History of Woodstock, Me., with family sketches and an appendix, Part 10

Author: Lapham, William Berry, 1828-1894. dn
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Portland, S. Berry, printer
Number of Pages: 366


USA > Maine > Oxford County > Woodstock > History of Woodstock, Me., with family sketches and an appendix > Part 10


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


Jan. 23, 1877, Horace C. Berry, M .; A. C. Bolster, Sec. Jan. 15, 1878, James L. Bowker, M .; Alden Chase, Sec. Jan. 7, 1879, J. L. Bowker, M .; Alden Chase, Sec. Jan. 27, 1880, Albion P. Bowker, M .; Alden Chase, Sec. Jan. 11, 1881, Albion P. Bowker, M .; Alden Chase, Sec. Jan. 3, 1882, Wil- liam Day, M .; Alden Chase, Sec.


The Lodge held a few of its first meetings in a hall called Moody's Hall. It then removed to a hall known as the Perham Hall, where it remained until they purchased a hall of O. C. & H. F. Houghton, which was dedicated October 17, 1872, the M. W. G. M., David Cargill, superintending the ceremonies. The Lodge, since its organization, to January 1, 1882, has raised 119 masons. It numbers, January 1, 1882, 90 members ; 145 members have belonged to the Lodge. It now owns its hall and one-third of the lot on which it stands ; has no debts and $300 in its treasury. During the last nine years, it has paid from its funds over $450 for charity.


MILITARY.


Even in the early days, the military spirit was strong among the citizens of Woodstock, and grew stronger until the time when, to the intense disgust of many, military drill was no longer required. A person who has been familiar with Wood- stock for sixty years, and who, from being a non-resident, had no reason to be partial, says, " that in proportion to its popula- tion, no town in the County has developed as many efficient military men as Woodstock, and this town was indeed fortunate in the number and merit of its field officers," of whom, more hereafter. When the war of 1812 became imminent, the war- cry of " Free Trade and Sailors' Rights," resounded through these regions, and a company of Infantry was organized April 11, 1812. Jotham Perham was Captain, Lemuel Perham, Jr., Lieutenant, and Edward Lothrop, Ensign. Mention is made


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


in the plantation records of an allowance being made to Lemuel Perham for expenses incurred at a muster soon after the planta- tion was organized, though where and precisely at what time is not stated, nor what troops, besides those under Capt. Perham, were mustered. It is quite probable, however, that the muster here referred to was at Paris or Norway, where musters of the First Regiment, First Brigade and Sixth Division were at that period usually held.


In September, 1814, Capt. Perham's company was ordered to the defense of Portland from an apprehended attack by the British, with whom the United States was then at war. They served in Lieutenant William Ryerson's Regiment, and, besides the time occupied in traveling to and from Portland, were in the service eleven days, from September 13th to the 24th. The company was made up as follows :


Jotham Perham, Captain. Lemuel Perham, Jr., Lieutenant.


SERGEANTS.


Alexander Day,


Samuel Bryant,


Seth Curtis, Josiah Dudley.


MUSICIAN.


Gideon Swan.


PRIVATES.


Christopher Bryant,


Samuel Dunham,


Luther Briggs, .


Consider Fuller,


Solomon Bryant,


Enoch Hammond,


Morton Curtis,


William Swan,


Noah Curtis, Jr., Amos Thurlow,


Jonathan T. Clifford,


Otis Townsend,


William Cotton,


David Rand,


Aaron Davis,


Jacob Whitman.


Moses Dudley,


It will be noticed that this company included more than half the heads of families in the plantation and many of the lead-


