USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 82
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
686
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
SAMUEL GRAY HANNAFORD.
Among those who have had charge of public institutions in Coos county, and proved faithful to the interests intrusted to them. there is no worthier representative than Samuel G. Hannaford, the superintendent of the county-farm.
Samuel Gray Hannaford, son of Amos C. and Hannah (Lyford) Han- naford, was born at Northfield, N. H., July 30, 1822. (The Hannafords belong to the old families of that town.) His educational advantages were limited to the common schools of his native town. At the age of four- teen he went to Sanbornton Bridge (Tilton), and learned the carpenter and cabinet-maker's trade of an uncle, and established himself in business there, combining agriculture with his trades. Mr. Hannaford married, October 4, 1842, Lucy M., daughter of Jabez R. and Ruth (Noyes) Hanna- ford, a native of Boscawen. They have two children, Russell and For- dyce A., who reside in Northumberland, and carry on business in Lan- caster.
He resided in Sanbornton nearly thirty years, during which time his reliability, honesty and courtesy gained him many friends, and public trusts were committed to his charge. In 1861 and 1862 he was chosen se- lectman, and the first year of his candidacy received all the votes of the town save sixteen. His political opinions are, and always have been, Dem- ocratic; he believes with Jefferson that "a strict adherence to the Consti- tution is the one thing needful to the perpetuity of the Union." He was a recruiting officer during the Rebellion, and has held a commission of jus- tice of the peace for almost a quarter of a century.
The particular field of Mr. Hannaford's activity and usefulness, in which he has been ably seconded by his estimable wife, has been in the management of public institutions. In 1865 he received the appointment of assistant superintendent of Merrimac county-farm, under Frank S. Dodge, now warden of N. H. state prison, and removed to the farm where he resided nearly a year. The care, attention and skill which Mr. and Mrs. Hannaford exhibited in the performance of the varied duties confided to them were productive of such good results that they were highly rec- ommended by the warden and one of the Merrimac county commissioners to the Coos county commissioners for the superintendency of the county- farm to be established at West Stewartstown.
Mr. Hannaford was first aware of his selection for this position when asked to accept it. This was done in August, 1867, and after due delibera- tion it was accepted, and September 20, 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Hannaford moved to West Stewartstown, which has since been their residence. Under their careful supervision the county-farm has become a model one, and each succeeding year has shown the wisdom of the appointment. The affairs are conducted ably and efficiently. Mr. Hannaford possesses good
ITIF. PHILA.
8 9 Hannaford -
Hermando de Jacoles
A.LITTLE.
687
TOWN OF STEWARTSTOWN.
financial ability, both in purchasing supplies for so large a family and in the sale of the surplus of the farm. The superintendent and matron are very careful that nothing goes to waste. The children, numbering now twenty-one, have the advantage of a good school six months in a year. and their intelligent and ready replies to questions from strangers evidence that this department has the requisite attention. All in all the good judg- ment and care of the institution, the humane treatment of the inmates. and its prosperous condition deserves high commendation.
Mr. Hannaford was the first person initiated in Doric Lodge F. & A. M .. Tilton, N. H., and has ever held his membership there. His duties preclude him from accepting any office in Stewartstown, but he has fre- quently been chosen moderator. He is a stockholder of Lancaster National bank. Mr. and Mrs. Hannaford are members of the Congregational church.
ISAIAH H. PICKARD.
Isaiah H. Pickard, son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Harvey) Pickard, was born in Canterbury, March 18, 1519, and died in Stewartstown, Octo- ber 13. 1854. About 1826 his parents removed to Stewartstown, and located on the site now occupied by the county buildings. Mr. Pickard married, Oct. 30, 1536, Sarah A. Rogers, of Columbia. She died January 27, 1571.
