HISTORY OF COLUMBIA, COOS COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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History of Coös County, New Hampshire by George Drew Merrill; Syracuse 
N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., 1888, 1888, 1018 pgs.
page 721

COLUMBIA
by William E. Cone
---
This township was granted December 1, 1770, to the same men to whom
the grant of Colebrook was made, and called Cockburne Town, in honor
of Sir James Cockburne, one of the grantees.  It was incorporated
by an act of the legislature, approved December 16, 1797, and named
Cockburne in response to a petition to the legislature, signed by 
Abel Larned, Philip Jordan, Julius Terry, Nathaniel Wales,
Ebenezer Larned, Jacob Terry, Jacob Terry Jr., Abner Osgood, 
Albel Hobart, Ahaz French, William Wallace, and Abijah Learnard.
By an act approved November 30, 1804, Wale's Location was annexed to
the town.  This tract, said to contain 5,822 acres, was granted
May 4, 1773 to Seth Wales and seventeen others.  The name of the town
was changed by an act approved June 19, 1811, to Columbia.  Population
in 1775, 14; 1790, 26; 1800, 109; 1810, 142; 1820, 249.

Columbia is bounded on the north by Colebrook, east by Dixville and
Millsfield, south by Stratford and Odell, and west by Vermont.

From the mountains descend a number of streams into the Connecticut
river, affording many excellent water-privileges.  There are several
poinds; the most noted is Lime pond, the bottom of which is covered
with white calcareous marl.  This marl deposit has been used somewhat
for the manufacture of quicklime, and is fully equal to the best
imported variety.  The pond is nearly a hundred rods long and fifty
wide.  Farming and lumbering are the principal avocations of the
people, and there is some manufacturing done.

Abel Larnard was authorized to call the first "town meeting which was
held at the house of Widow Anna Larnard on the first Tuesday of
March, A.D. 1798." At this meeting the record shows the following list
of officers chosen and business done:--
  "Voted Mr. Jacob Terry, moderator; voted Mr. Abel Larnard, town
   clerk, sworn; voted Mr. Jacob Terry, Jr. selectman, sworn; voted
   Mr. Noah Buffington, 2d selectman, sworn; voted Mr. Abel Hobart
   to be a 3d selectman, sworn; voted Mr. Chauncey Curtis, constable,
   sworn; voted Mr. Chauncey Curtis, collector of taxes, sworn;
   voted Mr. Philip Jordan, highway surveyor, sworn; voted Mr.
   Cummings Buffington, highway surveyor, sworn; voted Mr. William
   Wallace, be a fence viewer, sworn; voted Mr. Chauncey Curtis,
   hog reeve, sworn; voted Mr. Julius Terry, hog reeve, sworn;
   voted Mr. Abel Larnard, hog reeve, sworn; voted to Riase twelve
   dollars to defray the expenditures of the Town; voted that Mr.
   Philip Jordan's Barn yard be Considered a Pound for the purpose 
   of Impounding Horses or Hogs taken Feasant the present year;
   voted Mr. Philip Jordan, Pound Keeper, sworn."

Abel Larnard, town clerk, "after being duly cautioned," too the oath
of office before Mills Deforrest, justice of the peace of Lemington,
Vt., from which we infer that the town had no "Esquire."  The new
board of selectmen, careful alike of the spiritual and physicial
welfare of the citizens of the new-born town, transacted their first
official business on March 15th, by promulgating the following:--
  "We the selectmen of the Town of Cockburn Concieve it for the
  benefit of the Public that a house of Entertainment should be
  kept in this Town, and we, Conceiving Chauncey Curtis of said
  Cockburn, a suitable person to keep a house of Entertainment and
  to sell any kind of spiritous Liquors in his house at all
  seasonable times until the Next Annual Meeting in March, and we Do
  by these presents give him our Entire Approbation for that
  purpose." signed, Abel Hobart, Jacob Terry, Noah Buffington,
  Selectmen.

The first tax list made out May 28, 1798, and from it we learn who
were taxpayers of the town, as well as what it cost to be a citizen
of the new town. [The names of taxpayers on this list include:
Jacob Terry, Philip Jordan, Nath'l Wales, Andrew G. Huntington,
Perly Wallace, Bradford Hammond, Abner Curtis, Victory Jennison,
Howard Blodgett, Julius Terry, William Wallace, Jarvis Lounsbury,
Noah Buffington, Rial Larnard, Jabez Parsons, Sylvanus Larnard,
Ebnezer Brown, Chauncey Curtis, Isaac Stephens, Linden Hibart,
Abel Hobart, Abijer Larnard, Danforth Wallace, Abel Larnard,
Orland Wales, Cummins Buffington, William Jordan and Hezekiah 
Parsons Jr.].