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


ing citizens. Besides this company, several citizens of this plantation served in other companies. In Captain Uriah Rip- ley's Paris Company were Charles Curtis, Joseph Cole, Daniel Dacy and Joshua Young, though the last named may not yet have moved into the plantation; the others certainly had. Then in Capt. Stephen Blake's Paris Company, which served from September 25th to November 9th, same year, were Chris- topher Bryant, Solomon Bryant, Jr., John R. Briggs and Thomas Farrar, and several of Capt. Perham's men also re-enlisted and served in this company; they were Josiah Dudley, Amos Thur- low and Samuel Bryant. In Capt. Bemis's Company, from the same town, was Thayer Townsend, of number three. This makes thirty-one of the inhabitants of this plantation that served in Portland during the autumn of 1814, a patriotic record, truly. Among those who served and soon after became citizens of Woodstock, or the Gore, were Sylvanus Bartlett, Cyprian Bowker, Asa Barrows, Samuel Durell, Tilden Bartlett, Harvey Fuller and George W. Cummings. These men were not brought in contact with the enemy, but they are entitled to as much honor as though they had seen real service. The city was threatened, and they went expecting to drive away the enemy by force, but it seems their presence was sufficient to protect Portland, and they came home without so much as hearing a single hostile gun. A few persons who subsequently settled in this town, experienced more than this, having served in the army in northern New York, and partic- ipated in the engagements at Shadague and Plattsburg. Caleb B. Barrows, Geo. W. Cummings and Moses Cummings were of that number. John Packard, one of the two brothers who began on the Day farm, as mentioned elsewhere, was killed in the former engagement, which fact accounts for his not settling upon his land.


The trainings in Woodstock, from 1812 to 1828, were held on the farm begun on by Merrill Chase, on the hill east of David Ricker's; after that they were held on the Joseph


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


Whitman farm. Of the Woodstock infantry company, Jotham Perham was the first Captain, Lemuel Perham, Jr., was Lieu- tenant, and Edward Lothrop, Ensign. He was probably succeeded by Alexander Day, who resigned in 1822, and was followed by Jonathan Cole. The latter resigned or was discharged February 10, 1824; Josiah Dudley was Lieutenant under him and Richard T. Lurvey, Ensign; Dudley resigned April 26, 1824. Richard T. Lurvey was the next Captain. He was subsequently pro- moted to Major, and Lieut .- Colonel and Colonel of the regiment to which his company belonged. His subordinates were Luther Perkins, Lieutenant, and Jesse H. Stephens, Ensign. Luther Perkins was the next Captain, with Jesse H. Stephens, Lieu- tenant, and John R. Briggs, Ensign. At the expiration of · Perkins' term Stephens resigned his Lieutenancy and John R. Briggs was promoted to Captain. From this time to the repeal or modification of the militia law, so that meetings for drill were no longer required, the following were the line officers :


In 1830, John R. Briggs was Captain, George W. Cushman, Lieutenant, and Learned Whitman, Ensign.


In 1832, George W. Cushman, Captain, Learned Whitman, Lieutenant, and Perrin Dudley, Ensign.


In 1835, Perrin Dudley, Captain, Henry H. Packard, Lieu- tenant, and Enoch French, Ensign.


In 1837, Henry H. Packard, Captain, Thomas C. Cushman, Lieutenant, Joseph Davis, Ensign.


In 1841, Joseph Davis, Captain, Harrison Whitman, Lieu- tenant, and Joseph Whitman, Jr., Ensign.


In 1844, Harrison Whitman, Captain, Joseph Whitman, Jr., Lieutenant, and Albion P. Cole, Ensign.


In 1845, Merrill J. Rowe was Captain, and no other officers of the company are on record in the Military Department at the State House. This was about the time that, by Legislative enactment, the militia of Maine was exempted from military drill.


The Captains, in the order of their service, were Jotham Per-


8


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


ham, Alexander Day, Jonathan Cole, Richard T. Lurvey, Luther Perkins, John R. Briggs, George W. Cushman, Perrin Dudley, Henry H. Packard, Joseph Davis, Harrison Whitman and Mer- rill J. Rowe. Most of these had served in subordinate positions. Those who served as Lieutenant or Ensign and never as Captain, were Lemuel Perham, Jr., Edward Lothrop, Josiah Dudley, Jesse H. Stephens, Learned Whitman, Thomas C. Cushman, Joseph Whitman, Jr., and Albion P. Cole.


. John R. Briggs was Lieut .- Colonel of the First Regiment, First Brigade and Sixth Division in 1832, and Colonel in 1833.


Perrin Dudley was Major of the same regiment in 1837, Lieut .- Colonel in 1839, and Colonel in 1840.


Geo. W. Cushman was Lieut .- Colonel of the same regiment in 1835, Colonel in 1836, and Brigadier General of the First Brigade, Sixth Division, in 1837.


