HISTORY OF WARREN, 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 630 HISTORY OF WARREN NH WARREN lies in the central part of the county, in lat. 43 degrees 36' and long. 71 degrees 55', bounded north by Benton and Woodstock, east by Woodstock and Ellsworth, south by Wentworth, and west by Piermont. Its charter was granted July 14, 1763 to John Page, and others, in seventy-two equal shares, and received its name, probably, in honor of Admiral Warren, of the British navy. On July 5, 1770, an extension of the time for the fulfillment of the conditions of the charter was granted, and an additional grant of 3,877 acres was made to the proprietors. This additional grant was of territory lying north of the town as originally granted, and was to make good an alleged deficiency in the contents of the first grant. The boundaries of the town were settled by a committee which was appointed by the legislature, October 27, 1780, and reported September 4, 1784 as follows:-- "Beginning at a bass tree being the northwest corner bound of Rumney, thence north 24 degrees east, give and three quarters miles to a maple tree; thence north about 74 degrees west, eight miles to a beech tree, being the southeast corner of Haverhill; thence south 5-1/2 degrees west, five and a half miles to a beech tree, the northeast corner of Orford; and thence on a straight line to the bound began at." The boundaries of Warren are the gifts of nature. Its eastern line runs over the crest of three lofty mountains. Mt. Cushman on the north rises like a dark wave of the ocean 3,306 feet high. Mt. Kineo, a hundred feet higher, sweeps away its wavy crested summits to the southeast, and Mt. Varr, blue, forest-clad, and the last of the trio is 3,500 feet in height. The south line bends down the slops of Red Oak hill, crosses the pebble-bottomed Asquamchumauke, and creeps up to the elevation of 2,059 feet over Mr. Sentinel. The western line is over a spur of the latter mountain, crosses Tarleton lake and Mt. Mist--so-called from the vapor that sails up to its summit from the blue waves--and finds its northern termination on Webster Slide mountain. The latter is 2,170 feet above sea level, and its precipitous face slops down 840 feet to the deep shadow of Wachipauka or Meader pond. The northern line rests upon the flanks of Owl's Head mountain, 3,206 feet high, Mr. Black, 3,550 feet, Moosilauke about 5,000 feet, and Mr. Waternomee, a woody elevation of about 3,000 feet. The exact center of Warren is the summit of Knight hill. Standing on its summit one is surrounded on all sides by lofty crests, and the forest hamlet appears like a huge bowl, with another bowl transparent, formed of blue sky inverted and placed over it, and resting upon the rim of mountains. The principal stream of the town is the Asquamchumauke, now called Baker river. It rises in a little meadow pond on the north side of Moosilauke mountain. At first a wild torrent, then a bright, pebbly-bottomed stream, and lastly a deep, blue river. It empties into the Pemigewasset. Its Warren tributaries from the west are Merrill, Berry and Black brooks on the east, East Branch, Batchelder and Patch brooks. Through the north part of the town, running into the Connecticut, is Oliverian brook. These are the principal streams, but small, yet never-failing rivulets gush from the mountain springs situated in every ravine, while there is scarcely a meadow which does not contain a fountain whose waters, cool and chrystalline, bubble up from the white sands. More than a hundred of these musical streamlets make Warren one of the best watered towns in New Hampshire, while five sparkling ponds lie sleeping high up among Warren's mountains. Over on the east side of Mt. Carr two bright gems gleam in the greenwood, which from their locality are called the Glen ponds. Near Mt. Mist is Kelley pond, furnishing a stream for an old mill, and under the face of precipitous Webster Slide mountain is the before-mentioned Wachipauka or Meader pond. West of Mt. Mist, and kissing its sloping base, a crystal sheen in an emerald setting, is Tarleton lake. The town is also rich in minerals. On Sentinel mountain is a large and productive vein of ore. Gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, zinc, plumbago, molybdenum, calc-spar, epidote, beryl, garnets, quartz chrystals, tourmalines and many others are found. God