History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 140

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 140
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 140

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).

They were living in Framingham, Mass., as early as 1690, and moved to Oxford, Mass., in 1716, where his will was proved September 23, 1738. Of their eight children, Samuel, Jr., was born in Framingham October 8, 1691; married, May 23, 1715, Elizabeth Bellows. He was one of the original proprietors of Sutton, Mass. He was a man of influence and held different positions of honor and trust in the town.

Of his seven children Bezaleel was born in Sutton July 26, 1722, and married Phebe Carlton, April 30, 1747,-a lady noted for her beauty.

Of the children of Bezaleel and Phebe (Carl- ton) Barton were Phebe (one of whose grand- daughters was the wife of Dr. Judson), Beza- leel, Jr., Benjamin and Peter. The father and sons moved to Royalton in 1764 and served that town as soldiers in the Revolution. Beza- leel, Sr., died in the service at Bunker Hill in 1775, aged fifty-three years. Bezaleel and Benjamin came from Sutton to Croydon in 1784 and Peter in 1793. From these have descended the numerous families in Croydon bearing their name. They were brave, sturdy men, inured to toil and danger, and they grappled manfully with the hardships of pioneer life. They gave up the endearments of home to receive in exchange the hardships and privations incident to a new settlement.

Of Puritan stock, they inherited their love of justice, their devotion to principle and their

contempt of toil and danger. Both they and their descendants occupied leading positions, and their history is interwoven most closely with the history of the town from its earliest days.

Of the thirteen children of Peter and Hep- sibeth (Baker) Barton, born in Croydon, Beza- leel Barton (2d) was born July, 1794, married Hannah Powers, daughter of Ezekiel Powers, Jr. and as we have before noticed, the first male child born in Croydon.

Here the Barton and Powers genealogies unite.

Of the children of Bezaleel Barton (2d) and Hannah (Powers) Barton, Levi Winters was born March 1, 1818.

The father, a man of marked social qualities and frank and genial in his bearing, died before the son had reached his majority, and previous to this business had taken the father from home, so that most of the responsibilities of the fam- ily rested upon the mother. But it is no idle pun upon her maiden-name to say that she was a power in that household; her intuitive vision saw every material necessity of the family ; her unsurpassed executive capacity was equal to every demand, and what is quite as essential to the formation of a symmetrical character, her moral and religions precepts and example com- pelled a recognition of the claims of God and man. The sick and poor of her neighborhood were often greatly indebted to her for the wis- dom of her counsels, the abundance of her alms-deeds and the warmth of her sympathy. Universally venerated and esteemed, she died in Croydon September 14, 1881, aged eighty- six. Inheriting the best qualities of such an ancestry, moulded and inspired by such a moth- er and in boyhood acquiring his fibre in the severe but practical school of tireless industry, rigid economy, and heroic self-denial and self- reliance, we might anticipate for Mr. Barton a character and a career which would place him among the best and foremost citizens of his State and entitle him to an important chapter in its

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NEWPORT.

history. We hazard nothing when we say that he has made that anticipation a reality and that he has afforded us another conspicuous ex- ample of what the humblest may achieve un- der the fostering genius of republican institu- tions.

From the age of ten years till he left the district school at eighteen, his attendance was restricted to a short term in winter, and this with frequent interruptions. In all other parts of the year he was wholly engaged in manual labor. At eighteen he assumed the responsi- bility of his own education and support. He had no money, but he had what is better- courage and muscle. He went to work. His books were always near by, so that when there was a leisure moment, the "horny hands of toil " would grasp and his hungry mind would feast upon it. He would brook no discourage- ments. No hours were allowed to run to waste. Often on rainy days he would call on his old friend, John Cooper, Esq., book in hand, for instruction in the common branches, but never without receiving sympathy and encouragement. These efforts, supplemented by a term at the- Unity Academy, then under the instruction of Alonzo A. Miner, now Doctor Miner, of Boston, qualified him to teach in the common schools. He now regarded his school-days closed, and cheerfully chose the occupation of a farmer.

In 1839 he married Miss Mary A. Pike, of Newport, a young lady of great worth, who died in 1840, leaving an infant son, the late Colonel Ira MeL. Barton. He placed his motherless boy in the care of his sister, who tenderly cared for and reared the child. The death of his wife was a severe blow to one in whose nature the domestie element is so marked. With the light of his home gone out, and with his life-plan destroyed, he seemed almost par- alyzed for a time; but the bent steel of his intense personality was sure to reaet.

