History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 124

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 124
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 124

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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LEMPSTER.

Convention in New York in 1853. He avoided the formation of bad habits. Being ordered by his physician (?) at one time to smoke, as soon as he realized he was becoming a slave to the vile weed, he at once and forever abandoned its use ; and, as an instance of his self command, he laid pipe and tobacco where he would see it each day. At another time he forsook the use of mor- phine, given to ease the pain of a fractured hip, although it cost him more than a week of sleepless nights. It is said by those who knew him from his earliest days that no profane or indelicate word passed his lips, and rarely an expletive, obeying the Scriptural injunction, " let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay," etc. His great will- power, guided by Christian principles, enabled him to keep in control a naturally violent temper, -an inheritance, perhaps, from his grandfather Hurd, of whom it is related by Gilsum's his- torian that at one time, before the settlement of the first minister, a black man came and offered him- self to preach. He was sent to Mr. Hurd (first clerk of the church), who was at work in the field. Whether thinking the proposal an insult to the people, or a sacrilege to the ministerial office, is not known; but, in his indignation at the pre- sumption, he drove him out of the field with his cane. This same historian also states that Mr. Hurd's family are well remembered by the elder people for their activity in church and town affairs. A love for Christian principles, therefore, seemed hereditary in Mr. Smith. In early life he became a disciple of Christ, uniting at the age of twenty-three with the Congregational Church, under the pastoral care of Rev. Elias Fisher, the town's first minister. His Christian character was a consistent one, carrying religion into the every- day acts of life, making him solicitous for the spiritual welfare of those around him, especially those in his employ and members of his household ; a constant attendant on divine service, despite heat or cold, sunshine or storm, taking his place as Sabbath-school superintendent, teacher or scholar, not only attending himself, but sending his team around for those who had no conveyance; for

over thirty years performing the office of deacon, resigning only when so obliged by infirmities. His seat in the weekly prayer-meeting was rarely empty, considering the hour thus spent among the "most precious of the week," although there were times when these duties involved a great sacrifice of bodily comfort; but that these were appreciated by his pastors will be shown by the following ex- tract from a letter received from Rev. J. Le Bos- quet on his eighty-second birth-day : " I thank you for your unfaltering friendship and assistance in the work of God during the seven years of my resi- dence in your vicinity." Mr. Smith was remark- able for his fortitude, the severest pain seldom extorting a groan, never a complaint, his favorite expression at such times being "the Lord reigns," thus showing his belief and trust in an overruling Providence.

As a neighbor and friend he was ever ready to oblige, often lending his name to his own detri- ment, as in one instance, in combination with other circumstances. it occasioned his failure, from which, owing to the perfidy of the assignee, he never recovered.

Very free from suspicion, trying to do right himself, he thought the same of others ; showed no favoritism, using the same hospitality and courtesy to the poor as to the rich. It can with truth be said, that at his death, August 7, 1879, the town lost one of its most public-spirited men, for he not only lent his influence to all good schemes and measures, but aided pecuniarily- never giving grudgingly.

Of Mr. Smith's personal appearance we have said nothing ; the likeness accompanying this sketch was copied from a photograph, taken at the age of sixty-nine. He had a fine military fig- ure, some inches over six feet in hight, strong feat- ures and a smile full of benevolence. The im- pression he left upon the minds of the youth of fifty years ago may be learned by an extract from " Backward Glances," written by L. P. Frost, for the Cold River Journal, of May 8, 1885 : " In looking the Journal all thro', I found but one familiar name, Hon. Alvah Smith-how well I

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

remember him! I used to think, nor has my mind changed since, he was the best-looking man I ever saw ; whether at church, as conductor of a funeral, or officiating at funerals when there was no clergyman in town, or standing in front of the pulpit in the old church on the common as mod- erator of the town-meeting, he had the same attractive, beneficent, noble, manly look ; take him all in all, I shall never look upon his like again."

March 8, 1820, when twenty-three years of age, Mr. Smith married Arethusa, fourth daughter of Captain Timothy and Polly (Ames) Miner, a companion well fitted for the position she assumed at the early age of nineteen. Eight children were given them,-seven sons and one daughter.

GENEALOGY.

I. Milo (Smith), born Lempster, March 9, 1822; married, May 14, 1850, Mary Ann Chaffin, of Enfield, N. H.

1. George Alvah Smith, born Lempster, Feb- ruary 21, 1851 ; married, first, November 28, 1872, Alfaretta Sophronia Tyler, Manchester, N. H .; died November 22, 1882; married, second, Delia Adelaide Clement, Manchester, June 18, 1884.

