Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 76

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 76

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).

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ated. When an auger was needed to make a bedstead, it was only to step nine miles through the woods to a Mr. John Chamberlain's, in Thetford, and borrow of him, who was the only person then living in that town. When the bedsteads and two or three chair frames were put together, it was only to step through the nine-mile woods to return the auger. This labor and fatigue was . considered as nothing."

Jonathan and Israel Sawyer, Gen. Israel Morey and a Mr. Caswell carne into the town the same autumn. From this time the settlement must have increased quite rapidly, for in 1767 the town had seventy-five inhabitants, which number had increased to 228 in 1773. Among the early settlers were the following : Timothy Sargent, Rev. Samuel Todd, Capt. Jonathan Derby, Clement Emery, Dr. Eli Carpenter, Asa Tyler, Capt. Ebenezer Baldwin, Con- stant Bliss, (killed by Indians at Greensboro, Vt.,) Capt. John Clark, Simeon Derby, Francis Follett, James Moulton. Elnathan Palmer, Samuel Thing, Dea. Michael Taintor, Joseph E. Ware, Richard Haselton, John Hale, Sam- uel Phelps, Jesse Poor, Jonathan Storey, Alex. Storey, Hardy Ropes, A. G. Britton and John B. Wheeler.

John Mann, Jr., born May 21, 1766, was the first white child claiming na- tivity in Orford. The first recorded act respecting public schools was passed October 8, 1770, when it was resolved "to hire a schoolmaster for six months." From this good beginning the education of the young has been cherished as a work of prime importance. The school-house was also used for public wor- ship. John Mann, Jr., was the first, and for many years the only merchant here. He was also the first postmaster and held that office for a long period. Rogers and Doubleday were the next to establish a store. After them came John B. Wheeler and his brother Daniel, who prosecuted a large and success- ful business, and did much for the prosperity of the place. The first lawyer was Abither G. Britton, who was at one time a member of the state legisla- ture, and later, Jeduthan Wilcox, once a representative in Congress. In the war of the Revolution the inhabitants of Orford displayed commendable pa- triotic zeal. In the late great war the town furnished 113 men, thirty of whom lost their lives in the service.

Dea. John Niles came to Orford, from Portsmouth, some time previous to the Revolution, and located on the farin now owned by his grandson, B. F. Niles. He died March 18, 1840, aged seventy-six years. Capt. Nathaniel Niles, one of his eleven children, served as a captain in the war of 1812. Benjamin H., son of John, was born in Orford in 1800, resided in town with the exception of two years in Newbury, Vt., and died here October 6, 1875. He married Martha Savage, and reared nine children, four of whom are living and reside in this town. They are B. F., E. H., Mrs. Martha J. Stone and Mrs. M. Gardner.

Thomas Savage came to Orford, from Deerfield, Mass., about the begin- ning of the Revolutionary war, and settled in the eastern part of the town. He had born to him eight children, all of whom grew to maturity. He kept

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a hotel for a number of years, was engaged in farming, and also built a grist- mill which he carried on for a year, when it was destroyed by a freshet.

George and Thomas Savage came to Orford, from Deerfield, Mass., at an early day. were farmers, and settled in the eastern part of the town. George died in 1876, aged ninety-three years, and Thomas died about 1864. Two sons of George, Charles T. and John A., reside in town, one son, George F., lives in New York city, and one, Thomas W., lives in Athol.

Ephriam Phelps came to Orford, from Hebron, Ct., about 1785, and settled near the place where Royal W. Simons now lives, on road 7. He cleared a farm, reared ten children, and died about 1816. His son Elihu was born in town and resided here until his death. His son John H. now resides on road 2.

