Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 23

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 23

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).

Daniel, Amos, Israel, and Nathan Thomas, sons of one of the early pio- neers, all settled here themselves as pioneers. Nathan married Marion Coats, and settled as a farmer in the northern part of the town. His children were Nathan, Charles, Frederick, Gideon, Thankful, Eunice, Electa and Marion. Nathan Thomas, Jr., was born in Fort Hinsdale, and settled on the place where his son Franklin and Waldo Rouillard now reside. He married Abi- gail Butler, and had born to him ten children, only two of whom now reside in the town-Mrs. Ellen Tyler and Franklin. The latter, at the age of seventy-three years, resides on the homestead with his son-in-law, Waldo Rou- illard. Nathan, Jr., continued to reside on the place upon which he first settled, until his death, at the advanced age of ninety-five years. Charles, son of Nathan, Sr., was also born in Fort Hinsdale, in 1776. He married Sally Barrett and settled as a farmer on the Brattleboro road. His children were Perley, Arnold, William, Ann and Nathan.

Valentine Butler, one of the early settlers of the town, located as a farmer

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at North Hinsdale, where Mrs. Abby M. Chandler now lives. He married Hannah Osgood, of Newfane, Vt, and reared five children, none of whom are now living. His oldest son, Josiah, died on the homestead previous to his father's death. Lucinda, daughter of Valentine, married Azor Chandler, who purchased the homestead and remained thereon during life. Nathaniel, their only child, inherited the estate, which he retained until his death, in May, 1882. The property is now owned by his widow, Abby M., and their only child Fred B.

Lemuel Liscom, born in Rehoboth, Mass., came to Hinsdale at a very early date and September 26, 1796, married Submit Barrett, who bore him nine children. Of these, Mary married Henry Reed, and resided in Brattleboro, Vt. Lemuel married Emerancy, daughter of Hezekiah Horton, September 20, 1831, he at that time being a resident of Boston, Mass., where he was successfully engaged in the coal trade. In 1835 he purchased the farm where he and his aged wife are now residing with their son, I. F. Liscom. Their house is one of the oldest, if not the oldest in the town. It stands only about twenty rods from the stile of old Fort Hinsdale, and was built, as near as Mr. Liscom can ascertain, about 1765. It is still well preserved, and though a new wing has been added, the original clapboards, riven out of pine logs, shaved by hand, and secured by hand-made, wrought-iron nails, still cover it. Soon after his return from Boston, he was elected to the office of first select- man, and has also, for many years, served his town as justice of the peace. Gracia, daughter of Lemuel, married Willard Ames, of Brattleboro. None of her family are living. Philip married Philemon Bascom, and settled in Brattleboro, where he died. John married Eliza Amidon, of Boston, Mass., and died at Brattleboro. Levi married Mary Ackerman, of Maine. He is a manufacturer of piano fortes, and a resident of Boston. Sophronia mar- ried Enos Crosby, and for her second husband, Ezra Sawyer, and now resides in Boston, Mass. Charles married Lizzie Sartell, and emigrated to California, where he died. Samuel died in Boston, at the early age of nineteen years. Lemuel Liscom, Sr., died at the residence of his son, Lemuel, aged sixty-seven years.

Dea. Billy Burnham, born in Vernon, Vt., married Sarah Thomas, of Chesterfield, N. H., and came to Hinsdale when there were only three per- manent dwellings in the town. For several years thereafter the religious meet- ings were held in the dwellings of the settlers. Dea. Burnham was a Baptist and a devoted Christian, he and his wife being two of the eight original mem- bers of the first Baptist church. They were baptized by moonlight, when the weather was so cold that in returning to the house. eight rods distant, their clothing froze stiff. None of their five children are now living. Dea. Burn- ham is now represented in Hinsdale by his grandchildren, Mrs. Eneraney Liscom and her brother, William A. Horton, children of Mrs. Hezekiah (Burnham) Horton, and Israel Burnham, son of Emerson. The latter has a brother, Rev. Ezra Burnham, residing in Michigan. Burton Burnham, another grandson, resides in Brattleboro.

