Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 29

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886 > Part 29

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stands among the signers of the Declaration of Independence, an honor of which, those American families who can claim it, are justly proud.

Sam Follansbee was born in Weare, N. H., moved to New Chester at an early date, and settled near Murray Hill, now included in the town of Hill. He located in the woods, cleared up his farm, and became an extensive breeder of deep red cattle, having a herd of seventy, and all of them of that uniform deep red color. He was the manufacturer of the wooden ploughs used in his day, and, on account of their superior excellence, he supplied this and the adjoining towns. One of his ploughs, a relic of the past age, may be seen at Bristol, in the possession of his grandson and namesake, Sam Fol- lansbee, who resides on Beech street. Mr. Follansbee lived to the age of seventy years, dying on the place where he first settled. Of his three chil- dren, the youngest son, John H., settled on the homestead where he lived during his whole life, dying at the age of sixty-seven years. The latter was one of the most substantial of New England farmers and known as having the best flock of sheep in his county. He had born to him two sons and one daughter. One son died at the age of twenty-two, and the daughter, Abbie (Mrs. A. D. Caswell), resides in the southern part of New York. The surviving son, Sam, resides in the village of Bristol, and is giving his atten- tion to farming and breeding of high-blooded horses and cattle. He has been an extensive traveler, and has visited all of the New England States, most of the Middle and Western States, Canada and New Brunswick.

Isaac Swett was born in Thornton, December 22, 1784, came to Bristol in his youth, and married Nancy, daughter of Stephen T. and Anna Brown, who was born May 28, 1791. Their marriage occurred in October, 1817, and in the spring of 1818, settled upon the place where their son-in-law, Thomas H. Wicom now lives. At the time they came here their house was without doors, windows or chimney. They constructed a fireplace of stones, formed a sort of flue or chimney of green boards, and Mrs. Swett passed the summer as contented and happy as any during her whole life. They aban- doned their home about two or three months during the ensuing winter, but returned and lived there during the remainder of Mr Swett's life. He died January 19, 1873, aged eighty eight years. His widow still lives at the old home, aged ninety-four years. Of their five children, Benjamin married Sarah Todd, served in the late war, and resides in this town. Roswell D. was also a soldier in the Rebellion, and died at the Soldiers' Home in Boston, Oc- tober 12, 1863, of a disease contracted in the army. Mary died in Haver- hill. Sylvester married twice, first, Emma Jaquette, who died in 1863, while he was absent in the war, and second, Marcia A. Smith. He resides on a farm in Plymouth. Marinda L. (Mrs. Thomas H. Wicom) resides with her aged mother and her husband on the homestead.

Amos Dickinson, 2d, son of Moses, who was one of the pioneer settlers of New Chester, was born in New Chester, in 1815, and was educated in the common schools of his town. He married Huldah, daughter of Daniel and.

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Ruth Bartlet, and remained on the homestead where he lived from the time he was about a year old until his death, in 1864, aged forty-nine years. He took an active interest in town affairs, officiating as justice of the peace and selectman for many years, and served as town representative two terms. He was often appointed a referee in the settlement of suits at law. which duties he discharged in a manner satisfactory to all concerned, and with credit and honor to himself. His widow survives him, is seventy-one years of age, and resides with her youngest child, Charles H., in the village of Bristol. Of their four children, Nellie F. married O. E. Eastman, a thrifty farmer and lumberman, residing in the village of East Andover. Sarah E. married Ros- well Blake, a real estate dealer, living in the village of Bristol. Watson A. married Ella, daughter of B. F. Sargent, of Lowell, Mass., where he now resides, is engaged in the manufacture of mill supplies, and has the most ex- tensive manufactory of the kind in that city. He was formerly engaged as commercial traveler for Whitton, Burdett & Young, of Boston, in the sale of clothing. Charles H. engaged in farming on the homestead, which occupa- tion he followed for eight years, and then removed to the village of Bristol. He is now engaged in the general clothing business and in the manufacture of overalls. He is of the firm of Dickinson & Horner. He is also the agent and manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, which position he has held the last six years in this place. He married Ida May, daughter of John B. Gordon, in 1876, who died in a little over four years after their mar- riage, leaving two sons.

