USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, New Hampshire > Part 69
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1864. Augustus Moulton, clerk ; Stephen J. Keneson, Sylvester Bennett, James Milliken, selectmen ; William J. Bennett, representative. Edward W. Harrington has 180 votes for governor, Joseph A. Gilmore 43. $3,000 raised to defray town charges, support the poor, and build and repair roads and bridges ; $2,600 to be raised to be paid to the accepted conscripts of Freedom (conseripted October, 1863), to be assessed as a special tax to be raised this spring. Indefinitely postponed action on the article in the warrant concerning raising men to fill the quota of the town for soldiers. August 15, voted to borrow $10,000 on the credit of the town, and appropriate it to fill the quota of the town for men under the late call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men ; also, to appropriate $200 each as a bounty to the men enlisted at Fort Constitution, provided they are allowed on our quota, and serve out of our state ; also, $200 to each of the men enlisted in New Orleans and allowed on our town's quota, $100 at the end of one year's service, and $100 at the expiration of two years. August 27, voted to raise $10,000 to fill the town's quota under the present call for troops, and selectmen authorized to borrow this sum for the town ; also, chose Jolin Parsons agent to fill the quota, and authorized him to pay $200 to each drafted man of the town who serves as a soldier or furnishes an acceptable substitute. November 8. The Democratic
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electors for President receive 174 votes, the Republican ticket getting 31. Voted unanimously not to buy a county farm and build a jail. Votes for revision of constitution, 9; against, 85. Voted to sell the town farm, and Elias Towłe chosen agent to do this; also, to pay those who went to Portsmouth to have their names stricken from the roll, their traveling expenses. December 1, voted to raise $10,000 and appropriate the same to fill the next quota ; authorized the selectmen to do this, and to cash the state bounty.
1865. Alonzo Pease, clerk ; Stephen J. Keneson, Sylvester Bennett, James Milliken, selectmen ; William J. Bennett, representative. Daniel Marcy has 153 votes for congressman to Gilman Marston 31. John W. Sanborn has 153 votes for councillor to John M. Brackett 31. Town votes $5,000 for town charges, support of the poor, and roads and bridges.
1866. Alonzo Pease, clerk; Stephen J. Keneson, Joseph M. Andrews, Charles B. Moulton, selectmen ; Samuel Harmon, representative. At the March meeting it was voted that Albion Burbank be chosen an agent to investigate a suit pending between this town and John Sanborn, Henry Philbrick, Alonzo Cushing, and Nathaniel Meserve, claiming a bounty for services at Fort Constitution, and if in his opinion the town is holden, the selectmen are authorized to settle the suit; otherwise, to defend it.
1867. Charles H. Beach, clerk ; William J. Bennett, Charles E. Moulton, Ransellear Towle, selectmen ; Samuel Harmon, representative. At the March meeting it was voted, by one in favor, 57 against, not to adopt pauper settle- ments in the county, to raise $5,000 to defray town charges, support poor, and for roads and bridges.
1868. Charles H. Andrews, clerk ; Joseph M. Andrews, Ransellear Towle, Samuel Harmon, selectmen; Thomas Lovering, representative. John G. Sinclair had 167 votes for governor, Walter Harriman 44. November 3. The Democratic ticket for presidential electors has 152 votes, and the Republican one 44. Voted 45 to 10 against revising the constitution of the state ; also, to authorize the selectmen to loan the credit of the town to the amount of five per cent. of its valuation to the New Hampshire Railroad corporation and take stock in the road for above amount (provided the road is built through the town, etc.).
1869. Charles H. Andrews, clerk; Samuel Harmon, Albert Locke, Gardner Brooks, selectmen; Thomas Lovering, representative. John Bedel has 158 votes for governor to Onslow Stearns 47. Town votes $2,500 for town charges and support of the poor, and support of the poor left with the select- men. November 9. Voted unanimously against the establishment of a state police.
1870. Charles H. Andrews, clerk ; Albert Locke, Gardner Brooks, Elias R. Sargent, selectmen; John Brooks, representative. Vote for governor : John Bedel, 143 ; Onslow Stearns, 44. $4,500 raised for town charges, support of poor, highways and bridges.
