HISTORY OF LISBON, 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 434+ HISTORY OF LISBON NH LISBON lies in the northwestern part of the county in lat. 44 degrees 13' and long. 71 degrees 50', bounded north by Littleton and Bethlehem, east by Franconia, south by Easton and Landaff, and west by Lyman. It is a fair agricultural town, a popular summer resort and has an area of 29,130 acres, 17,417 of which is improved land. The town was granted August 6, 1763, to Joseph Burt and other, by the name of Concord. This grant was made and the town named, nearly two years prior to the incorporation and naming of Concord in the county of Merrimack. Very nearly the same territory was again granted, January 31, 1764, to John Fansher and others, and named Chiswick. Why this grant was made does not appear. It seems to have been ignored, and the township was re-granted, at the end of five years from the first grant, at which time, October 20, 1768, the grantees, failing to fulfill the conditions of the same as to settlement, it was re-granted to Leonard Whiting and others, in ninety-four equal shares, and named Gunthwaite. The boundaries of the latter grant varied somewhat from the former, but began and ended at the same place in both. Settlements were made by virtue of titles from the grantess of 1763, and some by virtue of titles from the grantees of 1768, which naturally led to a bitter controersy, as will be seen further on. An act passed January 9, 1787, appointing Col. Charles Johnstone, of Haverhill, to call a meeting of the proprietor and inhabitants, to choose officers to assess and collect the taxes, contained the following: "Provided nothing in this act shall be construed to affect the title of any person claiming lands under either the grant made to Gunthwaite or Concord." The town, which was incorporated in its last grant under the name of Gunthwaite, assumed the name of Concord, and in State papers was alluded to as "Concord, alias Gunthwaite," and later as "Concord in the county of Grafton," until June 14, 1824, when it was changed to Lisbon by the legislature. BY an act approved June 23, 1859, all that part of Landaff lying northwest of the Ammonoosuc river was annexed to this town. Lisbon as a farming town may be clased with those of a medium grade. The soil upon the intervales along the Ammonoosuc, when first cleared, was quite productive, though naturally light, as is the case generally throughout the western portion of the township. Nevertheless it responds freely to the application of fertilizers. The eastern part was originally covered with a hard wood growth, and consequently possesses a strong soil, and the farmers have been well rewarded for their toil. The grazing here is excellent, and much attention is given to dairying and potato raising, for which latter the soil is wonderfully adapted, and which for many years was the chief industry. In common with so many other towns in New England, Lisbon has suffered from emmigration westward, and the subsidence of the rural population to the business centers. In many of the back neighborhoods, where thrift and prosperity were once discernible, the school-houses are nearly empty, buildings are going to decay, and the forests encroach upon the fields. The supply of water throughout the town is abundant and permanent. Upon almost every farm are springs, which furnish Nature's beverage, cold and pure, while meandering streams diversify the landscape, and silver lakes lend beauty and variety to the scenery. Ammonoosuc river is the principal stream, fresh from the mountain gorges of the famous Crawford notch, its waters, clear as crystal, flow through the town in a southwesterly direction. There are two dams across the river, one at Lisbon Village, and the other three miles above. Two miles above the village is the so-called "Salmon Hole," where the river is very narrow and deep, with a huge rock protruding from its eastern bank, upon which rests the bridge which spans the stream. In days of yore salmon were caught here, weighing from twenty to twenty-five pounds. About this place clustered legends relating to transactions back in a pre-historic period. The largest tributary of the Ammonoosuc is the South branch, which rises near Mt. Kinsman, flows through Franconia and traverses the northern-central part of this town. Burnham's brook derives its name from a hermit who built his cabin near its mouth, for some cause seeking entire seclusion. As civilization advaned he retired to some more remote place in the wilderness. The brook rises in the southwestern part of Littleton, flows in a circuitous route through Lyman into Lisbon, and empties into the Ammonoosuc at the bend near Salmon Hole. One of the first mills erected in the town was built by Capt. Whiting, on this brook, upon a site ever since occupied. Along its course, or connected with it, are ten ponds, and from time immemorial it has been a favorite resort for fishermen and hunters. The Robbins brook, formerly well stocked with trout, drains the Walker Hill region, and empties into the river about a mile above the upper dam. The Salmon Hole brook drains considerable territory and has furnished water-power in several places. The fishermen have never been able to exhaust the supply of trout in this brook, though large numbers are caught each year. It has its source in the Sugar Hill section, and flows westerly, emptying into the Ammonoosuc just above the place from which it derives its name. Henry pond lies upon the border of the intervale three fourths of a mile above Lisbon village. It is the home of the pout and the muskrat, and in springtime is musical with the song of the frog; otherwise it is only noticeable for its historic associations. The first white man's dwelling, the first school-house, and the first church built in the town overlooked its limited area. Perch pond, named from the species of fish in which it abounds, may be found in the western part of the town, a mile or more back from the river. In extent it does not exceed twenty five acres, and neither the pond itself nor its surroundings possess any particular attractions. Streeter pond, so-called from the surname of the first settlers in its vicinity, lies in the northeast corner of the town, two miles from Franconia village. It is a pretty sheet of water, estimated to contain seventy-five or eighty acres. Guests from the Goodnow and Forest Hill Houses frequent this pond, and the fisherman is well rewarded for his pains. Pearl lake, comprising an area of 100 acres, is situated near Landaff line, two miles east of Lisbon village. Its waters are pure and transparent, being supplied from springs in the neighboring ravines. Unlike many lakes in New Hampshire, it is not surrounded by a barren waste, but with lands fertile and clothed with verdure. The scenery from the lake, or shores, and hillsides about it, is lovely and picturesque in the extreme. There is an Indian legend that the Giant Spirit made a deep cavity in scooping out the earth and heaping it in a mass, then the waters from the several streams flowing in completed the formation of the lake. This theory of its creation is worthy of consideration when the topography of the locality is brought to notice. On the west side Pond hill rises abruptly several hundred feet, and the adjacent waters are of unknown depth. While floating upon the tiny pool, immense upheavals, forming hills seen upon all sides, can but inspire one with emotions of awe and admiration. By the early settlers this body of water was called Bear pond, because Bruin himself, "staid here," and his kinfolk were numerous in the outlying forests; neither were they extinct at a much later day. In the year 1841, farmers living in the vicinity found havoc made among their flocks of sheep, and knowing too well the cause, made known the facts to D.G. Goodall, a well-known citizen of the village, and withal a nimrod of high repute. He took with him Samuel Dailey and other experienced hunters and, all eager for the sport, they proceeded to the neighborhood of the pond, Mr. Goodall taking along with him his dog "Beaver," a powerful mastiff, always his companion in hunting expeditions. After entering the woods, the men separated, agreeing to come together as soon as possible at the report of a gun. But a short time elapsed when Mr. GOodall came upon a female bear and two grown cubs. Being a fearless man he fired upon them, killing one of the cubs and wounding the dam. In a moment the enraged animal sprang upon him, and with equal celerity "Beaver" grappled with the common foe. Mr. Goodall disenaged himself from the bear, and leaping upon a stump near at hand, loaded his gun wtih all possible haste. The contest between the bear and the dog was of short duration. Quicker than the story is told, the latter was rendered helpless, bleeding from fearful wounds, while Bruin again made for the master. Just as her head peered above the edge of the stump the gun was discharged, and its contents lodged in her brain. The other hunters soon came up, pursued the other cub and dispatched it. Thus ended the bear tragedy. THe poor dog was six weeks recovering from his wounds and ever afterwards was a privileged character. After larger game became scarce thereabouts, it was discovered that mink did congregate in these waters, and many people came here to hunt them for their fur; so, in course of time, Bear pond gave place to a name having a more practical application--Mink pond. In the summer of 1854 some fishermen here