HISTORY OF WHITEFIELD, 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, 1018 pgs.
 
p. 447
This pentagular section of the ancient "Laconia" is situated near the
southwest corner of the county about four miles east from where
John's river enters the Connecticut, at the head of the "Fifteen-mile
falls."  It lies directl north from Concord, and is bounded by
Lancaster, Jefferson, Carroll, Bethlehem and Dalton.  All of these
surrounding towns having been chartered previously to Whitefield,
it was literally  "what was left," and its metes and bounds were
established by its outlying surveys.  The grant of this unappropriated
section was in answer to a petition by Josiah Moody and "his
Associates" on April 12, 1773.  There were eighty-nine petitioners,
principally from the southern part of the state and from the vicinity
of Boston.  In answer to that petition, a township was granted 
July 4, 1774, purporting to contain 19,077 acres with an allowance
of 1,070 acres for unimprovable land, and named WHITEFIELDS.  The
name occurs three times in the record of the grant, and it has the
plural termination in every instance.

THE GRANT--Prior to 1760, following the conquest of Canada, there were
no white settlements in the Connecticut valley north of Charlestown,
then "No. 4."  Indeed many of our fathers well remember when no foot
of white man had penetrated the primeval solitudes of Northern New
Hampshire, save that of the daring hunter, or the unfortunate Indian
captive on his way to or from Canadian exile.  But the capture of
Montreal in 1761 was the signal for the hostile savage to retire 
before the northern march of civilization.

Immediately upon the cessation of hostilities there was an unprecented
rush of adventurers and speculators for the ungranted lands upon both
sides of the Connecticut.  Applications for charters increased, and
Gov. Wentworth, in no wise loth to grant them, filled his coffers
with the required fees, and opened up the new country ot his gratified
subjects.
  The promised rewards to returned soldiers were not forgotten
entirely, but they stood, apparently, no better chance did the
stranger applicant, or him who had not consented to bear arms during
the long and bloody French and Indian wars.
  The survey and mapping of this northern country was long the line
of the Connecticut river as a base, was made by Hubertus Neal, as
deputy surveyor of the King's Woods in 1761-62.  He was directed to
continue the Blanchard survey, which ended at the mouth of the lower
Ammonoosuc, observing the same general rule of marking every six
miles along the river for the line or corner of a future township.
He extended his survey sixty miles, or to the present north line of
Lemington, Vermont.  It was from this survey that a plan of the
Connecticut river was drawn, and three tiers of towships projects
upon either side of the river (for Vermont was then a part of the
"New Hampshire Grants").  Upon the east side the general order was
broken above the towns of Lyman and Monroe, which then constituted
one township.  Applications were made for these ungranted divisions
as soon as mapped; and, during the few years immeidately proceeding
the Revolution, nearly two hundred grants of townshipos were made
between the White and Green Mountains above Charlestown.  
  It was during this new township-fever, or seaons of ungranted land-
patents, that Benning and Paul Wentworth and six others from
Portsmouth, a score from Massachusetts in the vicinity of Boston,
and sixty-two others, mostly from Southern New Hampshire, applied for
a tract of wild land in Northern, New Hampshire.  This division was
given to them.  It was to them a "terra incognita," but it, like
western lands of the present day, showed well by the map.
  The petition was granted under the date of July 4, 1774...called the
Charter of "Whitefields"... the "Grantees of Whitefields" in this
document include: Josiah Moodey, Thomas Clough, Leavit Clough, 
Jonathan Moodey, Jonathan Bailey, Jonah Lang, Nathan Johnson,
Eliphalet Neal, William Norton, Samuel Swan, James Merrick,
Phineas Merrick, Aaron Merrick, Jose Merrick, Obed Merrick, William
Frothingham, Samuel Cate, Samuel Cate, Juner, [sic Jr.], Phinehas
Hodgdon, Samuel Langdon, Jeremiah Clough, Esqr., Peter Green Esqr.,
John Flagg Esqr., David Woods, David Waite, David Woods Jr., Samuel
Swan Jr., Eleazer Richardson, William Farrington, Holten Johnson,
Henry Oliver, Mathew Farrington, John Stevens, Jonathan Dix,
Stephen Greenleaf, Nathan Waite, Samuel Nutter, David Gardner,
Timothy Nast, Samuel Boltwood, Benjamin Newell, Aaron Newell,
Ichabod Weeks, Benjamin Johnson, John Lewis, Jeremiah Clough Jr., Esqr,
James Gibson, John Holden, Aaron Sargent, Edward Mardeen,  Henry
Clough, Abner Hains, Moses Randal, Jeremiah Gibson, Henry Gerish Esqr.,
William Simons, Capt. Stephen Gerish, Samuel Pickering, Joseph White,
Increase Newhall, Joseph Hart, John Hurd Esqr, John Hodgdon,
Benjamin Hurd, Benjamin Hurd Jr., Joseph Hurd, Isaac Hurd, Josiah
Harris Jr., Samuel Harris, Nehemiah Rand, Patric Dougherty, James
Bradish, James Braddish Jr., Seth Sweetsire, Benjamin Sweetser,
William Harris, Josiah Harris, these Last fifteen persons are all of
Charlestown in the prvince of Massachusetts Bay--Nehemiah Eastbrook
in Lexington...Benjamin Rand of Weston MA, Roger Bartlet & Samuel
Barlet of Boston; John Cockran Esqr, Benning Wentworth, Thomas
Macdonough, Paul Wentworth, Revd Jeremy Belknap, John Marshall of
Portsmouth; Revd Stephen Peabody, Ephraim Pickering....

[more about the original grant in original source not included here]

It is a fact noticeable to those interestede in the local histories
of the state, that many of the grantees of townships conveyed during
the last years of the administration of New Hampshire's last
royal governor, John Wentworth, Esq., were of those holding
commissions, civil or military, under the royal seal.  There were
many also connected with the governor's family, either by marriage,
or by the strong ties of friendship.
  Striving to uphold the cause of the King, it was natural he should
wish to retain the influence of his principal friends, and the support
of the more active minds in the provinc, both civil and military;
nor were the clergy to be overlooked, for many of them were wielding
political influence.  It was reported by the "Sons of Liberty,"--
"We cannot depend on the countenance of many persons of rank here,
for royal commissions and family connections influence the principal
gentlemen among us, at least to keep silence in these evil times."
It was in reward for this "keeping silence," or for open support of
the governor in those trying days, that we find many of their names
among the grantees of new towns chartered at that time.  It was a
"favor-me-and-I-will-reward-you" policy, and it appeared in the list
of the first individual owners of Whitefield.

There was PAUL WENTWORTH, a relative of the governor, under whose
auspices the first map of New Hampshire was produced according to
Holland's survey.  He received an appointment in the governor's 
council, but never took his seat.  He was one of the benefactors to
Dartmouth College.  He died at Surinam, in December 1793.

BENNING WENTWORTH, in the list of Grantees, was a cousin of the
then governor, and brother to his wife, Frances.  He was one of the
"proscribed" upon the public records of 1788 for espousing the cause
of the King.  He afterward held office in Nova Scotia, while his
cousin and brother-in-law was governor of that province.  He was a
native of Boston, born in 1757, and died in Nova Scotia, February 1808.

THOMAS McDONOUGH was private secretary to Gov. Wentworth, and,
as recognition for faithful service, or faithful silence, he was
remembered in Whitefields' allotment.  He fled the country, and was
among the conscripted.  After the return of peace he was appointed to
a consulship at Boston, and died there in 1805.

JOHN COCHRAN was a commander at Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth
harbor when Paul Revere rode up post-haste from boston, bringing a
copy of a recent act of the King prohibiting the exportation of
gunpowder and military stores to America.  He was a true servitor
of the King, but the sop of one ninety-fourth part of the wild
township of Whitefields proved of little value; for, being one of 
those of whom it was written, "certain persons who have left the
state and joined the enemies thereof," his property was confiscated.

One of the alleged petitioners for lands in Whitefields in 1773
was PETER GREEN, ESQ. who held a justice's commission under the
Wentworth seal.  He was an outspoken tory, and made himself so
obnoxious that he was advertised in the public prints as an enemy
to his country, and was threatened with violence by a committee of
his own neighbors.  He was afterward arrested and confined in the
jail at Exeter.  Upon taking the oath of allegience he was set at
liberty, and he afterward became one of Concord's most loyal and
influential citizens.

CAPTAIN JEREMIAH CLOUGH and his four sons, Jeremiah, Leavitt,
Henry and Thomas, received each a ninety-fourth part of Whitefields'
territory in recognition in part for valuable military services
rendered by the father during the French and Indian war.  They were
of Canterbury, and Jeremiah Sr., was a noted scout and ranger.
He was afterward a captain in the Revolutionary service, and his
descendants are men of mark and influence in Canterbury and Loudon
to this day.  Henry joined the Shakers, and was one of the founders
of that society at Lebanon, New York.

CAPTAIN STEPHEN GERRISH, another one of the grantees, was of
Canterbury; a zealous leader in the border wars of those days, and
a sterling patriot in the time of the Revolution.  Of rough nature,
unlettered, unpolished, yet worthy of honor, he died in 1788,
aged seventy-six.

HENRY GERRISH ESQ., son of Capt. Stephen, and one of the original
owners (by the grace of George III, and doubtless on account of
the valuable military service of his father,) was one of the foremost
leaders, both civil and military, in those "days of '76."  He,
in company with Capt. Jeremiah Clough, made the first known survey
of Whitefields in the fall of 1774. This is the survey that the first
settlers disclaimed as never having actually occurred, as no trace of
it was discernable about 1798.  But in 1815, cut in the bark of an
ancient hemlock near the southeast corner of the town, was still
plainly traceable the H.G. (Henry Gerrish) of the surveyor of 1774,
and the writer hereof saw, but a few years since, the original bill
for services (of which is still preserved) of Henry Gerrish and
Jeremiah Clough in this same survey.... The result of this survey
was a roughly-marked road through town, and 104 lots of seventy-five
acres, each located upon either side of this road from "Lloyd's Hill"
northward toward Lancaster.

JONATHAN DIX was a sharer in the original ownership of Whitefields.
He was living in Canterbury at that time, espoused the cause of the
King, and was among the "proscribed" of 1788.  He was the great-
grandfather of Gen. John A. Dix, the famous war governor of
New York.  In the town of Dixville is commemorated the family name
through the grandson, Col. Timothy Dix, Jr.

TIMOTHY NASH, the re-discoverer of the White Mountain Notch, was a
grantee of Whitefields.  He was of Lunenburg, Mass., and among the
first settlers of Lunenberg, Vt., while it was yet a part of the
"New Hampshire Grants," about 1764.

REV. JEREMY BELKNAP, the early historian of the state, received the
royal gift of one ninety-fourth part of Whitefields.  He was then
pastor of the first church of Dover.  In 1784 he was one of a party
of explorers who gave to Mr. Washington its name.  He died in Boston
in 1798.

SAMUEL LANGDON, another whose good will and influence Gov. Wentworth
sought by gifts and grants, was a pastor of a church in Portsmouth
when he was made one of the petitioners for a share in the division
of lands in "Whitefields," and also in that of "Bretton Woods," on
the south.  It was in the following year, 1774, that he was called,
and accepted, the presidency of Harvard university, which he held 
until 1780, when, resigning, he was installed over the church at
Hampton Falls, where he died in 1797.  At the breaking out of the
Revolution, he zealously espoused the cause of the patriots, and,
at the gathering for battle at "Breed's Hill," it was Dr. Langdon
who invoked the blessing of God upon the occasion.  He was delegate
to Exeter in 1788, as a member of the convention to adopt the
Federal Constitution.  In religion he was a Trinitarian and a
Calvinist.

