History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 89

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

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In 1777 John Fowler (who had come from Boscawen in 1775), James Head, and Thomas Danforth were in office. David Folsom and David Gilman appear as selectmen in 1781. The selectmen report fifty-three taxable polls in 1783, and from this time emigration both to and from the town was rapid. The west side of the town was almost one with Sandwich, Moultonborough, and Burton, and frequent changes of residence were made. The eastern side in the same way was connected with Eaton and Ossipee; and there was a desire to be classed as a part of Eaton, and on account of uncertainty of town lines many paid taxes there.

Captain George Dodge was an important addition to the town in 1790. He was the wealthiest of the inhabitants, had the first chaise, and was "unani- mously " chosen clerk of the Congregational church at its first meeting in

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1792. His attire was much superior to the settlers. He wore breeches and long stockings with buckles, and his wife fine white holland aprons. His house was located near the old meeting-house, and he was a leading man.

From 1810 to 1813 a great degree of prosperity was felt, both in temporal and spiritual matters. In 1813 the spotted fever made its ravages, and soon succeeded the cold seasons of 1816, 1817, 1818, when corn did not ripen and the frost blasted every green thing ; a famine ensued, and great sufferings were experienced. By 1820 there were nineteen school districts (in seventeen of which schools had been kept), and the population had risen to 1,442. In 1826 an epidemic of typhus fever prevailed. In 1830 there were 1,544 inhabitants. Emigration both to and from the town occurred in a greater degree than in many towns, but the advantage was in favor of an increased population here, and by 1850 the high tide was reached, 1,766 people then residing here. From 1850 there has been a steady decline in numbers, 1860 showing 1,678 inhab- itants ; 1870, 1,344 ; 1880, 1,274.

From a report made in 1889 to the department of agriculture we take these items : the town has produced during the last year 30,000 pounds of butter, 2,000 pounds of wool, used 20 tons of commercial fertilizer, and received $6.000 in cash from summer boarders.

For fifty years no liquors have been allowed to be sold in the town, and the character of the people descended from the first settlers has borne a high repu- tation for intelligence, sobriety, and moral and religious culture. The influence of the sainted Father Hidden is still a leavening force.

Bears, deer, and wolves were numerous in Tamworth up to a comparatively recent date, and early that queer survival of antediluvian days, the moose, grazed in its ponds in large droves. Jonathan Philbrick killed fourteen bears in one season. The wolves were very annoying to the settlers for many years. What is remembered as the " Siege of Wolves " occurred November 14, 15, and 16, 1830. On the evening of the 14th messengers went rapidly through all the surrounding towns, proclaiming the news that an immense army of wolves had descended from the Sandwich range of mountains and filled the forests on Marston Hill. From all the towns the farmers came in force to prevent the wolves from further advance. At noon of the 15th six hundred men were bivouacked around the hill in military organization, under command of General Quimby, of Sandwich. A force of riflemen was sent into the forest, and after sharp firing the wolves were finally defeated; a number being killed, but by far the greater part breaking through the picket-line and flying to the mountains. The dead wolves were carried to a suitable place, where a great jubilee was held in honor of the victory. From that time the wolves have not seriously disturbed the town. There are many fine trout streams, of which the brook running through Birch Interval has been perhaps most noted. It has a fall of many feet, often in dashing cascades, from its mountain source

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of 3,000 feet altitude. One season it was estimated that one hundred bushels of trout were taken from it.

Tamworth Village near the centre of the town is on Swift river, and contains the Congregational church, town hall, A. E. Wiggin's spool factory, Edward S. Pollard's gristmill, three stores, Tamworth Inn, and the postoffice (kept by Joseph Gilman and his daughter Mary J., since 1861). The railroad station of West Ossipee is four miles distant. Here the oldtime hostelry of Joseph Gilman has for long years given liberal entertainment to the traveler, and the new " Tamworth Inn " invites the summer visitor to a pleasant home. Kimball Brothers keep the old Cook store; Levi E. Remick & Son carry a good stock of merchandise ; Edward S. Pollard has the store on the bridge.

South Tamworth is a small hamlet in the Bear Camp valley at the base of the Ossipee mountains. A store and a postoffice comprise the chief institu- tions. Coal is said to exist in the Ossipee mountains near here, and unprofit- able mining attempts have been made. The store now occupied by John L. Mason is located on the site of the building erected by Colonel Levi Folsom in 1827, who was in trade there until 1837. The next five years it was occupied by Albert Whitten, who was succeeded in 1842 by Elias Newbegin, who traded there for a year. From 1843 to 1844, Jacob Stanley was the storekeeper. In 1844 Hon. Larkin D. Mason engaged in merchandising, and continued here until 1883, when his son, John L. Mason, became proprietor. In 1860 the building was burned, but immediately rebuilt.

