USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 29
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Robert Lane Hurd lived here with his father, and remained till about 1814, when he removed to Chesterfield, and afterwards to the West. He was a man of great energy and marked exeeu- tive ability. He was Captain in the militia for many years. (Page 42.) He served the town as Moderator three years, as Clerk nine years, as Seleetman eight years, and represented Gilsum and Surry in the Legislature in 1809. The family tradition is that he served six months at the close of the Revolutionary War.
John Stevens eame here from Alstead in 1818, and after a year or two removed to Surry.
Stephen Mansfield bought the place about 1820, and the next year swapped farms with his brother-in-law, David Adams, who removed here with his son-in-law Calvin May. In 1824 they went to the farm which is still known as the May place. (148.)
Mali ~ Hard
195
RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER THREE.
About 1825, Robert Austin came here from Surry, and remained till 1835, when he removed to Massachusetts. In 1850, he came back to Gilsum, married the widow Ruthy Isham, and died at her home two years after. Since Mr. Austin's removal, the place has not been tenanted.
34. This was the lot set apart for the first settled minister. The old house was built in 1794 for REV. ELISHA FISH. (Page 105.) The carpenter employed was Daniel Day of Keene.
Elisha S. Fish, oldest son of the first minister, spent his life here. Perhaps no native of Gilsum had greater natural ability in a literary direction than he. He was first cousin to the celebrated William C. Bryant, and had poetical gifts of no mean order. (Appendix H.)
In 1814-5, he wrote a Poem entitled " The Retrospect," extending to some 2,500 lines. Its tone and spirit strongly resemble Cowper, and many passages are not inferior to his. He published many short poems in the papers, particularly the " Boston Recorder."
He was naturally a scholar and would have been a man of mark in either of the learned professions. But owing to his father's early death, he was obliged to give up seeking a liberal education. His life was spent in farming, and he was well known for his success in horticulture.
Positive in his own convictions, he was intolerant of the slightest laxity in life or doctrine. Hence those who knew him little were apt to think him austere and conceited. But to his intimate acquaintances he was known to be genial and large-hearted, quick in sympathy, and humble in his estimate of himself. With no sympathy for fanaticism, he practiced Total Abstinence, and wrote with strong feeling against Slavery, long before Teetotalers or Abolitionists had been heard of. Remarkable for simple-hearted truthfulness, even his enemies never doubted his integrity. Few men practice so much self-denial for the sake of the gospel. Even when a young man, the Church seemed to be dearer to him than all other interests. As has been said of another, " He was a pillar of the church many years before he became a member." His piety was of a reflective, quiet type, mingled with great self-distrust. His last days were marked with patience and resignation, and his end was one of peaceful rest.
Moses Fish, brother of the preceding, built a house adjoining the old parsonage, mostly with his own hands. He began it in 1848, and was several years in the work. He was a man of very decided, firm principles, a very genial friend, and highly esteemed by every one who knew him well. He was Superintendent of the Sabbath School for several years. He died instantly of heart disease, at the age of 68, and the place has not since been inhabited.
35. JESSE JOHNSON, a shoemaker, built a log house on this spot, about 1791, and after six years removed to number 57 below Edouard Loiselle's. In 1801-2 he went to Vermont, where his son Jesse is said to be a merchant.
Claudius D. Hayward settled here in 1806. After two years he went to Concord, Vt., and about 1815 removed to Wrentham, Mass., and engaged in woolen manufacture. In later years he went to Newton, Mass. He was a man of devout Christian character, and for many years Deacon in the Congregational Church at Wrentham.
John Borden came to Gilsum about 1794, and lived awhile at the lower village, and on the place by the Loveland mill. (105.) In 1803 he came to this place, where he resided several years, and then removed to Pennsylvania. He was a blacksmith and made nails in a shop beside a large rock, near 391.
Other residents : - Samuel Shipman, Samuel Foster, Chester Coombs, and Anson Russell.
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GILSUM.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
31. HENRY WHITE came from Lebanon, Conn., and built a log house here in 1769. In 1787, he sold to Joseph Wilson of Keene and removed to Vermont.
