History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 49

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194

USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 49

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Churches in Jefferson .- As soon as arrangements had been made for roads and schools, the people in town-meeting voted to raise eighty dollars "for the support of the gospel." It does not appear that there was much sectarian feeling at this time, though it is probable that the Baptists were in the majority when the town was organized. Isaac N. Hobart came here from Maine, and labored sometime, and, about the year 1822, a Bap- tist church was established. Among the members were Mr. Plaisted and wife, William Chamberlain and wife, Absalom Forbes, and Nathaniel Moulton. Rev. Mr. McGregor was here at one time, and Philip, Chamber- lain, from Hebron, Me., was a successful minister. About 1835, under Chamberlain's pastorate, a Baptist church was built, and the membership largely increased. George W. Kenny and Abram Bedell were ministers of note. Rev. Elisha Bedell was also a successful pastor, and continued in active service some time. George Butler was also a minister here. After Abram Bedell came Leonard Kingsbury, followed by David Hawly and Charles Perkins. Then came Henry Campbell and Elder Woodruff. Dur- ing Woodruff's pastorate the church building was remodelled, enlarged, a good bell added, and an organ bought, mainly at. the expense of Nathaniel Moulton, who had been a licensed local preacher for many years. After Woodruff came Rev. Mr. Atkinson, then Elders Dalton, Wheeler, David Gage, Rankin, Crafts and Brooks.

Free Will Baptist Church .-- About 1824 a Free Will Baptist church was organized at East Jefferson, and was in the care of Elder John Morse, of Randolph. This was in active work from 1824 until 1837, when Elder Morse moved from Randolph to Gorham. Among the members of this church were Benjamin Estes and wife, Josiah Hall, Joseph Hall, Phebe Hall, Thomas Whittam, Jonah Hite, Rebecca Huntley, Polly Hite, Will- ard Huntley and Ketury Estes. Benjamin Estes was probably "deacon." The Quarterly meeting at which the matter of organizing the church was considered, was holden at Jackson, and John Morse and Edward Green were the delegates who attended. The members of the council to act on the matter were Elder Joshua Quimby, of Lisbon, Elder Dudley Pettengil, from Sandwich, and Deacon Moses Aldrich, of Lisbon.

Elder Morse was a citizen of Jefferson, and at the age of more than ninety-two years was well and active. For more than seventy years he was an energetic laborer among the hills and valleys of old Coös, and the record of his life would make a book of interest. This worthy man died in 1887.

Methodism .- Here, as in other places, the pioneers of Methodism were early at work. In 1820 John Smith, from Vermont, preached once in four weeks. Other circuit ministers came from time to time. Wilbur Latham lived for a while on the Tuttle place where the " Grand View " House now stands. He preached the funeral sermon of Eliakim Hartford, who was.

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drowned May 8, 1832. Latham and Chamberlain preached in the "Old North School-house" and each had his friends and followers. Near the Hartford grave, in a secluded shady nook, rest the remains of a sister who died in 1819, and close by, lovingly lean toward each other, the grave stones of Hon. Samuel Plaisted and wife. A son of Mr. Plaisted, too, rests here, who, a mossy slab tells us, was drowned in Connecticut river. We find but little record from the time Latham was here until 1856, at which time a Methodist class was connected with the Lancaster station, William D. Cass, presiding elder, and J. Hooper in charge. The "leader " of this class was Henry W. Marden. and the members were Harriet E. Marden, T. A. Hall, Mary A. Hall, Edward Parsons, Maria D. Parsons, Joshua Plaisted, Eleanor Plaisted, Sarah Woodward, Rebecca Drew, Louisa Drew, Lucy P. Pinkham, Arvilla Folsom, Clarissa Holmes, Lydia Ann Plaisted, Reuben Plaisted, Vienna Tuttle. E. S. McIntire, Mahitable McIntire, Mary A. Bedell, Caroline D. Garland. Abial Bedell, and Mercy Chamberlain.

About 1860 a Methodist church was organized, with Rev. Truman Carter, preacher in charge. Warren Applebee was here three years: and J. H. Knott was here in 1868 and 1869, during which time a church was built at a cost of about four thousand dollars. A parsonage, at a cost of about fifteen hundred, had already been built.

In 1870 William E. Bennett came and was here two years; I. J. Tibbetts, 1872; William E. Tansom, 1873; Lovejoy, 1874; J. H. Brown, 1875-76-77; James Crowley, 1878-79-80; C. M. Dinsmore, 1881-82-83; Samuel J. Rob- inson, 1884-85; and James Crowley again in 1886-87, who now is the preacher in charge.

