USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 33
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The "Clinton Courant" says, " for half a century she had been a consistent professor of religion. . . . She was much esteemed and beloved, - was familiarly known as Aunt John to a whole generation. She had kept boarding house for many years, and was mourned by an unusually large number of acquaintances." Her husband, John Bur- ditt, was a Baptist deacon, but became a strong second Adventist, and had Sunday meetings regularly in his house for many years.
Rufus Greene came to Gilsum in 1865, and after living in several places came here in 1869. In 1876, he removed to Alstead.
Henry Grant has since occupied the place with his wife's mother, now Mrs. Jonathan Howard, who came here from Marlow in 1878. Mr. Grant came to Gilsum from Rochester in 1866. He has been a scafaring man, and was three years in the naval service of the British East India Company, at the time of the great Sepoy rebellion. He afterwards served in the U. S. Navy, and in December, 1863, enlisted in the N. H. Heavy Artillery, Co. M, and remained till the close of the war.
Other tenants : - Aaron Brigham, uncle to David ; Lemuel Bingham; Lyman Reed ; Merit Winter; Joshua D. Crane ; Solomon Smith ; Capt. True Webster; and Ira D. Gates.
175. ISAAC LOVELAND built this house about 1826.
In 1830, Samuel White came here for a year or two. He was a currier and worked for Capt. Taylor. (Page 142.) After living in several places he removed to Walpole (?) about 1837.
Other tenants : - Elder E. B. Rollins ; William Banks ; Elder Bennett Palmer; Mrs. Anna Joslyn ; Clement Stone; Elijah Mansfield; James Bates, a blacksmith, now residing at Winchester; Luke Houghton; and his son- in-law, Oren Jefts, who died here.
381. Houghton's Blacksmith Shop.
344. Here are a few old apple trees just west of George C. Hubbard's sugar orchard. Tradition says there was a log house somewhere near this place, but the name of the man who built it is forgotten.
176. DAVID WARE after living eleven years in the old David Bill house (180,) built the house now standing here, in 1838. He was a strong friend of temperance, and was one of the Selectmen at the time when the question at issue was license or no license. (Page 91.) He served in that office four years, and one year in the Legislature.
The following account of Mr. Ware's father-in-law is taken mainly from an obituary notice. .
Samuel Smith was a native of Goffstown. In April, 1775, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the American army, for eight months. Like many others he literally left the plough in the furrow, to answer the call of his country. He was at Bunker Hill, under Gen. Stark, and remained in service near Boston during the summer. In July, 1776, he re-eulisted for five months, and went to Ticonderoga, where he suffered from the severe sickness which prevailed among the troops. In the spring of 1777, he enlisted for the war, in the Regiment that commenced the memorable battle of Stillwater. He passed the following winter amid the destitution and suffering at Valley Forge. Here a plan was discovered among Washington's Guard to destroy his life. The leaders were hung, the Guard disbanded, and a requisition was made upon the New England troops for men to form a new Guard. Mr. Smith was one of those selected. From this time he followed the fortunes of Washington, being on duty in his immediate vicinity, guarding his person, at all times, whether in his sleep, or in attendance on divine worship. The duties of this company did not often lead them to the field of battle, though occasionally they were called to the assistance of their fellow soldiers. They were present at the siege and capture of Yorktown, and from thence went to Newburg, N. Y., where they were disbanded, and returned to their homes in poverty. In 1789, Mr. Smith removed to Hartland, Vt., where he resided till 1829, when he came to live with his daughter at Gilsum. Here he died at the advanced age of 95. He used to relate many stories of his revolutionary experience, but they are mostly lost now. It is worthy of mention that, at the age of eighty he voluntarily abandoned ardent spirits and tobacco, after using them habitually for more than sixty years.
