USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Bristol > History of the town of Bristol, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 42
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business in 1841, which was continued by Joseph and Samuel H. Rollins till about 1865, when the latter retired. Joseph Rol- lins continued the same till 1869, when Charles W. Batchelder came into possession. He was succeeded, about 1871, by Nathaniel H. Batchelder, who operated the saw-mill for four or five years, and manufactured sleighs. He was succeeded by Sanborn & Brown, or by Sanborn, Forrest & Brown, in 1876, who prosecuted the lumber business here about three years, and were succeeded by E. D. Crosby & Co., Taylor & Merrill, and they, in 1889, by Capt. J. W. Saunders, who paid $2,000 for the mill and privilege. In 1896, Capt. Saunders sold to N. B. Cloutman, of Alexandria, and he in turn sold to the Bristol Electric Light company, in 1898. This company removed the saw-mill and old wooden dam and erected the present dam with stone abutments, and the brick power-house, which cost with equipments about $20,000.
NORTH BRISTOL
As early as 1804, there was a saw-mill at North Bristol on the east branch of the river. It was reached by the road described elsewhere as laid out in 1801. It was evidently a temporary affair and ceased to be used after a few years.
In 1821, Ebenezer Kendall moved from Hebron to North Bristol, and at once commenced the erection of a saw-mill on the site of the one spoken of above. The bricks used in the con- struction of this mill were made in Hebron and taken from there to the foot of the lake in a rowboat, by Mr. Kendall. The next spring, he was taxed for $20 invested in mills at this point. The appraisal was increased each year till 1833, when the value of the mill was assessed at $1,200.
In 1825, Hezekiah Peck put in operation immediately below the saw-mill, a grist-mill, and the next year Daniel. Darling came to this hamlet and added a carding-mill to the industry of the place. The building for the carding-mill stood on the west bank of the east branch of the river, on the north side of the street running at right angles with what is now Lake street. To the carding business was soon after added that of fulling cloth. Jacob N. Darling was engaged in this business in 1834, and lie was succeeded, in 1835, by William Chase, who continued the business till 1840, or later.
In 1827, Rev. Walter Sleeper was operating the grist-mill. He was succeeded, about 1830, by Reuben Allen and John Allen, and they by Abram Gates, about 1833.
In 1837 or the early part of 1838, David Chase moved from Loudon to North Bristol and purchased the grist-mill. At this time, there was a corn-mill and a flour bolt here. He added a rye bolt and made other improvements, and operated the mill till 1845. Ebenezer Kendall operated the saw-mill till 1835,
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when he sold to Blake Fowler, and he, in turn, sold to David Fowler, his father. David Fowler was operating the mill in the early part of 1839, and a few months later sold to J. F. & J. T. Kendall, who after two years sold to Kendall & Willey, and they to Locke & Drake. Two years later, Philip S. Drake retired, and Levi Locke became the sole proprietor and operated the mill till he sold to the Winnepesaukee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing company, in 1846.
After disposing of his saw-mill, in 1835, Ebenezer Kendall gave his attention to the erection of a woolen-mill farther down the stream. This building was about 60 x 35 feet, two stories, and basement, and was designed for a three-set mill. It was completed about 1837, and was first occupied by Simeon Wad- leigh for the manufacture of satinets. He was succeeded, about 1840, by Ladd & Buswell, and they by Augustus M. Sleeper. In 1845, Clark & Waterworth were in business here, and they were followed, in 1850, by Nat. G. Chase, and he, by Stephen Philbrick, in 1852. In 1860, Lucius C. Alexander and Don P. Alexander came from Nashua and manufactured satinets till 1864, when they were succeeded by Henry S. Beckford and his son, Benjamin P., who engaged in the manufacture of frocking. In December, 1865, Lieut. W. A. Beckford commenced the manufacture of yarns, using one set of cards for the purpose, while his father and brother were making frocking. In 1867, Dow & Renue succeeded the Beckfords and continued the mak- ing of frocking, and this business was continued by A. & W. H. Williams, in 1869, or a little later. Frank M. Beckford manufactured yarns here in the early eighties. The mill was destroyed by fire Apr. 17, 1886, and the privilege was purchased by Train, Smith & Co.
