Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 30

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 30

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).

193

TOWN OF BRISTOL.

mon Silas, presiding elder. The year following he was appointed to Landaff circuit. At the conference held at Bristol, R. I., in 1815, he was ordained as a deacon, Bishop Robert R. Roberts presiding. In 1817, on account of the feeble health of his parents, Mr. Sleeper located with them to look after their necessities. His certificate of location has the signature of Bishop Enoch George. During the long period of fifty-eight years he continued to preach in towns in the region of his home, and, with few exceptions, without fee or pecuniary reward. He twice represented Bristol in the State legisla- ture, once in 1832, when Gen. Franklin Pierce was speaker, and was also selectman of Bristol several years.

Asa Hastings, born December 28, 1752, married Molly Lowell, March 22, 1775, she being born Dece ber 30, 1752. They removed from Alexandria to Bristol in 1780, and settled where their grandson, Col. John Hastings, now lives. This farm was then a wilderness. They were the parents of ten children. Their son Jonas, born January 19, 1779, succeed to the home- stead in 1805, and died January 13, 1869. He married twice, first, Polly Ordway, November 28, 1805, who died March 17, 1811, and second, Nancy Atwood, April 2, 1812, wh died January 18, 1864. He was blessed with twelve children. Col. John, son of Jonas, bought the homestead in 1835. He was born December 9, 1806, married Dorothy Emmons, daughter of Benjamin Emmons, Jr., April 18, 1833, and their eleven children are all living. Col. John Hastings was early interested in military affairs, and held the offices respectively of sergeant, ensign, captain, lieutenant-colonel and colonel, when he commanded the 34th Regt. N. H. militia. He is still farm- ing the old homestead at the age of seventy-nine years.

David Mason, son of David, was born in New Hampton and has resided in Bristol since he was twenty-two years old. He commenced active life as a lumberman. In 1852 he built his first paper-mill, and commenced the manufacture of straw-board. in company with George W. Dow, and con- tinued its manufacture up to 1885. In 1882 the firm of Mason, Perkins & Co. was formed, and built the fine brick mills which they now operate in the manufacture of colored poster-paper. In 1882 he also entered the present firm of Mason & Berry, manufacturers of wood pulp. The two last named industries now receive his entire attention. The product of the wood pulp mill of Mason & Berry is all used in the manufacture of paper by the firm of Mason, Perkins & Co. Mr. Mason, by his constant industry and native good qualities, has led to his being classed among the most successful men of Bristol. His residence, built recently, is a model of elegance, taste, beauty and substantial comfort. He is a member of the Methodist church and a liberal contributor to its material interests, and especially was a munifi- cent donor for the erection of their present elegant church edifice. His townsmen have attested their appreciation of his abilities by sending him to the legislature in 1871, 10 the State legislature in 1872, and returned him again in 1875.

13*

194

TOWN OF BRISTOL.

Hon. Nathaniel Berry, ex-governor of New Hampshire, and now one of the most venerable and respected of Bristol's citizens, was born in Bath, Me., September 1, 1796, a son of Abner, and grandson of John Berry, who served as captain of an infantry company in the Revolutionary war, where he lost his life. Mr. Berry's father died October 22, 1802, leaving his mother with four small children, so at the age of nine years Nathaniel was obliged to go out to earn his own living, and began this new life as "chore-boy" at Joseph Lambert's tavern, in Bath. At the age of eleven years he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, where he remained about a year and a half, when, in March, 1809, he came to Lisbon with his mother, and step-father Benjamin Morse. In the following November he went to Bath, N. H., to live in the family of William Morrison, and in March, 1812, was apprenticed to the tan- ner's trade with Edmund Carleton, with whom he remained till twenty-one years of age. In April, 1818, he came to Bristol to work at his trade as a journeyman, beginning business for himself here two years later. He began active public life in 1828, when he was elected Bristol's representative in the legislature. He left Bristol in 1840, to reside in Hebron, and for many years was not a resident of the town. In 1861, he was elected governor of the State. He married Ruth Smith, of Bath, N. H., January 25, 1821, who died July 26, 1857, and in January, 1859, married Louisa Farley.