2. Ella Frances (Smith), born Lempster, Janu- ary 6, 1853 ; married, October 24, 1874, George Augustus Jackson, Boston, Mass.

a. Milo (Jackson), born Boston, Mass., January 16, 1876 ; died, January 19, 1876.

3. Gertrude Fremont (Smith), born Lempster, May 11, 1857 ; died Manchester, July 17, 1875; married, July 4, 1874, Leroy Alphonso Bartlett.

4. Ira Percy (Smith), born Hillsborough Bridge, October 12, 1859 ; married, July 14, 1881, Alice Pearson Chase, of Hillsborough Bridge.

a. Gertrude Emma (Smith), January 1882.

II. Norman (Smith), born Lempster, February 25, 1824 ; marrried, first, September 30, 1845, Rebecca Ward, Plainfield, N. H .; died January 22, 1864.

1. Ilelen Arethusa (Smith), born Lempster, November 23, 1847 ; died Boston, Mass., March 18, 1875 ; married, October 19, 1870, Josiah Baker Small.

a. Hila Helen (Small), born Boston, Mass., October 4, 1873.

b. Ada Rebecca Smith, born Lempster, July 20, 1824; married, December 24, 1879, Josiah Baker Small ; died, April 16, 1882.

2. Grace Ada (Small), born April 10, 1882. Norman married, second, Julia Etta Hammond, July 2, 1864, Framingham, Mass.

3. Minnie Etta (Smith), born Boston, October 1, 1865 ; married, January 12, 1882, Solomon Lafay- ette Bradley.

4. Edward Alva (Smith), born Netawakee, Kan., December 31, 1870.

III. Truman (Smith), born Lempster, February 6, 1827 ; married, December 21, 1852, Arvilla Jane Gregg, Deering, N. H.

1. Imogene Virginia (Smith), born Lempster, October 27, 1853 ; married, June 18, 1872, Benja- main Emons, Wilmot Flat, N. H.

a. Amelia (Emons), born Wilmot Flat, August 14, 1876.

b. Lina (Emons), born Wilmot Flat, February 19, 1879.

c. Eva (Emons), born Wilmot Flat, October 16, 1883.

2. Wallace Dana (Smith), born Lempster, April 14, 1856; married, January 12, 1879, Mary Lizzie Allen, Concord, N. H.

IV. Alvah (Smith), born Lempster, March 22, 1830; died there, January 17, 1833.

V. Orville (Smith), born in Lempster, March 11, 1832; died May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va ; married, February 19, 1869, Julia Ann Pollard, Lempster.

VI. Edward Payson (Smith), born in Lempster May 21, 1834 ; died there April 24, 1875 ; married, January 10, 1858, Jane Amelia Chester, Dudis- well, C. E.

1. Frank Herbert (Smith), born in Athens, Ohio, May 19, 1863; died there January 29, 1865.

VII. Dwight C. (Smith), born in Lempster September 20, 1836 ; married, September 20, 1859, Helen Maria Tracy, Acworth, N. H.

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LEMPSTER.

1. Frederick Austin (Smith), born in Acworth June 9, 1861.

2. Willie Edward (Smith), born in Acworth September 16, 1864; died there November 19, 1864.

3. Alvah Dwight (Smith), born in Worcester, Mass., January 20, 1867; died there March 6, 1867.

VIII. Marianna (Smith), born in Lempster September 8, 1838.

Mr. Smith's descendants are filling honorable and useful positions in society. The eldest son, Milo, has, for many years, been in the employ of the United States and Canada Express Company, at Manchester. His son George Alvah is a skilled machinist for the railroad ; Ella Frances, a book-keeper in Boston; and Ira Percy, the youngest, is salesman for an agricultural house in Boston. Norman, the second son, was associated with his father in business ; since its closing up has been in the employ of different parties. His eldest daughter, Helen Arethusa, was a graduate from the Normal School, Westfield, Mass., and a very successful teacher. The second, Ada Re- becca, was, for some years, book-keeper for Everett & Small, Boston, Mass .; Minnie Etta, third daughter, is a fine pianist, while young Edward Alvah is still a student. Truman, now a farmer in Pittsfield, N. H., was a successful teacher; also rendered his father invaluable service in the Pension Office. His son, Wallace Dana, is a clerk in railroad office, Concord. The daughter, Imogene, a model wife and mother.