The 6th of June 1798, at a "legal meeting," $63.33 was voted for
making and repairing highways; and, in September, of the same year,
the highway from Colebrook to Wale's Location, was surveyed by
Chrisopher S. Bailey, who made the distance six miles, thirty-six
chains, and thirty-six links.  

LIST OF POLLS AND RATABLE ESTATE IN THE TOWN OF COCKBURN FOR 1810--
[only names listed here] Charles Thompson, James Lewis, Austin Bissel,
James Dewey, Jonathan Carr, Samuel Bundy, William Wallace Jr.,
Sylvanus Larnard, Samuel Harvey, Philip Jordan, Benajah Jordan,
Timothy Lockwood, Robert Parkinson, Abel Hobart, Jacob Terry Jr.,
Levi Bailey, Deacon Jonathan Bancroft, Jared Cone, Isaac Bundy,
Elisha Bennett, Victory Jennison, Samuel G. Bishop, Charles Redpath,
Jesse Everet, and Christopher Morley.

VALUATION OF BUILDINGS IN 1824 [only names listed here]
Thomas Atherton, Samuel G. Bishop, Ward Bailey, David Bundy,
Amos Bancroft, Jonathan Bancroft, Marcena Blodgett, Abraham Boynton,
Jared Cone, Asa Dustin, Joseph Eastman, Benjamin Frizzle, Samuel
Harvey, Philip Handley, William Holkins, Abel Hobart, Roswell Hobart,
Asa Jordan, Charles Jordan, Lyman Jordan, Noah Lyman, James Lewis,
Ephraim H. Mahurin, John Marshall, Joshua S. Mathers, Abner Norcott,
Charles Sperry, Samuel Smith, Augustus Spencer, John Thomas,
William Wallace, Calvin Willard, Noah Lyman, William Holkins, and
Charles Thompson.

SCHOOLS--The early times were the days of many children, and their
training and education were of the greatest moment to the intelligent
pioneers of this town.  At the annual meeting in 1801 it was "voted
that the selectmen be the school committee."  ... No money appears
to have been voted for this purpose until April 1804 when the town
voted $200 for the use of schools.  In 1805 the town was divided into
three school districts and $100 voted for school purposes.  In 1807,
$450 was voted with which to build school-houses and $80 for the use
of schools.  The school-house for district No. 1 was built about
one half-mile south of the site of the present one, that of No.2 not
far from Samuel Harvey's residence, and the one in No. 3 on the
hill-side nearly opposite Nathan Schoff's barn.... In March 1809,
a school committee was chosen, consisting of William Wallace Jr.,
Timothy Lockwood and Sylvester Cone.  [more about later school in the
original document, not included here].

[SECTION ON POLITICS NOT INCLUDED HERE]

CEMETERIES--At a special meeting in April 1799, the town "voted to
raise $10 of the inhabitants of Cockburn for the pupose of purchasing
a burying yard, and the selectmen were directed to purchase and
lay out a burying-yard as they may thing proper."  In accordance
with this vote "one acre was purchased of Abel Larnard" and the
"Columbia burying-ground" established.  Since that time very many
dear and precious ones have been laid beneath its sacred soil....
Later in the history of the town a plot of land was secured in
the east part of the town for the purpose of burial; but it was
little used, a more desirable location having been selected by the
people, while those in the south part of the town have still another 
burial place.  While no massive monument nor costly memorial adorns
our "homes of the dead," our little cemeteries are better cared for
than the average "burying-place" of the rural districts