David S. Ware lived here with his father till 1855, when he removed to Butler, Ill. In his youth, he was one of the most active and efficient members of the Gilsum Lyceum, and Tem- perance Society. He served the town as Moderator and Selectman. He was specially interested in education, and held the office of Superintending Committee three years. He is a prominent citizen in the township where he resides.
Samuel B. Ware, youngest son of David, died here at the age of 21.
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE W. NEWMAN. ( Built by David Warc. +S38.)
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RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER TWO.
" He was a person of cultivated mind and unquestioned morals. Early in life he acquired a reputation that not even a breath of suspicion ever soiled. He became connected with the various reform movements of the day, and was ever found alive and active in every enterprise calculated to improve and bless. As a teacher he pursued his avocation with fidelity and success, as a member of the church he labored for its highest interests, and in his intercourse with mankind he has left an example worthy of all imitation."
George H. Towle lived here with his father-in-law about four years, when he returned to Newport, where he has served as Selectman.
George W. Newman bought this place in 1863. Beginning with nothing but his hands, by industry and good management he has acquired a large property, and has probably built more houses in Gilsum than any other man. He is well-known through the country as a dealer in lumber and farm produee. He is a radical temperance man, always aetive in debating societies, and is President of the Farmers' Club for 1880. He has served as Seleetman and was commis- sioned as Justiee of the Peaee.
177. Here David Bill had a log house. (Page 54.)
178. ISAAC LOVELAND built this house not far from 1830, using part of his father's old house from 263, and has lived here ever sinee. He is a wheelwright by trade. In early life he spent some years in Canada. He has a remarkable memory, being able to repeat almost verbatim, sermons heard many years sinee. He has always been fond of stories and jokes, and has made many burlesque verses illustrating laughable ineidents.
179. EDWARD WALDO built a house here about 1798, and removed to Alstead after four years.
180. DAVID BILL, brother of Maj. Bill, built a house on this spot, probably before 1800. He was a soldier in the Revolution. (Page 37.)
Israel K. Plumley lived here several years with Mr. Bill, and removed to Pennsylvania about 1824. James Loeke eame here in 1819, and after two years went to Pennsylvania. He was a gunsmith and silver-plater, and had a shop in Lemuel Bingham's house. " He was celebrated as a good shot with a long rifle."
Berzeleel Lord Mack lived here for a time, and at various other places. In 1827 he removed to Nashua, where he died in 1833, and his family returned to Gilsum. He was a sueeessful school teacher, served the town as Moderator, and was Captain in the militia. Col. Oscar A. Maek (page 186,) was his son.
David Ware bought the place in 1827, and lived in this house eleven years. It was taken down in 1879.
Other residents :---- Nathan Ellis, Jr., C. B. Hayward, Francis C. Howe, Harvey B. Miller, and Magloire Loiselle.
181. ELIPHALET DART, afterwards of Surry, was probably the first settler on this place, and had a house near this spot. In 1803, his son Silas sold the place to Joseph Plumley for $200.
182. JOSEPH PLUMLEY built here, probably about 1805. His son Israel K. lived with him. Thomas Redding, Jr., followed Mr. Plumley, and his widow resided here some years after his death. James M. Mark bought the place in 1815, and lived here a short time.
183. JAMES M. MARK built here soon after 1815, and remained here till his death.
Luther W. Mark succeeded his father on this place. He served the town as Selectman.
Hans H. Mark remained here with his mother several years after his father's death. He now resides in Roekingham, Vt.
John Hammond and his son Aaron D. eame here in 1871.
Other residents :- Jared L. Greene and Joshua D. Crane.
184. Here stood a log house, probably built by one of the Reddings. It is known that Amherst Hayward lived here in 1816. Other tenants are uncertain.
185. Philip R. Howard's Blacksmith's shop. (Page 142.) 373. School House. (Page 130.)
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GILSUM.
