Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 40

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 40

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Rev. F.V. D. Garretson* was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Decem- ber 10, 1839. At the age of ten he was clerk in the leading dry goods and grocery store at Perth Amboy, N. J. Began teaching school when sixteen, at Woodbridge, N. J., and taught the same school for three years and a half. At the end of this period he was offered a most flattering position as principal with a large salary. This was declined, however, and in 1860 he entered Kimball Union academy at Meriden, N. H., and graduated after a three years' course with the highest honor. Was graduated at Yale in 1866, and Union Theological seminary in 1869, having completed a ten years' course of study. While in New Haven he was extensively known in connection with " Scatter Good" and Bethany mission Sunday-schools, acting as superintendent of both at the same time. His services were in great demand at Sunday-school con- certs, conventions and other convocations of Sunday-school workers, and sev- eral of his vacations were spent in such work in Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, under the auspices of the American Sunday- school Union. It was at this time that he compiled and edited the "Car- mina Yalensia," which had the largest immediate sale of any collection of college songs ever published. As a member of the college choir and " Yale Glee Club " he planned and successfully managed the famous yachting tour of the club in 1866, when concerts were given in most of the principal cities of New England, also in Steinway Hall, New York, and the Academy of Music, Brooklyn. He took a prominent part in the college gymnasium, and shared the honor with Prof. Wood in training the "Yale University" crew in one of her successful contests with Harvard. His triumph in walking went the rounds of the papers when he and the " university stroke" walked from New Haven to Hartford (37 miles) in less than eight hours. In the society debates he took the first prize and also was awarded the first honor

[*This sketch of Mr. Garretson, and the portrait accompanying it, is published by the request of a friend from another state. We join with him and others in the hope that many young men may be stimulated by the success achieved by Mr. Garretson, to such earnest endeavor that as a result the world will be better for their having lived in it. The Dow academy, of which Mr. Garretson is president, and of which mention is made on another page, will, by its advantages, afford aid to those who desire reaching so successful a career as that enjoyed by Mr. Garretson .- PUBLISHER. ]

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in elocution. During the War of the Rebellion he was a member of the ex- ecutive committee of the U. S. Christian Commission for Connecticut, and for a time its business agent at City Point, Virginia.

Immediately after graduating he sailed with his wife for Europe, and spent over a year in Great Britain and on the Continent. Bearing letters of intro- duction from the prominent Sunday-school workers of America to those of Europe, he was invited to preach in many of the important foreign pulpits, and was soon commissioned for active service among the Sunday-schools and Protestant churches of Switzerland and Italy. During this trip he founded a Sunday-school paper which at this writing has the largest circulation of any Protestant publication in Italy. At the same time he edited and published a volume of hymns and tunes in Italian for children and youth.

On his return to America he organized the Foreign Sunday School Associ- ation, auxiliary to the American Sunday School Union, and was chosen its first secretary. He acted in this capacity until called simultaneously to the pastorate of the Harlem Presbyterian church and Grace chapel, New York. He accepted the latter and was pastor in New York city until called to the Congregational church, Ellsworth, Me, in 1873. Since 1876 his time has been largely devoted to evangelistic work, preaching in the Eastern, Middle and Western states and territories, making his home in Bangor, Me, and Pennacook, N. H., until in 1881, when he moved to Franconia. Since his residence in this latter place the town has been materially, intellectually, mor- ally and spiritually revolutionized. Through his personal instrumentality the Congregational church was built, and the marked and rapid improvements since have largely devolved on him. Next to his church work in Franconia his name will ever stand intimately connected with " Dow academy."

For the encouragement of young men without pecuniary advantages, de- sirous of an education, it ought to be stated that the subject of this sketch began his studies with less than $roo.oo, met all his bills, relying solely upon his own resources and energies, with a surplus at graduation, enabling him- self and wife to spend over a year in foreign travel. His motto was and is, " The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge," which may be seen in an alliteration on the fly-leaf of his Bible as follows :-

" The Lord of Hosts is with us

By His

P RESENCE ROMISES ROVIDENCE OWER."

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Jesseman, and reared three children, Mary Ann, James and Phebe. Mr. Quimby died July 1, 1804, aged eighty-four years.

