History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 75

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

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Hezekiah Parsons was educated in the local schools and at Fryeburg, Maine, where he attended the academy several terms. He was a teacher for a few terms in our district schools. He and his mother took care of the family until December 12, 1802, when he married " Polly," later called " Mary." Bevins, of Middletown, Conn., daughter of Benjamin and Sa- rah (Powers) Bevins, who was born January 31, 1775, and died July 3, 1862.

He soon began to acquire real estate, and in the course of fifty years became the largest owner of land in this portion of the state. He owned many improved farms, and considerable tracts of timber lands in Leming- ton, Canaan, Colebrook and Columbia; while his lands in Stewartstown, Millsfield and Errol were at times a very large fraction of the towns. He was engaged in lumbering on the Androscoggin from about 1825 to about

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

1847, and cleared or sold his pine and other salable lands. After his death, tracts of his remaining spruce lands became valuable.

He built a still in early life and made potato-whiskey until 1825. He took out a patent. July 9, 1812, for an improvement in malting and kiln- drying. He sold whiskey in January, 1812, for $1.00; gin, $1.00; proof spirits, $1.25; and paid for potatoes 25c. per bushel; wood, 50c. per cord; barley, 83c .: rye. $1.25; and wheat, $1.50; for ashes, 6c .: beef. 4c .; hay, $5.00. In the spring he sold seed-wheat at $2.00; rye, $1.50; barley, $1.00; potatoes at 42c .. and the seed ends of potatoes used in the still at 62c. That fall the prices he paid, and of liquors sold, were about twenty-five per cent. higher, and remained very uniform for several years.

He was elected representative of the classed towns of Columbia, Cole- brook, Stewartstown. Errol and Shelburne in 1807, and secured the pass- age of " an act to raise $5,000 by a public lottery for the purpose of making a road through the Notch, in township No. 2 (Dixville), in the county of Coös." The road through Colebrook to the Maine line in Cambridge was established and a tax on these and intermediate towns authorized by an act passed in 1810. In 1817 and 1818 he was representative for Colebrook, Columbia, Stewartstown. Errol. Dixville, Millsfield and College Grant; in 1817 he secured the charter for the Stewartstown toll bridge; in 1818 he was also a selectman and deputy sheriff, which last office he held continuously from before 1$15 to 1832, and did some business as sheriff after 1840. In 1826 and 1827 he was representative for Colebrook, Columbia and Errol. In 1835 he served his seventh term as representative. He was several times one of the board of selectmen and held other town offices from time to tinie.

He bought the saw and grist-mill in Colebrook village in 1833. He built the buildings that George Parsons occupies, then the best in the county, in 1843. The mills were old, and he built a new grist mill in 1846- 1845. He kept about seventy head of cattle on his home farm, besides those in Errol and Millsfield, a dairy of twenty cows, and as many horses, and a large number of sheep and hogs, and used a large portion of his mill- tolls on his farm.

He always had a large family. His wife's mother, Sarah Bevins, spent her last years with him, and died March 26, 1336, aged eighty-seven. His wife's brother, Ezra Bevins, came there in 1847 and died about 1834, aged eighty-four. His daughters, Jane, born May 23, 1817. who died January 30, 1532; Sarah Ann. born March 29, 1813, who died January 25, 1844, and Mary, born January 9, 1809, who survived him and died March 26, 1863, never left home.

His son Samuel Bevins, born September 23, 1820, was graduated in 1840 from the Rensselaer Institute, Troy, N. Y., and was a clerk for a time at Burlington, and afterwards taught in Virginia some years; then returned

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TOWN OF COLEBROOK.

home and was active in his father's and his own business, and died April 18, 1850. He was a young man of great promise, very active in the railroad movements of 1844-45 and 1847, and the Free Soil and temperance move- ment of 1846 and 1848, and secretary of the state committee. He gained something of a reputation as a campaign speaker at this time throughout the state, and his death was a severe blow to his father.

His son George, born May 23, 1815. always lived with him, and still occupies the old homestead. After the death of his parents and sister, George married Clara Lyman Martin. They have one child. Frederick George, born July 31. 1871. A daughter, Clara Bell. died in infancy. He has the old farm and mill and a hotel, the " Dix House."