Hotels. - In the early days every house was a hotel, but soon some of the wealthier citizens became taverners : Captain Dodge, William Eastman, and Stephen Mason, at first; later, in 1795-97, William J. and John Folsom, Tufton Mason, Oliver Fowler, Jr. In 1799 David Gilman is approbated to sell liquor in large or small quantities, while the taverners become numerous about the commencement of the century, as in 1803 Larkin Dodge, Jeremiah Mason, Job Chapman, and Ebenezer Dow are licensed as taverners. Eleazer Young had a tavern for many years at Sonth Tamworth, succeeding Dow. This was on the " south road," the second road of the town, " built before the Revolution," according to tradition, and a most important highway. Captain Enoch Remick kept an inn for years where Colonel Nathaniel Hubbard now lives. This was also a changing-place for horses on the stage route from Centre Harbor to Conway, even up to the building of the railroad to West Ossipee. Along in the thirties many town-meetings were held at the inn of Captain Remick and the law-office of Obed Hall, just across the street from the inn. Samuel MeGaffey, who married Amelia Drew (adopted daughter of Captain Dodge), kept public house just east of the old residence of James Remick, and about eighty rods west of Parson Hidden's house. He died in 1829, leaving a wife and two daughters, who have since died. Joseph Gilman kept hotel from 1855 until 1889 at the village, and many travelers pleasantly remember

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the quaint house and its quaint landlord with his oldtime knowledge. John G. Robinson fitted up the Charles Remick place for a hotel after the Civil War, and kept it as such for some years.

Tamworth Inn. - The quaint Gilman House not serving to accommodate a tithe of the people seeking the restful repose of Tamworth Village, in the spring of 1888 Arthur E. Wiggin enlarged his dwelling, introduced electric annunciator and modern improvements, and opened the Wiggin House as a summer hotel. It was filled to its utmost capacity during the season, and in 1889 a wing had been added, a neighboring cottage purchased, a tennis court laid out, and spacious grounds added to the other attractions. Again the house was crowded, over sixty people being pleasantly entertained at one time. The house was rechristened this year "The Tamworth Inn." It is a lovely spot. In front over pleasant pastoral scenery rises the symmetrical cone of Passacon- away, while on every side bits of idyllic landscape show like genre paintings in the clear atmosphere, while the murmur of the stream back of the inn serves to add to instead of detract from the gentle sense of quiet. Mr and Mrs Wiggin are well adapted for landlord and landlady, a true home feeling pervad- ing the whole establishment.

Tamworth Iron Works went into operation some time previous to 1800. Tradition, an uncertain guide, says that nails were first made here in 1775, and screw augers were made in 1780. Henry Blaisdell started this enterprise with David Howard. The bog-iron ore taken from Lake Ossipee was used, and cut nails, anchors, and other heavy articles were made. It is probable that the nails made here were the first that were cut and headed by machinery in the state. Nathaniel Weed soon after came into possession of the works. He was a man of great ingenuity and inventive powers, and was said to have invented the first screw auger, but did not "patent " it, not realizing the necessity. When the Piscataqua Bridge was built, Mr Weed with his screw auger was the most useful person employed; the old-fashioned pod auger was dispensed with, and relays of hands were appointed in order to keep the Weed-auger in perpetual motion. The manufacture of iron was abandoned long ago, but the quaint picturesqueness of the hamlet and its surroundings charms the stranger, and in summer it is thronged with summer boarders. The mills along the outlet of Chocorua lake are gone, and as the " privileges " at the village have been purchased by the cottagers interested in the preservation of the beauty of Lake Chocorua, the water will doubtless run henceforth unchained in its course. The Free Baptist church, a neat schoolhouse, the postoffice, and a store are the "institutions " of the place.

Chocorua House. - In 1863 the attractions of the beautiful section lying near Chocorua lake and mountain began to bring summer visitors in numbers, and hotel accommodations were demanded, so, in 1865, Mr Niekerson commenced the Chocorua House. This is 100 feet long, 40 feet wide, and

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

built in four wings, and with three stories, to accommodate thirty-five guests. It is on Blaisdell Hill, two hundred rods south of Chocorua lake. From its location, giving a wide range of inspirating mountain scenery, the close proximity of Lake Chocorua with its manifold charms, its high altitude, pure air, and crystal water, it deserves and has great patronage. An "annex " cottage has been added. Sixty guests were here at one time during this summer.

