Plumer,  one-third  of  one  four- 
teenth part  undivided.  October*;,  1800,  Samuel  Plumer,  Jr.,  to  Daniel 
Plumer  one  third  of  one  fourteenth. 


CHAPTER  C. 


Act  of  Incorporation— First  Town  Meeting— Extracts  from  Town  Records— Action  in  the 
Rebellion— Civil  List:  Town  Clerks— Selectmen— Treasurers— Representatives. 

*/~i  CT  °f  Incorporation.— "Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
(  I  General  Court  convened  that  the  tract  of  land  granted  and  known  by  the  name  of  Paulsburgh,  sit  n- 
\^  ated  in  the  County  of  Coos,  shall  hereafter  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Milan,  and  shall  be 

X    a  town  by  that  name. 

"Section  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  township  be  and  they  are  hereby 
made  a  body  corporate  and  politic,  with  all  the  same  rights,  powers,  and  privileges  immunities  and  liabilities 
of  similar  corporations  in  this  state  and  that  said  town  shall  be  classed  with  thetownsof  Northumberland,  and 
Stratford  and  "  Percy,"  forelecting  a  representative  until  otherwise  ordered  by  the  L  sgislature. 

"Section  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  for  the  pupose  of  duly  organizing  said  town,  a  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  thereof  legally  qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs,  shall  be  tiolden  in  said  town  on  the  first  Tues- 
day of  February  next,  at  which  meeting,  Selectmen  and  other  necessary  officers  may  be  i  lecte  1  to  continue  in 
office  until  others  are  chosen  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  this  state,  and  that  Cyrus  Twitch. -11.  Aimer  Hinds,  and 
Isaac  Harris,  or  any  two  of  them  lie  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  inhabitants,  by  giving  the 
same  notice  as  is  by  law  required  for  annual  tow  n  meetings." 

The  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  in  December,  1824, 

Extracts  from  Town  Records.     February  1,  1825.    A  town  meeting,  called  by  the  persons  named  in  the 

act  of  incoi] Miration,  was  held  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Isaac  Harris  and  selectmen  and  town  clerk  elected  to 
permanently  organize  the  town.     Samuel  <  'rafts  was  clern  of  this  meeting. 

March  8,  1825.  At  this  meeting  a  permanent  organization  was  effected  by  the  choice  of  a  full  board  of 
town  officers.  Itwasvoted  "  to  raise  the  sum  of  Three  hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of  Highways  and 
Bridges;  Ninety  dollars  for  Schools  and  Fifty  dollars  for  all  other  purposi  s."  These  amounts  were  raised  for 
several  years  with  some  variation  in  the  highway  money.  There  were  present  at  this  mei  ting,  sixtei  a  voters, 
David  L.  Morrel  having  that  number  for  governor,— no  opposition.    Twenty-six  persons   were  taxedinthe 


836  History  of  Coos  County 


resident  list:  the  highest  money-tax  in  the  list  was  $10.05  j:>ai<l  by  Abner  Hinds.     A  road  was  laid  out  this  year. 
West  Milan  to  Berlin  line,  via  Milan  Corner,  and  the  town  divided  into  school  districts. 

March  13,  L827.     Cyrus  Twitchellwas  recommended  to  the  governor  and  council  as  a  suitable  person  to  be 
appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

March  29,   1827.    The   first  record  of  a  district  meeting  for  election  of  representative  occurs.   Thomas 

ly,  Jr.,   of  Northumberland,    was  elected  from    the   towns  of  Milan,   Northumberland,    Stratford  and 

d.     There  is  no  record  of  any  representative  from  Milan  except  in  the  years  when  the  meeting 

was   held   in    Milan.     The   town   was   classed   with  other  towns  until  1851,  when  0.  M.  TwitcheU,  M.  D.,  was 

elected  the  first  representative  from  Milan  alone. 

September  12. 1827.  James  EL  Horn  was  licensed  to  keep  a  tavern  in  his  dwelling  house,  in  said  Milan, 
and  to  retail  liquors  in  small  quantities. 

November  3,  1828.  At  the  Presidential  election  the  electoral  ticket  headed  by  George  Harvey  had  twelve 
votes  and  the  one  leaded  by  George  Sullivan  had  six  votes. 

March  10,  1829.  Voted  "to  put  the  Literary  fund  at  interest,  the  income  to  be  used  for  the  support  of 
schools."     . 

June-  28,  1830.  Voted.  "  Those  of  the  inhabitants  that  are  needy,  make  application  to  the  Selectmen  for 
their  bread  this  summer."  (Nothing  said  about  butter.)  Voted,  "  To  choose  a  new  land  agent  as  the  old  one- 
has  absconded." 

March  8,  1831.  Voted  "to  put  guide  boards  at  North  branch  bridge — near  Milan  corner  and  at  the  Lake 
place." 

March  13,  1832.     Voted  to  give  Daniel  G.  Ellingwood  $15  for  his  expenses  taking  David  Robbins,  sup- 
l  murderer  of  Abner  Hinds,  of  Milan.  Voted,  "To  instruct  the  Select  men  to  lay  out  a  highway  through 
lands  of  Suel  Lary  to  the  Androscoggin  river  for  the  benefit  of  a  ferry."    Forty-two  votes  were  cast  at  the 
Presidential  election  this  year. 

November  7,  1836.     Voted  for  building  an  insane  hospital,  yes,  twelve;  no,  four. 

March  14,  1837.  Voted  to  receive  the  surplus  money  (supposed  to  have  been  derived  from  U.  S.  treasury), 
and  pledge  the  faith  of  the  town  for  the  safe  keeping  according  to  the  law.  Voted  Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr., 
agent  to  receive  the  same.  Voted — To  divide  and  loan  the  surplus  money  to  the  several  inhabitants  in  the 
following  ratio:  one-half  by  the  polls,  the  other  half  by  the  tax  they  paid  in '36.  Voted  That  all  notes  be 
given  on  demand  without  interest,  to  be  secured  by  such  security  as  the  Ageut  may  think  for  the  interest  of 
the  town. 

March  13,  1838.  Voted  on  revision  of  the  Constitution,  yeas,  two;  nays,  forty-live.  Voted  on  law  for 
town  clerks  to  record  deeds;  yeas,  twenty-six;  nays,  eighteen.  Voted  on  division  of  the  town;  yeas,  forty: 
hi;   ,  twelve. 

March  12,  1839.  Voted,  That  each  man  be  given  up  his  note  given  for  surplus  money,  and  the  town  be 
holden  fi  ir  the  same. 

November,  1810.     Fifty-nine  votes  cast  for  President. 

March,  1841.  There  were  eighty-seven  names  ou  the  check  list.  The  highest  tax  on  the  resident  money 
tax  list  in  1844  was  $11.22  against  Dustin  P.  Ordway.  November.  On  the  question,  "  Shall  capital  punish- 
ment be  abolished?"  the  town  voted,  yeas,  sixteen;  nays,  forty-three. 

March,  1848.     Voted  that  the  school  committee  shall  not  visit  the  schools  unless  called  upon. 

1850.  Ann  Hint  raised  for  schools,  $150.  Highways,  $500.  All  other  purposes,  $450.  October  8,  1850. 
Elected  Benjamin  Thompson  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention. 

March  11,  1851.  Voted  to  raise  $550  to  pay  for  the  bridge  now  building  across  the  Androscoggin  river. 
Chose  James  M.  Phipps  agent  for  laying  out  the  same.  Chose  Adams  Twitchel,  Henry  Paine,  and  Adua 
Folsom  to  superintend  the  building  of  the  bridge. 

March  11,  1852.  At  an  adjourned  annual  meeting,  it  was  "Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  to  obtain  an 
under-pass  under  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  R.  R.  without  cost  if  possible,  but  to  obtain  one  at  all  events." 
The  town  obtained  the  under-pass,  but  not  without  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with  the  company;  the  inhabit- 
ants iif  the  t<>\\  n  and  the  employes  of  the  company  coming  nearly  to  blows  on  several  occasions.  November 
2,  L852.     Seventy-nine  votes  were  cast  for  President. 

March  8,  1853.  On  the  question  of  dividing  the  county  of  Coos  into  two  judicial  districts,  the  vote  stood 
sixty  against  the  proposition  and  Done  for  it. 

In  1856  the  Presidential  vote  9tood:    Buchanan,  ninety-one;  Freemont,  eighty-four. 
March,  1858.     Voted,  Thai  the  selectmen  be  instructed  to  investigate  and  ascertain  the  standing  of  the 
town  as  far  hack  as  possibli  .  and  make  a  report,  if  it  takes  the  whole  year. 

mbi  r.  L860.     The  Presidential  vote  was  Democrat,  fifty-four;  Republican,  eighty-three. 
on  in  the  Rebellion.  -  At  a  special  town  meeting  held  September  1,  1862,  it  was  voted  to  pay  a  bounty 
of  $100  to  every  man  mustered  into  the  sen  Lee  of  the  U.  S.,  on  the  quota  of  the  town  for  two  last  calls  of 
300,000  each. 


Town  OF   Milan.  ^:;7 


March,  1863.  Voted  that  the  selectmen  aid  families  of  volunteers  as  they  think  proper  under  the  law. 
August  15.  1863.  Voted  not  to  pay  drafted  men  any  bountj .  I  »ecember  7.  1863.  Voted  thai  the  t.iu  o  assume 
the  I k 'un tics  offered  by  the  state  and  l*.  S..  and  pay  them  to  all  enlisted  men  and  substitutes.  Said  soldiers  to 
assign  them  to  the  town.     Voted  to  paj  each  volunteer  $100  in  addition  to  the  State  and  (J.  8.  bounties. 

March.  1864.  "  Voted  to  adopt  the  resolution  pri  •  nti  d  bj  James  M.  Phipps  as  follows:  I;  solvi  d,  That 
tie-  Selectmen  of  Milan  be  instructed  to  give  to  families  or  dependents,  entitled  to  Stat,  aid  from  said  town, 
a  town  order  for  the  amount  they  may  he  entitled  to.  paj  of   the  town  Treasurt  r  the  first  day 

of  September  next  after  date;  said  order  to  dra^    Interest  Bix  months  after  date."    July  20,  1864.  The  town 
voted  to  pay  $300  for  on  year  volunteers,  $400   for  two  years  volunteers,  $500   for  tin 

for  each  drafted  man,  and  tor  the  selectmen  to  furnish  substitutes  as  cheap  as  possible  to  procure  them.  ■ 
November,  1864.    On  a  proposition  to  changt  the  Constitution  so  as  to  allow  soldiers  to  vote  in  the  field,  the 
tow  n  voted  yea  sixty-nine,  nay  two. 

January  1,  1865.  Voted  to  raise  money  enough  to  till  the  quota  of  tin-  town,  and  topay  drafted  men  or 
their  substitutes  $200  for  one  year.     March,  1865.     Voted  to  paj  back  to  all  drafted  men  who  had  furnished 

Substitutes,  what  thej   had  paid  out  in  excess  of  $300. 

1867.     Voted  to  raise  $600  tor  schools,  $800  for  highways,  and  ■-:!.( inn  for  all  otlier  purpo 
March,  18(58.    Voted  to  petition  Congress  to  levy  a  tax  on  all  bonds  of  the  V .  s..  not  exceeding  one  per 
cent,  semi-annually,  and  make  the  same  a  lien  on  the  coupons  and  interest  of  said  bonds,  ami    set    the   - 
apart  as  a  sinking  fund  to  lie  applied  to  the  purchase  of  the  debts  id'  the  r.  s.  m  such  a  manner  as  Congress 

may  direct.     Vote  for  President,  1868,  Republican  ninety-three.  De cratic  fifty-seven. 

March,  1871.  Voted  to  appropriate  a  sum  of  money  (not  exceeding  5  per  cent,  of  tie  school  money)  for 
prizes  in  schools,  to  be  given  to  the  scholars  according  to  their  merits.  October  28,  1871.  Voted  to  build  a 
iew  bridge  across  the  Androscoggin  river. 

March,  is?.'?.     Voted  to  raise  $1,000  forschools,  $1,200  for  highways,  and  $1,000  for  all  otlier  purposes. 
November,  187(1.     Chose  Adams  Twitchel  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention. 
November,  1884.    The  vote  for  President  was,  Republican  117,  Democratic  85.     On  tin    eleventh   ballot 
.James  M.  Phipps  was  elected  representative  to  the   General   Court.     [He   died   May  3,  1885,  and   Alvin/.a  A. 
Higgins  was  elected  to  till  the  vacancy  May  26,  1885.] 

March.  1886.  Voted  for  highways,  $1,000.  for  schools,  $1,000,  for  town  debt  61.000,  for  all  other  purposes 
$1,000.  On  the  vote  to  call  a  Constitutional  Convention  it  stood  yeas  53,  noes  2.  The  total  valuation  of  the 
town  for  the  year  1886  was  $261,670.  Amount  raised  for  all  purposes  $5,756.74.  Number  of  names  on  check 
list  220. 

Civil  lAst.—Toion  Clerks.  James  H.  Horn,  1825;  Ransom  Twitchell,  1826-29,  1831-32,  1834-35,  1837; 
■Gilman  Twitchell,  1833,  1814-15;  Thomas  Wheeler,  Jr.,  1836-38;  Peter  Walker.  1839;  *Peter  Wheeler,  1839-41, 
1846-47:  Almon  Hutchinson,  1842-43,  1855;  Ozmon  M.  Twitchell,  1848-54,  1858-59;  Larkin  Pettengill,  1856-57, 
1863,  1874;  *Peter  A.  G.  W.  Phipps,  1859,  1864-66;  Franklin  Wheeler,  1860-62;  Samuel  F.  Mathes,  1867; 
Abner  K.  Cole,  1868;  Albert  Cole,  1869-70;  *Solomon  J.  Hayward,  1870;  Richard  H.  Meserve,  1871-73,  1875, 
1879;  Burleigh  Roberts,  1876;  George  W.  Blanchard,  1877-78;  James  S.  Phipps.   1880-87. 

Selectmen. — Cyrus  Twitchell,  Abner  Hinds,  Isaac  Harris  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting.  Isaac 
Hagar,  Edward  Richardson,  Daniel  G.  Ellingwood,  selectmen  to  organize  permanently.  Edward  Richardson, 
1825,  1836;  Ransom  Twitchell,  1825,  1830-32,  1834-38,  1841;  Abner  Hinds,  1825;  Aaron  Wight.  1826;  Janes  11. 
Horn.  1826-27,  1829,  1840;  Isaac  Stearns.  1826;  Isaac  Harris.  1827,  1830;  Daniel  G.  Ellingwood.  1827-29;  Cyrus 
Twitchell,  1828;  Emerson  Cole,  1828,  1831,  1837,  1844-46,  1849;  John  Small,  1829,  1831-32,  1834;  Isaac  Hagar, 
1830,  1832.  1839;  Thomas  Wheeler.  Jr.,  L833,  1836;  Elijah  Phipps,  ls:):i.  1887;  Gilman  Twitchell,  1833:  Francis 
Lang,  1834;  Henry  Snow,  1835-36;  Benjamin  Flint.  is:!t;,  1839-40;  Adna  Folsom,  1838;  Moses  Bodgdon,  1838; 
Thomas . I.  ordway,  1839;  Peter  Wheeler,  L840,  1S44;  Addison  Hamlin,  1841;  Lewis  Hutchinson,  1841-43; 
Joshua  Parker,  1842-41:  George  T.  Roberts,  1842-43,  1848,  1852-53.1860,1864:  Henry  Paine.  1845;  Lorenzo 
I>.  Peabody,  1846;  Phillip  Pettengill.  1846-47;  Daniel  Evans.  1847-48;  Charles  A.  Wardwell,  1847,  1857,  L862-63; 
Clayton  Twitchell,  1848-49;  Uriah  Evans.  1849,  1856,  1863.  1874;  Simon  Cole,  L850-51,  1858.  1865,  1868;  Chase 
E.  Parker,  1850-51;  Almon  Hutchinson.  1850-53,  1855;  \dams  Twitchel.  1852;  Samuel B.  Coffin,  1853-54, 
1857;  Peter  A.  G.  W.  Phipps,  1854-55;  Anthony  Nay.  L854-55;  Moses  Hodgdon,  Jr..  1856-57,  1863-67,  1870-71, 
1874-75:  Solomon  J.  Hayward.  1856:  James  M.  Phipps.  1858-59,  L862,  1865-67;  Samuel  F.  Mathes,  L858;  Col- 
umbus Lane,  1859,  1868;  Nathan  Fogg,  1859,  L883;  Cyrus  1».  Hamlin,  1800-61:  Charles  N.  Hodgdon,  1860-62, 
1869,  1879-80;  Charles  E.  Phipps,  1861,  1866;  Edwin  P.  Hutchinson,  1864;  Luther  p.  Kingsbury,  1866;  Benja- 
min T.  Roberts,  1867;  Charles  P.  Bickford,  1868-69;  Ira  L  Newell,  1869;  George  G.  Gates,  1870;  John  L. 
Willard,  1870-71;  Lorenzo  P.  Adley,  1871-73;  Calvin  P.  Stevens,  1872,  L882;  Walter H.  Evans,  L872-73,  L876-77, 
1881-82:  Simon  Fogg,  1873;  Tbeodor!   Morin,  1874;  George  E.  Lale.  1875;  Dennis  B.  York.  1875,  1877-78;  |;,  u- 


*  First  appointed  to  till  vacancy. 


s;;v  History  of  Coos  County. 

m.  11  W.  Biggins,  1876;  John  H.  Chandler,  1877-79;  Hiram  E.  Ellingwood,  1878,  1884-87;  Oliver  P.  Robbins, 
1879;  George  W.  Page,  1880;  Ralph  Cole.  1880-87;  James  C.  Fogg,  1881;  Ransom  A.  Twitchell,  1883-85;  Sum- 
aer  H.  Ordway,  1886-87. 

Treasurers.—  James  H.  Horn,  1825:  Edward  Richardson,  1826-27;  Isaac  Harris,  1828-34:  Thomas  Wheeler 
Jr.,  1835,  1838;  Lewis  Eutchinson,  1836,  1840-41,  1844;  Board  of  Selectmen,  1837,  Elijah  Phipps,  1839,  1846- 
47;  Peter  Wheeler,  1842-43:  Israel  P.  Green,  1845;  George  Russell,  1848,  George  T.  Roberts,  1849-52, 
1854-5'.".  1871;  John  Chandler.  1853;  Nathan  Bickford,  1860-64;  Joseph  H.  Vincent,  1865,  1868;  George  G. 
.  L866-67;  Solomon  J.  Hayward,  1869;  Abner  Keith.  1870;  Theodore  Morin,  1872-74;  Peter  A.  G.  W. 
Phipps,  1875-77;  Cyrus D.  Hamlin,  1878-79;  Ransom  A.  Twitchell,  1880-82;  Samuel  A.  Collins,  1883-87. 

Representatives  to  the  General  Court. —  Ransom  Twitchell,  1831,  1835,  classed;  Peter  Walker,  1839,  classed; 
Amos  Green,  1843,  classed;  Joshua  Parker,  1845,  1850,  classed;  l'rter  Wheeler,  1849,  classed;  Hiram  T.  Elling- 
wood, L852,  classed;  Ozmon  M.  Twitchell,  1854-55;  Chase  E.  Parker,  1856-57;  Samuel  F.  Mathers,  1858-59; 
Columbus  Lane,  1860-61;  Charles  E.  Phipps,  1862-63;  George  T.  Roberts,  1864-65;  Cyrus  D.  Hamlin.  1866, 
1878;  Moses  Hodgdon,  Jr.,  1867,1869;  Aimer  Keith.  1868;  Charles  W.  Hodgdon,  1870-71;  Freeland  Hutchin- 
son, L872-73;  Lorenzo  P.  Adley,  1874-75;  Adams  Twitchet,  1876;  Peter  A.  G.  W.  Phipps,  1877;  Burleigh 
Robei  ts.  1879;  Voted  not  to  send,  1880;  George  W.  Page,  1882;  James  M.  Phipps,*  1884:  Alvinza  A.  Higgins,t 
L884;  Dennis  B.  York,  1886. 


CHAPTER  CI. 


31  i lis — Milan  Mine — Business  Interests. 


FIRST  Mills  in  Milan. — Early  in  this  century,  probably  before  the 
War  of  Is  1 2,  a  mill  was  erected  by  one  Eames  who  received  a  grant 
of  land  from  the  proprietors  for  doing  so.  It  consisted  of  a  primi- 
tive saw-mill  with  an  "  up-and-down  "  saw  with  a  wooden  crank,  and  a 
grist-mill  with  stones  about  as  large  as  grindstones.  How  they  were 
transported  hither  tradition  fails  to  tell.  This  mill  stood  near  Milan  Water 
Station,  now  Copperville,  and  cutout  quite  an  amount  of  lumber,  and 
was  quite  a  benefit  to  the  scattering  settlers.  William  Leighton,  who 
came  to  Dummer  in  1812,  shortly  after  built  a  barn,  and  had  the  roof- 
boards  sawed  at  this  mill.  Much  of  the  way  there  was  no  road,  and  the 
boards  were  carried  on  the  roadless  portion  up  the  hill  on  the  backs  of  men, 
who  received  a  glass  of  rum  lor  each  board  brought  up.  The  old  mill,  its 
owners,  and  its  patrons  have  long  since  gone  to  decay,  only  the  mill-stones 
remaining  to  excite  the  imagination  of  the  wondering  individual  who 
buds  them  in  their  brush-surrounding  resting  place. 

The  first  mill  on  the  Ammonoosuc  was  built  as  earlv  as  1835  on  lot  7, 
range  :'>,  first  division,  by  a  company  consisting  of  HenrySnow,  of  Effing- 
ham, Dr.  Loren  Hildreth,  and  one  Roberts,  of  Parson sfield,  Me.  This 
was  first  conducted  by  Mr.  Snow,  afterward  by -Anthony  Nay,  and,  during 

*Deceased.        jEleeted  to  till  vacancy. 


Town  of  Milan.  839 


L838  or  'S'.t,  the  property  was  sold  to  Amos  Green,  of  Berlin,  who  rebuilt 
the  mill  on  a  larger  scale.  He  carried  it  on  until  the  California  fever  broke 
out.  when,  leaving  it  in  the  charge  of  his  son  George  A  .  (who,  it  is  said, 
made  more  money  out  of  it  than  did  his  father, )  in  L850,  he  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia. In  1855  Alvinza  A.  Higgins,  of  Saco,  Me.,  purchased  it  from 
Tasker  &  Boyd,  who  then  had  the  property,  lie  soon  sold  an  interest  to 
his  brother,  Reuben  W.,  and  they  jointly  conducted  business  here  until 
the  death  of  the  latter,  in  June,  1SM.  since  which  time  A.  A.  Higgins  has 
been  proprietor.  In  August,  1857,  occurred  a  terrible  thunder-storm, 
which  raised  the  river  seven  feet  within  six  hours,  swepl  off  the  mills, 
and  caused  other  great  destruction.  The  mill  was  at  once  rebuilt,  [tcon- 
tains  now  a  rotary  saw,  an  edger,  a  shingle-machine,  and  a  grist  mill.  It 
manufactures  from  1,500,000  to  2,000,000  of  lumber  per  annum,  and  em- 
ploys from  twenty  to  twenty-five  men. 

Alfred  X.  Twitchell,  in  1868,  with  others,  built  and  run  in  Milan  the 
first  steam  starch-mill  m  operation  in  New  Hampshire.  He  continued  in 
this  till  L8T5. 

Milan  Mine. — In  August,  1877,  Nathan  Fogg,  while  haying,  went  to 
the  small  stream,  called  "  William  Fogg  brook,"  to  get  a  drink,  and  saw 
something  glittering  on  the  bottom  in  an  apparent  ly  metallic  vein  of  about 
four  feel  in  width.  He  soon  blasted  in  the  rock  containing  the  vein  near 
the  stream,  sent  specimens  to  Prof  Huntington  at  Hanover,  and  had  him 
come  and  examine  the  place.  Prof.  H.  found,  by  assaying,  $58  gold,  four 
ounces  of  silver,  fifteen  percent,  copper,  and  a  trace  of  lead,  to  the  ton. 
The  land  was  bonded  to  one  Zalmon  Taylor,  who  sunk  a  shaft  twenty  feet, 
but  did  not  develop  further.  It  was  then  leased  and  bonded  successively 
to  Charles  H.  Souther  and  D.  F.  Leavitt,  who  did  not  do  much  work.  In 
L881  Mr.  Fogg  sold  the  mine  to  Hanson  Gregory,  Jr.,  for  $7,500;  he 
operated  it  for  some  time,  and  sold  to  Boston  and  Portland  parties,  who 
erected  buildings,  employed  from  sixty  five  to  seventy  men  during  1884 
and  V;.  and  accomplished  much  work. 

The  vein  was  followed  about  fifty  rods  and  to  a  depth  of  200  feet.  The 
richer  metals  diminished  in  quantity  as  the  shaft  left  the  surface:  copper 
became  the  chief  metal  in  the  vein,  exhibited  chiefly  as  a  sulphuret.  The 
sulphur  formed  an  important  element  of  profit  in  working  the  mine,  and, 
on  account  of  its  low  value,  the  work  was  stopped  in  the  fall  of   L886. 

Business  Interests. — Previous  to  L838  the  inhabitants  of  Milan  were 
obliged  to  go  to  Shelburne  or  Lancaster  for  all  "  store  "  goods  used.  Some 
of  the  first  settlers  made  1  he  t  rip  to  Shelburne  and  back  on  foot  in  a  day, 
bringing  a  load  of  from  fifty  to  seventy  live  pound-.  They  used  to  make 
considerable  potash,  shaved  pine  shingles,  etc..  carry  them  to  Harrison, 
Me.,  or  to  Portland  with  an  ox-team,  bringing  back  supplies;  t  he  most  im- 
portant of  which   was  a  generous  supply  of  old  New  England  rum.     A 


840  History  of  Coos  County. 

barrel  of  rum  was  calculated  to  be  of  as  much  value  in  a  family  in  a  year 
as  a  good  cow.  About  1838  Ransom  Twitchell  commenced  keeping  a  small 
assortment  of  goods  in  his  house  which  he  continued  until  1844.  Israel  P. 
Given  was  in  trade  from  1844  to  1*46,  when  he  sold  out  to  Fordyce  Bur- 
bank,  who  took  in  as  partner,  John  Hamlin.  In  1847  the  store  was  burned 
and  their  business  closed  up.  From  1847  to  1850  Jacob  &  Hiram  T.  Elling- 
wood  kept  a  store  in  connection  with  their  potash  business.  About  1850 
Davis,  Frasier  &  Co..  (Abner  Davis,  John  L.  Frasier  and  Fred  A.  Crafts,) 
formed  a  partnership.  In  1851  Mr.  Frasier  sold  out  his  interest  to  his 
partners,  the  firm  being  "'Davis  &  Crafts";  in  1852  Mr.  Crafts  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Merrill  C.  Forist,  firm  "  Davis  &  Forist."  In  1854  or  '55  they 
sold  out  to  David  Meserve,  who  continued  in  trade  until  1865  or  ^(y-,  the 
last  year  of  his  business  he  had  associated  with  him  Solomon  J.  Hayward, 
firm  name  ''Meserve  &  Hayward."  In  1852  a  new  firm  entered  the  mer- 
cantile business— Adams  Twitchel  and  James  M.  Phipps — continuing  until 
L856,  when  they  sold  out  to  "  Bickford,  Wheeler  &  Davis"  (Sullivan  T. 
Bickford,  Franklin  Wheeler  and  Columbus  Davis).  In  1858  they  disposed 
of  their  interest  to  "  J.  A.  &  J.  W.  Greenlaw,"  who  continued  uutil  1861. 
In  1863  "Ward  well  &  Paine"  (Charles  A.  Ward  well  and  Gardiner  C. 
Paine  i  began  trade  in  the  store  formerly  occupied  by  the  Greenlaws.  In 
1866  Mr.  Paine  sold  his  interest  to  Theodore  Morin.  The  next  fall  Mr. 
Wardwell  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Columbus  Lane,  firm  "Morin  & 
Lane."  In  1869  Mr.  Lane  bought  out  Mr.  Morin  and  continued  in  trade 
alone  until  1874  when  he  closed  up  his  business  and  moved  away.  In  1863 
Samuel  E.  Paine  built  a  small  store  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  A.  Blake 
and  occupied  it  until  L866,  when  he  sold  to  Cyrus  D.  &  Charles  H.  Hamlin. 
In  1867  they  sold  to  George  G.  Gates,  who  remained  until  1872,  when  he 
sold  out  to  Alfred  N.  and  Ransom  A.  Twitchell.  After  a  few  months 
Ransom  A.  sold  his  interest  to  George  W.  Page  (firm  name  "Twitchell  & 
Page").  In  the  spring  of  1874  their  store  was  burned,  and  the  goods  saved 
were  sold  to  the  firm  of  "York  &  Twitchell,"  (Dennis  B.  York  and  Ransom 
A.  Twitchell,)  who  continued  in  partnership  until  1881  when  Mr.  Twitchell 
sold  to  Mr.  York  who  is  still  in  business. 

In  ls«>s  John  W.  Greenlaw  built  the  store  now  occupied  by  George  E. 
hale.  It  was  used  by  various  parties  for  different  purposes.  Appleton 
Blake  commenced  trade  there  about  1872  or  '73  and  occupied  it  until  he 
moved  into  the  store  where  he  now  is.  In  1866  Daniel  &  Jabez  P.  Evans 
began  merchandising  in  the  old  Greenlaw  store,  but  were  burned  out  in 
the  spring  of  L867,  thus  closing  their  business.  In  L868  the  firm  of  J.  M. 
Phipps  ec  Co.  bought  the  building  now  owned  by  S.  A.  Collins,  fitted  it 
ii])  and  commenced  trade,  the  firm  consisting  of  James  M.  and  Peter  A.  G. 
W.  Phipps  and  Cyrus  D.  Hamlin.  After  about  two  months  Mr.  Hamlin 
sold  his  interest  to  his  partners,  who,  in  1874,  took  in  James  S.  Phipps  as 


Town  of  Milan.  8 1 1 


partner;  they  continued  business  until  1878  when  they  sold  out  to  George 
E.  Dale,  who  still  continues  in  business. 

About  1876  a  ''Grange"  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  was  organized  in 
town,  and  the  scheme  of  co-operative  trade  was  tried.  For  several  reasons 
it  was  a  failure  and  finally  ended  in  the  organization  of  the  firm  of  W.  A. 
Willis  &  Co.,  (William  A.  Willis,  Carleton  W.  Muzzy,  Charles  P.  Bickford 
and  Sullivan  T.  Bickford,)  who  continued  in  business  until  1  ss  1.  In  1884 
Henry  L.  Steinfeld  occupied  the  store  vacated  by  W.  A.  Willis  &  Co.  and 
is  still  in  trade. 

C.  Williamson  is  postmaster  at  Milan. 

West  Milan.  Merchants,  Etc. — The  first  regular  store  was  opened  at 
West  Milan  by  Ezra  Horn,  about  the  year  1850,  when  the  Grand  Trunk 
railway  was  being  built.  In  1857  Simon  Cole  commenced  trade  in  the 
store  opposite  the  railroad  station,  and  continued  until  1860,  when  he  sold 
out  to  his  son,  Lewis  H.  Cole,  who  built  the  store  now  occupied  by  Roberts 
&  Forbush,  and  in  1865  disposed  of  his  business  to  Edwin  W.  Wilkinson, 
who  closed  out  in  1869  and  moved  to  Groveton.  In  1870  Hutchinson  & 
Morin  (Freeland  Hutchinson  and  Theodore  Morin)  occupied  the  same  store. 
They  continued  three  years;  in  1874:  Mr.  Morin  sold  out  to  Mr.  Hutchinson. 
In  1874  or  '7.")  Mr.  Hutchinson  sold  out  to  Blanchard  Bros.  (George  W., 
Charles  N.,  and  Fred  H.,)  and  the  next  year  Charles  N.  sold  to  his  part- 
ners, and  the  firm  name  became  "  G.  W.  &  F.  H.  Blanchard"  until  1879, 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved.  In  the  year  1860  0.  H.  Nay  com- 
menced business  in  the  store  below  the  depot;  he  continued  in  trade  until 
1874  or  '75,  and  has  not  done  much  since.  In  1S80  Fred  H.  Blanchard 
occupied  the  store  formerly  owned  by  0.  H.  Nay,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  months,  has  occupied  it  ever  since.  Between  Mr.  Nay  and  Mr. 
Blanchard  the  building  was  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Bisbee.  and  by  "True,  Lover- 
ing  &  Co."  for  a  short  time.  About  1870  Mr  George  T.  Roberts  com- 
menced trade  in  the  store  opposite  the  depot,  and  continued  about  three 
years,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  son  Burleigh,  who  conducted  the  business 
three  years,  then  Benjamin  T.  Roberts  traded  in  the  same  store  one  year 
or  more.  Since  that  time  it  has  not  been  occupied.  In  1879  Burleigh 
Roberts  began  trade  again  in  the  store  formerly  occupied  by  the  Blanch  - 
ards.  In  18S3  he  associated  with  him  Mr.  Zenas  W.  Forbush,  and  the  firm 
now  remains  "  Roberts  &  Forbush,"  Mr.  Forbush  conducting  the  business. 

The  Blanchards  have  been  leaders  in  business  in  West  Milan  for  years. 
In  manufacturing,  in  merchandising,  and  other  industries  they  have  been 
actively  engaged.  George  W.  is  now  conducting  a  steam-mill  with  a 
production  of  from  1,000,000  to  2,000,000  of  feet  per  annum.  Hamlin 
&  Company,  of  Milan,  have  a  birch  and  poplar-mill;  R.  H.  Cole  manu- 
factures shingles;  C.  M.  C.  Twitchel  is  an  extensive  farmer  and  lumber- 

55 


812  History  of  Coos  County. 


man.     There  are  many  good  farmers  in  town,  whose  industry  brings  good 
results  and  adds  to  its  financial  status. 


CHAPTER  OIL 


Church    History — Methodism — Pastors — Present    Society — Original    Members  of  Methodist 
Church — Church  Building — Calvinist  Baptist  Society — Free-Will  Baptist  Society — Civil  War. 

ry HURCH History." — The  church  history  of  Milan,  as  in  many  other 
(  /*  towns,  must  of  necessity  be  incomplete.  The  records  of  early  work 
\j  are  few,  old  members  have  fallen  out  by  the  way,  and  tradition  is 
uncertain.  We  have  gleaned  from  various  sources  a  few  items  which  we 
present. 

Nearly  fifty  years  ago,  the  ever-active  Methodist  church  had  established 
a  mission  here  on  a  circuit  which  also  included  Guildhall,  Yt.,  Stark,  Gor- 
ham,  Randolph,  and  other  towns,  and  among  the  first  ministers  on  the 
circuit  were  William  C.  Bixby  and  Stephen  Adams.  The  first  work  done 
here  by  the  Methodists  was  done  on  Milan  hill,  and  this  locality  is  conse- 
quently the  cradle  of  Methodism  in  Milan.  In  1854  and  1855  Milan  was 
included  in  the  Haverhill  district  of  the  New  Hampshire  M.  E.  conference, 
and  was  supplied  by  Charles  R.  Homan.  In  1856  Daniel  W.  Barber  was 
the  supply,  and  again  in  1861.  Between  these  dates  we  have  no  records. 
In  1863  the  church  was  under  the  care  of  "  church  labor"';  in  1864  Warren 
C.  Applebee  was  the  first  pastor.  In  1806  J.  H.  Knott  and  C.  M.  Barnes 
supplied  the  pulpit,  and  in  1867  C.  M.  Barnes  was  the  preacher  in  charge. 
Since  L856  this  charge  had  been  in  the  Concord  district. 

hi  1869  Rev.  G.  C.  Xoyes  came  to  take  charge  of  this  church  and 
remained  three  years,  1  icing  assisted  the  first  year  by  J.  M.  Copp.  Rev. 
Mr.  Noyes  was  followed  by  L.  E.  Gordon  who  remained  on  the  charge 
three  years.  J.  A.  Steele  was  Mr.  Gordon's  successor.  Remaining  only 
one  year,  he  was  followed  by  William  Woods,  who  stood  at  the  helm  three 
years,  and  guided  the  "old  ship "  during  a  dark  period,  when  the  dread 
disease,  diphtheria,  swept  away  many  of  the  inhabitants,  including  two  of 
his  own  family.  Rev.  Amos  B.  Russell  followed  Rev.  Mr.  Woods  and 
remained  on  the  charge  two  years,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  Otis  S.  Dan- 
forth  who  supplied  the  pulpit  two  years,  doing  excellent  work.  Rev. 
James  D.   LeGro,  the  present    pastor,  preached  his   first   sermon  in  this 

*By  Rev.  James  I).  LeGro. 


Town  of  Milan.  *43 


church  in  September,  18S5.  [Mr.  LeGro,  although  not  now  in  robust 
health,  is  an  able  sermonizer,  an  agreeable  writer,  and  is  highly  appreci- 
ated and  esteemed  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.] 

The  present  society  is  made  up  of  several  denominations,  Corigrega- 
tionalists,  Methodists,  Baptists,  "Advents,"  and  Universalists;  no  one 
denomination  represented  being  able  to  supporl  a  minister  alone.  Not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  so  many  sects,  differing  in  many  respects,  are 
brought  together,  the  work  is  remarkably  harmonious  and  free  from  strife. 
The  present  pastor,  Rev.  James  D.  Le  Gro,  is  a  Methodist  clergyman,  and  a 
member  of  the  New  Hampshire  conference.  Since  his  coming  to  this 
society  the  church  has  been  remodelled  and  repaired,  and  the  society  much 
improved.  Best  of  all.  there  has  been  a  gracious  revival  influence  among 
the  people  and  a  goodly  number  of  earnest  Christian  workers  have  been 
added  to  the  ranks  of  "  God's  soldiers."  The  Sunday-school,  with  Mr.  L. 
U.  Cole  for  superintendent,  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.  The  library  con- 
taines  about  500  volumes. 

A  partial  list  of  the  names  of  the  original  members  of  the  Methodist 
church:  Betsey  Fogg,  Insley  Bean,  Benjamin  Bean,  John  L.  Dustin, 
Ruth  Peabody.  Arvilla  Hutchinson,  May  Hutchinson,  Samuel  G.  Crafts, 
Sarah  Crafts,  Moses  Bobbins,  Delindy  Dustin,  Arvilla  Eastman,  Samuel 
Farrington  and  wife,  Lydia  Cushman,  Adaline  Abbott.  Stephen  Abbott, 
Soloman  J.  Hayward,  Sallie  Bean,  Sophia  Bean,  Rhoda  Bean,  John  Pea- 
body. 

The  present  church  building  is  a  "  union  building,"  but  for  many  years 
has  been  occupied  by  Methodist  preachers.  The  building  was  erected  in 
1 856,  at  an  expense  of  about  s2, 200.  It  has  since  been  repaired ,  and  is  now  in 
a  comfortable  condition.  The  Methodist  society  owns  a  small  house  and  lot, 
the  probable  value  of  which  is  $500.  The  union  church  was  dedicated  early 
in  the  month  of  August  in  1856.  The  five  denominations  interested  were 
each  represented  on  this  occasion  by  a  clergyman  who  participated  in  the 
exercises.  The  dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  K.  Chase,  of 
Rumney,  a  Calvinistic  Baptist  minister. 

Baptists. — Somewhere  about  the  year  L838  a  Calvinistic  Baptist  society 
was  organized,  and  quite  a  goodly  number  of  members  obtained.  Rev. 
Leonard  Kingsbury,  father  of  Luther  Kingsbury,  now  residing  in  town, 
was  for  a  time  pastor.  The  meetings  at  this  time  were  held  in  school- 
houses  or  in  barns — in  the  latter  place  on  special  occasions.  Rev.  H.  I. 
Campbell  and  Abram  Bedel  were  also  among  the  latter  preachers  for  this 
denomination.  Among  the  original  members  of  this  church  were  Addison 
Hamlin  and  wife,  Whipple  Willard  and  wife,  Nathan  Bickford  and  wife, 
Ormando  Laryand  wife,  Joshua  Parker  and  wife,  James  M.  Phipps,  Dorcas 
Phipps,  Ransom  Twitchel,  Cyrus  Twitchel.  In  about  the  year  L843  the 
Free  Will  Baptists  organized  a  society  with  Rev.  Elijah  Griffin  as  pastor. 


S-tl  History  of  Coos  County. 

The  society  was  never  large,  and  continued  their  organization  only  a  few- 
years.  Philip  Wight,  an  uncle  of  Isaac  Wight  now  residing  in  Dummer, 
was  at  one  time  pastor  of  this  church. 

Civil  War. — The  true  principle  of  patriotism  was  exemplified  by  those 
sons  of  the  American  Union  who  volunteered  their  services  and  courage- 
ously fought  its  battles  with  faces  steadfastly  turned  toward  its  foes,  and 
who  braved  every  danger,  not  from  hopes  of  preferment,  but  that  the  tri- 
colored  flag  of  red,  white  and  blue  should  forever  be  unfurled  from  the 
nation's  capitol. 

When  the  President's  call  for  300,000  men  was  made  in  the  fall  of  1863, 
the  quota  for  the  town  of  Milan  was  ten.  When  the  time  was  nearly  up 
the  selectmen  made  preparations  to  obtain  substitutes  from  other  towns, 
but  they  were  forestalled  by  this  circumstance.  On  the  Saturday  evening 
previous  to  the  Monday,  the  day  they  were  to  put  their  plans  into  action, 
ten  young  men,  or  rather  boys,  met  at  a  blacksmith's  shop  near  "  Elling- 
wood's  Hotel,"  and,  with  closed  doors  and  extinguished  lights,  they  all, 
then  and  there,  agreed  to  volunteer,  and  themselves  fill  the  town's  quota. 
These  young  men  were  Sylvester  Newell,  Samuel  Ordway,  Nathaniel  P. 
Ordway,  John  L.  Ordway,  Walter  H.  Evans,  James  Pettengill.  George  L. 
Vincent,  Charles  H.  Hamlin,  Charles  Ellingwood,  and  Henry  F.  Paine. 
They  were  schoolmates,  and  such  friends  as  young  men  usually  are  who 
grow  to  manhood  together  in  a  country  town.  Their  determination  was 
soon  made  known  to  the  selectmen,  and,  accompanied  by  two  of  them,  the 
embryo  soldiers  started  for  Lebanon.  No  attempt  will  be  made  to  describe 
the  good  times  these  "boys"  had  en  route,  but  they  arrived  in  season, 
sought  the  enlisting  officer  the  first  night,  and  were  told  to  be  on  hand  the 
next  morning.  Bright  and  early  all,  except  Henry  F.  Paine,  who  was  too 
ill,  presented  themselves  at  the  enlisting  office,  were  examined  and  enlisted, 
given  a  nine  days'  furlough,  and  went  home  to  prepare  for — they  knew 
not  what.  They  reported  at  the  proper  time,  were  sent  to  Concord,  being 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  while  on  the  way,  and,  as  recruits 
at  that  time  were  mostly  drafted  men  or  substitutes,  they,  being  volun- 
teers, were  chosen  to  act  as  guard  while  in  camp,  and  also  allowed  to  visit 
the  city  when  they  wished.  They  had  their  choice  of  joining  the  Sixth, 
Ninth,  or  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  regiments:  they  chose  the  Ninth,  and 
with,  about  500  other  men  started  to  join  their  respective  regiments,  and 
had  the  honor  of  being  placed  on  guard  on  the  journey.  After  their  arrival 
at  Paris,  Ky.,  the  headquarters  of  the  Ninth,  they  were  assigned  to  Com- 
pany E.  then  performing  guard  duty  at  Kizer's  Station  on  the  railroad  from 
Paris  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  It  was  here  that  the  nine  Milan  boys  first  re- 
ceived instruction  in  military  manoeuvres  and  tactics.  They  remained  for 
a  month,  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  to  join  the 
Ninth  corps  under  Burnside.    On  this  march  they  were  first  convinced  that 


Town  of  Milan.  8  t5 


it  was  not  all  fun  to  be  a  soldier.  After  marching  a  few  days  they  came 
to  camp, — Nelson,  Ky., — where  they  found  the  Six!  h  New  Hampshire,  and 
their  townsman  Aaron  White.  They  wenl  to  rest  that  night  without  any 
covering  but  a  blanket,  and  when  they  awoke  in  the  morning  they  had  an 
additional  covering  of  eight  inches  of  snow.  Here  the  first  death  in  this 
band  of  nine  occurred.  James  Pettengill  was  ill  and  removed  to  the  hos- 
pital; three  days  after  two  of  the  "boys"  went  to  see  him,  but  they  only 
found  the  dead  body  of  their  comrade.  Before  the  funeral  rites  were  per- 
formed, the  regiment  was  under  marching  orders,  and  Pettengill  was 
buried  by  strangers.  Such  are  the  vicissitudes  of  the  sol.  I  id's  life!  Their 
next  resting-place  was  Camp  Isabella,  Ky.  Here  Charles  Ell ing wood  was 
taken  sick,  and  had  to  be  left  behind,  and  when  his  companions  returned, 
four  or  five  weeks  later,  he,  too,  had  been  laid  in  a  soldier's  grave,  far 
from  home  and  friends.  Nothing  of  importance  occurred  to  the  Milanites 
between  this  and  Kuoxville,  except  the  usual  trials  and  privations  of  a  sol- 
dier, such  as  running  short  of  rations,  and  thinking  parched  corn  a  luxury, 
and  an  attack  one  dark  night  on  a  "reported  "  camp  of  rebels,  when  about 
fifty  selected  men,  three  of  whom  were  "Milan  boys,"  surrounded  a  sup- 
posed rebel  camp,  and  captured  two  old  men  who  were  watching  fires  to 
keep  them  from  spreading.  As  soon  as  the  regiment  reached  Knoxville, 
the  Ninth  corps  was  ordered  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  then  near 
Washington,  which  they  did  in  season  to  be  partakers  in  General  Grant's 
famous  campaign  "On  to  Richmond." 

The  first  battle  in  which  the  Milan  boys  were  fairly  engaged  was  that 
of  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  There,  on  the  12th  of  May,  they  received 
their  first  baptism  by  fire.  In  this  engagement  Walter  H.  Evans  had  one 
heel  shot  off;  Samuel  Ordway  received  a  very  severe  wound;  John  L. 
Ordway  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  and  in  the  foot,  lived  to  reach  his 
home,  and  died  among  his  friends.  On  the  18th  of  May  the  regiment  sup- 
ported the  "Irish  Brigade"  in  a  charge,  and  here  Charles  H.  Hamlin  and 
Sylvester  Newell  were  wounded.  There  were  now  only  two  of  the  "nine" 
left  able  for  duty— Nathaniel  P.  Ordway  and  George  L.  Vincent.  At  the 
battle  of  North  Anna  River,  George  L.  Vincent  was  slightly  wounded;  he 
remained  with  his  regiment,  but  was  not  on  duty;  Nathaniel  P.  Ordway, 
the  only  Milan  boy  then  able  to  carry  a  musket,  did  good  and  efficient 
service.  Some  time  in  June,  Vincent  reported  for  duty,  was  with  his  regi- 
ment until  two  days  before  Burnside's  mine  was  sprung,  when  he  was 
detailed  for  duty  in  the  quartermaster's  department,  and  continued  there 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Nathaniel  P.  Ordway  was  now  again  alone,  but  when  the  mine  was 
sprung  he  was  wounded,  and  there  was  not  a  Milan  boy  left  in  the  regi- 
ment. In  the  fall  Walter  H.  Evans  and  Charles  H.  Hamlin  returned  to 
duty,  and,  in  one  of  the  battles  for  the  possession  of  the  Weldon  railroad, 


846  History  of  Coos  County. 

Hamlin  was  again  wounded,  and  did  not  afterwards  rejoin  his  regiment. 
Walter  H.  Evans  was  promoted,  and,  at  his  discharge,  he  was  orderly- 
sergeant  of  his  company. 

Of  these  nine  school-mates,  brave  soldiers  and  loyal  citizens,  James 
Pettengill,  Charles  Ellenwood  and  John  L.  Ordway  died  in  service. 

S.  A.  Collins,  who  came  to  Milan  in  March,  1879,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
great  civil  war,  a  member  of  Company  K,  Twentieth  Maine  Infantry. 

Capt.  Lorenzo  P.  Adley,  who  held  every  important  office  in  his  town, 
and  was  representative  two  years,  served  nearly  five  years  in  the  Union 
army  in  the  Rebellion,  was  twice  promoted  on  the  field  for  bravery,  re- 
ceived severe  wounds  in  service,  and  rose  from  the  rank  of  a  private  to 
that  of  a  captain.  He  married  Ruth,  daughter  of  Moses  Hodgdon,  and  at 
his  death  left  a  legacy  of  untainted  honor,  bravery  and  integrity  to  his 
children. 

Col.  Welcome  A.  Crafts,  son  of  Samuel  Crafts,  was  a  native  of  Milan, 
and  enlisted  in  the  great  civil  war  as  a  private,  and  rose  rapidly  to  the  rank 
of  colonel.  He  is  a  brilliant  and  talented  man,  and  a  successful  lawyer  in 
Texas. 


CHAPTER  CIII. 

Physicians,  Past  and  Present— A  Model  Marriage  Certificate. 

PI/  VSICIANS.—  The  first  physician  to  settle  in  Milan  was  Dr.  Banfield, 
who  staid  but  a  short  time.  The  next  was  Dr.  Brown  who  died  very 
soon  after  moving  here. 
Dr.  Ozmon  M.  Twitchell  was  born  at  Bethel,  Maine,  June  29,  1819, 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  attending  district  school  two  terms  a  year.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  Goulds  academy  where  he  remained 
four  years.  He  then  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  Dartmouth  Medical 
school,  in  the  fall  of  1845,  and  afterwards,  at  Woodstock,  Vt.,  where  he 
graduated  in  June,  1846.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Milan 
the  same  year.  He  remained  at  Milan  thirteen  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Bethel.  While  at  Milan  he  was  twice  elected  to  the  legislature,  being  the 
first  representative  sent  by  Milan  alone.  He  served  ten  years  as  town 
clerk;  was  a  good  citizen  and  generally  well  liked  as  a  physician. 

Dr.  William  Berry  Lapham,  well-known  in  Maine  as  a  historian,  prac- 
ticed medicine  here  six  months,  during  Dr.  Twitchell's  absence. 

Don  A.  Robinson,  M.  D.,  was  born  at  West  Charleston,  Vt.,  February 


Town  of  Milan.  M7 


29,  1836.  He  was  the  oldest  son  of  Dr.  Elijah  Robinson,  a  prominent 
physician  of  his  town.  His  medical  studies  were  almost  entirely  under  the 
direction  of  his  father.  His  first  course  of  medical  lectures  was  commenced 
at  Dartmouth  Medical  school  in  L858.  After  completing  this  course  he 
taught  one  term  of  school  in  his  native  village.  The  following  spring  he 
became  a  student  of  Vermont  University  Medical  school,  where  he  gradu- 
ated among  the  first  of  his  class  in  June.  1859.  He  settled  in  Milan  in 
January,  1860,  succeeding  to  the  practice  of  Dr.  Twitchell.  It  is  remembered 
that  on  his  arrival  at  his  new  home  his  general  appearance  was  not  particu- 
larly reassuring  to  those  who  had  been  accustomed  to  old  and  tried  physi- 
cians, Pale-faced,  beardless,  and  not  quite  twenty- four  years  old,  he 
hardly  looked  equal  to  filling  the  position  of  pedagogue  to  a  back  district 
school.  But  the  young  doctor  had  come  to  stay,  and  while  quacks  and 
electricians  held  sway  for  a  few  months,  he  rapidly  grew  into  favor  among 
all  classes,  as  a  safe,  judicious,  and  skillful  physician,  and  soon  acquired  a 
large  practice.  In  the  winter  of  1865  he  was  offered  and  accepted  the 
position  of  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Fifth  Regt.  N.  H.  Vols.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  Milan,  but  only  to  remain  a  short  time,  his  health 
having  become  impaired  by  his  military  service.  He  afterward  located  in 
Vermont,  and  is  now  in  Canada. 

Dr.  Eichard  H.  Meserve  was  born  in  Limington,  Me.,  December  4,  1819. 
He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  R.  Peaslee,  attended  one  course  of  medical 
lectures  at  Dartmouth  Medical  school  and  two  courses  at  Brunswick  (Me.) 
Medical  school,  from  which  he  graduated  in  April,  1852.  He  enlisted  in 
the  Thirteenth  Maine  Infantry  (Col.  Dow)  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and  served 
until  the  spring  of  1862,  when  he  resigned  and  entered  the  First  Louisiana 
Regt.  Vols,  as  assistant  surgeon,  remaining  until  November  7,  1864,  when 
he  resigned  and  settled  in  Limerick,  Me.,  where  he  practiced  medicine 
until  1866.  He  then  moved  to  Milan,  bought  out  Dr.  Robinson's  practice, 
and  held  it  about  fourteen  years.     He  then  sold  out  to  Dr.  Holt. 

J.  D.  Holt,  M.  D.,  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Milan  in 
August,  1878,  remaining  here  until  November,  1882.  He  was  born  in  Rum- 
ford,  Me.,  August  15,  1847,  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  1870, 
with  Dr.  J.  K.  Kimball,  of  Pembroke,  N.  H.  After  three  years'  study  and 
a  course  of  lectures  at  Dartmouth  Medical  college,  and  teaching  several 
terms  of  school,  he  then  accepted  a  position  in  the  High  school  at  Oxford, 
Me.,  for  three  years.  In  1S77  he  entered  the  "Portland  (Me.)  School  for 
Medical  Instruction."  After  one  year's  course  in  this  school  he  took  his 
degree  of  M.  D.  at  Bowdoin  Medical  college  in  June,  1878. 

Dr.  Joseph  J.  Cobb  was  born  in  Stoneham,  Me.,  February  2,  L853. 
His  early  education  was  attained  in  the  common  schools,  supplemented  by 
attendance  at  Gorham  seminary  and  Fryeburg  academy.  Having  engaged 
in  teaching  and  become  deeply  interested  in  the  work,  and  wishing  to  take 


848  History  of  Coos  County. 


a  course  of  professional  training,  he  entered  the  Normal  school  at  Farm- 
ington,  Me.,  where  he  graduated  in  1877.  The  two  following  years  he  was 
principal  of  High  schools  in  Maine.  While  engaged  in  teaching  he  pursued 
the  study  of  medicine,  taking  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  the  Maine  Med- 
ical school  in  the  spring  of  1879.  He  attended  three  full  courses  of  lectures 
and  graduated  at  the  above  school  in  1881.  In  November,  18S2,  Dr.  Cobb 
succeeded  to  the  practice  of  Dr.  Holt  in  Milan,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  has  served 
as  superintending  school  committee  for  three  successive  years,  holding  the 
position  of  chairman  of  the  board  of  education  at  present.  In  the  practice 
of  his  profession  Dr.  Cobb  has  had  excellent  success  which  he  justly  merits. 
A  Novel  Marriage  Certificate. — In  the  town  records  of  Berlin  we  find 
the  following: — 

"State  of  New  Hampshire  Coos  ss 
"Be  it  remembered  that  at  Milan  in  the  State  and  County  aforesaid  on  the  eighteenth  day  of   November 
in  year  of  our  Lord  1838  Job  I.  Bean  and  Sally  H.  Coffin  the  former  of  Berlin  and  latter  of  Milan  State  and 
County  aforesaid  were  given  in  marriage.  "  F.  I.  Bean.  Justice  Peace 

"F.  I.  Bean,  Town  Clerk." 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


ADAMS   TWITCHEL. 

As  early  as  1765,  the  Tvvitchel  family  settled  in  Dublin,  N.  H.,  and  in 
1770,  when  there  were  only  twenty  three  voters  in  the  town,  there  were 
four  of  the  name.  A  circular,  bearing  date  April  12,  1776,  desiring  all 
males  above  twenty-one  years  of  age,  who  were  in  accord  with  the  "  hon- 
orable Continental  Congress,  to  sign  a  Declaration  of  the  same,"  was  as 
follows: — 

'•  We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  solemnly  engage  and  promise,  that  we  will,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power, 
at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  with  arms,  oppose  the  hostile  proceedings  of  the  British  fleets  and 
armies  against  the  United  American  Colonies." 

Of  the  fifty-three  names  subscribed,  that  of  Twitchel  was  prominent 
in  numbers:  Joseph  Twitchel,  Ebenezer  Twitchel,  Samuel  Twitchel,  Ste- 
phen Twitchel,  Abijah  Twitchel,  Gershom  Twitchel  and  Gershom  Twitchel, 
Jr.  Samuel  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Dr.  Amos  Twitchell,  for  so 
long  a  time  the  autocrat  of  surgery  in  New  England,  was  of  this  family. 
Abel  Twitchel,  an  early  inhabitant  of  Dublin,  N.  H.,  was  a  lineal  descend- 
ant in  the  sixth  degree  from  Joseph,  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  who  was  ad- 
mitted freeman  in  1634.  Joseph2  was  the  owner  of  100  acres  of  the  first 
grants  in  Sherborn.  Abel,  born  May  28,  1751,  in  Sherborn,  married  Sarah 
Adams,  of  the  noted  Adams  family  of  Massachusetts.  Their  son  Cyrus 
was  born  in  Dublin,  N.  H.,  March  13,  1788,  and  died  in  Milan,  September 


Ufa 


Town  of  Milan.  849 


19,  1873.  He  married  Eunice,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Belknap.  She  was 
a  native  of  Dublin,  born  March  8,  1788,  died  April  4.  L856.  Cyrus  was  a 
farmer,  and,  when  a  young  man,  he  went  to  the  then  new  town  of  Bethel, 
Me.,  and  located  on  a  piece  of  wild  land.  After  residing  there  for  several 
years  he  came  to  Milan,  and  settled  on  Milan  hill  in  1824,  and,  about  1828, 
he  removed  to  the  place  which  his  grandson,  ( lassius  M.  C.  Twitchel,  now 
occupies,  and  developed  a  fine  farm.  Few  of  those  who  live  in  cities, 
villages,  or  other  places  than  those  where  agricultural  pursuits  prevail, 
have  any  adequate  conception  of  the  immense  amount  of  hard  labor 
required  to  clear  off  the  primitive  forest  and  prepare  the  land  for  the  first 
crop;  nor  have  they  any  just  appreciation  of  the  degree  of  resolution,  en- 
ergy and  endurance  necessary  to  insure  continued  perseverance  in  subdu- 
ing one  piece  of  wild  land  after  another.  Cyrus  Twitchel  was  one  of  three 
authorized  to  call  the  first  town  meeting,  and  was  the  first  justice  of  the 
peace  appointed  in  Milan;  he  held  the  commission  for  many  years,  and 
was  generally  known  as  "Squire"  Twitchel.  His  politics  were  of  the 
old  Whig  party  and  Free-Soil.  A  strong  Abolitionist,  he  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  that  movement,  and  bold  in  avowing  his  opinions.  He  was  a 
deeply  devoted  Christian,  adhering  strictly  to  the  tenets  of  the  Calvinistic 
Baptist  church.  He  thought  it  wrong  to  speculate  in  land,  believing  that 
only  by  labor  of  the  hands  wealth  should  be  acquired,  and  that  the  fore- 
sight, judgment  and  keenness  of  one  man  should  not  be  turned  to  advan- 
tage against  another.  "  Squire  "  Twitchel  was  a  short,  "  thickset"  man, 
kind  hearted,  a  great  reader,  and  retained  his  faculties  to  a  remarkable 
age.  About  1838  Mr.  Twitchel  and  his  wife  made  their  home  with  their 
son  Adams,  and  here,  in  his  kindly  household,  old  age  came  upon  them, 
and  after  long,  useful  lives  they  passed  on  to  the  "home  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens."  Their  children  were  Hansom  (dec),  Gil- 
man  (dec),  Sullivan,  Cyrus  (dec),  Hannah  B.  (Mrs.  Nathan  Bickford), 
Adams,  Clayton  (dec),  Harvey  (dec.)  Ransom  Twitchel  possessed  great 
ability;  was  a  skillful  penman,  and  could  draft  a  legal  document  with  all 
the  force  and  accuracy  of  a  learned  lawyer;  excelled  in  surveying,  and,  in 
many  ways,  was  a  valuable  member  of  the  community. 

