Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 56

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 56

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C. C. Hoyno

40I

TOWN OF LANDAFF.

of business and official trusts. Partaking in a large degree of that charity which is a corner-stone of the Masonic order, to which he belonged, he was foremost to aid the suffering and friendless, and was most zealous in the work of the State Board of Public Charities, of which he was a valuable member for years, being tireless in his efforts to make that organization a prompt and effective agent. As a speaker on the platform or in debate Col. Noyes was curt and logical, his plain common sense and unpretending manners carried conviction to his hearers. His sterling worth and character won for him the esteem and friendship of all. His death occurred at Westport, Pa., Septem- ber 3, 1880. The hardy lumbermen of the West Branch valley came by thousands to his funeral to do honor to their friend, and many of the leading men of the State were in attendance. It was the largest funeral ever held in Northwestern Pennsylvania, and attested the love and respect felt for him by all classes.

Jonathan Poor came to Landaff, from Atkinson, N H., about 1795, and located upon the farm where his son John now resides. He was a farmer, heid the position of town clerk, was selectman, and held various other town offices. Two of his four children are living, namely, Mrs. Betsey Simonds, of Bath, and John, of this town. The latter was born in 1801, and has always resided here. In his younger days he was a school teacher, and taught school for thirty seasons. He has been town clerk, served as selectman nearly twenty years, and represented the town at four sessions. He resides on the home farm.

Jonathan Bronson came to Landaff, from Southington, Ct., about 1782. He started from there the 17th of June, with two yoke of cattle, arrived at Bath the 4th of July, where he remained a year, and then moved to Landaff, locating near the farm where Stephen. Bronson now lives, on road 7. He died about 1820. His son David was nine years of age when he came to Landaff with his father. He lived here until his death, in 1859. His children were as follows : Mrs. Huldah Noyes and Stephen, who live in Landaff ; Isaac, a resident of Lisbon ; and David, who resides in Canada. Miss Susan Bron- son, who came here with Jonathan, lived to the great age of 103 years, being born in 1699. and died in 1802, thus living in three centuries.

Benjamin Clark was born in this town in 1791. He married Polly Thorn- ton, of Lyman. In his early manhood he took an active and efficient interest in the literary, civil and moral enterprises of the day, was ever upright in his dealings, and was repeatedly elected to offices of trust by his townsmen. He died February 26, 1858, leaving a family of eleven children.

Colonel Moses Webster was born in Haverhill, Mass., in October, 1780, and removed to Landaff with his parents, in 1797, where he resided until his death. He was distinguished in early life for his correct moral habits, and for his zeal in performing filial duties. He was married at the age of twenty- two years, to Sarah Kimball, and reared a family of ten children. He died

26*

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TOWN OF LANDAFF.

March 26, 1858, leaving six children, two of whom are living in Haverhill, N. H.

John Cogswell came to Landaff, from Atkinson, Mass., about 1784, and located on the farm where Joseph Rich now lives, on road 7. His son Nathaniel was nine years of age when he came here with his father, and lived in town until his death, in 1866. Three of his nine children are living, one in Landaff, and two, George W. and John, in Easton.

David Atwood came to Landaff, from Atkinson, N. H., about 1784, and located on the farm now owned by J. C. Atwood. He was a brass founder by trade. His son Joseph was three years of age when he came here, and lived here until his death, which occured about 1864. He was a farmer, served the town as selectman, and was town representative, in 1823-24. He reared a family of five children, three of whom are living. David, in Lisbon, and Benjamin and John C. in this town.

William Kelsea came to Landaff, from Center Harbor, about 1800, and located on the farm now owned by Thomas Ruggles, on road 2. He was a farmer, and also made spinning-wheels. Five of his ten children are living. One son, John H., resides in this town, on road 2, corner 15.

David Young, a native of New Salem, N. H., came here from Manchester, soon after 1800, and located in the southwestern part of the town. About 1816, he moved to the place where I. and O. E. Young now live, on road 20. He reared a family of thirteen children, only three of whom are living. Of these, Mrs. Eliza Betton lives in Danville, N. H., and Mrs. Betsey Hall and Israel live in this town. David Young died in 1865, in his ninety-third year.

Benjamin Gale, born November 25, 1771, came to Landaff, from Kingston, N. H., in 1800, and located on a portion of the farm now owned by his son John F. He served three years in the war of 1812. He was a farmer and a school-teacher, married Sally Noyes, and reared a family of five children, only one of whom, John F., is living. He died in 1844.

