Coos County
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Carroll lies at the northwestern base of the White Mountains. Its surface presents a rugged and mountainous appearance; the scenery is wild, picturesque and romantic, and is attractive to lovers of nature. It is bounded north by Jefferson, east by the White Mountain territory, south by Grafton county, and west by Bethlehem and Whitefield, and had an area of 24,640 acres.
Pondicherry mountain, of considerable elevation, is situated in the north part of the town, between it and Jefferson. John's and Israel's rivers have their rise partly in Carroll, and the head waters of the Ammonoosuc from the neighboring mountains unite and pass through the town.
Carroll was originally named "Bretton Woods " and granted to Sir. Thomas Wentworth, Rev. Samuel Langdon and eighty-one others in 1772. It was incorporated under its present name, June 22, 1832. By an act approved June 22, 1848, a portion of Nash and Sawyer's Location was annexed to it. June 27, 1857, several lots of land lying south of the town were annexed. July 2, 1878, another portion of Nash and Sawyer's Location was added, and by act of legislature this year (1887) Crawford's Grant and all of Nash and Sawyer's Location become part of Carroll.
The soil in some parts is strong, deep and productive, and there are several fine farms here, but the prosperity of the town began with the opening of the summer hotels and the coming of the railroad. It has been through these that property has increased in value, business extended, and intelligence on necessary and popular topics has been more generally diffused.
At the time of the settling of Carroll there was an immense quantity of pine and spruce timber, now almost entirely cut off by lumbermen. The greater part of the pioneers were people of limited means, and their struggles to obtain homes and a bare living were many times without results; some became disheartened and removed to other towns; others worked on, lived their hard lives, died and are forgotten; a few, who, although dependent on their own exertions, had the benefit of education, labored and accomplished their object, built comfortable houses, and added to the wealth of the town by their industry.
Pioneers. — One of the first to settle in Carroll was an Irishman, Ingerson, who, about the year 1812, located on the east side of Cherry mountain. Beaver were numerous, and knowing nothing about this animal, on seeing a hedge hog, Ingerson shouted to his son. "Jamie, run quick, here's abaver"; and ran and caught hold of the bristling quills of the animal with both hands. He then shouted to Jamie. "Hould on, Jamie, don't touch him, he's a coarse-haired baver." Although nearly three-quarters of a century has passed since that time, yet in 1886, a Cherry mountain resident saw a huge black bear not far from his house, which "wobbled" along with a very-much-at-home air, but the beaver have long since disappeared.
Stephen Hartford settled in the same neighborhood later. Thomas Applebee, John Remick, and Henry Rines located there about 1825. John Remick was a farmer, a hard worker, and a most industrious man. He was small, weighing but little over a hundred pounds. He took a job to cut one hundred cords of wood, and cut, corded, and drew it in twenty-five days. Asa French built the first house on what is now the Ebenezer Glines' place. He did not remain many years. Levi and John Muzzy came from Unity and located on the west side of Cherry mountain. They were blacksmiths by trade, and were here a number of years. Joseph Clark and wife were from Moultonborough, and became permanent settlers.
Phineas Rosebrook, Sr., one of the pioneers of Carroll, came here in the spring of 1807. He lived in a small log-house put up some time before by Abel Crawford; this stood about where Frank B. Rosebrook's house now stands. A piece of woodland had been felled the year before. He had a yoke of oxen and a cow. He cut up the trees, but was so disabled by lameness that his wife and Betsey Tuttle, both strong women, did the logging and seeded the land. His son Phineas was born here in June of that year. Mr. Rosebrook put up buildings, raised a large family, was a worker, and added to the prosperity of the town in its early struggle for an existence.
Dearborn Crawford, son of Abel, located on the west side in 1820, near where the town house stands. He was a stalwart man, and possessed good judgment as well as experience in all matters of a pioneer life. He resided there many years and had a large family.
In 1827 John Howe came from Whitefield and settled on the place now occupied by four generations of the family. He was a deacon of the Baptist church in Whitefield, and was chosen deacon of the church organized in Carroll. He was justice of the peace selectman and town clerk for many years, and a very valuable man in the settlement. He was the first selectman in town, and the first postmaster. Howe was followed by Levi Morrill, Calvin White, Elijah Curtis, Asahel Wheeler. Four brothers came from Moultonborough, nephews of the John and Israel Glines whose names are perpetuated by John's and Israel's rivers; James H., William E., Ebenezer and Jesse. All settled near together, cleared farms, and, in 1886, all but James H. were living. Curtis and Wheeler were here for a time, but none of either family are now residents. Among others was Elias Moody. He made his home near the side of Cherry mountain. His son, Josiah. was a useful citizen, conversant with town affairs, and of service to the little community. Lot Jenness became a permanent resident and, in the inventory of 1833, William Jenness is also mentioned. Harley E. Jenness, grandson of Lot Jenness, has served the town in many official capacities, and is now (1887) chairman of the board of county commissioners. Nathaniel Bickford acquired property and his descendants reside on the homestead. Edward Melcher came from Bartlett about 1820. Mr. Melcher is the only survivor of the discoverers of the Willey family after the great slide of 1826, and is a wonderfully preserved old man. Many others came, but did not become permanent settlers; they built rude dwellings, made a little clearing and wrung a portion of their meager sustenance from among the stumps, but this hard battle for existence soon discouraged them.
After Phineas Rosebrook, Jr., attained man's estate, he built and operated starch mills, and this industry gave employment to some, and a market for their potatoes to others; in this and various ways the settlement gained, got a strong foot-hold, and Carroll to-day is a prosperous town.
Roads. — Col. Whipple owned most, if not all of the township, and he laid out from the “Ryefield'' where the Twin Mountain House is, a bridle path to Jefferson. The first road was the Tenth New Hampshire Turnpike. The road to Bethlehem was very poor. A large amount of teaming (hauling pork) from Vermont to Portland was done about 1815 to 1820, and sometimes a hundred teams would pass in a day. John Guild, of Littleton, Lot Woodbury, of Bethlehem, and Phineas Rosebrook, Sr., all keepers of small teamsters' hotels, took up a subscription in Vermont and Portland, and improved the highway by making a good road from sixteen to eighteen feet wide, taking out the stones and stumps, and turnpiking. This was about 1820.
Mills. — Col. Whipple built a saw and grist-mill on the Ammonoosuc falls very early. It was a cheap affair, with but one run of stones, and lasted only a few years. In 1826 Abel Crawford erected a saw-mill.