186. Isaac Loveland had a wheelwright shop near here, and in 1835 Benjamin Gerry built a Chair Shop ou this spot. It was afterwards used as a turning shop by Dalphon L. Gibbs and others. Milan Towne used it for a. Bobbin factory. (Page 17.) More recently it was finished into rooms and used for a tenement. Some of the tenants have been Jacob D. Nash, George F. Atwood now of Winchendon, Mass., John Laing, Lowell White, and Henry Beckwith.
187. WILLARD .S. CADY from Langdon, came to Gilsum about 1847, and lived in several places. In 1850, he built a shop on this brook, and lived in it with his family two or three years. He now resides in Alstead.
188. ISAAC LOVELAND bonght this place in 1819, and built the house on this spot.
Benjamin Gerry came here from Lowell, Mass., in the fall of 1835. Three years after, he removed to Nashua, where his widow is still living. They were members of the Congregational Church in Lowell, Mass.
Alpheus Chapin came here from Alstead in 1853. He followed teaming for some years, but having bought the Ballard place, has more recently turned his attention to farmning.
Other residents : - Berzeleel L. Mack, Abram C. Wyman, Levi Gates, John Howard, Philip Howard, Alfred Beckwith, the widow Thompson now Mrs. Levi Barrett, Henry Morse, Henry A. Thompson, Samuel Bannister, Jacob HI. Cornell, Henry Grant, James Welslı, James W. Russell, and Henry Beckwith.
189. The main body of this house was built by WILLIAM CAMPBELL in 1843.
James L. Wilson came to Gilsum in 1850 from Athol, Mass., and lived here several years. He built on the south ell, and afterwards moved the house, from number 380, and added it to the north side.
Jacob D. Naslı, after living in various places, bought this house and resided here five or six years. He afterwards removed to East Sullivan, and from there to Nelson.
The lower part of the house has been fitted up with a water-wheel, and used for various mechanical purposes.
Eugene P. Nash, son of Jacob, lived here for a time, and in various tenements. Ap. 9, 1864, he enlisted from Claremont in the First N. H. Cavalry, Troop C; was transferred to Troop M, and served till close of the war. He then enlisted in the regular army, and served three years in the 9tlı Regiment of U. S. Infantry Elaire
Other residents : - Amos Weeks, Francois Cloutier, Eli Gosseau, Edward O'Keefe, Herbert C.Gates, John M. Hill, and Joseph S. Bingham.
190. This is the house built by Lemuel Bingliam on the place next south. (192.) It was moved here in 1852. The widow Betsey Mack lived here some years with her son Byron Alex- ander. Josiah G. Rowell next occupied the place for two years.
George Henry McCoy came here in 1864. He is a mechanic, having a tray-shop under his house, and a blacksmith's shop elose by. He keeps a livery stable, and raises fowls. He has served as Town Clerk ten years, and is Justice of the Peace.
191. Elder E. B. Rollins (page 122,) built this house about 1836. After putting up the first story he moved on the wheelwright shop from 381, for the second story, in which he had a small Hall for religious meetings, and other gatherings.
Edward Fay Rollins, son of Edward B., is a printer by trade, and published "The Winchendon Mirror" in 1851. He enlisted June 1, 1861, in the 13th Mass. Reg't Co. D, and was promoted through the several grades to First Lieutenant May 1, 1864, and mustercd out the following August. He was with his Regiment in many battles, including Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness, and was acting Adjutant for a time. He now resides in Boston, Mass.
Abram C. Wyman from Rindge learned the trade of carpenter in Alstead, and came to Gilsum about 1810. After living in several places, he settled here about 1840, and remained till his death in 1866. He was a natural musician, and played the bass-viol.
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N.O. Haywarg
The Heliotype Printing Co.All TremontSt.Boston.
225
RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER TWO.
Other residents : - George K. Smith, a mechanic; Alvin A. Beckwith, a blacksmith, now of Drewsville ; Charles W. Lyman; Edouard Guay; Edward O. Corey; Albert Bowen ; Paul Langlois ; and Lowell White.
