USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 64
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The stock of these early settlers consisted of a few horses, neat cattle, swine and poultry, which they secured as early as they could be driven through the wilderness after they had built their houses. The time of these first settlers from the date of the completion of their dwellings, was almost completely occupied in clearing new fields for planting, caring for such crops as they had been able already to plant, and in protecting their stock from wandering away into the wilderness and from the attacks of wild beasts. They continued thus till 1744, when war was declared between England and France. Then these settlers, who were left in a large degree unprotected, as the newly established province line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts had severed them from Massachusetts' protection, and New Hampshire had not found it expedient or convenient to assume their protection. And as they were entirely dependent upon themselves, every occupied house was turned into a garrison, their harvests were destroyed and their horses and cattle killed. No man walked abroad unarmed, and it soon became unsafe to step outside a stockade to milk a cow or feed an animal, and no field labor could be performed. Then they abandoned their estates and buildings to their fate, and as the leaves were falling in the autumn of 1745, they returned to Lunenburg, to remain till more peaceful days should dawn upon them. They remained till the spring of 1753, when they returned, rebuilt their desolated homes, and began re-cultivating their wasted fields. From this time to the present a fair degree of prosperity attended their efforts and the efforts of their poster- ity. We find the branches of two families at least, of these very first settlers, in a distinct line of descent, still residents of Winchester-the Willards and the Alexanders.
In the one hundred and fifty-two years that have intervened since this first settlement commenced, we have seen the town, notwithstanding she was
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shorn of her best agricultural section by the division in 1753, develop into a town of 2,444 population, and a wealth probably exceeding two millions of dollars. The rude "burrows" of sticks and earth have been succeeded by dwell- ings, many of which exceed in cost and value the entire possessions of those first settlers. We behold the "few" horses, neat cattle, swine and poultry, then possessed, increased to 341 horses, and 997 neat cattle as returned by the assessors as liable to taxation, whilst the swine and poultry have increased in a still larger proportion. Fertile fields now stretch in every direction, where there was unbroken forests, and three thriving villages have sprung into existence where then the smoke from the roof of no settler's cabin floated upward toward the " blue." The work shops of the busy artisan is to be seen in nearly every section of the town, and the streams that then held an unin- terrupted course are now vexed with dams, and furnish motive power for many factories, whose products of wood, cotton and wool are marketed throughout the country.
Rev. Elijah Harmon's great-grandfather was in the battle of Bennington, Vt., and also held the position of deacon in the Congregational church, and, in his old age, wrote a collection of sacred byms, which is still extant. One of his sons, Elijah, settled in Hawley, Mass., whose son Gaius succeeded him on the homestead, where his son, Rev. Elijah Harmon, was born, March 22, 1835. He was graduated from Amherst in 1861, and at Hartford Theological sem- inary in 1867 ; was a member of the 52d Mass. Vols. nine months, as ser- geant, and was present at the reduction of Fort Hudson; taught 1863-'65, was tutor in Amherst college the last six months of that time; entered the ministry of the Congregational church, in 1867, and immediately became the pastor of the church in Winchester, where he has acceptably officiated nearly eighteen years. He married first, Lucy Maria Smith, daughter of Rev. Ed- win Locke, a native of Fitzwilliam, N. H., one of the early missionaries to the Sandwich Islands, where she was born. At the death of her parents she was adopted by Rev. A. B. Smith, also a missionary in the same field. He married for his second wife, March 5, 1872, Eunice M., daughter of Rev. J. C. Smith, of Jaffna mission, India, and third, October 14, 1874, Miss M. Al- cesta Homans, of Plymouth, N. H., who is the mother of his two children, Lucy M. and May F.
John A. Powers was born in Gardner, Mass., May 12, 1818. He was edu- cated in the district schools of his native town, and, in 1843, he came to Win- chester, and was employed in a chair and furniture establishment, and a por- tion of this time had an interest in the concern. In 1845 he opened a jewelry and watch repairing shop, and has continued this business up to the present time. He now has a good stock in this line, and, in addition, drugs, medi- cines, and fancy and holiday goods. He has taken an active interest in the affairs of his town, was postmaster in President Pierce's administration, and again in Buchanan's; represented his town in 1871 and 1873, and served his town as selectman one year, when he declined re-election. In 1845 he
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married Phianda Cole, who died in 1863, the mother of three children. In 1864, or 1865, he married again, Miss Emily M. Cole, sister of his former wife. Mr. Powers has lived to see many changes in the business interests of his town, and is now the only dealer who was in business at the time he first engaged here. He built his store without blinds or shutters, an unheard of event at that time, and against the advice of all his business neighbors.