The first town record now in existence is a call for a town meeting, issued April 13, 1831, by Thomas Montgomery, justice of the peace of Whitefield, to whom application had been made for that purpose. This notified "the inhabitants of Breton Woods" and others interested, that a town meeting would be held at Asahel Wheeler's house, in said Breton Woods, on Saturday, the thirteenth (*Mistake in the record; the meeting was held April 30) day of April, for the following purposes: First, to choose a moderator to govern said meeting; second, to choose a town clerk for the year ensuing; third, to choose selectmen and other necessary town officers.
Record of this town meeting. — Agreeably to the foregoing warrant the meeting was opened, and proceeded as follows: Chose John How moderator to govern said meeting; chose Thomas Smith town clerk, and being present took the oath prescribed by law; chose John How first selectman, chose Thomas Smith second selectman, chose John Perkins third selectman; chose Calvin White hog reeve. Attest Ebenezer Glines, town clerk of Carroll.
John How, Thomas Smith and John Perkins, selectmen of Breton Woods, call a town-meeting for Breton woods, which was held at the dwelling house of Calvin White, March 13, 1832. Phineas Rosebrook was chosen moderator, Thomas Smith, town clerk, John How, Thomas Smith and Levi Morril, selectmen. "Voted that the literary fund money already received in Breton woods shall be paid out for schools already taught." At same meeting of Breton woods there were seventeen votes cast for Samuel Dinsmore for governor, seventeen votes for Nathaniel Rix for councillor, and seventeen votes for Jared W. Williams for senator, seventeen votes for Reuben Stephenson for register of deeds, and the same number for Robert Ingalls for treasurer, attest Ebenezer Glines, town clerk. Bretton Woods appears no more in calls for or records of town meetings, but the selectmen above named call the next meeting recorded as selectmen of Carroll. This met September 12, 1832, at the same place as before, and chose John How, moderator, Thomas Smith (probably clerk), William Denison, Phineas Rosebrook, and John Perkins, selectmen, Thomas Smith, surveyor of lumber. "Voted to that the selectmen shall be authorized to purchase books suitable to keep the town clerk's and selectmen's records in, and paid out of the next year's tax, provided they are not furnished by the state." The number of votes had increased to twenty-three, all of which were cast for the same candidates.
1833. — At the annual town meeting in 1833, seventy dollars was voted to be raised for town expenses. A division of the town into school districts was made; the first five lots in all the ranges in the town shall compose district No. one; all the lots in the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth (ranges) shall compose district No. two; all the lots north of No. five, in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth ranges shall compose district No. three, and all the rest of the lots in town shall compose district No. four. Voted that hogs shall not run at large; voted to raise two hundred and twenty-five dollars to repair highways, and to allow men and oxen each six and one-fourth cents per hour's work on the roads. William Denison was licensed to keep tavern at his dwelling house for one years.
The First Residents Inventory was made in 1833. From this we
learn that in school district No. 1, Lorenzo D. Hartford was taxed on one poll,
one cow, 100 acres of land (lot 16, range 3); John Remick, one poll, six oxen,
three cows, one young creature, 130 acres land (lots 14 and 15, range 3); Henry
Eines, one poll, one horse, 50 acres (lot 15, range 2); Nathaniel Rines, one
poll, one horse, one cow, 50 acres (lot 15, range 3); James Rines, one poll, 50
acres (lot 16, range 2); John Woodman, one poll, one cow, 60 acres (lot 16,
range 3). School district No. 3. Samuel Bartlet, one poll, one cow; Asa French,
one poll, one cow, 50 acres (lot 14, range 12); Lot Jenness, one poll, one cow,
six sheep, 100 acres (lot 12, range 9); William Jenness, one poll; Levi Muzzy,
one poll, one cow, two young cattle, 50 acres (lot 15, range 9); John Muzzy, one
poll, one horse, 50 acres (lot 15, range 9); Joseph French, one poll, one horse,
two oxen, 100 acres, (lot 13, range 8); Asa French, Jr., one poll. School
District No. 2. Abel Crawford, Jr., one poll, two oxen, 100 acres (lot 3, range
11); Dearborn Crawford, one poll, two cows, 124 acres (lots 8 in ranges 10 and
11); Joseph Clark, one poll, one horse, one cow, seven sheep, 50 acres; (lot 14,
range 12); Nathaniel Bickford, one poll, two oxen, one cow, 50 acres (lot 16,
range 13); Elijah Curtis, one poll, 100 acres (lot 13, range 10); William
Burgin, one poll, one cow, 76 acres (lot 8, range 11); Ebenezer Glines, one
poll, two cows, 100 acres (lot 11, range 12); William Glines, one poll; Isaac F.
Hodgdon, one poll, one cow, 100 acres (lot 6, range 11); John How, one poll, one
horse, two oxen, three cows, fifteen sheep, 100 acres (lot 10, range 11); Jonas
How, one poll; Levi Morrill, one poll, one cow; Edward Melcher, one poll, two
oxen, one cow, 100 acres (lot 9, range 10); John Perkins, one poll, one horse,
one cow, 100 acres (lot 16, range 12); Marvin R. Proctor, one poll, 100 acres
(lot 12, range 11); Asa Place, one poll; Luis Place, one poll, two young horses
two oxen, two cows, 200 acres (lots 7 in ranges 10 and 11); William Rice, one
poll, one horse, four oxen, 200 acres (lot 12, range 12, lot 13, range 9);
Jonathan Rice, one poll; Phineas Rosebrook, Jr., one poll, two oxen, one cow,
100 acres (lot 13, range 12); Thomas Smith, one poll, one young horse, two oxen,
two cows, 100 acres (lot 15, range 12); Elijah Stanton, one poll, two oxen, one
cow, three young cattle, six sheep, 100 acres (lot 13, range 11); Calvin White,
one poll, one horse, two oxen, two cows, 200 acres (lot 9, range 11, lot 10,
range 10). School district No. 1. William Denison, one poll, two horses, three
cows, one young creature, sixteen sheep, 200 acres (lots 1, ranges 4 and 5);
Phineas Rosebrook, one poll; Charles Remick, one poll; John Stalbird, one poll;
George T. Wilson, one poll, three horses, two oxen, six cows, six young cattle,
nineteen sheep, 496 acres (lots 4 and 5, range 14, lots 3 and 4, range 13).
Non-resident land owners. — Alfred W. Haven and Lora Odell were taxed on
eighty-six lots; Haven, Ladd and Pierce on 121 lots; Ethan A. Crawford, lot 1,
range 6; Samuel Willey, lot 11, range 9; Richard Odell, lots 16 and 17, range 9;
Dodge & Abbott, lot 19, range 14; F. P. Pillsbury, lot 14, range 9; Asahel
Wheeler, lot 11, range 11.
