HISTORY OF GROTON, GRAFTON COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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SOURCE:
Gazetteer of Grafton County, N.H., 1709-1886 by Hamilton Child,
Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, June 1886

page 288+
HISTORY OF GROTON NH

Groton lies in the southern-central part of the county, in lat. 43
degrees 44', and long. 72 degrees 48', bounded north by Rumney, east
by Hebraon and Plymouth, south by Orange and Alexandria, and west by
Dorchester.  The township was originally granted under the name of
Cockermouth, to George Abbott and other, July 8, 1761.  Through
non-conformance with the conditions of the cahrter, however, this grant
was forfeited, and the territory was re-granted, to John Hale and 
others, November 22, 1766.  These proprietors also failed to comply
with the charter conditions, though they effected some settlements and
improvements in 1770;, but on the 24th of January, 1772, Governor
Wentworth granted them an extension of three years in which to make the
delinquincy good. The name Cockermouth was retained, notwithstanding
several petitions to have it changed, until December 7, 1796, when an
act of the legislature was passed establishing the present name of
Groton.  In 1792 a portion of the town was set off to form, with a
portion of Plymouth, the present township of Hebron, and by an act
approved June 26, 1845, a tract of land known as the "Gore," and some
other lots, were severed by Hebron and annexed to Groton, other than
which no changes have been made in the boundary of the township,
which has an area of 16,531 acres.

The surface of Groton is rough, unever and picturesque.  Bailey and
FLetcher Hills, in the northern part.  Baldhead mountain and Kimball
Hill, in the eastern and southeastern parts, and Powers Hill, in the
central part of the town, are the principal elevations.  In the
southern part of the town lies the deep, picturesque valley of
Cockermouth river.  This stream has a number of tributaries, the
largest of which is Punch Brook, and flows east into Hebron, where
it forms one of the principal inlets of Newfound lake.  Hall's brook
winds around Bailey hill and thence flows north, emptying into Baker's
River in Rumney.  This stream, pure and clear as crystal, dances among
the giant bowlders which vainly strive to repress its impetuousity,
forming many cascades and eddies, while from its either bank rises
the evergreen hills, towering to the mountain heights above. 
Following its serptentine course is "Brook road," one of the most
picturesque drives in the country.  Clark's brook flows north from
Groton Hollow, falling into Baker's river.  These streams all have a 
number of small tributaries and afford many fine mill-sites.
Spectacle pond, lying on the eastern border, and Little pond, just east
of the central part of the town, are two small bodies of water. The soil
of Groton is principally a sandy loam, well adapted to grazing purposes, the principal crops being corn, oats, potatoes, and buckwheat.  A large
portion of the territory is covered with valuable timber, principally
beech, birch, maple, ash, spruce and hemlock, so that lumbering is an
important industry, while large quantities of maple sugar are
manufactured.  Groton also enjoys the distinction of being the greatest
mic producing district in the county.

DESCRIPTION OF GROTON NH in 1885
In 1880 Groton had a population of 556 souls.  In 1885 the town had
eight school districts and seven common schools.  Its seven school-
houses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $1,614.00.  There
were 128 children attending school, ten of whom were pursuing the
higher grades, taught during the year by ten female teachers, at an 
average monthly salary of $18.92.  The entire amount raised for school
purposes during the year was $554.70, while the expendures were
$520.96, with Josie Colburn, superintendent.

VILLAGES
 GROTON, a small post village located in the southeastern part of the
town, on Cockermouth brook, has three saw and shingle-mills, a
blacksmith shop, doctor's office, and about twenty dwellings.
 NORTH GROTON, a post village, in the northern part of the town,
on Hall's brook, has one church (Union), a store, machine shop,
saw and shingle-mill, blacksmith shop, and about twenty dwellings.

BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND MANUFACTURES

THE VALENCIA MICA MINING COMPANY, located at North Groton, E.M. Simpson,
presdient, Henry Bradstreet, secretary, and William F. Simpson,
superintendent, has a stock capital of $150,000. The company employs
seventy hands, and turns out about 1,400 pounds of mica per day.

THE HARTFORD MICA MINING CO., of Hartford Conn., organized under the
laws of Connecticut with a capital of $300,000 has valuable mines on
Kimball and Fletcher hills.

THE SAW-MILL OF CHARLES SPAULDING, of Rumney, on Clark's brook at
Groton Hollow, turns out about 1,000,000 feet of lumber per annum.