The second year after his bereavement he entered Kimball Union Academy to pursue a classical course, under that distinguished teacher,

Dr. Cyrus Richards. Having but one hundred dollars when he entered, he was compelled to teach winters and to toil with his hands during the summer vacations; but his uncompromising zeal carried him successfully through the three years' course. Few believed that he could com- plete a labor commenced and continued under such circumstances.

We cannot repress our admiration for the young man whom neither bereavement nor poverty could crush, but who, in spite of the most disheartening circumstances, earns the right to stand in the front rank with his most brilliant competitors. This he did.

In the same spirit, and relying upon his own exertions for means, he entered Dartmouth Col- lege in 1844, and honorably graduated in 1848. His oration on graduation was highly com- mended by the public journals of the day. Being anxious to enter upon the practice of his chosen profession at the earliest possible day, he commenced the study of the law with Hon. Daniel Blaisdell, of Hanover, during his senior year.

Immediately after graduating Mr. Barton commenced teaching the Canaan Academy, and at the same time entered as a student the office of Judge Kittredge, where he remained until January, 1851. While there he taught the Academy five terms, and was also appointed postmaster of Canaan. In the early part of 1851 he came to Newport and completed his legal studies with Messrs. Metcalf & Corbin, and was there admitted to the bar in the July following. In 1854 he formed a law partner- ship with Hon. Ralph Metcalf, which continued until Mr. Metcalf was elected Governor. He then became the law-partner of Shepherd L. Bowers, Esq., with whom he was associated until 1859.

Notwithstanding his extensive law practice, Mr. Barton has been engaged to a considerable extent in building, farming, stock-raising and fruit-growing. No man with equal means has contributed more to the growth and permanent

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

improvement of the village of Newport ; none have done more by their own personal industry to convert rough fields into attractive streets, luxuriant gardens and pleasant homes. Taught from childhood to cultivate the soil, he has, all along through his busy life, found his highest enjoyment in turning aside from the turmoil of professional labors to the more genial occupa- tion of agricultural pursuits.

As evidence of his superior legal abilities, and of the public esteem in which he is held, we point to the following record :

He was register of deeds for Sullivan County from 1855 to 1858 ; county solicitor from 1859 to 1864 ; representative to the State Legislature in 1863, 1864, 1875, 1876 and 1877, and State Senator in 1867 and 1868. During all these seven years of service in both Houses, he was a member of the judiciary committee, and for five years its chairman. In 1866 he was chairman of the board of commissioners ap- pointed by Governor Smythe to audit the war debt of the State. In 1876 he was a member of the convention which revised the State Con- stitution, and the same year was chosen elector of President and Vice-President of the United States ; Governor Harriman appointed him bank commissioner, but he declined the office. He was appointed by Governor Prescott in 1877 one of the commissioners to revise and codify the Statutes of New Hampshire. His many friends have hoped to see him elected to Congress; it is conceded that his abilities and his fidelity to important publie trusts reveal his eminent fitness for such a position ; but local divisions, for which he is in no ways responsible, have thus far prevented his nomination. In the legisla- tive caucus which nominated Hon. E. H. Rol- lins for United States Senator, Mr. Barton received a handsome complimentary vote with- ont any effort on his part.

When he commenced the practice of law in Newport, he found there able rivals for the honors of the profession, whose reputations were well established. I cannot better express the

truth than to use the language of a writer who, speaking of this period of his life, says,- "The field seemed to be fully and ably occupied, but his early training had made him self-reliant. It soon became apparent that he had come to stay, for, from the outset, his success was assured; that he would bring to the discharge of the duties of his new posi- tion the same energy and devotion to principle which had hitherto characterized his actions. From that time to the present he has enjoyed the confidence of the public. As a counselor he is cautious and careful, dissnading rather than encouraging litiga- tion. As an advocate he is eloquent, zealous, bold and persistent. In the preparation and trial of causes he has few equals and no superiors at the Sullivan County bar. His faithfulness and devotion to the in- terests of his clients have often been a subject of re- mark. The late Hon. Edmund Burke, who was op- posed to him in many hard-contested cases, has been heard to say to the jury that his 'brother Barton's clients, in his own estimation, were always right and his witnesses always truthful ; in fact, his geese were always swans. '"

Mr. Barton's legislative experience began in 1863,-that intensely feverish period of the Rebellion. The Democratic party was repre- sented by its ablest orators and most skillful par- liamentarians. Never was a minority abler led by adroit leaders. They were artful, bitter and desperate. Although Mr. Barton was a new member, unused to the rules of the House, still he almost at once became the acknowledged leader of the majority. Wary and watchful, alert and forcible, Mr. Barton promptly and successfully met the assaults of the opposition, and sometimes "carried the war into Africa." The House soon acknowledged his leadership. Returned in 1864, his position was the same as in the former year. The soldiers will never forget his fearless advocacy of the measure al- lowing them the right to vote in the field.

