History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 98

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

USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 98

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The firm to-day consists of William W. Brown, Mrs. A. I. C. Davis, the heirs of Lewis T. Brown, J. W. Parker, and Thomas Edwards. J. W. Parker has charge of the logging operations; H. J. Brown, superin- tendent; H. E. Oleson, paymaster, is in charge of the store. This "store" is a mammoth affair, conducted with the same system and rivalling in extent of its transactions many metropolitan establishments. There are departments for dry goods, clothing, groceries, hardware, stoves, etc., paints, oils, etc., flour, feed, etc. Berlin Mills postoffice was established in 1881 with J. W. Parker, postmaster. L. C. Beattie is the present incumbent.

Forest Fibre Company .- The large chemical pulp-mill of this company attracts prominently the attention of every visitor to Berlin, by its con- spicuous location, the prominence and size of the buildings, the thick clouds of smoke rising from the massive smoke-stacks of its furnaces, and in the evening by the brilliancy of the electric lights which not only illum-

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

inate the large grounds of the plant, but a much larger area. In the manu- facture of wood-pulp in this manufactory, the wood used is principally poplar and spruce; the poplar is brought from the surrounding country, and the spruce consists of the slabs and waste product from the saw-mills of the Berlin Mills Company, several hundred yards above, and connected with the pulp-mills by a car track. The logs and sticks, of any and all sizes, are fed into a large hopper and descend upon a set of heavy knives revolving with great rapidity. Here they are speedily converted into small chips, which, falling on an elevator belt, are carried into the adjoining building, and dropped upon the floor of the mill. They are then shoveled into iron boilers set beneath the floor, where the chemicals are added, and the chips reduced to pulp by boiling. After coming from the boilers the pulp is taken to large wooden tanks and passed through heavy rollers, thus straightening out the fibre and removing a large proportion of the water and chemicals. It then passes to the pressing room, where it is made into cheeses under a hydraulic pressure of 3,500 pounds to the square inch, after which it is tied up in bags and is ready for the market. The liquid pressed from the pulp is taken to an adjoining building, and the chemicals reclaimed with very little loss: (See biography of H. H. Furbish.)

Glen Manufacturing Company .- In June, 1885, availing themselves of the grant of exemption made by Berlin to any establishment for the man- ufacture of wood-pulp, which should be erected on the " great pitch " of the Androscoggin, a number of wealthy Massachusetts capitalists formed the Glen Manufacturing Company, and erected one of the best constructed and equipped pulp and paper-mills in New England, at a cost running into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Building operations were commenced July 4, 1885, and the mill was started May 1, 1886. The special feature of this mill is the development of power -- 6,000 horse-power being produced under a head of forty feet. Connected with the mill are four pairs of forty-two inch horizontal wheels, one thirty-six inch and two twenty-four inch vertical wheels, sixteen pulp-grinding machines, six fifty-four inch rag-engines, two ninety-two inch and one ninety six inch paper machines. A large and complete fire service has been provided, consisting of auto- matic sprinklers, steam and rotary fire pumps, etc. The mill produces thirty-two tons of ground wood-pulp, and twenty-four tons of roll paper a day, and employs 200 workmen. Seven double tenements were built in 1886 by the company for rent to the employés. The officers are D. L. Hob- son, of Haverhill, Mass., president; H. M. Knowles, of Boston, treasurer; I. B. Hosford, of Haverhill, Mass., manager; H. S. Rice, resident agent and superintendent.

This mill, in connection with the Haverhill (Mass.) Paper Company, furnishes the print paper for the New York Tribune, New York News, Boston Globe, Boston Sunday Herald, besides numerous journals of smaller

MILLS OF THE FOREST FIBRE CO., BERLIN FALLS, N. IL.

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circulation. It uses in the manufacture of this paper 4,500,000 feet of spruce lumber, and 4,000 cords of poplar annually.

