Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 60

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 60

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The Congregational church of Lebanon, located at Lebanon village, was or- ganized by Rev. Bulkley Olcott, of Charlestown, and Rev. James Welman, of Cornish, with six members, September 27, 1768. The first pastor, Rev. Isaiah Potter, was ordained August 25, 1772, the services taking place under a large elm tree on the bank of the Connecticut. During this year, also, the first church building was erected. a wooden structure 48x34 feet, with twelve-foot posts. The present building was erected in 1828. It is a neat wood structure capable of seating 420 persons, and valued, including grounds, an $9,000.00. The society now has 196 members, with Rev. J. M. Dutton, pastor. Its Sabbath-school has 201 members.

The Methodist Episcopal church, located at Lebanon village, was organized by the quarterly conference, with sixty members, in 1832, Rev. Nathaniel Ladd being the first pastor. The church building was erected during the fol_ lowing year, 1833, though it has been improved and enlarged at different times, until it is now a fine wooden structure capable of accommodating 600 persons, and valued, including grounds, etc., at $9,500.00. The society has 301 members, with Rev. M V. B. Knox, pastor. Its Sabbath-school has 220 members, with an average attendance of 144.

The West Lebanon Congregational church, located at the village of West Lebanon, was organized by a council convened for the purpose, in 1849, the society then consisting of forty-four members. The first pastor was Rev. Rufus Case. Their church building, a wooden structure capable of seating 425 persons, was built during that year. The society now has 150 members, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Theodore C. Pease, and a Sabbath-school with an average attendance of from eighty to one hundred.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic church, located at Lebanon village, was organized in 1856, with fifteen families as communicants, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Bacon, Rev. Father Daley being the first pastor. The church building erected in 1856 was superseded by another structure in 1863, and that in turn by the present, in 1878. The latter building will seat 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $13,000.00. The society now has 100 families as communicants, with Rev. L. Moise Laplante, pastor.

The Lebanon Baptist church, located at Lebanon village, was organized by the Newport Baptist Association, with twenty-six members, in August, 1862. The first pastor was Rev. John Mckinley. The first church building was erected in 1863. The present structure was built in 1869. It will seat 350 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $10,000.00. The society has 151 members, with Rev. N. F. Tilden, pastor. Its Sabbath-school has 130 pupils.

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TOWN OF LINCOLN.

The First Unitarian Congregational church, located at Lebanon village, was organized by C. C. Benton, J. M. Perkins, J. Adams, G. H. Lathrop and H. Fales, with five members, November 7, 1865, the first pastor, Rev. Judson Fisher, being installed January 2, 1867. The church building, a wooden structure erected in 1880, will seat 220 persons and is valued, in- cluding grounds, at $6,000.00. The society now has a congregation of about seventy-five families, with Rev. Calvin Stebbins, pastor.

L INCOLN is a mountainous tract of land lying in the northern-central part of the county, in lat. 44° 5' and long. 71° 40', bounded north by Franconia, east by Livermore and a small part of Thornton, south by Woodstock and a small part of Thornton, and west by Easton. It was granted to James Avery and others, January 31, 1764, in seventy-one equal shares, with an area of 32,456 acres.

Extremely rough and mountainous in character, the town has very little good farming land and less than a hundred inhabitants ; but the scenery in and around it is grand and romantic in the extreme, and annually attracts thousands of tourists within its borders. In the center of the town is located the celebrated " Flume" of the White mountains, of which few have not heard. This is a deep and narrow canon, at the southern gateway of the Franconia Notch, which has been eaten bya mountain brook, in the coarse granite ledges near the base of Mount Flume. The canon is in fact a trench 700 feet long and from ten to twenty feet wide, between parallel perpendicular cliffs fully sixty feet high. At the bottom a merry little brook dashes down among the rocky fragments, skirted and often crossed by an easy plank walk. Be- tween the narrowing walls in the upper part of the Flume, a huge bowlder was formerly held, gripped tightly by the opposite cliffs, and held midway between the rim and the floor of the chasm. But succumbing to the erosion of time, the mighty mass was loosened and fell, June 20, 1883. Beautiful views also may be obtained from many points in the town, though none excells that from the Flume House, about a mile from the Flume. Directly in front is Mount Liberty, with its fancied resemblance to the profile of George Wash- ington. On the north is the picturesque Notch, while on the south the whole valley of the Pemigewasset is brought to view, with its pleasant intervals and towering hills on either side, the whole presenting a panorama of nature rarely excelled in this country. The middle branch of the Pemigewasset river flows a southerly course through the central part of the town, receiving numerous small tributaries. The east branch of the Pemigewasset flows through the eastern part of the town. Bog, Fish and Loon ponds are the principal bodies of water.