1834. George T. Wilson and William Denison are each licensed to keep tavern for one year. The town meeting meets at the "school-house" for the first time.
1835. At the annual town meeting March 12, a larger number of new officers were voted for than had been the custom. Highway districts having been established, five surveyors were chosen; four hog reeves were elected; Asahel Wheeler chosen pound keeper, and his barn-yard to be the pound. Twenty-five dollars were raised for schools. Voted to buy a piece of ground for a burial place, and John How, Samuel Bartlett and Thomas Smith chosen committee to locate and buy the ground. Twenty-six votes were cast for William Badger for governor to eight for Joseph Healy. Reuben Stephenson gets thirty-four votes for register of deeds. The line between Whitefield and Carroll was examined and re-marked by the selectmen of these towns.
1836. The town voted to receive its proportion of the public money deposited with the state; appointed Ebenezer dines as the agent to receive the money, and John Howe, Thomas Smith and F. J. Pillsbury to superintend said money; also voted to loan it to the inhabitants of Carroll at six per cent, interest, in sums not greater than fifty nor under ten dollars to one man, he to give his note with three good signers.
1837. The highway taxes have now reached three hundred dollars a year, and town charges forty dollars. George T. Wilson is allowed four dollars for breaking roads last winter, the same to be allowed on his next summer's taxes.
1838. Voted to raise as much money for schools as the law directs. Voted the sealer of weights and measures get the letter "C" at the town's expense. Thirty-four votes were cast for Isaac Hill for governor (no opposing candidate here).
1839. John Page receives thirty-six votes for governor to four scattering.
1840. One hundred and thirteen dollars raised for schools, fifty dollars for town expenses.
1841. One hundred and fifty dollars voted for town charges, and three hundred dollars to repair roads and bridges. June 17. Ira R. Glines, Ephraim R. Bartlett, F. A. Bartlett, Stephen Hovey, Edward Melcher, Stephen H. Cale, Elias Bacon, N. L. Richardson, Elias Moody, David B. Curtis, Lot Jenness, John Howe, Phineas Rosebrook, Jr., and Charles Phelps petition for a new highway two rods wide, from E. F. Bartlett's south line, thence running south to Ira R. Glines's north line. Granted. On petition of Nathaniel Bickford, John Howe, Charles Phelps, William Glines, Alvah Bickford, Mitchell W. Howe and Samuel Thompson a highway is laid from Nathaniel Bickford's dwelling house easterly to the road leading from Whitefield to the notch of the White Mountains.
1843. Raised $400 to repair roads and build bridges.
1844. Voted thirty-four votes against and four votes for the abolition of capital punishment. (*This year Hart's Location had a school house, and twenty-six children under sixteen years of age. These belonged to four families.)
1845. Raised seventy-five dollars in addition to what the law compels for school purposes.
1846. Raised $600 to repair and build bridges. William J. Hobbs is taxed on "stock in trade."
1847. Raised $600 for highways and bridges. Voted $250 for the new highway from Eli Parker's to Jefferson line, and chose Charles Hanson committee to expend it. School district No. 2 divided into two districts, forming No. 5.
1848. Raised $175 more than the law requires for support of schools.
1851. Eleazer Rosebrook farm and John H. White farm constituted a school district. Vote for governor, Samuel Dinsmore forty-nine votes, John Atwood thirteen votes.
1852. Raised $150 above what the law required for schools. School district No. 6 formed.
1853. Voted to finish the town house, and to use it for public worship.
Early Births Recorded. — Lee Rosebrook, son of Phineas Rosebrook, Jr., born July 8, 1829; Hannah Jane, daughter of same, born December 12, 1831; Amasa, son of same, born January 25, 1835; Mark, son of same, born December 18, 1838; Franklin B., son of same, born December 19, 1840. Children of Ebenezer Glines — William W. W., born November 2, 1832; Elvira P. M., October 13, 1833; Woodbury S., August 25, 1835; Nelson H., August 25, 1837; Martha A., November 11, 1845. Children of Francis Pillsbury — Caroline Pillsbury, born October 25, 1834; Charles Pillsbury, born November 12, 1836.
Town Officers from 1832. — 1833. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; William Denison, Phineas Rosebrook, John How, selectmen; Thomas Smith, representative. (He was afterwards elected to represent Dalton and Carroll for the same year.) 1834. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; Thomas Smith, Ebenezer Grimes, John Perkins, selectmen.
1835. Thomas Smith, clerk; Thomas Smith, Francis P. Pillsbury, Ebenezer Glines, selectmen.
1836. John Howe, clerk; Thomas Smith. Nathaniel Bickford, Jonas Howe, selectmen; Francis J. Pillsbury, treasurer.
1837. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; William Denison, Phineas Rosebrook, Jonas Howe, selectmen.
1838. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; William Denison, Ebenezer Glines, Phineas Rosebrook, Jr., selectmen.
1839. John Howe, clerk; Edward Melcher, William Denison, Elijah Curtis, selectmen.
1840. John Howe, clerk; Thomas Smith, Jonas Howe, Jesse Glines, selectmen; Thomas Smith, representative.
1841. John Howe, clerk; Jonas Howe, Robert Tattle, Josiah Moody, selectmen; Ebenezer Glines, representative for Carroll, etc.
1842. John Howe, clerk; Josiah Moody, Robert Tuttle, Jonas Howe, selectmen.
1843. John Howe, clerk; Josiah Moody, Ebenezer Glines, Ephraim F. Bartlett, selectmen; Samuel Lawrence, representative.
1844. John Howe, clerk; Jonas Howe, Samuel Holmes, Phineas Rosebrook, selectmen; Robert Tuttle, representative.
1845. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; Jonas Howe, Samuel Holmes, Robert Tuttle, selectmen.
1846. Jonas Howe, clerk: Lot Jenness, David Oilman, Richard Lane, selectmen.
1847. Jonas Howe, clerk; David Gilman. Levi H. Morgan, Samuel Worthley, selectmen; David Oilman, representative.
1848. Jonas Howe, clerk; Levi H. Morgan, Phineas Rosebrook, John T. G. Leavitt, selectmen; Samuel Worthley, representative for Carroll, etc.
1849. Jonas Howe, clerk; Jonas Howe, Samuel Holmes, William J. Hobbs. selectmen.
1850. Samuel Worthley, clerk; Jonas Howe,
Samuel Holmes. John T. G. Leavitt. selectmen; Samuel Holmes, representative.