John Merrill settled in Bath, about 1780, locating in the southeastern part of the town. He afterwards removed to Lisbon, and then came to Landaff, where he died. His son Ebenezer also moved to Lisbon, and died in Landaff. Two of his sons, Edson E. and Nathaniel M., live in town.

Jotham Sherman, one of the early settlers of Lisbon, resided in the south- western part of the town, near the village. He was a farmer and died in 1840. His son Peter was born in Lisbon, where he resided most of his life, and died in 1867. Two of his children are living, namely Mrs. J. B. Noyes and John B. Sherman. One son, Moses, died in Landaff, in 1880, aged forty-five years.

The Methodist Episcopal church. located at Landaff, was organized in 1800, by Rev. John Broadhead, with twelve members. Rev. Elijah R. Sabin was the first pastor. A church building was erected in 1802, which did service nntil the present house was erected, in 1841, which will comfortably accom-

403

TOWN OF LEBANON.

modate 300 persons and is valued at $2,000,00. The society now has ninety- five members, with Rev. Ira B. Tibbetts, pastor.

L EBANON, one of the most important towns, lies in the sonthwestern corner of the county, in latitude 43° 38' and longitude 72° 15', bounded on the north by Hanover, east by Enfield, south by the county line, and west by the west bank of the Connecticut river. Like other towns in the vicinity, the events which led to its existence may be traced far back of the date of its first settlement. The final conquest of Canada, in 1760, gave peace to the frontiers of New Hampshire. The Indians, who for a long time had been a source of terror and distress, were no longer feared. The various Indian and French wars, by the continual passage of soldiers, had made the lands in the valley of the Connecticut well known, and they were eagerly sought. Benning Wentworth, the Royal Governor of New Hampshire, always alive to his own interests, availed himself of the golden opportunity, and, by advice of his council, ordered a survey of the Connecticut river for sixty miles along its course. Townships of six miles square were laid out on each side of the river and granted to various petitioners, and so numerous were the applicants that in the year 1761 no less than sixty townships were granted on the west side of the river and eighteen on the east side, while this number was more than doubled in the next two years. After the destruction of Louis- burg, in 1758, William Dana and three companions, Connecticut soldiers, came across Maine to the Connecticut river, designing to follow it down to their homes. In passing through this region they found much to admire and covet, and Mr. Dana determined to secure a home here. Accordingly, on his return home he was instrumental in having a number of persons in the towns of Norwich, Lebanon and Mansfield, Conn., associate themselves together to procure charters of townships in the new territory of the Connecticut Valley. They formed two companies, though composed mainly of the same persons. One sought a charter of a town to be called Lebanon, the other proposed to call their town Enfield. They appointed Jedediah Dana their agent to go to Portsmouth and obtain charters from Governor Wentworth. He was successful, and on the same day, July 4, 1761, charters were issued for Lebanon and Enfield, and the same may be said of Hanover, Hartford and Norwich. The majority of the proprietors never came here, however, but sold or gave their rights to others, and as a majority of the proprietors were residing in Lebanon, Conn., that name was chosen for the new town in the wilderness. The grant was made to "Nehemiah Estabrook and fifty-nine others, in sixty-eight equal shares, and with the usual reservations."

The surface of Lebanon is comparatively level, being undulating rather than hilly. Through the center of the town, from east to west, flows Mascoma river. South of this stream the land is broken into gentle, undulating slopes,

404

TOWN OF LEBANON.

while to the north the elevations are more abrupt, the principal heights being Mt. Tug, in the northeastern part of the section, with the town line of Han- over passing directly over its summit, and Colburn hill and Pole or Cruft's hill in the western part. The valley of the Mascoma is broad and pleasant, and the river has several small tributaries from the north, while from the south it receives Stony brook, Great brook, and one or two other small streams. The Northern railroad follows the course of the stream, which it crosses no less than ten times in the length of the town.

The soil is alluvial and very productive, the intervals along both the Mas- coma and the Connecticut being celebrated for their fertility, and the town has always ranked among the first farming towns of the State. The farmers also early engaged in the rearing of Merino sheep. Deacon Elisha Ticknor, of Boston, imported a few from Spain and sent them to Labanon to be reared. From this stock Labanon farmers made up their flocks, and they have con- tinued to maintain a high reputation to the present time. Lead and iron ore and other minerals have been found in small quantities ; but above all these is the town celebrated for its immense water-power.