Mr. Pickard was an unswerving Democrat in his political affiliations, and served his town faithfully, being very active in its affairs. He was selectman, town treasurer, justice of the peace, and represented Stewarts- town in the legislative terms of 1853 and 1554. He once held the office of county commissioner, and in all these responsible positions, fidelity and integrity marked his work. Prompt and reliable as a business man, he had much probate business intrusted to him, and was requested to allow his name to be used as a candidate for probate judge, but his modesty caused him to shrink from such publicity. He did not belong to any church, but was a liberal contributor to the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Pickard was a member, and was ever charitable to those in want. He was of a quiet and unobtrusive nature, always genial and social, however, and often had an appropriate story to illustrate his ideas. Careful and conservative in business dealings, he acquired some property.
FERNANDO C. JACOBS.
Among the pioneer settlers of the town of Hingham, Mass .. was Nicholas Jacobs and family. They came there about 1633. Some of their descendants settled in Scituate, Mass., were men of affairs and influence. and erected saw and grist-mills in the westerly part of the town. These are still known as "Jacobs's mills," and are owned by the family. Nicholas was the first American ancestor of most of the name in New England.
6.85
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
Fernando C. Jacobs, son of Justin and Polly (Sargent) Jacobs, was born in Warren, Vt., January 16, 1813. His early years were passed with an uncle, with whom he went to Troy, N. Y. After some years he returned to Vermont, and learned the trade of a tanner at New Haven. In 1835 he went to Albany, N. Y., and worked at his trade there and in Troy for two years. His next residence was in Colebrook, where he en- gaged in business as a tanner, and continued three years; he then removed to Stanstead, P. Q., and was there two years. His next base of operation was in Canaan, Vt. Here he enlarged his business, erected a tannery, and carried on tanning, shoe and harness manufacturing for sixteen years so prosperously that from the results of his industry and hard labor he was enabled to carry out a plan which for sometime he had been considering. The idea had suggested itself to him to establish a tourists' and hunters' resort in the delightful region of the Upper Connecticut, where the sports- man finds rare game and fish, and the tourist pure air and lovely scenery. In 1860 he built the Connecticut Lake House, on the shore of that beauti- ful body of water. This formed the terminus of a lovely carriage-drive of twenty-five miles from Colebrook, and became headquarters for sports- men and lumbermen. His management of this house for the next eleven years forms quite a chapter in the advance of civilizing forces into the "woods." Upon closing his interests here Mr. Jacobs went to Lancaster, and was engaged in " tilling the soil " for two years. The following three years he was at the Brunswick Springs House; from there he returned to Colebrook and was in the grocery business for three years. In 1880 he located at Stewartstown Hollow, and opened a store of general merchan- dise. under the firm name of Parkhurst & Jacobs.
Although occupied in these different lines of business enterprises, Mr. Jacobs has also been interested in public matters, taking an active part, and served in many official capacities both in his native and adopted state. He was master in chancery in Essex county, Vt., from 1850 to 1860, and a notary public from 1857 to 1860, in the same county. He was postmaster at Canaan four years, under Republican administration; deputy sheriff four years: was lister, and held other offices. He was deputy provost- marshal during the great civil war: represented Pittsburg in 1865-66; has served as collector and selectman for several years; has held the office of postmaster for six years in Stewartstown; was justice of the peace in Pitts- burg from 1861 to 1871, and of Stewartstown since becoming a citizen of that place. He is a man of intelligence, keeps himself informed of the topics of the day, and attends to his business with the activity and vigor of a younger man. He has been three times married. His first wife, Julia A. Cooper, was the mother of his five children: Alma P. (married Capt. H. S. Hilliard); Sarah C. (Mrs. David O. Rowell); Henry F., Charles J., and J. Anna.
CLARKSVILLE.
CHAPTER LXXV.
Boundaries-Origin of Name-First Proprietors-Early Settlers-First Town Meeting-Early Marriages-Civil List.
T 'HIS town is situated in the north part of the county. The surface is broken and hilly, but the soil, in many portions, is good for grass, oats and potatoes. Starch and maple sugar are manufactured here. It is bounded on the north by Pittsburg, east by Carlisle, south by Dix- ville and Stewartstown, and west by Canaan, Vt. There are two ponds in Clarksville. Clarksville pond contains 200 acres, and Carr pond about thirty. In the latter, trout were very abundant until a few years ago. when some pickerel were put into the pond, and the trout have disappeared.