The church has been extensively repaired this season, and there are over fifty members. Connected with the church is an interesting Sabbath- school and a library of several hundred volumes.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Miscellaneous - Cherry Mountain Slide -Jefferson Meadows - Postoffices - Lumber - Mer- chants - Physician - Summer Hotels and Boarding Houses - Benjamin Hicks - Benjamin H. Plaisted - Daniel Austin - A good story.

T HE Slide .- Cherry mountain, rising 3,219 feet in air and beautifully wooded to the summit, with the bald spur known as "Owl's Head " as its northern limit, is a striking feature of the landscape in the vicinity of Jefferson. Nowhere else can the vast arc of circling peaks com-

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prising the Pilot, Presidential and Franconia ranges be seen in such grandeur of array. From its summit the winding valley of Israel's river with its noble enclosing hills, the Androscoggin with its clean banks and many islands, can be traced till lost in the dim horizon. The slope of the mountain from the spur of Owl's Head is steep and heavily wooded. Following an irregu- lar course down the mountain side at this point flows a little brook, one of the feeders of Cherry pond-an attractive sheet of water in the plain below. The surface of the ascent while precipitous is quite regular and unbroken till the summit is approached. Just where the wood and hillside merge into the fertile and level meadow begins the farm of John Boudreau, whose dwelling house stands on the brow of the shallow ravine through which the streamlet runs. Two minutes' walk below in a direct line was the home of Oscar Stanley, one of the worthy farmers of Jefferson. By Stanley's house ran the Cherry mountain road. A lofty and solid stone wall girds the road on either side, while below the highway was a grass field termi- nating in a thin patch of woodland sixty rods away. Five miles to east- ward lies Whitefield, and across the valley on the opposite slope is Jefferson.

Cherry Mountain Land Slide occurred July 10, 1885, about six o'clock in the morning. There had been heavy rains the week previous, and especially the night before; the mountain rill was far beyond its usual size, and had become an angry torrent. Suddenly there was a loud crash, fol- lowed by a roaring, rushing sound as of many waters, and it seemed to Oscar Stanley, and his men, who were at work with him, as if the mount- ains were coming down. They sprang to a place of safety, when imme- diately a wave of solid earth surmounted by trees and rocks came surging down the green fields. Mr. Stanley's house, which was in process of erec- tion, was entirely demolished and swept away in a moment. On and on this tumultuous mass of irresistible motion went for two miles from the starting point, when its power was lessened by the level ground below, where it spread over twenty acres. One million tons of earth and stone were hurled into the valley, and one hundred thousand feet of timber was strewn over the plain; huge bowlders were uplifted from their foundations, and came crashing into each other with a terrible velocity. This slide was from fifty to 100 feet in depth, and from 100 to 800 feet in width. The only loss of life was that of Donald Walker, who died of his injuries. The slide began close to the summit, descending in a straight line till it struck the water-course, which it followed truly to the end. A huge scar on the mountain side marks the track with amazing distinctness.

Jefferson Meadows, a small village built up by, and belonging to, Browns' Lumber Co., contains from fifteen to twenty houses; is a station on the Whitefield & Jefferson railroad. Edward Ray is station agent and cashier of the railroad. Manasseh Perkins has been express agent and conductor on the railroad from its opening in 1879.

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Postoffices .- There are three postoffices: Jefferson, Richard B. Eastman, postmaster; Jefferson Highlands, George W. Crawford, postmaster; Mead- ows, Edward Ray, postmaster.

Lumber .- Besides Browns' Lumber Co., G. W. & N. W. Libbey, Rines & Simpson, and Jewett & Son are engaged in the production of lumber.

Merchants .- The firm of Bowker & Co. (Browns' Lumber Co.) con- ducts a large establishment at Jefferson Meadows. J. B. McIntire, at Jef- ferson Hill, has a favorable reputation and carries a good stock of goods. E. E. Plaisted conducts another long established house.

Physician .- C. H. Burnham, M. D., at Jefferson Hill. He has one of the most attractive and artistic residences in this region.

Summer Hotels and Boarding Houses .- The chief industry of the town outside of the lumber business is the conducting of houses for the accom- modation of summer visitors. Hundreds come annually to visit this charm- ing resort where they can hold communion with Nature in one of its most sublime abodes, and breathe the exhilirating air, which stimulates like wine. Jefferson Hill is one long line of summer hotels and boarding houses, and we state a fact when we say that nowhere can be found pleas- anter resting places, more satisfactory tables, or more genial entertainers. Prices and accommodations can be found suited to all purses. We affix a list of the more prominent ones with the number they can accommodate.