REV. STEPHEN PEABODY, a grantee, and who was chosen by the
proprietors to draw the names and numbers in the original draft of
lits in Whitefields, was the first settled minister of Atkinson,
some time prior to 1772.  He was a man of large social and political
influence, but no gifts of the provincial governor could purchase it
for the cause of the King.  He was chaplain in Col. Poor's regiment
when stationed at Winter Hill.  He preached the election sermon
(as was a custom of those early days0 before the General COurt of
New Hampshire in 1797.  Mr. Peabody died in 1819, aged seventy-seven
years.

GENERAL NATHANIEL PEABODY, though not one of the grantees, was chosen
assessor at the first called meeting of the proprietors after the
declaration of peace.  He also, as justice of the peace, signed the
first call for a meeting in the interest of the original owners.
He was a practicing physician at Atkins in 1774, and also held a civil
commission under the King, and was the first man in the provinces
(so it is said) to resign his commission on account of political
differences.  He was a member of the Council in 1785, and afterward
member of Congress.  He moved to Exeter, where he died in 1823, aged
eighty-two.  The early record of the town contain his signature in
broad, bold characters.

The first moderator of Whitefields' proprietary deliberations was
Col. Samuel Adams, of pre-Revolutionary and subsequent political
fame.  He was, at the time, lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts;
and, as he was also chosen one of the assessors of the meeting,
it is more than likely he had either become by purchase owner of some
of the original rights, or was acting as agent for the Massachusetts
proprietors, of whom there were orginally nineteen.  And here let me
note a fact of which few readers are, perhaps, aware, that in the 
first records of the proceedings of these proprietors, the town has
the genuine signature of Col. Adams, attensting, as moderator, to the
election of Jonas Minot as proprietor's clerk.  He was nearly
seventy years old when he gave to the town this autograph, but it is
in the same bold, unmistakable characters that are found along
with Hancock's Franklin's Josiah Bartlett's, William Whipple's
and the rest of the immortal band of "the Declaration."  We all
remember that he was one of the marked men by the British
authorities as a "stirrer-up of faction," -- one of whom it was
said "he could not be conciliated by any offer of office or pension."
He was one of the excepted two in Gen. Gage's proclamation of
pardon to all rebels--John Hancock being the other.

CAPTAIN JONAS MINOT--To no one man is the town more indebted for its
first awakening after the dawn of peace to the country following the
Revolution, than to its first proprietor's clerk and treasurer,
Capt. Jonas Minot, grandfather of Judge Minot, of Concord.  Having
obtained, by purchase, certain of the original titles, he called a
meeting of the proprietors, through the Portsmouth "Gazette," to look
after their almost forgotten interests in Whitefields.  He was, at the
time, a resident of Concord, Mass., where he was born in 1735, and
there he died, in March 1813.  He was a farmer and a man of wealth,
and was largely interested in the organization and settlement of
several townships in New Hampshire, among which was this town, of
which he at one time owned, by the purchase of forfeited land titles,
more than three-fourths.  The ownership of other lands afterward
passed to his son, Samuel, who was born in Concord, Mass., in April
1774.  He was early interested with his father in these "up-country"
wild lands, and many were the horseback rides taken in those
primitive days of rude highways and little travel to look after their
land investments in this section.  In 1802 Samuel Minot settled in
Bath, then one of the most enterprising towns of Northern New
Hampshire, the better to superintend the sale and settlement of
his Whitefields possession.

The first settlers, as is usual in a new country, were men of small
means; and to encourage immigration, Mr. Minot agreed to receive from
those who would purchase and settled upon his lands, their grain in
payment, to be delivered at his house in Bath.  Wheat was more
largely grown in those days in proportion to other farm products
than now; hence it became the principal purchasing medium with the
pioneers of Whitefield, and a descendant of the Minots, still a
resident of Bath, informs us he distinctly remembers how, in his
boyhood, those land debtors of his father's would come with their
ox-sleds loaded with wheat for his granary, brought in barrels, bags,
and bed-ticks, all the way from that "terra incognita," Whitefields
(wherever that might be!) coming to day, departing tomrrow.

It was through the influence of Mr. Minot that ASA KING was
induced to exchange his farm in Sutton for a thousand-acre tract
around the present village of Whitefield, of which Mr. King may
be said to have been the founder, and, by the same influence, or that
of his father, some years before, came Major John Burns, from New
Boston, the pioneer of several families from that vicinity and 
Francestown in after years.  So that to Jonas Minot and his son Samuel
may be accorded the credit of Whitefield's first awakening.

----------------------
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN...
There are no recorded transactions of the original owners in
possession of the town prior to 1792, on the 3d day of April, when
they were called together by a published notice of John Calfe,
justice of the peace, at the request of certain of the proprietors
regarding more than one half of the shares in the township.  They
met at the inn of Capt. Benjamin French, in the town of Dunstable,
Mass., and Col. Samuel Adams--the irrepressible Samuel--was chosen
moderator of the meeting.  Capt. Jonas Minot was chosen proprietor's
clerk and treasurer, and the proprietary records for the next ten 
years are mostly in the hand writing of Mr. Minot, and were very
well kept.  Capt. Robert Foster, Col. Samuel Adams, and Mr. Josiah
Melvin were chosen assessors, and Mr. Nathan Barrett, collector.
These were the first recorded civil officers of the township.[Capt. 
Barrett served with distinction in the Revolution.  He was a
young officer of the militais, and was one of the wounded at the
memorable fight on Concord Common on that 19th of April 1775.
Capt. Barrett was connected by marriage with the family of Mr.
Minot, hence his interest in the town.  The Orin Chase farm
immediately south of the village is well remembered as the "Old
Barrett Lot."] There was little business done at this preliminary
meeting of the proprietors, svae to vote a tax of "twenty shillings,
lawful silver money, upon each original right of land in said
township of Whitefields," and chose an agent (Capt. Jonas Minot)
to "survey, cut roads, settle the lines with other claimers,
introduce settlers to the amount of twenty," by giving "not more
than one hundred acres to each of said twenty settlers, and seeing
about building mills, etc."

Perhaps the most important meeting of the proprietors, between the
date of the grant and the coming of actual settlers, was that of 
May 21, 1794, accepting of ratifying and confirming all previous
proceedings under the charter, including the survey and place of
Henry Gerrish, the draft of ninety-four lots by Rev. Stephen
Peabody in 1776, as per schedule... but not including the locating
of the western boundary, which they had been led to suppose should
be about three miles farther west.  This would have included most
of the John's river valley and the Dalton hills..

June 18, 1795, occured the most important sale of lands in
Whitefields prior to the coming of its pioneer settlers.  Some of
King George's grantees had fled the country and were proscribed
by the act of the General Court of 1788.  Some went to war at 
the call of their country and never returned; most of them failed
to respond to the tax-call of the collectors; so fater repeat
unpaid assessments, the land must be sold to satisfy the inevitable
tax-gatherer.  This was done in accordance with the laws for such
emergencies established; and, at this tax-sale, hodlen at the old
"way-side inn" of Capt. Benjamin French, in Dunstable, first
appears in connection with the affairs of the township, one of its
first and most enterprising settlers, Col. Joseph Kimball.  He
bought the tax-claims of eleven original rights, among which was
that of Peter Green, Esq., embracing the hill lot upon which is
now located the famous "Mountain View House" of William F. Doge & Son.

The last, and one of the most important "down country" meetings of the
original proprietors of Whitefields, was holden at Atkinson on the 3d
day of December 1800.  It was convened by the action of Major John
Burns, who journeyed from Concord, Mass. to Atkinson, to take the
necessary legal steps to warn the meeting; and this is the first
appearance of Major Burns in connection with the affairs of the town;
and it is also the lsat meeting at which any of the grantees took
an active part.  Rev. Stephen Peabody was chosen moderator of the
meeting, he being the last of the original ninety individual owners.
A committee was chosen at this meeting consisting of Burns and 
Peabody, Jonas Baker and Capt. Jonas Minot "to make arrangements of
what is best to be done for the good and interest of the proprietors" .. i.e. laying out and making a road through the town, a re-survey,
etc. .. finally on Dec 25, 1801 it was "voted that twelve settlers 
may go on to settled in said Whitefields on or before the month of May
next.."
[Addition early meetings in original source, not included here]

FIRST DRAFT OF LOTS--Draft of one lot to each original right drawn
May 3, 1776 by Rev. Stephen Peabody for the Proprietors as follows:
Jonah Lang, No. 80; David Woods, 74; Ephraim Pickering, 62; Jeremiah
Clough Jr., 21; Timothy Nash, 13; Jonathan Dix, 29; John Stevens, 2;
Paul Wentworth, 87; Henry Gerrish Esq., 91; William Simons, 35;
Joseph Hart, 56; Peter Green, Esq, 73; Ichabod Weeks, 7; Samuel
Cate, 15; Jeremiah Clough Esq, 43; Samuel Swan, 61; Samuel Swan Jr, 52;
Holton Johnson, 79; John Hurd Esq., 58; John Holden, 33; Samuel 
Langdon, 18; Aaron Sargent, 27; Josiah Harris, 24; Mathew Harrington,
39; James Merrimack, 25; Jose Merrick, 81, Jonathan Bailey, 34;
William Norton, 22; Edward Marden, 31; Eleazer Richardson, 41;
Samuel Nutter, 63, Josiah Harris, 12; Benj. Hurd, 44; Nathan Johnson,
67; Benj. Rand, 75; Joseph Hurd, 32; David White, 60; Joseph White,
94, Samuel Bartlett, 14; Benj. Hurd, 40; Aaron Newhall, 10; John
Flag, Esq. 9; Increase Newhall, 68; John Lewis, 28; James Gibson,
8, Leavitt Clough, 70; Nehemiah Rand, 30; School lot, 101; Isaac
Hurd, 36; Eliphalet Neal, 55; Nathan Waite, 23; Samuel Pickering,
76; Thomas Clough, 3; Seth Sweetser, 57; John Hodgdon, 69; Patrick
Dougherty, 100; Samuel Harris, 37; Church of England, 78;
Phinehas Merrick, 83; Benj. Johnson, 16; Abner Hains, 1; Henry Oliver,
4; Stephen Peabody, 26; John Cockran, Esq. 59; Phinehas Hodgdon,
84; Wm. Frothingham, 82; Stephen Greenleaf, 86; Society &c., 5;
Josiah Moody, 6; Jonathan Moody, 17; Obed Merrick, 89; Thomas
McDonough, 51; Aaron Merrimack, 88; Jeremiah Gibson, 90; Samuel
Boltwood, 66; Nehemiah Eastabrook 99; Roger Bartlett, 92; John
Marshall, 65; Jeremiah Belknap, 95; Henry Clough, 71; Col. Stephen
Gerrish, 97; Moses Randall, 19; James Bradish, 72; Benj. Sweetser,
102; James Bradish, 53; David Woods Jr., 103; David Gardner, 77;
Wm. Harris 20; Benj. Newell, 93; Thomas Rand 98.

The NAMES OF GRANTEES WITH NUMBER OF LOT AND RANGE were included in the
original document, but not repeated here..

From the time of this draft of lots until 1809 the proprietors held
occasional meetings at Bath, Franconia and Lancaster, to take action
to correct mistakes, make up deficiencies in certain lots, etc.  The
last meeting was held at Lancaster, July 11, 1809 when the common land
was appropriated for the second division of all the right not
previously satisfactorily arranged.