Merchants of Tamworth Iron Works. - The first worthy of the name was Daniel Hayford, who combined the manufacture of hats with merchandising in 1812. The residence of Otis G. Hatch occupies the site of his shop and store. He was followed by Zenas Blaisdell, who built a store, now a part of the Moore store, and, in or near 1830, sold to True Perkins, who continued in trade successfully for some years. The next in order of time was Henry Chick. He was here for some years, and after him, about 1840, came William Sargent into the same store for two years. He sold his stock to Charles Dearborn, who was succeeded by Benjamin Parker. Parker continued mer- chandising until 1848. Jeremiah Merrill then began trading in the " old store," and in 1849 with his brother Samuel, formed the firm of S. Merrill & Co. They soon enlarged the store, and engaged in the manufacture of clothing in connection with the selling of goods. They conducted an extensive and profitable business, and sold it in 1860 to Otis G. Hatch and John Glidden, who, after eight years, were succeeded by Otis G. Hatch and James Emery, as Hatch & Emery. They went out of business in 1883, and were followed by W. H. Lary. In 1886 F. L. Moore became proprietor.

Mr Moore is an enterprising man of thrift and energy and possesses many of the qualities of a successful merchant. He has a good class of trade. Mark F. Robertson owns the stage route to West Ossipee railroad station. He is son of Charles and grandson of Robert of Eaton, which see.

Chocorua Public Library was organized here in 1888 with 500 volumes, which have been increased to 583; Clara E. Kenerson, librarian.

Cottages have been built by city residents for summer occupation on the shores of Lake Chocorua and the number will increase. Within a few years the one owned by Dr Horace P. Scudder, on the Emery place, the General Sherwin cottage, on the Hatch place, those of Frank Bowles, on the Doe place, H. B. Walley, on the Hobbs place, Professor Chaplin, on the Bickford place, Dr James, on the Savage place, and Charles Bowditch, on the Cone place, have been erected, and much money expended in the purchase of lands, the improvement and building of houses, and the development of artistic homes of beauty. Mrs Gignoux has a pleasant cottage on the Gannett place near the Iron Works; A. H. Bamfard has one on Tamworth ridge. Where the pioneers toiled for a mere livelihood, the culture of Cambridge now seeks rest and recuperation.

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There are fifty-seven names on the inventory of 1792, and through the courtesy of Deacon William P. Hidden (now ninety-one years old), who remembers nearly all, we are enabled to locate the homes of most of them. Widow Allen and family soon left town. Walter Bryant, farmer, lived where Wyatt Bryant resides. Jeremiah lived near Mill Brook bridge, was a carpenter. Both were active in town affairs. Paul Bradbury lived on the south side of Bear Camp river, and was a farmer. Day Ballard lived on Hackett hill. His sons were Jerry, Washington, and William. Jonas Carter, brickmaker, lived on the north side of Ossipee mountain, where he had a brick kiln. Captain George Dodge lived on the Evans Remick place, and built the house now standing. William Eastman lived where Levi Whiting now lives. Captain Eastman was his son. Jacob, brother of William, lived on the Shubael Marston place. Israel Folsom lived near the John Folsom place. Benjamin, half-brother of Israel, lived on the place where John Remiek lives, on the road to Stevenson hill. Levi Folsom, no relative of the above, lived on the Ezra Dodge place. Warren Folsom lived on Hackett hill, near Levi, who was a brother or cousin. Lieutenant John was a neighbor of the others. The family was numerous and influential, but none have descendants here. John T. D. Folsom, the last of the family, lived opposite the Mason store in South Tamworth, and was postmaster for years. He died suddenly a year or so since. William Cheever and David Kenerson lived on Tamworth ridge. Samuel Gilman lived at Bennett's Corner, and in middle life moved to New York. Jacob, his brother, a very capable man, was kept in office for years. He had great skill in drafting legal docu- ments, was amiable and kind-hearted, but the social habits of those days over- mastered him, and he died a drunkard, leaving no descendants. Colonel David Gilman, of another stock, was a farmer at Butler's bridge. He had sons, all captains-David, Israel, and Simon. The two last lived near the line of Ossipee on the south road. Simon was selectman and collector for many years. Israel was a very pleasant and kind man, but so sour in his looks that he was called "Pickled Israel." Captain David Gilman, of Butler's bridge. is the only one of the family now in town.