discovered in clam shells substances which the imagination easily manufactured into pearls. Furthermore, it was stated for truth that True Page found a pearl which he sold for $30.00. The report went abroad, and quickly many men from Lisbon village, with a retinue of boys, rushed pell-mell for Mink pond. For days there might have been seen from fifty to seventy-five people knee-keep in water, hunting for the hidden treasures. Clam-shells accumulated in heaps, the scattered renmants of which are still to be seen. At length, finding no more pockets replenished, the bubble burst; hence, the propriety of the present name, "Pearl lake." The outlet of the lake is Garnet brook, so-called from the garnets found imbedded in the rocks along the upper course of the stream. The brook flows in a southwesterly direction and empties into the river near Henry pond. Four water privileges have been used on this stream, but the buildings, as well as the dams, have all gone to decay. Near the Hillside House, a summer resort kept by Edwin Knight, on this stream, are the Hughson falls, a cascade in which the water leaps over a succession of regular steps some seventy-five or eighty feet. In times of high water, a spectable is presented truly grand and imposing. It is generally believed that Lisbon occupies the central point of the mineral region of New Hampshire. WIthin its limits beside the large iron deposits which will be mentioned later, are found gold, silver, lead and copper. Whether or not any of these minerals will be found in paying quantities remains yet to be determined. A great mineral excitement occurred here in 1866, originating as follows:-- Professor J.H. Allen, an adept at mining, discovered a specimen of free gold in quartz rock in various places, not only is Lisbon but also in the adjoining towns. Searching for gold led to the discovery of other minerals throughout a territory including several towns. Capitalists were forthcoming who prospected, made investments, erected mills for working the quartz, and what was more, produced handsome bars of gold. Yet, from the beginning, grave doubts had existed among sober minded men as to the probability of gold being found in paying quantities; and this doubt established a principle of action among mining men. The whole business drifted into speculation. A programme was soon adopted which each succeeding party followed to the letter. The course pursued was to bond a piece of land, sink a shaft a few feet, make a good show, sometimes by bringing rock from another place, then sell out. The man who sold was always the lucky man. During an interval of ten years it was estimated that a million and a half dolalrs were squandered in mining operations in Lisbon and vicinity; not, however to the detriment of the town. Hotels and boarding houses reaped a harvest, though sometimes losing a bill by some poor dupe who had been fleeced of all he possessed. Again, in some cases, farmers were enalbed to sell at fancy prices some sterile pasture lands, which were comparatively valueless. Lisbon, as before stated, is the central point of the mineral region; furthermore, it has been the headquarters of the mining men and the place where much of rock has been worked. yet within the limits of the town only one mine has been opened, that one being the so-called Atwood mine, located near the place where gold was first discovered. In relation to this mine we quote from a mining record as follows: "The vein was dipping a high angle to the northwest, and a shaft being put down perpendicular 100 feet, passing the vein at the depth of fifteen feet, very many speciments of free gold were taken out, and the sulphurets were specially rich. Owing to bad management, this mine was abandoned. I do not know of any attempt ever being made to strike the vein from the bottom of the shaft by contract. All the facts in the case bear witness that the mineral resources of Lisbon have never been brought to fair test. And now, when excitement gives place to rational deliberation, experience mining men express the opinion that the quartz veins in Lebanon carry gold in quantities sufficient to pay for working, and that in the near future the spirit of speculation will subside and there will spring up again a profitable business." Previous to the year 1800, iron ore of a fine quality was discovered on a hill in the southeastern part of the town, and at an early day works were established on a small scale for the production of iron. The business was found to be quite lucrative, so much so that in 1810 capitalists from "below" formed a company, which was incorporated under the name of the New Hampshire Iron Factory Company. At Franconia village, the nearest water privilege, a furnace and other buildings were erected, provided with all the necessary fixtures for manufacturing iron and for casting various implements and vessels. In accordance with the expectations of the stockholders the business thrived, and for a succesison of years the net profits of the company averaged $30,000 per annu. The company continued to prosper until improved means of transportation brought their products and those form the mines in Pennsylvania in competition. After being in operation thirty years, the furnace was closed. Work was not resumed until 1859, when other parties operated the mines for two or three years, and suspended, after which the buildings fell into decay, and finally, in 1884, were consumed by fire. In these mines, however, the supply of ore is supposed to be inexhaustible. Limestone is abundant in some parts of the town, and the manufacture of lime was formerly quite an industry. The Boston and Lowell railroad passes, in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, through the town. DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN in 1880-1884 In 1880 Lisbon had a population of 1,087 souls. In 1885 the town had eleven school districts, eight common schools, six graded schools, and one high school. Its eleven school-houses were valued, including furniture, etc. at $5,675.00. There were 424 children attending school, fifty-three of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by four male and twenty-three female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $34.00 for males and $25.60 for females. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $3,162.25, while the expenditures were $3,329.10, with Rev. S.S. Nickerson, superintendent. VILLAGES LISBON is a fine post village located about midway between Wells river and Littleton, upon the Ammonoosuc and on the Boston & Lowell railroad. It is a handsome, thriving place, and the 'entrepot' for quite a surrounding country. It has a number of busy manufactories, fifteen or twenty stores of various kinds, fine church and school buildings, quite a sprinkling of professional men, and a number of fine residences. SUGAR HILL is another attractive post village. It occupies a sightly eminence upon the elevation from which it derives its name, in the eastern part of the town. Upon this attractive spot, amid the verdant hills, the gigantic maples have been superseded by the dwellings of the villagers, who are noted for their intelligence and morality. Aside from the usual complement of mechanics' shops and business places, there are some thirty or forty dwellings and several summer boarding houses. **** BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURES **** SUNSET HILL HOUSE--Of late years, Lisbon has, on account of its proximity to the mountains, its pure air and delightful scenery, become famous as a summer resort. TO meet the increasing demand, commodious structures have been built, specially fitted for the convenience and comfort of guests, so that within their walls the pleasure-seeker, the invalid, or the care-worn business man may truly find a home. First comes to notice the Sunset Hill House, built in 1879 by Bowles & Hoskins, under whose management it has attained its present popularity. Its table is supplied with all the substantials and luxuries procurable in the markets and farm houses, and its arrangements throughout are those of a first-class establishment. Being of peculiar style of architecture, and domeless, with colors flying from a flag-staff, its appearance from a distance is suggestive of a fortress, rather than the abode of peace and pleasure. The house is located near the village of Sugar Hill, on a small plateau elevated nearly 2,000 feet above sea level. No spot in the mountain region is more lovely and abounds in more picturesque and romantic scenery. TO the east, on the opposite side of a deep valley, are the mountains, so bold, so huge, so rugged, and magnificent. The whole range rises to view, from Mt. Washington to Kinsman, from the sombre spruce in the foot-hills, to the rocky cliffs in the clouds, altogether constituting a vast expanse of mountain side, endless forest, and rocky declivities. The tourist can here revel in scenes "which daily viewed, please daily, and whose novelty survives long knowledge, and the scrutiny of years." From day to day he can recline upon the veranda, and contemplate these grand old mountains in all their varied phases. He can gaze upon their lofty summits, bleak, and weird, and desolate, and silent, reposing in the glorious sunlight, or when the tempest bursts upon them in all its fury, and presses their rock-ribbed sides, searches every nook, and howls its mournful anthems through hollow caverns. From the hotel looking westward, the scene presented to view is, if