Adams  Twitchel  was  born  in  Bethel,  Me.,  January  27,  1812.  He  began 
his  active,  laborious  life  by  working  at  lumbering  when  only  fifteen 
years  of  age,  having  previously  learned  how  to  work  and  the  value  of 
good  honest  labor  by  assisting  his  father.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  pur- 
chased his  time  for  $100  and  went  to  the  upper  Penobscot  valley,  and 
hired  out  for  two  or  three  years.  Returning  to  Milan,  with  his  small  sav- 
ings he  purchased  the  piece  of  land  on  which  the  church  uoav  stands,  but 
soon  sold  it  and  bought  the  lot  where  he  now  resides  which  became  the 
nucleus  of  his  present  farm.  On  this  was  a  small  clearing  and  a  primitive 
log-house.     This  place  he  has  added  to  and  developed  until  about  300  fer- 


S50  History  of  Coos  County. 


tile  acres  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  a  pleasant  house,  with  an  intelligent 
family,  form  one  of  those  beautiful  homes  which  are  the  substratum  of 
New  England's  prosperity. 

M  v.  Twitchel  is  especially  favored  in  his  family  relations.  He  married, 
October  31,  1*43,  Lusylvia,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Lois  (Powers)  Bart- 
lett,  of  Bethel,  Me.,  a  descendant  of  two  New  England  families  of  consid- 
eration from  early  colonial  days.  She  is  a  lady  of  refinement  and  ability, 
who  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household.  Their  children  were 
Claudius  A.  (a  soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  late  civil  war,  whose  life  was 
given  to  his  country,);  Virtue  F. ;  Lois  A.;  Helen  Mar  (Mrs.  P.  G.  Evans) 
(dec),  who  left  one  child,  Helen  C. ;  Cassius  M.  C  (who  has  three  children, 
Mark  A.,  Sydney  and  Eva.) 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Twitchel  carried  on  lumbering  in  connection 
with  farming,  and  became  a  large  operator,  also  conducted  merchandising 
some  years,  and  gradually  came  to  have  extensive  dealings  in  buying  and 
selling  timber-lands.  In  1867  he  bought  the  "  Colebrook  Academy  grant  " 
of  10,000  acres,  soon  sold  it,  then  bought  with  George  R.  Eaton  18,000 
acres  in  Clarksville,  and  other  large  tracts  in  Upper  Coos  and  in  Canada. 
Beside  his  real  estate  operations  on  the  Connecticut  he  was  engaged  four 
years  in  lumbering  there,  and  for  ten  years,  until  he  closed  out  his  inter- 
ests, was  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  that  section.  Two  years  of 
this  time  Mrs.  Twitchel  was  in  Lancaster  for  the  purpose  of  giving  their 
children  the  educational  advantages  of  the  academy  of  that  place.  Since 
then  Mr.  Twitchel  has  devoted  himself  to  his  affairs  in  the  Androscoggin 
valley,  and  has  been  connected  with  many  important  matters  of  business, 
public  policy,  and  social  development. 

Originally  a  Free-Soil  Democrat,  he  became  a  Republican  when  that 
party  came  into  being.  Never  a  seeker  of  office  he  has  been  called  to  local 
and  responsible  positions.  He  was  chosen  captain  of  the  first  militia  com- 
pany formed  in  Milan  in  1S35.  When  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  rail- 
road was  "  dumping  "  about  fourteen  feet  in  depth  of  dirt  into  one  of  the 
public  highways  of  the  town  thus  blockading  it,  Mr.  Twitchel  was  elected 
selectman  to  fight  for  the  rights  of  the  town,  and  succeeded  in  getting  an 
under-pass  established,  much  to  the  gratification  of  his  townsmen.  He  has 
been  elected  railroad  commissioner,  but  declined  to  serve  as  his  private 
affairs  demanded  his  time;  represented  Milan  in  1876,  has  often  been 
referee  in  important  and  complex  cases,  and  always  has  demonstrated  his 
fairness  and  integrity,  and  shows,  to  quote  the  words  of  a  prominent 
official,  ''the  most  accurate  judgment  of  any  man  I  know."  He  is  liberal 
to  all  deserving  objects,  and  the  poor  and  friendless  remember  him  with 
thankfulness.  Although  not  a  member  of  any  religious  denomination,  he 
gives  generally  to  the  churches,  is  a  thoroughly  good  man,  and  practices 
more  than  he  preaches.     Some  years  since  a  clergyman  was  asked  what 


Town  of  Milan.  851 


he  thought  of  Mr.  Twitchel,  and  replied:  "Mr.  Twitchel  swears  sometimes, 
and  that  is  wrong;  he  gets  in  hay  on  Sunday  sometimes,  and  that  is  very 
bad;  but  I  would  gladly  exchange  half-a-dozen  of  my  church  members  for 
one  or  two  men  just  like  him." 

Mr.  Twitchel  is  entitled  to  much  credit  for  the  energy  he  has  displayed 
and  the  obstacles  he  has  overcome.  The  story  of  his  business  has  been 
briefly  told,  but  he  has  not  given  his  time  solely  to  business  matters.  When 
a  boy  he  studied  at  night  and  during  leisure  moments,  and  acquired  a  fair 
education;  when  a  young  man  he  was  advised  by  his  father  to  read  Ameri- 
can history,  that  he  might  become  an  intelligent  voter,  and  from  that  time 
he  has  been  a  great  reader  of  historical  works  and  other  solid  literature, 
and  thus  has  kept  himself  abreast  of  the  times,  and  thoroughly  informed 
on  the  topics  of  the  day.  His  business  life  has  been  crowned  with  success; 
he  has  been  untiring  in  his  energy,  careful  and  systematic  in  his  methods, 
and  honorable  in  his  dealings,  and  while  he  has  gained  wealth,  be  has  also 
won  that  greater  boon,  the  sincere  respect  and  esteem  of  those  among 
whom  his  life  has  been  passed.  Courteous  and  hospitable  to  strangers, 
generous  and  kind  in  all  his  family  relations,  modest  and  unobtrusive  in 
his  manners,  possessing  infinite  humor,  and  a  strong,  vigorous  intellect, 
Mr.  Twitchel  ranks  among  the  representative  self-made  men  of  Coos 
county,  and  the  history  of  Milan  would  be  incomplete  without  a  record  of 
his  life. 


JAMES   M.  PHIPPS. 

James  M.  Phipps,  son  of  Elisha  and  Dorcas  (Harriman)  Phipps,  was 
born  in  Chatham,  September  3,  1816,  and  moved  to  Milan  in  March,  1831. 
He  worked  at  home  on  the  farm  nearly  all  the  time  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  old.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  custom  boot  and  shoe-making, 
which  he  followed  for  fifteen  years,  employing  from  one  to  five  men.  In 
1852  he  went  into  trade  with  Adams  Twitchel,  doing  quite  an  extensive 
business  for  those  days  in  lumbering  in  connection  with  their  store.  They 
sold  out  in  the  spring  of  1856  to  Bickford,  Wheeler  &  Davis.  He  then 
gave  his  attention  to  farming  until  1868,  meantime  building  the  stand 
occupied  by  him  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1868  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother  Peter,  and  again  went  into  the  mercantile  business, 
which  he  followed  until  May,  1878.  After  that  time  he  attended  to  the 
improvement  of  his  farm.  He  married,  October  13,  1839,  Lydia  G.,  daugh- 
ter of  Amos  Wheeler,  of  Milan,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  only  one 
.of  whom  survives  him,  James  S.  Phipps,  who  occupies  the  home  farm, 
and  is  a  useful,  intelligent  and  valuable  citizen.  He  has  rendered  us  much 
service  in  preparing  this  history.  J.  M.  Phipps  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  for  forty-five  years;  his  last  commission  expiring  June,   1885. 


852  History  of  Coos  County. 


He  was  postmaster  from  1861  to  '64,  and  member  of  the  board  of  select- 
men of  Milan  for  1858-59,  1862,  1865-67,  and  was  a  member  elect  of  the 
legislature  of  1885,  His  death,  causing  the  first  vacancy  in  that  body, 
resulted  from  paralysis,  and  occurred  May  3,  1885. 

Mr.  Phipps  was  a  self-made,  upright,  honorable  man,  highly  esteemed 
by  all;  his  death  was  a  sad  loss  to  the  family  and  the  community  in  which 
he  lived.  He  was  made  a  member  of  Gorham  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in 
May,  1863,  and  of  North  Star  Chapter,  Lancaster,  in  April,  1874.  The 
funeral  services  were  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  Gorham  Lodge,  and 
the  long  procession  of  brethren,  relatives  and  friends  which  followed  his 
remains  to  their  last  resting  place,  gave  better  evidence  of  his  character 
and  worth  than  words  can  express. 


PETER  A.  G.  W.    PHIPPS. 

Peter  A.  G.  W.  Phipps,  born  in  Chatham,  Carroll  county,  April  21, 
L824,  was  the  son  of  Elijah  and  Dorcas  Phipps,  who  moved  to  Milan  about 
the  year  1831,  to  the  farm  where  Leonard  K.  Phipps  now  lives.  He 
married,  November  27,  18-15,  Abby  W.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Leonard  Kings- 
bury, of  Milan,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. When  about  twenty-one  he  had  a  very  severe  attack  of  "lung 
fever"  from  which  he  never  fully  recovered.     He  died  November  27,  1880. 

Mr.  Phipps  held  all  the  offices  in  town  and  represented  it  in  the  legisla- 
ture of  1877.  He  was  ver}*-  genial  in  his  manners  and  had  many  warm 
friends.  A  distinguished  citizen  of  this  state  wrote  on  hearing  of  his 
death:  "  For  many  years  I  have  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  and  friendship 
of  Mr.  Phipps.  I  have  had  continued  business  relations  with  him,  and 
have  been  frequently  associated  with  him  in  public,  political  and  social 
affairs,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  me  to  reflect  on  the  unvarying  courtesy, 
patience  and  fidelity  always  displayed  by  him  in  all  these  relations.  As 
the  column  moves  on  its  members  decrease  with  accelerating  rapidity.  Each 
year  chronicles  to  me  the  loss  of  good  men  and  kind  friends  with  whom  it 
has  been  my  fortune  to  march,  and  I  can  truly  say  that  no  nobler  or  kinder 
heart  has  ceased  its  action — among  my  associates— than  that  of  our  good 
friend,  who  has  gone  to  his  rest  crowned  with  the  memories  of  an  honor- 
able  and  useful  life."  Mr.  Phipps  was  made  a  Mason  in  Gorham  Lodge  in 
May,  Ls63,  received  the  second  degree  of  Royal  Arch  Masonry  in  April, 
1 874 ;  was  a  member  of  North  Star  Chapter  at  Lancaster,  N.  H.  His 
funeral  services  were  conducted  by  Gorham  Lodge,  F.  A.  &  A.  M.,  and 
were  largely  attended. 


Town  of  Milan.  853 


HON.  LIBERTY  H.  HUTCHINSON. 

Hon.  Liberty  Haven  Hutchinson,  son  of  Edwin  F.  and  Elizabeth  (Flint) 
Hutchinson,  was  born  in  Milan,  March  1,  1*44.  He  passed  his  early  life 
upon  his  father's  farm,  and  had  plenty  of  hard  work.  He  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  his  intellectual  career  in  the  little  district  school  of  his  native 
town,  entered  Lancaster  academy  in  1864,  graduated  in  1867,  then  was  a 
student  for  three  years  at  Bates  college,  Lewiston,  Me.  To  meet  the  necessary 
expenses  for  his  academic  and  collegiate  education  he  taught  school  winters 
and  labored  summers.  In  March,  1870,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law, 
and  such  was  his  application  and  special  aptitude  for  legal  lore,  that  at  the 
September  term  of  court  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  the  firm  of  which 
he  was  afterward  a  prominent  member  was  said  to  be  the  strongest  before 
the  bar  of  Androscoggin  county.  He  served  in  both  branches  of  the  city 
council  of  Lewiston;  was  three  times  called  to  represent  that  city  in  the 
Maine  legislature,  and  on  his  third  election  was  unanimously  chosen  speaker 
of  the  House  Of  Representatives,  and  held  that  position  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  September  8,  1882. 


DIMMER 


By  John  B.  Love.ioy. 


CHAPTER  CIV. 

Boundaries — Origin  of  Name — Products — Granted — Surveyed — Early  and  Later  Settlers — 
Inventory  of  Polls  and  Personal  Property,  1849. 

DIMMER  lies  in  the  easterly  part  of  Coos  county,  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Millsfield  and  Errol,  east  by  Cambridge,  south  by  Milan, 
\v<  sst  by  Stark  and  Odell,  and  has  an  area  of  23,  <  >40  acres.  This  town  was 
granted  March  8,  177:'.,  to  Mark  H.  Wentworth,  Nathaniel  A.  Haven  and 
others,  but  was  unoccupied  for  many  years.  The  principal  rivers  are  the 
Androscoggin  and  the  little  Ammonoosuc;  in  the  latter  are  the  Dummer 
or  Pontook  Falls. 

The  town  takes  its  name  from  William  Dummer,  lieut. -governor,  and 
acting  governor  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts- Bay  from  1716  to  1730. 
He  was  the  founder  of  the  oldest  academy  in  .Massachusetts,  and  many  edu- 
cated there  were  prominent  actors  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

Lumber  has  been  extensively  produced  from  the  heavily- wooded  lands, 
and  down  to  this  day  lumbering  is  the  chief  avocation.  In  1886  there  was 
manufactured  and  shipped  3,655,000  feet  of  dimension  lumber,  306,000 
clap  boa  ids.  544,000  shingles,  1,690.000  laths.  108,000  feet  of  hard-wood. 
During  the  same  year  there  was  landed  on  the  different  streams  1,771,000 
feet  of  spruce,  which  was  not  manufactured  here. 

The  town  of  Dummer,  surveyed  by  A.  Baker  in  1806,  is  laid  out  in 
square  form,  each  outline  measuring  2,100  rods,  running  nearly  north  and 
south,  east  and  west.  After  the  survey,  three  lots  were  marked  on  the 
plan  as  -'glebe  lots,"  three  lots  for  the  "first  settlers,"  three  for  the  "first 
ministers,"  and  three  for  the  benefit  of  schools.  Having  finished  the 
survey  the  proprietors  decided  to  open  a  settlement,  and  for  this  purpose 


Town  of  Dummer.  855 


employed  Beltare  Daniels,  who  commenced  operations  shortly  after,  by 
building  a  log-house  on  the  height  of  land  between  the  Ammonoosuc  and 
Androscoggin  rivers  two  miles  from  each  stream;  clearing  twenty  acres 
of  land,  and  building  a  barn  forty  by  sixty  feet  which  still  stands,  and 
although  the  pine  boards  which  cover  the  walls  are  worn  quite  thin,  the 
wrought-iron  door  hinges  made  in  Portsmouth,  each  weighing  three  and 
one-half  pounds,  remain  in  good  order.  Later  a  saw  and  grist-mill  was 
built  on  the  Androscoggin.  This  was  built  on  the  bank  of  the  stream, 
had  a  canal  cut  more  than  100  rods  up  the  river  to  supply  water;  yet,  after 
$6,000  had  been  spent,  owing  to  an  undiscovered  ledge  below  the  mill 
which  prevented  the  water  from  running  away  from  the  wheel,  the  whole 
was  abandoned,  and  Daniels  and  his  laborers  returned  to  Portsmouth. 

The  census  of  1810  shows  only  seven  inhabitants.  In  the  spring  of  1812, 
William  Leighton,  a  workman  of  Daniels,  a  native  of  Farming-ton.  decided 
to  settle  in  Dummer.  Leaving  two  daughters,  Sarah  and  Phebe,  with 
relatives,  he,  with  Mary  his  wife,  two  daughters.  Mercy  and  Betsey,  three 
sons.  Joseph,  Thomas,  and  William  a  babe  six  months  old,  started  for 
Dummer  in  the  winter  of  1811-12,  and  arrived  early  in  March.  1812.  Much 
might  be  said  of  the  hardships  that  followed;  how,  during  the  next  long 
year,  they  slept  with  doors  securely  barred,  and  guns  within  easy  reach, 
fearful  of  the  roving  bands  of  Indians,  and  howling  wolves,  and  how  they 
sheltered  and  fed  a  lone  squaw  one  dark  night,  to  learn  afterwards  that 
they  had  entertained  a  disguised  English  spy. 

During  the  next  three  years  several  other  families  moved  in.  Oapt. 
Charles  Bickford,  from  Barnstead,  his  wife  Betsey  Durgin:  two  boys,  John 
and  Nathan,  and  four  daughters,  Rebecca,  Betsey,  Polly,  and  Sophia,  arriv- 
ing March  1,  1814.  Two  other  daughters,  Esther  and  "  Tempie,"  came  a 
year  later.  James  H.  Horn,  his  wife  and  two  boys,  William  and  Ezra, 
came  from  Farmington.  Dr.  Cummins,  George  Cook.  Curtis  Cove,  Parker, 
and  others  from  different  places.  Hezekiah  Cloutman,  of  Rochester,  was  the 
first  man  that  bought  land  on  which  to  settle.  He  boughtoneof  the  glebe 
lots,  which  was  conveyed  by  James  Sheafe,  John  Pierce,  and  Jeremiah 
Mason,  Esquires,  agents  for  St.  John's  church,  of  Portsmouth,  by  deed 
dated  December  10,  L810.  Cloutman's  wife  refusing  to  leave  Rochester,  he 
built  a  camp  on  his  land,  and  lived  alone  several  years,  spending  most  of 
his  time  in  hunting  and  fishing.  In  18:33  he  conveyed  his  land  to  William 
Lovejoy,  with  whom  he  lived  when  not  in  the  woods.  On  the  8th  day  of 
July,  1837,  while  returning  from  a  hunting-tour  to  the  head-waters  of  the 
Androscoggin,  and  when  but  a  short  distance  below  the  settlements  in 
Errol,  he  was  drowned. 

In  1820  the  number  of  inhabitants  was  twenty-seven.  Peter  Leavitt 
and  Daniel  Forbush  settled  on  the  Ammonoosuc,  reared  large  families, 
and  died  of  old  age.     Francis  Lang  erectpd  a  grist-mill  on  Phillip's  river, 


856  History  of  Coos  County. 

which  he  owned  and  run  several  years.  Joseph  Leighton  built  a  saw-mill 
on  the  same  stream.  In  1826  Charles  Newell  settled  on  the  Androscoggin 
three  miles  above  the  old  Daniels' mill, conveying  his  wife  and  children  up 
the  river  in  a  boat  (made  by  hollowing  out  a  pine  log)  when  the  ice  was  so 
strong  that  his  boy  was  obliged  to  sit  in  the  bow  and  break  the  ice.  After 
suffering  for  food  and  clothing  nearly  two  years,  they  removed  to  Piercy. 
In  the  meantime  emigration  had  advanced  up  the  Androscoggin  into  Dum- 
mer.  Jotham  S.  Lary  was  one  of  the  first  to  locate.  Aaron  Wight 
settled  near  the  east  side  of  the  town.  William  Sessions  took  Newell's 
place;  and  by  1840  settlements  had  been  made  in  each  section  of  the 
town . 

Peter  Leavitt  and  his  wife,  Mehitable  Marden,  were  among  the  first 
settlers,  locating  on  the  Ammonoosuc,  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
town,  about  1816.  His  family  of  four  boys  and  seven  girls  (except  two 
who  died  young)  remained  in  Coos  county  and  became  useful  members  of 
society.  In  the  winter  of  1822,  Edmund,  then  in  his  seventeenth  year, 
was  found  frozen  to  death  on  the  Androscoggin,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 
stream  which  bears  his  name.  He  and  William  Horn  started  one  cold  win- 
ter day,  quite  thinly  clad,  to  visit  a  lumber  camp  on  Mollocket  brook. 
After  reaching  the  Androscoggin  they  wandered  down  to  the  Thompson 
"rips"  on  the  ice,  without  seeing  any  road  which  would  lead  to  the  camp. 
They  had  already  suffered  much  from  cold.  Their  wet  feet  had  begun  to 
freeze,  and  they  turned  to  retrace  their  steps.  Leavitt  became  exhausted  and 
could  go  no  further.  Horn  pressed  on,  reached  a  house  on  Milan  hill  with 
feet  frozen  badly,  and  just  able  to  give  the  information  which  started  a 
relief  party  for  his  comrade,  who  was  found  dead  as  above  stated. 

William  Lovejoy  was  born  in  Conway  October  13,  1796.  When  a 
young  man  he  located  in  Dummer;  cleared  a  small  farm  adjoining  Capt. 
Charles  Bickford's.  one  mile  from  the  Androscoggin  river.  He  married, 
January  29,  1822,  Rebeckah,  widow  of  Russel  Hodgdon,  and  third  daughter 
of  Capt.  Bickford.  In  1833  Hezekiah  Cloutman  conveyed  his  place  to  Mr. 
Lovejoy,  and  he  lived  there  until  his  death,  June  22,  1875.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lovejoy  were  the  first  persons  married  in  Dummer,  and  the  next  four 
couples  were  married  by  him.  Although  a  man  who  labored  hard,  he 
found  time  to  read,  keeping  well  posted  in  the  affairs  of  the  country  and 
late;  and  he  was  deepty  interested  in  education  and  general  improve- 
ment. He  held  many  town  offices,  was  selectman  and  justice  of  the  peace. 
Mis.  Rebeckah  Lovejoy,  the  oldest  person  now  living  in  Dummer,  was 
born  in  Barnstead,  January  17,  1798.  When  she  was  fourteen,  her  father 
moved  to  Dummer,  where  she  became  used  to  hardships  and  privations;  but 
there  were  many  things  connected  with  her  new  home  calculated  to  make 
it  romantic  and  pleasant.  She  took  delight  in  watching  the  Indians  who 
often  came  down  the  river  in  birch  canoes  on  their  way  to  market  to  dis- 


Town  of  Dummer.  sr>7 


pose  of  their  furs;  to  catch  the  speckled  trout;  and  to  ride  her  father's 
horse  to  the  store  at  Northumberland,  sixteen  miles  distant,  through  an 
almost  unsettled  country;  although  these  might  not  have  been  enjoyed  by 
others  less  fearless  and  strong. 

Possessed  of  strong  constitutions,  these  pioneers  endured  privations  and 
performed  feats,  the  recital  of  which  would  sound  like  fiction.  While  the 
men  made  salts  and  maple-sugar,  the  women  and  children  caught  fish  and 
gathered  bark  from  the  slippery-elm  trees.  On  one  occasion  Mrs.  Horn 
and  Mrs.  Leighton  drove  a  team  loaded  with  this  bark  to  Portsmouth, 
where  they  exchanged  it  for  goods.  For  several  years  the  nearest  store 
was  at  Northumberland,  and  it  was  common  for  women  to  ride  there  on 
horseback  and  bring  large  loads  back.  Of  all  the  early  settlers  none,  prob- 
ably, fared  worse  than  Charles  Newell.  At  one  time  he  lived  five  miles 
from  neighbors.  One  day  his  son,  aged  five  years,  was  taken  suddenly  ill. 
After  giving  such  remedies  as  they  had,  Mr.  Newell  started  for  help.  On 
reaching  the  Ammonoosuc  he  found  the  bridge  had  been  carried  away,  and 
the  darkness  was  so  intense  he  could  not  see  across  the  stream.  After 
calling  repeatedly,  he  succeeded  in  making  his  neighbor  hear,  who,  after 
the  storm  had  abated  sufficiently  to  make  it  possible  to  follow  the  path, 
sent  his  boy  a  distance  of  four  miles  after  Mrs.  Horn.  On  learning  the 
situation,  Mr.  Horn  and  his  wife  started  on  snow-shoes.  Crossing  the 
river  on  a  raft,  they  reached  Mr.  Newell's  the  following  day  to  find  the  boy 
dead,  and  that  the  mother  with  her  own  hands  had  prepared  him  for 
burial. 

Daniel  Furbush,  born  in  Chelsea,  Mass.,  in  1701,  settled  in  Dummer 
when  many  of  the  best  farms  of  to-day  were  an  unbroken  forest.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  was  Nancy  Grapes,  the  second,  Betsey, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Leighton.  Mr.  Furbush  had  eight  boys 
and  four  girls,  six  of  whom  and  twenty  grandchildren,  now  live  in  Dum- 
mer. Since  1840  the  name  has  been  changed  to  Forbush.  John  M.  Bick- 
ford,  who  has  always  lived  in  town,  was  born  in  Dummer  July  12,  1818; 
married,  October  13, 1839,  Catharine,  oldest  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Nancy 
Furbush.  Daniel  Forbush,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Stark,  March  r>,  1826,  he  mar- 
ried Lydia,  second  daughter  of  William  Lovjoy,  and,  except  a  few  tempo- 
rary absences,  has  always  lived  in  Dummer.  His  industrious' habits  and 
peaceable  disposition  when  a  boy  earned  him  the  sobriquet  of  "deacon." 
His  wife  devotes  a  large  share  of  her  time  in  ministering  to  the  sick  and 
afflicted.  Jotham  S.  Lary,  Ransom  Twitchell,  Jonathan  Leavit,  Jonathan 
Nichols,  George  W.  Forbush,  Clayton  Twitchell,  and  many  others  with 
their  estimable  wives  will  long  be  remembered  as  industrious  and  respect- 
able citizens  of  Dummer. 

John  B.  Lovejoy,  son  of  William  and  Rebeckah  Lovejoy,  was  born  in 
Dummer  December  5,  1830.     He  has  always  lived  here  except  while  in  the 

56 


858  History  of  Coos  County. 

army  from  August  15,  1862,  to  October  6,  18(54.  Occupations,  farming, 
lumbering-  and  book  agent.  [Mr.  Lovejoy  has  often  been  called  to  till 
responsible  positions  in  his  native  town,  and  has  performed  the  duties  of 
the  several  offices  with  scholarly  nicety,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
townsmen.  He  is  a  gentleman  in  all  his  instincts;  and,  in  the  language  of 
a  friend,  "He  is  truly  one  of  nature's  noblemen." — Editor.] 

Thomas  Wentworth,  of  Conway,  came  to  Dummer  in  1847,  married 
Melissa  Sessions.  He  was  one  of  the  first  selectmen  of  the  town.  About 
L849  bis  three  brothers,  Isaiah  F.,  Richard  0..  and  Ephraim  F.,  located 
here,  settling  at  Newell  bay.  The  "veteran  pioneer,"  William  Sessions, 
settled  in  Dummer  in  1843,  and  cleared  two  farms;  one,  at  Newell  bay,  the 
other,  on  Bay  hill,  where  he  carried  boards  on  his  back  a  mile  and  a  half 
to  build  his  house. 

John  R.  Briggs,  a  native  of  Paris,  Me.,  emigrated  from  Woodstock, 
Me.,  to  Milan  in  the  spring  of  1843,  and,  in  October  of  the  same  year, 
moved  to  Dummer.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature  of  1851, 
and  was  its  first  representative.  Four  of  his  sons  and  two  grandsons 
served  in  the  great  civil  war.  Alfred  H.  and  Luther  (sons  of  John  R. 
Briggs)  enlisted  September  10,  1861,  in  the  10th  Maine  Infantry,  served 
nearly  two  years,  were  discharged  May  8,  1863,  enlisted  the  second  time  in 
the  7th  Maine  Battery,  December  22,  18G3,  and  were  discharged  June,  1865. 

Horace  Chandler  went  during  the  Rebellion  as  a  substitute  from 
Dummer.  He  served  three  months  lacking  three  days.  He  was  in  the 
action  at  Chapin's  Farm,  Va.,  where  there  were  but  two  others  surviving 
of  his  company  when  the  action  was  over.     He  resides  in  Berlin. 

Leonard  E.  Dunn  came  here  about  1866.  He  was  the  trusted  agent  of 
Coe  &  Pingree  (lumber  dealers)  for  many  years,  and  paid  out  large  sums 
of  money  in  the  lumbering  business,  which  gave  employment  to  many, 
and  added  to  the  material  wealth  of  the  town.  He  was  an  imnulsive, 
energetic  man,  liberal  to  all  objects  he  deemed  worthy.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ellen  Chandler,  daughter  of  John  Chandler  an  early 
settler,  is  much  interested  in  the  Sunday  school,  giving  both  time  and 
money  to  it.     Mr.  Dunn  died  September,  1884. 

Inventory  of  Polls  and  Personal  Property,  1849. — Joseph  Leighton, 
one  poll,  400  acres  of  land,  mills,  value  $300,  stock  in  trade  $700,  twenty 
neat  cattle  over  eighteen  months  old,  twenty-seven  sheep.  Barker  Bur- 
bank.  s;,<  in  stock  in  trade.  William  Leighton,  300  acres  of  land,  eleven 
neat  cattle,  twenty-one  sheep.  William  Leighton,  Jr.,  one  poll,  fifty  acres 
of  land,  five  neat  cattle,  six  sheep.  Ezra  Horn,  one  poll,  100  acres  of  land, 
three  horses,  six  neat  cattle,  seventeen  sheep.  John  Hodgdon,  one  poll, 
twenty  five  acres  of  land,  one  horse,  two  neat  cattle,  three  sheep.  Lorenzo 
Wentworth,  one  poll,  two  neat  cattle.  Jonathan  Leavitt,  one  poll,  seventy- 
five  acres  of  land,  one  neat  cattle,  nine  sheep.     Hepzibar  Leavitt,  100  acres 


Town  of  Dummer.  859 


of  land,  nineteen  sheep.  Jonathan  Nichols,  one  poll,  one  horse,  five  neat 
cattle,  fifteen  sheep.  John  M.  Bickford,  one  poll,  102  acres  of  land,  five 
neatcattle,  thirteen  sheep.  George  Forbush,  one  poll,  fifty  acres  of  land, 
three  neat  cattle,  five  sheep.  Daniel  Forbush,  one  poll,  forty  acres  of 
land,  one  horse,  five  neat  cattle,  eighteen  sheep.  John  L.  Bickford,  one 
poll,  ten  acres  of  land,  two  neat  cattle.  Levi  Forbush,  one  poll.  Sullivan 
Leavitt,  one  poll.  William  Lovejoy,  one  poll,  100  acres  of  land,  one  horse, 
eight  neat  cattle,  eighteen  sheep.  Marinda  Leighton,  two  neat  cattle. 
Daniel  Forbush,  Jr.,  one  poll,  fifty  acres  of  land,  two  neat  cattle,  six  sheep. 
Jacob  Newell,  one  poll,  four  neat  cattle.  Daniel  Coffin,  one  poll,  100  acres 
of  land,  four  neat  cattle,  five  sheep.  Charles  Burk,  one  poll,  200  acres  of 
land,  five  neat  cattle,  twenty  sheep.  Jotham  S.  Lary,  one  poll,  200  acres 
■of  land,  seven  neat  cattle,  twelve  sheep.  Elijah  Griffin,  one  poll,  100 
acres  of  land,  one  neat  cattle.  Levi  York,  one  poll,  100  acres  of  land, ' 
one  neat  cattle,  eight  sheep.  Aaron  Wight,  one  poll,  200  acres  of  land, 
four  neat  cattle.  Thomas  Wentworth,  one  poll,  200  acres  of  land,  three 
neat  cattle.  Ephraim  Wentworth,  one  poll,  two  neat  cattle.  William 
Sessions,  one  poll,  100  acres  of  land,  one  neat  cattle.  George  W.  Phelps, 
one  poll,  100  acres  of  land,  one  neat  cattle.  Lowell  Coffin,  seventy- five 
acres  of  land. 


CHAPTER  CV. 


Petition  for  Incorporation — Civil  List:  Town  Clerks,  Treasurers,  Selectmen,  and   Representa- 
tives— Schools. 

IN  1848  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  legislature  asking  for  incorpora- 
tion, also  a  remonstrance.  The  first  was  favorably  considered  and  the 
town  was  incorporated,  the  act  being  approved  December  19,  L84:8. 
William  Lovejoy,  John  Hodgdon  and  Jotham  S.  Lary  were  authorized  by 
said  act  to  call  the  first  meeting,  which  was  held  on  the  20th  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1819,  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Jonathan  Leavitt.  Whole  number 
of  inhabitants  February  20,  1819,  151;  number  of  voters,  twenty-eight. 

Civil  List.— 1819,  John  Hodgdon,  clerk;  John  Hodgdon,  treasurer;  Joseph   Leighton,   Thomas   Went- 
worth, Aaron  Wight,  selectmen;  William  Lovejoy,  superintendent. 

1850.  John  Hodgdon,  clerk;  John  Hodgdon,  treasurer;  Joseph  Leighton,  William  Lovejoy,  Elijah  Grif- 
fin, selectmen. 

1851.  William  Lovejoy,  clerk;  William  Lovejoy,  treasurer;  Joseph  Leighton,  Ephraim  Forbush,  George 
H.  Leavitt,  selectmen. 

1852.  John  Hodgdon,  clerk;  John  R.  Briggs,  William  Lovejoy,  Isaac  C  Wight,  selectman. 

1853.  William  A.  Willis,  clerk;  William  Lovejoy,  treasurer;  William  Lovejoy,  Clayton  Twitchell,  Joseph 
Leighton,  selectmen. 


860  History  of  Coos  County. 

1854.  William  Lovejoy,  clerk;  William  Lovejoy,  treasurer;  Clayton  Twitchell,  Joseph  Leighton,  Jacob 
Ellingwood,  selectmen. 

1.855.  Clayton  Twitchell,  clerk;  Clayton  Twitchell,  treasurer;  Clayton  Twitchell,  John  M.  Bickford, 
Isaac  C.  Wight,  selectmen. 

1856.  Gilman  Twitchell.  clerk;  Gilman  Twitchell,  treasurer;  John  M.  Bickford,  Thomas  J.  Lary,  Abial 
Walker,  selectmen. 

1857.  William  A.  Willis,  clerk;  Elijah  Griffin,  treasurer;  Joseph  Leighton,  John  L.  Bickford,  William 
A.  Willis,   selectmen. 

1858.  William  A.  Willis,  clerk;  William  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  John  Chandler,  Bansom  Twitchell,  John  S. 
Bickford,  selectmen. 

1859.  William  A.  Willis,  clerk;  William  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  Gilman  Twitchell,  John  S.  Bickford,  Lo- 
renzo Jewett,  selectmen. 

L8  10.  William  A.  Willis,  clerk;  John  M.  Bickford,  treasurer;  Isaac  C.  Wight,  Alfred  N.  Twitchell,  John 
M.  Bickford,  selectmen. 

1861.  John  B.  Lovejoy,  clerk;  William  A.Willis,  treasurer;  John  M.  Bickford,  Joel  Emery,  Clayton 
Twitchell.  selectmen. 

1862.  Isaac  C.  Wight,  clerk;  William  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  Clayton  Twitchell,  Joel  Emery,  George  H. 
Leavitt,  selectmen. 

L863.  Gilman  Twitchell,  clerk;  John  H.  Chandler,  treasurer;  Clayton  Twitchell,  Alfred  N.  Twitchell,- 
Thomas  J.  Nichols,  selectmen. 

1864.  Rmsom  Twitchell,  clerk;  Gilman  Twitchell,  treasurer;  Isaac  C.  Wight,  John  H.  Chandler,  Henry 
Abbott,  selectmen. 

1865.  Rinsom  Twitchell,  clerk;  Carlton  W.  Muzzy,  treasurer;  Clayton  Twitchell,  John  M.  Bickford, 
Bansom  F.  Twitchell,  selectmen. 

1866.  Ransom  Twitchell,  clerk;  Carlton  W.  Muzzy,  treasurer;  Clayton  Twitchell,  John  M.  Bickfoixh 
John  B.  Lovejoy,  selectmen. 

1867.  Ransom  Twitchell,  clerk;  Carlton  W.  Muzzy,  treasurer;  John  M.  Bickford,  Lorenzo  Jewett,  Clayton 
Twitchell,  selectmen. 

1868.  Ransom  Twitchell,  clerk;  Carlton  W.  Muzzy,  treasurer;  William  A.  Willis,  Cyrus  E.  Bickford,  Clay- 
ton Twitchell,  selectmen. 

1869.  Ransom  Twitchell,  clerk;  John  H.  Chandler,  treasurer;  William  A.  Willis,  Cyrus  E.  Bickford,  Isaac 
('.  Wight,  selectmen. 

1870.  Ransom  Twitchell,  clerk;  John  H.  Chandler,  treasurer;  William  A.  Willis,  Isaac  C.  Wight,  Cyrus- 
E.  Bickford,  selectmen. 

1871.  Ransom  Twitchell,  clerk;  J.  H.  Chandler,  treasurer;  Clayton  Twitchel,  Charles  H.  Gates,  Ransom 
Smith,  selectmen. 

1872.  R.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  I.  C.  Wight,  J.  H.  Chandler,  John  B.  Lovejoy, 
selectmen. 

1873.  Carlton  W.  Muzzey,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  I.  C.  Wight,  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  Nelson  W.  Bean> 
selectmen. 

1874.  C.W.  Muzzey,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  I.  C.Wight,  George  W.  Blanchard,  T.  J.  Lary 
selectmen. 

1875.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  N.  W.  Bean,  C.  W.  Muzzey,  select- 
men. 

1876.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,    treasurer;  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  F.  J.  Lacy,  P.  L.  Goud,  selectmen. 

1877.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  I.  C.  Wight,  J.  D.  Carlton,  P.  L.  Goud,  selectmen. 

1878.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  I.  C.  Wight,  C.  N.  Bickford,  C.  W.  Muzzey,  select- 
men. 

1879.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  S.  B.  Coffin,  treasurer;  C.  N.  Bickford,  C.  W.  Muzzey,  N.  W.  Bean,  select- 
men. 

1880.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  treasurer;  C.  N.  Bickford.  G.  M.  Forbush,  N.  W.  Bean, 
selectmen. 

1881.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  treasurer;  C.  N.  Bickford.  N.  W.  Bean,  G.  S.  Gould,  selectmen. 

1882.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.   A.   Willis,    treasurer;  J.  B.   Lovejoy,   C.W.   Muzzey,   C.  N.   Bickford. 
ctmen. 

l*s:(.     T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.   Willis,   treasurer;  J.   B.  Lovejoy,  C.    W.  Muzzey,  Lorenzo  Jewettr 

s    lectlllell. 

L884.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  Walter  Philbrook,  L.  C.  Jewettr 
selectmen. 


Town  op  Dummer.  s»'.i 


1885.  T.  A.  Twitched,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  tri  asurer;  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  ('.  \V.  Muzzey,  N.  E.  Burnet,  select- 
men. 

1S86.  T.  A.  Twitchell,  clerk;  W.  A.  Willis,  treasurer;  J.  B.  Lovejoy,  C.  W.  Muzzey,  N.  E.  Burnet, 
selectmen. 

1887.  George  S.  Twitchell,  clerk;  John  B.  Lovejoy.  treasurer;  <  lharles  Emery,  Nelson  W.  Bean,  Frank  I. 
Twitchell.  selectmen. 

List  <>/  Namesof  Representatives  from  Dummer  while  Classed  with  Stark.  1851,  John  E.  Briggs;  1853, 
Ezra  Horn;  1S55,  John  R.  Briggs;  1857-59,  Rev.  Elijah  Griffiu;  1861  63,  Gilman  Twitchell;  1865  (IT.  John  M. 
Bickford;  1869-71,  Cyrus  E.  Bickford. 

Dummer  was  classed  with  Stark  for  the  election  of  representatives  till 
1873.  The  district  meeting  having  been  holden  in  Stark  the  preceding 
year,  the  duties  of  warning  the  meeting  devolved  upon  the  selectmen  of 
Dummer.  On  reaching  the  place  where  a  copy  of  the  warrant  was  usually 
posted  in  Stark,  they  found  a  copy  of  the  warrant  for  the  annual  town- 
meeting  already  posted,  containing  an  article  to  elect  a  representative; 
after  a  brief  consultation  they  returned,  and  inserted  an  article  in  the  war- 
rant for  the  town-meeting  in  Dummer  to  choose  a  representative.  The 
result  was  very  singular;  while  it  was  the  first  time  either  town  had  elected 
a  representative  independently,  it  was  the  first  time  that  a  Republican  had 
been  chosen  in  either  town  to  fill  the  office;  in  this  case  both  were  earnest 
Republicans. 

Representatives. — List  of  Representatives  sent  by  the  town  of  Dummer  alone. — 1873-74,  John  B.  Love- 
joy; 1875,  Charles  H.  Gates;  1876-78,  Isaac  C.  Wight;  1879-80,  William  A.  Willis.  Classed  Dummer,  Errol, 
Cambridge,  Wentworth's  Location,  Ac,  &c.     1882,  C.  N.  Bickford;  1886,  Nelson  W.  Bean. 

Schools. — It  w^as  nearly  twenty  years  after  the  first  settlement  in  Dum- 
mer that  the  first  school  was  organized.  Daniel  Furbush's  barn  served  for 
a  school-house,  and  here  Miss  Sophy  Bickford  diligently  performed  the 
duties  of  a  school-teacher  six  weeks  for  thirty-seven  and  one-half  cents  per 
week  and  board.  All  parties  were  so  well  pleased  with  this  school  that 
another  term  of  six  weeks  was  taught  by  the  same  teacher  the  following 
summer,  and  her  wages  raised  to  fifty  cents  per  week.  Another  term, 
two  years  later,  was  taught  by  Miss  Miranda  Hildreth,  and  from  that  time 
to  1S50  there  was  generally  one  short  term  each  year.  The  first  male 
teacher  was  Harwood  Pike.  Length  of  school  eight  weeks,  wages  of 
teacher  $10  per  month  and  board.  While  a  majority  were  in  favor  of  edu- 
cation, there  were  some  opposed  to  raising  money  to  pay  the  teachers, 
which  led  to  a  petition  to  the  legislature  for  incorporation. 

The  first  board  of  selectmen,  William  Lovejoy,  John  Hodgdon  and 
Jonathan  Leavitt,  divided  the  town  into  four  districts  to  be  known  as  Xos. 
1,  2,  3  and  4.  At  the  first  annual  meeting  March  13,  18-t9,  it  was  voted  to 
raise  §70  for  the  support  of  schools,  which  was  equal  to  ninety-three  and 
one-third  cents  for  each  scholar  between  the  ages  of  four  and  twenty  one 
years.  During  the  year  the  districts  organized  by  choosing  the  necessary 
officers,  but  failed  to  expend  the  school  money;  and,  in  1850,  only  $28  were 
assessed.     At  the  annual  school  meeting  in  1850,  of  district  Xo.  1,  it  was 


862  History  of  Coos  County. 

voted  to  raise  $130  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  school-house.  Ezra  Horn 
contracted  to  build  the  school-house,  and  the  location  being  made  by  the 
voters  of  the  district,  and  the  grounds  for  the  yard  prepared,  it  surprised 
a  majority  of  the  district  to  learn  that  Horn  was  erecting  the  house  nearly 
half  a  mile  from  the  location  agreed  upon.  This  so  enraged  a  portion 
of  the  inhabitants  that  they  petitioned  the  selectmen  to  divide  the  dis- 
trict. At  a  town  meeting  called  for  this  purpose  the  district  was  divided, 
each  part  to  have  the  tax  assessed  on  that  part.  By  this  movement  two 
school-houses  were  built  where  there  should  only  have  been  one,  and  two 
schools  maintained  where  one  would  have  been  much  better  for  the 
scholars. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting,  March,  1851,  the  town  voted  to  raise  $50 
for  the  support  of  schools;  in  1852,  875  were  raised,  which,  by  individuals 
contributing  board  and  fuel,  enabled  each  district  to  maintain  a  school. 
It  was  the  common  practice  for  each  family  to  board  the  teacher  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  scholars  sent  to  school,  and  furnish  fuel  the  same 
number  of  days.  William  A.  Willis  had  now  become  a  permanent  settler. 
Being  a  gifted  teacher,  and  deeply  interested  in  the  advancement  of  edu- 
cation, his  influence  had  a  beneficial  effect  on  the  schools.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  chairman  of  the  school  committee.  New  settlements,  remote  from 
school-houses,  made  it  necessary  to  re-district  the  town,  and,  at  a  meeting 
called  for  this  purpose,  held  on  the  6th  day  of  May,  1854,  a  committee  of 
seven  persons  was  chosen,  who  proceeded  to  divide  the  town  into  eight 
districts.  The  amount  raised  for  the  support  of  schools  was  gradually  in- 
creased till  it  reached  $200  in  1S68.  At  the  annual  meeting,  March,  1869, 
on  the  motion  of  Leonard  E.  Dunn,  it  was  voted  to  raise  $1,000,  beingabout 
$10  to  each  scholar. 

The  old  feud  that  grew  out  of  the  change  of  location  of  the  school-house 
in  district  No.  1  having  died  out,  the  original  lines  were  restored  in  1866, 
one  school-house  sold,  and  the  other  enlarged.  School-houses  had  been 
built  in  four  other  districts,  Nos.  4,  6,  7  and  8;  and,  in  1870,  there  being  an 
unexpended  balance  of  school-money,  $100  was  deemed  a  sufficient  sum  to 
raise.  From  1870  to  1887  there  have  not  been  more  than  $600  nor  less  than 
$500  raised  yearly  by  tax.  The  literary  fund,  railroad  tax  and  interest  on 
a  fund  derived  from  the  sale  of  school  lands  amount  to  about  $100  more. 

In  L879  a  movement  was  started  by  Isaac  C.  Wight,  Timothy  A. 
Twitchell,  Carlton  W.  Muzzey,  and  others  to  have  the  town  re-districted 
with  a  view  of  uniting  two  or  more  districts;  believing  that  fewer  schools 
and  longer  terms  would  more  than  offset  the  increased  distance  of  travel; 
consequently,  the  selectmen  and  school  committee  again  changed  the  dis- 
trict lines,  uniting  district  No.  9  with  No.  7,  and  forming  two  districts 
from  Nos.  1,  6  and  8.  During  the  next  three  years  commodious  houses 
were  built  in  each  of  the  three  districts  thus  formed,  and  usually  two  terms 


c&oc^c     &>.    fag  AS 


Town  of  Dummer.  863 


of  school  a  year  have  been  maintained  in  each  of  the  seven  (list  ricts.  Tinier 
the  new  law.  the  school  1m >a id  has  built  one  new  school-house  and  main- 
tained six  schools.     For  the  year  1886  the  entire  amount  of  scl I  revenue 

was  $628.44;  number  of  schools,  six;  average  length,  sixteen  weeks;  whole 
number  of  different  scholars  attending  school  not  less  than  two  weeks, 
122— boys  seventy-five,  girls  forty-seven:  not  attending  any  school,  live; 
number  of  scholars  attending  academies  and  not  registered  in  town,  three; 
amount  paid  teachers,  $540.35;  amount  paid  for  building,  repairing,  and 
furnishing  school-houses,  including  rent  of  school -room.  $688.81;  amount 
paid  school  board  for  services  for  schools,  $33;  for  buildings,  $24.85. 

Ministers. — Francis  Lang,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Dummer,  was  a 
Free-Will  Baptist,  and  preached  in  his  own  and  adjoining  towns.  Elijah 
Griffin  settled  on  one  of  the  first  ministers'  lots  before  the  town  was  incor- 
porated, and  moved  to  the  state  of  Maine  in  1863  or  L864.  He  was  an 
ordained  Free-Will  Baptist  minister,  and  highly  respected.  Although  there 
is  as  yet  no  church  edifice  in  Dummer,  the  inhabitants  are  a  Sabbath-loving 
people,  and  religious  services  are  held  in  school-houses  and  other  suitable 
places  for  public  worship.  During  the  winter  of  1880-81,  a  Sunday  school 
was  organized,  and  attended  by  seventy  to  one  hundred  pupils.  Isaac  C. 
Wight  was  superintendent. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


ISAAC   CARLTON  WIGHT. 

The  record  of  a  successful  and  useful  life  is  always  instructive.  The 
processes  and  influences  by  which  the  character  was  formed  and  strength- 
ened, the  efforts  put  forth  for  the  results  reached,  the  obstacles  met  and 
overcome,  are  valuable  lessons  to  the  young. 

Isaac  Carlton  Wight,  son  of  Aaron  and  Rebecca  (Carlton)  Wight,  was 
born  in  Milan,  December  8,  1830.  His  father,  Aaron  Wight,  was  a  native 
of  Dublin,  N.  H.,  born  1795,  son  of  Daniel  Wight,  of  Needham.  Mass., 
who  emigrated  to  New  Hampshire,  and,  in  1798,  became  a  resident  of 
Bethel,  Me.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  Aaron  enlisted  for  one  year  in  the 
War  of  1812,  serving  at  Lake  Champlain.  Having  been  honorably  dis- 
charged, he  enlisted  again  for  forty  days  at  Portland.  In  L822  he  came  to 
Paulsburg,  and  commenced  a  farm  in  the  wilderness.  On  this  farm  he 
raised  one  year  500  bushels  of  wheat.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the  town 
of  Milan,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  early  selectmen.  In  1814  he  moved 
to  Dummer,  and  again  commenced  a  farm.  This  was  four  miles  from 
any  highway.     He  aided  in  organizing  this  town,  and  was  on  the  first 


864  History  of  Coos  County. 


board  of  selectmen.  He  was  for  many  years  deacon  of  the  Free- Will  Bap- 
tist church  in  Milan  and  Dummer.  He  lived  a  consistent  Christian  life, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  whispering  with  his  last  breath 
"  God  is  good."  His  wife,  Rebecca  (Carlton)  Wight,  whom  he  married  in 
lsi'7,  the  first  marriage  in  Milan  on  the  river,  was  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
Carlton,  a  native  of  Boxford,  Mass.,  who  emigrated  to  Shelburne  about 
1  ~(J5,  married  Sarah  Messer,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  upon  the 
Conner  place,  where  Rebecca,  the  oldest  of  eight  children,  was  born  in 
1801.  In  her  young  days  she  supported  her  father  through  eleven  years 
of  illness,  and  during  the  time  acquired  sufficient  education  to  teach  school, 
receiving  her  first  certificate  from  Barker  Burbank.  She  taught  first  in 
Shelburne  (Col.  R.  I.  Burbank  being  among  her  pupils);  afterwards  in 
Shelburne  Addition  and  Milan.  To  Aaron  Wight  and  wife  Rebecca  were 
born  seven  children,  of  whom  Isaac  and  Sarah  are  now  living.  Mrs.  Wight's 
death  occurred  in  Dummer,  December  10,  1880,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 
She^was  a  devoted  daughter,  a  faithful,  loving  wife  and  mother,  and  a 
Christian  woman. 

Isaac  was  the  second  child  in  the  family,  and  the  only  boy.  He  was  four- 
teen years  old  when  his  father  moved  to  Dummer,  and  there  were  no 
schools  in  the  town.  Prior  to  this  he  had  attended  the  local  schools  in 
Milan;  afterwards  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  Berlin  or  Milan  to  attend  school, 
which  he  did  for  three  terms,  and  here,  working  for  his  board,  he  obtained 
his  last  school  education;  but  in  the  school  of  experience,  trial,  adversity, 
and  discouragement  he  labored  long  years,  and  deserves  great  praise  that 
by  his  own  exertions  he  so  manfully  overcome  the  obstacles,  hardships, 
and  deprivations,  and  stands  to-day  among  the  representative,  self-made 
men  of  Coos  county.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  owing  to  ill-health  in  the 
family,  the  burden  of  its  care  and  support  came  upon  him.  Two  of  his 
sisters,  who  were  ill  away  from  home,  returned,  and  died  after  a  lingering 
sickness  of  a  year.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  commenced  working  at 
lumbering,  receiving  $10  per  month.  When  nineteen  he  worked,  in  com- 
pany  with  Jotham  S.  Lary,  hauling  pine.  He  cut,  ''fitted,"  and  helped 
load  about  75,000  feet,— thus  earning  his  first  $50.  While  in  his  minority 
he  ''cleared  up"  a  farm  from  the  primeval  forest;  built  a  frame  barn, 
1:0x40  feet,  doing  the  work  himself;  buying  the  lumber  and  nails,  and 
working  out  in  the  winter  to  pay  for  them,  and  nailing  on  all  the  boards 
and  shingles  without  assistance.  This  laborious  work  was  accomplished 
by  the  young  man,  who  was  known  as  "Little  Ike  Wight,"  from  the  fact 
that  before  he  was  twenty-one  he  never  weighed  over  135  pounds,  although 
to-day  his  weight  is  L50,  and  his  height  "five  feet  ten."  For  two  haying- 
seasons  he  worked  at  Westbrook,  Me.,  where  he  first  received  $1  per  day. 
He  walked  the  distance  (about  100  miles)  in  three  days,  his  expenses  being 
less  than  fifty  cents  a  day.     After  haying  at  Westbrook,  he  walked  home 


Town  of  Dummer.  865 


and  cut  his  own  grass.  In  this  way  his  haying  season  was  from  six  to 
eight  weeks  in  length.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  bought  the  place  on 
which  his  father  had  lived  as  a  squatter  for  over  seven  yens  without  even 
a  permit.  Besides  purchasing  the  farm  he  paid  all  his  father's  debts;  and, 
at  the  age  of  twenty  two,  he  owned  the  farm,  some  stock,  and  owed  "  no 
man  anything." 

At  this  time  he  seemed  on  the  road  to  prosperity.  Little  did  he  dream 
of  the  misfortune  he  was  to  meet.  He  entered  into  company  with  three 
others  and  run  in  debt  to  the  amount  of  $3,000  for  wild  land  in  Dummer. 
Mr.  Wight  managed  to  pay  his  part,  one-fourth,  but  was  held  for  the 
payment  of  the  other  three-fourths,  his  partners  being  insolvent.  He  was 
sued,  all  his  property  attached,  sold  at  auction,  and  the  little  he  had  accu- 
mulated seemed  liable  to  be  lost.  At  this  critical  point  lie  was  not  dis- 
couraged, but  with  diligence  and  economy  provided  for  his  family,  and  by 
the  timely  assistance  of  Adam  Willis,  father  of  William  A.  Willis,  of 
Dummer.  and  D.  A.  Burnside,  of  Lancaster,  he  was  enabled  to  pay  for  the 
remainder  of  the  land,  and  received  a  deed  of  it.  The  earnest  endeavor, 
patient  industry,  and  perseverance,  of  Mr.  Wight  had  brought  him  good 
friends  and  help  in  his  hour  of  need.  At  the  age  of  twenty-nine  he 
married  Melissa,  daughter  of  Amos  E.  Cross,  of  Stark,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children.  During  the  diphtheria  scourge  which  prevailed  a  few  years 
later,  he  was  bereaved  of  his  beloved  little  family  by  that  disease,  and 
came  near  losing  his  own  life,  being  sick  nearly  six  months.  Sorrow  now 
seemed  to  almost  overwhelm  him;  with  two  sisters  ill,  father  and  mother 
out  of  health,  dependent  upon  hired  help,  doctors'  bills  to  pay.  badly  in 
debt,  and,  in  addition,  just  at  this  time,  when  leaving  home  was  an 
impossibility,  he  was  drafted  into  the  United  States  service,  and  had  a 
large  sum  to  pay  for  a  substitute.  Can  we  wonder  that  Mr.  Wight  was 
discouraged  now,  and  almost  ready  to  lay  down  his  burden  in  dispair  \ 
But  "the  darkest  hour  is  just  before  dawn,"  and  with  the  war  came 
inflated  prices;  timber  brought  large  sums  of  money,  and  from  one  winter's 
lumbering  he  was  able  to  pay  his  workmen  and  his  debts,  and  have  a 
surplus  in  hand.     Since  then  he  has  not  been  financially  troubled. 

January  1,  1865,  Mr.  Wight  married  Philantha  L.,  second  daughter  of 
Joseph  Howard,  of  Hanover,  Me.  They  have  eight  children:  Joseph  How- 
ard, Aaron  Carlton,  Rebecca  Carlton,  Adam  Willis,  Isaac  Henry,  Daniel 
Roberts,  Mary  Philantha  and  Alice  Iantha.  J.  Howard  and  A.  Carlton 
are  graduates  of  Maine  Wesleyan  seminary,  the  former  in  the  classical, 
the  latter  in  the  commercial  course. 

[Mrs.  Wight  is  a  descendant  in  the  fourth  generation  of  William 
Howard,  who  lived  in  Temple,  N.  H.  His  sons  were  Phineas,  Asa,  James, 
Nathaniel  and  William.  Phineas,  born  in  Temple  in  1765,  married  Leonia 
Powers,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  His  son  Joseph,  born  in  1809, 
married  Zeruiah  Roberts  (born  in  1812  died  in  L881),  and  died  aged  seventy- 


866  History  of  Coos  County. 

four.  The  first  American  ancestor  of  this  line  was  doubtless  Nathaniel, 
who  emigrated  from  Suffolk,  England,  to  Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1641.  He 
had  sons,  Nathaniel  and  William,  who  settled  in  Chelmsford,  and  were 
prominent  citizens  therefor  many  years.  Members  of  this  family  removed 
to  Hillsborough  county,  and  had  many  descendants.  Howard  is  the 
family  name  of  the  illustrious  House  of  Norfolk,  (England,)  and  derives  in 
the  male  line  from  William  Howard,  a  learned  and  reverend  judge  of  the 
reign  of  Edward  I.] 

