History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 97

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


USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, New Hampshire > Part 97


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1334, William Snell, clerk; Robinson Blaisdell, JJacob Allard, Enoch Danforth, selectmen; Abraham Colby, representative. Voted to raise $100 beyond legal requirement for schools. 1835, William Snell, clerk; Ebenezer Jackson, James Ferrin, Enoch Danforth, selectmen; Abraham Colby, representative. 1836, William Snell, clerk; Artemas Harmon, Jacob Allard, Stephen Perkins, selectmen ; John Crocker, representative. 190 votes in favor of dividing the county of Strafford. 1837, William Snell, clerk; Artemas llarmon, Jacob Allard, Stephen Perkins, selectmen; Samuel Flanders, representative. 152 votes given for Isaac Hill for governor. Voted to raise $200 for schools, in addition to what the law requires, and divide the money according to number of scholars. 1838, William Snell, clerk; Ebenezer Jackson, Robinson Blaisdell, Stephen Perkins, selectmen ; Daniel S. Hobbs, representative. 1839, William Snell, clerk; Ebenezer Jackson, Robinson Blaisdell, Stephen Perkins, selectmen ; Daniel S. Hobbs, representative. 1840, William Snell, clerk; George Merrow, jr, Jacob Allard, Noah Thompson, seleetmen; Artemas Harmon, representative. Vote for governor, Enos Stevens 150, John Page 122. 1841, William Snell, clerk; George Merrow, jr, Jacob Allard, Noah Thompson, selectmen; Artemas Ilarmon, representative. 1842, William Snell, clerk; Asa Jackson, Jacob Allard, Stephen W. Perkins, selectmen; Robinson Blaisdell, representative. Voted that the school committee be instructed by the selectmen not to visit the schools. 1843, William Snell, clerk; Asa Jackson, Jacob Allard, Stephen W. Perkins, selectmen; Robinson Blaisdell, representative.


1844, William Snell, clerk; Artemas Harmon, Robinson Blaisdell, Joseph E. Perkins, selectmen; Stephen Perkins, representative. 56 votes for abolishing capital punishment; 133 against. 1845, William Snell, clerk;


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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


Artemas Harmon, Robinson Blaisdell, Joseph E. Perkins, selectmen; Stephen Perkins, representative. The town divided into twenty school districts. 1846, William Snell, elerk; Artemas Harmon, Robinson Blaisdell, Joseph E. Perkins, seleetmen; Nicholas C. Blaisdell, representative. Voted to build a town-house. 1847, Samuel Robertson, clerk; George Merrow, Jacob Allard, Joseph E. Perkins, selectmen; Nicholas C. Blaisdell, representative. 1848, Samnel Robertson, clerk; George Merrow, Jacob Allard, Joseph E. Perkins, selectmen; Isaac Quint, representative. Voted to pay seventy-five cents per day on the highway. 1849, Joseph R. Hunt, clerk; James Mooney, Oren D. Allard, Noah Thompson, selectmen; Jacob Allard, representative. 1850, Samuel Robertson, clerk; Artemas Harmon, Oren D. Allard, Stephen W. Perkins, seleetmen; Jacob Allard, representative. Vote for governor : Samuel Dinsmore, 144; Levi Chamberlain, 121; Nathaniel S. Berry, 27. Money raised for use of town this year, including $618 for schools, is $2,373. 1851, Samuel Robertson, clerk ; Artemas Harmon, Stephen Allard, Eli C. Glines, selectmen; Noah Thompson, representative. 1852, Samuel Robertson, clerk ; Eli C. Glines, Jacob Allard, Stephen W. Perkins, seleetmen; King Atkinson, representative. 1853, Samuel Robertson, clerk; Eli C. Glines, William R. Thurston, Lucian Danforth, selectmen; King Atkinson, representative.


