THIRD GENERATION

4. * George Kenneth Mitton ^{(1)(2) (3)(4)} was born on MAY 21 1874 in Elgin, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada. ^{(5)(6) (7)} *NB Census : 1891 Albert Co., Elgin 2 Parish: Ainsley Mitton: "George - age 17 - son - b.NB - FW Bap"

*SSDI: gives year as 1875 - "MITTON, GEORGE 003-16-1957 (NH) b. 21 May 1875 d. Nov 1964 lr. NH"
He was buried in NOV 1964 in Lisbon, Grafton Co., NH. ⁽⁸⁾ He died on NOV 24 1964 in Lisbon, Grafton Co., NH. ⁽⁹⁾ died at Knapp Rest Home He is my grandfather. grandfather

Note : Martha Mitton's grandson said that his father was not Ansley Mitton, but Samatha's first husband's son. His actual father's name was Burley Bannister. He got this from his grandmother. [phone conversation of 5/7/97]

*Homestead Herald, May 15, 1964: Trees were cut in winter and hauled "to the banks of the rivers, where the logs were tumbled onto the ice in mountainous piles."
Then came spring. The ice cracked and split early under the strain, letting millions of tons of logs down into the sudsing torrents. There they bounced and jacked into the air on their first move down river, a writhing monster controlled and directed only by the river crews, those men with muscles of steel, and the courage of cougars who faced death with only iron-collared poles and cant dogs.
Strangely enough, many of the drivers couldn't swim, although that ability was of little benefit once logs jammed and piled up. In any attempt to ease the key log loose, a loss of balance pitched the driver into the maelstrom where flesh and bones were quickly mashed to a pulp.
Van Dyke, as well as most lumber kings, cared little for the welfare of these men. He flogged team after team of horse to death as he tore up and down the river banks to be sure that his "river dogs" were doing more than a human job.
George Mitton, now in his late eighties, a native of New Brunswick, Canada and a great friend of The Homestead family, started driving the Miramachee when he was nine years old. With age and experience he grew adept in the ways of the rivers and learned of the drives in the States. At 21 he came to New Hampshire with a crew and was hired by Van Dyke. Mr. Mitton has entertained us many times with accounts of his experiences.
From dawn till dark the dauntless crews kept ceaselessly active as logs spun and heaved under their treading feet. After a while, the soles of their heavy, caulked boots wore thin and out, and sharp, knotted bark cut deep into their feet. As soon as they could, they gained the river bank to wrap their swollen, bleeding feet in burlap, and as quickly returned to continue the drive until they reached the lower Cohos camp. Laying in to recover, the expected happened...an infuriated Van Dyke burst into the camp frothing and cursing, "You River Dogs---you S-- o- B------, get to the river." But he had met his match for he had forgotten that in George Mitton, he had hired an iron man to boss his crew, a man whose body was hardened by nature at her rawest, but a good man with a decent heart.
Mitton stalked toward Van Dyke, fists clenched in wrath, and bellowed, "You, YOU S-- o- B----, you get out ... GET OUT. My men will go back to work, but not until they are able." He muckled onto the shoulder of the despot, wheeled him about and shoved him to the door. Van Dyke hulked away cursing, knowing that there was no compromise.
When Mr. Mitton and his men got well they returned to the river to unlock the monstrous log pile jammed from no attention, and in the process putting more dollars into Van Dyke's pocket."
..."Mr. Mitton recalls that a toll bridge across the Connecticut had a sign posting its fees for traffic. "Horses and Carriages 10c; On Foot 5c; Pigs and Sheep 2c each; RIVER DOGS GO FREE". "

*SSDI : MITTON, GEORGE 003-16-1957 (NH) b. 21 May 1875 d. Nov 1964 lr. NH

*E-Mail: "I have a listings in the McAlpine's 1907-8 Directory, list only heads of household, listed are Geo K. Mitton, Lumber, West St. Andrews; Jos Mitton, Lumber, Salmon River; Joseph R. Mitton, Lumberman, Truro; Ezra Mitton, Lumber, Lower Stewiacke(Stewiacke Town); Frank Mitton, Lumber, Lower Stewiacke; Miles Mitton, Lumber, Lower Stewiacke.
I know that Ezra, Frank and Miles are brothers. There were 3 other brothers that I know of, Herbert, William and Bliss. I understand that Bliss moved to the USA and either owned a Milk Business or Managed it."

* Wanderings : "George Mitton, a lumberman from NB. For many years they had a fine herd of dairy cows at Lisbon [now Sugar Hill], New Hampshire. They now live at Sugar Hill, in that state. There are nine children:" He was married to * Estella R. Wright on NOV 4 1903 in Brentwood, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia, Canada.⁽¹⁰⁾ Marriage Certificate : George's birth place is listed as Elgin [probably in Prosser Brook, which is in Elgin township]. He listed his parents as Asley Mitton and Samantha Morris. This is how dad first knew his grandparents' names :

Date of Mariage: Nov 3,1903
Place of Marriage: Brentwood, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia
Clergyman: Rev. R.L.Coffin, Presbyterian

Name: George K. Mitton; Age : 29 - Bachelor; Occupation : Farmer
Residence: West St. Andrews, Nova Scotia
Birth Place: Elgin, N.B.