About 1845, North Bristol, then generally known as Slab City, enjoyed its greatest prosperity. Indeed, it vied with Bristol village in the amount of business done. In addition to the industries above named, all of which were in full operation and giving employment to forty or fifty hands, there was in operation on the south side of the street, east of the bridge over the west channel, a cabinet shop operated by James Clough, a deaf mute. The power for this shop was taken from a dam across the west channel. Opposite, on the north side of the highway, was the blacksmith shop of Horatio Kelley, and a cooper shop. There were three dwelling-houses on the south side of the highway between the two streams, a two-story board- ing-house on the east side of the highway opposite the saw-mill, a small dwelling-house just below the grist-mill, a barn in the middle of what is now Lake street just south of the first bridge, and a shoe shop, kept by Isaac Allen, that stood on the side of the bluff near the barn. Of all these buildings not one remains, and none have taken their places. The causes that contributed
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to the wiping out of the business of this hamlet were the fact that the coming of the railroad to Bristol village made that a more important center of trade and business, and especially the purchase of the saw-mill, grist-mill, and other property by the Winnepesaukee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manf. company, the only object of this company being the control of the water of the lake. But little business was done at the saw-mill or grist-mill after this company came into possession, and these mills were destroyed by fire, about 1860, while operated by Thomas P. Nutting. To-day, hardly a stone remains to mark their site. At the west end of the street, there are still standing and occu- pied about a dozen residences, most of which were erected during the period of the business prosperity of this hamlet.
On the completion of the stone dam at the outlet of the lake, a saw-mill was erected at that point that was operated by those who had charge of the dam. The two-story house here was formerly one of the three houses that stood on the south side of the street at North Bristol village. Thomas Muzzey occupied this house for some years, had charge of the dam and operated the mill. He was succeeded by J. Rendall Sleeper, who con- tinued in charge till the mill was removed a few years ago.
MOORE'S MILLS
The hamlet called Moore's mills is located on the Pemige- wasset river, in the northeastern part of the township. Enos Brown and Joseph Brown erected a saw-mill and grist-mill here in 1829. To turn the water into the flume of the mill they erected a wing dam, but this arrangement was unsatisfactory. Enos Brown sold his interest to Rufus G. Lewis, of New Hamp- ton, and the new firm built a dam of logs across the stream. This dam stood a year or two and was then carried down the stream by a freshet. Nicholas Dolloff succeeded Mr. Lewis about 1832, and built a new dam which was partially destroyed by an ice freshet five years later. The dam was repaired and work continued. Associated with Nicholas Dolloff were Joseph Brown, Joseph Moore, and Daniel S. Mason.
The saw-mill was equipped with three upright saws, a shingle-mill and a clapboard-mill, and was run day and night a portion of the time. From 500,000 to 800,000 feet of lumber were sawed annually, nearly all of which was sent down river in rafts to market. For some years, sash and doors were also manufactured here. The grist-mill had several run of stone and was operated for some years by Ariel H. George, who was later a miller for many years in Bristol village.
When business was at its height employment was given to about twenty-five hands; there were eight houses near-by, and the population of the hamlet numbered seventy-five; a large school was sustained, and Maj. Daniel Tirrell kept a country
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store. But little sawing was done after the railroad reached Bristol village and, about 1850, work entirely ceased. To-day, three or four farmhouses are all that remain of this bustling community.
PROFILE FALLS
Profile Falls is a hamlet on Smith's river, about two miles south of Bristol village. It was formerly spoken of as the foot of the mountain, sometimes as South Bristol. Soon after Byron B. Tobie became a resident here, in the early nineties, he dis- covered an excellent profile on one of the ledges and accordingly named the falls and the village, Profile Falls. The name was euphonious and appropriate and kindly received by the public. Mr. Tobie opened a store here, secured the establishment of a post-office, and was the postmaster. The store and post-office were discontinued when he left town in May, 1900. The ham- let now consists of a schoolhouse, an excelsior mill, and seven or eight dwellings.
Profile Falls is a part of Lot 71, First Division. This lot embraced the falls on Smith's river, and was deeded to Maj. John Tolford on condition that he should erect a saw-mill and grist-mill on this stream within six years from May 19, 1767. Joshua Tolford appears to have succeeded John Tolford in the ownership of this lot and to have settled here as early as 1769. He erected mills as early as specified in the grant, being taxed for mills in the first tax-list of the town, in 1773.
The first bridge across Smith's river spanned the stream at the head of the falls. Just west of the north end of this bridge stood, in the early days of the town, a schoolhouse, and west of the schoolhouse the first mills - a saw-mill and a grist-mill.
