History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879, Part 31

Author: Hayward, Silvanus, 1828-1908
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Manchester, N.H., Printed for the author, by J. B. Clarke
Number of Pages: 762


USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 31


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60. JEDEDIAH CARPENTER, JR., came from Surry and settled on this place about 17,94. Abram C. Wyman lived here with him several years.


Eseek T. Wilson settled here about 1815, and resided here 56 years. He had considerable skill as a veterinarian, and was frequently employed in that capacity. He served the town three years as Seleetman. His son, Oscar J. Wilson, still occupies the place. He has served as Super- · intending Sehool Committee, and holds the office of Selectman at the present time.


61 and 62. ICHABOD YOUNGS of Hebron, Conn., owned both these places, and doubtless built on one of them, and perhaps both. In 1779, he sold to Phinehas Allen of Hebron, Conn. Tradition connects Mr. Allen's name with both these dwellings. " He tended mill at the Bridge, was very poor, and wore wooden shoes." He removed to Surry before 1790.


63. JOSEPH YOUNGS, supposed to be a brother of Ichabod, bought this lot of Ebenezer Dewey in October, 1768, and probably settled on this spot.


John Clemens of Swanzey bought the north half of this lot for £70 in May, 1780, and lived on this spot. He was a Frenchman by birth, and sold out in 1789.


64. JOHN HAMMOND, son of Aaron, built the house standing here, about 1796. He served the town four years as Moderator, was Selectman fourteen years, and represented Gilsum and Surry three years in the Legislature. He was Justice of the Peace, and Coroner for the County. He was a noted seliool-master for many years. He also taught singing, was leader in the choir, and played the bass-viol.


John Hammond, Jr., whose portrait is on the page opposite, remained here till 1871, when he removed to the Plumley place, above the village. (183.) He has served the town two years as Selectman, two years in the Legislature, and received a commission as Justice of the Peace. In 1874, his fellow citizens assembled at his house to celebrate his golden wedding, and pre- sented him a fine gold-headed cane. Though past fourseore, he still retains the vivacity of youth, to a remarkable degree.


J. E. W. Hammond, son of John, after attending school at Marlow Academy, Mount Cesar in Swanzey, and at Lebanon, entered Norwich University and remained to within three terms of graduation. He taught district sehools with good sueeess, beginning in Langdon at the age of


John Hammond


The Heliotype Printing Co. 211 Tremont St Boston.


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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER SIX.


seventeen, and ending with the Center District in Keene. He was desired to return there, but preferred to enter mercantile life. He was in business with his uncle, Stephen Day, Jr., at Perkinsville, Vt., for three years. In 1853, he removed to Chicago, Ill., where he "engaged in different lines of trade " for nine years. He then went to Omega, Ill., where he still resides. He has been highly successful as a merchant, and has of late. given considerable attention to farming. He is also an active politician - has been township Supervisor three years, and in 1878 was elected to the Legislature, " by a large majority, in a very hotly contested election."


Aaron D. Hammond, brother of the preceding, resides with his fatlier, and is at present engaged in trade at Newman's store. He is one of the political leaders of the town, and has served as Moderator sixteen years, as Selectman nine years, has represented the town two years in the Legislature, and is Justice of the Peacc.


Other residents : - Phinehas Wheelock, Albert R. Corey, and Edward O. Corey.


65. MOSES BELDING, a carpenter from Swanzey, probably built a log house on this spot, and lived here a few years before 1783, when he sold to Aaron Hammond, also of Swanzey.


€6. AARON HAMMOND built here about 1785. He drew the boards for his house from Swan- zey, and split and shaved his own shingles and clap-boards, some of which were found sound and bright seventy years after. This house was removed some years ago, and is now the Sugar House owned by Mrs. T. T. Clark. Mr. Hammond served the town as Moderator, and was Selectman four years. He was the ancestor of all the Gilsum Hammonds. This has always been one of the leading families of the placc, and though mostly scattered at present, those who have gone to other places have maintained the reputation of the family elsewhere.


