August 4, 1925—Lincoln, New Hampshire

In this image (left to right), dated 1908 or 1909: James McGraw, General Manager for Johnson Lumber Company, Edwin Matson, Jr. of Wellsboro, PA, and Hatfield. Edwin Matson, Jr., for Matson Manufacturing Co. Inc., purchased the Bog Pond Tract in 1909.

I, James McGraw, now residing at Lancaster, N.H., formerly resided at Hall and Grey’s Mills, later known as the town of Johnson. I am thoroughly acquainted with the lands known as “Bog Pond” Tract, in Lincoln, New Hampshire, and I am familiar with the activities that have taken place there from the year 1900 to the present time. I acted as General Manager for George L. Johnson and the Johnson Lumber Company.

In 1902, C. W. Johnson cut and yarded logs on that portion of the land sloping to the Pemigewasset south of Georgiana Falls, which logs were stocked by Geo. L. Johnson to the mills at the present town of Johnson.

Johnson Lumber Company log pile, with Mt. Pemigewasset in the background, Johnson, New Hampshire.

During the winter of 1903-1904, Sylvanus Marshal stocked logs for Geo. L. Johnson from the western portion of the Bog Pond Tract near Bog Pond, to the mills at Johnson.

In 1904-1905, Geo. L. Johnson cut and removed timber between Bog Eddy and Indian Head. Geo. L. Johnson had the authority to cut this timber from the Lincoln Lumber Company, which was affiliated with the Lawrence Bros Company.

During the year 1905, the Johnson Lumber Company was incorporated, which company in accord with negotiations with the Lawrence Bros. Co. had Jim Ward cruise the Bog Pond Tract during 1906 with a view to its purchase by the Johnson Lumber Company. The result of this was that the Johnson Lumber Company purchased this land in 1907.

Hatfield, Edwin Matson, Jr., and James McGraw, January 6th, Johnson, New Hampshire.

During the year 1908, negotiations were in progress by the Johnson Lumber Company for the sale of these lands to one Edwin Matson, Jr. of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. Mr. Ed Shea, representing the Johnson Lumber Company, cruised these lands with Mr. Matson. During the year 1909, the Johnson Lumber Company continued its negotiations with the said Matson, who continued his investigations, which resulted in the sale of the said Bog Pond Tract in the fall of 1909 to the Matson Manufacturing Co. Inc.

The Matson Manufacturing Co. erected mills upon the said lands and made other improvements, primarily to manufacture lumber from the Lost River District, but with the ultimate view of manufacturing lumber from the Bog Pond Tract.

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Subscribed and sworn to before me, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, this 4th day of August, A. D. 1925.

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Johnson Boarding House, Johnson, New Hampshire, dated 1915. The 1914 Hudson (vehicle on right) seen here was owned by James McGraw, General Manager for Johnson Lumber Company. James McGraw is the taller gentleman.

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James Edward McGraw—Birth: 1870, Canada; Occupation: Lumberman; Death: December 21, 1943, Lancaster, New Hampshire; Buried: Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Lancaster, New Hampshire.

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NOTES

1. McGraw, James, letter, August 4, 1925. Upper Pemigewasset Historical Society’s Johnson Collection.
2. All photographs are part of the Upper Pemigewasset Historical Society’s Johnson Collection.