USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Sullivan > A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I > Part 84
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222. Site of a house, probably a log house, on the eleventh lot of the sixth range, in which Solomon Howard lived. The eleventh lot in each range was about half in Sullivan and half in Gilsum. The lot was drawn by Rev. Clement Sumner of Keene, who sold it, Dec. 4, 1761, to Abner Mack of Hebron, Conn. Mr. Mack died in 1784. In dividing his estate, his son, Abner Mack, Jr., came into possession of this lot, Oct. 4, 1784. He sold it to his brother, Bezaleel Mack, June 22, 1785. Bezaleel sold the western half, April 1, 1791, to Sylvanus Hayward. That part of the lot remained in his possession and that of his descendants to our own time, and was not inhabited. Bezaleel sold the eastern fifty acres, Oct. 15, 1785, to JOHN CHAPPELL, who like so many Gilsum persons, came from Hebron, Conn. His name was sometimes spelled Chappel, or Chapel. His house was north of the town line, in Gilsum, according to tradition, at a spot which Hayward has located upon his map, and where Israel Loveland, Jr., is said to have lived a few years. Tradition credits Chappell with
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saying that, when he went up from the valley to his cabin, the hill was so steep that it seemed to hit him in the face. Chappell sold these fifty acres to SOLO- MON HOWARD, Jan. 17, 1788, who came here from Andover, Vt. Solomon built a house, doubtless a log house, on this spot, where he lived a short time. It is pro- bable that Chappell took back the place again, for we find him assessed in Sulli- van, as a non-resident, for thirty acres of land (the part in Sullivan) in 1790 and 1791. There is no recorded deed of any owner after Howard, in those early years. According to Hayward, Israel Loveland, Jr., in 1794, bought this land of Chappell. Hayward's history makes no mention whatever of this Solomon Howard. As Loveland's deed does not appear upon the Cheshire records, we cannot say whether he purchased the land of Chappell or Howard. The Sullivan tax lists, assessing Chappell for the Sullivan portion of it, would seem to prove that Chappell had taken back the place. If so, it would be he who sold to Loveland. The eastern part of the lot remained until nearly our own time in the Loveland family, but there was no house upon the Sullivan side of the line, excepting this, which was doubtless not used after Howard left it. Mr. Loveland also bought the eleventh lot of the seventh range, probably of the tax collector for non- payment of taxes. It was drawn by Samuel Banning and sold by him, April 3, 1765, to Medad Thornton. On this land, the house at 221 stood.
223. A spring, walled like a well, whence Solomon Howard obtained his water undoubtedly. Possibly, also, Chappell came here for water.
224. Site of a hut in which lived PHILADELPHIA DEWOLF, on land, known as the " Baker lot," whose early owners may be seen under paragraph 214. This woman did not own the land. She was usually known as " Dilly Dolph." She was a strange, mischievous person. She lived in this hut from about 1799 to 1803, while Calvin Chapman of Keene owned the land. Dilly's life was a public scandal. She is not known to have been legitimately married. She had several children whose paternity was uncertain. We scarcely know their names, but they were the cause of lawsuits between Gilsum and Sullivan with respect to their maintenance. She claimed a marriage with Abraham Nash, Jr., who lived once at 225, but it could not have been legitimate, as he was not divorced from his former wife. Dilly went into Gilsum to live. Her children, of both sexes, were veritable " chips of the old block." Their finale in Gilsum is thus described by Hayward in his " History of Gilsum," page 47 : " In 1822 or 1823 [June 20, 1821], a hut in the northeast part of the town [of Gilsum], beyond where George Bates lives [afterwards the C. R. Bliss house], was torn down and burned one dark stormy night. This was done by connivance of the town authorities, who furnished a bottle of rum for the occasion. The purpose was to get rid of a disreputable family named Wolf or Dolph, who were harboring there. The family escaped to the neighbors, and what little furniture they had was carefully taken out, before the hut was burned, and covered with bark, to protect it from the rain. The family left for parts unknown." We learn from the diary of John Davis that the real date of that event was June 20, 1821, and the " Dolphs " left town on June 23. They went to Vermont, to the town of Pownal.