Mr.  Wight  was  quite  a  hunter  in  his  youth,  and  killed  many  deer, 
bears,  and  other  wild  and  fur-bearing  animals.  He  often  camped  out 
alone  in  the  wilderness  many  miles  from  home,  and  gained  a  knowledge 
of  the  woods  that  has  since  been  of  much  value  to  himself  and  others,  and 
his  services  are  frequently  desired  by  lumbermen  in  locating  lots.  He  has 
lumbered  forty  winters.  In  the  winter  of  1863-64  he  had  in  his  employ  a 
faithful,  energetic,  and  honest  boy  of  about  eighteen,  George  Van  Dyke, 
who  then  worked  for  $20  per  month,  and  is  now  president  of  the  Connec- 
ticut River  Lumber  Company.  Mr.  Wight  was  originally  a  Democrat, 
but  cast,  with  three  others  in  Dummer,  his  first  Republican  vote  for  Free- 
mont.  He  has  always  identified  himself  with  town  affairs.  When  but 
twenty-two  years  old  he  was  the  first  resident  of  the  town  to  assess  the 
taxes.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  selectmen,  collector,  town  clerk,  and 
agent  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town;  has  been  a  representative  to  the  legis- 
lature three  years  successively:  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1876.  He  has  administered  upon  and  settled  many 
estates;  among  them  that  of  Ira  Mason  and  Reuben  H.  Wheeler,  of  Berlin; 
and  is  well-known  for  his  judgment  and  integrity.  In  religion  he  is  not  a 
sectarian,  and  believes  that  man  will  be  in  the  next  existence  what  he  is 
best  fitted  for— the  Infinite  Judge  to  decide.  He  is  a  supporter  of  all  that 
appears  just  in  the  churches,  and  a  giver  to  all  ministers  whom  he  deems 
worthy. 

Mr.  Wight  lives  on  the  place  where  his  father  first  settled  in  Dummer, 
but  everything  is  changed.  Then  the  only  building  was  a  log  house  with  a 
few  loose  boards  for  a  door,  a  board  chimney  plastered  with  mortar,  and  a 
stone  fire-place  in  which  "six-foot"  wood  was  burned.  In  this  log-cabin 
the  family  lived  for  years.  Now  we  find  a  farm,  well  stocked,  yielding 
from  sixty-five  to  seventy  tons  of  hay  yearly,  and  a  large,  well-constructed 
set  of  farm-buildings,  surrounded  by  extensive  and  valuable  apple  and 
plum  orchards. 

Mr.  Wight  is  now  in  the  advanced  prime  of  life,  in  good  health, 
beloved  and  respected  by  all  for  his  honesty  and  uprightness;  and,  sur- 
rounded by  a  faithful,  trusting,  and  loving  family,  his  last  years  are  very 
promising  of  quiet,  rest  and  enjoyment.  He  can  have  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  he  has  fought  the  battle  of  life  bravely  and  successfully,  and 
his  descendants  may  justly  take  pride  in  this  record. 


SHELBURNE. 


CHAPTER  CVI. 


Name— Scenery  anil  Attractions — Boundaries — First  Graut — Names  of  Grantees — Descriptions 
of  the  Original  Grant. 


THE  name  Shelburne  may  be  formed  from  shel,  or  shal,  or  the  Saxon 
sceol  (shallow)  and  burn  or  bourn,  a  brook.  Why  or  wherefore  this  town 
was  so  named  we  know  not.  The  village  is  six  miles  below  Gotham. 
Shelburne  abounds  in  grand  mountain  scenery,  not  to  be  excelled  by  any 
town  in  the  state;  no  drive  of  the  same  distance  equals  or  offers  more 
variety  in  beauty  of  scenery  than  the  one  ten  or  twelve  miles  from  Gor- 
ham  down  the  Androscoggin,  on  its  right  hand  bank  through  Shelburne  to 
Gilead,  and  then  up  the  river  on  the  easterly  bank,  crossing  it  at  Lead- 
miue  bridge.  The  beauties  and  charms  of  the  town  have  been  finely  de- 
scribed by  Augusta  Larned,  and  we  extract  as  follows  from  her  graphic 
articles  in  the  Christian  Register. — Editor 

The  river  which  waters  Shelburne  is  not  divided  into  "four  heads," 
neither  is  there  much  gold  nor  "bdellium  "  nor  "onyx  stone  "  found  here, 
nor  in  adjacent  lands.  It  is  called  Androscoggin,  and  it  keeps  the  secret 
of  beauty  as  sacredly  as  did  that  river  of  the  first  paradise. 

The  great  mass  of  the  White  Mountain  group  blocks  up  the  valley  with 
its  wedgelike  form  to  the  south.  Madison  is  here  easily  king  of  the  vale, 
as  his  broad  side  is  turned  genially  toward  us, — a  mighty  canvas  on  which 
the  sun  paints  its  innumerable  freaks  and  fancies.  The  peak  of  Adams 
"  perks  "  itself  up  over  the  high  shoulder  of  Madison,  as  if  standing  on 
tiptoe  to  peep  into  the  valley.  In  some  states  of  the  atmosphere,  the  whole 
line  of  its  west  side  can  be  dimly  seen  separating  itself  from  the  mass  of 
its  more  forward  brother.  Behind  Madison,  to  the  southeast,  rises  the 
broad,  lazy  back  of  Washington,  with  the  "ledge"  showing  white  on  its 
near  side,  and  the  Summit  House  to  be  made  out  in  clear  weather.  It  is  a 
lion  couchant,  with  head  turned  tranquilly  eastward.     This  group  is  like 


868  History  of  Coos  County. 

the  altar  of  a  cathedral  toward  which  the  devout  turn  to  pray;  but  the  nave, 
choir,  and  aisles  are  hardly  less  beautiful  than  the  high  seat  shadowed 
by  t  In1  wings  of  the  cherubim.  To  the  east  rise  the  longslopes  of  Moriah,  a 
line  mountain  of  peculiarly  rich  purple  hue.  Nearer  to  us,  and  close  to 
the  river,  is  thickly  wooded  Winthrop,  with  the  great,  smooth  granite 
ledge  on  its  side,  up  which  Moses  Ingalls  once  had  the  temerity  to  climb. 
The  ledge  looks  much  like  a  very  steep  barn  roof,  a  hundred  feet  high, 
and  smooth  as  glass.  Bold  Moses  glided  over  it  like  a  bird;  and  for  his 
courage  was  presented  with  a  farm,  so  the  story  goes. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  river  rise  Mts.  Hayes  and  Baldcap,  both  strongly 
ma  iked  and  individual  mountains.  To  the  north  are  the  softly-folded  Gilead 
hills  melting  into  every  shade  of  blue  and  violet,  and  with  the  great  bend 
of  the  Androscoggin  at  their  feet,  enclosing  many  fairy  dike  islands  all 
feathered  over  with  the  most  delicate  and  living  green. 

The  valley  is  like  a  beautiful  child  nourished  by  grim  guardians.  They 
bring  to  it  rain  and  dews  and  wild  brooks  tumbling  over  stony  beds,  and 
keep  it  perfect  in  verdure.  The  Androscoggin  fairly  leaps  for  joy.  It  is  a 
swift,  untamed  river.  Its  feet  run  night  and  day  toward  the  sea,  and 
murmur  round  its  multitude  of  islands  in  the  extremity  of  haste.  These 
thickly- wooded  islands,  perfectly  virginal  and  lonely,  are  a  feature  of  the 
river.  At  the  famous  Lead-mine  bridge,  two  miles  above,  they  are  seen  in 
the  full  perfection  of  their  feathery  beauty.  On  the  bridge,  the  eye  climbs 
up  the  blue  wall  of  Madison  as  a  bird  scales  the  house.  You  seem  to  be  in 
the  very  heart  of  the  mystery,  where  the  hills  will  tell  you  all  their  secrets. 
Near  the  bridge,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  a  Detroit  gentleman  has  built 
a  vast,  fifty-thousand-dollar  house  of  the  native  stone  and  pebbles  picked 
up  from  the  top  of  the  ground.  It  is  among  the  first  of  those  rich  men's 
dwellings  built  here,  which  are  springing  up  all  over  the  land.  From  my 
window  I  see  the  picturesque  gables  of  a  New  Yorker's  cottage  across  the 
river.  So  Shelburne  has  at  last  been  discovered  by  the  opulent.  I  have 
travelled  much  through  these  hills,  but  I  know  of  no  other  place  which 
presents  more  perfect  pictures  of  White  Mountain  scenery,  whose  dower 
is  beauty  rather  than  Alpine  grandeur. 

These  mountain  intervals,  with  the  elms  grouped  for  the  artist  eye, 
have  a  peculiar  charm.  They  are  unlike  other  meadows,  for  their  smiling 
beaul  v  makes  a  gem  like  contrast  to  the  rugged  setting  of  the  hills.  There 
is  little  cultivation  up  here.  A  good  many  of  the  old  clearings  on  the 
mountain-sides  seem  growing  up  to  wildness.  One  asks  why  these  heights 
are  not  used  for  sheep  pastures.  The  shepherd's  pipe  would  sound  as  sweet 
here  as  in  the  Arcadian  vales.  It  is  a  world  of  grass,  still  and  soundless, 
save  for  the  ooises  of  nature,  which  seem  to  punctuate  the  silence,  and  to 
make  the  great  unwritten  poem  easier  to  read.  A  world  of  grass  and 
Leaves  and   flowing  water  and  granite  and  earth  piled  up  into  the  sky. 


Town  of  Shelburne.  869 


What  joy  to  come  into  this  world,  where  there  is  no  dirt,  no  smoke,  no 
importunate  ringing  of  hells,  no  tramps  or  beggars,  no  barking  of  dogs  or 
crowing  of  cocks.     You  wake  in  the  night,  and  feel  that  you  are  in  the 
very  tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  held  in  a  sacred  bond  of  peace.     The  air  is  of 
delicious  sweetness.     It  has  no  harsh  quality;  but,  at  night,  a  blanket  is 
not  amiss.     There  is  no  doctor  nearer  than  Gorham,  six  miles   distant. 
When  I  asked  how  the  people  managed  for  medical  attendance,  the  answer 
was  that  the  people  are  seldom  sick.     Look  on  these  mountains  and  live, 
seems  to  he  the  great  command  written  on  the  bases  of  the  bill.     It  is  de- 
lightful to  come  into  a  region  where  there  is  no  poverty  visible  to  the  naked 
eye,  and  the  mutterings  of  the  conflict  between  capital  and  labor  are  not 
heard.     The  hill  folk  are  conservative,  like  their  mountains.     They  move 
slowly;  but  everywhere  there  is  comfort,  and  often  someattempt  at  fashion. 
The  old  village  with  the  station  and  postoffi.ce  lias  been  somewhat  changed. 
Several  new  boarding-houses  have  been  put  up  in  various  parts  of  the 
valley,  and  are  generally  filled  during  July  and  August.     Nothing  ever 
happens  here  in  this  blessed  land.      The  events    are  driving  afield  with 
horses  or  oxen  or  digging  in  the  potato  patch.     What  a  contrast  to  the  life 
of  the  tramp  in  Madison  Square!     The  genus  tramp  is  scarcely   known  up 
here.     Occasionally  one  appears  in  the  village  and  the  rumor  runs  through 
the  country. 

One  needs  to  be  all  eye  in  these  days  up  here,  when  the  thunder  growls 
around   the  horizon,  and  little  showers  come  up  without  warning,  and 
bring  the  most  splendid  cloud  scenery.     They  gather  in  vast,  solid,  sculp- 
tured masses  over  the  White  Mountain  group,  and  sweep  with  a  broad 
wing  over  the  whole  land,  blotting  out  miles  and  miles  in  gray  rain,  letting 
in  sudden  gleams  of  light,  turning  the  nearer  slopes  to  the  most  brilliant 
purple,  clearing  suddenly  to  blue  spaces,  changing  every  moment,  and  be- 
wildering one  with  beautv.     Never  have  I  seen  such  cloud-scenery  as  this, 
such  wonderful  shifting  and  play  of  light  and  color,  such  welts  of  purple 
and  green  and  cerulean,  torn  and  shattered  and  knit  up  again  in  a  moment, 
as  if  by  the  power  of  some  celestial  Penelope,  who  is  forever  unravelling 
her  work  and  netting  it  up  anew.     This  valley  does  not  raise  much  wheat 
or  corn,  but  it  raises  clouds  by  a  spell  stronger  than  Merlin's.     I  rejoice  in 
this  granite  formation,  which  gives  fine,  hard  roads  and  soon  dries  after  a 
showier,   leaving   the  earth   bright    and    shining,   as    if   new-minted   and 
stamped  with  the  superscription  of   God.     The  deciduous   forests,   with 
only  a  sparse  mingling  of  fir  and  pine,  give  great  cheerfulness  to  the  land- 
scape.    We  have  a  beautiful  waterfall  on  the  side  of  Baldcap;  but  why 
mention  particular  beauties,  when  every  prospect  is  so  fair,  and  each  day 
seems  a  golden  possession  in  the  treasure-house  of  life? 

Topography,  Population,  Etc. — The  Androscoggin   river  divides  Shel- 
burne nearly  in  the  center,  receiving  the  waters  of  two  parallel  ranges  of 


870  History  of  Coos  County. 

mountains.  Battle  river  is  the  largest  tributary  on  the  southern  side,  and 
Lead-mine  brook  on  the  northern.  The  town  is  six  miles  square,  bounded 
north  by  Success,  east  by  Gilead,  Me.,  south  by  Bean's  Purchase,  and  west 
by  Gorham.  The  intervals  vary  from  a  few  rods  to  half  a  mile  in  width, 
and  were  formerly  covered,  as  the  encircling  mountains  are  now,  by  a 
mixed  growth  of  spruce,  hemlock,  pine  and  hard  wood.  Mt.  Moriah  is 
the  highest  elevation,  4,771  feet  in  height. 

The  town  was  granted  to  Mark  Wentworth  and  six  others,  and  was 
surveyed  in  1771.  In  1820,  when  it  was  incorporated,  the  population  was 
23i  i.  In  1859  it  was  480,  but  after  the  building  of  the  Grand  Trunk  railway, 
and  the  establishment  of  the  machine-shops  and  lumber-mills  at  Gorham, 
the  younger  people  kept  moving  away,  till  by  the  last  census  the  popula- 
tion is  only  252. 

This  first  or  original  grant  of  Shelburne  was  made  in  1768;  but,  as  on  a 
survey  there  was  not  found  habitable  land  enough  to  allow  the  proprietors 
to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  the  charter,  a  second  grant  was  made, 
which  included  the  present  territory  of  Gorham  (Shelburne  Addition), 
which  see.  This  second  grant  was  nominally  signed  by  Gov.  John  Went- 
worth, November  21,  1770,  but  was  really  not  issued  or  recorded  until 
January  14,  1771.  It  is  needless  to  give  the  charter.  It  had  all  the  ornate 
and  magniloquent  verbiage  peculiar  to  those  documents,  and  made  these 
conditions:  1st,  that  the  grantees  should  construct  a  good  carriage  road 
four  rods  wide  through  the  tract  within  two  years;  2d,  that  there  shall  be 
twelve  families  resident  on  and  cultivating  some  portion  of  the  land  on  the 
first  of  March,  1774,  and  sixty  families  actually  settled  on  the  grant  by  the 
first  of  March,  177!),  under  penalty  of  forfeiture  of  the  grant;  3d.  that  all 
white  or  other  pine  trees  fit  for  masting  the  .Royal  Navy  should  be  pre- 
served for  that  purpose,  and  not  to  be  cut  or  felled  without  especial  license; 
4th,  that  a  town-plot  shall  be  laid  out  into  town  lots  of  one  acre,  one  for 
each  grantee,  near  the  center  of  the  town;  5th,  payment  of  annual  rent 
on  and  after  March  1,  1771,  of  one  ear  of  Indian  corn,  if  demanded;  6th, 
that  every  proprietor,  settler  or  inhabitant  shall  pay  annually,  beginning 
on  March  1,  4780,  one  shilling  proclamation  money  for  every  100  acres  he 
owns,  settles  or  possesses. 

Sfames  of  Grantees. — Mark  Hanking  Wentworth,  Daniel  Pierce,    Daniel  Rogers,  John  Rindge,  Danie 
Hinder,  Isaac  Eindgo,  Jotham  Kludge. 

Description  of  Original  Grant.—"  Beginning  at  a  hemlock  tree,  marked,  standing  in  the  Province  Line, 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  south  of  Little  Ameroscogin  River,  and  from  said  hemlock  runs  north  eight 
degrees  easl  by  the  needle  on  the  Province  line  six  miles  to  a  maple  tree,  mai-ked,  and  standing  in  the  Province 
line  aforesaid,  thence  turning  off  at  right  angles  and  running  north  eighty-two  degrees  west  six  miles  to  a 
beech  tree,  marked;  thence  turning  off  at  right  angles  and  running  south  eight  degrees  west  six  miles  to  a 
red  birch  tree,  marked;  thence  turning  off  again  at  right  angles  and  runs  south  eighty-two  degrees  east  six 
miles  to  the  hemlock  tree  in  the  Province  line  began  at,  containing  by  admeasurement  twent3r-three  thousand 
and  forty  acres." 


Town  of  Sueliuknk.  871 


CHAPTER  CVII. 

Early  Settlers:  Bope  Austin — Daniel  [ngalls— Stephen  Messer— Thomas  Green— Samuel 
Wbeeler — Jonathan  Evans — Benjamin  Clemens — Bazeleel  Gates— Simeon  Evans— Jonathan  Pea- 
body — Jonathan  Lary—  Peter  Poor— Nathaniel  Porter,  Etc. 

^f  ARLY  Settlers. — The  history  of  the  brave  men  and  women  who  left 
|7r  the  comforts  of  civilization  to  make  a  home  in  the  wilderness  a 
vT  century  and  more  ago,  and  the  records  of  their  privations  and  suf- 
ferings would  startle  their  descendants.  Their  rude  shelters  were  con- 
structed without  any  regard  for  comfort;  the  only  thing  attempted  was  a 
protection  from  rain  and  snow.  The  ravages  of  the  bears  and  wolves  in 
this  neighborhood  were  exceedingly  terrific.  The  inhabitants  were  also 
subjected  to  Indian  invasions.  They  endured  not  only  the  hardships  of 
isolation  and  cold,  attacks  from  wild  beasts,  devastation  by  mountain  tor- 
rents, loss  by  freshets,  but  experienced  the  terror  of  the  war  whoop,  and 
felt  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife. 

One  of  the  first  of  these  pioneers  was  Hope  Austin,  who  came  to  Shel- 
burne  in  1771,  and  began  a  clearing  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  near  the 
Maine  line.  The  snow  was  five  feetdeep  when  his  wife  walked  up  from  Bethel, 
carrying  one  child  in  her  arms,  while  two  others  clung  to  her  skirts.  Mr. 
Austin  had  neglected  to  provide  even  temporary  shelter  for  his  little  fam- 
ily But  spruce  boughs  were  handy,  and  in  a  short  time  a  roof  was 
thrown  over  the  log  cabin,  some  rough  boards  nailed  together  for  a  door, 
the  snow  shoveled  out  and  a  fire  built  between  stones  or  green  logs.  Here 
they  lived,  making  occasional  improvements,  until  prosperity  enabled  him 
to  build  a  more  convenient  frame-house.  Of  the  family  of  five  children, 
Mary  and  Judith  remained  single.  Lydia  and  Hannah  married  Samuel 
Wheeler,  James  married  Sally,  daughter  of  Joseph  Lary,  Jr.,  of  Gilead, 
and  built  a  handsome  two-story  house  a  little  below  his  father's.  Of  his 
children,  John  and  Caverno  died,  and  Dearborn  married  Rose,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Ezekiel  Coffin,  and  lived  at  home  till  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
when  he  moved  to  Gilead,  and  the  name  of  Shelburne's  first  resident  was 
dropped  from  her  records.  Mr.  Hope  Austin  is  remembered  by  elderly 
people  of  to-day  as  a  pleasant-spoken  old  gentleman,  very  much  bent, 
walking  back  and  forth  from  his  house  to  the  mill,  with  his  hands  clasped 
behind  him.  The  Austins,  as  a  family,  were  pleasant,  hospitable  and 
industrious. 

Daniel  Ingalls,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers,  lived  just  across  the  river, 
and  was  Mr.  Austin's  nearest  neighbor.  He  was  much  esteemed  for  his 
high  moral  character.     Religion  was  a  part  of  his  daily  life,  but  he  was 


872  History  of  Coos  County. 


cheerful  and  could  even  make  a  dry  joke  now  and  then.  Moses,  his  oldest 
son,  was  a  sailor;  energetic,  resolute,  and  rather  rough.  He  married  Susan 
Heath.  They  had  four  sons,  Daniel,  Frederick,  Robert  and  Fletcher. 
Robert,  third  son  of  Moses,  married  Rowena  Hills,  and  bought  the  farm 
on  Clemens  brook,  cleared  by  the  Evanses.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  in  the  place,  tilling  many  offices  with  honor  and  ability. 
It  is  remarked  of  him,  as  of  J.  R.  Hitchcock,  ''He  always  recognized  an 
acquaintance,  rich  or  poor,  high  or  low,  with  the  same  readiness  and 
courtesy."  His  daughter  Caroline,  a  most  estimable  lady,  died  at  Gorham 
in  1S70.  Rufus,  son  of  Robert,  married  Emeline,  great-granddaughter  of 
Capt.  Joseph  Lary,  of  Gilead.  She  died,  and  Mr.  Ingalls  married  Hattie 
McKentry. 

Fletcher  Ingalls,  the  younger  son  of  Deacon  Daniel,  like  his  father, 
was  of  a  very  high  moral  nature.  Every  birth-day  he  religiously  kept  as 
a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  At  a  time  when  intoxicating  liquors  were 
free  almost  as  water,  he  was  a  firm  advocate  of  temperance.  The  Cold- 
Water  Army,  an  organization  designed  to  embrace  the  youth  of  both 
sexes,  was  his  conception,  and  the  first  temperance  lecture  given  here  was 
by  his  appointment.  He  married  Mercy  Lary.  His  daughter  Polly  mar- 
ried Barker  Burbank,  son  of  Capt.  Eliphalet  Burbank,  of  Gilead.  Mr. 
Burbank  was  a  practical  farmer,  a  successful  merchant,  and  a  lawyer  of 
considerable  ability.  He  built  a  large,  handsome  house  a  short  distance 
from  his  father-in-law,  acquired  a  comfortable  fortune,  and  reared  a  family 
of  fourteen  children.  Payson  married  Mary  Smith,  and  has  six  sons. 
Martin  married  Mary,  granddaughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  Pinkham,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Jackson.  Judge  Robert  Ingalls  Burbank,  of  Boston,  now 
owns  the  homestead,  and  has  added  to  it  till  his  estate  is  the  largest  in 
town.  The  Ingallses  have  always  borne  a  stainless  name,  and  in  wealth, 
social  position  and  age,  rank  as  one  of  the  first  families  of  Shelburne. 

The  names  of  Messer,  Peabody  and  Hubbard  are  closely  entwined,  and 
their  descendants  comprise  a  large  proportion  of  our  present  population. 
[A  sketch  of  Stephen  Messer  is  given  in  the  history  of  Gorham.]  Nancy 
Messer,  a  daughter  of  Stephen,  married  Amos  Peabody,  and  after  living 
in  Gilead  and  Randolph  came  to  Shelburne  and  settled  on  Peabody  brook, 
where  three  of  their  children,  Aaron,  Nancy  and  Allan,  have  since  resided. 
Their  son  Stephen  married  Hepzibeth  Evans  and  cleared  the  adjoining 
farm.  He  was  intimately  connected  with  town  business,  and  also  with  the 
affairs  of  the  church.  He  was  never  very  strong,  but  lived  to  the  age  of 
fifty,  when  he  died  with  that  scourge  of  his  family,  consumption.  Enoch, 
another  son  of  Amos  Peabody,  married  Judith  Wheeler,  and  lived  for 
several  years  next  to  his  brother  Stephen,  then  moved  to  Berlin,  Stark, 
and,  finally,  to  Milan.  Betsey  Messer,  daughter  of  Stephen  Messer,  mar- 
ried Thomas  Hubbard  and  lived  at  Andover,  Dracut  and  Bradford,  Mass., 


Town  of  Shelburne.  873 


before  they  came  to  Shelburne.  Mrs.  Hubbard  rode  from  Massachusetts 
on  horseback.  They  reared  a  large  family  of  children.  Afterwards  they 
lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  Head,  and  finally  settled  near  the  top 
of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Great  Hill.  Of  their  children,  Erastus  and 
Rufus  married  daughters  of  Abraham  Wilson  and  removed  to  Whitefield. 
Enoch  and  Leonard  married  daughters  of  Amos  Peabody.  Jefferson  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  George  Green,  and  for  twenty-five  years  was  station 
agent  of  the  G.  T.  R.  at  Shelburne.  No  other  proof  is  needed  of  his 
honesty  and  fidelity.     Maria  Hubbard  married  Joshua  Kendall. 

Thomas  Green  began  a  home  in  the  heart  of  the  forest;  by  good  calcu- 
lation and  economy  he  not  only  made  a  living,  but  laid  up  considerable 
property.  In  his  old  age  his  mind  became  feeble  and  disordered,  and 
though  worth  enough  to  buy  half  the  town,  he  was  haunted  by  a  fear  of 
starvation.  One  evening  in  early  spring  he  came  out  of  his  room  and 
went  out  at  the  back  door.  He  was  never  seen  again.  Edward,  a  son  of 
Thomas,  married  Nancy  Birdin.  Three  of  his  children,  Lyman.  Darius 
and  Manson,  ten  grandchildren  and  eight  great-grandchildren,  resided  in 
Shelburne  in  1881.  George,  another  son  of  Thomas,  when  he  became  of 
age,  received  $100  in  cash,  and  a  piece  of  land  on  the  Magalloway.  He 
sold  this  land,  bought  a  lot  just  across  the  river  from  home,  built  a  tiny 
house  containing  only  a  kitchen  and  bedroom,  and  set  up  housekeeping  by 
himself.  Three  or  four  years  after  he  married  Hannah  Lary.  As  fast  as 
his  means  allowed  he  built  additions,  till,  in  1817;  it  was  a  long  two-story 
house,  with  large,  square  rooms  above  and  below.  It  was  furnished  for  a 
tavern,  and  for  more  than  fifty  years  afforded  accommodation  for  the 
travelling  public.  The  large  yellow  globe  for  a  sign  on  which  the  date 
was  given,  was  an  object  of  great  interest  to  the  boys  in  those  days.  Peo- 
ple from  Upper  Coos  on  their  way  to  Portland,  frequently  fifteen  or 
twenty  double-teams  at  once,  stopped  here  to  bait  their  horses.  When  the 
Grand  Trunk  railway  was  built,  the  glory  of  Green's  tavern  departed. 
Mr.  Green  was  an  honest,  plain-spoken  man.  It  is  said  of  him  that, 
knowingly,  he  would  not  defraud  a  person  of  a  single  cent.  Jonas,  young- 
est son  of  Thomas  Green,  a  hard-working,  stern,  and  somewhat  unsocial 
man,  lived  on  the  home-place  until  the  death  of  his  parents;  married,  first, 
Mercy  Lary,  second,  her  sister  Susannah.  Oliver,  his  youngest  son, 
bought  the  Green  tavern-stand  in  1880,  and  remodelled  it  into  a  summer 
boarding-house. 

Samuel  Wheeler  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  dearly  loved  to  re- 
count the  dangers  he  had  passed  and  the  privations  he  had  endured.  His 
clearing  was  on  Ingalls  brook  close  to  the  base  of  the  mountains,  where 
the  sun  lay  warmly  till  past  noon,  and  the  cold,  northwest  wind  could 
not  strike.  In  the  cold  season  of  1816,  when  snow  fell  every  month  of  the 
year,  he  was  the  only  one  whose  corn  got  ripe  enough  to  grow  again.  The 

57 


874  History  of  Coos  County. 

next  spring  he  sold  it  for  two  dollars  a  bushel.  Among  his  children  were 
Samuel,  Lucy,  and  Amos.  His  home,  the  place  on  which  he  settled,  is  now 
in  possession  of  his  decendants,  and  is  the  only  farm  in  town  which  has 
been  inherited  in  a  direct  line  for  four  generations.  Samuel  Wheeler,  Jr., 
was  a  licensed  preacher,  and  conducted  religious  exercises  in  the  absence 
of  regular  ministers.  He  married,  first,  Lydia  Austin,  second,  her  sister 
Hannah.  His  children  were  Austin,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Hannah  (Mrs.  Reu- 
ben Hobart),  Margaret  and  Judith  (Mrs.  Enoch  Peabody),  of  Stark.  Austin 
was  well  educated  and  talented,  and  became  a  Free- Will  Baptist  minister. 
Samuel,  grandson  of  the  old  soldier,  married  Eliza  Burbank,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children.  By  a  second  marriage  he  had  four  children  also.  A 
few  years  ago  he  removed  to  the  Austin  farm,  which  he  purchased,  and 
his  son  Ellery  became  the  owner  of  the  old  homestead. 

Jonathan  Evans  and  Benjamin  Clemens  came  to  Shelburne  early  and 
nearly  at  the  same  time.  They  were  both  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  and 
probably  stationed  at  Fort  Ticonderoga.  Daniel  Evans,  son  of  Jonathan, 
married  Phila  Clemens,  and  cleared  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  Otis 
Ev^ans.  He  was  a  man  of  influence  and  wealth,  owning  what  is  now  four 
farms.  Otis  Evans,  son  of  Daniel,  who  for  three-quarters  of  a  century  led 
an  upright  life  in  Shelburne,  the  town  of  his  nativity,  died  October  13,  1886. 
Mr.  Evans  was  a  hard-working  and  successful  farmer,  and  well  informed 
upon  the  general  topics  of  the  day.  His  wife  was  Martha  Pinkham.  They 
have  descendants  in  Gorham  and  Shelburne.  Jonathan  Evans,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried Mary  Lary,  and  lived  on  the  Charles  Philbrook  farm.  He  was  a  large, 
portly  man,  and  his  three  sons,  Hazen,  Jabez  and  Augustus,  resembled 
him  in  this  particular. 

Bazeleel  Gates,  who  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Evans,  moved 
here  with  his  family,  and  bought  the  farm  owned  by  William  Newell. 
Caleb,  the  youngest  son,  married  Bathsheba  Porter  and  remained  at  home. 
They  had  four  children,  Woodbury,  Cass,  Matilda  and  Frank.  Woobury 
married  a  daughter  of  Hazen  Evans,  and  is  in  trade  at  Gorham.  Jefferson 
Gates  married  Maria  Porter,  and  lived  on  the  farm  adjoining  his  brother 
Caleb's.     He  died  in  1866. 

Simeon  Evans  was  a  brother  to  Jonathan,  and  came  from  Massachu- 
setts about  the  same  time.  Ezekiel,  Elijah,  Lydia  and  John  were  his 
children.  Ezekiel  married  a  lady  in  Massachusetts.  They  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Moses  Hazeltine  was  a  resident  of  Shel- 
burne. In  1781  Capt.  Jonathan  Rindge,  one  of  the  most  respected  of  the 
early  settlers,  came.  Elijah  Evans,  son  of  Simeon,  lived  on  the  Hitchcock 
interval.  His  son  Henry  married  Joanna  Leighton,  and  built  the  Hitch- 
cock cottage,  where  he  lived  several  years.  Afterward  he  bought  the  place 
owned  later  by  his  son-in-law,  Trustam  Minard.  John  Evans,  third  son 
of  Simeon,  died  leaving  seven  children,  among  them  were  twin  girls,  after- 


Town  of  Shelbukm:.  875 


wards  Mrs.  Abram  Wilson  and  Mrs.  Palmer.  Mr.  Clemens  had  a  large 
family,  but  none  of  his  decendants  are  now  in  town  except  those  connected 
with  the  Evanses. 

Jonathan  Peabody  came  from  Andover  when  young,  married  Phebe 
Kimball,  of  Bethel,  and  had  five  children,  Priscilla  (Mrs.  Ben  Bean),  Phebe, 
Sally  (Mrs.  John  Messer),  Amos  and  Oliver.  He  afterward  married  Pru- 
dence Patterson,  a  widow  with  three  children,  Betsy,  Jennie  and  Hosea. 
From  this  marriage  there  were  five  more  children,  Mercy  (Mrs.  Amos 
Evans),  Philena,  Charlotte  (Mrs.  Nathan  Newell),  Asa  and  Jonathan. 
Oliver  Peabody  married  Susy  Messer  and  lived  with  his  father.  His  child- 
ren were  John,  Loammi,  Nancy  (Mrs.  Noah  Gould),  Eliza,  Betsey,  Sally 
(Mrs.  Peter  Runnels),  and  Samuel.  Jonathan  Peabody,  Jr.,  had  three 
wives.  His  first  wife  and  the  mother  of  his  children  was  Eliza  Coffin,  of 
Gilead.  Three  of  his  children,  Warren,  Augustus  and  Eliza,  married, 
respectively,  Mary,  Lydia  and  Charles  Tenny. 

Jonathan  Lary,  son  of  Joseph  Lary,  Jr. ,  married  Susan  Burbank.  They 
had  five  children — Rachel  and  Elmira,  Selina,  Voltaire  and  Churchill. 
Dearborn  Lary,  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  Lary,  of  Gilead,  married  Polly  Chand- 
ler, a  sister  of  John  Chandler,  and  had  a  large  family  of  children.  Frank 
succeeded  to  the  old  homestead.     Elon  settled  in  Gorham. 

Peter  Poor  came  in  1772,  and  in  August  of  1781  was  killed  by  a  band  of 
Indians,  after  thev  had  made  an  attack  on  Bethel  and  Gilead,  Me. 

In  1772  Nathaniel  Porter  settled  here,  and  lived  just  below  the  stock- 
farm,  and  had  a  family  of  eight  girls  and  one  boy.  He  was  fond  of  fun 
and  practical  jokes,  and  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  town.  The  story  of 
his  shoeing  the  old  buck  so  he  might  chase  the  boys  on  the  ice  is  familiar 
to  many. 

Col.  Head  was  an  uncle  of  Gov.  Head.  Two  sons  settled  here.  Elsie 
married  Hazen  Evans.  Among  others  were  Jeremiah  Gould  and  his  son 
Noah,  Jonathan  Bullard  and  his  son  Dr.  Bazeleel,  John  Chandler,  Sam  and 
Edwin  Thompson,  and  William  Newell  and  his  descendants. 

In  later  times  Harvey  Philbrook  was  a  prominent  and  popular  man.  He 
furnished  a  good  illustration  of  the  advantages  of  natural  gifts  over  a  school 
education  without  those.  He  filled  every  town  office  from  highway  sur- 
veyor to  representative,  did  a  large  and  lucrative  business  in  buying  and 
selling  cattle,  and  acquired  a  handsome  property.  He  died  in  the  prime  of 
life,  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Dr.  Oliver  Howe  was  a  student  of  Dr.  John  Graver,  and  came  here 
when  quite  a  young  man.  He  married  Esther  Burbank,  built  the  house 
now  known  as  the  Winthrop  House,  and  is  the  only  physician  who  ever 
lived  in  Shelburne  for  any  length  of  time.  He  died  in  1860.  Mr.  Howe 
was  a  man  of  tall,  erect  form,  graceful  in  appearance,  affable  in  speech, 
and  a  perfect  gentleman  of  the  old  school.     Hiram  Cummings  owned  the 


876  History  of  Coos  County. 


upper  half  of  the  Great  Island,  and  the  farm  opposite.  He  was  a  success- 
ful book  farmer,  as  experimenters  are  derisively  called.  He  moved  to 
Paris,  Me.,  about  1879. 

Of  the  old  names,  Evans,  Hubbard,  Philbrook,  Green  and  Ingalls  are 
still  among  the  prominent  ones  of  the  town. 


CHAPTER  CVIII. 


Industries— "  Peggy  "  Davis's  Mittens— Transportation— Mills— First  Merchant— Early  Busi- 
ness Interests — Roads — Taverns — Bridges. 


INDUSTRIES.— Fov  some  years  the  people  could  only  attend  to  clearing 
the  land  and  raising  food  for  their  growing  families.     The  largest  and 
straightest  trees  were  reserved  for  the  frames  of  new  houses;  shingles 
were  rived  from  the   clearest  pine;  baskets,   chair  bottoms,  cattle  bows, 
etc.,  were  made  from  brown  ash-butts,  and  ajl  the  rest  were  piled  and 
burned  on  the  spot.     Thousands  of  feet  of  timber  and  cords  of  wood  were 
thus  consigned  to  the  flames  as  of  no  value.     Corn,  potatoes,  wheat  and 
rye  grew  abundantly  on  the  new  soil,  enriched  by  the  fallen  leaves  of  many 
centuries.    Plenty  of  sugar  could  be  had  for  the  making,  and  moose,  deer 
and  the   delicious  brook-trout   were   free  to  all,   regardless  of  the  game 
officer.     On  every  clearing  could  be  seen  a  little  patch  of  blue  blossomed 
flax.     This  was  pulled,  broken,  combed,  carded,  spun  and  wove,  entirely 
by  hand,  and  made  into  tow  "pants"  and  tow-and-linen  shirts  for  men's 
summer    wear,    into    serviceable    checked-dresses    and   aprons,    and  the 
nicest  of  bed  and  table  linen.     A  day's  work  was  spinning  two  double- 
skeins  of    linen,    carding  and   spinning    four   double   skeins   of    tow,  or 
weaving  six    yards;  and  for  a  week's  work  a  girl  received  fifty  cents. 
Mrs.    James    Austin    has   had   a    hundred    yards    out    "bleaching"  at 
once.     Wool  was  worked  up  in  about  the  same  way,  and  all  through  the 
fall  and  winter  the  scratch,  scratch  of  the  cards,  the  hoarse  hum  of  the 
big  wheel,  the  flutter  of  the  flies  on  the  little  wheel,  and  the  rattling  of 
the  loom    machinery,   made  cheerful  music  in  the  log  houses.     Piles  of 
fleecy  blankets  and  stockings  were  packed  away  against  the  marriage  of 
the  girls.     Pressed  quilts  were  part  of  the  outfit,  lasting  for  years,  often  to 
the  third  generation.    Mrs.Hepzibeth  Peabody  had  one  over  fifty  years  old. 
It  was  originally  a  bright  green  lined  with  straw  color,  and  quilted  with 
blue  in  inch  squares.     Mrs.  Aaron  Peabody  had  a  blue  one  quilted  in  little 


Town  of  Siikliuknk.  ^77 


fans.  Mrs.  George  Green  had  several.  One  was  quilted  in  feather- work, 
with  a  border  of  sun-flower  leaves,  and  then  cross-quilted  in  straight  lines. 
Mrs.  Ezekiel  Evans  was  usually  called  upon  to  mark  out  the  patterns,  and 
the  best  quilterwas  the  belle  of  the  company. 

To  keep  the  snow  from  getting  into  the  low  shoes,  gayly  striped  socks 
were  worn,  and  every  child  could  knit  double- mittens  in  herring-bone  or 
fox  and-geese  pattern.  Peggy  Davis  could  knit  the  alphabet;  and  in  a 
pair  of  mittens  she  once  knit  for  Barker  Burbank,  she  knit  a  verse.  [Miss 
Margaret  Davis  was  a  member  of  Lot  Davis's  family.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  years  she  became  perfectly  blind.  Her  education  was  necessarily 
limited.  Schools  for  the  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind  were  not  for  her.  She  had 
learned  to  read  and  write,  and  to  "work"  letters  on  coarse  canvas.  She 
became  celebrated  for  her  skill  in  sewing,  spinning,  and  knitting.  At 
one  time  Barker  Burbank  was  exhibiting  a  pair  of  yarn  mittens  to  some 
friends  at  his  home.  "  Well,"  said' one,  "those  mittens  are  really  fine; 
but  there  is  an  old  blind  woman  up  in  Gorham  who  can  match  them." 
"Well,"  said  Mr.  Burbank,  "  I  will  bet  twenty -five  dollars  there  is  not  a 
woman  in  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  who  can  do  it."  "Aunt  Peggy" 
heard  of  it,  and  for  a  few  nights  she  did  not  retire  to  bed  as  early  as  usual. 
She  required  no  light,  and  in  the  night  the  house  was  quiet.  In  a  few 
days  she  sent  Mr.  Burbank  a  pair  of  mittens.  She  had  composed  three  or 
four  verses,  and,  stitch  by  stitch,  had  knit  them  in  the  mittens: — 

"  Money  will  make  you  many  friends, 
But  do  not  prize  them  high ; 
For  should  misfortune  make  you  poor 
Such  friends  will  pass  you  by." 

Then  came  a  few  words  of  counsel,  telling  him  that  there  were  things 
of  more  worth  than  wealth  or  position.  After  that  she  "knit"  several 
pairs  of  these  for  her  friends,  one  pair  of  which  is  now  owned  by  Abner 
Davis,  of  Jefferson.  She  died  in  Jackson  at  the  home  of  her  niece,  Mrs. 
Joseph  H.  Dearborn.  This  history  of  the  knitter  and  the  mittens  is  fur- 
nished by  Abner  Davis.  — Editor.  ]  Others  took  pride  in  knitting  remarkably 
fast.  Many  could  knit  a  pair  of  double-mittens  in  a  day;  but  the  best  job 
in  that  line  was  done  by  Nancy  Peabody.  Her  brother  Allen  came  out  of 
the  woods  and  wanted  a  pair  of  mittens  as  he  had  lost  his.  There  was  no 
yarn  in  the  house,  nor  rolls,  but  plenty  of  wool.  Miss  Peabody  carded, 
spun,  scoured  out  and  knit  a  pair  of  double-mittens  (white),  and  had  them 
ready  for  her  brother  the  next  morning. 

No  sooner  had  the  new  settlers  begun  to  be  comfortable  than  they  cast 
about  them  for  ways  and  means  to  make  money.  The  nearest  market 
was  Portland,  eighty-six  miles  away.  Hay,  grain  and  potatoes  were  too 
bulky  to  pay  transportation;  but  Yankee  ingenuity  soon  overcame  that 
difficulty.     The  hay  aud  grain  was  transformed  into  butter,  cheese,  pork 


878  History  of  Coos  County. 

or  beef.  Wood  was  condensed  into  potash,  and  in  that  state  was  easily 
carried  away.  The  process  of  making  potash  is  quite  complicated  and  in- 
teresting. The  wood  was  cut  eight  or  ten  feet  long,  piled,  and  burned  to 
ashes.  Leaches  capable  of  holding  ten  or  fifteen  bushels  were  placed  over 
a  trough  made  from  a  large  tree,  filled  with  the  ashes,  and  the  resulting 
lye  boiled  down  to  a  black,  sticky  substance  called  salts.  Sometimes  it 
was  sold  in  this  state  at  $5  a  hundred,  but  where  business  of  any  amount 
was  done,  it  was  further  reduced  to  potash.  Then  it  was  dissolved,  boiled 
down  again,  and  then  baked  in  a  long  brick  oven  till  changed  to  a  white 
powder,  called  pearlash,  which  was  used  in  bread.  Mrs.  Enoch  Hubbard 
got  her  first  print  dress  by  bringing  ashes  from  off  the  hill  and  selling  them 
for  nine  pence  a  bushel. 

Mills. — The  first  grist-mill  was  put  up  by  the  Austins  on  Mill  brook. 
William  Newell,  Sr.,  worked  there  after  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Gates.  After- 
ward, saws  were  put  in,  and  Stephen  Peabody  sawed  the  lumber  for  his 
house  on  shares.  Clear  pine  boards,  twenty -four  inches  wide,  cost  him 
only  $6  a  thousand.  Still  later  the  Newell  brothers  put  in  machinery  for 
sawing  shingles  and  spool- wood.  The  mill  was  washed  away  in  the 
freshet  of  1878,  and  has  not  been  rebuilt.  Another  grist-mill  stood  on 
Scales's  creek,  now  called  State-line  brook.  On  Clemens's  brook  were  two 
saw-mills;  one  owned  by  Lawson  Evans  and  one  by  Jefferson  Hubbard. 
The  Wheelers  owned  one  on  Ingalls  brook,  and  Enoch  Hubbard  one  on 
Lead-mine  brook.  All  of  these  mills  were  local  conveniences,  not  money- 
making  enterprises.     No  manufacturing  of  importance  is  now  conducted. 

Logging  has  always  been  a  standard  industry.  The  pine  went  first. 
Nothing  else  was  fit  for  building  purposes  in  those  days.  Millions  of  nice 
timber  have  been  taken  from  the  intervals,  and  as  much  more  from  the 
uplands  and  hillsides.  Mr.  Judkins,  from  Brunswick,  was  one  of  the  first 
contractors,  paying  from  seventy-five  cents  to  $1  per  thousand,  delivered 
on  the  rivers.  Years  later  Stephen  Peabody  hauled  from  Success  for  $1.83 
per  thousand.  Barker  Burbank  was  agent  for  the  undivided  lands,  and 
did  an  extensive  business.  No  large  pine  trees  can  now  be  found.  The 
Lead-mine  valley  has  always  been  famous  for  nice  spruce  and  hemlock. 

The  first  merchant  was  Thomas  Green,  Jr.,  and  he  had  a  potash  manu- 
factory in  connection  with  his  store.  Years  after,  George  Green  and 
Robert  Ingalls  opened  a  store,  first  in  partnership,  then  separately.  The 
Bisbee  brothers  and  William  Hebbard  each  tried  trading  for  a  time. 

The  earliest  carpenters  were  Mr.  Peabody  and  his  son  Oliver;  they 
framed  C.  J.  Lary's  barn,  the  second  framed  barn  in  town.  Some  men 
made  a  living  by  making  sap-buckets,  ox-yokes,  or  sleds.  Others  shaved 
shingles.  Jacob  Stevens  made  money  by  burning  charcoal,  and  delivering 
it  at  the  glen.  Col.  Porter  was  the  first  blacksmith,  followed  by  John 
Chandler,    Sumner  Chipman,    James  Hall,    and  Isaiah  Spiller.      Joseph 


Town  of  Shelburne.  n79 


Conner  made  cart-wheels.     Judge  Ingalls  had  a  brick-yard,  and  employed 
four  or  five  men,  about  1855.     There  were  also  shoe-makers  in  town. 

" Chopping-bees "  were  quite  popular  while  people  were  clearing  their 
farms.  Men  often  went  five  or  six  miles  and  considered  a  good  dinner 
and  what  rum  they  could  drink  as  am  pic  pay  for  a  hard  day's  work. 
"Raisings"  and  "haulings"  brought  together  all  the  people  in  town,  and 
were  as  handy  for  the  diffusion  of  news  as  a  local  newspaper.  Formerly 
girls  attended  "huskings"  and  boys  "quiltings,"  and  after  the  work  was 
done  they  had  a  dance.  "Quiltings  "  and  "  huskings  "  are  now  out  of  date, 
and  have  been  superseded  by  the  "sewing-circle"  and  other  modern  enjoy- 
ments. 

When  Stephen  Messer  returned  from  a  visit  to  Andover  he  brought  in 
his  hand  a  willow  stick  for  a  whip.  On  reaching  home  he  drove  that  stick 
into  the  ground  near  his  house,  just  above  Moose  river,  Gorham.  The 
magnificent  tree  that  sprang  from  it  is  the  parent  of  all  the  English  wil- 
lows in  this  vicinity.  Those  in  front  of  R.  P.  Peabody's  were  broken  from 
the  Clemens  willow,  near  Moses  Wilson's,  and  were  planted  at  least  forty 
years  ago. 

Doubly  imprisoned  by  mountain  walls  and  trackless  forests,  the  early 
settlers  seldom  communicated  with  the  outside  world.  Fryeburg  was  the 
nearest  village,  and  people  went  there  on  foot,  carrying  their  supplies  on 
their  backs  in  the  summer,  and  in  the  winter  using  snow-shoes  and  hand- 
sleighs,  which  was  much  the  easier  way.  Girls  were  good  walkers,  and 
thought  nothing  of  going  from  Capt.  Evans's  to  Fletcher  Ingalls's  to  meet- 
ing, or  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other  to  attend  singing- schools, 
huskings,  dances,  or  quiltings.  One  young  girl  walked  over  the  mountains 
to  attend  protracted-meeting  at  Milan.  Oxen  were  used  for  farm  work,  and 
as  soon  as  roads  could  be  cut,  the  teaming  and  most  of  the  riding  was  done 
with  them.  Horses  were  kept  by  a  few,  and  long  journeys  were  made  on 
horseback,  and  it  was  no  unusual  thing  for  a  man  to  take  his  wife  and  one 
or  two  small  children  up  behind  him.  Sleighs  were  in  use  long  before 
wagons  were  thought  of.  A  lady  of  seventy-seven  says  she  was  out 
"berrying"  when  the  first  wagon  she  ever  saw  passed  by,  but  when  she 
told  her  folks  of  the  "four-wheeled  carriage,"  they  only  laughed  at  her, 
never  having  heard  of  such  a  thing.  The  roads  naturally  run  along  as 
near  the  intervals  as  possible,  and  no  material  change  has  ever  been  made. 
Longer  ago  than  the  ''oldest  inhabitant"  can  remember,  a  rope-ferry  run 
across  from  Manson  Green's  interval.  Alfred  Carlton  kept  a  large  boat 
that  was  sculled  across,  and  later  Enoch  Hubbard  put  in  a  rope-ferry 
against  his  interval.  The  road  came  up  from  the  river  just  below  Moses 
Wilson's. 

After  good  roads  were  built  and  the  teaming  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
country  passed  this  way,  Shelburne  became  a  lively  place.     Three  taverns 


ssi  i  History  of  Coos  County. 


found  plenty  of  custom,  besides  occasional  company  at  Barker  Burbank's 
and  Capt  Evans's.  John  Burbank's  tavern  was  a  long,  low,  unpainted 
house,  the  sign  hung  on  a  post  at  the  west  end.  Like  all  public  places  at 
that  time,  an  open  bar  was  kept  where  liquor  sold  for  three  cents  a  glass. 
John  Chandler's,  near  Moses  rock,  was  a  two-story  house,  painted  red 
with  white  trimmings.  George  Green's,  at  the  village,  was  a  stage  station 
and  postoffice,  and  the  best  tavern  between  Lancaster  and  Portland.  A 
huge  gilt  ball  hung  out  from  the  ridge-pole,  and  on  it  in  black  letters  was 
"George  Green,  1817."  Horr  Latham  and  others  drove  the  stage  to  Lan- 
caster twice  a  week.  In  the  fall  of  1815  Randall  Pinkham  made  his  first 
trip  in  the  employ  of  Barker  Burbank.  He  drove  two  horses,  one  forward 
of  the  other,  on  a  single  wagon. 

In  the  spring  of  1851  Enoch  Hubbard  built  a  bridge  across  the  river  from 
the  Great  Rocks,  but  owing  to  some  defect  it  did  not  stand.  Nothing 
daunted  by  his  failure,  the  next  spring  Mr  Hubbard  built  again,  and  peti- 
tioned the  selectmen  for  a  road.  It  was  refused,  not  from  any  particular 
fault  in  the  bridge,  but  because  many  wanted  it  further  down  the  river  at 
Gates's  or  Green's.  But  people  found  it  much  more  convenient  than  the 
ferry;  and  at  last  the  county  commissioners  came  down  and  laid  out  the 
dug  way.  The  natives  called  it  the  Great  River  bridge,  but  it  was  re-chris- 
tened Lead-mine  bridge  by  city  visitors.  It  did  good  service  for  fifteen 
years.  The  next  one  was  built  by  the  town;  Merrill  Head,  Caleb  Gates, 
and  Jotham  Evans  building  committee.  An  abutment  of  stone  was  put 
in  by  Moses  Mason  in  place  of  the  old  log  one,  and  a  bridge  built  under  the 
direction  of  Nahum  Mason.  This  was  blown  down  in  November,  1870, 
and  re-built  the  following  winter  by  Enoch  Hubbard  and  John  Newell. 

The  building  of  the  Grand  Trunk  railway  through  Shelburne  began  in 
1851.  Upon  its  completion,  Jefferson  Hubbard  was  appointed  station 
agent,  which  position  he  held  until  his  death  in  1877. 


CHAPTER  CIX. 


Religion — Church  of  Christ— Original  Members — Free  Church— Free-Will  Baptist  Church — 
Reform  Club— Union  Meeting-House — Schools — Teachers— White  Mountain  Stock-Farm— Judge 
Burbank— Lead  Mine — Hotels— Soldiers— Town  Clerks  and  Selectmen  from  1839. 

*Z~\ELI(t10N.—  Many  of  Shelburne's  first  settlers  were  pious  men  and 
Y\    women,  and  the  Sabbath  and  family  worship  was  strictly  observed 
\  in  their  new  homes;  but  the  first  public  religious  services  were  con- 
ducted by  Fletcher  Ingalls.     Every  Sunday  for  years  "Uncle  Fletcher's"' 


Town  of  Shelbukm:.  881 


house  was  well-filled,  many  walking  four  or  five  miles.  Young  girls  went 
bare-footed,  or  wore  their  everyday  shoes  and  stockings  till  within  sight 
of  the  house,  when  they  stopped  under  a  hig  tree  and  put  on  their  best 
morocco  slippers  and  white'stockings.  The  seats  were  benches,  kept  care- 
fully clean,  not  quite  so  comfortable  as  the  cushioned  pews  in  the  chapel, 
but  better  filled,  and  we  think  the  long,  dry  sermons  Mr.  Ingalls  used  to 
read  were  received  without  cavil.  People  believed  as  they  were  taught, 
instead  of  wandering  off  into  speculation  by  themselves.  The  reading 
over,  exhortations  were  made  by  Samuel  Wheeler,  Edward  Green  and 
others.  The  singers  were  Nathaniel  Porter,  Jonathan  Lary  and  his  sisters, 
Betsey,  Hannah  and  Mercy,  in  fact,  most  of  the  worshipers  took  part  in 
this  exercise.  Sometimes  a  stray  shepherd  chanced  along  and  fed  this 
flock.  Messrs.  Pettengill,  Jordan,  Hazeltine,  Trickey,  Austin  Wheeler 
and  Elder  Hutchinson  were  Free- Will  Baptists,  Sewall,  Hidden,  Richard- 
son and  Burt,  Congregationalists.  Scores  of  interesting  and  curious  inci- 
dents are  related  of  these  primitive  christians,  who  at  least  possessed  the 
virtue  of  sincerity.  One  summer  the  drouth  was  very  severe,  threatening 
to  destroy  the  crops.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  regular  Sunday  services 
Deacon  Green  requested  all  those  who  were  interested  and  had  faith  in 
prayer  to  meet  at  his  house  to  pray  for  rain.  Their  petitions  proved  not 
only  fervent  but  efficacious,  for,  before  they  were  finished,  a  terrible  thun- 
der-shower arose,  and  the  deacon's  shed  was  blown  clear  across  the  road. 

The  first  church  of  which  we  find  any  record  was  organized  in  1818  as 
the  Church  of  Christ,  with  seventeen  members;  among  them  were  Edward 
Green,  Lydia  Ordway,  Samuel  Wheeler,  Anna  Wheeler,  Reuben  Hobart, 
Anna  Hobart,  Amos  Peabody,  Mehitable  Ordway,  Laskey  Jackson.  Alepha 
Hobart,  Cornelius  Bearce,  Lydia  Bearce,  John  Wilson,  Lucy  Wheeler. 
The  signatures  are  written  on  stiff,  unruled  paper,  yellow  with  age,  and 
would  form  an  interesting  study  to  those  who  read  character  by  the  hand- 
writing. The  best  specimen  is  the  name  of  Lucy  Wheeler,  very  fine  and 
distinct,  and  written  with  good  black  ink. 

In  1832  a  meeting-house  was  built;  Robert  Ingalls,  Edward  Green, 
George  Green  and  Barker  Burbank  being  building  committee.  It  was 
dedicated  as  a  free  church.  Jotham  Sewall  preached  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon, and  four  or  five  other  clergymen,  Free-Will  Baptist  and  Congrega- 
tional were  present.  The  best  singers  in  town  had  been  well  trained  by 
the  chorister,  John  Kimball,  and  the  long,  difficult  Easter- Anthem  from 
the  "Ancient  Lyre"  was  skillfully  rendered. 

A  schedule  of  time  for  the  year  1838  gives  the  Congregationalists  twenty- 
four  Sundays,  the  Free-Will  Baptists  twenty-five,  Universalists  one,  and 
Methodists  two.  Whenever  the  pulpit  was  unoccupied  Deacon  Burbank 
or  Fletcher  Ingalls  read  a  sermon,  or  Samuel  Wheeler  and  others  exhorted. 

In  1811  a  new  organization  was  formed,  called  the  Shelburne  Free-  Will 


ss2  History  of  Coos  County. 


Baptist  Church.  The  covenant  is  in  the  hand-writing  of  Stephen  Hutch- 
inson, and  article  3d  provides  that  ' '  we  agree  to  exercise  a  suitable  care 
one  of  another,  to  promote  the  growth  of  the  whole  body  in  christian 
knowledge,  holiness  and  comfort,  to  the  end  that  we  may  all  stand  com- 
plete in  the  will  of  God/'  Article  8,  "We  will  frequently  exhort,  and  if 
occasion  require,  admonish  one  another  according  to  directions  in  Matt.  18. 
We  will  do  this  in  a  spirit  of  meekness  considering  ourselves  lest  we  also 
transgress,  and  as  in  baptism  we  have  been  buried  with  Christ  and  raised 
again,  so  there  rests  on  us  a  special  obligation  to  walk  in  newness  of  life." 
Delegates  were  sent  regularly  to  the  quarterly  conferences  with  a  report  of 
the  religious  condition  of  the  church.  In  1848  the  membership  had  in- 
creased to  thirty-three.  Of  these  most  have  since  joined  the  Church 
Triumphant. 

The  Congregational  church  was  formed  many  years  ago,  but  there  was 
no  regular  organization  of  Methodists  till  Daniel  Barber  was  stationed  here 
in  1861.  During  the  following  two  years  there  was  a  great  revival.  Night 
after  night  lively  and  interesting  meetings  were  held  at  Mr.  Palmer's,  Mr. 
Hebbard's  or  Mr.  Hall's.  Mr.  Sinclair  succeeded  Mr.  Barber;  but  though 
he  came  over  from  Bartlett  every  other  Sunday,  braving  the  cold  winds 
and  deep  snows,  the  interest  gradually  abated.  From  this  time  till  the 
reform  movement,  only  occasional  meetings  were  held.  City  ministers, 
"  Orthodox"  or  Episcopal,  sometimes  preached  half  a  day  during  the  sum- 
mer. The  old  church  was  fast  going  to  ruin,  to  say  nothing  of  the  people 
themselves.  During  this  "reform  movement"  temperance  lectures  and 
meetings  for  two  years  occupied  public  attention.  A  "  Reform  Club  "  was 
organized;  and  it  is  said  that  every  person  in  town,  with  one  exception, 
signed  the  pledge.  Like  all  such  movements  this  ran  its  course.  The 
religious  element  again  felt  the  need  of  the  offices  of  the  church  and  reg- 
ular religious  services,  and  the  Reform  Club  meetings  changed  to  prayer 
meetings.  Mr.  W.  W.  Baldwin,  the  Methodist  minister  stationed  at  Gor- 
ham,  came  down  half  a  day  each  Sabbath,  and  an  interest  was  awakened 
that  increased  during  the  next  year,  when  Mr.  Chandler  preached.  The 
meeting-house  was  repaired  and  re-dedicated  in  September,  1877.  The 
death  of  Miss  Fannie  Hubbard  the  following  spring  broke  up  the  choir. 
In  1881  Mr.  Williams,  a  Congregational  minister,  stationed  at  Gilead, 
pleached  Sunday  afternoons;  an  organ  was  purchased;  a  communion  ser- 
vice presented  by  the  sewing  circle,  and  a  baptismal  bowl  by  Mrs.  R.  I. 
Burbank.  Mr.  Gridley  succeeded  Mr.  Williams,  in  1883.  His  pastorate 
closed  in  April  1887. 