Richard T. Lurvey was discharged as Lieut .- Colonel, March 8, 1828, to accept the colonelcy of the same regiment.


Christopher Bryant, Jr., the first child born in Woodstock, but a resident of Greenwood, was Major in 1840, and Cyprian Cole, of Greenwood, brother of Capt. Jonathan, of this town, was Colonel in 1824. It will thus be seen that the little town of Woodstock furnished a field officer for the regiment from 1830 to 1840, and among them four Colonels.


In 1838, Company C of Cavalry, attached to the First Brigade, Sixth Division, was organized, made up of citizens of Paris, Greenwood and Woodstock. The officers in 1838 were: Horatio G. Russ, Captain, Joshua S. Whitman and Jared Young, Lieu- tenants, and John Day, Cornet. In 1842, the officers were: Joshua S. Whitman, Captain, John Day, Lieutenant, and Sid- ney Perham, Ensign. This company sometimes met for drill on the level land between West Paris and Trap Corner. A company of Cavalry, with its grotesque uniform, was a novelty in this region, and the occasion of its drills always drew a large crowd.


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.


At the election of President in 1860, Woodstock gave a large majority to the Republican ticket. The anti-slavery sentiment in this town had been developing for some years. It found expression in the majority the town gave Frémont in 1856, and in the still larger majority it gave Lincoln in 1860. When the war broke out in 1861, the patriotic feeling in Woodstock speedily hushed what little opposition there was, and during the four years of the contest there was really but one feeling manifested-that of loyalty to the National Government. The town promptly responded to every call that was made for men ; not grudgingly, but with right hearty good will. For the first call of seventy-five thousand men for three months, Maine only furnished one regiment, and while a large number in Woodstock were ready to go, they could not be received, because preference was given to companies already organized, and Woodstock had none. Six of our citizens, however, mostly young men, went and joined the Norway company. Their names were: Charles W. Farnum, Thorndike H. Sawyer, Lewis H. Stephens, Wil- liam F. Jewell and Nathan C. Knapp. The following are the names of Woodstock men that served in other Maine organiza- tions :


SECOND REGIMENT.


Anson G. Bowker.


FIFTH REGIMENT.


Phillip Abbott, Horace C. Berry, Corp., Caleb Bessee, Jr., Geo. W. Ricker, Ezra Ridlon, Fessenden Swan, Cyrus Thurlow, Enoch Whittemore, Jr., and Alanson M. Whitman.


EIGHTH REGIMENT.


Andrew Jackson, William W. Leavitt.


NINTH REGIMENT.


Sumner C. Farnum, Charles G. Perkins, Corporal.


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


TENTH REGIMENT.


Horace C. Berry, Corp., Luther*Briggs, Henry F. Cole, Joseph W. Cummings, Aaron D. Cotton, Amos S. Bryant, Alpheus Fuller, Wm. H. Fuller, Levi D. Jewell, Isaac F. Lapham, Fessenden Swan, Edward K. Young, James L. Perham.


TWELFTH REGIMENT.


John H. Abbott, Charles D. Rowe, James Russ and James P. Russ.


THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.


Samuel Robbins, Leander S. Swan.


SIXTEENTH REGIMENT.


Gilbert M. L. Whitman.


SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.


Hiram Andrews, Luther B. Farnum, Wm. F. Harding, Charles P. Jackson, Alvan H. Marr, Dustin B. Ricker, Geo. W. Whit- man, Barnet Thorn.


TWENTIETH REGIMENT.


Geo. H. York, Caleb Bessee, Jr.


TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.


John L. Noyes, Galen G. Bowker, Joseph H. Davis, Wm. F. Jewell, Gilman A. Whitman, Consider F. Farrar; Albert Green, Henry Jordan, Jr., Robert B. Taylor, Thomas J. Whitman, and Wm. B. Lapham, private, Commissary Sergt., 2d Lieut. and 1st Lieut., Co. F.


TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.


Horace C. Berry, Sergt. and Henry F. Cole.


THIRTIETH REGIMENT.


Robert H. Doughty.


THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.


Oscar F. Whitman, Charles H. Packard.


THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT.


