USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Goshen > History of Goshen, New Hampshire : settled, 1769, incorporated, 1791 > Part 14
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157
HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
The Dual Fires
The building of the Brook Road, proposed early in November, 1840, was delayed for nearly twenty years owing to the need for three bridges over winding Gunnison Brook. When construction was finally authorized, the upper bridge, where Increase Rogers placed his clothespin-mill, had to be the highest and most diffi- cult of them all. Vinal Gunnison was given the contract for its building.
During the weeks of laborious stone-laying a violent thunder- shower occurred one afternoon and Dea. Almon Tandy's house, now the Oscar Michaelson place, was struck by lightning and set afire. The bridge gang, all local men, immediately set off for the scene by way of a farm-road that led directly to the Tandy place, but, hampered by lack of water and the rapid spread of the flames, they could do nothing to save the house. Rain was still falling and the men sought shelter in a shed nearby. Soon there came a flash and sharp report to the east.
"That's struck my house," exclaimed John R. Cutts and in a matter of minutes a column of smoke began rising from over the hill. Mr. Cutts then owned the farm last known as the Benjamin Grace place, now gone, fully a mile away in direct line. Every man running as best he could, the young men outstripping the older, they hurried across-lots, to find Mr. Cutts' fears confirmed; the ell, or back-kitchen, was burning.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Cutts had directed the hired boy, Warren Gove, to take the wheelbarrow and carry Rosilla Lang, a town- charge, upon it down to the brook, out of harm's way. They then began carrying things out of the burning house.
It seems incredible, yet the men had arrived upon the scene while yet there was a chance to save the buildings. To the earliest comers, who had turned in to help Mrs. Cutts in the removal of household goods, Mr. Cutts shouted, "No, don't waste time carrying things out. We shan't let this house burn!" They were carrying the axes and pails collected for the Tandy fire. A portion of the burning shed was torn down and then, by organizing a bucket-line to the brook some distance away, so much water was poured upon the fire as to effectually quench it.
On the 2nd of September, 1825, the barn of Mr. Currier Max-
158
HAPPENINGS IN THE TOWN
field, situated in the N. E. part of Goshen, was consumed by fire, with all its contents, together with an old house adjoining. Both were well stored with hay and grain, and Mr. Maxfield's loss is well above 500 dollars. The accident is supposed to have been caused by the careless firing of a gun, by a boy who was shooting squirrels in the vicinity. N. H. Spectator.
Counterfeiters
While mending fence around his mountain-pasture one spring, probably soon after 1870, Lovell Baker and his hired man, Hial F. Nelson, came upon evidences of counterfeiting-operations in an isolated and heavily-wooded ravine near Asa Baker's line. The "plant" consisted of nothing more than a flat-topped boulder with a tree growing close against it, into which a mortise had been deeply chiseled. The mortise was at a convenient height for the insertion of a lever, presumably for obtaining pressure upon the dies. Civil War "scrip," it will be remem- bered, provided some latitude for counterfeiters, and to all ap- pearances years had elapsed since the place had seen any activity. Though familiar territory to Mr. Baker, this particular spot had escaped his notice until then; he could venture no guess as to whom had attempted the making of "fast money" there.
Matters and Men
Writing under this heading in the local Argus-Champion, H. H. Metcalf, Esq., State Historian, described the Mill Village of his boyhood in the following paragraphs:
"It was when Miss Clarinda C. Currier - for whom I conceived a strong boyish admiration, on account of her pleasant manner and charming per- sonality - was teaching school at East Unity, that it became necessary for me to have a new spelling book, because of a change of text books in the school. I was therefore entrusted with a dime by my mother and authorized to go to the nearest store, which was at Mill Village, in the town of Goshen, and buy the desired volume.