Aaron Hammond, Jr., lived here with his father till his death, at the early age of 34. His widow was well-known as a tailoress for many years, and was highly esteemed.


Rachel Hammond, daughter of Aaron, was the only child in Gilsum who was born blind. Her mother took unwearied pains to instruct her, so that she learned to knit and sew. Hearing others read, she would repeat the words after them, and called it reading. In this way she read the Bible through in course more than oncc. But for her blindness, she would have been a woman of more than common activity and influence.


Other residents : - Frazer A. Hodgman, a shoemaker from Troy, N. Y., who removed to Keene about 1828 ; Baruch Davis ; Phinehas Wheelock ; Daniel Phillips, from Nelson ; Abram C. Wyman, seven years; Jacob Polley ; James L. Bates, and his brother-in-law, David Holman; Davis H. Wilson; John Foster, who removed to Westmoreland about 1842; and Kimball Metcalf.


67. School House. (Page 131.)


68. OTIS G. HAMMOND, son of Josiah, built this house about 1829. He was a successful school-teacher for many years, and served as Superintending School Committec. He was one of the first to join the Washingtonian movement, (page 92,) and was an earnest worker in the cause, being quite successful as a temperance lecturer, in this and neighboring towns. He served the town as Moderator and Selectman, and was commissioned Justice of the Peace.


Isaac Ware Hammond, son of Otis G., is an accountant and merchant in Concord. He served three years in the army. (Page 44.) He was one of the board of Selectmen in Man- chester two years, and represented his Ward in Concord as member of the Constitutional Con- vention of 1876. He was Deputy U. S. Marshal for taking the census of 1870 ; was appointed Deputy Secretary of State in 1877, and re-appointed the following year. He is also a member of the N. H. Historical Society.


Albert Otis Hammond, son of Otis G., learned the printer's trade of H. A. Bill of Keene, and was for a time publisher of the " Claremont Eagle." He afterwards had a job office at St.


14


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GILSUM.


Louis, Mo. Returning East, he was engaged on " The Gazette," at Dedham, Mass., from which place he enlisted Jan. 4, 1864, in the 2d Reg't Mass. Cavalry, and " was taken prisoner by Mosby's Guerillas, Feb. 22, was kept a short time at Libby prison, thence removed to Anderson- ville, Ga., where he suffered inhuman and barbarous treatment until Sept. 9, when a mere skeleton, unable to walk, he was removed to Savannah, where without food after his arrival, he died Sept. 12, 1864."


Thomas Tyler Clark came here from Acworth in 1865. While walking beside his team at the town fair in 1879, he fell dead from disease of the heart. He was well-known as a road- builder, and was highly respected by all who knew him. He served the town as Selectman. His widow still occupies the place with her son-in-law, Henry H. Carter.


69. JOSIAH HAMMOND, son of Aaron, settled here on the north part of his father's farm. He served the town as Moderator five years, as Selectman four years, as Town Clerk fifteen years, and was in the Legislature one year. His son, Dr. George W. Hammond, (page 182,) followed his father on this place, and added the second story to the house.


George Hammond, son of the Doctor, lived here with his father till 1866, when the whole family removed to Stockbridge, N. Y. While in Gilsum, he was appointed Justice of the Peace. He now resides on a farm at Bennet's Corners, N. Y., where he has served as one of the Assess- ors of Madison Co.


Allen Hayward of Acworth came here in 1865, and died the following January. He had been a man of some prominence in his native town, and was Captain in the militia. His son, George Dayton Hayward, remained here till November. 1879, when he removed to Laconia, having served this town two years as Selectman.


Other residents : - Joshua D. Crane ; Moses Cass, and Jonathan M. Cass, from Richmond.