is now being mined, it is said, in paying quantities. Near the summit are large quantities of limestone. Gneiss and mica slate abound, and the underlying granite which crops out on Webster Slide mountain, and Mt. Carr afford excellent building material. DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN OF WARREN NH IN 1885 In 1880 Warren had a population of 786 souls. In 1885 the town had ten school districts, ten common schools and one graded school. Its ten school-houses were valued at $1,300.00 There were 201 children attending school, twenty-one of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by one male and eleven female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $35 for the former, and $17.72 for the latter. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $1,386.28, while the expenditures were $1,219.18 with Stephen S. Bean, superintendent. VILLAGES WARREN, a post village and station on the B.C. & M R.R., located in the southern part of the town, has one church (Methodist Episcopal), three stores, one hotel, a grist-mill, saw-mill, two wheelwright shops, three undertaker shops, two blacksmith shops, and about 400 inhabitants. The railroad forms the boundary between what is known as the Upper and Lower village. WARREN SUMMIT (p.o.) is a hamlet located in the northern part of the town. BREEZY POINT (p.o.) is located at the base of Mt. Moosilauke, for the convenience of guests at the hotel and the neighboring farmers. BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURE DAMON Y. EASTMAN'S CARRIAGE AND UNDERTAKING SHOP, at Warren village, was established by him in 1855. He manufactures about ten carriages, wagons and sleighs each year, also doing a general repair and undertaking business. JOEL INGALL'S CIDER, SHINGLE and PLANING-MILL, at Warren village, was purchased by him in 1879. He manufactures about 200,000 shingles and 500 barrels of cider per year. LEVI F. JEWELL'S SAW, BOBBIN, CIDER and PLANING-MILL, on road 12, was built by him about 1851. He manufactures about 100,000 feet of lumber, eight car- loads of bobbins and 600 barrels of cider per year. JAMES JEWELL'S SAW-MILL, on road 11, was built by Solomon Gleason, and came into Mr. Jewell's possession in 1881. He manufactures about 300,000 feet of lumber and 200,000 shingles per year. E. FLINT & SON'S STEAM SAW-MILL, off road 9, was built by them in 1884. It is operated by a sixty horse-power engine and cuts about 3,000,000 feet of lumber per year. GREEN, TWITCHELL & SMITH'S STEAM SAW-MILL, in the eastern part of the town, was built by them in 1884. It is operated by a forty horse-power engine and cuts about 2,000,000 feet of lumber per year. C.B. WOODWARD'S STEAM SAW MILL, on road 7, was built by him in 1884. It is operated by a thirty-five horse-power engine and cuts about 500,000 feet of lumber. H.N. MERRILL'S CARRIAGE AND UNDERTAKING SHOP, at Warren village, was established by him about 1870. He manufactures carriages, wagons and sleighs, and does a general repair and undertaking business. BARTLETT & HIBBARD'S GRIST & SAW MILL at Warren, came into their possession in 1882. The grist-mill has three runs of stones. They grind about 30,000 bushels of grain per year, do a general custom business and manufacture hard-wood lumber. SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN JOSEPH PATCH, a hunter, built his camp by Hurricane brook, in 1767, and John Mills, James Aiken, Joshua Copp and Ephraim True, with their families, moved into town in 1768. These men, for the first few years, got their supplies from Haverhill and Plymouth, bringing them twenty miles home through the woods on their backs. Wild beasts annoyed them very much, and on winter nights wolves frequently put their noses against the window-pane of John Mills's cabin and looked in on the family seated by the open fireplace. Moose were plenty, and Joseph Patch often had twenty-five barrels of moose-meat in the cellar at once. The first settlers took an active part in the Revolution, three of them, Capt. John Mills Jr., Capt. William Tarleton and Capt. James Aiken, commanding companies, and in all about eighteen men, in a population of less than one hundred, served in the army. "FIRSTS" in WARREN NH JOSHUA COPP JR. was the first child born in town, John Marston was the first man married, and John Mills was the first who died, he being killed by the fall