Charles H. Chase, Wm. F. Jewell, Sergt., Nathaniel H. Ful- ler, Chas. W. Farnum, Oscar F. Whitman, John E. Lapham.


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


FIFTH BATTERY. Cyrus A. Andrews, Samuel W. Benson, Wm. H. Proctor.


SEVENTH BATTERY.


Wm. B. Lapham, First Lieut., Alfred H. Briggs, John M. Bryant, Lorenzo ·Billings, Charles M. Bixby, Alpheus Fuller, Levi D. Jewell, James B. Mason, James H. Pratt, Albert Bil- lings, Ezra Ridlon, Jr., Francis F. Stevens, Luther Briggs and Isaac F. Lapham.


FIRST MAINE SHARP SHOOTERS.


Charles B. Bessee.


Besides the above, several men enlisted from Hamlin's Gore, which has since been annexed to Woodstock. Wm. H. Pearson served in the 10th and 29th Maine; Oliver Millett, in the 31st ; John A. Buck, in the 10th; Eben A. Kimball, 10th; Stephen L. Ethridge, 27th; Charles H. Buck and George Buck in the 15th.


There were also several Woodstock men who were tempora- rily away and served in other regiments. James M. Lapham served three years in the 36th Massachusetts; George Lucius Berry, son of Leonard, of this town, was in a Massachusetts regiment, and was shot dead in action. Napotem B. Whitman served in a Wisconsin regiment, and died of wounds or disease.


Great effort has been made to have this list complete, but, after all this care, it will not be strange if it contains errors. Some Woodstock men served on the quotas of other towns, and on the books of the Adjutant General are credited to those towns, thereby rendering it impossible for me, not personally acquainted with them, to determine their place of residence. . Woodstock also had credit on the books of the Adjutant General for several soldiers never furnished by the town; they probably came from Woodstock, New Brunswick. These have been omitted from the lists so far as known. It is sincerely hoped that no Wood- stock soldier has been omitted from this list ; if there has been, it is because he could not be traced. This large number, very


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


large in proportion to the adult population of the town, will stand here as an enduring monument of the patriotism and de- votion of the little town of Woodstock during the terrible struggle of 1861-5, when our national unity was threatened by rebels in arms.


POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.


WOODSTOCK.


The first Post Office in Woodstock was at Stephens' Mills, and John R. Briggs was the first Postmaster. This was June 18, A. D. 1824. The mail was then brought from Paris once a week, and on horseback. The carrier had a tin horn, which he sounded before reaching a stopping place, to warn the Postmaster to be in readiness to change the mail. Correspondence was then light, postage high and newspapers few. Mr. Briggs kept the office until 1831, when he was suc- ceeded by Eleazer C. Shaw, who kept it seven years. When the new County road from Paris to Rumford was completed through the town, the office was moved to the lower village. There have been several Postmasters here since the office was moved. Among them have been D. P. Hannaford, Thos. Sampson, Thos. T. Lurvey, Isaac W. Andrews and Francis F. Stevens. At the present time it is kept by Oliver O. Fuller. After the village ran down by the building of the railway through the town, the office was moved and kept a long time at Andrews' Mill.


NORTH WOODSTOCK.


An office was established at North Woodstock (Pinhook) in 1847, and John M. Gallison appointed Postmaster. The peti- tion was sent in February, and in April following the mails were first distributed from the North Woodstock office. Mr. Gallison held the office ten years, when he was succeeded by H. Hall Torrey. After him, in the order named, were James Russ,


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


Matthias McKenney, Jarvis C. Billings, George Fuller, Eliza- beth Fuller, and in 1872, Mr. Gallison again, who still has it. Until the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway, in 1855, the mails were left by the stage that ran between Portland and Andover ; they first had the mail once, and subsequently twice a week. Now they have a daily mail, which comes by rail to Bryant's Pond, thence by the Andover stage. A mail is taken from here every morning in season to reach Portland and Boston the same day.


BRYANT'S POND.