William Brown came to Orford, from England, and located on road 14, where he cleared a farm. Previous to this he enlisted as a privateersman, under Capt. Samuel Tucker, for which service he drew a pension. He reared a family of six children, and died in December, 1845. His son Samuel was born in Orford, reared eight children, four of whom are living, two, William and Mrs. Sabrina Lovejoy, live in this town, and Cyrus and Irene live in Wisconsin. Samuel, who lived on the farm where William Brown now lives, died May 25, 1835, aged thirty-nine years.

James Pebbles came to this town, from Salem, Mass., about 1796 or 1797, and settled in the northern part of the town. He was a blacksmith by trade and also engaged in farming. He married Martha Haskell, and reared a family of eleven children, one of whom, Seth, lives in Lunenburg, Vt. His son John was an infant when he came here with his father, and always re- sided here. He married Delia H. Weed, reared nine children, and died in 1877, aged eighty years. James Pebbles died in 1860, at the great age of one hundred and five years. John H., son of John, died in the army, and the remainder are living. Of these, Mrs. Lucretia H. Harris, Mrs. Delia H. Blodgett, Mrs. Louisa J. Porter, William F. and Hazen, live in this town, George S., in Iowa, Riley, in Natick, and James T., in Framingham, Mass.

William Grimes moved to Littleton, from Lexington, Mass., about the time of the Revolution. His son Nathan was born in Lexington, came to Orford, from Littleton, about 1798, was a cooper by trade, and was also en- gaged in farming. He died about 1875. Two of his seven children are liv- ing, Nathan and Harriet. The latter lives in Springfield. Edward E., son of Nathan, is engaged in mercantile business in Piermont.

James Dayton, born in Glastonbury, Ct., in 1769, served as an appren- tice at the clock manufacturing business, in Hartford, Ct., and came to Orford in 1791 or 1792. He was a leader in public assemblies, and was often called upon to preside at town meetings. He located on road 18, where he owned a large farm, built a carding and cloth-dressing mill, and also a saw and grist-mill. He died in 1854. He had born to him nine children, four of whom are living, Daniel, residing in South Bend, Ia., and three, Capt. Henry, Mrs. Maria Hodge and Miss Eliza Dayton, of this town.

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TOWN OF ORFORD.

Samuel Tillotson came to Orford, from Hebron, Ct., about a hundred years ago, was a farmer, and reared a large family of children, five of whom settled in this town. Obadiah and Daniel, Jr., both reared families and died in town. Daniel was born in 1775, and lived here till his death in 1859. His son Daniel F. was born here in 1815, on the same farm occupied by his father and grandfather, has been engaged in mercantile business for thirty years, and is now a dealer in produce, lumber, etc. His only son, Daniel, was born in 1850, and is engaged in lumbering and farming.

Capt. Alexander Stony, a sea captain, came to Orford, from Salem, Mass., at an early day, and settled upon the farm now owned by S. S. Houghton, on road 19. He owned, in that vicinity, 250 acres of land, and also, for a time, a grist-mill. His daughter Sally married George Riley, who came here, from Weathersfield, Ct., clerked for a time, and then removed to Danville, Vt. He afterwards moved to Boston, where he kept the No. Nine Elm Street Hotel. He died in New York in 1832. His son Charles H. was born in Boston in 1823, and came to Orford about 1832. He represented the town in 1884, was selectman in 1861, '62, '63 and '64, and also in 1879, '80.

William Howard, son of William and Martha Howard, was born in New London, Ct., May 20, 1775, learned the hatter's trade in Norwich, Ct., and came to Orford in 1799. He carried on the manufacture of hats here for many years. He served the town as selectman and was postmaster for thirty years. He married twice, first, Betsey Pierce, who was born in Chester July 5, 1775, and died September 20, 1819, and had born to him seven chil- dren, namely, William, Henry, Elizabeth, Mary P., James P., John and Nancy. He married for his second wife, Abigail Stratton, of Fairlee, Vt., June 30, 1820, and had born to him five children, Louisa, Thomas, Sarah, George and Jane. Mr. Howard died October 20, 1848, aged seventy-four years His son William, born in Orford, in 1803, went to Sharon, Vt., in 1819, where he clerked for a time in the store of Wheeler & May. In 1823 he entered into partnership with Mr. May, continued in this business until 1835, when he re- turned to Orford, and has since been engaged here in the mercantile business. He has been town treasurer, represented the town in 1849-50. He married Sarah E. Page, of Sharon, Vt., and has three daughters, namely, Mrs. Eliza- beth M. Avery of Boston, and Mrs. Martha A. Pierce and Kate, both of whom reside with their father.