Orville, the fifth son, entered Wesleyan Univer- sity, Middletown, Conn., but was forced to leave on account of some trouble of the eyes. Was in Kansas at the time of her great trial, and, although prostrated with chills and fever, was carried upon his bed to the polls. Returning home, was chosen principal of Hopkinton Academy, which pleasant situation he left when our country called " to arms." Enlisting in the Ninth New Hampshire Regiment, was promoted to the captaincy of Company B, and fell in the battle of Spottsyl- vania. Va., while leading his men to charge, for he always said " come, boys." As soon as safety would permit, his remains were found by his

comrades and buried at the head of his brave men who had fallen with him; they now repose in the beautiful National Cemetery on Marye's Heights.

Edward Payson, being in Ohio at the con- mencement of our Civil War, enlisted, and was commissioned lieutenant of the One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment, Company B, of Ohio Volun- teer Infantry ; was one of the Home Guard at the time of the Morgan raid; afterward provost- marshal in West Virginia. At the close of the war, by reason of impaired health, went to St. Paul, Minn., and there became one of the con- tractors of the Northern Pacific Railroad. His health failing, he came to his father's home Feb- ruary, 1875, passing away the following April, a noble Christian man.

Dwight C., the youngest son, employed in his father's shop, became an expert in the cutting of sole leather ; subsequently found employment in Hopkinton and Worcester, Mass .; is now super- intendent in the shoe-factory of Critchell & Sibley, Belfast, Me. His only son, Frederick Austin, is a clerk in the Marine Insurance Company, Boston.

Marianna, the youngest, is the only one of her father's family left in the old home, whose walls have echoed and re-echoed to the music of patter- ing feet, to the gleesomeness of childhood, to the many home gatherings on the nation's feast-day, and to the sadder home-comings when the loved were laid to rest. Hers has been the blessed mission to care for the aged parents as they passed so gently from earth to heaven.

Mr. Smith had resided in the village of his na- tive town ever since his apprenticeship, erecting in 1824, an unpretentious brick cottage, shaded now by luxuriant maples, set out and fostered by himself and wife Within, there has always been true republican simplicity, and to the hospitable board the stranger and friend, the poor and needy were always welcomed.

This home in the summer months is not only pleasant with the song of birds and perfume of flowers, but vocal with the merriment of childhood, it still being the favorite resort of the grandchil- dren and great-grandchildren, as well as many other family friends.

HISTORY OF NEWPORT.

BY JOSEPH W. PARMELEE.

CHAPTER I.

IT is matter of interest that in this year of grace, one thousand eight hundred and eighty- five, there are living many persons in the town of Newport whose grandfathers and grand- mothers were the disloyal subjects of George III. King, etc. It is also matter of interest and consideration to all residents of the town, native or adopted, and must so continue to be to the latest generation, that its local history reaches back into the colonial era, when New Hampshire was a royal province of Great Britain, with a royal Governor, whose pom- pous ediets were based upon a sovereignty that was not of the people.

The first settlement of our town of Newport occurred at a most interesting period in Conti- nental affairs. The great contest for supremacy in America, between England and France, had been terminated by the results of the old French and Indian War, and the treaty of Paris, 1756-63. France sullenly retired and England dominated on the North American Continent from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Zone, and from ocean to ocean.

The Indian tribes after nearly a hundred and fifty years of contact with the pale-faced invaders of their hunting-grounds-worsted at all points ; unable or unwilling to mingle with or oppose the progress of the civilization that had planted itself in New England-had taken up their dreary and desultory march towards the western sea-an anabasis that has continued for another hundred and fifty years.

A sentiment of dissatisfaction was gaining strength among the people of the colonies that in the near future was to burst out in revolu- tion and deliver them from the tyranny of the British government.

With the peace to which we have referred there came to the people of the New England colonies a renewal and enlargement of their domestic industries. The populous condition of the older settlements invited an extension of their boundaries. The war-whoop and the war- dance, and the dusky savage, as a local element of population, had forever disappeared-a great and peaceful wilderness, full of magnificent possibilities, beckoned to their hardy sons and daughters, from its primeval solitudes.

The shout that broke the silence when that green island of the southern sea first dawned upon the vision of Columbus, "Land ! land !" has been the key-note of American progress and civilization. It was only when the hand of labor appeared on the scene that permanent and valuable settlements were made in the New World. It was then that the forests began to disappear, and farms were opened and towns and villages were settled. It was land that the wise old farmers of Massachusetts and Connec- ticut wanted for themselves or their stalwart sons, and to this end they sought out the fairest valleys and the best-timbered uplands for in- vestment and occupation.