Joseph Rollins was born in Sanbornton, N. H., April 8, 1789, married Mary Huckins, December 6, 1812, and located as a farmer in Bridgewater, where he continued to reside until about 1831, when he moved to Bristol, locating on Newfound river, about a mile and a half north of the village. Here he engaged in farming and lumbering. His saw-mills were on the loca- tion of the mills now owned by E. D. Crosby & Co., and were the first to occupy that site. He remained here until 1869, when he removed to Bristol village, where he lived the remainder of his long life, dying in 1876, aged eighty-eight years. Mrs. Rollins died in 1867. Their children were as fol- lows: Eliza, Samuel H., Sarah Jane, Mary S., Richard B., Joseph and Lyman. Eliza married Putnam Spaulding, and died in Wentworth. Samuel H. married twice, first, Irena Whipple, and second, Mrs. Huldah B. Walker, in 1876. He was a partner with his father in the manufacture of lumber, until they sold in 1869. He built a saw-mill which has been converted into a paper mill, now run by Train, Smith & Co., and also built the grist-mill which is now owned by William C. Kelley. He now resides in the village of Bristol. Sarah Jane (Mrs. John F. Tilton) resides in the northern part of Bristol. Mary S. (Mrs. Samuel Fellows) died in Bristol, in January, 1884. Richard B. married Martha Gray, is a farmer. and resides in North Bristol. Joseph married Amanda Ingalls, was a leading merchant and builder of the Rollins block in the village of Bristol, and died about 1870. His widow

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married George Dow, and she and his only son, Liston, reside in Morris, III. Lyman married Augusta Flanders, of Concord.

Elbridge Tilton, son of Silas B. and Abigail Tilton, was born in Andover, N. H., April 10, 1822, and came to Bristol with his parents, in 1837. He married Alice Cummings, of Groton, March 25, 1847, located as a farmer in the northern part of Groton, where he remained thirteen years. but during that time visited the California gold regions, and engaged in gold mining in 1854 and 1855. In 1860 he moved to Canaan, and after living in that town, Gilford and Laconia, he returned to Bristol in December, 1871, locating on the Burton farm, on the border of the village, where he now lives. He has . one son and one daughter, Zerah and Della, who reside with their parents.

Lowell Robie moved to Bridgewater, from Candia, N. H., about 1800, where he lived about fifteen or sixteen years, when he moved to Alexandria, where he lived the remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty-three years. He married Margaret Kenniston, and had eight children. His son John married Almira, daughter of Abraham and Rachel (Locke) Dolloff, lived for a time on a farm in Alexandria, but moved to this town, where they have continued to live for the last fifty-two years. Of their children, Gustavus resides in the village of Bristol, Sarah (Mrs. A. J. Ferrin) resides on a farm near her parents, and Kathleen (Mrs. George H. Robinson) resides in New Hampton.

James M. Bishop, M. D., son of John and Abigail (Parker) Bishop, was born in Hanover, May 14, 1821, where he resided until nineteen years of age. His parents both died when he was but seven years of age, and he was adopted by his mother's parents, who moved to Canaan about 1840. Having a desire for an education, he obtained the means to support himself at the academies at Lebanon and Canaan, for a term or two each year, by working for the farmers a portion of the year, and teaching a district school during the winter. He thus obtained a good academic education. In the spring of 1846, he entered the office of Doctor Jones, an allopath physician, of Canaan. and with Doctor Wheat, of the same place, about one year. The next two years he studied with Doctor Mead, of East Hanover, giving his attention to a school each winter. In the spring of 1849, after teaching a term in Maine, he went to Plymouth, and entered the office of Doctor Goodrich, as his assist- ant, with the intention of taking his practice, as Doctor Goodrich then intended to move South, but eventually decided to remain. He located in Bristol, November 11, 1849, and immediately commenced the practice of medicine. In 1854 and 1855, he attended the Eclectic medical college of Worcester, Mass., where he received his degree of M. D. He remains in active and extensive practice of his profession, in Bristol, having gradually adopted the homeopathic course of treatment. He has taken an active part in town affairs, serving as town treasurer several years, has been superintend- ent of the schools for the town, a member of the board of education for the village, and a member of the board of health.

Hon. Samuel K. Mason was born in New Hampton, N. H., May 17, 1832,

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and graduated from the New Hampton Institute, in 1854. He read law in Professor Fowler's law school, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., attended Hamilton College law school, graduating from there in July, 1855, continued his law studies in the office of Hon. E. A. Hibbard, at Laconia, and commenced practice in Bristol, in 1856. He was successful in his profession, and also largely in public life. He was postmaster in Bristol from 1861 to 1868, town repre- sentative in 1868, 1869, and 1870, judge of probate for Grafton county from 1871 to 1873, and twice served as county commissioner, by appointment of court, once for three years, and again for a short term. He was the candi- date of the Liberal Republican party for governor of New Hampshire, in 1873. For some time before his death he was physically prostrated and con- fined to his bed, but his mind remained clear and active, and he transacted business to a considerable extent, nearly up to the time of his decease. He died in June, 1882.