192. LEMUEL BINGHAM built herc in 1813. Ira Ellis of Sullivan dug the cellar after the frame was put up.
Luther Whitney came here in 1820, and remained about ten years. He was a clothier by trade. (Page 138.) He served the town six years as Selectman, was twice in the Legislature, and was Justice of the Peace. He removed to Massachusetts about 1830.
Jerome B. Aldrich, a wheelwright, came here about 1834, and remained six years. He built a shop near the brook back of the town house. He now resides in Boston, Mass.
Ambrose L. Farnam came here from Stoddard in 1836. Six years later he removed to Peter- boro'. He served in the U. S. army at Portsmouth in 1812.
Davis H. Wilson, son of Jocl, after living at various places settled here about 1848, and kept store in the north part. (Page 144.) He afterwards removed to the house now occupied by L. W. F. Mark, where he died in 1861.
Nahum O. Hayward resided in Boston when a young man, and was in the employ of Jesse Maynard in the bakery business for nine years. In 1846, he returned to Gilsum, and after liv- ing a few months with his father, settled here. In 1852 he had the old house removed to number 190, and built the house in which he still resides. He has been connected with the store for many years. (Page 143.) He is well known through the County as an auctioneer and dealer in lumber and cattle. He is frequently employed in the settlement of estates and similar busi- ness, and is a Director in the Five Cents Savings Bank of Kecne. He owns a large amount of real estate, and has built several houses. He has served the town as Selectman four years, and is a Justice of the Peace.
Other residents : - Asa Cole, David Brigham, A. W. Kingsbury, Marvin Gates, Alfred Beckwith, Kimball Metcalf, Thomas Auty an Englishman, and William Cook.
193. LEMUEL BINGHAM built this house about 1814. He first lived in the house with Dea. Pease at the Lower Village, and after that on the Bond place. In 1813, he built where N. O. Hayward lives, and resided there for some time after building this house, in the east end of which he had a store. (Page 143.) In the lower part was a shop occupied by James Locke, a silver plater. After selling the other house, he remained here till 1832, when he went to where Henry Grant lives. The next year, he bought the " Plastered House," where he lived about eight years. In 1841, he came back to the village, and lived one year in the brick house, after which he returned to this house, where he resided for the most part till 1855, when he removed to Keene. He was well known throughout this and the neighboring Countics, as a publisher and dealer in Maps. He had a taste for the law, and acquired considerable legal knowledge. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and transacted a good deal of business. In the war of 1812-5 he was employed to transport soldiers and Commissary Stores to Portsmouth. His son, Charles W., has a pass for him as Quartermaster, signed by " Nat Fisk," dated Sept. 21, 1814.
K. D. Webster (page 182,) bought the place in 1857. He built over and enlarged the house, where he still residcs.
Other residents : - William Parker; Chilion Mack who had the Post Office here for a time ; and Calvin C. Bingham.
194. About 1828 John Taylor built a two-story shop here for shoemaking and currying. George S. Howard lived in it for a time, also Philip R. Howard. About 1851, Nathan Ellis moved it back near the brook, and did a little blacksmithing in the lower part. (Page 142.)
195. JOHN BURROUGHS, JR., a blacksmith, came here from Alstead, and built a house near this place about 1821. He had a shop at first near Mrs. McCoy's, and afterwards on the brook above
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GILSUM.
Henry McCoy's. (Page 141.) After about five years, he sold to Thomas T. Chapin who built the shop now owned by Capt. Chandler, number 348, and employed men to do blacksmithing. After his death, (page 151,) Tower Spear, a blacksmith, lived here three years. Nathaniel Trask. a blacksmith, also lived here and employed Benjamin Eaton, Jr., 1818-9. Berzelecl L. Mack also lived here a short time.
Enoch B. Mayo, a blacksmith from Alstead, came here in 1831 and remained about seven years, when he removed to Nashna. Marvin Bigelow worked for him and lived in his house a year or two. After Mr. Mayo left, the house was occupied for a time by the widow of Rucl Ellis. William Cook married her daughter and lived here a year or two.