Hezekiah and Ebenezer Haekett were probably brothers, and large, vigor- ous, active men. They settled on and gave name to Hackett hill. Captain Sylvanus Hall lived on the Stephen Standley place on the south road. Two Joseph Jacksons, farmers, lived on Warner's ridge. Lieutenant Daniel Low lived in the west part of the town. His wife was very eccentric.

Colonel Stephen Mason lived where Charles Downs now lives on the south road. Larkin D. Mason was born here. Tufton and Jeremiah were sons of Colonel Stephen, and both had large families. James Mason lived on Hackett hill. Captain Thomas Leavitt lived at West Ossipee. He was a large, portly man, and a lover of liquor. Timothy Medar was a carpenter and a farmer. His residence was where Stephen Philbriek lived. He always meant just

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what he said, and was extremely methodical ; very accommodating and prompt in all his business. He was much in public life, forty years town clerk, and died in office, leaving no children. Isaac Medar, perhaps brother of Timothy, lived where William Hutchins lived. His last descendant in town was Mrs Alva Foss, daughter of his son Samuel. John Pindar was the village miller. He owned the mill built by Benjamin Gilman. He was a cheery man, a great story-teller, and the little boys who rode to mill horseback on top of great bags of corn and wheat were pleasantly entertained by him after he had lifted them down. Captain Thomas Stevenson and sons, John and James, gave name to Stevenson hill, where they settled. They were active, pushing men, good and valuable citizens. Noah Rogers was a farmer on Great hill. He had a large family, all gone from town. His son William, a wealthy ship- builder of Bath, Maine, gave the bell for the Congregational church. Thomas Watson's farm joined Rogers's. His son, Noah S. Watson, lives on the General Quimby place in Sandwich. Samuel Waymouth lived in the west part. John Vittum's farm was on Sandwich line. Simon Smith, "Uncle Simon," lived halfway from the village to West Ossipee, on the farm where one of his descendants, Allen Smith, now lives. Jonathan Philbrook was a large, fleshy man, and quite prominent in affairs. He lived on Stevenson hill, on adjoining farm to Mark Jewell on the north side, and was father of the centenarian Stephen. Enoch and John Remiek were early and valuable citizens, and have numerous descendants of the same good character. Two Mark Jewells lived here; one was a preacher; the other lived on Stevenson hill, and later on Bireh interval. Joshua and Aaron Niekerson were enter- prising settlers in the north part of the town. John Hubbard was not a resident here. He lived in Sandwich but owned the Pike Perkins place, where his son Nathaniel afterward lived. Oliver Fowler was one of the first deacons. He lived and died on the Bradbury Hooper place, on the south road between Butler's bridge and West Ossipee. Oliver Fowler, Jr, died young. Warner was another son of Deacon Oliver, living with him and dying on the same place. Lieutenant John Fowler, a brother of Deaeon Oliver, lived on the farm joining his. All were good citizens.

Water-powers, Mills, and Manufacturing. - Chocorua river, flowing from the lake of the same name near the foot of Chocorua mountain into the Bear Camp at West Ossipee ; Swift river, also rising under the shadows of Chocorua and emptying into the Bear Camp near Whittier, and the Bear Camp furnish to the town of Tamworth probably the best and most numerous mill privileges of any town in the county. The first mill was built by Thomas Danforth, in 1778, on Swift river near where Thomas Wiggin lives, and close by the site of Fowler's mill. It was a gristmill, and nothing remains to mark the site save a few stones upon the river-bank. The next one was a gristmill about halfway between Whittier and South Tamworth on the Bear Camp. It was owned by Ephraim Hidden, brother of Rev. Samuel Hidden.

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TOWN OF TAMWORTH.

Jeremiah Mason and Stephen Colburn built the first mill at Butler's bridge (Whittier) in 1817. It was a saw and grist mill, and remained in the family until 1885, when it was sold to George Bryant. Colonel Levi Folsom built the next, a large lumber-mill, at South Tamworth, in 1826. He here operated the first shingle and elapboard machine in this part of the country. On its site now stands what is said to be the best rake factory in the world, owned and operated by Henry W. Bartlett and George Bartlett as Bartlett Brothers. Their rakes find a market in every quarter of the globe where agriculture flourishes. They have in this mill a machine that is a curiosity. It drives 140,000 rake teeth in nine hours. The only gristmill now on the Bear Camp is the Stevenson mill, erected in 1826. Then it was an extensive lumber-mill, now it is only a small gristmill.