225. Site of a cabin in which ABRAHAM NASH, Jr., lived for a few years. He was here from the time of his first marriage, about 1798 or 1799 until 1804. Perhaps his wife and her children remained a little longer. His three children
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by the first marriage, Sophia A., Lavina, and Susan, were all born here. His life was a rather checkered one. He went from here to Vermont, where he lived in several places. He last lived in Chesterfield, where he died in 1848. By different wives, he had twelve children. He was a son of Mrs. Lydia Nash, who lived at 211. For owners of this lot, see 214. C. Chapman of Keene owned it while Nash lived here.
226. A spring well walled, where Abraham Nash, Jr., probably obtained water for his household use.
227. A slaughter house on land now annexed to Gilsum, built by N. O. Hayward, grandson of Sylvanus. See 222.
CHAPTER XXI. FAMILY HISTORIES CONTINUED.
DISTRICT No. 6.
This district includes all of Sullivan that lies between the fourth and fifth districts and west of the road that leads past the houses numbered 228, 229, and so on to 236 and beyond. It was discontinued as a school district in 1810, at the town meeting on March 13, and was united with the second district. It continued as a separate district for highway and other purposes. All the districts of the town are now, by a comparatively recent law, one for school purposes, although the old lines are still observed for practical reasons.
228. The house in which lived Elijah Carter, Joseph Gibbs, Ebenezer B. Col- lester, Leander Felt, A. B. Brown, William Smith, Warren Foster, John E. Dow, and Lorenzo W. Mason. ELIJAH CARTER, who had been living at 137, made up this farm from several small purchases from different lots. The portion west of the road belonged to the Dimick lot, for whose first owners see 242. Roswell Hubbard had bought a portion of the south-east corner of the Dimick land. He sold a strip of this, Oct. 8, 1795, to Mr. Carter, who, also, bought more of John Dimick, Jr., Nov. 4, 1795. The part east of the road had formerly been a part of the Ellis land, for whose first owners see 102 and 99. Mr. Carter bought that piece of the Ellis land that had come into the possession of Elijah Osgood, Nov. 4, 1795, and he bought more of Nathan Ellis, May 7, 1803. Mr .- Carter was a deacon of the First Congregational Church. He had a family of bright and enterprising children. One of them died while pursuing his studies at Yale College. Abel lived in Vermont and had a daughter who married Hon. Chauncy L. Knapp, a Representative in the 34th U. S. Congress. Charles lived in Sulli- van, at 97, afterwards in Keene, and was accidentally killed. See page 358. Henry lived in the South and had a son who died in Paris. Ephraim lived in Kentucky. Dea. Carter was a coroner for Cheshire County. He moved to Keene and died there. He sold this place to some Boston speculators, the merchants, Simon Whitney and Elias Haskell, Jan. 5, 1808. Haskell bought the
87
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interest of Whitney, Apr. 18, 1809, and sold it to Benjamin West, also of Boston, March 18, 1811. While these Boston men owned the place, Thomas Powell was a tenant for a large part of the time. JOSEPH GIBBS, who came from Ashburn- ham, Mass., bought the place of West, Oct. 13, 1812. He only remained a short time in town and sold the farm, Apr. 17, 1817, to BENJAMIN TYLER, who had married a daughter of Roswell Hubbard. He began his married life here and the elder daughter was born here. He sold this place Mar. 11, 1820, to Phinehas Gleason of Dublin. Tyler moved to number 98. Gleason did not live here. He purchased the house for the benefit of his daughter, who had married EBEN- EZER B. COLLESTER, who moved here and lived on the place until his death, Nov. 9, 1832, and his family remained a few years longer. One of his daughters married Leander Felt, a shoe manufacturer. Another daughter married H. B. Rugg, and another married Luther B. Walker of Gardner, Mass. Two daughters died unmarried. His son, Thorley, died in Gardner, Mass. He was the father of three highly educated sons : Marquis deL. (see page 596), Eugene B., and Frank M. (see