A Post Office became necessary at Bryant's Pond on the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1851, and was estab- lished that year. The first Postmaster was Ezra Jewell, who kept the office at the old yellow store where he traded, on the corner. Rufus K. Dunham afterwards had the office, and moved it to the railway station. Subsequently, Benj. F. Craw- ford was appointed, and kept the office in his shoemaker's shop, a little distance on the Rumford road. With the change of administration in 1857, James H. Farnum was appointed, and moved the office to his son-in-law's, C. P. Knight's, store. Here it was kept until Mr. Farnum's death, when Joseph Pray was appointed and moved the office to his (the Crockett) store. In the spring of 1861, Dr. William B. Lapham was appointed, and fitted up the office, where it has since been kept: This was the first time that a separate room was fitted up for it with lock and other boxes. In 1865, Dr. Lapham sold out the property to Nathaniel F. Jacobs, and resigned the office of Postmaster in his favor, and Mr. Jacobs was at once appointed. He held the position up to the time of his death, when his wife, Mrs. Eliza A. Jacobs, was appointed, and has since continued to hold it. This is much the largest and most important office in town, and is a distributing office for the offices at North Woodstock, Milton Plantation and beyond towards Andover.


A summary of the Postmasters in town is as follows :


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


WOODSTOCK. John R. Briggs, June 18, '24; Eleazer C. Shaw, Feb. 22, '31 ; Richard T. Lurvey, Nov. 19, '41; John Bicknell, Mar. 16, '42; David P. Hannaford, Apr. 20, '44; Thomas T. Lurvey, Jan'y 20, '46; Thomas Sampson, May 27, '47. Dis- continued Oct. 18, 1855. Re-established Dec. 14, 1855. Isaac W. Andrews, Dec. 14, '55; John R. Briggs, Apr. 9, '60 ; John C. Andrews, May 4, '60; Isaac W. Andrews, June 20, '64. Discontinued Oct. 20, 1873.


NORTH WOODSTOCK. John M. Gallison, Apr. 5, 1847 ; Heze- kiah H. Torrey, Dec. 23,'56 ; James Russ, Jan. 25, '60; Mathias V. McKenney, Dec. 21, '60; Jarvis C. Billings, Jan. 3, '65 ; George W. Fuller, Apr. 28, '68 ; Eliza L. Fuller, June 22, '69 ; John M. Gallison, July 26, '72.


SOUTH WOODSTOCK. Francis F. Stevens, Dec. 28, 1874; Oli- ver L. Fuller, April 12, '76.


BRYANT'S POND. Ezra Jewell, Jan. 3, 1852 ; Rufus K. Dun- ham, Mar. 29, '53 ; Benjamin F. Crawford, Sept. 27, '55 ; James H. Farnum, Oct. 23, '56 ; Joseph Pray, Oct. 8, '59; William B. Lapham, Aug. 3, '61; Nathaniel F. Jacobs, May 6, '65; Eliza A. Jacobs, Jan. 17, '76.


HOTELS.


Some of the early settlers, after they had advanced far enough to build farm houses-those that lived on the County road-were in the habit of putting up strangers, though their accommoda- tions were necessarily limited. John R. Briggs kept a public house in connection with his store, and perhaps may be regarded as the first hotel keeper in town. Luther Whitman also put up up travelers, and so did Joel Perham and Rowse Bisbee. After the new County road was built and the little village of South Woodstock sprung up, a hotel was kept there by John Bicknell, D. P. Hannaford, and afterwards by the Libbys, father and sons, and others. Edmund Bowker also kept a public house near the


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


center of the town for quite a number of years. John R. Briggs was the first hotel keeper at North Woodstock, though his house was somewhat contracted for purposes of this kind. The first building put up in this place for a hotel was by Chauncey C. Whitman. He had a dance hall in connection therewith, and for a few years his house was quite well patronized. After Mr. Whitman came J. M. Gallison & Son, Anthony Bennett, and lastly Richard Smith. In 1865, Mr. Gallison purchased the old tavern stand, and has since occupied it as a dwelling.


