Coos County
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No town in Coos has shown such growth and prosperity during the last
decade as the, to that time, comparatively obscure and unimportant town of
Berlin. By its rapid development and increase in population and wealth it has
astonished the slower towns, assumed an influence equal to any, and stands
to-day the admiration and pride of the county. This has been accomplished by the
development of a small portion of the magnificent water-power afforded by the
Androscoggin river in its passage through the town. Ten years ago there was but
one manufacturing establishment here which conducted a large business. This was
the forerunner of the many gigantic enterprises which Nature has intended shall
utilize the rushing waters and be established on the rocky banks of the
Androscoggin.
The history of the town goes back to the years previous to
the Revolution; but for a long time it was uninteresting and of little
importance. Hunters and trappers camped here in pursuit of game and peltry;
later, the magnificent growth of pine brought lumbermen from the lower country
to cut the logs which they transported to the mills below; early settlers, on
farms further down the valley, when in want of ready money to make payments on
their land or needed supplies for their families, would make a temporary
occupancy in a rude camp hastily constructed, and by hard labor would make
"salts" from the ashes of the large elms along the valley; then, having
accomplished the object of their visit, would return to their homes to tell of
the rocky ledges, the beautiful cascades, and the wonderful growth of timber.
The surface of Berlin is broken and mountainous, with ledges of rock
outcropping in many places, and, in others, with bowlders of varying sizes
scattered over the ground. It is not an agricultural town, although there are
some good farms in the eastern part.
The town was granted as
Maynesborough, December 31, 1771, to Sir William Mayne, Bart., Robert, Thomas,
and Edward Mayne, and others, of Barbadoes, and was incorporated as Berlin, July
1, 1829. Area 31,000 acres. It is bounded on the north by Milan, east by
Success, south by Gorham and Randolph, and west by Kilkenny. Many fine views of
mountain, river and forest scenery are afforded from various points. The view
from Cates hill (Berlin Heights) is especially fine. But the charm of all this
section is the river scenery at Berlin Falls. For over a mile a succession of
rapids and falls whirl along the rocky banks of the Androscoggin, which is the
only outlet of the Umbagog chain of lakes. In its course above it receives the
waters of the Magalloway, Diamond, and Clear rivers, and several minor streams;
and, at this point, it is scarcely inferior in volume to the Connecticut at
Northumberland. At the Glen Manufacturing Company's works this immense mass of
waters is poured through a narrow chasm thirty-three feet in width, descending
in the space of 100 yards nearly twice as many feet. At times of high water,
notably the great flood of June, 1887, the view combines the terrible, majestic,
grand and beautiful in a weird and fascinating combination. Seething and
plunging and whirling itself into masses of snowy foam, it rushes down the
narrow passage.
"Rapid as the light
The flashing mass foams, shaking
the abyss."
Rev. T. Starr King says that he does not think "in New
England there is any passage of river passion that will compare with the Berlin
Falls."
Black mountain, Mt. Forist, Cave mountain, Berlin Heights, a
portion of the Pilot range, and Mt. Carbary are the principal elevations of the
town. Berlin is watered by the Androscoggin, Upper Ammonoosuc, Plumpetoosuc or
Dead rivers, Bean and Mollocket brooks, and other small streams. Head pond, the
source of the Ammonoosuc, contains about 100 acres, and is the only large pond
in town.
Tinker Brook, Minerals Etc. — Tinker brook derives its name
from Samuel B. Robbins, an eccentric character, who lived for many years where
Dexter Blodgett now (1887) resides. He was a travelling tinker, going from house
to house through the country with his kit, mending broken articles. He
monopolized the fishing in this brook when at home, much to the disgust of the
boys, whom he used to drive away, thus preventing their indulgence of their
favorite sport. He discovered magnetic iron ore on his farm during the
''forties," and spent much time in looking after more precious metals. S. D.
Blodgett and Ira Mason bonded some of this land, about 1876, and sunk quite a
shaft, finding nothing, however, to reward their efforts.
In this
connection we will mention that two Englishmen employed in building the
railroad, became so interested in a piece of land on Tinker brook, about half a
mile below the excavation made by Robbins, that they bonded it, returned to
England for funds to purchase and make some kind of developments, and, it is
understood, were lost on the return voyage. They made no confidants, but, as
they had fine specimens of galena in their possession, it was conjectured that
they had discovered this metal there. No attempt has been made to prove this
conjecture true.