page 612). Another son, Maro, resided in Gardner, Mass., where his son, Henry M., now resides. See page 612. Henry has a son, Clinton H., who graduated at Amherst College and took the advanced degree of A. M. at Harvard in 1904. He is an exceptionally brilliant young man. LEANDER FELT, who had married a daughter of E. B. Collester, bought this place of Gleason, Sept. 23, 1837. For further particulars of his family, see number 237. ALEX- ANDER B. BROWN bought the place of Mr. Felt, Apr. 1, 1838, but did not pay the mortgage, and it reverted to Mr. Felt, who sold it, Mar. 21, 1840, to WILLIAM SMITH, who came here from Gilsum and lived many years. Mr. Smith had lived in Milbury, Mass., before coming to Sullivan. His eldest daughter, Jane E., was born there. She is now Mrs. George Wright of Keene. His younger daugh- ter, Flora M., was born here. She married Henry Grant of Gilsum for her first husband. She now lives in Keene. WARREN FOSTER came here from Gilsum and bought this place, Jan. 7, 1860, of Mr. Smith. Mr. Foster had several children, all born before coming here, the eldest in Keene, and the others at Hillsborough. He mortgaged the place to Amos Wardwell, Jr., who foreclosed and sold it, April 1, 1864, to JOHN E. Dow, who only lived here two years and a half and sold it, Nov. 26, 1866 to LORENZO W. MASON, a son of Nathaniel Mason, and a brother of Mrs. Amos Wardwell, Jr. Mr. Mason lived here until his death, March 4, 1902. His widow still (1908) resides upon the place. One of Mr. Mason's daughters married Mason A. Nims. Another married Charles H. Kingsbury of Keene and East Westmoreland. The other living daughter is a successful school teacher.
229. The Oliver Brown house, where E. C. Stone lived, and where Miss Kennard now lives. This small estate was on the south-west part of the John Dimick, Jr., lot, and was purchased of Michael Sanders by Roswell Hubbard, Esy., at a date which we cannot ascertain, as the deed is not recorded. OLIVER BROWN, a native of Swanzey, whose father lived at 155, purchased this small place of Esq. Hubbard, May 6, 1825. Brown had previously lived at 166. He had only lived here a little less than six years, when he died, Feb. 21, 1831. He had several sons and daughters who died unmarried. For his son Alexander B. Brown, see 168 and 203. For his son Alonzo O. Brown, see 161. One daughter,
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Mary Ann, married Asa Leland. The heirs of Oliver Brown sold the place to ASA LELAND, through Joseph Seward, the administrator, Apr. 25, 1832. Mr. Leland only lived here four years, then sold the place, Mar. 12, 1836, to ALEX- ANDER B. BROWN, son of Oliver, from whom it passed, Oct. 2, 1844, to Hannah Mason of Dublin, a sister of Mrs. Oliver Brown, who continued to reside here with her younger children. On Apr. 18, 1848, FRANCIS O. BROWN, another son of Oliver, bought the place and owned it until his sudden death, Nov. 29, 1867, in the house at 148, then occupied by George H. Nims. Mr. Brown was taken ill with a convulsion, when he had arrived in front of this house on returning from Keene. He was carried into the house and expired in a few moments. MISS MELVINA H. BROWN, a sister of the preceding, purchased this place of his heirs, Apr. 26, 1871. She lived here until her death, June 12, 1877. Her admin- istrator, Amos Wardwell, Jr., sold it, Oct. 13, 1877, to FRED A. PARKER of Keene, who now lives in that city, at 195 Eastern Avenue. He owned this house several years, and sold it, May 2, 1884, to NAPOLEON VIGNEAU of Keene, who lived here three years, then sold it, June 1, 1887, to William C. Russell of Gilsum, who did not move here. EDDIE C. STONE married a Gilsum woman and lived first in Gilsum, then here. He bought the place of Mr. Russell, June 25, 1888, and also bought other land to go with it until he had considerable of a farm. Of his five children, two were born in Gilsum, the youngest three here. On Apr. 20, 1906, Mr. Stone bought the J. B. Seward farm at 99. He soon moved to that house and put it in good repair. He sold this place, Apr. 18, 1906, to MISS LUCY H. KENNARD, a sister of Mrs. Lorenzo W. Mason, who is living (1908) at 228. Miss Kennard has since then made this her home.