32. JOEL WILSON of Keene bought this farm of his father in 1790, and built a house on this spot, where he resided over thirty years.
Oliver Wilson, son of Jocl, remained here after his father's death, till 1837, when lie removed to New York.
Other residents : - Abram C. Wyman, John C. Kendrick, William Blanchard, David Holman, Salmon Win- chester of Westmoreland, James Rawson, and George Mansfield.
33. GERSHOM CROCKER of East Haddam, Conn., bought the 5th Lot in the 3d Range of Jonathan Smith, in September, 1768. He probably came to Gilsum the next Spring and built a log house near this spot. One afternoon in April, 1791, he liad engaged to work for his neigh- bor, Samuel Bill. As he was always " a prompt man," when he failed to come at the time, Mr. Bill went over to see about it. He was not at the house, having gone with his team to the woods, and had not got back. Mr. Bill started for the woods and found him dead in the road not far west of his house, where he had fallen apparently in a fit.
Truman Miller came here about 1810, remained about fifteen years, and returned to Marlow.
Reuben Brown bought the place in 1817 and twenty years after built the present house. In 1839, he went West, and afterwards returned to Westmoreland.
Luna Foster came here from Westmoreland in 1839. He was a member of the Congrega- tional Church, and died here at the age of 83.
E. R. Winchester, son-in-law of Mr. Foster, came to live with him in 1842. After six years he returned to Westmoreland.
Osman McCoy lived here several years, and his son-in-law, Thomas ": Wheelock. Mr. Wheelock served in an Ohio regiment, was taken prisoner, and died from the barbarous cruelties of Andersonville.
George Mansfield settled here in 1870. His son, William S. Mansfield, lives with him.
Other residents : - Roger Dart, John Ellis, and Martin L. Goddard.
36. This house was built by GEORGE GREENWOOD, a Methodist preacher, for the accommodation of wood- choppers. Tenants : - Horace H. Nash, A. P. Wright, John R. Willard.
356. Possible Meeting House Spot. (Page 101.) 358. Millstones quarried here.
37. ISRAEL LOVELAND, who had previously removed from Glastonbury, Conn., to Keene, bought the 5th Lot in the 5th Range for £15, in January, 1778. He settled on this spot, probably the Spring following, and remained till 1787, when he sold the place to John McCurdy of Surry for £130. He afterward lived with his son Aaron.
Chester Coombs lived here a short time, and possibly some others.
38. This spot is on the same Lot as the preceding. A log house stood here, and was occupied for a time by Peter Rice. It is not known by whom or when it was built.
39. ISRAEL LOVELAND, JR., bought the east half of the 5th Lot, 4th Range, for £50, in 1782. He built a house on this spot about 1784, and lived here nine years, when he sold to John Mark, who gave the place to his son William.
40. WILLIAM MARK moved the house from 39 to this spot about 1799. It is the south half of the house still standing. In 1821-2, he built the north half, and continued to live here till 1858,
-
David Bill
THE HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO. 126 PEARL ST. BOSTON
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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
when he removed to the village. He held the office of Deacon in the Congregational Church over forty years, and was always faithful to his trust. He served the town five years as Selectman.
Hezro Hubbard lived here with his father-in-law, from 1829 till his death in 1831.
Ellsworth Hubbard, brother of the preceding, married his widow in 1835. They came to this place from Sullivan in 1845, remained five years, and then returned to Sullivan. After his death in 1859, his widow returned to Gilsum, and resides in the village with her younger sister.
Other residents : - Luther Richardson, Ariel Carpenter, John R. Willard, and John Dow. In 1875, this house was taken by the town for a pest-house, and the family of A. C. F. Laurent remained here, while several of them had the small-pox, one of whom died.
41. JOHN ROWE of Hebron, Conn., built a log house here about 1771. He served in the Revolution, (page 36,) and had a single-handed fight with a Hessian whom he killed, and whose coat he wore home for a trophy. His son James lived in Sullivan, owning the land on which the Meeting House stands.
