USA > New Hampshire > The statistics and gazetteer of New-Hampshire. Containing descriptions of all the counties, towns and villages statistical tables with a list of state officers, etc. > Part 27
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There is a handsome common in the centre of the village, of an area of two acres, neatly laid out in walks, and beautifully shaded with the elm and maple. Around this common are located the prin- cipal business buildings and some very fine residences. At the north west corner of the common, on the opposite side of the street, the ground has been excavated for the purpose of laying the foundation for one of the largest hotels in the State. There are between thirty and forty stores, of all kinds, two hotels, four church edifices, three
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school houses, two banks, one news- paper office, telegraph and express office, insurance offices, four law- yers, six physicians, and two den- tists, besides various other profes- sional businesses. There are about 400 dwelling houses, and 2,500 in- habitants. West from the village, on a bluff, is to be located the new cemetery. There are some beau- tiful dells .in these grounds, and when they are laid out by the skill- ful hand of Rev. Mr. Downs, it will be a lovely spot for the re- pose of the silent dead. There is being built (1873) a new high school building at an expense of $ 20,000. When all these new im- provements are completed, the peo- ple of Lebanon can truly boast as having one of the pleasantest vil- lages in the State.
West Lebanon village is situa- ted on the Connecticut, opposite White River Junction, and at the terminus of the Northern (N. H.) Railroad. It is one of the finest little villages in the State, and is becoming quite a resort for sum- mer tourists, being near one of the greatest railroad centres in New- England. A bridge over the Con- necticut connects it with Hartford, Vt. There are five or six stores, of all varieties, one fine hotel, church, school house, grist-mill, lumber mill &c., and seventy-five dwelling houses. The street, run- ning parallel with the Connecticut is handsomely shaded. On a hill back of the village, and overlook- ing the valley of the Connecticut and on to the green hills of Ver- mont, is located Tilden Female Seminary. No more lovely spot for an institution of this character can be found in this country. (See Literary Institutions.)
Employments. Although Leba- non is considered one of the best farming towns in the State, still it has to be ranked as a manufactur- ing and mercantile town, as the receipts for labor, trade and pro- fessional business is more than double that of all the farm produc- tions in town. 'The capital invest- ed in manufactories is $ 612,000. employing 591 males and 45 fe- males, and annually producing goods to the value of $ 1,221,600. (See tables.)
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 171,249; mechanical labor, $ 314,800; stocks and bonds, $ 77, 900; money at interest, $ 94,195; deposits in savings bank, $ 155, 592; stock in trade, $ 173,940; pro- fessional business, $ 95,000; from summer tourists, $ 2,000.
Churches and Schools. 1st Con- gregational, Rev. Charles A. Downs, pastor; Methodist, Rev. Charles E. Hall, pastor; Baptist, Rev. H. F. Barnes, pastor; Catho- lic, Rev. M. J. Goodwin, priest ; Universalist, no pastor; 2d Con- gregational, (at West Lebanon,) Rev. A. B. Rich, D. D., pastor; There is a Unitarian Society in town. There are twenty-two schools, seven of which are grad- ed; average length for the year, twenty-three weeks; total amount annually appropriated for school purposes, $4,570.70; value of
school houses, $30,000.
Literary Institutions. Tilden Female Seminary, Prof. Hiram Orcutt, Principal.
Cabinet. Rev. C. A. Downs at Lebanon village has the largest variety of minerals (it is said) of any cabinet in the State.
Library. Lebanon Library As- sociation.
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LEBANON
Newspaper. Granite State Free Press, E. H. Cheney, Editor. (See tables.)
Banks. National Bank of Leb- anon, and Lebanon Savings Bank. (See tables.)
Hotels. Lafayette Hotel, Ham- ilton House. Southworth's Hotel, West Lebanon. There are five livery stables at Lebanon with 53 horses, and two at West Lebanon with 18 horses.