1854, Silas Snow, clerk; Oren D. Allard, Jacob Manson, King Atkinson, seleetmen; Lucian Danforth, repre- sentative. Voted an agent to prosente all persons who may sell intoxicating liquors. 1855, Silas Snow, clerk; Oren D. Allard, Jacob Manson, King Atkinson, selectmen; George W. Kittredge, representative; 1856, Erastus Baker, clerk; Silas Snow, Thomas R. Giles, Carle Drew, selectmen; Oren D. Allard, representative. 1857, Erastus Baker, clerk; Silas Snow, Thomas R. Giles, Carle Drew, selectmen; Oren D. Allard, representative. Joseph Snow and Carle Drew licensed liquor agents. 1858, Erastus Baker, clerk; Thomas R. Giles, James E. Flocd, Asa Sawyer, selectmen; Jacob Manson, representative. Town expenses $1,290. 1859, Erastus Baker, elerk ; Oren D. Allard, Ephraim Bryant, Daniel C. Sawyer, selectmen; Jacob Manson, representative. Forty- one highway districts defined. Whole number of free able-bodied white male citizens between the ages of IS and 45 years enrolled, 89. 1860, Erastus Baker, clerk ; Ephraim Bryant, Adrial H. Stewart, Joseph M. Towle, selectmen; Isaac Atkinson, representative. Democratic candidate for governor has 101 votes and Republican 56. The Democratic electors of President have 91 votes, Republican, 56. 1861, Silas Snow, clerk; Joseph E. Perkins, A. H. Stuart, Joseph M. Towle, selectmen; Isaae Atkinson, representative. 1862, Silas Snow, elerk; Thomas R. Giles, Carle Drew, Stephen W. Perkins, selectmen; James E. Perkins, representative. 1863, Silas Snow, clerk; Thomas R. Giles, Carle Drew, Stephen W. Perkins, selectmen; James E. Perkins, representative. Voted to discontinue agent to sell spirituous liquor after May 10.


1864, Thaddeus B. Thompson, elerk; Thomas R. Giles, Edwin Snow, Elias R. Sargent, selectmen; Carle Drew, representative. Democratic electors get 16t votes, the Republican, 93. 1865, Thaddeus B. Thompson, clerk; Edwin Snow, Elias R. Sargent, Joseph E. Perkins, selectmen; Carle Drew, representative. 1866, Thaddeus B. Thompson, clerk; Edwin Snow, Oren D. Allard, Charles A. Brooks, selectmen; Stephen W. Perkins, representative. Liquor agency dispensed with for ensuing year. Militia enrollment increased to eighty-five men April 1. 1867, Thaddeus B. Thompson, clerk; Oren D. Allard, Benjamin M. Glines, Charles P. Giles, selectmen; Edwin Snow, representative. Vote for governor : John G. Sinclair, 106; Walter H. Harriman, 48. 1868, Thaddeus B. Thompson, elerk ; Oren D. Allard, Charles P. Giles, Charles A. Brooks, selectmen ; Edwin Snow, representative. 1869, William Robertson, clerk; Clement Drew, Charles Robertson, Benjamin F. Wakefield, seleetmen. 1870, William Robertson, elerk; Clement Drew, Charles Robertson, Benjamin F. Wake- field, selectmen ; William P. Atkinson, representative. Vote for governor : John Bedel, 112; Onslow Stearns, 46. Voted to dispense with liquor agency. 187], William Robertson, clerk; Clement Drew, Charles Robertson, Benjamin F. Wakefield, selectmen; William P. Atkinson, representative. 1872, William Robertson, clerk ; Thaddeus B. Thompson, Alvan F. Perkins, Adrial L. Stuart, selectmen ; Thaddeus B. Thompson, representa- tive. 1873, Edwin Snow, clerk; Thaddens B. Thompson, Daniel C. Sawyer, Charles A. Brooks, selectmen; Thaddeus B. Thompson, representative. Town expenses $3,385.