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Capt. Oliver Doolittle, grandson of Rev. Mr. Doolittle, the first settled Congregational minister in Northfield. Mass., was one of the early and promi- nent settlers of Hinsdale. He located on the Connecticut river, about three miles south from the village of Hinsdale, and became an extensive real estate owner. He married Sibyl Field, of Northfield, Mass., and had six children, viz .: Otis, Oliver, Sibyl, Susan, Seth, and Charles. Otis, a farmer, after moving twice, finally located upon the old homestead. He married Sophia Shattuck, and was blessed with a family of eighteen children, fifteen of whom attained a mature age. He also was an extensive real estate owner, and was owner, among other farms, of the noted Samuel Smith farm, in Winchester, containing 600 acres. He identified himself with the mil- itary of the town, and held the office of captain of infantry, but being identified with the party which was in the minority, he held no political positions. He died on the homestead, at the advanced age of eighty- four years. His widow survived him about eleven years, dying at the age of eighty-seven. Of their numerous family, only five are living, and but one, Jackson, in the town, who owns and occupies the southern portion of the old homestead. Oliver married Arathusia Whitney, of Warwick, Mass., and settled first in Lyndon, Vt., but subsequently returned to Hinsdale, and settled upon the farm where Dwight W. Stearns now lives. They were the parents of five children, none of whom are living in the town. Sibyl married Charles Foot, and moved out of the state. Susan married Obed Slate, a prominent citizen and farmer whose biography is given elsewhere. They reared ten children. Seth married Eunice Wright, of Winchester, settled on the Gordon place, in that town, and spent his life there, rearing eleven children. Their son Londus, an aged man, resides in Hinsdale village. Charles died in early manhood, unmarried.

Ivah Newton, born in Phillipstown, Mass., came to Hinsdale when a young man, married Sally, daughter of Daniel Rugg, one of the pioneers of the town, and settled in the northeastern part, where Hosea Butler now lives. He was the father of seven children, only three of whom are now living. Albert G., eldest son of Ivah, married first Emily Ide, who was the mother of his nine children. For his second wife he married widow Ruth Wood, of Templeton, Mass. Mr. Newton finally settled on the farm his son Rawson H. now occupies. Here he passed the latter thirty years of his life, dying in May, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. Two others of the fam- ily reside in the town, viz. : Mrs. Julia Davenport and Mrs. William Royce. Another, Mrs. Hubbard Allen, resides in Orange, Mass.

Walter C. Stearns, born in Northfield, Mass., was one of the pioneer fath- ers of Hinsdale. He married Tryphenia, daughter of Makepeace Shattuck, and was blessed with a family of thirteen children. By dint of industry and frugality, as a farmer, he succeeded in comfortably raising his large family, allowing them fair educational advantages, only one of whom survives, viz .: Maria (Mrs. Worden), who resides on Canal street, in Hinsdale. Of his five

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sons, only two settled in town. John Stearns, who died at his home in Hins- dale, December 2, 1884, at the ripe age of eighty-three years, had been a res- ident of the town nearly all his life, during which time he was one of its most prominent and influential citizens, taking an active interest in all public af- fairs. Although owning and managing one of the large and fertile farms which skirt the Connecticut, he found time to deal largely in horses and cat- tle, and was widely known through Northern New England as a man of excel- lent judgment in all these matters, and also as being upright and honest in all business transactions. He was also interested in real estate. For a time he was owner, with John Kay, of the old American House, at Brattleboro, and the Ashuelot House, at Hinsdale, was more than once his property. In pri- vate life. Mr. Stearns was a most genial companion, given to hospitality and fond of a good joke and an amusing story. On his part he possessed a fund of quiet. satirical humor, which cropped out spontaneously in his every-day life. He began life without means and with a limited education, but succeeded in accumulating a handsome property. The death of his wife, a few years since, a most faithful helpmate, was a great blow to him, and after which the infirm- ities of age crept rapidly over him, and for the last year or two of his life he rarely left his home. Of the contemporaries of Mr. Stearns in Hinsdale, such as ex-Governor Haile, Doctor Boydon, Esquire Todd, Jonathan Brown, Oli- ver Adams, and others, all have passed away save the venerable Henry Hooker, Lewis Taylor and Lemuel Liscom, who reside upon farms overlook- ing the Connecticut. Elliot Stearns, who married Betsey Darling, in April, 1836, was a successful farmer and accumulated a handsome property. His only child, a daughter, resides with her widowed mother in Hinsdale. Elliot died November 14, 1881. Although he took an active interest in the public affairs of his town, he never sought office.