Nathan Ellis, Jr., bought the place and in 1851 built the house now standing herc. Porter Cowce and perhaps others lived here for a time. John Cole, an industrious, prudent man after remaining single to the age of 63, married the widow Bolster, and lived on number 250, for three years. In 1863, he bought this house, and lived here for nine years. He now resides with his brother in Keene.
Capt. Chandler bought the place in 1873, and his son-in-law, A. D. Hammond, occupied it about a year.
Samuel W. Dart has resided here sinee 1876. He owns the mill number 223, (page 137,) and has a prosperous business. He is a member of the Baptist Church at Keene, and has served the town as Superintending School Committee.
196. Here was the Howard Hammer Shop. (Page 142.)
348. Blacksmith's Shop. (Page 141.)
351. Methodist Meeting House, now the Town House. (Pages 118, 160.)
197. JOHN TAYLOR bought this place for $38, and built the house here in 1827. He resided here eleven years, when he removed to Ogle Co., Illinois. He built a tannery on the brook north- east of his house, near number 199. He also carried on the shoe business, hiring hands who worked in the shop number 194. He and his family were active Methodists, and meetings were often held at his house. He served as Captain in the militia. George H. Taylor, his son, resides at Franklin Grove, Ill., - owns a grain elevator, and is an extensive dealer in farm produce and machinery.
Eleazer M. Poor, a tanner from Nelson, settled here in 1838, but left in less than two years. He was afterwards in mercantile business at the West.
Osman McCoy came here in 1871, and his widow resides here still.
There have been many other owners and occupants of this place. Joseph Upton lived here with Capt. Taylor in 1833. Rev. Mr. Aspenwall owned the place for about two years. Charles W. Bingham owned it about seven years. Other residents : - Rev. John M. Blake, Rev. Joseph Hayes, Thomas Townsend, Lemuel Bingham, James Chapman, and Barton Cooke.
198. Capt. Taylor built this house in 1832.
Thaddeus H. Flint lived here a year or two. He came from Alstead as an apprentice to Luther Whitney, in 1816. After four years, he went to Billerica, Mass., to work at his trade. In 1826, he came back and worked for Mr. Whitney about a year, when he went into company with David Brigham and bought out Mr. Whitney. After three years, he went to Coventry, Vt. In 1834, he returned to Gilsum for a year or two, and then went to Keene, where he still resides.
Henry Flint, son of the preceding, enlisted from Keene in the 6th N. H. Reg't, Co. E, November, 1861. He was wounded at second Bull Run battle, and died of disease at the Georgetown General Hospital, Oct. 16, 1862. Erastus Reed had this house for a time as a shoe-shop.
Other residents : - Luke Taylor, William Campbell, Francis Phillips, Thomas Auty, Thomas Townsend, George K. Smith, Barton Cooke, and Louisa Mark for the last ten years.
199. Silvanus Hayward's Saw Mill. (Page 137.)
200. CHILION MACK built this house in 1832 and resided here four years, when he sold to
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Amherst Hay ward
THE HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO. 126 PEARL ST. BOSTON.
Sarah J. Hayward.
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227
RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER TWO.
A. W. Kingsbury, who still occupies it. Dca. Kingsbury first settled at his trade of shoemaking in Sullivan, but in 1835 removed to Gilsum, living that year in the Whitney house. (192.) In 1877 he was chosen Deacon of the Congregational Church.
Many tenants have occupied the chambers of this house. Harrison G. Howe lived here before Mr. Mack sold it. After selling, Mr. Mack lived a year in the chambers. In the winter of 1836-7 and two terms following the District School was held here. Sabbath meetings were also held here by the Christian Society. Other resi- dents : - Jehiel P. Hendee, (page 122 ;) John Spaulding, (page 122 ;) Lyman Gerould ; Franklin Bingham ; David Converse ; John C. Guillow ; George W. Newman ; Horace Carter; Calvin C. Bingham; Milton Silsby; Amos Weeks ; John B. Otis ; Allen Hayward ; Charles P. Matthews a blacksmith, rem. to Nashua; F. A. Howard ; Mrs. Whittemore; and Samuel L. Kingsbury.