CHARLES F. WHEET'S SAW, SHINGLE, PLANING, CLAPBOARD and CIDER-MILL
on Hall's Brrok at North Groton, does a large amount of custom work
and has the capacity for cutting 5,000 feet of lumber per day.

ARTEMUS B. CROSBY'S STEAM SAW-MILL, on Cockermouth river, manufactures 
about 500,000 feet of lumber per year.

ICHABOD P. HARDY'S SAW AND SHINGLE MILL, on Little Pond brook, turns
out about 100,000 feet of lumber and 100,000 shingles per annum.

JOHN E. MUZZEY'S SAW MILL, on Hardy Brook, manufactures various kinds
of lumber.

LEMUEL C. KENDALL'S STEAM SAW MILL, SHINGLE-MILL AND BOBBIN and CHAIR-
STOCK FACTORY is located on Cockermouth river.

ISAAC N. FORD'S STEAM SAW-MILL, on road 8, manufactures large
quantities of hard and soft wood lumber.

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN
The settlement of the town was begun in 1770, by Phineas Bennett,
James Gould, Ebenezer Melvin, Jonas Hobart, Samuel Farley and others.
The settlement increased rapidly, for in 1773 the population amounted
to 107 souls, and two years later, 1775, it had increased to 178.
Phineas Bennett built the first cabin in the town, though its exact
location is uncertain, we believe.  One tradition has it that the house
stood a few rods south of the present dwelling of Oramel W. Hunkins,
while another places the site in the Remic neighborhood, about a mile
further north.  Be that as it may, he came back from Hollis in the
spring of 1771, cleared a small lot of land and planted it with corn,
which he harvested in the autumn and stored in his cabin, returning to
Hollis for the winter. When he and his wife came on the next spring,
however, they were great disappointed to find that the wild animals had
broken into the cabin and devoured the little store.  Mr. Bennett was
also the first to leave the state of single blessedness, and that the
proprietors appreciated his enterprise in this respect is manifested
in the following vote, passed at a meeting held November 15, 1770,
viz: "Voted, to lay out fifty acres of land to Elizabeth Benneett, wife
of Phineas Bennett, or her heirs and assigns, in consideration that she
has moved up into town and was married to the same Phineas Bennett."

The first proprietor's meeting was held at Hollis, July 14, 1766, when
Samuel Hobart was chosen clerk; John Hall, moderator; Ensign 
Stephen Ames, Lieut. Amos Eastman and Benjamin Cleveland, assessors;
James Taylor, collector; and Samuel Hobart, treasurer.

The first saw-mill was built by Jonathan Taylor, where Otis Phelps now
live, in 1771.  A mill at North Groton was built at about the same
time, near the present site of Charles F. Wheet's mill.  The first
grist-mill on Cockermouth brook was built by Enoch Noyes.  Near the
present site of the Muzzey mill there once flourished an iron foundry,
operated by Stephen Ames.  As early as 1783 a distillery was built, 
where Hardy's mill now stands.  Tradition says that the beveragae was
habitually used by the pioneers, being especially popular at sheep
washings, raisings, weddings, and at the dedication of churches,
though drunkenness was almost entirely unknown.

We have no list of the soldiers from Groton who served in the
Revolutionary war, but among them was Gideon Fletcher and John Hazelton.
In the late great war the town furnished forty-seven men who went to
the front, eight of whom were killed in battle or died from wounds or
disease contracted while in the service.

BIOGRAPHIES AND GENEALOGIES OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT FAMILIES

HENRY PHELPS came to Groton from Hollis [NH] and located where T.B. Ross
now lives. He married twice, first, Hannah Nevins, who died in 1806,
and second, Hannah Blodgett, who bore him two sons and five daughters.
One son, Nathan, born in 1788, married Rebecca Otis, in 1810, and had
born to him three sons and eight daughters.  His son, Nathan O., born
here in 1814, married Harriet Lucas in 1841, who bore him one son and
two daughers, namely, Charles O. of Manchester, Ruth Ann who was born
in 1850 and died in 1874, and Mary F., who married Ira C. Mosher in
1878.  The latter has two sons and one daughter, namely, Harvey,
Myron H. and Gracie M.  Mr. Phelps has owned and occupied the 
Leonard Chenney farm since 1842.

JOHN CASE came to Groton just after the Revolutionary war, and located
on the place where Elijah Swett now lives.  He reared two sons and
one daughter, of whom Israel, married Betsey Bailey, who bore him 
two sons and three daughters.  The second daughter, Ruth C., married
Wilder B. Griffin.  Only one of their children, Abbie M., is now
living.  The latter married Prescott M. Plummer, in 1875, and has one
son and one daughter, Henry I., and Lewella A.  Mr. Griffin was a 
soldier in the late war, and died in the army in 1863.  Mrs. Ruth C.
Griffin resides with her daughter,, on the Griffin homestead, on 
road 4.

