History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 94

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

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Mr. Baldwin married, February 8, 1850, Maria Jane, daughter of John and Sarah (Towne) Holmes, a native of Colebrook .* She was born Decem- ber 17. 1822. She is a lady of strong individuality and great executive ability. Her energy and capability were powerful factors in the household, and to her husband she was an efficient helpmeet, a wise counsellor, and intelligent companion. Their children were Edmund William; John Holmes; Mary Annette: Mira Agnes (these daughters died in infancy, January, 1862, of diphtheria-John H. in September of the same year); Isabella Sarah, who early showed remarkable facility for any pursuit and had a wonderful memory. She spent only one year at the Ursuline acad- emy in Quebec, and received first prizes with young lady graduates in English literature, poetry and composition; she could also speak French with ease. "Her personal appearance was beautiful, and in disposition she was angelic." She died July. 1881, aged fifteen; Janie Maria, the youngest, equally gifted intellectually, possessed a taste and eye for all that was beautiful. She died June. 1884, aged sixteen. Edmund William resides with his mother in Stratford. He married Flora Madison, and has two children .- Bertie Edith and Janie Holmes.

* The Holmes family were early settlers of Colebrook, coming from Hanover in 1815. John Holmes was a native of Woodstock, Conn .; his wife of Oxford, Mass. Their family of twelve children attained maturity; some of them were distinguished by the intellectual traits that have made the descendants of the name from Woodstock famous. The eldest son, Rev. John Holmes, Jr .. studied at Dartmouth college and completed his studies at Montreal, Canada, where he was closely identified with educational matters. In 1836 lie was com- missioned by the Provincial government to inquire into the system of Normal schools in Europe, and re- turned in 1837 with professors, apparatus, etc., for the schools which were then opened in Montreal and other parts of Canada. He was renowned as a religious orator; was the author of several books, one of which, a manual of modern geography, has reached its sixth edition. Susan Towne Holmes, the seventh child, called in religion Mother St. Croix, has ranked high as a teacher, writer of histories and school-books. She is at present (1887), at the age of seventy. assistant superior of the Ursuline Convent at Quebec.

COOS COUNTY,

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

HISTORY OF TOWNS.

ANDROSCOGGIN DIVISION.

BERLIN, MILAN, DUMMER, SHELBURNE, GORHAM, RANDOLPHI, ERROL, SUCCESS, MILLSFIELD. ETC.

RESIDENCE OF H. H. FURBISH, BERLIN FALLS, N. H.

BERLIN.

CHAPTER XCIII.

Introductory-Topography-Scenery-Mountains, Streams, Etc .- Tinker's Brook, Minerals, Etc .- Act of Incorporation-Call for First Town Meeting-Action of First Town Meeting-Res- idents' Names and Ages, 1829-Residents, Stock, and Improvements in 1830-Names of Voters by Decades.

O town in Coos has shown such growth and prosperity during the last decade as the. to that time, comparatively obscure and unimportant town of Berlin. By its rapid development and increase in popula- tion and wealth it has astonished the slower towns, assumed an influence equal to any, and stands to-day the admiration and pride of the county. This has been accomplished by the development of a small portion of the magnificent water-power afforded by the Androscoggin river in its passage through the town. Ten years ago there was but one manufacturing establishment here which conducted a large business. This was the fore- runner of the many gigantic enterprises which Nature has intended shall utilize the rushing waters and be established on the rocky banks of the Androscoggin.

The history of the town goes back to the years previous to the Revolu- tion: but for a long time it was uninteresting and of little importance. Hunt- ers and trappers camped here in pursuit of game and peltry ; later, the mag- nificent growth of pine brought lumbermen from the lower country to cut the logs which they transported to the mills below; early settlers, on farms further down the valley, when in want of ready money to make payments on their land or needed supplies for their families, would make a temporary occupancy in a rude camp hastily constructed, and by hard labor would make "salts" from the ashes of the large elms along the valley; then, having accomplished the object of their visit, would return to their homes to tell of the rocky ledges, the beautiful cascades, and the wonderful growth of timber.

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

The surface of Berlin is broken and mountainous, with ledges of rock outcropping in many places, and, in others, with bowlders of varying sizes scattered over the ground. It is not an agricultural town, although there are some good farms in the eastern part.