230. The second and present pound in Sullivan. The earliest inhabitants impounded stray animals in their own inclosures until their owners could be found. At the town meeting of March 10, 1789, Daniel Wilson was chosen pound-keeper. He held the office for nine years consecutively. At first he im- pounded the strays in his own barn-yard. At the town meeting of March 8, 1796, seventeen dollars were apportioned for a hackmatack pound, which was built at the south-west corner of the first meetinghouse common, at 67. This served for more than a dozen years, but " business moved down town." The new meeting- house was built on the plain below and the center of business was fixed at the Four Corners. At the town meeting of March 14, 1809, it was voted to build a new pound on the land of Capt. Abel Allen, who lived at 232, on the site of Mr. Chapin's house. Capt. Allen agreed to give the land for a dollar, and the town appro- priated a dollar for that purpose. Mr. Allen gave the deed to the town, March 12, 1810. For a complete description of the pounds, see pages 284-85. For previous owners of the land, see paragraph 232.
. 23072. Building used by Daniel H. Mason for a blacksmith shop. This little building was once used in the old potashery at 241. See 241. It was moved here by the Wardwells for a carriage house. Mr. Mason purchased it, with the land under it, March 31, 1870, for a blacksmith shop. He used it while he lived. Since his death (see 237) it has been practically disused. His son, George L. Mason, still owns it.
231. The second and final site of the store of I. N. Wardwell. See page 573 for a complete description of it. The store was first placed on the site of
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
233. Amos Wardwell, Sr., father of the Amos known to the present generation, bought the land in this corner of Dr. Lane (see the next paragraph) in the fall of 1830. The deed was not signed until March 18, 1831. In the autumn of 1830, Mr. Wardwell built a store at 233 for the accommodation of his son, I. Nichols Wardwell. This corrects the date of building given on page 573. On May 8, 1833, I. NICHOLS WARDWELL purchased the property of his father. The location at 233 was inconvenient for teams turning from either road into the other. The store also injured the appearance of the mansion at 232. About 1837, it was moved from 233 and placed upon this site at 231. It was a good store, well stocked and the best in town for many years, and at times the only store. Mr. Ward well managed it until his death, March, 3, 1859. His wife and eldest children tended the store much of the time in later years, especially during his long illness ; also after his death, while the building was used for a store. AMOS NICHOLS WARD- WELL bought the property of his father's heirs, Oct. 26, 1859, and, two days later, transferred it to his brother-in-law, A. G. Nims. The goods were immedi- ately sold at auction (which also corrects a statement on page 573). The building was not used again for a store and afterwards moved away.