CHAPTER LXXXIII
PIONEERS--Abel Larnard was the first settler to make a home in the
valley of the Connecticut above Lancaster.  He came from Windham,
Conn., where he had married Mary Ann Webb, a niece of Col. Webb,
a Revolutionary soldier.  He pushed his way far beyond all traces of
civilization, and took up his squatter's claim, and built his log
cabin on the hill about one-fourth of a mile below where is now the
Columbia burying-ground.  After clearing a small piece of land, he
settled down to a pioneer's life.  From the river nearby he obtained
an abundance of salmon and trout, from the surrounding forest, venison,
fowl, and an occasional "bar steak," and from his small clearing a
few vegetables and a little corn.  Two sons were born to him; but
when the oldest was nine years of age the father died of fever, and
his heart-broken widow, with her little boys, led a lonely life
after this sad event.  About the close of the Revolutionary war, as
the boys were making sugar near the bank of the river, they were
taken prisoners by the Indians and carried to Quebec.  The anxious
mother in some way sent word of her affliction to her uncle, Col.
Webb, then on Gen. Washington's staff; he at once proceeded to Quebec,
secured the release of the boys, and they were returned to their
mothers under an escort of soldiers.  Some years after, one of a
party of Indians passing through here told Mrs. Larnard that he was
one of the bank that stole her boys, and that the sugar kettle could
be found at the mouth of Sims stream.  It was thus found and kept in
active use many years after.  Many dangers and privations were
endured by this courageous woman.  The Indians passing up and down 
the river usually camped on the bank opposite her cabin.  Ofen the
"fire-water" was too plenty, when their orgies would be kept up far
into the night.  Mrs. Larnard was in constant fear of their savagery,
yet she never was molested but once, when, grasping the fire-poker,
she laid the miscreant out, and, dragging him to the door, pitched
him into the snow; she then kept watch, expecting the whole pack
down upon her; but, in the morning, as sheepish as an Indian can be,
he came and said to her,"Me very bad Indiah, you done just right."
She never had any further trouble from them.  The wolves often
prowled round her little cabin, and with fierce, vicious eyes glared
through the little window.  For nine years Mrs. Larnard lived here
without seeing a white woman, when, hearing that a family from near
her old home had moved to Northumberland, she told her boys that she
"must see that woman or die."  When winter came and the river was
frozen, the boys took their bundle of furs and a bag of corn, and
started for the mill at Haverhill, while their mother went to make
her visit.  The boys had their corn ground, exchanged their furs for
powder, tea and other necessaries, and were joined by their once
more cheerful mother on their return.  After Columbia became settled
to some extent the family moved to Canada, where Mrs. Larnard died
at an advanced age.  The sons never married.

In the spring of 1786, Abel Hobart, then in his seventeenth year,
left the home of his childhood in Holland, Mass., and, on foot,
made his way to these wilds of Northern, New Hampshire.  "The clothes
on his back, a sable skin and a tow shirt in this bundle, an axe on
his shoulder, and two-and-sixpence in his pocket" constituted his
available means.  But he had in addition what is better than gold
and silver (especially to a pioneer), strong hands, good judgement,
and faith in himself and his God.  He found but two settlers in 
the town, Abel Larnard's widow, living just above where Samuel M.
Harvey now lives, who had been there some years, and Major Jennison,
living just below where the "COlumbia Hotel" now stands.  Mrs.
Larnard was the happy owner of one cow, while the Major "could his
steed bestride" (from which fact we infer him to have been a major
of cavalry).  At any rate a horse and a cow constituted the live
stock of the town.  Several others had been here and made small
clearings prepartory to bringing their families later.  Among them
were William Wallace (whose clearing was where Anson Wallace, his
grandson, resides,) and the Terrys, who established themselves where
Asa Lang now lives.  In Lemington, Vt., Colonel Bailey was clearing
the big meadow; Luther was on the place now owned by Ed Capen in
Canaan, Vt.; while at Colebrook, Jim Hugh had rolled up a log-house
just back of where George Gleason's house is now located; and Luther
Chandler had a home where is now Crawford's residence.  Hobart
selected as the site of his future home the place now owned by
ex-Sheriff Samuel I. Bailey.  He at once commenced a clearing, and,
in a few years, large fields had taken the place of the dense forest,
and a comfortable house had been built, to which, in the summer of
1794, he took his young wife, Betsey Wallace.  For sixty-five years
they walked the path of life together, ever contented with their lot
and happy in each other's love.  Honored and revered and full of
years, they passed to the hereafter mourned by all who knew them,
while "their children to the third and fourth generations rise up
and call them blessed."  "And they builded a city!"  Of their sons,
Horace, and three of their daughters, with their husbands, were
pioneers and prominent in founding the city of Beloit, Wis.  Another
son, Anson L., is a successful and highly esteemed physician in
Worcester, Mass.  Their other children were respected citizens of
their native town; two of the sons, Roswell and Harvey, having 
received all of the officers and honor their townsmen could confer.
Abel Hobart and his wife were consistent Christians, members of the
Congregational church, almost puritanical in strict observance of
the Sabbath, church duties and family worship.  Mr. Hobart was an
excellent neighbor, hospitable and strictly temperate, with an
endless fund of stories for the children, and one of the most
companionable of men, in whose society all recieved pleasure and
profit.  Five sons and two daughters were reared in habits of
temperanace and industry, and bore evidence of the wisdom and
excellence of their parental training.

The Wallaces moved here in the spring of 1787, WIlliam, then a small
boy, having driven the first team that came up from Brunswick, Vt.
He sat on the sled, and "tended" the oxen, while his brother Danforth
went ahead and trimmed out the road which had only been travelled
by people on foot and by pack-horses.  Two years before three of the
Wallace boys came here on horseback, made a clearing, raised some
potatoes, and other vegetables, and built a cabin.  Soon after they
had harvested their crop their cabin was burned while they were
chopping in the woods, and with it their saddles, clothing and
provision.  William, the youngest, went on horseback to Holland,
Mass., where he procured supplies, while the other two boys remained
to built another cabin, enlarge the clearing, and make ready for the
next year's work.  Disaster only added zest to their enterprise,
and spirit to their energy, and, though obliged to live on the
roasted potatoes from the cabin cellar with no salt to give them
flavor, they kept up their strength, so that when William returned
he found a new and better cabin all completed.  The two older boys
moved away, but William remained and became one of the largest
farmers and most successful business men of the town.  For many
years he was the principal cattle-drover of this section.  A man of
integrity, respect by all who knew him, and lived to a good old age.