On a high bluff (Cave mountain) north of Dead river
pond, there are several veins or beds of a compact fieldspar (felsite), having
the appearance of chalcedony and jasper. The beds vary in thickness from a few
inches to several feet, and at one point there is a cave fourteen feet long,
nine feet high, and six feet wide. Fragments of the felsite are scattered
through the vegetable mould on the floor. The entrance appears to have been
excavated by man, and, although the cave is doubtless a natural one, the Indians
who resorted here to obtain the rock for arrow and spear heads, perhaps enlarged
and changed its form. One or two places on the east side of the river above
Berlin Mills were evidently the places where this rock was wrought into desired
shapes, as the "chips" are thickly scattered in these localities. On Cates hill
there is a combination of minerals rarely seen on the surface. It appears to be
copper and tin, which are apparently disseminated through the rock. No
concentration of either mineral in a vein has been found as yet.
Act of
Incorporation. — An act to incorporate a town by the name of Berlin, passed July
1, 1829.
"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Court convened, That the tract of land now known and
called by the name of Maynesborough, situate in the county of Coos, shall
hereafter be known by the name of Berlin, and shall be a town by that name.
"Section 2. And be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of said township
be, and they hereby are made, a body politic and corporate, with all and the
same rights, powers, privileges, immunities and liabilities of similar
corporations in this State; and the said town of Berlin shall be classed for the
purpose of electing a Representative, and shall be annexed to the same
Councillor and Senatorial districts as the said Maynesborough was previous to
the passage of this act.
"Section 3. And be it further enacted, That for
the purpose of duly organizing said town a meeting of the inhabitants thereof
legally qualified to vote in town affairs, shall be holden in said town on the
first Tuesday of September next, at which meeting Selectmen and all other
necessary officers may be elected to continue in office until others are chosen
agreeably to the laws of this State; and that Benjamin Thompson, Thomas Ordway
and Thomas Wheeler, Jr., or any two of them be authorized to call said uniting
of said inhabitants by giving such notice as is required for annual town
meetings, and it shall be the duty of said Thompson, Ordway and Wheeler, or some
one of them, to attend and open said meeting and preside therein until a
moderator be chosen.
"Approved July 1, 1829."
Call for First
Town Meeting. — "State of New Hampshire, ss. The inhabitants of the town of
Berlin qualified by the Constitution and Laws of this State to vote in town
affairs are hereby notified and warned to meet at the dwelling house of Andrew
Cates in said Berlin on Tuesday the first day of September next, at one of the
clock in the afternoon of said day for and to act on the following particulars,
to wit: 1. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting; 2. To choose a town
clerk for said town. 3. To choose three suitable persons to serve as Selectmen
and assessors for said town. 4. To choose a Treasurer for said town. 5. To
choose a Constable, Collector of Taxes, Highway Surveyor, Surveyors of Lumber,
and all other necessary officers the law requires.
"Given under our
hands and seal at Berlin this tenth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine"
Thomas Ordway and Thomas Wheeler,
Jr. — Organizing Committee appointed by the Legislature.
"State of New
Hampshire, Coos, ss. We the subscribers hereby certify that the within warrant
has been posted up in a public place in Berlin more than fifteen days prior to
this day of meeting Berlin September 1 1829" Thomas Ordway and Thomas Wheeler,
Jr. — Organizing Committee
Action of first Town Meeting. — "At a legal
meeting pursuant to the foregoing warrant duly notified and holden at Berlin in
the County of Coos on Tuesday the first day of September, in the year of our
Lord Eighteen hundred and twenty-nine, the inhabitants of said town of Berlin
having a right to vote in any matter that might come before the town, by a major
vote and by ballot: 1. Chose Andrew Cates moderator to preside in said meeting;
2. Chose Thomas Ordway, Town Clerk; 3. Chose Amos Green, Thomas Ordway and
Thomas Wheeler, Jr., Selectmen and Assessors; 4. Voted that the Selectmen act as
town Treasurer; 5. Chose Peter Wheeler Constable; 6. Chose Thomas Green, Jr.
Surveyor of Highways; 7. Chose Samuel S. Thompson Surveyor of Lumber; 8. Voted
to dissolve the meeting."
Residents' Names and Ages, 1829. — The
following are the names of all the persons resident in the town of Berlin at the
time of its incorporation, and their ages: —
Thomas Green, Jr., born
February 12. 1783; Lydia Fairbanks (Evans) Green, born February 3, 1785; Amos
Green, born March 21, 1807; Daniel Green, born December 19, 1808; Edmund Green,
born January 26, 1812; Aaron Green, January 4, 1814; Lydia Green, born August
17, 1817; Livonia Wallace (Wallis(?)) born March 29, 1811; Andrew Cates, born
May 30, 1784; Batsey (Scribner) Cates, born July 14, 1785; Daniel Cates, born
August 11, 1813; Lydia Cates, born October 11, 1816; Sinclair Cates, born March
19,1820; Scribner Cates, born October 13, 1821; Hannah Cates, born January 10.