The town was granted as Maynesborough, December 31, 1771, to Sir William Mayne, Bart., Robert, Thomas, and Edward Mayne, and others, of Barbadoes, and was incorporated as Berlin, July 1, 1829. Area 31,000 acres. It is bounded on the north by Milan, east by Success, south by Gorham and Randolph, and west by Kilkenny. Many fine views of mountain, river and forest scenery are afforded from various points. The view from Cates hill (Berlin Heights) is especially fine. But the charm of all this section is the river scenery at Berlin Falls. For over a mile a suc- cession of rapids and falls whirl along the rocky banks of the Androscog- gin, which is the only outlet of the Umbagog chain of lakes. In its course above it receives the waters of the Magalloway, Diamond, and Clear rivers, and several minor streams; and, at this point, it is scarcely inferior in vol- ume to the Connecticut at Northumberland. At the Glen Manufacturing Company's works this immense mass of waters is poured through a nar- row chasm thirty-three feet in width, descending in the space of 100 yards nearly twice as many feet. At times of high water, notably the great flood of June, 1887, the view combines the terrible, majestic, grand and beautiful in a wierd and fascinating combination. Seething and plunging and whirling itself into masses of snowy foam, it rushes down the narrow passage.

"Rapid as the light The flashing mass foams, shaking the abyss."

Rev. T. Starr King says that he does not think "in New England there is any passage of river passion that will compare with the Berlin Falls."

Black mountain, Mt. Forist, Cave mountain, Berlin Heights, a portion of the Pilot range, and Mt. Carbary are the principal elevations of the town. Berlin is watered by the Androscoggin, Upper Ammonoosuc, Plumpetoosuc or Dead rivers, Bean and Mollocket brooks, and other small streams. Head pond, the source of the Ammonoosuc, contains about 100 acres, and is the only large pond in town.

Tinker Brook, Minerals Etc .- Tinker brook derives its name from Samuel B. Robbins, an eccentric character, who lived for many years where Dexter Blodgett now (1887) resides. He was a travelling tinker, going from house to house through the country with his kit, mending broken articles. He monopolized the fishing in this brook when at home, much to the disgust of the boys, whom he used to drive away, thus preventing their indulgence of their favorite sport. He discovered magnetic iron ore on his farm during the "forties," and spent much time in looking after more precious metals. S. D. Blodgett and Ira Mason bonded some of this

785

TOWN OF BERLIN.

land, about 1876, and sunk quite a shaft, finding nothing, however, to reward their efforts.

In this connection we will mention that two Englishmen employed in building the railroad, became so interested in a piece of land on Tinker brook, about half a mile below the excavation made by Robbins, that they bonded it, returned to England for funds to purchase and make some kind of developments, and, it is understood, were lost on the return voyage. They made no confidants, but, as they had fine specimens of galena in their possession, it was conjectured that they had discovered this metal there. No attempt has been made to prove this conjecture true.

On a high bluff (Cave mountain) north of Dead river pond, there are several veins or beds of a compact fieldspar (felsite), having the appearance of chalcedony and jasper. The beds vary in thickness from a few inches to several feet, and at one point there is a cave fourteen feet long, nine feet high, and six feet wide. Fragments of the felsite are scattered through the vegetable mould on the floor. The entrance appears to have been excavated by man, and, although the cave is doubtless a natural one, the Indians who resorted here to obtain the rock for arrow and spear heads, perhaps enlarged and changed its form. One or two places on the east side of the river above Berlin Mills were evidently the places where this rock was wrought into desired shapes, as the "chips" are thickly scat- tered in these localities. On Cates hill there is a combination of minerals rarely seen on the surface. It appears to be copper and tin, which are ap- parently disseminated through the rock. No concentration of either mineral in a vein has been found as yet.

Act of Incorporation .- An aet to incorporate a town by the name of Berlin, passed July 1, 1829.

"Section 1. Be it enaeted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened, That the tract of land now known and called by the name of Maynesborough, situate in the county of Coos, shall hereafter be known by the name of Berlin, and shall be a town by that name.

"Section 2. And be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of said township be, and they hereby are made, a body politie and corporate, with all and the same rights, powers, privileges, immunities and liabili- ties of similar corporations in this State; and the said town of Berlin shall be classed for the purpose of electing a Representative, and shall be annexed to the same Councillor and Senatorial districts as the said Maynesborough was previous to the passage of this act.

