History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 77

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

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All his life Mr. Merrill has been an indefatigable worker; giving the strictest attention to all details of his diversified business operations; he has been prudent and frugal in his method of living; by care and temper- ance he has brought himself from an enfeebled physical condition to good health; he is a close calculator, shrewd financier, careful investor, and his judgment has seldom erred; these are the secrets of his success.

SENECA SARGENT MERRILL.

Among the citizens of Colebrook for many years identified with its mercantile, political and social relations, was Seneca Sargent Merrill. In the words of an old philosopher,-" All men, whatever their condition, who have done anything of value, ought to have recorded the history of their lives"; and one, who, by his own efforts, has attained affluence and social position, and through all the changing events of a business life of over thirty years preserved his integrity unimpaired, well deserves the pen of the historian.

Seneca Sargent Merrill, youngest son of Samuel and Fanny B. Merrill, was born in Croydon, N. H., February 25, 1826. His father died a year after, and Seneca passed his early years in the home of stern necessity and close economy. At the age of ten he went to live with his brother Sher- burn, and was a member of his household until he was forty-five years

S. S Merrill

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TOWN OF COLEBROOK.

old. He worked many long years, assiduous in his attention to his busi- ness, and faithful to his brother's interests. When thirty years of age Mr. Merrill commenced business for himself, and continued it with marked success in the different enterprises in which he was engaged. In 1856 he was the junior partner of the firm of "S. R. & S. S. Merrill," carrying on starch manufacturing at Kiddersville, and had an interest in the factory at Colebrook Corners, and others in Coös county; he was also connected with Piper & Libbey in the starch business in Aroostook county, Me. He commenced trade in 1870. as partner with his brother, and was in company with him, and with Warren E. Drew, until his death, March 18. 1886.

Mr. Merrill attended mostly to the outside matters. He was a man of good judgment, a close buyer, an exact collector, scrupulously honest, and punctilious in all details of his business; his word was as good as his bond, and he won the confidence and patronage of the community and of the surrounding towns; at the time of his death he was the wealthiest man of his age in Colebrook.

This merchandizing was of great magnitude and produced satisfactory financial results. The enterprise of the merchant is a prime factor tending to increase the wealth and prosperity of the section, even while enhancing his own prosperity, and, to insure success in trade, requires not only a high degree of business ability, but honesty of purpose and integrity, which characteristics Mr. Merrill possessed.

Mr. Merrill married, January 10. 1871, Emma, daughter of Dr. Lyman and Betsey (Loomis) Lombard. She died in March, 1872. In February, 1876, he married Arvilla, daughter of Thomas and Esther (Beecher) Piper, and widow of Samuel P. Pitkin. To his step-daughter, Millie, Mr. Merrill manifested the tenderness of a parent. His only child is Seneca Sherburn Merrill, a bright lad of nine years.

In politics Mr. Merrill was a Democrat, ever loyal to principle. Faith- ful to his trust, he worked for the good of the party and not for political preferment, and held many public offices in the gift of the people. He was selectman in 1866 and 1867; county commissioner in 1867, 1865, and 1869; represented Colebrook in the state legislative terms of 1850-1881, and was supervisor from 1883 until March, 1886.

He was much interested in Freemasonry, and for twenty-five years was an esteemed and valued member of Evening Star Lodge, of which he was treasurer for twenty years consecutively. He was also a Royal Arch Mason of the Franklin Chapter of Lisbon. He belonged to no denomina- tional sect. His religion was the " Fatherhood of God and the Universal Brotherhood of Man," as exemplified in the Masonic order. He was, how- ever, a generous and strong supporter of the Methodist church, of which he was trustee for many years.

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Kind and affectionate in his family relations, honored and respected by his business associates, loved and esteemed by many friends, his memory will long be cherished.

SAMUEL K. REMICK.

Samuel Kelly Remick, born in Danville, Vt., September 15, 1815, mar- ried Sophia Cushman in 1838, was for many years a woolen manufacturer at Danville and Hardwick, Vt., later a hotel keeper at Hardwick and St. Johnsbury, Vt. In 1870 he purchased the Parsons House (completed in 1862), and conducted it until 1873, when he rented it to Edwin F. Bailey for five years (1878), and then resumed its management. Mr. Remick made repairs, added veranda, etc., to the hotel in 1871, and built a large addition in 1876. In 1878 he erected the Remick block and hall, and also a large tenement house in Lawrence, Mass., the year before his death. He was a man of great force and energy. He died at Colebrook, December 24, 1878; his wife died April 12, 1879. Mr. Bailey occupied the Parsons House from 1879 until his death, in May, 1884. Edwin Small, who mar. ried Mr. Remick's oldest child, Kate O., purchased the hotel. November, 1884, and has conducted it since. Both Mr. and Mrs. Small do all in their power to make their guests comfortable.

