USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 30
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After learning the shoemaker's trade lie went to Francestown in 1806, where he carried on the business not only of shoemaking but tanning and currying for seven years. He then established he same business at Hillsboro' Lower Village, and carried on the same till his death.
* Probably Stephen Brigham of Alstead.
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GILS UM.
He was a tall man of commanding appearance, and inherited much of his father's determination and energy. He was a great singer, and very fond in his old age of finding some former acquaintance with whom he could sing the ancient fugue tunes. He frequently visited Gilsum, and was interested in all that pertained to his native town.
David G. Fuller, son of the preceding, was a well-known business man in Concord for many years " In early life he was in the hotel business at Utica and Rome, N. Y., Washington, D. C., Richmond, Va., and other places." In Concord he had an extensive business as a druggist, supplying country stores for a long distance. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity for over fifty years.
" Mark W. Fuller removed with his father, David Fuller, from Franeestown to Hillsboro' Lower Village, when six years of age. After serving an apprenticeship with his father, he com- menced business at Hillsboro' Upper Village, about 1829. By striet attention to business, perfect integrity of character, and honesty of purpose, he became beloved by his townsmen and honored by all his business acquaintances.
He was eminently a self-made man, receiving only the limited educational advantages of the common schools of that period, - several terms of which were passed with the late ex-president Pieree and his brother Henry D., - also with the Cheney brothers, the well-known expressmen.
His social qualities and his well-known hospitality ever made his house a favorite place of resort for many of his large eirele of honored friends. Nor did he forget his townsmen, for in his last will, he made a liberal bequest to the town, which has been used to found a library, and which to perpetuate his name, has been ordered by the citizens to be known as the Fuller Library of Hillsboro'.
Politieally, he was largely conservative, originally aeting with the Whigs. But on the dis- ruption of that party he acted with the Democrats, and in 1852-3 represented the town in the Legislature. He was honored by his fellow citizens by being elected a member of the Board of Seleetmen for four snecessive years -three of which he served as chairman - and for many years was much engaged in matters pertaining to the Probate Courts in Hillsboro' County.
At the breaking out of the rebellion he ceased to aet with the Democratic party, and having all his life been a hard-working man, his sympathies were very strong for the working man, and approving of the principles of the Labor Reform party, he allowed his name to be used as a candi- date for Senator in that distriet for two years.
He married in 1831, Sarah Conn, who still resides at Hillsboro' Upper Village in the same house they had so long made their home. They had one daughter who lived until 19 years of age, and whose death was a very severe shock to both the father and mother.
His funeral was attended by a large number of the citizens of the town, the church being crowded, notwithstanding a pouring rain. After an eloquent address by the Rev. Mr. Briekett, of Hillsboro' Bridge, many tears were shed, as his dear old friends and neighbors, - many of whom came long distances - took their last look of him they loved so well."
Other residents, some of whom occupied the house with Capt. Fuller : - Turner White ; James Kingsbury ; Abram C. Wyman ; Daniel Beverstock; Phinehas Moor, a blacksmith ; Phinehas G. Miller ; Dr. Jonathan E. Davis; Amasa Miller; Don Carlos Griswold; Samuel Frost, and his son-in-law - Lewis; Warren Farrington, a house painter ; and Jesse Temple.
86. JOHN BINGHAM came from Montagne, Mass., about 1777 and lived a year or two at number 94. In April, 1778, he bought the farni now owned by Mason Guillow, and lived there for fifteen years. In 1792 he bought this place and built a log house on this spot soon after.
He was a clothier by trade, and went from house to house to shear and dress eloth by hand. He built a shop on the brook, and afterwards had his machinery in Dea. Pease's mill. (Page 138.) His grandson, Chas. W. Bingham, has papers showing his appointment, during the old French
Mark W. Fullen
THE HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO. 126 PEARL ST. BOSTON
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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
War, March 22, 1760, to the office of Corporal, and his promotion at Crown Point, Aug. 20, 1761, to First Sergeant and Clerk.
85. ZENAS BINGHAM lived with his father, and built a house on this spot in 1815, where he remained till his death in 1857. His son-in-law, Rufus Guillow, lived with him for a time. Henry Bingham, his youngest son, still occupies the place.
Belding D. Bingham, a grandson of John, removed from Sharon, Vt., to Nashua. He was the originator of the Nashua Watch Company, now the Waltham Watch Company, and one of the founders of Odd Fellowship in New Hampshire. He was unquestionably the most skilled and inventive mechanic in the Granite State. He was a modest gentleman, who never sought places of prominence, and yet, so kind, gentle, and loyal was he to all that is good and true, his memory will be long and tearfully kept green by friends and acquaintances .- Boston Journal.