There  is  now  a  neat  Union  meeting-house  in  a  pleasant  location  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  where  Rev.  Mr.  Trask,  of  Gorham,  holds  services. 
An  active  Sunday-school  is  connected. 

Schools. — We  have  no  means  of  knowing  how  the  first  generation 


Town  of  Shelburne.  883 


obtained  an  education,  but  it  is  hardly  likely  there  were  regular  schools 
where  the  children  would  be  obliged  to  go  long  distances  through  the 
woods.  Perhaps  some  went  back  to  Massachusetts,  while  others  learned 
at  home.  A  little  later  we  find  plenty  of  well-educated  men  and  women. 
In  Moses  Ingalls's  family  were  three  good  teachers,  Frederick.  Nancy  and 
Robert.  Some  seventy  years  ago  Robert,  or  as  he  is  more  commonly  known, 
Judge  Ingalls.  kept  school  near  Moses  rock.  Among  his  scholars  was  a 
half -grown  boy,  whose  parents  had  recently  moved  from  Randolph.  In 
those  days  Randolph  was  considered  far  removed  from  the  benefits  of  civil- 
ization, and  Mr.  Ingalls  naturally  concluded  the  boy  would  be  behind 
others  of  his  age.  "Can  you  read?"  he  inquired,  taking  up  the  old 
Perry's  spelling-book.  "  I  can  read  my  A,  B,  C's,"  replied  the  boy,  bash- 
fully hanging  his  head.  Slowly  slipping  his  finger  along  he  repeated  the 
alphabet  correctly.  "Very  well.  Now  can't  you  say  a-b  ab  ?  "  "lean 
try, "  was  the  modest  answer.  With  the  same  slow  precision  that  lesson  was 
read,  then  the  next,  and  the  next,  and  not  till  Mr.  Ingalls  found  out  that 
with  one  exception  his  new  pupil  was  the  best  reader  and  speller  in  school, 
did  he  see  where  the  laugh  came  in.  Barker  Burbank  also  taught  here, 
and  was  called  one  of  the  best  instructors  of  the  times,  often  spending  a 
whole  noon-time  explaining  some  of  Walsh's  problems  to  a  puzzled  scholar. 
To  this  school  came  the  Stowell  boys,  the  Thompson  boys  and  Ezekiel 
Evans's  girls.  Back  of  the  Philbrook  House,  close  to  the  foot  of  the  mount- 
ain, stood  a  school-house,  where  Hannah  Mason  taught.  Sometimes 
schools  were  kept  at  Capt.  Evans's  or  Samuel  Emery's.  Susan  Gates, 
Sally  Austin,  Elsie  Head  and  Lydia  Porter  were  teachers  of  fifty  years 
ago;  and  good  teachers  they  were,  too,  though  they  never  heard  of  a  Nor- 
mal school  nor  a  Teacher's  Institute. 

The  Bean  Hill  school-house,  just  below  H.  P.  Gates's  was  moved  up 
about  half  way  between  Allan  and  Roswell  Peabody's,  and  here  Merrill  C. 
Forist  taught  school  and  penmanship.  Mrs.  John  Willis  kept  one  term  in 
William  Ne  well's  barn  at  the  "  Dug  way  "  corner.  Isabel  Gates,  Mrs.  C. 
J.  Lary,  Mrs.  M.  L.  Burbank,  Judge  Burbank  and  Manson  Green  were  a 
few  of  many  experienced  and  popular  teachers. 

The  law  allowing  women  a  voice  in  school  meeting  is  of  no  practical 
value  in  this  conservative  town,  and  on  general  principles  we  doubt  its 
propriety.  Sanford  Hubbard,  while  examining  committee,  was  said  to  be 
very  thorough  in  his  examinations,  and  whoever  received  a  certificate  was 
considered  amply  qualified  to  teach  all  the  studies  required. 

The  way  in  which  the  first  generation  acquired  the  art  of  singing  is  as  hard 
to  ascertain  as  how  they  learned  the  alphabet.  As  most  of  the  parents  were 
singers,  perhaps  the  children  took  it  up  naturally.  The  first  singing- 
masters  that  those  now  living  can  remember  were  Reuben  Hobart  and 
John  Kimball.   "  Mr.  Kimball  could  sing  more  base  than  any  six  men  now- 


884  History  of  Coos  County. 

a-days."  No  doubt  they  could  all  make  good  music  from  the  pieces  in  the 
"Handel  and  Haydn  Collection,"  and  the  "Ancient  Lyre,"  but,  heard 
across  the  wide  waste  of  years,  perhaps  it  sounds  sweeter  to-day  than  at 
first.  Jefferson  Hubbard  taught  in  the  church  some  forty  years  ago,  and 
used  a  book  in  which  figures  were  used  to  denote  the  sound.  Horatio 
Newell  was  the  last  singing-master  here,  and  taught  in  the  red  school- 
house  above  the  village. 

The  town  has  now  a  good  system  of  schools,  a  board  of  education,  and 
able  teachers. 

White  Mountain  Stock  Farm. — Judge  Robert  Ingalls  Burbank,  of  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  a  native  of  Shelburne.  has  never  lost  in  his  active  duties  and 
life  of  the  city  his  love  and  reverence  for  the  charming  town  of  his  birth, 
and  has  added  to  its  wealth  and  attractions  in  making  this  large  farm  from 
the  large  homestead  of  his  father,  Barker  Burbank,  who  was  for  many 
years  the  most  prominent  man  in  all  this  section.  To  this  home  the  Judge 
has  added  the  farms  formerly  owned  by  Fletcher  Ingalls,  Nathaniel  Porter, 
Oliver  Peabody,  Edward  Green,  and  "  Echo  Farm,"  formerly  the  Hazel- 
tine  place.  This  makes  a  manorial  estate  of  over  three  miles  in  length, 
comprising  in  its  whole  extent  the  fertile  interval  land  along  the  Andros- 
coggin. The  "  manor-house,"  a  large  two-story  building  erected  about 
1840,  by  Barker  Burbank,  stands  in  the  center  of  an  amphitheater  of  a 
rare  and  peculiar  beauty,  and  although  modernized,  retains  many  of  its  old- 
time  features.  On  the  lawn  back  of  the  house,  among  other  attractions, 
stands  the  stone  settee  formed  in  blasting  "Granny"  Stalbird's  rock  into 
railroad  underpinning,  and  rescued  by  the  Judge  from  destruction.*  On 
this  farm  the  Judge  has  a  fine  herd  of  high  grade  cattle,  Jersey,  Ayrshire, 
Holstein,  Swiss,  etc.,  and  many  farms  in  Massachusetts  have  paid  large 
prices  for  pure  blooded  animals  reared  here.  Parker  C.  Burbank,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  scientific  department  of  Dartmouth  college,  is  the  superintend- 
ent. Peacocks,  goats,  doves,  Shetland  ponies,  a  Rocky  Mountain  eagle, 
and  a  bear,  are  some  of  the  pets  of  the  place. 

Judge  R.  I.  Burbank,  son  of  Barker  and  Polly  (Ingalls)  Burbank,  and 
grandson  of  Captain  Eliphalet  Burbank,  is  also  grandson  of  Fletcher  In- 
galls, who  built  the  first  framed  house  in  Shelburne.  He  graduated  from 
Dartmouth  in  L843;  from  1811  to  1810  was  private  secretary  of  Daniel 
Webster;  afterwards  entered  the  Massachusetts  bar,  and  made  his  home 
in  B  tston.    He  has  held  many  offices,  has  been  city  councillor,  state  repre- 

*  A  history  of  this  remarkable  woman  is  given  in  Jefferson.  When  quite  aged  she  was  called  on  a  mis- 
sion  of  healing  to  a  sick  woman  in  Shelburne.  Overtaken  by  night  and  a  terrible  storm  of  wind  and  rain,  she 
could  not  keep  the  road,  and  drove  her  horse  under  a  projection  of  granite  which  jutted  from  a  ledge  by  the 
roadside.     Here  the  brave  woman  held  "watch  and  ward "  until  the   afternoon  of  the  next  day,  before  the 

pest  abated.  From  that  memorable  day  Granny  Stalbird's  rock  has  preserved  her  heroism  and  remem- 
brance  of  her  kindly  deeds.  The  stranger  who  is  shown  the  settee  finds  his  pulse  beat  faster  while  listening. 
to  the  tribute  tradition  presents  to  her  labors,  endurance  and  skill. 


Town  of  SHELBURNE.  885- 


sentative,  state  senator,  chief  justice  of  one  of  the  courts,  and  a  prominent 
militia  officer.  He  is  also  a  writer  and  lecturer  of  note,  especially  on  agri- 
culture, for  which  he  has  great  natural  taste,  and  has  occupied  a  lecturer's 
chair  at  Dartmouth. 

Lead  Mine. —  About  1S20  Amos  Peabody  discovered  fine  specimens  of 
galena  on  Great,  or  as  later  called,  Lead-mine  brook.  Shafts  were  sunk  in 
1845  and  1846,  and  a  rich  deposit  found.  Considerable  capital  was  invested, 
and  mining  was  conducted  for  some  years  and  abandoned.  In  L856  another 
short-lived  attempt  was  made  to  work  the  mine.  In  1879  and  1880  a  stock 
company,  composed  with  one  exception  of  Portland  men,  commenced 
operations,  expended  some  money,  and  finally  abandoned  work.  A  speci- 
men, nearly  of  cubical  form,  weighing  2,400  pounds,  was  taken  from  the 
mine  and  exhibited  in  London,  England,  in  1851,  attracting  much  atten- 
tion. 

Hotels. — The  summer  hotels  in  such  a  romantic  town  as  Shelburne  are 
objects  of  peculiar  attraction  in  the  summer,  and  all  are  of  merit  and  give 
satisfaction  to  their  guests. 

The  Philbrook  House  is  one  of  the  finest  among  the  mountain  regions. 
It  lies  in  the  valley  like  a  pleasant  English  country  seat  in  Devonshire  or 
Essex  It  is  like  this,  too,  in  providing  accommodations  for  only  a  limited 
number  of  guests.  Those  who  have  the  good  fortune  to  be  located  here 
once,  will  remember  its  generous  hospitality  as  a  marked  episode  in  their 
life.     A.  E.  Philbrook,  proprietor. 

Grove  Cottage,  Charles  E.  Philbrook,  proprietor,  is  a  fine  resting-place 
in  the  midst  of  lovely  rural  scenery. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  valley  at  the  '"village"  is  the  long-established 
hostelry  The  Winthrop  House,  the  "hotel  "  of  the  town.  During  its  exist- 
ence many  distinguished  people  have  been  its  guests,  and  become  satisfied 
with  its  neat,  airy  rooms,  its  quiet,  unobtrusive  service  and  well  cooked 
meals.  Charles  C.  Hebbard,  the  proprietor,  is  also  the  postmaster.  A  bell 
is  hanging  in  the  room,  and  when  mail  is  to  be  called  for,  the  postmaster 
or  assistant  is  speedily  brought  by  ringing  it. 

Side  by  side  with  the  Winthrop  is  Silas  J.  Morse's  Mountain  ( 'ottage,  a 
summer  house  very  much  valued  by  sojourners  here.  Other  places  there 
are  whose  doors  are  opened  to  the  tourist  or  artist  who  wishes  to  revel  in 
the  natural  beauties  of  Shelburne. 

A.  S.  Jewett  carries  on  merchandising,  and  is  an  enterprising  and 
"pushing"  business  man.  He  has  recently  put  up  a  mill  and  is  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  the  native  woods  into  various  products. 

Soldiers. — Shelburne  has  always  done  her  part  in  her  country's  service. 
Many  of  her  early  settlers  were  in  the  Revolution,  among  them  were 
Wheeler,  Evans,  Jonathan  Lary  and  Benjamin  Clemens.  Samuel  Wilson, 
Hosea  Young,    Thomas  Marston,    Peter  Wheeler,    Reuben   Eobart    were 


-S86  History  of  Coos  County. 

soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812.  During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  many  en- 
listed from  Shelburne  and  did  noble  work  in  that  brave  struggle  for  the 
right.  Nearly  all  are  mentioned  in  Col.  Kent's  comprehensive  and  valu- 
able article,  "  Soldiers  of  Coos."  Albion  Abbott  enlisted  in  the  Fifth  N.  H. 
Vols. ,  and  was  probably  killed  at  Fredericksburg,  as  was  Solomon  Wilson. 
Henry  (rates  was  in  the  Fourth  Maine  Battery,  was  in  eleven  engagements 
and  never  wounded.  Ira  Gates  was  in  the  Thirteenth  Mass.  Woodbury 
Jackson,  John  Newell,  Dele  van  Hubbard,  Rufus  Hodgdon,  William  Ingalls, 
served  in  the  Second  New  Hampshire;  Ellery  Wheeler  was  a  corporal  in 
the  Seventh  N.  H.  Darius  Green  and  Leland  Philbrook  were  in  service; 
Sanford  Hubbard,  Albert  Green  and  Harlan  Ingalls,  enlisted  in  the  navy. 
Isaiah  Spiller  served  in  the  Fifth  Maine  Battery.  William  Ingalls,  Rufus 
Hodgdon  and  Leland  Philbrook  died  in  service. 

Town  Clerks  and  Selectmen  from  1839. — 1839.    Oliver  B.  Howe,  clerk;  Robert  Ingalls,  Otis  Evans,  Stephen 
Peabody,  selectmen 

1841.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk;  Robert  Ingalls,  Alfred  Carleton,  Barker  Burbank,  selectmen. 

1842.  Samuel  Peabody,  clerk;  T.  J.  Gates,  Jotham  F.  Evans,  Barker  Burbank,  selectmen. 

1843.  Robert  Ingalls,  clerk;  Oliver  B.  Howe,  Thomas  J.  Gates,  J.  F.  Evans,  selectmen. 

1844.  Robert  Ingalls,  clerk;  Robert  Ingalls,  H.  Philbrook,  B.  B.  Head,  selectmen. 

1845.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk;  Harvey  Philbrook,  B.  Burbank,  B.  B.  Head,  selectmen. 

1846.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk:  B.  Burbank,  H.  Philbrook,  B.  B.  Head,  selectmen. 
1*47.     R.  Ingalls,  clerk,  R.  Ingalls,  J.  F.  Evans,  D.  L.  Austin,  selectmen. 

1848.  B.  Burbank,  clerk;  B.  Burbank,  H.  Philbrook,  D.  L.  Austin,  selectmen. 

1849.  O.  B.  Howe,  clerk;  J.  F.  Evans,  C  Gates,  S.  Chipman,  selectmen. 

1850.  O.  B.  Howe,  clerk;  B.  Burbank,  S.  Chipman. ,  selectmen. 

1851.  O.  B.  Howe,  clerk. 

1852.  O.  B.  Howe,  clerk:  B.  Burbank,  H.  Philbrook,  V.  L.  Stiles,  selectmen. 

1853.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk;  B.  Burbank,  T.  J.  Hubbard,  H.  Philbrook,  selectmen. 

1854.  O.  B.  Howe,  clerk;  B.  Burbank,  B.  B.  Head,  D.  L.  Austin,  selectmen. 

1855.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk;  T.  J.  Hubbard,  O  J.  Lary,  D.  M.  Head,  selectmen. 

1856.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk;  T.  J.  Hubbard,  H.  Philbrook,  C.  J.  Lary,  selectmen. 

1857.  Samuel  Peabody,  clerk;  B.  Burbank,  J.  F.  Evans,  L.  B.  Burbank,  selectmen. 

1858.  Geo.  H.  Pinkham,  clerk;  J.  F.  Evans,  B.  Burbank,  B.  B.  Head,  selectmen. 

1859.  O.  B.  Howe,  clerk;  Robert  Ingalls,  Caleb  Gates,  Manson  Green,  selectmen. 

1860.  E.  D.  Green,  clerk;  Robert  Ingalls,  Manson  Green,  D.  Evans,  selectmen. 

1861.  E.  D.  Green,  clerk;  Robert  Ingalls,  Daniel  Evans,  Harvey  Philbrook,  selectmen. 

1862.  L.  B.  Evans,  clerk:  Manson  Green,  B.  B.  Head,  Henry  E.  Ingalls,  selectmen. 
L863.  L.  B.  Evans,  clerk:  B.  B.  Head,  Daniel  Evans,  Jotham  F.  Evans,  selectmen. 
1864.  S.  B.  Hubbard,  clerk;  T.  J.  Hubbard.  James  H.  Hall,  Joel  Emery,  selectmen. 

•  1865.  E.  1).  Green,  clerk;  T.  J.  Hartford,  B.  Burbank,  Charles  Philbrook,  selectmen. 

1866.  E.  D.  Green,  clerk;  D.  P.  Evans,  Charles  Philbrook,  Loren  B.  Evans,  selectmen. 

1867.  E.  D.  Green,  clerk;  D.  P.  Evans,  L.  B.  Evans,  J.  F.  Evans,  selectmen. 

1868.  E.  D.  Green,  clerk:  1).  P.  Evans,  L.  B.  Evans.  E.  P.  Burbank,  selectmen. 
L869.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk;  S.  B.  Hubbard,  L.  B.  Evans,  Ansel  C.  Evans,  selectmen. 
1*70.  E.  D.  Given,  clerk:  S.  B.  Hubbard,  H.  T.  Cummings,  W.  B.  Gates,  selectmen. 
1*71.  T.  J.  Hubbard,  clerk:  T.  J.  Hubbard,  H.  Philbrook,  B.  F.  Lary,  selectmen. 
1*72.  E.  1>.  Green,  clerk:  H.  Philbrook,  Manson  Green,  L.  B.  Evans,  selectmen. 

1873.  E.  D.  Green,  clerk:  Manson  Green,  L.  B.  Evans,  A.  C.  Evans,  selectmen. 

1874.  E.  D.  Green,  clerk:  Mansmi  Green,  Ellery  Wheeler,  A.  C.  Evans,  selectmen. 
L875.  E.  I).  Green,  clerk:  A.  C.  Evans,  E.  Wheeler,  E.  P.  Burbank,  selectmen. 
1876.  S.  B.  Hubbard,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans,  E.  P.  Burbank,  H.  A.  Stevens,  selectmen. 
1*77.  S.  B.  Hubbard,  clerk;  A.  ('.  Evans,  E.  P.  Burbank.  H.  A.  Stevens,  selectmen. 
1*7*.  S.  B.  Hubbard,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans,  J.  B.  Head,  Jackman  Wheeler,  selectmen. 
I*7:».  II.  C.  Green,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans,  J.  B.  Head,  J.  Wheeler,  selectmen. 


Town  of  Shelburne.  ssi 


1880.  H.  G.  Green,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans,  B.  F.  Lary,  E.  P.Green,  selectmen. 

1881.  A.  E.  Philbrook,  clerk;  A.  < '.  Evans,  B.  F.  Lary,  ( '.  .1.   Lary,  selectmen. 
18S2.  A.  E.  Philbrook;  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans,  B.  I'.  Lary,  C.  E.  Pbilbrook,  selectmen. 
1883.  A.  E.  Philbrook,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans;  B.  P.  Lary,  C.  E.  Philbrook,  selectmen. 
lssi.  A.  E.  Philbrook,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans.  B.  P.  Lary,  C.  E.  Philbrook,  selectmen. 

1885.  A.  E.  Philbrook,  clerk;  !•',.  Wheeler,  11.  G.  Green,  A.  E.  Philbrook,  selectm<  a. 

1886.  A.  E.  Philbrook,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans.  ( '.  E.  Philbrook,  I'..  F.  Lary.  selectmen. 

1887.  A.  E.  Philbrook,  clerk;  A.  C.  Evans,  H.  G.  Green,  Albion  S.  Jewett,  selectmen. 

The  coming  generations  of  Shelburne  will  owe  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude 
to  Mrs.  R.  P.  Peabody  for  her  labors  in  rescuing  so  much  of  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  town  and  its  settlers  from  oblivion.  Her  work  has  been  con- 
scientiously done,  and  we  are  indebted  to  her  published  work  in  the  Moun- 
taineer, and  subsequent  assistance,  for  what  we  have  given. 


GORHAM. 


CHAPTER  CX. 


Scenery    and  Attractions — Boundaries — Shelburne    Addition— Survey — First    Settler — First 
Permanent  Settler — Other  Settlers. 

TO  the  eye  of  the  cultured  traveller  who,  with  esthetic  taste,  has  ranged 
through  the  classic  regions  of  the  Old  World,  and  the  grand,  stupen- 
dous scenery  of  California  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  White 
Mountains  and  their  surrounding  regions  have  a  weird  attraction  all  their 
own — a  mingled  awe-inspiring  grandure  and  wondrous  sublimity,  combined 
with  quiet  repose  and  gentle  softness  of  landscape  in  an  enchanting  con- 
trast. One  of  the  most  lovely  of  these  scenes  of  sylvan  beauty  and  restful 
repose,  one  that  lingers  long  in  the  memory  with  a  tender  unobtrusiveness 
and  beguiling  and  bewitching  recollections,  is  Gorham,  the  eastern  gate- 
way of  the  northern  approaches  to  the  frowning  majesty  of  Mt.  Wash- 
ington and  its  scarcely  inferior  companion  peaks.  Nestled  in  the  river 
valley  of  the  Androscoggin,  on  an  extension  of  land  created,  apparently, 
for  the  site  of  a  lovely  village,  the  village  of  Gorham  has  attractions 
manifold.  The  narrow  glen-like  valley  of  Peabody  river  leads  away  up  to 
the  majestic  mountain  regions,  and  opens  a  bit  of  scenery  that  artists 
would  go  far  to  admire.  Mt.  Moriah  shows  itself  the  grand  central  object 
of  as  perfect  a  mountain  picture  as  ever  charmed  an  admirer;  varying  in 
its  moods  as  varies  the  weather,  it  seems  the  lovelier  with  each  new  con- 
dition. Across  the  Androscoggin  the  harsh  hills  press  their  cliffs  close  to 
the  river  and  frown,  with  scowl  and  wrinkle  of  nature's  own  formation, 
on  the  gentle  plain  below.  Away  off  towards  Lancaster  the  Pilot  moun- 
tains give  a  fine  imitation  of  the  Sierra  Madre  range,  and,  in  the  evenings 
and  later  afternoons  of  clear  days,  exhibit  the  same  gorgeous  displays  of 
coloring  so  characteristic  of  the  mountain  regions  of  the  far  West.  "The 
glory  of  the  sunset  flames  east  upon  those  hoary  giants  southward,  mark- 
ing their  western  angles  with  strong  color,  and  hiding  all  the  gashes  in 


Town  of  Gorham.  sm» 


their  eastern  slopes  under  heavy  shadow."  These,  and  many  other  natural 
beauties  and  advantages,  combine  to  make  the  river  valley  in  Gorham  a 
scene  of  loveliness  unparalleled,  and  a  summer  resort  which  those  "to  the 
manor  born,"  and  the  stranger,  tarrying  for  a  brief  period  amid  its  beau- 
ties, alike  pronounce  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  and  attractive  in  long 
leagues  of  travel;  and  which  unite  many  of  the  lovely  features  described 
by  Dr.  Johnson  in  his  fabled  "Valley  of  Rasselas."  The  winding  river, 
with  its  bank  strewn  with  magnificent  elms  towering  in  arching  columns 
of  strength  and  beauty;  the  ever-inspiring  mountain  scenery;  the  level, 
plain-like  valley,  stretching  along  the  Androscoggin  like  a  refreshing 
memory  in  the  mind  of  man;  the  quiet  calm  and  restfnlness  that  is  ever 
here  to  soothe  the  tired  and  wearied  wanderer;  the  perfect  healthfulness 
of  the  climate;  its  pleasant  homes,  and  the  charming  and  unobtrusive 
hospitality  of  the  citizens;  all  join  in  painting  upon  the  mental  canvas  a 
picture  of  content  and  happiness  that  will  not  soon  be  obliterated. 

From  the  opening  of  the  Grand  Trunk  railway  in  1851,  Gorham  has 
been  the  center  of  summer  travel  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountains,  and 
we  but  voice  the  feelings  of  many  visitors  in  what  we  have  said  concern- 
ing its  attractions.  Who  comes  once,  will  come  again  and  often;  and 
leave,  each  time  of  departure,  with  deeper  feelings  of  regret  than  before. 

The  Alpine  Cascades,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  Androscoggin 
river,  near  the  Berlin  line,  are  among  the  many  attractions  with  which 
Dame  Nature  has  so  richly  endowed  Gorham.  These  cascades  are  reached 
from  the  road  by  a  wire  suspension  bridge  across  the  main  channel  of  the 
Androscoggin.  About  seventy-five  feet  above  the  river  is  an  incompara- 
ble view-point  of  the  foaming  river  below,  the  falls  above,  the  White 
Mountains  in  the  distance,  and,  nearer,  of  the  innumerable  smaller  hills. 
The  path  to  the  foot  of  the  cascades  is  through  a  grove.  At  the  foot  of 
the  lower  cascade  is  a  small  circular  pool,  surrounded  by  a  luxurious 
growth  of  majestic  firs,  spruce,  hemlock,  beech,  birch,  and  maple,  with 
smaller  evergreen  trees.  From  this  point  commences  the  ascent  to  the 
upper  cascades  by  artificial  stairs.  LOO  feet  in  length,  ingeniously  arranged, 
and  securely  fastened  to  the  rock.  At  the  height  of  about  200  feet  is  the 
Imp's  Wash  Bowl,  a  circular  cavity  in  the  solid  granite.  The  whole  length 
of  the  cascades  is  about  one  mile;  their  extreme  height  above  the  river  is 
about -ton  feet;  their  channel  lies  between  nearly  perpendicular  walls  of 
granite,  in  places  rising  above  the  water  to  the  height  of  eighty  feet;  the 
progress  of  t lie  water  from  its  large  basin  at  the  top  of  the  mountain,  i- 
first  precipitous,  falling  nearly  perpendicular,  then  (more  slowly)  down 
a  steep  inclined  plane  through  narrow  gorges,  and  at  last  expanding  till  it 
culminates  in  the  most  delightful  view  before  reaching  the  pool  at  its 
mountain  base. 

Gorham,  earlier  Shelburne  Addition,  is  situated  at  the  northern  base  of 

58 


890  History  of  Coos  County. 


the  White  Mountains.  Much  of  its  territory  is  rough,  unproductive,  and, 
in  an  agricultural  point  of  view,  of  little  value.  The  Androscoggin  valley 
immediately  adjacent  to  the  river  is  all  that  is  of  worth,  and  that  is  all 
that  makes  the  value  and  the  wealth  of  the  Gorham  of  1887.  The  town  is 
bounded  north  by  Berlin,  east  by  Shelburne,  south  by  the  White  Moun- 
tain territory,  and  west  by  Randolph.  There  are  some  fine  water-privi- 
leges along  the  Androscoggin,  and  eventually  these  will  be  the  seats  of 
busy  and  remunerative  labor.  The  waters  of  the  Moose  and  Peabody  rivers 
were  formerly  used  to  manufacture  lumber,  but  the  few  establishments 
now  located  on  these  streams  employ  steam  as  their  motive-power. 

The  area  of  Gorham  is  18,116  acres.  In  1770,  it  having  been  brought 
to  the  notice  of  Gov.  John  Wentworth  by  the  grantees  of  Shelburne  that 
the  greater  part  of  that  grant  was  "  so  interspersed  with  mountains,  un- 
improvable lands  and  waters,  that  it  will  not  accommodate  near  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  that  were  by  the  conditions  of  the  charter  to  be  settled 
and  resident  thereon,"  he,  in  order  "that  the  settling  and  cultivating  that 
portion  of  our  said  province  (which  induced  us  to  make  the  said  first  grant) 
may  not  be  frustrated,  but  duly  carried  into  effect,"  did  make  to  the  pro- 
prietors a  second  grant,  which  included  the  present  town  of  Gorham  in 
addition  to  its  original  domain.  This  was  really  then  Shelburne  Addition, 
and  as  such  it  was  known  until  its  incorporation  as  Gorham,  June  18,  1836. 
It  was  never  of  any  special  value  to  Shelburne,  for  it  paid  no  taxes,  and 
made  but  little  progress  during  all  those  years.  It  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  surveyed  into  lots  until  after  the  commencement  of  the  present  cen- 
tury. In  L800  there  were  but  eight  or  ten  families  resident  in  the  "Addi- 
tion." and  the  total  population  was  but  forty-five.  In  1802  the  town  was 
surveyed  by  Uriah  Holt,  of  Norway,  Me.,  and  Moses  Ingalls,  of  Shelburne, 
assisted  by  Captain  Daniel  and  Simon  Evans  (brothers),  John  Clemens,  and 
James  S.  Austin.  The  Addition  had  been  owned  during  most  of  the  last 
(|  i  in  iter  of  the  eighteenth  century  by  John  Pierce,  of  Portsmouth,  but  at  the 
time  of  the  survey  it  was  owned  by  his  son,  Mark  W.  Pierce,  and  Benja- 
min Weld,  of  Brunswick,  Me. 

To  the  practical  minds  of  the  early  frontiersmen  there  was  no  induce- 
ment for  a  settlement.  A  township  with  no  upland  of  any  account,  the 
mountains  running  close  to  the  river,  giving  only  a  limited  amount  of 
interval  compared  with  that  of  towns  lower  down  the  river,  with  no  tim- 
ber to  attract  the  attention  of  the  lumberman,  Shelburne  Addition  had  but 
little  to  attract  the  attention  of  any  one  having  capital  to  invest.  There 
was  only  a  simple  trail  through  the  town  for  those  on  the  river  below  to 
reach  the  Connecticut  river  and  Vermont.  From  time  immemorial  the 
Indians  had  followed  this  trail,  and  fished  and  hunted,  and  found  fish  in 
(lie  streams  and  wild  animals  on  their  banks.  This  trail,  as  civilization 
advanced,  became  the  highway  to  the  Upper  Coos  country;  and,  in  long 


Town  of  Gorham.  >t>  1 


years  to  come,  became  the  track  over  which  were  laid  the  long  lines  of 
iron  over  which  roll  the  magnificent  passenger  coaches  of  the  Grand  Trunk 
railway.  The  simple  pioneer  who  fastened  for  a  brief  space  his  eyes  upon 
the  Addition  would  have  considered  the  man  a  lunatic  who  would  have 
told  one-half  of  the  changes  which  seventy-five  years  have  wrought.  The 
township  was  not  at  all  inviting.  Pine  lumber  was  not  so  abundant  as  in 
other  towns.  The  uplands  were  everywhere  regarded  absolutely  unfit  for 
cultivation,  while  the  interval  lands  were  few  and  not  of  the  first  quality, 
compared  with  those  in  the  lower  towns.  The  great  distance  to  a  market 
was  also  quite  another  obstacle. 

Dr.  True  says:  "  The  first  road  from  Gorham  to  Connecticut  river  was 
opened  about  the  year  1803.  It  could  not  be  travelled  by  teams  except  in 
winter.  Mr.  A.  G.  Lary  says  that  a  two-wheeled  chaise  was  never  owned 
in  the  town.  People  carried  their  wives  and  small  children  on  horseback 
during  the  summer  season.  About  the  same  time  the  road  was  laid  out 
from  Shelburne  to  Shelburne  Addition.  This  was  simply  a  horseback  path 
for  many  years.  People  are.  now  living  who  can  remember  when  the  road 
from  Gilead  to  Shelburne  stopped  at  the  Bars,  as  they  were  called  near 
Shelburne  village." 

The  first  settler  was  a  good-natured,  intemperate  wanderer;  two  indo- 
lent to  undergo  the  hardships  incident  to  developing  a  farm  from  the 
tangled  wilderness,  and  yet  of  sufficient  good  taste  to  be  able  to  appreciate 
the  quality  of  the  moose-meat  and  the  flavor  of  the  trout  provided  by  his 
gun  and  rod.  He  built  his  camp  in  close  proximity  to  the  present  Lary 
house  about  1803.  His  name  was  Bezaleel  Bennett.  He  came  from  Pig- 
wacket  (Conway),  and  brought  with  him  his  mother  and  sister.  He 
cleared  a  small  place,  lived  here  a  few  years,  and  went  away.  The  rocks 
used  by  him  in  his  fire-place  marked  until  recently,  and  perhaps  do  now, 
the  site  of  his  rude  abode. 

First  Permanent  Settler. — Stephen  Messer,  a  native  of  Methuen,  Mass., 
came  from  Andover,  Mass.,  with,  his  wife,  Anna  Barker,  prior  to  1800, 
and  located  in  Shelburne.  About  1805  he  settled  in  the  present  Gorham,  a 
little  west  of  the  new  cemetery.  He  was  of  cheerful,  sanguine  tempera- 
ment, and  the  difficulties  of  forming  a  home  in  the  wilderness  had  no 
terrors  for  him.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children  with  whose  assistance 
he  built  a  home,  and  he  became  a  life-long  resident,  and,  according  to  tradi- 
tion, was  the  only  "praying  man"  in  town  for  years.  Mrs.  Messer  was 
one  of  the  most  intelligent  women  of  her  day,  and  possessed  a  good  educa- 
tion. She  was  physician  for  many  years,  and  also  nurse,  for  the  settle- 
ments along  the  Androscoggin  for  miles;  and  many  yet  living  in  Gorham, 
Bethel,  Gilead  and  Shelburne  can  testify  to  the  reputation  she  won  by 
her  skill.  She  was  strong,  resolute,  and  fearless.  Often,  with  a  child  in 
her  arms,  she  would  make  visits  on  horseback  to  Concord  and  Pembroke, 


892  History  of  Coos  County. 

and  her  old  home  in  Massachusetts.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Messer  rest  in  the 
old  yard  opposite  the  cemetery,  from  all  the  toils  of  life.  Of  their  children, 
the  sons,  John,  Stephen,  Samuel,  and  Enoch,  possessed  natural  mechan- 
ical powers,  inherited  from  their  father,  for  no  one  could  make  a  hand- 
somer basket,  snow-shoe  or  moose-sled,  or  "bottom"  chairs  with  more 
artistic  skill  than  the  "old  pioneer."  Their  daughter  Hannah  married 
David  Blake,  and  has  descendants  now  living  in  Maine;  Susannah  married 
Oliver  Peabody,  of  Shelburne;  Nancy  married  Amos  Peabody  of  the  same 
town;  Esther  married,  first,  Joseph  Ordway,  second,  Aaron  Roweil;  Betsey 
married  Thomas  Hubbard,  and  lived  and  died  in  Shelburne,  leaving 
descendants;  Sarah  married  Isaac  Carlton,  and  Mehitable  became  the  wife 
of  Simon  Evans. 

The  Jackson  and  Goodno  families  were  the  next  forerunners  of  civiliza- 
tion here.  Henry  Goodno,  a  native  of  Canterbury,  married,  in  that  town, 
Nancy,  daughter  of  Joseph  Jackson,  and  they,  probably  with  her  family, 
moved  to  Newry,  Me.,  about  1800.  They  all  became  interested  in  the  new 
lands  in  Shelburne  Addition,  and  in  April,  1807,  Mr.  Goodno  came  to 
Bethel  with  his  household  goods.  Finding  the  snow  in  the  roads  six  feet 
in  depth,  he  disposed  of  the  major  part  of  his  effects,  and  started  with  the 
remainder  and  some  supplies  on  hand-sleds  for  his  future  home.  This  he 
made  on  that  part  of  the  J.  R.  Hitchcock  farm  lying  in  Gorham.  Here  he 
built  his  rough  log-cabin,  then  called  a  camp,  and  commenced  to  cut  out  a 
home,  and  became  a  resident.  In  1812  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier,  and  was 
made  a  recruiting  officer.  He  enlisted  about  twenty  men  in  Shelburne  and 
vicinity,  and,  with  them,  marched  across  the  country,  and  joined  an  expe- 
dition against  Canada.  He  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  in  the  battle 
of  Three  Rivers,  P.  Q.,  but,  as  peace  was  declared  the  next  day,  he  was 
s<  ><  >n  released,  and  started  homeward,  dying,  however,  atPlattsburgh,  N.  Y., 
from  his  wounds.  He,  it  is  said,  built  the  first  frame-house  in  the  town. 
Dr.  True  says  that  "he  was  assisted  by  Nathaniel  Greenwood,  a  single 
man,  who  was  hired  by  Goodno.  Subsequently  Greenwood  bought  him 
out,  and  Goodno  moved  to  Gilead."  Mrs.  Goodno,  after  passing  through 
various  vicissitudes,  died  at  the  county  alms  house.  They  had  eight  child- 
ren, of  win  tin  Moses,  so  w^ell-known  to  citizens  of  this  generation,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  town. 

Joseph  Jackson,  then  of  Newry,  in  1*07  purchased  the  lot  now  the  site 
of  Gorham  village,  of  Benjamin  Weld.  He  built  a  log  house,  and  became 
the  first  settler  of  the  place.  The  whole  lot,  according  to  Dr.  True,  was 
estimated  at  the  value  of  $25.  Jackson  was  accused  of  aiding  an  uncle  in 
passing  counterfeit  money,  was  tried  and  convicted  of  this  offense,  and 
s< 'nt  to  the  state  prison.  He  escaped,  however,  and  rumor  says  that  he 
left  this  country  on  a  vessel  bound  for  the  West  Indies,  and  settled  at  Ma- 
tanzas,  where  he  died.     He  was  an  active  man,  and  appeared  desirous  to 


Town  of  Gorham.  893 


create  a  pleasant  home  for  his  family  here.  ' '  He  went  to  Canterbury,  N.  H. , 
and  obtained  a  sackful  of  small  apple  trees,  which  he  brought  home 
on  his  back,  and  set  out  a  large  orchard,  the  first  in  town,  which  is  still 
remembered  by  old  people.  He  also  obtained  from  the  same  place  a  sack- 
ful of  small  pear  trees,  which  he  set  out  where  the  Congregational  church 
now  stands.  When  that  was  built,  in  1802,  there  were  pear  trees  six  or 
eight  inches  in  diameter,  which  were  cut  down  to  make  room  for  the 
church.  This  was  the  largest  orchard  ever  in  town."  Previous  to  1815 
Jackson,  while  under  the  ban  of  the  law,  gave  this  lot  to  his  son  Moses, 
but  both  he  and  his  brother,  Willard.  soon  left  the  town. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  counterfeiting  was  carried  on  to  a  great  ex- 
tent in  Canada.  Men  would  actually  pass  through  Shelburne  Addition  to 
Canada  for  this  purpose.  They  took  with  them  a  quantity  of  pigtail 
and  ladies'  twist  tobacco,  with  which  to  pay  their  travelling  expenses. 
The  scarcity  of  this  article  in  those  days  was  so  great  that  it  was  as  good 
and  even  better  than  money  itself.  These  men  would  go  to  Canada  and 
buy  the  counterfeit  money  for  ten  cents  on  a  dollar,  put  a  lot  of  it  in  the 
bottom  of  a  bag,  and  fill  it  up  with  snake  root,  so  as  to  escape  detection. 
When  they  came  to  a  place  for  the  night,  they  would  carelessly  throw  the 
bag  down  near  the  horses  in  the  barn,  where  it  remained  untouched. 
Going  into  the  lower  settlements  they  disposed  of  it  as  best  they  could.  If 
caught,  they  would  sometimes  redeem  it  with  genuine  money,  and  thus 
escape  justice,  but  if  they  had  nothing  but  the  counterfeit,  they  would  be 
arrested  and  sent  to  jail  to  be  tried,  and  sent  to  the  state  prison.  Occasion- 
ally specimens  of  these  counterfeits  may  be  seen  in  museums. 

Simon  Evans  came  to  Addition  in  1815,  with  six  children.  There  were 
then  seven  cabins  in  the  Addition.  Three  of  them  were  frame  shanties 
twenty-two  feet  square,  simply  "boarded  in,"  covered  with  long  shingles, 
having  rough  single  floors  and  rock  chimneys.  There  was  not  a  bit  of 
"  plastering  "  in  any  building  in  town.  There  was  not  $25  worth  of  furni- 
ture in  all  the  houses,  nor  was  there  anything  but  "home-made  "  sleighs 
or  wagons. 

Population  in  1815.— Mr.  Griffin  and  his  son  Benjamin  lived  in  a  little 
log  house  in  A.  J.  Lary's  pasture,  on  the  rise  of  land  near  Peabody's  mill. 
He  had  seven  children.  John  Messer  lived  near  the  Lary  crossing.  Samuel 
Messer  and  T.  J.  Hubbard  lived  on  the  square  lot.  One  had  eight  children, 
the  other  ten.  Simon  Evans  and  grandfather  Messer  lived  in  the  orchard 
near  Jackman's  and  had  six  children.  The  widow  of  Henry  Goodno  lived 
near  by.  Simeon  Evans  occupied  the  place  where  he  raised  his  boys. 
Abram  Wilson  lived  in  a  little  log  hut  on  the  bank  near  the  Congregational 
church,  and  had  eight  children.  Elijah  Evans  lived  in  a  little  cabin  near 
Hitchcock's  barn,  and  had  six  children.  This  gives  the  whole  population 
of  Gorham  in  1815,  except  one   family  of  Indians  that  lived  in  the  pines 


894  History  of  Coos  County. 


near  Moose  river  bridge,  John  Mitchell  and  wife  and  three  children.  Only 
two  horses  were  owned,  few  cows,  oxen,  or  sheep,  but  there  was  quite  a 
colony  of  dogs.  Tobacco  was  a  better  circulating  medium  than  money, 
and  was  even  less  plenty.  Rum  was  a  household  necessity,  for  every  one 
drank  it. 


CHAPTER  CXI. 


Early  Difficulties  in  Way  of  Settlement— The  "  Addition  "  in  1821  and  later— First  School— 
— Anecdote— The  Great  Freshet — Increase  in  Population— Commencement  of  Prosperity— Andrew 
G.  and  Jonathan  Lary— First  Mills— Village  Site  in  1835— Trade,  Traffic  and  Hotels. 

Y~Y ABLY Difficulties  in  Way  of  Settlement.— -The  years  succeeding  the 
lir  War  of  1812  were  noted  for  their  hard  times.  The  country  emerged 
^7  from  that  war  with  its  commerce  crippled  and  with  exhausted 
finances.  Money  was  scarce  in  all  sections  and  labor  received  but  little 
compensation.  In  this  sparsely-settled  section  money  was  rarely  seen 
and  no  demand  for  laborers  existed.  Added  to  this  stagnation,  for  several 
years  the  labor  in  planting  crops  on  the  little  clearings  was  of  little  avai], 
as  the  weather  was  most  unpromising.  In  1816  men  planted  their  corn 
and  beans  with  mittens  on,  and  reaped  their  meager  crops  of  unripe  wheat 
when  frost  was  on  its  stalks.  Through  the  whole  Androscoggin  valley 
not  an  ear  of  corn  was  raised  and  bat  few  potatoes.  The  few  fortunate 
ones  whose  wheat  ripened  could  sell  it  at  from  $3  to  $5  a  bushel.  Yet  no 
one  starved.  Fish  and  game  were  the  chief  supplies.  One  early  settler 
says:  "  I  have  lived  six  weeks  without  bread,  and  but  the  milk  of  one 
cow  for  a  family  of  ten,  and  potatoes,  and  we  were  better  off  than  some.''" 
"If  their  food  was  frugal,  their  appetites  were  equally  sharp.  If  they 
were  fortunate  enough  to  raise  some  beans,  they  could  make  bean  por- 
ridge, which  had  the  merit  of  lasting  a  good  while.  Hulled  corn  cooked 
with  maple  sap  was  no  mean  food.  Boiled  potatoes  were  mixed  with 
flour,  to  lengthen  out  the  latter.  For  want  of  a  mill  they  pounded  up 
their  grain  and  boiled  it.  Old  hunters  went  to  Bethel,  Norway  and  Paris 
in  the  winter,  and  hauled  home  on  handsleds  a  little  rum.  They  did  not 
have  much  during  the  summers,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  it." 
Some  lived  for  weeks  on  "boiled  greens,"  plants,  roots,  etc.  Some  corn 
was  harvested  in  1817  and  a  fair  crop  of  wheat,  and  the  acreage  of  tillable 
Land  was  yearly  increasing. 

The  pioneer  was  of  necessity  forced  to  hard  manual  labor.  Felling 
trees,  piling  and  burning  logs,  hacking  in  wheat  with  a  hoe  among  the 


Town  op  Gorham.  *'.»:> 


stumps  and  rocks,  and  building  heavy  log  fences  were  the  necessary  avoca- 
tions. The  frugal  diet  was  aided  by  equally  frugal  and  inexpensive  drinks. 
In  place  of  coffee,  a  decoction  of  the  chocolate  root  growing  plentifully 
every  where  was  used.  Dried  raspberry  leaves  and  clover  blossoms  were 
steeped  for  tea.  A  corn-cob,  or  dug  out  briar-root  or  potato,  served  as  a 
pipe-bowl  in  which  to  smoke  the  hanging  moss  collected  from  the  forest- 
trees,  or  the  lung- wort  from  the  trunks  of  the  maples.  Snake  root,  a  val- 
uable medicine,  was  dug  and  brought  a  dollar  a  pound.  A  board  served 
as  a  table.  They  made  their  own  baskets  and  wash-bowls,  and  often 
wooden  spoons.  Sometimes  they  could  obtain  lead  sufficient  to  run  some 
spoons,  which  were  a  little  more  aristocratic  than  those  of  wood.  The 
neighboring  brook  or  spring  supplied  them  with  water.  A  dipper  served 
them  a  good  purpose  for  drinking  their  rum.  They  made  their  own  spin- 
ning wheels  and  looms,  and  tanned  skins  of  all  kinds  for  mittens,  shoes 
and  boots.  Grandfather  Messer  had  a  tool  called  a  howell  with  which  he 
would  hollow  out  a  large  log  of  poplar  into  trays.  He  made  heelers  for 
setting  the  milk,  and  tubs  for  butter.  If  they  could  not  make  maple  sugar, 
they  went  without  it.  It  was  ruin  for  any  man  to  indulge  in  the  luxuries 
of  life.  Oxen  were  fed  on  the  life-of-man  root,  which  grew  in  abundance. 
This  served  for  provender  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  and  they  soon  learned 
to  like  it.  One  settler  started  early  one  morning  for  Shelburne,  a  distance 
of  thirteen  miles,  did  a  hard  day's  work,  shelled  a  bushel  of  corn  in  the 
evening  for  his  pay,  and  carried  it  in  a  bag  on  his  back  to  a  mill  three 
miles  distant,  roused  up  the  miller,  who  ground  it  for  him,  when  he  carried 
the  meal  home  to  Gorham  Hill  that  night,  where  his  family  were  waiting 
that  they  might  have  some  of  it  to  eat. 

The  Addition  in  1S2L  and  lifter. — In  1821  Hezekiah  Ordway  had  a 
framed  house  in  which  he  kept  travellers.  There  was  a  log  house  w  here  the 
Mullen  house  stands.  Elijah  Evans  had  a  framed  house  on  the  Hitchcock 
place.  Moses  Goodno  lived  in  a  log  house  on  the  flat  land  where  the  road 
now  turns  off  to  the  Glen.  The  three  Evanses  were  living  on  the  Stiles 
place.  Benjamin  Griffin  came  about  1825.  Up  to  this  time  log  hous<  is  had 
been  the  rule,  and  when  a  man  was  ready  to  raise  one,  men  came  from  all 
quarters  to  assist  in  the  work.  Plenty  of  rum  was  the  only  reward  desired, 
and  it  was  always  remembered  as  a  jolly  occasion.  Sometimes  the  roads 
were  so  new  and  bad  that  men  were  obliged  to  unyoke  their  oxen  and  carry 
the  yoke  on  their  shoulders,  and  drive  the  oxen  as  best  they  could  through 
the  rough  places.  This  was  no  obstacle  when  they  were  going  to  a 
raising. 

Hezekiah  Ordway  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  came  to  Shelburne  when 
a  boy.  In  1823  he  married  Polly  Porter,  of  Shelburne,  moved  to  Gorham 
in  1826,  and  kept  a  public  house,  and  was  the  first  postmaster  in  town. 
He  afterwards  moved  to  Milan,  then  to  Bethel,  but  died  in  L879  in  Green- 


896  History  of  Coos  County. 


land,  N.  H.,  in  his  eightieth  year.  In  1827  Elijah  Evans  had  a  two-story 
house  standing  in  Gorham.  Elder  Morse  lived  in  Gorham  after  1827. 
Daniel  Ingalls  was  the  only  man  then  living  on  Gorham  Hill.  Lot  Davis, 
brother  of  Abner,  moved  to  Gorham  in  1831.  He  built  a  two -story  house 
and  a  store.  This  was  the  first  store  in  town.  He  owned  the  Valentine 
Styles  place  and  kept  a  public  house,  but  was  entirely  burned  out.  He 
afterwards  rebuilt;  sold  out  to  Abraham  Cole  about  the  year  1850,  and 
moved  out  one  mile  on  the  Randolph  road,  and  afterwards  died  in  Jackson. 
Mr.  Cole  kept  a  public  house,  but  was  also  burned  out. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  1823  by  Miss  Salome  Mason,  of  Gilead, 
for  the  munificent  sum  of  $1.00  a  week.  She  boarded  with  the  scholars, 
and  the  proprietors  paid  for  her  eight-weeks  term.  She  was  a  noted 
teacher  in  those  days,  and  was  well  known  in  all  the  Androscoggin  valle}7-. 
An  amusing  anecdote  is  told  of  one  of  her  pupils  in  a  Shelburne  school. 
Jonathan  Lary  was  visiting  the  school  at  one  time,  and  asked  the  child, 
who  was  diligently  wrestling  with  arithmetic,  assisted  by  slate  and  pencil, 
if  she  had  been  through  addition.  "  Not  clear  through,"  was  her  response, 
"  but  I  have  been  to  Grandpa  Messer's."  It  was  a  long  time  before  she 
heard  the  last  of  "  going  through  Addition. " 

As  late  as  1829  there  were  but  three  framed  houses  in  town.  One  on 
the  Hitchcock  interval,  another  where  Patrick  Mullen's  house  now  stands, 
and  one  opposite  A.  G.  Lary's.     The  rest  were  log  houses. 

The  Great  Freshet. — Dr.  True  secured,  in  18S2,  from  Moses  Goodno 
this  description  of  that  freshet  on  Peabody  and  Androscoggin  rivers, 
known  as  the  Great  Freshet  of  August  28,  182(3:  'k  I  was  living  with  Elijah 
Evans,  on  the  spot  where  I  was  born,  in  the  interval  near  where  Hitch- 
cock's barns  are  situated.  This  was  on  August  28,  182(3,  when  I  was  nine- 
teen years  old.  It  began  to  rain  the  previous  night,  and  rained  very  hard 
all  the  next  day,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  water  began  to  rise  in  the  river, 
when  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  it  touched  the  stringers  of  the  bridge. 
It  rained  fearfully  hard  till  eleven  o'clock  that  night  before  it  ceased.  It 
seemed  like  pouring  water  through  a  sieve,  or  as  if  a  cloud  had  burst.  A 
man  could  hardly  keep  from  drowning  when  standing  still,  it  rained  so  fast. 
In  a  short  time  the  water  rose  about  eight  feet  higher  than  ever  known 
before,  and  carried  away  the  bridge.  About  nine  o'clock,  the  water  began 
to  run  into  the  doors  and  windows,  and  the  family  started  for  the  mount- 
ains. It  was  totally  dark,  but  they  waded  across  the  interval  and  crossed 
a  small  bridge,  and  came  to  another  which  had  just  been  swept  away,  and 
we  could  not  go  any  further.  We  then  turned  back,  hoping  to  reach  the 
bam  for  shelter,  but  the  bridge  we  had  crossed  before  was  now  swept 
away,  and  we  could  not  reach  the  barn.  Trees  floated  down  from  the 
Peabody  river  near  us,  and  swept  us  down  with  them.  We  caught  into 
the  tops  and  were  borne  down  with  the  current  a  third  of  a  mile.     I  sue- 


Town  of  Gorham.  sj»t 


ceeded  in  putting  the  children  into  the  tops  of  the  floating  trees.  At  List 
the  trees  formed  a  jam  about  some  stumps,  but  the  water  ran  so  swiftly 
that  a  part  of  the  trees  were  torn  away  and  carried  down  stream,  and 
with  them  Harriet  Evans  and  her  brother,  John  C.  Evans,  and  in  a  minute 
more  it  swept  away  the  young  man  Elijah  Evans  and  Harriet  Wilson, 
then  living  in  the  family.  I  succeeded  in  reaching  the  girl  and  bringing 
her  back,  and  then  the  boy.  The  father  of  the  family,  Elijah  Evans,  was 
in  Shelburne  at  this  time.  I  could  hear  the  others  screaming,  and  though 
it  was  pitch  dark  I  swam  part  of  the  time  and  waded  and  followed  the 
direction  of  the  sound  till  I  succeeded  in  reaching  them,  and  found  Harriet 
in  the  water  clinging  to  the  tree  tops.  I  pulled  her  out  of  the  water  with 
her  brother  clinging  to  her  clothes  without  her  being  aware  of  his  being 
there.  I  succeeded  in  getting  them  onto  a  dry  knoll.  The  old  lady  and 
two  boys,  Harrison  and  Sam,  were  still  on  the  first  jam,  holding  on  to  a 
stump.  I  thought  they  were  quite  safe  there.  I  saw  a  streak  of  light  in 
the  sky,  and  being  a  good  swimmer  I  struck  for  the  mountain,  well  know- 
ing that  I  could  do  no  more  for  them  there,  and  that  they  would  all  be 
drowned  if  the  water  rose  much  higher.  I  swam  part  of  the  way,  and 
waded  the  rest.  I  struck  a  sheep  pen  just  below  John  Burbank's  barn, 
climbed  onto  it,  and  jumped  down  into  the  water,  well  soaked  with  manure, 
to  the  armpits,  and  had  some  trouble  in  getting  out.  I  went  to  the  house, 
opened  the  outside  door,  when  the  brooks  from  the  mountains  rushed  in. 
I  succeeded  in  shutting  the  inner  door,  went  to  the  fire-place,  caught  a 
burning  brand  and  put  it  in  the  oven  so  it  should  not  be  put  out  by  the 
water,  and  shouted  for  Mr.  Burbank.  His  wife  sprang  out  of  bed,  lighted 
a  candle,  when  Mr.  Burbank  followed,  but  fainted  as  soon  as  he  arose. 
We  placed  him  on  a  bed,  she  called  her  hired  man,  Isaac  Carleton4  and  we 
let  the  cattle  out  of  the  yard,  which  was  full  of  water,  to  keep  them 
from  drowning.  We  now  lighted  a  lantern,  took  off  the  great  doors  from 
the  barn  and  made  a  raft,  but  it  flopped  over,  and  we  could  do  nothing 
with  it.  We  next  yoked  the  oxen  and  went  to  Mr.  Joshua  Kendall's 
house,  who  had  a  large  lye-trough,  which  had  been  made  by  digging  out 
a  large  tree  like  a  boat.  We  hitched  the  oxen  to  this,  Kendall  rode  in  the 
boat,  while  Carleton  and  I  each  rode  an  ox.  In  this  way  we  went  across 
the  interval,  but  did  not  dare  to  take  the  women  into  the  boat,  through 
fear  of  tipping  over,  and  waited  till  daylight,  when  we  made  bridges  of 
plank,  and  succeeded  in  bringing  them  all  safely  to  Mr.  Burbank's  house 
about  eight  or  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon.  One  of  the  boys  had  gone 
further  down  the  stream  on  a  jam,  when  he  caught  near  Merrill  Head's 
house  at  a  distance  of  half  a  mile.  He  could  not  swim,  but  succeeded  in 
keeping  out  of  the  current  in  the  main  river,  and  the  family  had  given 
him  up  for  drowned,  but  when  they  reached  the  house,  to  their  great  joy 
and  surprise  they  found  him.     The  escape  of  the  whole  family  was  cer- 


898  History  of  Coos  County. 

tainly  a  marvellous  one.  The  effects  of  that  freshet  were  remarkable. 
The  channel  of  the  Peabody  river  previous  to  this  time  could  be  crossed 
on  a  single  plank,  but  the  floods  of  water  tore  away  the  banks,  taking  out 
large  trees  by  the  roots,  and  widening  the  channel  to  its  present  condition. 
The  river  was  a  milk  white  color,  from  the  mud  taken  from  its  banks.  It 
tore  away  about  ten  acres  of  excellent  interval,  and  the  land  where  Hutch- 
inson's interval  now  is,  making  hollows  and  channels  all  over  it,  some  of 
which  still  remain.  Jams  of  trees  covering  five  acres  of  land  and  fifteen 
feet  high  were  formed.  These  were  afterwards  burned  off.  The  reason 
why  Evans's  buildings  were  not  swept  away  was  owing  to  a  jam  of  trees 
which  lodged  on  some  pine  stumps  and  against  the  orchard  which  divided 
the  current  of  water.  The  only  building  swept  away  was  a  vacated  log 
house  belonging  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  Brooks.  It  was  several  days 
before  the  news  of  the  Willey  catastrophe  reached  us." 

Such  was  Mr.  Goodno's  story  of  one  of  the  most  interesting  events  in 
the  history  of  the  town.  It  was  a  very  disastrous  freshet  to  the  crops. 
Large  quantities  of  wheat  and  other  grains  floated  down  the  river  and  were 
lost.  Such  another  rain-fall  has  never  occurred  in  modern  times  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  White  Mountains. 

By  L830  the  population  had  increased  to  111,  and  the  first  or  rudimen- 
tary period  of  civilization  was  accomplished.  Nothing  occurred  of  im- 
portance for  the  first  three  years;  only  a  small  advance  in  the  population 
and  in  the  clearings.  There  was  now  a  chain  of  settlers  stretching  through 
the  town  from  Shelburae  to  Durand.  Provisions  enough  were  raised  to  give 
plain  and  nourishing  food  to  all  the  dwellers  of  the  settlement;  and,  although 
luxury  had  not  yet  made  its  appearance,  and  extreme  simplicity  of  man- 
ners, customs  and  st}de  of  living  prevailed,  the  hard  and  grinding  condi- 
tions of  absolute  poverty  and  suffering  for  lack  of  suitable  diet  had  passed 
away.  There  were  no  mills,  however,  and  no  center  of  trade.  No  attempt 
had  succeeded  to  establish  any  business  which  would  draw  capital  or  popu- 
Lation.  Hard  work  developed  the  physical  nature,  and  the  women,  as  well 
as  men,  could  do  their  share  in  rolling  up  the  log-heaps  and  other  heavy 
labor.  They  did  not  have  neuralgia  or  headache,  and,  notwithstanding 
their  toil,  many  attained  a  vigorous  old  age. 