The first hotel at Bryant's Pond was kept by Joseph Frye. He purchased the A. K. Whitman farm, upon which the village is built, and removing a portion of the Houghton House from the foot of the pond, converted it into a hotel. This hotel, with the exception of a few additions and alterations, is the present tavern at Bryant's Pond. Nathaniel Mayberry afterwards occu- pied the house, and afterwards, for short periods, Charles P. Knight and John Q. Adams. In the latter part of 1856, the hotel property was purchased by James Silver, and his son-in- law, Howe, from Rumford. They ran the house for a year and a half, and sold out to Tuttle and Hobbs, of Norway. These parties bought, in connection therewith, the stage line to Andover and Dixfield. They also kept a livery stable and dealt quite largely in horses. They kept a good hotel, the best ever kept in town, and were enterprising men. In 1865, they sold out and went to Providence, R. I. The new man was Nathaniel B. Crockett, of Andover. He had previously been in trade here. Crockett remained until 1871, when he sold out to Allen and Perham, who were there two years. Joseph H. Carpenter had it in 1874, and then Otis Kaler bought the property, enlarged the house, and made many improvements. He changed the name from the Bryant's Pond to the Glen Mountain House. He ran the house four years. F. T. Stevens, the proprietor of Mt. Zircon Springs, had it in 1878, Orlando C. Houghton in 1879, and E. S. Russell in 1880. It is now kept by Hiram Perkins.


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


VILLAGES.


Stephens' Mills, or Woodstock Corner, was for several years the business center of Woodstock. Here the first general store was established and the first Post Office. John R. Briggs began to trade here about the year 1824, and traded until 1830, when he was succeeded by Eleazer Shaw, who kept the store and Post Office until 1837. Welcome Kinsley then took the store and traded for several years. He was the last trader at this place. The Stephens mill was taken down, or tumbled down, about 1835, and afterwards business at this place declined. Ziba Andrews had built a mill at South Woodstock, and, after the new County road was built from Paris to Rumford, the center of business gradually changed to near Andrews' mill. A little village sprang up, a hotel was opened, and after a time the Post Office was moved here. Trade was also carried on here by one or more stores. A strong effort was made to have a County road laid out by way of West Paris, and following the line afterwards occupied by the railroad to the island farm, so called, in Greenwood, and then, after crossing the outlet of the North Alder River Pond, to divide, a branch leading to Bethel and another to Rumford. Believing that such a road would be laid out and built, Samuel H. Houghton put up a large building for a hotel at the foot of Bryant's Pond, thinking this would become a business center or an important thorough- fare. But the road was defeated, and with its defeat fled the hopes of Mr. Houghton, and he soon left town. A part of his buildings were moved to Bryant's Pond and were incorporated into the hotel there. Something of a village also sprang up at North Woodstock, called Pinhook. A store was opened here, and kept by Edmund Chase, Caleb Bessee, Jr., Chauncey C. Whit- man and others, and a hotel was kept by John R. Briggs. A Post Office was subsequently established here, and this little hamlet, with the one at South Woodstock, which was called by various slang names, such as "Slab City," "Tinker Village,"


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


" Punky Pog," &c., continued to be the chief business places in town, until the building of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Rail- road through the town in 1851.


. This was the beginning of Bryant's Pond Village, which sprung up rapidly around the railway station and has since con- tinued to be the center of trade and of business for Woodstock.


BRYANT'S POND FROM DUDLEY HILL.


It is not only the center of a considerable local trade, but the towns lying to the north and north-east, which come here to take the cars, furnish considerable traffic to the traders at Bry- ant's Pond. There are two church edifices here, several stores and a good hotel. The erection of a large spool factory, to be run by steam, added materially to the business of the place, as there is here no water power. There has been but very little business done either at North or South Woodstock for the last twenty years. The south part of the town does most of its business at West Paris, and a portion of Greenwood comes natu- rally to Bryant's Pond.


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HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK.


TRADERS.


It is not an easy task to recall the different persons who have been in trade in this town at different periods. In the early times, there were several of the settlers that kept groceries, in- cluding New England rum, for sale in their dwelling houses. Rowse Bisbee kept such goods both before and after he moved to Pinhook ; Joel Perham, Luther Whitman and John R. Briggs were among those who trafficked in this way. The great bulk of the goods used in town, however, were purchased in Paris. The first regular store of goods opened here was by John R. Briggs, and probably about the year 1824. This was at Stephens' Mills. He was succeeded by Eleazer C. Shaw, from Paris, and he, in 1837, by Welcome Kinsley. William Cotton also, per- haps, traded at the same place and these were the last.




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