White Mountain Pulp and Paper Company .- In September, 1553, P. W. Locke purchased a guaranteed 500 horse power near the month of Dead river, of Daniel Green, and at once began the erection of a three- ton pulp-mill. In December, 1883, the White Mountain Pulp and Paper Company was organized, with a capital of $40.000. B. S. Gibson, of Portland, president; P. W. Locke, treasurer; A. M. Munce, clerk. In 1885 the company more than doubled the capacity of the mill, purchasing additional power sufficient to run it. Additions were made in 1586 which have increased the capacity to seven tons a day, and gives employment to thirty men. The mill uses about 1,800 cords of poplar and spruce wood per annum, and is lighted at night by forty-one of Edison's incandescent electric lights. In 1886 Benjamin F. Hosford, of Boston, Mass., purchased the interest of Mr. Locke. The present officers (July, 1ss7,) are B. F. Hosford. president: A. M. Munce, treasurer, superintendent. and clerk. [In August, 1887, this mill passed into the hands of the Glen Manufactur- ing Co., and Charles Porter succeeded Mr. Munce in his offices. ]

Hon. Samuel E. Paine, state senator from Coos county for 1857-58, has been a resident of Berlin for eighteen years, and one of its keenest business men. His active life has been mostly passed in Milan and Berlin, and wholesome practical results testify to his business ability. A Demo- crat in politics, a Universalist in religion, he supports in the most ener- getic manner anything he deems for the good of the public, which has often called him to positions of trust. The Senator is immensely popular with the masses, and rarely fails to carry his point. He was representa- tive from Berlin in 1877, 1885, 1886.

Physicians .- The early physicians were those who were called from a distance. The visits of Dr. John Grover, of Bethel, Me., Dr. O. B. Howe, of Shelburne, and Dr. O. M. Twitchell, are remembered by the older citizens as being often made, and furnishing the medical aid of that day. Later Dr. H. F. Wardwell and Dr. T. M. Wight came from Gorham. Finally Dr. Wardwell located here, the first settled physician of Berlin. His practice has been a large one, and with an undiminished clientage, he is to-day as brisk and cheerful, as cordially welcomed to the homes of the suffering, as when he first threw his "pill-bags" over the back of his horse for a trip up the Androscoggin. Dr. F. A. Colby, a young man of cosmopolitan experience and thorough medical knowledge, came here in June, 1852, and after a stay of nearly three years, sold out his practice, in April, 1885, to Dr. F. B. Locke. After two years' residence on the Pacific coast he returned to Berlin, purchased his practice from Dr. Locke, and permanently located here in February, 1887. Dr. J. A. Morris came here from Littleton in 1886. Several French physicians have been attracted

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

here by the large number of that nationality in this vicinity, but none remained long. Dr. J. O. Dutrizac has been in practice since early in 1886, and has a good reputation as a practitioner.

Lawyers .- The town has only been recently of sufficient importance to give practice to located lawyers. R. N. Chamberlin was the pioneer, coming here in 1881. (See biography in chapter of Bench and Bar.) Dan- iel J. Daley came here in 1885. (See Bench and Bar.)

Electric Lights .-- Through the public spirit of H. H. Furbish the principal streets and many buildings and residences are now lighted by electricity.

Mercantile and Business Houses, June, 1887 .- General Merchants .- C. C. Gerrish & Co., (W. H. Gerrish); Stahl Bros., (branch houses: G. S. Clark & Co. Gorham; Stahl Bros. & Lavin, New York); John B. Noyes; Berlin Mills Company. All these carry stocks of dry goods, clothing, car- pets. fancy goods, watches, clocks and jewelry, boots and shoes; some of them sell groceries, guns and ammunition; stoves and hardware, paints, oils, etc., etc. The Berlin Mills Company's mercantile establishment carries one of the largest stocks in the state, and its amount of business is equalled by few houses in New Hampshire.

Clothing .- A. W. Jones.

Clothing and Groceries .- F. C. Stevens.

Millinery .-- Miss C. L. Kimball, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. J. V. Martin.