Clarksville was originally known as Dartmouth College Grant. In January, 1789, "the Senate and House of Representatives passed an act granting to the trustees of Dartmouth college a valuable tract of land eight miles square, about forty-two thousand acres, lying north of Stew- artstown." In 1820 Benjamin Clark, from whom the town received its name, and one or two other Dartmouth students, purchased from the col- lege 10,000 acres of this grant; 20,000 acres were also bought by two or more New York men, but the latter failing to pay their taxes, the land was advertised and sold to Gideon Tirrill and Josiah Young. They paid the taxes for several years, and then sold it to lumber men. These were the purchasers of much of the territory embraced in this section.
Early Settlers .- The first comers into this town are entitled to much admiration and gratitude for the struggles they made in subduing the wilderness and opening the way for comfortable homes. Few of the present day can conceive the sufferings they endured. The survey of Clarksville was partly made during the winter of 1799 and 1500, and one man lost his life (frozen to death) while assisting in this work.
Among the early inhabitants were Gideon Tirrill, Joseph Wiswall,
690
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
Samuel Comstock, Benjamin Young, John Robie, Miles Hurlbert, Joseph Crawford, Alexander Smith and Josiah Bumford.
Gideon Tirrill was the first to settle on lot No. 41, where he lived sev- eral years, and then removed to Canada where he died. Joseph Wiswall, brother-in-law of Benjamin Clark, settled here in 1822, on lot No. 42; he cleared this land; after a few years he moved to lot No. 43, and resided there during his life. He was Mr. Clark's agent for the sale of this wild land, and lot No. 44 was purchased by Mr. Comstock, who, with his two sons, became settlers. John Comstock came to Clarksville about 1819, from Pittsburg, where he had resided since 1812. He was a native of Massachusetts, and a loyal soldier of the Revolution, serving his country faithfully through her dark days. His death occurred in Clarksville in 1828. His sons, Samuel and John, also were residents in Clarksville, and their names appear often on the board of selectmen. His grandson, Horace Comstock, is the present town clerk.
During the decade from 1820 to 1830 the increase in population could not have been very rapid, as October 5, 1830, when the first town meeting was held. there were but twenty-one voters; yet the forest showed signs of giving way before the sturdy blows of the woodman's axe, the soil had responded to the early farmer's labors, and the necessary grains and vege- tables were raised for the current wants of the little community.
First Town Meeting .-- The signers of the petition to call the first town nieeting were Benjamin Young, John Roby, Jr .. Stephen Harriman, John Hurlbert, John Comstock, Samuel Comstock. The following officers were chosen: Joseph Wiswall, town clerk: Joseph Wiswall, John Harriman and Josiah A. Young, selectmen. The amount of taxes raised for all purposes was $34.92. They voted to pay the collector for his services for collecting the same. 84: selectmen $1 each, and the town clerk $1.50.
In 1832 John Roby gave twelve and one-half cents for the privilege of collecting taxes. In 1837 a postoffice was established in the town, and Edmund K. Young was the first postmaster; Charles W. Wiswall is the present incumbent. In 1858 the financial condition of the town necessi- tated the choosing a town treasurer, and Edmund K. Young was elected, and performed the duties of that position for many years in a creditable manner.
There are four schools in town, but no church building. The town was endowed with corporate privileges in 1854, and is classed with Pittsburg for the election of representative. Population in 1880, 328.
Marriages of College Grant Settlers Recorded in Stewartstown. - April 12, 1527, Stephen Harriman to Geranta Dearth, both of College Grant. No- vember 29, 1527, John Harriman, of College Grant, to Edith Tirrill, of Stewartstown. April 28, 1828, Simon Harriman, of College Grant, to Mary Harriman, of Stewartstown. December 10, 1831, Enos Brown, of Clarksville, to Lovina Heath, of Stewartstown.
691
TOWN OF CLARKSVILLE.
Civil List .- 1830. Town clerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, John Harriman, Josiah 1. Yonng.