42. JOHN ROWE, JR., built a house here, and his father lived with him for some years.
43. Original Meeting House. (Page 101.)
44. SHUBAEL HURD, oldest son of Justus, bought this place of John Dimmock in June, 1772. He had already been married about three years, his oldest child having been born in Connecticut, and probably put up a log house that year. In 1777, he had built a frame for a house on this spot, and enclosed it with boards running up and down. He then removed to Lempster, where he became a leading citizen for nearly fifty years. The family tradition is, that he served for a time in the Revolution. They had thirteen children, one of whom, Mrs. Can- dace Beckwith, is still living in Lempster at the age of 98.
Samuel Bill came from Hebron, Conn., 1775-6, and lived for a time with his son Ebenezer. (Page 190.) Sept. 27, 1777, he bought this place, half of the 6th Lot, 3d Range, for £140.
45. SAMUEL BILL, JR., inherited this place, and in 1800 built the south part of the house now standing. In 1802 and 1803 he kept tavern here. He was a "peculiar man," fond of invent- ing odd words and expressions, some of which are still remembered. He was often called Lieut. Bill, having held that office in the militia. He served the town as Selectman for ten years.
David Bill, son of the preceding, inherited the old homestead. In 1821, he built on the north half of the house. He has served the town three years as Representative, eight years as Selectman, and has been Justice of the Peace. He volunteered as a soldier in the war of 1812, served sixty days at Portsmouth, and has been a United States pensioner since 1871. He was commissioned as Captain in the militia, and is still living on the old place at the age of 84.
Daniel W. Bill, his second son, lives on the same place. He is one of the largest land-own- ers in this vicinity, a prosperous and intelligent farmer. Serving in the militia, he rose from Captain through the successive offices to that of Brigadier-General. He has served the town six years as Moderator, seven years as Superintending School Committee, four years in the Legisla- ture, and as Selectman eighteen years, which is the longest term upon our records. He was also Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1877 and is Justice of the Peace.
This farm takes precedence of all others in Gilsum for permanency of occupation, having been in the same family for over a century.
The Bill family in all its branches has been one of the most extended and influential in the town, though not so prolific as the Hurds. .
Tenants in Mr. Bill's chambers : - Edward O. Corey from Columbia, and Joseph W. Caldwell.
46. A house was built on this spot about 1825, for the widow of Samuel Bill, 3d. Four years after, she mar- ried Timothy Wyman, a shoemaker by trade, who lived here about twenty years. Abram Wilkins and Jonathan Mansfield also lived here for a time.
383. This was built for a barn in 1846. In 1865, it was made into a house, and Mrs. Wilkins lived here a
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GILSUM.
few years. Merrill E. Flagg also resided here in 1872-3. Luther A. Wilkins lived here and at other places and now resides at Westminster, Vt.
47. In 1807, John Mark employed Stephen White to build the house now standing on this spot, for his son JAMES M. MARK, who removed to the Plumley place (183,) about 1816. He was Deacon in the Christian Church, and died while on a visit to Pepperell, Mass., in 1825.
Antipas Maynard was here in 1816-7 and cleared the lot near Sullivan line known as the Maynard lot, near where the millstones for the mill by the Stone Bridge were got out. (358.) James McCurdy from Surry lived here in 1818. Charles Cobb was a Methodist preacher who came here from Canada, and lived also at the Loiselle place.
Luther Richardson from Stoddard lived here in 1834, and the next year with Dea. William Mark. He now resides in Sullivan, and had five sons in the war of the rebellion.
David Luther Richardson enlisted from Keene and served three years in the 14th Reg't Co. A.
Lyman Edward Richardson enlisted from Concord in the 6th Reg't Co. K, - was wounded at Antietam, and discharged on account of wounds the December following.
Edwin Richardson enlisted from Nelson in the 2d Reg't in 1861. After serving three years he re-enlisted and was appointed Sergeant Major. He was afterwards promoted to First Lieutenant of Co. D, and was honorably discharged May 11, 1865. This Reg't was in a large number of the most noted battles of the war.
Frank Richardson enlisted from Stoddard in 1861, and served three years in the 6th Reg't Co. K, - re-enlisted and served till the close of the war. This Reg't was also in many of the severest battles of the war.