Enos Ferrin was one of the pioneer settlers of Alexandria, and settled in the northern part of that town at a very early date. He cleared his farm, and reared a family of seven sons, and several daughters. Later he moved to Hebron, where he died. His youngest son, Jonathan, married Harriet. daughter of Bailey Webster, and located in Bridgewater, on the farm now owned by Josiah Morrison, of Ashland, where he resided about fifteen years, then went to Alexandria, where he engaged in farming for the next twenty years, holding while there the position of selectmen two or three years. After residing in Ellsworth and in Campton, he finally died in Temple, while on a visit to his daughter Laura (Mrs. Rockwell), at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died in 1849, aged forty-six years. They were the parents of sixteen children, viz .: Bailey W., Augustus J., Francis L., Vienna V., Morris T., Enos B., Melissa J., Benjamin F., Hiram W., Levi E., Harriet A., Mary E., Abigail D., Moses A., Laura J. and Ira K. Augustus J. married Sarah Robie, has had born to him five children, four of whom are living, is a farmer, and resides in the northeastern part of this town, on road 13. Enos B., who is not married, resides with his brother, Augustus J. Moses A. lives in Plym- outh and is engaged in the manufacture of the celebrated Plymouth gloves, Mary E. (Mrs. Oren Rowe), resides in Campton, and has one daughter.

Hon. Cyrus Taylor, son of Nicholas M. and Sally (Eastman) Taylor, was born in New Hampton, December 18, 1818, and was educated in the com- mon schools and at the academies of the vicinity. When sixteen years of age, he entered the store of George W. Smith, of his native town, where he remained one year, when Mr. Smith failed. He then engaged as clerk with Isaac Shepard & Co., of Meredith, and continued in his employ about six months, when he came to Bristol to work for I. C. Bartlett & Co. In 1838 this firm was changed to Bartlett & Sleeper. April 1, 1842, Mr. Taylor bought the interest of Mr. Sleeper, and the business was continued under the firm of Bartlett & Taylor, continuing until 1858. Since that time Mr. Tay- lor has practically continued the business alone, with his nephew, son of his-

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former partner, and his own son, Henry A., associated with him at short intervals. He occupies the store where he first engaged a clerk, when he came to Bristol, and has been in trade a much longer time than any other dealer in town. He served as town representative in 1864-65, and was sen- ator in 1869-70. He married Martha, daughter of James Minot, and has had born to him one son and one daughter, Henry A. and Abbie M. The latter, born in December, 1851, married Ira A. Chase, a prominent law- yer of the firm of Fling & Chase, in 1882. Henry A., born in 1848, married Helen A. White, of Bristol. He was engaged in mercantile business with his father for a short time, when he went to Concord and entered the banking-house of Minot & Co., as a book-keeper and messenger. He con- tinued here until his last illness, which terminated in his death, in Septem- ber, 1877. He was father of one daughter, born seven months after his death.

Hon. Benjamin F. Perkins was born at Center Harbor in 1831, resided there until seventeen years of age, and attended the public schools. He at- tended the high school at Ashland, which was taught by his cousin, Nancy Perkins, a daughter of Rev. Thomas Perkins, also private schools in Boston and Lowell, and in the latter place he took a full commercial course. He learned the bricklayer's trade, which he followed a few years, giving his atten- tion to his education during the winter season. About 1855 he went to New Hampton to assist his invalid father, and remained there until 1865. While there he was selectman six years, was recruiting officer, and served as town representative in 1864-65. He came to this town in 1865, and engaged in the manufacture of straw-board, the firm consisting of B. F. Perkins and and George Z. Collins, under the firm name of B. F. Perkins & Co. In 1867 Mr. Collins retired from the firm, and the business was continued by Perkins & Ames. In 1870 Mr. Perkins bought the interest of Mr. Ames, and a firm composed of David Mason, B. F. Perkins, Nathan H. Weeks, of Plymouth, and James Flanders, was formed, under the firm name of Mason. Perkins & Co. They bought the straw-board mills of David Mason, and built the fine brick paper-mill, which the company continues to operate. Mr. Perkins rep- resented the Fourth Senatorial district, in the New Hampshire Senate, in 1883.