NOAH BUFFINGTON was one of the early settlers of Columbia, coming
here about 1797.  With his brother, Cummins Buffington, he commenced
a clearing on the farm now owned by Chauncey H. Fitts, and built the
first frame-house in the town.  His title to the land not proving
good, he left in a few years.  Noah Buffington was a Methodist
minister, and undoubtedly the first one in this part of the country.

PHILIP JORDAN [by Hon. C.B. Jordan] --Among the earliest settlers of Columbia was Philip
Jordan.  The Learneds were here before him.  "Uncle Phil," as he was
called to the day of his death, came about the same time the
Wallaces and Hobarts made their advent.
  Mr. Jordan was born in Rehoboth, Mass., in 1748, and went to
Rhode Island, where he married Miss Martha Hill and for a time resided.
In 1780 he and his brother Benjamin, leaving their families behind,
came to Plainfield N.H. and took up the lot of land now known as the
"Old Town Farm."  On this they pitched their tent, felled several
acres of trees, burned and cleared them off, built a log house,
planted a partial crop, and then went down and brought their families
to their primitive home.  The brothers lived together until 1790,
when, their households fast increasing, Philip, who had been first
married and having the largest family, "swarmed," as it is termed,
and with his wife and children started for Columbia.  In this town
he located on the lot on the river now occupied by David Cook as his
homestead.  There was only a bridle-path from Guildhall Falls to his
new home.  Thither, by boat or by pack-horse, he had to carry his
corn and grain for several years to be ground.  His children were
numerous and growing, and it was with no little difficulty that he
could always find enough to fill their hungry mouths.  One season
the larder ran so low that he had to dig up the potato seed already
planted to keep starvation from the door; soon berries came, and
these, with the milk from their cow, helped to keep the family alive.
"Uncle Phil," however, denying himself so long for the sake of his
children, had grown weak for want of food, and a good deal discouraged,
and had taken his couch one day full convinced that he would never
again be able to rise from it.  This feeling had not long possessed
him before one of his children, who had been down on the meadow
berrying, came dashing in with the news that a bear was also among
them picking berries.  The old gentleman at once arose, took his
cane, and grasping his trusty rifle, hobbled along in the direction
pointed out by the child until he caught sight of the old bruin, and
then, nerved and sustained by the desperation of hunger and
prospective starvation, he drew a bead upon the animal and laid him
low.  The bear proved to be a monster; well fattened by his summer
explorations and incursion, and made glad the household until the
earlier crops came to their relief.  Mr. Jordan was a great hunter
and trapper, and spent most of his winters (until old age and
decreptitude prevented) indulging his favorite pursuit.  (Moose were
plenty anywhere in his locality, and it is said that in one winter
he killed seventeen within four miles of Columbia Valley.  The best 
of the meat was kept and eaten fresh through the winter or dried for
the summer.  The skins were useful for chair-bottoms, snow-shoe
"filling," floor mats, and when tanned, served to cover the children
in their beds, while the moose's "shanks" were worn in place of boots
and shoes.)
  Mr. Jordan was always calm and self-possessed, let what would
happen, and it was related of him by the late James Cogswell,
another old hunter, that while "Uncle Phil" was out hunting one
winter, after he had become old, heavy and clumsy, with his pack
upon his back (into which was strapped his axe) and snow shoes on
his feet, he undertook to pass over what appeared to be a knoll,
but was really a spruce top covered with deep snow.  As the old fellow
got midway of the mound his snow shoes canted to one side, and down he
went into the snow and brush clear to his arms, and has not sounded
bottom then.  His situation was perilous as well as ludicrous. He
could neither get down nor up.  His arms were so bound by the limbs
of the tree that he could not get at his axe, and he vainly stuggled
to extricate himself.  Mrs. Cogswell happened to come that way, and,
hearing someone talking, he supposed he was near a party of hunters.
Looking for them he discovered "Uncle Phil's" head bobbing up and
down in the snow, while the old man (as was his habit) kept up
an incessant conversation with himself.  At last, despairing of
relif, he ceased his efforts and settled down to his apparent fate
saying "Well, I swear, I guess dog-days will fetch Old Phil out of
this."  Mrs. Coggswell then made known his presence and helped the
old hunter out.  This was "Uncle Phil's" last trip into the woods
unattended.
  He and his good wife reared a large family of large children,
John, Cynthia J., William, Benajah, Asa, Huldah, Nancy and Caleb.
They were hardy and strong, and almost a race of giants.  John early
removed to Canada where he embarked in the business of buying and
selling cattle and real estate, and rapidly grew rich.  He died
leaving a large family, and a competency for each.  He was the
ancestor of the Jordans now in Eaton, Cookshire, Coaticook, and the
adjoining towns in Canada.  Asa died in Jefferson; Caleb in Colebrook;
Nancy married a Mr. Frizzell, of Colebrook and there lived and died.
He left a large family, the youngest of whom is Mrs. Joseph Robinson,
to whom the writer is indebted for dates, etc. for this sketch.
Philip Jordan's wife died April 18, 1827, and he died July 6, 1836.
Both were sincerely mourned as pioneers of the town and section;
as good people, kind parents and friends who had seen much of the
history of their country, passing through the birth, the infancy
and wonderful growth of the Republic.  The Revolutionary war and that
of 1812 were matters of their observation, and now, having seen their
country established on an enduring basis, this old couple laid
themselves down among their friends and quietly feel into the
"sleep that knows no waking."
  
