HISTORY OF BENTON, GRAFTON COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: Gazetteer of Grafton County, N.H., 1709-1886 by Hamilton Child, Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, June 1886 page 148+ HISTORY OF BENTON NH BENTON, a rough, mountainous township, lies just northwest of the central part of the county, in lat. 44 degress 2' and long. 71 degrees 52', bounded north by Landaff and Easton, east by Woodstock, south by Warren and west by Haverhill, having an area of about 33,290 acres. It was granted to Theophilus Fitch, Esq. and sixty-four others, eleven of whom bore the name of Weed, January 31, 1764, under the name of Coventry. According to the conditions of the charter, the town was to be divided into seventy-one shares, two of which were alloted to the grantor, Gov. Benning Wentworth, one for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, one for the first settled minister, one for the support of schools, one for the glebe for the Church of England, and the remaining shares among the grantees. This document gives the official bounds of the township, as follows;-- "Beginning at the southeastern corner of Haverhill, thence running south 58 degrees east six miles and a half; thence north 24 degrees east seven miles and three-quarters; thence north 55 degrees west about six miles, to the northeasterly corner of Haverhill; and thence south 25 degrees west, by the town of Haverhill, to the bounds began at." From the records of the proprietors' meetings, however, it seems there was a conflict relative to the charter bounds of Warren and the Coventry town line, for votes were taken to raise money to defend the proprietary rights of the grantees of Coventry, and committees were appointed to act in their behalf. This line was somewhat altered, in common with those of many other towns, by legislative enactment about 1784 or 1785. The name of Coventry was retained by the town until it was changed by an act of the legislature passed December 4, 1840. The name Benton was given in honor of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, United States Senator from Missouri for many years. As we have previously intimated, the township is almost completely studded with lofty mountains. But foremost in its grant physical characteristics, and having wide fame, even where the name of the township is unknown, is its mountain, Moose Hillock, or "Moosilauke," as it is now spelled, which towers to an altitude of 4, 636 feet above the level of the sea, and majestically alone, is the southern sentinel of the White Mountain group. From its summit, where a hotel and observatory have been erected, may be seen the most of the New England mountain peaks, notably Ascutney, Camel's Hump, Mt. Mansfield and Jay Peak in Vermont; Washington and its mountain bodyguard, the white summits of the Stratford peaks, northward; the distant Monadnock to the south; the hills of Maine, and, on a clear day, the Harbor and shipping at Portsmouth. Moosilauke, with its attendants, Black Mountain, Owl's Head and Sugar Loaf, either of which would be majestic if standing alone, occupy most of the township. The name of the mountain is derived from the Indian 'mosi,' bald, and 'auke,' a place--Bald-place. It has been a noted resorst for many years. There is a tradition that Waternomee, an Indian chief, ascended it about 1685. Robert Pomeroy, one of Roger's Rangers, died on it in 1759. Chase Witcher, father of William Witcher, was the first white settler, and Mrs. Daniel Patch the first white woman who ascended it. Amos F. Clough, photographer and Prof. J.H. Huntington, of the State Geological Survey, spent the winter of 1869-70 on the summit, being pioneers of mountain meterology, and the first men who ever achieved so perilous a feat. There is a bridle-path leading to the summit from the terminus of road 8, a distance of three and a half miles, following along one of the ridges from which many fine views may be obtained. The "tunnel" is 500 feet deep, with almost perpendicular sides. At its upper end is the "cascade," down which the tunnel stream dashes in sharp falls for 200 feet. At the end of road 8, the base of the mountain, G.H. Damon keeps a boarding house and stable for the accomodation of those who ascend the mountain. On the summit is the "Tip Top" House, a fine, large summer hotel. Long Pond, in the western-central part of the town, and Beaver Pond, at the head of Tunnel Brook, are the only bodies of water of any prominence, and even these are small. Oliverian brook, so called from a Mr. Oliver who fell into it, (Oliver is in--"Oliverian"), has its