The  period  of  prosperity  began  really  in  1834.  Dr.  True  says:  "In 
L834  Dea.  Evans  Wilson  owned  the  first  house  this  side  of  Randolph  line; 
Joseph  Messer  next  to  him,  then  Samuel  Emery,  where  Freeman  Emery 
now  lives,  then  Aaron  Burbank,  where  Augustus  Hodgdon  now  lives,  then 
Widow  Heath,  where  Thomas  Heath  now  lives,  then  John  Ordway,  near 
where  Mis.  Amanda  Dav  now  lives,  then  William  Powell,  where  Asa 
Evans  now  lives.  Mr.  Benjamin  Griffin  lived  on  the  John  T.  Peabody 
place;  next  to  him  lived  Andrew  G.  Lary,  on  the  place  he  bought  of  Jor- 
dan Saunders.     Near  Moose  river  lived  Jeremiah  Harding.     Moses  Goodno 


Town  of  Gorham.  sjmi 


about  fifty  rods  above  Peabody  river  bridge.  Daniel  Rodgers  lived  in  a 
block-house  of  hewn  timbers,  where  John  C.  Evans  now  lives,  next  was 
Lot  Davis,  near  Moose  river,  then  Aaron  Rowell,  where  J.  C.  Gordon  lives, 
then  Peter  Coffin,  on  lot  of  Walter  Buck's,  then  Abraham  Wilson,  where 
Patrick  Mullen  now  lives,  then  Elijah  Evans,  on  the  Hitchcock  place,  near 
the  large  barn.  Eighteen  families  constituted  the  site  of  the  present 
village." 

Addition  received  its  most  important  inhabitant  early  in  this  year — one 
whose  energy,  business  capacity  and  industry  did  much  to  inculcate  habits 
of  systematic  labor,  and  principles  of  sound  domestic  economy  among  the 
earlier  citizens  who  had  never  been  trained  in  any  such  school.  This  was 
Andrew  G.  Lary,  who  came  from  Shelburne,  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land  at  what  was  afterwards  known  as  Gorham  Upper  Village,  and  built 
the  Lary  House  as  a  house  of  entertainment.  This  was  the  first  painted 
house  in  Addition,  and  was  located  on  the  road  to  Lancaster,  which  had 
been  opened  through  Randolph  as  early  as  1825. 

First  Mills.—  Jonathan  Lary  also  was  a  prime  factor  in  improvement. 
He  built  this  year  I  L834)  the  first  grist-mill,  and  saved  many  long  journeys 
of  the  settlers  to  the  mill  in  Shelburne.  This  was  put  up  near  where  the 
bridge  crosses  Moose  river,  and.  to  furnish  power,  a  canal  was  dug  to  con- 
vey the  water  of  that  stream  by  a  shorter  route  to  the  mill,  thus  increas- 
ing the  fall.  The  first  saw-mill  was  constructed  in  1836,  on  or  near  the 
same  site,  by  Jonathan  and  Andrew  G.  Lary.  The  beneficent  effect  of 
these  industries  was  soon  felt.  Men  were  employed  in  the  mills,  and  dur- 
ing the  winter,  in  the  "woods"  in  providing  logs  to  be  manufactured. 
Money  was  brought  into  circulation,  and  a  better  manner  of  living  was 
gradually  introduced.  In  town  and  neighborhood  affairs  Andrew  ( ;.  Lary 
was  much  interested,  and  through  a  long  and  useful  life  filled  with  credit 
and  dignity,  and  for  extended  terms,  all  the  prominent  offices.  Jonathan 
Lary  and  Andrew  G.  Lary  were  authorized  to  call  the  first  town-meeting 
of  Gorham;  Andrew  G.  Lary  was  the  first  "  moderator,"  and  was  chosen 
the  first  treasurer  of  the  town.  The  town-meetings  were  held  at  his  house 
for  a  long  time.     He  was  also  the  largest  tax- payer. 

T.  H.  Hutchinson  says  that  on  his  first  visit  to  the  site  of  Gorham  vil- 
lage in  ls:J)5  it  was  a  desolate  place  enough.  The  snow  drifted  so  hard 
that  he  could  scarcely  see  the  marks  made  by  his  horse,  while  the  dry 
wire-grass  wriggled  above  the  snow,  and  the  rocks  stuck  up  very  plenti- 
fully over  the  ground,  and  lie  would  not  have  believed  at  the  time  that  all 
the  powers  on  earth  could  have  made  him  come  there  to  settle.  Had  he 
been  a  painter,  surely  he  would  have  had  abundant  materials  with  which 
to  make  a  picture  of  desolation. 

The  settlers'  nearest  market  towns  were  Lancaster,  twenty-five  miles 
west,  and  Bethel,  Me.,  twenty-one  miles  east.     Here  the  produce  of  the  little 


900  History  of  Coos  County. 

holdings,  some  bear,  moose,  and  fox  skins,  with  the  fur  of  beaver,  otter, 
and  fisher,  were  taken  and  exchanged  for  ''store-goods."  It  was  quite  a 
sight  to  see  the  long  processions  of  teams  en  route  to  Portland  conveying 
pork,  batter,  cheese,  and  poultry  from  the  Upper  Connecticut  valley. 
Every  ten  or  fifteen  miles  was  a  wayside  inn  furnishing  accommodations, 
and  half  a  dozen  occupants  were  not  un frequently  provided  with  lodging 
in  the  same  appartment.  Between  Lancaster  and  Bethel  were  Whipple's 
old  stand,  Olcott  Brown's  in  Randolph,  A.  G.  Lary's  in  Addition,  and 
George  Green's  in  Shelburne. 


CHAPTER  CXII. 


Art  of  Incorporation  of  Gorham — First  Town  Meeting — Town  Officers — Tax-payers  in  1836 — 
School  Districts  Formed — Extracts  from  Records  and  Civil  List. 

THE  increase  of  population,  and  a  corresponding  increase  of  business, 
induced  the  inhabitants  to  petition  the  legislature  for  an  act  of  incor- 
poration into  a  town.  In  consequence,  a  petition  was  sent  to  the 
legislature  in  session  at  Concord,  in  1836,  and  the  following  act  of  incor- 
poration was  passed  and  signed  by  the  governor. 

Act  of  Incroporation.—  "Section  1.  Beit  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
C  mrt  convened,  that  the  tract  of  land  now  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  Shelburne  Addition,  shall  here- 
r  be  known  by  the  name  of  Gorham,  and  shall  be  a  town  by  that  name.* 

"Section-  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  township  be  and  hereby  are  made  a 
body  corporate  and  politic  with  all  the  rights,  powers,  privileges,  immunities  and  liabilities  of  similar  corpo- 
rations in  tins  State.  And  the  said  town  of  Gorham  shall  be  classed  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  Represent- 
ative, and  shall  be  annexed  to  the  same  senatorial  and  councillor  district  as  said  Shelburne  Addition  was 
previous  to  the  passing  of  this  act. 

"Section  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted  that  for  the  purpose  of  duly  organizing  said  town  a  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  thereof  legally  qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs  shall  be  holden  in  said  town  on  the  third 
Tuesday  next,  at  which  meeting  a  town-clerk,  selectmen  and  all  other  necessary  town  officers  may  be  elected 
to  continue  iii  office  until  others  are  chosen  and  qualified  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  this  State.  And  that 
Andrew  G.  Lary,  Jonathan  Lary  and  William  Rowell,  or  any  two  of  them,  be  authorized  to  call  said  meet- 
ing of  said  inhabitants  by  giving  such  notice  as  is  required  for  annual  town  meeting.  And  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  said  Andrew  G.  Lary,  Jonathan  Lary,  or  William  Rowell  or  some  one  of  them  to  attend  and  open 
said  meeting  and  preside  thereon  until  a  moderator  be  chosen  and  sworn. 

"  C  G.  Atherton. 

"  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
"James  Clark, 

'•  President  of  the  Senate. 
"  Approved  June  18,  1S36. 
"Isaac  Hill,  Governor." 

♦Sylvanus  Davis,  son  of  Mr.  Josiah  Davis,  and  Hannah  Gorham,  a  member  of  the  family  of  the  Hon. 
William  Gorham,  of  Gorham,  Maine,  were  married  November  19,  1789,  and  some  time  after  moved  to  Chat- 
ham, N.  EL  Their  Bon,  Lot  Davis.  Esq.,  moved  to  Gorham,  N.  H.,  and  was  present  at  a  meeting  when  the 
matter  of  organizing  the  town  was  under  consideration.  Mr.  Davis  suggested  the  name  of  "  Gorham"  and 
the  town  was  called  "Gorham." 


Town  of  Gorham.  901 


Action  of  the  Toicn  awl  Civil  List.  -Firs/  Town  Meeting.  "At  a  legal  town  meeting,  duly  uotified  and 
holden  at  Gorham,  in  the  County  of  Coos,  on  Tuesday,  the  19th  of  July,  A.  I>.  1836,  the  inhabitants  of  said 
town  of  Gorham  having  aright  to  vote-  in  any  matter  that  might  come  before  the  town  by  a  major  vote  and 
by  ballot. 

"1st.  Chosen  Andrew  G.  Lary.  Moderator  to  preside  over  said  meeting, 

"2d.  Chosen  Joseph  Messer  Town  Clerk,  who  being  present,  took  the  oath  of  office  by  law  prescribed. 

"3d.  Chosen  Thomas  Ordway,  Samuel  Emery,  John  I).  Bin-bank  Selectmen,  who  being  present  took  tin- 
oath  by  law  prescribed. 

"4th.  Voted  that  S  imuel  Emery  should  servo,  as  Bighway  Surveyor  on  the  hill  district. 

"5th.  Voted  that  Aluain  Wilson  should  serve  as  1  [ighway  Surveyor  on  the  road  that  leu, Is  from  Shellmrne 
to  Berlin,  who  being  present  took  the  oath  by  law  prescribed. 

"6th.  Voted  thai  Win.  Rowell  should  serve  as  constable  for  said  town,  who  being  present  took  the  oath 
of  office  by  law  prescribed. 

"7th.   Voted  that  Aln'am  Wilson  serve  as  saXOn  (?)  for  his  district. 

"8th.  Voted  that  James  Ilea th  serve  as  saxon  (sexton?)  in  the  S.  Emery  district,  who  being  present  took 
the  oat  li  of  office  by  law  prescribed. 

"9th.  Voted  that  Win.  Howell  should  act  as  surveyor  of  lumber  for  the  town  of  Gorham,  who  being  pres" 
ent  took  the  oath  of  office  by  law  prescribed. 

"10th.  Voted  that  Andrew  G.  Lary  should  serve  as  sealer  of  weights  and  measures,  who  took  the  oath  of 
office  prescribed  by  law. 

"11th.     Voted  that  Aaron  Rowell  should  serve  as  pound-keeper  in  the  town. 

"12th.     Voted  that  William  Rowell  should  serve  as  field-driver. 

"13th.  Voted  that  William  Rowell  should  serve  as  Collector  for  the  town,  who  being  present  took  the 
oath  of  office  as  prescribed  by  law. 

"14th.     Voted  that  Andrew  G.  Lary  should  -  Town  Treasurer,  who  being  present  took  the  oath  as 

prescribed  by  law. 

"  15th.     Voted  not  to  raise  any  school  money. 

"  16th.  Voted  to  raise  one  hundred  dollars  to  lay  out  to  repair  the  highway  and  bridges,  fche  said  money 
to  be  assessed  on  the  residents. 

"  17th.     Voted  to  reconsider  the  15th  article. 

"  18th.     Voted  that  we  should  raise  twenty-live  dollars  for  Bchool  money. 

"19th.    Voted  that  this  meeting  should  be  dissolved. 

"Joseph  Messer.  Clerk." 

Tax-payers,  Etc.,  1836. — Aaron  Burbank,  John  D.  Burbank,  Elijah  Evans,  Samuel  Evans,  Lot  Davis, 
Benjamin  Griffin,  Moses  Gooduo,  Jeremiah  Hardin,  Charles  Hill,  James  K.  Heath,  Andrew  G.  Lary.  Jonathan 
Lary,  Joseph  Messer,  John  Ordway.  Stephen  Ordway.  Thomas  J.  Ordway,  Aaron  Rowell,  William  Rowell, 
Abraham  Wilson,  Evans  Wilson,  Solomon  Wilson,  Curtis  C.Willey,  Rufus  Hubbard.  Of  these,  eight  paid  only 
a  poll  tax.  Andrew  G.  Lavy  stood  the  highest  on  the  list  of  tax-payers,  his  real  estate  being  valued  at  $500, 
Jonathan  Lary's  mill,  however,  was  valued  at  $600.  There  were  but  three  horses  taxed  in  town.  T 
were  twenty-two  oxen,  and  thirty-two  cows.  Of  neat  stock  then-  were  thirt  len  one-year-olds  and  ninety-four 
sheep.  Footing  of  the  residents'  inventory  in  tbeyear  1836,  was  $76.32.  School  tax,  $25,  assessed  at  33  per 
cent.     Highway  tax.  assessed  at  134  per  cent,  $100.     The  selectmen  took  their  oatb  of  fore  Anthony 

Vincent,  justice  of  the  peace. 

1H37.  In  February  a  list  was  made  of  voters  qualified  to  vol  For  state  and  county  officers,  representa- 
tives to  Congress,  electors  of  pi  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States.  This  list  contained  twenty- 
nine  names.  In  addition  to  those  of  the  pi  ire  Henry  Evans,  John  Griffin,  and  Erastua  Hubbard.  This  year 

Congress  voted  a  division  of  the  surplus  revenue  among  the  several  towns  and  cities  of  th( mty.   There  w 

great  deal  of  political  feeling  on  the  subject,  and  Gorham  voted  aoi  to  receive  their  share  of  the  division.  At 
the  same  meeting,  held  March  14,  1837,  the  voters  of  the  town  cast  their  votes  for  the  first  time  for  county 
and  state  ofiic.  is.  There  was  no  opposition  candidate  for  governor,  councillor,  senator,  register  of  deeds  and 
county  treasurer.  Each  candidate  received  twenty-five  votes.  For  governor,  Isaac  Hill;  councillor,  Samuel 
Burns:  si  uator,  Nathaniel  P.  Melvin;  register  of  deeds,  R  tiben  Stephenson;  comity  treasurer,  William  Lodge; 
Andrew  G.  Lary,  town  clerk:  Thomas  J.  Ordway,  Samuel  Emery,  Aaron  I;  uen;    Andrew  G.  Lary, 

treasurer.  A  vote  was  subsequently  taken  to  devote  the  interest  of  the  surplus  revenue  to  the  support  of  the 
sell, mis.     At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  to  divide  the  town   Into  two  school  districts,  the  first  to  extend 

fr the  west  line  of  lot  No.  si.   District  No.  2  ~\  mpi'ehend  the  west  of  the  town.   Shelburne,  Gorham, 

Berlin,  and  Success  were  classi  d  in  one  representative  district.  March  15,  1837,  the  inhabitants  of  this  dis- 
trict assembled  in  (iorhani,  and  threw  their  votes  for  representative.  The  people  were  no  longer  a  unit. 
F.  I.  Lean,  S.  Emery,    A.  G.  Lary,    S.  I'eabody.   J.  I ».  Burbank,    J.  Chandler,  received  one  ;    Barker 


902  History  of  Coos  County. 

Burbank  had  twenty-five  votes,  0.  B.  Howe  had  forty-eight  votes  and  way  elected.  Few  persons  are  now 
living  who  realize  the  intensity  of  political  feeling  during  these  years.  During  the  Presidency  of  John 
Qiiiney  Adams,  Andrew  Jackson,  Martin  VanBuren,  and  William  H.  Harrison,  politics  ran  high,  and  he  was 
a  remarkable  man  who  could  vote  on  any  subject  or  for  any  man  on  the  true  merits  of  the  case.  At  a  town 
meeting,  November  4.  1837,  the  first  juryman,  Abraham  Wilson,  was  drawn  to  attend  the  court  at  Lancaster. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  in  town  meeting  assembled  at  the  house  of  A.  G.  Lary,  June  8,  1837,  it  was 
voted  to  build  a  school-house  in  district  No.  2.  This  was  the  first  public  school-house  built  in  the  town.  It 
was  built  during  that  year  near  Joseph  Twitchell's.  The  same  year  a  road  was  laid  out,  three  rods  wide, 
from  Berlin  line  to  Gorham.  The  citizens  built  the  road  with  their  own  labor.  From  the  date  of  its  incor- 
poration the  town  increased  in  population  and  wealth,  and  assumed  a  position  among  adjacent  towns  which 
served  to  elevate  the  character  of  the  people.  For  a  town  containing  scarcely  thirty  tax-payers,  it  certainly 
accomplished  a  great  work  during  the  first  year  of  its  existence. 

1838.  In  1838  there  were  thirty-three  voters  in  town.  The  names  added  that  year  w^ere  Sumner  Chip- 
man,  Peter  Coffin,  James  Harford,  Stephen  Farrington.  John  Morse,  James  M.  Foot,  William  P.  Moulton, 
while  those  dropped  out  of  last  year's  list  were  Stephen  Ordway,  Joseph  Meserve,  Thomas  J.  Ordway.  This 
change  in  the  names  in  the  lists  from  year  to  year,  will  indicate  time  of  removal,  or  death.  A.  G.  Lary  was 
chosen  town  cleric;  John  D.  Burbank,  Samuel  G.  Evans,  Lot  Davis,  selectmen;  A.  G.  Lary,  treasurer.  The 
votes  for  governor  were  for  Isaac  Hill,  eighteen,  James  Wilson.  Jr.,  eleven.  Only  two  voted  in  favor  of  mak- 
ing the  town  clerk  the  register  of  deeds,  and  one  in  favor  of  a  change  in  the  state  constitution.  John  Morse, 
John  D.  Burbank,  and  Andrew  G.  Lary  were  appointed  by  the  selectmen  the  superintending  school  commit- 
tee. There  seems  to  have  been  a  great  deal  of  difficulty  in  collecting  the  taxes  assessed  on  unimproved  lands. 
These  were  frequently  bid  off  at  auction  for  their  non-payment. 

1839.  William  Rowell  was  chosen  town  clerk;  Perkins  P.  Moulton,  Samuel  G.  Evans,  and  Henry  Evans, 
selectmen;  Sumner  Chipman,  town  treasurer.  The  votes  for  governor  were  John  Page,  twenty,  James  Wil- 
son, fourteen.  The  votes  for  members  of  Congress  were  twenty  and  fourteen.  Voted  to  raise  $150  for  the 
support  of  schools.  Andrew  G.  Lary  was  chosen  to  build  a  town  pound.  Names  added  to  the  voting  list  this 
year:  Elbridge  Burbank,  James  Gordon,  Josiah  Hill,  Stephen  C.  Jones,  John  Wells,  John  Mars.  Dropped 
from  last  year's  list:  James  Heath  and  James  Harford. 

1840.  John  T.  Peabody  and  Edward  Wells  were  added  to  the  list  of  voters.  John  D.  Burbank,  Peter 
Griffin,  Josiah  Hill,  Jeremiah  Harding,  Stephen  C.  Jones,  John  Mars,  and  Stephen  Ordway  were  dropped 
from  the  list  of  1839.  John  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;  John  T.  Peabody,  Perkins  P.  Moulton,  and 
Samuel  Emery,  selectmen;  William  Howell,  treasurer.  Votes  for  governor,  John  Page,  nineteen,  Enos 
Stephens,  twelve.  Jonathan  Lary,  P.  C.  Moulton,  and  Samuel  Emery  were  chosen  a  committee  to  superin- 
tend the  building  of  a  bridge  across  Peabody  river  that  year.  Daniel  Green,  of  Shelburne,  was  elected  repre- 
sentative to  the  legislature.  The  following  additional  names  were  added  to  the  voting  list  for  senators  in 
October:  Peter  Coffin,  Enoch  M.  Hubbard,  Dearborn  Lary,   Warren  Rich,  Levi  Whitney,   Oliver  S.  Wilkins. 

1841.  Israel  Griffin,  Daniel  Griffin,  Solomon  Wilson  became  voters  making  thirty-eight  in  town.  Chose 
John  T.  Peabody,  town  clerk;  S.  G.  Evans,  S.  Emery  and  Enoch  M.  Hubbard,  selectmen;  J.  T.  Peabody,  treasurer. 
Votes  for  governor,  John  Page  twenty-five,  Enos  Stevens  ten.  Voted  to  raise  $75  for  the  support  of  schools, 
and  to  fence  in  the  burying-grounds  in  town,  for  which  $20  were  appropriated. 

1842.  Caleb  S.  Peabody,  Silas  P.  Brown,  Bobbins  Brown  and  America  Wiley  were   added  to  the  list  of 
payers.     Chose  John  T.  Peabody,  town  clerk;  John  T.  Peabody,  John  Morse,  S.  Emery,  selectmen.    J.  T. 

Peabody,  treasurer.  Votes  for  governor,  Henry  Hubbard  twenty-two,  John  H.  White  seven,  Enos  Stevens 
one.  The  original  burying-ground  was  situated  near  Abraham  Wilson's  house,  and  it  was  voted  this  year  to 
remove  the  bodies  to  the  burying-ground  near  Aaron  Row-ell's  house.  Elisha  Whitney,  Francis  Wilson.  Caleb 
S.  Peabody,  Anthony  Martin,  and  Silas  Bartlett  were  added  to  the  list  of  voters,  making  forty. 

1843.  J.  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  S.  Evans,  J.  D.  G.  Burbank,  selectmen. 
Votes  for  governor,  Henry  Hubbard  twenty.  Anthony  Colby  eleven,  John  H.  White  one.  John  Morse 
was  chosen  representative  to  state  legislature,  being  the  first  elected  to  that  office  in  town.  There  was  a  de- 
fect in  the  election  of  town  officers  for  this  year,  and  another  legal  meeting  was  called  April  13th,  when  they 
chose  . hiines  Gordon  town  clerk;  S.  G.  Evans,  J.  D.  Burbank.  James  Gordon  selectmen;  S.  G.  Evans 
treasurer.  Added  to  the  voting  list  this  year:  Fletcher  I.  Evans,  Barak  Jackman,  Isaac  Stearns,  Ephraim 
Wight.  The  name  of  Peter  Collin,  the  only  Revolutionary  soldier  ever  residing  in  town,  was  dropped  from 
tin    voting  list  this  year. 

1844.  J.  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  J.D.  Burbank,  J.  Gordon,  selectmen:  J.  T. 
idy,  treasurer.  Votes  for  governor,  John  II.  Steele  twenty-four.  Anthony  Colby  thirteen.  Stephen  Gray  and 

William  Weaver  were  added  to  the  list  of  tax-payers,  and  Joseph  ('.  I  i-riffin  to  that  of  voters,  forty-one.  Silas 
Bartlett  was  dropped.  The  votes  for  (lectors  for  president  and  vice-president  stood  twenty  to  seven  and 
four. 


Town  of  (Jorham.  '.hi:', 


1845.  J.T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  .1.  I).  Burbank,  John  Morse,  selectmen;  J.  T. 
Peabody,  treasurer.  Votes  for  governor,  John  H.  Steel  eighteen,  Anthony  Colby  seven,  Daniel  ll<>ii  four, 
Franklin  Pierce  one.  James  Farrington  and  Hiram  Wilson  were  added  to  the  list  of  voters.  The  vote  of 
the  town  for  stai '    senators  was  John  Waodburj  ten,  [chabod  Goodwin  six,  John  P.  Bale  one. 

1846.  Joli n  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  J.  1>.  Burbank,  Abram  Wilson  selectmen; 
J.T.  Peabody,  treasurer.  Votes  for  representative  to  Congress  were  John  Woodbury  nineteen,  Ichabod Good- 
win six,  John  P.  Hale  six.  There  were  added  to  the  tax-payers  this  year  the  names  of  Harriet  Evans  and 
Samuel  B.  Robbins,  an  i  to  the  voting  list  Daniel  Rogers  and  Pliny  Richardson. 

1847.  J.T.  Peabodj  was  chcfsen  town  clerk;  J.  D.  Burbank,  A.  G.  Lary,  Elisha  Whitney,  selectmen; 
A.  G.  Lary,  treasurer.  For  governor,  Jared  W.  Williams  twenty-eight,  Anthony  Cobly  seven  Nathaniel  S. 
Bi  rry  two.  For  representative  to  Congress,  .lames  if.  Johnson  twenty-eight,  Henry  K.  Fellows  seven,  .Tared 
Perkins  two.     Voted  to  raise  $25  in  addition  to  what  the  law  requires  for  thesupport  of  Bchools. 

isis.  Thomas  Rapgood  was  added  to  the  list  of  resident  tax  payers,  ami  to  the  list  of  voters  Burley 
(Bailey?)  K.  Davis,  Noah  Gould,  Amos  Lary.  Orren  Wilson.  Obadiah  Maun  and  Augustus  F.  Eodgdon,  thirty- 
nine  voters.  Thomas  Eapgood  was  authorized  to  sell  spirituous  liquors  and  w  Lne  at  his  store,  in  quantities 
not  less  than  one  pint,  to  be  delivered  and  carried  away  therefrom.  J.  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk; 
J.  T.  Peabody,  A.  G.  Lary,  J.  D.  Burbank,  selectmen;  A.  G.  Lary,  treasurer.  For  governor,  Jared  W.  Wil- 
liams twenty-six.  Nathaniel  S.  Ferry  ten.  The  votes  for  electors  for  president  and  vice-president  were  twenty- 
eight,  nine  and  one. 

1849.  J.  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;  A.  G.  Lary,  J.  D.  Burbank,  J.  T.  Peabody,  selectmen;  \.  G. 
Lary,  treasurer.  For  governor.  Samuel  Dinsmore  twenty-two,  Levi  Chamberlain  nine,  Nathaniel  S.  Berry 
two.     Number  of  voters  in  town  thirty-six. 

1850.  J.  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk:  J.  T.  Peabody,  Rufus  Hodgdon,  Moses  Farrington.  selectmen. 
J.  T.  Peabody,  treasurer.  The  collection  of  taxes  thisyearwas  bid  off  to  Stephen  Farrington  at  two  percent. 
Votes  for  governor,  Samuel  Dinsmore  twenty,  Levi  Chamberlain  eight,  Nathaniel  S.  Berry  two.  Vote.!  to 
raise  $75  in  addition  to  the  amount  required  by  law  for  public  schools.  Voted  to  lay  out  a  road  up  tin-  valley 
of  the  Peabody  river,  and  raise  £100  to  he  laid  out  on  said  road,  provided  the  St.  Lawrence  .V  Atlantic  Railroad 
Company  will  make  a  passable  wheel  road  up  to  the  south  line  of  Gorham,  beginning  at  the  main  road  some- 
where between  A.  J.  Lary's  in  said  Gorham,  and  Shelburne  line.  The  owners  of  the  land  generally  relin- 
quished their  right  to  the  land,  and  it  was  laid  out  and  carefully  recorded  in  the  town  records.  This  is  the 
first  time  any  public  notice  is  given  in  the  town  records  of  the  A.  &  St.  L.  E.  E.  The  company  afterwards 
appropriated I §1,000  for  this  purpose,  and  appointed  Barker  Burbank  agent,  to  expend  it.  There  were  added 
to  the  list  of  resident  tax-payers  of  the  town,  Hazen  Evans,  Abram  Cole,  John  W.  Currier,  Eben  Garland, 
Nathan  Fogg.  During  this  year  Peabody  river  bridge  was  carried  away,  and  Augustus  F.  Hodgdon  and  Allen 
Whitney  were  added  to  the  list  of  voters. 

1851.    J.  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  Hazen  Evans,  Moses  Farrington.,  selectmen;  J. 

T.  Peabody,  treasurer.     Votes  for  governor,  Samuel  Dinsmore  fifteen,  Thomas  E.  Sawyer  nine,  John  Atw 1 

four.  There  were  forty-one  legal  voters  this  year.  No  impulse  was  given  to  the  increase  of  population  by 
the  advent  of  the  railroad.  Sumner  Chipmau  was  sent  representative  to  the  legislature.  John  T.  Peabody 
now  appears  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

1852.  J.  T.  Peabody  was  chosen  town  clerk;. T.  D.  Burbank,  Augustus  F.  Hodgdon,  Pliny  W.  Richard- 
son, selectmen;  J.  T.  Peabody,  treasurer.  Votes  for  governor,  Noah  .Martin  twenty-one,  Thomas  E.  Sa-.  i 
seven.  John  Atwood  one.  This  year  a  marked  change  took  place.  The  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawn  nee  railroad  had 
decided  to  build  the  Alpine  House,  to  have  repair  shops  in  Gorham,  to  have  a  road  built  to  the  (Hen  House, 
for  the  benefit  of  tourists,  and  a  new  impulse  was  given  to  business.  In  1852  the  residents  of  the  town  wi  r  : 
John  D.  Burbank,  Lot  Davis.  Hazen  Evans,  Fletcher  I.  Evans,  John  C.  Evans,  Stephen  Farrington,  Augustus 
F.  Hodgdon,  Moses  Goodno,  James  M.  Heath,  John  R.  Hitchcock,  Greenleaf  T.  Lougee,  Gerry  Nichols,  John 
T.  Peabody,  Caleb  S.  Pi  abody,  Samuel  F.  Robbins,  Pliny  W.  Richardson,  Evans  Wilson.  Hiram  Wilson,Abra- 
ham  Wilson.  Francis  F.  Wilson,  Solomon  Wilson.  Orren  Wilson,  Jonas  Wells.  Jonas  G.  Weils.  Ephraim  Wight, 
America  Wiley,  Curtis  C.Willey,  Alien  C.  Whitney,  Sumner  S.  Thompson,  Andrew  G.  Lary.  Michael  < '.  Conner, 
Orren  Dunlap,  Barak  Jackman,  Longely  V  Co.'s  Stage  Co..  Ingalls  &  Evans,  John  Currier,  Charles  W.  John- 
son, George  F.  Hutchings,  John  O.  Reynolds,  Percy  B.  Latham.  Barri  Evans,  John  M.  Wood,  (occupied  by 
F.  Latham  i.  Faae  Libby,  Charles  E.  Marwick,  Martin  Flanagan,  Patrick  O'Donnell,  Thomas  Thome.  Sulli- 
van N.  Gilkey,  A.  C.  Dennison,  Addison  Stillings,  Daniel  Rogers,  John  W.  Westbrook,  Edward  Kelley,  A.  & 
St.  L.  Road  Co..  (occupi  id  by  J.  R.  Hitchcock),  J.  A.  Bolston,  William  Stone,  Samuel  ]'.  Emery,  (occupied  by 
A.  C.  Whitney),  Foot  Farm  occupied  by  J.  K.  Heath.  This  makes  a  list  of  fifty-sis  polls  for  this  year.  On 
the  list  of  legal  voters  appear  in  addition,  for  the  tirst  time,  Henry  <  'harks.  James  M.  Evans,  Robert  O.  Far- 
rington, Thomas  P.  Green,  William  J.  Harriman,  Samuel  W.  Howe, Isaac  Libby,  Blake  Lary,  Daniel  Rod 
Edward  Wells,  making  the  list  of  voters  forty-live.     During  nearly  all  tins,'  years  tie  se  records  were  kept  by 


904  History  of  Coos  County. 


John  T.  Peabody.  The  spelling  and  penmanship  are  good  and  the  annual  inventories  made  out  and  recorded 
with  great  care. 

1853.  James  Gordon  was  chosen  town  clerk;  John  D.  Burbank,  A.  F.  Hodgdon,  Pliny  W.  Richardson, 
selectmen;  Hazen  Evans,  treasurer.     B.  Goodrich,  non-resident,  was  taxed  for  3,800  acres  of  land. 

1854.  James  Gordon,  town  clerk;  J.  D.  Burbank,  James  Gordon.  Thomas  D.  Greene,  selectmen;  P.  W. 
Richardson,  treasurer.  This  year  school  district  No.  2  was  divided,  so  as  to  have  a  school  in  the  now  rapidly 
increasing  district.  Voted  to  license  J.  R.  Hitchcock  to  sell  spirituous  liquors,  and  all  other  persons  in  town 
to  cease  after  June  15th,  and  that  the  selectmen  appoint  a  committee  of  vigilance  to  see  that  the  foregoing 
vote  be  carried  into  effect. 

1855.  Brooks  C.  Flanders,  town  clerk;  J.  D.  Burbank,  Orren  Dunlap,  Francis  F.  Wilson,  selectmen;  Orren 
Dunlap,  treasurer. 

1856.  Henry  F.  Wardwell,  town  clerk;  John  T.  Peabody,  Sumner  Chipman,  Valentine  L.  Stiles,  select- 
men; Simeon  Hersey,  treasurer.     Elected  Valentine  L.  Stiles  representative  to  the  state  legislature. 

1857.  B.  C.  Flanders,  town  clerk;  John  T.  Peabody,  Valentine  L.  Stiles,  Timothy  H.  Hutchinson,  select- 
men; Simeon  Hersey,  treasurer. 

1858.  Thomas  Adams,  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  Augustus  Evans,  Edward  Parsons,  selectmen;  Simeon 
Hersey,  treasurer;  John  T.  Peabody,  representative. 

1859.  H.  F.  Wardwell,  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  A.  O.Bailey,  James  Gordon,  selectmen;  Stephen  R. 
Raynes,  treasurer:  Sunnier  Chipman,  representative  to  state  legislature.  Whole  number  of  voters,  142,  of 
these  sixty-nine  were  owners  of  real  estate  in  the  town. 

1860.  John  Brewer,  town  clerk;  A.  O.  Bailey,  James  Gordon,  Ransom  Smith,  selectmen;  Stephen  R. 
Raynes,  treasurer;  S.  Chipman,  representative.  The  name  of  Lot  Davis  disappears  from  the  voting  list  this 
year.  He  moved  to  Jackson,  N.  H.,  where  he  died.  Votes  for  president  and  vice-president:  Lincoln  and 
Hamlin,  ninety;  Douglass  and  Johnson,  sixty-one. 

1861.  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  town  clerk;  J.  T.  Peabody,  0.  Tubbs,  John  W.  Currier,  selectmen;  Thomas  E. 
Fisk.  treasurer;  Caleb  S.  Peabody,  representative.  At  a  town  meeting  held  October  26,  it  was  voted  to  fur- 
nish supplies  to  the  families  of  volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  according  to  an  act  passed  and 
approved  July  4,  1861. 

1862.  James  F.  Drake,  town  clerk;  J.  D.  Burbank,  Owen  Tubbs,  John  W.  Currier,  selectmen;  Thomas 
E.  Fisk,  treasurer;  Caleb  S.  Peabody,  representative. 

Gorham  Soldiers. — Volunteers  who  enlisted  in  Gorham,  as  appears  on 
the  town  records  of  1862:—- 

Lot  D.  Wily,  5th  Me.  Regt. ;  Levi  W.  Dolloff,  5th  Me.  Regt. ;  Asa  D.  Jordan,  5th  Me.  Regt. ;  Joseph  Goodno. 
5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Samuel  Heath,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  James  M.  Evans,  5th  Me.  Regt,;  J.  Frank   Raynes,  1st   Me, 

.:  Israel  Griffin,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Lawrence  Murphy,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Martin  Coyne,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.; 
Luther  Walcott,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.,  Isaiah  W.  Burbank,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Charles  H.  Linton,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.; 
James  Farrington,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Stephen  Burbank,  5th  Me.  Regt.;  Benjamin  F.  Hicks,  1st  Me.  Regt. ; 
Lorenzo  Poor,  5th  Me.  Regt.;  Orlando  Day,  3d  N.  H.  Regt.;  Asa  Goodwin,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  George  Field,  1st 
Me.  i:  ,'.:  Daniel  W.  Scribner,  5th  Me.  Regt.;  Dudley  Green,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  James  McCormick,  3d  N.  H. 
Regt.;  Albion  Alcott,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Thomas  Thayer,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  James  Staples,  Jr.,  10th  Me.  Regt.; 
John  Farr,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Moses  W.  Rand,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  James  Mansfield,  10th  Me.  Regt.:  Dustin 
5th  Me.  Regt.;  Peter  Clarity,  13th  Mass.  Regt.;  Scribner  Gates,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  Stephen  Cummings, 
5th  \.  II.  Regt. ;  Dudley  Conery,  5th  N.  H.  Regt.;  numbering  thirty-four  men. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  August  27,  1862,  it  was  voted  to  raise  $2,500  for  the  purpose  of  paying  8100  to 
volunteer  who  has  heretofore,  or  may  hereafter  enlist  from  this  town,  and  be  accepted  by  the  United 
States  under  tlie  first  call  for  300,000  volunteers.  At  a  legal  meeting  held  October  1,  1863  (?),  it  was  voted  to 
pay  $300  ii  in  drafted  into  military  service  from  the  town. 

1863.  Andrew  J.  Larj  appears  for  the  last  time  as  moderator  in  town  meetings,  a  position  he  had  held 
almosl  uninterruptedly  since  the  organization  of  the  town.  James  S.  Drake,  town  clerk;  John  D.  Burbank: 
Charles  M.  Morgan,  OharlesC.  Smith,  selectmen:  Thomas  E.  Fisk,  treasurer. 

L864.  Josephus  <'.  Gordon,  town  clerk;  John  D.  Burbank,  Jabez  P.  Evans,  Pearson  G.  Evans,  select- 
men: JabezP.  Evans,  treasurer;  Orren  Tubbs,  representative. 

1805.  Josephus  C.  Gordon,  town  clerk;  Jabez  P.  Evans,  Orren  Tubbs.  Augustus  Evans,  selectmen; 
Thomas  E,  Fisk,  treasurer:  Orren  Tubbs,  representative.     This  year  only  fifty  men  were  reported  as  capable 

of  performing  military  duty,  ac -ding  to  law.     Soldiers  having  a  right  to  vote  for  members  of   Congress  in 

Gorham,  March  15,  1865:  Scribner  Cates,  5th  Regt.;  Charles  Wells,  13th  Regt.;  George  F.  Webb,  14th  Regt.; 
James  M.  Rowe,  14th  Regt.;  Henry  Goodno,  14th  Regt.;  Erastus  W.Forbes,   14th  Regt.;  John  P.Dunham, 


Town  of  Gorham.  905 


H.  A.;Ephraim  Wight,  H.  A.;Timotliy  N.  Wight,  II.  A.:  Andrew  J.    Howard,  II.  A.:  Addison  Dolley,   II.  A.: 
Henry  Cunningham,  II.  A.:  Woodbury  G.  Hicks,  II.  A. 

1866.  There  w<  re  r<  corded  177  Legal  voters.     Augustus  0.  Bailey,  town  clerk;  Elihu  Libby,  John  T.  : 
body,  Thomas  E,  Fisk,  selectmen;  Thomas  E.  Fisk,  treasurer;  Orren  Tubbs,  representative. 

1867.  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  town  clerk;  Orren  Tubbs,  Josephus  C.  Gordon,  Valentine  L.   Stiles,  selecting  a; 
Thomas  E.  Fisk,  treasurer;  Urban  Shorey,  representative. 

1868.  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  town  clerk;  Orren  Tubbs,  Valentine  L.  Stiles.  Albert  S.  Twitchell,  selectmen; 
Thomas  E.  Fisk,  treasurer;  Urban  Shorey.  representative. 

1869.  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  [ngalls,  Valentine  L.  Stil<  s,  Albert  S.  Tu  i  m<  n; 
Thomas  E.  Fisk,  treasurer;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  repn  sentative. 

1870.  Moses  A.   Hastings,  town  clerk;  Rufus   F.  [ngalls,  Augustus  Evans.    James   Tubbs,    selectmen; 
Thomas  E.  Fisk.  treasurer;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls.  representative. 

1871.  Moses  A.  Hastings,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Augustus  Evans,  George  A.  Hodgdon,  selectmen; 
Orren  Tubbs,  treasurer;  Pearson  G.  Evans,  representative. 

1872.  Moses  A.  Hastings,  town  clerk;  Jabez  P.  Evans,   Augustus  Evans,   David   P.   Hazen,   selectmen; 
Rufus  F.  Ingalls.  treasurer;  Pearson  G.  Evans,  representative. 

1873.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Timothy  N.  Wight,  Stephen  Gordon,  selectmen; 
Rufus  F.  Ingalls.  treasurer;  Warren  Noyes.  representative. 

1874.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Timothy  N.  Wight,   Stephen  Gordon,  selectmen; 
Rufus  F.  Ingalls.  treasurer;  Enoch  L.  Knight,  representative. 

1875.  John  W.  Greenlaw,   town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Augustus  Evans,  John  E.  Willis,    selectmui; 
Rufus  F.  Ingalls.  treasurer;  Enoch  L.  Knight,  representative. 

1876.  John  W.  G  .  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Urban  Shorey,  Asa  G.  Evans,  selectmen;  Sabin 
M.  Leavitt,  treasurer;  Augustus  Evans,  representative. 

1877.  John  \V.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  James  B.  Chaffin,  Levi  Shedd,  Andrew  C.  Harriman,  selectmen; 
Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  treasurer;  Augustus  Evans,  representative. 

1878.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  James B.  Chaffin,  Levi  Shedd.  Andrew  ('.  Harriman,  selectmen; 
Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  treasurer;  Wallace  Mason,  representative. 

1879.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Levi  Shedd,  Alfred  X.  Twitchell,  George  A.  Hodgdon,  selectmen; 
Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  treasurer 

1880.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls.  George  A.  Hodgdon,  Pliny  W.  Richardson,  Bel  ct- 
men;  Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  treasurer. 

1881.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Rufus  E.  Ingalls,  Levi  Shedd,   Henry  P.  Smith,  selectmen;  Sabin 
M.  Leavitt,  treasurer;  Wallace  Mason,  representative. 

1882.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Rufus   F.  Ingalls,  Levi  Shedd,  Henry  P.  Smith,  selectmen;  Sabin 
M.  Leavitt.  treasurer;  Wallace  Mason,  representative. 

1883.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Henry  Y.  Smith,   Angier  A.  Heath,  selectmen; 
Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  treasurer;  Thomas  Gilford,  representative. 

1884.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Henry  P.  Smith,  Angier  A.  Heath,  selectmen; 
Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  treasurer;  Thomas  Gilford,  representative. 

1885.  John  W.  Greenlaw,  town  clerk:  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Henry  P.  Smith,    Charles   11.  Shorey,  selectmen; 
Sabin  M.  Leavitt.  treasurer;  Sabin  M.  Leavitt.  representative. 

1886.  George  E.  Tubbs,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,    Henry  P.  Smith,  Charles  H.  Shorey,  selectmen; 
Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  treasurer:  Sabin  M.  Leavitt,  representative. 

1887.  George  E.  Tubbs,  town  clerk;  Rufus  F.  Ingalls,  Charles   II.  Shorey.  Walter  C.   Libby,  selectmen; 
SabinM.  Leavitt.  treasurer:  Henry  Marble,  representative  for  1887  and  1888. 


59 


006  History  of  Coos  County. 


CHAPTER   CXIIL 

Ecclesiastical  History:  Free-Will  Baptist  Society — Congregational  Church,  Society,  Pastors 
— Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Universalist  Society — Catholic  Church — Schools. 

FREE-  WILL  Baptists. — There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  organ- 
ization, civil,  educational  or  religious,  for  many  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  the  town.  From  1815  to  1820  the  Free-Will  Baptist  denom- 
ination began  to  increase  and  organize  churches  in  the  new  settlements  of 
Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  Although  their  ministers  were  generally 
men  of  quite  limited  education,  they  possessed  a  simple  piety  and  earnest 
zeal,  and  filled  a  place  in  the  condition  of  society  as  it  then  existed.  Pio- 
neers though  they  were,  they  did  excellent  work  in  controlling  the 
elements  of  society,  and  impressing  on  the  people,  especially  in  the  remote 
settlements,  their  religious  duties  and  obligations. 

Among  those  who  first  preached  in  Gorham  were  Elder  Zachariah 
Jordan,  of  Raymond,  Me.,  and  Dudley  Pettengill,  of  Sandwich.  Their 
visits  were  only  occasional,  but  seemed  to  excite  an  interest  among  the 
people,  and  it  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church, 
at  sometime  between  the  foregoing  dates.  Elder  Jordan  seems  to  have 
been  the  chief  instrument  in  its  organization.  Among  those  who  were 
original  members  were  Mrs.  Mehitable  Evans,  wife  of  Simon  Evans,  Sam- 
uel Messer  and  wife,  John  Messer,  Elder  John  Morse  of  Randolph,  Elaska 
Jackson  and  wife,  Charles  Evans,  and  Samuel  Wilson.  Elder  John  Morse 
came  from  Otisfield,  Me.,  and  was  made  the  first  deacon.  He  afterwards 
became  a  preacher.  Elder  Bowles,  of  Whitefield,  is  still  remembered  as 
one  who  preached  for  them.  At  a  later  period  they  had  accessions  to  their 
numbers,  among  whom  was  John  Burbank  and  several  of  his  family.  He 
was  deacon  of  the  church,  and  its  leading  member  for  many  years.  Deac<  m 
Burbank  was  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school,  the  only  one  organized 
in  town  until  after  1850,  and  it  was  said  that  for  many  years  he  was  the 
only  man  in  town  who  was  known  to  pray  in  public.  The  church  kept  up 
a  nominal  life,  ministered  to  by  Elder  Jaquith,  an  itinerant  Methodist 
preacher,  and  Rev.  Almon  Wallace,  a  Free-Will  Baptist,  who  came  to 
Gorham  in  1810,  and  after  a  short  stay  moved  away.  After  the  railroad 
came,  and  other  societies  were  formed,  this  ceased  to  exist  and  its  mem- 
bers joined  other  churches. 

( Congregational  ( 'hurch.  -The  first  Congregational  preaching  in  Gorham 
was  by  the  Rev.  Elihu  Burt  in  L856,  under  the  patronage  of  the  N.  H.  Mis- 
sionary Society,  one-fourth  of  the  time  during  two  successive  years.  He 
did  a  good  work  in  preparing  the  way  for  his  successor.     Much  of  the 


Town  of  (Iokiiam.  907 


population  was  of  a  transient  character,  which  is  always  detrimental  to 
the  best  interest  of  a  town.  As  the  population  became  more  permanent, 
the  tendency  among  the  people  increased  towards  different  organizations, 
religions  and  secular,  such  as  exist  in  every  well  regulated  town.  Rev. 
George  F.  Tewksbury  was  the  first  settled  minister.  He  was  a  native  of 
Oxford,  Me.,  was  graduated  from  Bowdoin  college  in  1833.  He  studied 
theology  at  Andover  (Mass.)  Theological  seminary,  and  was  installed  pas- 
tor of  the  church  in  Albany,  Me.,  in  1838.  In  ls.v.i  he  was  employed  as  a 
gospel  pioneer  missionary  to  labor  in  the  new  but  growing  village  of 
Gorham.  He  commenced  preaching  in  the  village  school- house  to  a  small 
congregation,  supplying  them  every  Sabbath.  Theonly  religious  organiza- 
tion in  the  town  at  that  time  wras  a  Sabbath-school  of  twenty-five  or  thirty 
members,  started  in  L856,  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Portland.  Gorham  at  this  time  was  emphatically  missionary  ground,  as 
there  was  no  church  organization,  nor  church  edifice  in  town. 

In  the  autumn  of  1859,  Valentine  L.  Stiles  finished  and  opened  a  hall 
for  public  worship,  which  was  known  as  Ingalls  Hall,  and  was  dedicated 
about  Christmas.  From  that  time  the  congregation  and  Sabbath -school 
greatly  increased,  so  that  the  hall,  which  seated  about  100  people,  was 
usually  well  filled.  This  continued  to  be  the  only  regular  place  of  wor- 
ship for  upwards  of  two  years.  At  last  Mr.  Stiles  made  a  proposition  to  his 
pastor  to  build  a  church  on  his  own  responsibility,  provided  he  could  raise 
$600  towards  it.  Mr.  Tewksbury  solicited  and  obtained  that  amount  from 
Christian  friends  abroad,  and  in  1862  the  house  was  finished  and  dedicated. 
The  cost  of  the  building  was  $3,350  and  was  built  in  good  style,  with  a  vestry 
in  the  basement,  and  neatly  frescoed,  and  soon  a  good  bell  was  placed  in 
the  belfry.  At  the  sale  of  the  pews  only  sixteen  were  purchased.  In 
January,  previous,  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond  came  here  as  an  Evangelist,  and 
held  a  series  of  meetings  for  ten  or  twelve  days,  which  was  followed  by 
fifteen  or  twenty  hopeful  conversions,  mostly  in  the  Sabbath-school.  Mar*  1 1 
18,  1862,  a  Congregational  church  was  organized,  consisting  of  twenty -five 
members.  The  same  year  a  Congregational  parish  and  society  was  organ- 
ized, with  Thomas  A.  Adams,  clerk.  The  society  soon  purchased  the  church 
building  of  Mr.  Stiles,  and  it  was  furnished  by  the  Congregational  circle  at 
an  expense  of  $300. 

In  1865  Mr.  Tewksbury  resigned  the  pastorate.  In  the  same  year  Rev. 
Thomas  T.  Merry  commenced  labor  in  Gorham  as  acting  pastor,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  field  nearly  two  years.  In  1867  Mr.  Benjamin  P.  Johnson,  a 
student  in  the  seminary,  preached  a  few  Sabbaths,  and  in  lscs  Rev.  Ferdi- 
nand W.  Dickinson  was  acting  pastor.  In  1869  Brother  Tewksbury  ac- 
cepted an  urgent  invitation  of  the  church  to  come  back  to  his  old  field  of 
labor,  and  here  lie  remained  until  June,  1876.  Rev.  Arthur  Benedict  was 
the  next  settled  pastor.     He  was  energetic  and  ]  >r<  impt  in  all  his  professional 


908  History  of  Coos  County. 

duties,  and  cheerfully  performed  his  public  work  amid  discouragements 
incident  to  all  who  engaged  in  ministerial  labor.  During  his  ministry 
twenty-four  were  added  to  the  membership  of  the  church.  He  resigned 
his  pastorate  in  May,  1882.  July  9,  1882,  Rev.  Theodore  C.  Jerome,  a  na- 
tive of  Oxford,  N.  Y.,  and  a  graduate  of  Andover  (Mass.)  Theological  semi- 
nary, commenced  his  ministry.  Mr.  Jerome  was  active  in  matters  of 
education  and  public  improvement.  He  contributed  largely  to  the  religious 
newspapers  of  the  day,  and  some  of  his  published  sermons  and  addresses 
had  wide  circulation.  Mr.  Jerome  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  George  F.Wright, 
the  present  pastor.  Elihu  Libb}^  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  church  March 
25,  1862. 

The  church  and  society  are  free  from  debt,  with  a  strong  membership 
who  are  sincere  in  their  efforts  to  sustain  and  support  the  ordinances  of 
the  gospel.  Since  the  church  organization  took  effect  there  has  been  an 
outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  a  revival  has  been  enjoyed  which  added 
much  to  its  strength.     The  Sunday-school  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Asahel  Moore,  a  Methodist  preacher, 
came  to  Gorham  and  preached  six  months  in  1858-59.  This  wTas  all  the 
preaching  the  denomination  had  until  the  spring  of  1862,  when  a  class  was 
organized.  As  soon  as  the  Congregational  church  was  erected,  the  Metho- 
dists withdrew,  formed  a  separate  congregation,  and  worshiped  for  a  time 
in  the  old  hall.  Almost  the  first  thing  to  be  accomplished  was  the  building 
of  a  church.  This  was  erected  in  1862  on  the  spot  where  it  now  stands. 
It  was  subsequently  finished  and  a  fine-toned  bell  furnished.  It  is  a  neat 
and  well-constructed  building.  The  singing-gallery  is  in  the  rear  of  the 
desk,  and  constructed  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  the  best  acoustic  effects. 

The  first  appointment  of  a  minister  by  the  conference  was  made  in 
L862,  when  Rev.  W.  W.  Baldwin  was  stationed  here.  He  was  a  ready 
writer,  an  active  thinker,  and  did  much  towards  laying  the  foundation  of 
a  good  society.  He  remained  two  years,  and  was  reappointed  for  the  same 
position  in  L875-76.  He  was  followed  in  1864-65  by  J.  H.  Newhall;  in 
L866  by  R.  Sanderson;  in  1867  by  Thomas  Gilford;  in  1868-69  by  H.  B. 
Mitchell;  in  1870  by  M.  B.  Cummings  (three  months);  1870-71,  W.  H. 
Meredith;  1872,  Samuel  Watson;  1873,  Joseph  Hawks;  1878-80,  Perry 
Chandler;  Alanson  R.  Sylvester.  L880-82;  H.  E.  Foss,  1882  83;  F.  W. 
Smith,  1884  and  1885;  Rev.  J.  H.  Trask.  1886  and  1887.  There  are  sixty- 
eight  members  of  thechurch,  105  pupils  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  eighteen 
officers  and  teachers.  The  society  has  among  its  members  some  of  the 
most  substantial  citizens,  and  it  has  done  a  good  work  in  developing  the 
moral  and  religious  interests  of  the  town.  The  pastors  have  been  men  of 
a  catholic  spirit  and  zealous  workers  in  Zion's  cause. 

Universalist  Society. — As  early  as  1861  those  persons  in  Gorham  of 
the  Universalist  faith,  though  few  in  numbers,  secured  the  services  of 


Town  of  ( Ioruaai.  909 


Rev.  L.  Wolcott  to  preach  the  Gospel.  The  breaking  out  of  the  war  took 
from  them  their  pastor,  as  he  enlisted  in  the  army.  They  had  preaching 
most  of  the  time  by  transient  ministers  until  1879,  when  Eev.  A.  Bosser- 
man  supplied  the  pulpit  one-fourth  of  the  time  for  two  years.  The  services 
were  held  in  Gorham  House  hall.  Rev.  B.  K.  Russ  has  performed  much 
ministerial  work  for  this  society  since. 

In  November,  1886,  a  few  individuals  assembled  and  formed  themselves 
into  a  society,  which  was  called  the  Universalist  "Good-will  Circle,"  with 
these  officers:  President,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Greenlaw;  vice-president,  Mrs.  M. 
R.  Demond;  secretary,  Mrs.  Levi  A.  Noyes;  treasurer,  Mrs.  Levi  Shedd; 
committee  on  by-laws,  Mrs.  Seth  L.  Chipman,  Lizzie  C.  Thomas  and 
Mrs.  N.  D.  Hyde.     This  profession  of  faith  was  adopted : — 

Profession  of  Faith. — "Article  I.  We  believe  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
contain  a  revelation  of  the  character  of  God,  and  of  the  duty,  interest  and  final  destination  of  mankind. 

"Article  II.  We  believe  that  there  is  one  God,  the  Creator  and  Governor  of  the  Universe,  the  Father  and 
Friend  of  all  spirits,  whose  nature  is  Love,  revealed  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  one  Holy  Spirit  of  Grace, 
who  will  finally  restore  the  whole  family  of  mankind  to  holiness  and  happiness. 

"Article  III.  We  believe  in  the  rewards  of  virtue  and  the  punishment  of  vice;  that  holiness  and  true 
happiness  are  inseparably  connected,  and  that  believers  ought  to  be  careful  to  maintain  order  and  practice 
good  wTorks;  for  these  things  are  good  and  profitable  unto  men." 

This  circle  increased  rapidly  in  numbers  and  interest,  and,  February  12, 
L887,  a  Sunday  school  was  organized  with  the  necessary  officers.  Scott 
Bryant,  the  superintendent,  after  serving  four  or  five  weeks  with  ability 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  was  taken  from  them  by  death.  Mrs. 
Demond  then  conducted  the  school  which  numbers  fifty-two  scholars  and 
eight  teachers,  and  has  a  library  of  100  volumes  of  good  and  useful  books, 
donated  in  part  (by  the  kindness  of  Mrs.  Gay)  from  Dr.  Miner's  church  in 
Boston,  and  in  part  from  other  churches,  through  the  influence  of  Mrs. 
Dr.  Hyde.  The  remainder  was  bought  by  the  school,  which  is  also  well 
supplied  with  service  and  singing  books.  The  success  of  the  circle  and 
school  was  due  to  the  earnest  efforts  put  forth  by  its  members  without  the 
aid  of  a  pastor. 

The  progress  and  vigor  of  the  school  encouraged  the  friends  of  liberal 
Christianity  to  organize  a  society,  and,  May  30,  1887,  the  ''First  Univer- 
salist Society"  of  Gorham  was  formed,  funds  raised  to  support  preaching 
through  the  summer,  and  a  committee  chosen  to  obtain  a  suitable  pastor. 
Rev.  Dr.  Leonard,  of  Tuf/ts  college,  Medford,  Mass.,  an  able  divine  recom- 
mended Rev.  F.  L.  Payson,  who  was  secured  July  12th,  and  services  were 
held  weekly  during  the  summer,  and  as  often  as  practicable  in  the  fall  and 
winter  in  the  Gorham  House  hall.  Rev.  Mr.  Payson  proved  the  '"light 
man  in  the  right-  place";  his  earnestness  and  decided  convictions  of  tin i 
importance  of  his  work  made  its  impress  upon  his  hearers,  and  renewed 
interest  in  the  faith  of  "love  to  God  and  man*'  was  the  result.  Attend- 
ance on  the  services  is  very  encouraging,  the  average  being  about  100  per- 


910  History  of  Coos  County. 

sons,  and  the  new  society  bids  fair  to  prosper' and  become  a  strong  and  live 
factor  in  the  religious  element  of  Grorham. 

Catholic  Church. — Gorham  was  regarded  as  a  mission  of  Lancaster, 
under  the  care  of  Father  Noiseaux,  in  1858,  until  the  arrival  of  Father 
Narcissus  Charland,  in  October,  1876.  Previous  to  his  coming  the  mission 
was  visited  quite  regularly  by  the  priests  of  the  Diocese  of  Portland.  In 
1876  was  formed  a  regular  parish,  under  the  name  of  Church  of  the  Holy 
Family.  The  church  was  erected  in  1870,  the  interior  was  completed  in 
1876  and  dedicated  in  August,  1879.  The  cemetery  was  consecrated  dur- 
ing the  same  month,  and  a  parsonage  was  built  in  1880.  Father  Charland 
left  in  July.  L880.  He  was  a  very  efficient  pastor,  and  did  much  towards 
elevating  the  condition  of  his  church.  He  was  followed  at  once  by  Father 
Gorman,  who  left  in  July,  1881.  Rev.  E.  J.  Walsh  immediately  succeeded 
Father  Gorman.  He  was  graduated  at  St.  Mary's  college,  Montreal,  in 
1^7<i,  and  at  the  Grand  seminary,  in  the  same  city,  in  1879.  He  was  ap- 
pointed pastor  in  Gorham,  July,  1881.  Rev.  Dennis  A.  Ryan  commenced 
his  pastoral  service  in  January,  18S7.  There  are  at  preseut  150  families  in 
the  congregation.  They  have  a  large  Sabbath-school,  which  is  held  on 
Saturday.     Father  Ryan  is  a  very  popular,  earnest,  and  devoted  pastor. 