About 1780, John Smith became the owner of these mills, and later added a clothing- and carding-mill, the first of the kind in this section. There is a tradition that the first mills and the first bridge were swept away by a freshet; but, if so, all must have been rebuilt on the old sites, for the bridge was destroyed by fire about 1800, and the mills that stood near-by were in operation till the freshet of 1826, when they were carried down streanı. At this time, they were owned by Robert Smith, a son of John Smith, who rebuilt all except the clothing-mill, but on new sites. The grist-mill was erected where is now the saw- mill, or excelsior-mill ; half way up the hill, near the canal, was located the clapboard-mill, and above this was placed the saw- mill. The dam to turn the water into the canal was across the stream at the head of the falls, just below the site of the first bridge. To remove a ledge when constructing the canal, huge fires were built on it, heating the rock, and then water was poured on, thus causing it to crumble. The first shingle-mill in this section was put into the clapboard-mill, and its automatic work was thought to be something wonderful.
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The grist-mill contained three run of stone, a wheat bolt and a rye bolt, for in those days all the flour used was made from wheat or rye grown in this section. The grist-mill was in operation as late as 1843. Robert Smith continued to own and operate these mills till 1840, or later ; but John Hastings operated the saw-mill from 1830 till 1835. From 1835, the saw-mill was operated a year or two at a time by J. T. McMurphy, Abel Batchelder, Levi H. Sleeper, Ebenezer Wells, Capt. Moses San- born, and others. It was last used in 1843.
From 1834 till 1836, another shingle-mill was operated by Charles Buntin and Samuel Calley, in a building that stood near the present bridge over Smith's river.1
John Merrill and Ephraim Merrill had a tannery on the flat a few rods west of the present highway. The remains of the pits can still be seen. This tannery was established about 1803, and was, without doubt, the first tannery in Bristol. In March, 1833, it was advertised for sale in the New Hampshire Patriot by Joshua Smith, and was described as "a tan house and yard, good water privilege and farm, a few rods from grist-mill, saw- mill, shingle-mill, and clapboard-mill."
Eastman's saw-mill, so called, situated a mile west of Pro- file Falls, was built about 1858, by Enoch and Henry Rolfe, of Hill. Ezekiel Eastman was taxed for this property from 1859 till 1863. Frederick H. Bartlett then became the owner of this property and the mills at Profile Falls. About 1870, he took the Eastman mill down and used the material in the construction of the present saw-mill at Profile Falls. He disposed of the old grist-mill by setting it on fire and allowing the flames to con- sume it.
Elijah Sanborn succeeded Mr. Bartlett, being first taxed for this property in 1873, and he continued to operate the saw- mill a portion of each year till succeeded by B. B. Tobie. Mar- shall Ballou manufactured picker-sticks here from 1877 till 1885, when he removed to the village. Since November, 1898, the saw-mill has been utilized by Solon S. Southard for the inanu- facture of excelsior.
OTHER MANUFACTURES
Theophilus Sanborn had a tannery, as early as 1806, on the
' This mill was operated by the waste water from the grist-mill, and the owners of the two mills got into a difficulty over its use. Robert Smith attempted to turn the water in such a way as to wash away the dam that turned the water to Buntin & Calley's mill. This caused a per- sonal encounter, during which Smith struck Calley, and Calley ducked Smith into the dam and held his head under water till Mr. Buntin, fear- ful of results, interfered. Mr. Smith was a justice of the peace, and fearing that Mr. Buntin might bring an action against him, forestalled him by entering a complaint against himself for assault. He heard the case as justice and fined himself one dollar.
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east side of the highway, opposite his residence on New Chester mountain, just above where Mrs. John W. Sanborn now resides. The bark was ground by horse-power.
Jonathan Merrill and his son, Morris, had a small tannery in the ravine west of the highway, near the residence of the lat- ter, where the late James A. Curtice resided.
Between 1815 and 1820, there was a saw-mill on Danforth's brook, near the Danforth house, and about the same time Joseph Brown had a cabinet-shop near the present residence of Solon Dolloff.
Jeremiah Bean engaged in the manufacture of pottery on Hemlock brook, in the thirties.
In a small building that stood on the west side of South Main street, near the stone watering-trough, Wells Forbes made, in the early forties, wooden clocks. Later, between 1844 and 1848, seraphines were made here by Eaton & Crockett, Eaton & Boynton, and by Cyrus P. Eaton.
Elijah Sanborn manufactured bricks at Profile Falls for several years.
In the late forties, Thomas Ordway had a brick yard west of Newfound river, north of Willow street.
From 1848 till 1851, N. W. Ingraham had a cooper shop on Lake street, near Edward P. Sawyer's residence, and manufac- tured hogshead staves for market.