James Musgrove was born in London, Eng., in 1796. When a mere boy he was left an orphan, and, homeless and friendless, with no one to advise as to his plans for life, at the age of twelve he enlisted in the British navy for life. During the next six years he visited many parts of the globe. His ves- sel took part in the war of 1812, and he was for some months a prisoner of war at Philadelphia. When about eighteen years of age, while his vessel was at St. Johns, N. B., he deserted from the British service and bound himself for seven years to learn the tailor's trade. After having served here five years he learned that the vessel from which he had deserted was coming into port. Making his case known to his fellow-workmen he was assisted in taking passage on a vessel bound for Boston, but soon after reaching the coast of Maine the vessel was wrecked, and from there he made his way to Boston on foot. Here he finished his trade and then returned to London, and in 1827 he married Ann Donker, of that town. In 1832 they emigrated to Boston, lived a short time in that city, Charleston and Lynn, Mass., and in 1837 they removed to Bristol and resided here till their death. For more than thirty years he carried on the tailoring business here, and he and his wife were both active and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died May 16, 1878, aged eighty-two years, and his wife followed him to the spirit land March 20, following. They had eleven children, five of whom were born in Bristol, six now survive, viz .: Susan and Richard W., who reside in Bristol; William I., who is in trade in Cohoes, N. Y .; John H., superintendent of the Berkshire knitting mills, at Pittsfield, Mass .; Charles M., an overseer in the same mills; and Sarah M. C., for several

195

TOWN OF BRISTOL.

years a city missionary in Troy, N. Y. One son, Abbott C., was a corporal in Co. H, 115th N. Y. Vols., and was killed at the battle of Deep Bottom, Va., while carrying the regimental colors.

Richard W. Musgrove was born in Bristol, November 21, 1840. In 1857 he entered the seminary at Tilton, intending to acquire a liberal education, and here his winters were passed till 1862, the rest of the year being devoted to hard work by which to acquire the means to attend school in winter, but the war changed the current of his life. August 12, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. D, 12th N. H. Vols., and was appointed a corporal. In March, 1873, he was promoted to sergeant and about a year later made Ist sergeant. In May, 1864, he was given a commission as Ist lieutenant in the ist U. S. Vols. infantry and placed in command of a company, and three months later promoted to captain, which position he held till June, 1866, when he was mustered out after having served nearly four years. As an enlisted man he served in the Army of the Potomac, and was in every engage- ment in which his regiment participated during his connection with it ; as a commissioned officer, most of his service was against the Indians on the frontier. On his muster out he returned to Bristol and engaged in the wool business, but in December, 1869, he opened a job printing office here, and in June, 1878, started a small sixteen-column paper called the Bristol Weekly Enterprise. The paper has been well managed, and has increased in size and circulation, till now it is a thirty-two-column folio, with a circula- tion of about 1,600. Mr. Musgrove has held the office of town clerk six years, and in November, 1884, was elected a member of the legislature for two years, commencing in June, 1885.

Dr. Hadley B. Fowler, son of Blake Fowler, who was captain of Co. C, 12th N. H. Vols., in 1861-65, grandson of David Fowler, a private in the war of 1812, and great-grandson of Abner Fowler, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, was born in Bridgewater, N. H., in 1825. Educated in the high school of Bristol, and at Hebron academy, he read medicine with M. C. Sawyer, M. D., of Bristol, and Prof. Dixi Crosby, of Dartmouth Medical college, where he graduated in 1850. He settled in Alexandria, removed to Bristol in 1854, when, in the summer of 1862, amid the national unpleasantness with the South, perinission was given by Governor Berry, to a few energetic men of Belknap, and a portion of Grafton counties, to raise a regiment in ten days, with the privilege of electing their officers. The regiment was raised in four and a half days, and the Doctor elected surgeon-the 12th N. H. Vols. His father, captain in Co. C, and his son, George H. Fowler, then fourteen years old, as private orderly, and they left Concord for the seat of war on September 27th. All three were captured by Stewart's cavalry, at Washing- ton, Va., the first of November. They were parolled, exchanged, and the Doctor was back to the front in the middle of December ; was in charge of the Third Division Third Corps hospital, at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 3 and 4, 1863 ; operating surgeon for the Second Brigade, Second Division

196

TOWN OF BRISTOL.

Third Army Corps, at the battle of Gettysburg ; July 2, 3, 4, etc., etc., down to the close of the war, in 1865, the last important position he held being that of surgeon in charge of Point of Rocks hospital, at City Point, Va. In May, 1865, he was appointed by the War Department to remain in the Freed- man's Bureau, then under General Howard, but owing to impaired health and solicitations of comrades and friends, returned with the regiment, and was mustered out at Concord, N. H., in June, 1865, the only full surgeon that left the State as such and remained the three years, or during the war. Since the war Dr. Fowler has been in active practice in Bristol. He has been twice president of the Center district, and has been president of the State Medical society. He is a member of the National Medical Association, an unsuccessful candidate for railroad commissioner, though running largely ahead of the ticket ; chairman of the Board of Education, member of the G. A. R., and F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and interested in all good works.