1851. Samuel Worthley. clerk; Lewis C. Aldrich, William J. Hobbs, David
Gilman, selectmen.
1852. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; William J. Hobbs, Phineas Rosebrook, Samuel Morrison, selectmen; Joseph L. Gibb, representative.
1853. William Baker, clerk; William J. Hobbs, Phineas Rosebrook, Samuel Morrison, selectmen.
1854. William Baker, clerk; William J. Hobbs, Samuel Worthley, George A. Glines, selectmen.
1855. Ebenezer Glines, clerk: William J. Hobbs, Samuel Worthley, George A. Glines, selectmen.
1856. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; Samuel Worthley, Phineas Rosebrook, Levi Hardy, selectmen; John Hunt, representative.
1857. Ebenezer Glines, clerk; William J. Hobbs, Levi H. Hardy, Lewis C. Aldrich, Charles Phelps, selectmen.
1858. Amos C. Colby, clerk; Lewis C. Aldrich, Gilbert P. Horton. John Hunt, selectmen.
1859. Levi Glines, clerk: John Hunt. Charles E. King, Samuel Worthley. selectmen.
1860. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Charles E. King, John Hunt, Haven F. Leavitt, selectmen.
1861. George A. Glines, clerk; Charles E. King, Haven F. Leavitt, John H. Jenness, selectmen.
1862. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Lewis C. Aldrich, John Hunt, Samuel Thompson, selectmen; Phineas Rosebrook, representative.
1863. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Lewis C. Aldrich, Samuel Thompson, Ebenezer Glines, Beli ctmen.
1864. William F. Hobbs. clerk; Lewis C. Aldrich, Charles >S. Leavitt. Robert L. Brown, selectmen; George W. Tuffts, representative.
1865. William F. Hobbs, clerk; William J. Hobbs, Robert L. Brown, John T. G. Leavitt, selectmen.
1866. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Samuel Worthley, Charles S. Leavitt, Charles O. Burbank, Beleofanen; Samuel Worthley, representative.
1867. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Phineas Rosebrook, William Jenness, George Thompson, selectmen.
1868. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Josiah Moody, William Jenness, Gilbert Howe, selectmen; Charles S. Leavitt, representative.
1869. William F. Hobbs, clern; Josiah Moody, William J. Hobbs. Mark P. Rosebrook, selectmen.
1870. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Josiah Moody, John Hunt, Holman D. Blood, selectmen; Mark P. Rosebrook, representative.
1871. William F. Hobbs, clerk; Holman D. Blood, William F. Hobbs, Hosea E. Whitcomb, selectmen; M. P. Rosebrook, representative.
1872. W. F. Hobbs, clerk; W. F. Hobbs. Oscar Barron, S. R. Aldrich, selectmen; Hosea E. Whitcomb, representative.
1873. W. F. Hobbs, clerk; W. F. Hobbs, Oscar Barron, M. P. Horton, selectmen; H. E. Whitcomb, representative.
1874. W. F. Hobbs, clerk; W. F. Hobbs, M. P. Horton. H. E. Jenness, selectmen; John Hunt, representative.
1875. G. H. Hunt, clerk; M. P. Horton, Oscar Barron, Josiah Moody, selectmen; John Hunt, representative.
1876. G. H. Hunt, clerk; M. P. Horton, Oscar Barron, Josiah Moody, selectmen; Charles Pillsbury, representative.
1877. Harley E. Jenness, clerk; M. P. Horton, Oscar
Barron, Franklin Worthley, selectmen; Charles Pillsbury, representative.
1878. H. E. Jenness, clerk; M. P. Rosebrook, E. L. Miles, H. E. Jenness,
selectmen: Franklin Woithley, representative.
1879. H. E. Jenness, clerk; H. E. Jenness, E. L. Miles, H. D. Blood, selectmen; Franklin Worthley, representative.
1880. W. F. Hobbs, clerk; W. F. Hobbs, H. E. Whitcomb, George Thompson, selectmen: Franklin Worthley, representative.
1881. H. E. Jenness, clerk; W. F. Hobbs, F. Worthley, George Thompson, selectmen; Franklin B. Rosebrook, representative.
1882. H. E. Jenness, clerk; Oscar Barron, George Thompson, N. A. Glines. selectmen; F. B. Rosebrook, representative.
1883. H. E. Jenness, clerk; Oscar Barron, George Thompson, N. A. Glines, selectmen; 1883-1885, F. B. Rosebrook, representative.
1884. H. E. Jenness, clerk: Oscar Barron. George Thompson, N. A. Glines. selectmen.
1885. H. E. Jenness, clerk; Oscar Barron, George Thompson, N. A. Glines, selectmen: 1885-1887, William Jenness, representative.
1886. J. C. Eastman, clerk; Isaac Thompson, L. C. Boyce, G. H. Hunt, selectmen; 1887-1889, Daniel M. Hardy, representative.
Action in the Rebellion. — August 28, 1862, the town voted to pay to each volunteer that has enlisted since August 11, and will enlist for three years for the quota of Carroll; also to pay each soldier that will volunteer for nine months fifty dollars; also to adopt the act in force for the aid of families of volunteers.
December 5, 1863. Voted that the selectman get substitutes to fill the town's quota; also to assume payment of the U. S. bounty.
February 15, 1865. Voted to raise five hundred dollars in addition to what the town has voted to raise.
The population in 1800 was 18; 1850, 299; 1860, 276; 1870, 328; 1880, 632. In 1887 the resident valuation is $209,084; the non-resident is $29,432. No. of polls, 199; horses, 298; cows, 174; oxen, 71; sheep, 41.
Religion. — The
prevailing belief of this community is that of the Free Will Baptists, although
there are some Methodists, Baptists, and a small number of Adventists. A Free
Will Baptist society existed here early; Royal Berry was pastor at one time. The
Methodists have had clergymen of their faith to minister to them. In 1885 the
Free Will Baptists erected a church about half way between the Twin Mountain
House and the town house. This seats 250 persons. Regular services are held
during the year. They also have a flourishing Sunday-school, with Nathaniel S.
Howe as superintendent. The present pastor, Rev. Dexter Waterman, although over
four score years of age, is a very active and efficient worker, and is trying to
raise funds to cancel the debt of $500 on this church. At this writing he has
accomplished more than half his work, and his perseverance will succeed.
The Adventists hold semi-monthly meetings in the town hall, Rev. Mr. Eastman
coming from Littleton to preach.