JOSIAH WHEET, who was born in 1761 and died in 1828, came to Groton
from Hollis, in 1794, and located on the place where Sylvester Wheet
now lives. He married twice, first, Sarah Hayes, who bore him two sons
and six daughters, and second, Hannah Reed, who bore him two sons and
six daughters, viz: Col. Joseph, Betsey who married John Bartlet of
Missouri, Lucy who married Reuben H. Colburn, and Capt. Joseph. THe
last mentioned was born in 1813, married Lucette, daughter of John and
Lois (Buel) Kidder, in 1834, and reared three sons and four daughters,
viz: Charles F., Elizabeth who married Charles Johnson of Campton NH,
Emily A who died at the age of eighteen, Lafayette, ALonzo W.,
Ella J. who was born in 1851 and marriage Luth Bradley and died in 1875,
and Lura L. now mrs. Elias Bailey of this town.  Capt. Joseph Wheet has
been dead several years. His widow resides in town.  His son Charles F.
was born here, in 1835, and married Annie A. Bacon, widow of Charles P.
Fish, who has one son by her first marriage, namely, Charles P.
Mr. Wheet has two children, Luella and Ann Jeanette. He owns a saw and
lumber-mill, is a blacksmith and farmer, and resides in North Groton.
Lafayette, son of Joseph, was born in 1844, married Emma F. Colburn
in 1871, and has one son and three daughters, namely, Marion J., Lucy L,
Sadie L. and Carl R.  Mr. Wheet occupies the John French farm, just
north of the Union Church.  Alonzo W., son of Joseph was born in 
Groton in 1849, and married Georgiana Kelly, widow of Joseph Adams, 
in 1881. She was the daughter of Rev. Paul Chase, and has one child,
Martha Adams, by her first husband.  Mr. Wheet has had born to him
one son, Willie F.,, and owns and occupies the Daniel Buel farm, on
road 6.  Joshua R., son of Josiah, was born in Groton, March 23, 1807,
married Huldah, daughter of John and Lois (Buel) Kidder, August 25, 
1830.  He reared four sons and four daughters, viz: Sylvester, born
June 21, 1836; Josiah, Dr. John C., born February 15, 1840, now a
practicing physician at Bristol NH; Alonzo J., who died in infancy;
Caroline B. born in 1832, now Mrs. Cummings Hall; Sarah A., born in
1834, now Mrs. Frank Smith, of Plymouth; Huldah A., born in 1843, now
Mrs. A.J. McClure of Plymouth; and Mary Ann, born in 1850 who died in
1863.  Caroline B., who married J. Cummings Hall in 1854 has had two
sons and three daughters, namely, Alpha C., Carrie A., Ida A., Ira S. 
Wheet, and Anna.  Mr. Hall was postmaster nineteen years and died
November 30, 1884. His widow still retains the post-office at North
Groton.  Josiah, son of Joshua and Huldah (Kidder) Wheet, married twice,
first, Hannah W. Southwick, in 1863, who bore him five sons, two of
whom, Fred E. and Harvey A. are living.  His first wife died in 1879,
and he married for his second wife, Abbie A., daughter of A.J. McClure
in 1880, and has one daughter, Ava.  Mr. Wheet is a farmer and owns and
occupies the I.D. Southwick homestead, on road 13.  Sylvester, son of
Joshua, married twice, first, Cynthia J. Witcher, in 1858, who bore
him four daughters, namely, Hattie A. now deceased, Mary J., Edith F.
and Hattie C.  His first wife died April 8, 1877, and he married for his
second wife, Mary L., daughter of Arthur L. and Mary E. Merrill,
May 5, 1880, who has borne him one son and one daughter, Carrol S. and
Ethel M.  Mr. Wheet is selectman, and occupies the homestead. This
place, which has always been owend by the Wheet family, is located one
mile west of the village on road 5.