Dr. Ira S. Chase was born in Gilmantown, November 21, 1816, the son of David Chase, who was the son of Stephen Chase, a direct descendant of Aquilla Chase. Mr. Chase was educated at Gilmanton academy, and studied medicine with Dr. Nahum Wight, of Gilmanton, and graduated at Hanover, N. H., in the fall of 1841, attended a course of lectures in Boston the winter following, and at New York during the winter of 1849-50. He commenced practice at Alexandria, February 1, 1842, where he remained nine years, and where he married Cordelia P. Simonds. He came to Bristol, January 7, 1851, where he still resides, in the practice of his profession.

Warren White was born in Dana, Mass., May 3, 1803. He carried on the manufacture of leather in Massachusetts and Vermont. While still a young man he came to Bristol, N. H., in 1836, and bought of N. S. Berry the tannery which he run until his death, a period of thirty-eight years. During this time he owned and operated another tannery at Bristol, and also one at Woodstock; was also engaged in the manufacture of sale shoes in Hold- erness, now Ashland, and carried on the manufacture of custom boots and shoes in Bristol at one time. He was an extensive farmer and dealer in cattle. He represented his town in the legislature two terms. No man in his time did so much for the material prosperity of this place as he, and he also ac- cumulated a handsome property, and was at one time the largest tax-payer in town. He died May 12, 1884, aged seventy-one years.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized by Asher Smith with seven members, in 1801, Rev. John Broadhead being made the first pastor. The first church building, a wooden structure, was erected in 1813, and did service until 1839, when it was superseded by another, and which in turn gave place to the present building, erected in 1871. The latter is a fine wooden struc- ture, capable of seating 600 persons, and cost $20,000.00. The society now has 338 members, with Rev. John A. Bowles, pastor. The Sabbath school has 131 members. Three of the most prominent of the early Methodist di- vines were pastors of this church during the first decade of its existence, viz .:

197

TOWN OF CAMPTON.

John Broadhead, Elijah (afterwards Bishop) Hedding, and Martin Ruter. The circuit of which this church jurisdiction was a part was originally called Bridge- water circuit, and subsequently Bristol circuit. It is now included in Clare- mont district of the New Hampshire conference.

The First Congregational church in Bristol, located at the village, was or- ganized by Revs. Jonathan Ward, Andrew Rankins, and Samuel Arnold, with twelve members, November 15, 1826, Rev. Samuel Arnold being installed as its first pastor. The church building was erected in 1827, though it has been enlarged and repaired since, so that it is now valued, including grounds, at $12,000.00. The society has 120 members, with Rev. H. G. Pillsbury, pas- tor. Its Sabbath school has sixty scholars.

C AMPTON lies in the eastern part of the county, in lat. 43° 49' and long. 71° 40', bounded north by Thornton, east by the county line, south by Holderness and Plymouth, and west by Rumney and Ellsworth, having an area of about 28,000 acres. This township was originally granted to Gen. Jabez Spencer, of East Hadden, Conn., and others, October 9, 1761 ;* but they, it seems, failed to comply with the requirements of the charter, and thus the grant became invalid. On January 5, 1767, however, the town was re- granted to the heirs of the first grantee and others interested. This is the date of the incorporation of the township, also its name being given, it is re- lated, from the fact that when the surveyors came up to lay out this town and others in the vicinity, they built their camp here, and hence the name "Camptown," shortened by use into Campton. These surveyors, it seems, however, did not execute their work in so thorough a manner but that oppor- tunities were left for dispute over the boundary question. At least such dis- putes did arise relative to the boundaries of the towns of Campton, Rumney, Warren, Wentworth, Plymouth, Piermont and Orford, a committee being appointed by the legislature, October 27, 1780, to settle the matter, their report to be conclusive. In this report the boundaries of Campton were stated as follows :-

" Beginning at a red oak tree at the pitch of the great falls on Pemige- wasset river, commonly called Convinse Falls, being at the northwest corner of New Holderness, thence east six miles to an ash tree ; thence north five miles to the old northwest bounds of Campton ; thence west five miles to a

*It has always been recorded that the town was granted to Jabez Spencer. But Mr. I' W. Hammond, in his "Town Papers," published in 1882, states that the charter was granted to "Christopher Holmes and sixty-three others, by the terms of the grant Mr. Holmes being appointed moderator of the first meeting." Never having seen the charter, we cannot decide which is correct. Whose name came first on the charter, however, is of little consequence, for this is all it amounted to, as the territory was, or was intended to be, divided equally among the proprietors.