Postoffices. — Carroll postoffice, with a weekly mail, was established early at Jonas Howe's. He was postmaster for many years. This office was discontinued about twenty years ago, when South Carroll office, established ten years previously, was changed to Twin Mountain. H. E. Jenness is postmaster at Twin Mountain. J. E. Henry is postmaster of Zealand postoffice, established in 1883. Fabyan's postoffice is at the Fabyan House; L. C. Boyce postmaster.
Manufacturers of lumber in 1870: R. D. Rounsevel & Co., John T. G. Leavitt & Co., Libbey & Gove, C. O. Burbank & Co., Benjamin Calden. Starch manufacturers: Phineas Rosebrook & Son, Wilder & Gove. 1875, Lumber Manufacturers: M. B. Berry, C. O. Burbank, Rounsevel & Colburn, Leavitt, Nason & Co. Starch manufacturers: P. Rosebrook & Son, Wilder & Swett. 1880, Lumber: George Stewart, Henry, Joy & Baldwin. 1887, Lumber: George Van Dyke & Co. Charcoal: J. E. Henry. Merchants: J. E. Henry, H E. Jenness, J. F. Leavitt.
J. E. Henry, Charles Joy, and H. J. Baldwin started manufacturing as successors to Rounsevel & Colburn on the site of Van Dyke & Co.'s present plant. They erected large charcoal kilns and gave employment to about 300 men. In 1880 they put up the large steam mill now in operation. It is of two hundred horse power, contains a rotary saw, shingle, lath, clapboard and box machine. In 1881 the firm was Henry & Baldwin. In 1882 J. E. Henry became sole proprietor. In 1885 a railroad was commenced to transport logs to this mill, and a charter has since been obtained to extend this road southerly to connect with the Pemigewasset Branch railroad, with the name of Zealand Valley railroad. Van Dyke & Co. (Connecticut Lumber Company and J. H. Locke) operate the Henry mill under a five years' lease, which expires in November, 1890, and give employment to sixty men. They produce 45,000 feet of lumber, from 20,000 to 25,000 lath, and a car-load of boxes weekly. J. H. Locke is manager. They keep a small stock of merchandize.
Zealand Village has been built to accommodate the workmen in the employ of Mr. Henry and Van Dyke & Co.
There are some prosperous farmers in Carroll, prominent among whom are H. E. Whitcomb, Frank B. Rosebrook, Isaac Thompson, Charles Pillsbury and Sylvester W. Kelley.
Fabyan's. — The hotel and place known everywhere by this name, stands upon what was once the Giant's Grave. Starr King tells us that there was a tradition that an Indian maniac once stood on this ridge, and swinging a blazing pitch-pine torch, which he had kindled at a tree struck by lightning, shouted in the storm this prophecy, — " The Great Spirit whispered in my ear, no pale-face shall take deep root here." The site was first occupied by Abel Crawford, who lived in a log hut many months. In the winter of 1792, Eleazer Rosebrook and family lived in this cabin. In 1803 he erected a rude inn, a teamsters' tavern, here; in 1817 this was occupied by E. A. Crawford as a hotel; this was burned in 1818. In 1819 Ethan Allen Crawford put up a two-story tavern, which was painted red. This was also destroyed by fire. A hotel erected by Mr. Fabyan was burned about 1867. The present Fabyan House, built in 1872-73, is a big, square hotel where 400 guests can be accommodated. Here all the railways of the White Mountain region concentrate, and, during the season, the crowd of people coming and going is almost innumerable.
Crawford House. — The first house of the Crawfords was built about 1793, twelve miles below the Gate of the Notch. This was known as the Mt. Crawford Tavern. After the destruction of the "Notch Tavern," in 1826, the Crawfords erected a house (120x36) just above the Gate of the Notch, which was opened in January, 1829, and was well patronized by teamsters and stage travellers, and also by hunters and fishermen. In 1840 this was conducted by Thomas J. Crawford, son of Abel, who. in 1851, began the erection of a larger house.
In 1852 Eastman, Tilton & Co., in connection with E. J. M. Hale and James H. Carleton, of Haverhill, Mass., purchased the interest of Thomas J. Crawford, in the Crawford House, and completed the hotel then in process of construction. This was burned Saturday, May 1, 1859. On Monday Colonel Eastman drew the rough plan of a new hotel, to be 200 feet front, with two wings of 200 feet each, two and three stories in height. On conferring with his partners, they seemed to consider it a foregone conclusion that no hotel could be put up to take the place of the burned Crawford House until that season had passed. Colonel Eastman's characteristic energy now showed itself. "I will guarantee to have a new house ready to receive guests in sixty days, with three days grace." The response was "go ahead.” Colonel Eastman set to work, sent his plans to the chosen architect for arrangement, made a flying trip to all the mills within quite a radius, purchased all the lumber on hand, and night and day devoted himself to the work before him. As the cars only ran to Littleton, everything had to be hauled from that point, and in ten days time he had 150 men and seventy-five oxen and horses at work. He was everywhere present, superintended everything, averted disaster and prevented delays, and opened the new Crawford House to travellers July 13, 1859, when forty received dinner, and 100 were entertained for the night.
This house has a magnificent location upon a little plateau just north of the Gate of Crawford Notch. In front of the house is a picturesque little lake, the source of the Saco river, and, just beyond, the Elephant's Head guards the entrance to the narrow pass. Mt. Willard rears its shapely mass upon the right, and partly in front of the hotel; and the long serrated ridge of Mt. Webster forms the west wall of the Notch. East of the lake, and lying along its shores and upon the slopes above, is a luxuriant grove of old trees designated as Idlewild. Streams descend from the heights on either side, forming, at no great distance from the hotel, beautiful cascades. Beyond the Gate of the Notch, and within the confines of the pass, are other cascades and several rock profiles.
Oscar and Asa Barron, brothers, largely identified themselves with the building up of the hotel business of the western side of the White Mountains, and did much to develop summer travel. Both were active and energetic men, and were connected with the erection and conducting of the Twin Mountain House, Fabyan's, Mt. Pleasant House, Crawford's, and the Mt. Washington Houses. Both are now dead. Col. Oscar G. Barron is their successor.
Twin Mountain House takes its name from two prominent peaks of the Franconia range. This house is well known as a quiet, secluded mountain retreat, and a pleasant resting-place for invalids. It was built about 1870, stands upon a terrace, faces east, is surrounded by ornamental grounds, and has room for 300 guests. The boating on the mill pond is very enjoyable; the cuisine is excellent, and this hotel well merits the favor it meets with the travelling public.