As we have already intimated, the most striking and valuable natural fea- ture of the town is the Mascoma river. The name is of Indian origin, namas, fish, and com, water, and in early times was eminently true to its name. Its head waters are found among the hills of Lyme, Dorchester, Canaan, Enfield and Plainfield, the latter in Sullivan county. Their waters are collected in the following natural reservoirs : Smarts pond, in Lyme and Dorches- ter ; Norris pond, in Dorchester ; Clark's pond, in Canaan ; Grafton pond, in Grafton ; Spectacle pond, in Grafton and Enfield ; Mud pond, Crystal lake, George's pond and Mascoma lake, in Enfield and Labanon, besides a number of smaller ponds which have no names upon the maps. All these waters are finally gathered in Mascoma lake. This lake is five miles long, with an aver- age width of one half mile, which would give an area of two and one half square miles, or sixteen hundred acres. A dam at the mouth of the lake holds back a volume of water six feet in depth over much of this area, so that a failure of water in Mascoma river, below the lake, is among the remotest probabilities. It has been found by a careful survey of the river from the lake to the Connecticut, that the total fall is 425 feet, and, it is estimated, would maintain forty-five mill privileges of 100 horse-power each. It has an average breadth of five or six rods. While in some parts of its course it has rapids, yet in others it winds through low meadows, giving ample space for the over-flow and spread of its surplus waters in freshets, making an emi- nently safe stream in high water. It is seldom that there is any damage from floods, and never any from ice in the spring. This water-power of the Mas- coma has been improved from the first settlement of the town ; in the early times, chiefly for the manufacture of pine lumber, which was floated down the Connecticut to Hartford, Conn., and thence shipped to New York and other cities. At present it is largely employed in extensive manufactures.

405

TOWN OF LEBANON.

About one and a half miles above West Lebanon, on the Connecticut river, within the territory of Lebanon, are situated the Olcott falls. Early in the century the Connecticut river was used for transportation, and to facili- tate the passage of boats, a canal and locks were built around these falls. At this point the river is narrow and affords great advantages for the use of its water-power. Recently a dam has been built, securing a head of some thirty- five feet, and affording a magnificent water-power. Buildings have already been erected and occupied.

In 1880 Lebanon had a population of 3,364 souls. In 1885 the town had sixteen school districts, eleven common schools, ten graded schools, and one high school. Its fifteen school-housses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $35,300.00. There were 807 children attending school, 126 of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by six male and twenty- five female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $46.50 for males, and $25.00 for females. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $9, 163.61, while the expenditures were $7,339.75, with Rev. J. M. Dutton and M. S. Woodman, committee.

LEBANON is a fine post village and local manufacturing center, located near the center of the town, on Mascoma river. The industries are various and numerous. There is an extensive manufactory of furniture, flannel mills, watch-key manufactory, scythe shops, a manufactory of scythe-snaths, sleds, lumber, flour and feed, an iron foundry, machine shops, two shops where are made the Lebanon overalls, and many others. The public building are, a fine town hall, which contains an opera hall, the Unitarian, Congregational, Meth- odist, Catholic, and Baptist churches, and the graded school building. The stores and offices, or most of them, are located around the spacious public square. Whipple's block is especially well built, convenient and elegant. The banks-national and savings-are also near the public square. Sayre's hotel, the only one in town, is located near the railroad depot. The Lafay- ette hotel, erected in 1804, by Thomas Hoyt, was kept by him until about 1812. It subsequently came into the possession of the Bentons, and was owned by members of the family for about fifty-seven years. It was for many years a prominent landmark.

The population numbers about 1,500. The dwellings are neat, and at- tractive, and many of them beautiful. The northern division of the Boston & Lowell railroad, affords easy facilities for transporting exports and imports.

WEST LEBANON is a post village located on the Connecticut river, opposite the village of White River Junction, has fine railroad facilities, and is a flour- ishing and thrifty little village of 500 or 600 inhabitants, especially noted for its neat, concrete walks, which extend through the principal streets. It has one hotel, is the location of the Tilden Ladies' seminary, and has the usual complement of churches, stores and shops.

EAST LEBANON (p. o.) is a hamlet situated at the outlet of Mascoma lake, and is a railroad station on the Northern railroad.