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1871. Charles H. Andrews, clerk ; Albert Locke, Elias R. Sargent, Augus- tus D. Merrow, selectmen ; John Brooks, representative. $5,000 raised for town charges, poor, highways, etc. At the annual meeting the selectmen are authorized to appoint an agent to collect, by suit if need be, the money reported to be due from town agents, selectmen, and collectors since 1864.
1872. Stephen Danforth, clerk ; Augustus D. Merrow, Joseph F. Mills, Harrison Durgin, selectmen ; James Milliken, representative. Vote for governor : James A. Weston, 148 ; Ezekiel A. Straw, 44. . November 5. The Democratic electors for President have 117 votes, the Republican 37.
1873. Stephen Danforth, clerk : Augustus D. Merrow, Joseph L. Mills, Harrison Durgin, selectmen ; Joseph Milliken, representative. Vote for gov- ernor : James A. Weston, 138; Ezekiel Straw, 42 ; John Blackmar, 1.
1874. Stephen Danforth, clerk ; Augustus D. Merrow, Amos T. Andrews, James S. Wormwood, selectmen ; John F. Topliff, representative. Vote for governor : James A. Weston, 130 ; Luther McCutchins, 37.
1875. Elias I. Towle, clerk ; Amos F. Andrews, James S. Wormwood, Joseph Moulton, selectmen ; John F. Topliff, representative. Vote for gov- ernor : Hiram R. Roberts, 155; Person C. Cheney, 34.
1876. Elias I. Towle, clerk ; Stephen J. Keneson, Joseph Moulton, Ransel- lear Towle, selectmen ; Wentworth Tyler, representative. Vote for governor : Daniel Marcy, 149; Person C. Cheney, 32. The Democratic electors for Presi- dent have 141, the Republican 37.
1877. George 1. Philbrick, clerk ; Stephen J. Keneson, Ransellear Towle, Joseph M. Andrews, selectmen ; Wentworth Tyler, representative. Vote for governor : Daniel Marcy, 170 ; Benjamin F. Prescott, 33. Voted $1,000 for town charges and poor, also $2,800 for highways.
1878. George I. Philbrick, clerk ; Stephen J. Keneson, Ransellear Towle, Joseph M. Andrews, selectmen ; Winthrop W. Lord, representative. Vote for governor : Frank A. McKean, 158 ; Benjamin F. Prescott, 34. Voted that the selectmen look after the poor.
1879. Pitt F. Danforth, clerk ; William J. Bennett, Robert Milliken, Daniel Harmon, selectmen. Voted $500 for town charges and poor, and $2,800 for highway.
1880. Pitt F. Danforth, clerk ; William J. Bennett, Robert Milliken, Daniel Harmon, selectmen ; John Parsons, representative. Vote for governor : Frank Jones, 178; Charles H. Bell, 49. The Democratie electors for President have 178, the Republican 49. Voted to shingle the town-house and make . necessary repairs, also to discontinue the pound.
1881. Pitt F. Danforth, clerk ; William J. Bennett, Elias R. Sargent, Simon O. Huckins, selectmen. Voted that the several delinquent collectors be held responsible to the town for the amount of tax on their respective books at the end of the ensuing year; the selectmen having the right to abate such as they think advisable.
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1882. Pitt F. Danforth, elerk ; . William J. Bennett, Elim R. Sargent, Simon O. Huckins, selectmen ; Jonas Farnsworth, representative. Vote for governor : Martin V. B. Edgerly, 169 ; Samuel W. Hale, 45. Voted to divide the school money among the scholars.
1883. Pitt F. Danforth, elerk ; William J. Bennett, Edmund P. Sawyer, Gilbert N. Huekins, selectmen. Voted to raise $3,000 to be appropriated to highway uses as follows : one third to be paid in money, one third in labor in summer, and one third in winter if necessary.
1884. Orren E. Drake, clerk; George I. Philbrick, David Smith, Edwin Towle, selectmen ; Stephen J. Keneson, representative. Vote for governor : John M. Hill, 175; Moody Currier, 53. The Democratic electors for President have 175, the Republican 53. Voted to dispense with a liquor agent.