source in the central part of the town, flows south to the town line, and then turns west into Haverhill. Bakers River rises in a small pond on the eastern side of Moosilauke, and flows a serpentine course, party in this town, and partly in Woodstock, southerly into Warren. Witcher, Davis and Tunnel brooks all have their source in Benton, and flow north into the ammonoosuc. Perfect quart crystals, in great abundance, are dug from the ground at North Benton. Immense crystals of epidote are found on Owl's head. Numerous speciments of lead and copper ores abound, and a quarry of stone resembling Italian marble has been opened on Black mountain. The Boston & Lowell railroad passes through the southwestern part of the town. The only public house in thie town is the hotel on the summit of the mountain, though many summer boarders are pleasantly entertained at the farm houses. DESCRIPTION OF BENTON NH in 1885 In 1880 Benton had a popluation of 378 souls. In 1885 the town had four school districts and ten common schools. Its six school-houses were valued, including furniture, etc. at $2,425.00. There are 71 children attending school, taught during the year by one male and six female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $34.00 for the former and $16.31 for the latter. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $571.40, while the expenditures were $520.00, with P.W. Allen, superintendent. VILLAGES Benton (p.o.) is a hamlet located in the northwestern part of the town. ******* BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURES ******* EDGAR S. WELCH'S SPRUCE OIL DISTILLERY, on roads 14 and 15, was established in 1885, and has the capacity for turning out about 100 pounds of oil per week. BIRT COX'S SPRUCE OIL DISTILLERY, on road 1, has the capacity for turning out about 100 pounds of oil per week. J.H. KEYSER'S SAW MILL, on Tunnel stream, road 8, was built by him in 1861. It is operated by water-power, and fitted with machinery for the manufacture of clap-boards, singles, rough lumber and framing timber. It is operated spring and fall, and cuts about 50,000 feet of clap-boards, 85,000 shingles, and 50,000 feet of rough lumber, employing three men. FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF BENTON NH The first settlement of the town was made by Obadiah Eastman, shortly after the commencement of the Revolution, who located in that part of town now called High Street. James Page settled soon after on Oliverian meadows, and William Witcher was the first settlers of North Benton. He as the father if sixteen children who lived to grow up, all very tall, and "there are more than a hundred feet of Whitchers in William Witcher's family," was a true and very common expression. Dick French, a noted hunter and wolf-killer, formerly lived at the north part. The settlement of the town was very slow, however, for the census report of 1791 only gives the town a population of eighty-eight souls. Among the early settlers, Josiah Burnham and a Mr. Lund were here in 1777; Peltiah Watson in 1778; Moses Noyes, Samuel Eaton and Stephen Lund in 1783, and Samuel Jackson in 1787. The first recorded proprietors' meeting was warned December 20, 1796, pursuant to a petition dated December 16, 1796, "to be holden at the dwelling house of Dr. Amasa Scott, inn-holder in Haverhill, Tuesday, April 11, 1797." At this meeting Hon. John W. Chandler was chosen moderator, Obadiah Eastman, clerk, and Hon. John W. Chandler, Major Moody Bedel and Obadiah Eastman, Esq., finance committee. On the following day, at an adjourned meeting, Hon. Nathaniel Peabody and Major Jonathan Hale were added to the committee. At this meeting, also, it was voted to raise a tax and appoint committees to lay out and build highways, one through Oliverian valley, from Haverhill town line to Warren town line, and from Landaff town line to Warren town line, the wages for workmen being set at four shilling per day, oxen "three and six" per yoke. The first survey of lands was made by Major Caleb Willard, his report being dated July 9, 1786, wherein it is stated that the southwestern part of the town had been laid out into lots of 105 acres each. James Masters, James Curtis and Robert Whitton were the first whose claims to land were acknowledged by virtue of settlement, and on the following day the rights of eleven others were similiarly acknowledged by vote of the proprietors. The first town meeting was held at the house of Major Jonathan Hale, December 30, 1801, when the following officers were elected: Obadiah Eastman, moderator; Salmon Niles, clerk; Samuel Jackson, Obadiah Eastman, and