70. DAVID BLISH from Glastonbury, Conn., settled on this place about 1783. He served the town as Moderator seven years, as Selectinan twelve years, and Town Clerk nine years. He represented Gilsum and Surry in the Legislature six years, and was appointed Justice of the Peace. He was for many years Deacon of the Congregational Church. His wife afterwards joined the Methodists, with most of her children, one of whom married Bishop Hcdding. (Page 117.) After Dea. Blish's death, the family removed to New York.


John Blish, son of Dea. David, settled in the tin-ware business at Woodstock, Vt., in 1829. He was in com- pany with a Mr. Roby, and was an active member of the Methodist Church there.


Waldo May came to Gilsum with his brother Calvin, about 1815, and lived a short time on the Loiselle place. (53.) He then removed to this place where he remained about seven years. He lost his left hand, when a boy, in a saw-mill. He was able, however, to do a good day's work at all kinds of farming. He removed to Pennsylvania about 1823, having only twenty-five cents left, when he got there. He built a small log cabin, and his wife taught the neighbors' children, while he worked on the farm.


Daniel Wade of Easton, Mass., married Dea. Blish's daughter, and lived here several years.


Jonas Brown from Alstead was here a few years. He was one of the volunteers in the war of 1812, and afterwards served as Captain in the militia. About 1830, he removed to Java, N. Y., where his widow still resides.


Barton Cooke from Surry was here about seven years and removed to Westmoreland.


Enos Cross came here from Swanzey in 1848. He is fond of reading and debate, and raises a large number of fowls.


Other residents : - Thomas Powell, Joseph Thompson, Aaron Loveland and his son-in-law Milton Whitcomb, Jonathan Webster, Jacob Polley, Warren Farrington, and Hiram Hefflon.


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HAMMOND FOLLOW AND SORRY MOUNTAIN FROM THE SOUTH.


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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR.


71. SIMEON and JOSEPH TAYLOR came from Swanzey and settled in a log house on this spot in 1781. They kept " bachelor's hall " for eight years, when Simeon married. Joseph contin- ued to live with him for eleven years, when he also married and went to live with his father-in- law, where George C. Hubbard now resides.


72. SIMEON TAYLOR built the house on this spot, about 1813. After his death the family went West.


John Livermore from Alstead settled here about 1825, and lived here forty-four years, when he removed to the village. He was an upright, industrious man, somewhat noted for roughness of speech. He served the town five years as Seleetman, and was one year in the Legislature.


Other residents : - James L. Pierce from Stoddard, Luke Parkhurst, Luther Stone, Nahum T. Raymond, George W. Emerson, William Riley Kenney, Lucius M. Miller, Edward O. Corey, and Eli Carpenter.


73. Mr. Livermore built this house about 1855 for his son Aaron, who lived here a few years. (Page 183.) Bradley Stone eame from Milford in 1869, and still resides here.


74. JACOB POLLEY, JR., built this house about 1850, and remained four years. Benjamin Foster from Ashby, Mass., lived here about seven years. Whitney D. (page 187,) was his son. His second son, Leonard, is a druggist in Keene. Byron Alexander settled here in 1861. In 1879 he removed to the village. James C. Isham now resides here.


108. JACOB POLLEY removed from Alstead to Gilsum in 1831, and lived several years on the old Hammond place. (66.) After living a short time on the Blish place, he took down the old Blish house about 1835, and moved it to this spot, where he built the present house. In 1869 he went to Butler, Ill., and died there at the house of his daughter.


His son, Jacob Polley, Jr., after following the sea a few years, came here in 1863, and still occupies the place. He also lived eight years in Butler, Ill.


CHAPTER XXXV.


RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR.


104. Grist-mill built by Fuller and White. (Page 136.)


105. Who first settled here is uneertain. It seems probable that Capt. Fuller built and let the house to his millers. William Lamb, a shoemaker, lived here, and was the miller for a time. Selden Borden eame to Gilsum about 1806. He lived here and at various other places, and about 1816 removed to Pennsylvania. John Borden lived here, perhaps with his brother.