Hardware, Stoves, Crockery, Agricultural Implements, etc .- Hodgdon & Crowell.

Groceries .- Lambert Bros. & Co., O. Lambert, Bickford & Carney, Portus L. Locke, G. C. Paine, W. Tucker.

Flour, Grain, Feed, Etc .-- Gardner C. Paine.

Furniture .- O. G. Poilvert.

Druggists .- J. W. Green, F. W. Foster, F. L. Wilson & Co.

Books, Stationery, Etc .- George L. Vincent.

Watches and Jewelry .- A. B. Forbush.

Photographic Studio .- F. M. Clement.

Insurance Agents .- R. N. Chamberlin, D. J. Daley.

Harnesses .- C. W. Delliber, J. H. Coyle.

Carriage Shop .- C. C. Leighton.

Restaurant .- N. Mosso.

Picture Frames. - E. Legro, a crippled soldier of the civil war, carries on the manufacture of picture frames in connection with blacksmithing.

There are also several minor traders and mechanics, such as black- smiths, carpenters, shoe makers. besides a number of livery stables, board- ing houses, a bakery, a laundry, etc.

1856 .- From the selectmen's report made March, 1887, we extract this graphic statement of the growth of the town in 1886 :-

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TOWN OF BERLIN.

" The rapid and unprecedented growth of Berlin, which in the space of little more than a half-dozen years has increased from a scattered community of a few hundred to a chain of villages numbering nearly four thousand men, women and children, brings us face to face with problems and responsibilities worthy of serions consideration. whether socially, morally, economically or politically. This phenomenal and sudden growth has sprung upon us many of the conditions belonging to large towns and cities alone, and finds ns in a degree without the advantages of that experience which they, in their slower and steadier advancement had benefit of. The doubling of our population in little more than a year has forced the demand for additional accommodations far beyond what was anticipated or imagined, and has compelled extraordinary effort and outlay to meet it. A hundred tenements, many of them built among the crags of our rough and inaccessible places, have been put up, and the means of communication with them supplied, though at considerable cost, and at the same time thousands of dollars have been added to the future taxable value of the town. During 1886 among other improvements of permanent valne have been created Glen street, with its §10,000 worth of new cottages and room for expansion: West Railroad street with twelve new buildings: Dead River avenue with five new buildings, (besides a large three-story blacksmith shop with wood-working machinery attached, ) and Cushing street: all new highways."

Valuation, 1857. -- Resident real estate. 8232.677: non-resident estate. 822,760; money at interest, $3,400; stock in trade, $66,650; mills and machinery, $75,500; 727 polls. 872.700: 162 horses, $11,695; 4 mules, $300; 242 cattle, 85,795: 122 sheep, 8292: 13 hogs. $103; 18 carriages. $1.133: total inventory valuation, $493,005.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

DANIEL GREEN, AND THE GREEN FAMILY.

The record of the lives of the first settlers is especially interesting; their progress in establishing homes and industries, their successes, and courage under reverses, their " pluck " and self-sacrifice may serve to encourage the discouraged, strengthen the weak. and teach a lesson to all.

Daniel Green, son of Thomas' and Lydia Fairbanks (Evans) Green, was born in Shelburne, N. H., December 19, 1808. His father was a native of Reading. Mass., born in 1783, and when a mere lad emigrated with his parents to Albany, then in the District of Maine. Thomas Green', grand- father of Daniel, after living a short time on his settlement in Albany, moved to Shelburne, and located on a large tract of land on the east side of the Androscoggin river, where Manson Green now lives. Here he began the struggle of making a productive farm and a comfortable home in the wilderness. His industry and hard labor was in time repaid. he acquired considerable property and. at the time of his death, could have bought half of the town.

Thomas Green? worked on his father's land until he was nearly twenty- one: he then built a small saw-mill on the site of the old Austin grist-mill on Mill brook, Shelburne. This mill had not the requisite capacity to do business to suit the enterprising spirit of Mr. Green, and he located on a farm on the west side of the river, where is now the village of Shelburne.

HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

He afterwards went to the wild unsettled township of Errol, built a camp and began to construct a mill, but the loss of his camp and all the money he possessed. $500, by fire, necessitated his returning to his farm in Shel- burne where he lived about eight years. and by calculation and economy was enabled to purchase a tract of wild land, which he developed, clearing it in two years, making a large quantity of " black salts, " potash and pearl- ash. He was the first man to engage in merchandising in the town of Shelburne, and did a large business furnishing supplies to lumbermen and contractors in quite an area in Maine and New Hampshire. In 1826 he came to the unorganized town of Maynesborough (Berlin), and located at the head of the Falls where the Berlin Mills Co.'s mills are now situated. He raised a large frame for a mill, and had the dam nearly completed, and fine crops were standing on his farm in Shelburne, when the terrible freshet of August, 1826, destroyed all. These misfortunes only seemed to add an impetus to Mr. Green's natural energy; but unable, on account of his impoverished means, to immediately rebuild and carry out his plans, he went from home, and worked a year to get money for another start. He then returned to Berlin, got out a large quantity of pine logs and the frame for another mill. In 1827 he purchased the mill privilege and land at Berlin Falls, and built a house on the site now occupied by the resi lence of E. W. Scribner, moving his family thither. He then proceeded to erect an up-and down saw-mill, and a grist-mill of one run of stones. This stood back of the store of Hodgdon & Crowell, where is now the pond. He con- ducted business here until 1851. About 1835 he moved the grist-mill up the river to a site nearly opposite the present store of C. C. Gerrish & Co., and enlarged it to three runs of stones, and also built the house, now occu- pied by Dr. Wardwell, for his residence. March 16, 1835 he sold his saw- mill property to Barker Burbank, Dearborn Lary, and John Chandler. In connection with his grist-mill, he sold flour, feed and grain, and kept a stock of groceries for sale at his house. February 1. 1853, he disposed of this mill and property to a Mr. Gower, but occupied the house until after the death of Mrs. Green in March. 1853.

Mr. Green married, first, Lydia F .. daughter of Simeon and Eunice (Hayden) Evans. | Mr. Evans was one of the pioneers of Shelburne, con- ing there from Foxborough, Mass.] Their children were Alpha (Mrs. ('lovis Lowe) (dec.); Amos, Daniel, Edmund, lives in Stark; Aaron, (dec.); Lydia (Mrs. Paul Perkins) (dec.)

After the death of his wife, Mr. Green bought a farm in Guildhall, Vt., near the "Lancaster Toll-Bridge." Here he lived a few years, then mar- ried Cynthia Stanley, a descendant of Lieut. Dennis Stanley, and pur- chased a place about one mile from Lancaster village on the east road, re- siding there until his death in July, 1874. Mr. Green had but limited educational opportunities, was a strong, energetic worker, and in various

Daniel Green

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ways did a great work in developing and improving the many resources of this part of the county. In politics he was a Democrat, and a Methodist in his religions affiliations.

Daniel Green received the minimum of learning usually afforded the children of pioneers; he inherited, however, sterling traits from his parents, and was early taught one of life's hard lessons: "to learn to labor and to wait." About 1529 he, with his brother Amos, secured a mill-privilege adjoining the saw-mill of their father, and put up a clapboard mill and shingle machine, which they conducted until April. 1535, when it was burned, and they sold their privilege on both sides of the river to Burbank. Lary & Chandler, who put up another mill. which they sold to Dexter Wheeler at a later date. In 1845 Daniel Green erected a mill containing a clapboard, shingle and sapping machine on the Ammonoosuc, in Berlin. on lot 21, range 3, and carried it on until 1849, when this mill was de- stroyed by fire, and 1.000 acres of the best timber he possessed. Like his father. losses only seemed to stimulate him to renewed effort to retrieve them, and his next enterprise was to build a mill at the foot of the Cran- berry meadow, containing machines for manufacturing boards, shingles, clapboards, piano wood, and a lathe for turning iron, which cost him $10, - 000. By this time he owned some 5,000 or 6,000 acres of timber land. mostly pine and spruce.