First Settlements. Lebanon was granted by Gov. Benning Went- worth to William Dana, John Hanks, Daniel Blodgett, Samuel Penhallow, John Storrs and 58 oth- ers, July 4th, 1761. The town was to be six miles square, and the con- ditions of the charter were that every grantee, for every fifty acres in his share, should plant and cul- tivate five acres within five years, and reserve all the pine trees fit for masting for the royal navy; that from a tract of land near the centre of the town, every grantee should have one acre as a town lot ; that if demanded, one ear of Indian corn should be paid as annual rent for the space of ten years; the first rent to be paid Dec. 25, 1762. The Governor reserved five hundred acres for himself, as he did in all town grants he made. Gov. John Wentworth, his successor, disap- pointed in not having these lands willed to hlm, set aside all the ti- tles of these lands in the State, and granted them to the actual settlers upon them. Four persons viz., William Dana, Levi Hyde, Paul Estabrooks and one other, spent the second winter in this town, near the mouth of White river. William Downer with his wife and eight children came on July 11, 1763. This was the first
family, and Mrs. Downer the first white woman who spent a night in town. Thomas Waterman was the first male child born. He was born July 11, 1766. Sarah Jones, born December 22d, 1764, was the first female child born. Among other early settlers were Oliver Davidson, Elijah Dewey, Jairus Jones. with their families, who came in the autumn of 1763. Nath- aniel Porter, Silas Waterman and eleven others followed soon after.
After the Revolution, and Ver- mont had petitioned to the gov- ernment to be received into the Confederacy, as an independent State, many of the towns on this side of the Connecticut wished to be united with Vermont. There were sixteen of these towns, of which Lebanon was one, and so earnest were they in their opinions they refused to send delegates which formed the constitution of New-Hampshire. They received no encouragement from Congress, and, after their delegates had tak- en their seats in the Vermont As- sembly, they wished their towns to be set off into a separate county ; this request was not granted, and they left the Assembly in disgust. Thus ended the first secession movement after the Revolution. The first settlers were principally from Lebanon, Connecticut : hence the present name.
. First Minister. Mr. Treadway was the first minister, who preach- ed here a few months in 1766. A Congregational Church was es- tablished in 1771. The Rev. Isaiah Potter was ordained and installed pastor, August 25, 1772. He died July 2d, 1817, having been pastor of the church forty - five years.
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NEW~HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Boundaries. North by Hanover, east by Enfield, south by Plainfield and west by Hartford, Vermont. Area, 23,000 acres; area of im- proved land, 16,429 acres.
Distances. Sixty-four miles north-west, by rail, from Concord; five miles south from Dartmouth College, and twenty-eight south from Haverhill.
Railroad. The Northern (N. H.) railroad passes through this town, in an easterly and westerly direction. There are three sta- tions in town, viz., East Lebanon, Lebanon, West Lebanon.
LEE.
STRAFFORD COUNTY. The soil of Lee, in some portions, is hard, but by careful cultivation, is made very productive, and the farmers are well rewarded for their efforts by good crops of corn, oats, bar- ley, &c.
Rivers and Ponds. It is well watered by Lamprey, Little, North and Oyster Rivers. These rivers furnish abundant water power. Oyster River has its source from Wheelwright Pond in the north part. This pond is the largest body of water in town, covering 165 acres. It is memorable on account of a battle fought on its shores, between a body of Indians and two companies of rangers, under Captains Floyd and Wiswell in 1690, Captain Wiswell and twelve men lost their lives in this engagement.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of tlie in- habitants. There are excellent clay beds here, for the manufac- ture of brick, which is carried on pretty extensively. 725,000 feet of boards, &c., and 160,000 shingles
are annually sawed; 6,000 pairs of shoes, are annually manufactured.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 63,895; mechanical labor, $ 10,000; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 28,732 ; deposits in savings banks, $ 34,145; stock in trade, $ 9,555; from summer tourists, $2,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational church, Rev. J. W. Lees, pastor; Union church, Rev. A. G. Cumings, pastor, There are seven schools in town. Average length of schools for the year, nineteen weeks.
Libraries. £ Lee Hill Sunday School Library, 700 volumes.
First Settlements. Lee was orig- inally a part of Durham, and was incorporated January 16, 1766.
First Minister. Rev. Samuel Hutchins, settled in 1792.
Boundaries. North by Barring- ton and Madbury, east by Dur- ham, south by New Market and Epping, and west by Nottingham and Barrington. Area, 11,625 acres; improved land, 8,993 acres. Distances. Thirty-one miles south-east from Concord and twelve south-west from Dover.
Railroads. Four miles to New- Market station. The Nashua and Rochester Railroad, to be complet- ed in 1874, will pass through this town.
LEMPSTER.
SULLIVAN COUNTY. The surface of Lempster is broken and uneven, but the soil is fertile, and, by care- ful cultivation, is made to yield good crops of wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes.