Rowland Stebbins, born in 1594, came from Ipswich, Eng., on the Francis in 1634, landed at Roxbury, but probably went to the Connecticut River the following year with William Pynchon, the founder of the city of Springfield. Thence he moved to Northampton, about 1656, where he died, December 14, 1671. His wife died at Springfield, October 4, 1649, aged fifty-eight years. Elihu Stebbins, whose ancestors resided in Northfield, was a lineal descend- ant of Rowland. He was born in 1762, settled in Hinsdale, and married, March 24, 1786, Lucretia, daughter of Eldad Wright, who was taken from him by death, December 7, 1843, at the age of eighty years. Elihu died April, 23, 1846, aged eighty-four years. Elihu, Jr., born here in 1794, married Sarah G., daughter of Seth Hooker and granddaughter of Rev. Bunker Gay. She organized the first Sunday-school in town, and the venerable Lewis Tay- lor was appointed its first superintendent. Mr. Stebbins located as a farmer on the homestead of his father, where he remained until his death, at the ripe age of seventy-seven years. He ever took an active interest in town affairs, and repeatedly represented his townsmen in the state legislature and held the office of selectman. His children were John Mills Stebbins, born Decem-

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ber 27, 1825, who graduated at Dartmouth college in 1848, and is now a. lawyer of Springfield, Mass., of which city he was mayor in 1874; Sarah H., born July 31, 1831, died October 31, 1866 ; and Edward, born March 10, 1834, owner of the old homestead. He resides in Hinsdale village, being, one of its leading merchants and is also an extensive real estate owner.

Capt. Thomas Taylor, a son of Thomas and grandson of John, was a col- onial captain and one of the grantees of Northfield. He was born in 1717 and learned the trade of a shoemaker. As a sergeant he was in command of seventeen men who were attacked in this town by twenty-six French and eighty Indians, July 14, 1748, while on a march from Northfield to Fort Dummer. After a desperate resistance Mr. Taylor was captured and carried to Canada, where he was kept in close confinement till September 2d, when he was released, arriving at his home on September 27th, and at once returned to his duties. In November, 1748, the general court of Massachusetts, in consideration of his bravery in this action, " voted Sergeant Taylor £50."" It is related by Dea. Shattuck, of Hinsdale, that after the action Taylor was seated upon a log between two Indains. One of them, an acquaintance, said to him : "Tom, I am going to kill you, because you killed my brother." " But," replied the Sergeant, "he shot first." The Indian, dropping his head, remained silent a moment, and then replied, "So he did." The captive's life was spared. Captain Taylor settled on land in Hinsdale, where he died, March 24, 1778. He kept a tavern on the Charlestown road, which his. widow continued and made quite popular for many years after his death. His son Hollis, born in 1758, settled in Hinsdale and married Christian, daughter of Paul Field. He died September 3, 1845, and she died June 1, 1833. They were the parents of thirteen children. Lewis, son of Hollis, was born here in 1793, and is still a resident of the town. In 1874 he erected a monument near the spot where his grandfather was captured, in 1748, and he is located on his grandfather's old farm. He was elected to- the state legislature in 1855, and in 1854 and 1856 was town treasurer and selectman. He married Lois Webster, of Northfield, November 8, 1820, who died May 1, 1864. Mr. Taylor is the father of children as follows : Prentice W., born April 25, 1822, married Eveline M. Wellman, of Hinsdale, December 1, 1846, is a farmer residing upon and owning the old homestead, and has been selectman two years ; Caroline S., born August 4, 1823, graduated at Mrs. Willard's seminary, Troy, N. Y., went South to teach, and died in Oak- land, N. C., July 3, 1847 ; Hollis, born March 4, 1826, married Mary A .. Johnson, of Northfield, Mass., May 17, 1849, was a land surveyor, selectman several years, member of the state legislature two terms, and died August 25, 1865 ; William M., born December 1, 1827, married Eleanor J. Guion, of Jackson, Miss., December 11, 1856, graduated at Dartmouth, a lawyer, and died at Galveston, Tex., March 26, 1860; Susan H., born November 26, 1829, married, July 17, 1854, Frederick T. Kemper, of Muscatine. Iowa, who- was proprietor of the celebrated school for boys in Boonville, Mo., and who died.

