USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Orford > Centennial celebration of the town of Orford, N.H. : containing the oration, poems and speeches delivered on Thursday, September 7, 1865 : with some additional matters relating to the history of the place > Part 8
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Amasa died a young lad. Daniel emigrated to Ohio when a young man, and subsequently settled in the town of Parkman, and married widow Glass, and died in 1855. James, also, went to Ohio, and died there while yet a young man.
Willard married Clarissa Hatch, who died in 1838. He now resides in Newport, N. H., and is the only one of the family now living. Hannah married Sylvester Blood of Orford. Ebenezer married Laura, Drake, and died at Lis- bon, N. H., December, 1832. Willard ino
Sarah went to Ohio with her brother, Daniel, in 1836, and married there ; but died a few years after.
Of the grandsons of Elihu, there are now living Daniel G. Corliss, Cincinnati, Ohio, John S. Corliss, Orford, N. H., sons of Alexander. Levi D. Corliss, Orford, N. H., John M. Corliss, Troy, N. Y., sons of John M. Elihu M., Arizona Territory, John M., Fairlee, Vermont, sons of Elihu, Jr. Elihu G., Troy, Ohio, son of Daniel ; George H., Newport, N. H., son of Willard ; James, Thetford, Vermont, son of Ebenezer. Of the great-grandsons, two only, have arrived at manhood-Wilbur F., Cincinnati, CVCv Ohio, Charles H., New York, sons of John M., of Troy.
Rosanna Corliss, sister to Levi D. and John M., married Daniel C. Houghton, and died some years ago. Rosamond, another sister, married the late Rev. O. H. Tillotson,
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and now lives at Northfield, Vermont, with her only son.
Levi D. is a farmer, residing at Orford-a man of strict integrity and great energy of character. low deceas
John M. is a successful merchant in Troy, N. Y., where he is much respected.
The Corliss family has long been an influential one in the town of Orford.
Levis is now dead Goorlie has throat childres draw
CROSS.
Bethuel Cross, a nephew of Daniel Cross, was born in Mansfield, Conn., February 15, 1768. At the age of three years, his parents moved from that place to Wentworth, near the border of Orford. His mother died soon after their arrival, leaving several small children. His father, feeling disheartened, was induced through the entreaties of Capt. Post and wife, of Orford, to give Bethuel to them, as their child-they having no children. At the age of four years, accompanied by a little sister a few years older, he started on his journey to his new home, on foot, there being no road-no guide, but marked trees. He has often been heard to relate, in his cheerful, affable manner, the adventures of his journey through a wilderness of twelve miles, and exclaim with a merry laugh-"boys at the pres- ent day would shrink with horror at so perilous an under- taking." He had resided in his new home but a few years, when his adopted father was called forth to fight for the liberties of his country. He was killed in the battle of Bennington, Vermont.
At the age of ten, his adopted mother was married to Governor Spooner, of Hartland, Vermont, `where they went to reside. This connection proved a very great bene- fit to him, as his new guardian took a great interest in his
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education. He taught him many things which he could not obtain in a common school. At the age of 18, in com- pliance with the wishes of his adopted mother, he came back to Orford, to superintend her farm and business here. Naturally possessed of great energy and perseverence of character, he was capable of doing a vast amount of busi- ness. It has often been said that no man in town, from the ordinary pursuits of life, accomplished more than he did. At the age of 19, he was chosen constable ; later in life he held the office a number of years, of deputy sheriff for the county of Grafton. During the war of 1812, he was chosen custom-house officer and assessor of taxes for the county of Grafton ; also, many town offices. He was an upright man, and interested in whatever pertained to the best good and prosperity of the town.
June 25, 1795, he was married to Electa Taylor, of Hartland, Vermont. She died within two years after their marriage. His second marriage was to Hannah Alexan- der, of Northfield, Massachusetts. By her he had seven children, viz. : Electa Taylor, born February 22, 1796 ; Nancy Ann, October 16, 1798 ; Bethuel Taylor, November 14, 1800 ; Hannah, August 12, 1802 ; Eliphas Alexander, June 4, 1804 ; Henry Holiday, May 30, 1806 ; Fanny, May 31, 1808.
DAYTON.