1826: Betsey Cates, born September 16, 1810; Andrew Cates, Jr., born April 2,
1808; Betsey (Griffin) Gates, born September 28, 1805; Nathaniel Cates, born May
15, 1829; Peter Wheeler, born December 18, 1790; Sally (Seavey) Wheeler, born
February 23, 1800; Nathan Wheeler, born November 24, 1818; James Wheeler, born
November 19, 1820: Albion Wheeler, born May 2, 1823; George Wheeler, born
November 13, 1825; Lafayette Wheeler, born March 9, 1828; Thomas Wheeler, born
December 29, 1783; Sally (Blodgett) Wheeler, born April 2, 1787;Thomas Wheeler,
Jr., born June 18, 1806; Cyrus Wheeler, born July 5, 1810; Polly Wheeler, born
April 1, 1812; Sally Wheeler, born May 18, 1814; Dexter Wheeler, born April 27,
1816; Reuben H. Wheeler, born April 20, 1819: Hiram Wheeler, April 8, 1822;
Daniel J. Wheeler, born October 12, 1825; Jonathan W. Wheeler, born November 1,
1829; Samuel Blodget, born August 28. 1802: Rebecca (Bean) Blodget, born October
10, 1800; Samuel D, Blodget, born October 27, 1827; Zeruah Blodget, born January
23, 1828; Nathan Blodget, born August 30, 1829; Joseph Blodget, born December 6,
1804; Mary L. (Wright) Blodget, born April 12, 1809; Herman A. Blodget, born
November 28, 1827; Ruby Blodget, born November 30, 1829; Abiathar Bean, born
June 30,1794; Mercy (_)Bean, born January 1, 1797; Eliza Jane Bean, born January
2, 1817; Lydia M. Bean, born June 10, 1821; Louisa Bean, born September 25,
1823; Thomas C. Bean, born October 27, 1826; Mary A. Bean, born August 13, 1829;
Samuel S. Thompson, born September 19. 1773; Catharine (_) Thompson, born
November 15, 1772; Benjamin Thompson, born August 1, 1803; Eliza Thompson, born
February 29, 1807; Sarah J. Thompson, born September 1. 1810; Amos Thompson,
born July 19, 1818; Simon Evans, born September 13, 1780; Mehetable (Messer)
Evans, born August 19, 1782; Caroline Evans, born March 28, 1799; Lydia Evans,
born June 8, 1807; Lovina Evans, born August 7. 1808; Uriah Evans, born February
25, 1810; William Evans, born January 21, 1812; P. illy Evans, born May 19,
1814; Abigail Evans, born April 15, 1816; Betsey Evans, born December 23, 1818;
Esther A. R. Evans, September 3, 1823.
Residents, Stock and Improvements
in 1830. — From the first inventory of the town taken in 1830, we give this
list: Samuel Blodgett is taxed for one poll, one cow, two neat cattle, half-acre
arable and 130 acres of unimproved land. Joseph Blodgett, one poll and one cow.
Andrew Cates, one poll, two oxen, one cow, half-acre arable, 110 acres
unimproved land. Andrew Cates, Jr., one poll. Simon Evans, three polls, one
horse, four oxen, one cow, two neat cattle, two acres arable, two and one-half
acres mowing and 100 acres unimproved land, buildings twenty-six (?). Thomas
Green, two polls, one horse, two oxen, one cow, half- acre arable, 270 acres
unimproved land, mills three (?). Amos Green, one poll, 300 acres unimproved
land, buildings thirty (?). Daniel Green, one poll, two oxen. Samuel Stowell,
one poll. Samuel S. Thompson, one poll, one cow. Benjamin Thompson, one poll,
four oxen, one cow, one acre arable, two acres mowing, eighty acres unimproved
land, buildings twenty six (?). Thomas Wheeler, two polls, two oxen, two cows,
one acre arable, one and one-half acres mowing, 250 acres unimproved land,
buildings thirty (?). Thomas Wheeler, Jr., one poll, two oxen, three neat
cattle, one acre arable, one acre mowing, 100 acres unimproved land, buildings
twenty-six (?). Peter Wheeler, one poll, one cow. Joseph Wheeler, one poll, two
oxen, half acre arable, half acre mowing, seventy acres unimproved land,
buildings twenty-six (?).
Names of Voters by Decades. —
1837.
Benjamin Bean, Lovel Bean, Fletcher I. Bean, Insley Bean, Samuel Blodget, Joseph
Blodget. Daniel Cates, Daniel Davis, Simon Evans, William Evan-. Thomas Green.
Amos Green. Daniel Green, Edmond Green, Aaron Green, Seth I. Kimball, John
Littlefield, Enoch Peabody, William Sessions. Benjamin Thompson, Thomas Wheeler,
Cyrus Wheeler, Joseph Wheeler, Thomas Wight, Joshua Bobbins. Value of real
estate $3,481.