1874, Edwin Snow, clerk; Daniel C. Sawyer, Alvan F. Perkins, Adrial L. Stuart, selectmen; Alvan Snow, representative. 1875, Stephen W. Perkins, clerk; Benjamin F. Wakefield, Clement Drew, Joseph E. Perkins, Alvin Snow, representative. 1876, Lucien Danforth, clerk; Charles Robertson, Clement Drew, Adriel HI. Stuart, selectmen ; Stephen W. Perkins, representative. 1877, Lucien Danforthi, clerk; Charles A. Brooks, Carle Drew, Oren D. Allard, selectmen; Stephen W. Perkins, representative. 1878, Lucien Danforth, clerk; Edwin Snow, Joseph E. Perkins, Isaac Allard, selectmen ; Charles A. Brooks, representative. 1879, Lucien Danforth, clerk; Edwin Snow, Adriel L. Stuart, Benjamin F. Wakefield, selectmen; Charles A. Brooks, representative. 1880, Lucien Danforth, clerk; Edwin Snow, Adriel L. Stuart, Smith C. Allard, selectmen; Edwin Snow, representa- tive; vote for governor, Frank JJones, 123; Charles H. Bell, 37; Warren G. Brown, 14. The Democratie electors of President have 121 votes, the Republican, 39, the Greenback, 14. 1881, Lucien Danforth, clerk; Edwin Snow, Smith C. Allard, Stephen D. Paul, selectmen. Assessment for this year, $6,192. 1882, James O. Dearing, elerk; Edwin Snow, Francis M. Hatch, Stephen D. Paul, selectmen; Edwin Snow, representative. 1883, James O. Dearing, clerk; Frank M. Hatch, David M. Thurston, Jesse S. Allard, selectmen.


1884, James O. Dearing, elerk; Frank M. Hlatch, David M. Thurston, Jesse S. Allard, selectmen; Frank P. Snow, representative. 1885, James O. Dearing, clerk; Adriel L. Stuart, David M. Thurston, Lewis C. Allard, selectmen. 1886, James O. Dearing, clerk; Adriel L. Stuart, David M. Thurston, Lewis C. Allard, selectmen; Leslie P. Snow, representative. 1887, Clement Drew, clerk; Edwin Snow, Jesse W. Robertson, Eugene W. Hatch, selectmen. 1888, Everett A. Stanley, clerk, Edwin Snow, Jesse W. Robertson, Oren D. Allard, select- men; Adrial II. Stuart, representative. Vote for governor, Charles H. Amsden, 94; David H. Goodell, 46;


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Edwin Snow


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TOWN OF EATON.


Edgar L. Carr, 18. The Democratie electors for President have 94 votes; Republican, 46; Prohibition, IS. 1889, Everett A. Stanley, clerk; Edwin Snow, Engene W. Hlatch, Smith C. Allard, selectmen. Inventory of polls, personal property, etc., 1889: Polls, 141; horses, 109; oxen, 146; cows, 183; sheep, 163; other stoek, 100; acres, 6,952; valne, $107,789.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.


EDWIN SNOW.


THE Snow family has been in the past and is one of the representative families in Eaton, and has been closely identified with the industrial and political affairs of the town.


Joseph Snow, the first settler, was born at Gorham, Maine, in 1791. He was early left an orphan, and was reared by his grandfather, Thomas Snow, with whom the known history of the family begins. In or about 1777 Cap- tain Thomas Snow had retired upon Cape Cod, after a lifelong service upon the seas. Having a large family of boys and desiring to establish them in business at Falmouth, now Portland, Maine, he reduced his entire fortune, very considerable for those days, to continental currency. This medium of exchange suffering a sudden depreciation, he found himself reduced nearly to poverty. He was driven to seek a home for his family in the wilderness, and was one of the first settlers of Gorham, Maine, where still stands the " Old Snow Barn," preserved for its antiquity.


Joseph served for a period in the 1812 war, and in 1815 set out to reclaim a home from the forests. He chose and partially cleared what was afterwards known as the Bryant Farm, in Eaton, which, about 1822, to secure the advan- tages of a natural water-power, he exchanged for the present site of Snowville. In 1825 he built a gristmill and two years later a sawmill. The latter was burned three years afterwards and rebuilt in the short period of fourteen days. Since 1825 these mills and their successors have, without interruption, been open to public trade, and have been the main factors in the growth and development of the town. Joseph Snow died aged eighty-six years. He had been reared to the hardihood of pioneer life and possessed a phenomenal physique. He had had no advantages of public schooling, and at the age of thirty-five years, realizing this defect, he hired a master to come to his home and teach him the simple rules of business. His whole life was characterized by an indomitable will and sterling integrity, being one of the foremost to maintain religious devotions and to advance public enterprise.