His son Charles, born July 13, 1811, learned the wheelwright trade, and when twenty-one went to Connecticut, as a carriage painter. About 1836 he went to Burlington. Vt., as a carriage and sleigh manufacturer, then turned to the manufacture of matches. He moved to Montreal and manu- factured matches for several years, then commenced the manufacture of Parson's rat exterminator. In 1850 he transferred that business to Cole- brook, where he still continues it, and has expended a great portion of the profits in building up the village. The Parsons House was built by him, and the Mohawk House is owned by him. June 2. 1860, he married Augusta, daughter of Archelaus and Mary (Fletcher) Cummings. They have two children, Mary Augusta, born June 11, 1866, who married Joseph Smith Pierce, June 28, 1885; and Charles, Jr., born February 6, 1871.

His daughter Margaret, born September 15, 1:03, married Jonathan Rolfe, January 4. 1824, and died June 20. 1834. She had six children, who all died or now live near Colebrook. Susan Jane, born September 7, 1831, married Allen Hatch Forbes: Almera B., born April 29, 1828, mar- ried George Brower, and died November 26, 1867: Charles E., born Sep- tember 10, 1526, married Ellen Faulkner; Harriet A., born September 17, 1833, married Daniel Munroe Smith, of Brunswick, Vt., and died November 19, 1580: and two who died in March, 1832. Susan lived with Mr. Parsons from early childhood. Almera lived with him for a long time in childhood, and also, with her family, after marriage for some years, and was provided, as were Charles, Harriet and Susan, with substantial assistance in after life by gifts and bequests.

His son William, born March 21. 1807, married Lucy Mooney and died at Colebrook April 1. 1839. They had three sons, William F., born 1835; Hiram Charles, born 1836: Abdiel Charles, born 1838. They are at the head of various business colleges in the western states. They all lived for a time, and Abdiel for many years, with Mr. Parsons, and had aid about their education and subsequent business.

Mr. Parsons, in the winter of 1833, started on a journey to the west. He went to Cleveland, O .. Louisville, Ky., St. Louis, "Louisiana." and back via Wisconsin, Ohio, Montreal, etc., and visited numerous relatives and

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

former neighbors. He was considering a removal to the west. He sold the horse with which he started, and returned with one on which he rode for the last fourteen hundred miles of his journey.

One of the incidents connected with his career as deputy sheriff became the theme of several pamphlets and newspaper stories, and finally of the novel " Gant (furley." by Thompson, the author of the " Green Mountain Boys." etc. A hunter, Daniel Robbins, who lived near the mouth of Diamond, was believed to have killed a child in Maine and used it for bait, and also one Hinds and his son, of Milan, in 1828, whose bodies were found covered with brush in a brook near Little Kennebago lake. Sub- scriptions were raised, and Capt. Eames also furnished Parsons $34 public money and twenty-four pounds of pork and fourteen pounds of cheese, and Mr. Parsons went to investigate. He took Lewis Loomis and started Sep- tember 29, 1828. They got Hezekiah Cloutman, who had hunted with Hinds previous falls, but not that year, as guide, and staid in the woods searching for Robbins and looking for evidence until the last of October, when they went to Farmington, Me., to arrange about an indictment and a Maine depu- tation for Loomis for Robbins's arrest if found in Maine, and separated and went northerly through the woods home, where Parsons arrived November 1, 1825, and Loomis the same day, probably, as each were paid for thirty- three days in the woods at $1 per day, and Cloutman for twenty-eight days. The neighbors of Hinds also sent out an expedition prior to this which was gone a few days. Soon after Robbins was supposed to be at home they went to his house, but he had fled; they overtook him at the Aziscoös Falls (which were then supposed to be in New Hampshire) where he had carried a load of his baggage over the carry on a moose sled. They went up the opposite sides of the river, leaving a young Ellingwood to guard the landing to prevent their tracks in the snow being discovered and a surprise from the rear. Loomis met Robbins, who, contrary to their fears, was unsuspicious, and was following his own tracks back, jumped be- tween him and his sled on which his rifle lay, and had him secured before he could draw a knife. He would have shot either on sight, or Ellingwood, if he had suspected his errand. He escaped from the block jail at Lancas- ter before extradition, and was believed to have perished in the woods that fall. as the future rumors of him were not confirmed. This was considered an act of great daring at the time. The whole population was in terror during that fall, and was surprised that Mr. Parsons should be about and also sleep in the room with Robbins, without putting him in irons. They tied him in the bottom of the boat on their way to Errol, as they believed he would try to overturn it and drown himself with as many of them as possible. William Loomis, still living, slept one night with Mr. Parsons, at Northumberland, in Robbins's room, who was on his way to jail.