This cost him his reappointment as solicitor, as he openly denounced Governor Gilmore for his purpose and attempt, through the opposi- tion, to veto the bill. But he was not the man to sacrifice principle for the " loaves and fishes

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of office." In 1875 and 1876 he was chairman of the Republican legislative caucus, the la- bors of which were both extremely difficult and important.

In the sessions of 1876 and 1877 his atten- tion to business was such as to give him a com- manding influence in the House. Always in his place, he was ready to lend a helping hand to any needed work. At the close of the latter session, one who had watched his course as a legislator said,-

" Barton, of Newport, is a man who brought with him an established reputation, and who has been one of the most prominent members of the House. He is a ready debater, quick to see a point and take it, pop- ular with his acquaintances and has had a large legis lative experience, which gives him the full measure of his ability. He was the most prominent champion of the Prison Bill, which he managed with great tact and carried to victory against odds which threat- ened at times to defeat it. If Sullivan County is per- mitted to name the successor of Colonel Blair as member of Congress, an honor which her reliable Re- publican majority seems to entitle her, he will doubt- less be the man."

Not less complimentary was the New Hamp- shire Statesman, whose chief editor was a mem- ber of the House,-

" One of the best members of the House was Bar- ton, of Newport. Suave and considerate at all times, and willing to take a hand in any dis- cussion affecting the public weal, his cheerful, hearty voice striking in upon a dull or an acri- monious debate, had a pleasing and mollifying effect. Although careful and cautious, it cannot be assumed that he is not sufficiently aggressive in the maintenance of his convictions when they are as- sailed. Sometimes sharp in his personal sallies, they are singularly free from bitterness or malice, and no one, however much aggrieved at first, could hold re- sentment against him. Few members had more in- fluence in the House, and his advocacy of any meas- ure gave it strength. Perhaps the secret of his influ- ence with the House was due, in part, to the fact that he seldom got on the wrong side of a question. On all moral questions, also, he was sound, foremost with voice and influence and vote."

His long and able legislative experience has never been stained by political corruption or by the betrayal of any moral question. John Cooper, Esq., in the Granite Monthly of May, 1879, has truthfully said, " Through all these years of political life he presents a record with- out a blemish."

Mr. Barton is a man of commanding phy- sique and is well preserved by temperate living and total abstinence, from all intoxicants and narcotics. He is a man of fluent and agreea- ble speech, of fine conversational powers, and is the inspiration of every social circle which he enters. At home as well as abroad, in private as well as in public life, he is the invariable ad- vocate of every moral and social reform. He is an honor to the Masonic fraternity, whose principles he worthily represents. He is the warm and helpful friend of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he belongs ; but he has an unaffected contempt for all sectarian narrowness. His sense of justice is intuitive, his sympathy quick, and in its exercise he re- gards neither state nor condition.

The destitute and forsaken always find in him a true friend. From boyhood he has been an avowed and uncompromising opposer of slavery, and of whatsoever oppresses the masses, whether white or black. If he sometimes asserts and maintains his opinions with earnest- ness and warmth, he never does so with malice. In the advocacy of what he deems to be just he is never turned aside by motives of self- interest.

He is kind as a neighbor, is strongly attach- ed to his friends, generous to his opponents and social with all.

In 1852 he married Miss Lizzie F. Jewett, of Hollis, a cultured Christian lady. Her amiability, good sense and force of character render her every way worthy of her honored husband. Their "silver wedding" was ob- served in 1877 and was attended by a large circle of friends. Besides other tokens of ap- preciation bestowed at that time, Hon. Edmund

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Burke presented, in behalf of the donors, an elegant silver service accompanying the presen- tation with remarks replete with friendship and good-will, to which Mr. Barton replied in a feeling and impressive manner.