198

TOWN OF CAMPTON.

beech tree by Pemigewasset river ; thence south 20° east 112 rods, to a maple tree ; thence south 88° 40' west two miles and three-quarters and thirty-eight rods, to a spruce tree, being the northeast corner bound of Rum- ney ; thence south 28° west by Rumney five miles and a half to a hemlock tree, the northeast corner bound of Cockermouth ; thence north 86° east about five miles to the red oak tree began at."

These are about the boundaries of the township to-day, except that by an act approved June 27, 1860, a tract of land was severed from Campton and annexed to Plymouth ; while in July, 1867, a portion of Thornton was an- nexed to Campton.

The surface of the town is rough and mountainous, some portions abound- ing in rocky ledges. This fact, as a matter of course, detracts from the value of the territory as an agricultural district ; but it affords the principal element in making up the beautiful scenery for which the town is so justly celebrated, and which affords a revenue, also, in the entertainment of the summer tourists whom this beauty annually attracts in large numbers. It must not be inferred, however, that Campton has no good farming land, for its valleys are very fertile and productive, while there are large areas of in- terval land, and the high land, when not too rocky, is good for grazing pur- poses. The principal elevations are Mount Prospect, in the southern part, and the Morgan mountain range, in the eastern part of the town. Mount Prospect, located upon the farm of David B. Pulsifer, has an elevation of 2,963 feet above tide water. From its summit a beautiful view of Lake Winnipiseogee and vicinity, as well as of a large portion of the southern part of the State, may be obtained. Pemigewasset river flows south nearly through the center of the town, and receives the waters of Mad river and Beebe and Bog brooks from the east, and West Branch from the west. Liv- ermore falls, in the Pemigewasset, near the southern line of the town, are said to be very pretty, while their surroundings afford an interesting field for naturalists. The formation of the rock in the bed of the river, at this point, bears evidence of volcanic eruption in some remote period. The forests are mostly deciduous, though some pine, hemlock and spruce exists. Large quantities of maple sugar are manufactured annually.

In 1880 Campton had a population of 1, 163 souls. In 1885 the town had fourteen school districts and fourteen common schools. Its fourteen school- houses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $7,700.00. There were 249 children attending school, six of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by one male and nineteen female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $32.00 for the former, and $21.33 for the latter. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $1,343.50, while the expenditures were $1,220.00, with the Rev. Jacob L. DeMott, su- perintendent.

CAMPTON is a post village located in the central part of the town.

WEST CAMPTON is a post village located in the northern part of the town, on West Branch.

199

TOWN OF CAMPTON.

CAMPTON VILLAGE (p. o.) is located in the extreme northern part of the town.

The Mad River woolen-mill, located at Campton Village, was established by Moses Cook. It is now operated by E. Dole & Co. The mill has 240 spindles and uses fifteen tons of wool per year.

E. Dole & Co.'s grist and flouring-mill, at Campton Village, was estab- lished by them in 1869.

Daniel Morrill's saw-mill, at Campton Village, was built hy him in 1872. It has the capacity for manufacturing 200,000 feet of lumber per annum.

Nathan Pierce's furniture factory, at Campton Village, was established by Joel Pierce & Sons, in 1855.

Erastus F. Emerson's sash and blind factory, at Campton Village, was es- tablished by him in 1882.

The Excelsior bobbin-mill, at Campton Village, was built by William Southmayd & Son about twenty-eight years ago. It was purchased by the present proprietor, A. A. Madden, in 1884.

Dustin Moulton's saw-mill, at West Campton, was built it 1883, upon the site of a mill burned the year previous, which was built by Joseph Brown about forty-two years ago. It has a turbine wheel and circular saws.

J. E. & J. S. Bump's saw-mill, in the eastern part of the town, on road 33, was built by their father, James Bump, in 1849. It has the capacity for turning out 150,000 feet of lumber per year.