---------------

WHAT'S IN A NAME--Error as to the spelling of the name of the town
came in early, and this has given rise to doubts expressed by some
as to the origin, or as there is a reason for every established
fact, its WHY and WHEREFORE.  IT is true that in the original grants,
as copied, the name has a PLURAL ending and also many times thus
appears in some of the earlier records, but it was clearly on account
of early clerical "lapsus pennae" or lack of knowledge of the true
intention of application of the name.  To call it Whitefields in 1774
would have been a misnomer, as there was no place for a field of
white throughout the dark, boughy wilderness within its borders.
  No intervals existed, suggestive of what might become White-fields;
black forest everywhere prevailed, save upon its highlands, which
were thickly covered with maple, beech and birch.
  The writer has in his possession several musty documents relative
to early affairs in the town, of dates from 1778 to 1802, and, 
in most cases, Whitefield is used without the plural ending.  One of
these is a deed from one Stephen Cogan conveying the "right of land
in township of WHITEFIELD so-called, being I purchased of Timothy
Nash."  This Nash was an original grantee, and the one one, we believe,
who lived in the vicinity.  He settled, about 1764, upon the
Connecticut (we think) in the present town of Lunenburg, and doubtless
knew that the land he was granted, and which he reconveyed, lay in
WHITEFIELD without an "s."
  There are but three towns, we believe, in all New Hampshire whose 
titles were not suggested by the parties interested, either from the
names of older places, or in memory of individuals or families.  Nor
is Whitefield the only one that has suffered from misspelling or
misinterpretation.  Bretton Woods, now Carroll, was originally granted
to Sir Thomas Wentworth, Bart. (and others) whose county seat was
"Bretton Hall" at Bretton England.  The grant was "Britton Woods," an
evident error.
  When in 1804 the pioneers of Whitefields petitioned the General
Court to be incorporated as a town, with intent to settle any
complications that might arise form the dual orthography, and to
inform the rest of the world that Whitefield was the desired and proper
title, they asked to have the insinuating "s" forever dropped, which
was accorded December 1,1804. It has always been the supposition, and
the writer has no doubt that it was the intention of the grantor,
either in accordance with his own idea, or by the expressed wish of
some of those upon whom this grant was bestowed, that the name thereof
was to commemorate that of the Rev. George Whitefield, the light of
whose life had but recently been extinguished, and whose name was
then, at the time of the grant, a household word in the vicinity where
the grantees resided.  It is a fact that he was a welcome guest at 
the Wentworth mansion, and that the governor held the itinerating
ecclesiastic in high esteem, although he was proselyting followers
from the established church.  The last week of his life was passed
in New Hampshire, during which time he preached four of his unique
sermons, all delivered in the open air, for there was no church large
enough to hold the crowds who came to see and hear him.  His last
discourse was at Exeter, the day before his death, where, in God's
free, vast temple, he preached for two long hours to a crowd of
interested listeners.  At Newburyport, on the following day, was his
next appointment; but, during the night, he was seized with an
asthmatic paroxysm of which he died, suddenly in his fifty-sixth year.
  Mr. Whitefield was born at Gloucester, England, took the degree of
A.B. from Pembroke college, and was ordained in 1736 by the Bishop of
Gloucester, and in 1740, was admitted to priestly orders.  He made
seven different voyages between England and America always in the cause
of religion and humanity.  It was said of him that "no clergyman ever
possessed the powers of oratory in a higher degree or led a more
useful or virtuous life."  Upon the day of his death, September 30,
1770, all the bell sof Portsmouth tolled from eleven o'clock till 
sunset.
  The house where Whitefield died is still standing, upon School street
in Newburyport, and is pointed out to visitors as one of the objects of
interest in that historic old town.  The church, beneath whose
santuary lie the ashes of the founder of the Calvinistic order of
Methodists, is hard by, and a cenotaph, placed above the dead by an
eminent friend of the preacher, tells the story of his life, labors
and virtues.

PETITION FOR INcORPORATION
On May 25, 1804, the following signed the petition for incorporation
--John Burne, Aaron Bailey Jr, Jesse Kelsa, Benjamin Sanbon, John
Mcmaster, David Burns, William Burne, Abraham  Sanburn, amasa Dutten,
Joseph Kimball, Simon Sanborn [this is the original spelling of the
names on the document].

On June 20, 1804, the house of representatives voted that the petition
was granted....On Dec 1, 1804 the act of incorporation was passed,
and approved, with the preamble, "Whereas the Inhabitants of
Whitefields in the county of Grafton have petitioned the General
Court praying that they may be incorporated into a township by the
name of WHITEFIELD, and investd with all such privileges...."

FIRST TOWN MEETING--John Burns and Joseph Kimball, or either of them
were empowered by this act to call the first town meeting, which
was warned to convene at the house of Maj. John Burns, the 12th day of
March 1805.  The officers chosen upon this occasion, the first civil
officers in the legal town of Whitefield, were as follows: John
Burns, moderator; Col. Joseph Kimball, town clerk; John Burns,
Joseph Kimball, David Burns, selectmen; Jesse Kelsey, constable,
John McMaster, collector.  There were but eight voters in town
at this first election, and the vote for governor was for John Langdon,
six, and for J.T. Gilman, two, a rousing Republican majority. This
meeting was held in the little log house of Major Burns, situated
near the present Burns homestead now occupied by the family of
John Burns, who is a grandson of the first settlers, and there are
the same two lots.. that were granted to Maj. John Burns in September
1802....He settled his son David upon one of his lots, and a relative,
Reuben Smith, upon ten acres of the other, near to his own selected
division which has since been known as the Moses Bowles farm.

MAJOR JOHN BURNS was one of the original organizers and most active
among the pioneers of the town, was born in New Boston, AUgust 17,
1755.  His immediate ancestor, John Burns, was a hardy old Scotchman,
one of the petitioners for the grant of the town of Bedford, in 1750.
He was a distinguished hunter and ranger in those French and Indian war
days with Capt. Nehemiah Lovewell, whose campaigns against the
red-kins were for the avowed purpose of avenging the death of his
father, the hero of "Pequauquauke" in 1726.
 Major Burns, of Whitefield memory, at twenty years of age, enlisted in
Col. John Stark's regiment, May 4, 1775.  This regiment was in active
duty around Boston for three months, and the story of the battle of
Bunker Hill is part of the illustrious record of that service.  The
Benefit Arnold expedition against Quebec, planned by Washington in
August 1775, took from New Hampshire about ninety men, among whom was
John Burns, of New Boston.  In June, of 1776, another requisition was
made for troops to march against Canada, and again John Burns enlisted.
A month's advance-- 3 pounds-18s, and a bounty of 6 pounds--were the
extra inducements for enlisting in this expedition.  The regiment
left No. 4 (Charlestown) August 1, 1776 and reached Ticonderoga
August 9.  Here they went into camp.  Sickness soon after prevailed to
an alarming extent, and many were discharged, among them John Burns,
October 2, 1776.  In the War of 1812, Mr. Burns was also a soldier,
but the details of this service are not at command.  The Major's
military title, which clung to him familiarly to the end of life, was
acquired in the early militia service of the state.  A humble monument
in the little burying ground near his old home recites that "Maj. John
Burns died May 6, 1852, aged 96 years and 9 months."

CAPTAIN DAVID BURNS, eldest son of Major John, came to Whitefield with
his father when he "came up to spy out the land."  He was born in
Francestown, July 31, 1782, and was, therefore, about twenty when he
came to this town as a settler.  He married in 1807, Susannah, daughter
of Artemas Knight, of Bethlehem.  They built in after years a more
commodious home near the spot where was first rolled up the little log
house of the Major, and here the Captain died, in his eighty second
year.  JOHN BURNS, the eldest son of Capt. David, and grandson of
Major John, born in 1808, August 17th, still occupies the old homestead
and here the representatives of the fourth generation from the first
settlers still cling proudly to the home of their ancestors.  
Calvin W. Burns, second son of Capt. David, born in Whitefield, 
March 4, 1811 is now a respected citizen of Lancaster.  He early 
engaged in the lumber business in Whitefield, and, at the outlet of
the little pond which still bears the family name, was for many years
a leading manufacturer of the time.

The connection of COL. JOSEPH KIMBALL with the affairs of Whitefield
dates from the land sale at Dunstable in 1796, at which time he
purchased several of the forfeited titles.  He was at that time a
resident of Plainfield, where he settled in 1765, a native, we 
believe, of Preston, Conn.  He was a soldier of the Revolution, having
enlisted in 1776 for the re-inforcement of the New York army, in
Col. Baldwin's regiment.  He was also in the Canada expedition under
Col. Wyman in the same year, at the battle of White Plains in October
of that year, and was dismissed in the December following.  About
1780 he established a ferry across Connecticut river near the mouth
of the Queechy, and, in 1785, was granted the sole right of ferry
privileges "for three miles south from Lebanon south line."  In 1796
he was granted the "exclusive right of locking water--Queechy falls."
In 1794 he was one of the selectmen of Plainfield, and also held the
commission of lieutenant-colonel, commanding the Fifteenth regiment
state militia.  This he probably resigned upon his removal to 
Whitefield in 1800 or 1801.  Col. Kimball, upon locating here,
"pitched" upon lot No. 4, in the sixth range, afterward known as
the "Holt Kimball farm," and now occupied by Simon B. Howland.  He
assisted in the organization of the town in 1805, and bore the
distinction of being the first chosen town clerk, and a member of the
first chosen board of selectmen.  But once thereafter he was honored
with the election to any town office, although always taking a lively
interest in the progress of the new town.

JOHN McMASTER, who came to Whitefield with Maj. Burns, was a native of
Francestown, born August 17, 1775.  His father was William, a veteran
of the Revolution, and one of the "Committee of Safety" of that town,
also for many years town clerk and selectman of Francestown.  The
wife of John was Lydia Whittier (or Whicher), and they brought with
them children: Sally, born in 1798, who married Nathaniel Hutchins,
and Janet, born in September 1801, who became the wife of Benjamin
Brown, Jr.  In Whitefield there came to them July 1803, Lydia, the
first white child born in town, who wedded with George Quimby; and
Mary B., June 1813, who became Mrs. David Lang.  John McMaster
settled upon what is now known as the "Jo Tayler' farm, where he
resided unti 1820, when he removed to Lot 15 in the 19th range,
afterward known as the David Lang place, near the 'Blood pond,"
and here he died, at seventy-three, in March 1848.  Mr. McMaster was
the first justice of the peace appointed in Whitefield, and
repeatedly served in the several officers within the gift of the town.
His only son died at the age of twenty-two, March 1828.  Mrs.
McMaster outlived her husband many years, dying in 1866, aged 
ninety-two.

THE FIRST "INN-KEEPER" in town was ASA KING, the founder of the 
village, in that he built and occupied the first house within the
present village precincts.  It was a low, one-story structure,
located upon the spot where the residence of Frank McKean now stands,
and here the first public "accomodations for man and beast."  In
after years a large and commodious tarvern was erected nearly 
opposite, upon the site of, and a part of which is now incorporated
in, the store and passenger station of the Whitefield & Jefferson
railroad.  That first house of the village was built in 1812; the
tavern house in 1828.  Asa King was a native of Sutton, where he was
born in 1779.  He was the sixth son of James King, a British soldier,
who came to this country in the service of the King during the French
and Indian war.  This James was an attendant upon Gen. Wolfe at the
battle of Quebec, and seized and held the horse of his brave
commander after that officer had received his death wound.  The wife
 of Asa King was Polly Cheney, of Sutton, and February 20, 1801, their
first child was born, Nathaniel Cheney, followed by Salley, who became
the wife of Col. Joseph Colby; Polly, who married Stephen Nichols,
an early writer and lecturer upon phrenology; Eliza, who wedded in
1825 with Ashael Aldrich, then of Whitefield; and James A., who 
became a mariner.  The family of Mr. King first occupied their new
home in Whitefield on Thanksgiving day, November 1812.  Asa was a
carpenter and joiner by trade, but his first industry after locating in
town was toward the development of his thousand-acre land purchase,
and the first opening north of river on the Lancaster road, was made
by Mr. King on the present Dr. Waterston farm, and the land cleared
for the spring planting of 1814.  The second wife of Asa King was
Sarah, daughter of Maj. John and Sarah (Smith) Burns.  They were
married in March 1814.  Their children were Hannah, who wedded
Richard Lane; John, who married a Stalbird, and is now a resident
of Jefferson; Jane, who became Mrs. Stillman Jenney, and removed to
Newbury, Vt.; and George, born in 1834, now a resident of Bethlehem.
Probably to no resident is the town more indebted for its first glow
of prosperity than to Asa King.  To his natural endowment of good
rugged common sense he added a mechanical skill not among the least
for those days, and being physically strong, he was accounted as one
of the foremost among the practical every-day men of the town.  Mr.
King died in June 1855, at his farm home opposite the present
homestead of B.F. Lane.