1885. Orren E. Drake, clerk; George I. Philbriek, David Smith, Edwin Towle, seleetmen.
1886. Edward T. Merrow, clerk ; George I. Philbrick, Silas Brooks, Amos E. Drew, seleetmen ; Joseph Huckins, representative. Vote for governor : Thomas Cogswell, 151 ; Charles H. Sawyer, 50 ; Joseph Wentworth, 3.
1887. Edward T. Merrow, clerk : Silas Brooks, Amos E. Drew, William A. Bennett, seleetmen. Voted to authorize the selectmen to dispose of the liquor on hand.
1888. George F. Huckins, clerk ; William A. Bennett, Edmond P. Sawyer, O. C. Moulton, selectmen ; Leander Milliken, representative. Vote for gov- ernor : Charles H. Amsden, 147 ; David H. Goodell, 50 ; Edgar L. Carr, 5. The Democratie electors for President have 147, the Republican 50, third party 5. Voted to build a town-house, also to buy a road-machine.
1889. George F. Huekins, clerk ; Edmond P. Sawyer, O. C. Moulton, Orren E. Drake, seleetmen. Voted to sell the old town-house; to raise $15 for the purpose of decorating the soldiers' graves ; voted against prohibiting the manufacture or sale of alcoholic liquor as a beverage in the state. O. C. Moulton died August 6, 1889, and George I. Philbrick was appointed. The new town-house in process of erection is 36x60 feet in size ; and, ineluding the lot ($400), costs $3,000. On the first floor is a room for the selectmen's use, a room for cooking or other purposes, and the hall in which the town- meetings will be held. It is sheathed overhead and around the wall and four or five feet from the floor. On the second floor is a hall for special purposes, furnished with an " eleven foot " stage. The building is an ornament to the village.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ELIAS TOWLE.
THE name Towle is frequently found in the war annals of New Hamp- shire. One William Towle was in the French and Indian War, 1754-60; Ser- geant William Towle was in the Revolutionary army, and quite a number of the family participated in the War of 1812-15. Elisha Towle, one of the pioneers of Raymond, was from Hawke, now Danville. The Towle family of Freedom has been an important factor in its prosperity, and the Towles were among the early settlers of Effingham, and have ever been prominent in town affairs.
Elias Towle was born in Freedom, January 22, 1807, and died December 22, 1881. He was a son of Amos and Susan (Moulton) Towle, who had a family of nine children : Amos, William, Roley, Lovell, Lucinda, Almira, Elias, Uriah, and Jonah. When Elias was three years old his parents removed to Hollis, Maine, and lived in that town and Limington eight years, keeping hotel and carrying on a farm, when they returned to Freedom, where they ever after resided.
The early years of Elias Towle were full of toil and privations ; the first pair of shoes he owned was bought with money earned by himself, hoeing in the field at ten cents per day, doing the same work for which men received forty-two cents. His educational advantages were very limited. He attended only a few terms at the district school in winter, doing chores, cutting wood for home use, and cutting, hauling, and preparing the school wood for five weeks of the term (that being the apportionment for the number of scholars sent in the family). Usually his lessons were learned while lying on the floor with his head to the fireplace, using the blaze for his light. His boyhood and early manhood were passed on the farm and in working out by the month. When about twenty years of age he commenced to take small lumbering jobs for himself.
In the winter of 1829 and 1830, he and his brother Lovell operated a timber lot in Madison successfully, making what was then considered a good winter's profit. In the winter of 1830 and 1831, he, with Thomas Andrews, took a job to cut a large amount of lumber and put the logs in Ossipee lake and drive them over Iron Works Falls (now Effingham Falls) into Ossipee river. After enclosing the logs in a boom, they would tow them along shore with oxen. At one time the success of their whole winter's business depended on a single night's work. A strong wind prevailing through the day when towing the boom, they decided to work during the night (which was very cold) to get
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the logs around Rocky point, where they would be sheltered. All their men left before midnight, chilled and wearied, and at last Andrews gave out, and left Mr Towle to labor alone. With wonderful endurance and will he sue- ceeded in pulling the boom around the point about daylight. The oxen used were so chilled that their hair soon came off. Mr Towle's clothes were so coated with ice that he had to break it to enable him to travel, and he was so chilled and exhausted that it was with difficulty he succeeded in reaching the camp. This winter's business netted him one thousand dollars, which was the foundation of the large property he subsequently acquired.