Eben Seaver manufactured carriages on Lake street, from May, 1884, till his death in 1898.
CHAPTER XXXII
MERCHANTILE HOUSES AND OTHER INDUSTRIES
Trade is the golden girdle of the globe. -Cowper.
EMERSON'S BLOCK
The first habitation in the vicinity of Central square was a log cabin, erected in 1769, at the corner of Central square and Spring street, as a home for the miller who tended the first grist- mill in town. A more pretentious dwelling was erected later, which was occupied by Moses Lewis as early as 1790. Soon after, he opened, in a building just north of his dwelling-house, the first store in Bristol, and here he continued in trade for twenty years. In 1797, he erected a two-story residence, which now constitutes the second and third stories of Emerson's block.
This building was used as a residence till about 1869, when George H. Moore opened a shoe store in the two front rooms. He was followed, in 1871, by William George, who occupied these rooms two or three years. In 1879, George G. Brown, who then owned this property, raised the building, put a story under it and added a French roof. It was then used as a hotel by Mr. Brown. In the north stand Smith D. Fellows was in trade as a dealer in stoves and tinware, from about 1886 till 1889. E. R. Whittier had a bakery here from 1893-'97, and he was followed by William E. Heath, by A. H. Worthley, and by Mrs. Nettie B. Cummings.
The south stand was used as a boot and shoe store, 1889 till 1891, by Austin H. Roby, who was succeeded in the same business by Oscar W. Rice, 1891-'94; by M. M. Harriman & Co., by H. W. T. Norris & Co., by George H. Dodge, and by Frank E. Vaughan, who is now in trade here.
The basement was used for many years as a meat market by Levi Locke and by Locke & Jewett. Dr. Arthur V. Doud has an elegant suite of rooms in the second story, south side.
THE ICHABOD C. BARTLETT STORE
Ichabod C. Bartlett came to Bristol in 1800, and soon after opened a store on the east side of South Main street, where later stood the leading tavern in Bristol, and where now is Frank W. Bingham's harness shop. This location was then in the town of New Chester. Tradition says that Mr. Bartlett had only a
MAY- FANCY GOODS
CENTRAL SQUARE - WEST SIDE. OLD HOME DAY PARADE
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CENTRAL SQUARE - EAST SIDE. OLD HOME DAY PARADE
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small stock of dry-goods and small wares, but, in April, 1801, he was taxed for $100 stock in trade, which in those days must have represented a considerable amount. In November, 1801, he married a daughter of Col. Peter Sleeper, and probably com- menced life at once on the Bridgewater side of the river, for in April, 1802, he was again taxed for his stock of goods in New Chester, but as a non-resident. In the summer of 1802, he evidently erected his first store in what is now Central square, as he was not again taxed in New Chester. This store was a wooden building and stood directly in front of the present brick store. It was 32 x 18 feet, eight feet posted, and was lighted by a window in the east end and one in front, each having two sashes of twelve lights of 7 x 9 glass. It had an ell 12 x 20 feet. Here Mr. Bartlett did a large and constantly increasing busi- ness. In 1822, he erected the brick part of the present store.
Mr. Bartlett continued in trade alone till 1827, when his son, Levi, became associated with him and business was con- tinued under the firm name of I. C. & L. Bartlett till 1833 or 1834, when Gustavus Bartlett entered the firm, and the firm name became I. C. Bartlett & Co. Col. Solomon S. Sleeper, who afterwards became a merchant prince in Boston, was a clerk in this store about this time. He went to New York in 1837 but, a year later, returned and purchased the interest of I. C. Bart- lett and Levi Bartlett, and the firm name became Bartlett & Sleeper. In April, 1842, Cyrus Taylor, who had been a clerk here since the spring of 1836, purchased the interest of Col. Sleeper and the firm became Bartlett & Taylor, and so con- tinued till 1860. In 1858, Ichabod C. Bartlett, son of Gustavus, had succeeded his father in the firm. In 1860, Mr. Taylor bought the interest of Ichabod C. Bartlett and became the sole owner of the store, and at the same time became the owner of the real estate. From 1869 till 1876, Henry A. Taylor was associated with his father, when the firm name was C. Taylor & Son, and for one year C. G. M. Bond was a partner. Mr. Taylor conducted this business, besides having large interests in other directions, till December, 1892, when he sold to Kemp & John- son. Mr. Taylor thus had a continuous service in this store of fifty-six years.