COLONEL JOSEPH COLBY, born in Lisbon, January 21, 1798, came to
Whitefield in 1816, and with his brothers, located upon "Comstock Hill"
of which he subsequently became sole possessor, and here in the next
few years he carved out the nucleus for his farm now occupied by
Benjamin F. Lane and the one opposite.  In politics Mr. Colby was an
old-time abolitionist, and, afters its organization, a staunch leader
of the Republican party.  He served as selectman for many years and
in 1832-33-37 represented Whitefield in the General Court.  His title
of colonel he obtained under the old militia service.  He was colonel
of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, but resigned his commission in 1832.
He died May 1, 1887.

THE FIRST MERCHANT in Whitefield was WILLIAM DODGE, born in Francestown
August 15, 1795.  He was the third son of Simeon Dodge, a soldier of
the Revolution, who migrated from Beverly, Mass. to Francestown about
1753.  The emigrant, William Dodge, came from cheshire, England, to
Salem about 1629.  He was of old Kentish stock--the only one of the
name noticed in Burke. 
  William came to Whitefield with his newly wedded wife, Eunice
Newell, in December 1823.  He built and occupied until his death,
the house still standing at the north end of the bridge on the river
bank upon the east side of Lancaster street.  In the south end, next
to the bridge, was placed the merchant's "stock in trade," and here,
until 1830, was the only store in town.  This was the third house
built in the village.  About 1824 a postoffice and mail facilities
were established, and William Dodge received the appointment of
postmaster, a position which he held through successive administrations
until his death in November 1837.  He also for many years carried on
the manufacture of pot or pearl ash.  The gray old ashery stood upon
the river bank in the rear of the house just where the livery stable
is now situated.  Mr. Dodge was a man of liberal education, and his
abilities were early recognized in the conducting of the affairs of
the town.  He was town clerk for for seven consecutive years, was
superintendent of "schooling," and represented the town at "General
Court" for the years of 1834-35-36, and in all his official course
his work was marked by eminent ability and strict integrity.  He died
at Whitefield at the gae of forty-two, in 1837.  The children of
William and Eunice (Newell) Dodge who lived beyond childhood were
Eunice N.; William Franklin, now of the "Mountain View House," in
Whitefield, and a well known citizen; Levi W. of Syracuse, N.Y., a
writer of some repute, and a local historian of no mean ability;
and Henry C., a successful businessman of New York City.

FIRST INVENTORY of 1806 --shows Reuben Smith taxed on one poll and
two oxen, John McMaster, one poll, one horse, one colt, two oxen,
one cow, one young creature; David Burns, one poll, one cow, two
young cattle, one acre of mowing; William Burns, one poll, one cow,
Benj. Brown, one poll, one horse, two oxen, two cows, Aaron Bailey,
one poll, one horse; Joseph Kimball, four horses and colts, one cow,
six young cattle; Peter Russell, one poll, one cow.

EARLY ROADS--Roads are generally constructed to meet the needs of the
populations: but Whitefield's first road was built to attract what she
needed at that time, viz.: settlers.  A path through the forest marked
by "blazed trees," was sufficient to answer the name and the purpose of
a "horse road," as the records say.  It was constructed in 1774 by 
order of the proprietors and under the supervision of Henry Gerrish,
the first surveyor.  The location of this spotted-tree pathway was
substantially where the present road from Bethlehem to Lancaster
(north and south through town) now runs, and upon either side thereof
were laid out the first one hundred and five lots of seventy-five 
acres each.  The length of this primitive road is said to have been
seven miles and two hundred rods.  There is no mention of WIDTH.  
Nature immediately set its obliterating forces at work, and in a score
of years there was little trace left of this ancient road-way, save
a long line of scarified pines, beeches and maples, for it was an
unused wood-path.
  The next steps taken toward road-making were at a proprietors'
meeting held at Atkinson, December 3, 1800, at which a committee
consisting of Jonas Minot, Jonas Baker, John Burns, and Samuel Minot,
was appointed ot look and lay out a road the most direct way from
Lancaster through Whitefield toward Plymouth.  May 25, 1801, Mr.
Jonas Baker made the preliminary survey, followed immediately by the
road-makers, under Mr. Minot, whose supervision extended to a point
in the road a little north of the old Simeon Warner place.  Thence to
Lancaster line it was built under the direction of John Gile, then
of Bethlehem, and finished in the autumn of 1801.  It was inspected
and measured by Moses Eastman, who was the first town clerk and first
selectman chosen in Bethlehem after its organization as a town. The
hill east of the road and above the Montgomery pond was designated
in the records as "Beech Hill."  The cost of building this road
through the wilderness of Whitefield was one hundred and seventy-one
dollars...[more information about road building found in the original
source is not included here except for a few excerpts].
   In 1815 the road from Whitefield village thorugh the "East Part" to
Jefferson was built past the Enoch Kinney opening and what is now
"Bray Hill."
   In 1816 the town voted to lay out a road from Dalton line to
Bretton (Woods)... 

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP
[Excerpts only]

The original "Church of England reservation" in this town now
constitute the Benjamin F. Lane farm, and the one immediately
opposite on the road going to Carroll.  Col. Joseph Colby purchased
the claim from the agent of the church about 1818.... The well-known
"Kimball Hill" farm formed a part of the "Society" reservation...

The "one ninety-fourth part of Whitefield to be set aside for the
use of the first settled minister," as per the mandate of the royal
charter, proved a source of no little contention... it was finally
decided that Elder Beniah Bean should receive the benefit of the
grant, although the vote of the taxpayers in 1832 was averse to the
claim.  Elder Nicholas Bray and Mr. Bean both paid their first tax
here in 1819, but Mr. Bray did not become a resident until two years
after, and the same year, 1821 came Ira Bowles, who twenty years after
became an ardent teacher of Millerism, and the local pastor of the
church of the Adventists.  Elder Jonathan Chase of the Methodists,
did not become a settler here until 1825....

Material for the spiritual history of the town is very meager....the
only hints in the "records" of the town upon relgious matters are,
at a vote at the annual meeting of the town in 1812 "to raise sixteen
dollars to hire preaching," and in the following year, 1813, "voted
not to raise any mony for preaching."  

FREE WILL BAPTISTS--Rev. Joshua Quimby was here in 1816-17 
forming a religious society, and several persons were baptized,
the first being two brothers--Paul and John Buzzell.  The place of
baptism was in the river just above the site of the present grist
mill.  Beniah Bean, the first resident minister of Whitefield,
settled here in 1819.  He was ordained in 1828 at the age of thirty-
five years.  The ceremonies incident to the ordination were conducted
in the old tavern of Asa King.  The first meetings of this society
were held in Mr. King's barn, which stood on the opposite side of the
road where now is the residence of Frank McKean, and in this barn
was organized the first church society in town, the Baptist.  AMong
the early laborers in this local Baptist field were Elders Nicholas
Bray and Ira Bowles.  In 1872 they formed a society to build a church,
and work started in the fall of 1873, but it was not dedicated until
September 1874.  Built on Jefferson street, it contained a vestry,
ladies' parlor, kitchen and various anterooms, together with a 
commodious audience room, with seating capacity for five hundred.
In the organ loft is a pipe organ, costing a little over $1,600...
Rev. G. Pinkham was pastor when the meeting-house was erected...
[more information in original document not included here]

CONGREGATIONALISTS--Among the early settlers in Whitefield were many
Congregationalist, notably those from Francestown, but at what date
a society was organized we are unable to say.... In 1820 the Rev.
Drury Fairbanks was settled over the first church in Littleton, and
during his pastorate, ministered somewhat to the wants of the 
Whitefield society.  In 1826 the church numbered but six members.
Two years after it had increased to eighteen.  In 1830 Rev. William
Hutchinson was appointed to the two charges, Bethlehem and WHitefield,
who was succeeded in 1836 by Rev. Edward Buxton....

Prior to the building of the town house, the Sabbath meetings were
held in the school-houses.

THE ADVENTISTS--about the same time, built for themselves a house of
worship occupied for the first time soon after New Years of 1850
and here, by the peculiar attractions of their fath, they grew
prosperous in numbers, wealth and influence... 

The "Union Meeting House" built by the combined endeavors, principally
of the Methodists and Baptists, served the purposes of the two
societies as a house of worship for nearly a quarter of a century...

METHODISM--"Mother Hutchins" came with her family to Whitefield about 
1813. They established their home upon what is now a part of the 
farm of George Harris, and the spot upon which stood their log-house
is marked by a pile of stones where once their hearth-fire blazed.
"Grandmother Hutchins" brought with her from Massachusetts her
Methodist piety, and she shed the new light among her neighbors.
Impressed with the power for doing good, she, in the winter of 1816-17
went to Lancaster, and having obtained permission to speak on SUnday,
created an interest which resulted in a series of evening meetings,
and twenty conversations were the immediate fruits of her labor.
Application was made to the M.E. conference for a preacher, when
Rev. H. Davis was sent, by whom twelve were baptized and a society
formed.... Mrs. Hutchins descendants include Hon. Stilson Hutchins,
of Washington D.C., politician and journalist.  Another, William B.
Hutchins, Esq is present postmaster of Whitefield.  There was no
organized society of Methodists here until after the settlement of
Rev. Jonathan Chase who came to town in 1824.  The home that he
reared for himself and family was located just north of the present
"Browns' Mill," and the site is now covered by the lumber sheds
of that company, and exactly at the foot of the bank in front of the
passenger station at the railway junction. For nearly twelve years
he labored as a Methodist.. dying suddenly in 1836. In September 1831
was held the first camp-meeting in the  county of Coos, about where
the present Chase homestead is located.  Elder J. Hardy was the
presiding elder...  PASTORS included.. Otis Dunbar (Whitefield and
Bethlehem) in 1842-43; followed by J.S. Loveland, F.A. Hewes and
others [a long list not included here].

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION--A branch of the YMCA was
established here in April 1885.  A reading room was opened during
the summer.  The Association has maintained meetings every Sunday
afternoon during each summer in the outlying school districts, and
has held Sunday morning and Monday evening prayer meetings.. George
Henry is the secretary.

CATHOLICISM--the first services of the Catholic society held in this
town were in the old town house in July 1871, about 35 present.
Today from 85 to 90 families represent the Catholic society in this
village.  Through the untiring energy of the pastor, Rev. Mr. Plante,
a church has been erected this year (1887) at a cost of $5,000
for a house and lot.  The society also has a cemetery of two acres
on the Dalton road.

TEMPERANCE--the first temperance movement that can be traced with
substantiated facts commenced with the organizing of a Good
Templar Lodge January 24, 1866.  It did good work for several years
but their meetings were finally discontinued, then re-organized in
1866. [more not included here].

SCHOOLS--In 1805 at a town meeting it was voted to build a school-house
and $100 was appropriated.  The first school-house was of logs, and
located near the site of the present school building in district
number one...the first board of school inspectors in 1811 were
John Burns, Joseph L. Kimball and Solomon White... The first public
school teacher was Elder Catlin. 