Their children are Herbert J., Florence F., Natt. L. and Jesse M. The eldest son, Her- bert J. Barton, was born September 27, 1853. He prepared for college at Tilton, and gradu- ated from Dartmouth in the class of 1876, standing fourth in a class of sixty-nine students. He has taught with great success the Newport High School, the High School of Waukegan, Ill., and is now professor of Latin and Greek in State Normal University, at Normal, Ill. In 1881 he was admitted to the bar of Illinois, at Chicago, and was associated with his father for one year, when he returned West and opened an office at Winona, Minn. While here he accepted the offer of his present position. He is a fine scholar and a successful instructor.

Florence F. graduated from the Newport High School in 1881, and is a young lady of fine promise.

Natt. L. and Jesse M. are members of the Newport High School. They all have many of the elements which have contributed to their father's success.

But I should do injustice to the memory of the patriot dead should I fail to speak briefly of the eldest son, Colonel Ira MeL. Barton. He was born, as we have said, in 1840. Upon the remarriage of his father, in 1852, he became a member of his family, and was cared for with parental solicitude. He fitted for college at Kimball Union Academy and entered Dart- mouth in the fall of 1858, but the following year he became a law student in the office of his father, and assisted him as clerk in his labor as register of deeds. He commenced teaching school at the age of seventeen years, and taught five terms with marked success, securing high commendation from both parents and pupils. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, though but twenty-one years of age, he was the first

man in Sullivan County to enlist. He recruited Company E, First New Hampshire Volunteers, and was commissioned its captain. At the ex- piration of the term of service he returned, and immediately commenced the enlistment of another company; was commissioned captain of Company F, Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers, known as the " Fighting Fifth." After serving in the Peninsular campaign, under General Mcclellan, where he won the commendation of his superior officers for bravery and for his care of his men, he returned home sick, but recover- ing, he enlisted a company of heavy artillery. He went with the men to Fort Foote, near Washington, D. C., as captain of Company B. In 1864 he was sent home to organize a regiment of heavy artillery, which he did, and was com- missioned by Governor Gilmore lieutenant- colonel. He was in command of Fort Sumner, in the defenses around Washington, at the time, of the assassination of President Lincoln, and was mustered out of service the summer follow- ing, at Concord. He was soon after appointed second lieutenant in Twenty-eighth Infantry of the regular army, and was ordered to Pine Bluff, Ark. He was promoted to first lieutenant of same company. In this capacity he served for two years, when he resigned and was appointed prosecuting attorney of the Tenth Arkansas Judicial Court. He remained in this position till he was appointed judge of the Criminal Court for that district and filled that office with marked ability for two years, when he resigned and took the position of editor of the Jeffersonian Republican, a Republican paper at Pine Bluff, where he remained until December, 1874. In the contest of Brooks and Baxter for Governor of the State, he commanded Baxter's forces.

After this contest was settled and Baxter was declared Governor, he returned to Newport and entered into partnership with his father in the practice of the law, where he died January 19, 1876, before he had reached his thirty-sixth birthday.

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NEWPORT.

Possessed of brilliant native talent, disci- plined and developed by intellectual culture, of generous, humane, philanthropic impulses, of the nicest sense of honor, true, strong, unwav- ering in his friendship, he won for himself the highest esteem of the entire circle of his ac- quaintances. Soldiers always found him a true comrade and friend, and the needy and suffer- ing of all classes were sure of his sympathy and aid, and sorrow filled the breasts of all that his " sun went down while it was yet day."

Mr. Barton, though now sixty-seven years of age, is in the active practice of his profession, constant and unremitting in his labors, whether

in his office or upon his farm. His physical and intellectual forces are still strong and active. Conscious of his personal integrity and of the worthiness of his aims, happy in his family, honored by the community, and cheered by the favor of Providence, he may, with great pro- priety, congratulate himself that he has not lived in vain. And as he is still in the vigor of mature manhood, we may with reason hope that his fellow-citizens may for many years to come enjoy the benefits of his practical wisdom, and that his posterity may as nobly sustain the name of Barton as he has the name of those from whom he descended.

HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.

CHAPTER I.

PLAINFIELD lies in the northern part of the county and is bounded as follows: On the north by Grafton County ; on the east by Grantham ; on the south by Croydon and Cornish, and on the west by the Connecticut River, which separates it from Vermont.

The township was granted August 14, 1761, to Benjamin Hutchins and fifty-nine others, the most of whom were from Connecticut. The first pro- prietors' meeting was held in Plainfield, in that State, from which this town derived its name. Set- tlements were made in 1764, and the town had a population of 308 in 1775.