Moses Arnold Dow, the veteran publisher of the Waverly Magazine was born in Littleton, N. H., May 20, 1810, and is now, consequently, seventy-six years of age. His remarkably successful career is a most striking illustration of the old adage "blood will tell," for he comes of an ancestry socond to none in inherent ability or high moral qualities. His grandfather, General Moses Dow, was one of the most eminent men of the Grafton county bar; register of probate thirty-four years ; State senator, and president of the Senate ; councilor ; judge of the court of common pleas ; major-general of State militia; acting attorney-general, and during the Revolution an earnest patriot. In these times of political chicanery and greed for office, it is well to note one act of his, which alone would reflect the highest honor upon the purity of his motives. He declined the office of member of Congress, to which he had been elected by the general assembly of New Hampshire. "His letter of declination, (Hammond's N. H. Town Papers, Vol. 12, p. 182,) con- tains evidence of the high character of the man, and of his refined literary attainments." His son, Joseph E. Dow, a graduate of Dartmouth college, the first lawyer of Littleton, was a town official and magistrate for years, and never was a shadow cast upon his integrity. Joseph married Abigail, daugh- ter of Hon. Jonathan. Arnold. (He was an early member of the Continental Congress from Rhode Island, and, it is said, at one time owned all the land now constituting the towns of Lyndon, Sutton and St. Johnsbury, Vt.) Abigail (Arnold) Dow was a lady of strong character, refined manners, and excellent worth. Governor Arnold, of Rhode Island, was her half brother ; Freelove Arnold Davis, wife of Noah Davis, of Haverhill, and mother of Judge Noah Davis, of New York City, was her half-sister. When but eleven years old, by the death of her father, Abigail became a member of the family of Hon. Charles Marsh, of Woodstock, Vt., and the adopted sister of Hon. Charles P. Marsh, the noted author and diplomate. Joseph E. Dow, and Abigail Arnold, his wife, were residents of Grafton county for many years, the greater part of that period being passed at Franconia, where they are buried, and where the filial devotion of their son, Moses A., has erected an elegant memorial monument.

When Moses was three years old, in 1813, his parents moved to Franconia, where his early education was acquired, more from the instructions of his excellent mother than from school attendance. At the age of fourteen he went to Haverhill, N. H., and for three years gave diligent attention to the acquisition of the printer's trade, in the office of the New Hampshire Intel- ligencer, then conducted by a Mr. Goss. The attractions of home and the remembrance of its joys were so strong as to cause him to drop the compos- ing stick for a time, and return to Franconia, where he passed a few months pleasantly, when the news came of the failure of Mr. Goss and the Intel- ligencer, and the establishment of a new paper in its stead, by Moses G.

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Atwood. Mr. Dow secured a position on the new paper, and remained one year ; then, in August, 1829, he went to Boston. How many premonitions of the anxious struggles and aspirations to be experienced there in after years, and the brilliant successes there to be obtained, came to the mind of the country youth in this his first visit to a great city, we cannot tell ; but, per- haps, vague and dim, they were ever present with him, constantly urging him on from place to place, until the time and conditions were ripe for his great life-work. The next spring, tired of city life, he returned to Haverhill, where he studied a year, and attended the academy for three months, after which he worked for his brother James, in a printing-office in Boston. In 1832 he established a political paper, the Maine Recorder, in Lemington, Me., which existed only three months. Once more in Boston, he passed two or three years as journeyman, when he again went to Maine, and, with a partner, Daniel P. Marble, established a political paper, the National Republican, at Saco. After three months he gave his interest to his partner, borrowed ten dollars, and returned to Boston. It is unnecessary to give a minute account of the events of the life of Mr. Dow for the next few years, suffice it to say that before he was thirty years old, he had established nine different periodi- cals-all failures, except in the experience acquired, which subsequently was of inestimable value.