In the spring of 1831 he and his brother Amos engaged in trade at North Effingham (now Freedom) and continued one year, when Elias bought his brother's interest and carried on the business alone until 1866, excepting one year when John N. Lord was associated with him.
At one time Mr Towle was largely interested in getting out shooks for the southern trade ; he also carried on a large farming business, and for about twelve years was associated with Stephen J. Keneson in buying and operating timber lots, as Towle & Keneson. With Josiah Thurston, John Demeritt, S. J. Keneson, and others, Mr Towle was instrumental in establishing the Ossipee Valley Ten-cents Savings Bank, was elected treasurer at its first meeting, and held the office until his death. He took a great interest in the bank and in inducing young people to make a start toward saving by deposit- ing small sums in it, his motto being to earn and save what he could; and he made it a point never to be idle nor waste his time nor ever to spend money foolishly. He possessed a faculty for saving as well as for acquiring.
He always took an active interest in the affairs of town, county, and state ; held nearly all the town offices ; represented the town in the state legislature of 1840 and 1841, and served his county as commissioner and treasurer. He was for many years justice of the peace and did much business in that capac- ity. He was a man of decided opinions, firm in his convictions, and unswerv- ing in his line of action after making a decision. Possessed of keen business acumen and good judgment, he conducted his affairs systematically, exacting from others only what he was willing to allow them under like circumstances. He was always a mediator between parties at variance, advising settlement of all difficulties without recourse to law, if possible, but when he was person- ally committed to a suit he would contend to the bitter end. He never had but one lawsuit -the celebrated Bell case, which he won after a stubborn contest. In politics he was an unflinching Democrat; was a charter member of Carroll Lodge of Masons, of Freedom. In 1838 he joined the Free Baptist Church and was an active member and liberal supporter of that society until 1865, when the society reorganized as the Christian Church, in which he took a deep interest, and cordially aided it with his time and money. He was superintendent of the Sabbath-school for a number of years, and, at his death,
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
gave the society its parsonage and one thousand dollars, the income of which was to be devoted to the support of preaching. He also presented the society its church bell.
October 28, 1832, he married Lois, daughter of Stephen and Lois (San- born) Swett (born June 26, 1811, and died November 4, 1888). They had three children : Orin, born September 3, 1833, died July 16, 1835 ; Stephen S., born November 20, 1836, and Elias Irving, born April 16, 1845. Mr Towle was eminently a home man, enjoying in a high degree the society of his family. He was respected by all as a man of sterling integrity, and in the varied social, business, and religious circles of the community his death left a void impossible to be filled.
ELIAS IRVING TOWLE, son of Elias and Lois (Swett) Towle, was born April 16, 1845. His early years were passed on his father's farm and in his store ; he acquired his education at the district schools, the seminaries at North Parsonsfield, Maine, Effingham Centre, and the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Portland, Maine. He bought his father's mercantile business May 1, 1866, and carried on merchandising alone until 1879, when he associated with him George I. Philbrick, under the name of E. I. Towle & Co. He has carried on the lumber business with S. J. Keneson since 1876, doing a business of forty thousand dollars annually ; he also owns and operates a large farm ; was chosen assistant treasurer of the Ossipee Valley Ten-cents Savings Bank in October, 1874, and elected its treasurer in December, 1881. He married, February 22, 1871, Vesta M., daughter of Henry and Diantha (Parks) Merrill, of Cornish, Maine. They have had two children ; only one, Harold Irving, born April 3, 1887, is living. Mr Towle resides on the homestead in Freedom Village.
JOSIAHI THURSTON.