Mr. Parsons left records of very frequent trips to the cities of New

LITTLE.

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TOWN OF COLEBROOK.

England, Canada and New York, and the purchase of supplies, etc., which he kept to sell to jobbers and neighbors for some thirty years.

Rev. J. B. Hill in his obituary said, " * Mr. Parsons was the last survivor of the original settlers of Colebrook. % * Self-reliance and untiring application were marked features in his character and conduct, to which he was in no small degree indebted for his triumph and ultimate success. For a period of more than sixty years his was a life of action by day and night, in summer and winter, in sunshine and storm, in the forest and in the city. To those best acquainted with him it would not be deemed extravagant to say that no other one could probably be found who had devoted so many hours to business of the most active mental and physical character. As a business man he was personally known from Quebec to New York, and from Portland to Wisconsin. His traits of character he carried with him into public life in various offices in which he was repeatedly placed by his fellow townsmen. As a deputy sheriff, in which office he was continued under various administrations, he was greatly distinguished, and left a character for ability, and successful discharge of duty second to none in this portion of the state. The cause of his death is supposed to have been injuries received in consequence of falling in his carriage from the abutments of a bridge in Bethel, Me. When he became sensible that his hitherto almost incessant activity must soon cease, he calmly closed his business, and in the exercise of strong confidence in the Savior, committed his soul to his God, and bade the world adieu."

Hezekiah Parsons, son of Hezekiah and Mary (Polly Bevins) Parsons, was born in Colebrook February 11. 1805. In him was combined much of the energy and courage of his father, and much of the patient, quiet kind- ness of his mother. He married Sarah Merrill, daughter of James Frye, and Sallie (Chandler) Bragg, of Errol, April 21, 1832. They had eight child- ren: Ellen Sarah, born April 6, 1833, who married November 8, 1570, Reuben Sylvester Parks, of Washington, D. C .. son of Sylvester and Laura A. Parks, of Russell, Mass., and has since lived in Washington. She has one child, Alice Mary, born January 6, 1572. Mrs. Parks taught in War- ren. Ohio, for three years from 1s57; also before and afterwards in the schools and academy of Colebrook. She was a well-known teacher in Columbia, Lemington, Canaan, Stratford and Lancaster before her marriage. Heze- kiah Bragg, born March 16, 1835, married, February 22, 1873, Mahala, daughter of George and Sarah (Morrison) Aldrich of Colebrook. He died June 11, 1882. They had no children. He was postmaster of Colebrook from 1854 to 1556, register of deeds from 1558 to 1864. He built the telegraph from Stratford to Colebrook in 1868, and the management of that and his duties as town clerk occupied his time until his death.

James Ingalls, an attorney, is mentioned in the "Bench and Bar." Mary Alice, born May 2, 1850, was graduated from Robinson Female sem-

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inary, Exeter, N. H .. in 1870, and in 1873 from the Medical department of Howard University, Washington, D. C., in which city she has since prac- ticed medicine. She was the first woman licensed to practice, consulted with by regular physicians, or admitted to a medical society in that city, or, it is probable, south of Pennsylvania. They also had four daughters, born December 25. 1836, January 21, 1839, March 18, 1840, and May 16, 1846, of whom none lived more than a few weeks.

Mr. Parsons attended the academy at Haverhill, N. H. ; and some years later that at Lancaster, to qualify himself as a surveyor. He did a great deal of work as a surveyor until past fifty, when he gave up all employ- ments requiring much walking.