In 1849, while a compositor on the Daily Traveler, he planned the Wav- erly Magazine, which he founded in 1850, with less than five dollars as capi- tal. And now the indomitable will, which had been striving for so many years toward the accomplishment of a purpose that must be brought some time to a fullness of completion, had its final and successful struggle with adversity. The many cognizant of the plan pronounced it a "visionary scheme," the few shared Mr. Dow's earnest faith in its ultimate success. From its inception he would not have parted with his publication for $ 10.000. The labor was performed by type-setters who acquired enthusiasm from the proprietor, and worked to aid in the success. For four months Mr. Dow sank money at the rate of $40 per week, but his untiring assiduity, perse- verence and nerve continued, and won success beyond his expectations. Reducing expenses to the lowest possible point, at the commencement of the fifth month he found that he was making twenty-five dollars a week, double the wages of a journeyman. The progress now was steadily upward. The Waverly Magasine took a fixed position in the world of periodicals, and met with great favor from the people. The price was increased from six to eight, ten, and, during the great civil war, fifteen cents per copy. During the war, and for a subsequent period of five years, the circulation attained the very satisfactory number of 50,000 weekly, and the Waverly gave Mr. Dow the handsome income of $150,000 per year. In 1868 he erected, at an expense of $500,000.00, the Waverly House, in Charlestown, Mass., which comprises his publishing house and a large hotel.

In business operations Mr. Dow has been original, far-seeing, sagacious.

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His successes have been attained when he alone has planned, directed and controlled. From his untiring labors of over half a century, wealth has come to him beyond the dreams of his youthful aspirations. He married, October 20, 1835, Elizabeth T. Houghton, of Andover, Mass. Their two children are Mary, who married Rev. G. R. W. Scott, and Emma (Mrs. Leonard F. Cutter).

Mr. Dow is a self-made man in the highest sense. With the acquisition of wealth there has been no change from the simple-hearted cheerfulness and kindliness of his original nature; severe afflictions have not chilled the warmth of his heart or his desire to secure the happiness of others. He has ever extended the "helping hand," and his kindness, force and industry have been sources of encouragement to all with whom he has been associated. In private life he is especially marked for his modest and unassuming man- ners, strong social feeling, and warm attachment to his numerous friends. It is useful to give the salient points of the life of such a man. They show what perseverence, enterprise, courage and fidelity will accomplish, and fur- nish an instructive lesson which we commend to young men as a worthy exam- ple. Mr. Dow has actively aided all liberal, reform, and educational move- ments. He has loyally retained his affection for the home of his early life. The town clock of Littleton, and the beautiful Dow academy in the lovely village of Franconia, are permanent and valuable proofs of this. He has already devoted $20,000.00 to the establishment of this educational institution, an excellent engraving of which is given in this work.

" Men may come and men may go," but the work they do lives after them, and the institutions they plant go on after they are gathered to their fathers, and when generation after generation shall have passed away, and this good year of grace become one of the dates of antiquity, the blessing of this gift will yet continue, and the majestic mountains of the Franconia Range look down upon this school, and happy children honor the memory of the wise benefactor whose fatherly care was mindful of them before their lives began.

John Callahan, of this town, proprietor of " Echo Faim," has erected an observatory on his place, from whence a magnificent view of the mountain scenery in this vicinity may be had.

Jonathan Bowles was born in Rochester, Mass., in 1776. In his early days he moved with his father to Richmond, N. H., where he subsequently married Phebe Parker, of Richmond. Mr. Bowles moved from Richmond to Lisbon about the year 1799. He was the father of thirteen children, four of whom survive him, viz. : Sally (Bowles) Quimby, John Bowles, George P. Bowles, and Esther (Bowles) Parker. John Bowles was born in Lisbon in 1812, and married Abigail D. Blake in 1836. His wife bore him four chil- dren and died in 1866. In 1868 he married Electa J. Harris, daughter of Daniel Harris, of Lisbon.