James Dayton was born at Glastenburg, Conn., in 1768. Served an apprenticeship at the clock manufacturing busi- ness at Hartford, Conn., and came to Orford in 1792, and commenced the business of carding and cloth dressing, much to the convenience of the inhabitants. The town can boast of but few superior men. With a commanding
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voice and person, he was a leader in public assemblies ; was often called to preside at meetings of the town, His honor and integrity were unquestioned. He died August 2, 1854. He married Lucinda. Morey. They had nine children ; six now survive. James resides at the old home- stead ; Caroline married Hiram Powers, and resides at Or- ford, as does Henry, who married Julia Whitcomb. Maria married Ida Hodge, and lives at Bath ; Eliza resides at Or- ford. Daniel is a physician, and lives at South Bend, Indiana.
DEWEY.
Nathan Dewey and his wife, Mendwell, moved from He- bron, Conn., to Orford, about the year 1765. He was a blacksmith, and lived and carried on his trade opposite where is now the hotel in Orford street. He died in 1779. His sons Nathan and Abel, both lived and died in Orford. The former sustained the office of deacon in the church for many years with fidelity and usefulness ; the latter was a hard-working farmer, and always resided in Orford.
Nathan, senior, was the grandfather of T. M. Dewey, for- merly a resident of Orford, and now a member of the Mas- sachusetts bar, who has earned a good reputation through- out the New England states as a teacher of music at the present day, and who takes a high rank as a conductor of musical societies, as well as faithful interpreter of the En- glish ballad.
DANA.
Sylvester Dana was born at Ashford, Windham county, Conn., on the 4th of July, 1769. He was the great-great-
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grandson of Richard Dana, a French Protestant, who fled from persecution in France ; went first to England, and from thence came to America about the year 1640; and settled in that part of Cambridge now included in the town of Brighton, Massachusetts. Richard Dana had a son and a grandson, both named Jacob Dana. Jacob, Jr., had a son named Anderson, who was a lawyer by profession, and who married Susannah Huntington, of Lebanon, Connecti- cut. They were the parents of cight children, of whom Sylvester was the seventh. In the autumn of 1772, the Dana family removed from Ashford to the Wyoming Val- ley, on the Susquehanna river, which is now included in the state of Pennsylvania. Though but three years of age, Sylvester ever distinctly remembered riding on horseback behind his mother, who carried an infant in her arms while making that journey of nearly 300 miles-the last fifty of which was through a wilderness, with only marked trees for a guide. The family settled in Wilkesbarre, the principal town in that beautiful valley, and for six years were highly prospered. The Wyoming Valley was then claimed by Connecticut under an old charter of King Charles Second, and was chiefly settled by people from Connecticut, who lived many years far removed from other settlements of white men. Representation was allowed in the General Assembly of Connecticut, and in 1778, Anderson Dana was elected to represent the town of Westmoreland in that body. After an absence of eight weeks, he returned to his home, to become an actor and a victim in the tragic scene which desolated that valley. In the summer of that year, a band of British and tories, led on by Col. John Butler, and accompanied by 700 Indian auxiliaries, attacked and utterly destroyed the settlements of that valley. Most of the men were slain ; all their property was either destroyed or carried away, and the women and children, who escaped massacre, fled through the wilderness to the nearest white
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settlements. Among the slain were Anderson Dana and his son-in-law, Stephen Whiton. Mrs. Dana, after filling a pillow-case with her husband's more valuable papers, com- menced her flight on foot through the wilderness, accom- panied by seven of her children, including Sylvester, who .was then nine years old. They at length reached Ashford, after enduring great hardships, and the children were placed in various families where they could be of service. Sylvester labored on the farms of several persons, until he attained the age of about 17, when, with his older brother, Aziel, he returned to Wilkesbarre, and commenced culti- vating their father's lands. Their scanty stock of provis- ions was soon exhausted, and as no supply could be obtained in that desolated valley, the family were compelled to sub- sist for six weeks on parsley and milk exclusively, until the growing corn was fit to roast. During the latter part of the same year, (1786) their mother, and the next spring, their brother, Anderson, joined them. The three brothers purchased considerable real estate for small amounts, and were well rewarded for their industry during the ensuing five years. Then, as Sylvester afterwards said, "the thought struck me one day if I could dispose of what property I have gained, it might be sufficient to carry me through college and preparatory studies for preaching the gospel to my fellow creatures." He accordingly disposed of his interest in his property to his brothers, returned to Connecticut, where he completed his preparatory studies, and entered Yale College in 1793, at the age of 24. He was, during the succeeding spring, visited with severe sick- ness, and brought very near the grave, but he recovered so as to go on with his class. During his sophomore year, he was admitted to the college church. In 1797, he gradu- ated with his class, which was one of eminent talent-con- taining among its members Rev. Lyman Beecher, Prof. James Murdock, Judge Henry Baldwin, of the United
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States Supreme Court, Hon. Horatio Seymour, of Ver- mont, and others.