"Section 3. And be it further enacted. That for the purpose of duly organizing said town a meeting of the inhabitants thereof legally qualified to vote in town affairs, shall be holden in said town on the first Tuesday of September next, at which meeting Selectmen and all other necessary officers may be elected to continue in office until others are chosen agreeably to the laws of this State; and that Benjamin Thompson, Thomas Ordway and Thomas Wheeler, Jr., or any two of them be authorized to call said meeting of said inhabitants by giving such notice as is required for annual town meetings, and it shall be the duty of said Thompson, Ordway and Wheeler, or some one of them, to attend and open said meeting and preside therein until a moderator be chosen.

"Approved July 1, 1829."

Call for First Town Meeting .- "State of New Hampshire, ss. The inhabitants of the town of Berlin qualified by the Constitution and Laws of this State to vote in town affairs are hereby notified and warned to meet at the dwelling house of Andrew Cates in said Berlin on Tuesday the first day of September next, at one of the eloek in the afternoon of said day for and to aet on the following particulars, to wit: 1. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting; 2, To choose a town clerk for said town. 3. To choose three suit- able persons to serve as Selectmen and assessors for said town. 4, To choose a Treasurer for said town. 5,

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

To choose a Constable, Collector of Taxes. Highway Surveyor, Surveyors of Lumber, and all other necessary officers the law requires.

"Given under our hands and seal at Berlin this tenth day of Angust in the year of our Lord one thous- and eight hundred and twenty-nine

"Thomas Ordway ¿ Organizing Committee appointed

"Thomas Wheeler, Jr. [ by the Legislature."

"State of New Hampshire, Coos, ss. We the subscribers hereby certify that the within warrant has been posted up in a public place in Berlin more than fifteen days prior to this day of meeting

Berlin September 1 1829

"Thomas Ordway

"Thomas Wheeler, Jr. S

Organizing Committee &c

Action of first Town Meeting .- " At a legal meeting pursuant to the foregoing warrant duly notified and holden at Berlin in the County of Coos on Tuesday the first day of September, in the year of our Lord Eigh- teen hundred and twenty-nine, the inhabitants of said town of Berlin having a right to vote in any matter that might come before the town, by a major vote and by ballot: 1, Chose Andrew Cates moderator to preside in said meeting; 2, Chose Thomas Ordway, Town Clerk; 3, Chose Amos Green, Thomas Ordway and Thomas Wheeler, Jr., Selectmen and Assessors; 4, Voted that the Selectmen act as town Treasurer; 5. Chose Peter Wheeler Constable; 6, Chose Thomas Green, Jr. Surveyor of Highways; 7, Chose Samuel S. Thompson Surveyor of Lumber; 8, Voted to dissolve the meeting."

Residents' Names and Ages, 1829 .- The following are the names of all the persons resident in the town of Berlin at the time of its incorporation, and their ages :-