Daniel Cummings, son of Henry, was born at Plymouth, N. H., May 18, 1796, and removed to Groton with his parents in 1800, where they settled on a farm in the northern part of the town, remaining there until the time of their death. His father died August 5, 1820, aged fifty-two years, and his mother died in May, 1851, aged seventy-three years. Daniel succeeded his father on the homestead, where he lived the remainder of his life. He married Lois Kidder, of Groton, reared seven children, and died August 25, 1854, aged fifty-seven years. Of his children, Alice (Mrs. Elbridge Tilton) re- sides in Bristol, and is the mother of Zerah and Della Tilton. Lois A. married Alden Judkins, is a widow, the mother of one daughter, Emma F., and re-

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sides in Natick, Mass. Daniel K. is a farmer, has one son and two daugh- ters, Orville D., Emma M., and Mary, and resides in Bridgewater. Henry is a cooper, and resides in Plymouth. Adaline C. (Mrs. Romanzo J, Hun- kins) has one son, Willie H., and resides in Groton. Frank E. is a druggist, has two daughters, Etta Louise and Helen Augusta, and resides in Natick, Mass. James A. is a farmer, has one daughter, Mary Lois, and lives at West Plym- outh.

Oliver Ballou, a native of Rhode Island, came to Hanover, over 100 years ago, and remained there about twenty or twenty-five years. He finally settled in Alexandria, where he lived the remainder of his life, and died in 1816, aged about sixty years. He married twice, first, a Miss Tiffany, who bore him four children, and second, Mary Simons, who was the mother of twelve children. His son Hosea was an extensive cattle dealer, beginning the business when only eighteen years of age, and was one of the largest dealers in Brighton market. He died in the west at an advanced age. One of his sons was the builder of the first railroad in Cuba, where he died of yellow fever. John, son of Oliver, was born at Hanover, in 1807, married Tirzah Evans, and located in Alexandria. Six of his seven children are now living. His oldest son, Hiram P., married Sarah Heath, of New Hampton, is a manufacturer of hosiery and knit goods, and is an inventor and patentee of improved machin- ery for facilitating its manufacture. He resides in Bristol, and has two chil- dren, Arthur W., a druggist, in Laconia, and Minnie E., who lives with her parents.

Rev. Josiah Norris was the youngest of a family of ten brothers and one sister, the latter of whom, the oldest of the family, attained the great age of 103 years, while all of the brothers, except one, who died aged forty-seven, lived to be over eighty years, and most of them attained the age of ninety. Josiah was born in 1779, and married Mary Adams, of Moultonborough, N. H. At the age of thirty years he entered the ministry of the Free Will Bap- tist church, and was ordained as a revivalist. After traveling several years he settled as pastor of a church in the northern part of Hanover, where he continued its pastor about thirty years, when the approach of old age and ill health compelled him to retire. He then had a home with his youngest son, Josiah, at Wentworth, where he died in 1862, five or six years after leav- ing Hanover, aged eighty-three years. His wife survived him until May, 1875, when she died, aged eighty-eight years. Only two of their six children are now living, Josiah, Jr., now residing at Lake Village, N. H., and Huldah D. (Mrs. Samuel H. Rollins), residing in the village of Bristol.

Levi Nelson moved to Bridgewater in 1813, and settled on the western slope of Peaked hill. Four years previous to this time he had married Sarah Evans, of Salisbury, where they had buried their first two children, the present occupant of the old home farm being then an infant in his mother's arms. During the period of about fifty years that Mr. Nelson was a farmer, he bought two adjoining estates, built four houses, and settled, at different

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times, five of his sons in and about the old homestead. The family of child- ren numbered fourteen, and both grand parents lived to see about forty grandchildren. In the Union army were two sons and five grandsons, three of whom fell, and the G. A. R. Post of the town bears their name The parents both lived to see eleven of their children settled in life, and nine still survive them. It is probable that few families in the State are as fine repre- sentatives of a sturdy yeomanry as is the family of Levi and Sarah Nelson. They were honest, industrious, frugal, with will enough to make a way where none appeared, with ingenuity enough to fashion what they could not buy, and with enough intellectual strength to give them positions far ahead of all posterity that does not toil.