DIXVILLE.

CHAPTER LXIX.

Roads-Hotels-Scenery, Etc.

D IXVILLE, with an area of 31,023 acres, is situated immediately east of Colebrook, Columbia and Stewartstown, and received its name from Col. Timothy Dix. father of Gen. John A. Dix, the noted war governor of New York, to whom the township was granted in 1803. As early as 111 the New Hampshire legislature authorized a lottery to obtain funds to construct a wagon road from Colebrook to the Maine line through Dixville Notch. This road had been in contemplation from about 1800, and, although the lottery proved a failure, the road was built, and made a valuable highway to the sea-port of Portland. Since the road was opened to Errol there has been most of the time a house of entertainment in the town. The wealth of Dixville consists in wild sublimity of grandeur appearing in the famous Notch, and the timber with which nature so gen- erously endowed it. (For a description of the Notch and scenery, see "Scenery of Coos " in General History. )

John Whittemore, of Salisbury, came to Dixville in 1-12 to take charge of the interests of the Dix family in this region. He was employed by Ezekiel and Daniel Webster, attorneys and agents of Col. Dix. Mr. Whit- temore resided here many years, cleared a large farm. and his house (on the east side of the Notch) was the wayside inn, and a famous stopping place in its day. He died after attaining a good old age; and with his wife lies buried on the desolate and forsaken place which once was a com- fortable homestead. After the death of the parents, Benjamin, who had been the home boy, abandoned the town, and the old home rapidly fell into decay. Since then, about 1830, there has been no permanent inhab- itant. A few have made short occupancies, but that is all that civiliza- tion brought, until the Alpine scenery of the Notch attracted summer travellers. One Walker built a small hotel near the western entrance of

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

the Notch in 1870. This was burned after a few years and never rebuilt. In 1874 George Parsons, of Colebrook, constructed a two-story summer hotel, with accommodations for fifty guests. This was built on the west side of the Notch, on a beautiful plateau, about sixty rods from the high- way. directly in front and in full view of the west gate of the Notch. By request of the Dix family it was named the "Dix House," and was ded- icated by a reunion of the Dix family. The house is conducted personally by Mr. Parsons, and is open to guests from June to October.

The surface of the town is rocky and rugged, but there is some very good land. There are numerous streams, which can be utilized for water- privileges.

STEWARTSTOWN.

BY C. E. TEWKSBURY, EsQ.

CHAPTER LXX.

Grants and Grantees-Petition (1795) to Assess Tax on Non-Resident Lands-Petition to Amend,Act of Incorporation-Call for First Town Meeting-Action of Said Meeting-Bound- aries-Second Town Meeting-Election of First Representative-First Inventory-Settlers Before 1800-Early Times-Hardships Endured-First Licenses-War of 1812-Historic half-bushel- First River Road-Earmarks-Taverns and Hotels-Corporations-Diamond and Nathan Ponds, how named-Metallak-James Miner Hilliard-The Great Hail Storm-Bridges across the Con- necticut.

T 'HIS township was granted as "Stewarttown," December 1. 1770, to Sir James Cockburne, Sir George Colebrook. John Stuart, of London, and John Nelson, of the Island of Grenada. It was incorporated December 22, 1795, by the name of Stuart, but doubts arising as to the legality, it was again incorporated, December 24, 1799, and named Stew- artstown, Daniel Brainard, Jr., being authorized to call first meeting. The town being on the frontier during the Revolutionary war, and liable to raids by Canadian Indians, no permanent settlements were made until after peace was declared.

Petition for Authority to assess a Tax on Non-Resident Lands, Etc .: addressed to the General Assem- bly, 1795 .-

"The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of a Township called Stuart in said County humbly shew- eth, that your petitioners did some of them become inhabitants of said Township previous to the late war with Great Britain, and in addition to the burden of war which they felt severely, they have suffered much hardship in traveling through the desart to their respective settlements without roads, although under neces- sity of bringing their supplies of provision & thirty miles and upwards-and notwithstanding the increas- ing settlements of said township and the most strenuous exertions of said inhabitants the road in and through said Stuart is incomplete and impassible for teams; and your petitioners conceiving it to be highly reasonable that the lands in said township whose value hath been increased by their emigration and settle- ment should bear at least part of the burden of making roads therein, which the proprietors of said town- ship have hitherto wholly neglected to do; therefore your petitioners humbly prays this honorable court to grant a tax of two pence on each aere of land in said Stuart for the purpose of making and repairing roads