BENJAMIN JORDAN was born in Rehoboth, Mass., and when only a stripling,
enlisted in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the forty capturing
Gen. Prescott, commander of the British forces on Rhode Island.
May 18, 1780, he married Mary Walker, who was born in Coventry, R.I.,
and five months later they came to Plainfield, N.H., where they
cleared up the Old Town Farm.  "Aunt Molly" made annual horseback
pilgrimages to her Rhode Island home for wool and things, to keep the
children warm.  In 1816 they came to Jordan hill, in Columbia, 
which recieved its name from him.  They had fourteen children.
Benjamin and Molly made them a good farm.  The government he had so
faithfully served remembered him a pension, and together they lived
for sixty years, when the husband passed on to the final reward of
all toilers, patriots and Christians.  The good wife remained until
she lacked but five months of 100 full years, when she lay down at
night to take her usual rest, and fell into a sleep from which the
morning sun failed to awake.  It was pleasant to talk with the old
lady of the stirring times of the Revolution, the men she knew who
took part in that war, of the War of 1812, the Dark Day, the cold
season, and the thousand things and events of our early history
which she kept vividly in mind.

CHAPTER LXXIV
page 731

MILLS,ETC.--In 1801 Charles Thompson built a grist and saw-mill on
Sim's stream in the Valley, on the site now owned by Hazen Bedel.
This was the commencement of the boom in business at that place...
previous to the completion of THompson's mill, the settlers had to
go to Lancaster for their milling.  This grist-mill retained a
monopoly of business for some time.  In 1819 Roswell Hobart.. built
a small mill on Roaring brook, where the grist-mill of William W.
Keach now stands.  This mill was constructed toboth grind grain and
saw lumber.  The stones were quarried from a ledge in Brunswick, Vt.
It was only a provender-mill, while the saw mill had an upright saw
driven by a "flutter" wheel, with the carriage propelled by a "ray"
wheel and carried back by a friction "gig" wheel.  This style of
mill was simple and unique.  These mills were common along all the
small streams... there are ruins of three mills built by the
Osgoods for sawing lumber, further up Roaring brook; one on Cone
brook back of John F. Locke's building, built by E.H. Mahurin in
1830, or even earlier. [more about mills in original document not
included here].

PEARLASHES AND POTASH--Reference was made in the road-survey of 1802
to "Larnard's pearlash," which was situated on the little brook at
the north line of S. M. Harvey's farm.  Once of these establishments
was indespendable in those days to the prosperity of every neighbor-
hood, and Columbia had several, the largest and most important one
being in operation as late as 1854.  This stood on the west side of
the highway close to the little stream that runs down the steep
hill just above the hotel, and the last operated by Jotham Sawyer,
who brought ashes down from all the north country, where he paid from
six to ten cents a bushel for them.  Here there wer put into great
tubs, leached, and the lye placed in large potash kettles set in
arches, and the water evaporated, which left in the bottom of the
kettles, a great cake of dirty-brown matter, called "potash."
These lumps were broken up, re-leached, evaporated, and dried in
brick ovens, producing a whiter, purer grade of potash called
"pearlash."  In this concentrated form the great forests of these
valleyes, were, with much labor, turned into money by the hardy
settlers, who, in the winter, conveyed the pearlash to Portland in 
their long-runnered, square, red-boxed sleds, and came back laden
with the necessaries of life, "rum," and SOME money.  Almost the
only products having a cash value even as late as 1830 or 1840 were
potash and grass seed.