1847. Samuel M. Andrews, Samuel Blodget, Joseph Blodget,
Lovel Bean, Fletcher I. Bean, Insley Bean, Bufus A. Cobb, Milton Chandler, Hazen
Chandler, Andrew Cates. Daniel Cates, Greenlief Coffin, Sinclair Cates, Daniel
Davis, Thomas Green, Daniel Green, Edmoud Green, Charles Gates, John Grover,
Jeremiah Harden, Stephen Ladd, Lorenzo Mason, Enoch Peabody, Allen H. Peabody,
Paul Perkins. Richard Perkins, Benjamin Thompson. Thomas Wheeler, Cyrus Wheeler,
Dexter Wheeler, Reuben Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Daniel J. Wheeler, William W.
Whitney, Oliver S. Wilkius.
1857. Stephen Abbott. Jonathan Andrews,
Albert Buzzell, Stephen Bevely, Levi W. Blodgett, Benjamin Bean, Lovell Bean,
Fletcher I. Bean. Insley Bean, John E. Bean. Edwin S. Brown. Joseph Blodgett.
Samuel D. Blodgett, Nathan Blodgett, Alton Blodgett, James L. Blake. Nathaniel
Barker, Edward Babb, Albert Billings, Daniel Bradbury, Andrew Cates, Andrew
Cates, Jr., Daniel Cates. John S. Cates, Sinclair Cates, Gr< i nlief Coffin,
Gilman Connor. Moses T. Cross, Otis Carter. Aimer Davis, Daniel Davis. Bailey K.
Davis, Hollis Davis, John Y. Dustin, True P. Dustin, John L. Dustin, Moses
Foster. Merrill C. Forist, Charles N. Buzzell. Elijah G. Griffin, Daniel Green,
Edmond Green, Henry B. Goodwin, Samuel K. Hammond, John R. Horn. Austin W.
Hobert, Alvin Hobert, David Holt, Jeremiah Harden, Joel H. Herward, Daniel
Hobbs. Philemon Hibbard, Horace Haskell. Stephen Hanscom, William E. Jorden,
Aaron A Knight, Lorenzo Mason, Ira Mason, Hartwell V. Mason, Roscoe Mason,
Oliver H. Mason, Richard Perkins. George W. Page, William D. Sanborn, Horace C.
Sawyer, Cha les Whiting, Nathaniel T. Wentworth. E. H. Whiting. Thomas Wheeler.
Cyrus Wheeler, Reuben H. Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Dexter Wheeler, Charles M.
Walker, William A. Wilson, Peter York, Daniel G. York, Jonathan W. Wheeler.
1867. Samuel M. Andrews, Benjamin Bean, Fletcher I. Bean, Daniel C. Bean,
Insley Bean, Chester L. Bean, Samuel L. Bean, Fortescue T. Bean, Charles H.
Bennett, Joseph Blodgett, Samuel D. Blodgett, Andrew J. Burlingame, Charles N.
Buzzell, Greenlief Coffin, John S. Cates. Sinclair Cates, Bela L. Churchill,
John Y. Dustin, Joseph H. Dustin, George A. Dustin, Hollis Davis, George R.
Eaton, William H. Ellis, Merrill C. Forist, Edward E. Fernold, Thomas L.
Forbush, Daniel Green, Albert H. Gerrish, Andrew J. Howard, Charles R. Howard.
Jeremiah Hardin. William Horn, John R. Horn. Harry W. Jordon, Casper Jewett,
Joseph J. Lapham, Lorenzo Mason, Hartwell V. Mason, Roscoe Mason, Morton Mason,
Samuel Martin, Benjamin F. Mitchell, Charles C. Noyes, Horatio L. Noyes, Charles
H. Noyes, Gardner C. Paine, William D. Sanborn, Daniel Spaulding, Jesse Tuttle,
Thomas Wheeler, Cyrus Wheeler. Dexter Wheeler. Reuben H. Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler,
Jonathan W. Wheeler, Franklin Wheeler, William A. Wilson, William M. Wilson,
John Wilson, Thomas W. Willis.
1877. Jonathan Andrews. John C. Anderson.
Robert Anderson, Albert K. Allen, John A. Avery, David W. Brown, Lovell Bean,
Chester L. Bean, Sam'l L. Bean, Fortescue T. Bean, Sam'l Blodgett, Sam'l D.
Blodgett, Jos. Blodgett, Herman A. Blodgett, Archibald Blodgett, Nathan
Blodgett, Moses A. Blodgett, Freeland Blodgett, Lawson C. Beattie, Daniel Cates,
John S. Cates, Sinclair Gates, Lewis N. Clark, Abner K. Cole, Geo. L. Cote,
Orlando J. Condon. Benjamin S. Cates, Greenlief Coffin, Frank M. Coffin, Frank
A. Cobb, Edward Donaghue, Edward F. Donaghue, Hollis Davis, Edmond Decker, John
T. Dustin, True P. Dustin, C. F. Dustin, James H. Dyer, William Ellis, William
W. Ellis, Edward E. Fernald, Merrill C. Forist, Hiram W. Forist, Chas. H.
Gilbert, Zimri E. Gilbert, Frank Gene, Daniel Green, John W. Green, Sullivan D.