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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


Joseph Snow married Sally, daughter of John Atkinson, and had eleven children : Silas ; Hannah (married, first, Noah Thompson ; second, Jonathan Nickerson); Alvan; Apphia (married Henry Mason); Joseph; Susan (married, first, Mayhew Patch ; second, Rev. Edmund Dudley) ; Sally (died at the age of eight) ; John ; Mary A. (married William F. Brooks) ; Edwin ; Jane (married Charles Robertson). All save two are still living. The girls were well and happily married.


Joseph Snow, Jr, was for some years a successful farmer in Eaton, went west in 1855, and now resides in Union county, Iowa, having accumulated a respectable fortune. Four of the boys still reside about the old homestead, constituting the nucleus of Snowville, and have taken a prominent part in the industrial, social, and political affairs of the town and county. Silas Snow was born in 1816. He served the town as selectman in 1856-57 and the county as commissioner in 1871-74. He has been prominent in religious matters and for many years has held the position of clerk in the Christian Church. He has three sons engaged in screen manufacture in Boston. Alvan Snow was born in 1820. He was a member of the state legislature in 1873-74. Silas and Alvan Snow for over twenty-five years were engaged as house car- penters and manufacturers of furniture. Alvan has two sons : Frank, a carpenter and machinist, and Will, a carriage and sleigh manufacturer. Frank was representative in 1885-86. He is now in Oregon. John Snow, born in 1831, for many years followed the occupations of house carpenter and ship- builder. From 1879 to 1888 he was in the mercantile business at Eaton Centre in the firm of Snow & Robertson. He has one son, Mark.


Edwin Snow, born in 1836, has taken by far the most active part in public affairs and business. He received his education in the town schools and at North Parsonsfield Academy. In 1857 he married Maria H., daughter of John W. and Caroline Nason Perkins, and granddaughter of Stephen Perkins, Esq., who, during the earlier times, figured so prominently in the political affairs of the town. Their children are : Nellie H. (who married A. J. White, a contractor and builder in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They have three boys : Walter J., Wallace E., and Leonard.) ; Isabel S. (Mrs Dr L. W. Atkinson, of Cherry Valley, Mass.) ; Leslie P. (who married Susie Elsie Currier, of Haverhill. They have one son, Conrad Edwin, born at Haverhill, August 6, 1889.) ; and Bertha.


Mr Snow opened a general store in 1856 in company with his brothers, whom he bought out in 1859, since which time he has without interruption conducted a successful business on the same old site. He began with a modest capital and developed his business as his circumstances improved. He has kept an open market for the timber, bark, and farm produce of the people. Since 1859 he has engaged extensively in the manufacture of lumber, annually putting upon the market shook, barrels, shingles, boards, and dimension-timber


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TOWN OF EATON.


of all kinds. From 1873 to 1878 he was quite extensively engaged in the live-stock business.


As justice of the peace and legal adviser of his fellow-citizens, Mr Snow has held the first position in town and for some years has done a successful business as pension attorney. In politics he has always been a Democrat. He is a leader in the councils of his party, and has been for many years a member of the Democratie state committee. In public affairs he has been almost constantly before the people. He has held the office of town clerk and presided as moderator at many annual meetings. He was selectman during the turbulent years of 1864 and 1865, and has been chairman of the board of selectmen for ten years since. He has represented Eaton in the legislature four sessions and was a member of the railroad committee during the exciting contest over the general railroad law of 1883-84. He was auditor of the county accounts from 1881 to 1886, and is serving his second term as county commissioner. Mr Snow is a Mason, and was one of the charter members of Trinity Lodge, I. O. O. F. He has been a moving spirit in public improvements, and is highly respected for his business integrity. He is a broad, liberal man, of great kindness of heart. He possesses great executive ability, persistency in accomplishing results, and has success because he wins it.


His son, Leslie P., born in 1862, was educated at the town schools and at Fryeburg and Bridgton academies. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, class of 1886, and is studying law. He was a member of the state legislature in 1887-88, and appointed United States pension examiner in November, 1887. He has the family traits of courteousness and affability, and the same desire to do thoroughly whatever he has to do, and is one of the rapidly advancing sons of Carroll county.


MADISON.