Hon. Solomon S. Sleeper, son of Rev. Walter Sleeper, was born in Bristol, March 15, 1815. He received a common school education, with two terms at New Hampton Institute. At the age of seventeen years, he entered the store of Ichabod C. Bartlett, in Bristol, as a clerk, and remained there until he was about twenty-seven, when he went to Boston and became a member of the firm of E. Raymond & Co., wholesale grocers. After a few years he bought Mr. Raymond's interest, and became the head of the firm of S. S. Sleeper & Co., and still continues the business. Mr. Sleeper's brother, Horace L., was one of this firm after Mr. Raymond retired, and continued a member until a few years before he died, at his home in Winchester, Mass., November 23, 1884, aged sixty-four years. Mr. S. S. Sleeper may be classed among the success- ful men of the times, and though he has given close attention to his large business, he has found time to serve the public, and is now serving his fourth year as alderman of the city of Cambridge, and has represented his ward sev- eral years in the legislature of Massachusetts. In conjunction with Judge Minot, of Concord, he has generously remembered Bristol, their native town, by donating to it a fine and commodious library building, and furnishing $1,000.00 to purchase books In honor of the generous donors this town institution is named "The Sleeper and Minot Library."

Daniel S. Mason was born in Bristol, April 2, 1809, on the Joseph Moore farm, near Moore's Mill, which was then a thriving village. His entire life was passed in his native town. He came from a hardy, robust race, and was early accustomed to hard labor. When a young man, in company of Nicholas Dolloff and Joseph Moore, he run the first raft of lumber down the Pemigewasset. On this occasion the raft struck Worthen's rock, and Mr. Mason was washed off and carried far down the stream, but was rescued by his companions. When twenty-six years old he purchased the saw-mill at Moore's Mills, and was for many years engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber. In 1858 he removed to the village of Bristol, and engaged in the man- ufacture of paper, and continued this business till 1863, when the mill was destroyed by fire. On December 1, 1835, he married Miss Angeline W. Webster, by whom he had four children, two of whom, John, a merchant at Plymouth, and Mrs. Albert Blake, Jr., survive him. After a few years of

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wedded life he buried the companion of his youth, and January 31, 1849, he married Miss Anna C. Taylor, who survives him. He was ten times or more elected to the office of selectman, and in his hands the material interests of his town were most faithfully guarded and promoted. He died at his resi- dence October 15, 1885, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.

Hon. Lewis W. Fling, of Bristol, is a native of Windsor, Vt., where he was born December 6, 1824. After receiving a common school education he continued his studies in the New England seminary, at Windsor and at Claremont, Lebanon, and Norwich university. He was engaged in teaching for a number of terms. While securing his education and pursuing the study of law, upon the study which profession he entered in the spring of 1847, at Canaan, in the office of Hon. J. E. Sargent, afterwards one of the judges of the Supreme Judicial court. When Judge Sargent removed to Wentworth, shortly after this time, Mr. Fling went with him and continued his studies in his office until he was admitted to the bar, in November, 1851. After his admission he entered into partnership with Judge Sargent, and remained with him about a year and a half, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Fling removed to Bristol, where he opened an office, and has ever since con- tinued in practice. Although Mr. Fling is a decided Democrat, he is not an active politician, and has engaged but little in political life. His election to the State Senate in his closely contested district in 1871 and 1872 was a high compliment to his integrity and ability, and in that year he received the degree of A. M., conferred by Dartmouth college. He is highly esteemed as a citizen by the people of Bristol, and has given essential aid in bringing the Bristol schools to their present high standard of excellence.

Solomon Cavis, born in 1800, came to Bristol, from Bow, N. H., when about twenty-one years of age, and entered the store of Ichabod Bartlett as a clerk, where he remained only a few years. He then commenced his ca- reer as merchant, on the corner of the square now occupied by the firm of Dickinson & Horner. He retired from business in 1858, and was succeeded by his son, who had been his partner about six years. He married Miss Al- mira Minot. His children are George M., treasurer of the savings bank, and Harriet M. (Mrs. Abbott).

Rev. Walter Sleeper, the pioneer of Methodism in Bristol, was born in New Chester (the portion now a part of Bristol), January 20, 1790, and died here May 1, 1875, aged eighty-five years. His wife was Nancy Plaisted, whom he married in 1814. In 1812, at the age of twenty-two years, he en- tered the itinerant ministry of the Methodist church, and was assigned to Tuftonboro circuit, N. H. For this year's service he received $12.00, not one cent of which was cash. The next year he was the junior preacher on Bridgewater circuit, New Hampshire district, and received, all told, the sum of $2.30. In 1814 he was received into the New England conference, then embracing all New England, and was appointed to Canaan circuit, New Hampshire district, all New Hampshire being then one district, with Solo-

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 29

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers Number of Pages: 1266

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266