After graduating, Mr. Dana immediately commenced his theological studies with the Rev. Charles Backus, of Som- ers, Conn., and on the 5th of June, 1798, he was licensed to preach. During that summer, he preached in various places in Connecticut, and at Wilkesbarre and Hanover Penn., during the following year. In the winter of 1799 and 1800, he was employed by the Connecticut Missionary Society, to preach among the new settlements of western New York, and fulfilled his mission acceptably. In the spring of 1800, he preached at Windsor, Vermont, three months, and subsequently at Haverhill and Orford, New Hampshire, from each of which places he received a unani- mous call of the people to settle.
On the 20th day of May, 1801, he was ordained minister of Orford, in presence of nearly the whole population of the town ; and for about 21 years he sustained that rela- tion, usually preaching at the East and West meeting- houses alternately. At the expiration of that period, a new Congregational Society was organized, comprising people in the western part of Orford, and in the adjacent town of Fairlee, Vt., and over it, and the church connected with it, Mr. Dana was settled February 19th, 1823, and continued until 1833, when he resigned his pastoral charge. During the four subsequent years, he preached at Thorn- ton, N. H., and witnessed considerable accessions to the church. In August, 1837, being 68 years of age and somewhat infirm, he retired from active labors in the min- istry, and removed to Concord, N. H. There, he quietly passed the evening of life, respected and beloved by all who knew him. In the autumn of 1839, he visited the Wyoming Valley, where he passed the ensuing winter in preaching occasionally.
In September, 1844, the house in which he resided at
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Concord, was destroyed by fire, and a large portion of his worldly effects, including more than 500 volumes of his li- brary, were consumed, together with all his manuscript sermons, a carefully written system of theology, and a his- tory of the Wyoming Valley. He narrowly escaped the flames with life.
In the autumn of 1846, he again visited his brother An- derson, on the old farm at Wilkesbarre, and extended his journey to Virginia ; and in the following year, he attended the Commencement at Yale College-it being the fiftiethi anniversary of his graduation, and there met 12 of the 24 survivors out of a class numbering 37. "The meeting was intensely interesting."
In his domestic relations, Mr. Dana was happy. He married, March 2d, 1802, Miss Hannah Kimball, of Con- cord, daughter of Deacon John Kimball. Mrs. D. sud- denly deceased November 16th, 1846, during the absence of her husband on his last visit to Wyoming. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom died in infancy. Their daughter Anna, married Dr. Reuel Barrows, of Frye- burg, Maine. She survives her husband, who died July 18th, 1857. Their son, Charles Backus, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and of the Andover Theological Semi- nary, was for a long time, Rector of Christ's church, at Alexandria, Virginia-the church with which Washington himself was connected, and is now having a similiar charge at Port Gibson, Mississippi. Their youngest son, Sylves- ter, also a graduate of Dartmouth College, entered the profession of law at Concord, and is now Police Justice of that city. Hannah, the youngest daughter, married Rev. . S. S. Tappan, then of Conway, N. H. She died April 19th, 1855, at Providence, R. I.
The mother of Mr. Dana passed the last seven years of her exemplary and useful life at his house. She died, and was buried at Orford in February, 1818, at the ripe age of 87.
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Late in 1847, Mr. Dana wrote to one of his classmates as follows : " Fifty-three years have passed away since I made a public profession of religion, during which period I have generally enjoyed a comfortable state of mind; not having been carried with St. Paul to the third Heaven, nor with Cowper, deeply depressed ; but have been enabled to go on my way rejoicing in God, my Savior. At times I am almost ready to adopt the language of Rev. John New- ton, who said he was like a letter-written, folded, super- scribed, sealed-waiting for the carrier. Surely, I shall not have occasion to wait long for the carrier." The car- rier did not long delay, for during the following year lis health became much impaired, and he very gradually ap- proached his expected death, with much bodily suffering, incident to a general decay of his physical system, while at the same time, his mind retained its accustomed vigor. In May, 1849, he received an invitation to attend the or- dination there of Rev. William Clark. With great pain, he arose from his bed, and wrote his last letter in reply, in which he used the following language : " Were it pos- sible for me to be present at the contemplated ordination at this noon of the 19th century, how few, alas! should I be able to find who were present on a like occasion at its dawn. Where are now the people of Orford of mature years who attended at the East Meeting House 48 years ago this present month to witness my own ordination ? Where are those who were accustomed to assemble from Sabbath to Sabbath for religious worship ? Where are those who there were wont to gather around the commun- ion table of our blessed Savior, to celebrate his dying love ? Departed ! nearly all departed to the world of Spirits. The tide of time will soon waft each of you to another world. Whatever, then, you would do for God and your fellow mortals, do quickly, for the grave, the house ap- pointed for all the living, will soon be yours."