The desirable character of the region of coun- try now known as Western New Hampshire became known to the people of the older and

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NEWPORT.

more populous colonies as early, at least, as the time of the French and Indian War, when the valley of the Connecticut River, from Massa- chusetts to Canada, was traversed by scouts and companies of armed men and captives, as the re- quirements of savage warfare sent them to and fro, between Southern New England and the St. Lawrence River.

Again, the wealth derived from the capture of fur-bearing animals, as well as the excite- ments of the chase, has tempted men into re- gions beyond the confines of civilization ; and thus the hunter and trapper have become pio- neers in the discovery of new lands and streams and regions hitherto unknown.

It was undoubtedly in this way, and for this purpose, that the territory of the present town of Newport was first visited.

Some time about the middle of the last cen- tury a famous hunter and trapper, Eastman by name, of Killingworth, Conn., is said to have left his home on a hunting expedition. Pushing his way up the Connecticut River, he came to a very considerable stream of water flowing in from the east, now known as Sugar River. Following the course of this tribu- tary, he penetrated these wilds, and, doubtless, came to the place where Newport village now stands, and set his traps in the meadows of the South Branch and its affluents.

He was successful in his trapping, and, in due time, returned to Connecticut, laden with the skins of otter, beaver, mink and musquash, the spoils of these streams.

The glowing accounts he gave of the natural resources of this section in fertility of soil, water- power, timber, healthfulness of climate, pictur- esque scenery and accessibility, made a deep im- pression upon his friends and induced them to set about securing a charter for a township in the interest of their families.

He set out again on a similar expedition, from which he never returned. At an early period in the settlement of the town a human skeleton was found on land about a mile west

from Newport village, now the farm of Reuben Haven, near a small stream of water much fre- quented by rodents and aquatic animals.

This discovery was supposed to solve the mystery in regard to the fate of the unfortunate Eastman,-the first white man that set foot upon the soil of Newport.

In the mean time the Colonial Governor at Portsmouth, through his Surveyor-General, Isaac Rindge, had caused surveys of many townships to be made in the valley of the Con- necticut, claiming jurisdiction on both sides of the river, and was not without good knowledge of the quality and value of these lands.

Mr. Barstow, in his " History of New Hamp- shire," makes the following statement as re- gards the Governor and people in relation to this matter :

"The soldiers perceived the fertility of the soil, and immediately upon the cessation of hostilities a great crowd of adventurers and speculators made applica- tion for these lands. Applications increased and the surveys were extended so rapidly that during the year 1761 not less than sixty townships were granted on the west and eighteen on the east side of the river. The Governor's coffers were filled by the fees; and scarcely had two years more elapsed before the num- ber of townships on the west side of the river amount- ed to one hundred and thirty-eight. A stream of emi- gration poured northward from Charlestown to Lan- caster and Northumberland, and settlements were soon extended to Claremont and Plainfield, Lebanon, Hanover, Lyme, Oxford, Newport, Lempster, Marlow and Alstead. The passion for occupying new lands seemed hardly exceeded by the passion for granting them. The soldiers to whom they had been promised for their meritorions services in conquering the coun- try from France were forgotten in the hasty covetous- ness of an avaricious Governor. Wentworth retained five hundred acres of land in each town to himself."

The last statement may be correct in regard to other towns, but to mitigate his selfishness as much as possible, we may state that his acquisi- tion in Newport was a lot of two hundred acres.

We may here observe incidentally the influ-

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

enee of the more important water-courses of New Hampshire as regards its first settlement ; and how the Piscataqua and the Merrimack and the Connecticut, and their more important trib- utaries, became water-ways and high-ways far- ther and farther into the interior, and their allu- vial borders were first dotted with settlements. We may also perceive how entirely convenient it was for the people of Central Massachusetts and Connecticut to push their settlements up the valley of the beautiful river that came down to them from the borders of Canada. Of the set- tlers on the Merrimack and its western tributa- ries, the greater part were from Eastern Massa- chusetts. For years the peculiarities of these different classes of people were of so decided a character as to identify their origin. Both classes were in Newport.

In view of the demands for progress and the general situation, a number of the enterprising citizens of New London County, Conn., and more particularly of Killingworth, one of its important towns, had obtained from the royal Governor of New Hampshire a charter for a township of land, as follows :

[SEAL.]