Green, Joseph G. Hicks, Albert N. Hobbs, John R. Horn, Albert Horn, Andrew J.
Howard, Benjamin Hubbard, Peter Kelly, John M. Keene, William Jewell, William H.
Jewell, Joseph J. Lapham, Samuel Lahay, James M. Lavin, John D. Lary, Andrew J.
Magill, Henry F. Marston, Ira Mason, Hartwell Mason, Lorenzo Mason, Roscoe
Mason, John McMann, James McMann, Raimond R. McCaslin, John McPherson, William
Moffit, William W. Noyes, Charles C. Noyes, Charles H. Noyes, John B. Noyes,
John L. Oswell, Gardner C. Paine, John M. Banerway, Samuel E. Paine, James W.
Parker, Patrick Pendergast, Elliot Perkins, Frank W. Rowell, Daniel R.
Spaulding, William D. Sanborn, Horace C. Sawyer, Edson B. Sawyer, Eugene W.
Scribner, H. E. Smith, Erastus F. Thurlow, Will C. Turner. Jesse Tuttle, X. F.
Wardwell, Frank Weld, Frank L. Wilson, George S. Wilson, William M. Wilson, John
Wilson, Michael Wilson, Robert Wilson, Cyrus Wheeler, Dexter Wheeler, Reuben H.
Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Franklin Wheeler, Ozman Wheeler, John B. Wheeler,
William F. Young, David Walsh, George F. Sibley, Joseph Scribner, Henry
Richards, Herman E. Oleson, Otto Oleson, Alexander Godette, Alvin Collins. Louis
Careau, Charles Labrecke, Chris Barbue.
Early Settlers. — First House — William Sessions of Gilead, Me., came
to Maynesborough about 1821 or 1822, and commenced clearing what is now
the Thompson farm. He occupied a camp which was located on the banks of
the Androscoggin river, on the south side of Mollocket brook. This camp
was built by parties who had come here some years previously to
manufacture "salts" from the elm trees that abounded in that part of the
valley. Mr. Sessions felled trees and continued clearing the land, and,
with the assistance of Cyrus Wheeler, erected the first building that
could be honored with the name of house about 1823 or 1824. March 27,
this small number of inhabitants was increased by eighteen persons from
Gilead, Me., who accompanied Mrs. Sessions and her three children into
the wilderness to her new home and to make their homes in this and
adjoining towns. One of the pleasantest features of pioneer life was the
spirit of fraternity, sociability, and mutual helpfulness which pervaded
every locality. Each felt an impulse to assist his neighbor whenever and
wherever assistance was needed, realizing that he might any day become
the grateful recipient of similar service.
Mr. Sessions's house
was of logs, the floor being made of very large ones nicely split. It
was situated just east of the present farm buildings on a little knoll.
All signs of occupancy are nearly obliterated. There has never been a
deed given of this land. After making his payment, Mr. Sessions walked
to Boston to obtain one but from some reason did not succeed. No
claimant ever showed a conflicting title. He sold this property to
Benjamin Thompson prior to the organization of Berlin, and it has been
in the possession of the Thompson family ever since. This is the best
farm in the town. Mr. Sessions was a noted prospector, settling and
clearing thirteen farms. He had a peculiar faculty for selecting the
best land and location. After selling out in Berlin he went to Dummer
and settled on one of the first farms developed on the Andoscoggin, at a
point several miles from any inhabitant. From Dummer he removed to
Stark, where seven of his children died from the terrible throat
distemper. This veteran pioneer died at Milton Plantations, Me., in
August, 1885, aged over ninety years.
Second House. — Justus.
Amos or Levi Lowe (some authorities say Clovis Lowe) built very early a
"nice little camp" on lot 3, range 4, established a shoe shop, remained
a year or so, then removed to Randolph. "Lascar" Jackson took possession
of this camp and occupied it two years. Andrew Cates came three or four
years later, and built a house against the end of the camp which was
located on the upper end of the farm now owned by Harvey Smith. The
first town meeting was held in this house.
Simon Evans came from
Shelburne in 1825, and settled on the east side of the river on the next
lot above Sessions. He developed a good farm which was afterwards owned
by Thomas Wheeler, Jr. He had a large family, and there are many bearing
the name.
Joseph Wheeler cleared the farm on the east side of
the river just below that of Mr. Sessions, but sold and removed to Milan
in a short time.
Samuel S. Thompson, an old Revolutionary
soldier, and his son Benjamin came in 1827. He was a carpenter, and,
according to Mr. Blodgett, he made and painted the ballot and jury boxes
now in use in Berlin. He also built the first school-house; this was in
the Wheeler district, No. 1. He has no descendants living here.