of a tree in 1779. The first road was cleared in 1767. The first religious meeting was held by the Congregationalists about 1775. The first saw-mill was built by Stevens Merrill in 1776. The first general training was held in 1780. The first public school was established in 1783. Methodist was first established in 1779. The first turnpike was built in 1808. The first permanent stage-line was established in 1814. The spotted fever prevailed extensively in 1815. The first meeting-house was built in 1818. The railroad was built through the town in 1851. Warren common was cleared in 1859. The Prospect House was built and a road cut on Mount Moosilauke in 1860. Amos Burton was the first postmaster. Samuel Fellows, who came to Warren in 1789, kept the first store. The centennial celebration was held here July 14, 1863. FIRST TOWN MEETING The first town meeting was held at the inn of Samuel Clement, July 28, 1779, when Joshua Copp was chosen moderator and Obadiah Clement clerk. The meeting was then adjourned to August 12 when Obadiah Clement, Joshua Copp and Israel Stevens were chosen selectmen; Simeon Smith, constable; and William Butler, Reuben Clement and Thomas Clark, surveyors of highways. There were then about twenty-five legal voters in the town, with about 125 inhabitants, for in 1780 we find the names of the voters are follows: Isaiah Batchelder, William Butler, Daniel Clark, Thomas Clark, Jonathan Clement, Obadiah CLement, Reuben Clement, Joshua Copp, Gardner Dustin, Joseph Kimball, Ephraim Lund, Joseph Lund, John Marston, Jonathan Merrill, Joshua Merrill, Stevens Merrill, John Morrill, Nathaniel Niles, Joseph Patch, Simeon Smith, Ephraim True, Moses True, Chase Whitcher, John Whitcher, and Reuben Whitcher. The first representative from the town was Obadiah Clement in 1784. CIVIL WAR In the late great war the following persons from Warren served in regiments which went out from this state: Capt. Dudley C. Bixby, Anson Chandler, Commodore Clifford, Rev. Addison W. Eastman, Martin V. Libbey, Joseph Noyes, Delano Prescott, Charles Merrill, Albe W. Merrill, George Miller, Hazen Libbey, Newell S. Martin, Andrew Jackson, Merrill S. Lund*, Harvey Eames*, Thomas Miles, Charles N. harris, George E. Swain, Daniel French*, Charles F. Bracey, John T. Bailey and Thomas J. Clifford. [*Died in the army, and brought back to Warren for burial] GENEALOGY & BIOGRAPHY OF EARLY RESIDENTS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS OF WARREN NH ABEL MERRILL came to Warren from Kingston NH in 1789, cleared a farm in the central part of the town, where he located, and reared a family of thirteen children. He took an active part in town affairs, holding many offices of trust, was justice of the peace many years, was selectman, and represented the town in the legislature. His son, Samuel L., was born here April 10, 1796, and always lived here. He also took an active part in town affairs, gave the land for the common, also a lot for the meeting-house. He was selectman many years, overseer of the poor, county treasurer, and held nearly every office in town. He died here about 1871. His son, Ira, who was born here in 1820, has held many offices of trust, has been selectman five years in succession, represented his town twice, is overseer of the poor and town treasurer. In his younger days he taught school nineteen terms. He has been engaged in the flour, grain and lumber business fifteen years, and in the mercantile business six years. NATHANIEL MERRILL, one of the early settlers of this town, came here from the central part of the state. He was a school teacher, reared three children, one of whom, Moses, is living and resides in Wilmington, Illinois. Nathaniel Jr. was born in Warren, about 1794, and resided here until his death in 1854. He reared a family of seven children, four of whom, Nathaniel, George B., Asa B., and Mrs. Laura Wicks reside in this town. AMOS LITTLE came here, from Plaistow, NH about 1795, located on Beach hill, near Warren village. He reared thirteen children, two of whom are living and reside in this town, namely Mrs. Judith Merrill and Jonathan Little. The latter was born here in 1804, has always lived here, and kept a hotel at Warren Summit for about ten years. He has been engaged in farming, has taken an active interest in town affairs, has been selectman several times, represented the town in 1846-47, and