Barnabas Niles, selectmen; and Elisha FOrd, constable. The first representative was Colonel Moody Bedel, who represented Coventry and Haverhill in 1802. The first marriage recorded is that of Ira Martin, of Bradford, to Sally Flanders, of Haverhill, March 7, 1802. The present road passing north and south through the town was built 1852-53. A hotel was formerly kept at Benton, by David Marston, beginning about 1830. **** BIOGRAPHIES AND GENEALOGIES OF SETTLERS & FAMILIES **** JONATHAN WELcH was brought up in the family of Obadiah Eastman. His father was an early settler of the southern part of Benton, and, when Jonathan was quite young, started from home, passing down the road toward North Benton, which then went through the notch between Black mountain and Moosilauke, and was never seen or heard from again. Jonathan married Ruth Merrill, and reared two children, Silas M. and Ezra B. He died in 1880, about eighty years of age. Silas M. married Nancy Albert, was one of the board of selectmen for several years and died in February 1863, aged thirty-six years. Of his three children, George H. and Edgar S. occupy the homestead, and Ella married Charles Cutting, of Piermont. OBADIAH EASTMAN, who was the first proprietor's clerk, settled opposite where the school-house now stands on road 14, corner 11. His son James moved to New York, after his family of eleven children had grown up, and seven of them acompanied him. Jesse settled in Warren, where his descendants now live. William W. Eastman, son of Sylvester and Louisa (Witcher) Eastman, was born in Joy, NY in 1850, and when about a year old, his parents returned to Benton, where he still lives. He married Georgia A. Aldrich, May 8, 1879, and has been selectman six years. SAMUEL PAGE was born in Haverhill, Mass., July 10, 1772, married Submit Jeffers of Hampstead, NH and came to Haverhill NH beween 1811 and 1814. They lived with her brother until they could build a log house on the farm now owned by Albert W. Morrill, on road 12. He had born to him eleven children. Captain Daniel D., born in Benton, January 20, 1817, was town representative in 1855-56 and in 1873-74, and was justice of the peace from 1855 to 1878, at which time he died. He married Charlotte a. Boleyn, of Hinsdale NH, and reared nine children. Of these, William B., Harry E., and Harriet E. reside in Benton. David Page, born August 6, 1809, at Haverhill, Mass., was the father of S.T. JAMES J. PAGE, son of Samuel, was born in September 1800. His son, James, born in Benton on road 12, February 10, 1834, spent his life on his birth place, and was one of the town officers for many years. He represented Benton two years, and died in 1878. He married Olive A., daughter of Jonathan Hunkings, of North Benton, and reared two sons and one daughter. ISRAEL FLANDERS came to Benton, from Bradford VT, about 1827, cleared a farm, and built the house in which he now lives. He married Polly, daughter of Ephraim Wells who settled on road 4, and has four children. Mr. Flanders and his wife are the oldest married couple in Benton, having passed their sixty-first anniversary. Their eldest son, John R., married Eliza J. Brown and owns a portion of the old homestead. NATHAN MEAD was born in Connecticut. He was about to be married to Mary King when the Revolution broke out, and he went at the call of his country to serve in the army. After the close of the war he returned and they were married, and went to Peacham, VT, to establish their home. They continued to reside there until about 1804, when they removed to Coventry and became the pioneers in settling the southwestern part (on road 12) near East Haverhill. Here he cleared up a large farm and spent his later life. PETER HOWE, a Revolutionary soldier, moved to Landaff when his son Daniel was but seven years of age. The latter located in the northern part of Benton, about 1809, and cleared the farm now occupied by his son Daniel M. Of his five sons and three daughters, Samuel and Daniel M. live in Benton, Susanne (Mrs. D.K. Davis) and Lydia (Mrs. J.A. Clark) live in Haverhill, Timothy E. is in Lisbon, and Julia A. (Mrs. J.G. Drew) resides in Easton. Daniel M., who served in the Rebellion, married Susan J. Clough of Lisbon, and has three sons and one daughter, namely Kendrick L., Paul M., Sam and Kate S. Samuel Howe married Merab, daughter of Samuel Royce of Haverhill, and has two sons and four daughters. WILLIAM KEYSER, was a farmer and cooper, and came to Benton, from Northfield NH, in March 1827. In 1830 he bought land where no clearing had been made, and put up a log cabin where the dwelling of his son, James