The first settler on the west side of the river was Samuel Blodgett,
brother of Mrs. Sessions. He cleared what is now the Reuben Wheeler
farm. He came soon after the arrival of Mrs. Sessions, and built a log
house on the bank of the river, but did not remain there but a short
time. Benjamin Bean came from Success, purchased Blodgett's interest,
and the latter moved to the lot above, which subsequently became the
Daniel Davis farm. After a short stay Mr. Blodgett returned to Gilead,
Me., where he resided for a year or more, then removed to Berlin and
settled on Cates hill — Berlin Heights. He has numerous descendants in
town, all reputable citizens.
Thomas Wheeler, son of Samuel
Wheeler, (an old Revolutionary soldier and original settler of Gilead,
Me., whither he removed from Temple, N. H., in 1799,) located on the
farm now occupied by his son Cyrus. He came here from Shelburne, in
1826, with his wife and ten children, all natives of Gilead, Me.,
Thomas, Amos, (who, with a companion, Samuel Phipps, lost his life by
the burning of a logging camp at Jericho in 1837,) Cyrus, Polly (Mrs.
Daniel Green), Sarah (Mrs. Benjamin Thompson), now living in Stark at an
advanced age, Dexter, Hiram, Reuben H., Daniel, and Jonathan. This
honest pioneer has a large posterity in Berlin and vicinity, besides
many in Pennsylvania and Arkansas. He was a good citizen, and brought
his children up to work, and thus add to the weal of the town.
Daniel Davis came to Berlin when the town was yet in its infancy
(December 31, 1831,) from Buxton, Me. He lived on lot 4, range 3, had a
large family and held numerous town offices. Fletcher I. Bean, Job
Insley Bean, Lovell Bean, and a family by the name of Coffin were early
comers. Fletcher I. Bean was a prominent town officer. Greenlief Coffin
is still a resident, and seventy years old.
Joseph Blodgett (son
of Jonathan, a Revolutionary soldier,) came from Gilead, Me., January 1,
1823, to work for Mr. Sessions. He married Mary L., daughter of
Nathaniel Wight, one of the first settlers on the river in Milan. He
cleared and developed the farm now owned by William D. Sanborn. Here he
lived for more than twenty years, then removed to Berlin Falls and
followed the avocation of a carpenter, in which he excelled. It was said
that he could cut down a large pine tree with the squarest, smoothest
cut of any man in the section. He has but three children surviving of
his family of ten or eleven. He has attained the age of ninety-two; his
wife is seventy-eight. They are still residing in Berlin.
Hazen
Chandler came quite early from the lower part of the state, and
purchased the farm originally settled and partially cleared by Nathaniel
Wight, and now known as the Dustin farm, the buildings of which are in
Berlin, and the farm in Milan. He had a family of six or seven children.
The oldest daughter, Daphne, married Reuben H. Wheeler. Mrs. Chandler is
now living in town, aged ninety-one.
John Chandler, a brother of
Hazen, was a blacksmith, and also landlord of the Berlin Falls House for
some years. He came here from Shelburne and removed to Milan. His
daughter, Elizabeth L., married Merrill C. Forist, who was a prominent
man in Berlin for years. He was a schoolteacher, superintendent of
schools, representative, justice of the peace, and filled other offices.
Mt. Forist bears his name. This was originally called "Plumer's Fort" in
honor of Gov. William Plumer, who was a large land owner in the town.
Mr. Forist built the Mt. Forist House as a hotel about 1866, and was its
landlord until his death. Before building this house he had been
proprietor of the Berlin Falls Hotel for many years, succeeding John
Chandler. With Mr. Forist departed the glory of this old-time
"hostelrie." He was a kind hearted man, and in that period of Berlin's
growth did much to enhance its prosperity.
John Y. Dustin, of
Gilead, Me., purchased the Chandler farm about 1850, and now resides
there with his son True P. Mr. Dustin attained his eighty-ninth year,
May, 1887.
Lorenzo Mason, also from Gilead, came lure about
1850, and bought the farm cleared by Seth Kimball on the east side of
the river opposite Pine Island. He lived here the remainder of his life,
dying in 1884, aged eighty. He was an honest, industrious man, and left
a numerous posterity.
Past and Present Business Interests.— The
first trader, hardly to be called a merchant, was Thomas Green, who had
a small store opposite his grist mill as early as 1835. He also built in
connection with his grist-mill a ''dry-house" for the purpose of hulling
oats for making oatmeal. Afterwards, when "boughten" flour was to be
had, this enterprise failed to be remunerative, and, taking up the
perforated zinc floor of the dry-house, Mr. Green introduced
wool-carding machinery, which was operated for half a dozen years or
more.