less sublime, more lovely and attractive. Nature unrolls a panorama peculiarly her own, embracing all the beauties of landscape. Over the variegated expanse, far away, are seen the smoky forms of the Green Mountains; further south appear hill beyond hill, till, in the dim distance, the view is lost. This house usually remains open until October, affording opportunity for lovers of Nature to linger and behild the ubiquitous forests, tinted with all the gorgeous hues of autumn, and the mountain tops white with snow. THE GOODNOW AND PHILLIPS HOUSES are one mile north of the Sunset Hill. The former is kept by the proprietors, Goodnow and Peckett, and accommodates 300 guests; the latter, kept by Mr. Phillips, lodges 100 guests. These houses are first-class in every respect and are very popular as is proved by the liberal patronage they receive. Excepting the view westward, the scenery does not differ materially from that of the house last mentioned. The Goodnow was the first large boarding-house erected in Lisbon, and its success has encouraged the building of others. It is a fact worthy of mention, and one that speaks well for the house, that quite a proportion of the boarders return from year to year. The Phillips, W.B. Phillips, proprietor, is a new house, of handsome appearance and pleasant surroundings, and has made its debut under favorable auspices. THE BREEZY HILL HOUSE, D. Jesseman & Son, proprietors, occupies a commanding elevation one mile east of the Ammonoosuc river and three miles northeast of Lisbon village. Here one hundred guests find accomondations. The house was built in 1883, and was opened for the first time in 1884. As seen from points below, one is impressed with the idea of its stateliness and symmetry, while a near approach but confirms the impression. Neither pains nor expense have been spared to render this place attractive and worthy of patronage, while nature, too, has vouchsafed to lend a helping hand. The view of Mt. LaFayette and contiguous peaks is superb; and the Ammonoosuc valley, and extensive agricultural district, the Lyman hills and Gardner's mountain greet the vision to the westward. In a neighboring ravine flows a purling brook with woodland pools, where sport diminutive specimens of the finny tribe. Near at hand are rocky hillocks, and groves of primeval forests with sylvan retreats, where the denizen of the crowded city may ramble in seclusion and hold "sweet communion with Nature." The success which has attended the efforts of the proprietor thus far, augurs favorably for the future prospects of the Breezy Hill House. Besides the larger houses, there are numerous small establishments which are yearly thronged with boarders. Among these are the Hillside House, Elm House, Bluff House, Echo Farm House, Elm Farm House, Grand View Cottage, woodland Cottage, Cedar Cottage, Sugar Hill House and Maple Side. THE LISBON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION built a commodious two story building of wood in 1883, called the "Library Building." The Grand Army of the Republic occupies a portion of it for its headquarters. The Congregational society has its vestry rooms in it, and the Dorcas society owns and occupies a portion of the rooms for its meetings. The building is situated on the west side of Main street, in the village of Lisbon. The Library Association is an incorporated company of which E.D. Rand is president. The directions and other officers are chosen annually. The library contains 1,570 volumes, which have been removed to the new building. At one time, the town voted an appropriation for the library, but before the money was raised the vote was rescinded. It was the intention of the association to have made the library free to the town had the appropriation been carried out in good faith. PARKER & YOUNG MANUFACTURING COMPANY manufactures piano sounding boards, boxes, bobbins and chair stock. They have a large building, erected at the lower end of Main street, taking the place of the one burned in 1883. They have an engine of one hundred horse power and employ fifty men, using a vast amount of spruce, birch, maple and oak lumber, large quantities of which they manufacture at their mill, and obtain other portions by purchase from Canada, Vermont and other localities. J.K. ATWOOD & CO., have an extensive bobbin manufactory situated near the B.& L. Railroad station. The business was commenced by Atwood & Bowles, thirty-two years ago. Most of the time since Mr. J.K. Atwood has carried on the business alone. From a business of five to eight carloads per year, the trade has steadily increased until at present the product is one hundred car loads, or in round numbers, 16,000,000 bobbins per year, more than by any other firm in New England. The partner in the business, Mr. Baldwin, of Manchester, is the largest furnisher of bobbins in the United States. Atwood & Co. also turns out large quantities of both hard and soft wood lumber, employing twenty-five hands. In the manufacture of the bobbins, vast quantities of white and silver birch and rock maple are used, the hills of both Grafton & Coos counties yielding an abundance of the above named trees of the very best quality. RAND & CUMMINGS, at Lisbon village, are the owners, and W.M. & F.H. Richardson agents of a large flouring and custom mill. They are heavy dealers in flour feed, etc., at wholesale and retail. They occupy a building of three stories and have three runs of stones. The motive power is water from the Ammonoosuc river. O.D. MOORE carries on the business of manufacturing pulp from wood at the village. His pulp grinder is a machine invented by his brother, James G. Moore, of this town. He employs four men and produces two and one half tons per day. Spruce is the wood principally used, but popple is used to some extent. CHARLES MINDT has a manufactory which turns out one hundred to one hundred and twenty bushels of shoe pegs per day, about 35,000 bushels yearly, of twenty-four pounds to the bushel. Employment is given to twenty hands, one half of them women who feed the machines. All of this immense production is shipped directly to Mindt, Hamburg, Germany, where Mr. Mindt's father is agent for their sale, though he also has an office in New York city. White birch is almost wholly used in the making of shoe pegs, which are shipped in barrels manufactured at the same factory. The works were established ten years ago. The machinery is propelled by water-power though steam is used in drying and bleaching the pegs and fitting them for shipment. MINDT'S GRIST-MILL is located in the building formerly used for the crusher of a gold mining company. It employs two men and grinds about 150 bushels of grain per day. THE LISBON MARBLE WORKS, Henry H. Jesseman proprietor, 95 Main Street, produces two thousand to three thousand dollars of work per year, employing three men. S.C. JACKMAN & CO., on Mill Brook, carry on a business of quite large proportions. They have a saw-mill, grist-mill, shingle, lath and planing-mill and manufacture a million feet of lumber per year. MILLER & JACKMAN, on Mill brook, also have a grist-mill and machinery for the manufacture of butter tubs, of which they turn out large quantities, making them entirely from spruce lumber. WILLIAM E. LITTLE carries on a saw-mill on road 16, which was established sixty years ago, and which turns out half a million feet of lumber per year. He also manufactaures shingles mackerel kits, bobbins and scythe- stones. The material for the latter is procured from a ledge on Walker Hill, known as the "chocolate stone," no other quarry like it being known in the United States. ***** SETTLEMENT OF LISBON ***** The settlement of Lisbon was slow and attended with much trouble. Through the influence of Capt. Leonard Whiting, who was instrumental in procuring the second charter, and Major John Young, of Haverhill, Mass., some settlements were made during the period of the Revolution. Matters progressed slowly, however, and for several years there were but few additions to the settlment. In the mean time the war came to a close, giving a new impetus to immigration, and thus did it continue, so that in 1785 there were comfortably ensconced in log cabins forty families, in addition to a respectable contingent of batchelors. After the first influx subsequent to the war, immigration in some degree abated, yet each year witnessed a sure and steady increase, and evidently the morning of prosperity had dawned upon the new colony. The genuine prosperity which had rewarded the efforts of the Gunthwait proprietors was coveted, by the original grantees. They came forward, laid claim to the township, and, as is surmised, made some kind of compromise with certain influential citizens. The controversy thus raised was followed by litigation which culminated in the restoration of the Concord charter; hence, as by a single stroke of the pen, the Gunthwait titles were extinguished and the poor settler, who with his wife and children during these years had shared all the privations of the pioneer life, and had begun to enjoy some of the comforts so dearly earned, was at once deprived of his home and left nothing but his pittance of personal property. A part of the settlers abandoned their claims and went to Canada and places further north, while others endeavored to sell their improvement; but no one was willing to purchase, so prevalent was a feeling of distrust and uncertainty. Every one knew that the first charter had actually been forfeited, and that points