Josiah Thurston was born in Freedom, N. H., June 9, 1814, and died suddenly of apoplexy, in Boston, November 13, 1886. He was the tenth child of Oliver and Anstress (Cross) Thurston. Oliver was born in Brent- wood. May 10, 1773, and in 1792 married Austress Cross, born in Exeter, November 3, 1775. They removed to Freedom, were among the early settlers of the town and there resided until their death. Mr Thurston was one of the best farmers in the town. They had twelve children: Mary, Oliver, William (1), William (2), Sally (1), Martha, Nathaniel, Josiah (1), Sally (2), Josiah (2), Eunice, and Isaac; only one, Martha (Mrs Hale Watson), is living. Josiah's early training was on his father's farm; his educational privileges were limited to the district school, where he laid the foundation for an active business career. He married first Mary Ann, daughter of William and Mary (Robinson) Thurston, of Eaton, September 10, 1840, who died
Josiah Thurston
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November 16, 1875. For his second wife he married, April 23, 1877, Julia Anna Roberts, daughter of Daniel and Abigail Pierce, of Hiram, Maine; she was born February 3, 1843, and has one child, Hattie P. Thurston. Mr Thurston had two children by adoption, Nathaniel H. Thurston (dec.), who married Georgia A. Sias, of Ossipee, and had three children, May Bell, Addie, and Winfield O .; Sarah A. (dec.), who married Edwin Towle, of Freedom, and had two children, Amos C. and Josiah Thurston.
Mr Thurston, when a young man, became engaged in lumbering on a small scale, buying timber lots and operating them, disposing of his lumber in the log at the river-bank and on the cars. His business, by good management, gradually developed to large proportions, extending through eastern New Hampshire and western Maine, and at his death he was considered the largest landowner in Carroll county, and one of the largest in the state. Among the various enterprises with which he was connected was the old Pine River Bank at Ossipee. He was at his death three fourths owner of the Pine River Lumber Company, which owned a track of timberland 3,500 acres in extent, the original proprietors of which were Asa Beacham, Luther D. Sawyer, Esq., Isaac Thurston, and the Pine River Bank. Mr Thurston first bought Isaac Thurston's interest, then Asa Beacham's and lastly, Luther D. Sawyer's, thus becoming three fourths owner, with Dr N. Grant, of Ossipee Centre, as owner of the other fourth. Mr Thurston was manager for the company until his death. July 1, 1868, an act to incorporate the Ossipee Valley Ten-cents Savings Bank at Freedom passed the state legislature, the charter being secured by the efforts of Mr Thurston, John Demeritt, of Effingham, then in the legislature, and Elias Towle. At the first meeting Mr Thurston was chosen president, and held the position during the remainder of his life ; Elias Towle was chosen treasurer, and Stephen J. Keneson, secretary.
In connection with his other business he carried on the home farm, where he always resided and cared for his parents while they lived. He was an affectionate, devoted, and indulgent husband, fond of home and its sur- roundings, and a pleasant man in his family, hospitable and social with all : strong in his friendships and equally so in his dislikes, yet governed by reason : of uniform temperament, he often acted in the capacity of peacemaker between parties at variance ; systematic, orderly, exact, honest ; he possessed keen discrimination and good judgment as applied to business affairs and men. He was not a very robust man, but by care was enabled to accomplish more than an ordinary amount of labor. He was liberal to all worthy objects and causes, and willing to help those who showed a disposition to help themselves. Commencing with limited means, by judicious management and wise invest- ments, he accumulated a large property, notwithstanding heavy losses, at one time losing twenty-five thousand dollars by one firm. He was always prompt, and expected others to be so. Careful in making a promise, his word once
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given was his bond. All his affairs were admirably arranged to avoid trouble at his decease. He left sums varying from one hundred to five thousand dollars to relatives. In politics he was a Democrat, and he took much interest in national, state, and local affairs. He held some town offices, and repre- sented Freedom in the state legislature.
Mrs Thurston, who inserts this sketch and portrait to the memory of Mr Thurston, is a most estimable and capable lady: she retains the old homestead, where, with her daughter, Hattie P., she still resides.
OSSIPEE.
CHAPTER LI.