Amzi Doolittle, from Townshend, Vt., came to Winchester in 1824, and located on a farm, where he died, April 9, 1830, aged ninety-three years. His aged wife (Jerusha Smith), survived him till October 19, 1844, aged 102 years. His sons, Amzi and Origin came with him to Winchester, and together pur- chased a farm of 300 acres. Origin sold his share and went west, where he died, aged eighty-three years. Amzi, Jr., remained here till the end of his long life, and died January 20, 1863, aged ninety-five years. He married Esther Barber, of Townsend. He took an active interest in the political affairs of his town, and was a justice of the peace, selectman, deputy sheriff, and representative, holding these positions a long term of years. He had no chil- dren, but adopted a nephew, Hiram, who took the name of Doolittle, and set- tled on the homestead of his adopted father, where his widow, his son George, and his daughter, Mrs. Marion L. Shepard, now live. He married Lucy, daughter of Dr. John Hazleton, and they were the parents of eleven children, only four of whom are now living, viz .: George H. and Marion L. Shepard, on the old homestead. John H. resides in Springfield, Mass., and Joseph S. resides at Weare, N. H. Hiram Doolittle died April 23, 1877, aged seventy- seven years. His widow still survives him, aged eighty-two years. Her grand- mother resided with her, and died at the great age of 102 years and ten months.
Stephen Baker came to Winchester, from Bolton, Mass., in 1804, and set- tled as a farmer where Daniel H. Thompson now lives, and where he con- tinued to reside till his death, in 1852, at the age of eighty-four years. He was twice married, and was the father of eighteen children, ten of whom are still living, viz .: Dinah (Mrs. Phelps), in Winchester ; Abram, in Winchester ; Lydia (Mrs. Hill), in Dana, Mass .; Eliza (Mrs. Leonard), in Winchester ; Roxana (Mrs. Barry), at East Limington, Me .; Mary (Mrs. Mason), in Win- chester ; Jonathan, at South Braintree, Mass .; Martin M., in Winchester ; Henry, in Somerville, Mass .; and Elijah, in this town. Stephen Baker was a decided Quaker, and regularly attended the meetings of his society in the adjoining town of Richmond, and was the first one who refused to pay taxes to the established church in Winchester.
Philip Goss, from Lancaster, Mass., came to Winchester at a very early date and made a " pitch " on the farm where Bliss Allerton now lives. He experienced the hardships of an early pioneer, and on some occasions was obliged to go to Northfield for a day's work, for which he would receive a bushel of corn, get it ground at the mill in that place, and bring it to his home on his back after his day's work. He raised a large family, but only one
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of his sons settled in the town, Samuel, who located on a farm in his father's neighborhood. He died here aged eighty-three years. His children were Mary, who married Gardner Wheeler and died in St. Johnsbury, Vt .; Edward married Fanny Randall, was a farmer, and died in Winchester ; Leonard, the youngest, died in St. Johnsbury ; and Willard, who married Mary White. The latter's children were Mary, Antoinette, Samuel E., and Lorenzo W. Willard is the last in Winchester of the Goss family. He married Roxana Bardwell, for his second wife, by whom he has had no issue.
The Dickinson family are of English descent, and early settled in Deerfield, Mass. On April 15, 1747, Nathaniel Dickinson, of Deerfield, was one of the garrison of the fort at Northfield, and he and Asahel Burt were killed by the Indians as they were driving the cows home from Pauchang, meadow. His family remained on their farm in Deerfield until his son Joseph, born after his death, became of age, when his brother Nathaniel and he located as farmers in the wilderness of Swanzey, on a tract of 400 acres in the northern part of the town. Later they divided their territory and each built a resi- dence, where they continued to live until their decease. Nathaniel married twice and was the father of six sons who grew to manhood, viz .: William, Asa, Abel, Uriah, Aaron and Nathaniel. William married Lucinda Gardner, of Sunderland, Mass., and reared eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Gen. Erastus, Caroline, Nathaniel, Arvilla, David S., Ansel and Rollins. Ansel married twice, first, Jane L. Boleyn, of Hinsdale ; second Mary H. Felch, who is the mother of all his children, viz. : La Fell, Milan A., John H., and William Eugene. At the age of seventeen Ansel came to Winchester and engaged with his brother Erastus as a laborer. He was born in Swanzey, February 22, 1822. He had only such educational advantages as were afforded by the common school of his district, but by close observation and steady reading, he has acquired much business knowledge. He is ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, pails and buckets, locked-corner packing-boxes, and large amounts of lumber, and also deals in wood, bark and railroad ties. Notwithstanding his great business interests, he has for four terms represented his town in the state legislature, although his town was at that time a Republican stronghold and he a pro- nounced Democrat.