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

and bridges therein to be laid out in the direction of some meet persons in said township with in one year from the last day of November next ensuing the grant of said tax-And further your petitioners considering many inconvenienees to which they are subject on account of their unincorporated state, the want of authority to raise money and colleet the same for the purpose of making roads, keeping schools, and conducting other matters for the benefit of said inhabitants pray that they may be incorporated, and vested with all the power and authority which the towns within said State do by law exercise and enjoy and your petitioners shall ever pray-

"Stuart 11th May A D 1795 --

" Dan'l Brainerd Jr Daniel Hulbert

" Rich'd Smart Elisha Dyer

"Abner Powers Theoph's Durell

* Abel Bennet Jr Clement Miner

"Jolin French Abner wood Jun'r

"Luther Freneh David Lock

"Longley Willard

Nathaniel Durell

" Barzillai Brainerd

Boswell Merrill "

"John Walls

The foregoing petition was granted December 9, 1795.

Relative to amending the Act of Incorporation, 1799 .-

" Whereas a petition was prepared to the honorable General Court of the State of New Hampshire, at their Session in June, in the Year 1795, praying that a place called Stuart, in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, might be incorporated into a Town, and also that a tax of two penee on each acre of Land in said Stuart, might be granted for the purpose of making roads and bridges; Whereupon the said General Court at their session in Deeember in the same year passed an Act to incorporate the said place called Stuart, by the metes and bounds mentioned in the Charter thereof, into a Town by the name of Stuart; and at their session in December in the year 1796, passed an act granting a tax of three eents on each acre of land in said Stuart, public rights excepted, for the purpose of making roads and bridges. And as the said plaer was at the time of preferring said petition, understood and known to said petitioners by the name of Stuart, when in reality it was ealled Stuartstown in the Charter thereof, and some doubts have since arisen respecting the legality of such incorporation, as well as of the tax granted as aforesaid; Therefore Your peti- tioners, inhabitants of said Stuartstown, humbly pray this honorable Legislative Body to make such Amend- ments to the before mentioned Acts. as they shall think expedient, to answer the ends and purposes for which they were passed, or by any other way which they shall think proper incorporate the said Stuartstown, and vest it with such previledges as other Towns in said State enjoy, and enable them to collect and lay out a tax of three cents on each acre of land therein, for the purpose of making Roads and Bridges, public Rights excepted -- And your petitioners shall ever pray &c-

"Stuartstown Nov'r 23d A D 1799 "Dan'l Brainerd Jun'r Dan'l Hulbert Eliphalet Miner

" Riehard Smart "Stephen Kemp 'Jeremiah Eames Ju'r " Pellatiah Nichols "John Walls

Elisha Dyer

David Locke

Hanry Sallanhim

Elijah Benton "

Call for First Town Meeting .- " Whereas, the honorable General Court of the state of New Hampshire at their last session incorporated a place called Stewartstown by the name of Stewartstown, and vest the same with town privileges and did appoint and authorize me the subscriber to call a meeting of the inhab- itants thereof for the choice of town officers. I do therefore notify the legal voters of said Stewartstown to meet together at my house in Stewartstown on the second Tuesday of March next at one of the eloek in the afternoon for the following purposes namely-first to choose a Moderator to govern said meet- ing secondly to choose a Town Clerk. Selectman, Constable and all other necessary and customary town officers according to law. Stewartstown, Feb. 25, 1800. Daniel Brainard Jun'r."

The First Town Meeting .- " Voted Daniel Brainard. Jr., moderator, Elisha Dyer. town elerk, who took the oath of office in open meeting 'before mne Daniel Brainard Justice Pees,' voted Daniel Brainard, Jere- miah Eames, jr., Elisha Dyer selectmen; Peletiah Nichols constable; Barzilla Brainard surveyor of lumber; Henry Sullingham and Stephen Camp fence viewers."

The boundaries described in the act of incorporation are these:

" Beginning at a white maple tree standing on the easterly bank of Connecticut River, and running south, seventy degrees cast, nine miles; from thence turning off at right angles, and running south,

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TOWN OF STEWARTSTOWN.

twenty degrees west, three miles and one hundred and forty-four Rods; from theneo, turning off at right angles, and running north, seventy degrees west, to Connectient River; from thence up said Hiver as that tends to the maple tree aforesaid-which same maple tree stands four Rods north of Bishop Brook, so called, and opposite a large Island in said River."