Gorham  Public  ScJtooIs. — Like  every  other  new  England  community, 
the  citizens  of  Gorham  made  provision  for  the  education  of  their  children. 
The  rudiments  of  learning  were  taught  in  the  log  school-house  which  stood 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  on  Mrs.  Stiles's  land.  Miss  Elsie  A.  Head  (after- 
wards Mrs.  Hazen  Evans)  was  the  first  teacher.  After  the  incorporation 
of  the  town  in  1837,  a  school-house  was  built  near  Joseph  Twitchell's.  It 
was  a  long  stride  from  the  log  hut  and  "Sam  Emery's  pig-pen"  to  the 
neat  school-room  erected  near  the  Flanders  store.  Many  remember  with 
love  and  respect  the  names  of  Abby  Burnham,  Maria  Lion,  Emeline  Bur- 
hank,  Amanda  Twitchell,  Salome  G.  Twitchell,  Mary  Oliver,  and  a  long 
list  of  other  worthy  names.     Some  have  not  forgotten  that 

••In  eighteen  hundred  forty-eight. 
We  had  a  teacher  tall  ami  straight: 
Hubbard  Spaulding  was  his  name, 
And  from  Lancaster  he  cairn  ." 

They  also  remember  that,  though  Spaulding  was  an  excellent  teacher, 

"  'Little  Jim,'  more  rogue  than  fool, 
Shot  through  the  door  and  left  the  school. 

John  D.  Burbank  was  a  very  tall  man,  every  inch  a  good  teacher  and 
a  good  friend  to  all  the  hoys.  He  would  rise  early  in  the  morning,  care 
for  a  large  stock  of  cattle,  take  a  hasty  breakfast  on  Gorham  hill,  harness 
his  horse,  pick  up  a  large  load  of  girls  and  boys  on  the  way,  drive  to  the 
•'  Lary  school-house,"  at   the  coiner,  give  them  good  instruction,  return 


TOWN    OF   (  rORHAM.  911 


them  to  their  homes  at  night,  and,  so  far  as  dollars  and  cents  are  con- 
cerned, for  very  small  pay. 

In  L837  tiie  town  was  divided  into  two  school  districts.  No.  1.  on  G-or- 
ham  hill,  and  No.  2  near  Peabody's  Mills.  No.  :'>  was  formed  in  L854.  In 
ls7ti  the  village  school-house,  containing  three  rooms,  was  erected  on  .Main 
street  at  an  expense  of  about  $3,500.  In  1879  \h\  \  T.  True  opened,! 
select  high-school  in  the  village,  which  he  continued  two  years.  Manx- 
availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  puisne  the  languages  and  higher 
English  studies 

Schools  of  To-day. — There  is  a  Kindergarten  school  taught  by  Miss  Isa- 
bella Sonle.  There  are  four  schools  outside  of  the  High  School  building, 
well  graded,  all  under  the  town  system,  and  compare  favorably  with  any 
in  the  state.  The  High  school  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  L886.  The 
number  of  pupils  in  the  high  or  village  school  building  the  last  term  of 
1887  was  252.  About  100  attended  other  schools  in  town.  The  teachers 
at  High  School  building  are:  A.  W.  Rogers,  high;  Lucy  E.  Hebbard,  gram- 
mar; Mary  E.  Eames,  first  intermediate;  Emma  I.  Fassett,  second  inter- 
mediate; Lizzie  C.  Thomas,  primary.  School  board,  J.  W.  Greenlaw,  T. 
N.  Wight,  A.  S.  Twitcliell. 


CHAPTER  CXIV. 


Railroads — Grand  Trunk  Railway,  Shops  and  Employe-* — Gorham  Village — Hazen  Evans — 
Valentine  L.  Stiles — Progress  of  Gorham — Fires — Buildings — Lawyers  and  Physicians — Busi- 
ness Interests,  Manufacturers,  Bank,  Merchants  and  Tradesmen. 

*T\AILROADS.—  In  1*42  the  Boston  &  Maine  railroad  reached  Ports- 

r^  mouth  from  Boston,  and  in  1  s4-.">— 1-f  it  was  extended  to  Portland.  Soon 
\  after  this  Hon.  John  A.  Poor,  of  Portland,  conceived  the  idea  of  con- 
necting Portland  with  Montreal.  In  1 S47  a  charter  for  such  a  road  was 
given  under  the  name  of  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  railway.  .Inly  4, 
ls47.  ground  was  broken  near  Fish  Point,  in  Portland.  Judge  Preble,  -the 
president  of  the  road,  t blowing  into  a  wheelbarrow  the  first  shovel  of 
earth.  From  that  day  until  L853  the  work  went  on,  though  amid  many 
difficulties,  till  it  reached  the  boundary  line  between  Vermont  and  Canada 
that  year.  At  the  same  time  the  mad  was  built  on  the  Canadian  side, 
and  connected  with  the  former.  But  it  did  not  stop  here.  The  idea  was 
advanced  that  the  road  must  extend  to  the  region  of  the  great  lakes,  so 
that  now,  as  the  Grand  Trunk  railway,  it  extends  to  Chicago,  and  con- 


912  History  of  Coos  County. 


nects  with  all  the  great  lines  on  the  continent.  In  1850  the  railroad  was 
built  to  Gorham  and  trains  commenced  to  run  regularly  July  4,  1851.  In 
1852  trains  commenced  running  from  Gorham  to  Northumberland,  and  to 
Island  Pond  in  1853,  where  this  road  connected  in  July  with  the  St.  Law- 
rence &  Atlantic.  Capt.  Warren  Noyes  had  the  honor  of  running  the  first 
engine  over  the  boundary  line.  The  cars  ran  over  the  road  once  a  day 
during  the  first  year.  As  soon  as  they  ran  from  Montreal  to  Portland, 
long  trains  were  numerous,  and  have  been  increasing  in  number  till  now 
the  engine  whistle  is  heard  at  almost  any  hour  of  the  day  and  night. 

The  next  question  of  importance  arose:  Where  shall  some  central 
point  be  selected  for  repair  shops  \  It  was  finally  decided  in  favor  of 
Gorham.  The  company  wisely  bought  several  acres,  including  the  com- 
mon and  the  land  where  the  shops  are  now  located.  In  1850  a  wooden 
engine-house  and  turn-table  were  built.  In  the  fall  of  1852  the  first  shop 
was  built.  Only  light  repairs  were  made;  all  heavy  repairs  were  done  in 
Portland.  In  1855  the  engine-house  and  shops  were  burned,  and  the  same 
year  rebuilt  of  brick.  The  engine-house  was  capable  of  holding  twelve 
engines,  besides  the  turn-table.  The  shop  was  150  feet  by  30,  with  an 
additional  blacksmith  and  carpenter  shop.  Additional  machinery  and 
buildings  have  been  added  from  year  to  year,  until  over  fifty  engines  can  be 
kept  in  repair,  besides  the  running  repairs  on  the  cars.  All  parts  of  a 
machine  are  manufactured  and  tempered  here;  while  the  tenders  are  made 
in  the  shops. 

In  April,  1879,  the  great  fire  consumed  the  coal  shed,  250  feet  in  length, 
store-room  and  offices  100  feet  long,  and  part  of  the  freight  house.  A  new 
store  room  and  offices,  100  feet  by  28,  heated  by  steam,  were  at  once  built 
on  the  same  spot.  The  freight-house  is  120  feet  by  (50.  The  station  is 
about  80  feet  by  25.  There  are  now  two  coal  sheds,  each  500  feet  by  30  on 
the  south  side  of  the  track,  and  so  elevated  that  coal  is  dumped  into  the 
tender.  There  are  connected  with  the  shops  the  machine  department, 
blacksmith,  "  setting-up  "  or  fitting  department,  boiler,  brass  foundry,  tin 
shop,  and  carpenter  department.  One  hundred  and  fifty  men  connected 
with  the  running  of  the  road  and  repair  shops  reside  in  Gorham.  Two- 
thirds  of  these  have  families,  and  one-half  own  homes  of  their  own. 

Capt.  Warren  Noyes  is  superintendent  of  the  shops,  and  has  held  the 
position  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century;  Thomas  E.  Fisk  is  foreman  of  the 
machine  shop,  and  is  considered  a  man  of  superior  judgment  in  respect 
to  their  management;  Thomas  A.  Adams  is  the  station  agent,  and  but  few 
on  the  road  have  held  office  more  years;  Charles  S.  Vining  is  pattern- 
maker, and  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  G.  T.  R.  since  I860;  Enoch  L. 
Knight  has  been  in  the  wood-working  department  since  1864;  he  has  also 
taken  an  active  part  in  town  affairs;  Seth  L.  Chipman  is  foreman  of  the 
blacksmithing,  and  for  nearly  twenty-five  years  has  been  an  important 


Town  of  Gorham.  913 


factor;  John  W.  Greenlaw,  in  L868,  entered  the  office  of  the  mechanical 
department  as  clerk  and  time-keeper.  He  served  some  years  as  superin- 
tendent of  schools  and  on  the  board  of  education  in  Gorham,  and  is  well- 
known  for  his  ability.  He  built,  in  L881  82  the  block  on  Exchange  streel 
which  bears  his  name;  Urban  Shorey  commenced  work  for  the  G.  T.  R.  in 
L854:  as  engineer  and  machinist.  He  represented  Gorham  in  L8GS  69,  and 
has  served  as  selectman  and  collector  of  taxes.  Robert  I.  Heath  and 
others,  good  order-loving  citizens,  are  among  the  employes  of  the  road. 

Gorham  Village. — -During  the  early  life  of  the  town  there  was  nothing 
to  indicate  that  the  center  of  importance  would  be  here,  and  a  beautiful 
and  prosperous  village  take  the  place  of  nodding  weeds,  unsightly  stumps, 
and  projecting  rocks.  It  was  not  until  the  railroad  had  decided  to  locate 
its  shops  here  that  building  began  and  improvements  commenced,  and  the 
population  of  the  town  to  increase  with  rapidity.  The  census  of  1850 
showed  only  221  inhabitants.  In  the  same  year  Abraham  Wilson,  a  native 
of  Randolph,  owned  most  of  the  land  now  the  village,  and  occupied  it  as  a 
farm.  His  field  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  railway,  and  most  of  his 
pasture  on  the  south  side.  His  farm  was  mostly  a  poor  gravelly  soil,  on 
which  he  cut  fifteen  or  eighteen  tons  of  hay.  The  house  which  he  built 
was  the  one  remembered  as  the  old  long  tenement  opposite  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  owned  by  Patrick  Mullen  in  1881,  and  replaced  by  an  elegant 
residence.  Wilson  sold  a  part  to  John  Brickett  Ordway,  who  lived  in  a 
log  house  at  the  foot  of  Alpine  street.  Ordway  never  paid  for  it,  and  his 
brother,  Dustan  Ordway,  advanced  the  money  for  it,  never  lived  on  it 
himself,  and  finally  sold  it  to  Jotham  Evans,  who  sold  it  to  Barker  Bur- 
bank,  who  sold  it  to  Barak  Jackman.  Barak  Jackman,  owned  fifty  five 
acres  of  land  near  Soldiers'  Hill.  He  built  a  house  on  Main  street,  and  in 
1850  Wilson  and  Jackman  were  the  principal  owners  of  the  land  within 
the  present  limit  of  Gorham  village.  At  that  time  woodchucks  were  more 
abundant  than  human  beings,  Main  street  was  the  county  road  from  Bethel 
to  Lancaster,  and,  fortunately  for  the  beauty  of  the  town,  was  kept  up  as 
a  wide  street.  A  wide  and  comparatively  level  spot  was  all  that  could  in- 
duce the  founders  of  the  village  to  locate  it  where  they  did.  The  dividing 
line  between  the  lands  of  Jackman  and  Wilson  ran  just  east  of  R.  F. 
Iugalls's  store  to  the  river.  The  railway  was  first  surveyed  through  the 
town  in  1850,  and  during  that  year  Hazen  Evans  purchased  of  .Mr.  Wilson 
two  acres  where  the  Alpine  House  now  stands.  In  1853-54  Hazen  Evans 
purchased  all  of  Mr.  Jackman's  interest  (thirty  acres  of  land  in  the  village, 
fifty  acres  in  what  is  known  as  the  Hitchcock  pasture,  in  sight  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  100  acres  of  wild  land, )  for  $1,150. 

In  1850-51  A.  C.  Denison  built  the  stoic  now  occupied  by  R.  F.  Ingalls, 
and  with  John  M.  Wood  opened  a  store  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing 
wholesale  supplies  to  the  sub-contractors  along  the  line  of  the  railroad, 


914  History  of  Coos  County. 

while  it  was  building.  In  March,  1851,  Thomas  Hapgood  and  Hazen 
Evans,  anticipating  that  the  village  would  be  built  at  the  forks  of  the  road 
near  A  G.  Lary's  house,  opened  a  store  on  the  eastern  bank  of  Moose 
river.  They  continued  in  trade  there  scarcely  a  single  year,  when  Mr. 
Evans,  in  1852,  bought  out  Denison  &  Co.,  and  went  into  trade,  where  he 
continued  with  the  exception  of  a  single  year,  till  1871,  when  he  sold  out 
to  his  partner,  R.  F.  Ingalls.  In  1853  Mr.  Evans  built  the  Gorham  House 
and  moved  into  it  the  same  year.  He  kept  it  as  a  public  boarding-house 
for  nearly  two  years,  sold  out  to  Parris  B.  Latham,  and,  in  1856,  built  west 
of  the  Gorham  House,  and  continued  in  trade  in  company  with  Judge 
Eobert  Ingalls  for  two  years,  with  his  brother,  Jabez  P.  Evans,  five  years, 
and  with  Rufus  F.  Ingalls  six  years.  His  first  wife,  Elsie  Head,  was  edu- 
cated at  Pembroke  academy,  and  taught  school  for  eight  years  before  she 
was  married,  having  been  among  the  first  wTho  taught  in  town.  She  also 
taught  in  Berlin  when  she  was  obliged  to  ride  into  town  on  horseback. 

In  connection  with  Mr.  Evans,  Valentine  L.  Stiles  was  prominently 
connected  with  the  business  activity  of  the  early  days  of  the  village;  and 
to  him  is  the  development  of  the  place  most  owing.  Exchanging  his  farm 
in  Shelburne,  in  1854  or  1855,  for  the  Abraham  Wilson  farm,  then  owned 
by  his  son,  Orren,  Mr.  Stiles  moved  to  Gorham  and  the  same  year  laid 
out  Exchange  street  and  constructed  two  buildings.  This  was  quite  an 
important  private  enterprise  for  the  embryo  village,  and  the  gift  by  him 
of  the  street  to  the  town  assured  a  steady  and  solid  growth.  Mr.  Stiles 
first  lived  in  the  old  red  "  Mullen"  house,  but  soon  built  the  "Burt  stand" 
on  Exchange  street  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Odd  Fellows'  block. 
In  L861  and  1862  he  built  the  "  boarding-house"  on  the  opposite  side  of 
Exchange  street,  removed  thither,  and  made  it  his  home  until  1873,  when 
he  removed  to  the  house  he  had  just  completed  outside  of  the  village.  He 
wras  a  hearty  co-operator  with  those  who  worked  for  the  weal  and  advance- 
ment of  the  town  and  village;  a  public-spirited  man,  he  built  many  houses 
on  Mechanic  and  Church  streets.  He  built  the  Congregational  church, 
and  was  nearly  its  sole  owner  for  two  years.  He  will  be  long  remembered. 
In  I860  the  population  had  advanced  to  905.  From  this  time  Gorham  has 
steadily  progressed.  From  1860  to  1880  the  merchants  did  a  prosperous 
trade.  All  the  Androscoggin  country  from  Berlin  and  West  Milan,  Ran- 
dolph,>etc.,  looked  upon  this  as  the  great  center  of  trade;  the  opening  of 
the  railroad  bad  made  a  now  and  fascinating  route  to  the  White  Mount- 
ains, and  the  tact  that  nowhere  was  a  better  place  for  pure  enjoyment 
was  soon  developed.  Dr.  True  says:  "Gorham  has  been  the  center  of 
summer  travel  on  the  east  side  of  the  White  Mountains  since  the  opening 
of  the  G.  T.  R.  in  1851.  Large  and  commodious  houses  have  been  built 
for  the  accommodation  of  summer  visitors.  The  pure  water  and  clear 
and  bracing  mountain  air  are  great  recommendations  in  its  favor.     One 


Town  of  ( rORHAM.  915 


feels  none  of  the  chilling  winds  of  the  seaside  thai  go  through  and  through 
a  man  even  with  an  overcoat  on.  Here,  on  the  contrary,  he  feels  a  peculiar 
exhiliaration  of  spirits  not  found  in  the  cities.*' 

In  L870  the  population  had  increased  to  1,161.  Magnificent  six  and  four 
horse  coaches  carried  tourists  from  the  Alpine  House  to  the  Glen  House 
and  the  top  of  Alt.  Washington.  Tradesmen,  shop-keepers  and  mechanics 
of  all  pursuits  incident  to  a  prosperous  and  well-to-do  community  were  in 
busy  existence.  The  town  was  supplied  with  lawyers,  physicians  and  re- 
ligious services.  The  Grand  Trunk  railway  distributed  a  steady  sum 
weekly  to  its  employes,  whose  earnings  added  to  the  wealth,  and  prosperity. 
The  changes  incident  to  every  community  went  on  here;  firms  changed; 
here  and  there  an  old  resident  dropped  out  of  the  busy  throng  on  the 
streets,  and  a  new  mound  was  upheaved  in  the  "silent  city  of  the  dead"; 
new  faces  came,  with  new  energies  and  business,  and  remained  as  citizens. 
In  1S55  came  the  first  fire,  when  the  railroad  shops  were  burned.  One  of 
greater  disaster  occurred  in  1^7i;  when  the  Alpine  House  became  a  prey  to 
the  devouring  element.  The  great  fire  which  destroyed  Exchange  street 
and  the  Grand  Trunk  railway's  extensive  shops  and  offices  occurred  April 
28,  1879.  This  was  the  most  serious  catastrophe  the  town  had  ever  experi- 
enced. The  business  men  knew  not  what  to  do.  If  the  shops  were  not 
rebuilt,  there  was  nothing  to  induce  investment  here,  and  several  months 
were  passed  in  intense  and  anxious  suspense.  To  set  this  matter  at  rest 
Capt.  Noyes  very  wisely  addressed  a  letter,  July  28,  1879,  to  the  Hon. 
Joseph  Hickson,  managing  director  of  the  G.  T.  R.,  to  ascertain  his  views 
in  the  matter  and  the  question  of  rebuilding  the  burned  district  wholly  de- 
pended on  his  answer.  A  letter  from  Mr.  Hickson  in  reply  gave  the  public 
assurance  that  not  only  would  the  shops  be  continued  but  that  their  business 
would  be  increased  in  the  future.  This  gave  assurance  to  all  parties,  and 
from  that  date  to  the  present  Gorham  has  continued  to  increase  in  popu- 
lation, industry  and  wealth. 

TivitcheWs  Block,  erected  in  L879,  on  Exchange  street,  by  A.  S. 
Twitchell,  was  the  first  building  constructed  after  the  fire.  It  is  the  best 
business  building  and  location  in  Gorham,  and  now  contains,  on  the  ground 
floor,  the  postoffice.  Mountaineer  office,  Demond  Brothers'  hardware  store- 
lawyers,  physicians,  etc.,  occupy  the  second  story  with  offices;  the  Masonic 
hall  and  Grand  Army  hall  are  in  the  third  story. 

Opera  House  Block  was  erected  in  1881,  by  A.  S.  Twitchell  and  Dr. 
Henry  Marble.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  county,  with  a  hall 
among  the  best  in  Northern  Xew  Hampshire,  having  a  stage  fully  equipped 
and  furnished  in  good  style.  ( )n  the  ground  floor  are  two  excellent  stores. 
In  the  basement  is  a  very  convenient  and  attractive  restaurant,  now  kept 
by  Hobbs  Brothers,  and  a  meat   market.     Gorham  House  block  and  Gor- 


916  History  of  Coos  County. 

don's  block,  are  devoted  to  business  purposes;  Greenlaw's  is  for  residents. 
This  was  built  in  1881. 

Lawyers. — For  fifty  years  the  town  had  no  lawyer.  Disputes  were 
settled  in  a  primitive  way;  sometimes  by  a  fight,  at  others  by  mutual  agree- 
ment, or  by  the  interposition  of  friends.  A  justice  of  the  peace  attended 
to  the  making  out  of  deeds,  occasionally  solemnizing  a  marriage  and  ad- 
ministering oaths  when  necessary.  There  were  but  few  suits  in  the  courts 
at  Lancaster.  The  first  lawyer  to  come  here  was  one  Thomas  B.  Hinkley, 
who  became  a  victim  of  the  fever,  which  was  so  prevalent  in  1870,  and 
died.  Some  time  after  came  Daniel  W.  Scribner,  who  only  remained  a 
short  time.  Next  came  Thaddeus  S.  Chase,  who  remained  several  years, 
but  did  not  make  a  permanent  home.  Albert  S.  Twitcheli  was  the  first  to 
settle  permanently,  which  he  did  in  1866.  Since  then  several  others  have 
practiced  here,  among  them  Capt.  M.  A.  Hastings,  Edwin  F.  Philbrook, 
James  B.  Chaffin,  Alfred  R.  Evans,  and  Carl  Abbott.  [For  sketches  of 
Gorham  lawyers  see  "  Bench  and  Bar"  in  County  History.] 

Physicians. — In  the  early  settlement  the  people  often  suffered  much  for 
the  want  of  a  good  physician.  The  exposure  to  the  extremes  of  heat  and 
cold,  and  wet  and  dry,  was  greater  than  at  the  present.  Acute  diseases 
were  frequent,  and  often  resulted  in  a  settled  and  chronic  state  of  disease 
only  relieved  by  death.  Many  suffered  terribly  from  that  most  painful 
disease,  rheumatism.  ''Lung  fever,"  typhoid  fever,  and  other  diseases 
found  their  victims  the  same  as  now. 

Among  the  first  who  acted  the  part  of  a  physician  was  the  squaw  Mol- 
locket,  who  travelled  across  the  country  from  Vermont  and  Canada  to 
Bethel,  and  acted  as  nurse  and  doctor.  By  her  gentle  manner,  kind  dis- 
position, and  willingness  to  be  useful,  she  found  a  welcome  in  every  house. 
People  are  still  living  who  like  to  say  she  rocked  them  in  the  cradle  in  their 
father's  home.  Her  remedies  for  the  sick  were  very  simple.  The  inside 
bark  of  the  spruce  was  one  of  her  favorite  remedies.  There  was  an  air 
of  mystery  about  her  prescriptions  which  served  to  increase  and  strengthen 
the  faith  of  the  sick  in  her  ability  to  cure  them.  Another  travelling 
doctor  was  Granny  Stalbird.  She  had  a  circuit  extending  from  the  Con- 
necticut river  to  Gilead. 

Dr.  A.  Bartlett  is  said  to  be  the  first  physician  who  became  a  resident. 
Dr.  Buffum  and  Dr.  Worthley  were  here  for  a  short  time.  Dr.  Oliver  B. 
Howe,  although  residing  in  Shell  mine,  practiced  regularly  here.  Dr.  Henry 
F.  Wardwell  was  the  first  who  made  a  permanent  home  in  the  town, 
coming  here  in  L855.  During  the  Civil  war  he  received  the  appointment 
of  assistant  surgeon,  and  served  six  months  with  the  Fourth  New  Hamp- 
shire. He  practiced  in  Gorham  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He 
removed  to  Berlin  in  ls7i»,  where  he  is  in  active  practice.  Dr.  Horatio 
Torrev  and  Dr.  Luther  W.  Houghton  were  here  about  ten  years  ago,  but 
did  not  remain. 


Town  of  Gorham.  91  i 

Dr.  Edward  M.  Wight,  a  native  of  Maine,  commenced  practice  in  Gor- 
ham  about  1865.  He  is  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  merited  reputation, 
and  has  a  practice  extending  over  a  wide  radius.  He  is  often  called  great 
distances  for  consultation,  and  to  perform  delicate  operations  of  surgery. 
His  success  in  these  has  been  phenomenal.  His  offices  are  fitted  with  all 
appliances  of  a  medical  institute;  and  operating  rooms,  laboratory,  etc., 
etc.,  are  connected.  There  is  nothing  to  compare  with  it  along  the  line  of 
the  Grand  Trunk  from  Portland  to  Montreal.  Few  physicians  have  such 
an  extensive  library  either  of  medical,  scientific  or  literary  works. 

Dr.  Nathan  D.  Hyde  has  been  in  practice  for  nearly  ten  years;  has 
made  many  warm  friends;  is  a  successful  practitioner,  and  a  citizen  who 
is  interested  in  and  promotes  the  welfare  of  the  community. 

Dr.  Henry  Marble  removed  to  G-orham  in  1880  from  Auburn,  Me.,  where 
he  was  city  physician.  As  a  surgeon  his  skill  and  ability  is  recognized. 
He  takes  an  active  part  in  town  matters,  and  is  the  present  representative 
to  the  legislature. 

Dentist.—  George  H.  Hoadley  is  building  up  a  fine  practice,  is  a  good 
citizen,  and  has  a  branch  office  in  Berlin. 

Business  Interests.  — C.  S.  Peabody  &  Co.  (Timothy  X.  Wight  and  John 
T.  Peabody)  manufacture  all  kinds  of  long  and  short  lumber  on  or  near 
the  site  on  Moose  river  one  mile  above  the  village,  where  Jonathan  Lary 
built  mills  in  1834,  and,  in  L836,  with  A.  G.  Lary,  put  up  more  extensive 
ones.  When  John  T.  and  Caleb  S.  Peabody  purchased  them,  in  1842, 
there  were  in  operation  a  clothing-mill,  a  fulling-mill,  a  shingle-machine 
and  a  turning-lathe.  They  at  once  changed  the  old  "over- shot"  mill  to 
an  "under-shot"  one.  and  introduced  an  "up-and-down"  saw.  They 
afterwards  put  in  a  shingle  and  clapboard  machine,  a  turbine  wheel,  a 
rotary  saw,  and  in  1860  commenced  sawing  long  lumber.  Since  1S72  it 
has  been  run  by  steam.  During  the  war  Moose  river  was  turned  into 
Moose  brook  by  a  canal,  which  makes  a  good  water-power  for  planing  and 
grist-mill  all  the  year.  During  the  last  fifteen  years  the  steam  mill  has 
cut  an  average  of  6,000,000  feet  of  lumber,  and  now  produces  about  L0,- 
000,000  feet  annually.  The  firm  employs  from  125  to  L50  men  in  the  win- 
ter, and  fifty  in  summer,  and  conducts  a  mercantile  establishment:  in 
connection.  What  is  known  as  the  "Peabody  settlement"  has  sprung 
up;  a  thriving  little  village,  mostly  due  to  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  this 
company.  The  venerable  senior,  Caleb  S.  Peabody,  is  now  hale  and  hearty, 
in  his  eightieth  year,  and  preserves  the  same  unassuming  and  pleasant 
ways  which  have  endeared  him  to  so  many  all  along  his  active  and  busy 
life.  Timothy  X.  Wight  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  since  1868.  He 
has  done  good  service  on  the  broad  of  education.  E.  M.  Watson,  now 
foreman  of  the  lumber  department,  has  been  with  this  firm  fifteen  years. 

E.  Libbv  Ac  Sons  (Elihu.   Walter  ('  ,   Alna    B.,  and  Charles  C.)  manu- 


918  History  of  Coos  County. 

facture  all  kinds  of  long  and  short  lumber  on  Peabody  river.  Mr.  Libby, 
better  known  as  "Deacon1'  Libby,  came  to  G-orham  in  1861,  and  became 
a  member  of  the  Gorham  Lumbering  Company,  soon  sold  his  interest  to 
George  Goodrich,  and  took  charge  of  the  mills  for  him,  and  the  succeeding 
firms  of  Clement  &  Goodrich,  and  Clement,  Goodrich  &  Benson,  until 
1867,  when  the  business  passed  into  the  hands  of  Clement,  Benson  &  Co., 
the  members  of  which  firm  were  Edwin  and  Frank  M.  Clement,  A.  M. 
Benson,  and  Mr.  Libby.  In  1870  the  firm  was  Edwin  Clement  &  Co. 
Since  then  Mr.  Libby  has  acquired  possession  and  admitted  his  sons  into 
partnership.  They  own  a  large  tract  of  land  contiguous  to  the  upper  Pea- 
body  which  has  supplied  not  only  the  one  mill  now  operated,  but  one, 
which  has  been  burned,  located  five  miles  above.  They  derive  their  power 
from  a  twelve  horse-power  steam  engine  which  drives  their  rotary,  clap- 
board, lath,  shingle,  and  planing  machines.  They  employ  a  large  force  of 
men  in  connection  with  their  mill  and  in  the  '"woods,"  eighty-five  in 
winter  and  forty  in  summer.  A  grist-mill,  a  machine  shop,  and  a  store 
are  connected.     Annual  production  of  lumber  about  8,000,000  feet. 

Albert  H.  Gerrish  came  to  Gorham  in  1864:,  built  the  mills  on  the  Berlin 
line,  and  manufactured  lumber  until  1872.  when  he  sold  to  the  Berlin  Mills 
Company. 

The  Grand  Trunk  railway  makes,  in  its  shops  located  here,  all  parts  of 
a  locomotive  engine,  all  "  tenders  "  used  on  the  eastern  portion  of  the  road, 
and  maintains  a  large  and  efficient  body  of  intelligent  and  skilled  me- 
chanics of  a  high  grade  in  steady  employment.  Eleven  thousand  dollars 
are  paid  out  monthly  to  the  100  or  more  men  constantly  at  work  in  the 
shops,  and  their  attractive  homes,  mostly  owned  by  themselves,  are  one  of 
the  features  of  the  village. 

Tlie  Gorham  Five  Cent  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1872.  It  is  a 
solid  and  substantial  monetary  corporation.  Capt.  Warren  Noyes  has  been 
president  since  its  incorporation.  Rufus  F.  Ingalls  has  been  treasurer 
since  March,  1873.  These  gentlemen  rank  in  the  highest  circle  of  prompt, 
accurate,  conservative,  and  reliable  men,  have  been  honored  with  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust  by  their  townsmen,  and,  under  their  manage- 
ment, the  bank  cannot  fail  to  be  a  prosperous  and  beneficent  institution. 

Merchants.—  Charles  G.  Hamlin,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Twitchell  &  Hamlin  in  June,  1875.  He  purchased 
M  v.  TwitchelPs  interest  in  March.  1  882,  and  is  still  in  trade  at  the  corner  of 
Mainland  Exchange  streets.  His  stock  consists  of  general  merchandise, 
and  he  transacts  a  large  business. 

Twitchell  &  Goodridge  (Alfred  N.  Twitchell  and  William  W.  Good- 
ridge).  Mi'.  Twitchell  commenced  merchandising  in  Milan,  where  he  was 
largely  engaged  in  manufacturing.  In  1875  he  became  the  senior  member 
of  the  new  house  of  Twitchell  &  Hamlin,  in  Gorham.     This  was  one  of 


Town  of  Gorham.  919 


the  reliable  business  houses  of  this  whole  section.  Retiring  from  this  firm 
in  L882,  he  afterwards  formed  a  partnership'  for  general  merchandising 
with  Mr.  Goodridge.  They  have  traded  in  the  Gorham  House  block  until 
this  year  (1887),  when  they  have  removed  to  Odd  Fellows'  block.  Mr. 
Goodridge  was  formerly  a  clerk  for  E.  Clement  &  Co. 

Simon  Stahl  opened  his  store  on  Main  street  in  October.  L878.  He  is 
extensively  known,  and  sells  general  merchandise,  with  a  penchant  fordry 
goods  and  clothing.     [See Stahl  Brothers,  Berlin.] 

G.  E.  Clark  &  Co.  (Hyman  Staid  and  Abraham  M.  Staid)  deal  in  cloth- 
ing, furnishing  goods,  etc.,  on  Exchange  street. 

Orren  Tubbs  commenced  trading  in  dry  goods  and  groceries  on  Ex- 
change street,  in  1851,  and  was  in  trade  for  thirty-one  years.  His  son, 
George  E.  Tubbs,  now  deals  in  hardware,  stoves,  etc.,  in  the  same  place. 

Demond  Brothers  (George  N.  and  William  R.)  were  the  pioneers  in  the 
hardware  business  of  Gorham.  They  commenced  business  in  January, 
L876.     Their  store  is  on  Exchange  street. 

Sabin  M.  Leavitt  has  built  up  a  prosperous  and  valuable  business.  He 
began  trade  in  April,  1865,  and  occupies  the  corner  of  Main  and  Exchange 
streets.  He  has  a  very  neat  and  artistically  arranged  establishment; 
and  deals  in  clothing,  fancy  goods,  books,  stationery,  etc. 

Cyrus  H.  Howe  established  a  furniture  store  in  April,  1875.  He  is  now 
located  in  Opera  House  block,  where  he  also  conducts  undertaking. 

Henry  Marble  &  Co.  established  a  drug  and  medicine  store  in  1878.  This 
firm  has  been  succeeded  by  Fred  W.  Noyes,  whose  store  is  in  Noyes  block, 
corner  of  Exchange  and  Railroad  streets. 

L.  S.  Barrett  commenced  business  as  a  druggist, on  Main  street,  in  1882. 
The  admission  of  his  son  as  partner  has  since  formed  the  firm  of  L.  S. 
Barrett  &  Son. 

Woodbury  B.  Gates  founded  a  grocery  store  here  in  1874.  J.  F.  Brown 
has  since  been  admitted,  forming  the  house  of  Gates  &  Brown.  They  do 
a  large  business  in  groceries,  meats  and  provisions. 

0.  E.  Twitchell,  groceries,  fruits,  etc.,  has  an  establishment  on  Ex- 
change street. 

Stephen  Gordon  was  in  trade  from  about  1860  until  the  great  fire. 

Jonathan  Jewell  came  to  Gorham  in  1866,  and  has  since  been  continu- 
ously engaged  in  the  flour  and  grain  business  in  connection  with  farming 
and  lumbering.  He  has  been  very  active  in  temperance  since  1876,  was 
president  of  the  temperance  league,  and  became  noted  for  his  original  and 
effective  oratory. 

Rufus  F.  Ingalls  began  trade  as  a  merchant  in  L865,  and.  in  connection 
with  important  public  business  and  responsible  monetary  positions,  has 
done  as  much  business  as  any  resident  of  the  town,  and  in  a  quiet,  unos- 


920  History  of  Coos  County. 

tentatious  manner.     We  are  indebted  to  him  for  assistance  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  this  history. 

Livi  Shedd,  one  of  the  present  board  of  county  commissioners,  was  in 
trade  from  1873  for  ten  or  twelve  years  as  a  dealer  in  groceries  and  family 
supplies. 

Barak  Jackman  came  to  Gorham  in  1872  and  went  into  trade  with  J.  C. 
Gordon.  The  firm  continued  six  years.  Mr.  Jackman,  having  a  compe- 
tency, then  permanently  gave  up  all  business. 

A.  S.  Twitchell  sells  coal,  brick,  lime,  etc. 

R.  H.  Emerson  engaged  in  trade  as  a  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  har- 
nesses in  1879. 

J.  P.  Dunham  manufactures  and  sells  carriages,  sleighs,  etc.,  on 
Androscoggin  street. 

Thomas  Gifford  is  well  known  as  the  reliable  and  efficient  express 
agent. 

John  O'Connor  is  a  wholesale  dealer  in  wines,  liquors,  and  ales. 

H.  H.  Mandigo  has  a  nice  stock  of  clocks,  watches,  jewelry,  etc.,  on 
sale  on  Main  street. 

M.  N.  Norwood  &  Company  (L.  M.  Norwood)  keep  millinery  and  fancy 
goods  for  sale  in  Noyes  block  on  Exchange  street,  and  attend  to  millinery 
work  and  dress  making.  They  are  widely  known  for  their  artistic  skill 
in  designing,  fitting,  etc. 

Mrs.  M.  B.  Farr  began  business  in  1871  as  dress-maker.  In  connection 
with  this  she  now  carries  on  a  store  of  fancy-goods  and  millinery  on 
Exchange  street. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Gifford  opened  a  fancy-goods  store  in  1872.  She  also  sells 
millinery  goods. 

Several  others  have  traded  in  Gorham  for  longer  or  shorter  periods,  but 
are  not  now  actively  engaged. 

Tradesmen. — Among  the  other  tradesmen  of  the  day  are  J.  C.  Richard- 
son, E.  1).  Kilgore,  H.  Kerr,  blacksmiths;  A.  Twitchell,  W.  Wight,  boots 
and  shoes;  F.  Buck,  carriage-maker;  C.  H.  Hobbs,  photographer;  A.  N. 
Gilbert,  builder. 

|  For  Gorham  Mountaineer,  see  "Coos  County  Press"  in  County  History.] 

There  are  some  fine  farms  in  town,  and  intelligent  and  prosperous 
farmers. 


Town  op  Gorham.  921 


CHAPTER  CXV. 

Hotels— Societies— Postmasters — Mascot  Mine— Thirty  Years  Changes. 

H  KOTELS.—Lary  House. — Gorham  has  been  a  grand  place  for  hotels 
I  j  from  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  Lary  House  in  1834  to  the 
J  present.  Alter  its  service  as  a  wayside  inn,  this  good  old-fashioned 
hostelry  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  summer  tourist  who  knew  of  the 
pleasant  courtesy  of  the  host,  the  acknowledged  excellency  of  its  table, 
and  the  advantages  it  possessed  as  a  charming  center  for  walks  and  drives. 
All  this  has  changed.  The  old-time  gentleman  who  presided  over  its 
destinies  has  passed  on  to  a  fairer  land,  modern  houses  have  taken  the 
patronage  of  a  public  who  knew  not  the  place,  and  the  large  and  hospit- 
able mansion,  closed  as  a  hotel,  is  only  sought  and  found  by  a  small  circle 
of  its  former  guests. 

The  Alpine  House. — In  1851  the  managers  of  the  G.  T.  Ry.  decided  to 
build  a  first-class  hotel  near  Gorham,  for  the  accommodation  of  summer 
boarders  as  well  as  for  furnishing  meals  for  passengers.  Accordingly,  in 
the  winter  of  1850-51,  Capt.  Edward  Merrill,  of  Bethel,  contracted  to  put 
the  frame  of  a  large  hotel  on  the  spot  where  the  present  Alpine  now 
stands.  He  built  a  shanty,  hired  his  men  and  had  the  hotel  ready  for 
raising  in  the  spring  of  that  year.  The  main  house  was  of  the  same  size 
as  the  one  now  standing,  having  a  front  of  100  feet,  but  the  "ell  "  was 
much  larger.  It  was  designed  to  be  a  first-class  hotel,  costing  about  $20,- 
000.  It  was  opened  about  the  first  of  July,  1851,  under  the  management 
of  Mrs.  Margaret  Hayes,  a  lady  of  great  energy  of  character,  who  acquired 
a  deserved  popularity  for  her  successful  management.  She  ran  the  house 
about  two  years,  when  J.  R.  Hitchcock,  who  had  been  chief  managing- 
clerk,  became  proprietor.  He  at  once  brought  it  to  the  highest  possible 
standard,  and  for  nearly  twenty  years,  until  the  house  was  burned  in  Is  7l\ 
conducted  it  with  marked  ability,  and  acquired  wealth.  Under  his  admin- 
istration it  was  the  pride  of  Gorham.  In  1875  the  house  was  rebuilt  at 
about  the  same  cost  as  the  original  house.  The  new  house  was  opened  by 
W.  &  C.  R.  Milliken,  proprietors  of  the  Glen  House.  The  house  is  heated 
by  steam,  and  can  accommodate  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred.  After 
having  been  under  the  management  of  G.  D.  Stratton  for  a  time,  it  is 
once  more  under  the  charge  of  C.  R.  Milliken. 

Glen  House. — To  John  Bellows  must  be  awarded  the  credit  of  the  es- 
tablishment of  this  grand  caravansary  of  the  mountains.  It  is  not  located 
in  Gorham,  but  its  business  interests,  and  its  connection  with  the  Alpine 

60 


922  History  of  Coos  County. 

House, bring  it  properly  in  the  province  of  the  Gorham  historian.  An  old 
clearing  was  made  years  ago  and  a  primitive  house  built  on  the  hotel  site. 
In  1850  Mr.  Bellows,  who  owned  Martin's,  Green's  and  Pinkham's  grants, 
was  attracted  by  the  wonderful  beauty  of  the  glen  at  the  head  of  the  Pea- 
body  river.  This  is  a  narrow  valley  between  mountain  sides  through 
which,  for,  perhaps,  countless  ages,  the  Peabody  river  has  held  its  stead- 
fast northern  way.  It  took  its  name  from  the  river,  but  is  most  generally 
called  "The  Glen."  It  is  in  the  southern  half  of  Green's  grant,  and  the 
Glen  House  is  about  midway  its  length.  Here  a  full  and  unobstructed 
view  of  the  highest  peaks  of  the  Mt.  Washington  range  meets  the  eye, 
while  its  altitude  (1,632  feet)  gives  the  purest  and  most  tonic  of  atmos- 
pheres. Through  the  Pinkham  Notch,  leading  south  up  the  narrow  valley 
to  Glen  Ellis,  the  carriage  road  seeks  the  Saco  valley  fifteen  miles  distant. 
Gorham  is  eight  miles  off  on  the  Grand  Trunk,  but  the  lovely  carriage 
ride  makes  it  seem  not  half  the  distance,  the  scenery  along  the  Peabody 
river  being  so  picturesque  and  grand.  On  this  site  Mr.  Bellows  built  a 
small  house  where  he  entertained  a  few  guests  in  1851.  In  1852  Col. 
Joseph  M.  Thompson  purchased  TOO  acres  of  land,  including  the  hotel  site, 
paying  811,000  for  the  property.  He  enlarged  the  building  at  once  to 
twenty-five  or  thirty  rooms.  In  the  winter  of  1852-53  he  built  a  house 
120  feet  long,  41  feet  wide,  and  of  three  stories.  Patronage  increased  so 
as  to  necessitate  enlargement  in  1865-66,  and  he  made  additions  which 
gave  a  front  of  111  feet  in  length.  The  parlor  was  then  the  largest  in  the 
United  States,  being  100x11  feet.  This  house  became  one  of  the  most 
fashionable  places  of  resort  in  the  country.  Col.  Thompson  was  drowned 
October  1,  1869,  in  the  Peabody  river  at  a  time  of  freshet.  In  the  spring 
of  1871  the  property  was  sold  to  W.  &C.  P.  Milliken,  and,  in  1874,  became 
the  sole  property  of  Charles  R.  Milliken,  who  now  conducts  it.  A  mag- 
nificent new  building  has  taken  the  place  of  the  old  one,  and  stands  on  a 
gently-sloping  grassy  hill  at  the  foot  of  Mt.  Carter.  Right  in  front,  only 
a  league  away,  is  a  view  unparalleled  for  beauty.  The  five  highest  of 
New  England's  mountains — Washington,  Jefferson,  Adams,  Madison,  and 
Clay — give  a  permanent  grandeur  to  the  view  in  any  of  the  moods,  vary- 
ing though  they  are,  in  which  they  may  appear.  During  the  season  the 
Glen  is  headquarters  for  mountain  visitors.  Carriages  leave  for  the 
Summit,  for  Gorham,  for  Glen  Station;  while  numerous  parties  plan  ex- 
peditions and  walks  in  the  wild,  untamed  solitudes  on  every  hand,  or  to 
Glen  Ellis  falls  and  Crystal  Cascade,  the  finest  water-falls  of  the  mount- 
ains. 

The  Gorham  House  is  situated  on  Main,  and  fronting  Exchange  street, 
and  is  seventy  rods  from  the  railroad  station.  It  was  built  in  1853  by 
II azen  Evans,  who  ran  it  for  a  short  time  and  sold  it.  After  several 
changes  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Walter  Buck,  who  enlarged  it  and 


Town  of  Gorham.  923 


built  a  large  and  commodious  hall,  which  is  the  principal  hall  in  the  village 
for  public  occasions.  After  several  more  changes  it  passed,  in  1881,  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Gr.  D.  Stratton,  who  conducted  it  until  he  took  charge  of  the 
Alpine  House  and  removed  thither,  when  the  Gorham  House  was  dosed. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1SS7  it  was  again  fitted  up  for  a  hotel  and  occupied  by 
Mr.  Stratton.  It  has  a  central  location,  and,  under  the  care  and  personal 
supervision  of  Mr.  Stratton,  is  a  quiet  and  satisfactory  resting-place,  and  an 
appetizing  cuisine  may  be  expected.  Mr.  St  ration  is  also  proprietor  of  1  he 
Umbagog  House  in  Errol. 

The  Eagle  Hotel,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Alpine  streets,  was  built 
by  B.  C.  Flanders  as  a  combined  store  and  dwelling,  and,  in  1870,  it  was 
enlarged  and  opened  as  a  hotel  by  Sargent  &  Jewett.  In  1879  L.  L.  Jack- 
son became  proprietor. 

Several  cottages  for  summer  visitors  are  open  for  guests  during  the  sea- 
son, and  are  well  filled  by  desirable  patrons.  Among  those  we  would  note 
as  worthy  of  mention  are  Riverside  cottage,  Willis  cottage,  and  Woodbine 
cottage. 

Societies. — For  history  of  Gorham  Lodge,  No.  73,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  see  "Masonry  in  Coos,*'  in  General  History. 

Glen  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  No.  54. — Glen  Lodge  was  instituted  February  5, 
1S74.  through  the  personal  efforts  of  the  eight  charter  members  who  with- 
drew from  Mt.  Abram  Lodge,  Bethel,  Maine,  for  the  purpose  of  institut- 
ing it.  They  were:  J.  W.  Greenlaw,  Timothy  N.  Wight,  A.  A.  Carter. 
M.  A.  Hastings,  George  E.  Cross,  H.  M.  Blackwell,  E.  S.  Mason  and  Addi- 
son Dolley.  The  ceremonies  took  place  in  the  room  over  Barrett's  drug 
store,  in  the  Mason  block,  on  Main  street,  at  which  time  sixteen  new  mem- 
bers were  initiated.  After  the  great  fire  of  1879,  the  Odd  Fellows  purchased 
the  lot  known  as  the  Burt  lot,  on  Exchange  street,  and  erected  a  fine  block, 
and  now  have  a  building  of  which  any  lodge  in  the  state  might  well  be 
proud.  The  block  is  45x55,  with  two  stores  on  the  first  floor  which  they 
rent. 

The  hall  is  forty- eight  and  one-half  feet  long  and  twenty -nine  feet  wide, 
and  the  walls  are  adorned  with  emblems  of  the  order,  tastefully  arranged. 
There  are  three  ante-rooms  connected  with  the  hall;  one  12x15,  one  15x22 
and  the  other  15x19,  the  last  two  named  connect  by  folding  doors,  which, 
when  opened,  makes  a  grand  reception-room  or  banquet-hall,  to  which  are 
attached  coat  rooms  and  every  appliance  needful  for  convenience.  The 
stairway  leading  to  the  hall  is  wide  and  commodious,  and  elegantly  finished. 
Glen  Lodge  building  cannot  be  excelled  in  the  state  for  attractiveness 
and  convenience,  and  with  the  additions  has  cost  between  84,000  and  $5,000. 
The  officers  for  the  present  term  were  installed  July  9,  L887,  by  District 
Deputy  Grand  Master  E.  W.  Evans,  assisted  by  Past  Grand  A.  M.  Hub- 
bard as  grand  warden,  Past  Grand  J.  W.  Greenlaw  as  grand  secretary. 


924  History  of  Coos  County. 

Past  Grand  Nathan  Stewart  as  grand  treasurer,  Past  Grand  Thomas  Gif- 
ford,  2d,  as  grand  marshal,  and  Past  Grand  E.  Y.  Vernon  as  grand  guard- 
ian. The  following  are  the  officers  for  the  ensuing  term:  Noble  grand, 
( IharlesH.  Hobbs;  vice  grand,  John  A.  Burbank;  secretary,  V.V.  Twitchell; 
treasurer,  Nathan  Stewart;  warden,  Walter  A.  Heath;  conductor,  Thomas 
W.  Buck;  inside  guardian,  George  F.  Woodsum;  outside  guardian,  Isaac 
Woodsum;  right  supporter  to  noble  grand,  Allen  M.  Hubbard;  left  sup- 
p<  >rter  to  noble  grand,  Ambrose  Wheeler;  right  supporter  to  vice  grand,  E.  Y. 
Vernon;  left  supporter  to  vice-grand,  I.  W.  McLellan;  right  scene  sup- 
porter, Frank  M.  Thurston;  left  scene  supporter,  William  A.  Burbank; 
chaplain,  X.  D.  Hyde;  marshal,  Warren  Noyes;  representative  to  grand 
lodge,  Charles  H.  Shorey;  visiting  committee,  Gorham,  noble  grand,  vice- 
grand  and  treasurer;  Shelburne,  Ellery  Wheeler;  Gorham  upper  village, 
Isaac  Peabody;  Berlin,  Joseph  Tucker;  Milan,  R.  A.  Twitchell;  Dummer, 
A.  J.  Magill.  Investigating  committee,  George  H.  Hersey,  R.  F.  Ingalls 
and  Walter  C.  Libby.  Finance  committee,  A.  J.  Graham,  A.  S.  Twitchell 
and  Urban  Shorey.     The  present  membership  is  203. 

John  E.  Willis  Post,  No.  59,  G.  A.  R.,  Gorham,  N.  H.,  was  instituted 
December  28,  1880,  with  twenty  charter  members:  A.  S.  Twitchell,  War- 
ren Noyes,  S.  L.  Chipman,  Elmer  L.  Stevens,  Erastus  W.  Forbes,  C.  G. 
Hamlin,  Frank  C.  Stevens,  John  P.  Dunham,  Ora  P.  Howland,  Charles 
W.  Nolan,  S.  E.  Bartlett,  Joseph  Goodnow,  0.  H.  McKeen,  P.  M.  Morgan, 
James  W.  Farrington,  Thomas  Flynn,  George  F.  Buchanan,  I.  W.  Bur- 
bank, E.  M.  Hanson,  George  W.  Burbank.  The  first  officers  were:  A.  S. 
Twitchell,  commander;  Warren  Noyes,  senior  vice-commander;  S.  L. 
Chipman,  junior  vice-commander;  C.  G.  Hamlin,  adjutant;  E.  L.  Stevens, 
quartermaster;  John  P.  Dunham,  chaplain;  S.  E.  Bartlett,  surgeon;  E.  W. 
Forbes,  officer  day;  C.  W.  Nolan,  officer  guard;  A.  C.  Gurney,  sergeant- 
major;  O.  P.  Howland,  Q.  M.  sergeant.  Encampments  are  held  on  the 
third  Thursday  of  each  month.  The  post  has  a  Grand  Army  room  in 
Twitch  ell's  block,  well  furnished,  and  is  an  efficient  and  active  organiza- 
tion. The  present  officers  are:  Commander,  Josiah  W.  Perkins;  senior 
vice-commander,  I.  W.  Burbank;  junior  vice-commander,  Philemon  Harii- 
man;  adjutant,  Albert  S.  Twitchell;  quartermaster,  Levi  Shedd;  officer  of 
the  day,  James  Wilson;  officer  of  the  guard,  Bernard  McCormick;  chaplain, 
Rev.  J.  H.  Trask. 

Postoffices. — "Shelburne  Addition"  postoffice  established  December  12, 
L833.  Postmasters:  Hezekiah  Ordway,  December  12,  1833;  Andrew  G. 
Lary,  June  5,  1834;  changed  to  Gorham,  July  27,  1837;  Andrew  G.  Lary, 
July  27,  1837;  John  T.  Peabody,  April  4,  1810;  John  R.  Hitchcock,  Febru- 
ary 2,  1852;  Charles  W.  Bean,  July  25,  1861;  Wesley  Wight,  June  27, 
L865;  Thomas  Gifford,  April  19,  18G9;  Valentine  L.  Stiles,  February  4,  1870: 


Town  of  Gorham.  '.»25 


Miss  Helen  E.  Stiles,  December  3,  L873;  Albeit  S.  Twitchell,  September  3, 
1S77;  I!u Ins  F.  Ingalls,  July  19,  Ism;. 

Mascot  Mine. — The  Mascot  Mining  Company  was  organized  in  1881  to 
work  the  silver-bearing  galena  in  tin1  vein  discovered  on  Mt.  Hayes.  Costly 
machinery  was  introduced,  valuable  buildings  constructed,  a  large  amount 
of  ore. taken  out  of  the  extensive  drifts  and  shafts,  and  a  great  mining 
"boom"  created.  All  is  now  over.  The  works  are  abandoned.  The 
machinery  has  been  taken  away,  and  the  long  line  of  stairways  on  the 
steep  mountain -side  are  fast  hastening  to  decay. 

Thirty  Years  Changes.  —  In  an  interview  with  Timothy  H.  Hutchinson, 
published  not  long  since  in  the  Mountaineer,  Mr.  Hutchinson  recalled  the 
fact  that  in  1856,  when  he  came  to  Gorham,  there  were  but  two  streets  in 
the  village — Main  and  Mechanic  streets.  We  now  have  nineteen,  we  think, 
distinct  streets,  viz.:  Main,  Mechanic,  Androscoggin,  Alpine,  Macfarlane, 
Pleasant,  Jewell,  Evans,  Emerson,  Glen,  Park,  Railroad,  Exchange, 
School,  Church,  Dublin,  High,  Promenade  and  Washington,  and  the  ex- 
tensions of  Main  street  might  almost  be  said  to  form  two  more  distinct 
streets — Upper  and  Lower  Main.  He  also  spoke  of  the  registered  voters 
then  and  now,  and  how  few  of  those  whose  names  appeared  on  the  check- 
list containing  a  list  of  the  voters  in  March,  1857,  were  voters  in  this  town 
to-day.  In  March,  1857,  the  check-list  contained  the  names  of  111  voters; 
at  the  November  election,  1886,  the  check-list  contained  the  names  of  353 
legal  voters,  and  310  votes  were  cast  for  representative.  Of  the  111  votes 
registered  in  lsr>7,  only  eighteen  are  now  voters  here.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  them:  Thomas  A.  Adams,  Charles  W.  Bean,  Samuel  F.  Emery, 
Moses  Goodno,  Benjamin  F.  Howard,  George  A.  Hodgdon,  Caleb  S.  Pea- 
body,  Iram  S.  Wells,  Jonas  G.  Wells,  Edward  Wells,  Sylvester  Wilson. 
Timothy  H.  Hutchinson,  Parker  Howard,  George  B.  Hilborn,  John  Mullen, 
Edward  B.  Wilson,  Daniel  M.  Head  and  Patrick  Mullen.  Of  the  rem  lin- 
ing ninety-three,  forty-six  are  known  to  be  dead,  and  the  others — forty- 
seven — are  gone  from  us  and  scattered  all  over  this  nation. 

The  population  in  1880  had  reached  1,383.  March  1,  1887,  the  valua- 
tion of  the  town  was  $433,458,  and  there  were  428  polls,  L73  horses,  ninety- 
two  oxen,  1G3  cows,  148  sheep  owned  by  residents.  Gorham  now  has  fine 
blocks  and  buildings,  nerd  residences  and  churches,  a  good  system  of 
public  schools,  the  professions  filled  with  intelligent  and  useful  men, 
citizens  industrious  and  temperate  in  their  habits,  so  that  there  is  an  air 
of  thrift  and  progress  manifest  throughout  the  town.  All  these  considera- 
tions give  increased  responsibility  to  the  citizens  and  make  this  one  of  the 
most  interesting  villages  in  Northern  New  England. 


!>;<;  History  of  Coos  County. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


ANDREW   G.  LARY. 

For  a  period  of  half  a  century  Andrew  G.  Lary  was  a  citizen  of  Gorham, 
identified  with  its  early  settlement  and  its  later  prosperity.  His  familiar 
form  was  to  be  seen  daily  on  the  street,  and  his  face  and  cheery  presence 
was  much  missed — as  the  disappearance  of  a  long  well-known  land-mark 
makes  a  void — when  his  death  occurred,  February  26,  1884:,  at  the  vener- 
able age  of  nearly  eighty  five  years. 

Andrew  G.  Lary,  the  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Blake)  Lary, 
was  born  in  Gilead,  Me.,  August  14,  1799,  to  which  place  his  father  removed, 
about  1789,  from  Wolf  borough,  N.  H.  On  attaining  his  majority,  in  1820, 
Mr.  Lary  settled  in  Shelburne  on  a  farm  near  the  state  line,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  fourteen  years,  taking  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  town.  In 
L827  he  married  Levee,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Ruth  (Head)  Chandler,  of 
Pembroke.  They  had  five  children,  Ruth,  Ann,  Blake,  Dawn,  and  Head. 
[The  families  of  Head  and  Chandler  have  been  eminent  in  the  annals  of 
New  Hampshire  for  long  years.-  The  Heads  are  of  Welsh  ancestry,  and 
originally  settled  in  Bradford,  Mass.,  but,  prior  to  the  Revolution,  moved  to 
Pembroke,  N.  H.  "On  the  northerly  side  of  Pembroke  street,  west  of  a 
cross-road  leading  to  the  site  of  the  old  town-house,  is  a  field  on  a  side  hill 
in  which  stood  the  Head  garrison -house,  one  of  the  four  of  the  town, 
where  the  inhabitants  sought  protection  from  marauding  bands  of  savages 
in  the  old  French  and  Indian  wars."  James  Head  was  in  command  of  the 
post,  and  was  afterward  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  under  Gen.  John 
Stark.  He  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bennington  while  doing  noble  service 
for  his  country.] 