has been justice of the peace many years. JAMES DOW came to Warren from Plaistow NH, in 1797, and located on the farm where William Swain now lives. He died in 1856, aged eighty-one years. His son Jonathan M., the only one of the eight now living, was born February 2, 1809, is a farmer, and resides on road 2. ENOCH R. WEEKS came to Warren, from Piermont, was a farmer and a blacksmith, kept a hotel, and took an active part in town affairs. He died here in 1867. His son Ira M. was born in Warren in 1817, and resided here until his death in 1884. He was engaged in mercantile business, lumbering and farming. He was selectman, held the office of town clerk, and represented the town two years in the legislature. His son Abel M. is now a merchant in Piermont. LUKE LIBBEY came to Warren from Landaff, about 1800, cleared a farm and settled about three miles north of the village. He reared a family of eight children, and died in Piermont. His son Nathaniel, the only one living was born in Landaff in 1795, came to Warren with his father and has since resided here. He is now in his ninetieth year, and lives with his son Ezra. The latter has been selectman eleven years, is now chairman of the board, and represented his town in 1879-80. THOMAS BOYNTON, originally from Rowley, Mass., came to Warren, from Plymouth, at an early day, and located on what is now called Beach Hill. He drove a team of powder at Bunker Hill. His son Stephen removed to Orford, where he lived for many years, but died at his son's, Daniel T., in Warren. Two of his children, Mrs. John Whitcher and Joseph P. reside in town. JOSEPH B. FARRIMAN was born in Plymouth in 1797, and came to Warren in 1827. He was a farmer, and had born to him three daughters, one of whom is the wife of J.S. Jewett, of this town. WARD C. BATCHELDER came to Warren, from Orford, about 1830, and located on a farm now owned by his son Reuben, on road 12. He was killed by a limb of a tree, while chopping in the woods, about 1840. He reared a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Of these, Mrs. Elsie French, and Reuben who occupies the homestead, live in town. JAMES KNAPP came to Haverhill at an early day, settling in the southern part of the town. He was a blacksmith by trade and died there in 1866. One son lives in California, one daughter, Mrs. Susan A. Woodbury, lives in Haverhill, and another son, Arthur, resides in the town. The latter is largely engaged in the wood and lumber business, and in farming. BENJAMIN F. WARREN, son of Benjamin L. Warren, was born in Weathersfield VT in 1829. When quite young he moved with his parents to Hvaerhill NH, where he devoted his time to farming. July 5, 1851, Mr. Warren married Mary L. Stearns of Haverhill. In 1867 they moved to Warren, purchasing the farm formerly occupied by Josiah Foote, where they still reside. Their only child, Sarah E., was born Oct. 2, 1858, and died May 4, 1878. DANIEL CLARK moved to Piermont, from the southern part of the state, some time previous to 1785, and located on the farm now occupied by Caleb I. Heath. He died about 1834. Of his large family of children, Enoch lived on the homestead, and died in Wentworth, Daniel died in that neighborhood, Smith died in New York, and John moved to Warren, where he died about 1866. The latter reared five children, three of whom are living. Of these Joseph resides in Wentworth, and John L. and Stevens K. live in this town. JEREMIAH S. JEWETT was born in Laconia NH, November 25, 1822, and was educated at the common school and academy of that place. In 1848 he entered the employ of the Boston & Concord railroad, and helped to make the first survey from Concord to Wells River Vt. In 1863 he located in Warren and engaged in mercantile pursuits, which business he still continues. He has been a justice of the peace about sixteen years and was ordained as a Methodist minister in 1878, and has also been a Sabbath-school superintendent thirteen years. ***** CHURCH ****** THE METHODIST CHURCH OF WARREN VILLAGE, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. Elijah R. Sabin, with thirty members in 1799. The church building, a wooden structure built in 1818, was remodeled in 1859 so that it will now comfortably accomodate 400 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $4,000.00. The society now has eighty-two members, with Rev. Noble Fisk, pastor. (end)