Description - Lakes, Streams, and Ponds -Origin of Name - Boundaries and Changes - Incorporation - Forts - Indian Monumental Mound - Where Some of the Early Settlers Lived - Early Mills -Stores and Traders.
0 SSIPEE is sixty miles north-northeast from Concord, and nine miles from Wolfeborough. It is a queer shaped town, as seen on the map, with a length of eighteen miles and a very irregular width, averaging perhaps six miles. Ossipee mountains occupy the northwestern portion for their eastern flank. Ossipee lake lies partly in this town. It is a fine body of water, of oval form, covering about seven thousand acres, and its waters are clear and beautiful. It has no island. Lake trout, cusk, and other edible fish abound in its depths. Ossipee river flows from this lake northeasterly to the Saco in Maine. Pine river passes through the east part of Ossipee, and Bear Camp river seeks the lake on the northwest. These streams and their tribu- taries are well filled with the gamy brook trout, and this appears to be a most capital breeding-place, as the numerous bodies of water connecting with them afford a winter resort. The largest of these is Dan Hole pond, about four hundred rods long, on the Tuftonborough line. Lovewell's, Welch, Bean, Archer's, Garland, White, and Black ponds and Duncan lake are others.
Rev. B. D. Eastman gives the origin of the euphonic name of this town in this manner: " At a very early date in the history of the settlement of New England by the English people, it became known that the Indians generally put a higher estimate upon pine-trees than any other species of which the forest is made, and taking the advantage of this knowledge, together with the knowl- edge of their love of trinkets, they coined and introduced among them half- penny pieces bearing the image of the pine-tree, which took wonderfully with the red hunters and their squaws, and fabulous prices were obtained which wonderfully increased the already growing propensity of cheating the Indians, the result of which was the loss of many lives. The ko-was, "pine-tree," fur- nished them with many of the indispensables of forest life. The cones or buds
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could be gathered for fuel, and already fitted without the tedious labor with tools of stone. The boughs were used for beds, the pitch for canoes and lodge purposes, and in extreme cases the seeds to prevent starvation. The Indians appear to respect the pine-tree as an emblem of their own physical and mental uprightness, its tall and straight shape, green and fresh in cold or heat, a cover from the storms in winter, and a shade from hot summer rays. The name koosa, 'pine,' or ko-was, 'pine-tree,' has a connection with many Indian names. We have a county Coos in this state, though different in orthography. It is pronounced as Indians pronounce pine-tree, and we doubt not the original name of a portion of the county called Coos was by the Indians named Ko-was-auk or Ko-was-ki-ki. Again, we have in the county of Carroll a mountain, a town, and a river bearing the same name. Now one of them, and only one, could have been named by the Indians. The orthography of this one name is also partly disguised. It is now written and pronounced ' Ossipee.' If the Indians had named the mountain for the reason that pine predominated, they would have called it Koos-adchu, Koos-adine, or Koos-wa-jo; if either, it would mean the same thing, 'pine mountain.' If the Indians had named the region of country embraced in the town now called Ossipee, and pine as a wood predominated, it would have been just like the Indians to give it a name with fundamental meaning. If Narraganset Indian, it would be Koos-auk ; if Delaware Indian, it would be Koos-oh-ke; and if Ab-e-na-ki Indians, the name would be Koos-ki-ki. Now with regard to the Indian name of Ossipee and its meaning. Koos-sipe, 'pine river' (from the roots of Indian dialect), means 'water stretched out' or extended 'midst ever- greens.' We do not propose any change in the names of our mountains, rivers, or of our goodly shire town of Ossipee, but rather, in connection with our subject, to show the reason why. The Indians at Ossipee, who were really a branch of the Pequawket tribe, were called Koos-apeese, for it is a remarkable fact that the Indian tribal name is generally originated from the name of the place of their home location, as also you may see in the name of the tribe at the junction of the Saco with the bay. A tribe in close alliance with the Pequawket, their name evidently originated from the name of the place of their location, Sauk-skog-oose, 'outlet or mouth of the Snake stream.' How easily this original name slides into the name of the tribe Sok-ko-gies, or into the name of the river as now called, Saco."
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