382. Here Chilion Mack built a Wheelwright Shop about 1833. Carley Guillow lived in it several years, and Lemuel Bingham a short time.
201. In 1835, Amherst Hayward built this Shoe Shop for A. W. Kingsbury. He and his son Samuel L. still occupy it. The chambers have been used for a tenement.
Jonathan Hall came from Westmoreland, when a boy, and lived with Amherst Hayward. He had a taste for learning and entered Amherst College. For lack of means, however, he seon left aft In 1835, having married, he lived in the chambers of this shop, and taught the first High Schoolw in Gilsum, that Fall, in the Vestry of the Congregational Meeting House. In the winter he taught District School. The next year he removed to Saratoga, N. Y. He is a machinist by trade, and afterwards went to Bridgeport, Conn., and was employed in the manufacture of Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machines. He is still residing there.
Other residents : - Eliza Bragg, (page 143 ;) E. S. Fish's daughters ; Nancy and Orinda Smith; Charles W. Bingham ; Walker Gassett, Jr. ; George Porter ; Richard Eagan, a Tannery workman ; Alfred Hoyle ; Ephraim Ashworth ; George Henry Temple ; and Alden Greene.
202. SILVANUS HAYWARD from Surry was the first settler here. He bought the west half of the 11th Lot, 6th Range, for £38, in April, 1791. It was then a thick, dark swamp and people laughed at his folly in selecting such a homestead. He afterwards bought a strip from the next Lot west, so that he owned all the village south of Dr. Webster's. He built a log house in 1791 very near the southwest corner of George B. Rawson's garden. Fourteen years after he built the house on the opposite page, on the spot where Mr. Rawson's house now stands. He moved into it in November, 1806. Having a taste for learning he managed to pick up sufficient education to enter Dartmouth College about 1780, being certainly a College mate, (and tradition says a class- mate ?) of the notorious Stephen Burroughs. In his Junior year he found it impossible to keep on, his father being able to assist him but little. He received an honorable discharge from the College, written on parchment and signed by President Wheelock. He soon married and settled in Surry on the place where George A. Blake now resides. Here he lived for 8 or 9 years, when he removed to a lot of 60 acres which he had bought of Abner Bliss in the northwest part of Gilsum. He remained there only one year, when he sold to Elijah Bond and returned to Surry, but came back to Gilsum the next year and lived on the place now owned by Charles Eveleth, while clearing and building in what is now the village.
Having both a theoretical and practical acquaintance with the art of Surveying, he was exten- sively employed in that business. He was also a noted " school-master," teaching for many winters after he came to Gilsum. He also taught singing schools, and played the bass-viol in the choir for many years. He served the town as Moderator, and three years as Selectman.
He was tall and erect, very social, and especially fond of discussion, being ready to dispute with anybody upon almost any subject. He was a ready speaker, and often conducted religious meetings. His death was occa- sioned by being over-heated in fighting fire which caught in the woods from the "Sugar camp " south of the river. He lingered only a few months after the exertion.
Amherst Hayward was brought up by Col. Jonathan Smith who married his father's sister.
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After his own marriage in 1811 he lived with Col. Smith in Rockingham, Vt., but in 1815 came to live in Gilsum. The first year he lived in the house with his father. The next year he lived just above the village, on the west of the road at the top of the hill below where John Hammond now lives. This was " the cold season " and food was very scarce. He managed to procure what it was necessary to buy, by peeling birch brooms at ninepence a piece. The next spring he went to the " Maynard place." The spring after his father's death he came to this place to live, where he spent his life.
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