August 5. 1839, Mr. Green was compelled to foreclose a mortgage on the large mill of Gower & Wilson, which was valued at $11,000, became its owner, and began business at once, employing men to get out large quantities of spruce and pine, which were here manufactured. The greater part was a fine quality of pine, and made into door, blind, and sash ma- terial. A large amount had accumulated, and September 4, 1862, this mill and lumber was consumed by fire, with but $7,000 insurance on the prop- erty. June 3, 1869, his mill at Cranberry meadow was burned, with 200,- 000 feet of fine pine lumber. Here he lost $10,000. His indomitable energy and persevering endeavor continued, and he re-built both mills; the one at the foot of the meadow was destroyed by a freshet before its con- pletion, and the one on the Gower site was burned in the winter of 1852-83. During his business career Mr. Green has owned all the water-power along the Androscoggin at Berlin. The original survey of this section was very poorly done, and any purchaser of land was liable to conflicting claims of title: and any one who has owned so many different tracts of land as Mr. Green could not fail to be drawn into much litigation over lines and bound- aries.

In 1874 Mr. Green commenced the cultivation of cranberries, and at great cost developed a splendid cranberry meadow of sixty acres, which experienced raisers of the fruit valued at $100,000, but owing to the change in the seasons it has lately become almost valueless, as the fruit

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

has not matured early enough to escape frost. In 1876 he first visited Florida, and invested $5,000 in an orange grove at Boardman, Marion county. His plantation now consists of 350 acres, on which is an orange orchard of 4,000 trees. Mr. Green passes his winters in Florida, and super- intends this estate.

In 1886 A. H. Gerrish and Mr. Green constructed an aqueduct which supplies about 100 families in Berlin Falls with water, besides numerous business houses. Mr. Green is largely interested in real estate here; he owns and rents two stores, and numerous tenements and dwellings. He has laid out and sold more building lots in Berlin Falls than any other per- son. The house occupied by him and Sullivan D. was built by his brother, Amos, in 1831.

Mr. Green has been an indefatigable worker all his life, and his indus- try has resulted in the furtherance of the prosperity and growth of the town in which he made his home more than half a century ago. He has borne the heat and burden of the day for sixty long years in Berlin; and many are now enjoying the fruit of his labors; while he, in spite of many losses, by fire and water, has accumulated a handsome property. Although naturally of a retiring disposition, his sound common sense, good judg- ment and patient efforts have gained for him the confidence of the com- munity and many friends. Democratic in politics, as such he has been elected to honorable and official trusts pertaining to town and county. He represented Berlin six years in the legislature; was town clerk several years; county commissioner three years, 1855-1858, and selectman for many years. He has been a regular delegate to state, senatorial and county conventions, and his opinions have had great weight in the councils of his party.

Quiet, unassuming and affable in his manners, of a kind and social nature, and a believer in the faith of the Universalists, Mr. Green has ever tried to do right as the right has appeared to him. He has been a member of North Star Lodge, F. & A. M. for many years.

Daniel Green' married, August 2, 1831, Polly, daughter of Thomas and Sally (Blodgett) Wheeler, (born at Gilead, Me., April 1, 1812, died June 3, 1873.) Their descendants are :-

(1) Sullivan D2, born in Berlin, September 4, 1832. married, January 11, 1866, Catherine E. Carbary, born in Michigan, September 18, 1841. Children: Fred Dexter3, born December 22, 1867, Detroit, Mich .; Carrie Carbary3, born January 25, 1870, died July 6, 1870, Detroit, Mich .; Mary Helen3, born May 26, 1871, Detroit, Mich .; Gracie3, born December 26, 1874, died December 28, 1874, Berlin, N. H .; Harry Daniel3, born January 2, 1876, Berlin, N. H .; an infant died February 13, 1881, Berlin, N. H .; Theodore Albert3, born August 4, 1884, Berlin, N. H.