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in March, 1881, now resides in that place ; Emily M., born July 30, 1831, married Rev. Moses H. Wells, of Hinsdale, May 1, 1857, and now resides in Dummerston, Vt .; Edwin H., born October 25, 1833, graduated at Dart- mouth, went to Mississippi as a teacher, and just before the Rebellion went to Boonville, Mo., where he married Bessie McCarty, April 53, 1863,-was captured by the rebels, robbed of his watch, coat and boots, and left fifteen miles from home to make his way back as best he could, -- and his present wife, Emogene Eveleth, he married August 8, 1881, and is now a merchant in Peterboro, N. H. ; Julia E., born September 20, 1836, educated at Meri- den, N. H., went to Hansboro, Miss., as a teacher, was there about a year after the breaking out of the Rebellion and was obliged to escape in a row- boat at night-died at Hinsdale, September 25, 1863 ; and Henry M., born April 21, 1838, married Nancy McCarty, of Boonville, Mo., and is a farmer residing in Parsons, Kan.

Peter Worden was among the early pilgrims of our country. He was from Clayton, Lancashire, Eng., and lived for a short time in Lynn, Mass., it is certain, though the year of his arrival in America is not known for certain. Eighteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, however, or on the 19th of February, 1638, he made his last will and testament, which an- cient document is now in the possession of his descendants, in Hinsdale. The fact that he died soon after is established, as the will was proved on the 9th of March of the same year. Kimbal C. Worden, a descendant of Peter, was born in Chesterfield, January 6, 1807, and died at Hinsdale in June, 1883. He married, first, Belinda T. Thomas, March 6, 1834, who was born January 22, 1815, bore him four children and died May 17, 1864 ;. second, Mrs. David Blanchard, November 5, 1874, who survives him. Of their four children, Lucian K., born July 4, 1835, married Lizzie A. Bilby, of Clare- mont, N. H., January 26, 1861, and has two children. Elisha A., born Feb- ruary 27, 1840, married Mary C. Stevenson, of Winchester, N. H., Septem- ber 28, 1864, who bore him one son, Charley C., who died in infancy. She died, and for his second wife he married Helen A. Hunt, of Winchester, February 6, 1884. Diantha B., born February 16, 1842, married Virgil F. Converse, of Springfield, Mass., January 11, 1866, and has four children. Nathan M., born December 4, 1844, married Helen M. Pratt, in Winchester, March 7, 1866, and has one child.

Capt. Henry Ide, born at Attleboro, Mass., in 1785, came to Hinsdale with his parents when three years of age, and was subsequently adopted by Ivory Soule, with whom he lived until Mr. Soule's death, caring for him in his old age and inheriting his property. He was early identified with the military af- fairs of his town and held the office of captain of cavalry for many years. He married Betsey Rugg and had born to him three children, of whom Ivory S., the eldest, is the only one now living. He resides on the old homestead, a fine farm on the banks of the Connecticut. Ivory S. married Sarah W., daughter of Simeon Horton, and has two children, Mary E. (Mrs. P. C.