Hecommenced teaching at the age of sixteen, at which age his father and grandfather, and his children also became teachers; but soon took charge of his father's still and farm, and later of his father's lumbering and river driv- ing on the Androscoggin until 1832, when he married and commenced farming on the farm that his children still own, which his father had bought for him a few years before in payment for his work. He taught several winters after his marriage. He was town clerk for several years at about this time. He brought into Colebrook a little later the first stock of stoves, pipe, stove and general hardware, and added plows, horse rakes, &c., and later, wagons and sleighs, robes, &c. He was succeeded in the hard- ware business in 1859 by A. S. Eustis, and afterwards attended exclusively to his real estate, of which he had become a large owner. In 1838 and '39 was selectman, also in 1853-54 and 1867. In 1844-45 and '46 was county commissioner. In 1844 he was also elected representative. That year he attempted to get a grant of 5,000 acres of state lands to Colebrook academy, which had been chartered in 1832 but had been unable to get funds, but the matter was "postponed to the next year." He secured the char- ter for the Colebrook railroad, of which his father was first incorporator. The Atlantic & St. Lawrence R. R. Co., of Maine, was granted a charter, in 1847, upon condition that these incorporators should surrender their charter, and surveyed through Colebrook to the boundary, and verbally promised to build on that route; and the incorporators against Mr. Parsons's protest and to his life-long regret, surrendered the Colebrook charter. The road was afterwards surveyed and built up the Nulhegan. Again elected in 1846 he secured by a close vote a land grant of 10,000 acres to the academy. He was one of the building committee, trustee and treasurer when it was built, and president of the trustees at the time of his death. He also got an act passed to divide the county, but later it failed to become a law. He was the first incorporator of the Colebrook Bridge Co., and active in building the bridge across the Connecticut. He was a deputy sheriff for some years, and afterwards sheriff, from which office he was removed in 1856, in common with the other Democratic officials in the state,

Lyman Lambare

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and retired with a reputation for unusual efficiency and accuracy. He held no public offices afterwards, except that during the war of the Rebel- lion, though not of the dominant party, he was elected agent of the town to procure money and fill the town's quota, and went to Washington for that purpose. Also in 1867 he was elected one of the selectmen in an exciting election in which each party had a part of their members elected. He held other minor offices, especially that of collector and town clerk for several years. In religion he was a very positive Universalist, and in politics a very decided Democrat, and enjoyed a wide and often intimate acquaintance with the leaders of his denomination and party in the state, and to some extent in the nation. The last years of his life were years of leisure, and, after 1870, he spent his winters in Washington, D. C., where he celebrated his golden wedding, and received among his presents a gold

mounted cane presented by Congressman Ray in behalf of the citizens of Colebrook, who in his address said: "I quote from the letter from a half a hundred doners: . You may say to Mr. Parsons, that there is not one of the doners who has not often been made the recipient of his neighborly kindness: and with Hezekiah Parsons neighborly kindness means some- thing. In fact he has reduced it to a science. In a long life of active usefulness, spent almost wholly in his native town, he has endeared him- self to the hearts of all the people to an extent very seldom realized.'"

He was active and very generous in all public enterprizes, particularly in the various surveys and efforts to secure a railroad through Colebrook; the establishment of the Northern Judicial District, and building a court- house; procuring funds for rebuilding the Notch road which his father had been a prime mover in establishing, and the building and repairing of the various churches in the village and vicinity. Until past seventy he was noted for his activity, and always for his accommodating disposition, which was the subject of numerous anecdotes, and the cause of the unusual and universal affection with which he is remembered. He died July 5. 1Ss5. His last words, "I am at peace with all the world," characterized his gentle ways and dearest success, and were fully justified.

DR. LYMAN LOMBARD.

There is no more valuable member of any community than the intel- ligent and devoted physician. He is a benefactor of his race, and, when death takes from our midst an old, tried and reliable medical practitioner. one whose professional skill and tender care of his patients has won the esteem and love of all, we feel in our hearts, and utter with our lips, "a good man is gone." The "old-school country doctors " are rapidly passing away; and it is well that their memory should be cherished, and that a

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niche should be kept for them in the history of the county where their laborious lives were passed. Among this number Dr. Lyman Lombard takes foremost rank. not only for his many years of professional service in " Upper Coos." but for his skill as a surgeon, and devotion to and sym- pathy for suffering humanity.

Dr. Lombard descended from an early Massachusetts family; the first American ancestor, John, settled in Springfield, Mass., in 1646. The line to Dr. Lyman is John', Davide, John3, Joseph4. Josephs, Joseph®, Lyman'.

Lyman, eighth child of Joseph and Mary (Faulkner) Lombard, was born in Brimfield, Mass., March 15, 1788. His father was a farmer, and Lyman worked on the farm, acquiring a healthful physique, and studied medicine with Dr. Keyes, of Brimfield. He was in service nine months during the War of 1812. In 1815, after completing his medical studies, Dr. Lombard settled in Columbia, N. H., and October 3, 1818, purchased the residence of Dr. Thomas Flanders, in Colebrook, to which he removed and became a life resident of the town.