Aaron Loveland lived here with his father and carried on the mill for some years. He was also a shoemaker. (Page 142.) He lived for a time on the Blish place and removed to Graf- ton, Vt.


Philip Howard came from Winchester to Gilsum about 1815, lived in various parts of the town, and was here several years. In his old age he went to Alstead to live with his daughter. 106. John Bingham's turning shop. (Page 144.)


107. JOHN BINGHAM, JR., built a log house here about 1800. About 1816 he removed to Granville, N. Y. He was a mechanie, and turned wooden bowls and plates.


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GILSUM.


109. DANIEL PECK probably came from Lyme, Con. He built a log house here before 1784. (Page 46.) Nothing is known of the family.


John Mark bought the place, and Elijah Bond lived here a while. Mr. Mark gave the farm to his son-in-law, Simon Carpenter, who built the present house about 1817. John Heenan bought and lived here a few years after Mr. Carpenter's death. Jolm R. Willard came here in 1871 and remained six years, when he went to the Foster place. (145.) George Wright came to Gilsum in 1862, and after living on several different farms, bought and settled here in 1876.


110. Ziba Ware's Blacksmith's Shop. (Page 141.)


111. ZADOK HURD settled here before 1793, and removed to Chesterfield in 1803. He was a Captain in the militia, served the town four years as Moderator, one year as Clerk, six years as Selectman, and represented Gilsum and Surry one year in the Legislature.


Ziba Ware was a blacksmith who came from Winchester, about 1799, and lived with his father-in-law on the Hendee plaee, a short time. After his marriage, hic went to the Gen. Wright place, where he kept tavern two years. He then came to this plaec and remained till 1806, when he removed to Vermont.


William Baxter was grandson of the notorious Tory, Simon Baxter of Alstead, and came to Gilsum not far from 1795. He owned the mills at the Bridge, and lived where John J. Isham now does. In 1804, he went to the Gen. Wright place and stayed about two years. In 1806, he bought this place, and lived here ten years. He then went to what is now ealled Shaw's Corner in Surry, where he died in 1828.


William Bond removed from Watertown, Mass., to Surry in 1808. He bought this place about 1816, and remained till his death in 1819. He was Colonel in the militia.


Allen Butler, Jr., followed Col. Bond, and resided here till 1859, when he removed to Delmar, Penn. He served the town as Moderator and Clerk, was Selectman two years, represented the town twiee in the Legislature, and was appointed Justiee of the Peace.


George Hubbard from Westmoreland settled here in 1859. In 1867, he removed to Keene, and two years later to Sullivan, where he still resides.


Milton I. Stearns eame here from Alstead in 1867, and still oeeupies the place.


112. The first known of this place is, that JOSHUA ISHAM settled here about 1800. The south part of the house now standing is the one put up by the neighbors in 1803. (Page 46.)


Ivory Randall eame to this place about 1815. In 1837 lie removed to Keene, just below the Kilburn place, leaving his sons here. Eleven years later, he eame baek to live with his sons, and in 1854 removed to Surry. Of his sons, Calvin removed to Surry in 1850, David went to Wiseonsin in 1854, and Harry is a shoemaker at Alstead.


Winsor Gleason followed the Randalls and remained on this place till 1867, when he removed to Keene and afterwards to Canaan. His son-in-law, George H. Lathrop, and Franeis C. Howe lived here with Mr. Gleason.


Willard Carpenter from Surry settled here in 1865. After his death, his son, George H. Carpenter, took the place. He is mueh interested in the theory and practice of Agriculture, and in 1878 was President of the Farmers' Club. He has served the town four years as Seleetman.


113. THOMAS DART, JR., built a log house about 1778 and lived here a few years, before he went to live with his father. (120.) He and his wife were members of the Congregational Church in Surry.


114. EBENEZER DART built a log house on this place and lived here many years. In 1806, he moved away, and sold the plaee to Simon Baxter, brother of William.


213


RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR.