I was then seven years of age, and started off one Saturday afternoon with a decided feeling of exaltation at the importance of my errand and the responsibility attached. The distance to the store was a little over a mile, by a hilly road, past the Wright farm and the Harvey Huntoon place, and by the homes of Frances Jane Miles and Emma Gilman, two of the prettiest girls in school, which I passed with some interest, and soon found myself over the river (Sugar River, south branch) and at the store, kept by one Virgil Chase, from whom I secured a Town's speller in exchange for my small silver coin which I had carried with much care. I must confess that, upon
159
HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
examination, I was not greatly elated with my prize. It seemed to me that the Town's speller was decidedly inferior to the old Webster's spelling book which it was destined to replace; and that not entirely on account of the interesting pictures that adorned the latter, among which was that of the boy stealing apples, whom the old man was trying to bring down from the tree. I am still of the opinion that Webster's was the better book.
This Virgil Chase, the storekeeper, as I learned in later years, had held most of the town offices available in his community, been sheriff of the county, and was a prominent Democratic party leader. It was for him that Virgil C. Gilman, who was born in the neighborhood and became a promi- nent citizen of Nashua and leading Republican in the State was named. I did not see him again until early in 1859, when I was about eighteen years of age, and deeply impressed with the importance of doing what I could to stay the onward march of the Republican party in its determina- tion to rule the country. I prepared and committed an elaborate speech, and started out to deliver the same wherever opportunity offered. One of the chosen places was Mill Village, where I arrived on an early March evening, and was entertained in the home of this same Virgil Chase, then somewhat advanced in years, but mentally and bodily vigorous, and as staunch in his Democracy as ever. The meeting, which was held in the schoolhouse, had been well advertised and the room was filled. Mr. Chase presided, intro- duced me, with some appropriate remarks, and I delivered my speech to the best of my ability and without interruption. As I concluded, amid some applause, a young man arose and asked the privilege of answering me from the Republican standpoint. This was Ira McL. Barton, a son of Levi W. Barton of Newport, who, with a fellow law-student, Joseph Wood of Alstead, had heard of the meeting and come down from Newport to 'do me up.'
Mr. Chase demurred to the proposition, saying it was a Democratic meet- ing and no place for opposition propoganda, or words to that effect; and cries of 'throw them out' were started. But, duly impressed with the righteousness of our cause, I urged him to let the young men proceed, which he ulti- mately did, and after they had unloaded themselves, both Mr. Chase and myself proceeded, as we were fully satisfied, however it may have been with the audience, to demolish their arguments and establish the absolute justice and righteousness of the Democratic cause."
Population of Goshen
1800
383
1850
659
1810
563
1860
576
1820
682
1870
507
1830
1880
511
Males
357
1890
384
Females
415
1900
345
Dumb*
2
1910
329
1920
283
Total
774
1930
255
1940
352
1840
779
1950
356
*One of these listed "dumb" was unquestionably Jonathan ("Uncle Jock") Dame who lived on the present Casagrande farm; was both deaf and dumb, being supported by the town; lived to be 81.
160
HAPPENINGS IN THE TOWN
GOSHEN CENSUS, 1800 MALES
FEMALES
Ayers, Geo.
Baker, John
2 621 ~ Under 10
10-15
16-25
1 1 1 == = 26-45
45 ++
1 · - Under 10
- 10-15
16-25
26-45
45+
Bingham, Calvin
2
Barber, Asa
1
1
1
.
. .
. .
1
1
Buck, James
1
.
1
1
. .
1
2
1
2
1
Brotton, Benj.
3
McCrillis, John
1
. .
1
1
. .
. .
Chellas, Ezekiel
1
2
. .
. .
2
1
1
. .
Calef, John
. .
1
1
. .
1
1
I
Colbey, Abner
2
1
. .
. .
1
1
..
·
Cole, Timothy
3
·
1
·
1
1
2
2
·
. .
..
. .
. .
1
Cutts, Charles
3
. .
. .
1
1
1
.
. .
1
Dame, Edward
. .
1
1
1
. .
1
2
1
.
1
Emerson, Hezekiah
2
. .
. .
1
2
.
1
.
Gunnison, Daniel
3
1
. .
1
. .
4 3
1
. .
. .