(2) Lucinda Angelina2, born December 6, 1834, died September 4, 1873; married, 1853, Moses Hodgdon. Jr., of Milan, N. II. Children: Melvin Elmer3, born Milan, N. H., Feburary 12, 1854; Mary Ella3, born August 17, 1855, married W. Engene Richards, went West and have two children4; Charles Dexter3, born November 11, 1856, died May 11, 1862; Daniel G.3, born May 27, 1858, accidently killed at mill August 10, 1882; John Albert3, born April 24, 1860; Helen Georgianna3, born February 24, 1862; Minnie E.3, born January 24, 1861; Walter F.3, born January 19, 1866; Moses A.3, born February 19, 1868; Charles Dexter3, born May 16, 1870; Lewis C.3, born April 11, 1872.

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TOWN OF BERLIN.

(3) Francis Daniel2, born January 14, 1837, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862, (Co. B. 5th N. H. Vols. ) married May 2, 1858, Roancy F. Blodgett, born February 19, 1837, Berlin, died after 2d mar- riage, in Maine. Children: Willie Alfred3, born May 27, 1859 (?): Francis Herman3, born Angust 7, 1861; lives in Mass.

(4) Nancy Berden2, born September 3, 1839, died October 28, 1860.

(5) Charles Volney?, born December 3, 1841, died June 10, 1864 in hospital at New Orleans (Co. H. 13th Me. Vols. ).

(6) Helen Elizabeth?, born September 25, 1843, died January 10, 1864, married Emerson Cole 2d, born in Milan, N. H .: Helen Alzinella3, born Berlin, December 28, 1862.

(7) Persis Georgianna2, born January 30, 1847, married Lewis N. Clark, born in Canada, October 22, 1847. Children: Saidee F.3, born February 18, 1872; Lewis E.3, born May 30, 1874, died September 4, 1874; Leon S.3, born January 2, 1876, died January 21, 1876; Mande II.3, born October 2, 1877.

(8) John Woodman2, born June 12, 1850, married Fannie E. C. Mason, born in Berlin; Earl S.3, born in Berlin, February 14, 1882.

Amos Green was one of Berlin's early and energetic business men. He engaged extensively, for that day, in the manufacture of lumber, both alone and with others, and did his full share in building up the early village. He moved to Milan in 1839, put up a new mill on the site of the small one he bought of Henry Snow, which was the first one constructed on the Ammonoosuc, continued in business for some years until his active and ambitious nature carried him westward. He put up mills and manu- factured lumber, and after a long life of active usefulness, he is now resid- ing in Nevada, aged over eighty years.

Sullivan Dexter Green. oldest child of Daniel and Polly (Wheeler) Green, was born in Berlin, September 4, 1832, and was one of the first children born in the town. He was brought up from early childhood to work, and even as a child performed labor equal to a man in different departments of his father's diversified business-working in saw and grist- mills -- rafting and running lumber-cooking for a gang of men when but twelve years of age-drawing goods from Bethel -- anywhere, everywhere, where steady, industrious work was in demand, with but the most circum- scribed opportunities for education until he became of age.

He desired education: the little sips he had taken from the fountain of knowledge but stimulated him to deeper draughts, and about the time of attaining his majority he attended that excellent school, Bethel (Me.) academy, one-half of the time for two and one half years. In 1856 he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to avail himself of the advantages of the university there. Here he applied himself to study for eighteen months, and made rapid progress, learning the printer's trade during his vacations. Devotion to his father's interests drew him from Ann Arbor before he had finished his course of study. After a year's stay in Berlin, he returned to Michigan to enter upon a career of usefulness. not financially profitable, but of valuable results, as a publisher of a temperance journal in Detroit, which he conducted for two and one- half years " for nothing, and board- ing himself."

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 98

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