SOCIETIES
St. Johns Lodge No 58, I.O.O.F - instituted September 14, 1875 through
the efforts of Thomas C. Grey and J.G. Trulan.  The first N.G. of
this lodge was Ira S.M. Gove [more not included here]

Excelsior Chapter, No. 5, Order of the Eastern Star, Adoptive
Masonry was instituted at Whitefield, November 28k 1876 with these
members: Mary D.M. Quimby, Kate H. Brown, Ora A. Conner, Mary T. Hill,
Hannah P. McGregor, Lillie M. Fletcher, Sarah R.T. Seavey, Frances
Hicks, Clara C. Fearin, Julia M. Proctor, Susan R. Parker, Annie
Sartwell, Lizzie Eakins, Nettie L. Lane, H.D. Bowen, Mary Witcher,
Martha Fiske, with L.D. Witcher as Worthy Patron and Mary D.M.
Quimby as Worthy Matron [additional officers not included here].

[A list of town officers in original document, not included here, 
except as mentioned earlier]

PHYSICIANS--the first regular M.D. to locate in Whitefield was
Dr. Darius Garnsey, who came here from Richmond in 1821. He studied
medicine with the celebrated Dr. John Parkhurst of Richmond, and
recieved his diploma from Dartmouth Medical College.  Dr. GARNSEY
had an extensive practice, and until his death in 1830, it is believed
there were no other regular medical practioners in the town of
Whitefield, Carroll, Bethlehem or Dalton.  His professional visits
were almost entirely made on horseback.  His father, Cyril, 
commonly known as "Friend" Garnsey from his Quaker proclivities,
who brought in 1822, the then scarce four-year old farm Jonathan
Scott, just south of the present Dr. Waterston place.  He was a native
of Richmond, one of the "seed-towns" of Whitefield, it having
furnished several of the early families of the town.  The wife of
Cyril, and mother of Dr. Darius, was Saloma Garfield, a cousin of
President Garfield.  She was born in Warwick, Mass., May 1769.

After Dr. Garnsey, came B.F. Sanborn, from Enfield.  He lived in the 
house just north and opposite the Methodist Church.  He died in 1835.

He was followed by a Dr. Swazey for a few months; and then Dr. Albert
Winch, practiced here for over 40 years.  Dr. Winch was a native of
Bethlehem, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and born October 16, 1809.
He came here in 1836.  His first pupil was Dr. George S. Gove.
Dr. Joseph Patten, born in Deering NH, was also a student with Dr.
Winch, and he also obtained his degree from Dartmouth Medical College. 
Dr. Patten practiced several years in Whitefield and removed to
Washington D.C.

Buck G. Carleton, son of Ebenezer and Lucia (Dexter) Carleton
is a successful practitioner in New York City.  He is a follower of
Hahnemann theory of "similia" and a graduate of that school of
medicine.  He was born in WHitefield.

Another native physician of the homeopathic school is Charles E.
Dodge, son of William F. Dodge. His medical instruction was obtained
principally at the Homeopathic Institute in New York city, and after
graduating he immediately entered practice at Manchester NH. Dr.
Dodge's wife, is Ida, daughter of Samuel L. Bray of Whitefield.

Dr. Charles Irwin Lane, who died April 1883, was a son of Richard and
Hannah (King) Lane), settled in Whitefield in 1882 [he was born
Nov 27, 1854].  He was one of twins, the other being Edward Austin,
a promising lawyer of Pittsfield NH.  Dr. Charles was a graduate of
Hahnemann Medical college, of Philadelphia, and commenced practice
at Concord, in April 1878, previous to which he travelled quite
extensively in Europe.  His brief life was ended after five years
practice during which he had gained an enviable reputation as a
man and a phhysician.

DR. JOHN L. McGREGOR, born in WHitefield September 5, 1855 after a
preparatory education, took the Mechanical Arts course at Dartmouth
in the class of 1875.  He then studied medicine with Dr. Gove. He
next applied himself to dentistry under the teaching of Dr. Olcott;
and was graduated in 1871, at the Philadelphia Dental college.  He
located in Whitefield, where he purchased the drug store of O.S. Blood,
and conducted pharmacy from 1878 till 1883.  In the spring of 1883 he
was a graduate of the Philadelphia Hahnemann college, and in November
1883 of the Medical Department at Dartmouth.  He commenced the practice
of medicine at Whitefield, in 1883, and immediately entered a good
field of labor.  His practice is a busy and successful one, and
extends to many of the towns adjoining.  He is a genial companion, and
a "live" and progressive citizen.  Possessing marked abilities, he has
made an excellent reputation, and is regarded as eminently adapted
for the profession he has chosen.

DR. GEORGE H. MORRISON is a physician of the homeopathic school.  He
has a large, successful and growing business and is devoted to the
profession which he has made his life work.

------
LAWYERS

The first representative of the legal profession in Whitefield was
HON. EDMUND BURKE, who located here in 1830.  He remained three years,
taking a deep interest in town affairs, more especially in the cause
of education.  Mr. Burke's place in Whitefield was afterward filled
by George A. Cossitt, now of Lancaster.  After about 1840 Whitefield,
for nearly two-score years, was without a resident attorney-at-law,
until Everett Fletcher began his practice here.  W.N. Armington, Esq.
located here later to look after the people's arguments and disagree-
ments.  Of, able, unprofessional counselors, however, the town has
had its full share, prominent among whom were Col. Joseph Colby,
a man of well-recognized natural ability and rough common sense, whose
law was right and justice; Esquire Thomas Montgomery, who, in his day,
presided at more justice trails than any other man in the vicinity,
and had the enviable record of never having but one decision of his
reversed upon an appeal; Simeon Warner, Esq., a zealous, old-time
Democrat, and at one time a prominent candidate for the nomination of
governor; Ebenezer Carleton, Esq., once a leading politician of
acknowledged ability and honor.  He was formerly a resident of Bath,
and, we believe, was admitted to the bar, but for most of his active
life made no pretensions as a professional lawyer.  His counsel,
however, was often sought in cases of equity and law, and generally
impartially given.  Mr. Carleton was an extensive real estate owner,
and, at one time, one of the most widely known dealers in land and
lumber in Coos or Grafton.  He, many years ago, purchased, remodelled,
and rebuilt the old "Snow corner," which, since the abandonment of
the "King-Gore tavern" about 1851, was for years the old hotel in
Whitefield.  Mr. Carleton has gone "beyond" where there is no law but
the "higher law."

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN GRAY FOSTER was born in Whitefield May 27, 1822.
His father was Capt. Perley Foster, well remembers as a military
enthusiast in the old-time militia days of the county--and who that
saw them does not remember the independent company of "Whitefield
Highlanders" in their picturesque uniforms and well-ordered 
movements at the old-fashioned annual musterings, under the dignified
conduct of their leader, Capt. Foster.  The father's military spirit
was intensified in the son, and as a lad he was always the chosen
commander in those boyish sports.

When John Foster was ten years old the family settled in Nashua [NH],
and in the public schools of that place and at the Baptist high school
at Hancock were laid the foundations of his subsequent career.  He
entered West Point at twenty years of age, graduating with high 
honors in 1846.  The various positions occupied by Gen. Foster during
the War of the Rebellion were in the highest degree important, and
he was regarding as one of the most accomplished, brave, and prudent
of officers.  In 1847 he joined Gen. Scott in Mexico, was brevetted
first lieutenant for gallantry at Cherubusco, was severely wounded
at Chapultepec, and for his heroism brevetted captain.  After the
war he became a teacher at West Point.  In 1861, at the bombardment
of Fort Sumter, Capt. Foster was at the fort superintending the 
repair of the fortifications in Charleston harbor.  In August, 1861,
he was made brigadier-general, and appointed to serve under
Burnside in the Roanoke expedition; here he was successful, and for 
his gallantry was made major-general, and placed in command of the
department of North Carolina.  In 1863 he succeeeded Gen. Burnside
in Tennessee, and in 1864 commanded the Southern department.  In 1865
he was assigned to the department of Florida and there served during
the war. He died of consumption, in Nashua, in 1873.  Young, as we
count years, only fifty-one, those years were full of living
experience.  His life is a part of the records of this country, and
monuments of marble have been reared and eartly tablets have been
graven reciting the deeds and virtues of far less worthy men than
Major-General John Gray Foster.

HON. STILSON HUTCHINS--One of the most eminent of the many sons of Coos
who have achieved national reputation is Hon. Stilson Hutchins,
born in Whitefield, November 14, 1838.  He was the only son of
Stilson and Clara (Eaton) Hutchins, who settled in Whitefield in
1813.  As a politician, Mr. Hutchins is a thorough Democrat, and his
paper published at Washington, though intensely partisan, is a power
in national politics.

HON. AURIN M. CHASE, son of Rev. Jonathan Chase, was one of 
Whitefield's representative men.  He was well and favorable known in
the world of politics and in social and business life beyond his
native New Hampshire.  He was an early and earnest agitator in the
struggle against slavery, being a co-worker with Hale, Sumner, and
Wilson.  He died in Whitefield, in 1876, aged sixty-nine years.

-----------
MERcHANTS, MANUFACTURERS AND MILLS--Asa Fiske came from Templeton,
Mass, in 1830, first to Lunenburg, Vt., then soon to Whitefield,
where he settled on the Jefferson road on the present Arnold
Streeter place.  Ralph Fiske, son of Asa, began merchandising in 
1840, in the building now the "Coos Hotel" (which was originally
built with two stories early in the "thirties" as a store), and as a
member of the firm Brooks, Fiske & Carleton, which succeeded McKean &
Carleton.  The firm went out of business, and Mr. Fiske conducted a
small country store in the Allen store on the site of the Libbey &
Fiske store of today for some years in the "forties."  In 1848
Aurin M. Chase and Mr. Fiske began trading in the present barber shop
of W.F. Aldrich.  In 1849 Mr. Chase sold to Caleb Walker, and in 1850,
Fiske & Walker removed to the Allen store, and Mr. Fiske soon became
sole owner.  In 1852 he removed to the present postoffice building,
built that year, and continued in trade until 1857, forming with
Hazen W. the firm of "Ralph Fiske & Son."  This firm conducted the
Carleton (P.O.) store for some time, and also one in the White
Mountain Lumber Company's building from 1859 to 1861.  About the
latter year the stock of G.W. Libbey, then trading in the Carleton
store, was bought by the firm.  In 1864 Mr. Fiske purchased the old
hotel on the south side of John's river and moved the store there.
Here R. Fiske & Co., and Fiske & Lane (Richard Lane) continued until
1872, when William K. Quimby bought the interest of Ralph Fiske,
who permanently retired from trade after a long and successful
career, in which his common sense, business ability, and religious
integrity had been component parts of the commercial interests of the
town.

Francis Fiske built the old Fiske mill above the village, in or before
1835, put in an up-and-down aw, with clapboard and shingle machines.
He ran this ten years, when he died.  His brother, Henry, soon became
the owner and conducted the mill until he died several years later.
(Charles H. Fiske, a lad of fourteen, was killed here in 1851, by
falling on a saw).  Joel McGregory then became proprietory, and in
1852 merged it with that of R.B. Dunn & Co. becoming afterwards a
stockholder of the White Mountain Lumber Co.  After the failure of
this company, G. Stevens & Co., came into ownership.  They sold,
near the close of the Rebellion, to Libbey Bros., and it has since
been carried on by them.  The Fiske mill served a long period of
usefulness, but in 1877, a new one was built across the river close
to the W. & J. R. R.  This had a capacity of 30,000 feet per day.