Rivers and Ponds. This town is well watered by numerous small streams. A branch of Su-
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LINCOLN.
gar River, and the south and west branches of Cold River, afford conveniences for water machin- ery .. Sand Pond lies partly in this town and partly in Marlow. It is 420 rods long and 70 wide. Dodge Pond, near the centre, covers about 50 acres, and, near the west- ern boundary, is a pond 320 rods long, and 80 wide. the town is very pleasantly situated, and, on many of its elevations, affords some fine scenery, which attracts the attention of tourists, who an- nually visit here, to spend a few weeks in the summer.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the people, although manufacturing is carried on pretty extensively. 1,160,000 feet of boards, &c., and 100,000 shingles are annually saw- ed. 200 dozen rakes are manufac- tured, besides there is one wheel- wright and one harness shop. 20,000 pounds of maple sugar are annually made.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 50,910; mechanical labor, $ 12,600; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 10,225; deposits in sav- ings banks, $21,456; stock in trade, $ 3,600; from summer tour- ists, $3,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational Church, Rev. John Le- bosquet, pastor ; Methodist church, Rev. Geo. F. Wells, pastor; Uni- versalist, - . There are nine schools. Average length of schools, for the year, nineteen weeks.
Hotel. Forest House.
First Settlements. Lempster was granted to Richard Sparrow and sixty-one others, October 5, 1761. Emigrants from Connecti- cut, settled here in 1770.
First Minister. Rev. Elias Fisher, ordained in 1787, died in 1831. A Congregational church was organized in November, 1761.
Boundaries. North by Unity, east by Goshen and Washington, south by Marlow, and west by Ac- worth. Area 21,410 acres. Area of improved land, 11,359 acres.
Distances. Forty-two miles west from Concord, and about nine south-east from Newport.
Railroads. Nine miles, by daily stage, to Newport, on the Sugar River Railroad. The Windsor and Forest Line Railroad, if ever built, will pass through this town.
LINCOLN.
GRAFTON COUNTY. Lincoln is one of the mountain towns in Northern New-Hampshire, and a great resort for visitors who are traveling through the White Mountain region. It is estimated that over eight thousand people come within its borders annually. The scenery, in and around the town, is grand and romantic in the extreme. The views obtained from the Flume House, are not surpassed by any hotels in the mountains. Directly in front is Mount Liberty, with the fancied resemblance to the profile of George Washington. On the north is the picturesque notch, on the south the whole val- ley of the Pemigewassett is brought to view with its pleasant intervals, and the towering hills on either side, the whole presenting views of nature rarely excelled in this country. The soil yields small crops, owing to the early frosts the town is subjected to.
Rivers and Ponds. The middle branch of Pemigewassett River, having its source in Ferrin's pond,
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
in the south part of Franconia, passes through this town near the center. Bog, Fish, and Loon ponds are the principal bodies of water.
Employments. The inhabitants are principally devoted to attend- ing to the wants of tourists who frequent the town in the summer. Not over one thousand acres of the land is improved.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $6,878; mechanical labor, $1,500; deposits in savings banks, $ 480; from summer tourists, $30,000.
Schools. There is one school in town; average length for the year, twenty-two weeks.
Hotels. Flume House, Tuttle House.
First Organization. Lincoln was granted to James Avery, Jan- uary 31, 1764. The first settle- ment is not known. Incorporated in 1764.
Boundaries. North by Franco- nia, east by ungranted lands, south by Woodstock and west by Lan- daff. Area, 32,456 acres.
Distances. Eighty miles north from Concord, and twenty east from Haverhill.
Railroads. Nearest Railroad station is Plymouth, by stage, twenty-two miles, on the Boston Concord and Montreal Railroad. When completed, the Bristol Branch and Montreal Railroads will pass through this town.
LISBON.
GRAFTON COUNTY. Lisbon is one of the most important towns in the county, both in point of ag- riculture, and as a manufacturing town; ranking in agriculture as the fourth town in the county; and
in the value of its manufactured productions the sixth. The sur- face is uneven. The soil, on the plain land, is light,but, when prop- erly fertilized and cultivated, pro- duces fine crops; while the soil, on the intervals and uplands is strong and deep, affording many fine farms, producing excellent crops of wheat, oats, potatoes and hay. There are but two towns in the county which produce as many bushels of wheat, and none as many potatoes.
River and Pond. Lower Ammo- noosuc River runs in a south-west direction through the whole ex- tent of the town. Mink Pond lies in the southern part, and, at its outlet, furnishes some good water privileges.
Mountain. Blueberry Mountain is the highest elevation.
Minerals. Iron ore, in large quantities, is found in the south- eastern part. Most of the ore which supplied the Franconia fur- nace was mined in this locality. Gold, in a quartz form, is found in various localities in Lisbon and vicinity. There is now (1873) one quartz mill, for gold, in operation, which is meeting with good suc- cess. It is under the supervision of Prof. J. H. Rae. There is other quartz in town which, when pul- verized, makes an excellent fer- tilizer. It is called "Stevens' Mineral Fertilizer." Limestone, in considerable quantities, is found in various parts. The future pros- pects of Lisbon, in point of min- eral wealth, look very flattering.