87. Old Meeting House foundation. (Page 101.)
88. JAMES KINGSBURY came with his brother John from Needliam, Mass., and settled in Sul- livan, where they are found as " Inn keepers" in 1796. In 1801-2 he put up a frame for a house on this spot, and in 1802 swapped farms with Stephen White and went to 94 below the Fuller place. Soon after, he went to the place in Surry, number 123, and then to where his son William now lives. About 1821 he returned to Needham.
Stephen White came from Swanzey about 1793, and lived below the Fuller place, at 94. In 1802, he bought with David Fuller the " Mill Spot," (104,) where they built a grist-mill. The same year he removed to this place, where he died in 1860, aged 99 years and 5 months, the oldest person that ever died in Gilsum. He was a carpenter, and many of the older houses in Gilsum are of his workmanship. In 1825 he added the second story to his house.
He was a sprightly man, specially fond of company and good jokes. At one time he was at " Holbrook's tavern " in Surry, when a man who had a sick horse inquired what was good for it. Mr. White told him bitter- sweet was the best remedy. The man then asked where he could get it. Mr. White who had been seeking for a ride home, told him he had more than a hundred pounds at his house, and if he would carry him home, he would give him all he wanted. So the man carried him six miles in a cold day to get it. When they arrived, Mr. White pointed to his wife, and said that was the bundle of bittersweet he spoke of.
Alvin White still occupies this place which was left him by his father.
89. NATHAN WHITE built here about 1808, and remained till 1821, when he went West.
Aaron Brigham, uncle to Dea. David, (Chap. 36,) lived here several years. He afterwards went to the " plastered house " in Surry. (121.)
Other residents : - James Hudson, Phinehas G. Miller, Jonathan Twining, and Justin Pease.
390. LOUIS BOURRETT came to Gilsum from Canada in 1870. After living in various tene- ments, he built on this spot in the Fall of 1879.
90. JOHN HORTON came to Gilsum from Chester, Vt., in 1832, and lived about a year on the Clark place. In the Summer of 1833, he built this house, while residing in the house now occupied by Alpheus Chapin. He moved in the Fall, and continued to reside here till 1838, when he went to Daysville, Ill., where he died soon after. He was Captain in the militia, was elected to the Legislature two years, and commissioned as Justice of the Peace.
Aaron Day removed from Keene to Gilsum, 1815, and lived in the house now owned by Mason Guillow, till 1838, when he removed to this place, where he died in 1862. He and his brother Stephen owned the mills by the bridge for many years. He served the town as Modera- tor two years, as Selectman six, and as Representative three. He was also commissioned as Coroner for the County in 1830.
Ira Church Day, son of Aaron, removed to Whitewater, Wis., in 1852, and died there in 1864. A friend writes : - " As a friend, neighbor, and citizen he had few equals, and no superiors. A man of unimpeachable in- tegrity and genuine courtesy -every one who became acquainted with him became a personal friend. His stand- ard of morals was high, and his aim was to live up to it. No man has passed away from our midst in 20 years more sincerely regretted, or one whose memory is more tenderly cherished. The Golden Rule controlled him in all his intercourse with his fellow men. In every sense of the word he was a manly man."
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Roswell G. Bennett, son-in-law of Aaron Day, lived with him a year or two, and removed to Nunda, N. Y. He is a millwright by trade.
Ira D. Gates came here with his father-in-law, Capt. True Webster, in 1868, and removed to Keene in 1871. He is a barber by trade.
Harriet Swinton emigrated from England to this country in 1864. Ten years after, she bought this place, where she still resides.
John Coy came from England with his father in 1853. After living in various tenements he came here in 1874, and remained three years. He is a spinner, and now resides at Marlboro.
Robert Cuthbert, Jr., came from Scotland with his father in 1852. He was in mercantile business at Mankato, Minn., a few years, and afterwards settled on a farm in Garden City, Minn. Owing to the " grasshopper plague," he removed to the East. In 1864 he enlisted in the First Vermont Cavalry, Troop A, and served to close of the war. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Other residents : - John A. Blake of Surry, and Herbert C. Gates.