The Twin mountains are nearly 5,000 feet in height, and from the northern summit can be seen a vast panorama of valleys, highways and villages; on the west the Presidential range, and eastward, the Connecticut valley, while on the south an almost boundless stretch of craggy and wooded mountains form a pleasing variety to the views.
Pleasant View House is capable of accommodating twenty-five guests, and meets the wants of persons who prefer a small house.
The Mount Pleasant House, which has been greatly enlarged
within a few years past, is situated a short distance from Fabyan's, with a
glorious outlook upon the grand peaks of the Presidential range. Mt. Pleasant,
from which the hotel takes its name, rises in majestic form at the right; while
the taller Mt. Washington is in front, flanked by Monroe and Franklin on one
side, and Clay, Jefferson and Adams on the other. The railroad station is just
in front of the house, and from the front piazzas and windows the Mt. Washington
cars can be plainly seen on their winding way up the mountain side and
frequently into the clouds. The quietness, with the railway conveniences, the
attractions of the grove on the hillside in the rear, and the substantial
comforts of this house combine to recommend it to a large class of people.
White Mountain House. — This hotel site was first built upon by one
Hartford. He commenced a house which Phineas Rosebrook, Jr., moved into about
1827, and finished. This was a square, two story house, plastered on the
outside. In 1845 the present building was erected. It is a mile above the Lower
falls of the Ammonoosuc. One hundred and fifty guests can find pleasant rooms
and a good table here.
Abel Crawford, "the Patriarch of the Hills," was born about 1765. When a young man he made his home among the mountains. He was six feet, four or five inches in height, thin, straight, of dark complexion, pleasant and genial in disposition. He married a daughter of Eleazer Rosebrook. At one time he lived in a log-hut on the huge mound called "Giants Grave" for many months, alone. In 1792, when the Rosebrook family moved into it, the hut was so buried in the snow that the entrance could hardly be found. The weather was so severe that for six weeks, neither the heat of the sun nor the warmth from the cabin would cause the ice to thaw enough to make a drop of water fall from the eaves. They were dependent upon the game they could catch for their sustenance, and often fearing that Mr. Rosebrook might return with his game-bag empty, Mrs. Rosebrook would send the children down through the Notch, a distance of twelve miles, to obtain something for sustenance. Abel Crawford never wearied of relating stories of the hardships and adventures of the pioneers. He was rightly named the "veteran pilot" of the mountains, for he was the first guide to the grand scenery now so easily reached. When he was about twenty-five years old, he wandered through the region alone — dressed in tanned moose skin, lord of the
"Cradle,
hunting-ground, and bier
Of wolf and otter, bear and deer."
He assisted in cutting the first foot path to the ridge, and, in 1840, at the age of seventy-five, he rode the first horse that climbed the cone of Mt. Washington. The last ten years of his life he was an object of interest to the thousands of visitors to the mountains. His greatest pleasure during this time was to sit and watch the crowds of people come and go. He died when eighty-five years old, and is buried near Bemis's station.
In 1803 the first rude inn for the few visitors was erected on the "Giants Grave." In 1819 the first rough path was cut through the forest on the side of the Mt. Washington range to the rocky ridge. Ethan A. Crawford, who was then living on the "Giants Grave," together with his father, Abel Crawford, who then resided eight miles below the "Notch," marked and cleared this path. Ethan built the first protection for visitors under the cone of Mt. Washington. This was a stone hut, its furniture a small stove, an iron chest, a roll of sheet lead, and a plentiful supply of soft moss and hemlock boughs for bedding. The lead was the cabin-register on which visitors wrote their names with a piece of sharp iron or nail. This camp, and all the furniture, was swept off in 1826, on the night of the storm by which the Willey family were overwhelmed and destroyed.
Ethan Allen Crawford, the stalwart "son of the mountains," was born in 1792. His childhood was passed in a log-hut a few miles from the Notch. In later years, after a fire, in 1818, had consumed his home on "Giant's Grave," he lived in a log cabin with but one room without windows. He afterwards built a two-story tavern; this was lathed, not plastered, painted red, and had a stone chimney, in which in the coldest part of the winter, over a cord of wood would be consumed in twenty-four hours. This was the nucleus of the Fabyan House. Twelve miles beyond was the Abel Crawford place, and these two houses comprised the hostelries of the White Mountains in 1827.
Ethan A. Crawford rejoiced in a giant's strength which he would exhibit in lifting five hundred weight into a boat or in carrying a buck home alive. He could carry an old-fashioned potash kettle on his head for a long distance, or catch a young bear, tie his legs, swing him over his shoulders and take him home; and if bruin behaved unruly, would unload, take him by the heels and rap his head on a rock or tree until he would hold still. At one time, when driving a load of hay through the "Notch," a furious gust of wind made it topple; he leaped to the ground, and caught it on his shoulder to prevent it falling over a precipice. He would break out the road for miles, through the wild winter drifts; he carried the mail on his back after a freshet to the next settlement, when a horse could not cross the stream; he climbed Mt. Washington laden with heavy burdens, without suffering more fatigue than ordinary men would feel after a level walk of ten miles, and would often return from the summit bearing some exhausted person on his back.
The wild animals in a circumference of twenty miles knew him well. Scarcely a week passed which was not marked by some encounter with a bear or a wolf — and with the latter he carried on a warfare of years. He trapped the sables and depopulated the banks of the rivers of otters, and cleared the hills that slope toward the Ammonoosuc of the furious freebooters — the wild cats. His affection for all these creatures of the forest was rare, and he tamed bucks and sable, and often had young wolves and "well behaved" bears around his premises; and his love for the Alpine plants was shown by his beautiful collection. Ethan Crawford experienced many changes of fortune. In his manhood and old age he entertained many wise and distinguished guests under his plain and rude shelter, and this bold mountaineer, educated in the school of Mother Nature, was never ill at ease in the presence of these men learned in law, literature and science.
Ethan Crawford's wife was Lucy Howe, of Guildhall. Her patience and faithfulness were just the qualities to hold in check his impetuous and hasty spirit. When heavy misfortune came upon him, her courage and cheer gave him new heart, and when his powerful frame was shaken and tortured by disease and pain, her kindness and trust proved an unfailing comfort. Every form of adversity seemed to beset him — new hotels drew the travellers from his public-house; the bargain for the sale of his lands was broken; his character was defamed and reputation injured by envious men; and, worse than all these, this man whose life had been passed among the fresh breezes of the mountains, was confined for debt in the close air of Lancaster jail.