In  the  spring  of  1834  Mr.  Lary  removed  his  family  to  Gorham.  There 
were  then  but  twelve  families  living  in  the  town.  He  located  on  what  has 
since  been  known  as  the  "Lary  place'*  at  Gorham  Corner,  Gorham  Upper 
Village.  He  built  the  Lary  House  the  same  year.  This  was  the  first 
painted  house  in  town,  and,  in,1835,  it  was  opened  as  a  public  house.  At 
that  time  the  summer  hotel  business,  which  is  now  the  most  important  in 
a  number  of  towns  lying  among  the  mountains  and  at  their  base,  was  in 
its  infancy.  The  hostelries  were  few,  and  the  nearest  inn  was  in  Randolph. 
The  usual  price  for  a  single  meal  was  twenty-five  cents,  lodging  six  to 
eight  rents,  a  glass  of  rum  fourpence,  keeping  a  horse  over  night  with- 
out grain,  twenty  rive  cents.  At  that  time  the  travel  was  immense  from 
Northern  New  I  [ampshire  and  Vermont  to  Portland.  Farmers  carried  their 
pork,  butter,  cheese  and  poultry  to  Portland,  and  exchanged  them  for  tea, 
coffee,  rum  and  such  other  necessaries  as  their  wants  demanded.     It  took 


^ 


To  W.N   OF  GrORHAM.  927 


from  five  to  six  days  to  make  the  trip.  The  Lary  House  when  built  was 
thought  to  be  sufficiently  large  for  the  requirements  of  the  business  for 
years  to  come,  but  the  popularity  of  its  landlord,  and  the  increase  of  mount- 
ain travel,  required  its  frequent  enlargement  and  rebuilding;  its  situation 
being  favorable  to  make  it  a  quiet  resort  for  the  summer  visitor.  It  is 
located  one  mile  from  Gorham  village,  near  the  Androscoggin,  and  from  it 
one  lias  a  line  view  of  the  northern  slopes  of  the  White  Mountains.  Here 
Mr.  Lary  lived  until  his  death,  a  period  of  fifty  years,  a  notable  instance 
of  an  innkeeper  remaining  in  the  same  house  for  so  long  a  time.  He  had 
seen  the  children  of  Gorham  become  men  and  women,  marry,  and  their 
children  attain  maturity,  and,  by  his  extensive  acquaintance  with  the 
people,  was  able  to  recount  much  of  the  important  history  of  the  town  and 
its  inhabitants.  He  retained  his  mental  faculties  remarkably;  and  although 
his  health  was  much  impaired  when  Dr.  True  wrote  his  history  of  Gorham, 
he  obtained  much  information  from  Mr.  Lary  which  might  otherwise  never 
have  been  preserved.     Mrs.  Lary  died  January  12,  1873. 

Mr.  Lary  was  Republican  in  his  politics,  and  strong  in  his  advocacy  of 
the  principles  of  that  party,  but  was  never  a  political  aspirant.  He  served 
his  town  as  moderator,  clerk,  selectman  and  treasurer  with  fidelity.  He 
was  one  of  the  type  of  innkeepers  rapidly  passing  away.  He  always  took 
an  interest  in  his  guests,  but  was  never  obtrusive  in  his  intercourse  with 
them;  and  when  entering  his  house,  they  felt  like  coming  home.  Digni- 
fied and  quiet  in  his  manners,  agreeable,  hospitable,  genial  and  social, 
keen-witted,  and  with  a  mind  well  balanced,  he  could  not  fail  to  be  a 
pleasant  companion.  He  was  also  an  active  man,  enjoyed  an  out-door  life, 
and  had  been  engaged  somewhat  in  surveying.  Two  of  his  daughters, 
Mrs.  Hitchcock  and  Miss  Lary,  occupy  the  old  homestead,  and  the  engrav- 
ing which  accompanies  this  sketch  is  their  tribute  to  the  memory  of  their 
honored  father. 


JOHN   RAYMOND   HITCHCOCK. 

John  Raymond  Hitchcock,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Webster)  Hitchcock, 
was  born  in  the  beautiful  town  of  Claremont,  N.  H.,  November  16,  1^21. 
He  was  a  worker  from  his  early  years;  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
local  school,  which  was  the  college  of  those  days,  and  for  the  practical 
business  life  of  active  Xew  England  it  did  its  work  well.  He  passed  his 
life  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old  on  a  farm,  and  amid  rural  surround- 
ings, daily  accustomed  to  hardship  and  laborious  exertion,  the  young  boy 
grew  into  that  vigorous  manhood  which  the  exigencies  of  the  time  required. 

About  L840  Mr.  Hitchcock,  desiring  to  make  a  change  in  his  life,  went 
to  Hanover,  where  he  found  employment  with  Jonathan  Currier  at  the 
Dartmouth  Hotel,  and  was  engaged  in   many  departments  pertaining  to 


928  History  of  Coos  County. 


the  hotel  business.  He  took  charge  of  the  staging,  hotel,  and  livery,  kept 
the  books,  was  bright  and  active,  quick  to  learn,  and  willing  to  work,  and, 
during  his  stay  of  many  years,  he  saved  some  money  and  acquired  a  valu- 
able experience.  From  Hanover  he  wrent  to  Boston;  and,  in  company 
with  Nathaniel  Huggins,  kept  the  Pearl  St.  House  for  a  few  years,  and 
after  a  short  tarry  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  he  returned  to  New  Hampshire  in 
the  summer  of  1851,  and  in  September  of  the  same  year  commenced  his 
highly  successful  career  as  managing  clerk  of  the  Alpine  House,  then 
known  as  the  Station  House,  which  had  been  finished  that  summer  by  the 
Grand  Trunk  railway  for  the  accommodation  of  summer  boarders  as  well 
as  furnishing  meals  for  passengers.  After  two  years  Mr.  Hitchcock 
assumed  the  sole  proprietorship,  changed  the  name  to  Alpine  House  and 
conducted  it  until  1872,  a  period  of  over  twenty  years,  when  the  hotel  was 
burned  and  he  retired  from  the  business.  Eleven  years  of  this  time  he 
had  the  charge  of  the  Tip-Top  House.  These  houses  were  managed  with 
admirable  ability,  and  many  distinguished  people  were  often  his  guests. 

In  1857  Mr.  Hitchcock  had  purchased  and  much  improved  a  beautiful 
farm  in  the  Androscoggin  valley  lying  in  the  towms  of  Gorham  and  Shel- 
burne  with  residence  in  Shelburne,  and  here,  after  he  had  retired  from 
public  life,  he  enjoyed  the  happiness  of  a  quiet  home  with  his  wife.  Dawn, 
daughter  of  Andrew  G.  and  Levee  (Chandler)  Lary,  a  lady  who  enjoys 
the  warmest  regards  of  the  community,  whom  he  had  married  January 
11,  1875.  But  this  pleasant  domestic  life  was  of  short  duration,  for  Mr. 
Hitchcock  died  suddenly  of  heart  disease,  September  30,  1879.  During  his 
long  residence  in  Gorham  he  was  ever  known  as  a  gentleman  of  kind 
spirit  and  pleasant  manners.  It  was  often  remarked  of  him  that  "he 
always  recognized  an  acquaintance,  rich  or  poor,  high  or  low,  with  the 
same  readiness  and  courtesy." 

Mr.  Hitchcock  was  a  member  of  F.  &  A.  M.  Gorham  Lodge.  Though 
not  belonging  to  any  church  denomination  he  contributed  largely  to  the 
support  of  religion.  He  was  a  prosperous  man,  but  in  early  life  had  not 
the  adventitious  aids  of  wealth  or  education,  as  his  parents  were  in  limited 
circumstances,  and  his  prosperity  was  due  to  his  natural  push  and  perse- 
verance in  any  workhetook  in  hand.  Kind-hearted,  generous,  and  impul- 
sive, his  means  were  dispensed  in  the  same  spirit.  But  it  is  especially  as 
the  genial  landlord,  friend,  and  host,  that  Mr.  Hitchcock  is  recalled  to  his 
numerous  friends,  to  whom  this  record  will  bring  many  pleasant  recollec- 
tions. Possessed  of  great  energy  and  executive  ability  he  greatly  enjoyed 
the  labor  and  the  life.  He  had  a  natural  aptitude  for  his  chosen  vocation, 
and  his  guests  met  him  with  pleasure  and  parted  from  him  with  regret, 
and  it  is  only  justice  to  add  that  while  his  good  judgment  and  quick  sagac- 
ity brought  him  financial  success,  it  also  added  much  to  the  wealth  of  the 
town. 


; 


o^rr^n 


Town  of  Goriiam.  929 


CAPT.  WARRKX   XOYES. 

The  name  Noyes  is  of  Welch  origin.  In  the  eighteenth  century  some 
■of  the  family  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  various  parts  of  New 
England.  Among  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  was  Bela  Noyes.  of  Massa- 
chusetts, who.  after  his  patriotic  services  for  his  country,  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Norway,  Me.,  where  he  pursued  the  honorable  calling  of  a  tanner, 
and  died  in  1833,  at  an  advanced  age.  His  son.  Bela,  was  born  in  Norway. 
in  1794,  and  married  Honor  Prince,  of  New  Gloucester.  Me.  Mr.  Noyes 
made  a  home  for  himself  and  wife  in  the  sparsely -settled  section  of 
Norway.  He  was  vigorous,  industrious,  cleared  land,  felled  trees,  and 
became  a  farmer  and  lumberman.  The  four  children  of  Bela  and  Honor 
(Prince)  Noyes  were  George  W.,  Warren,  Eobert  P.  and  Aphia  E.  (Mrs. 
David  Pratt).  Mrs.  Noyes  was  a  good  christian  mother,  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  although  the  churches  were  at  a  great  distance  in 
this  newly  settled  country,  the  zealous,  God-fearing  members  were 
scrupulous  in  attending  the  services.  Mrs.  Noyes  died  in  1858,  aged  sixty 
years.     Mr.  Noyes's  death  occurred  in  1860,  in  the  town  of  his  nativity. 

Warren  Xoyes,  second  son  of  Bela  and  Honor  (Prince)  Noyes,  was  born 
in  Norway,  Me.,  March  7,  1832.  From  his  parents  he  received  the  goodly 
heritage  of  a  vigorous  and  virtuous  ancestry.  After  passing  his  childhood 
and  early  manhood  on  the  farm,  attending  the  common  schools,  and  adding 
to  his  robust  physique  by  hard  labor,  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  to  sea, 
but  soon  returned,  and  April  21,  1852,  he  began  his  long  continued  and 
faithful  service  in  connection  with  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  (Grand 
Trunk)  railroad  by  working  in  the  yard  at  Portland.  He  commenced  life 
at  the  right  end  of  the  ladder,  and  had  a  large  amount  of  capital  in  the 
shape  of  courage  and  energy.  He  was  honest,  industrous,  and  manly,  and 
soon  took  his  first  step  upward.  June  10,  1852,  he  began  firing  on  an 
engine;  July  1,  1853,  he  was  detailed  as  engine  driver  on  engine  "Casco" 
at  Island  Pond,  then  engaged  in  drawing  the  necessary  materials  for  the 
contractors  to  complete  the  road  to  the  boundary  line.  This  work  em- 
ployed him  until  the  completion  and  connection  at  the  boundary  of  the 
Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  St.  Lawrence  &  Atlantic  railroads.  He 
took  the  first  passenger  train  drawn  over  the  A.  &  St.  L.  K.  P.  when  it 
lacked  harf  a  mile  of  completion.  After  the  roads  were  united,  Mr.  Noyes 
was  engineer  on  both  the  first  freight  train  and  the  first  passenger  train 
which  crossed  the  boundary  line.  From  this  time  until  April  1,  1857,  he 
was  engineer  on  passenger  and  freight  trains  running  from  Island  Pond  to 
Portland,  and  also,  for  three  years  of  this  time,  was  superintending  the 
supply  of  wood  along  the  line  of  the  road,  having,  in  this  capacity,  the 
charge  of  about  forty  men.  April  1,  1  s">7,  he  was  advanced  to  the  respon- 
sible position  of  locomotive  foreman  at  Island  Pond,  where  he  remained 
until  August  21,  1862. 


930  History  of  Coos  County. 

At  this  time  the  President  had  called  urgently  for  loyal  men  to  fill  the 
demand  for  more  soldiers  in  the  Union  army,  and  Mr.  Noyes  promptly 
responded  by  enlisting  as  a  private  in  Company  E,  Fifteenth  Vermont  Vol- 
unteers, then  being  formed  under  the  colonelcy  of  Redfield  Proctor, 
afterwards  governor  of  Vermont.  As  an  evidence  of  the  esteem  of  his  com- 
rades Mr.  Noyes  was  chosen  captain  by  the  very  complimentary  vote  of 
ninety-six  out  of  ninety-eight  votes  cast;  the  opposing  candidate,  for  whom 
Mr.  Noyes  voted,  receiving  two  votes.  His  regiment  served  for  nine 
months  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac;  and  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  that, 
although  not  participating  in  any  of  the  historic  engagements  of  the  war, 
these  soldiers  filled  the  places  assigned  them  with  as  faithful  service  and  as 
loyal  obedience  as  any  in  the  field.  Returning  to  Island  Pond  after  his 
regiment  was  mustered  out  in  July,  1863,  Captain  Noyes  was  gladly  wel- 
comed to  his  old  position,  and  was  in  charge  of  the  engines  at  that  place 
until  May  22,  1861.  The  brick  engine-house  there  was  built  under  his 
supervision.  He  removed  to  Gorham  in  1861  to  supervise  the  large  inter- 
ests of  the  road  as  master  mechanic,  and  has  charge  of  the  repairs  on  fifty 
engines  running  from  Portland  to  Island  Pond,  and  has  115  men  under  his 
direction;  they  build  no  new  engines,  but  in  making  repairs  they  construct 
every  portion  of  a  locomotive,  make  new  tenders,  etc.  Capt.  Noyes  has 
been  located  at  Gorham  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  by  his 
energetic  and  prompt  handling  of  the  affairs  of  the  road,  he  has  justified 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him.  His  fine  presence,  dignified  manners,  strict 
integrity  and  faithfulness  have  made  him  a  very  popular  and  useful  super- 
intendent. 

He  married,  January  21,  1856,  Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Abigail  (Cummings)  York,  of  Norway,  Me.  Their  children  are  Abbie  F., 
Fred  M.  and  Harry  G. 

During  these  many  years'  residence  in  Gorham,  Capt.  Noyes  has  been 
an  active  promoter  of  the  industry  and  prosperity  of  the  town.  In  1879 
he  built  Noyes's  block.  His  example  of  honesty,  perseverance  and  indus- 
try has  been  an  incentive  to  the  many  young  men  under  his  employ,  and 
they  have  husbanded  their  earnings,  made  comfortable  homes,  and  thus 
added  to  the  value  of  the  town.  As  an  employer,  Capt.  Noyes  had  often 
given  his  advice  to  the  employes  of  the  road  to  save  their  money,  and  to 
aid  in  this  a  savings  bank  seemed  the  thing  needed.  The  Gorham  Five 
Cent  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1872  with  Capt.  Noyes  as  president, 
which  office  he  still  fills. 

Democratic  in  politics,  Capt.  Noyes  represented  Gorham  in  the  state 
legislature  of  1873,  but  refused  further  political  honors  on  account  of  the 
demands  of  his  business.  He  has  twice  been  offered  the  nomination  of 
state  senator,  which,  as  his  party  were  numerically  in  the  majority,  was 
equivalent  to  an  election     He  is  a  member  of  Glen  Lodge,  No.  51, 1.  0.  0.  F., 


<&7?U7-U 


Town  of  Gorham.  931 


and  has  passed  through  the  chairs;  and  Eastern  Star  Encampment,  Port- 
land; he  is  also  an  active  member  of  John  E.  Willis  Post,  No.  59,  G.  A.  R. 

He  is  a  great  Lover  of  hunting  and  fishing,  and  enjoys  the  charms 
which  a  true  lover  of  nature  discovers  in  her  varied  creations.  Few  men 
know  better  how  to  tell  a  story,  catch  a  fish,  or  make  Life  happier  than 
Capt.  Noyes.  He  possesses  a  strong  personality,  is  leal  and  loyal  in  his 
friendships,  has  broad  and  liberal  views,  reads  and  appreciates  solid  and 
historical  works,  and  is  an  extremelj  agreeable  and  social  companion.  He 
is  kind  and  affectionate  in  his  family  relations,  and  a  worthy  citizen,  whose 
character  through  life  has  been  marked  by  honesty  and  fidelity;  and, 
to-day,  he  holds  no  second  place  in  the  regards  of  his  large  circle  of  friends. 

Success  in  life  is  not  an  accident;  neither  are  a  man's  capabilities  tram- 
melled by  the  environment  of  circumstances;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  the 
man  with  capabilities  who  makes  himself  the  master  of  circumstances.  A 
proof  of  this  is  shown  by  the  successful  career  of  Capt.  Noyes  and  his 
brothers,  both  of  whom  have  distinguished  themselves  in  railroad  circles, 
George  W.  being  master  mechanic  at  Island  Pond,  and  R.  P.  rilling  vari- 
ous positions  on  the  Grand  Trunk  and  other  roads  with  ability. 


TIMOTHY   H.    HUTCHINSON. 

Timothy  Harden  Hutchinson,  son  of  Timothy  and  Nizaulla  (Rawson) 
Hutchinson,  was  born  in  Sangerville,  Me.,  March  5,  1810.  The  Hutchin- 
sons  trace  their  ancestry  to  A.  D.,  1282,  when  Barnard  Hutchinson  resided 
in  Cowlan,  York  county,  England.  Richard,  tenth  in  descent  from  Bar- 
nard, born  in  Arnold,  England,  in  1602,  was  one  of  the  first  emigrants  of 
the  family  to  America,  coming  in  1631.  He  settled  in  what  is  now  Dan- 
vers,  Mass.,  and  became  a  large  land  owner.  The  Rawson  family  was 
early  in  this  country.  In  1051  Edward  Rawson  was  secretary  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts colony. 

The  Hutchinsons  were  people  of  marked  characteristics,  and  Timothy 
was  no  exception  to  the  rule.  He  had  but  limited  advantages  of  educa- 
tion in  the  primitive  country  schools  of  a  few  weeks  in  a  year,  but  was 
trained  in  the  school  of  labor.  In  early  life  he  worked  at  the  millwright 
business,  soon  developing  an  inventive  skill  which  led  him  to  produce 
many  very  useful  and  profitable  improvements  in  his  line  of  trade.  Dur- 
ing the  years  from  lsiiiMo  L846  he  was  much  engaged  as  a  mill  builder, 
and,  in  1S33,  he  came  to  Coos  county,  and  worked  on  a  mill  at  shelburne. 
In  1846  he  bought  a  mill  privilege  on  Great  river  (Androscoggin)  at  the 
head  of  the  falls,  put  up  a  mill,  and  carried  on  lumbering  for  nine  years. 
In  1849  he  built  a  curious  mill,  or  rather  what  one  would  call  a  "crooked 
mill,"  on  the  "rips,"  just  below  Berlin  bridge.     Every  bend,  brace,  and 


932  History  of  Coos  County. 

other  part  of  machinery  or  attachment  that  could  be  formed  from  a 
"'  natural  crook "  of  timber  was  used  in  that  way.  Even  in  the  boxing 
around  the  wheels,  in  the  gates,  etc.,  etc,  the  same  plan  prevailed,  and 
during  its  construction  the  surrounding  forests  were  diligently  searched 
for  this  peculiar  material.  Necessity  is  said  to  be  the  mother  of  inven- 
tion, but  in  this  case  one  might  say  originality  was  the  moving  force. 
The  mill  so  constructed  was  a  success,  and  each  timber  proved  the  exact 
thing  needed. 

Possessing  in  a  large  degree  that  predominant  and  distinguishing  char- 
acteristic of  the  "Yankee,"  Avhich,  seeing  a  need,  proceeds  at  once  to  de- 
vise a  way  to  supply  it,  Mr.  Hutchinson,  with  a  singleness  of  purpose  and 
determination  to  succeed,  coupled  with  an  analytic  and  practical  turn  of 
mind,  began  to  devise  labor-saving  machinery.  He  invented  and  patented 
a  valuable  improvement  in  mill  work;  a  machine  to  separate  clover- seed 
from  the  chaff ;  a  water  elevator;  he  invented  the  grooves  on  grist-mill 
stones  to  prevent  heat  when  grinding.  (Before  this  it  was  necessary  to 
stop  grinding  to  cool  the  stones  that  the  meal  might  not  become  heated; 
millers  were  also  obliged  to  run  the  meal  through  "  hopper-boys,"  costing 
$1,500  each,  before  it  could  be  bolted.)  This  invention  enabled  the  grind- 
ing to  go  on  continuously,  less  power  was  required  to  run  the  mill,  and 
the  "hopper-boys"  were  no  longer  needed.  Mr.  Hutchinson  also  made 
suggestions  to  parties  connected  with  Boston  horse-railroads  of  a  manner 
of  starting  street-cars  by  introducing  springs  so  that  the  momentum  would 
aid  in  overcoming  the  friction,  which,  on  being  adopted,  saved  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  power  in  starting  cars.  He  also  brought  to  successful  issues 
many  other  things  involving  natural  mechanical  and  inventive  skill.  The 
thoroughness  with  which  he  does  his  work  is  evinced  by  the  beautiful 
cable-bridge  of  168  feet  span  which  he  built  across  the  Androscoggin  to 
connect  his  land  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  Three  years  before  the 
locating  of  the  Atlantic  &  St.  Lawrence  railroad,  two  routes  had  been  sur- 
veyed, both  unsatisfactory,  and  the  company  had  nearly  given  up  the  idea 
of  finding  a  practicable  route,  when  renewed  interest  was  given  by  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  who  personally  looked  out  and  surveyed  the  line  of  the  road 
as  n<>w  laid,  and  to  him  must  be  accorded  the  merit  of  its  construction. 
By  laving  out  and  selling  building  lots  he  has  much  improved  the  eastern 
pari  of  Gorham  village. 

In  March,  1856,  Mr.  Hutchinson  purchased  a  place  in  Gorham,  put  up 
a  house,  and  December  22d,  of  the  same  year,  he  married  Eliza  A. ,  daughter 
of  James  and  Betsey  Hazelton,  of  Orford,  N.  H.,  a  lady  whose  artistic 
taste  is  shown  in  her  numerous  paintings,  etc. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  is  a  Republican  in  his  politics,  has  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  | leace  for  many  years.  He  is  an  independent  thinker,  and  an 
advocate  of  freedom  in  every  respect;  he  does  not  conform  to  the  opinions 


Town  or  Gorham.  933 


of  others,  and  is  not  content  to  derive  knowledge  from  ordinary  source-. 
In  his  younger  yens,  before  he  came  to  Berlin,  he  paid  considerable  atten- 
tion to  and  became  an  adept  in  phrenology.  He  has  been  a  Logical  and  in- 
teresting Lyceum  debater,  possesses  strong  and  retentive  memory,  and  by 
his  industry  and  foresight  has  secured  a  handsome  property.  He  isa  strong- 
supporter  of  his  rights,  and  to  secure  them  has  had  much  litigation,  some 
cases  being  in  the  courts  for  over  twenty  years.  He  has  made  it  a  rule 
never  to  put  bis  name  to  notes,  or  any  obligation  to  draw  money;  and 
never  has  allowed  anything  to  he  charged  to  him  except  by  parties  who 
were  owing  him.  All  in  all,  hois  a  man  of  great  reflection,  remarkable 
observation  and  unusual  originality. 


VIRGIL    V.   TWITCHELL. 

Virgil  V.  Twitchell,  the  popular  editor  and  proprietor  of  that  breezy 
newspaper,  the  Mountaineer,  son  of  Joseph  A.  and  Orinda  L.  (Mason) 
Twitchell,  was  born  in  Bethel,  Me.,  June  27,  18i2.  He  received  the  edu- 
cational advantages  of  Gould's  academy,  of  which  he  made  good  use. 
From  sixteen  to  nineteen  he  was  engaged  in  photography  in  Bethel,  Port- 
land, and  Boston.  His  patriotism  induced  him  to  enlist  as  a  private 
soldier  in  the  Fifth  Maine  Infantry  in  1863,  but  he  was  not  accepted  on 
account  of  his  delicate  physical  organization.  Through  the  influence  of 
Gov.  Perham,  then  member  of  Congress  from  Maine,  he  was  appointed  to 
a  position  in  the  U.  S.  Sanitary  Commission,  with  headquarters  at  City 
Point,  Va.  After  the  battle  of  Petersburgh  he  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  sanitary  post  in  Richmond,  where  he  remained  until  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  Here  he  contracted  a  disease  which  came  near  terminating 
fatally;  but,  by  sheer  force  of  will,  he  was  enabled  to  reach  Portland;  in 
so  enfeebled  a  condition,  however,  as  to  necessitate  his  being  carried  on  a 
stretcher.  Regaining  a  degree  of  health  in  the  northern  air,  he  entered 
the  Star  and  Advertiser  office  in  Portland,  and  rapidly  acquired  the  essen- 
tials of  a  true  "newspaper-man."  After  six  years  of  hard  but  pleasing 
labor,  he  took  a  short  rest  on  account  of  impaired  health;  then  engaged  in 
trade  for  two  years  in  Portland;  he  followed  this  by  three  years'  service  as 
clerk  of  the  Waumbek  House  in  Jefferson.  He  removed  to  Gorham  in 
October,  lv7ti;  and  the  next  April  founded  the  Mountaineer,  which  has 
attained  much  more  than  a  local  circulation  and  reputation,  and  is  appre- 
ciated for  its  keen  humor  and  pure  literature.  Mr.  Twitchell  is  at  home  in 
the  editorial  chair,  writes  an  occasional  poem,  and  wields  a  clear,  cutting, 
and  ready  pen  on  practical  subjects.  He  has  a  refined  and  cultured  taste; 
o,  penchant  for  valuable  and  antique  books;  a  veneration  for  relics  of  a  by- 
gone generation,  and  a  desire  to  aid  heartily  in  every  good  work  going  on 


934  History  of  Coos  County, 

in  the  community.  His  sanctum  is  a  veritable  museum,  with  its  library  of 
nearly  two  thousand  volumes,  and  its  collections  of  minerals,  coins,  rare 
and  historical  works,  Revolutionary  and  other  souvenirs  of  past  days.  He 
is  an  active  and  influential  Mason  and  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  modest  and  un- 
assuming gentleman. 

Mr.  Tvvitchell  married,  September  18,  I860,  Georgie  E..  daughter  of 
Benjamin  W.  Gary,  of  Portland,  Me.,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  John  Cary 
who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  proprietors  and  settlers  of  Bridgewater,  Mass. 
They  have  had  three  children,  Helen  May,  Ora  Lee  (deceased),  Willie  C. 
Mr.  Twitchell  has  a  pleasant  home,  where  he  and  his  agreeably  wife  enter- 
tain their  friends  with  true  hospitality. 


NATHANIEL  T.  TRUE,  A.  M.,  M.  D. 

This  eminent  educator  and  popular  local  historian  was  born  in  Pownal, 
Me.,  March  15,  1812.  He  entered  Bowdoin  college  when  twenty-one.  In 
1835  he  opened  the  first  high  school  in  Bethel,  Me.  In  1840  he  was  grad- 
uated as  physician  from  Maine  Medical  school,  but  soon  took  charge  of 
Monmouth  academy.  He  was  made  A.  M.  by  Waterville  college  in  1842, 
and  by  Bowdoin  in  1868.  In  1817  he  assumed  the  principalship  of  Gould 
academy  at  Bethel,  and  held  the  position  thirteen  years  with  conceded 
skill.  In  1863  and  1864  he  was  in  charge  of  Oswego  (N.  Y.)  State  Normal 
school.  He  then  returned  to  Maine,  and  four  years  was  agricultural  editor 
of  the  Maine  Fanner,  and  a  regular  contributor  to  the  leading  journals  of 
Maine.  In  1879  and  1880  he  taught  a  high  school  in  Gorham,  and,  later, 
one  at  Milan  Corner.  Four  years  before  his  death  (which  occurred  in  May, 
L887,  i  lie  was  stricken  with  paralysis. 

Dr.  True  was  well  versed  in  the  classics,  and  in  French,  Spanish,  Ger- 
man. Italian,  and  a  recognized  authority  in  the  dialect  of  the  Abenaquis 
Indians.  He  was  also  a  popular  lecturer  on  geology  and  mineralogy,  and 
possessed  a  valuable  cabinet  of  stones  and  minerals.  He  was  much 
interested  in  local  history,  and  wrote  for  the  newspapers  of  those  towns 
quite  extended  histories  of  Bethel  and  Gorham;  that  of  Gorham  in  the 
Mountaineer  forms  the  basis  of  the  history  of  the  town  in  this  work. 


RANDOLPH. 


By  Chables  E.   Lowe. 


CHAPTER  CXVI. 

First  Grant — Location — Scenery — Hotels — Lots,  lianges,  Improvements — Early  Settlers. 

Y^JANDOLPH  was  granted  to  John  Durand,  and  others  from  London, 
J-C  under  the  name  of  "Durand,"  August  20,  1772,  and  incorporated  as 
V  Randolph,  June  16,  1821.  It  is  situated  at  the  northern  base  of  the 
White  Mountains;  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Berlin,  east  by  Gorham, 
south  by  the  White  Mountains,  and  west  by  Kilkenny.  The  surface  is 
uneven  and  broken  with  hills,  and,  of  its  area  of  over  36,000  acres,  only  a 
small  number  are  under  improvement.  Farming,  lumbering,  and  keep- 
ing summer  boarders  are  the  principal  employments  of  the  people.  The 
lumber  business  is  an  important  branch  of  resource.  Tributaries  of  Moose 
and  Israel's  rivers  are  the  principal  streams  and  afford  some  water-power. 
In  1820  the  population  was  seventy-three,  in  1886,  360. 

The  scenery  is  lovely  and  there  are  many  attractions.  The  mountains 
are  lined  with  ravines,  cascades,  and  beautiful  primeval  forests;  the 
streams  of  clear  sparkling  water  are  inhabited  by  speckled-trout;  pleasant 
walks  to  Ripple  falls,  and  along  Lowe's  paths  to  the  cascades  on  Israel's 
river;  mountain  climbing  to  Mt.  Adams,*  and  other  peaks  of  the  Presi- 
dential range;  the  King's  Ravine,  the  grandest  the  mountains  afford;  Cold 
Brook  falls,  a  favorite  spot.  The  Ravine  House  is  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
from  the  latter  falls,  and  from  it  many  points  of  interest  can  be  easily 

*It  has  been  a  custom  of  visitors  to  Mt.  Washington  by  the  waj  of  .Mt.  Mams  to  leave  a  record  of  their 
journey  "bottled  up"  tor  the  benefit  of  the  tourists  of  the  next  year.  The  ascent  of  Mt.  Adams  had  never 
been  made  in  mid-winter  until  February  17,  1887,  when  Charles  Lowe,  of  Uandolph,  accomplished  this  peril- 
ous feat,  dug  up  the  bottle,  and  on  his  return  forwarded  its  contents  to  Boston.  His  mode  of  climbing  was 
by  the  aid  of  a  strong  staff  with  a  pick,  which  he  could  stab  into  the  ice  and  in  this  way  step  by  step  he 
made  progress  slowly  but  surely  and  finally  gained  the  top  of  the  ice-covered  mountain. — Editor. 


936  History  of  Coos  County. 


reached.      The  Mount  Crescent  House  possesses  attractive  features  for 
tourists,  and  the  best  place  for  a  drive  is  along  Randolph  hill. 

Improvements  and  Settlers. — Lot  17,  range  2.  Commenced  by  Ben- 
jamin Ockington,  and  a  saw-mill  built  in  1827  by  him  was  owned  by 
Joseph  Holmes.  Augustus  Stephens  built  a  clapboard  mill  near  the  saw- 
mill in  1835.  Anson  Stillings  bought  the  property  and  sold  to  Robert 
Blair,  who  sold  to  the  Canton  Steam  Mill  Company.  This  mill  was  burned 
in  1884,  and  rebuilt  by  Libbey  Brothers,  the  present  owners,  in  1885. 
Joseph  L.  Kelsey  owns  a  part,  and  M.  V.  B.  Watson  a  piece  of  the  same 
lot. 

Lot  18,  range  2.  Commenced  by  Jesse  Bumpus,  and  a  log  house 
and  barn  built  on  it.  It  was  occupied  by  Samuel  Rogers  a  few  years, 
deserted,  and  went  to  the  owners  of  lot  17,  range  2. 

Lot  16,  range  2.  Commenced  by  Silas  Bumpus  about  1800,  and  bought 
by  Levi  Lowe  in  1818.  He  died  there,  and  his  son  Justus  took  it,  and 
lived  on  the  homestead  fifty  years.  At  his  death,  Perly,  his  son,  became 
owner,  and  is  now  the  occupant.  On  this  lot  there  is  a  large  beaver- 
meadow,  and  the  remains  of  the  old  dam  can  now  be  plainly  seen. 

Lot  L5,  range  2.  Occupied  by  James  Hill  early  in  1800,  but  it  was  sold 
and  added  to  the  Bowman  place,  and  remained  in  that  tract  until  1859, 
when  it  was  sold  to  Ezekiel  Sheldon  of  Rhode  Island.  He  sold  to  A.  J. 
and  Pembrook  Watson,  who  disposed  of  it  to  M.  V.  B.  Watson.  Thomas 
Suiter  bought  and  sold  to  Richard  Hadley,  the  present  owner  of  the  west 
half,  Oilman  C.  Bradbury  owning  the  east  half.  There  is  a  nice  school- 
house  and  grounds  on  this  lot. 

Lot  14,  range  2.  Opened  up  and  cleared  by  John  Bowman.  He  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers,  and  came  before  1800,  built  a  log  tavern  and 
barn.  He,  with  his  son  Hiram,  kept  a  tavern  on  the  place  for  a  number 
of  years.  Hiram  died  about  1827.  John  Bowman  figured  in  town  affairs 
considerably  in  its  early  growth.  At  the  time  of  the  Willey  slide  there 
was  a  slide  came  down  Israel's  river,  covering  the  Bowman  place  with 
trees,  rocks  and  dirt.  It  completely  surrounded  the  house,  but  Bowman 
and  his  wife  slept  through  it  all,  and  knew  nothing  of  it  until  the  next 
morning.  The  large  wood-covered  mountain  at  the  foot  of  Mt.  Jefferson 
was  named  for  Mr.  Bowman.  Since  1845  the  place  has  been  occupied  by 
a  number,  but  not  permanently.  Residents  since  Bowman  have  been 
John  Kimball,  Frank  Morrison,  Frank  Wilson,  Henry  Wallace,  Frank 
Hayes,  0.  S.  Lowe,  Charles  E.  Lowe,  E.  A.  Crawford.  Lowe,  Evans  & 
Andrews  are  the  present  owners. 

Lot  13,  range  2.  Commenced  by  a  man  named  Higgins;  no  one  knew 
from  whence  he  came  nor  whither  he  went.  The  next  occupant  was  Hub- 
bard Hunt,  the  present  owner  and  resident. 

Lot  12,  range  2.     Robert  Ingalls,   of  Shelburne,   cleared  fifteen  acres 


Town  ok  Randolph.  -a:'.. 


about  1828.  In  1856  Charles  and  Clovis  Lowe  bought  it,  and  also  lot  12, 
range  3.  There  are  three  families  on  these  lots:  Mrs.  Clovis  Lowe,  and 
her  grandson  Charles  E.  Hunt,  Charles  E.  Lowe,  and  F.  F.  Eeed.  Clovis 
Lowe  had  a  nice  set  of  buildings  destroyed  by  fire  here,  and,  although  he 
was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  he  rebuilt  them,  determined  to  die  in  a 
home  of  his  own,  which  he  did  in  1882,  two  years  later. 

Lot  11,  range  3.  Partially  cleared  by  Caleb  Wilson,  of  Lancaster,  and 
occupied  by  his  son-in-law  until  Obediah  Mann  bought  it  about  1830. 

Lot  10,  range  3.  Commenced  by  Stephen  G-ilson  prior  to  1800.  Obe- 
diah Mann,  Sr.,  bought  of  Gilson.  Mann  was  an  old  Revolutionist,  and 
brought  considerable  property  here.  He  died,  and  was  buried  beside  a 
stone  wall  in  the  field,  and  no  stone  marks  his  resting-place.  He  was  once 
the  glory  of  his  country,  but  is  now  nearly  forgotten.  Obediah,  Jr.,  occu- 
pied the  place  until  about  1858.  It  then  became  the  property  of  A.  G. 
Messenger.  A  few  years  later  the  buildings  were  burned:  since  then  there 
have  been  several  owners;  the  present  ones  are  William  Watson  and  T.  S. 
Lowe.     A  new  house  has  been  put  up  on  the  place. 

Lot  9,  range  3.  Clearing  was  commenced  here  by  a  Mr.  Noble.  A 
number  of  old  cellars  mark  the  spots  where  other  settlers  lived  who  are 
now  unknown.  About  1850  J.  W.  Watson  built  a  block  house,  and  lived 
in  it  nearly  twenty  years,  and  then  sold  to  Henry  Rich,  his  son-in-law. 
who  sold  to  William  Smith,  the  present  owner. 

Lots  8,  ranges  3  and  4.  Improvements  were'begun  here  by  Gilson.  He 
built  the  first  mill  in  Durand.  It  was  built  on  Cold  brook  just  below  the 
falls,  and  went  out  with  the  first  freshet.  He  erected  a  second  mill,  for 
making  lumber  and  grinding  grain,  about  1S00.  John  Morse  bought  out 
Gilson  and  kept  the  mill  in  operation  for  a  number  of  years.  There  were 
three  dwellings  on  those  lots  at  one  time,  all  occupied  by  the  Morse  fami- 
lies. The  traces  of  the  old  mills  are  all  gone,  not  as  much  as  the  end  of 
a  dam  remaining.  New  buildings  were  erected  on  the  lots  but  are  unoccu- 
pied. 

Lots  7,  ranges  3  and  4.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Stuart  began  improv- 
ing here  about  1810.  Elaska  Jackson  built  a  log  house  there  in  1816.  His 
wife  was  insane;  and  she  was  kept  in  a  "cage"  in  the  house  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Stephen  P.  Watson  bought  of  Jackson.  He  was  drowned 
crossing  the  stream  near  the  house.  Abel  N.  Watson,  his  son,  took  the 
place,  reared  a  large  family,  and  occupies  it  with  his  son,  Laban  M.  They 
built  the  first  house  for  summer  visitors  in  town.  This  accommodates 
about  forty  guests  who  are  well  entertained. 

Lot  6,  rouge  4,  known  as  the  Eliot  place,  was  cleared  before  1800  by 
Eliot.  William  Watson  built  a  house  and  lived  there  a  few  years.  Jerome 
Leavitt  purchased  the  place,  and  built  the  first  circular  saw-mill  in  Ran- 
dolph here  in  1856.     The  mill  was  owned  by  several  parties,  and  finally 

61 


938  History  of  Coos  County. 

came  into  A.  G.  Messenger's  possession,  who  put  in  the  first  engine  ever 
used  here.  He  partly  sold  to  J.  G.  Lary,  of  Gilead,  Me.  The  mill  was 
burned  and  never  rebuilt.  A  few  rods  from  the  house,  there  is  one  of  the 
best,  if  not  the  best,  springs  that  can  be  found  in  the  state.  Mr.  Messen- 
ger at  his  own  expense  has  put  a  granite  watering-trough,  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  public,  by  the  roadside,  where  man  and  beast  can  refresh 
themselves. 

Lot  5,  range  4.  About  1795  a  Mr.  Wilcox  put  up  a  log  house  and 
cleared  some  of  the  land.  The  brook  that  runs  through  this  place  was 
named  for  him.  The  next  occupant  was  Anthony  Vincent,  who  took 
possession  in  1826,  and  built  the  frame  house  now  on  the  place.  He  sold 
to  Alfred  Carlton,  who  occupied  it  until  I860,  since  which  time  a  starch- 
factory  has  been  built  on  the  brook.  It  is  now  used  for  threshing  grain 
and  sawing  wood,  and  is  owned  by  L.  M.  Watson.  Fred  Messenger  lives 
in  the  old  house  and  owns  the  part  of  the  lot  east  of  the  brook. 

Lot  4,  range  4.  Clearing  was  commenced  on  this  lot  about  1794  or  '95 
by  Joseph  Wilder.  He  erected  a  two-story  gable-roof  frame  house,  a 
novelty  in  those  days.  Misfortune  overtook  him.  He  signed  bonds  for 
his  brother,  could  not  pay,  was  sent  to  jail,  and,  being  too  proud  to  take 
the  "debtor's  oath,"  he  remained  there  a  number  of  years.  He  had  the 
"liberty  of  the  yard,"  or  a  circuit  of  a  mile  to  roam  in.  James  Gray 
bought  the  property,  and  sold  half  to  Asa  Stephens,  who  disposed  of  his 
share  to  Pool.  The  east  half  was  first  occupied  by  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Lisher,  then  by  John  Bowman  for  several  years.  James  Douty  also  lived 
there;  his  son  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  new  graveyard. 

Lot  3,  ranged.  Douty  rolled  up  a  log  hut  on  this  lot,  and  commenced 
clearing,  but  soon  left.  James  Gray  was  the  next  owner;  he  built  the 
house  now  standing  on  the  lot,  but  it  has  been  remodelled,  and  former 
owners  would  not  recognize  it.  Samuel  Evans  bought  of  Gray,  and  Robert 
Wood,  who  came  here  about  1852,  was  the  next  in  possession;  the  property 
has  been  in  the  Wood  family  since.  George  Wood,  the  present  proprietor, 
has  the  largest  stock  and  dairy  farm  in  town. 

Lot  3,  range  3.  Silas  Bumpus  cut  the  first  tree  on  this  lot.  He  sold  to 
Clark  Fellows.     Bumpus  brook  runs  through  this  lot. 

Lot  2.  range  3,  was  improved  first  in  1830,  by  Jonas  Green,  of  Shel- 
burne.  He  cleared  the  land  for  a  pasture,  and  built  a  small  frame  house 
and  barn.  Stephen  Gray  was  the  next  occupant,  hiring  it  of  Green.  John 
Parker  was  the  next  owner  and  sold  to  William  Hawker.  He  built  large 
and  convenient  buildings;  and  is  now,  with  his  stepson,  the  owner  and 
occupant. 

Lot  2,  range  4.  Here  work  was  commenced  by  Titus  0.  Brown,  for 
his  son,  Titus  0.,  about  1795.  He  made  "  salts"  here  at  one  time.  Brown 
went  away  and  Asa  Stetson  moved  on  the  place.     Brown   built  a  block 


Town  of  Randolph.  939 


house  which  stood  till  about  I860.  Elizur  Evans  bought  of  Brown,  and 
Timothy  Hodgdon  of  him,  and  he  lei  William  Boswell  have  it.  Robert B. 
Hodgdon  was  tin1  next  owner.  Be  kept  the  postoffice  a  number  of  yens, 
and  a  hotel  about  thirty  years.  George  R.  Hodgdon  built  the  house  now 
on  the  place.  It  is  owned  and  occupied  by  Hodgdon's  brother-in-law, 
Ithiel  Scates. 

Lot  1,  range  5.  Henry  Goodenough  built  a  log  house  and  begun  a 
clearing  about  Win.  Abraham  Wilson  was  the  next  occupant,  living  in 
this  log  house.  The  next  occupant  was  Jonathan  Goodin,  who  married 
Henry  Goodenough's  daughter.  She  had  a  law-suit  with  Obediah  Mann 
and  lost  the  place.  Timothy  Hodgdon  bought  it  of  Mann,  and  built  a 
frame  house,  living  in  it  a  short  time.  Hodgdon  sold  to  John  B.  Kelsey, 
who  remodelled  the  house,  built  a  bain,  and  for  a  number  of  years  kept 
summer  boarders.  He  was  burned  out  and  went  to  Massachusetts.  The 
first  church  elected  in  town  is  on  this  lot.  A  man  named  Alnaud  Wallace 
built  a  log  house  here  in  which  he  died. 

Lot  2,  range  5.  John  Wilson  cleared  land  and  put  up  a  log  house  and 
framed  barn  as  early  as  1S03.  The  barn  was  never  fully  boarded,  and  the 
bears  used  to  crawl  in  and  catch  his  sheep.  After  Wilson's  occupancy  the 
lot  became  a  part  of  the  Brown  property.  John  Wilson's  son,  Samuel, 
also  built  a  log  house  here  in  which  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years. 

Lot  1,  range  6,  was  cleared  by  a  man  named  Wheeler  about  1793.  The 
next  occupant  was  Deacon  Evans  Wilson.  Robert  Ingalls  bought  it  for  a 
pasture,  afterwards  selling  to  John  Parker,  who  sold  to  Henry  Evans,  and 
he  to  J.  R.  Hitchcock. 

Lot  2,  range  0.  Here  Amos  Peabody  had  built  a  log  house  and  barn 
before  L800  on  the  east  half  of  the  lot.  The  barn  was  never  fully  boarded 
and  it  soon  blew  down.  Nat  Ordway  moved  to  this  lot  about  1820,  and 
built  a  log  house  and  hovel.  James  Gordon  married  one  of  his  daughters. 
and  resided  here  until  about  1850,  when  Benjamin  Kelsey  became  the 
owner,  rebuilt  the  buildings  and  is  now  the  occupant. 

Lot  3,  range  5.  Settled  by  Cornelius  Bass.  He  built  a  log  house  and  a 
hovel,  and  lived  here  until  he  committed  suicide  in  L820.  He  was  buried 
on  the  place  near  his  cabin.  Caleb  Cushman  later  built  a  log  house  where 
the  old  orchard  is  now,  and  occupied  it  fifteen  years.  Since  then  it  has 
been  pasture  land. 

Lot  4,  range  5.  Elizur  Evans  commenced  improvements  on  this  lot  by 
building  a  log  house  and  frame  barn.  Before  him  some  squatter  had  put 
up  a  log  house,  but  probably  was  a  brief  inhabitant.  Robert  Leighton 
built  a  block  house  and  frame  barn  here  sometime  in  the  "  thirties." 

Lot  5,  range  5.  Settled  by  Garmands,  or  the  clearing  was  begun  by 
him.  Joshua  Holmes  took  possession  about  1820,  erected  a  frame  house 
and  barn,  and  lived  there  about  twenty-five  years.     Abel  Jackson  bought 


940  History  of  Coos  County. 

it,  built  a  frame  house,  and  sold  out  to  C.  C.  Leighton;  he  to  R.  I.  Leigh- 
ton,  and  he  to  L.  M.  Watson. 

Lot  3,  range  6.  Settled  by  Robert  Leighton  in  1806.  He  put  up  a  log- 
house,  and  cleared  the  land.  John  Wilson  bought  the  east  half,  and  built 
a  log  house  and  barn  there.  He  also  built  the  frame  house  now  on  it.  He 
exchanged  places  with  Ithiel  Scates,  since  which  time  this  has  been  in 
the  possession  of  the  Scates  family  and  is  now  occupied  by  Frank  Scates. 
John  C.  Leighton  built  a  frame  house  and  barn,  on  the  west  half  about 
L841,  which  he  and  his  son  Joel  now  occupy. 

Lot  1,  range  6.  Settled  by  Samuel  Emery  about  1800.  He  put  up  a 
log  house  and  barn.  Isaac  Carter  bought  his  claim,  and  became  the  next 
occupant.  Robert  Leighton  was  the  next  owner  and  resided  here  a  short 
time.  He  let  his  son  Robert  have  the  east  half  of  the  lot,  and  he  built  a 
house  and  barn  on  it.  Here  he  made  his  home  for  life,  raising  his  family 
here,  and  in  course  of  time  built  new  buildings.  He  left  it  at  his  death 
to  his  son  Robert  I.,  who  built  the  house  and  barn  now  standing.  Jesse 
Bumpus  raised  a  log  house  on  the  west  half  of  this  lot,  and  lived  there 
from  eight  to  ten  years,  then  sold  to  Jacob  Morse,  who  added  a  log  barn 
to  the  buildings,  and  brought  up  a  large  family  on  the  place.  Stephen 
Wren  has  lately  purchased  this  place  and  built  a  fine  house. 

Lot  5,  range  6.  Settled  by  Mark  Pitman,  who  built  a  log  house  about 
1800.  The  next  occupant  was  Elaska  Jackson,  whose  house  was  burned. 
Silas  Bumpus  then  purchased  the  lot  and  sold  it  to  Spofford  Stevens,  he  to 
Thomas  Boothman.  He  aud  his  sons  built  fine  buildings,  but  time,  that 
levels  all  things,  has  levelled  them  or  nearly  done  so.  The  east  half  is 
owned  and  occupied  by  Robert  I.  Leighton,  and  a  pleasant  and  commo- 
dious mountain-house  under  his  management,  here  opens  its  doors  each 
summer  for  guests. 

Lot  6,  range  6.  Settled  by  William  Felker  in  182G.  He  built  a  frame 
house,  lived  in  it  a  few  years,  and  committed  suicide  by  hanging.  Darius 
Green  then  moved  thither,  remained  a  short  time,  and  sold  to  Jacob  Stevens, 
who  in  turn  sold  to  James  and  William  Warburton,  who  made  an  addition 
to  the  house,  and  built  a  new  barn.  They  sold  to  William  Frank.  His 
stay  was  short.  The  buildings  have  gone  to  decay,  and  the  land  is  open 
common. 

Lot  7,  range  (>.  Settled  by  Jacob  Morse  about  1S26.  He  built  a  log 
house  and  barn,  lived  there  fifteen  or  twenty  years  in  true  pioneer  manner. 
The  bears  used  to  trouble  him,  and  he  often  sat  up  nights  and  pounded  on 
logs  to  scare  them  away. 


Town  of  Randolph.  94] 


CHAPTER    CXVIL 

Act  of  Incorporation— First  Town  Meeting  Called — Representatives — Town  Clerks—  Selectmen 
— Town  Treasurers. 

^y~\  GT  of  Incorporation.— ''Section  1st.  Bo  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  house  of  representatives  in  Gen- 
f  I  rial  Court  convened,  that  the  tract  of  land  Granted  and  known  by  the  name  of  Dorand,  situate  in  the 
y~        county  of  Coos,  shall  hereafter  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Randolph,  and  shall  be  a  Town 

X    by  that  name. 

"Section  2d.  And  be  it  further  enacted  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  Township  he  and  they  hereby  are 
made  a  body  corporate  and  politic  with  all  and  the  same  rights  powers  privileges  immunities  and  liabilities  of 
simalar  corporations  iu  this  state,  and  that  said  Town  of  Randolph  shall  remain  classed  as  at  the  present 
time  electing  a  Representative  until  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Legislature. 

••Section  3d.  And  be  it  further  enacted  that  for  the  purpose  of  duly  organizing  said  Town  a  meeting  of 
the  Inhabitants  thereof  legally  qualified  to  vote  in  Town  affairs  shall  be  holden  in  said  Town  on  the  first 
Tuesday  of  Ssptemb  >r  next,  at  which  in  ieting  selectm  n  ami  other  necessary  officers  may  be  elected  to  con- 
tinue iu  office  until  others  are  chosen  agreeably  to  the  standing  laws  of  the  state  and  that  Joseph  Morse,  Levi 
Lowe  and  Titus  O.  Brown,  jr.,  or  any  two  < if  them,  be  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  inhabitants  by 
giving  such  notice  as  is  required  for  annual  Town  meetings. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives  Jan.  12  th,  1824  the  foregoing  bill  having  had   three   several   readings 

passed  to  be  enacted  sent  up  for  concurrence. 

"Andrew  Pierce,  Speaker." 

"In  Senate  June  15th  1824  the  foregoing  bill  was  read  a  third  time  and  passed  to  be  enacted. 

"Joseph  Bartlett,  President." 
"Approved  June  16th  1824. 

"  Daniel  Lawrence  Morrill. 

"  Secretary's  office,  Concord,  June  16th  1824. 

"A  true  copy  of  the  original  on  file  in  this  office. 

"S.  A.  Kimball,  Dept.  Secretary." 

"A  true  copy  of  record. 

"Silas  Bumpus,  Town  Clerk." 

Call  for  first  Town  Meeting. — 

[l.  s.]         State  of  New  Hampshire,  Coos  S.  S. 

"Greeting:  Agreable  to  an  act  to  incorporate  this  place  recently  called  Durand  to  a  Town  by  the  name 
of  Randolph,  and  whereas  Joseph  Morse.  Levi  Lowe  and  Titus  O.  Brown,  Jr.,  or  any  two  of  them  being 
authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  inhabitants  by  giving  such  notice  as  is  required  for  annual  town 
meetings,  we,  the  undersigned,  in  compliance  with  the  above  requirement,  do,  therefore,  in  the  nameof  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  notifj  and  warn  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Randolph  duly  qualifi<  <1  to  vote 
in  Town  meetings  to  appi  ar  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Joseph  Morse  in  said  Town  of  Randolph  on  the  first  Tues- 
day of  September  next  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  to  act  on  the  following  articli  s,  viz.  first,  to  choose  a 
moderator  to  govern  said  meeting.     Second,  to  choose  a  town  clerk.     Third,  to  cho  etmen  and  other 

necessary  officers  for  said  town. 

"  Given  under  our  hands  and  seal  at  Randolph   this  13th   day  of  August   in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 

thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-four 

"Joseph  Morse  ) 

••  I.e\  i   Lowe  >  Committee." 

"Titus  O.Brown,  jr.  J 
"A  true  coppy  of  Record 

••  Silas  Bumpus,  Tow  n  Clerk." 

Town  Officers.— 1824.    Levi  Lowe,  clerk;  Clovis  Lowe,  John  .Morse,  Joseph  Morse,  selectmen. 

1825.  Silas  Bumpus,  clerk:  Hiram  Bowman,  Caleb  Cushman,  John  Bowman,  selectmen. 

1826.  Obediah  Mann,  clerk;  John  Morse,  Titus  O.Brown,  Obediah  Mann,  selectmen:  .John  Bowman, 
treasurer;  also  voti  d  John  Bowman,  Caleb  Cushman  and  Silas  Bumpus  a  committee  to  find  a  place  to  inter 
thedead,  and  the  place  now  occupied  is  the  placethey  chose. 

1827.  Justus  Lowe,  clerk:  Titus  0.  Brown,  Jr.,  Hiram  Bowman,  Silas  Bumpus,  selectmen;  John  Bow- 
man, treasurer.  The  first  record  of  a  postoffice  was  this  year,  and  Hiram  Bowman  was  postmaster.  He  died 
in  September,  and  Justus  Lowe  was  chose 1 1  -  U  ctman  September  24,  1827,  to  till  the  vacancy. 


042  History  of  Coos  County. 

1828.  Justus  Lowe,  clerk;  John  Morse,  Anthony  Vincent,  Obediah  Mann,  selectmen;  John  Bowman, 
treasurer.     There  were  at  this  time  twenty-seven  voters  in  the  town. 

1829.  Justus  Lowe,  clerk;  Anthony  Vincent,  John  Morse,  Justus  Lowe,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 

1830.  Justus  Lowe,  clerk;  Anthony  Vincent,  John  Morse,  James  Gray,  selectmen;  Justus  Lowe,  treasurer. 

1831.  Justus  Lowe,  clerk;  John  Morse,  James  Gray,  Evans  Wilson,  selectmen;  Justus  Lowe,  treasurer. 
March  9,  1831,  Clovis  Lowe  was  chosen  to  represent  this  district,  consisting  of  Randolph,  Jefferson,  Kilkenny. 
Bretton   Woods,  Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location. 

1832.  Anthony  Vincent,  clerk;  Joseph  Holmes,  John  C.  Holmes,  John  Kimball,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 
Thursday,  December  13,  1832,  a  meeting  was  called  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  removal  from  the  town 
of  John  C.  Holmes  and  John  Kimball.     Anthony  Vincent  and  Obediah  Mann  were  chosen. 

1833.  Anthony  Vincent,  clerk;  Anthony  Vincent,  Joshua  Holmes,  Silas  Bunrpus,  selectmen;  John  Morse, 
treasurer;  Clovis  Lowe,  representative  for  the  towns  of  Randolph,  Jefferson,  Kilkenny,  Nash  and  Sawyer's 
Li  ication. 

1834.  Anthony  Vincent,  clerk;  Anthony  Vincent,  John  Bowman,  John  C.  Leighton,  selectmen;  no 
treasurer. 

1835.  John  C.  Holmes,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  John  C.  Holmes,  James  Gray,  [selectmen:  John  Morse, 
treasurer. 

1836.  John  C.  Holmes,  clerk;  John  C.  Holmes,  John  C.  Leighton,  Caleb  Cushman,  selectmen:  no  treas- 
urer. 

1837.  John  C.  Holmes,  clerk;  John  C.  Leighton,  Justus  Lowe,  John  C.  Holmes,  selectmen;  Jacob 
Stephens,  treasurer. 

1838.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  Daniel  D.  Mann,  John  W.  Watson,  selectmen;  Jacob 
Stephens,  treasure] . 

1839.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  John  C.  Leighton,  John  W.  Watson,  selectmen;  no  treas- 
urer. 

1840.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  William  Boswell,  Joseph  Holmes,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 

1841.  J.  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  William  Boswell,  Jacob  Stephens,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 

1842.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  John  C.  Leighton,  Daniel  D.  Mann,  James  C.  Scates,  selectmen;  no 
treasurer;  Justus  Lowe,  representative. 

1843.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  James  C.  Scates,  R.  P.  Hodgdon,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 

1844.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  James  C.  Scates,  James  Gordon,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 

1845.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  John  C.  Leighton,  Robert  B.  Hodgdon,  Daniel  D.  Mann,  selectmen. 

1846.  J.  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  J.  C.  Leighton,  Daniel  D.  Mann,  Calvin  P.  Stevens,  selectmen;  no  treas- 
urer. 

1847.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Calvin  P.  Stevens,  William  Gray,  Alfred  Carlton,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 

1848.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  John  C.  Leighton,  Alfred  Carlton,  selectmen. 

1849.  Rufus  Hodgdon,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  William  Gray,  James  C.  Scates,  selectmen;  Robert  P.  Hodg- 
don ,  representative. 

1850.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  James  C.  Scates,  A.  F.  Hodgdon,  selectmen. 

1851.  John  C.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  James  C.  Scates,  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  selectmen. 

1852.  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  clerk;  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  Ithiel  Scates,  John  W.  Watson,  selectmen;  James  C. 
Scates,  representative. 

1853.  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  John  C.  Leighton,  Alfred  Carlton,  selectmen. 

1854.  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  clerk;  J.  C.  Leighton,  Justus  Lowe,  Alfred  Carlton,  selectmen. 

1855.  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  clerk;  J.  C.  Leighton,  Alfred  Carlton,  Justus  Lowe,  selectmen. 

1856.  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe,  John  C.  Leighton,  John  W.  Watson,  selectmen. 

1857.  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  clerk;  John  C.  Leighton,  George  Wood,  Joseph  S.  Scates,  selectmen. 

1858.  George  Wood,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Joseph  S.  Scates,  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  selectmen;  G.  R.  Hodgdon, 
representative. 

1859.  George  Wood,  clerk:  George  Wood,  Joseph  S.  Scates,  Justus  Lowe,  selectmen. 

1860.  George  Wood,  clerk;  John  C.  Leighton,  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  Anson  Stillings,  selectmen. 