1831. Town clerk, Joseph Wiswall; seleetmen, Joseph Wiswall, John Goodwin, John Comstock.
1832. Town clerk, Gideon Tirrill; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, Gideon Tirrill, John Harriman.
1833. Town clerk. Gideon Tirrill; seleetmen, Gideon Tirrill, John Goodwin, Joseph Wiswall.
1834. Town clerk, Gideon Tirrill; selectmen, Gideon Tirrill, Josiah Young, Edinnud Keysar.
1835. Town elerk, Gideon Tirrill: selectmen, Gideon Tirrill, Edmund Keysar, John Goodwin.
1836. Town elerk, Gideon Tirrill; seleetmen. Gideon Tirrill, Josiah A. Young, Edmund Keysar.
1837. Town clerk, Gideon Tirrill; seleetmen, Gideon Tirrill. Josiah A. Young, Edmund Keysar.
1833. Town clerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, Edmund Keysar, Josiah A. Young.
1839.
Town clerk. Gideon Tirrill; seleetmen, Gideon Tirrill, Josiah A. Young, John Comstock.
1840.
Town elerk, Josiah A. Young; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, Edmund Keysar, Samuel Comstock.
1841. Town clerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, Edmund Keysar, Samuel Comstock.
1842. Town clerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, Samnel Comstock, Edmund Keysar.
1843. Town elerk, Joseph Wiswall; seleetmen, Joseph Wiswall, Edmund Keysar, Sanmel Comstock.
1844. Town elerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, Josiah A. Young, Samuel Comstock.
1845. Town clerk, Joseph Wiswall: selectmen, John A. Tirrill, Jeremiah Y. Koysar, Edmund K. Young.
1846. Town clerk, Joseph Wi-wall; seleetmen, John Keysar, Joseph Wiswall. Gideon Tirrill.
1847. Town clerk. Joseph Wiswall: selectmen, Gideon Tirrill. Sammel Comstock, Miles H. Keysar.
1848. Town elerk. Miles HI. Keysar; selectmen, Edmund Keysar, Stephen Cross, Samuel Comstock.
1849. Town clerk, Edmund II. Keysar; selectmen, Joseph Wiswall, Edmund K. Young, Samuel Com- stock.
1850. Town clerk. Stephen G. Fuller; selcetmen, Gideon Tirrill, Edmund K. Young, Peltiah C. Roby.
1851. Town clerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Hiram II. Kenney, Stephen Cross, Edmund Keysar.
1852. Town elerk. Joseph Wiswall; seleetmen, Edmund H. Keysar, Sammel Comstock, Josiah A. Young.
1853. Town elerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Stephen G. Fuller, John Keysar, Benjamin Young.
1851. Town elerk, Joseph Wiswall; selectmen, Stephen G. Fuller, Elminnd II. Keysar, Benjamin Young,
1855. Town clerk, John Keysar; selectmen, Gideon Tirrill, Josiah A. Yonng. Samuel Comstock.
1856. Town clerk, John Keysar; selectmen, Israel W. Tyler, John Thurstin, Samuel Comstock.
1857. Town elerk, John Keysar: selectinen, Joseph W. Young, Benjamin C. Wiswall, John Keysar.
1858. Town clerk, John Keysar: treasurer, Edmund K. Young; selectmen; Stephen G. Fuller, Israel W. Tyler, Levi D. Muncy.
1859. Town clerk, John Keysar; treasurer. Josiah A. Young; seleetmen, Israel W. Tyler, Josiah Young. John Keysar.
1860. Town clerk, John Keysar; treasurer, Josiah A. Young; seleetmen, Edmund K. Young, Orrin Covill. Josiah Young.
1861. Town clerk, John Keysar; treasurer, Edmund K. Young: selectmen. Edmund K. Young. Orrin Covill, Levi D. Muncy.
1862. Town clerk, John Keysar; treasurer. Edmund K. Young: selectmen, John Keysar, Josiah Young, Andrew J. Barnett.
1863. Town clerk. Edmund K. Young; treasurer, Edmund K. Young: selectmen, Edmund K. Young. Josiah Young, Andrew J. Barnett.
1864. Town elerk, Edmund K. Young; treasurer, Edmund K. Young; seleetmen. John Keysar. Oren F. Tewksbury, Levi D. Muney.
1865. Town clerk, Edmund K. Young; treasurer, Edmund K. Young: selectmen, Edmund K. Young. John S. Tirrill, Josiah Young.