91. ELISHA MACK of Marlow bought the 9th and 10th Lots in the 5th Range of Joshua Dart of Surry in 1775. When he sold, there were houses on both lots. Whether he built them both cannot be certainly determined. The one on this spot was probably a log house. He with his brother Solomon, and perhaps also Samuel, built the first mills and the first bridge, where the Stone Bridge now stands. He was a Captain in the Revolution, and the hero of the Keene raid. (Page 160.) . In 1784, he had removed to Montague, Mass., and sold the mills to his brother-in-law, Abishai Tubbs of Marlow, -" A Saw Mill and Grist Mill and Dwelling House."
John Bingham bought the place in 1778, and lived here 15 years. Abijah Wetherbee came from Sullivan, tended the grist-mill several years, and removed to Surry. Solomon Woods lived here while building Mason Guillow's house. John Parmenter, a blacksmith, came here from Leominster, Mass., and about 1815, removed to Monson, Mass. He was fond of reading, and quite active in a debating society of that period.
Other residents : - John Borden and Selden Borden.
92. SOLOMON WOODS built this house in 1806. Two years after, he swapped farms with Dea. Pease, who lived here a short time. In 1815, Aaron Day came from Keene to this place. He added the second story to the house, in 1830, and eight years after removed to the Horton place.
Asa Cole lived, when a boy, with his brother-in-law, Amherst Hayward. After his marriage in 1829, he lived at the Factory Village several years, and was in company with Dea. Brigham. (Page 138.) In 1833 he bought the Clark place, where he remained four years. He bought this place in the Spring of 1838, and after twenty-one years, removed to Keene. By prudence and hard labor, he has accumulated a large property. He served the town as Selectman in 1853. Daniel R. Cole, his son, has been a member of the city government at Keene, for several years.
Mason Guillow settled on the place now owned by Horace Howard, near Newman's mill, where he remained eleven years. In 1859 he bought this place of Mr. Cole, and still resides here.
The house has frequently been occupied by two families. About 1845, Cheney Kilburn came here from Gardner, Mass., and carried on the chair business for about five years. . He is now an extensive furniture dealer in Philadelphia, Penn. Philander Howland was here for several years in the same business, and afterwards lived at the Factory Village. He now resides in Keene. Gardner W. Isham was here about two years, and afterwards at the Stephen Day house. (99.) In 1864 he went to Keene.
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Var fremont Street, Boston.
Hellotype Printing Ce
LOWER VILLAGE FROM THE SOUTH.
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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
Other residents : - Oren A. Willard from Fitzwilliam, James Pierce, Leroy Gates, and Alexander Cuthbert.
93. In 1783, Elisha Clark bought 18 acres in the 9th and 10th Lots, 5th Range. This included the Store lot, and the place now owned by Willard Bill, and the widow Gates's place. No buildings are mentioned in the deed. The next year he sold the same, together with four acres just west of it, to Samuel Clark, who had come that year from Worcester, Mass., to Gil- sum. In 1787 the same land was sold to Joseph Clark. It seems probable that the Clarks built on this place though it is not certain. There was an old house here before 1807. It was used as a school house one or more seasons.
Stephen Cross was a carpenter from Monson, Mass., and lived here in 1807, and for some years after. Other tenants are uncertain. Probably the blacksmiths, Boynton and Theophilus Eveleth, lived here for a time. Dr. Kendrick bought the place, but left town very soon after.
Zenas D. Metcalf, a blacksmith, came to Gilsum about 1830, and lived in many different places. In 1833, Aaron Day's shop, standing just south of Mason Guillow's house, was moved to this spot and fitted up for a house for Mr. Metcalf, who lived here several years, working in the shop on number 352. About 1852, he removed to Westminster, Vt.
Levi Gates was a shoemaker by trade, and formerly went from house to house to do up their year's work of making and mending. He lived, in 1832, in the house now occupied by Alpheus Chapin. He went to Alstead two years, and after that lived in different places till about 1844, when he bought this house, where his widow still resides, with her son Sidney.
Other residents : - Edward Gates, Leroy Gates, Herbert Gates, John Coy, Albert R. Corey, and Frank Smith. 94. JOHN BINGHAM built a log house on this spot when he first came from Montague, Mass., and lived here about a year. Stephen White bought of David Fuller in 1793, and sold to James Kingsbury in 1802. Probably there were others between Mr. Bingham and Mr. White.
Turner White came from Uxbridge, Mass., about 1780, and lived in Keene and afterwards in Alstead. He owned the mills by the Bridge for a short time, and lived in the Stephen Day house. (99.) He next lived in the house with Capt. Fuller for several years. About 1803, he bought this place and in 1807 removed to Chesterfield.