Dr. Lombard entered immediately upon the duties of his profession. His practice soon extended over a large area; through the Connecticut val- ley from the Canada line on the north to Northumberland and Guildhall on the south, and east to Erroll and Dummer. For nearly fifty years he toiled in the winter's cold and summer's heat, riding on horseback over the hills and through the valleys of this northern section, over rough roads and bridgeless streams, and encountering difficulties surmountable only by an iron will and an iron constitution. [It was not until after years of prac- tice that that luxurious article, the gig, was brought into requisition.] Not only did he excel as a physician, but his reputation was great as a surgeon. He held the commission of surgeon for the 24th Regiment of N. H. militia for several years. He received the honorary degree of M. D. from Dartmouth college, July 27, 1860. He was a member of various medical societies, and a hearty laborer in all directions to advance the standard of his profession. Of fine physique, five feet ten and one-half inches in height, well-proportioned, of erect carriage and of commanding presence, combined with a social nature and a keen sense of humor, his entrance into a sick room inspired confidence. He continued in active practice all of his life, only laying down his duties with the short illness preceding his death, which occurred October 21, 1867.

Dr. Lombard was an earnest Freemason. Entering the Fraternity in the early days of his manhood, he loved the institution for its merits and for the moral principles inculcated in its teachings. He was "raised " to the membership of Evening Star Lodge, February 19, 1823, and was its secretary for many years. In February, 1859, he was one of seven petition- er's for the restoration of the charter, and March 31, 1839, he was chosen Worshipful Master.

WH Guilleband, Hoboken. N

Hagen Bedel

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Democratic in his politics, unswerving in his allegiance to his party under all circumstances, yet he did not enter much into political life, his extreme devotion to his profession precluding this; however. he repre- sented Colebrook in 1851 and 1852, in the state legislature. He was a loyal citizen, taking great interest in all matters pertaining to the weal of the people. Bred and reared in the Orthodox Congregational faith, he became quite liberal, and never affiliated with any church organization; yet his house was a home to clergymen of all denominations.

In 1820, December 21, Dr. Lombard married Betsey, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Bissell) Loomis, a native of Hebron. Conn. Their children were Ann Smith (Mrs. Hazen Bedel); Mary F. (died February 26, 1887); Isabel A. (Mrs. Corydon Farr): Emma E. (married S. S. Merrill, died March 18. 1872); Erasmus D. (died July 8, 1882); and Joseph Erastus. Mrs Lom- bard died March 22, 1872. She was an intelligent lady, and ably seconded her husband in making a happy and attractive home. She kept a diary for over fifty years, in which were noted matters of importance to the community. Dr. and Mrs. Lombard commenced house-keeping in the pleasant home where they passed long years; here. they experienced many joys and few sorrows; here, their children were born and attained man- hood and womanhood; here, they dispensed a generous hospitality; and, here, after active and useful lives, the evening shadows fell, and the night came upon them.

COL. HAZEN BEDEL.

The Bedel family is an early American one, originating in England. Two English gentlemen, Gabriel and John Beadle, (according to Capt. John Smith's History of Virginia, published in 1629,) arrived in Virginia in the autumn of 1608. Samuel Bedel was an early resident of Salem, Mass., and probably the ancestor of the Bedels of the Upper Connecticut. Tim- othy Bedel, Jr., was born in Salem, Mass., in 1737. By his first wife, Elizabeth, he had one son, Moody, born in Salem, N. H., May 12, 1764. Timothy Bedel represented Salem, in 1764. in the legislature of this state. In 1765 he removed to Haverhill, and resided there and in Bath until his death, February 24, 1787. He was much more than an ordinary man. He was one of the grantees of Haverhill and Piermont, and in 1769 is given as a resident of Bath. He had an extended and brilliant military service. In 1754 he served under Col. Blanchard at "No. +": 1755, under Gen. Johnson in his expedition, stationed at Crown Point: in 1756, in William Stark's rangers. in second expedition against Crown Point; 1757, went to Halifax as lieutenant under Col. Meserve; 1758, at the capture of Louisburg; 1759, as lieutenant under Wolfe at the taking of Quebec;

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1760, lieutenant in Capt. John Hazen's company, at Isle Aux Noix, St. Johns. Chambly and Montreal; 1761, lieutenant under Gen. Amherst, guarding conquests on Western frontiers; 1762, went to Havana with Royal Provincials as lieutenant, was at the six weeks' siege and capture of that city: was appointed captain October 13, 1762, and remained in service until after peace was declared, in 1763. During the Revolution, as colonel, he raised and commanded a regiment, and was a distinguished and brave officer through the war.

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 75

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