Waumbek Hotel

Waumbek Hotel Co 250

Plaisted House P. C. Plaisted 125

Starr King House

C. K. Gile. . 80

Maple House .

Mrs. M. H. Bowles 50

Stalbird House Levi Stalbird 25

Sunnyside House

Charles McIntire. 25

Cold Spring House

W. H. Crawford. 30

Jefferson Hill House

E. E. Bedel & Co 100

Grand View House

Mrs. Benjamin Tuttle 50

Woodward Cottage

Mrs. C. A. Woodward 20

Hillside Farmhouse.

N. M. Davenport. 30

Mount Adams House

W. Crawshaw 60

Crawford House

E. A. Crawford 50

Pliny Range House

George W. Crawford & Son 30

Highland House

G. A. & G. L. Pottle 60

Willow Cottage J. A. Hicks 10

Union House

Hight Brothers 30

Cloverdale Cottage

John Palmer 20

Waumbek Cottage

Oscar Stanley 25

Benjamin Hicks, of Lee, came here early. When but sixteen he was a soldier in the Continental army of the Revolution, so his birth must have

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

been in 1760 or '61. His son, David Hicks, was born in Jefferson August- 17, 1796. He bought the 100 acre lot, on which he has since lived, from Samuel Plaisted in 1818, married Eliza, daughter of John and Betsey (Hight) Garland, December 25, 1824. Their children were Horace D., Elizabeth (Mrs. N. R. Perkins), Alice J. (Mrs. James Tate), John A., Har- riet T. and Joseph G. In connection with farming he has done much in nice wood-work; formerly made spinning wheels, clock reels, etc. Demo- cratic in politics, he has always been a quiet, law-abiding citizen, very fond of his rod and gun and of trapping. He is a Calvinistic Baptist and was called "deacon."

Benjamin Hunking Plaisted was born May 16, 1808, at Jefferson Meadows, on the Colonel Whipple place. His hotel experience began in a small wayside inn on Jefferson Hill; and, at the suggestion of Rev. Starr King, he erected the original Waumbek House, which he sold, and, about 1872, built the popular Plaisted House. He was a landlord who entertained with old-time hospitality and generosity. Mr. Plaisted was also conversant with town affairs, represented Jefferson several terms in the state legisla- ture, and was a member of the first board of railroad commissioners chosen by the state of New Hampshire. He died December 16, 1881, and was buried with Masonic honors. His wife, Mrs. Rebecca Plaisted, his sons, Charles and Philip C., and three daughters survived him.

Daniel Austin, who purchased the Col. Whipple place, was originally from Massachusetts, a refined gentleman and a Unitarian clergyman. Farm life in these wild regions did neither agree with his nature nor his finances, for he lost his property, returned to Massachusetts, and there married a very wealthy lady which brought him comfort in his latter days. When he left Jefferson he said he would not return until he came with a fine pair of horses of his own. This he did some years later.

A Good Story .- Hon. A. S. Batchellor, of Littleton, relates the story of a good natured controversy he once heard on the White Mountain Express between Plymouth and Littleton. The parties were Northern New Hamp- shire lawyers, politicians and business men. "Whether Jefferson village had a higher altitude than Bethlehem Street," was the question. Among the Clouds and the Echo were quoted. The testimony of members of the factions, who had stood in one village and looked down into the other, were taken, and the passengers who listened to the argument and evidence soon got merry, and then uproarious. "Nate " Perkins led the Jefferson party, and John G. Sinclair cited a passage in the "organ of the summit," which summarized Bethlehem as the "ultima thule" of the mountain region. "Nate" called upon Maj. Drew, his lawyer backer, to translate it, and declared in triumph when the " English" of it came, that it must be correct, for that was always his idea of the place. "Ultima thule," said the barrister, "means 'bottomless pit."" Thus the bantering progressed

Spreking

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till Sinelair's muse came to the rescue of Bethlehem, and, as the conductor called "change for Bethlehem," we got the following lines, impromptu, from the genial John, and then a truce was called :-

The Bethlehemites, as high as kites, Look down the run towards Jefferson. Whose people there, in sheer despair, 'Neath shadow of our mountains, Sit on logs and fish for frogs, In bog bound muddy fountains. With hay disease, oh! hear them sneeze, The poor unhappy creatures! While clouds of flies around them rise, And armies of mosquitoes.

But still the level at "Nate's" house in Jefferson pays no attention to poetical effusions, and, by unerring and invincible logic, shows the superior altitude of Jefferson.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. NATHAN RANDALL PERKINS.