Asa Fowler, of Sandwich, who built Fowler's mills in 1824, brought a cloth-dressing machine here in 1830. In 1834 or 1835 his mills were burned, Mr Fowler failed, and Joseph Gilman bought the property, rebuilt the lumber, shingle, and clapboard mills, and conducted them until 1845. Several run them after this under Mr Gilman's ownership. At last the old mills became decayed, and Stephen Berry obtained the privilege and put up new mills. John Chick succeeded him. He sold to Alonzo Wiggin. These mills were burned, and have not been rebuilt.

Benjamin Gilman had a saw, grist, and fulling mill at Tamworth village very early, during, or shortly after, the Revolution. These were conducted by several until 1842, when Samuel S. Beede became owner. He gave up the fulling works, but continued the others for over twenty years. John G. Robinson succeeded him, who, after ten or twelve years, sold to John Elwell.

David Folsom made nails here by hand during the Revolution, when every village had its nailmaker. Here, as well as at the Iron Works, machines were brought from Massachusetts and applied to nailmaking at a very early period.

On the present site of the gristmill at the village, Joseph Gilman manufactured clapboard and shingle machines from 1830 to 1837. These were shipped to all parts of the country, and gave great satisfaction. A pegmill was built about 1854 by Baker & Shaw, of Holderness. They failed in 1860, and one Kendall operated it until it burned. He rebuilt it, and sold it to Haley & Robinson, who put in a spoolmill. This is the most valuable mill property on the Swift river, and has been in the possession of Arthur E. Wiggin for twenty years. In 1888 he paid $10,000 for poplar wood, and had thirty teams drawing it to the station. He manufactures thread and silk spools, and produces from $18,000 to $20,000 worth annually, and gives steady employment to a number of men. This mill runs on full time, and is the leading industry of the place. A local correspondent writes, in 1877 : "An old building recently torn down at the village was built by Thomas Jones about 1807 for a fulling-mill and cloth factory. It was used for a nail

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factory also, and has since been occupied as a store, dwelling, and peg, shingle, clapboard, and planing mill. A new structure is being erected to contain planing, shingle, and clapboard mills and spool machinery."

There is said to have been an old mill on Swift river nearly opposite the Wiggin spoolmill at the village. Of this nothing remains.

At the same time Benjamin Gilman was at work on Swift river, Henry Weed was preparing to manufacture iron on Chocorua stream. Since his time the old inhabitants have witnessed the rise and fall of several large industries at Tamworth Iron Works. The stream at this place affords good water-power, but the iron works long since went to ruin. A large tannery also disappeared. Varney, Metcalf & Co.'s spool and woodenware mill, employing many hands, was started in 1872, and burned some years later. The dams that checked the water and bound it in servitude have long since disappeared, and now the water, rejoicing in its freedom, flows " unvexed toward the sea."

It would be impossible to make an authentic record of all the mills built and gone to ruin. In the immediate vicinity of South Tamworth there are six. We should mention one, however, David Morrill's mill, on Cold river, that empties into the Bear Camp at South Tamworth. This is a small, brawling, mountain stream that takes its rise high up on the northern slopes of the Ossipees. Wentworth Lord is said to have built the first mill on this stream, about one mile from South Tamworth, and used it also for a sawmill. He had the remarkable power of a fifty-five-foot fall to drive his water-wheels. In 1870 Mr Morrill purchased and began operating this mill. Since then he has added a large shop nearer the highway, where he only obtains a fall of thirty feet ; plenty enough, however, for all desired purposes.

A. C. Kennett has a lumber-mill at Birch intervale, where he employs ten men in summer and twenty in winter, and produces 800,000 feet of lumber. The Blackburn woolen-mills were built in 1876, and are now in operation.

With the present tendencies of manufacturers to centre in the cities and nearer the markets, it is not very probable that towns like this will ever regain the industries lost, and that they will constantly gravitate to the level of agri- cultural and pastoral pursuits. Slowly but surely will they lose their grasp, and perhaps the generations now on the spot may witness the decay of the last of the oldtime mills. However, with her natural beauties, Tamworth is destined to reap her share of the golden harvest gathered in the summer months from those who come to her pleasant places by mountain, lake, and river, to obtain that restful enjoyment nowhere else to be found.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 89

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124