1866. Town clerk, Edmund K. Young; treasurer, Edmund K. Young; selectmen, Edmund K. Young, John S. Tirrill, Peltiah C. Roby.
1867. Town clerk, Edmund K. Young; treasurer, Edmund K. Young; selectmen, Stephen G. Fuller, Stephen Goodwin. Benjamin Young.
1868. Town elerk, Edmund K. Young; treasurer, Edmund K. Young; selectmen, John Keysar, Horace Comstock. David F. Hall.
1869. Town clerk, Edmund K. Young; treasurer, Benjamin C. Wiswall: seleetmen. Stephen G. Fuller. David F. Hall, Stephen Goodwin.
1870. Town clerk, Edmund K. Young: treasurer, Benjamin C. Wiswall; selectmen, Edmund K. Young, Norman C. Young, Ephraim S. Parker.
1871. Town clerk, John Keysar; treasurer, Benjamin C. Wiswall; selectmen, John Keysar, Norman ('. Young, Ephraim S. Parker.
1872. Town clerk, Charles Young; treasurer, Jeremiah H. Young: selectmen, Edmund K. Young. Horace Comstock, Oren F. Tewksbury.
692
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY,
1873. Town clerk, Charles Young; treasurer, Joseph W. Young; selectmen, Edmund K. Young, Horace Comstock, Oren F. Tewksbury.
1874. Town clerk. Charles Young: treasurer, Joseph W. Young; selectmen, Charles W. Wiswall, David F. Hall, Josiah Young.
1875. Town clerk, Joseph W. Young: treasurer, Joseph W. Young; selectmen, Horace Comstock, David F. Hall, Josiah Young.
1876. Town clerk, Joseph Young; treasurer, Norman C. Young: selectmen, Horace Comstock, Jeremiah
II. Young, Hosea Crawford. 1877. Town clerk, Joseph W. Young; treasurer, Norman C. Young; selectmen, Jeremiah H. Young, Joel
H. Munn, Hosea Crawford.
1878. Town clerk, Joseph W. Young; treasurer, Norman C. Young; selectmen, Joel H. Munn, James E. Hilliard. Charles Young.
1879. Town clerk, Joseph W. Young; treasurer, Norman C. Young; selectmen, Charles Young, Josiah Young, Joel H. Munn.
1880. Town clerk, Charles Young; treasurer, Norman C. Young; selectmen. Josiah Young, Charles Young, Horace Comstock.
1881. Town clerk, Charles Young; treasurer. Norman C. Young: selectmen, Josiah Young, Hiram A. Schoff, John Keysar.
1882. Town clerk. Charles Young: treasurer, Norman C. Young; selectmen, Stephen G. Fuller, John Keysar. Hiram A. Schoff.
1883. Town clerk. Charles Young: treasurer. Norman C. Young; selectmen, Joseph W. Young, Berkley Keysar, David F. Hall.
1884. Town clerk. Charles Young; treasurer, Norman C. Young; selectmen, Charles Yonng, William W. Scott. Horace Comstock.
1885. Town elerk, Charles Young; treasurer. Norman C. Young; selectmen, Horace Comstock, Charles Young, Berkley Keysar.
1886. Town clerk, Charles Young; treasurer. Norman €. Young; selectmen, Berkley Keysar, Noalı F. Kidder, Charles Young.
1887. Town clerk. Horace Comstock; treasurer, Norman C. Young; selectmen, Stephen G. Fuller, Charles W. Wiswall, David F. Hall.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BENJAMIN CLARK WISWALL.
Benjamin Clark Wiswall, son of Joseph and Sally ( Clark) Wiswall, was born in Newton, Mass .. June 10, 1808. His maternal grandfather was Capt. Norman Clark, a resident of Rutland, Mass., who was one of the "em- battled farmers " of the Revolution. where he held the rank of captain, and was wounded while gallantly fighting in his country's service. Capt. Clark attained the advanced age of ninety-eight years and eight months. Richard Clark was a passenger, and John Clark was mate of the "May- flower " on its memorable voyage in 1620. and Clark's island in Plymouth harbor was named for him. The Wiswell family was of the early settlers of Plymouth Colony, as, in 1688, we find "that Ichabod Wiswell, and Eldor Faunce the town clerk of Plymouth, were arrested (under the arbi- trary laws of King James II.) for levying and aiding in levying taxes upon his majesty's subjects and bound over to the Supreme Court at Boston."