TANNING AND SHOE-MAKING--The first tannery in northern Coos was built
by James Lewis at the Valley some time previous to 1810, as we then
find him taxed "two dollars for tan works."  This was a small affair
of four vats, located on the north bank of Sim's stream, just west
of the highway.  Here the farmers from far and near brought their
"hides" and had them tanned "on shares."  Those were slow-going times,
and a whole year was considered none too long for the hides to lie in
the vats.  Then the farmer took his half to the local shoe-maker,
and had it worked up into serviceable, if not ornamental, foot gear
for himself and family; or, what was the earlier mode, waited until
some itinerant shoe-maker made his annual round with bench and kit
of tools, then put him at work in one corner of the big kitchen,
where he "pegged away" until the whole family was shod.  The local
shoe-maker of Columbia for some years was this same James Lewis,
who worked up in the winter his share of the leather he tanned
in summer; while Sam Carr went from house to house to protect the
"understandings" of the more prosperous and independent families.

CLOTH-DRESSING--In 1810 came here one Marsena Blodgett, a cloth-dresser
by trade.  He bought the land where his grandson, Byron A. Lovering,
how lives, and built a small cloth-dressing mill on the small brook,
on the south side of his farm, called Beaver brook.  He merely
"dressed" the cloth woven in the families of the industrious
settlers, and the business was abandoned when the "factory was built
at Colebrook.

POTATOES, DISTILLERIES AND STARCH-MILLS -- The potato has always been
a favorite product of the Columbia farmer, and its manufacture
into potato-whiskey and potato-starch has involved more capital
and enterprise than anything else.  One of the road-surveys of 1836
speaks of the "old distillery" which stood on the little brook
above George L. Bailey's house.  The first of these distilleries
was erected at the Valley and operated by Hezekiah Parsons, Esq.
Capt. Abel Hobart built one later on the little brook crossing the
road just above the house of Samuel I. Bailey.  Another that helped
to supply the appetite of the people for spirit tood on the little
brook that corsses the road near the north line of S. M. Harvey's
farm.  These distilleries were abandoned from 1820 to 1830.

In 1852 Huse Lull built a small starch-mill on Sim's stream just
above the pond of Bedel's mill and made starch for two or three years,
but high water carried away his dam.  Nothing more was done in
starch-making until 1860, when Hazel Bedel built a mill at the
Valley.  In 1867 Alba Holmes moved his mill from the Nulhegan
river, in Vermont to Roaring brook. [more about mills in original
document not included here].

FERRY AND TOLL BRIDGE--The first settlers of Columbia and of
Minehead (Bloomfield) and Lemington, Vt., were in close business and
social relations, which necessitated frequent crossing of the
COnnecticut.  This was easily done during the long months of winter
upon the ice, but it was difficult and hazardous for the rest of
the year.  Foot-bridges were readily made by felling the large pine
trees that lines the river's bank; but teams had to resort to the
treacherous fords.  Somewhere about 1820 a toll-bridge was
constructed across the river on the farm now owned by W.E. Cone.
This was the principal means of communication between the people
on the opposite sides until 1840, when it was swept away by an
ice-freshet, and they again resorts to the fords and "Uncle" Elihu
DeForest's ferry; an old-established and venerable institution, 
which slowly and unhurriedly corssed the river just above the
toll-bridge, and was the only ferry on the Connecticut for over
forty miles.  Christopher Bailey and Luther Hibbard tried to secure
the charter, but the legislature deemed Esquire DeForest the more
suitable person, and he was granted the privilege December 24,
1799.  The toll-bridge was built in 1844 by the Columbia Union
Toll-Bridge Company, a stock company consisting of those to be
benefitted and willing to pay $15 a share.

MERCHANTS--July 20, 1807, the selectmen gave Bellows & Carlisle
their "entire approbation to sell all kinds of spiritous liquors
by small measure at all seasonable hours at their store."  This was
the first reference made by the records to stores or merchants,
and probably marks the commencement of mercantile operations in
Columbia, as the sale of "rum and molasses" would be the first thing
provided for by a merchant in those days, before the "cause of
temperance" had come to trouble men's consciences.