In 1880 Lincoln had a population of sixty-six souls. In 1885 the town had two school districts and two common schools. Its two school-houses

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were valued, including furniture, etc., $1,010.00. There were seventeen children attending school, taught during the year by two female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $19 90. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $131.75, while the expenditures were $131.84, with Mrs. Emma E. Dolloff, superintendent.

There is no village or post-office in town.

The Flume House, one of the fine summer hotels of the mountains, was built by Taft & Greenleaf, in 1871, at a cost of $32,000.00 ; but in 1883 it was enlarged and improved, doubling its capacity. The hotel is now ably managed by the Elliott Brothers.

Dolloff & Hanson Bros'. bobbin and chair stock factory, on road 3, was built by them in 1879. They run one lathe on chair-stock and manufacture about 600,000 bobbins per annum.

The settlement of Lincoln was not begun until after the close of the Revo- lution, and even as late as 1791, it had only twenty-two inhabitants. Lit- tle farming is done, there being only about 1,000 acres of improved land in the township. As early as 1808 Stephen Russell built a house just below the present Flume House, which he opened as a hotel, ever since which there has been a hotel in the vicinity. The principal occupation of the inhabitants, and their principal source of revenue, is the care of tourists. The road through the " Notch " was built by the State about 1813.

Simson Tuttle came to Lincoln, from Acton, Massachusetts, about 1824, and settled upon the place where his son John W. E. now lives, on road 3. He commenced running a tavern, and from the beginning, the house had been known as Tuttle's Hotel. In the early days they were often obliged to turn the cow out into the storm to give place for the traveler's horse. A fine house and barn have been erected where the log house formerly stood. John W. E. Tuttle has lived here all his life, has a fine farm, and has kept up the reputation of the house, which his father established. Mr. Tuttle has been first selectman a number of years, and has also served as town repre- sentative.

L T ISBON lies in the northwestern part of the county, in lat. 44° 13', and long. 71° 50', bounded north by Littleton and Bethlehem, east by Franconia, south by Easton and Landaff, and west by Lyman. It is a fair agricultural town, a popular summer resort and has an area of 29, 130 acres, 17,417 of which is improved land. The town was granted August 6, 1763, to Joseph Burt and others, by the name of Concord. This grant was made, and the town thus named, nearly two years prior to the incorporation and naming of Concord in the county of Merrimack. Very nearly the same territory was again granted, January 31, 1764, to John Fansher and others, and named Chiswick. Why this grant was made does not appear. It seems

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to have been ignored, and the township re-granted, at the end of five years from the first grant, at which time, October 20, 1768, the grantees, failing to fulfill the conditions of the same as to settlement, it was re-granted to Leon- ard Whiting and others, in ninety-four equal shares, and named Gunthwaite. The boundaries of the latter grant varied somewhat from the former, but began and ended at the same place in both. Settlements were made by virtue of titles from the grantees of 1763, and some by virtue of titles from the grantees of 1768, which naturally led to a bitter controversy, as will be seen further on. An act passed January 9, 1787, appointing Col. Charles Johnstone, of Haverhill, to call a meeting of the proprietor and inhabitants, to choose officers to assess and collect the taxes, contained the following : "Provided nothing in this act shall be construed to affect the title of any per- son claiming lands under either the grant made to Gunthwaite or Concord." The town, which was incorporated in its last grant by the name of Gunthwaite, assumed the name of Concord, and in State papers was alluded to as "Con- cord, alias Gunthwaite," and later as "Concord in the county of Grafton," until June 14, 1824, when it was changed to Lisbon by the legislature. By an act approved June 23, 1859, all that part of Landaff lying northwest of the Ammonoosuc river was annexed to this town.