232. 'Site of an old house in which lived several physicians, also Abel Allen and others. The present house was built by Dr. Lane and was long the residence of I. N. Wardwell, later of A. G. Nims, and now of William H. Chapin. This is on the west part of the second lot of the eighth Gilsum range, drawn by Stephen Griswold. See 102. The next we know of this part of the lot it belonged to John Dimick, Sr., who came from Guilford, Conn., to Gilsum and later to Sullivan. The latter deeded it for " love and affection " to his son, John Dimick, Jr., May 4, 1770, with an additional gift of land, Jan. 8, 1773. By a deed not recorded, probably given by John Dimick, Jr., (for we know of no intermediate owner), DR. JOSEPH PHELPS PETERS purchased this land, a part only of the original lot, and built the first house upon this spot. He was the first physician in Sullivan. For a further account of him, see page 597. He sold this place to Nathan Ellis, who lived on the farm whose house was at 99, April 10, 1788. Ellis sold it to Nathaniel Hills, Jr., of Swanzey, July 15, 1795. During the ownership of Ellis and Hills, the house was rented, and it is under- stood that other physicians lived here. It was quite the custom in those days for physicians to occupy the premises of those whom they succeeded in the same town. The second physician of the town was Dr. Asher Loveland, but there is no known evidence that he lived here. He was partly contemporaneous with Dr. Phelps, and was not married until after he left town. He probably boarded at Ebenezer Burditt's. See page 597. The third physician of the town was DR. WILLIAM BROWN, who probably lived here. The tax list of 1790 has the name of "Dr." Brown, who had only personal property. The United States census for the same year, 1790, gives a family of the name of Brown, that of William Brown. The head of this one family of the name of Brown, William Brown, and the " Dr." Brown of the tax list for the same year must, of course, be the same person. We do not know whence he came or whither he went. From the census, he seems to have had a wife, son, and daughter. More than a dozen years later, a " widow Elizabeth Brown" united with the church. We do not know whether she was or was not his widow. He was not known to be a
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relative of any of the other Browns of the town, all of whom came to town later. See page 598. The fourth physician of the town was DR. JOHN MONTAGUE FIELD, who lived here, as we are informed. Since we wrote the sketch of him on page 598, we have fortunately learned some additional particulars. He was born in Northfield, Mass., July 2, 1764, the son of Moses and Martha (Root) Field. He was twice married and had six children. The eldest, Rev. Joseph Root Field, was born in the old house upon this site, where Dr. Field lived while in Sullivan. He was a clergyman. See page 590. The second child, Rev. Elijah H. Field, was a Methodist Episcopal clergyman. The youngest five of the six children of Dr. Field were born in some other town, probably in Hinsdale, where Dr. Field lived for several years after leaving Sullivan, and where he was living when he married his second wife, Olive Clark of Sullivan. See the Field family in the genealogies, also page 598. Dr. Field probably lived here until 1795 or 1796. ABEL ALLEN, who had been living at 256, bought this place of Hills, May 5, 1796. He was a blacksmith and a very prominent man of the town. He came to town from Lancaster, Mass. He had four daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter married Jonas Stevens, Jr., of Sullivan. The second married James Lewis of Marlborough. The third married Roswell Hubbard, Jr., of Sullivan, and the fourth married Martin Leland of Sullivan. The two sons married after leaving town. In February of 1817, Mr. Allen sold this place and moved to Crown Point, N. Y., and a year later to Moriah, N. Y., where he spent the rest of his life. All of his children and their families followed to that state and lived near him. Mr. Allen, while living here, used a blacksmith- shop standing at 91. See 91. Mr. Allen sold this place, Feb. 13, 1817, to Samuel Seward and Michael Saunders, both of Sullivan. Seward bought the interest of Saunders, Jan. 10, 1820. Jeremiah Leland was a tenant in this house for the last three or four years that Mr. Seward owned it. DR. TIMOTHY LIVINGSTON LANE bought this property of Capt. Seward, May 21, 1825, and, the same year, took away the old house and built the fine mansion now standing there, on the south- west corner of the Four Corners. Dr. Lane was a well educated physician and had a good practice. He lived in town, in this house and at 98, about eleven years. For a fuller notice of him, see page 598. Amos Wardwell, Sr., father