18*

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Hon. Eleazer B. Parker was born at Sugar Hill, in Lisbon, N. H., Decem- ber 10, 1818, and died May 12, 1884. When a small boy he displayed a de- cision of character and a literary talent, and, as he advanced in years, he pre- ferred study to manual labor. He received his first rudiments of learning in a district school at Sugar Hill, and subsequently attended Newbury (Vt.) seminary. · When eighteen he began his long career of public usefulness by teaching school. This vocation he followed with marked success in his own and adjoining towns until the time of his marriage, September 1, 1841, which was to Esther Bowles. About this period (1841) he, in company with his brothers, Silas and Pratt, commenced the business of tanning leather, and also the manufacture of boots and shoes at Sugar Hill. These combined in- terests he was connected with until 1846, when he removed to Franconia, and engaged in merchandising. He was a judicious economist, more willing to climb the ladder of fortune, step by step, slowly, from the bottom, than to dash into speculative and inconsiderate ventures, and his store was one of small beginnings. He was an honest, upright and sagacious trader and a popular citizen, and was prospered, his business increasing steadily and per- manently. He was personally in trade until 1868, and by the enlargement of his dealings was necessitated to erect new and larger stores, first, one near his residence, and afterward another, when he was succeeded in 1871 by his sons as " Parker Brothers," and where his youngest son, Wilbur F., is now in busi- ness. For many years Mr. Parker was not only a merchant but a participant in everything that would advance the material interests of the community among whom his lot was cast. He was a member of the old manufacturing house of " Moody, Priest & Co.," which for so long a period was engaged in making potato starch. He dealt largely in timber, and imported many thousand railroad ties, ship-knees, &c., from Canada. Alert, active, keen and vigilant, possessed of an energetic and pushing nature, probably no one individual in a wide range of country had so impressed himself upon the people, and the forces operating to build up this section, as he. He was a power to be felt in every undertaking, and of strict business integrity. When the Littleton National bank was organized he was chosen a director, and continued an active member of the board until his death. In politics he was a life-long Democrat, believing in " a government of the people, by the peo- ple, from the people," and most jealously watched anything that he deemed intrusion upon the rights of the people, that he might oppose it with all the strength of his nature, did the occasion arise. He was town clerk of Fran- conia for twenty years, from 1852 to 1872. He was elected representative from Franconia in 1861-62, and was elected senator to represent the " Twelfth District " of the State in 1873-74. In these and many other posi- tions of prominence and trust he rendered valuable and satisfactory service to his constituents, and never did malice or political animosity accuse him of the least dishonest action. His genial nature caused many to become his friends, while his kindliness of heart went out to the poor and needy in many acts of unostentatious benevolence. In the closer and holier relations of the

E. B. Parker

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home circle, as husband and father, he was loving, attentive and devoted, and the members of his family can recall only evidences of a sincere desire to make home the dearest place in all the world to them. His children are Phebe A. (Mrs. J. A. Knapp), Osman and Wilbur F. Mrs. Parker survives her husband and worthily occupies a high place in the esteem of the com- munity for her intrinsic worth.

The Franconia Congregational church, located at Franconia village, was organized by Revs. Asa Carpenter and Nathan Goddard, with seven mem- bers, in April, 1814. The first pastor was Rev. Edmund Burt. The first church building, a wooden structure, was erected in 1835, and was sold to the Baptist society when the present building was erected, at a cost of $5,000.00, in 1882. It is capable of seating 400 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $8,000.00. The society now has ninety-two members, with Rev. Ferdinand V. D. Garretson, pastor.

The Free Will Baptist church was organized by a committee from the Lisbon church, with forty-eight members, September 20, 1834. The first settled pastor was Rev. N. R. George. Their church building was built in union with the Congregational society, in 1835; in 1882, when that society built their new church, the Baptists bought their interst and remodeled the building, so that it will now seat 350 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $8,000.00. The society has 104 members, with Rev. R. L. Howard, pastor.

The Advent Christian church, located at Franconia village, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. Daniel Greggory, with about fourteen members, in 1883. This denomination began holding meetings here in 1876, in Parker's Hall, and in 1883, when organized, they moved into Union Hall, where services were held until the completion of their new church, in 1885. It is a neat wooden structure, costing about $1,500.00, and capable of accom- modating 200 persons. The society now has twenty-five members, with Rev. George Bowles, pastor. The Sabbath-school has forty members.