John Hall moved to Groton, from Hollis, N. H., at an early day, and after- ward came to Orford, settling near the Connecticut river. He died in the northeastern part of the town about 1842.

Bethuel Cross, a native of Wentworth, came to Orford, from that town, as one of the first settlers, cleared a farm, and located near the Connecticut river, on road 19. He reared seven children, and died about 1854. His daughter Hannah married Jonathan Clark, son of Benjamin, who came to Orford, from Boscawen, N. H., in 1816. Mr. Clark was a farmer and also engaged in the pottery business. He reared three children, two of whom are

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living. He was deacon of the Congregational church for many years, and was superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He died in 1877, in his eightieth year. His son Bethuel is a merchant in Boston, and Daniel C. resides on the homestead.

Elihu Corliss came to Orford about 1791, and cleared a farm. He reared a large family of children, and died about 1844. His oldest son, Alexander, was seven years of age when he came here with his father. They came on horseback, bringing their household effects with them. Elihu Corliss served in the Revolutionary war, was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and drew a pen- sion. Alexander reared a family of five children, two of whom are living. His daughter, Mrs. Abigail B. Bowles, lives in Burlington, Vt., and his son John S. lives on road 18.

Nathaniel Marsh, one of the first settlers of Orford, died in 1791. He left three children, two sons moved to New York, and the daughter married Alexander Corliss.

Royal Morris, one of the early settlers of Orford, was a hatter by trade and worked for a time at Orford Street. He afterward moved to Schenectady, N. Y. His son George R. resides in town.

Joseph Pratt, a native of Salem, came here with his father, married Lydia, daughter of John Mann, one of the first settlers of this town, and reared six children. Of these, two are living, Joseph, who resides in Worcester, Mass., and John, who lives in Orford. The latter was born in 1806, was engaged in the mercantile business at Posts Mills, Vt., about thirty-eight years, at Ver- shire for four years, then returned to Orford in 1871, and lives on a portion of the farm where his grandfather first settled. He married twice, first, Sabra Tory, who bore him two children, one of whom is living, Alma, of North Thetford. He married for his second wife Mrs. Myra B. Bufton, of Top- sham.

John Hale came to this town from Hollis, N. H., at an early day, settled in the southeastern part of the town, and was a farmer and a drover. His son Aaron was born in Hollis, moved here with his parents when a child, and resided in town till his death, December 5, 1869. He married Mary Kent, and had born to him eight children six of whom are living. They are John, of Cleveland, O., Aaron, Thomas and Edwin, of Cambridgeport, Mass., Mrs. Sarah Hanks, of Cambridge, Mass., and Daniel T., of Orford.

Samuel Lovejoy was born in Rindge, N. H., in 1773, married Nancy Clark, of Framingham, Mass., in 1798, and came to Orford about 1800, locating on the farm now occupied by Albert G. Lovejoy, on road 3. He reared a fam- ily of ten children, and died December 13, 1858, his wife having died in 1844. His son Clark was born in Orford, September 6, 1807, and occupied the homestead. He married twice, first, Sally Chandler, of Piermont, and had born to him one child, Mrs. William Chandler, of Claremont, N. H. He married for his second wife Sabrina Brown, and had born to him two children,

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S. Josiah and Albert G., both of whom are living on the home farm. Mr. Lovejoy died March 25, 1883. His widow still survives him.