Bellows & Carlisle traded in the building now occuped by Albert P.
Titus as a dwelling house, and, for those days, carried a respectable
stock of goods, being taxed in 1810 for "stock in trade" $1,500. 
In 1813 James Dewey, who had for some time been clerk for Bellows &
Carlisle, succeeded them in trade, and offered his customers a
stock of $750, while his competitor in trade, Sam Carr, divided the
business with him on a stsock of $150. In 1816 William Cargill
succeeded James Dewey and traded at the old store.  About 1830 or '31
Ephraim M. Mahurin built a store in the south part of the town,
opposite his hotel, and commenced trade with a stock of goods valued
at $150.  In 1832 his son John succeeded him, but died the same
year, and Daniel B. Schoff took the store for the next year.
The same year R.G. Atherton and Mr. Jay built and carried on the
store opposite the present residence of John Lang.  In 1835
Samuel G. Bishop and Dr. Lewis Snow commenced trade in the Mahurin
store, and carried on business in a small way for four or five years.
The same year Huse Lull got off his peddler's cart, and commenced
trade in the small store formerly owned by Atherton & Jay.  The next
year he associated with Rodolphus D. Atherton with him, and increased
the stock of goods from $75 to $400.  In 1839 Atherton withdrew from
the firm, and Lull continued in trade for another year or two, when
he returned to his cart, which he drove through this region for over
forty years, and, for far and near, Huse Lull's peddler cart was one
of the institutions of this section for two generations.

Trade never drifted readily to Columbia; and while those who engaged
in merchandisin here never made very heavy failures, neither did 
they secure great profits, and the abandonment of business by Lull
may be said to be the end of merchandising in this town, though a
number have traded in a small way for the accomodation of their
neighborhoods.  AMong these we find Gould Messer, Harvey Hobart,
Alonzo Eastman, Erastus Hutchinson, Lorrin Bundy, and Hiram Hammond
at "The Valley;" Dr. Lewis Snow, Fred T. Stevens and Joseph Barnett,
in South Columbia; Orson Stevens and Jotham Sawyer in the old 
Mahurin store; and Enoch R. Kelsea, who is now doing a small
business for the convenience of the people of the east part of the
town.

CIVIL LIST--Representatives, Town Clerks and Selectmen
List from 1799-18xx [only a few years of original text included here]
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT consisting of Cockburn (1811-
Columbia, Colebrook, Stewartstown, Wale's Location and Shelburn)
[Original list not included here]

TOWN CLERK-COCKBURN
1798 Abel Larnard
1799 Chauncey Curtis
1800-1806 Abel Larnard
1807-12 Jared Cone
TOWN CLERK-COLUMBIA
1813-14 James Dewey
1815 Sylvester W. Cone
1816-18 Jared Cone
1819 Sylvester W. Cone
1810-22 Jared Cone
1823-25 William Holkins
1826-36 Roswell Hobart
1837-38 Pickens Boynton (resigned Oct 1838)
1838-1843 Roswell Hobart
1843-1845 Samuel Harvey
1846-48 Harvey Hobart
1849-53 ALonzo Eastman
[additional town clerks to 1887 included in original]

SELECTMEN 1798 - 1887 [original list not included here]

WAR OF THE REBELLION--Columbia promptly responded to all calls of the
general goverment for soldiers throughout the war of the Rebellion..
[extracts only].. The women gathered in societies to prepare such
articles as to lessen the hardships of a soldier's life; including
bundles of bandages, ..  Fifteen men from the town enlisted.
Soldiers enlisted from Columbia not credited elsewhere:
G.A. Bedel, Thomas Kinnery, Charles Rogers, Wesley Noyes,
Aaron Simpson, Richard Dunn, Valentine McSherry, Enoch Whipple,
Ruel D. Colby, David Coats, John S. Lyman, Bushrod Smith,
Orrin Lombard, Wesley Chase, WIlliam Cooper, Scivillian M. Gilkey,
Julius Mahurin, Charles Jordan.  Of Columbia's boys in the army,
a few were killed in battle, some died in hospitals; but a larger
per cent, than the average, returned at the end of their service
in health, none, as we learn, in disgrace, but many with credit for
great bravery.

1886 popultion 752. 174 polls, 312 horses, 98 oxen, 528 cows,
395 neat stock, 948 sheep, 10 hogs, 11 carriages, 3 starch-mills,
3 grist-mills, 4 saw-mills,  Land valuation $187,440.  Total
valuation $269,622.  Total tax for the year $4,526.10.

page 738
CHAPTER LXXXVI
... at a special town meeting held January 13, 1803, the following
article was inserted in the warning: "To see if they will accept
the request of their committee in order to obtain preaching of
the gospel" and it was "voted to agree upon some measure for to
obtain meeting." .. but for many years the people had no regular
religious services in town, but depended upon the irregular services
of itinerants, upon "deacon meetings," and attendance at the churches
of Colebrook and Stewartstown. It was a common thing in those days of
strong men and hardy women for them to go some ten or fifteen miles
to Stewartstown to attend meeting, often riding on horseback, the man
in the saddle and the woman on the pillion behind him, and so
"riding double."...When other means of worship failed, what was
known as "deacon's meetings" were held at some convenient school-house.
These, for many years, were conducted by Deacon Bancroft, who offered
the usual prayer and reading from the Scriptures, and then read one
of Baxter's stirring sermons, and "deaconed off" the hymn.  Many
efforts were made to build a church, but they could only agree to
disagree, though they once got as far in the matter as to hew the
timber for the frame; dissentions, however, arose as to the location
of the house, resulting, finally, in the indefinite postponement of
the enterprise, and the rotting of the timber on the ground where it
was hewed.  Finally, in 1850, the Methodist conference took the town
in charge, and sent Mr. Watkins here as a minister.  He was a stirring
not-easily-discouraged man, and, by the assistance of Pickens
Boynton, a young preacher not yet connected with the conference,
the people were stirred up, and taking the matter in hand, two
meeting houses were erected--one, in East Columbia, in 1850, and 
one on the river until the following year.  Until about 1870 the
two churches supported only one minister, who occupied the pulpits
of either church on alternate Sundays.  Now both societies maintain
a minister throughout the year.