Gunnison, Nathanial
2
1
. .
1
1
1
. .
·
Grandall, Daniel
1
.
1
1
1
1
.
1
1
1
. .
. .
Lewis, Seth
1
2
. .
..
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
1
1
Lang, William
1
1
..
.
. .
·
·
. .
Lear, Robert
2
1
1
1
. .
1
1
Meservy, William
2
2
. .
1
·
1
·
. .
. .
. .
Philbrook, James
1
2
. .
. .
.
Rand, Benj., Jr.
3
1
1
1
2
. .
1
1
Rankin, Thomas
.
. .
1
.
·
. .
1
.
. .
1
2
1
. .
Bartlett, Stephen
2
1
.
1
1
1
. .
I
1 . .
.
Couchran, Joseph
1
1
.
1
Challis, Enos
3
I
Cutler, Joseph
1
1
1
1
Cutts, William
2
1
1
1
.
1
. .
Cutts, Joseph
. .
. .
1
1
. .
1
.
2
1
. .
. .
Lakeman, Daniel
2
Lear, Geo. W.,
1
3
2
2
Lear, Joseph
2
.
.
·
1
1
1
1
. .
Morse, Micah
1
1
1
Libbey, James
. .
1
Masten, Daniel
2
.
. .
1
. .
1 1
.
. .
1
Hudson, Benjamin
2
2
1
Humphrey, Arthur
4
Floye (d) Richard
1
..
.
. .
1 . .
Gunnison, Ephraim
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
. .
1
1
. .
1
. .
. .
Brown, David
1
. .
. .
1
. .
2
1
1
1
1
. .
1
1 1 .
1
. .
. .
. .
1
1
. .
·
1
2
1
Dame, Hatevil
Lewis, Wm.
1
1
3
.
1
1
1
1
1
1
. .
161
HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
Smith, Reuben
1
1
. .
1
..
1
Storey, William
2
.
1
2
2
1
1
Stevens, Josiah
. .
. .
Sanborn, David
2
Sholes, Christopher
5
1
1
.
. .
Sherburn, Benj.
1
1
Sherburn, Daniel
.
. .
2
1
1
1
1
1
Stevens, Samuel
2
1
.
1
4
1
1
1
Sherburn, Daniel
2
True, Moses
.
. .
. .
1
Tandy, Parker
1
. .
2
1
3
2
1
Tandy, William
3
2
1
1
1
1
.
Woodward, Israel
1
. .
1
. .
. .
.
1
1
Willey, Allen
2
1
2
1
. .
1
2
1
.
Willey, Nathan
3
1
. .
4
1
1
·
Willey, Reuben
. .
. .
·
1
2
1
TOTAL
79
25
24
37
22
76
33
28
41
18
. .
1
2
. .
. .
1
·
.
1
·
.
2
. .
.
. .
1
Willey, Benj.
1
1
1
·
GRAND TOTAL - 383
Corrected with photostat at N. H. Hist. Society, 1955.
It will be noticed that column-footings are not in all cases accurate as printed, but that the grand total comes out 383-384. It has been therefore decided to follow the official figures as above. Ed.
The Bemis Case
Is anyone ever warranted in breaking the law in order to en- force it against another? That is the question that arises in the Bemis case.
Bemis objected to having old Luke Jones in the neighborhood and, truth to tell, Jones was no ornament to society. He lived in a house then standing half-way across the flat between Bernard Rollins' and Carl Rosenthal's, on the top of the mountain toward Washington. Contemporaries picture him as being big and powerful in build, believed to be part Indian, with an exterior that gave some of his neighbors partial justification for the belief, when his wife died, that he had murdered her. The fact is they were both along in years; lack of nutrition undoubtedly hastened her death and he too lethargic to give her proper food and care. At any rate, after the funeral, Jones deeded his farm to
1
1
1
.
1
Sanborn, Tristram
1
1
1
1
. .
.
1
1
. .
1
4
1
1
Sherburne, Nathaniel
1
1
1
Thompson, John
. .
. .