By an act passed June 23, 1780, the easterly portion of this town and the westerly portion of Grantham were united and erected into a parish for parochial purposes, by the name of Meriden. In 1856, July 12th, the Grantham portion of this parish was annexed to Plainfield.

The ratable estate of the town in 1773 was about $375. The following is an inventory of that year: "Province of Newhampshire Cheshire ss. plainfield april 21st Anno Dom 1773-

"The Inventory of the Ratable Estate In the town of plainfield Taken and made out By us the Seleet men of Sd plainfield The Whole of the Ratable Estate In plainfield amounts to Seventy five pounds fourteen Shillings Including Sixty one polls Sum total £75: 148-

" Ben Kimball John Stevens

Benjamin Chapman

Amos Stafford "

Sworn to before Francis Smith, justice of the peace.

Plainfield was well represented in the War of the Revolution. The following is a return of Cap. Rus- sel's company :

"A Return of Capt Russels Company with the Name Annexed-Plainfield May 3rd 1777-

"Cap Josiah Russel Stutely Stafford

Sart Maj John Stevens Benin Gallop

Serg Dannel Kimball Ziba Robberts

Cor Benj" Cutler Robt Seott

Cor Timothy Cory Sergt Ebenezer Jinne

Drum Benja Chapman James Wilson

fifer Sam1 Farefield

Walter Blois

"the above Out from ye 3ª of may to 20th June in ye whole 48 Days Cald 45 do No. 14

" Ensn Isaae Main Laben Hall

Ser Thomas West Sam' Williams

Cor Silas Gates Jo" Parker

Dannel Short

Job Cotton

Nites Cutler Elexandrew Petterew

Oliver Addams

"the above out from ye 3ª of May to 18th June 46 Days Calld 43 Days No. 11

" Cor David Gitehel Duthan Kingsbury

Littlefield Nash William Wilson

Jon Parker Jr Joseph Kimball

Perla Robberts

"the above in ye Service from ye 3ª of may to ye 13th of June 39 Days Calld 40 Days No. 7

" Abel Stone Out untill ye 20: of May 17 Days

"Josiah Russel out from ye 3ª of May to ye 14tb 11 Days"

The following Plainfield men were at Saratoga :

" Lieut Reuben Jerold Return of the men that march from Plainfield to Sallatogue in Colo Chases Regiment In Sept 26 1777 with their names

310

311

PLAINFIELD.

Names

Days in Service

" Lieut Reuben Jerold. 35

Sergt Elias Gates. 32

Sergt William Cutler 32

Corp1 Nathan Gates. 16

Corp1 Nathaniel Stafford 32

Drumm' Benj" Chapman

.32

John Andres 32

Timothy Vinson. .32

James Walker .32

Isaac Williams. 32

Wilard Smith

Laban Hall.

Christopher Hall.

Zadoc Bloss

Rulaf Spalding 7

Stutley Stafford.

Josiah Rushel

" Return of Baggage Horses

" Lieut Reuben Jerold 1 Horse 9 days

Rulaf Spaulding

William Cutler ..

66 66 Hezekiah french. 1 15

66 66 Christopher Hall 1 15

Job Cotton.

66 15

Capt Josiah Rushel himself and horse .. 6 days each Charles Spaulding dito .. 2 66

Abel Stafford dito .. 3

"Reuben Jerold paid feridges for 21 men and 6 horses going out at a /3 each ..

68: 9d

Returning home for feridges for 17 men 6 horses 5:9

Reuben Jerold paid for Rum dealt out to the above men 5 quarts and 1 pint ... ... £3:6:0"

The following is " A Return of the Quota of Continental men Belonging To Plainfield in Co1 Jonth Chases Redgerment :"

Regt. Enlisted Capt Enl. in

under

Date Time Enl. for

" Eiry Evans

Col. Silly Farewell May 1777 3 years

W. Willard 1

Dito

House

Dito

Negro Darock

Lemuel Dean

Ebenezer Ginne2

May 1778

Jonth How

Laban Hall

9 mos.

Walter Blois

Wills Kimball Peabody

June

7 mos.

John awlsworth

Joseph Kingsbury Bedel

May 1776 is now

among the Engians or Regelors Prisoner " JOSIAH RUSSELL Capt"

1 Belonged in Hartford, enlisted for Plainfield.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 140

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