After leaving his home at Mt. Washington, he went to Vermont, accompanied by his wife, but his hard fortune continued, and he returned to Carroll to die; an old man before his time, scarcely fifty-six years of age. Few pioneers have done more faithful work or borne so much adversity and suffering, and, in his own words, "So it is that men suffer in various ways in advancing civilization, and through God, mankind are indebted to the labors of their fellow beings in many different spheres of life.''
[Anecdotes of Ethan Allen Crawford, " King of the White Mountains," as related by James W. Weeks.]
He was nearly six feet and a half in height; broad shoulders, stooped a little; thin in flesh, of light complexion, with light hair and beard, and he would weigh about two hundred and fifty pounds. He delighted in a rough life, but must "rough it" in his own way. He enlisted in the army in the War of 1812. He said he was detailed as one of a scouting party one night under Capt. Weeks, and, after a watch of some hours in the dark, they were ordered to lie down, which they did, and covered themselves with their blankets. In the morning they found themselves buried under six inches of snow, so that the men looked like so many logs of wood under their snow covering. Ethan said "that was too much for him and he got out of it."
He lived at the Fabyan place, and seemed to have a queer idea of harmony. He had a wolf, a bear, a jackass, a peacock, a flock of guinea hens and a mountain horn six or seven feet long. This horn he delighted to blow to hear the echo; and he sounded it admirably. He would blow his horn, the wolf would howl, the old bear would grunt and growl, the ass would bray, the peacock would scream, and the guinea hens would cackle. If that did not make "music fit for the gods" it suited Ethan, and amused his visitors.
At one time Crawford was coming down Cherry mountain on the old turnpike and his dog treed a ''gray cat" or Siberian lynx, a truly formidable animal. He had no gun, and the cat was beyond his reach up the tree; so he cut a small birch sapling ten feet long, twisted the top into a noose, then climbing the tree, he quietly slipped the noose over the animal's neck, and with a sudden jerk drew it tight, and brought the cat from the limb. The sapling not being long enough to reach the ground, Ethan came tumbling down, very much mixed up, but, with the help of the dog, the cat was killed and carried home.
In the winter of 1829 and 1830 Crawford brought into the old "Coos Hotel," at Lancaster, thirteen bear skins at one time, to get the bounty on them. They were the product of his fall hunting. He sat up to a very late hour that night, and amused a large company telling his adventures, but I cannot use the exact language which gave spice to his stories. He said that he wanted a pet bear at his house, and could not wait for a cub to grow up, so he thought to tame an old one. When he went to look at his traps, he took ropes in his old wagon to bind one if he found one there. He said, "I found a great lean, long legged old cuss, hitched by one fore paw, about half a mile from where I left my horse, so I noosed a rope around one hind foot, drew it back and tied it to a tree; then the other legs in the same way." Crawford now got on the bear, tied up his mouth, loosened one leg at a time, tied them together, took off the trap and, at last, shouldered the brute. He said the weight was about all he could stand under. He started for his wagon, "and," he said, "the bear sweat, and I sweat; his mouth being tied he could not loll, and when I had got almost to where I left my horse, the old cuss gave up the ghost and died on my back." Crawford was not going to be thwarted in this way; so he tried another bear and shouldered him as he did the first, but, before he got to his wagon, the bear got a foot loose; and, with one sweep of his paw, made sad havoc with the Mountain King's clothes; tearing out the back of his vest, stripping his shirt to his skin which also suffered somewhat, and ripping out the waistband of his pantaloons. Ethan then threw the bear over his head with such force that when it struck the ground it was killed.
Ethan was quite a favorite with the ladies. It was frequently the case that they would insist on walking to the top of Mt. Washington, and, on such occasions, Ethan always accompanied them. They would usually reach the top, but more than one gave out before she got down, and his herculean strength and good nature enabled him to perform grand service as a pack horse at such a time.
I have shown how Ethan dealt with wild animals. I will now try to give an idea of how he encountered "big" men. He was a Federalist of the Federalists, consequently a great admirer of Daniel Webster. In the days of the old red tavern with the moose-horns for a sign (which was superseded by a better house in 1832), Mr. Webster and his wife, with horse and chaise, were quietly passing through the mountains one overcast morning, and called at Crawford's. He came to the door in his shirt sleeves, placed his hands on the upper casings, leaned upon them, and looked out between his arms to see what was wanted. Mr. Webster said, "Is your name Crawford?" "Yes," was the reply. "I have called to see if you will go with me to-day to the top of Mt. Washington?" "No!" Ethan replied, "In the first place, it is too late in the day; then the weather ain't suitable, and you couldn't see anything if you went." Mrs. Webster said, "Mr. Webster, perhaps we had better stop over until it clears up." Crawford looked for a moment, took down his hands, stepped out, and asked, "Is your name Webster?" "That is my name," was the reply. "What Webster? What's yer christian name?" "They call me Daniel," answered Webster. Ethan stepped forward, extended his hand, and said, "Daniel Webster, I am glad to see you. Give us yer hand. Get out and come in. l am ready to go to the top of Mt. Washington, or to the ends of the earth with you, to-day, or any other day you may choose." It is needless to say they "stopped over."
Captain Eleazer Rosebrook, a pioneer from Grafton, Mass., where he was born in 1747, with his wife Hannah Haines, a native of Brimfield, and one daughter, came into the upper Coos as far as Lancaster, where they stopped temporarily, until Mr. Rosebrook should find a place to settle. They moved into the woods up the Connecticut river to Monadnork, now Colebrook, nearly thirty miles from any inhabitant, with no guide to his cabin excepting blazed trees. Daring the War of the Revolution, in 1778, he moved to Guildhall, Vt., in order to have his family in the neighborhood of settlements while he was absent performing military duty on the frontier, — not in the regular army, but in the more hazardous and arduous service of scout and ranger. Mrs. Rosebrook was a courageous woman. The Indians were troublesome at times (after having made free use of "fire-water"), yet when once visited by them in her husband's absence, she drove them all from the house, except one squaw who was unable to move, and she dragged her out. Mr. Rosebrook resided in Guildhall fourteen years, was one of the most active and useful citizens, and took a prominent part in the town affairs. In 1792 he sold his beautiful Connecticut river farm, and in the winter went into the wilderness to Nash and Sawyer's Location. Here he soon built a large two-story house, at the base of what was known as the "Giant's Grave," occupying nearly the same site as the Fabyan House, and in 1803 opened the first house for summer visitors in the White Mountains. He was a man of great energy and enterprise; he erected a saw and grist-mill, large barns, stables and sheds. Just as he had got his estate in good condition, and was about to enjoy the comforts acquired by his laborious life, a cancer broke out on his lip, and after patiently bearing his intense suffering for a few years, he died, September 27, 1817.
