Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/102

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96

��Lisbon, N. H.

��man ; then followed the Youngs, the most influential family through a con- siderable period ; afterwards came these, being the surnames, — Dexter, Darley, Judd, Parker, Aldrich, Jes- seman. Bishop, Harris, Howland, Northey, Hildreth, Jewett, Colby, Quimby, Streeter, Spooner, Oakes, Priest, Noyes, Jameson, Taylor, Haines, Applebee, Morse, Bailey, Ash, Whitcomb, Smith, Page, Wells, Knapp, Kinneston, Burt, Kay, Em- ery, Cushraan, Moris, Kelsea, Gurn- sey, Mclntire, Cooley, Whiting, Bar- rett, Clark, Walker, Palmer, Robins, Cole, Eastman, Whipple, Cobleigh, Kimball, Savage, Gould, and Ela, — besides individuals and other fami- lies, perhaps equally early, but not so numerous.

Lisbon, as a farming town, may be classed with those of a medium grade. The soil upon the intervals along the Ammonoosuc when first cleared was quite productive, though naturally light, as is generally the case through- out the western part of the township ; nevertheless it responds freely to the application of fertilizers. The east- ern part was originally covered with a hard-wood growth, and consequently possesses a strong soil ; and the farm- ers have been well rewarded for their labor. The grazing here is excel- lent, and much attention is given to dairying. Potato raising, for which the soil is wonderfully adapted, for many years was the chief industry. Amid these verdant hills is a spot, sightly and attractive, where the gi- gantic maples have been superseded by human habitations ; here has been built the village of Sugar Hill, a cosy hamlet, noted for the intelligence and morality of its citizens. Lisbon vil-

��lage, situated in the south-west cor- ner of the town, on the Ammonoosuc river, is a thriving place, and the entrepot for the surrounding country. Several prosperous manufacturing es- tablishments have been located here, a description of which is given else- where. In common with so many other towns in New England, Lisbon has suffered from emigration west- ward, and the subsidence of the rural population to the business centres. In some back neighborhoods, where thrift and prosperity were once dis- cernible, the school-houses are nearly vacant, buildings are going to decay, and the forest encroaches upon the field.

The supply of water throughout the town is abundant and permanent. Upon almost every farm are springs, which furnish nature's beverage, cold and pure ; then meandering streams diversify the landscape, and silver lakes lend beauty and variety to the scenery. Ammonoosuc is the princi- pal stream. Fresh from the moun- tain gorges of the famous Crawford Notch, its waters, clear as crystal, flow through the town in a south- westerly direction. There are two dams aci'oss the river, one at Lisbon villao;e, the other three miles above.

Two miles above the village is the so-called "Salmon hole." The river at this point is very narrow and deep ; a huge rock protrudes from the east shore, upon which rests the bridge that spans the stream. In days of yore salmon were caught there weigh- ing from twenty to twenty-five pounds. About this place cluster legends re- lating to transactions back in a pre- historic period. The largest tributary of the Ammonoosuc is the South

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