In 1638, scarcely two decades after the landing of the Pilgrims on Massachusetts' shores, a company of adventurous pioneers located upon the fertile lands of what is now Hampton, N. H. They were mostly of English descent. and among them was Abraham Perkins, of the Plym- outh colony, probably the first of the family to settle in this state, although John Perkins, born in 1390, at Nervent, Gloucester county, England, who came in the "Lion " to Boston, February, 1631, with Roger Williams, was the first emigrant. Abraham Perkins is described as being superior in point of education to the most of his contemporaries, and was often em- ployed as an appraiser of estates. In 1645 he built the mill in Hampton known as Perkins's mill. He died in 1683. The name of Perkins appears on the roll of Revolutionary soldiers, and among the early representatives of Hampton. John Perkins, born about the middle of the eighteenth century, who married a Keniston, had a son, David K., who was born in New Durham in 1797. and married Margaret Rannels, a daughter of Runnels, and his wife Margaret Randall. She was a daughter of Elder Benjamin Randall, "the patriarch of the Free Will Baptist denomination." " Elder Randall was a man of medium size, erect and gentlemanly in appear- ance. His features were sharp, his eyes of a hazel color, and the general expression of his countenance grave and dignified. His gestures were few, and as a speaker he was calm, argumentative and very impressive. He

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was a man of deep piety and fervent spirit. His perception was great and his memory strong. He had a good business education for the times. He studied the works of men, but was emphatically a man of one book, and that the Bible." The Runnels family traces its descent from Ayrshire, Scot- land. John Runnels settled in Dover, in 1718; his son, Abraham, is spoken of as a brave Scotch patriot; he, with five of his sons, served in the Revo- lution. To David K. and Margaret (Runnels) Perkins were born nine children: Nathaniel, Samuel R., Mary Ann (Mrs. James Eastman, de- ceased), Manasseh H .. Nathan R., William Dana, Joan (Mrs. Moses Drew), David, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Perkins resided in New Durham and Middleton until 1829, when he removed to Whitefield and settled in the east part of the town, where he remained until 1839, when he located in Manchester, and worked at his trade of stone mason. He died Decem- ber 4, 1862. Hon. Nathan Randall Perkins was born in Middleton, De- cember 13, 1823. Descending from the sturdy Scotch family, Runnels, the strong Free Will Baptist, Elder Randall, and the colonist, Abraham Perkins, no wonder that in him are combined the traits of manly inde- pendence, with sound health of blood, and an incorruptible integrity.

Mr. Perkins has been an energetic worker all his life; when but a mere lad he laborel on the farm, and, from the age of twelve, until he was seventeen years old, in the mills, and at stone work in Manchester, when he went to Lancaster, learned blacksmithing of L. M. Rosebrook, and supplemented his common school education with an attendance at Lacas- ter academy. He formed a strong friendship for Mr. Rosebrook, and worked for and with him for some years. In 1852 Mr. Rosebrook, who was mountain born, conceived the idea of building a house of enter- tainment on Mt. Washington, and Mr. Perkins, who had saved some money, agreed to join him in the enterprise. They began their laborious work on the first hotel on Mt. Washington in May, 1832. Its walls were of the immense granite blocks so thickly strewn upon that high eminence, and the timbers and the boards (which came from Jefferson) had to be con- veyed on horseback up the steep mountain side from eight miles below. They soon took Joseph S. Hall as a partner, Mr. Perkins retaining one- fourth interest. The house was called the "Summit House, " was 20x40 feet inside measurement, and, although not finished, was opened for guests in July, 1852. In 1853 Mr. Perkins was in personal charge of the Summit House during the season, and built a large addition, remaining on the mountain from the last of May until the middle of September. In Feb- ruary, 1854, he sold his interest, and, in the spring, purchased the farm where he now resides, which L. M. Rosebrook had owned. May 22, he married Elizabeth C., daughter of David and Eliza (Garland) Hicks. Their only child, Manasseh, was born October 28, 1855. (He has been conductor and express agent of the W. & J. R. R. since 1879 He represented Jeffer-