95. JOSEPH YOUNG or YOUNGS, perhaps son of Eliphalet, of Hebron, Conn., then living in Gilsum, (Chap. 34,) bought 60 acres of the south part of the 10th Lot, 4th Range, for £24, in December, 1781. He built a house on this spot, which is still known as the Young lot. He removed to Weathersfield, Vt., about 1793.
96. GEORGE W. F. TEMPLE built this house in 1835. Nine years after, he removed to the Holt place in Alstead. (393.) He was a very social man, and a popular Captain in the militia. His death in 1876, just after he had been chosen Deacon, was a serious loss to the Congrega- tional Church. His brother, Isaac F. B. Temple, lived with him in this house for two years, and now resides at Boston, Mass.
George Henry Temple, son of Capt. Temple, enlisted November, 1861, and served three years in the 6th N. H. Reg't, Co. E, which was in many of the severest battles of the war, including Camden, Second Bull Run, Sonth Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, The Wilder- ness, and Petersburg, where it was under fire for about nine weeks. He lived in various tenements in Gilsum, and now resides on his father's place in Alstead. (393.)
Andrew Dexter Towne removed here from Marlow, in 1843, and carried on the chair busi- ness. In 1856, his father, Andrew Towne, came to reside with him. His brothers Luke and John also lived with him for a time. In 1864, he removed to Keene where he still resides.
Willard Bill was noted in his youth for his aptness for learning. This taste was indulged
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and cultivated as he had opportunity till it " ripened into a thorough scholarship." He taught district schools for many years with excellent success. After marriage he lived one year with his parents, but in 1835 removed to Westmoreland, " where he applied himself closely and suc- cessfully to the pursuit of agriculture. Advancing years and failing health led him to leave his business to the care of his son, and in the year 1866 he returned to his native town where he has since resided," mostly on this place. He has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his townsmen .. In Westmoreland he served as Superintending School Committee. In Gilsum he has served six years as Selectman, and, what is very unusual, there were 47 years between his first election to that office, 1827, and the last in 1874. He was also Captain in the militia and Justice of the Peace. (Page 149.)
Willard Bill, Jr., is a farmer in Westmoreland. He has been Selectman five years. He was also Commis- sioner for Cheshire County, 1873-4-5.
Other residents : - Charles Parker, Oren Wyman, Rev. James Tisdale, Jacob Polley, Jr., Porter and Joel Cowee, George H. McCoy, Leroy Gates, John R. Willard, Samuel Isham, Jr., and Mrs. David Wood.
97 and 98. Day's Hall and the upper part of the Store have been made into tenements, and have had many occupants, among whom are the following :- George Henry Temple, Joseph W. Pierce, Roswell C. Nourse, Joseph Dubé, Joseph Dupies, Herbert C. Gates, Edward O. Corey, Louis Bourrett, and Mrs. John L. Foss.
352. This is near where Solomon Woods had a Blacksmith's Shop. The Days also had a shop here, which was afterwards burned. (Page 47.) Thomas T. Wetherbee, Zenas D. Metcalf, and others worked here.
99. ELISHA MACK probably built here before 1779. All the residents cannot now be given. William Baxter lived here several years, and it is thought he built the lower story of the present house. Turner White lived here, perhaps before Mr. Baxter.
Stephen Griswold, both father and son, resided here for many years. They were from Beech Hill in Keene, and removed to New Keene, N. Y. The father was Selectman in 1775. Where they lived at that time cannot now be told, but probably in what is now Sullivan.
After Dea. Pease bought the mills, he first lived in the Solomon Woods house, (82,) but soon removed to this place, where he remained till 1828.
Stephen Day came here from Chester, Vt., about 1828, and remained till his death in 1860. He was in company with his brother Aaron, and run the grist-mill for many years. In 1838, he enlarged the house to its present form.
Stephen Day, Jr., lived with his father and kept tavern here for several years. He also kept tavern in Marlow for about five years, returning to this place in 1850.
Franklin W. Day, brother of the preceding, also lived here with his father. He was an enterprising business man, and accumulated a large property for a small country town. In 1833, he and his brother built the store on number 98, long known as Day's store. Here he carried on a large business. He died suddenly of brain fever in 1849. He was one of the leading poli- ticians of the town, served as Representative two years, and was Justice of the Peace.
Benjamin Foster, son-in-law of Stephen Day, lived here several years. After the death of Mr. Day, Mrs. Foster and her sister Lucinda remained here till 1876.
John J. Isham is the present owner. He has served two years as Selectman, and represented the town in the Legislature of 1878.