The advent of the railroad and the development of the
water-power gave a great impetus to the manufacturing interest and
traffic, and caused several persons to embark in trade. In 1851 J. D.
Horner & Co. built, and stocked with general merchandise, the building
at Berlin Falls now occupied as a clothing store by A. W. Jones, in
connection with the mill which they had erected on the site in the rear
of the Clement block on what is known as the Horner and Hastings
privilege. They failed after some years, and the store was vacant until
Ira Mason, in 1868, put in a stock of goods, and conducted business
until his death in 1883. John W. Green then sold dry-goods here for a
few months. E. W. Scribner and H. H. Abbott, as "Scribner & Abbott,"
were the next firm engaged in merchandising here, commencing in 1884.
Mr. Abbott soon gave place to John B. Noyes, who, in the summer of 1886,
purchased Mr. Scribner's share of the business, and, in the autumn,
removed to his present location.
Daniel Green opened a store
about 1850 very near the site of the drug store of J. W. Green, and
conducted it nearly two years, when he sold it with all his other
business interests in town to Grower & Wilson. This store was made from
the shop, where for some years Mr. Green had manufactured clapboard and
shingle machines. Grower & Wilson conducted this store until their
failure in 1859, when it again came into the possession of Daniel Green,
who remodeled it, and it was occupied by various traders until it was
opened as the first drug store in town by Henry Marble in 1883. George
P. Emerton succeeded him; in a short time he sold to F. L. Wilson, who
moved to his present location. It was then refitted by John W. Green,
who put in a fresh stock of goods, and began trade in the summer of
1886.
Oliver H. Mason, some time after 1850, built the store
where John B. Noyes now trades, and conducted merchandising until he
sold to Moses T. Cross in 1860. Mr. Cross sold to J. W. Wheeler. Dexter
Wheeler purchased his interest and admitted G. C. Paine as partner as
"Wheeler & Paine." They afterwards moved into Eagle Hall, and were in
business until the death of Mr. Wheeler in 1881. Wilson Brothers
succeeded Wheeler & Paine in the occupancy of the O. H. Mason building,
as general traders. After two years they failed; and, in 1868, C. C.
Gerrish & Co. established themselves as merchants. In 1885 they moved
into their new building where they are now located. After being entirely
rebuilt and enlarged the store was occupied by Mr. Noyes.
G. C.
Paine, after the death of Mr. Wheeler, continued business in the branch
store which they had established near the railway station, and now
conducts it in connection with his extensive trade in grain. (Mr. Paine
died July 5, 1887.)
Eagle Hall building was built by the Reform
Club in 1875, with contributions from the friends of this temperance
movement. After about a year's occupancy by the club as a reading-room,
lecture-room, etc., the upper story became and remains a public hall,
and the ground floor was occupied by Wheeler & Paine. In 1881 Stahl
Brothers opened a clothing house and grocery store here. They were in
trade here some months after the opening of their large store in the
Clement block in 1883. They were succeeded by F. C. Stevens with a stock
of clothing, drugs and medicines. He now occupies it as a clothing and
"notions" store. In 1886 Mr. Stevens erected the large building on Main
street, which bears his name, and removed his drug business there, and
sold it to F. W. Foster in December, 1886.
The building in which
George L. Vincent has this year established a book and variety store was
constructed in 1881, by L. J. Cote. Several people have dealt in fruit,
oysters, etc., there previous to Mr. Vincent's occupancy.
In the
spring of 1886 "Hodgdon & Crowell" opened their hardware store in the
building put up on Depot street by L. N. Clark. They erected their
present store the same year, removing their goods thither in the fall of
1886. They do a business of nearly $40,000 per annum.
C. C.
Gerrish & Co. built their "great store" in 1885, at an expense of from
$10,000 to $12,000. It is the finest mercantile establishment in town,
with annual sales of $60,000; is heated by steam, and has machinery for
the manufacture of gas, by which it is lighted. The upper story is
Pythian Hall.
The Clement block was erected in 1883, by F. L.
Clement; in 1886 he added a photographic studio.
The Folsom
block, put up in 1884, was occupied by Lambert Brothers & Co. as a
grocery store until the completion of their new building in 1886. Then
Olivier Lambert, who had occupied the Fernald block (built in 1882),
removed to this building, where he is now doing business.
C. C.
Leighton started a blacksmith shop in the old Grower & Wilson shop near
Dead River bridge. This was burned in 1882. He then put up a building
just south of the Clement block, and carried on blacksmithing and
wagon-making for some time. Now, after various removals, he is located
in the large three-story building which he erected in 1886, on the
street south of Dead River pond. A twenty horse-power engine, blacksmith
shop, band and bench saws, and planer occupy the first floor; a
carpenter and wood-working shops, with machinery for the manufacture of
moldings, the second; and his paint shop is in the upper story.