Lisbon as a farming town may be classed with those of a medium grade. The soil upon the intervales along the Ammonoosuc, when first cleared, was quite productive, though naturally light, as is the case generally throughout the western portion of the township. Nevertheless, it responds freely to the application of fertilizers. The eastern part was originally covered with a hard wood growth, and consequently possesses a strong soil, and the farmers have been well rewarded for their toil. The grazing here is excellent, and much attention is given to dairying and potato raising, for which latter the soil is wonderfully adapted, and which for many years was the chief industry.

In common with so many other towns in New England, Lisbon has suffered from emmigration westward, and the subsidence of the rural population to the business centers. In many of the back neighborhoods, where thrift and prosperity were once discernible, the school-houses are nearly empty, build- ings are going to decay, and the forests encroach upon the fields.

The supply of water throughout the town is abundant and permanent. Upon almost every farm are springs, which furnish Nature's beverage, cold and pure, while meandering streams diversify the landscape, and silver lakes lend beauty and variety to the scenery. Ammonoosuc river is the principal stream, fresh from the mountain gorges of the famous Crawford notch, its waters, clear as crystal, flow through the town in a southwesterly direction. There are two dams across the river, one at Lisbon Village, and the other three miles above. Two miles above the village is the so-called "Salmon Hole," where the river is very narrow and deep, with a huge rock protruding from its eastern bank, upon which rests the bridge which spans the stream. In days of yore salmon were caught here, weighing from twenty to twenty-five

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pounds. About this place clustered legends relating to transactions back in a pre-historic period.

The largest tributary of the Ammonoosuc is the South branch, which rises near Mt. Kinsman, flows through Franconia and traverses the northern-cen- tral part of this town. Burnham's brook derives its name from a hermit who built his cabin near its mouth, for some cause seeking entire seclusion. As civilization advanced he retired to some more remote place in the wilderness. The brook rises in the southwestern part of Littleton, flows in a circuitous route through Lyman into Lisbon, and empties into the Ammo- noosuc at the bend near Salmon Hole. One of the first mills erected in the town was built by Capt. Whiting, on this brook, upon a site ever since occu- pied. Along its course, or connected with it, are ten ponds, and from time immemorial it has been a favorite resort for fishermen and hunters. The Robbins brook, formerly well stocked with trout, drains the Walker Hill region, and empties into the river about a mile above the upper dam. The Salmon Hole brook drains considerable territory and has furnished water- power in several places. The fishermen have never been able to exhaust the supply of trout in this brook, though large numbers are caught each year. It has its source in the Sugar Hill section, and flows westerly, emptying into the Ammonoosuc just above the place from which it derives its name.

Henry pond lies upon the border of the interval three fourths of mile above Lisbon village. It is the home of the pout and the muskrat, and in spring- time is musical with the song of the frog ; otherwise it is only noticeable for its historic associations. The first white man's dwelling, the first school-house, and the first church built in the town overlooked its limited area. Perch pond, named from the species of fish in which it abounds, may be found in the western part of the town, a mile or more back from the river. In extent it does not exceed twenty five acres, and neither the pond itself nor its sur- roundings possess any particular attractions. Streeter pond, so-called from the surname of the first settlers in its vicinity, lies in the northeast corner of town, two miles from Franconia village. It is a pretty sheet of water, esti- mated to contain seventy-five or eighty acres. Guests from the Goodnow and Forest Hill Houses frequent this pond, and the fisherman is well rewarded for his pains.

Pearl lake, comprising an area of 100 acres, is situated near the Landaff line, two miles east of Lisbon village. Its waters are pure and transparent, being supplied from springs in the neighboring ravines. Unlike many lakes in New Hampshire, it is not surrounded by a barren waste, but with lands fertile and clothed with verdure. The scenery from the lake, or shores and hillsides about it, is lovely and picturesque in the extreme. There is an Indian legend that the Great Spirit inade a deep cavity by scooping out the earth and heaping it in a mass, then the waters from the several streams flowing in completed the formation of the lake. This theory of its creation is worthy of consideration when the topography of the locality is brought to

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notice. On the west side Pond hill rises abrubtly several hundred feet, and the adjacent waters are of unknown depth. While floating upon the tiny pool, immense upheavals, forming hills seen upon all sides, can but inspire one with emotions of awe and admiration.