H. now stands. He died here in March 1865. He had born to him six children, four of whom are living. James H. has been a lumberman and a farmer, and has served as town clerk, selectman, etc. He married Eliza A. Poor, and has three daughters, and one son, Bion C. Charles B. Keyser served as selectman in 1862, 1863 and in 1877 and 1878. He married Mary A., daughter of Jeremiah B. Davis, an early settler, who did much of the own business, and who was also a school teacher here. SAMUEL MANN, a native of New Haven, Conn., moved to Landaff when seven years of age, and came to Benton in March 1835. He bought the farm where George W. now lives, and married Mary Howe. He died in 1842, aged seventy years, and his widow died November 15, 1866, aged eighty-six years. George W., the youngest of his eight sons, was born in Landaff, February 20, 1821, spent his early life in farming, and, in 1853 became engaged in his present business as a contractor and builder. He was first chosen to a town office in 1844, then being collector of taxes five years, became one of the selectmen in 1846, serving eight years, has been justice of the peace for thirty years, school superintendent ten years, and town clerk four years. He was town representative in 1857, 1860, 1875, 1876, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883, and was a member of the constitutional convention in 1876. In the local militia he began in 1838, and rose to the rank of captain. Whatever office he held he filled with credit, taking the same pains to serve his constituents' interests that he would his own, and in the legislature showed that he was there to act as well as to vote. At the close of the legislature session of 1883 he was presented with a gold-headed cane and a pair of gold-bowed eye-glasses by his fellow members of the House. He has attended thirty-four State Democratic conventions. He has married twice, first, Susan M. Witcher, April 13, 1843, who bore him five sons, and died October 6, 1854; and second, Sarah T. Bisbee, March 4, 1855, and has born to him three sons and two daughters. Of these children, Ezra B. is a druggist in Woodsville; Edward F. is assistant superintendent of the White Mountain, Montpelier & Wells River, St. Johnsbury & L.C. divisions of the Boston & Lowell railroad; Geo. H. is a conductor on the Boston & Lowell R.R.; Orman L. is a farmer in Benton; Osman C. died at the age of eighteen years; Melvin J. is a conductor on the Boston & Lowell railroad; Hosea B. is also a conductor on the same road; Susan M., a graduate of the New Hampshire Normal school, is a school teacher; Minnie S., is also a school teacher, and Moses B. is a graduate of the New Hampshire Agricultural college. SOLOMON, LEVI, ASA, SAMUEL, LEMUEL, ISAAC and DAVID PARKER, brothers, were among the earliest settlers of Lyman, and were the ancestors of most of the Parker family, of the northern part of Grafton county. Prescott Parker, son of Prescott Sr., and grandson of Solomon Parker, was born in Bath in 1821, and brought up in Lyman. He came to Benton in 1855, where he has since lived. He has filled various offices, was town representative in 1877-78, and served as selectman in 1873, 1874 and 1879. He married Maria A. Fitzpatrick, and has three children, namely, Lebina H, and Dora A., of Benton, and Frank B. of Bath. PARDON W. ALLEN located in Benton in 1875, engaging in the lumber business, built and opened the first store ever kept in town. This store, with two dwellings, a shop, two saw-mills and other buildings to the number of ten, were destroyed by fire September 17, 1883. Mr. Allen has been town clerk seven years, and school superintendent five years. He served three years and eleven months in the late war, having enlisted before his fourteenth birthday, and received a severe wound by an exploding shell at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. He married Dorcas, daughter of Samuel Howe, of this town. GEORGE E. WHITE was born in Halifax, N.S. and moved to Massachusetts at the age of seventeen years. He enlisted in the 3d Mass. Cav., served in the last years of the war, and after its close engaged in an expedition against the Western Indians. He came to Benton in March 1875, and engaged in farming. He married Deborah Hilt, of Hope, ME., October 1868 at Lowell, Mass. ***** THE MEETING HOUSE ***** THe meeting-house, located in the northern part of the town, was erected as a union house of worship in 1846, at a cost of $1,180.00, though it has once been extensively repaired. It is not now occupied by stated services, though meetings are held there frequently by appointment. (end)