James Harvey Richardson served in the 1st N. H. Cavalry.
In 1851 James M. Mark, Jr., bought the place and lived here nine years, when he removed to Peterboro' and afterwards to Keene.
Other residents : - Joshua D. Crane, Linus N. Beckwith, Hiram Hefflon, Willis Stanford, Levi Gates, Jonathan Wilbur, Henry Kingsbury, Jonathan Mansfield, and Luther A. Wilkins.
49. JOHN MARK came from Antrim Co., Ireland, in 1772, and built a log house here in 1773.
48. A few years after, Mr. Mark built on this spot. He was a weaver by trade, and knew nothing about farming. His next neighbor, Mr. Rowe, complained of his falling trees on to his land. Mr. Mark excused himself by saying he " chopped all around a tree, and let it fall which way it had a willing mind." When he first settled here, old Mr. Adams told him " nothing but bluc-jays and the devil could live on such a farm." He, however, accumulated a large property for those times, settling his children on farms in different parts of the town. He gave each of his sons a farm, a yoke of oxen, a horse, and the necessary outfit to join " the troopers."
He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church in the old country. They were good examples of the sturdy energy of the " Scotch-Irish" emigrants. Their youngest daughter, Mrs. Hathhorn, now 96 years of age, relates many circumstances of her father's life.
In the Revolutionary war he hired a substitute by the name of Comstock from that part of the town afterwards Sullivan. (Page 38.) This Comstock boasted that no bullet could ever kill him, but he was shot in his first battle. Mr. Mark then hired another substitute, supposing he was obliged to do so.
He kept tavern here for many years. (Page 144.) He had also a country store, probably the first in Gilsum. (Page 143.) He was in the habit of going to Boston with a span of horses, with which he brought his goods to Charlestown, where his sons would take the loading and bring it to Gilsum with two yoke of oxen. One trip took about a fortnight. There was great fear of small-pox in those days, and he was not allowed to leave Boston, till lic had been thor- oughly smoked in a house provided for that purpose. At one time he went to New York and sold a horse, taking his pay all in ribbons. "The beautifulest ribbons you ever saw, and cach of us girls had a sashı."
Francis Hathhorn, his son-in-law, came to live with him in 1824. He was a blacksmith by
199
RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
trade, and had carried on the business in Surry for some years before his marriage. His widow removed to the village in 1852.
50. SAMUEL BILL, 3D, built on this spot about 1816, and remained here till his death in 1824.
Jessc Temple came to Gilsum from Marlboro' about 1823, and settled herc soon after. He lived here about twenty years, and the place has since been vacant.
51. Old Meeting House. (Page 101.) 52. Original School House. (Page 130.)
SAMUEL CHURCH of East Haddam, Conn., bought one share in " Boyle " in 1768. He proba- bly settled on the 7th Lot 4th Range the next year. Just where his house stood is uncertain, but probably a little north of the Loiselle place. He was Selectman two years.
The Inventory of his property taken Ap. 3, 1777, by Justus Hurd and Stephen Bond, amounts to £237. 16s. 4d. The Real Estate was appraised as follows :
S. W. Lot of Highway taking House and Barn £85
S. E. Lot as Highway goeth
£35
Vessel Rock Lot
£36
N. E. Lot .
£10
100 Acres by Boynton's
£5
Among the Personal Property we find two Sermon Books valued at £2. It would be interesting to know just what these books were that were appraised so high. His son Ebenezer inherited this place of his father, and soon after removed to Vermont.
53. DANIEL WRIGHT came to this place from Hebron, Conn., about 1769. He is called in our records " Lev't Wright," and kept tavern here for many years. (Page 144.) He was a blacksmith by trade, and removed to Westport, N. Y., about 1796.
He afterwards became "a General in the N. Y. State Militia, was in command of the American land forces at the battle of Plattsburg, and won an enviable reputation as an officer." His brother, Benoni Wright, was a well- known music teacher in this and the neighboring towns.
Fortunatus Eager from Sullivan followed Gen. Wright, and kept " a large tavern stand " here for a few years.
Ziba Ware bought the place in 1800, and carried on blacksmithing and kept tavern here for about three years.