had been carried by dint of bulldozing and fraud, yet there was no redress, inasmuch as the courts had decided against them. By far the greater number of citizens remained upon their farms and awaited the issue; and when the claims of the Concord proprietors was fully established and acknowledged finding they must yield to the inevitable, they purchased their farms over again. At length the excitement and disturbance subsided, and, by an act of the legislature, the name Concord was resumed, and was retained until 1824, when it was changed to Lisbon. The first settlers of the town were Samuel Martin, Ebenezer Richardson, William Belknap and Samuel Sherman. Then followed the Youngs, the most influential family for a considerable period, followed by the families Dexter, Dailey, Judd, Parker, Aldrich, Jesseman, Bishop, Harriss, Howland, Northey, Hildrith, Jewett, Colby, Quimby, Streeter, Spooner, Oaks, Priest, Noyes, Jameson, Taylor, Hains, Applebee, Morse, Bailey, Ash, Whitcomb, Smith, Page, Wells, Knapp, Kennistons, Burt, Kay, Emery, Cushman, Morris, Kelsea, Gurnsey, Cooley, Whiting, Barrett, Robbins, Cole, Eastman, Whipple, Cobleigh, Kimball, Savage, Gould, and Ela, besides individuals and other families, perhaps equally as early but not so numerous. One of the oldest buildings in town was the house on road 5-1/2, built by Major Benjamin Whitcomb, a famous scout in the Revolutionary war, about 1785. Moses Emery, also a Revolutionary soldier, occupied this house in 1800, and it was occupied by his son Moses Emery, until the latter's death in 1861, when it fell into the hands of Moses Emery, of the third generation, who occupied it until the morning of October 1, 1884, when it was burned to the ground. Harvey W. Emery, a brother of the last named, born in the old house described, removed to Wisconsin in 1856, after having graduated at Norwich university Vt., and was admitted to the bar at Morgantown, West Virginia in 1856. He entered the service of his country in the war of the Rebellion [civil war] as lieut-colonel of the 5th Wisconsin Vols Inf. His record as a soldier is a brilliant one. Indeed, he lost his life through his devotion to his country, his last struggle being at the second battle of Bull Run, after which he was brought back to this town, and to the old house in which he was born, to die with his aged mother at his bedside, and is buried in Grove Hill cemetery, overlooking the village of Lisbon. A relic of the aforesaid fire is an elegant gold-mounted sword, now in the possession of Samuel Emery, which was presented to Col. Emery by the citizens of Milwaukee, for gallant conduct at the battle of Williamsburg. It passed through the fire which blackened and scorched it, but it is still interesting as a souvenir. WILLIAM ALDRICH was the first settler of Sugar Hill, and his son Peter was the first person buried in the cemetery there. William also planted the first apple tree in town, in 1778, where the cemetery now stands. The tree stood until the summer of 1884, or for more than a century. STIMPSON HARRIS was born in Lisbon, on the Little Ammonoosuc river, in the northeast part of the town, and always resided on the same ground and nearly the same spot upon which his father, Joshua Harris, first settled, and erected a log house. He married Pamelia Bailey, of Lyman, who bore eight children--four sons and four daughters. Of these Philemon lives on the old homestead, Elery is a farmer on road 20, and one daughter married Stephen Huntoon and lives in Bethlehem [NH]. STEPHEN P. SIMONDS was born in Landaff [NH] and removed to this town at an early day. He has resided on the farm where he now lives, on road 49, for more than thirty years. He married Susan Stokes, of Ossipee, and has a son living in Warner, a daughter, Mrs. Prescott, at Sugar Hill, one daughter, Mrs. Howland, lives near Lisbon village, two sons in Lisbon and one at home with his parents. ALVIN CRANE came to this town from Dalton [NH], his birthplace, settling on road 19, near the Little Ammonoosuc, where he carried on a farm of 200 acres for many years. He married Betsey Streeter, who bore him four children, one of whom died in childhood. Frank occupies the home farm, and a daughter married Miles Bowles and lives at Sugar Hill. Joel Streeter married Nancy Daly and settled on the south branch of the Ammonoosuc river, near Franconia. Their family consisted of eight sons and eight daughters, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood. Levi and Hosea still occupy the old homestead. Adams lives near Mink pond. Joel resides near the Salmon Hole bridge. David Streeter married Betsey Spooner. They had a family of seventeen children, most of whom lived to be men and women. Adams Streeter married Polly Daly. Their family consisted of two sons and one daughter. JONATHAN BOWLES was born in Richmond and came to this town at a very early date. His son Benjamin was born at Sugar Hill in 1797. His wife was Mercy Taylor, who is now living at the age of eighty-two. Amasa Bowles married Jerusha Parker, and their children were eleven in number. The eldest daughter married Kimball W. Noyes and resides in Landaff. Willis Bowles lives in Easton. Two sons, Leonard and Simon, live at Sugar Hill, on the paternal estate. Alden Bowles lives at Ashland. One daughter, Phebe Bowles, is a resident of this town, at Sugar Hill. In the old days of militia trainings, one field on the farm of Leonard and Simon Bowles was used for musterings, and to this day retains the name of "Training Field." The farm of one hundred and sixty acres was once purchased from one of the proprietors of the town for a coat of homespun, to be used by him for a wedding garment. Leonard Bowles married Lizzie M. Atwood, of Littleton. Simon married Marcia E. Gove, whose father was buried at sea, while he was on a trip to California, in the early days of the "gold fever" in that state. MOSES ALDRICH, one of the pioneers of the town, leaving his wife at Richmond, came alone and spent the first season here in solitude and hard labor, in felling the forest trees and endeavoring to make a clearing. One day, becoming utterly desolate and discouraged, he threw his axe far into the forest declaring that he would stay no longer to be eaten up by flies. Sitting down upon a log and giving himself up to reflection, however, he came to the conclusion to remain. He next spring he removed his wife to the new settlement, fortune smiled upon them, and he became prosperous and one of the influential citizens of the town. LEONARD MORSE was born in Windham [NH] and removed to this town, to a farm on Walker Hill, where he lived thirty years. He married Lydia Walker, of this town, and their family was four sons and four daughters. Wilton, who settled in Easton, is now dead. Horace is a farmer of Easton. He was a soldier in the late Rebellion [civil war], one of the Burden sharpshooters. John died in childhood. John W. married Adelia B. Dexter, and is a farmer on road 16. He was a soldier in the 1st NH Vol Inf. for three years, was wounded at the battle of Pocotaligo, S.C., October 24, 1862, and at Deep Run, VA, August 16, 1864. Jane married James Richardson of Littleton. Cordelia married Lowell Moulton, of Portland, Me. Eldina G. married Byron A. Clark of Easton, and died in 1881. Sarah is Mrs. John H. Cameron, of Littleton [NH]. EPHRAIM DEXTER was an early settler of the town. He lived on a farm on road 16, and died at the age of eighty years. His son Joseph succeeded him on the farm, and died at the age of fifty-seven. He married Mercy Streeter, the eldest of the sixteen children of Joel Streeter. They had two children, Joseph, and one daughter, who married Henry Buzzell, of North Lisbon. Joseph married Lucy Ann Carlton, and now occupies the old homestead. CAPTAIN LEONARD WHITING, and his son STEPHEN, were granted a right in the towns of Whitefield and Lisbon, for services in the Revolutionary war. They gave many farms to such as would locate on them, and sold others at a small price. George W., a son of Stephen H. settled on a farm on road 16. He married Mindwell P. Kendall, of Landaff [NH], their family being two sons and three daughters, of whom Horace A. married Emily J. Gray, of Jackson, and lives on the old homestead. George W. died in California in 1881. Julia H. married David S. Richardson, of this town; Angeline E. married ALbert Gray, of Lowell MA, and Martha A. married Orrin C. Gordon, of Royalston, Mass. EBENEZER RICHARDSON came to this town at a date when all the guide to localities was by marked trees, and settled on a farm near North Lisbon, cutting the first tree of the primeval forest from it. He built a frame house, which was burned before fully completed. It stood on the ground now occupied by the house of Horace Richardson, his grandson. David Richardson, his son, was born on the old place. He lived a portion of his life at Littleton, where he carried on the business of a clothier. His shop was burned, and a brother and another man named Palmer, were burned to death in the conflagration. David married Sally Walker, and had born to him four children. Horace Richardson married, first, Sarah Elliott, and second, Marinda H. Dutton, who had four children, two of whom died in childhood. The survivors, David F. and Isaac, reside with their father on road 4. Horace Richardson represented the town in the state legislature in 1879 and 1880. He has, for a number of years, held the office of selectman, was a captain and colonel in the state militia, and was also adjutant for two