WHITE MOUNTAIN LUMBER CO--In 1852 R.B. Dunn, with other people from
Maine, purchased the Allen Store, built the present store of Libbey
Bros. & Fiske, and began trade in connection with lumber operations
on a large scale, as R.B. Dunn & Co.  Shortly after, they formed
the White Moutain Lumber Co., an incorporated stock company, which
monopolized all the important mill-sites, constructed large mills 
where Browns' Lumber Col's and Hazens mills now stand, and issued
large amounts of stock, which was sold in small amounts (mostly to
peole of moderate means in Maine) at a high figure.  The large mill
and box shop at Hazen's Mills was burned,  December 15, 1856, with
a large amount of manufactured stock.  The company shortly after
failed, and cannot be said to have been a benefit to the town.
  In 1839 the manufacture of lumber was begun at Hazen's mill by
Dodge & Abbott who put up an old style mill, with clapboard and
shingle machines.  Ira Goodall and Joel McGregory bought it in 1844
or 1845 and continued in business until 1853.  After the fire above
mentioned the site was idle until 1858 when Myron P. Aldrich and
Joel McGregory purchased it, and built the mill now standing.
Gen. E.O. Kenney became the owner in 1861 or '62, and, with Manson
Bowles, formed the firm of Kenney & Bowles later.  Before 1870
Hazen W. Fiske became a partner of the firm of Kenney, Bowles & Fiske,
which was succeeded by Kenney, Hazen & Fiske, and later, by L.D. & 
L.T. Hazen.

CHARLES LIBBEY, with his two younger brothers, Nathaniel W., and
Henry C., came to Whitefield from Bethlehem in 1841 and engaged in
lumbering.  He bought the old Greenwood mill about 1846, enlarged
the mills, developed the business largely, and conducted it in an
extensive manner until 1877, when G.W. & N.W. Libbey came into
posssession. (They run them until the convenient timber was
exhausted, and now operate but a shingle-mill there.).  J.Q.A. Libbey
came here first in 1843 for one year's residence.  In 1853 he
returned, married, and purchased the David Brown mill, just below the
village, containing board, shingle and clapboard machines.  This
he conducted with various partners (J.C. Libbey, Joel McGregory,
N.W. and H.C. Libbey) until 1864, when he sold it to George W. Libbey.
In 1870 Mr. Libbey purchased the grist-mill of Fiske & Walker which
he now operates.  Henry C. Libbey and Lewis D. White, about 1868,
started the planing and carding-mill at the village.  In 1871
J.Q.A. Libbey bought his brother's interest, and Libbey & White
conducted it until 1884 when Mr. Libbey became sole owner.  The day
of the carding-mill has past, and Brown, Bray & Co., now make a 
superior article of butter-tubs in the building.

GEORGE W. LIBBEY came from California in 1855, and established himself
as a trader in the basement near the iron bridge now occupied as a
barber shop.  In a few years he became an active lumberman, and,
with his brothers, has been a constituent element of business
prosperity in this locality ever since.  They have dealt largely
in lands, employed many men, and paid out much money.  The firm of
G.W. & N.W. Libbey dates from near the close of the Rebellion.  In 
1867 or '68 they bought the Round Pond mills in Dalton, and did a
large business in making lumber for some years until the section
tributary was depleted of stock.  They manufactured at Burns pond
for some time, and have manufactured at Libbey's mill (formerly
Fiske's).  They have made Whitefield their headquarters for their
lumber operations in Kilkenny and Randolph.

MOSES H. GORDON was a lumberman for many years, owning and operating
the old David Brown mill, the Dodge and Abbott lower mill, and the
Morris Clark mill.

CALVIN W. BURNS conducted a large lumber manufacture for many years at
the outlet of Burns pond.

In 1861, or early in the war time, Gilore & Stevens purchased the
"Company's" store, and opened a large stock of goods.  This was sold
with their mill and other property to G. W. & N.W. Libbey.  In 1878
the mercantile firm became "Libbey Bros. & Brown" (Frank P. Brown).
Mr. Brown retired in 1884, and Hazen W. Fiske became a member of the
present firm of "Libbey Bros. & Fiske"--one of the leading mercantile
houses of the county.

Davis & White were early merchants in the Coos Hotel building.
About 1845 Mr. White retired, and S.E. Davis removed shortly after to
the Allen store where he was in trade until 1850.

Lane & Quimby moved to their new store, built in 1878 after the old
hotel store was sold to the Whitefield & Jefferson R.R.

The celebrated "Whitefield overalls" are manufactured by Snow & Baker.
H.L. Cole has manufactured butter tubs, etc., for some years, and
employs a number of men.  Brown, Bray & Co., in the same business, 
employ several men.  John Sperry began the manufacture of veneers
in 1886, and also furnishes several with employment.

Other branches of industry and manufacturing have been and are carried
on.  J.K. Kimball & Co. had a starch mill in 1857, and Kimball and
Gordon were merchants.  Morris Clark conducted a saw-mill for years.
V. Blood also was here as a manufacturer in 1857.  W.B. Hutchins was
a merchant for some years.  The merchants of twenty years ago were
R. & H. W. Fiske, G. Stevens & Co., Gordon & Sartwell.  The 
manufacturers at the same time were Asa Gile, N.W. & H.C. Libbey,
Quimby & Sartwell, C. Libbey & Co., G. Stevens & Co., Kenney & Bowles.

PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS--Physicians, George S. Gove, John L.
McGregor, George Morrison; lawyer and insurance, W.N. Armington;
station agent, W.S. Aldrich; express agent, C.H. Gordon; postmasters,
Whitefield, W.B. Hutchins, Hazen's Mills, L.T. Hazen; drugs, medicines,
etc., George W. Darling & Co. (Dr. J.L. McGregor), O.S. Blood;
millinery, etc., Mrs. J.B. Lane, Mrs. ELiza Eastman, Mrs. F.A. McKean;
summer hotels: Mountain View House, W.F. Dodge & Son, Kimball Hill
House, H.J. Bowles; hotels, Coos Hotel, J.W. Tibbetts, Fiske House,
Mrs. Hazen W. Fiske; merchants, Bowker & Co. (Brown's Lumber Co.),
Lane & Quimby (Richard Lane, William K. Quimby), Libbey Bros. &
Fiske (G.W. Libbey, N.W. Libbey, H.W. Fiske), general stores;
Charles Eastman, J.Q.A. Libbey, flour meal, etc.; Byrne Brothers,
clothing and furnishing goods; G.W. Darling & Co., O.S. Blood,
jewelry, etc.; J.G. Trulan, tailor; A.D. Hill, J.Q.A. Libbey, stoves,
tinware, etc; William Chamberlain, news dealer, fruits and
confectionary; James Hagan, variety store; livery, T. J. Morse.

----------------
WHITEFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION--August 21, 1872, a metting of the
contributors to the "Library Fund" was present for the purpose of
organization, and elected John Q.A. Libbey president; Mrs. William
K. Quimby, secretary; Mrs. Lyman V. Seavey, treasurer; Effie J.
Libbey, librarian...This library was opened January 11, 1873, at the
house of L.V. Seavey, with 208 volumes.. [more information in original
source not included here]. 

EAST WHITEFIELD FARMERS' CLUB--The farmers in East Whitefield ...
called a meeting in December 1883, an organization was made, and
a committee chosen to draft a constitution.  The first president was
William F. Dodge, a man well qualified for the position.  James A.
Goodwin was vice president; Joseph R. Streeter, secretary and
treasurer.  In the spring of 1887 this club merged into the "Mount
Washington Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, No. 116."

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HOTELS/INNS/HOUSES

WHITE MOUNTAIN VIEW HOUSE--W.F. Dodge & Son--is beautifully situated
on an elevated plateau about two miles from Whitefield Station,
in the center of a vast panorama of lake and mountain scenery.  The
house was recently remodelled and enlarge, and accomondates 100
guests during the summer season.  The White and Franconia ranges,
the Green Mountain in Vermont, and numerous other mountains and
ranges can be seen from the house...

-----------------
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
------------------

BROWNS LUMBER YARD
During the progress of civilization in Whitefield and vicinity the
most important factors in its development and prosperity have been
Anson L. and Warren G. Brown.  To them and their energy is due the
creation of that great combination of lumbering, manufacturing,
railroading and business interests known today as "Brown's Lumber
Company," and the historian, must, to property describe the advent
and growth of this industry, give a sketch, not only of the business
operations, but of the men who have organized and conducted it.

A.L. and W.G. Brown spring from sturdy English stock, and their
family is one of the oldest of New England.  Peter Brown was one of
the historic passengers of the "Mayflower" in 1620, received a lot
of one acre of land in Plymouth, Mass., and his house was one of the
first seven built there.   John Brown, a resident of London, set
sail for American in April 1635, in the ship "Elizabeth" and reached
Boston in June.  He located in Salem, Mass.  About 1639 several of
the name emigrated from England and settled at the mouth of the
Merrimac river and in Salisbury, Mass.  A little more than a century
after, Josiah Brown, from Salem, with others, removed to West
Dunstable (now Hollis N.H.).  He was an officer of the town in 1747
and 1748, and in 1758 an ensign in the French war; a brave man
serving his day and generation well.  In 1762, with several
companions, he went north from Hollis, to select and prepare a place
for a settlement, selecting the beautify country of Plymouth. After
many months of labor in clearing the wilderness and putting up log
cabins, they removed their families thither in the spring of 1764.
Josian and John Brown were grantees and valuable citizens of the town.

Stephen Brown, son of the pioneer, the second male child born in
Plymouth, married Anna Davis, of Goffstown, and settled in Bristol,
on a farm where they lived long and usefully; Mr. Brown attaining
the age of seventy two, Mrs. Brown that of eighty-five years.  The 
place was then a comparative wilderness, and they experienced all
the vicissitudes of pioneer life.  They had a family of twelve
children, eleven living to maturity. Stephen Brown was a Quaker,
and brought up his children in the plain simplicity of that belief.

Joseph, son of Stephen and Anna (David) Brown, was born in Bristol,
March 3, 1796.  He married, Relief, daughter of Stephen Ordway of
Salisbury, Mass., whose wife was a Miss Brown of a prominent
family in Bow, N.H.  They had eight children: ANSON L., Stephen,
Mary A. (Mrs. H.S. Chase), Amos, WARREN G., Relief (Mrs. ELijah
Averill), Joseph, and Augusta (Mrs. George W. Merrill).  Joseph
Brown was an enterprising man.  He erected the first saw-mill--
the largest establishment of the kind for many miles--on the
Pemigewasset river, five miles above Bristol village.  Here he
did an extensive business for seventeen years, being principally
engaged in getting out masts and spars, factory beams, etc.; and
rafted his lumber to Newburyport and Boston by river and canal.  But
he was unfortunate in the location of his mills; freshets persistently
carried away his dams, and he lost all which he had.  He and his wife
kept back nothing, but relinquished all to creditors.  In 1843 he
moved to Campton, put up a saw mill and attended to farming and
lumbering for forty years, ten years of the time residing on a fine
farm in Thornton.  Mr. Brown was an early abolitionist; firm and 
decided in all his opinions; a man of such advanced thought that his
predicitions were almost in the nature of prophecies. More than
fifty years ago he said to his oldest son, "The time will come when
friends separated by miles will converse with one another;" thus
predicting the advent of the telephone.  He was brought up in as a
rigid Sabbatarian, and to keep the Sabbath according to the strict
Quaker rule, "That works of necessity and mercy only should be
peformed on the Lord's day."  In early life he was a Universality;
later a Spiritualist.  He died in Whitefield, March 26, 1884, aged
eighty-eight years.  Mrs. Brown's death occured in May 1867.