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Mr. Dana calmly expired on the 9th day of June, 1849, lacking but a few days of 80 years of age. His funeral was largely attended by the clergy and people of all de- nominations, and the Rev. Dr. Bouton preached an appro- priate funeral discourse. His remains lie in the old ceme- tery at Concord, while his spirit can undoubtedly testify to the truth of liis last words-" There is rest in Heaven."
DAVIS.
Under this name, we present portions of two letters ad- dressed to the Chairman of the Committee, as follows :
WENTWORTH, Nov. 30, 1865.
Mr. Howard,
DEAR SIR : My father removed from Rumney to Orford in 1788. His nearest neighbor in Orford was Mr. Wyer, who lived three miles distant. The nearest on the other side, and equally distant, was Gen. Betters, of Wentworth.
My fatlier harnessed the cow into the sled one winter, and took my mother and went a visiting to Mr. Wyer's, and spent the evening. He used to go across to Maj. Todd's, earn a bushel of corn and bring it home on his back the same day. My mother earned a dollar a day, weaving, besides taking care of four children. My father died in 1826, aged 78 years. My mother went to Michi- gan in 1835. She died in less than one year after. They had a family of eight children. They are all dead but my- self and two sisters, Mary and Ruth, who live in Michigan. I lived in Orford 71 years. I have had three wives. They are all dead. I have had nine children, and they are all living but two. I am 79 years old last July.
Yours, &c.,
JOHN DAVIS.
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CAMBRIDGEPORT, Mass., Nov. 29, 1865. H. H. Howard, Esq.,
DEAR SIR : My father, Samuel Davis, was born in Salis- bury, N. H., August 8th, 1772. He went to Orford in 1795, and died there, March 6th, 1849. My mother, Polly Grimes, was born in Maine, August, 1779. She went to Orford in 1795, and there died in April, 1831. My parents both lived with Capt. Jared Mann from the time they went to Orford, till they were married in 1798. I think that they were married at his house, by John Mann, Esq., but am not certain. They lived in Orford from the time of their removal there till they died.
Truly yours,
JAMES C. DAVIS.
Jared M. Davis enlisted in Co. E, 5th New Hampshire Volunteers; served as Sergeant two years in that regi- ment ; lost his left arm in the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863. In January, 1864, he was appointed 2d Lieutenant, and was in . the service three years and three months.
KIMBALL.
Eliphalet Kimball was born at Bradford Massachusetts, in 1769, and came to Orford in 1790. Commenced the practice of medicine, and was for many years, the princi- pal physician. At that early day the roads were poor, the population sparse. A physician's task was no holiday recreation. It required a person of energy and persever- ance. Such was the subject of this sketch. Kind hearted and generous, the poor as well as the rich shared alike his professional services. He was for many years, Town Clerk, and died in 1843, leaving a blessed memory.
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He married Elizabeth C. Porter, of Plymouth, N. H. She died in 1839. They had nine children : John Porter, Eliza Livermore, Eliphalet, Hazen Spofford, Sarah Martin, Mary Woodman, Margaret Dennie, Jane Porter, Laura Wheelock.
John P. was a physician, and died at New Orleans, La., December 2, 1843. Eliza married Dr. Alfred Pixby ; he is dead. She resides at Enosburg Falls, Vt. Eliphalet is a physician, and living. Hazen S. is superintendent of extensive silver mines at Zaceticas, Mexico.
Sarah M. married W. B. Westbrook, Esq. She is a widow, and resides at Accord, N. Y. Margaret died at Galveston, Texas, January 2, 1840. Jane P. married S. W. Hale, and is now a resident of Orford. Charles P. married Helen Page, of Sharon, Vt., and resides at North- field. Laura married Harry Allen, and died in New York, May 12, 1847.
MARSTON.