or three years. GEORGE JESSEMAN, born in Rhode Island, came to this town when the only guide from point to point was by marked trees, and settled at Sugar Hill. He resided in town until his death, about thirty years ago, aged eighty-three years. His widow lived to the advanced age of ninety-five. Sally, their daughter, married Smith Wetherby, and resided with her son, on road 3, until her death, September 17, 1885. RUFUS WHIPPLE was born in 1748, at Richmond, His wife was Mary Comstock, born in 1750. Their oldest daughter married Silas Parker, who built the first framed house at Sugar Hill. David Whipple spent most of his life where Nathan Whipple, his son, now lives. He owned the first cook-stove, probably, ever in the town of Lisbon. Sally Whipple married Elkanah Hildreth, and has always been a resident of the town. Lewis Whipple, another son, carried on the manufacture of scythe-snaths at Sugar Hill. He was possessed of a miserly disposition, and at one time deposited eight hundred dollars in silver in a box, and hid it near the old-fashioned chimney of his house, and eight hundred dollars in gold he put into a hole bored in a small log which he buried in his cellar, where it remained until after his death in 1860. He had only partially divulged the secret of its whereabouts to his wife, but she finally succeeded in finding the treasure. Nathan Whipple married Martha Sturgis. Mrs. Whipple died October 8, 1884. Nathan was selectman of the town in 1871 and 1872, and in 1874 was a member of the legislature. JEREMY HOWLAND came to this town one hundred years ago, from Rhode Island, and lived with his father at Sugar Hill, where Benjamin Bowles now lives. He married Martha Jillson, of Richmond, the fruits of which marriage were eleven sons and two daughters, of whom only five survive, viz: Silas and Hosea live at Sugar Hill; Washington W. at Littleton; Simon B. and Charles W. at Whitefield. Silas Howland married Eliza Oakes of this town, who died in October 1883, at the age of sixty-four years and eleven months. George Howland, when young, followed whaling, from New Bedford, Mass. His wife, Mary Jillson, felled the first tree on their farm. HON. LEVI PARKER, eldest son of Silas Parker, was a native of Richmond, NH, where he was born November 2, 1792. His ancestors were of English descent, and of the early settlers of the old town of Reading, Mass. When Levi was four years old, his parents removed to Lisbon NH and settled on Sugar Hill. Silas Parker was an agriculturist, tanner and shoemaker, and resided on the place where he made his home in the summer of 1796 until his death October 16, 1834, at the age of seventy years. He was a good type of the the old-fashioned New England pioneers. He lived in that period of our country's history when it had hardly recovered from the long Revolutionary struggle, and the people were chiefly agriculturists with limited means, and but few could give their children educational advantages--even those of the district school. His family of six sons and one daughter were educated in a school of stern virtue, frugality, and the unflagging industry always required in the home life of the plain farm houses, supplemented by that limited, but intensely practical, learning which has furnished many generations of men of sound, clear and vigorous minds. His wife was a kind-hearted woman, always having a pleasant and cheering word for every one. She survived her husband thirty years, dying in 1863, aged ninety-three years. Silas Parker, in 1796, the year of his arrival in Lisbon, erected, it is said, the first tannery in the state north of Haverhill, and carried on the business of tanning for many years, and was succeeded in this by his son Levi, who continued it for twenty years or more, when he was succeeded by his son Silas, who erected a new building, and extended the business. LEVI PARKER married March 1814, Phebe Ball, a very devoted christian woman, well educated and efficient, ever ready to attend the sick and suffering, and to sympathize with the afflicted, who heartily seconded the generous hospitality of her husband. She was a good wife, mother, friend, and neighbor. She died February 1872, in the eightieth year of her age. The children of Levi and Phebe (Ball) Parker were Silas, Eleazer B., Levi Pratt, Charles, Chandler B., and Phebe Ann, who married Lindsey Aldrich. Mr. Parker, like his father, resided at Sugar Hill, where he died, February 6, 1865. He took a deep and intelligent interest in public affairs, exerted a great influence for good in the community, and his word and counsels were listened to with respect. He was elected to and served in every office within the gift of his townsmen, and his duties were performed with the fidelity and faithfulness which characterized his whole life. When first placed in office he was comparatively a young man, and for forty years he did efficient and satisfactory work. He was selectman in 1823, and one of the board for eighteen years, town clerk in 1830 and 1831, treasurer in 1856. A life-long Democrat, he believed with Jefferson that a "strict adherence to the Constitution was the one thing needful to the pertetuity of the Union." He represented Lisbon in the legislative terms of 1836, 1839, 1840, 1851 and 1852. He was chosen councilor for his district to serve under Gov. GIlmore at the time of the civil war (1862-63) when men of responsibility, discretion and sagacity were needed, and the Governor said, that "no one in his council was more ready to assist by word and deed in subduing the Rebellion, or to render aid to the families of those who perilled their lives for the safety of the country." Mr. Parker was a man of great piety. The religious element in his character imbued all his acts. In early life he was a Free Will Baptist, in later years an Adventist, but his house was open to all ministers of the gospel of Christ. The poor and needy always found in him a friend; the stranger and wanderer was never turned empty from his door; his roof sheltered and his fire warmed many a poor wayfarer; and of such as he the Lord spoke when he said: "For I was an hungered, and ye game me meat; thirty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in; naked and ye clothed me. *** Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." The memory of this noble, patriotic, generous-hearted, whole-souled man who was ever ready to promote and further any movement for the good of his fellowmen, is cherished and honored by his townsmen, and his christian character and counsel has left a strong impress upon his descendants. CHANDLER PARKER, son of Levi, was a member of the state legislature in 1864. Charles Parker, another son, was a member of the state legislature in 1862 and 1863. Eleazer B. Parker* was a state senator one term; and another son, Silas, was also at one time a member of the New Hampshire legislature. CLARK DEXTER was born in this town, August 3, 1799. He married Ruth Caswell and spent his whole life here. He brought up a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom are living except Francelia Adams, who died in July 1884, at the age of forty years. SAMUEL SHERMAN removed to this town, from Rhode Island, with his wife more than one hundred years ago, and lived on the farm now occupied by Hiram Aldrich, on road 52. Mr. Sherman and four sons had lots of 100 acres given them as an inducement to settle. He was great-grandfather to Reuben Sherman now living on road 24. At that date the country was a wilderness, bears and other wild animals holding undisputed the territory. Rebuen relates an incident in the life of his grandfather, Sherman, which is worthy of preservation as a matter of history. About the year 1777 there was a great scarcity of provisions among the settlers. Then a lad of sixteen, he traveled to Barnet VT, through the wilderness and procured three pecks of flour, without the sign of a road or anything to guide him. WHen he arrived almost in sight of home, his dog met him and barked vigorously at some object in a tall pine, which he discovered to be a bear. Crying lustily, he made himself heard by his mother, and ordered their family musket, which was without a lock, with ammunition and fire-brand. The boy held the gun while his brother touched it off with the fire-brand and killed the bear. The body lodged in the fork of the tree which obliged them to cut it down. The meat furnished by the bear was a God-send, and saved the family, with the flour which the boy had carried ten miles on his shoulder, from starvation. AMOS C. ELLIOTT was born in Landaff, and removed to Lisbon sixty years ago, locating near Salmon Hole, and in 1850 he removed to Walker Hill. He married Rosanna H. Bedell, of Bath, and died in 1884, leaving four sons-- Lyman A., Thomas N. William B and James G.F. The latter lives at road 2 on Walker Hill. William B. lives in New York city, and Lyman and Thomas in Haverhill. James G.F. married Ella F. Brand, who was born in Boston but has been a resident of this town for the past seventeen years. HON. AUGUSTUS A. WOOLSON, son of Amos Woolson, and of Hannah D. Temple, his wife, is a native of Lisbon NH, and was born June 15, 1835. According to the family tradition, the ancestors of all the Woolsons in America were three Welsh brothers, who came to Massachusetts at an early date; but no proof of their existence can be found. The name occurs, however, among the founders of the town of Lunenburg; and a list of graduates of Harvard college mentions Ephraim Woolson as a member of