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Tyler), residing in Athol, Mass., and Sarah P. (Mrs. Henry Latham), residing in Pleasant street, in Hinsdale village. Captain Ide died at the advanced age of eighty-five years, surviving his wife three years, who died at the age of seventy-seven years.

Rev. John Hooker, born March 28, 1729, ordained pastor of the Congre- gational church of Northfield, Mass., was the father of Seth Hooker, who was born October 22, 1759. The latter married Abigail Gay, daughter of Rev. Bunker Gay, May 5, 1789, and settled on the farm of his wife's father, in Hinsdale, where he continued to reside until his death, May 31, 1844, aged eighty-four years. His children were Sally Gay, born December 25, 1789 and died January 12, 1797. Henry, born July 5, 1791, in Charlestown, N. H., married Mary Dagget, of Westmoreland, October 23, 1816. In early life he learned the trade of carriage making, and later settled on the homestead and pursued both farming and carriage making, but still later in life he discon- tinued his trade and gave his whole attention to his farm. He is now living in the house where he was born, at the great age of ninety-three years, though in feeble health. Mrs. Hooker died August 18, 1864. Abigail Prentice Hooker, born August 28, 1792, married, first, Willard Blanchard, November 21, 18II, and second, Caleb Todd, July 10, 1828. George, born December 15, 1794, married Minerva Taylor, January 10, 1819, and died in 1858, Sally Gay Hooker, born June 22, 1797, married Elihu Stebbins, November II, 1824, and died in 1878. Delia, born October 3, 1799, married William H. Taylor, December 6, 1821, now a widow residing with her daughter in Burlington, Vt. Bunker Gay, born May 17, 1801, died October 8, 1802. Henry Hooker's children were as follows : Aurelia Prentice, born August 26, 1817, died in infancy ; Julia Worthington, born November 15, 1818, married Henry M. Jones, December 7, 1842, and resides in Hinsdale; George Pren- tice, born May 31, 1820, married Lucretia Ashcroft, October 25, 1843, is a farmer, residing on the Brattleboro road, in this town; Charles Gay, born November 12, 1822, married Maria S. Osgood, of Northfield, August 15, 1859, and resides in San Francisco, Cal .; Anson Cary, born September 2, 1825, died July 4: 1832 ; Henry Clay, born January 10, 1828, married Elizabeth Rockwell, in 1856, resides in Arizona, a large cattle dealer ; Almira Ann, born May 28, 1830, married Isaiah Nutting, November 11, 1851, is a widow residing on the homestead ; Minnie S., born September 11, 1832, married, first, Robert Brown, of Sacramento, Cal., and second, Edwin Robertson, of Brooklyn, N. Y., where she now lives; Anson C., born May 1, 1835, owns and resides on the old homestead. John D., born May 10, 1838, married Kate Putnam, of San Francisco, Cal., where he now resides ; and Mary R., born January 12, 1841, married Nicholas F. Smith, of San Francisco, Cal., in 1882, where she now resides.

Obed Slate, born in Bernardston, Mass., married Susan Doolittle, of Hins- dale, and came to this town about 1800, engaging as a carpenter and joiner. His first work was building the house of his wife's father, Oliver Doolittle.

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Soon after he married, he purchased a farm on the Hill road, leading from Hinsdale to Northfield, where he remained till his death, about 1863. He was a man of influence, and early took an active interest in town affairs, hold- ing all military positions from drummer to Colonel, also the office of first selectman for fifteen years, justice of the peace as many more, and represent- ative eleven successive terms. Ten of his eleven children attained an adult age, though none now reside in Hinsdale. His son George is a prominent citizen of Bellows Falls, Vt.

Isaac Estey came to Hinsdale, from Royalton, Mass., in 1806, settled on Canal street, and engaged extensively in road building. He was the father of seven children, as follows : Joseph, the eldest, a farmer, and jobber in stone work, died in 1806, where his son George F., now lives ; Sarah married a Mr. Parker, and died in Rutland, Mass .; Mary married Philip Fisher, and lives in Brattleboro, Vt., a widow ; Israel Bartlet resides in Brattleboro, Vt .; Jacob is the well-known organ manufacturer of Brattleboro, Vt .; James F., also re- sides in Brattleboro, and is superintendent and vice-president of the Valley Mill Company ; and Nelson, a farmer, resides in the northern part of this town.