Samuel Wright and his wife Mary were among the first of the pioneer families of Winchester. They located on what is now known as the Tucker place, and owned most of Rabbit Hollow. They reared nine children. Their daughter Mary was the first female born in town, on the next day after the birth of the first male. She was also the first milliner. She was twice mar- ried, her second husband being John Everdon. Her daughter Eunice (Mrs. A. H. Fassett), now eighty-two years old, is the only surviving child. She resides in the village of Winchester with her daughter, Mrs. Maria E. Russell.
Alvan W. Ball was born in Warwick, Mass., December 12, 1818. At the age of thirteen years he came to the village of Ashuelot, where he engaged as
Cf L Jewell
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a clerk in the store for his brother David, and where he continued in this capacity till about 1840, when he purchased an interest. This firm continued till 1858, and in addition to their mercantile business, they were extensive manufacturers of tubs and pails. In 1858, however, the partnership closed and Mr. A. W. Ball continued the mercantile business alone till 1866, and then formed a partnership with Wright Wood, and was also one of the firm of Ball, Pratt & Turner, in the manufacture of Union beaver cloths. In 1873 Mr. Ball sold his interest in the firm of Ball, Pratt & Turner, and formed the partnership of Ball & Scott, in the manufacture of cotton warps and fancy cloths. This firm closed in a little over a year, when Mr. Ball retired from manufacturing and is now giving his attention to his farm. In 1845 he mar- ried Jane A. Capron, of Winchester, who was the mother of one son, John P., who is engaged in the hardware business at Ansonia, Conn. Mrs. Ball died in 1854, and December 20, 1857, he married Mrs. Mary E. Ramsdell. This union has been blessed with one daughter, Florence E., born July 13, 1866. Mrs. Ball is also the mother of one daughter by her first marriage, Ella M. (Mrs. W. D. Ripley), residing in Ashuelot village.
Daniel I. Emerson was born in Townsend, Mass., May 3, 1801. When an infant he was brought on horseback in his mother's arms, to Rindge, N. H., where the family lived ten years, when they moved to Swanzey, where they lived two or three years, then removed to Keene, and when Daniel was about sixteen they came to Winchester, where he has resided ever since. He mar- ried, January 1, 1824, Polly S. Oldham and settled as a farmer about one-half a mile from the village of Ashuelot, which farm he still owns. Although often solicited to accept positions of trust in the way of offices, he has uni- formly refused, and has spent his long life in the discharge of his business, pleased to be a thrifty and successful farmer. His wife died August 14, 1880, aged seventy-nine years. In 1874 they celebrated their golden wedding at the old homestead. Mr. Emerson, now an octogenarian (aged eighty-four), is a decidedly well preserved man. His children were George F., died Octo- ber 1, 1839 ; Daniel J., Jr., died August 20, 1878; Mary E. (Mrs. Alvan W. Ball), resides in Ashuelot ; and Jane M. (Mrs. George D. Utley), resides in Weare, Mass.
James B. Turner was born in Glastonbury, Ct., February 16, 1792. He was educated in the schools of his town, and May 10, 1815, he married Milly Galpin, and, soon after, came to West Winchester, now the village of Ashue- lot, where he bought in company with his brother, Alanson, a carding and cloth-dressing mill. This they run with some success, and gradually worked into the manufacture of woolen and satinet goods, being the pioneer manu- facturers in goods of their line in the town of Winchester. In the prosecu- tion of their increasing business they erected the main buildings now owned and occupied as a woolen mill by Messrs. Thayer & Turne :. Mr. Turner, notwithstanding his large business as a manufacturer, took an active interest in the affairs of his town, and was twice elected to represent his
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town in the state legislature. His marriage was blessed with eight children, four of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Martha J. (Mrs. D. H. Ripley), whose husband was a manufacturer, both deceased; William G., a merchant, de- ceased, settled in Oswego, N. Y .; Eunice H. (Mrs. E. W. Hunt), resides in Boston, a widow ; and Aurelius B., resides in Ashuelot, one of the firm of Thayer & Turner. He (James B). died July 9, 1867, and she died July 30, 1867.