ALSON L. BROWN was born in Bristol, April 9, 1827.  At an early age
he acquired a practical business knowledge of lumbering from his
father, with whom he remained until after he attained his majority,
and served a long apprenticeship in steady hard work, accompanied
by exposure to cold and wet.  This he did cheerfully, and was of
great assistance to his father.  When twenty-two years old, he
received two hundred dollars as his money capital to enter the
world for himself.  He married, September 11, 1849, Mary A., daughter
of William and Sophia Currier.  Their surviving children are
William Wallace, Oscar A., Alice S. (Mrs. Edward Ray), Joseph W.,
and Etta C. (Mrs. E.A. Sanborn).  Mrs. Brown is an estimable lady.
She is interested and active in the orders of the "Eastern Star"
and the "Daughters of Rebekah."

At the time of his marriage, Mr. Brown purchased the place in Campton
of his father, and a half interest in the mill, of which he took
charge, making lumber until 1861, when he sold his share to his
father, who returned to Campton, and erected a fine set of buildings.
Alson then removed to a large interval farm across the river, and
engaged in agriculture until 1872; also carrying on lumbering in
company with his father until 1864, when Warren G. purchased the
latter's interest, from which time to the present the brothers
have been connected in business.

In 1872 Alson removed to Whitefield, where he has since been a
resident.  He is liberal in religion, and a Republican in politics.
He was a member of the Constitutional convention of 1876, and a
delegate to the Republican National convention at Chicago in 1880,
which nominated James A. Garfield.  He represented Whitefield in
the legislatures of 1881-1882, and has been a delegate to nearly all
state conventions since he was thirty years old.  His business, 
rather than politics, has, however, been his principal object of
attention.  He has been a Free Mason since 1860, and belongs to White
Mountain Lodge, Whitefield; North Start Chapter and North Star
Commandery, Lancaster; Omega Countil, Plymouth.  He is also a member
of St. John's Lodge, No. 58, I.O. of O.F., Whitefield.

As an employer Mr. Brown is considerate of his workmen, who hold him
in high esteeem, as was pleasantly evidence by the presentation to
him from them, of a beautiful gold watch and chain on the twenty-fifth
anniversary of his marriage.  Of quick decision and great rapidity
of action, Mr. Brown is one who will always make his presence felt
in whatever sphere he may be placed, and from his integrity and
ability all trusts will be faithfully discharged.  Those who know
him best speak highest in praise of his social qualities, his
kindliness of heart, his business ability, and the promptness in
which he attends to the duties devolving on him.

WARREN G. BROWN was born in Bristol, July 27, 1834.  He was brought
up to work.  At the age of sixteen he was a rugged boy with a willing
heart, strong hands, and a determination to assit his hard-working
father in the mills, and driving logs, giving his earnings to his
father, and remaining with him until he was twenty-one.  About this
time, he, with his brother Amos, took a contract to cut and deliver
two thousand cords of wood, at $2.50 per cord, at the Pemigewassett
river.  The next June he went "on the drive" to Lowell, and the
winter of 1855-56 he began sawing timber by the thousands for his
father and Alson at their mill in West Campton, and remained there
one year.  He now thought that in some other field his prospects
would be brighter, and he would sooner arrive at the desired goal--
a competency.  So he went as steerage passenger to California, and,
in December 1857, after various experiences, to Puget Sound,
Washington Territory, and commenced work for the Puget Mill Co.,
cutting logs for one dollar per thousand.  In 1860, after nearly
three years continuous labor for his firm,he had saved form five to
six thousand dollars [In 1864 he was offered one hundred dollars in
gold per month, equal at that time to two hundred and fifty dollars,
if he would come and take charge of this firm.]  Returning to New
Hampshire, July 1, 1860, he purchased his father's farm of four
hundred acres in Thornton.  In March 1861, he married Ruth B. Avery.
She died in September 1863.  In 1864 he sold his place in Thornton,
and in  connection with Alson L., formed the firm of A.L. & W.G.
Brown.

In 1865 he married Charlotte, daughter of Ephraim and Eliza (Broat)
Elliott; she was born in Brownfield, Me., January 11, 1848.  Their
surviving children are Josie R., Dasie A., Carl E., and Kenneth W.
[Amos Broat, Mrs. Brown's maternal grandfather, was an Englishman,
who became quite noted as a hotel-keeper and man of affairs in
Westbrook, Me.  Her father was a native of Thornton, and is now
engaged with his son in the management of his hotel in Waterville].
Mrs. Brown is a lady of practicality, "looking well to the ways of
her household." and is an able helpmeet and companion.  In 1882 Mr.
Brown, accompanied by his wife, passed six months in Washington
Territory, combining business with pleasure.

Warren Brown commenced political life by voting for John C. Fremont,
and was connected with the Republicans until his belief brought him
into harmoney with the "Greenback" party, with which he has since
been identified, being its candidate for governor in 1878 and 1880.
He represented Whitefield in the state legislature of 1872-73;
was a delegate in 1880 to the National Greenback convention in
Chicago, which nominated Gen. Weaver for president; was a member of
the Greenback National committee from 1884 to 1887; was a delegate
to the convention that organized the Union Labor Party in February
1887.

Mr. Brown possesses original ideas, honesty of purpose, strict
integrity, and has a blunt frankness of expression which shows not
only his energy, but the intense courage of his convictions.  He is
active in temperance work, a strong believer in Spiritualism, and
has many friends.  A firm adherence to his word, democratic
plainness in all things, and broad liberality combined with a 
caution about conservatism, are his promient characteristics.

From the formation of the firm of "A.L. & W.G." Brown in 1864,
until the present, the Brown Brothers have done a large and 
increasing business in the manufacture of pine and spruce lumber
from the stuump, besides adventures of magnitutde in other directions.
They put up mills at Rumney in 1864, which they operated until
1870, when they moved their plant to Wentworth, constructed large
mills at the foot of Orford and Wentworth ponds, and are still
doing business there.  In 1867 they bought a large tract of timber
near Bellows Falls, Vt., and Walpole, built mills, and did a rushing
business for two years until the timber was exhausted, when they
removed the machinery to Littleton.  W.G. Brown moved to Whitefield
in August 1869, to superintend affairs.  They commenced operations on
the site and with the buildings of the defunct White Mountain Lumber
Company, which consisted of a boarding house, and the main building
of the Browns' Lumber Company mill of today, which was fitten with
one saw only.  They at once put in machinery to cut the
8,000,000 feet of long and short lumber per annum; and, in 1872,
increased their facilities to enable them to cut 15,000,000 feet per
annum.  In 1869 there was no railroad nearer than Littleton, and to
hasten the progress of the White Mountain railroad to Whitefield,
the firm gave Mr. Lyon, president of that road, $4,000 for the
railroad company to use in building the road from Wing Road to
Whitefield.  They owned between eight and nine thousand acres of
timber land lying mostly in Carroll, and, in June 1870, began the
construction of a private railroad to transport this timber to
their mills in Whitefield.  This was called "John's River Railroad,"
and was extended form time to time as their business demanded.
In 1878 they obtained a charter for the "Whitefield & Jefferson
Railroad," to run from Whitefield to Gorham, and commenced to
built the present road running through the village of Whitefield,
which connected with their old road about four miles out, and avoided
the long detour to the north by which the old road reached their
mills.  This road was opened for public travel to Jefferson Meadows
in July 1879, and has since been continued thre miles direct 
toward Randolph, while a branch road of three miles for
conveying lumber has also been added.  An extension of the charter
was granted by the legislature in July 1887, for the purpose of
constructing a railroad from the present terminus of the
Whitefield & Jefferson railroad, in the town of Jefferson, thence
through the towns of Jefferson, Randolph, Gorham, Berlin, Milan,
Dummer and Cambridge; thence in a northerly direction, in the
county of Coos, to some point on the Canada line, or to some point
on the easterly line of the state of New Hampshire."

The firm in Whitefield had been "A.L. & W.G. Brown & Co."; Dr.
Aaron Ordway, of Lawrence, became a partner.  No change occurred
in this firm from 1869 till September 1, 1874 when "Browns' Lumber
Company" began its existence, under an act of incorporation granted
by the state legislature, with a capital of $500,000, and these
officers: Aaron Ordway president; R.H. Tewksbury, treasurer (He
served but a short time. A.L. Brown succeding him in the office).
The directors were A.L. Brown, W.G. Brown, Aaron Ordway, N.R.
Perkins, R.H. Tewksbury... [more info not included here].

Their mill is the largest and most complete lumber mill in New
England.  The power is furnished by a 400-horse-power steam engine.
A ten-lighted machine of the "Weston electric light" was introduced
in 1882, at a cost of $2,200 enabling them to run full time the
whole year.  Besides their lumber-mills, they have a separate
establishment with a 150-horse-power steam engine, in which they
manufacture mouldings, floorings, and furnishings of all kinds;
box shooks (of which they ship 5,000,000 feet annually), butter-tubs,
etc., etc.  They have also manufactured here some exquisite
furniture of the native hard woods, birch, "bird's eye" maple, ash,
etc.  This department may be extensively developed when pine and
spruce become exhausted.  In and about the mill they employ 150
persons.  During their operations in Whitefield the Browns have
lost at least $200,000 by fire.  A first-class pulp-board mill was
erected in 1875, at a cost of $75,000; when fairly in operation,
and producing a superior article, it was destroyed by fire.  Within
six months of this event their moulding and box mill, with stock,
was also burnted, at a loss of $60,000 to $75,000.  No insurance on
either.  To prevent such occurrences in the future, the company now
has a steam engine with 2,500 feet of leather hose, and a powerful
steam fire-pump.  Water is brought from a distant reservoir to the
numerous hydrants they have located.

The company owns 40,000 acres of pine and spruce timber lands, 
which will furnish material for their mills for from fifteen to 
twenty years..... [more info in original source not included here].
They own about fifty tenement houses in Whitefield and Jefferson,
occupied by seventy-five families....They have conducted an extensive
mercantile business in Whitefield, and had a store at Jefferson
Meadows, rebuilt in 1882 immediately after its destruction by fire.

To W.G. Brown must be given the credit of first suggesting the
introduction of the yellow fir of the Pacific coast, as spars and 
masts into the Atlantic ship yards.  In 1876 the "Brown Brothers"
brought the first cargo of this wood to the east.....

CHARLES W. KING, treasurer of Browns' Lumber Company is a native of
Lunenburg Vt,...

--------------------
LOUIS TRACY HAZEN comes of good Anglo-Saxon ancestry, domiciled in New 
England for nearly two centuries and a half.  He is a lineal descendant
 of Edward Hazen (who was resident in Boxford, Mass., in 1649, where
 his old home is yet standing) and was born in Hartford, Vt., July 11, 
1836, the son of Lucius and Hannah (Downer) Hazen...

His paternal grandfather, Asa Hazen, a native of Connecticut, was one 
of the first settlers of Hartford, Vt., where the farm which he 
selected and marked by "blazing" the trees around it, was occupied by 
him during his life, and is now in the possession of one of his 
grandsons.  Of keen judgement, he was a prominent and influential man
in social, religious and civic affairs, and a successful farmer. Among
his children were Allen, Thomas, Austin, Asa, Lucius and Tracy.
Allen, a farmer, succeeded to the homestead.  Thomas, a farmer, 
settled in Norwich, Vt., Austin [D.C.], a Congregational minister, was
settled in Berlin, Vt., for many years and died there. [He left four
sons, all of Darmouth and Andover, and Congregational ministers.  Allen
was a missionary in India over thirty years, and is now a settled
pastor in Deerfield, Mass.; Austin, pastor at Underhill, Vt., for
twenty years; William settled in Northfield, Vt., for twenty years;
Asahel had a pastorate in Middletown, Conn.; a daughter, Sophia, a
teacher in South Hadley (Mass.) seminary, married Rev. David Stoddard.
She went with him as a missionary to Prussia and remained until his
death ten or twelve years later, when she returned to America.] His
son Lucius, remained after his majority as a farmer on the homestead
with his father, receiving education sufficient to become a teacher,
and taught several winter terms with satisfactory results.  He married
Hannah, daughter of John and Hannah Downer.
 