Daniel Green began the manufacture of mill machinery in a small way in
1843. The first side-clapboard machine built in town was made by him in
that year, and used in the old Green mill until 1849, when Mr. Andrews
bought it for his mill at "Jericho."
Thomas and Daniel Green
used to haul their clapboards forty miles to Harrison, Me., from whence
they were shipped by canal to Portland, Boston and Providence, where
they were marketed once a year. They continued to do this until the
railroad was built. In early days the long lumber was rafted down the
Androscoggin to Bethel and Rumford from Cascade Falls. The last raft was
run in 1851, by Daniel Green. Lumber was sold at Gilead and Bethel at $4
or $5 a thousand for good pine; extra quality was worth $6.
Ira
Mason, in 1856, built a shingle-mill on Bean brook, one quarter of a
mile east of the Androscoggin, opposite Berlin bridge, which did a fine
business for some years until destroyed by fire.
Samuel M.
Andrews came from Effingham, Carroll county, in 1841, (after marrying
the widow of Thomas Wheeler, Jr.,) and carried on the Wheeler farm for
several years. He then purchased timber land in "Jericho," and built two
mills on Dead river in 1849, about half a mile above the steam mill now
run by Ezra M. Cross. One of these took its power from an immense
overshot wheel nearly thirty-five feet in diameter. This was destroyed
by fire after several years of good work. The other one had a "tub"
wheel, and was carried down stream by a freshet in 1853 or 1854. (Two of
Mr. Andrews's sons were soldiers in the Union army of the great civil
war.)
The steam-mill owned by E. M. Cross at "Jericho," succeeded
one built by R. H. & J. W. Wheeler about 1870, which stood on a steep
bank some rods above the present mill. This was operated about two
years, when it was burned, and the present one erected by J. W. Wheeler.
Mr. Cross has been its owner since 1884. A large amount of lumber has
been cut by these mills.
R. H. Wheeler built a small steam mill
back of his residence, and cut the timber on about 200 acres. He then
moved the engine down to the interval, and used it to run the starch
mill which he built there.
Railroad, Station Agents, Etc. — The
completion of the railroad to Berlin was the first step to the permanent
prosperity of the town. The first station agent was Simon Cole, who was
succeeded by Aaron Knight, who served six or seven years. Dexter Wheeler
was appointed in 1860, and held this position until 1869. The present
efficient agent, Abner K. Cole, began his long term of service February
15, 1870. At that time he did all the work of the station, sold tickets,
sent messages, attended to baggage and freight, etc. The next year he
had one assistant, and since 1885 the work has kept four men busily
employed. The passenger traffic has increased fourfold since 1880, and
the freight business in the same proportion. In 1870 the net earnings of
the road at this station were $40,000; in 1886 about $110,000. June 22,
1872, the buildings connected with the depot were burned with loss of
life. Others have since been erected, but the present structure is by no
means adequate to the commercial needs of the town.
The height
of land between the Androscoggin and Connecticut valleys is six miles
west of Berlin Falls. Berlin Falls station is 1,011 feet above tide
water.
The Berlin Mills branch road was constructed and opened
in 1854, by the Grand Trunk, under a guaranty that a definite amount of
business specified was to be done annually.
We trace the record
of early and other important settlers farther as they appear in
describing the industries of the town. Those already named comprise most
of the pioneers who came here when the country was an unbroken
wilderness, and, amid untold hardships and arduous toils, laid the
foundations of their future prosperous homes, and prepared the way for
an intelligent community. As the settlements increased, roads were laid
out, mills wore built on the Androscoggin, schools were established, and
societies organized. The lumber interest was of paramount importance.
The heavy growth of pine furnished abundant occupation for men and
mills. It was not until after the pine had been nearly exhausted that
the value of spruce lumber was discovered. The apparently inexhaustible
supply of this wood gave a new impetus to lumbering operations; larger
mills were established, more men employed; a market was thus provided
for the products of the farm, and the growth and development of Berlin
was assured; and with its rush of business, its rapid increase of
population, fine public buildings, and electric lights, it is now almost
a city.
In the sixty years of her existence Berlin has developed
from an unbroken wilderness into a thriving and prosperous town. She has
always been loyal to her state and the government to which she belongs.
She has always been loyal to her convictions of right in all matters
pertaining to education, religion, and politics; and where her heart has
been, there her purse has been also. The foundations of her prosperity
are struck as deep as the granite that underlies her, whilst the
structure she has and is building, towers upward and upward, keeping
pace with the hopes, aspirations, and enterprise of her citizens.
[ ... much more available for extraction ... ]
Extracted 2022 Nov 07 and 2023 Oct 05 by Norma Hass, from History of Coos County, New Hampshire by Georgia D. Merrill, published in 1888, pages 783-788 and 788-795.
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