By the early settlers this body of water was called Bear pond, because Bruin himself "staid here," and his kinsfolk were numerous in the outlying forests ; neither were they extinct at a much later day. In the year 1841, farmers living in the vicinity found havoc made among their flocks of sheep, and knowing too well the cause, made known the facts to D. G. Goodall, a well-known citizen of the village, and withal a nimrod of high repute. He took with him Samuel Dailey and other experienced hunters and, all eager for the sport, they proceeded to the neighborhood of the pond, Mr. Goodall taking along with him his dog "Beaver," a powerful mastiff, always his com- panion in hunting expeditions. After entering the woods the men separated, agreeing to come together as soon as possible at the report of a gun. But a short time elapsed when Mr. Goodall came upon a female bear and two half grown cubs.

Being a fearless man he fired upon them, killing one of the cubs and wounding the dam. In a moment the enraged animal sprang upon him, and with equal celerity "Beaver" grappled with the common foe. Mr. Goodall disengaged himself from the bear, and, leaping upon a stump near at hand, loaded his gun with all possible haste. The contest between the bear and the dog was of short duration. Quicker than the story is told, the latter was ren- dered helpless, bleeding from fearful wounds, while Bruin again made for the master. Just as her head peared above the edge of the stump the gun was discharged, and its contents lodged in her brain. The other hunters soon came up, pursued the other cub and dispatched it. Thus ended the bear tragedy. The poor dog was six weeks recovering from his wounds, and ever afterwards was a privileged character.

After larger game became scarce thereabouts, it was discovered that mink did congregate in these waters, and many people came here to hunt them for their fur ; so, in course of time, Bear pond gave place to a name having a more practical application-Mink pond. In the summer of 1854 some fisher- men here discovered in clam-shells substances which the imagination easily manufactured into pearls. Furthermore, it was stated for truth that True Page found a pearl which he sold for $30.00. The report went abroad, and quickly many men from Lisbon village, with a retinue of boys, rushed pell- mell for Mink pond. For days there might have been seen from fifty to sev- enty-five people knee deep in water, hunting for the hidden treasures. Clam- shells accumulated in heaps, the scattered remnants of which are still to be seen. At length, finding no more pockets replenished, the bubble burst ; hence, the propriety of the present name, "Pearl lake."

The outlet of the lake is Garnet brook, so-called from the garnets found imbedded in the rocks along the upper course of the stream. The brook

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flows in a southwesterly direction and empties into the river near Henry pond. Four water privileges have been used on this stream, but the build- ings, as well as the dams, have all gone to decay. Near the Hillside House, a summer resort kept by Edwin Knight, on this stream, are the Hughson falls, a cascade in which the water leaps over a succession of regular steps some seventy-five or eighty feet. In times of high water a spectacle is pre- sented truly grand and imposing.

It is generally believed that Lisbon occupies the central point of the min- eral region of New Hampshire. Within its limits beside the large iron deposits which will be mentioned later, are found gold, silver, lead and copper. Whether or not any of these minerals will be found in paying quantities remains yet to be determined. A great mineral excitement occurred here in 1866, origin- ating as follows : -

Prof. J. H. Allen, an adept at mining, discovered a specimen of free gold in quartz rock about a mile east of Lisbon village. More specimens were found in quartz in various places, not only in Lisbon but also in the adjoin- ing towns. Searching for gold led to the discovery of other minerals through- out a territory including several towns. Capitalists were forthcoming who prospected, made investments, erected mills for working the quartz, and what was more, produced handsome bars of gold. Yet, from the beginning, grave doubts had existed among sober minded men as to the probability of gold being found in paying quantities ; and this doubt established a principle of action among mining men. The whole business drifted into speculation. A programme was soon adopted which each succeeding party followed to the letter. The course pursued was to bond a piece of land, sink a shaft a few feet, make a good show, sometimes by bringing rock from another place, then sell out. The man who sold was always the lucky man. During an interval of ten years it is estimated that a million and a half dollars were squandered in mining operations in Lisbon and vicinity ; not, however, to the detriment of the town. Hotels and boarding houses reaped a harvest, though sometimes losing a bill by some poor dupe who had been fleeced of all he possessed. Again, in some cases, farmers were enabled to sell at fancy prices some sterile pasture lands which were comparatively valueless.