Messrs. Kemp & Johnson came from Vermont. They were experienced men in the business and worthy successors of the men who had preceded them; but their business career was short, both dying suddenly within three years. They were suc- ceeded by Daniel B. Weymouth, of Andover, and Cephas H. Fowler, of Penacook, who continued business for a time under the firm name of Fowler & Weymouth. Mr. Fowler soon retired and was succeeded by Stewart I. Brown, of Penacook, and the firm of Weymouth, Brown & Co. continues the busi- ness. This firm still does a very large business in all branches
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usually kept at a country store and enjoys the high reputation for fair and honorable dealing that has been accorded to all its predecessors.
WHITE'S BLOCK
The first building known to have stood on the site of the present brick block at the corner of Central square and Pleasant street was the two-story dwelling that now stands on the west side of Merrimack street south of Spring. This building was moved to its present site, and the present brick block erected in 1848, it being first opened for business the first of July of that year, the day the first regular train was run over the Franklin and Bristol railroad. As first constructed it had a pitch roof, and in the attic was a hall used for meetings of the Sons of Temperance, for public lectures, dramatic entertainments, and other purposes. This building was gutted by fire on the morn- ing of July 4, 1861, and when rebuilt the present flat roof was put on.
John Tolford, Jr., was in trade here as early as 1815, and was licensed as a retailer of spirituous liquors. He continued in trade till his death, in April, 1823. His business was closed by Ezekiel Webster.
Thomas Dunlap was in trade here as early as 1820, but his name does not appear on the tax-list at a later date. James Chase and Jonathan C. Prescott were in business here in May, 1821, as manufacturers of boots and shoes for the wholesale trade, as appears by an advertisement in the New Hampshire Patriot ; but as they were not taxed in April, 1821, or April, 1822, it seems that their business career commenced and ended between these two dates.
Solomon Cavis and Philip Webster, under the firm name of Webster & Cavis, were evidently the successors of John Tolford, Jr. They commenced business in this block in May, 1823, as dealers in "English and West India goods." Mr. Webster retired about 1827, and Mr. Cavis continued the business till the early thirties, when he removed to the Cavis block. William L. Chase was in the boot and shoe trade in this block from about 1833 till March, 1844, when he removed to Lyme. A part of this time, N. S. Berry was associated with him.
Hon. Nathaniel G. Upton had a law office in this block in 1828, and N. B. Bryant opened a law office here in 1848. Mr. Bryant was succeeded by Lewis W. Fling, in 1852, who has occupied the same rooms for half a century.
Warren White and Reuben C. Bean were in business here under the firm name of Bean & White for the manufacture of boots and shoes, from the time Wm. L. Chase retired till 1847. They employed twelve or fifteen hands inside the building, and gave work to many outside. Mr. White continued the business
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after the retirement of Mr. Bean from the firm, Mr. Bean con- tinuing in his employ as manager.
Warren White was succeeded, in 1854, by Marshall W. White and David P. Prescott, under the firm name of White & Prescott, who continued the business till 1861. They had two teams on the road jobbing boots and shoes made here. In 1861, Warren White again assumed this business with Mr. Prescott as manager. In 1869 or 1870, Mr. Prescott became proprietor and kept a shoe store for ten years or more. About 1880, Cyrus Taylor and John S. Conner opened a clothing store and con- tinued for four years under the firm name of Conner & Co.
Marshall W. White first opened a jewelry store in the south stand of this block in 1850 or early part of 1851. He sold soon after to J. C. Lovejoy, who continued the business a short time and then removed to Manchester. Mr. White, after spending a year in Concord, completing his trade, returned to Bristol and prosecuted the watch repairing and jewelry business in the north stand in connection with his company business spoken of above. About 1860 or '61, he reopened his jewelry store in connection with a drug store in the south stand. About 1874, he sold the drug business to Ingalls & Co., of Concord, and removed his jewelry business to the room above. Messrs. Ingalls & Co. continued the drug business till the spring of 1877, when they retired, and Charles H. Dickinson came into this stand from the Rollins block.
In 1883, Mr. Dickinson and Robert A. Horner purchased the boot and shoe department of William George, in the Rol- lins block, and removed the goods to Mr. Dickinson's store in this block. Jan. 1, 1884, they purchased the stock of goods of J. S. Conner & Co., in the north stand, and continued the boot and shoe and clothing business under the name of Dickinson & Horner, occupying the entire first story. In 1889, Mr. Horner retired, and Mr. Dickinson is still carrying on the business. Thus, Mr. Dickinson has been in the clothing business in Bristol over thirty-two years. He carries a large line of goods in both departments, and has an extensive trade. He also engages in lumbering and other business.
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