Josiah Hendee with his father came from Ashford, Conn., and settled in Walpole in 1796. The next year, they bought the lot west of William Kingsbury's, and built a "plastered house " in the edge of Surry. (121.) In 1806, Josiah Hendce bought this farm, still known as the Hendee place, for $600 After two years, he removed to Chesterfield, and in 1810 bought back this farm for $580. While he was absent, William Baxter had built the north half of the house now standing, and a few years later, Mr. Hendee built on the rest.


William F. Cummings came from Keene in 1852, and lived here for two years. He then went to the Ballard place, and soon after returned to Keene.


Joseph W. Cummings, his son, enlisted from Keene in the 14th N. H. Reg't, Co. C, - was in the battles of Winchester, Fisher Hill, and Cedar Creek, in the first of which he was slightly wounded.


Luke N. Houghton, a blacksmith, came from Walpole and settled here in 1856. After ten years, he removed to the place where lic now resides, above the village. (175.)


360. Blacksmith's Shop. (Page 142.) 359. Brick School House. (Page 131.)


115. C. W. Bingham states on the authority of his uncle David Fuller, that a son of Samuel Derby lived here, a few years, in a log house.


116. JOHN ROUNDY came from Surry about 1815, and built the house on this spot. His son John Elijah prepared himself for the ministry, but died just before completing his studies. Jon- athan Hougliton lived here a year or two about 1825, and returned to Keene.


Jolin Dean of English birth lived here about fifteen years, and removed to Illinois. He is a woolen manufacturer. Mrs. Dean and her twin sister, Fanny Hendee, now occupy the place.


Other residents : - Iddo Randall, William Dean, Walker Gassett, Zenas D. Metcalf, and William L. Kingsbury.


361. Metcalf's Blacksmith's Shop. (Page 141.)


117. DAVID BLISS, son of Jonathan, built a log house here about 1783. His widow lived here till 1818.


118. EBENEZER HATHHORN from Jaffrey settled here about 1798. Some sixteen years after, he returned to his former home. He was a blacksmith and inade steelyards. Elijah Bond lived here a few years, and removed to Vermont. John Roundy first lived here before building Mrs. Dean's house.


119. William Kingsbury, son of James, bought this place of William Baxter, by whom he had been brought up, about 1818. In 1837 he built the brick house now standing here. He has served the town six years as Selectman, one year in the Legislature, and was commissioned as Justice of the Peace. Otis H. Kingsbury lives here with his father.


120. THOMAS DART came from Bolton, Conn., and settled in Surry in 1771. Ten years later, he bought this place for £50, and built a house on this spot. He served three years as Select- man. His son Thomas lived with him many years, and removed to New Keene, N. Y., in 1812.


William Baxter bought the place and let it to James Kingsbury, who resided here till about 1818. His sou William lived in this house till 1837.


{121. Plastered house in Surry built by Mr. Hendee. 122. Dustin place in Surry.


123. David Reed place in Surry, where James Kingsbury lived about 1812.


124. MOSES WARE came from Wrentham, Mass., to Surry. His name appears among the sign- ers of the Association Test in 1775. He came to Gilsum before 1793, with several of his boys. As they were coming near this place, where he was intending to make a clearing, he told them that the one who cut the first stick, would probably be the one who would have the farm. Elijah hurried forward and succeeded in winning the chance, and it so fell out that he afterwards owned the farm. Mr. Ware built a log house on this spot, where he and his son Moses lived till


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GILSUM.


1806, when they removed to New Keene, N. Y. He and his wife were members of the Congre- gational Church in Surry.


125. COMFORT WARE, his second son, was living on the Dustin place (122,) in 1789. The next year he and his older brother, Elijah, bought a large part of this farm, and built a log house on this spot. About 1800, Comfort sold out his share and removed to New Keene, N. Y.


ELIJAH WARE put up a framed house near the same spot, about 1811, where he lived till his death in 1847. The house he built is the north part of the one still standing. His father's old house was made into the eider mill.