Villages. On the Ammonoosuc, about midway between Wells Riv- er and Littleton, is located the busy manufacturing village of Lis- bon. The B. C. & M. Railroad,
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LISBON.
passes the village, which affords it excellent railroad facilities. Here are establishments for the manufacture of carriages, (on an extensive scale,) potato starch, piano sounding-boards, boxes, kits, excelsior, bobbins, shoe pegs, and various other smaller shops, too numerous to mention. There are also one church, a fine school house, fifteen or twenty stores of various kinds, one hotel, express and telegraph office, post office, one lawyer, five physicians, two dentists, three insurance agents, and some other professional busi- ness. It is a very pleasant village, and some of the business buildings and private residences, are fine structures.
Sugar Hill is a pretty, village situated on a commanding em- inence of the same name, in the eastern part of the town. Here is one church edifice, owned jointly by the Freewill Baptists and Ad- ventists, a fine town hall, which is occupied for election purposes, by the town, on alternate years, (a similar hall located in Lisbon vil- lage, proper, being used half the time) a carriage, blacksmith, and shoe shop, a general store, one or two groceries, and some thirty or forty dwellings, with two or three summer boarding houses.
Summer Resorts. The village is surrounded by a farming com- munity, which is unsurpassed by any in Northern New-Hamp- shire. It is but a short distance from the White Mountains and Franconia Hills; being but 15 miles to the Profile House, and 35 to the Crawford House. The beautiful scenery about town, and pleasant views and drives make it a desirable locality for summer
tourists. Over two hundred, spend their summer vacation here.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the peo- ple, but, as can be seen, manufac- turing and mercantile trade, is an important branch of business. 3,500 bushels of wheat, 26,000 bush- els oats, 111,000 bushels of potatoes, 4,500 tons hay, 40,000 lbs. of but- ter, 12,000 lbs. cheese, and 30,000 lbs. maple sugar, are annually produced, There are also manu- factured, 200 tons of potato starch, valued at $23,000; 20,000 bushels shoe pegs, 100,000 rough bobbins, valued at $ 19,000; 38,000 bushels grain ground, valued at $55,000; 1,800,000 feet of lumber, of all kinds, valued at $ 21,900; besides carriages, piano sounding-boards, boxes, excelsior, Stevens' mineral fertilizer, quartz mills ; also black- smith, shoe shop, tin shops, &c. The whole amount of goods an- nually manufactured, is estimated at $ 280,900.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $194,017; mechanical labor, $61,000; money at interest, $ 57, 670; deposits in savings banks, $ 8,224; stock in trade, $52,770; from summer tourists, $8,000; professional business, $ 50,000.
Churches and Schools. Meth- odist, Rev. J. H. Brown, pastor ; Freewill Baptist, Rev. John M Chamberlin, pastor; Advent, (Su gar Hill) Rev. J. H. Shipman, pastor. There are eleven schools in town. Average length of schools for the year, seventeen weeks. Total amount of money annually appropriated for school purposes, $ 1,996.64.
Library. Lisbon Village Libra- ry Association, 1,000 volumes.
Hotel. Ammonoosuc House.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
First Settlements. Lisbon was granted to Joseph Burt and others, August 6, 1763, under the name of "Concord." November 20, 1768, it was again granted to Leonard Whiting and others, under the name of "Gunthwait." Soon after, its former name was resumed, and retained until 1817, when it re- ceived its present name.
First Minister. Elder Josiah Quimby was ordained in 1800.
Boundaries. North by Littleton and Bethlehem, east by Franconia, south' by Landaff, and west by Ly- man. Area, 29,130 acres; area improved land, 17,417 acres.
Distances. Twenty miles north- east from Haverhill, and eighty- nine mile's north from Concord.
Railroads. Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad passes, in a north-easterly and south-westerly direction through the town.
· LITCHFIELD.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Litch- field is a small but wealthy town, situated on the east side of Merri- mack River. The soil is rich, and very productive, the farmers re- ceiving a good return for their la- bor, and a ready market, in Nash- ua or Manchester, for their sur- plus products. But few farming districts in the State offer more encouraging inducements, to the farmer, than this town.