Enos Lovejoy was born in Orford in 1806, married Mary S. Hale and brought up five sons and a daughter. He died in 1880, aged seventy-four years. Samuel W., his eldest son, graduated from Dartmouth college, was principal of Orford academy some years, studied law at Albany, and practiced at Cohoes, N. Y. John H. removed to Nebraska. Frank J. served and died in the civil war. Lewis P. is a lumber manufacturer in Lyme. Nancy C. married Alonzo Stark, who was killed in the civil war, and she with her mother reside in Orford. Nelson H. died at the age of sixteen.

John Bickford moved to Piermont from Northwood, N. H., about 1800, and cleared a farm near the center of the town. He died in Orford in 1836. His son Isaac was born in Northwood, moved to Piermont with his father and settled in Orford in 1833, on the place where his son John now lives. He had born to him eight children, six of whom are living. He died in 1864 or 1865, aged eighty-one years. His children are Levi C., of Piermont, Mrs. Charles Tolman, one in Iowa, one 'in Lancaster and one in Concord.

Nathaniel Haselton came to Orford from Westinoreland, N. H., about 1810, and settled on road 19. He died on road 2. His son Col. John was born in Westmoreland, March 29, 1805, and was about five years of age when he came to this town. He married Mercy D. Phelps, and reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are living. He cleared the farm and built the house where Benjamin Franklin now lives, on road 6, where he lived many years. He died December 20, 1876. He was a colonel in the state militia, took a great interest in agriculture, and was chairman of the executive com- mittee of the Grafton County Agricultural Society. He, in company with D. F. Tillotson, had the contract for building a portion of the Passumpsic railroad.

Stedman Willard was born at Saxton's River, Vt , in 1798, and came to Or- ford in 1813. He was engaged in the mercantile business for over fifty years, represented the town in the legislature, and held nearly all of the town offices, He was one of the foremost in the organization and building of the Orford academy, and was the first treasurer of the institution. He was also a prominent member of the Congregational church, and was for many years a deacon. He married Meriel, daughter of John Brooks Wheeler, the first merchant of Or- ford, and reared seven children, viz. : David E., of Concord, Isaac, Hannah (Mrs. John W. Sanborn), both of this town, John, of New York city, William A., of Passaic, N. J., Meriel (Mrs. T. D. Rowell), of Zumbrota, Miss., and Sarah S., the wife of the Rev. T. F. W. Clary, of Milton, Mass. He died March 18, 1877. David E. was born in Orford in 1829, was educated at the Kimball Union academy, and has been engaged in the mercantile business. He has been justice of the peace since 1872, was railroad commissioner from 1878 to 1881, and was elected to the state senate in 1883. Isaac, son of Stedman, was born in Orford in 1832, was educated in the Thetford, Vt.,

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academy, was engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York city for six years, resided in Iowa five years and returned to Orford in 1864. He has since then been a resident of this town, is a merchant, has been postmaster ten years, town treasurer four years, and has been deacon of the Congregational church since 1877.

Nathaniel Russell was born in Pelham, N. H., in 1811, came to Orford when five years of age, and has since resided here. He has been engaged in farming and lumbering, and has one son and two daughters, namely, Mrs. B. F. Trussell, Mrs. Franklin Eaton, of Wentworth, and George N., who re- sides with his father, on road 24.

Stephen Cushman came to Orford, from Landaff, about 1812 or 1814, and located at Orfordville, where he built a carding and cloth-dressing mill, which business he carried on for many years. He died February 12, 1869. Of his nine children, five of them are living, viz. : John J., Hartwell C., Mrs. Re- becca Blood, all three of this town, Ephraim, of Providence, R. I., and Asa, of Taunton, Mass. Hartwell C. was engaged in the mercantile business here, in company with D. F. Tillotson and his brother John J., from 1842 to 1873. He has four children, namely, Peleg E. and William A., of this town, Henry I., who is pastor of the First Universalist society, of Providence, R. I., and Mrs. Pleasantine Wilson. of Winchester, Mass.