CHAPTER LXIX.


Organization - Description - Boundaries - Some Early Settlers - Mills -Silver Mine - Physicians - Early Taverns - Traders -Silver Lake - Silver Lake Village - Bickford's Cave - Madison Village.


The sweep of the past takes the tint of to-day Through the crystallized atom of time; And it touches the years so receding and gray With the glint of a garment sublime; Past, present, and future, one infinite whole, Flashes in on the sight of the halo-held soul. - Mrs. Mary E. Hobbs.


ADISON was created by an act approved December 17, 1852, and was formed of "that part of the town of Eaton, in the county of Carroll, lying westerly and southerly of a line commencing at the northwest corner of Samuel Stark's Location, so ealled, in the town of Conway in said county, being also the northeast corner of MeNiel's Location, so ealled, in said town of Eaton, and thence running southerly by the westerly line of said Samuel Stark's Location to the southerly line of said Samuel Stark's Loea- tion one hundred and sixty rods to a stake and stones, thence running south- erly over the summits of the Glines and Lyman mountains, so called, to the range line between lots Nos. 52 and 55 in the south division of lots in said town of Eaton, thence southerly on said range line to the southwest corner of lot No. 50 in the south division of lots in said town of Eaton, thence easterly by the south line of said lot No. 50, thenee southerly by the westerly lines of lots No. 21, 22, 23, and 24, in the south division line between said town of Eaton and the town line of Freedom in said county."


Madison contains sixty square miles. The north part of the town consists of the grants, of 2,000 acres each, made to Daniel MeNeal, Joshua Martin, Alexander Blair, John Caldwell, and Nathaniel Martin for services in the French and Indian War. The governor's lot of 500 aeres, exempted from the original grant to Eaton, lies in the northwest corner. The south and western portions were a part of the grant of Eaton. It is bounded north by Albany and Conway, east by Conway and Eaton, south by Freedom, west by Tam-


803


TOWN OF MADISON.


worth and Albany. The population in 1860 was 1,826; in 1870, 646; in 1880, 586. There are several bodies of water into which streams flow that are con- stantly fed by springs. Silver Lake (formerly Six-mile pond), Pea Porridge, Little Pea Porridge, and Whitten ponds are the principal ones. There are numerous springs that have the reputation of great medicinal efficacy, and well-authenticated instances of recovery from chronic diseases are traced to the use of these waters. It is still an agricultural town. 5,000 pounds of butter were made in 1888; 1,000 gallons of milk sold ; 560 pounds of wool grown, and $1,000 were received from summer boarders.


About 1785, Samuel or John Banfield built the first frame-house in town on the place now owned by Henry Harriman, his great-grandson, whose resi- dence stands near the site of the old house. Among the eleven families here in 1787, were those of John Banfield, Timothy Danforth, who lived on the place now owned by George A. Nickerson. Joshua Nickerson, William Snell, Timothy Gilman, John Atkinson, Job Allard, Robert and John Kennett, Jacob Blaisdell were early on this soil. (See Eaton.)


Onisephorus Flanders came from Hampton with his wife and four children in 1787. He settled ultimately on a place now owned by T. C. Pearson, lying about a mile east from Madison village. His wife, Elizabeth, was sister of Timothy Danforth. His children, Stephen, Samuel, Shepherd, and Anna (who married Richard Lary), all became residents. The old gentleman was very obstinate. The first road near his residence led over a steep hill; in course of time a new road was laid out avoiding the hill, but Mr Flanders always used the old one, saying it was far the easier. A little later came Gilman Colby, settling on what is now known as the Deacon Charles Allard place.


John March came from Portsmouth or Hampton in or before 1800. He was a man of note, possessed great physical size and strength. He was a mer- chant, but raised and commanded a company in the War of 1812, and marched to the defence of Portsmouth. He died in 1833, and is immortalized by Thomas Randall, the "Eaton poet," in an extended poem. His home was at the Corner. Dr James Jackson located on the Asa Jackson place, now owned by Henry Colby.