SAMUEL BLOOD and his wife (Sally Bartlett) came to this town, from
Groton, Mass., and located upon the place where Cyrus Blood now lives.
Of his five sons and three daughters, Frank was born in 1797, married
Sally, daughter of Henry and Jane (Merrill) Cummings, and had born to
him three sons, viz: Parker born in 1826, Samuel in 1830, and Cyrus in
1838.  Parker married Mahala, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Wheet) Phelps
in 1876.  Mr. Blood, who has been a great studnet, has a private 
library of 1,000 volumes, a valuable collection of 1,2000 pamphlets,
and 500 newspapers.  He is an honorary member of the New Hampshire
Antiquarian Society, of the A.B.C.F.M. and of the Longfellow Memorial
Association, of Cambridge, Mass.  He is a member of the Pilgrim Society
of Plymouth, Mass., a life member of the American Sunday-school Union,
of Philadelphia, of the American Bible Society, the Home Missionary
Society, the American Missionary Association, the American Tract
Society of New York, the Congregational Publication Society, the
American Congregational Association, and the American Tract Society of
Boston, Mass. Mr. Blood served as town representative in 1864 and
1866. His wife died July 29, 1882. He occupies the Phelps homestead
on road 8, corner 9.

RICHARD BAILEY, a Revolutionary soldier, located on Bailey hill, in
this town, in 1785, and reared six sons and four daughters. One son,
Abel, was born in 1806, married twice, first Alfreda Foster, in 1829,
who bore him five sons and four daughters, and died in 1843; and second,
Elizabeth Foot in 1844, and had born to him four sons and two
daughters, namely, Abel, Charles, George W., Elias F., Ladena (Mrs.
John Bryer) and Effie (Mrs. Ira Cummings).  George W. was born in 1849,
married Abbie F., daughter of John S. and Anna (Robinson) Brown, in 
1868, and has one son and one daughter, Frankie I. and Mabel.  
Mr. Bailey is foreman in the cutting shop of the Valencia mica mines,
on road 5-1/2.

ABEL COLBURN came here from Hebron at an early day, and located on the
place where J.W. Keyer now lives. He married Betsey, daughter of Richard
and Hannah Bailey, and had born to him three sons and two daughters,
namely, Lucinda, Zila, Abel, Betsey and Ezekiel.  The last mentioned,
born in 1800, married Johanna, daughter of Joseph and Abiah (Cheeney)
Bartlet, in 1828.  Of his children, Alzina (Mrs. Cyrus Moore) resides
in Hebron, George E. lives in this town, and Henry H. is a
Congregational minister, at Salem NH.  George E. was born in 1831,
married Josie, daughter of Charles and Roxana (Divol) Temple, in
March 1869.  Mrs. G.E. Colburn is superintending school committee of
the town.

WILLIAM CROSBY, son of Jaazaniah, was born in 1784, came to Groton in
1814, and marry Sally Noyes, of Hebron, in 1806.  He reared two sons
and one daughter, namely, David, who was born in 1807, followed the
occupation of teaching, and died in 1881;  Elizabeth, who was born in
1810, married Elam Ross, and died in Hebron; and Abel L., who was 
born here in 1816.  The latter married Pauline, daughter of Henry and
Sarah (Wheet) Phelps, in 1838, and has one son and one daughter,
Artemas B. and Mary P.  The latter, born in 1844, married H.L. Ingalls
of Concord NH and has two daughters, Linna A. and Della L.
Artemas B. born in 1839, married twice, first Annette Hall, who died
in 1876, and second Mrs. Lizzie (Carleton) Sanderson in 1877.  He is
engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Groton.  Abel L. is a
prosperous farmer and resides on the homestead where he was born.

JONATHAN K. BRYER, son of David and Betsey Bryer, came to this town
from Gilmanton, about 1840, married twice, first, Maria, daughter of
J.B. Annis,, in 1844, who bore him five sons as follows:  Clarence L.,
John A., D. Parker, Herbert K. and Charles A.  His first wife died in
1864, and he married for his second wife, Lydia, daughter of Prescott
and Betsey Fellows, who has born him three children, viz: Anna,
George B. and Leon B.  Charles A. Bryer, born in 1862, married Nellie
M. Putney, in 1882, has two sons, Ernest K. and Merton M., and resides
on road 11.  Clarence I., son of Jonathan K., learned the blacksmith
trade, married twice, first Abbie M. Goss, in 1865, who bore him one
son and one daughter, Clarence M., born in 1866 and Nellie M., who died
in infancy.  His wife died in 1868 and he married for his second wife,
Nancy E. Griffin, who bore him two sons and three daughters, viz:
Nancy M., now deceased, Herbert G. also deceased, Nellie R., Joseph P.
and Satie N.  Mr. Bryer served four years in the late war, in Co. I,
4th NH Vols and now resides on road 5-1/2.