From his maternal grandather, Mr. Hazen inherits not only personal
appearance, but mental traits--rapidity of thought, and quickness of
conclusion and execution.  John Downer walked from Coventry, Conn., to
Sharon, Vt., when but nine years old, his father being one of the first
to claim a home for his family in the wilderness, and he grew up
familiar with and developed by the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and
early learned to rightly estimate the value of a dollar.  The first
wheat flour used in their family was from what of their own raising,
which his father carried on his back sixty miles to mill, at
Charlestown, N.H. wearing snow shoes.  He became one of the most
prominent, wealthy, and active men of Windsor county.  He was
extensively engaged in farming and droving, kept a hotel where as many
as 250 guests received entertainment at one time, and was one of the
three owners of the stage route from Concord, N.H., to Burlington, Vt.
His active, nervous temperatment accomplished much.  He was an able
financier, and acquired wealth, notwithstanding large losses by
endorsements, into which he was led by his accomodating disposition.
After the marriage of his daughter to Mr. Hazen, Mr. Downer built the
house where L.T. Hazen was born, removed thither, and left the hotel
in possession of his son-in-law, who conducted it five years, then
sold it and moved to the farm, in Hartford, to live with Mr. Downer.
They were in business together for twenty-five years, when they moved
to Newbury, Vt., where they purchased the finest interval farm in
that fruitful section, embracing 700 acres, and known as the "Musquash
Meadow," or Oxbow farm.  Here Lucius D., Louis T., and Hannah M. (Mrs.
Dr. H.C. Newell), the children of Lucius and Hannah D. Hazen, were
reared.  Mr. Downer died in 1861, aged ninety-one.  In connection with
his farm Mr. Hazen dealth largely in all kinds of live stock, and sent
many droves to market.  His sons were early trained to know the good
points of oxen, cows, horses and sheep, and to buy and sell on their
own judgement.  He had at aone time 1,200 sheep on his farm.  
Republican in politics, Mr. Hazen represented Hartford several times 
in the Vermont legislature, and Newbury during the whole of the
exciting period of the War of 1861-65.  He was a Congregationalist in
religion.  His death occurred in 1864.  Mrs. Hazen died in 1874.
  Louis Tacy Hazen was educated at Kimball Union Academy, Meridan,
N.H., and introduced to business ostensibly as a clerk in his father's
store, but really was a trader in horses, cattle, and real estate
from an early age. He began trading in horses when but twelve years 
old, and for many years followed merchandising, droving, and dealing
in all kinds of farm stock.  He commenced business for himself as a
stock farmer in Newbury, carrying on in connection with Lucius D.,
extensive operations in cattle and sheep, having as many as 1,2000 of
the latter.  In March 1866, they sold the farm, removed to Barnet, Vt.,
and established themselves as general merchants, wool buyers, and
lumbermen, as "L.D. & L.T. Hazen."  After five years, in December 1870,
they purchased Manson Bowle's interest in the lumber business of 
"Kenney, Bowles & Fiske," consisting of the mill property now owned by
Mr. Hazen, 3,000 acres of land, and lumber yard in Worcester, Mass.
The first of Kenney, Hazen & Fiske continued two years, when it was
closed by the Hazen brothers selling their share in the lumber yard,
and purchasing the entire Whitefield business.  L.D. & L.T. Hazen
continued lumbering and merchandising for about ten years, conducting
a large lumbering interest in Victory and Concord, Vt., with mills in
both places, for six years. [more about their business interests not
included here.]. Mr. Hazen married, October 6, 1863, Ellen Frances,
daughter of Frank and Eleanor (Stevens) Johnson.  (She descends from
early and prominent families of Newbury, Vt., where she was born in
the house built by her grandfather in 1776).  They have four children,
Frank J., Maria F., John D., and Grace S.  Mr. Hazen is a member of
the Methodist church.  Republican in politics, he represents
Whitefield for the present term, 1887-88 in the state legislature.
He has a genial and social nature combined with business qualifications
of a high order.  His influence is felt in all important matters, and
he has an extended circle of friends among leading men

----
page 502
JOEL McGREGORY
The McGregors of New Hampshire are presumably descendants of Rev. James
McGregor (then spelled MacGregore), one of the Londonderry emigrants.
These emigrants were what is termed Scotch-Irish; that is, they were
of Scotch lineage, born on Irish soil, but their difference in 
religion prevented an intermingling of blood, and they were as
distinct from the Catholic-Irish as though an ocean rolled between
them.  They left Ireland in 1718, arrived in Boston in August, and in
the spring of 1719, under the guidance of their pastor, Rev. James
McGregor, a small company made a settlement in Londonderry, N.H. 
These pioneers were robust, persevering and adventurous men.  They
left their country to secure freedom of conscience and religious
liberty, and not from hope of gain.  David, son of Rev. James
McGregor, born in 1710, accompanied his father, and, in 1733, became
the pastor of the West Parish Society at Londonderry, ministered to
them until his death, in 1777.  The name, in the course of years was,
by some, written McGregory, but the present generation preserve the
original spelling of the Scotch McGregors.
  JOEL McGREGORY, son of Loma and Fanny (white) McGregory, was born
in Whitefield, June 3, 1820.  His school facilities were necessarily
limited.  At the age of ten he left the home of his parents
permanently, and from that time henceforth earned his living.  With the
same spirit of perseverance and persistency which characterized his
Scotch ancestors, he applied himself to work.  By steady, unceasing
toil in various mills, he acquired a practical education in making
lumber, saved a part of his wages, and with Ira Goodall purchased the
mills of Dodge & Abbott, which were where Hazen's mills are now 
located.  In 1845 Mr. McGregory went into the "woods" and had charge
of these mills.  Here he continued eight years, and the place took
the name of McGregory Mills.  Sixty thousand of long clap-boards a 
week were produced, a large amount for one of the primitive structures
of the day; these were hauled to Wells River.  Mr. McGregory then
removed to the Chase farm, and carried on agriculture for nineteen
years, and, about 1854, he purchased an interest in the "village
mills."  His industry, knowledge of general farming, and excellent 
practical judgement brought their rewards, and he was able to give
to his children the opportunities for education and improvement
denied him in early youth.  By his labor, in many ways, he augmented
the weal of his native town.  Democratic in his political affiliations,
he represented Whitefield in 1856; and energetic and positive by
nature, he was an active member of the legislature.  He was a 
selectman for several years and an efficient town officer.  His
religious belief was that of the Baptists.  Honorable in his dealings,
with his fellow-men, Joel McGregory was a good citizen; social, kind,
and obliging, he was a true neighbor.  He died August 11, 1865.  His
widow survives him.  Mr. McGregory married, May 30, 1846, Hannah
(Philbrick) Gove. [see sketch of Dr. Gove for ancestry].  They had
six children, Anna E. (Mrs. Joel M. Sartwell), George G., Charles I.,
John L. (see physicians), Joel W., and Stella F.

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page 503
GEORGE SULLIVAN GOVE, M.D.
The Gove family is not unknown in the annals of New Hampshire, and
its members have been prominent as politicians, profressional men,
and in other walks of life.
  George Sullivan Gove, M.D., son of John Mills and Anna (Montgomery)
Gove, was born in Whitefield, september 22, 1828.  His grandfather,
Elijah Gove, of Weare [NH], was one of the signers of the Association
Test in 1776, which reads, "We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly
engage and promise, that we will to the utmost of our power at the
risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms oppose the hostile
proceedings of the British fleets and armies against the United
American Colonies."  John Mills Gove, son of Elijah, was born in
Weare, in 1787.  He moved to Acworth, where he carried on merchandising
and engaged in agricultural pursuits.  In 1821 he came to Whitefield,
and settled on the first farm north of Burns pond, where Joseph L.
Taylor now lives, and very soon established a store in connection with
his farm.  About 1831 he moved to the place now occupied by Mr. Chase.
His wife, Anna (Montgomery) Gove, was a native of Francestown [NH],
and born about 1790.  They had eight children: Jehiel, died in infancy,
Vienna (Mrs. Leonard Bowles), Laura (Mrs. Joseph L. Taylor), deceased,
John T., who died in bay of San Francisco in 1859, Elijah B., Ira S.M.,
Hannah P. (Mrs. Joel McGregory), George S., and Charles P., who died
at an early age.  Mr. Gove was a man of ability and conversant with
town matters for many years, being justice of the peace, selectman,
and holding other responsible trusts.  He was a Democrat in politics,
represented Whitefield in the state legislature, and was a member of
the Constitutional convention in 1850.  In his younger days he was a
Freewill Baptist, but about 1840 he became an adherent of Rev. Mr.
Miller, was prominent in the councils of the "Second-adventists," and
both he and his wife were connected with that church until their death.
Mrs. Gove died in 1866.  Mr. Gove's death occured in 1870.
  Dr. Gove participated in the labors of his father's large farm, with
but limited school privileges, until he was of age.  His first thought
and desire then was for education, and he attended private schools in
Whitefield two or three years, working for his brother, Elijah, in his
hotel (for $12 per month) to defray his expenses. [The site of the
hotel is now occupied by "Bowker & Co's" store].  His next venture was
the meat business, which he conducted in the summer in primitive,
pioneer style.  His meat cart was an old fashioned Haynes wagon, in 
which was a dry-goods box with leather hinges.  During this time he
taught school two winters, 1853 and 1854 in Whitefield.  In the spring
of 1854 he went to Burlington, Wis., and receiving an offer of $60
per month to sell lightning-rods, concluded to try it for himself;
purchased team and outfit, and travelled in eastern Wisconsin with
good financial results, and was about to go farther west to buy land
and make a settlement, when he received news of his father's impaired
health, and returned to Whitefield.
  January 2, 1855, Dr. Gove married Maria Pierce, daughter of Morris
and Lucy (Fisher) Clark, of Whitefield [She is of the same stock as the
distinguished Rev. Ranna Cossitt.--is granddaughter of Judge Ambrose
Cossitt, of Claremont, and niece of Hon. George A. Cossitt, of 
Lancaster]. They have had two daughters; the elder, Della Emily,
born July 22, 1864 lived but a few months; the second, Anna Maria,
born July 6, 1867, was graduated from St. Johnsbury academy in June
1887 and is now a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in Boston.
  Dr. & Mrs. Gove commenced housekeeping in the old unpainted William
Dodge house, now standing at the end of the bridge.  This year he
began his medical studies under the charge of and with Dr. Albert
Winch, and attended lectures at Dartmouth college the fall terms of
1856-57-58, and was graduated from the medical department in November
1858.  In the spring of 1859 Dr. Gove commenced his long and
successful career as a physician in Whitefield.  In the fall of 1864
he attended lectures at Bellevue college, New York, in order to
perfect himself in surgery, of which he was making a specialty, but
contracted a cold, which resulted seriously, and during the years of
1865 and 1866 he was unable to attend to his professional duties;
since then he has not given much attention to surgery.  In 1880 he
performed the Caesarean operation successfully; this was said to be
the first case of the kind in the state, and he reported it, by
request of the State Medical Society, for publication in the 
"Transactions."  He has been a member of the New Hampshire Medical
Society for several years, and of White Mountain Medical Society since
July 1859.  IN the latter body he has been censor, secretary,
president and held other offices, and was twice its delegate to the
American Medical Association, of which he is a permanent member.
Since 1857 he has belonged to the Masonic Fraternity, and is a member
of St. John's Lodge, I.O.O.F., Whitefield.  His politicial affiliations
are with the Democrats, the minority party, of which has had been a
frequent nominee for representative.  In connection with his medical
practice, he has carried on farming to some extent and takes great
pride in his fine stock.  During the summer months of the past few
years Dr. Gove has been located at the Fabyan House, as physician for
the mountain houses. [more information in original document not
included here].

(end)