Samuel Rose, born at Groton, Conn., in 1786, married Mary Brooks, a native of Norwich, Conn., and came to Hinsdale in 1810. He located on "Meeting-house hill," now Brattleboro street, and built the house now oc- cupied by Londus Doolittle. Here he lived a few years, working at his trade of carpenter and builder, then built a two-story house on the site now occu- pied by the fine Union school building, and entered into a co-partnership with Samuel Spencer, in operating a grist and saw-mill, and carried on an exten- sive business for that time. in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He early took an active interest in the public affairs of the town, and was associated with Obed Slate and Emerson Burnham, on the board of selectmen, for a period of about fifteen years, and was also a captain of a cavalry company. In 1834 he removed to Hudson, N. Y., where he engaged in the grocery business, and in farming. He died while on a visit to his son, Samuel B., at Clinton, Mich., in 1865, aged seventy-nine years, and was buried in Hudson.

Rev. Elisha Andrews was born in Middletown, Conn., September 29, 1768, and married Wealthy, daughter of Thomas Lathrop, of Norwich, Conn. Mr. Andrews had no early education, except that afforded by the common schools, but became a fine scholar through his own exertions and without the aid of teachers, and was often sought by collegians for aid in the Greek and He- brew languages. He was also a practical land surveyor. In 1814 he came to Hinsdale, and preached in the "meeting-house" built by the town, and which was afterwards converted into a woolen mill, and finally destroyed by fire. It was originally located upon the hill on Brattleboro street, and was removed to the site of the mills now occupied by Haile, Frost & Co. In 1815 he moved his family to Hinsdale, and located opposite the church, where he re- mained until his death, February 3, 1840. He was a pronounced Baptist, but

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preached to a congregation composed of all the different denominations in the town. He was the father of eight children, only two of whom are living, viz .: Ann L. (Mrs. H. B. Streeter), residing on Brattleboro street, upon the estate of her father, and Stephen Pearl, a distinguished scholar and linguist, author and lawyer, residing in New York city.

Oliver Adams, born in Marlboro, Vt., April 3, 1769, married Lucy Miller, and came to Hinsdale, April 6, 1815, and located upon a farm on the Brattle- boro road, where his grandson, William B., now lives. Here he remained the rest of his life, dying January 30, 1828, aged fifty-nine years. His wife survived him till November 17, 1834, aged sixty-nine years. They were the parents of eight children, one of whom, Oliver, retained the homestead by paying off the other heirs. He married first, Electa Elmore, who died Aug- ust 19, 1824, aged twenty-five years ; and second, Fanny, daughter of Walter C. Stearns, who was the mother of nine children. The only one of these children now living in Hinsdale is William B., residing on the homestead. He married Polly A. Winchester, of Marlboro, Vt., February 3, 1869, and has four children, viz .: Oliver W., William C., Carrie E., and Benjamin F.

Simeon Horton, born at Milton, Mass., in 1784, came to Hinsdale about 1816, and finally located a home on road 15, where his son's widow, Mrs. Mary A., now resides. Here he remained till his death in 1860, aged seventy- six years. He was a prominent man in town affairs, held the offices of select- man and justice of the peace several terms, and was the father and leader of the temperance cause here. Of his three sons and three daughters, one son died in infancy, and the others all settled in the town, though only one is now living, Mrs. Ivory S. Ide, residing on a place upon the banks of the Con- necticut. Elbridge G. Horton, the youngest son, came with his father on to the old homestead, when about thirteen years of age, and resided thereon until his death, April 27, 1884, aged seventy-two years. He married Mary A. Darling, who survives him. Her only daughter, Ida A., resides with her. Their only other child, a son, died in infancy.

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 23

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034