Jeremiah Marston was born at Hampton, N. H., Febru- ary 22, 1745. Came to Orford in 1769, in company with Gen. Israel Morey, and the same year assisted to survey the town into lots. His wife was Hannah Towle. They had three children-Sarah, Jeremiah and Hannah. Jere- miah is the only one living. He was born October 27, 1780, and still lives on the place of his birth, respected and beloved in his old age, by all the inhabitants of the town. Capt. Marston has ever been regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of Orford. He has occupied responsible positions, always with honor to himself and satisfaction to his fellow townsmen. He was Selectman during eleven successive years. He remains, one of the
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fathers not yet passed away-a worthy representative of a generation that acted their part well in life, and have transmitted a goodly heritage to their children. Blessings upon the heads of the venerable fathers who still remain.
He was twice married ; first to Betsey Gilman, Decem- ber 7, 1806. She died December 20, 1807. Second to Theda, daughter of Ichabod Sawyer. They had five children, viz .: Gilman, Charles, Arthur, Jeremiah and Harriet. Gilman is a conspicuous member of the New Hampshire Bar, Representative in Congress, and was a General in the late war. Charles is a farmer, and resides at Craftsbury, Vt. Jeremiah is a lawyer, residing at Han- nibal, Missouri. Arthur is a farmer at the old homestead in Orford. He is a worthy citizen, and a Representative of the town in the State Legislature. Harriet married George P. Marston, and resides at Fort Atkinson, Wis- consin.
The following sketch of another branch of the Marston family, was furnished by Stephen Marston, Esq., of Hart- ford, Coun. Stephen Marston is one of the noble spirits that have gone out from Orford, and is highly respected in the city of his adoption. He is an extensive lumber mer- chant, and very successful in business.
My father, Thomas Marston, was born in Hampton, N. H. His ancestors were among the first settlers of that old town, and were from the same family of Capt. Jere- miah Marston of your town, also those in Fairlee, bearing the same name. They were good citizens, industrious and honest, and of an obliging disposition, more often sinned against than sinning against others, and it was hard to say no to any calls for charity made to them. My father, when a young man, purchased a lot of land near Mount Cube, for a farm. On the opposite side of the road where
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the house he built now stands, a man by the name of Por- ter lived in a log hut. One night, Porter was awakened by a great outcry from his pig-pen, and on looking out, he saw a huge bear deliberately walking off with one of his hogs between his fore paws. He immediately sprang out of bed, and without stopping to dress, seized his ax, and gave chase to bruin, who was glad to drop his prize and make his escape. The hog was so much injured it was found necessary to kill it. Father had a field of wheat greatly injured by some animal, and set a gun loaded, in his path, and soon had the satisfaction of killing the des- troyer of his crops, which proved to be a large bear.
Such were some of the incidents common with the early settlers of our town. My father died in May, 1841, aged 68 years. My mother's maiden name was Hannah Mer- rell. Her father, John Merrell, held a Sergeant's com- mission under Capt. Post, of your town, who was killed at the battle of Bennington. The last time we saw him, nearly forty years since, he said in relation to that battle, that Col. Baum, the Hessian commander, had two artil- lery pieces, and our forces had none ; but Col. Stark had four men stationed behind some trees, as sharp-shooters, and when one of their artillery men swung his match to discharge his piece, he was shot dead, and when several had been shot that way, they abandoned their pieces, and they were afterwards faken loaded. Col. Baum, when he found the fortunes of the day were likely to go against him, resolved to make one more effort to win the day, and for that purpose put himself at the head of his men, and ordered them to draw their sabres, and advance on our forces. He immediately received a mortal wound, and fell. My grandfather and another man stepped forward to take him prisoner ; but he was for asserting his dignity, and says, "I am a nobleman born." Grandfather replies, " Had you remained in your own country, you could be a
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nobleman still ; but you are my. prisoner now." We think he said it was in that charge that Capt. Post received his mortal wound. This battle, not great in numbers en- gaged, was great in results, as it was the first check Bur- guoyne received, and contributed much towards his final surrender. One word in relation to the battle of Benning- ton. Probably no one event, save the surrender of Corn- wallis, contributed more to our national independence than that, for had Burguoyne seized the provisions stored there, he would have been able to hold out until he could have formed a junction with the forces under Sir Henry Clinton, and then the plans of the British Ministry would have been consummated, to divide the Eastern from the South- ern and Middle states. Our recognition by the French Government followed the surrender of Burguoyne.
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