" Province of New Hampshire George the Third by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland; King De- fender of the Faith &c.

"To all persons to whom these presents shall come : Greeting.

"Know Ye that We of our special Grace certain Knowledge and Meer Motion for the due encourage- ment of Settling a New Plantation within Our Said Province by and with the advice of Our Trusty and Well-beloved Benning Wentworth Esqr: Our Gov- ernor and Commander in Chief of Our said Province of New Hampshire in New England and of Our Council of the said Province, Have upon the Condi- tions and Reservations hereinafter Made, Given and Granted and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant in Equal Shares Unto Our loving Subjects, inhabitants of Our said Province of New Hampshire and Our Other Governments and to their Heirs and Assigns for Ever, whose names are entered on this Grant to be divided to, and amongst

them into Sixty Eight Equal Shares, all that Tract or Parcel of Land Situate lying and Being within Our said Province of New Hampshire Containing by Ad- measurement Twenty Three Thousand and Forty Acres, which Tract is to Contain Six miles square and no more Out of which an Allowance is to be made for Highways and unimprovable Land by Rocks, Ponds, Mountains and Rivers One Thousand and Forty Acres free according to a Plan and Survey thereof made by Our said Governors order and re- turned to the Secretarys Office and hereunto annexed Butted and Bounded as follows, Viz, Beginning at a Stake and Stones which stands Soutlı 78 degrees East at the distance of Six Miles and One Half Mile from the North Westerly Corner of Charlestown a town formerly Granted in this Province, and runs from the said Stake and stone North Eight degrees, East Five Miles and Seven Eighths of a Mile to a Stake and Stones, then South 60 degrees East Eight Miles and One Quarter of a Mile, then South Ten degrees West Six Miles to a Stake and Stones, then North Sixty Three degrees West Six Miles and One Quarter of a Mile to a Stake and Stones ; the Bound first mentioned being Six Miles and One Half Mile from the Bank of Connecticut River.

" And the same be and hereby is Incorporated into a Township by the Name of NEWPORT. And the In- habitants that do, or shall hereafter inhabit the said Township are hereby declared to be Enfranchised with and Intitled to all and Every the privileges and immunities that other Towns within Our Province by Law Exercise and Enjoy-And, further, that the said Town as soon as there shall be Fifty Families resident and settled therein, shall have the liberty of Holding two Fairs, One of which shall be on the -- And the other on the - annually, which Fairs are not to continue longer than the respective - follow- ing the said - and that as soon as the said Town shall consist of Fifty Families, a Market may be opened, and kept One or more days in each week, as may be thought most advantageous to the Inhabit- ants.

"Also, that the first Meeting for the choice of Town Officers Agreeable to the Laws of Our said Province shall be held on the third Tuesday of November next, which said Meeting shall be notified by Mr. George Harris who is hereby appointed the Moderator of the said First Meeting, which he is to Notify, and Govern Agreeably to the Laws and Customs of Our said Prov-

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NEWPORT.

inee, and the annual Meeting forever hereafter for Choice of such Officers for the Said Town shall be on the second Tuesday of March Annually-To Have and to Hold the said Tract of Land as above expressed, together with all Privileges and Appurtenances to them and their respective Heirs and Assigns forever, upon the following Conditions, viz. :

" Ist. That every Grantee, his Heirs or Assigns shall plant and Cultivate Five Acres of Land within the Term of Five years, for every Fifty Acres con tained in his or their share or proportion of Land in said Township, and to continue to improve and settle the same by Additional Cultivations, on Penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant or Share in the said Town_ ship, and of its Reverting to Us Our Heirs and Suc- cessors to be by Us or Them regranted to such of Our Subjects as shall effectually Settle and Cultivate the same.

"2dly. That all white and other Pine Trees within the said Township fit for Masting Our Royal Navy, be carefully preserved for that Use-and none be Cut or felled without Our Special Lease for so do- ing first had and obtained upon the Penalty of the forfeiture of the right of such Grantee, His Heirs and Assigns, to Us Our Heirs and Successors as well as being subject to the Penalty of any Act or Acts of Parliament that now or hereafter shall be Enacted-

"3dly. That before any of the Land be made to and among the Grantees, a Tract of Land as near the Cen- tre of said Township as the Land will admit of, shall be reserved and marked out for Town Lotts, One of which shall be Allotted to each Grantee of the Con- tents of One Aere.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 124

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200