the class of 1760, and as deceased in 1802. The family has not been a prolific one; and those bearing the name are far from numerous. Although they had a representative dwelling in the near vicinity of Boston no less than two hundred and fifty years ago, the directory of that city makes mention to day of but two, Harry H. Woolson and James A. Woolson, the latter being a leading member of the well-known shoe and leather firm of William Chaflin & Co., and of the banking house of Rogers, Wood, Loring & Co. Amasa Woolson, who has been for many years a successful manufacturer of Springfield VT, a man of probity and sterling worth, like the rest of his race, and Professor Moses Woolson, of Concord NH, a leading educator for many years, whose wife is the well-known writer Abba Goold Woolson, are good representatives of the stock. Constance Fennimore Woolson, the distinguished novelist, is also a descendant of the same family. The first of the name concerning whom we have any definite knowledge was THOMAS WOOLSON, born about 1626. He lived on the south side of the river, in Cambridge, Mass., until 1666, when he removed to Watertown, where he died, April 5, 1713. As second, in the direct line from Thomas to Augusta A., we have Joseph, born November 16, 1677; then another Joseph, born December 13, 1699; Asa, born August 2, 1727 at Weston, Mass., died at Lunenburg April 18, 1789; Elijah and Amos, the father of Augustus, who is thus of the seventh generation of the family in America. Among the early settlers of Lisbon NH was the grandfather, ELIJAH WOOLSON, who was born in Lunenburg [MA] December 1, 1769. He learned the coopers' trade, came, when comparatively a young man, to Bethlehem NH, and thence removed to Lisbon, where he lived many years. His wife was Rebecca Batchellor. He died in Massena NY in April 1836. He had a large family, eight sons and one daughter of whom but three now survive. The sons were John who died in Bristol NH about 1830; Elijah Sabin who died in Littleton NH in 1874; Amos, father of the subject of this sketch; James who died in Missouri about 1855; Ira K. who died in Ohio (Castalia) about ten years ago; Theron W. who died in Mt. Pleasant Iowa in 1872; Ezra, who died in California about six years ago; and Silas B. now living in Newark, Ohio. The daughter, Mary, married John Magowan, and is now living in Massena NY, at about eighty years of age. The sixth of these sons, Theron W., became a leading lawyer of Iowa, seving as mayor of his city, and as member of the State Senate, for several years. He left a son, John S., who has been president of the State Senate, of which body he is still a member; while last year he lacked but seventy votes of an election to the Lower House of Congress. The third son, AMOS WOOLSON, father of Augustus A., is now living in Lisbon at the age of nearly eighty-three. In early life he was a cooper; afterwards he became a shoemaker; then a tailor. He is known as a man of the strictest integrity and honor, and of more than ordinary intelligence and common sense. He was one of the charter members of the old Free Soil party, and later a Republican; but his native modesty has kept him from aspiring to or holding public office. His children were a son, born July 1831 and died the same day; John, born December 19, 1832, died April 3, 1860; August A; Charles E., born December 5, 1836; Mary R. born September 30, 1838; Jennie L., born July 31, 1841, died April 2, 1874. The third son AUGUSTUS A., the subject of our sketch, had not, in his native town, the opportunity for a liberal education; but he attended the district school until he was sixteen, and afterwards went for a few terms to the academies at Meriden and at Newbury VT. He was too active and enterprising to remain quietly at home after his school life had closed; and, accordingly, on attaining his majority, he removed to Minnesota, where he passed a year and a half in various employments. But son concluding that New Hampshire presented fully as good a field for successful business enterprise as could be found in the west, he returned to Lisbon, where he has since continued to reside. In this, his native town, he has long been an acknowledged leader in every work which concerns the public good, so that he is considered by his townsmen as a public benefactor. He was one of the chief promoters of the Lisbon public library, established in 1864; and it was mainly owing to his persistent and untiring efforts that a fine new hotel was recently erected in the village. Everything, indeed, which tends to improve or benefit the community in which he dwells is sure of his earnest support. Mr. Woolson's life has been a very busy one. He has filled the offices of notary public, deputy sheriff, justice of the peace, referee in cases of litigation, assistant U.S. assessor of internal revenue from 1865 until 1873, deputy U.S. marshall for taking the census in 1870, town clerk for severla years, and moderator of the annual town meetings from 1866 to 1878. He is president of the Lisbon village library association, a member of the school board, and a director of the Littleton Savings Bank. A prompt and energetic Republican, he has not only been chairman of the Grafton county committee, but for many years he served upon the Republican state committee, acting often as a member of their executive committee. In 1880 he went as delegate to the National Republican convention, at Chicago, which nominated General Garfield for president. He was elected to the lower house of the state legislature in 1875, and in the three subsequent years, and during his first and second terms, served as chairman of the committee on claims, proving himself an able and efficient legislator. He was several times called to the chair, and as a presiding officer displayed a tact and readiness which was not surpassed by members of much longer existence. At length in 1877, he was elected speaker of the House, and re-elected to that position in 1878. The session of this latter year was a long and memorable one, and was the last held under the old constitution. The duties of the Chair, although laborious and at times difficult, were performed by Mr. Woolson in a most creditable manner, and showed the possession of readiness, impartiality and courtesy in a marked degree. In 1872 Mr. Woolson, in company with Mr. Arthur c. Wells, established the mercantile house of Wells & Woolson, at Lisbon. This house does a very large mercantile business, besides being engaged at times in various kinds of manufactures. Adding to this, Mr. Woolson transacts nearly all the pension business for the surrounding country, settles estates, acts as guardian of minor children, and serves as general and special counselor to all his neighbors who may seek his aid. In the transcation of business he is both prompt and methodical. His keen perceptions enable him to reach conclusions quickly and accurately, so that he is ready to act with energy and dispatch. No sooner has he decided upon a measure, than he begins to carry it out, bending every effort towards its accomplishment. Thus, while many would be engaged in considering whether the project was feasible, he has performed the whole work. [some sections found in original document omitted here] Mr. Woolson has never married. In general society he is pleasant and genial, able to give or take a joke with equal good humor.... DAVID SMITH, of Sugar Hill, married first, Durilla Priest, and second, Katie Knight, and lives on road 46. His father, Samuel Smith, was born at Sandwich in 1800, and removed to this town when nineteen years of age. He married Phoebe Noyes, who bore him eleven children--eight boys and three girls. Four of the sons and one daughter are still living in this town. The daughter is the wife of George Brummer. Mrs. Samuel Smith was born on the farm occupied by Leonard Smith, and lived on the same until her death, at the age of eighty-two years, without ever having had a day's sickness until the one which caused his death. DANIEL JEPPERSON was born in the town of Douglas, Worcester county, Mass., March 1, 1790. His grandfather, Wilber, came from England. Mr. Jepperson came to Lisbon in 1811. When he arrived his eartly possessions consisted of the clothes upon his back and three dollars in money; but he was young, ambitious and hopeful. He first two years were spent in working for different individuals. With James Carleton, of Littleton, he served a short apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade. In 1812 he married Betsey, daughter of David Ash, and in 1814 he built a shop where Lucius Cole now lives. The first experience in house-keeping, of the young couple was in one end of the shop in which he secured a livelihood by laboring at the anvil. He removed to Dorchester [NH] in 1869, where he died in 1882. His son, Nathaniel, now lives at Sugar Hill. David Jepperson is believed to have been the oldest Mason in Northern New Hampshire, having joined that order at Bath [NH] prior to the Morgan excitement. SMITH WEATHERBEE / WETHERBEE was born in Manson, Mass., in 1803, came to Lisbon February 19, 1823, and settled in the portion now known as Georgeville. He married Sally Jesseman. Warren Wetherbee, his son, is a farmer, on road 33. He served in the war of the Rebellion in Co. G., 11th NH Vols. Inft., was severely wounded at the battle of Petersburg, June 17, 1864, on account of which he received an honorable discharge. Horace O. Wetherbee, another son, is a farmer on road 34. David Wetherbee lives in