Benjamin Clark, son of Capt. Norman Clark, for whom the town of
Banja C. Maisware
693
TOWN OF CLARKSVILLE.
Clarksville received its name, was the maternal unele of B. C. Wiswall. and a graduate of Dartmouth college. While a student there, he, with Joseph Brackett and one other, purchased of the college 10,000 acres of land in " Dartmouth College Grant " (now Clarksville), and engaged Joseph Wiswall, his brother-in-law, as agent for its sale. Mr. Wiswall was a hotel keeper and farmer in Newton. Mass. In 1822 he moved his family to Clarksville, and became the agent for the sale of this wild land (about 30,000 acres). He also cleared much land, made many improvements, and was a resident of the town until his death at the age of seventy-nine. He was an efficient town officer, served twelve years as selectman and four- teen as town clerk, and was an active business man.
Bejamin Clark Wiswall came from Newton, Mass .. where he received a good common-school education, to Clarksville with his father, in 1822. when he was about fourteen years old. This section was then almost a wilderness, and the hardships and privations of those early settlers can only be conceived by those who have endured then. Benjamin remained with his father until he was twenty years old, assisting him in his arduous labors in felling trees and bringing land into cultivation. and helped clear four farms. He then returned to Newton, where he married. in 1530, Susan Sawyer, of Foxborough. Mass. She was born April 4, 1808. Their child- ren were Mary (Mr. Moody B. Haines) deceased; Ilbert (" .. born in New- ton, November 4, 1835, resides in Fox Lake, Wisconsin: Joseph N., born in Newton. November 25, 1537: William H., deceased: Charles IN., born in Clarksville, February 6, 1846: George O .. born in Clarksville, February 17, 1853.
About 1538 Mr. Wiswall returned to Clarksville, became a farmer, con- tinued in agriculture until 1875, manufactured starch for two years, and after his father's death succeeded him as land agent. In 1575 Mrs. Wis- wall died: since then the ownership of the homestead farm of 150 acres has passed to his son Charles, and Mr. Wiswall resides with him. Republican in politics in a town where the majority are Democrats, Mr. Wiswall's fitness for position has been recognized by his political opponents, and he has filled the office of selectman, treasurer and moderator to the satisfac- tion of the people. He also holds a commission as justice of the peace, and has frequently been a delegate to state and senatorial conventions. He does not belong to any religious denomination, but is a believer in the law of love and good will to man, and is a christian in his morals and principles.
Mr. Wiswall is a bright, cheerful old gentleman, who has made friends all along the path of life, and, while keen and shrewd in business, has not let the love of money crush out the kindly feelings actuating him. but has ever been ready to aid and advance all benevolent and progressive objects. He possesses a quaint humor and a large fund of sociality, and those who know him best attest that the world is the better for his having lived.
694
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
His descendants are, and should be, proud of his unostentatious life which has exhibited the sterling qualities of usefulness, honesty and integrity.
JOHN KEYSAR.
All readers of our New England poet Whittier remember the " Vis- ion " of the " Cobbler Keezar." The changes therein described as occur- ring in his dream, whereby the forest solitudes were transformed into smiling fields, with manufactories and villages scattered through the intersecting valleys, have been realized in fact, and many of the cobbler's descendants and namesakes have wrought valiantly in bringing them about. First, by good service in the War of the Revolution; second, by turning their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks, and erecting buildings and factories, thereby promoting the prosperity of the community.
Among the early inhabitants of Hampstead we find John and George Kezar. In Canterbury, Edmond Kizer's name appears on the soldiers' roll of the Revolution, to which place some of the family emigrated from Hampstead. Dr. Keysar was prominent among the early settlers of North- field.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.