HORATIO N. BRYER, son of Clark and Mary (Hall) Bryer, was born in Groton
in 1853, and married Mary E. Cummings in 1876.  Mr. Bryer owns and 
occupies the H.U. Hall place, on road 13, a farm of seventy-five
acres, with valuable mica mines in prospect.

IRA WHEELER, son of William and ANnie (Davis) Wheeler, was born at
Sutton NH, in 1826, moved to Orange when two years of age and after
living there a number of years, came to Groton.  He married twice,
first, Harriet E. Holt in 1852, who bore him one son and two daughters
as follows: Alferetta (Mrs. E.K. Follansbee) of Hebron; Susan J.
(Mrs. Charles Thisell); and Martin, now deceased.  Mr. Wheeler's first
wife died in 1875, and for his second wife he married Lizzie E., 
daughter of Rufus and Martha Hazelton, in 1878, and has one daughter,
Anna May, born in 1883.

DR. GEORGE A. BLODGETT, son of Asahel and Sally (Clough) Blodgett,
was born in 1855, attended school at New Hampton and Harvard, and
graduated from Dartmouth in 1884.  He married Ellen D., daughter of
Rufus B. and Martha Hazelton in 1883.  Dr. Blodgett bought out
Dr. John C. Wheet, at South Groton

EBNEZER BUTTERFIELD married Lucy Hobart in 1811. He came to Groton and
located on Kimball hill.  His children were as follows: Lucy (Mrs.
J.T. Reed), Clarissa A. (Mrs. S. Fish) who died in 1852, Lydia H.
(Mrs. D. Estey) of Groton, Fanny O. (Mrs. Noah L. Jewell), Ebenezer B.
born in 1821, and Sarah (Mrs. Renssellaer Kendall) who died in 1858.
Ebenezer B. married Aurilla E., daughter of Lemuel and Philinda
(Hastings) Kendall, in 1847, and has had born to him two sons and
five daughters as follows: Lucia E. born in 1848 died in 1852; Eva A.
born in 1849 died in infancy; Edward born in 1850 died in 1852;
Eva E. (Mrs. Alvin Goodhue) of Groto; Addie T. (Mrs. G.H. Bailey) of
Broton; Ida A. (Mrs. Albert Hobart); and Frank, born in 1857.  The
last mentioned married Anna M., daughter of Benjamin and Mary L.
(Wheeler) Jewell, in 1884 and has one son, Hubert F.  Mr. Butterfield
resides on road 15.

WILLIAM F. SIMPSON, son of Capt. Edward and Harriet M. (Johnson) 
Simpson, was born at Middle Haddam, Conn. in 1848 and when twenty-one
years of age engaged in the coal trade and mining at Newburyport and
Lowell.  He came to Groton in 1878, became superintendent of the 
Hartford Mica Company's mines and now is superintendent of the
Valencia Mica Col's mines, at North Groton.  He married Abbie J.,
daughter of Capt. J.H. and Clarissa A. (Russell) Sheldon,
June 20, 1880, and has one son, William Edward, born July 28, 1881.
Mr. Simpson resides at Brookside cottage, on road 5-1/2.

DANIEL KIDDER, son of John and Betsey Kidder, was born in 1838,
learned the machinist trade and worked at Ashland, Natick, Boston
and Franklin.  In 1868 he became master mechanic on the Mt. Washington
railroad.  The first locomotive for that road was built under his
supervision, and run by him the first two years.  He belonged to the
firm of Aiken, Wilton & Kidder, manufacturers of surgical instruments,
has had a shop at North Groton, and is now master mechanic of the
Whitfield & Jefferson railroad, and of Brown's Lumber Company. He 
married Emeline F. Hardy in 1862, has one son and one daughter,
Fred and Ada, and resides in North Groton.

CHARLES G. KIDDER, son of Jonathan and Mary (Dimond) Kidder, was born
at Dorchester in 1844, married Lucinda B., daughter of Benjamin and
Sarah A. (Kimball) Davis, in 1867, and has one son, George Davis,
born in 1881.

*****
CHURCHES
*****

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH--A Congregational Church was formed here in 1779,
over which Rev. Samuel Perley, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1763, was
settled and remained until 1735.  The society flourished for a long
time, but finally became a part of the Hebron charge.

THE UNION CHURCH AT NORTH GROTON, was built by persons of the
Congregational, Baptist, Free Will Baptist and Methodist denominations
in 1840.  It is a neat wooden structure capable of seating 200 persons
and is valued, including grounds, at $2,000.000.

(end)