Name: Stella Wright; Age : 19 - Spinster
Residence : West St. Andrews [Nova Scotia]
Birth Place : West St. Andrews
Parent's Occupation : Farmers

5. * Estella R. Wright ⁽¹¹⁾ was born on FEB 14 1885 in West St. Andrews, Nova Scotia, Canada.⁽¹²⁾ She was buried in AUG 1964 in Lisbon, Grafton Co., NH. ⁽¹³⁾ She died on AUG 1 1964 in Lisbon, Grafton Co., NH. ⁽¹⁴⁾ *Littleton Courier : died at Knapp Rest Home She is my grandmother. grandmother

* Wanderings : " Estella R. Wright, third daughter of George and Mary Wright was born in 1885, and before leaving NS married George Mitton, a lumberman from NB. For many years they had a fine herd a dairy cows at Lisbon [now Sugar Hill], New Hampshire. They now live at Sugar Hill, in that state. There are nine children:"

*SSDI : MITTON, ESTELLA 003-26-4569 (NH) b. 14 Feb 1885 d. Aug 1964 lr. NH Children were:

i. Lillian G. Mitton⁽¹⁵⁾ was born on SEP 16 1904 in Nova Scotia, Canada.⁽¹⁶⁾ She died on APR 15 1980 in Warwick, RI.⁽¹⁷⁾ She died at Norma's home, where she had been living for a few months. She is my aunt. aunt

*Wanderings : "Lillian Mitton, born in NS. She married Herbert Flodin. They live at 408 Atlantic Ave., Lakewood, RI."
ii. Carl D. Mitton^{(18) (19)} was born on SEP 9 1906 in Lower Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, Canada. ⁽²⁰⁾ He died on NOV 1 1989 in Woodsville, NH.⁽²¹⁾ He is my uncle. uncle

*Wanderings : "Carl D. Mitton, married Leona Reel of Keene, NH."

Mom: "Carl was employed at a hardware store in Woodsville for many years."

*SSDI : MITTON, CARL 001-01-4801 (NH) b. 09 Sep 1906 d. 01 Nov 1989 lr. 03785
iii. Nelson R. Mitton was born on OCT 17 1908.⁽²²⁾ He died on MAR 28 1991.⁽²³⁾ I went to his funeral with mom and dad. He is my uncle. uncle

He worked as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic in Barrie, VT, at the granite quarries.

*SSDI : MITTON, NELSON 003-01-4296 (NH) b. 17 Oct 1908 d. 28 Mar 1991
iv. Russell Chester Mitton^{(24) (25)} was christened in OCT 1910. He was born on OCT 21 1910 in Bath, Grafton Co., NH.⁽²⁶⁾ He died on MAY 23 1974 in Mesa, AZ.⁽²⁷⁾ He was buried on MAY 30 1974 in Mesa, AZ.⁽²⁸⁾ Mesa City Cemetery He is my uncle. uncle

*Obituary : "Mr. Mitton was a heavy duty operator foreman for the Vinell Corp. of Los Angeles. Since coming here in 1966, he had based in Taiwan, Viet Nam, Indonesia. He was a member of the Operators Union No. 428. Survivors include his wife, LaDean; his children George Mitton, Ray Mitton and Mrs. Evelyn Persinger. ... The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society.

*Wanderings : "Russel G. Mitton, married Ruth Sangorn. They live in San Diego, Cal. and have a son, Melvin Mitton"
v. Jeanne B. Mitton⁽²⁹⁾ was born on JUL 1 1916 in Bath, Grafton Co., NH.⁽³⁰⁾ She was born at home She died on JUL 17 1979 in Topsham, ME. ⁽³¹⁾ She died at her home. She is my aunt. She was buried in Augusta, ME.⁽³²⁾ She is buried at the veteran's cemetery. aunt

*Wanderings : "Jeanne B. Mitton, living at 19 Holleywood Ave., Norwood, RI"
vi. Helen Mitton (Private).
vii. Mabelle Mitton (Private).
viii. Christyne Mitton^{(33) (34)} was born on JUL 2 1922 in Woodsville, NH. ⁽³⁵⁾ She was born at Cottage Hospital She was christened about 1968. She died on APR 8 1968 in Hanover, NH.⁽³⁶⁾ She died at the hospital. She is my aunt. She was buried in Walpole, NH.⁽³⁷⁾ She is buried at the Walpole Cemetery. aunt

*Wanderings : Christyne L. Mitton, born in 1922, is a student at Plymouth Teacher's College.

*Personal : She graduated from Plymouth Teacher's College [now Plymouth State College] in Plymouth, NH. She taught at Walpole Elementary School, probably the 6th grade.

2 ix. George Claude Mitton.