Asa Wing, brother-in-law of Mr. Ware, a shoemaker by trade, lived here with him awhile, and at various other places, early in the present century. He afterwards lived in Surry, and removed to Vermont.


True Webster, Jr., lived here some years after the death of Mr. Ware.


William L. Kingsbury built the house now standing, in 1850. Fifteen years later he removed to Surry, having served the town three years as Selectman.


Ira L. Morse lived here several years. In 1860, he removed to Fitzwilliam.


Daniel Wright eame from Keene in 1867, and has resided here ever sinee. His brother George lived here with him for a year or two.


364. Old Dart Saw Mill. (Page 137.)


126. JOHN ELLIS came from Winehester (?) and settled on this farm before 1790. He is supposed to have built this house prior to 1800. He afterwards lived on the Crocker place, (33,) and removed to Swanzey in 1810.


Jesse Jaquith, formerly from Jaffrey, eame here from the Dustin place in Surry, (122,) about 1803. Some think he built this house, instead of Mr. Ellis. He was a shoemaker by trade, and his sons followed the same business. Jesse Jaquith. Jr., remained here till 1818, and removed to New York.


Collins H. Jaquith, son of Jesse, settled in Keene, where he was for many years a leading man, and Deacon in the Congregational Church. He had an extensive shoe business, but through the dishonesty of his agent at St. Louis, Mo., he lost all his property. He soon after removed to Java, N. Y.


Aaron Mansfield lived here several years and carried on the farm for Mr. Jaquith. He after- wards removed to Vermont.


John Farrar eame to this place from Sullivan in 1837, and remained four years, when he removed to Keene.


Silas Morse eame here in 1842 and remained three years, when he returned to Fitzwilliam. His son, James Morse, resided here till about 1866, and removed to Keene.


Joseph Thateher and his sons eame about 1867, and after six years removed to Massaenusetts.


Darius Porter who had been living on his father's farm, (136,) settled here about 1873. He has served the town three years as Seleetman. His father-in-law, Henry Hurd, a grandson of Justus Hurd, lives with him.


Other residents : - Simeon Ingalls from Alstead, Berzeleel Lord Mack, and John Babbitt.


127. WILLIAM DEAN moved the old Roundy house from 128 to this spot in 1850 £ He is an Englishman by birth. After living here a year or two, he removed to Delmar, Penn., and now resides in Illinois.


John Dustin eame here from the old place in Surry, (122,) about 1852. Sinee the death of his widow in 1877, the place has remained vaeant.


128. ELIJAH ROUNDY eame from Surry and built here in 1820. In 1828, Joshua Willard, a


.


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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR.


revolutionary pensioner, also from Surry, married the widow Roundy and eame here to reside. The place has not been tenanted since her death in 1847.


129. DAVID A. ROUNDY, son of Elijah, built this house in 1845, where he still resides.


130. Original School House. (Page 131.)


131. Who built here is not positively certain. From old deeds, it seems probable that DR. ABNER BLISS was the first settler. He sold land near here with a dwelling on it, to Silvanus Hayward of Surry, in December, 1789. Mr. Hayward lived here one year, and sold the place to David Bond.


Eli Thayer, a blacksmith, worked at the lower village, and lived here a part of the time between 1803 and 1815.


132. SAMUEL BORDEN BLISS with the assistance of his brother David, built a log house on this spot, about 1808. He lived here twelve years, and removed to Pennsylvania.


133. JOHN ELLIS built a log house here before 1790, and lived here some years.


134. EBENEZER HATHHORN, JR., is said to have lived in a log house near this place.


135. JONATHAN BLISS from Tolland, Conn., built a log house near this spot, 1761-2. (Page 169.) He had a large number of descendants, some of whom are still living in Alstead. He owned much land and settled his sons on farms in Gilsum. Hc was Selectman in 1777. Dr. Abner Bliss lived for a time with his father, and removed to Alstead about 1790.




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