John R. Pierce came to Orford, from Fairlee, Vt., about sixty years ago. He was a shoemaker and died in Vershire, Vt. His son John R. resides in Orfordville, where he carries on the blacksmith business.

Benjamin Trussell came from Boscawen, N. H., about 1800, and located in the eastern part of the town. He was a farmer and a millwright. He married twice, first, Sophia Derby, about 1820, who bore him three children, and second, Aseneth French, and had born to him four children. He died in 1882. Of his four children now living, Benjamin F., who resides here, has been town clerk twenty-one years, represented the town in 1878-79, and is now on the second term as selectman. He has held all the various offices of the town, and was at one time town representative, first selectman and town clerk.

James M. Learned was born in Weathersfield, Vt., in March, 1809, and, after living in Haverhill and Bath, in which latter place he was captain of the militia, came to Orford in March, 1839. He bought 300 acres of land and, in 1847, bought the Williamstown springs, run them a year and then returned to Orford. He has been engaged in farming and lumbering, and has been an auctioneer for over forty-eight years. He has been justice of the peace forty years, selectman five years, collector of taxes seven years, overseer of the poor, &c. He has reared seven children, four of whom are living. Four of his sons served in the late war, one of whom died there.

Horace H. Conant was born in Craftsbury, Vt., in 1810, came to Orford in 1845, and engaged in the harness-making business, which he carries on at the present time. He has held the office of justice of the peace since 1869,

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served as deputy sheriff, six years, and is now notary public. Of his three children, one is a teacher in Santa Fe, N. M., one is in a broker's office in New York city, and one is the general secretary of the Young Men's Christ- ian Association of Providence, R. I.

Benjamin Morrill was horn in Danville, Vt., in 1811, came to Orford in 1869. He engaged in the manufacture of starch, at Orfordville, which bus- iness he carried on until 1881. He is now engaged in the mercantile busi- ness.

Daniel P. Wheeler was born in Fairlee, Vt., September 2, 1810, and has resided in Orford most of his life. He has been engaged in the mercantile business, but is now a farmer. He has held many town offices, represented the town in 1848, '57, '58, '61 and '62, bank commissioner, in 1859, '60 and 61, and collector of internal revenue of the third New Hampshire district, from 1863 to 1867. He married Mary Ann Wheeler, and has two children, Daniel, born in 1836, and Charles, born in 1839.

Captain Chandler moved to Piermont, it is thought from Connecticut, some time previous to the Revolution, in which war he served as captain. His son Seth was born in Piermont, and lived there until his death in 1818. Two of his eight children are living, Theron, who resides in Chicago, and Stevens, of this town. The latter was born in Piermont in 1802, moved to Lebanon when a young man, where he learned the tanner and currier trade. He then returned to Piermont where he established a tannery, which business he car- ried on for seventeen years, when he sold out and moved to Orford, purchas- ing the farm where he now resides. He has one son and two daughters. His son, Worthen D., is a flour dealer in Chicago.

Alexander Hodge came to Landaff, from Scotland, at an early day, and was one of the early settlers of that town. His son John was born in Lan- daff, and lived there and in Lebanon nearly all his life. He died in Barnet, Vt. Four of his seven children are living. Of these, West B. lives in Lan- daff, Damon F. in Northumberland, John P. in Minneapolis, Minn., and Ida A. resides in this town on road 18.

Samuel L. Blair, born in Londonderry, N. H., moved to Holderness at an early day. His son Walter was born in Holderness, but afterward moved to Plymouth where he died. Arthur W., son of Walter, was born in Plymouth, in 1848, graduated at Dartmouth college in 1872, and entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, in 1879, graduating from there in 1881. He located in Orford, in September, 1881.

Three brothers, Ezekiel, Francis and Stephen Davis, came to Wentworth from Merrimac county, at an early day. Stephen was a farmer, and had born to him four children, two of whom are living. Of these, Mrs. Irene Lewis lives in Walpole, Mass., and John T. lives in Orfordville, on road 30.