G RAFTON lies in the extreme southern part of the county, in lat. 43° 34', and long. 72° 49', bounded north by Orange and Alexandria, east and south by the county line, and west by Enfield and Canaan, having an area of 21,993 acres. It was originally granted to Ephraim Shearman and others, August 14, 1761, and named in honor of an English nobleman. This . grant was surrendered by a vote of the grantees, however, December 27, 1762, and the township was re-granted September 12, 1769, to Josiah Willard and others, many of whom were from towns in Cheshire county. The town was incorporated by the legislature November 11, 1778, in answer to a petition from the inhabitants, Daniel Sanders being authorized to call the first meet- ing. An act was passed relating to the boundaries of the town, March 28,

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1781, and one establishing the same was approved June 18, 1802, as fol- lows :-

" Whereas by an act of the General Assembly of the State of New Hamp- shire Passed on the 28th Day of March Last Jeremiah Page Esq. was ap- pointed with us the subscribers a Committee to Settle the Lines and Bounda- ries of the Townships of Enfield alias Relhan and those lines and Boundaries of the Townships of Canaan and Grafton which are or may be Contiguous thereto or Dependant thereupon-Pursuant to said appointment the Subscrib- ers have attended said Business and by and with the Consent of all the Parties have performed said Service in the following manner viz, Beginning at the Southerly Corner Bound of the Township of Lebanon which is the South Westerly Corner of the Township of Enfield alias Relhan Commonly Calld Sumners Bounds and Running South fifty-eight Degrees East Six miles and three-fourth of a mile to a Hemlock tree Markd H. G. W. C. &c thence Run- ning North forty Degrees and forty-five minits East about five miles and half to a Spruce tree marked as aforesaid which is the Dividing Line between Enfield and Grafton and is the North Easterly Corner of Enfield alias Relhan and the South easterly Corner of Canaan thence Running North fifty Eight Degrees West Seven Miles and Sixty Rods to a burch Stump which is also the North easterly Corner of Lebanon & the South westerly Corner of Canaan thence by the Township of Lebanon to the bounds first mentioned-

Boscawen July 9th 1781.

" Henry Gerrish " William Chamberlain Cornee

The surface of the town is rough and uneven, though the soil in many sec- tions is good, and when properly cultivated produces fine crops of corn, potatoes and grass. The western and southwest ·rn parts are broken into high elevations, the principal of which are Prescott hill, Ford hill and Isin- glass mountain. At the foot of these lies the valley of Smith's river, north- erly and easterly from which the land has a gradual elevation, to the foot of Cardigan mountain, in Orange. Smith's river flows through the town in a southeasterly direction, having many tributaries, among which are Whittier and Mill brooks, which unite at East Grafton. The streams in the extreme west- ern part flow west into Enfield, while Wild meadow brook, in the northeast- ern part, flows south into Danbury. There are also a number of natural ponds or lakelets, the largest of which is Grafton pond, in the western part, which has an area of about three hundred acres. Spectacle pond lies partly in Enfield, Tewksbury pond lies in the northern part of the town, Halfmoon Pond in the southern part, Wild meadow pond in the eastern part, while several others are found in the central part. In the northwestern part of the town is a remarkable ledge, called the "Pinnacle." On the south side the ground rises by a gradual ascent to the summit ; but on the north side it rises nearly perpendicular over one hundred and fifty feet. About 400 feet above the base of Glass hill is found a very valuable quarry of mica, which has been extensively quarried. It is known as the Ruggles mine, and George H. Randall is the present superintendent.

From the summit of this hill a very delightful view of the surrounding coun- try may be obtained. On John's hill, about a mile southwest from Glass

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hill, beryls of a large size are found. The Northern railroad passes through the town, following the course of Smith's river.

In 1880 Grafton had a population of 933 souls. In 1885 the town had eleven school districts, and eleven common schools. Its eleven school- houses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $1,025.00. There were 220 children attending school, thirteen of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by four male and fourteen female teachers, at an aver- age monthly salary af $24.81 for male, and $17.61 for females. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $1,008.00, while the expenditures were $906.03, with Fred A. Stevens, superintendent.

GRAFTON, a post village and station on the Northern railroad, lies in the southeastern part of the town.

GRAFTON CENTER, a post village and station on the Northern railroad, lies in the southeastern part of the town.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 40

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