Stephen Hawkins, of English descent, was one of the pioneers of Win- chester. He was a farmer and an extensive owner of lands along the Ashue- lot river, in the vicinity of the village of the same name. His son Stephen O. succeeded him on the homestead, which is located near the banks of the river, about midway between the villages of Winchester and Ashuelot, where he lived a number of years, keeping a tavern and a country store, and man- aging his extensive farm. He was the father of eight children, four sons and four daughters, only one of whom, Stephen O., Jr., settled in this town. He- was born December 23, 1793, in the village of Ashuelot, where he carried on the business of blacksmith and farmer. Later he lived a few years on the old homestead, and continued his trade and farming, but finally returned to Ashuelot, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of sev- enty-two years. He married Cynthia Miles, of this town, and they were the parents of nine children, viz .: Charles P., Gardner, Caroline E., William B., Stephen O., Nathan M., Emeline, Abial and Abby Jane. Charles P. deceased. William B. and Abial went to the city of New York, and engaged in the- manufacture of ale. Gardner resides in Fitchburg, where he carries on an extensive business in blacksmithing, now retired on account of ill health. Stephen O., who bears the name of his father, grandfather and great-grand- father, and is the only descendant of this family in Winchester, resides on the place where his father died. He married Abby A. Roberts, of Gill, Mass., and was a blacksmith, farmer, and for twenty-three years, until about two years ago, a hotel keeper. His children are Hattie I. (Mrs. George Alder- man), of Framingham, Mass .; Nellie G. (Mrs. J. P. Grover), of Worcester, Mass. ; Frank S., deceased ; Florence A., deceased ; and Marion A., who resides. with her parents.
Jedediah Smith came to Hinsdale from Sturbridge, Ct., about 100 years. ago, and settled in the northern part of the town. He came with his wife and three small children on horseback, by a line of marked trees, and forded. and swam the rivers. He built his cabin and cleared a farm where he con- tinued to reside till his death. He was the father of three sons and four daughters. His son Jedediah settled on the homestead, and remained there till his death. His children were Daniel and Pardon, now of Winchester ; John, deceased ; Samuel, a lawyer, died in St. Louis ; and Orson died in Hins- dale.
Zenas Fairbanks came to Winchester about 100 years ago, and settled where his grandson, Cornelius W. Fairbanks, now lives, and where he continued to
1
William Rinforel
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reside till his death. His son Zenas succeeded him on the homestead, and continued there till bis son Samuel bought the place, when he went to live with his son, Ira R., in the village of Winchester, but finally made a home with his daughter, Lois R. (Mrs. Wright Stratton), in Northfield, Mass., where he died, over eighty years of age. He was the father of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity, viz. : Samuel, who owned a portion of the homestead, deceased ; Cornelius now living on the old homestead; Elizabeth, in Agawam, Mass .; Ira R., a gardener, in Springfield, Mass. ; Lois (Mrs. Stratton), in North- field, Mass. ; Silas P., & farmer, in the northern part of the town ; and Em- eline (Mrs. Warren Pierce), residing in the village of Claremont, N. H.
John Follett, one of the early settlers of Winchester, located as a farmer where Silas P. Fairbanks now lives. His farm included also the farm where his grandsor., Russell Follett, resides. Here he lived till his death, at a " good old age." His son, Luther Follett, born on the homestead in 1780, married Polly Schemerhorn, of Otsego county, N. Y., and first settled in the town of Maryland, of that county, where he lived about twenty years; but in his father's declining years he returned to the homestead in Winchester, where he remained till after the former's death, but eventually returned to Otsego county, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He was the father of twelve children-eleven sons and one daughter, none of whom settled in this town except Russell, who owns a portion of the old homestead. He married Algena B. French, of Glover, Vt., and have had born to them five children, three now living, viz .: Leyton W., of Hinsdale ; William H., who resides with his aged father ; and Addie A., also with her parents.
Joshua Cook came to Winchester, from Kingston, Mass., at a very early date, and settled as a farmer in the northern part of the town, near the line of Chesterfield, where he lived several years, and then removed to a farm about a mile from the village of Ashuelot, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was the father of five children, viz. : Everson, for many years a merchant of Winchester ; Abel H., a farmer, succeeded his father on the homestead, sold it and resides at the corner of road 36 and 22 ; Chloe (Mrs. Willis), now eighty-seven years of age, resides at Ashuelot with her son, Mr. Dwight Willis; Huldah (Mrs. Hawkins), a widow, resides in Worcester, Mass. ; and Clarissa, the eldest of the family, who died early, married a Mr. Lyman.