Second Town Meeting .- The second meeting was held at the house of Daniel Brainard, for election of representative to Congress, which vote is recorded as follows: "For Joseph Pierce, Samuel Tenney, Abel Foster and George B. Upham. Esquires, thirteen to each of them "; also, "Voted to Raise fourteen Dollars to Defray town charges." This sum was not assessed until the next spring. At the March election, 1501. the whole number of votes for governor (John T. Gilman) was eleven.

The first representative was chosen March 23, 1501, as follows :-

Call for Meeting .-. These are to notify the legal inhabitants of the District of Cockburne, Col brook Stewartstown, Shelburne, and Wales's Location to meet together at the Dwelling house of Henry Sullingham in said Stewartstown on monday the twenty third Day of March annent at one o'clock in the afternoon for the following purposes viz. :

"first -to choose a Moderator to Govern said meeting.

". secondly to choose by ballot one person qualified as the constitution requires to represent said Dis- triet in the General Court of the State of New Hampshire one year from the first Wednesday of June next. · Stewartstown March 3d 1801.

·· Daniel Brainard Selectmen oť

" Jeremiah Eames Jr (

Stewartstown."

At this meeting "Voted Daniel Branard Esgr be Moderator. Voted Jeremiah Eames Jun'r, be our Representative in the General Court the ensuing year "

First Inventory, 1800 .- From this inventory we gather the following: Henry Sullingham is taxed on one poll, two oxen, four cows, one two-year- old, nineteen acres improved, and seventy-one acres unimproved land. Micajah Leonard, one poll, two cows, three three year-olds, two two-year- olds. H. Sullingham, Jr., one poll and one horse (or ox). Stephen Kemp, one poll, one cow. David Locke, one poll, one cow. three three- year olds, one two year-old. two yearlings, two and one-half acres of im- proved, and forty-four and one half acres of unimproved land. Elisha Dyer, one poll, two oxen, two cows. two three-year-olds, one two year-old, one yearling, thirteen acres of improved, and one hundred thirteen and a half of unimproved land. Eliphalet Miner, one poll, one cow, one yearling. Isaac Stevens, one cow, four two year-olds, twelve acres of improved, and seventy-eight acres of unimproved land. Clement Miner, eleven acres of improved, and eighty acres of unimproved land. Benjamin Allen, one poll, one horse (or ox), one cow. Elisha Otis, one poll, one horse for ox). Daniel Hurlbert, one poll, two horses (or oxen), three cows, seven young cattle, fifteen acres improved, and sixty-seven acres of unimproved land. Daniel Brainard, Jr., one poll, three horses and oxen, two cows, two two year olds. nine and one-half acres of improved, and eighty-five and one-half acres of unimproved land. John Walls, one poll, one cow, four young cattle,

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

seven and one-half acres of improved, and eighty-seven and a half acres of unimproved land. Joanus Hugh, nine acres improved, one hundred sixty- three acres of unimproved land. Charles Richards, two polls, three oxen and horses, two cows. five three-year-olds. Richard Smart, seventeen acres improved, and fifty-five acres of unimproved land. Barzilla Brainard, one poll, two oxen (or horses), one cow, eighteen acres improved, and twenty- eight acres of unimproved land. Peletiah Nichols, one poll, two oxen (or horses), two cows, seven young cattle, twenty-four acres improved, and sixty-six acres of unimproved land. Jeremiah Eames, Jr., one poll, four oxen and horses, four cows, eleven head of young cattle, sixteen acres of improved, and one hundred and seventy five acres of unimproved land. James Lewis, one poll. Asa Dearth, one poll, one cow. Hobart Spencer, one poll.

Settlers before 1800 .- These were all on "settlers' lots." Henry Sulling- ham located on lot No. 1: Daniel Locke and Elisha Dyer on lot No. 2: Elisha Dyer on No. 3: Theophilus Durrell on No. 4; Clement Miner on No. 5; Daniel Hurlbert on No. 6; Daniel Brainard, Jr., on No. 7; Abner Wood- sum on No. 8: Richard Smart and Barzilla Brainard on Nos. 9 and 10; Abner Powan on No. 11; John French on No. 12; Jeremiah Eames, Jr., on No. 13: John Walls on No. 14.