1
162
HAPPENINGS IN THE TOWN
the town in consideration for his support. Tyler Philbrick was hired to care for him.
If some details be filled into the record, it would appear that Jones was temporarily taken elsewhere, then Mr. Philbrick pro- posed to allow him to return home, whereupon Bemis broke all the windows out of the old man's humble dwelling and pla- carded the door with the announcement that no such low-lived character was wanted in the neighborhood.
The selectmen bought new sash for the windows, but they were never set in place, for the house was burned. Suspicion fas- tened upon Bemis, the ardent purist, as the culprit; he was arrested and taken to jail at Newport, to await trial at spring term of court. Beyond doubt he burned with indignation at the inglorious failure of his crusade, a resentment against Philbrick, as well as Jones, having developed, and he set about devising means of release.
The sheriff, Richardson, was deaf, he discovered. Bemis found means to whittle out plugs to fit the sockets where the spring- lock should engage the door-frame of his cell and one evening, with the plugs in place, Richardson pushed the door shut, seeing Bemis safely inside. That the bolts did not click home escaped his notice and Bemis, watching his opportunity, stole out through the jail-kitchen and so back to Goshen.
From someone Bemis obtained badly-needed boots (and who would have spare boots but a storekeeper?) and in suspiciously- fast time reached Antrim, where he had a cousin. If there had been assistance given him by certain of his old neighbors, they came to realize that their offense, aiding in the escape of a prisoner, was little less than his own. George Emerson, who lived on the present John Stelljes place, at the foot of the moun- tain, went west hurriedly, without giving a satisfactory reason for so doing, and never returned, leaving townspeople to wonder if it was because of the Bemis affair.
Though Bemis had safely reached Antrim, the law was close behind. As he was leaving his retreat with his cousin, officers recaptured him without a struggle. His wife now turned state's evidence, claiming to be afraid of her husband, and he was re-
163
HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
manded to prison, but after serving a short sentence was released, without, however, returning to Goshen to live.
Luke Jones, indirect cause of all the trouble, died in 1887.
Faithful Bose
While living at the old Russell, or Drock, place, the Rogers family had a great Newfoundland dog named Bose. When the twins, Martha and Mary, were small Mrs. Rogers found the old dog very useful in amusing them. Setting the babies slightly apart on the floor, she would call Bose to come and lie down between them upon the edges of their long clothes, where they could pull at him all they wished and yet not fall over or crawl away.
One afternoon Aunt Grindle, their next-door neighbor, called in. She was then a widow, possessed of a natural gift for medi- cine and was always called in cases of sickness. She stooped to pick up one of the twins the dog was tending, but he growled a warning.
"I may have this other one, mayn't I, Bose?" she enquired, but again the dog threateningly forbade her.
"Let her have the children, Bose," Mrs. Rogers called, where- upon he allowed Mrs. Grindle to pick them up.
When Jimmie and Lydia, aged five and three, older than the twins, died of the canker-rash, the dog could hardly be coaxed away from their graves. Neighbors at length professed to be afraid of the dog and he was found dying from a gunshot.
One Candlemas Day
As fas as the sun shines in on Candlemas Day, So far will the snow blow in before May.
The old New England proverb came in for ridicule in the Ephraim Nelson household when the Candlemas Day sun, in its swinging arc across the window-panes, fell upon the kitchen- stove.
"Ha! Guess the snow can't come into our house as far as that!" one of the girls cried merrily.
But, one blustery day in the following March, the kitchen door blew open in an unusually strong blast of wind and with
164
HAPPENINGS IN THE TOWN
it came a whirl of snow that was driven well across the room, to hiss audibly upon the hot stove-top.
The Ghost that was not a Ghost
The relationship between the Lear and Rowell families fos- tered an interchange of neighborly visits when the Amos Rowells lived near Deacon Abell and John Lear had come to carry on the Levi Pierce farm. The two houses were situated upon the same plateau and the distance in direct line was insignificant compared with that around by the road.