Thomas Green, Jr., born February 12. 1783; Lydia Fairbanks (Evans) Green, born February 3, 1785; Amos Green, born March 21, 1807; Daniel Green, born December 19, 1808; Edmund Green, born January 26, 1812; Aaron Green, January 4, 1814; Lydia Green, born August 17, 1817; Livonia Wallace (Wallis (?) ) born March 29, 1811; Andrew Cates, born May 30, 1784: Betsey (Scribner) Cates, born July 14, 1785; Daniel Cates, born Angust 11, 1813; Lydia Cates, born October 11, 1816; Sinclair Cates, born March 19,1820; Seribner Cates, born October 13, 1821; Hannah Cates, born January 10, 1826: Betsey Cates, born September 16, 1810; Andrew Cates, Jr., born April 2, 1808; Betsey (Griffin) Cates, born September 28, 1805; Nathaniel Cates, born May 15, 1829; Peter Wheeler, born December 18, 1790; Sally (Seavey) Wheeler, born February 23, 1800; Nathan Wheeler, born November 24, 1818; James Wheeler, born November 19, 1820; Albion Wheeler, born May 2, 1823; George Wheeler, born November 13, 1825; Lafayette Wheeler, born March 9, 1828; Thomas Wheeler, born December 29, 1783: Sally (Blodgett ) Wheeler, born April 2, 1787; Thomas Wheeler, Jr., born June 18, 1806; Cyrus Wheeler, born July 5, 1810; Polly Wheeler. born April 1, 1812; Sally Wheeler, born May 18, 1814; Dexter Wheeler, born April 27, 1816; Reuben H. Wheeler, born April 20, 1819; Hiram Wheeler, April 8, 1822; Daniel J. Wheeler, born October 12, 1825; Jonathan W. Wheeler, born November 1, 1829; Samuel Blodget, born Angust 28, 1802; Rebecca (Bean) Blodget, born October 10, 1800; Samuel D, Blodget, born October 27, 1827; Zernah Blodget, born January 23, 1828; Nathan Blodget, born August 30, 1829; Joseph Blodget, born Decem- ber 6, 1804; Mary L. (Wright) Blodget, born April 12, 1809; Herman A. Blodget, born November 28, 1827; Ruby Blodget, born November 30, 1829; Abiathar Bean, born June 30,1794; Mercy (-) Bean, born January 1, 1797; Eliza Jane Bean, born January 2, 1817; Lydia M. Bean, born June 10, 1821; Louisa Bean, born Sep- tember 25, 1823; Thomas C. Bean, born October 27, 1826; Mary A. Bean, born August 13 1829; Samuel S. Thompson, born September 19, 1773; Catharine (-) Thompson, born November 15, 1772; Benjamin Thompson, born Angust 1, 1803; Eliza Thompson, born February 29, 1807; Sarah J. Thompson, born Septem- ber 1, 1810; Amos Thompson, born July 19, 1818; Simon Evans, born September 13, 1780; Mehetable (Messer) Evans, born August 19, 1782; Caroline Evans, born March 28, 1799; Lydia Evans, born June 8, 1807; Lovina Evans, born August 7. 1808; Uriah Evans, born February 25, 1810; William Evans, born January 21, 1812; Polly Evans, born May 19, 1814; Abigail Evans, born April 15, 1816; Betsey Evans, born December 23, 1818; Esther A. R. Evans, September 3, 1823.

Residents, Stock and Improvements in 1830 .- From the first inventory of the town taken in 1830, we give this list: Samuel Blodgett is taxed for one poll, one cow, two neat cattle, half acre arable and 130 acres of unim- proved land. Joseph Blodgett, one poll and one cow. Andrew Cates, one poll, two oxen, one cow, half-acre arable, 110 acres unimproved land. An- drew Cates, Jr., one poll. Simon Evans, three polls, one horse, four oxen,

7ST

TOWN OF BERLIN.

one cow, two neat cattle, two acres arable, two and one-half acres mowing and 100 acres unimproved land, buildings twenty-six (?). Thomas Green, two polls, one horse, two oxen, one cow, half acre arable, 270 acres un- improved land, mills three (?). Amos Green, one poll, 300 acres unim- proved land. buildings thirty (?). Daniel Green. one poll, two oxen. Sam- uel Stowell, one poll. Samuel S. Thompson, one poll, one cow. Benjamin Thompson, one poll, four oxen, one cow, one acre arable, two acres mow- ing, eighty acres unimproved land, buildings twenty six (!) Thomas

Wheeler. two polls, two oxen, two cows, one acre arable, one and one-half acres mowing, 250 acres unimproved land, buildings thirty (?). Thomas Wheeler, Jr., one poll, two oxen, three neat cattle, one acre arable, one acre mowing, 100 acres unimproved land, buildings twenty-six (?). Peter Wheeler, one poll, one cow. Joseph Wheeler, one poll, two oxen, half- acre arable, half acre mowing, seventy acres unimproved land, buildings twenty-six (?).

Names of Voters by Decades .- 1837. Benjamin Bean, Lovel Bean, Fletcher I. Bean, Insley Bean, Samuel Blodget, Joseph Blodget. Daniel Cates, Daniel Davis, Simon Evans, William Evans, Thomas Green, Amos Green, Daniel Green, Edmond Green, Aaron Green, Seth I. Kimball, John Littlefield, Enoch Peabody, Will- iam Sessions, Benjamin Thompson, Thomas Wheeler, Cyrus Wheeler, Joseph Wheeler, Thomas Wight, Joshua Robbins, Valne of real estate =3.481.

1847. Samuel M. Andrews, Samuel Blodget, Joseph Blodget, Lovel Bean, Fletcher I. Bean, Insley Bean, Rufus A. Cobb, Milton Chandler, Hazen Chandler. Andrew Cates, Daniel Cates, Greenlief Coffin, Sinclair Cates, Daniel Davis, Thomas Green, Daniel Green, Edmond Green, Charles Gates, John Grover, Jeremiah Harden, Stephen Ladd, Lorenzo Mason, Enoch Peabody, Allen H. Peabody, Paul Perkins, Richard Perkins, Benjamin Thompson. Thomas Wheeler, Cyrus Wheeler, Dexter Wheeler, Reuben Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Daniel J. Wheeler, William W. Whitney, Oliver S. Wilkins.