Alexander Cuthbert came from Scotland with his father in 1852. He is a woolen manufact- urer and has resided here since 1878.
Other residents :- Dr. Benjamin Palmer, Dr. Henry Kendrick, James Edwards, Gardner W. Isham, George S. G. Porter, Mrs. Charlotte Morrison, William H. Coy, and Louis Bourrett. 100. Elisha Mack's Mills. (Page 137.)
101. This building was put up by the Cowees (page 137,) for a dry shop.
John Kelley emigrated from Ireland to New York in 1851, soon after settled in Surry, and
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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
came to Gilsum in 1853. After residing two years on the Livermore place, he lived in this house four years. In 1859 he removed to Keene.
Other residents : - Asa E. Howe, Luke Parkhurst, Charles E. Crouch, Valire Langlois, Joseph Dubé, William Riley Kenney now of Surry, Lucius Milan Miller, William Chapin, Dr. James Plummer now of Lempster, and Joseph S. Bingham.
102. Armory. (Page 41.)
103. SOLOMON MACK from Lyme, Conn., was one of the original proprietors of Marlow, where he settled in 1761. He came to Gilsum and built a log house on this spot, probably in 1773. Several of his children were born here, among whom was Lucy, who married Joseph Smith of Vermont and became the mother of the notorious Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr. He lived for a time in the old house on Mason Guillow's farm. (91.) He removed to Tunbridge, Vt., and in his old age returned to Gilsum and resided with his son. (260.) He published an autobiography, but very defective in dates, and giving almost nothing of his Gilsum history.
At the age of four years he was bound out to a farmer, by whom he was harshly treated, being "rather con- sidered a slave than a member of the family."
"Soon after I left my master, I enlisted in the service of my country, under the command of Capt. Henry, and was annexed to a regiment commanded by Col. Whitney. I marched from Connecticut to Fort Edwards ; there was a severe battle fought at the half-way brook, in the year 1755."
He was sick for nearly a year, then went back to Lyme and purchased a farm. In 1757-8, he was again in the King's service. While on his way from Fort Edward to Stillwater, he had the following encounter : -
" When I got about half way I espied at about thirty yards distance, four Indians coming out of the woods with their tomahawks, scalping-knives, and guns. I was alone, but about twenty rods behind me there was a man by the name of Webster. I saw no other way to save myself only to deceive them by strategem. I exclaimed like this : 'Rush on ! rush on ! Brave Boys, we'll have the Devils ! we'll have the Devils !' I had no other weapon only a staff ; but I ran towards them, and the other man appearing in sight, gave them a terrible fright, and I saw them no more."
He was afterwards in the battle in which Lord Howe was killed, and " escaped very narrowly by a musket ball passing under my chin, perhaps within half an inch of my neck."
After various other adventures, he went to Crown Point where he kept a sutler's shop for two years. He " accumulated a handsome sum of silver and gold " with which he bought sixteen hundred acres of land in Gran- ville, N. Y. Owing to sickness he was unable, however, to finish the clearing which was necessary to make good his claim, and therefore lost the whole. He served also in the Revolution, and with two of his sons, probably Jason and Stephen, went privateering. He was afterwards severely crippled by the fall of a tree, and is remem- bered as riding about town on a side-saddle. At the age of 76, he experienced a very remarkable religious conver- sion, and became very zealous, often visiting the schools and talking to the young on the subject of religion.
Jason Mack, oldest son of Solomon, became a Christian minister, and preached for many years in Vermont and New York.
Stephen Mack, second son of Solomon, enlisted in the Revolutionary army at the age of fourteen, and was promoted to Brigadier-General.
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER SIX.
56. JESSE JOHNSON built a log house here in 1797, and remained about five years.
57. EBENEZER ISHAM from Bolton, Conn., built this house about 1800. Ebenezer Isham, Jr., continued here after his father's death. He served the town as Selectman, and died here at the age of 41. His widow continued to carry on the farm till 1850, when she married Robert Austin, who died here after about two years. James C. Islam, her son, occupied the place till 1879, when he sold to Daniel W. Bill. Edward O. Corey is the present oeeupant.
58. On this spot EBENEZER ISHAM built a log house, when he first settled here in 1794.
59. Jonathan Webster put up a barn and a frame for a house on this place about 1818.
LEVI ISHAM bought of Mr. Webster, finished the house, and settled herc in 1820, where he lived for more than forty years. William L. Isham inherited the place from his father, and still resides here. He has served two years as Selectman, and two years in the Legislature.
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