Silas Woods came here about 1806, and remained eight or nine years. He was also a black- smith. He was brother of the Rev. John Woods of Newport, and was a member of a Baptist Church.
David Smith came to this place from Gardner, Mass., in 1815. After his accidental death (page 151,) his widow married Berzcleel Mack who died here in 1829. She then married Laban Gates from Nelson. She continued to reside here after his death, with her son Lewis Smith, till about 1850, when they removed to Sullivanl.
Martin L. Goddard from Rindge lived here several years, and built the present house in 1852. About 1856, he returned to Rindge, where he has been Selectman eight years. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church there.
George W. Bancroft, also from Rindge, lived here about ten years, and removed to New York. In 1871, Edouard Loiselle from Canada bought the place, which he still occupies.
Other residents :- Levi Hardy, a blacksmith from Acworth; Theophilus Eveleth, a blacksmith ; Charles Cobb : Waldo May ; and Walker Gassett.
54. Second School House. (Page 130.)
55. SAMUEL BILL, 3D, settled here about 1810, and remained five or six years.
Jonathan Webster lived here a few years, and afterwards went West.
True Webster, Jr., came here about 1819. He afterwards lived on the Elijah Ware place, also where Henry Grant now lives, and died on the Horton place. He was Captain in the militia, and served the town as Selectman.
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GILSUM.
John Grimes came here from Roxbury about 1829. John Grimes, Jr., bought the place in 1831, but soon after removed to Wilmington, Vt.
Other residents : - Vimis Pierce, Daniel Mansfield, Otis Bill, JJeremiah L. Morse from Westmoreland, Hiram Hefllon, and Nahum T. Raymond.
75. ABRAM C. WYMAN built " the plastered house " here in 1825. Lemuel Bingham bought the place in 1833, and lived here about seven years.
Walker Gassett lived on this place about five years. He came from Townsend, Mass., in 1834. He was a carpenter and built the " Boarding House" for Maj. Hosmer. He lived in many different places till about 1850, when he removed to Walpole. He died at Westmoreland, at the age of 80.
Other residents : - David Porter, Marvin Gates, and Harvey B. Miller.
76. School House. (Page 130.)
77. JONATHAN CHURCH built here about 1782. He died in 1826, and his son, Iddo Church, inherited the place. He removed to Acworth in 1841.
Oren Wyman came here from Vermont, and remained about four years. He was after- wards miller for A. D. Towne. David Porter was here one year after Mr. Wyman left. Samuel D. Bill lived here from 1853 till about 1860, when he removed to Marlow.
Temple Baker came here from Nelson in 1859. Ten years after, he died from a broken leg. Isaac Knight from Langdon married the widow Baker and has resided here since 1871.
78. Old Meeting House. (Page 101.)
79. JUSTUS HURD, JR., bought two acres here of David Fuller for £8, in 1794. He prob- ably built here at that time, but in a year or two removed to Chesterfield. He seems to have returned to Gilsum, as he was taxed here in 1801-2.
James Grimes from Swanzey, established a tavern here in 1804. After about three years he sold out and returned to Swanzey.
Dudley Smith came from Dracut. Mass., and was of Scotch-Irish descent. His earliest remembrance of his father was of his coming home from the army on a furlough, in time of the Revolution. In 1795, he came to Sullivan and bought of Berzeleel Mack the place now occu- pied by Alexander Brown. A log house was already built there. He cleared land by day, and worked at his trade of cabinet making till eleven at night, and from four in the morning till daylight. His son Daniel has some of the furniture he then manufactured. After one year he returned to Dracut and remained a year. In 1798, he bought of Charles Carpenter of Surry the west part of the 13th and 14th Lots in the 8th Range for $200. He lived at first in a log house built by Ananias Tubbs. (282.) Here his oldest son, Dr. Dudley Smith, was born. About 1800, he built a house on the hill further east. (283.) In 1806, he bought the Grimes tavern and removed a building from the hill west of George. C. Hubbard's, (157,) with which he enlarged the original house. Here he kept tavern for many years. He afterwards bought the Fuller place, and in 1844 removed there. In 1849 he went to his house in the village, where he died at the age of 83. He served as Selcetman four years.