Middleboro, Mass. One daughter married Horace Aldrich and lives in Littleton, and another daughter married Francis Locke and lives at Oakland, California. JOHN CLARK was born in this town in March 1806, and has been a resident here nearly all his life. He followed the business of pilot on the Connecticut river for twenty years, when that river was navigated, after which time he followed farming on Walker hill. He married Harriet Whitney and has had eight children. Mrs. Clark died twenty-eight years ago, and Mr. Clark is living with his son, Leonard W., on Walker hill. ARTEMAS WELLS was born in this town in 1808, and always resided at Sugar Hill. After two years in the boot and shoe trade, he commenced the business of a general merchant, which he pursued until his death, in 1880. He married Abigail Bowles, of this town, who died nearly twenty years ago. Of their family seven are living, and one, Climena, died in childhood. Phebe is the wife of George S. Pike, of Franklin [NH]. Franklin married Harriet Parker of Littleton. Arthur C. married Emma R. Shipman, and is in company with A.A. Woolson doing a general merchandise business at Lisbon village. He has been postmaster at Lisbon for thirteen years. Curtis A. married Emma P. Wellman and resides in this town. Alma married Henry Eastman, of Concord [NH]. George W. married Maria Bowles, and is in the boot and shoe trade at Sugar Hill. Flora married Phineas S. Gordon, who lives in Bath [NH]. HUMAN PENNOCK was born in Strafford VT in 1791, and came to Lisbon sixty years ago, settling on Walker Hill, on road 2, residing on the same farm until his death, in 1874. His wife was Mary Barnes, of Haverhill. Of their children, Elbridge now lives on road 3, Francis in Maine, Harley C. on the old homestead, and Mary, who married Charles W. Bedell, lives in Littleton. JONATHAN HILDRETH moved to Lisbon, from Chesterfield NH in 1801, and located in the central part of the town. Eight sons and one daughter accompanied him. He died in 1825. Elkanah Hildreth, one of his descendants, lives on the same farm. Brigham, son of Jonathan, who was seven years of age when his father moved to Lisbon, was a shoemaker, and worked in the same shop and on the same bench for fifty-five years. His death occurred in 1872, aged seventy-eight years. Six of his seven children are now living, of whom, Mrs. Phebe Howland, Mrs. Oliva Young, Mrs. Betsey Cox, David B. and Chester C. live in Lisbon, and Timothy T. resides in Bethlehem. ELKANAH HILDRETH came to this town, from Chesterfield [NH] in 1800, and settled in what is known as Center district, then called Bowen Hill. He married Sally Whipple. Their son, Asa Hildreth, married Celia Quimby and is now living on road 25. JEHIEL W. SAVAGE, now a resident of Libson village, was born in Rockingham VT in 1798, came to this town when three years of age, and has lived near the Ammonoosuc river during all the intervening years. Mr. Savage's father was moderator of the meeting when the town voted to change its name to Lisbon. Mr. Savage, now eighty-six years of age, has been an active business man, engaged in farming and surveying. SIMEON S. SMITH was born in Gilmanton [NH] in 1799, and came to Lisbon in 1856, locating in the Center District. He married Rhoda Jesseman and they had a family of three, of whom Ezra G. is now on the farm in Georgeville and Lizzie married Charles Watson of Franconia [NH]. JOHN W. BATCHELDER was born in Meredith [NH], from whence he removed to Whitefield, and in 1856 to this town. He married Mehitable Noyes, daughter of Timothy, and their children are Austin J., and two daughters, Mrs. Jasper S. Young, and Mrs. David B. Hildreth, all residents of this town. DAVID HILDRETH was born in this town, married first, Levina Bowles, and afterwards Mrs. Almina Bowles. He is a farmer in the Center District, formerly called Bowen hill, so-named from a man named Bowen having come into the locality with a view to its settlement soon after the close of the Revolutionary War. JOHN Y. COREY was born in Colebrook [NH] in 1821, and removed to this town with his father when thirteen years of age, living near the village of Lisbon. His home has thus been in this town for over years. He served in the Mexican war two years and three months. He married Sarah J. Corey and reared a family of eight children, one of whom died in infancy, and the others still survive. JETHRO ALDRICH was born in Richmond RI, and removed to this town in 1820, settling at Sugar Hill. The first night of his residence was spent under his wagon, on the ground, where the cemetery now is. His son Peter lives near Mink pond, and his grandson, Foster M. Aldrich, resides with his father, and carries on a farm of 300 acres. Peter Aldrich married Theresa Morse, who died in 1881, at the age of sixty-eight years. WILLIAM JACKMAN was born in Landaff [NH] removing to this town about fifty years ago. He died in 1876, aged eighty-three years. His son, William, is a manufacturer of butter firkins on Mill Brook. CHESTER TAYLOR came to this town, from Connecticut. He married Hannah Sherman and reared a family of twelvel--eight sons and four daughters. His son Chester always lived in town and married Clementine Stebbins, who bore him ten children. Carrie M., married Warren Wetherbee. DAVID ALDRICH was born in Franconia [NH] in 1806, and came to Lisbon about 1830. He married Mary, daughter of Rev. Joshua Quimby, the first Baptist minister of the town. Of his family, five are now living, four in this town, the oldest being in Detroit, Mich. HON. WILLIAM HUSE CUMMINGS, a descendant of the old Cummings family of Dunstable, and the son of Joseph and Mary (Huse) Cummings, was born in New Hampton NH January 10, 1817. His father was an agriculturist and removed to Wentworth [NH] when William was a mere lad. William passed his early days at home until he was sixteen, attending in the meantime the common and high schools. About 1833 he went to New Chester, and entered the store of Maj. Ebenezer Kimball, as a clerk, recieving as salary $35.00 the first year, $45 the second, and $60 the third year, and out of this he was obliged to board and clothe himself. This sum would hardly seem sufficient to the young men of the present time for pocket-money, but to this very fact probably Mr. Cummings can attribute much of his future success, and he acquired habits of prudence, economy and thrift, which are the essentials to that end. In 1836 Major Kimball died, and William remained with the new proprietor about a year, when he purchased the business and engaged in merchandising for himself at the youthful age of twenty. After continuing in trade two years he came to Lisbon as clerk for Allen & Cummings a year. He then removed to Haveriill and went into business with John L. Rix, under the firm title of "Rix & Cummings," with whom he continued as partner for five years, then carried on business alone for three years, when, in the autumn of 1849, he disposed of his interest in Haverhill, returned to Lisbon and engaged in trade with "Allen & Cummings" in merchandising and lumbering; the firm becoming "Allen, Cummings & Co.," and from that time to the present (1886) Mr. Cummings has been closely identified with the commercial prosperity of Libson. In 1849 there were very few houses in the village, and in 1853 there were not more than twenty on the east side of the river. Mr. Cummings purchased the real estate of Hamlin Rand from his heirs, and has since put up about fifty buildings. While laying the founding for his own financial success, he has aided many a hard-working man to procure a home, by seling him a house and land and taking his pay in small installments. In this and in various way she has been a prominent promoter of the growth of this thriving little village. Mr. Cummings was actively and successfully engaged in lumbering, manufacturing and other business enterprises until about 1875, when he practically retired from trade. He married August 3, 1843, Harriet Sprague, daughter of Hamlin and Harriet (Sprague) Rand. (Mr. Rand was an early merchant of Lisbon, coming from Connecticut about 1815, settling first, in bath, then in Lisbon, where he became a prominent business man and a large real estate owner. He died in 1836). The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cummings were Harriet Sprague (Mrs. O.P. Newcomb); William E. who died in 1869, when about twenty-one, and Mary Rand. In 1853 Mr. Cummings erected the fine house he now occupies, and since then he has developed from a rough pasture, by liberal expenditure of time, labor and money, one of the most beautiful homes in this section. He has been president of the Wells River National Bank, at Newbury VT, since 1873, and is stockholder of the Des Moines (IA) National bank, and was an active agent in its organization. Unswerving in his Democratic principles, he has hewed to the line of an unshaken purpose, and has ever been prominent in the councils of his party. He went to Concord in 1856 and 1883 and was a representative of Lisbon, and as a state senator in 1877 and 1878 and was a delegate to the national Democratic convention that nominated Samuel J. Tilden. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of the organizers, promoters and charter members of Kane Lodge No 64, of Lisbon, and has held all the offices. He has been a member of Franklin Chapter No 5., R.A.M. for twenty years, and filled all the offices. He was also one of the original members of St. Gerard Commandery Knights Templar, of Littleton. Mr. Cummings is essentially a self made man [some text in the original document, not included here]... EPHRAIM COOLEY was born in Boston [MA] in 1785, and when a young man came to this town. He was twice married, first to Hannah Hall, in 1807, and two children were born to them, Ephraim and Alonzo; and second to Electa Young, of Landaff [NH] in 1818, to whom one son, Alden, was born. Alonzo Cooley was born in this town July 1, 1815, and married July 6, 1840 Emeline Wallace of Franconia, to whom ten children were born, viz: Laura J., John F., Dennis W., Sarah E., Persis E., Hiram K., Edwin W., Orisa M., Alice M., and Elra M., all of whom are living except John F., who died October 2, 1878 aged 36 years. Dennis W. Cooley is a practical dental surgeon, in the Association building, on Main Street. WILLIAM P. BEANE, son of William, was born in 1798. For four years he kept a hotel in Lisbon village. He married Sophronia Smith, of Lancaster [NH] to whom seven children were born, five of whom are still living. He died May 14, 1868. His wife died November 27, 1866. REV. ISAIAH SHIPMAN was born in Westminster VT, October 15, 1810. When six years of age his parents removed to Andover, and when eighteen years old he removed to North Springfield VT, where he resided with the exception of one year in Massachusetts, until 1845. November 17, 1835, he married Charlotte R. Cook, of North Springfield Vt, a lineal descendant of Robert Bruce. He was converted in 1854, baptized and ordained as a Christian minister by Elder Jasper Hazen, of Woodstock. In 1845 he removed to Sugar Hill, in this town, where he was pastor of the Evangelical Adventist church for the period of twenty-two years. During his pastorate he was instrumental in bringing many souls to Christ, not only by his preaching, but by his eminently christian walk and conversation, and the exercise of charity towards all. He won the confidence and love of the whole community, whether members of his church and society or not. From Sugar Hill he removed to Waterbury VT, and, on account of failing health, he went to Virginia, in September 1869, where he remained about one year, to the improvement of his physical condition. In 1871 he again came to Lisbon, where resided three married daughters. In 1874 he was instrumental in building an edifice for the Messiah's church, at Lisbon village, which society he had organized two years before. In this church he preached until about the time of his death, April 25, 1882. A handsome monument marks his last resting place, in the cemetery at Sugar Hill. Elder shiopman's father died at North Springfield VT, June 18, 1871, aged 100 years, lacking four days. His widow survives him and now resides on West street, in the village of Lisbon. Their family are married as follows: The eldest daughter, Christina, to Jame G. Moore; Emily R., to Arthur C. Wells; Sylvia A. to Moses N. Howland, all of whom reside in Lisbon; James F. married Julia Sargent and lives at Danville VT; Charles H. married Ellen F. Keith and lives at Montpelier [VT]; and Mary Ellen married William P. Dillingham and resides at Waterbury VT. DAY P. COREY was born in Bath [NH] in 1807, and has been a resident of this town forty years, thirty-six of which he has resided on a farm on road 3, where he now resides with his sons, James K. and Benjamin F. He married Eliza Corey, of Lyman NH, who is still living. JAMES A. BAILEY, was born in Lyman [NH] in 1827, and has resided in this town since 1845, being now a resident on road 16. He married Adaline Chase for his first wife, second, Martha Chase, third, Mary Felch, and fourth, now living, Louisa C. (Barrett) Brown. One daughter, Debbie M., constitutes their family. DR. CHARLES HART BOYNTON, son of Ebenezer and Betsey (Hart) Boynton, is a native of Meredith NH, and was born September 20, 1826. His father pursued the honorable calling of an agriculturist, and Charles passed his time, until he was nearly eighteen, laboring early and late on the farm, but with very limited school advantages, but, probably, by his hard labor, he acquired that vigor of health, and those habits of industry which have been of such practical use to him in his after life. In the spring of 1844, he purchased his time of his father for one hundred dollars, went to Brighton, Mass., where he found employment, and remained until the following winter, when he returned to New Hampshire, and attended school. He afterwards, for a period of three years, worked at carpentering in Lawrence and Boston [MA]; then, his means enabling him again to devote some time to study, he entered the New Hampshire Conference seminary, at Northfield, where he was a pupil for two years of the winter and spring terms. Having made his choice of medicine as a life-work, he went to Manchester NH and became a student until Dr. W.D. Buck, of whom it is said that "his office and dissecting-room were uncomfortable places for lazy students and that he had little patience with a young man who would not work his brains." Mr. Boynton now passed several years in alternate work and study, laboring to obtain the means to defray the expenses while acquiring the education he so earnestly desired, and laboring as hard as a student, until his funds were exhausted. He attended lectures at Woodstock (Vt) Medical college, and at Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass., and was graduated at the latter institution in the fall of 1853. During the same winter he supplemented his education by attendance at the Harvard Medical school..... Dr. Boynton located for practice in April 1854, in Alexandria NH, and October 19, of the same year, he married Mary H., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Huse) Cummings, of Lisbon. Mrs. BOynton died July 28, 1876. Their daughter Alice resides with her father. In January 1858, Dr. Boynton removed to Lisbon. .. For twenty-eight years he practiced in Lisbon and adjoining towns...He is gifted with a keen insight into the nature of disease, and his coolness, decision and nerve are inestimable qualities in a surgeon... As a rest or relaxation from such incessant labor and intense mental work, he has turned to agriculture, and taken great interest in it, and in horses, and all kinds of domestic animals.. and is considered a good authority in such matters by the farmers, who come to him for advice from a wide area. Dr. Boynton is a member of the White Mountains medical society, with which he has been officially connected for many years, and has twice been its president, is a member of the New Hampshire Medical society, and was examining surgeon for invalid pensioners from 1863 to 1871. He belongs to the following Masonic bodies, Kane Lodge, No. 64 and Franklin R.A. Chapter, No. 5. He has served seven consecutive year son the board of education, in Lisbon, has taken great interest in the public schools and other educational matters, and was one of the originators of the Lisbon library. In politics he was affiliated with the Republican party since its organization, and represented Lisbon in 1868 and 1869, and was delegate to the state convention in the winter of 1868 and 1869. He has a taste for geology and mineralogy, and has a cabinet of rare specimens. His library is well selected, showing a preference for solidity rather than show in literature. He is a fine conversationalist, and his dry humor is very entertaining. All in all, Dr. Boyton is a strong man, mentally and physically, and adds much to the strength of the community in which he has made his home. JAMES G. MOORE was born in Bristol [NH] January 27, 1828. In 1849 he removed to Franconia and engaged in the lumber business and the manufacature of shoe pegs and bobbins. In 1870 he removed to this town, from which date he has been prominent in the business interests here. He invented Moore's pulp grinder, also improvements in machinery for the manufacture of shoe-pegs. He is a member of the firm of Moore, Brown & Co., who manufacture wood pulp at Garvin's Falls, near Concord [NH]. He married Christiana C., daughter of the late Rev. I.H. Shipman, of this town. **** FIRSTS IN LISBON NH **** LUKE BROOKS and JOHN WHITCOMB discovered the "Old Man of the Mountains," or the profile, in Franconia, in 1805, and named it Jefferson in honor of the president of the United States. The wife of Jesse Guernsey, of Sugar HIll, now dead, is said to be the first person who ever saw the Flume, now so noted a resort, in the town of Lincoln. John Haynes, built and kept the first tavern in Lisbon, at Sugar Hill, near Mt. Tom, so-called, on a road now gone out of use. ********** CHURCHES ********** THE LISBON FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH, located at Sugar Hill, was organized by Rev. Josiah Quimby, Moses Aldrich, Timothy Tyler and Jonathan Bowles in 1811. The first pastor, and first settled minister in the town, was Rev. Joshua Quimby, grandfather of Lyman Aldrich, now resident of the town. The first church building was erected in 1829, and did service until 1884, when the present building was erected, about half a mile north of the old one. It will seat 300 persons and is valued, including grounds at $3,500.00. The society now has ninety-one members, with Rev. S.S. Nickerson, pastor. THE FIRST METHODIST EPIScOPAL CHURCH of Lisbon, located on Main Street, was organized in 1839, its first pastor being the Rev. John Smith. The church building is a wooden structure, erected in 1842, and is valued including grounds at $3,000.00. The society now has 130 members, with Rev. H.D. Smith pastor. (end)