The Harrimans, Silas, Abner, and Richard, came from Scarborough, Maine, early in the century, and located in East Madison. Artemas, son of Abner, built the house now occupied by Augustus Lary, and was prominent in town and political matters. He was a Whig, served as selectman, representative, and in 1846 was elected by a coalition of Whigs and Freesoilers to represent the twelfth senatorial district in the state senate. He afterward moved to Massachusetts and held prominent political positions there.


Isaiah, Spencer, and Lattie Forrest, or Forist, moved from Bridgewater, Mass., to Eaton after the Revolution, and settled on Five-mile brook near where Alonzo Alley lives. By his first wife Isaiah had children : Eunice,


804


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


Lucy, Isaiah. This Isaiah was a recruiting officer in the War of 1812, and enlisted men in Eaton and marched with them to Burlington, Vt, via Concord. From Burlington he carried $20,000 for the government to Portland. Soon after the war he settled where he passed his life, and from a wilderness cleared up a pleasant home, and, it is said, built 2,300 rods of stone wall. He died in 1871, aged eighty. He was a justice of the peace for fifty years, and a safe counselor in all matters, and very methodical. There have been five genera- tions of Isaiah Forrests. Andrew J. Forrest, son of Isaiah, built the hotel at Silver lake. He married Arvilla R., daughter of John Kenerson. Their three sons, Irving M., Newall K., Isaiah A., are occupying responsible positions; their daughters are Hattie E., Frannie E., and Emma M.


The Kenesons were here early. John Keneson, born May 18, 1784, and died March 24, 1838, was a man of much mechanical ability, and with his trade of watch and clock making carried on boot and shoe manufacturing. He married, in 1804, Polly, daughter of Philip Jackson. Mr Keneson was town clerk for several years, and served in various minor offices. He was a Whig and a Freewill Baptist. He had two sons. Randall inherited his father's mechanical skill, and, fitting up a small shop, established himself as a jeweler, and continued until 1852.


The Seaveys were early settlers, and it is said that the oldest house in town, standing on the old Moses Davis place between the village and Conway, was built by them.


Thomas Burke located as early as 1785 on Kennett Hill. His descendants have ever been among the town's best citizens. James J. Burke is the leading representative of the family.


Robert Kennett, a Scotchman, gave the name to the hill where he settled. His son John moved to Effingham after he had raised quite a family near the paternal homestead.


Daniel Lary came to town about 1790 from Wolfeborough. Among his children were Tilly, Richard, Daniel, and James. This Daniel was prominent for a long time in town affairs, was selectman, representative, justice, etc. He was noted for his keen wit and jokes. He lived many years on the John M. Ward place, but died where Augustus Lary now lives. Richard located first at the Corner, and about 1824 moved to the place now occupied by George T. Frost, where he lived until his death. His son Daniel inherited the place. It is now owned by Augustus Lary.


The ancestors of the present register of deeds, James O. Gerry, have been prominently identified with the military operations of the state. General Hercules Mooney, of the Revolution, was of Lee. He served through that war with credit. Hercules Mooney, his son, probably, was in Eaton ( Madison) early. He had a son, James, born in 1798, who moved to the Coos country in its early settlement, locating in Stewartstown as a pioneer. Here his active,


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TOWN OF MADISON.


resolute disposition brought him into publie and military life, and he was in the War of 1812, and later became a captain of a company of militia, which afterward entered the United States service and bore a conspicuous part in the " Indian Stream War." Captain Mooney's daughter, Mary S., married George W. Gerry, who died a short time after the birth of their son, James O. Gerry, June 9, 1845. The boy became a member of his grandfather Mooney's family, and came with him to Madison in 1847. A paternal uncle of Mr Gerry served as a captain in the Twelfth Massachusetts, under Colonel Fletcher Webster. Mr Gerry began political life in 1876 by being elected (as a Democrat) selectman of Madison. He served five years in a town where the Republicans outnumbered their opponents four to one. He was deputy sheriff from 1879 to 1887, when he resigned to accept the appointment of register of deeds. He was elected to the same office in 1888, for two years from July, 1889. He was county commissioner from 1881 to 1884, representative from Albany and Madison in 1884, a year when the Republican majority in those towns was sixty-two. He has held a commission as justice for over fifteen years, and other offiees. He is a Madison man, although now a resident of Ossipee. He is a courteous and obliging official and citizen.




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