Early Times .- During the rapid settlement from 1800 to 1810, many bought wild land and came with their families before a tree was felled. An old "log school house," near where Alden Fletcher's house now stands, was the common stopping place: the family making it their home while the husband ent down a few spruce trees. The neighbors would turn out to the " bee " and roll up a log cabin; the bark peeled from the logs doing ser- vice for shingles, boards and gables. Thus in a few days the home would be ready, and the "school house " vacant for the next comer. The chim- ney was made of clay and sticks, or stone, with a stone fire-place; this was all that was thought necessary for heating and cooking purposes: then, with a coal from some neighbor's fire, or by use of the ever present flint- lock gun, a fire was started, and never allowed to go out; the coals were carefully covered at night, as, once out, it was difficult to start again. An old resident tells of his being obliged to go over a mile through deep snow for a fire brand, as the tinder they had was so wet that the sparks from the old gun would not ignite it. Matches were then unknown. Soon after, a preparation of phosphorus was put up in vials; by dipping a splinter in this, and exposing it to the air, it would ignite, and those who could afford to buy this preparation at one dollar per ounce found it very convenient. I often wonder how we of the present time would get along without the matches which we use so freely. I doubt if many would ever know either "punk " or "tinder " if they saw it, much less be able to collect and use it for lighting fires. Tinder was a kind of rotten wood; punk, a species of

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TOWN OF STEWARTSTOWN.

fungus which grows upon trees partly decayed: this, gathered and dried, will take fire from a very small spark, and is hard to extinguish.

Hardships Endured .- In 1816 William Leah, with his wife and several children. lived in a tent, or hut, on the A. H. Tewksbury place: this hut was made of small poles inserted in the ground, forming a cone, fourteen feet at bottom and three at the top, with the earth for a floor, and a small place in the center, stoned around, in which they made their fires, the smoke escaping through the top of the cone. The year 1516 was very cold. Grain could not be raised in the town, and farmers were obliged to go fifty miles for wheat. Snow fell to the depth of eight inches and more on the 17th of June. The sheared sheep had to be covered with blankets to keep them from freezing. Snow came again the first of October and remained until the next spring. In 1817 David Fellows worked three months piling logs, living on three roasted potatoes a day, without salt or bread. Moses Hodge, who lived on the farm where C. C. Terrill now resides, could not obtain shoes for his children; so they used to sew on cloth, which they wore until it fell off. The principal living of the children was milk, thick- ened with slippery-elm bark, or with flour when they could get that luxury. Libbeus Hall, when three years old, came with his parents from Connecticut. They settled on the farm now occupied by Thomas Van Dyke. Their stock consisted of one cow. Once, in the absence of Mr. Hall, a sudden rise of the river left the cow on an island, and the family were obliged to subsist on the "seed-ends " of potatoes roasted in the ashes, until the animal could get home. Another time, when out of pro- vision, the father started with his gun and shot a moose within half a mile of his house. Libbeus Hall. in speaking of this, said: "You bet we lived high then till the old cow calved." An illustration of the endurance of these settlers may be found interesting. In 1540 Moses Heath, wishing to get some wheat ground, and not being able to procure a team started. with two bushels on his shoulders, from the place where John C. Poor now lives, and carried his load to the grist-mill at Colebrook, via " North and South Hills, " had it ground and returned with it the same day, having walked eleven or twelve miles; after reaching home, he ent over a cord of wood, beside "doing the chores." Moses Sargent, in 1-56, carried, from the Messer store in Colebrook, to his home in the eastern part of the town of Clarksville (a distance of seven miles and a half ), a supply of flour and other groceries, weighing about 170 pounds, and only put his load down three times.

First Tavern Licenses .- The first license for keeping hotel or tavern was :-

"We the subscribers license Capt. Jeremiah Eames to keep a tavern in Stewartstown one year from this Date Stewartstown April 22d 1802

". Dan'l Brainard Select . "Barzilla Brainard ) men."

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HISTORY OF COUS COUNTY.

In 1sos a license was granted to "one Amos Cogswell to sell spirituous Liquors by the small measure for one year," signed by Jeremiah Eames and Stephen Lane as selectmen.

War of 1812 .- During this war, a company of fity-two, including offi- cers and men. under command of Capt. E. H. Mahurin, was stationed at Stewartstown. their headquarters being near West Stewartstown. They built a "block house" or fort on the hill known as "Fort Hill." This company entered service July 27, 1512. and was discharged January 27, 1813. being drafted for six months. They were succeeded by Capt. Edmund Freeman. with a company of forty-seven, in March, 1813. This company remained until the close of hostilities. Samuel Sargent and John Tirrill, of Stewartstown, were privates in Capt. Freeman's company.

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 77

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