1861.  Joel  E.  Leighton,  clerk;  John  C.  Leighton,  Justus  Lowe,  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  selectmen. 

1862.  Joel  E.  Leighton,  clerk;  Justus  Lowe.  George  Wood,  James  C.  Scates,  Jr.,  selectmen;  John  C. 
I.  tghton,  representative. 

1863.  George  Wood,  clerk;  George  R.  Hodgdon,  Joel  E.  Leighton,  George  Wood,  selectmen. 

1864.  A.  G.  Messenger,  clerk;  G.  R.  Hodgdon,  Joel  E.  Leighton,  Justus  Lowe,  selectmen.  June  4,  1864. 
John  D.  Carlton  was  chosen  first  selectmen  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  G.  R.  Hodgdon  moving  away. 

1865.  A.  G.  Messenger,  clerk;  John  D.  Carlton,  Joel  E.  Leighton,  Joseph  S.  Scates,  selectmen. 

1866.  Joel  E.  Leighton,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Ithiel  Scates,  Justus  Lowe,  selectmen;  Robert  I.  Leighton, 
representative. 


Town  of  Randolph.  943 


1867.  Joel  E.  Leighton,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Ithiel  Scates,  Justus  Lowe,  selectmen. 

1868.  George  Wood,  clerk;  George  Wood.  Joel  E.  Leigh toD,  Ithiel  Sratfs,  selectmen. 

1869.  Joel  E.  Leighton,  clerk;  Joel  E.  Leighton,  Henry  Rich,  Hubbard  Hunt,  selectmen. 

1870.  George  Wood,  clerk;  JoelE.  Leighton,  Rob  it  I.  Leighton,  Emery  M.  Watson,  si  lectmen;  Joel  E. 
Leighton,  representative. 

1871.  George  Wood,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Hubbard  Hunt,  [thiel  Scates,  selectmen. 

1872.  George  Wood,  clerk;  John  C.  Leighton,  [thiel  Sratis.  Hubbard  Hunt,  selectmen. 

1873.  George  Wood,  clerk;  George  Wood,  [thiel  Scates,  I..  M.Watson,  selectmen. 

1871.  George  Wood,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Laban  M.  Watson,  Hubbard  Hunt,  selectmen;  no  treasurer; 
George  Wood,  representative. 

1^75.  George  Wood,  clerk;  George  Wood.  Laban  M.  Watson,  John  M.  Kelsey,  selectmen;  no  treasurer; 
George  Wood,  representative.  October  12,  1875,  a  meeting  was  called  to  elect  a  selectman  in  place  of  John 
M.  Kelsey,  and  Henry  II.  Rich  was  chosen. 

1876.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  Joel  E.  Leighton,  Laban  M.  Watson,  Charles  E.  Lowe,  selectmen:  no  treasurer; 
Ithiel  Scates,  representative. 

1877.  Ithiel  Scates.  clerk;  Joel  E.  Leighton,  Laban  M.  Watson.  Charles  E.  Lowe,  selectmen;  no  treas- 
urer; Ithiel  Scates,  representative. 

1878.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  Joel  E.  Leighton,  Charles  E.  Lowe,  Henry  H.  Rich,  selectmen;  no  treasurer; 
Laban  M.  Watson,  representative 

1879.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  George  WTood,  Henry  H.  Rich,  Perly  X.  Watson,  selectmen;  no  treasurer. 

1880.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  Perly  N.  Watson,  A.  G.  Messenger,  John  W.  Buzzell,  selectmen:  Ithiel  Scates, 
treasurer.  A  vote  was  taken  March  9,  1880,  to  re-bury  the  scattering  dead  in  the  burial-ground,  which  was 
partially  performed.     Some  are  yet  lying  in  different  parts  of  the  town. 

1881.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  A.  G.  Messenger,  Perly  N.  Watson,  Orange  S.  Phelps,  selectmen;  Ithiel  Scates, 
treasurer.  May  3,  1881,  a  meeting  was  called  and  Hubbard  Hunt  was  chosen  first  and  Frank  F.  Reed  second 
selectmen  in  place  of  Messenger  and  Watson  resigned. 

1882.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Hubbard  Hunt,  Charles  E.  Allen,  selectmen;  Ithiel  Scates, 
treasurer. 

1883.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Hubbard  Hunt,  Charles  E.  Allen,  selectmen;  Ithiel  Scates, 
treasurer. 

1881.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Hubbard  Hunt,  Charles  E.  Allen,  selectmen;  Ithiel  Scates, 
treasurer. 

1885.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  A.  G.  Messenger.  John  Buzzell,  T.  S.  Lowe,  selectmen;  Ithiel  Scates,  treasurer; 
Charles  E.  Lowe,  representative  for  1885  and  1886. 

1886.  Ithiel  Scates,  clerk;  George  Wood,  Gilman  C.  Bradbury,  John  W.  Buzzell,  selectmen;  Ithiel  Scates, 


treasurer. 


CHAPTER  CXVIII. 


Schools — Church  History — Organization  of  "Union  Congregational  Society" — War  Record — 
Pond  of  Safety— Prominent  Citizens. 

QV  CHOOLS. — The  inhabitants  of  Randolph  always  took  a  great  interest 
^\  in  schools,  as  the  town  records  show.  The  first  school-house  was  a 
V"^  log  one,  built  before  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  directly  in  front 
of  where  George  Wood  now*  lives.  Since  that  time  there  have  been  three 
districts  created,  and  a  number  of  school-houses  gone  to  decay,  and  others 
built.  It  has  always  been  said  that  no  resident  ever  grew  up  here  that 
could  not  read  or  write. 


944  History  of  Coos  County. 


Ministers. — The  first  ordained  minister  was  John  Morse.  He  labored 
here  a  great  many  years.  In  1887  he  was  the  oldest  man  living  that  was 
here  when  the  town  was  Durand.  He  lived  at  Jefferson  Mills  some  years, 
where  he  died  in  1887,  over  ninety  years  of  age.  Ebenezer  Evans,  a  Bap- 
tist minister,  married  and  died  here.  James  C.  Scates,  Sr.,  had  charge  of 
the  Snnday-schools,  and  faithfully  performed  his  trust  year  after  year  for 
more  than  thirty  years  until  his  death,  eight  or  ten  years  ago,  since  which 
time  there  has  been  a  church  built.  Sabbath- school  services  and  meetings 
are  now  held  each  week. 

History  of  Church.* — I  am  indebted  to  Elder  John  Morse  for  many  of 
the  following  facts.  Elder  Morse  had  a  clear  intellect  and  good  health, 
even  after  attaining  more  than  ninety  years.  March  18,  1816,  he  moved 
from  Otisfield,  Me.,  to  Randolph,  N.  H.  Among  the  inhabitants  of  Ran- 
dolph at  that  time  were  John  Wilson,  Robert  Leighton,  Cornelius  Bass, 
Edward  Wells,  Elaska  Jackson,  Amos  Peabody,  John  Bowman,  and  John 
Clemens.  Obediah  Mann,  Caleb  Cushman,  James  Cray,  Almon  Wallace 
and  others  came  soon  after.  Samuel  Hutchinson,  a  regular  Free- Will 
Baptist  ordained  minister,  was  pastor  of  the  "Durand  church"  which 
belonged  to  the  Lisbon  Quarterly  Meeting.  This  church  was  organized 
some  years  before  1816.  Samuel  Wheeler,  who  moved  from  Randolph 
Hill  to  Shelburne,  took  an  active  part  in  church  matters.  In  1816-17-18  a 
good  religious  interest  was  manifest.  John  Morse,  Eunice  Morse,  Robert 
Leighton,  and  Cyrenia  Bass  were  baptized  January  1,  1820,  by  Elder 
Zachariah  Jordan,  from  Raymond,  Me.  Among  the  members  of  the 
church  were  John  Wilson,  Cornelius  Burse  and  Amos  Peabody. 

Soon  after  Mrs.  Evans  Wilson,  Obediah  Mann  and  wife,  James  Gray 
and  wife,  and  Eveline  Gray  became  members.  Among  the  members  also 
were  Nat  Evans,  Joseph  H.  Vincent,  Joseph  Holmes,  Almira  Wilson  and 
Salvi  Wilson,  but  we  have  not  the  date  of  their  admission.  The  deacon's 
name  was  Worthing  and  he  lived  in  Kilkenny.  Samuel  Wheeler's  son, 
Austin  Wheeler  became  a  noted  minister  and  received  a  fair  education. 
Father  Morse  says  "Austin  was  the  subject  of  many  prayers,  was  prayed 
for  at  home,  prayed  for  while  away  from  home,  and  prayed  for  on  his 
return."  In  1823  Samuel  Wheeler  and  John  Morse  were  delegates  from 
the  church  in  Randolph  to  the  Lisbon  Quarterly  Meeting.  Mr.  Morse  held 
meetings  in  Randolph  and  adjoining  towns.  In  1824  a  Free  Baptist 
church  was  organized  in  East  Jefferson,  and  practically  placed  in  his  care. 
It  consisted  of  a  dozen  or  more  members,  and  was  in  active  operation 
while  Elder  Morse  lived  in  Randolph.  In  1833  he  was  ordained  to  the 
christian  ministry.  The  meeting  was  at  the  house  of  James  Gray  in  Ran- 
dolph, now  owned  by  George  Wood,  Esq.    There  were  present  Elders  David 

*By  Aimer  Davis. 


Town  of  Randolph.  945 


Cowing  from  Lisbon,  John  Davis  from  Bethlehem,  and  Gordon  and  Smith 
from  Meredith. 

Soon  after  a  branch  of  the  church  was  formed  at  Gorham;  and  from 
1837  to  184G  Elder  Morse  was  its  pastor.  Among  the  members  were  Esther 
Rowell,  Lucinda  Davis,  Margaret  Davis,  Nancy  Wilson,  Anna  Ordway, 
John  Ordway,  Jr.,  John  Ordway,  Sarah  Ann  Ordway,  William  Rowell 
and  wife,  and  Deacon  Evans  Wilson. 

In  those  days  the  people  were  poor,  and  the  work  of  the  minister  was  a 
labor  of  love.  Religious  meetings  were  held  in  school-houses  and  private 
dwellings.  Ministers  received  little  pay  in  money  for  services.  On  one 
occasion  Father  Morse  walked  twenty  miles  to  attend  a  funeral,  and  then 
walked  home  again.  He  received  a  present  of  a  pair  of  "feetings."  He 
would  get  up  early  Sunday  morning,  walk  to  jEast  Jefferson,  hold  three 
meetings,  and  then  in  the  evening  walk  back  to  Randolph  so  as  to  be  ready 
for  his  work  Monday  morning.  For  miles  the  road  lay  through  the  wild, 
unbroken  forest.  One  bright  moon-lit  night  a  wolf  trotted  out  into  the 
road  before  him  and  sat  down.  The  old  man  said  he  "was  a  little  start- 
led at  first,  but  he  grasped  his  stick  more  firmly  and  walked  on.  The  wolf 
eyed  him  a  moment  and  then  trotted  off."  The  old  elder  said  "the  exer- 
cise was  good  for  him,"  and,  said  the  man  of  ninety  years  as  he  straight- 
ened up,  "I  am  better  for  it  now."  In  1S3T  Elder  Morse  moved  from 
Randolph,  and  probably  there  has  been  no  regular  minister  settled  there 
since. 

Some  time  after,  a  Sabbath-school  was  organized,  of  which  James  Scates, 
Sr.,  was  a  faithful  superintendent  for  more  than  twenty  years.  It  had  no 
creed  except  the  New  Testament,  and  the  Holy  Bible  was  the  book  used. 
Sometimes  a  minister  came  along  and  gave  them  a  sermon.  Among  the 
active  workers  were  the  families  of  James  Gray,  Asa  Stevens,  James 
Scates,  Obediah  Mann,  Evans  Wilson,  Frederick  Hodgdon,  Samuel  Heath, 
Robert  Hodgdon,  John  D.  Burbank,  Thomas  Boothman,  Wood,  Leighton, 
Kelse}7,  and  others. 

For  many  years,  each  quiet  Sabbath  morning  saw  old  men  and  matrons, 
young  men  and  maidens,  and  children,  too,  wending  their  way  to  the  Sab- 
bath-school in  the  old  school-house.  In  the  summer  they  would  gather 
round  the  door,  and,  after  shaking  hands  and  having  a  little  friendly  talk, 
they  would  enter,  seat  themselves  on  the  hard  benches,  and  with  bowed 
heads  reverently  listen  while  "Uncle"  Scates  or  "Father"  Stevens  would 
offer  a  fervent  prayer.  Then  came  I  he  reading  of  the  lesson;  "  The  story 
of  Ruth,"  "  The  home  in  Bethany,"  "  The  raising  of  Lazarus,"  or,  "The 
Crucifixion."  Questions  were  asked  and  answered.  The  children  repeated 
their  Bible  verses;  then  the  congregation,  led  by  Samuel  Heath  with  his 
"tuning  fork,"  would  sing  "Coronation,"  and  "Come,  Holy  Spirit, 
Heavenly  Dove." 


946  History  of  Coos  County. 

So  the  years  passed  on.  A  few  families,  Scotch  and  English,  came, 
bringing  money  and  good  common  sense.  Their  sons  and  daughters  mar- 
ried, and  helped  celebrate  the  "Fourth  of  July."  They  took  part  in  the 
lyceums,  spelling-schools,  and  social  gatherings.  Sturdy  sons  and  comely 
daughters  came,  as,  one  by  one,  the  older  ones  passed  on,  and  Randolph 
was  a  town  of  peaceful,  happy  homes. 

A  few  years  ago  a  beautiful  ''Union  chapel  "  was  built,  paid  for,  and 
dedicated.  The  fathers  had  finished  their  work.  The  hands  of  the 
mothers  were  folded  in  peace.  The  old  "  tuning-fork  "  was  rusty  and  still; 
bat  the  sunlight  streaming  in  through  those  beautiful  stained  windows 
kissed  the  cheeks  of  their  grandchildren,  whose  songs  of  praise,  with  the 
notes  of  the  organ  and  the  music  of  the  birds,  rang  out  in  gladness  and  joy. 

Union  Congregational  Society. — "Be  it  known,  that  on  the  14th  day  of  January,  1883,  there  was  organ- 
ized at  Randolph,  in  the  County  of  Coos,  and  State  of  New  Hampshire,  by  written  articles  signed  by  each 
member,  a  religious  society,  by  and  under  the  name  of  '  Union  Congregational  Society  of  Gorhani  Hill  and 
Randolph,'  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  Chapter  163  of  the  General  Laws  of  New  Hampshire,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  becoming  a  body  politic  and  corporate  and  of  possessing  all  the  powei-s  incident  to  corporations  of 
similar  character. 

"The  said  society,  on  organization,  made  choice  of  Geo.  A.  Hodgdon,  Clerk;  Ithial  Scates,  Treasurer; 
Trustees,  Geo.  Wood,  A.  C.  Harriman,  J.  W.  Buzzell,  Sylvester  Wilson.  Geo.  A.  Hodgdon.  Said  Clerk  was 
duly  sworn,  and  has  duly  recorded  the  proceedings,  name,  and  intentions  of  said  society. 

"  Geo.  A.  Hodgdon, 

"  Clerk  of  said  Society. 

"Randolph,  N.  H.,  Jan.  15th,  1883." 

War  Record. — Randolph  furnished  its  full  quota  of  soldiers  or  substi- 
tutes. There  were  four  men  went  from  this  town  as  soldiers  for  the 
town.  N.  F.  Lowe  enlisted  in  1861,  and  served  three  years  and  eight 
months.  He  was  promoted  from  a  private  to  first  lieutenant.  Charles  E. 
Lowe,  Ezekiel  Sheldon,  and  James  Hawker  enlisted  in  the  First  Heavy 
Artillery.  Fred  Lowe  enlisted  in  the  Twelfth  Maine.  Pembrook  Watson 
in  a  Massachusetts  regiment.  Alden  Stillings  in  the  nav\^.  Clovis  Lowe 
was  in  the  Balloon  Corps  on  the  James  river,  and  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  His  son  T.  S.  C.  Lowe  had  charge  of  all  the  balloons  in  the 
army.  Obediah  Mann,  Sr.,  one  of  the  old  settlers,  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier.  He  lies  in  an  unmarked  grave  near  a  stone  wall,  on  what  is  still 
known  as  the  Mann  place.  Ebenezer  Evans,  Clovis  Lowe  and  Justus  Lowe 
were  soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812  and  '13.  Evans  lost  an  arm  by  a  cannon 
shot.     The  widows  of  all  three  still  reside  here. 

Pond  of  Safety. — James  Rider,  Benjamin  Hicks  and  Lazarus  Holmes 
were  soldiers  who  enlisted  in  the  Continental  army  for  a  certain  number  of 
years  or  "  during  the  war  ";  when  the  number  of  years  named  in  the  enlist- 
ment had  expired,  they  claimed  that  their  term  of  enlistment  had  term- 
inated, and  the  government  claimed  that  it  had  not,  and  they  deserted  the 
service,  fled  to  the  wilderness,  and  made  their  camp  at  the  pond  in  the 
easterly  part   of  Randolph,  and  remained  there  until  the}7-  were  out  of 


Town  of  Randolph.  947 


danger  from  arrest  for  desertion.  And.  they  gave  the  name  to  the  pond, 
"Pond  of  Safety."  In  1826,  and  years  following  that  date,  they  were  all 
Revolutionary  pensioners. 

Prominent  Citizens. — John  C.  Leighton  is  the  oldest  inhabitant.  A 
man  of  good  education  and  great  memory.  He  is  about  eighty  years  old 
and  has  always  lived  here. 

a/ 

The  Lowes  have  taken  an  active  part  in  public  matters.  Clovis  Lowe 
was  the  first  selectman  chosen,  and  the  first  representative  sent  from  this 
town.  Lowe  and  Burbank's  ({rant  was  named  from  him  and  Barker 
Burbank,  of  Shelburne.  Levi  Lowe,  his  father,  was  the  first  clerk.  Justus 
Lowe  was  in  office  about  forty  years,  and  the  list  (1886)  closes  with  the 
name  of  Lowe  for  the  representative. 

Esquire  Hodgdon,  "Uncle  Robert,"  was  a  noted  man  in  town  affairs, 
kept  a  public  house,  and  was  postmaster  many  years.  Ithiel  Scates,  the 
present  town  clerk,  married  his  youngest  daughter  and  resides  on  the  old 
homested.  [The  family  of  Clovis  Lowe  deserves  honorable  mention  for 
the  zeal  manifested  by  its  members  in  defence  of  the  country  during  the 
great  civil  war.  The  father,  Clovis  Lowe,  served  eighteen  months,  with 
his  son,  Prof.  T.  S.  C.  Lowe,  the  well  known  aeronaut,  who  held  the 
grade  of  colonel;  another  son  occupied  the  same  rank  in  the  Q.  M. 
department  of  the  western  armies;  another  rose  to  a  lieutenancy  from  the 
"Fighting  Fifth";  and  the  other  three  sons  were  in  service.  The  entire 
family,  father  and  six  sons,  were  engaged  at  the  same  time  in  the  same 
cause.  Clovis  Lowe  was  for  a  while  a  resident  of  Jefferson  Mills,  where 
he  engaged  in  trade;  he  also  spent  some  years  in  Maine,  his  native  state, 
but  returned  to  Randolph  in  1855,  bought  land,  and  died  April  17,  1882, 
aged  eighty- two  years. — Editor.] 


ERROL 


CHAPTER  CXIX. 

Grantees — Lumbering — Soil — Boundaries — Umbagog  Lake — Androscoggin  River  Improve- 
ment Company — Errol  Dam  Company — Old  Families— Petitions  of  Proprietors,  Action  of  Town, 
Etc. 

[/  RROL*  was  granted  February  28, 1774,  to  Timothy  Ruggles  and  others; 

jjr  but  in  three  or  four  years  a  ]arge  portion  was  purchased  by  the  gen- 
\T  tlemen  of  Salem  and  Danvers,  Mass.,  whose  names  are  attached  to 
the  petitions  below  as  proprietors.  Very  little  was  done  in  the  way  of 
settlement  until  the  present  century,  and  the  town  contained  but  twenty- 
six  inhabitants  in  1820,  and  was  not  incorporated  until  December  28,  1836. 
At  the  time  of  the  agitation  of  the  highway  from  Colebrook  to  Hollowell, 
Me.,  in  1803  and  1801,  attention  was  attracted  to  the  rich  lands  of  this 
town  as  a  good  place  to  make  homes,  and  some  made  camps  and  located 
here;  but,  in  a  few  years,  as  the  road  was  not  speedily  constructed,  the 
lack  of  communication  drove  them  to  more  available  localities.  It  was  not 
until  lumbering  had  assumed  some  proportions  on  the  Magalloway  that 
civilization  came  to  make  a  permanent  occupancy,  and,  even  now,  while 
agriculture  has  been  carried  on  to  some  extent  and  fine  farms  have  been 
developed,  the  lumbering  interest  is  the  preponderating  one.  The  soil  in 
some  portions  is  very  good.  Fair  crops  of  oats,  potatoes  and  hay  are  pro- 
duced, and  the  proximity  of  extensive  lumbering  operations  affords  good 
market  for  products.  There  is  some  manufacturing;  and,  in  coming  years, 
there  will  be  much  more.     W.  A.  Bragg  is  a  carriage  manufacturer. 

Errol  is  bounded  north  by  Went  worth's  Location,  east  by  Umbagog  lake 
and  Maine,  south  by  Cambridge  and  Dummer,  and  west  by  Millsfield. 
There  are  several  ponds  and  small  streams,  which  are  attractive  to  the 
sportsman.      [Jmbagog  lake  is  about  twelve  miles  long,  audits  average 

*We  are  indebted  to  L.  C.  Bragg  for  statistics,  etc. 


Town  of  Errol.  IMi) 


width  perhaps  a  mile  and  a  half.     From  it  can  be  seen  Mounts  Dustan  and 
Agizcoos  and  the  Diamond  peaks. 

The  Androscoggin  Hirer  linproveim  nl  Company  was  incorporated  in 
L852  by  the  New  Hampshire  legislature,  and  bad  been  previously  chartered 
by  Maine.  The  original  capital  was  s.">,000,  and  the  stockholders  were 
E.  S.  Coe,  of  Bangor,  and  L.  E.  Dunn,  then  of  Old  Town,  Me.  It  was 
created  "to  construct  a  series  of  dams  at  the  outlets  of  the  various  lakes, 
and  thus  cause  an  artificial  rise  of  water  to  enable  lumbermen  to  run 
timber  from  the  remote  logging  camps  above  at  any  season  of  the  year." 
Prior  to  1858  three  dams  had  been  constructed;  the  "Lower  dam/'  at 
Errol  falls,  was  200  feet  long,  with  nine  gates  and  a  large  sluice-way  for  driv- 
ing logs,  and  of  sufficient  height  to  raise  Umbagog  lake  nine  feet.  [Here  the 
company  erected  a  mill  and  have  made  their  headquarters.]  Seven  miles 
above  the  inlet  of  Umbagog  lake  is  "Middle  dam,"  which  raises  the  waters 
of  Allegundebagog,  Welokenabakook,  and  Mollychunkamunk  lakes  eleven 
feet  above  the  inlet  of  the  upper  one  of  these.  Three  miles  above  is  the 
"  Great  lake,"  or  Mooselukmaguntic,  where  was  located  the  "  Upper  dam," 
1,500  feet  long,  which  wTould  raise  the  surface  of  the  Great  lake  thirteen  feet. 
The  Androscoggin  Lakes  Transportation  Company  has  steamers  plying  on 
these  lakes  and  the  Magalloway  and  Androscoggin  rivers,  and  convenient 
hotels  exist  at  suitable  points. 

The  "Akers  House,"  John  Akers,  proprietor,  has  been  a  well-known 
hostelry  for  years,  and  the  family  has  always  been  a  prominent  factor  in 
town  affairs. 

The  "Umbagog  House,"  opened  in  December,  1886,  is  one-half  mile 
from  Errol  dam,  one  mile  from  Akers'  pond,  and  on  the  highway  to  Cole- 
brook,  "  twenty  miles  away."  At  this  point  has  been  made  quite  a  settle- 
ment, as  it  is  the  base  of  supplies  for  the  upper  country  and  the  place  of 
departure  for  Magalloway  river  and  Parma chenee  lake,  and  the  depot  of 
the  "Errol  Dam  Company." 

"'The  Errol  Dam  Company"  was  organized  under  the  laws  of  New 
Hampshire  in  L876  by  R.  C.  Pingree,  George  S.  Bearce,  E.  S.  Coe,  David 
Pingree  and  L.  E.  Dunn,  "to  provide,  maintain,  and  use  a  dam  with 
proper  gates  and  other  incidental  works  across  the  Androscoggin  river  at  a 
convenient  place  in  the  town  of  Errol  for  the  purpose  of  providing  and 
furnishing  water-power  and  water  for  such  mills,  and  purposes  as  require 
water,  and  to  acquire  suitable  rights  of  flowage  for  this  purpose."  The 
headquarters  of  this  company  and  the  place  where  its  business  is  carried 
on  is  at  Errol.     The  original  capital  was  $5,000. 

Among  those  families  most  identified  with  the  development  of  the 
town  as  settlers  are  the  well-known  Bragg  family,  which  lias  been  promi- 
nent in  affairs  from  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  town,  (the  first  town 
meeting  being  held  "at  the  house  of  James  F.  Bragg";)  Akers,  Sweat t. 


950  History  of  Coos  County. 

Davis,  Thurston,  and  others.  These  all  have  been  active  in  the  formative 
processes  of  civilization;  good,  law-abiding  citizens.  Population  in  1880, 
161.  Much  interest  is  manifested  in  education.  The  Board  of  Education 
has  for  its  members  John  Akers,  H.  W.  Fickett,  A.  E.  Bennett. 

Petitions  of  Proprietors,  Action  of  Town,  Etc.  Petition  of  Proprietors  for  renewal  of  Grant. — "To 
the  Hon'ble  the  Senate  &  the  Hon'ble  the  Houseof  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  in  General 
Court  convened  December  1789. — 

'•The  Petition  of  the  Subscribers  proprietors  of  Errol  &  Millsfield  in  sd  State  humbly  shew*  th.  That  in 
the  year  One  Thousand  Seven  hundred  &  Seventy  ISine,  we  employed  a  Committee  &  Surveyors  with  Neces- 
sary attendants  &  at  the  great  Expeiiee  of  Two  Thousand  one  hundred  &  Eighty  pounds  transported  pro- 
visions by  Packmen  through  tin  Wilderness  Sixty  Miles  Nearly,  without  any  Pioad,  &  laid  out  sd  Towns  into 
hundred  Acres  Lots.  That  by  reason  of  the  War,  and  other  difficulties,  we  were  at  that  time  induced  to  lay 
aside  our  purposes  of  Compleating  the  Settlement  of  Sd  Towns, — that  we  have  since  renewed  our  Inten- 
tions, and  by  our  Agent  Major  Joshua  Heath  have  begun  to  make  improvements,  by  felling  of  Trees,  clear- 
ing of  Roads,  &  putting  up  Log  Houses  in  sd  Towns,  by  raising  the  Sum  of  Fifty  pounds  Eight  shillings. — 
That  it  is  our  unanimous  Resolution,  to  pursue  the  original  Design  of  Compleating  the  settlement  of  sd 
Towns  with  as  much  Speed  as  may  be;  provided  we  can  be  Accommodated,  with  Roads.  &  be  allowed  a 
further  Time,  to  Compleat  the  Condition  of  our  Grant. 

"Your  petitioners  therefore  pray  the  Lands  fnnu  Conway  to  Errol,  may  be  made  liable  to  pay  the  Ex- 
pellees of  making  a  good  passable  Road,  through  the  several  Grants,  under  the  Direction  of   such  a  Commit- 

is  this  Hon'ble  Court  shall  see  lit  to  appoint;  <fc  that  a  further  time  to  fulfill  the  Conditions  of  our  Char 
ters  may  be  granted,  or  that  such  other  proceedings  may  be  had  for  the  Relief  &  encouragement  of  your  Pe- 
titioners, as  to  this  Honorable  Court  shall  seem  meet,  and  as  in  duty  bound  shall  every  pray  &c. — 

••Salem  9th  Dec'r  1789 

"  Ben j'n  Goodhue  Jonathan  Ropes  W'm  West 

"Jon'aPeele  W'm  Shillaber  Abraham  Rand 

"  Jacob  Ashton  Edw'd  Norris  Sam'l  Ward 

' '  Eben'r  Beckf ord  W'm  Vans  Joshua  Heath " 

Petition  for  a  Confirmation  of  the  Grant.  — "  To  the  Hon'ble  the  Senate,  &  the  Hon'ble  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  General  Court  assembled. — 

"Your  petitioners  humbly  shew,  that  sometime  in  the  Year  1778,  we  purchased  &  paid,  a  valuable  con- 
sideration for  more  than  three  fourths  of  the  land,  in  two  Townships  in  the  County  of  Grafton,  known  by 
the  name  of  Millsfield  it  Errol;  A*  in  the  Next  Year,  the  sum  of  Twenty  one  hundred  &  eighty  pounds,  of  the 
then  currency,  was  expended  in  laying  out  these  townships,  in  lots  of  one  hundred  acres  each, — at  the  time 
these  purchases  were  made  your  petitioners  together  with  other  proprietors  who  were  inhabitants  of  the  State 
of  New  Ilamshire,  determined  as  soon  as  a  peace  should  take  place  between  this  Country  &  Great  Britain,  to 
comply  with  the  Conditions  on  which  the  grants  were  made. — Since  the  year  1783  We  have  been  constantly 
endeavoring  by  very  advantageous  offers  to  engage  persons  to  undertake  the  Settlement  of  them,  but  the 
almost  impassable  woods  between  them  and  the  inhabited  part  of  the  country,  was  an  obstacle  to  the  intended 
settlement,  which  we  could  not  remove,  but  by  the  cutting  &  clearing  of  roads  through  other  places,  at  an 
expeiiee,  which  we  are  sure  you  would  neither  expect  or  desire. — We  flatter  ourselves,  that  you  will  view  us 
as  situated  very  differently  from  the  proprietors  of  many  unsettled  townships,  which  border  immediately  on 
others,  through  which  there  are  good  roads:  for  we  have  been  long  expecting  that  Such  proprietors  from  the 
comparativelj  easy  Access  to  their  townships,  would  at  least  have  opened  roads  through  them;  that  their 
liiois,  who  were  disposed  to  make  Settlements,  might  have  had  it  in  their  power,  without  the  additional 
expeiiee  of  making  roads,  for  those,  who  had  so  long,  and  so  unreasonably  Neglected  their  duty;  at  length 
after  repeated  disapj >oi ntiiieiits,  we  agreed  in  Septem'r  1789  with  Capt.  Joshua  Heath,  to  procure  a  Number 
of  .Men.  and  cut  a  road  through  the  woods  to  Millsfield.  &  Errol;  this  they  effected;  they  cut  down  a  consid- 
erable quantity  of  wood  in  different  parts  of  the  township  of  Errol,  and  erected  a  number  of  log  houses,  in- 
tending the  follow  Lng  year,  to  placi  Several  Settlers  there;  but  doubts  arising  in  the  minds  of  some,  respect- 
ing the  propriety  of  proceeding,  untill  we  had  obtained  from  Your  Honors,  a  confirmation  of  our  right  to  the 
land  in  question,  put  a  stop  to  our  exertions,  and  induced  us  to  trouble  you  with  this  Application;— The  at- 
tempts we  have  made  lo  accomplish  Settlements,  particularly  the  last  mentioned  one,  were  attended  with 
great  expeiiee.  and  though  productive  of  but  little  real  benefit,  Yet  are  indisputable  proofs  of  our  intentions 

imply  with  the  terms  of  the  grant ;  if  the  Grantees  of  any  lands  in  the  State  have  a  claim  to  your  indul- 

.  and  to  a  further  time  for  the  performance  of  the  conditions  of  the  grants,  we  have  no  doubt  You  will 

thosi  of  Millsfield  &  Errol  of  the  number.     We  have  so  much  confidence  in  your  wisdom  &  equity. 


Town  of  Errol.  951 


as  to  believe,  that  as  you  have  the  power,  so  yon  havi  the  inclination  to  do  as  ample  Justice     we  therel 
pray,  that  von  would  grani  us  such  further  time  to  compleal  tl  e  Settlement  of  the  two  Townships  of   Mills- 
field  &  Errol  as  to  your  hon's  may  seem  meet,  &  at  the  sara< •  timeg  b  directions  respecting  th<  cleai 
of  Roads  between  our  land  &  the  inhabited  part  of  the  Country,  as  shall  remove  any   extraordinary   diffi 
culties,  which  at  present  lay  in  our  way.   -Anything  further  we  Neither  expect,  or  wish  &  as  in  duty  bound 
shall  ever  pray  &c. — 


••Salem  .January  15th  17'.)! 


•Win  Wi  S.  Goodhue  Attorney  to  B  nj'n  Goodhue  Esq 

•'Wm  Vans  Joseph  Sprague  W'm  Shillaber 

•■  Jon'a  Pei  le  Jonathan  Ropes  m'l  Ward 

"Edw'dNorris  George  Dodg  Eben'r  Beckford 

"Jacob  Ashton  Jn'o  Fisk  Elias  Haskel  Derby 

"  Robert  Foster  Joshua  Crippen  Bart  Putnam 
"  Abraham  Rand  " 


CHAPTER  CXX. 


Application  for  Call  of  a  Town  Meeting— Call,  Notification  and  Action  of  First  Town  Meet- 
ing— Act  of  Incorporation — Warrant  for,  and  First  Town  Meeting  after  Incorporation— List  of 
Voters,  1837— Civil  List. 

r/~i  P  PLICATION  for  Call  of  a  Town  Meeting. — "To  Joseph  Loomis  Esquire  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
I      I     Peace  in  and  for  the  county  of  Coos  and  state  of  New  Hampshin  . 

I  "  Th«  undersigned  freeholders  of  Errol  an  unincorporated  and  unorganized  town  or  place  in  said 

X  county  respectfully  show  that  there  are  in  said  town  or  place  no  town  officers  who  are  by  law  author- 
ized to  call  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  or  place  and  that  it  is  necessary  that  such  officers  should 
be  immediately  chosen  and  other  things  should  be  done  by  the  said  town  or  place. 

"Therefore  the  undersigned  request  you  the  said  justice  to  issue   a  warrant  in  due  form  of   law    for  the 
purpose  of  calling  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  or  place  to  act  upon  the  following  subjects: 
"1st,  To  choose  a  moderator  to  preside  at  said  meeting. 
"2d,  To  choose  all  necessary  town  officers. 
"Errol  Nov.  20th  1830. 

"Joseph  Abbott  David  Sweatt  Daniel  G.  York 

"Luther  Sweatt  David  Sweatt  Jr.  Jonathan  Shattuck 

"  Eliakim  Davis  Abraham  T.  Sweatt  James  Sweatt 

"Sylvanus  Larnard         Sylvanus  Larnard  Jr.        James  F.  Bra 
"J.  T.  Wait  Fletcher  Russell  Ebin  Abbott 

Call  for  Firs/  Town  Meeting.— "[L.  S.]  State  of  New  Hampshire. 

"To  James  F.  Bragg  one  of  the  freeholders  of  the  town  or  place  called  Errol  in  the  county  of  Coo,. 
"Whereas  application  has  been  made  in  writing  to  me  the  undersigned  one  of  the  Justici  s  of  the  Peace 
for  said  county  by  thirteen  inhabitants  of  said  town  or  place  called  Errol  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants 
of  said  town  or  place  to  act  upon  the  following  subjects  hereinafter  mentioned:  and  whereas  there  are  in 
said  town  or  place  no  town  officers  who  are  by  law  authorized  to  call  a  meeting  of  tin-  inhabitants  of  said 
town  or  place  therefore  you  are  commanded  and  requested  in  thenameofthe  State  of  New  Hampshire  to 
notify  and  warn  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  or  place  qualified  bylaw  to  vote  in  town  affairs  to  meet  and 
assemble  at  the  dwelling  house  of  James  F.  Bragg  in  said  tow  n  or  place  on  the  fourth  day  of  Januarj  q<  it  al 
ten  of  tli  in  the  forenoon  to  act  upon  the  following  subjects: 

"1st.   To  choose  a  moderator  to  preside  at  said  meeting. 
"2d.  To  choose  all  necessary  tow  n  officers. 

"Hereof  fail  not  and  make  return  of  this  warrant  with  your  doings  thereon  at  sai.l  meeting, 
••(liven  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  13th  day  of  December  A  D  1830 

"•'"'"  l'hl mis  }  of $X 


•952  History  of  Coos  County. 

Notification  of  Fir st  Town  Meeting. — "State  of  New  Hampshire,  Coos,  S.  S. 

"This  is  to  summons  and  notify  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Errol  qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs  to 
meet  at  the  dwelling  house  of  James  F.  Bragg  on  Tuesday  the  fourth  day  of  January  next  at  ten  of  the  clock 
in  the  forenoon  to  act  upon  the  following  articles  viz.: 

"lsr.  To  choose  a  moderator  to  preside  at  said  meeting. 

"2d.  To  choose  all  necessary  town  officers. 

"By  a  warrant  from  Joseph  Loomis  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  me  directed. 

"Errol  Dec.  20th  1830.  ••James  P.  Bragg." 

"State  of  New  Hampshire  Coos  S.  S. 

"I  hereby  certify  that  the  within  notification  has  been  posted  up  at  my  house  in  Errol  it  being  a  public 
place  from  the  day  of  the  date  up  to  the  present  time.  "James  F.  Bragg." 

"State  of  New  Hampshire  Coos  S.  S. 

"Sworn  to  this  4th  day  January  1831  Before  Me  T        ,  T         .     )       Justice 

JosePhLoomlsM-of  the  Peace." 

Action  of  First  Town  Meeting. — "State  of  New  Hampshire  Coos  8.  S. 

"At  a  legal  meeting  duly  notified  and  holden  at  a  place  called  Errol  in  the  county  of  Cofison  the  4th  day 
of  January  1831  agreeable  to  the  warrant  for  that  purpose  the  meeting  being  opened  the  ballots  being  called 
for  for  a  moderator  Joseph  Abbott  was  chosen  and  sworn  before  Joseph  Loomis.  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The 
ballot  being  called  for  for  a  clerk  Luther  Sweatt  was  chosen  and  sworn  before  Joseph  Loomis  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  The  ballot  being  called  for  for  selectmen,  David  Sweatt.  Ebin  Abbott  &  James  F.  Bragg  were  chosen 
and  duly  sworn.  "Luther  Sweatt,  Town  Clerk." 

The  whole  number  of  votes,  March,  1831,  was  eighteen. 

An  Act  to  Incorporate  lite  Town. — "Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
in  General  Court  convened  that  the  tract  of  land  now  known  by  the  name  of  Errol  shall  hereafter  be  a  town 
by  that  name. 

"Section  2.  Be  it  further  enacted  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  township  be  and  hereby  are  made  a  body 
politic  and  corporate  with  all  the  right,  powers,  privileges,  immunities  and  liabilities  of  similar  corporations 
in  this  State.  And  the  said  town  of  Errol  shall  be  classed  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  representative  with 
the  same  towns  and  places  with  which  it  has  been  heretofore  been  classed  and  shall  be  annexed  to  the  same 
councillor  and  senatorial  districts  as  said  Errol  was  previous  to  the  passing  of  this  act. 

••Section  3.  Be  it  further  enacted  that  for  the  purpose  of  duly  organizing  said  town  a  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  therefore  legally  qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs  thall  be  holden  in  said  town  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  March  next  at  which  meeting  a  town  clerk,  selectmen,  and  all  other  necessary  town  officers  may 
be  elect<  d  to  contiuue  in  office  until  others  are  chosen  and  sworn  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  this  State,  and  that 
James  F.  Bragg,  David  Sweatt.  and  George  W.  Garland  or  any  two  of  them  be  authorized  to  call  said  meet- 
ing of  said  inhabitants  by  giving  such  notice  as  is  required  for  annual  town  meting  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 

aid  James  F.  Bragg,  David  Sweatt  or  George  \Y.  Garland  or  some  one  of  them  to  attend  and  open  said 
meeting  and  presidi  therein  untill  a  moderator  lie  chosen  and  sworn. 

••  Approved  D<  cember  28th  1836 

"  A  true py." 

Warrant  for  First  Town   Meeting  after  Incorporation. — ••State  of  New  Hampshire  Coos  S.  S. 

••  Pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  the  28  December  1836  authorizing  James  F.  Bragg,  David 
Sweatt  and  George  W.  Garland  to  notify  and  warn   the  inhabitants  of  Errol   to  choose  all  necessary  town 

IS. 

••  Von  are  hereby  notified  and  warned  to  meet  at  the  school   house  in   said  Errol  on   Tuesday  the  four- 
teenth day  of  March  next  at  nine  of  the  clock  A.  M.  to  act  upon  the  following  subjects  viz.: 
••  1st  To  choose  a  moderator  to  pn  side  in  said  meeting. 
•■  2d  To  choose  all  necessary  town  officers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

1  To  raise  any  3um  or  sum-  ol  money  for  the  rep  dr  of  road-;  and  the  current  expenses  and  schools. 
"4th  To  Bring  in  your  votes  for  Governor.  Councillor,  Senator,  County  Treasurer,  and  Register  of  Deeds. 
"5th  To  transact  any  other  business  that  may  legally  come  before  the  town  when  met. 
•■  Errol  the  17th  Feb.  L837  "James  F.  Bragg 

"David  Sweatt 

"George  W.Garland." 

First  Town  Meeting  after  Incorporation. — "  At  a  legal  town  meeting  holden  in  Errol  on  the  fourteenth 

of  March,  1837,  chose  Eliakim  Davis,  moderator,  sworn  by  Samuel  Alters,  justice  of  the  peace.     Chose  James 

I'.  Bragg,  Samuel  Atkers,  Jared  Cone,  selectmen,  sworn  by  the  moderator.     Chose  Geo.  W.  Garland  constable 

and  collector,  sworn  by  S.  Akeis,  justice  of  the  peace.     Chose  Nicholas  Sweatt,  highway  surveyor  of  upper 


Town  of  Errol.  953 


district,  and  David  Sweat t  fur  lower  district,  sworn  by  S.  Akers,  justice  of  the  peace.  Chose  Jared  Cone, 
school  agent.  Voted  three  months  schooling  in  the  summer  and  two  in  the  winter.  Voted  to  raise  twenty- 
five  dollars  for  the  support  of  schools.  Vot-ed  to  raise  ninety  dollars  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  town. 
Voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  repair  of  roads.  Voted  that  the  resident  money  be  hud  out  the 
north  side  of  the  Androscoggin  Kiver.  Voted  that  a  good  laboring  man  have  ten  cents  per  hour  and  oxen 
ten  cents  per  hour.  Voted  that  the  Revenue  Money  should  lay  and  should  be  pul  outal  interest  l>y  the  State 
treasurer. 

"  Votes  for  State  Officers. — For  Governor,  Isaac  Hill  had  8  votes;  for  Councillor.  Samuel  Burns  had  8 
votes;  for  Senator,  Nathaniel  P.  Melvin  had  8  volt  s;  for  County  Treasurer,  William  Dodge  had  8  votes.  For 
Register  of  Deeds  Reuben  Stephenson  had  8  votes.  For  members  of  Congress:  Samuel  Cushman  had  8 
votes:  James  Farmington  had  eight  votes;  Charles  G.  Athertou  had  8  votes;  .Joseph  Weeks  had  8  votes;  Jared 
W.  Williams  had  8  votes.  "James  F.  Bragg,  Town  Clerk." 

List  of  Voters.  1837. — ''An  alphabetical  list  of  all  the  persons  in  the  town  of  Errol  in  the  county  of  Coos 
qualified  to  vote  in  the  choiceof  state  and  county  officers,  representatives  in  Congress,  and  electors  of  presi- 
dent and  vice-president  of  the  United  States  made  by  the  undersigned  the  17th  day  of  February,  1837. 

••  Akers  Samuel  Maxwell  James  Shattuck  Benjamin 

"  Bragg  James  F.  Sweatt  David  Shattuck  Jonathan 

"Brooks  Chancey  W.    Sweatt  Abraham  F.     Sargent  Enoch 
"Davis  Eliakim  Sweatt  John  P.  Taggart  James 

"  Garland  George  W.     Sweatt  Nicholas  Wait  John  T. 

"James  F.  Bragg 
"David  Sweatt 
"  George  W.  Garland 
"  James  F.  Bragg  Town  Clerk." 

Civil  List. — 1831.  Luther  Sweatt,  clerk;  David  Sweatt,  James  F.  Bragg,  Joseph  Abbott,  selectmen; 
George  W.  Garland,  treasurer. 

1832.  Luther  Sweatt,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,  Samuel  Akers,  Geo.  W.  Garland,  selectmen;  the  selectmen, 
treasurer. 

1833.  Luther  Sweatt,  clerk;  Samuel  Akers,  Geo.  W.  Garland,  Eben  Abbott,  selectmen;  Samuel  Akers, 
treasurer;  Brazilla  Brainard,  representative. 

1834.  Luther  Sweatt,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,  Eliakem  Davis,  David  Sweatt,  selectmen;  Jared  Cone,  treas- 
urer. 

1835.  Luther  Sweatt,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,  David  Sweatt,  Luther  Sweatt,  selectmen;  Samuel  Akers,  treas- 
urer. 

1836.  J.  F.  Bragg,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,  Samuel  Akers,  George  W.  Garland,  selectmen;  S.  Akers,  treas- 
urer. 

1837.  J.  F.  Bragg,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,    Samuel  Akers,    Jared  Cone,  selectmen;  Samuel  Akers.  treasurer. 

1838.  George  W.  Garland,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,  Samuel  Akers,  James  Maxwell,  selectmen;  S.  Akers, 
treasurer. 

1839.  George  W.  Garland,  clerk;  Samuel  Akers,  James  Maxwell,  David  Seavey,  selectmen;  Samuel 
Akers,  treasurer;  David  Sweatt,  representative. 

1840.  George  W.  Garland,  clerk;  Samuel  Akers,  David  Sweatt,  Jr.,  Seth  L.  Davis,  selectmen;  S.  Akeis, 
treasurer. 

1841.  Peter  Austin,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,  William  Dunn,  David  Sweatt,  selectmen;  Samuel  Akers,  treas- 
urer; Samuel  Akers,  representative. 

1842.  Peter  Austin,  clerk;  J.  F.  Bragg,  Samuel  Akers,  James  Presby,  selectmen;  William  Dunn,  treas- 
urer; Clark  J.  Haines,  representative. 

1843.  George  Graham,  clerk;  Samuel  Akers,  J.  F.  Bragg,  James  Presby,  selectmen;  William  Dunn, 
treasurer. 

1844.  William  Dunn,  clerk;  Samuel  Akers,  William  Dunn,  J.  F.  Bragg,  selectmen;  William  Dunn,  treas- 
urer. 

1845.  William  Dunn,  clerk;  William  Dunn,  S.L.Davis,  A.  T.  Sweatt,  selectmen;  Samuel  Akers,  treas- 
urer; William  Dunn,  representative. 

1846.  William  Dunn,  clerk;  William  Dunn,  Samuel  Akers,  A.  T.  Sweatt,  selectmen;  Samuel  Akers, 
treasurer. 

1847.  William  Dunn,  clerk;  William  Dunn,  Elliot  Harper,  W'illiam  McMaster,  selectmen;  Samuel  Akers, 
treasurer. 

1848.  D.  H.  Thurston,  clerk;  Moses  Thurston,  A.  K.  P.  Cummings,  Enoch  Sargent,  selectmen;  S.  Akers, 
treasurer;  Richard  Blanchard,  representative. 

62 


<J54  History  of  Coos  County. 

1849.  Joshua  I.  Bragg,  clerk;  E.  Harper,  S.  L.  Davis,  Wm.  McMaster,  selectmen;  S.  Akers,  treasurer: 
S.  Akers,  representative. 

1850.  Win.  H.  Leverett,  clerk;  Samuel  Akers,  Moses  Thurston,  Ira  Carter,  selectmen;  S.  Akers,  treas- 
urer; S.  Akers,  representative;  delegate  to  convention  to  revise  constitution,  Moses  Thurston. 

1851.  W.  H.  Leverett,  clerk;  Jared  Cone,  D.  H.  Thurston,  Granville  Brown,  selectmen;  S.  Akers,  treas- 
urer;  Moses  Thurston,  representative. 

1852.  W.  H.  Leverett,  clerk;  Samuel  Akers,  Jared  Cone,  Geo.  W.  Garland,  selectmen;  S.  Akers,  treas- 
ur<  r;  Elliot  Harper,  representative. 

1853.  W.  H.  Leverett,  clerk;  George  W.  Garland,  T.  A.  McMasters,  W.  H.  Leverett,  selectmen;  S.  Akers, 
treasurer;  Elliot  Harper,  representative. 

1854.  W.  H.  Leverett,  clerk;  William  W.  Bragg,  Moses  Thurston,  B.E.Harper,  selectmen;  S.  Akers, 
treasurer. 

1855.  D.  H.  Thurston,  clerk;  VV.  W.  Bragg,  Moses  Thurston,  B.  E.  Harper,  selectmen;  Ira  Carter,  treas- 
urer. 

1856.  D.  H.  Thurston,  clerk;  D.  H.  Thurston,  W.  W.  Bragg,  B.  E.  Harper,  selectmen;  William  McMas- 
ter, treasurer;  J.  F.  Durkee,  representative. 

1857.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clei'k;  W.  W.  Bragg,  B.  E.  Harper,  J.  P.  Sweatt,  Jr.,  selectmen;  Ira  Carter,  treas- 
urer. 

1858.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clerk;  W.  W.  Bragg,  J.  D.  Palmer,  W.  Garland,  selectmen;  W.  P.  Bich,  treasurer; 
D.  H.  Thurston,  representative. 

1859.  William  P.  Bich,  clerk;  D.  H.  Thurston,  William  McMaster,  W.  P.  Bich,  selectmen;  William  Mc- 
Master, treasurer. 

1860.  W.  P.  Rich,  clerk;  S.  L.  Davis,  William  McMaster,  W.  P.  Rich,  selectmen;  Moses  Thurston,  treas- 
urer; M.  F.  Cooledge,  representative. 

1861.  W.  P.  Bich,  clerk;  S.  L.  Davis,  D.  H.  Thurston,  W.  P.  Bich,  selectmen;  Moses  Thurston,  treas- 
urt  r. 

1862.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clerk;  C.  L.  Heywood,  B.  E.  Harper,  J.  D.  Palmer,  selectmen;  Moses  Thurston, 
treasurer;  voted  not  to  send  representative. 

1863.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clerk;  C.  L.  Heywood,  Wm.  McMaster,  D.  H.  Thurston,  selectmen;  M.  Thurston, 
treasurer. 

1864.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clerk;  W.  McMaster,  J.  D.  Palmer,  W.  W.  Bragg,  selectmen;  Moses  Thurston,  treas- 
urer. 

1865.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clerk;  W.  W.  Bragg,  C.  L.  Heywood,  J.  D.  Palmer,  selectmen;  J.  D.  Palmer,  treas- 
urer. 

1866.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clerk;  W.  W.  Bragg,  S.  L.  Davis,  Wm.  McMaster,  selectmen;  Moses  Thurston,  treas- 
urer; Albert  J.  Peasly,  representative. 

1867.  J.  D.  Palmer,  clerk;  C.  L.  Heywood,  S.  L.  Davis,  B.  E.  Harper,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurston,  treas- 
urer. 

1868.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  clerk;  C.  L.  Heywood,  B.  E.  Harper,  D.  H.  Thurston,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurston, 
treasurer. 

1869.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  clerk;  C.  L.  Heywood,  B.  E.  Harper,  D.  H.  Thurston,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurs- 
ton, treasurer;  C.  L.  Heywood.  representative. 

1870.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  clerk;  C.  L.  Heywood,  B.  E.  Harper,  M.  F.  Cooledge,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurston, 
treasurer;  D.  II.  Thurston,  representative. 

1871.  J.  A  Thurston,  clerk;  D.  H.  Thurston,  C.  H.  Demeritt,  W.  M.  Thurston,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurs- 
ton, treasurer;  voted  not  to  send  representative. 

L872.  J.  A.  Thurston,   clerk;  D.  II.  Thurston,   S.  L.  Davis,   W.  L.  Fickett,   selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurston, 

treasurer;  D.  H.  Thurston,  representative. 

1S73.  J.  A.  Thurston,  clerk;  D.  H.  Thurston,  W.  W.  Bragg,  J.  A.  Thurston,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurston, 
Ire  i6urer. 

1874.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  clerk;  J.  A.  Thurston,  John  Akers,  G.  C.  Demeritt,  selectmen;  George  Ilsley, 
treasurer;  John  Akers,  representative. 

1875.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  clerk;  W.  W.  Bragg,  J.  A.  Thurston,  G.  C.  Demeritt,  selectmen;  G.  C.  Demeritt, 
treasurer;  W.  \V.  Bragg,  representative. 

1876.  (i.  ('.  Demeritt,  clerk;  John  Akers,  George  Ilsley,  J.  A.  Thurston,  selectmen;  G.  C.  Demeritt, 
treasurer;  W.  \Y.  Bragg,  representative;  delegate  to  convention,  John  Akers. 

1877.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  clerk;  J.  A.  Thurston,  L.  H.  Grover,  M.  F.  Cooledge,  selectmen;  G.  C.  Demeritt, 
i  ri  asurer. 


Towns  of  Success  and  Millsfield.  955 

1878.  G.  C.  Demeritt.  clerk;  G.  C.  Demeritt,  Quincy  B.  Davis,  W.  W.  Bragg,  selectmen;  G.  C.  Dem- 
treasurer;  W.  W.  Bragg,  representative. 

1879.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  clerk;  J.  A.  Thurston,  .1.  Akers,  J.  F.  Corbett,  selectmen;  Quincy  B.  Davis,  treas- 
urer. 

1880.  G.  C.  Demeritt,  ckrk:  .7.  A.  Thurston,   Q.  B.  Davis,  E.  D.  Thurston,  selectmen;  D.  II.  Thurston, 
tr.-asurer:  John  Akers,  representative. 

1881.  Lewis  C.  Bragg,  clerk;  E.  D.  Thurston,   <:.  H.  Beywood,   L.  II.  Grover,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurs- 
ton, treasurer. 

1882.  L.  C.  Bragg,   clerk;    J.  P.  Corbett.    G.  C.  Demeritt,   N.  N.  Ferren,   selectmen;    D.  H.  Thurston, 
treasurer. 

1883.  L.  C.  Bragg,  clerk;  J.  P.  Corbett,  G.  C.  Demeritt,  J.  L.Bragg,  selectmen:  8.  II.  Eanscom,  treas- 
urer. 

1884.  L.  C.  Bras-,   clerk;   E.  D.  Thurston,  A.  W.  Fickett,  W.  M.  Thurston,  selectmen;  D.  H.  Thurston. 
treasurer;  Ernest  D.  Thurston,  representative. 

1885.  L.  C.  Bragg,  clerk:  E.  D.  Thurston,  W.  M.  Thurston.   A.  E.  Bennett,  selectmen;  D.  If.  Thurston. 
treasurer. 

1886.  L.  C.  Bragg,  clerk;  A.  W.  Fickett,   A.  E.  Bennett,  George  Ilsley,  selectmen;  II.  \V.  Fickett,  treas- 
urer. 

1887.  Lewis  C.  Bragg,  clerk;  S.  R.  Hanscomb,    G.  C.  Demeritt,  A.  L.  Davis,    selectmen;  H.  W.  Fickett. 
treasurer. 


QV  UCCESS  is  a  cold,  rugged  township,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Carn- 
ey bridge,  east  by  Maine,  south  by  Shelburne,  west  by  Berlin  and  Milan. 
l"^  Area,  30,000  acres.  It  was  granted  February  12,  1773,  to  Benjamin 
Mackay  and  others.  The  township  is  owned  by  R.  C.  Pingree  &  Co.,  of 
Lewiston,  Me.  About  1823  five  families  resided  here  in  the  only  house,  a 
log  cabin  on  Page  Hill.  These  w^ere  those  of  Benjamin,  Abiathar,  and 
Lowell  Bean,  John  Messer  and  Elijah  Griffin.  They  were  only  here  for  a 
short  time,  and  for  nearly  half  a  century  there  have  been  scarcely  any 
inhabitants.  It  was  a  great  timber  section,  with  an  immense  growth  of 
pine  and  spruce.  Page  hill  takes  its  name  from  "Yager"  Page,  a  hunter, 
who  made  a  large  clearing  there  in  the  early  part  of  the  century.  The 
Xarmarcungawuck  and  Live  rivers  rise  here  and  pass  westerly  into  the 
Androscoggin. 


TV  1{  ILLSFIELD. — The  surfaceof  this  town  is  uneven;  the  soil  is  strong 
(  y  and  when  cultivated  is  quite  productive.  The  climate  is  cold  and 
X  settlements  have  not  been  made  here  to  any  considerable  extent, 
although  there  are  ;i  tew  good  farms.  This  town  was  granted  to  Sir 
Thomas  Mills,  George  Boyd  and  others,  March  1,  1774-.  In  L858therewas 
but  one  house  in  town.  In  L870,  there  were  twenty-eight  inhabitants;  in 
L880,  sixty  two  with  a  valuation  of  nearly  sixty  thousand  dollars;  in  L887 
thirteen  families  were  resident.  There  is  only  one  person  in  town  who 
takes  interest  enough  in  town  matters  to  keep  any  record  thereof,  and 
that  person  is  a  lady.     She  records  all  deaths,  births  and  marriages,  and 


956  History  of  Coos  County. 

sends  copies  of  the  record  to  secretary  of  state  at  Concord  (as  town  clerks 
are  required  to  do),  and  all  without  any  compensation.  Millsfield  contains 
twenty-three  thousand  acres,  but  the  northern  part  is  mountainous.  Clear 
stream  waters  its  northern  extremity,  and  Phillips  river  with  several 
smaller  streams  the  other  parts  of  the  town.  It  is  bounded  north  by  Dix- 
ville,  east  by  Errol,  south  by  Dummer,  west  by  Odell  and  Dixville. 


WENTWORTH'S  LOCATION.— This  location  lies  immediately  north 
of  Errol.  In  some  parts  the  soil  is  good,  producing  fair  crops  of 
potatoes,  hay,  etc.  From  its  position  on  the  Magalloway  river, 
which  flows  through  the  eastern  part,  it  is  an  important  center  of  lumber- 
ing operations.  In  1870,  there  were  thirty-eight  inhabitants;  in  1880, 
fifty-five.     Present  valuation  is  about  $20,000. 


T 


HE  history  of  the  other  townships,  locations,  and  grants  is  so 
unimportant  that  nothing  further  is  needed  for  it  than  the  mention 
these  bodies  have  received  in  the  general  history. 


84