406

TOWN OF LEBANON.

The National bank of Lebanon, was originally organized in 1828, and through extensions of charter and re-charter, has been continued to the pres- ent time. Its officers are William S. Ela, president, and E. A. Kendrick, cashier. Its capital is $100,000.00.

The Lebanon Savings bank, charted in 1869, has the same officers as the National bank.

The Mascoma River Improvement Co .- This company comprises the owners of the dams on the river, who are associated for the protection of their own interests, and the development of the resources of the river. The Com- pany is duly incorporated under the laws of the State, with A. M. Shaw, presi- dent, W. H. Cotton, clerk, and a board of six directors. The industries rep- resented are as follows : Two hundred rods from the lake is the Emerson scythe factory, lately at Taftsville, Vt., on the Quechee river. A new build- ing has been added to that formerly occupied as the slate mills, with new machinery, affording the best advantages for the business. A mile and three quarters from Lebanon Center is Chandler's saw-mill. In Lebanon Center the first privilege is owned by A. M. Shaw and Mead, Mason & Co., in equal shares. On the east side of the river are the Shaw flouring-mills, with the best facilities for that branch of business. In the same building C. M. Bax- ter has established the manufacture of band-saws and wood-working machines. On the opposite side of the river are the building of Mead, Mason & Co., for the manufacture of furniture, doors, sash, blinds, etc. These buildings cover a large area, and are fully occupied. A spur track connects these buildings and Shaw's mill with the Northern railroad. The same dam furnishes power for Emerson's saw-mill, the Granite State Free Press, the Free Press job office, and Cally & Richardson's tag factory. A few rods further down the river is the Cole & Tilden dam. On the east side the Tilden building is occu- pied by N. B Marston, manufacturer of the adjustable drag rake ; Muchmore & Whipple, builders ; H. P. Goodrich, stair and rail builder ; D. E. Webb, wood-turner and manufacturer of toy sleds and wheel-barrows. On the west side is the machine shop and foundry of S. Cole & Son, who do a large amount of mill work, and furnish machinery and castings. Below, on the east side of the river, are the large lower shops of Mead, Mason & Co., connected by a spur track with the Northern railroad. Still further down the east side of the river, is the key-shop of Kendrick, Davis & Co., and the machine shop of A. W. Rix. On the west side is the large woolen factory of the Lebanon Woolen Co. The next dam is occupied by John Clark's saw-mill. A little below a new dan has been erected, designed to furnish power for a woolen- mill. About one mile from Lebanon Center, is Purmort's dam, furnishing power for the manufacture of rakes, scythe-snaths and scythes, in which a large business is done. The power about a mile from West Lebanon is used for the grinding of grain and the manufacture of lumber. In addition to these there are other manufactures in the village, of mops, carriages and felloes already mentioned, using power furnished by the different dams.

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TOWN OF LEBANON.

Mead, Mason & Co. are engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds, and house trimmings in general, and also of ash and pine furniture, at Leba- non village. Their several buildings border on the Mascoma river, fiom which they obtain their motive power to run the machinery. In the autumn of 1885 they built an addition to their buildings. The Northern railroad runs two spur tracks into their yards for the purpose of loading goods and unloading lumber, etc. This firm have mills in Concord and Manchester, ware rooms in Boston and New York, and also in London, Eng., their export trade having increased largely since they opened a place in England. They employ at the Lebanon factories from 150 to 200 hands the year round, which are under the charge of J. S. Mason and O. R. Mason.

The Emerson Edge Tool Company, at East Lebanon, manufacture scythes, corn-knives, and axes, giving employment to about twenty-eight hands, and producing 4,000 dozen scythes, 500 dozen axes, and 100 dozen corn-knives annually. The concern was first organized at Lebanon in 1856, the firm being A. V. Emerson & Co. This title continued two years, then changed to Emerson & Cummings, who carried on the business about two years, when Mr. Emerson sold his interest to Mr. Cummings, who continued the business under the firm name of Joseph Cummings & Co., for about four years, with A. V. Emerson as foreman. This firm was succeeded by R. O. Messer & Co., for one year, when A. V. Emerson purchased the property and run the bus- iness alone one year. Next came Emerson & Kendall, about two years, when Mr. Kendall was succeeded by M. W. Emerson, with the firm name of Emer- son & Co., who continued about three years and sold to Cummings & Pur- mort, who run it in the name of the Mascoma Edge Tool Co., and it is now run under that title by M. V. Purmort. In 1871 A. V. Emerson went to Lit- tleton and started a like manufactory. where he remained only about six months. He next went to Holyoke, Mass., and was engaged with his brother in the business of testing water-wheels. In 1873 he went to Taftsville, Vt., where the Emerson Edge Tool Co. was organized, and continued there nine years. This firm was composed of A. V. Emerson, Enos Dole and A. G. Dewey. The business is now carried on as first stated, by A. V. Emerson alone, at East Lebanon, under the name of The Emerson Edge Tool Com- pany.