David Whitman moved to Lyme, from Bridgewater, Mass., soon after the Revolution. He served in that war, entering the service when sixteen years of age, and died in Orford. Seven of his eight children lived to be over

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TOWN OF PIERMONT.

seventy years of age, but only one is now living, Mrs. Rhoda Morey, of Or- ford. His son David was born in Lyme, and lived in that town and in Orford most of his life, but died in Newbury, Vt., in August, 1874. His son Caleb F. lives in town. Two sons, Shepherd B. and Monroe D., served in the late war.

Stephen Howland, son of George, who was an early settler of Lisbon, reared eleven children, eight of whom are living, and died in Landaff about 1852. Of his children, one son, Samuel, lives in this town, on road 3, Mrs. Nathan Grimes lives in town, Isaac and Jeremiah reside in Franconia, one son is in California, and one son is in Gorham, N. H.

Asahel Blodgett, originally from Plymouth, where the family were early settlers, came to this town in 1850, and located in the eastern part. He died in 1874, aged seventy-four years. Five of his six children are living, namely, Webster P. and Mrs. Mary J. Hickok, of Wentworth, Mrs. Martha A. Simnp- son, Mrs. Hattie E. Sherburne and Mrs. Nellie M. Pebbles, of Orford.

Daniel Coburn came to Orford, from Connecticut, as one of the first set- tlers, and located near the India pond.

Hazen Carr came to Orford, from Enfield, about 1839, and located on the farm now owned by the heirs of Hazen E. Carr, on road 19. He was a mill- wright by trade, and died in 1884. His son Hazen E. was one of the promi. nent men of this town, and died in 1884. Peter Carr, father of Hazen, came here with his son Jesse, from Plainfield, N. H., the year following, and re- sided here till his death. Jesse located on the farm now owned by Jesse K. Carr, on road 19. Parker, another brother of Hazen, came to Orford in 1869, locating on the farm where he now resides with his son J. O. Carr. One daughter, Mrs. F. C. Bradford, also resides in town, and one, Mrs. J. M. Fitts lives in Dorchester.

P IERMONT lies in the central-western portion of the county, on the Connecticut river, in lat. 43° 58', and long. 72º 1', bounded north by Haverhill, east by Warren, south by Orford and west by the west bank of the Connecticut river. It was granted by Benning Wentworth, November 6, 1764, in sixty-three shares, to Hon. John Temple and others, twelve of whom bore the title of "Honorable," nine had military titles, and twenty- eight that of " Esquire." Its official bounds, as established by a commission appointed in 1780, were as follows :-

" Beginning at a hemlock tree standing on the bank of Connecticut river being the Northerly bound of Orford, thence South Fifty Eight degrees East seven miles to a Beech tree being the North East corner bound of Orford, thence North five degrees and thirty minutes East five miles & a half mile to a Beech tree the South East corner of Haverhil thence North Fitty three de- grees West five miles three quarters of a mile and fourteen rods to Connecti- cut river, thence by said River to the first Bound. Nevertheless it is to be

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understood that the line between Haverhil & Piermont as here set forth is not to interfere, obstruct, or Alter any agreement relative to said line from Con- necticut River to the Southeasterly corner of the Hundred Acre Lots laid out by Haverhil as settled by the Proprietors of Haverhil and Piermont and a Judgment of the Inferior Court of common pleas in the County of Rocking- ham consonant with such agreement .- We have returned herewith & an- nexed hereto a plan of the laying out of the Towns aforesaid and noted at the several corners the Bound Trees all which Trees we have marked with the initial Letters of our respective names, and generally heaped Stones about the Bound Tree excepting the Bound Trees at the Easterly corner of Camp- ton, and the Pine at the Southwesterly corner of Orford, by Connecticut river."

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 76

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