He was noted for the amount of hard work he could perform, rarely finding a man who could keep even with him in the field. By industry and economy he accumulated a large property, and was one of the most liberal supporters of the Congregational Church. He was especially fond of a fine horse, and understood horses, as well as any man in town.
Residents :- Samuel Woodward, Hiram Hefflon, and Jacob D. Nash.
80. John Harris's Blacksmith's Shop. (Page 141.)
81. JOHN HARRIS lived here in a small house made for him out of the old School House. He was a Revolutionary pensioner. He was a blacksmith of unusual skill. (Page 141.) He came to Gilsum about 1812, and probably worked for a few years at the village, as we find that he owned
Dudley Smith
The Heltotype Printing Co, 211 Tremont St Boston.
-
201
RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
a shop between the roads just above Dr. Webster's, which he sold to Dudley Smith for $20 in 1817. Probably Mr. Smith built him this house about that time. He died here in 1837, and no one has since occupied the place.
82. In 1830, the Congregational Church and Society built a Parsonage on this spot. It was occupied by Rev. Ebenezer Chase, during his short pastorate of three years. Rev. S. S. Arnold also lived in it a short time. When the Meeting House was built at the village in 1834, this spot was no longer available for a Parsonage. Luther White, a blacksmith, occupied it for a time, and perhaps others.
83. Dudley Smith having bought the old Parsonage, moved it to this spot in 1841. Thirec years after, he built on an ell, and came here to reside. His son, Daniel Smith, came to live with his father in 1849. Like his father, he is specially skilled in the management of horses, and is one of the most active and wealthy citizens of Gilsum. He was Selectman in 1852, and having a taste for military affairs rose to the rank of Licutenant-Colonel.
84. DAVID FULLER from Bolton, Conn., received this lot from his uncle David Taylor, in 1780. He lived at that time with his father in Surry, and came over the mountain every day to work at clearing a place for a home. He built a plank house near this spot, and came here with his bride in January, 1782. He was a very energetic, wilful man, served as Captain in the militia, and from his peculiarities was sometimes called " King David." He removed to Jay, N. Y., about 1810.
David Fuller, Jr., started at 20 years of age " to seek his fortune, as he always expressed it." All his father could furnish him was a pair of " corduroy pants, two tow and linen shirts and a frock." " He borrowed a silver dollar of a Mr. Brigham,* . .. and started for Boston." For some reason which is not apparent, he went by way of Hillsboro' and "came to the Tavern kept by Gen. Benj. Pierce, then standing beyond the present residence of Scott Moore. He had become so footsore that he stopped to rest." Gen. Pierce had a blunt way of asking the busi- ness of every one who stopped at his door. "So he says to the stripling, ' Young man, what is your name, sir ? ' ' David Fuller.' ' Where did you come from, sir ?' 'Surry, N. H.,' (where he had worked the season before). 'Where are you going, sir ?' 'Started for Boston to seek my fortune, but can go no further, I am so footsore. And now, landlord, can you tell me of any place, that I can find work till Fall ?' ' Yes, sir, young man, Mrs. Major Andrews, whose hns- band is crazy, wants to hire.' He immediately went there to work on the farm, earned enough for comfortable clothing, and then concluded to learn the trade of shoemaking of a neighbor, Mr. Gay. In the Fall he went liome to see his folks. Before going back he called on Mr. Brigham, and said, ' I've brought you back the same silver dollar you lent ine, and thank you for the loan.' Mr. Brigham said, ' Well, David, how much did you earn ?' 'I earned these clothes, and a little besides, and have been saving so that I might pay you.' Mr. Brigham said, ' Here, David, is the dollar, keep it as long as you live, for a pocket piece, and always remember it was your energy and enterprise that you received the dollar for.' Two days before his death at the age of 87, he gave the dollar to his son, Mark W. Fuller, with the injunction to keep it as long as he lived. He, in turn, directed the dollar to be given to Wirt X. Fuller of Boston, Mass., to be kept and trans- mitted to his son with the same injunction."
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