of the Amos known to some still living, contracted for this place in the autumn of 1830, and built a store for his son, I. N. Wardwell, at 233. Dr. Lane signed the deed, March 18, 1831. ICHABOD NICHOLS WARDWELL was married that year and began housekeeping in this house, where he lived the rest of his life. He bought the place of his father, May 8, 1833. He was a very useful and influential citizen and neighbor. He was a merchant and did a little farming. His store was at 233, from 1830 to about 1837, then at 231. After his death, March 3, 1859, the store was continued a few months by the family. AMOS NICHOLS WARD- WELL, son of I. N. Wardwell, bought the property of the heirs, Oct. 26, 1859, but sold it, two days later, Oct. 28, 1859, to his brother-in-law, ALBERT G. NIMS, who had married Miss Sarah M. Wardwell. Mr. A. N. Wardwell then lived a short time at 149, and finally moved to Keene, where he died. See a notice of him on page 625. Mr. Nims carried on the farm, which consisted of several pieces of land in different parts of the neighborhood, which the Wardwells had purchased. He was a son of Nahum Nims who lived at 159, and a brother of
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Dea. Joseph Nims who lives at 104. He was a quiet, upright, and esteemed citizen. He owned the place at the time of his death, May 22, 1894, but he had moved to Keene about 1892. Two of his children died unmarried. A daughter married Levi W. Randall of Keene. His son, Ernest G., lived a short time here, then in Charlestown. Henry O. Esty rented the place for a short time. ERNEST G. NIMS, son of Albert G., lived here in his earlier married life. His first child was born here. THEODORE FRANK THOMAS moved to this place and eventually bought it of the heirs of Albert G. Nims, Jan. 1, 1900. He was the owner but a little more than three months, when he sold it, Apr. 10, 1900, to WILLIAM H. CHAPIN, who had formerly lived in Stoddard. Mr. Chapin is a veteran of the Civil War. He was a welcome addition to the citizens of the community. He still lives (1908) upon the place. He has two sons and a daughter, all born here, also an adopted daughter, Mrs. Loren W. Adams of Dublin.
233. The first site of the store of Mr. Wardwell. See 231. It was a two- story building, built in 1830. The upper floor was used for a hall and known as Wardwell's Hall. Special town meetings, for drawing jurymen and for minor business, were often held in this hall. The Baptists sometimes held their religious, meetings here. On account of the inconvenience of the location, occasioned by the obstruction to travel, it was moved, about 1837, to the site at 231. It was there continued for a store until shortly after the death of Mr. Wardwell in 1859. See paragraphs 231 and 232.
234. Site of the store built by Roswell Hubbard, Jr. It partly covered the site now occupied by Miss Peabody's house, but projected somewhat south of it. It was built by Mr. Hubbard about 1819, the land being leased of Michael Saunders and Capt. Seward. It was moved to the site of 96 in 1824. For its complete history, see 96 and 95. Mr. Hubbard did not, at the time, own the land on which the store stood. For the owners of the land, see 235 and 237.
235. The William Brown or Peabody house. This house and the land with it are on the west part of the third lot of the eighth range. It was drawn by Stephen Griswold and sold by him, Sept. 24, 1776, to Joseph Ellis, Sr., then of Keene. BENJAMIN ELLIS, son of Joseph, bought the place of his father, June 20, 1780, and lived about fifteen years in a house which stood on, or near, the site of the house where George L. Mason lives. See 237. He sold the place, July 15, 1795, to Nathaniel Hills, fr., of Swanzey, who did not move here, and sold it, May 5, 1796, to Abel Allen, who was living on the site of 232. The old house disappeared (we know not how) and only a barn remained on the premises. Capt. Samuel Seward and Michael Saunders bought the spot of Allen, Feb. 13, 1817, and the barn still remained upon it. Saunders bought the interest of Seward, Jan. 10, 1820. Hubbard's store had then been built on leased land and the barn still remained. On Dec. 23, 1824, after he had actually sold his store, ROSWELL HUBBARD, Jr., bought this place of Saunders. Soon after, he moved to the state of New York and sold these premises, June 8, 1825, to WILLIAM BROWN of Sullivan, who sold the dwelling then standing to Ephraim Foster (see 237) and built for himself the house which the Peabodys now own at 235. He built a carpenter shop in the rear of, but adjacent to, his new house. Mr. Brown also built the Baptist church edifice. See 93. For a time he used as a carpenter shop the old store building, then standing at 95, which had been
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