Employments. Farming is the principal employnient of the in- habitants; the eighty men who own, or help to cultivate the soil, receive annually over six hundred dollars each, for their labor. About 1,700,000, feet of lumber, of all kinds, are annually sawed.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 46,527; mechanical labor,
$45,500; stocks and bonds, $ 21,20€ money at interest, $ 10,400; depos its in savings bank, $ 86,118; stock in trade, $ 10,595; from summer tourists, $ 2,000.
Churches and Schools. One Presbyterian Church, valued at $8,000; There are four schools ; average length for the year, thirty weeks. There is one private Li- brary of over 400 volunies.
First Settlement. This town was originally a part of Nashua, and called Natticutt or Brenton's Farm It was incorporated by Massachu- setts in 1734, and chartered by New-Hampshire, June, 5, 1749. The first setlement was commenc- ed in 1720. Hon. Wyseman Clag- ett, a native of England, came to this country before the Revolution, and died in this town. He held several important offices, under the crown, and was attorney-general under the provincial and State governments.
First Ministers. Rev. Joseph Tufts, Congregational; ordained in 1741; dismissed im 1744. Rev. Samuel Cotton, ordained in 1765; dismissed in 1784. Rev. Enoch Pillsbury, settled in 1815; died in 1818.
Boundaries. North and east by Londonderry, south by Hudson, and west by Merrimack River. Area, 7,426, acres.
Distances. Twenty-eight miles south from Concord, ten south from Manchester, eight north from Nashua, and eight east from Am- herst.
Railroad. Concord and Nashua Railroad runs past Litchfield on the west side of the river. The railroad depot is reached at Thorn- ton's Ferry one half mile from the centre of the town.
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LITTLETON.
LITTLETON.
GRAFTON COUNTY. Littleton ranks in the State as the twenty- third town, in wealth, and in popu- lation the fourteenth ; in the county in wealth and population, the sec- ond, and value of manufactures the third. In the value of its ag- ricultural productions it ranks as the fifth town in the State, and in the county as the second.
The surface is uneven; on the banks of the rivers are some very excellent interval lands, and the soil, generally, through the town, is strong, and well adapted to til- lage or grazing, and produces the various kinds of grasses and other farm productions in abundance. Many of the farms indicate that the husbandman's labor is attend- ed with good returns in the form of an excellent harvest and a year- ly increased value of his farm in- vestment.
Rivers. The Connecticut River washes the north-western border of the town, for nearly thirteen miles. Fifteen Mile Falls extend the whole distance, running in foaming waves for miles together, which renders it impossible to as- cend or descend, in safety, with boats. The river runs for this distance in a south-west direction. Ammonoosuc River passes through the southern part of the town, and affords some fine water privileges, many of which are utilized.
Mountains. Black, Iron, Park- er's and Eustace Mountains are considerable, and the principal el- evations in town.
Village. About four miles east from the Connecticut, and on the Ammonoosuc river, is situated the large and enterprising village of Littleton. Since the introduction
of the White Mountains Railroad, in and through the village, it has taken rapid strides in all branches of business, and has now become one of the principal marts in the northern section of the State. The manufactures are various and val- uable, consisting of woolen goods, machinery, foundry, furniture, sash and blinds, tin ware, lumber, leather, boots and shoes, steroscop- ic views, carriages, starch, wash- ing machines, churns, scythes, photographing, printing, harness- es, and various other mechanical works. There are between thirty and forty stores, of all kinds, two banks, three churches, a large high school building, two large hotels, two livery stables and one eating house. There are besides, seven lawyers, six physicians and dentists, also, telegraph, express, insurance and various other of- fices, and about three hundred dwelling houses. It is an im- portant point for visitors to or from the White Mountains, and, owing to its pleasant location among the hills, it has become a popular resort for tourists, and nearly five hundred spend a por tion of the summer months in this beautiful village, and its environs. But few villages can boast of more enterprise and business life than can be seen in Littleton. Many of the stores, in quality and value of goods, or in appearance, will compare favorably with some of the fine stores to be seen in Concord, Manchester, and other New-Hampshire cities. Its future prospects look quite as flattering as those of any of the growing towns in the State.
Employments. The inhabitants are nearly equally divided in their
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vocations, with agriculture on one side and manufacturing, trade and professional business on the other. 1,100,000 yards of flannel areannually manufactured; 700,000 clapboards, 1,500,000 shingles, and 4,220,000 feet of boards and dimen- sion timber sawed, $ 5,000 worth of leather tanned, 300,000 stero- scopic views made, $ 12,000 worth of machinery, 1,500 dozen scythes, $4,000 worth of churns, 160 tons of starch, besides various other mechanical works heretofore mentioned. The total value of all kinds of goods annually man- ufactured is about $ 576,000.
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