The early settlers of Campton were principally from Connecticut, Massa- chusetts and the southern part of this State. The first settlement was made by Isaac and Winthrop Fox, from Connecticut, probably in the spring of 1762. They were the only inhabitants during that year. In the spring of the following year, 1763, they were joined by Isaac's wife and son, Isaac, and Enoch Taylor. Isaac Fox, Sr .. settled on the east side of the river, near where the bridge now stands. Isaac, Jr., settled on the opposite side of the river, and Mr. Taylor some two miles above on the west side. The tra- ditions in regard to the time of the settlement of the town are conflicting ; but all accounts agree that when the first settlement was made there were no settlers between this place and Stephenstown or Franklin, and we know that some seven or eight families came to Plymouth, from Hollis, in 1764. Fox, having been here one year before his family, would fix the time of his coming, as stated, in 1762, and that of his family in 1763. Still it is believed by many that Enoch Taylor was with Mr. Fox that first winter. The following list gives the arrival of settlers, number of their families, and whence they came, for each year down to and including 1820 :-

1762. Isaac Fox, Connecticut.

1762. Winthrop Fox, a nephew.

1763. Isaac Fox, Jr., and his mother and his family.

1763. Enoch Taylor, and family.

1764. Joseph Spencer, son of Gen. Jabez Spencer.

1768. Abel Willey, seven children, the fifth family in town.

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TOWN OF CAMPTON.

1769. Benaijah Fox, the son of Isaac, Jr., was the first male child born in town. A daughter of Hobart Spencer, was born in the same year.

1769.

Hobart Spencer, six children.

1769. Darius Willey, seven children,

1769. Moses Little, six children, Massachusetts.

1769. Samuel Fuller, six children.

1769. Daniel Wyatt, nine children, Massachusetts.

I769. David Perkins, eight children, Massachusetts.

1769.

Joseph Pulsifer, eleven children, Massachusetts.

1769. Gershom Burbank, six children, Massachusetts.

1770. Asa Spencer, seven children, Connecticut.

Jesse Willey, eight children, Connecticut.

I770. I770. Ebenezer Taylor, three children. Connecticut.

1770.

Joseph Palmer, three children, Massachusetts.

1770. Samuel Cook, nine children, Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Tupper, five children, Massachusetts. James Harvel.

1770. 1770. I771. Samuel Holmes, Connecticut.

I77I.

Jonathan Cone. five children.

1772. Israel Brainard, five children, Connecticut.

1772. Chiliab Brainard, five children, Connecticut.

I773. John Southmayed, nine children, Connecticut.

I774. Selden Church, seven children, Connecticut.

1774.

Thomas Bartlett, fourteen children, Massachusetts.

I775. John Holmes, seven children, Connecticut

1776. Carr Chase, eight children, Massachusetts.

1777. Elias Cheney.

I777. William Baker, sixteen children.

1777-

Dudley Palmer, eight children, Massachusetts.

1778. Moses Baker, three children.

1778.

Joseph Palmer, six children, Massachusetts.

I778. Moody Cook, twelve children, Massachusetts.

1778. Ebenezer Cheney, five children.

1778. James Merrill, four children, Massachusetts.

1778. Chauncey Holmes, five children, Connecticut. Homans, five children.

I779. Joseph Homans, son of ---- Homans, two children.

1780. Benjamin Baker, three children.

1780.

Jonathan Burbank, son of Gershom, six children.

178[. Israel Blake, three children.

William Page, six children.

1782. 1782. Edmond Marsh, eleven children.

1782. John Marsh, thirteen children.

1783. James Bump, seven children.

1783. Jabez Church, nine children.

1784. Ezra Tupper, four children.

1785. David Bartlett, six children.

Ichabod Johnson, seven children, Allenstown.

1785. 1785. John Clark, four children, Candia.

1785. John Homans, son of ----- Homans, fourteen children.

I786. Samuel Cook, Jr., ten children, Massachusetts.

1787. Cutting Cook, son of Samuel, twelve children.

201

TOWN OF CAMPTON.

1789. Enoch Merril, nine children, Plymouth.

1789. Edward Tavlor, Oliver Taylor, sons of Eben, ten children.

178 -. John Blaisdell, son of Nathaniel, eight children.

David French, Massachusetts.

1790. Ebenezer Bartlett, son of Thomas.

1790. David Wooster, eight children, Connecticut.

1790. Isaac Mitchell, eight children.

1.90.

Ephraim Cook, son of Samuel. thirteen children.

1790.

Samuel Noyes, two children, Massachusetts.

1790.

Daniel Blaisdell, son of Nathaniel, eight children, Chester.

1790.

Stephen Goodhue, seven children.

I790.

Ebenezer Little, son of Moses, eight children.

1790. Ebenezer Bartlett, Jr., ten children, Massachusetts.

1791.

James Burbeck, fourteen children, Massachusetts. Rowland Percival, nine children, Connecticut.

Rowland Percival, Jr., nine or ten children, Connecticut.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 30

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