1857. Stephen Abbott, Jonathan Andrews, Albert Buzzell, Stephen Bevely, Levi W. Blodgett, Benjamin Bean, Lovell Bean, Fleteher I. Bean, Insley Bean, John E. Bean. Edwin S. Brown. Joseph Blodgett, Samnel D. Blodgett, Nathan Blodgett, Alton Blodgett, James L. Blake, Nathaniel Barker, Edward Babb, Albert Bill- ings, Daniel Bradbury, Andrew Cates, Andrew Cates, Jr., Daniel Cates, John S. Cates, Sinclair Cates, Green- lief Coffin. Gilman Connor. Moses T. Cross. Otis Carter, Abner Davis, Daniel Davis, Bailey K. Davis, Hollis Davis, John Y. Dustin, True P. Dustin, John L. Dustin, Moses Foster, Merrill C. Forist, Charles N. Buzzell. Elijah G. Griffin, Daniel Green, Elmond Green, Henry B. Goodwin, Samuel K. Hammond, John R. Horn, Austin W. Hobert, Alvin Hobert, David Holt, Jeremiah Harden, Joel H. Herward, Daniel Hobbs, Philemon Hibbard, Horace Haskell, Stephen Hanscom, William E. Jorden, Aaron A. Knight, Lorenzo Mason, Ira Mason, Hartwell V. Mason, Roscoe Mason, Oliver H. Mason, Richard Perkins, George W. Page, William D. Sanborn, Horace C. Sawyer, Cha les Whiting, Nathaniel T. Wentworth. E. H. Whiting. Thomas Wheeler, Cyrus Wheeler, Reuben H. Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Dexter Wheeler. Charles M. Walker, William A. Wilson, Peter York, Daniel G. York, Jonathan W. Wheeler.

1867. Sammel M. Andrews, Benjamin Bean, Fletcher I. Bean, Daniel C. Bean, Insley Bean, Chester L. Bean, Samuel L. Bean, Fortescue T. Bean, Charles H. Bennett, Joseph Blodgett, Samuel D. Blodgett, Andrew J. Burlingame, Charles N. Buzzell, Greenlieť Coffin, John S. Cates, Sinelair Cates, Bela L. Churchill, John Y. Dustin, Joseph H. Dustin, George A. Dustin, Hollis Davis, George R. Eaton. William H. Ellis, Merrill C. Forist, Edward E. Fernold, Thomas L. Forbush, Daniel Green, Albert, H. Gerrish, Andrew J. Howard, Charles R. Howard. Jeremiah Hardin, William Horn, John R. Horn, Harry W. Jordon, Casper Jewett, Joseph J. Lapham, Lorenzo Mason, Hartwell V. Mason, Roscoe Mason, Morton Mason, Samuel Martin, Benjamin F. Mitchell, Charles C. Noyes, Horatio L. Noyes, Charles H. Noyes, Gardner C. Paine. William D. Sanborn, Daniel Spaulding, Jesse Tuttle, Thomas Wheeler, Cyrus Wheeler, Dexter Wheeler, Reuben H. Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Jonathan W. Wheeler, Franklin Wheeler, William A. Wilson, William M. Wilson, John Wilson, Thomas W. Willis.

1877. Jonathan Andrews, John C. Anderson, Robert Anderson, Albert K. Allen, John A. Avery, David W. Brown, Lovell Bean. Chester L. Bean, Sam'l L. B an, Fortesene T. Bean, Sam'l Blodgett, Sam'l D. Blodgett, Jos. Blodgett, Herman A. Blodgett, Archibald Blodgett, Nathan Blodgett, Moses A. Blodgett, Freeland Blodgett,