Thomas B. Marston's saw-mills, located in the village of Lebanon, manu- facture spruce flooring and frames, hemlock boards and lumber, and pine, hard wood and all kinds of dimension lumber. These mills give employment to six men and turn out annually 1,400,000 feet of lumber.

Nathaniel B. Marston's drag-rake manufactory, located in Lebanon village, was established by Mr. Marston in 1876, for the purpose of manufacturing his celebrated patent drag-rakes. He also makes the scythe boxes for the Emerson Edge Tool Co. He gives employment to six men and turns out 600 dozen rakes annually.

Henry W. Carter's wholesale store and manufactory of the celebrated

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TOWN OF LEBANON.

Lebanon overalls, is located in Lebanon village, on Bank street corner of Park. Mr. Carter is largely engaged in the manufacture of overalls, turning out 150 dozens per week, and gives employment to forty or fifty women. He is also a dealer in small wares, cigars of his own brands, etc., and has con- stantly two men with fine teams to carry a full line of samples.

Muchmore & Whipple, contractors and builders and dealers in shingles, lath, clap-boards and hard wood flooring, have shops on Mill street, where they turn out builders' materials of all kinds, giving employment to twenty- five men. They also do an extensive business in building, as well as furnish- ing. The business was established in 1859, by Johnson T. Muchmore, who carried on the concern alone until 1872, when his son Oramel J. became his partner, under the firm name of J. T. Muchmore & Son. In 1876 the elder Mr. Muchmore retired, and the present firm was then formed.

S. Cole & Son's iron foundry and machine shop, on Mascoma street, manu- facture mill-irons, shafting and castings of all kinds, and also do a general jobbing business in machinery fittings. They give employment to about thirty- five men.

The Mascoma Flannel Co's mills are located in Lebanon village. This company was organized in 1882, with G. G. Kennedy, president, Frank B. Kendrick, treasurer, C. C. Rogers, agent, and M. E. George, superintend- ent. They manufacture woolen flannels. The mills are furnished with four sets of machinery, and give employment to fifty operatives.

Carter & Churchill, carry on an extensive business in the manufacture of overalls, woolen and cottonade pants, woolen and cotton shirts, and are also wholesale dealers in small wares and Yankee notions. They employ several traveling salesmen, and give employment to 100 hands. They also have an office at 240 Devonshire street, Boston.

Kendrick & Davis, manufacturers of watch-keys, located on Mill street, established the business in 1876. They give employment to fifty or sixty hands, and turn out about $40,000.00 worth of manufactured goods annually.

C. M. Baxter's manufactory of wood-working machinery and furnaces, on Water street, was established by Collins & Baxter in 1872. Mr. Collins re- tired from the business within six months thereafter, and Mr. Baxter has increased the business until he now manufactures above twenty different sizes and styles of planers and hand-saw machines, and house-heating furnaces, employing from ten to twelve men, and doing a business of about $20,000.00 per annum.

G. W. & M. L. Stearn's manufactory is located at the foot of Mechanic street. This firm manufactures scythe-snaths, boys and girls sleds, and Plum- mer's patent hammock-chairs. The business was established about thirty years ago, by Messrs. Leonard and George W. Stearns, who manufactured scythe- snaths and hand-rakes. This firm continued only one year, when it was run by L. Stearns & Co. for fifteen years, or till 1868, then by Marston & Stearns until 1874, when the firm of G. W. & M. L. Stearns was formed and

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TOWN OF LEBANON.

continued till May, 1884, when G. W. Stearns withdrew and the business is continued by M. L. Stearns, retaining the old firm name. The concern gives employment to twenty men, and turns out manufactured goods to the amount of over $20,000.00 annually.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 56

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