One Sunday afternoon in summer, John Lear went afoot over through the woods and pastures to the Rowell's, probably visit- ing a few minutes with the Nelsons, his wife's people, as he passed by. At the hour of returning, a thunder-shower struck, compelling him to remain overlong. The rain was slow in pas- sing and when it finally ceased night was settling down.
Mr. Lear hastened back across the open land and approached woodland, his course being to the northwest where, low on the hills, a thin band of blue sky was spreading. He climbed to the top of the stone-wall against the woods and was about to spring down on the farther side when a flash of white caught his at- tention, down in the glade ahead. His hesitation was only momentary and he jumped down to pursue his way, finding with surprise that the white object had simultaneously van- ished. The phenomenon piqued his curiosity; he clambered back upon the wall and there was the white apparition again, seemingly but a few rods beyond. Getting down from the wall, the apparition disappeared; back upon the wall, it was again visible. Grown man though he was, the instinctive fright at the unexplained sent cold tingles over his scalp and he was forced to reason with himself that there could be nothing harmful ahead. With a concentration that caused him much amusement after- ward he pressed on down the path toward the spot where the will-o-the-wisp was playing - and found a puddle of water that had gathered in a hollow in the path after the rain! The angle of reflection from its surface, of the lighting sky beyond, came just right to meet his eye as he stood on the wall-top but was broken the moment he jumped down.
165
HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
In telling the story, Mr. Lear made the point that, had he in fear turned back and followed the road home, he would always have carried the sincere belief that a ghost had appeared to him there in the woods.
CHAPTER XVI
Early Industries
TN the early life of our town, as with all New England towns, its industries played a vital role, providing a self-sufficiency unknown and hardly understood today. A description of these small shops and mills, indeed, provides much of the town's his- tory and in this capacity a brief summary of them will follow.
The South Branch of Sugar River, with its natural falls, afforded the best water-privilege in town and it was the first to be utilized, as has been seen. The purchase of Capt. Hall's prop- erty by Tristam Sanborn of Deerfield, Dec. 1, 1796, does not prove that Sanborn ever took up residence here. Rather, the claim has been made by the Smarts that Caleb, Rev. War veteran of Hopkinton, N. H. and Hingham, Mass., operated the grist- mill about 1800, assisted by his youngest son Durrell, b. 1777. Goshen records enumerate the births of children to Durrell and Betsey Smart: Roxana, b. Nov. 13, 1817, and Seth Chellis Smart, b. Oct. 27, 1819, d. inf. Durrell's residence in town upon those dates would thereby be definitely indicated, being further borne out by an active account at Barnes' store during the years 1816-18.
The arrangement of the old grist-mill at that time provided a bridge-like platform extending from the smoothly-rounded ledge at its south side, near the present attractive home of Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand Carter, to the second floor of the mill where the stones were placed. Horse-drawn vehicles, bringing grain to be ground, drove onto this bridge-platform to unload their sacks of wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye, or buckwheat and India wheat, all locally grown then. The grist slid by gravity down a chute into the receiving bin, or sack, on the lower floor, from whence it was delivered to its owner. A whimsical comment in- dicates that the miller was kept busy hurrying downstairs every few minutes to see how his grist was running.
166
OLD MILLS IN 1903
Grist Mill is in left foreground, Old Sawmill in background, across the stream -
-
Mill Dam and New Saw Mill, Built by E. S. Robinson in 1904
R
-
Photo by Arthur W. Nelson Courtesy Old Farmer's Almanac, 1958
Horse-powered Log Saw in action. Picture taken about 1895, showing the most advanced portable rig of the period for sawing logs into stove-length blocks. The men, left to right; Joel Powers (so believed); Geo. B. Bartlett, Sr., when living on the old Bartlett farm at the Center, owner of the wood and of the sugar-house in background; George Corkum (presumably); Elmer H. Nelson; John S. Pike, standing at the brake-lever of his horse-power.