COLUMBIA CHURCH--In the years of the early settlement of Colubmia 
there was no priest nor prophet in the town, and every man did that
which was right in his own eyes.  About the year 1820 a Congregation-
alist minister, by the name of Rankin came and preached, and labored
among the people for a time.  The people were also spiritually
instructed by Mr. Hale, Mr. Saunders and Mr. Holmes.  The latter
lived on the hill in the brick house now owned and occupied by
Mr. George Hammond.  Mr. Holmes divided his time and services between
the people of Columbia and Colebrook.  Mr. Samuel Holt came here as
a missionary.  In process of time Mr. Bradford was settled of this
people, and lived on the farm now occupied by Mr. Charles Russ.  There
were no churches in those days, and religious services were held in
dwelling-houses, school-houses and barns.  On one occasion, when a
service was being held in the barn of Major Cone, a certain main,
whose hearing was defective, climbed up and sat on one of the cross
timbers of the barn close to the speaker.  The day being warm and 
the sermon somewhat lengthy, Eutychus Jr. sank into a deep sleep and
fell from his high loft.
  Sometime previous to 1835 the Methodist circuit riders made their
appearance with their Bibles, tracts and saddle-bags.  They were
rough and ready, uncultured, unpolished, and often unwelcomed, but
their burning zeal, earnest piety and enthusiasm gave them a
hearing, and afterwards, followers.  Among those circuit riders we
have the names of Manning, Goddard, B. Fales, W.M. Mann, C. Olin,
Woodard, Adams, Robertson, Beard, S. Wiggins, W. Johnson and
E. Pettingill [more not included here].

In 1850 Mr. Warner was minister in charge, Pickens Boynton secured
subscriptions, Horatio N. Cone gave a lot of land for a building site
and the services of J.F. Luke were secured to erect the church,
which was finished in 1851, and dedicated by Henry H. Hartwell,
Pickens Boynton and Mr. Warner being in attendance.  Regular services
were now held.  Partial list of ministers: J.W. Spencer, -- Watkins,
D.W. Barber, -- Tabor, -- Bryant, --Barnes, N. Martin, D.J. Smith,
-- Kendall.  After Mr. Kendall's term of service expired there was
no regular preaching for some years except for transient laborers.
In 1875 or 76 A.B. Russell became pastor in charge [more info not
included here.]

CHRISTIAN CHURCH, EAST COLUMBIA -- The Christian Church was first
organized December 3, 1831.  Previous to this time, as there were
here a few members of the church, they were occasionally visited
and some meetings were held in the school-house by preachers from
different parts of the state and Massachusetts: among whom
Mark Fernald, Joseph Banfield, John T.G. Colby, O.P. Tuckerman,
Simeon Sweatt, Daniel P. Pike and Elijah Shaw.
 When on December 3, 1831, a church was formed by Elder John T.G.
Colby it was composed of the following named members:
William Holkins, Daniel Rogers, John Annis, Abel Marshall,
Samuel Marshall, John P. Daniels, Stephen Smith, Augustus Spencer,
Joshua S. Mathes, Elijah Mathes and Phebe Rogers.  The church then
chose Bro. Samuel Marshall, clerk and agreed to hold regular monthly
conference every first Saturday in each moth.  There being no
preacher of this faith in Columbia, the pastorate was given to Elder
Samuel Drown, a Free Will Bapsits clergyman from Colebrook and
others...In 1842 Samuel Durgin, of Maine, came to Columbia...
December 10, 1842 the church voted to reorganize.  Elder Samuel Durgin
was chosen moderator.  Samuel Marshall was chosen clerk.  Brother
John ANnis and Brother Asa Noyes were elected deacons.
[more about this church not included here]

Deacon John Annis, who was born in Goffstown NH October 11, 1797. He
is, probably, now (March 1887) the only living member of the original
Christian church of East Columbia.  His house was, and always has 
been, the home for all the visiting preachers... His barn
was often used for official religious meetings in earlier years.

(end)