Phineas Rosebrook, Sr., son of Eleazer Rosebrook, was born in Guildhall, Vt., about 1778, and died in Carroll, September, 1846; his wife, Hannah Stillings, a native of Bartlett, was born in 1780. In the spring of 1807 Mr. and Mrs. Rosebrook moved into a log cabin put up by Abel Crawford, some time previously, upon land where their grandson, Frank B. Rosebrook, now resides, where some trees had been felled the year before. Mr. Rosebrook's stock consisted of a yoke of oxen and a cow. He immediately began cutting up the trees, and clearing his land, but his laborious and persistent exertions brought on a lameness of the back, so that it was with difficulty that he crawled along and drove the oxen; however, his brave wife, with her hired girl, Betsey Tuttle, both strong women, did the logging and seeded the land. The next season, with restored health, Mr. Rosebrook engaged in farming, and also made black salts out of the ashes of elm and other kinds of wood. ("Salts'' was their principal currency in those days.) These he carried to Portland and exchanged for corn, and other necessaries of life. After many long years of poverty, pinching economy, and hard labor, Mr. Rosebrook succeeded in paying for his land, and erected substantial buildings for a permanent and comfortable home. His eleven children were Franklin, Leander (dec.), Phineas, Mitchell (died young), Mitchell, Louisa (Mrs. Robert Tuttle) (dec.), Mary (dec.), Laura (dec.), Lee, Eleazer, and James F. D.
Mr. Rosebrook was a well-formed, muscular man. weighing about one hundred and sixty pounds. Ambitious to prosper, he was industrious, a hard worker, and a good type of the pioneers. He was an "old line" Democrat, and esteemed for his sterling, honest worth. He and his wife were members of the Free Will Baptist church of Bethlehem. When Ethan Crawford's house was burned, Mrs. Rosebrook, although a woman of extraordinary strength, injured her health by her exertions in getting the goods out of his house. This shortened her life; she died in 1832, aged fifty -two years.
Phineas Rosebrook, son of Phineas and Hannah (Stillings) Rosebrook, was born in Carroll, June 4, 1807. He was the first white male child born in the town. His education was acquired from female teachers hired to come to the house, and schools at Bethlehem. He remained with his parents until within a few months of his majority. He married, December 16, 1827, Sophronia, daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Folsom) Tuttle. [Mr. Tuttle was born June 11, 1764, and died October 20, 1847. Mrs. Tuttle was born September 26, 1761, and died January 31, 1840. They moved at an early date from Lee to Eaton, where Mrs. Rosebrook was born, the youngest of ten children, September 21, 1807. In 1816 they removed to Hart's Location, afterwards to Jefferson, where they passed their last days.] Phineas Rosebrook and wife commenced housekeeping in an unfinished house, which had been built by Hartford, on the site of the ''White Mountain House"; this they finished. It was a square, two-story house, and, from the great expense of lumber, plastered on the outside. Mrs. Rosebrook brought to her new home a few articles of household furniture and a cow, the products of her own industry.
Mr. Rosebrook had as he supposed, purchased this lot of land, but in time found he had bought the wrong lot, and was compelled to buy the one on which his house stood. Four years after, he sold both lots to a Mr. Dennison, taking merely his personal notes for payment, but, disposing of the property, Dennison left the country, and Mr. Rosebrook lost the whole. He then moved to his father's house and remained two or three years, until his mother's death. In 1832, the year of the incorporation of the town, he located on the east branch of John's river, half a mile from his present residence, and put up a little saw-mill, which he conducted for four years, but lost everything, owing to the bad foundations of his dam and the resultant injury by water. He sold the place for a thousand dollars which just squared him with the world, leaving him without a dollar. Bui these reverses did not crush his strong nature, and, cheered and assisted by his energetic and industrious wife, he made his third attempt to establish a home, and purchased, on time, a lot of one hundred acres, where he now resides, from the heirs of Gen. Joseph Whipple, and moved into a small unfinished house on this place in 1836. Here he worked for several years getting out lumber, farming, etc., without adding much to his material wealth. In 1853 he borrowed one thousand dollars of his brother-in-law, and put up a potato starch-mill. This enterprise was very successful. At the end of the first season he was able to pay the borrowed money, and also, for the building of the mill and its machinery. He raised a large amount of potatoes, sometimes 5,000 bushels a year, and one year he manufactured 50,000 bushels into starch, producing 250 tons. His product he hauled to Littleton, the nearest railroad station, as it was mostly sold to Boston firms. While manufacturing, with his son, Mark, he was engaged in buying wild land, from which Mark got off timber, and, for a few years, Mr. Rosebrook had a small store. He cleared up the one hundred acres on the home lot, and has purchased one hundred more, has erected a good house and out buildings, and laid a large amount of stone wall; he also built a new mill. He carried on manufacturing for fifteen or twenty years, and under his prudent and sagacious management it was a financial success.
The children of Phineas and Sophronia (Tuttle) Rosebrook attaining maturity were, Lee, Jennie (Mrs. Augustus Hodgkins), Amasa, Mark P., Frank B., Eliza J. (Mrs. Nelson A. Glines), Laura A. (Mrs. Frank Hobbs), and John W. Those surviving are Lee and Frank B.
This worthy couple have experienced many reverses and peculiar sorrows, but have not succumbed to them. Mrs. Rosebrook, although fourscore years of age, is yet active and industrious, and, at this writing, is busily engaged in making a patch-work bed-quilt for each of her fifteen grandchildren. She is a cheerful companion and faithful nurse to her husband. Mr. Rosebrook's vigor and health is much impaired, and he is quite feeble physically. He has been a man of diligence, shrewdness and enterprise. The rigid frugality and the unflagging industry in the home life of the pioneer, supplemented by the limited but practical learning of the times, have produced generations of clear and vigorous minds. Mr. Rosebrook is a good representative of this class; he is a man of sound judgment and clear understanding. He has always been interested in the affairs of the town. The first year of its organization he was elected selectman, and re-elected many times. His political principles have ever been in accord with those of the Democratic party as enunciated by Thomas Jefferson. He represented Carroll in the state legislature in 1861-62, but has preferred attending to his private affairs to political preferment. Although not a member of any religious denomination, yet his motto in life is the Golden Rule, and he will leave to his many descendants the record of an honorable and well-spent life, good deeds, and pleasant recollections.
Contributed 2025 May 13 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Coos County, New Hampshire by Georgia D. Merrill, published in 1888, pages 427-447.
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