Lisbon, as before stated, is the central point of the mineral region ; fur- thermore, it has been the headquarters of the mining men and the place where much of rock has been worked. Yet within the limits of the town only one mine has been opened, that one being the so-called Atwood mine, located near the place where gold was first discovered. In relation to this mine we quote from a mining record as follows :

" The vein was dipping a high angle to the northwest, and a shaft being put down perpendicular 100 feet, passing the vein at the depth of fifteen feet, very many specimens of free gold were taken out, and the sulphurets were specially rich. Owing to bad management, this mine was abandoned. I do not know of any attempt ever being made to strike the vein from the bot- tom of the shaft by contract. All the facts in the case bear witness that the

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mineral resources of Lisbon have never been brought to fair test. And now, when excitement gives place to rational deliberation, experienced mining men express the opinion that the quartz veins in Lisbon carry gold in quantities sufficient to pay for working, and that in the near future the spirit of specu- lation will subside and there will spring up a profitable business."

Previous to the year 1800, iron ore of a fine quality was dicovered on a hill in the southeastern part of the town, and at an early day works were estab- lished on a small scale for the production of iron. The business was found to be quite lucrative, so much so that in 1810 capitalists from "below" formed a company, which was incorporated under the name of the New Hampshire Iron Factory Company. At Franconia village, the nearest water privilege, a furnace and other buildings were erected, provided with all the necessary fix- tures for manufacturing iron and for casting various implements and vessels. In accordance with the expectations of the stockholders the business thrived, and for a successson of years the net profits of the company averaged $30- 000.00 per annum. The company continued to prosper until improved means of transportation brought their products and those from the mines in Pennsylvinia in competition. After being in operation thirty years, the furnace was closed. Work was not resumed till 1859, when other parties operated the mines for two or three years and suspended, after which the buildings fell into decay, and finally, in 1884, were consumed by fire. In these mines, how- ever, the supply of ore is supposed to be inexhaustible. Limestone is abund- ant in some parts of the town, and the manufacture of lime was formerly quite an industry. The Boston and Lowell railroad passes, in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, through the town.

In 1880 Lisbon had a population of 1,807 souls. In 1885 the town had eleven school districts, eight common schools, six graded schools, and one high school. Its eleven school-houses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $5,675.00. There were 424 children attending school, fifty-three of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by four male and twenty-three female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $34.00 for males, and $25.60 for females. The entire amount raised for school pur- poses during the year was $3, 162.25, while the expenditures were $3,329.10, with Rev. S. S. Nickerson, superintendent.

LISBON is a fine post village located about midway between Wells river and Littleton, upon the Ammonoosuc and on the Boston & Lowell railroad. It is a handsome, thriving place, and the entrepot for quite a surrounding country. It has a number of busy manufactories, fifteen or twenty stores of various kinds, fine church and school buildings, quite a sprinkling of profes- sional men, and a number of fine of residences.

SUGAR HILL is another attractive post village. It occupies a sightly emi- nence upon the elevation from which it derives its name, in the eastern part of the town. Upon this attractive spot, amid the verdant hills, the gigantic maples have been superseded by the dwellings of the villagers, who are noted for their intelligence and morality. Aside from the usual complement of

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mechanics' shops and business places, there are some thirty or forty dwellings and several summer boarding houses.

Sunset Hill House .- Of late years Lisbon has, on account of its prox- imity to the mountains, its pure air and delightful scenery, become famous as a summer resort. To meet the increasing demand, commodious structures have been built, specially fitted for the convenience and comfort of guests, so that within their walls the pleasure-seeker, the invalid, or the care-worn busi- ness man may truly find a home. First comes to notice the Sunset Hill House, built in 1879, by Bowles & Hoskins, under whose management it has attained its present popularity. Its table is supplied with all the substantials and lux- uries procurable in the markets and farm houses, and its arrangements throughout are those of a first-class establishment. Being of peculiar style of architecture, and domeless, with colors flying from a flag-staff, its appearance from a distance is suggestive of a fortress, rather than the abode of peace and pleasure. The house is located near the village of Sugar Hill, on a small plateau elevated nearly 2,000 feet above sea level.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 60

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