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son in the legislature of 1885 -1886.) In connection with farming Mr. Perkins carried on blacksmithing. The sturdy blows of his hammer were heard early and late in the little shop opposite his house, and his industry and diligence were rewarded, each year increasing his prosperity. In 1860 he bought the Jefferson mill property, and rebuilt the saw and grist-mills on an enlarged and improved scale. erected a starch factory, and conducted these enterprises for twenty years with financial success. About 1568 Mr. Perkins obtained by purchase some three thousand acres of timber land of the estate of Canning Williams, and at once began to survey it. He had acquired civil engineering by his own study without an instructor, his natural tendency for mathematical science making this easy. From this time to the present he has done much in this field. In 1872 he was em- ployed. to locate and lay ont the Whitefield & Jefferson R. R., and has attended to all the civil engineering required by the main road and its lumber branches. The work has been accomplished in the best possible manner to facilitate the end designed, and many a graduate of polytechnic schools could find valuable lessons in curves and gradients along this line. The attention of Mr. Perkins was early attracted to the timber lands, and he dealt somewhat extensively in them. In 1972 he purchased three- fourths of Lowe and Burbank's grant (10,500 acres). Upon the organiza- tion of Browns' Lumber Company in 1874, Mr. Perkins became a member, and has since been in charge of its interests in Jefferson and the "woods." He was the second president of the company. He superintended the entire building of the railroad, laying out and putting up the camps, surveys the land, lets the contracts for getting out timber, etc., etc. The company has developed a large farm lying along both sides of the railroad from Whitefield to Randolph, and this is supervised by him in addition to his own home farm of 150 acres. He has this year (1887) cut for the company about 125 tons of hay, harvested from 1,000 to 1,200 bushels of potatoes, and 1,000 bushels of oats, and will add 100 more acres to the 450 already in pasture. He has just erected a new set of buildings on " Valley farm " near Randolph line.

A visit to their "camps" in winter, when nearly 200 men are engaged in cutting and hauling the logs to supply the great mills in Whitefield, is fraught with interest. The " camps" are clean, comfortable and capa- cious log-houses, fitted to accommodate from sixty to seventy-five men, while the best of provisions, cooked by experienced cooks who have served at leading hotels in summer, give an added zest to the appetites caused by active labor in the wintry air. The employés receive the best treatment; temperance is rigidly maintained, no liquor being allowed in the camps. The order and system of Mr. Perkins is discernible, and every thing moves like clock-work.

Mr. Perkins has been a standard bearer of Democracy for many years,

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and his influence is prominent in county and state affairs. He has held all important town offices; was county commissioner five years, during which time he was instrumental in building the large barn on the county farm, and personally brought about the introduction of steam heat into the county-house, and furnaces into the court-house. Notwithstanding these improvements, the county debt was reduced several thousand dollars. He has represented Jefferson five terms in the legislature; was a member of the constitutional convention of 1876. and one year each in the execu- tive councils of Governors Straw and Weston. He aided in getting the state appropriation for opening the road up the Androscoggin from Dum- mer to Errol, and, with James W. Weeks and George R. Eaton, formed the committee which decided what amount each town should pay. (Their decision was never controverted). He has been a delegate to Democratic county, state, and other conventions for many successive years, and at- tended the national Democratic convention in 1868, as a substitute. He has been a member of North Star Lodge and Commandery for many years.

Nature has endowed Mr. Perkins with a magnificent physique and equally large and liberal ideas and heart. His presence is winning, attract- ing all who come within the sphere of his personality. He dispenses hos- pitality like a prince, keeps "open house," and reminds one of the south- ern planter of ante bellum days. His charities are wide and constant, and nothing more delights him than to make children happy by unexpected gifts. His love for Jefferson is as strong and steadfast as though its air was the first he breathed, and the full weight of his well-balanced char- acter and influence is on the side of every public measure for the prosper- ity of the community. His religion is not that of creeds, but is exempli- fied in deeds which relieve the unfortunate and distressed, and by generous contributions to religious objects.

THOMAS STARR KING.

Thomas Starr King was the son of a Universalist clergyman of Charles town, Mass. When he was but fifteen years of age, his father died, and Starr King was entirely without means, and with the burden of the house- hold upon him. However, he was a manly youth of much promise, and his poverty touched the heart of Warren Sawyer, who was then president of the Mercantile Library Association. Boston, and hearing that King had a lecture on Goethe, he consulted E. P. Whipple and James T. Fields as to the inviting of young King to deliver this lecture before the associa- tion; to this proposition they heartily agreed, but the young man shrank from such an ordeal, and it was only after much encouragement that he consented. It is sufficient to say the lecture was a success, and Whipple,

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who took much interest in; and had great sympathy for, young aspirants for literary fame, took him by the hand and congratulated him. His ex- ample was followed by Fields and others, until the platform was thronged with the admiring auditors. This was the commencement of Whipple's life-long friendship for King. Both Whipple and King were lovers of the White Mountains, and visited them in company, and " King's brilliant letters to the Boston Transcript which formed the basis of his . White Hills' were the description of the mountains as seen through Whipple's eyes. Great were the story-telling seasons at the White Mountains when Fields, and King and Whipple were members of the tramping parties."

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 49

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194