Loaned by Mrs. Minnie Booth
The old Blacksmith Shop at Village, still owned by the H. M. Booth family. Mr. Booth stands in shop-door with small daughter Helen barely visible. At extreme left, over a pile of bunched shingles from the nearby mill, is the town's old "Road Machine," a horse-drawn, wood-framed vehicle with reversible scraper-blade, fore- runner of the modern grader. About 1908.
167
HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
In 1841 Sewell Ingalls sold the grist-mill to Albert Wil- cox, who tore down the old building and in part rebuilt it, placing the stones and bolts all upon the lower floor. It was fully completed by Daniel Emerson, who, it is recalled, built the very high foundation-wall toward the river.
A very good quality of wheat-flour was milled until the early 1870's, when local wheat-growing practically ceased, owing to the influx of cheaper western grain. The writer recalls the long frame, covered with muslin or cotton cloth, laid up on the saw- mill beams and described as the "wheat-bolt" from the grist-mill. Yet the grinding of corn, oats and barley was continued until 1900, when the mill was owned by Mrs. Ellen (Maxfield) Shaw, a native of Goshen, but then living in Lowell, Mass. The last miller was Henry G. Lear who pioneered with a ready-mixed feed for livestock, of corn and oats mill-blended, prior to that introduced by the big milling-companies of the west.
The Fulling Mill
This old industry was located on the west side of the falls, opposite the grist-mill. It was of two stories in height, though small in floor-area. Here fulling and dyeing of the woolen home- spun produced in the vicinity was performed, industrious ma- trons bringing in their weaving to be finished, with thickness, nap and color provided to suit the tastes of the individual. A great, overshot water-wheel furnished power for the fulling and shearing and each autumn a couple of men were required to handle the custom, an excellent and handsome cloth being produced.
James Babb of South Sunapee, who had learned his trade from Nathan Hurd in Newport and was accredited a master- workman, was operating the fulling-mill in September, 1828. For some reason he was obliged to be absent for the night, leaving his wife and two children and an aged mother in the living-rooms over the mill. A tempestuous rainstorm meantime set in and toward morning Mrs. Babb became alarmed at the swelling noise of the river plunging past. Descending to the fulling-room, she found its floor already flooded. Quickly arousing her family, all escaped safely to a neighbor's house on the main road, the
168
EARLY INDUSTRIES
aged mother being assisted across the bridge by Sam Smart and another man whose name has been forgotten.
Shortly thereafter the fulling-mill was lifted from its founda- tions and carried a short distance, but, catching briefly, the furniture within it was in large measure removed by neighbors who had hastily gathered. At daybreak the structure began breaking apart, its wreckage being swept against the long bridge just below and that, too, was carried away.
Mr. Babb immediately rebuilt and resumed business, but economic changes were on the way. Farm wives were doing less weaving because "store cloth" had become available.
It is not apparent just when James Babb left his fullery. A cellar-hole up in the Imri Crane (Frank Johnson) pasture, near Deacon Abell's, is still remembered as the "old Babbs place." Some years later, it is believed, he again moved, this time to buy the large farm at the top of the mountain, on the Washington road, where the family remained through succeeding genera- tions. There is a record, however, that in 1839 the fulling-mill was finally vacated by Horace Carter of Enfield and, after stand- ing vacant for several years, was moved and became a part of the dwelling-house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Helen A. Brigham, Goshen's efficient Town Clerk and Tax Collector.
Badger's Mill
In the early 1800's a saw-mill was built on the Mummery Brook, as it was long known, otherwise a continuation of the Chandler Brook in the rapid, three-quarter-mile-long section be- tween Route 31 at Emil Benes' and the Keene road. Little is known of the builder, save that he was a Badger, first name possibly William, though a Jonathan Badger was residing here at comparatively this same period; had sons John and Stephen; identification is unsatisfactory.
Various industries were soon to be located upon this moun- tain-stream, now stripped of them all, a stream emptying into the South Branch and seriously beset by periods of low water, when no power whatever is available. It is obvious, and on record, that plans had to be made long in advance for the best use of the water when it came in spring and fall and by so doing
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