788

HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Lawson C. Beattie, Daniel Cates, Jolm S. Cates, Sinclair Cates, Lewis N. Clark, Abner K. Cole, Geo. L. Cote, Orlando J. Condon. Benjamin S. Cates, Greenlief Coffin, Frank M. Coffin, Frank A. Cobb, Edward Donaghue, Edward F. Donaghue. Hollis Davis. Edmond Decker, John T. Dustin, True P. Dustin, C. F. Dustin, James H. Dyer, William Ellis, William W. Ellis, Edward E. Fernald, Merrill C. Forist, Hiram W. Forist, Chas. H. Gil- bert, Zimri E. Gilbert, Frank Gene, Daniel Green, John W.Green, Sullivan D. Green, Joseph G. Hicks, Albert N. Hobbs, John R. Horn. Albert Horn, Andrew J. Howard, Benjamin Hubbard, Peter Kelly, Jolm M. Keene, William Jewell. William H. Jewell, Joseph J. Lapham, Samuel Lahay, James M. Lavin, John D. Lary, Andrew J. Magill, Henry F. Marston, Ira Mason, Hartwell Mason, Lorenzo Mason, Roscoe Mason, John MeMann, James McMann, Raimond R. MeCaslin, John McPherson, William Moffit, William W. Noyes, Charles C. Noyes, Charles H. Noyes, John B. Noyes, Jolm L. Oswell, Gardner C. Paine, Jolm M. Banerway, Samuel E. Paine. James W. Parker, Patrick Pendergast. Elliot Perkins, Frank W. Rowell, Daniel R. Spaulding, William D. Sanborn, Horace C. Sawyer. Elson B. Sawyer, Engene W. Scribner, H. E. Smith, Erastus F. Thurlow, Will C. Turner, Jesse Tuttle, X. F. Wardwell, Frank Weld, Frank L. Wilson, George S. Wilson, William M. Wilson, John Wilson, Michael Wilson, Robert Wilson, Cyrus Wheeler, Dexter Wheeler, Reuben H. Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Franklin Wheeler, Ozman Wheeler, John B. Wheeler, William F. Young, David Walsh, George F. Sibley, Joseph Seribner, Henry Richards, Herman E. Oleson, Otto Oleson, Alexander .Godette, Alvin Collins, Louis Carean, Charles Labrecke, Chris Barbue.

CHAPTER XCIV.

Early Settlers-First House (William Sessions)-Second House (The Lowes and Cates)- Simon Evans-Joseph Wheeler-The Thompsons-Samuel Blodgett-Thomas Wheeler-Daniel Davis-The Bean Family-Joseph Blodgett-Hazen and John Chandler-Merrill C. Forist-John Y. Dustin-Lorenzo Mason-Past and Present Business Interests-Thomas Green-J. D. Horner & Co. - Daniel Green-Ira and Oliver H. Mason and other Early Traders and Manufacturers-Rail- road, Station Agents, Etc.

ARLY Settlers .- First House .- William Sessions of Gilead, Me., came to Maynesborough about 1821 or 1822, and commenced clear- ing what is now the Thompson farm. He occupied a camp which was located on the banks of the Androscoggin river, on the south side of Mol- locket brook. This camp was built by parties who had come here some years previously to manufacture " salts" from the elm trees that abounded in that part of the valley. Mr. Sessions felled trees and continued clearing the land, and, with the assistance of Cyrus Wheeler, erected the first building that could be honored with the name of house about 1823 or 1824. March 27, this small number of inhabitants was increased by eighteen persons from Gilead, Me., who accompanied Mrs. Sessions and her three children into the wilderness to her new home and to make their homes in this and adjoining towns. One of the pleasantest features of pioneer life was the spirit of fraternity, sociability, and mutual helpfulness which pervaded every locality. Each felt an impulse to assist his neighbor when- ever and wherever assistance was needed, realizing that he might any day become the grateful recipient of similar service.

789

TOWN OF BERLIN.

Mr. Sessions's house was of logs, the floor being made of very large ones nicely split. It was situated just east of the present farm buildings on a little knoll. All signs of occupancy are nearly obliterated. There has never been a deed given of this land. After making his payment, Mr. Sessions walked to Boston to obtain one, but from some reason did not succeed. No claimant ever showed a conflicting title. He sold this prop- erty to Benjamin Thompson prior to the organization of Berlin, and it has been in the possession of the Thompson family ever since. This is the best farm in the town. Mr. Sessions was a noted prospector, settling and clearing thirteen farms. He had a peculiar faculty for selecting the best land and location. After selling out in Berlin he went to Dummer and settled on one of the first farms developed on the Andoscoggin, at a point several miles from any inhabitant. From Dummer he removed to Stark. where seven of his children died from the terrible throat distemper. This veteran pioneer died at Milton Plantations, Me .. in August, 1855, aged over ninety years.

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 94

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