Amos Putnam came to Winchester, from Massachusetts, about 1815, and settled in the southern part of the town, where his grandson, James P. Put- nam, now lives, and where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a car- penter and farmer. He was the father of three daughters and one son, who attained an adult age, viz. : Amos, Lydia, Polly and Susan. Polly married a Mr. Reed, removed from town, but finally returned and remained till her death. Susan married a Mr. Gates, located in New York, deceased. Lydia. married George Tufts, of Ashuelot, and settled where her son, Amos P., now lives. Amos married Rebecca Wheeler, of Ashby, Mass., and settled as a
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farmer on the old homestead, where he lived till his death, in 1855, aged seventy-two years. His children were Mary, married Nathan Hammond, both deceased, no issue ; Eri married Lucy Holton, is a farmer, now living in this town, has three sons living ; Susan married twice, first Lemuel Burt, second Isaac Smith, is now a widow, lives in this town, has one son, Willie Smith, of Hinsdale ; Albert married Emeline Smith, is a farmer, resides in Winchester, has two children, Elva E., resides with her parents, and Charles E. Putnam, in Winchester ; Amos A., now the representative of his town and a farmer, married Nancy Robbins, has five children; Harriet married Smyrna Bancroft, both deceased, had two children ; and James P., a farmer, now selectman of this town, married Jane Whipple, resides on the old home- stead, and has six children. Amos A. Putnam has also held many other offices of trust in his town. Beginning about 1850 in the military, as an adjutant, he has been selectman nine years, from 1869 up to 1881, has held the office of justice of the peace since 1870, was supervisor in 1882, and also represented his town in 1878, 1879 and 1880. His children are Jennie M. (Mrs. Charles E. Slate), N. Maria (Mrs. Snow), a teacher of the intermediate grade of the public schools in Winchester ; Addie C. (Mrs. C. A. Williams), resides on Flower Hill, Warwick, Mass .; J. Reno resides with his parents ; and George Henry, also with his parents.
Benjamin Carlton, born in Bradford, Mass., a carpenter and farmer, settled in Coleraine, Mass., where he died at the age of eighty-two years. His son Rodolphus, born at Coleraine in 1780, went to Dover, Vt., after learning his trade of clothier, and remained there seven years. Soon after he went to Dover. He married Anna Parmely, removed to Winchester in April, 1811, and continued the cloth dressing business and farming. He settled on the farm now owned by his son Harvey, where he died in October, 1861, aged eighty-two years. He represented Chesterfield in the legislature in 1852. He was the father of six children, only two of whom reside in this town, viz .: Sidney, aged seventy-six, who has raised a large family, and Harvey, before men- tioned, who was educated at the common schools and academies of Chester- field and Brattleboro. He studied law in Keene, and was admitted to the bar of Cheshire county in October, 1840, and has practiced his profession in Chesterfield, Keene and Winchester. He held the office of county school commissioner in 1854-55, and was judge of probate in 1874-76, and is now engaged in farming.
Eliab Howard and Miss Dolly Stowell were married November 30, 1801, and settled in Winchester on the farm now owned by their grandson, Jona- than O. Hill. He died on this place May 24, 1838, aged sixty-six years. He was the father of a daughter and two sons, of whom Polly married Caleb Hill, settled in Winchester, and had nine children, only one of whom resides in this town, Jonathan O. Hill, residing on the old homestead. A son, Gard- ner C., is a practicing physican of Keene. Jonathan, a physician, practiced in his native town about twenty years, and removed to Wyoming county, N.
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Y., in 1848, where he now resides. Elijah was a farmer and located on a part of the homestead, where he resided till old age, when he sold out and removed to a smaller place near the village, and later he went to Swanzey, where he died.
Thomas Jewell was probably born in England, not far from the year 1600. Various circumstances tend toward the probability that he was from the same original stock as Bishop John Jewell, who was born in the northern part of Devonshire, in 1522, and died in 1571. The first authentic accounts of Thomas we have dates in the early part of 1639, but little more than eighteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and shows that he then had a wife and one child, probably a daughter. The Boston record is as fol- lows: "The 24th day, 2d month, 1639, also there is granted to Thomas Jewell, of the Mount Miller, for three heads, twelve acres, upon the covenant of three shillings per acre." This mount was Mount Woolaston, first settled in 1625, and named for Capt. Woolaston. It was incorporated as Braintree, in 1640; Quincy was set off in 1792, and Randolph in 1793 ; the tract was laid to Boston by the general court or legislature in 1634, and December II, of that year, the inhabitants, after a lecture, chose seven men who should divide these lands to those who might improve them at the rate of four acres to each person in the family, gratuitously to citizens of Boston, and for three shillings per acre to others. Thus we find, " 24th day, twelfth month, 1640, granted to Henry Adams, [a progenitor of the president of that name] for ten heads, forty-three shillings per acre." The following is a copy of his will, as witnessed by William Scant and Hannah H. Harbor.
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