Editing Milan, New Hampshire (section)

== History ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2021}}
[[File:Milannh.jpg|thumb|left|Milan village in the 19th century]]
Originally named "Paulsburg" in 1771 after Paul Wentworth, the town was incorporated on December 16, 1824.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Town of Milan |url=http://www.townofmilan.org/aboutmilan.html |access-date=September 22, 2022 |website=www.townofmilan.org}}</ref> In that year, Governor [[Levi Woodbury]] authorized a name change to "Milan". <!--Uncited: in honor of Milan Harris.-->

Prior to 1820, there were but few inhabitants. In 1819, the population was approximately fourteen; ten years passed and the number had increased four-fold. <!---

'''The following needs editing as it is much too detailed with non-notable information and is  unsourced.'''

''Circa'' 1822, several families emigrated from Maine and settled on Milan hills. Among those who first penetrated this wilderness to make permanent homes for themselves and their posterity was John Ellingwood.  He came in 1822 and first settled on Milan hill. His wife was Rachel Barrows, of [[Bethel, Maine]]. Of their family of six children were Hester Ann, Isaac H., John W. and Freeman. Mr. Ellingwood died in about 1830.  His son Isaac was the first white child born on Barrows Mountain [[Milan Hill State Park|(Milan Hill)]]. Isaac Harris came from Bethel in 1822.  He was a school-teacher in [[Sutton, Massachusetts]].  Thomas Lake lived below the Ellingwood place; he came to Milan at the same time, but remained only a few years.  He made a small clearing. Benjamin Hibbard came from [[Newry, Maine|Newry, Me]]. a little later than 1822, located and lived several years on the east side of the river. He died in Milan.  The Hutchinsons were settlers on Milan Hill sometimes in 1823 to 1824. The first mill on the Ammonoosuc was built as early as 1835, on lot 7 range 3, first division by a company consisting of Henry Snow of Effingham, Dr. Loren Hildreth and one Roberts of Parsonsfield, Me. This was first conducted by Mr. Snow, afterwards by Anthony Nay, and, during 1838 or 1839 the property was sold to Amos Green of [[Berlin, New Hampshire]], who rebuilt the mill on a larger scale.  He carried it on until the California gold fever broke out, when, leaving it in the charge of his son, George A. (who, it is said made more money out of it than his father) in 1850 he went to California. The first regular store was opened at West Milan by Ezra Horn about the year 1850, when the Grand Trunk railway was being built. In 1857 Simon Cole commenced trade in the store opposite the railroad station, and continued until 1860, when he sold out to his son, Lewis H. Cole, who built the store now occupied by Roberts and Forbush, and in 1865 disposed of his business to Edwin W. Wilkinson who closed out in 1869 and moved to [[Groveton, New Hampshire|Groveton]]. In 1870, Hutchinson & Morin (Freeland Hutchinson and Theodore Morin) occupied the same store.  They continued three years; in 1874, Mr. Morin sold out to Mr. Hutchinson.  In 1874 or 1875, Mr. Hutchinson sold out to Blanchard Bros. (George W., Charles N. and Fred H.) and the next year Charles N. sold to his partners and the firm name became "G.W. & F. H. Blanchard" until 1879 when the partnership dissolved. In 1880, Fred H. Blanchard occupied the store formerly owned by O.H. Nay, and with the exception of a few months, has occupied it ever since. The village of West Milan gives the name to one station, while another is Milan Water-Station (Coppersville).--->  Like the other towns around it, Milan's first industries were lumbering operations, and agriculture was for some time subordinate to this. The first farms were developed on Milan Hill. The soil was warmer, more free from frost, and, for some years, produced quite liberally in response to the labors of the pioneers. But they were not permanently as productive as they gave promise, and many of those settlers who remained sought the most valuable lands along the river. Some of the names of the early pioneers of Milan include Ellingwood, Hodgdon, Fogg, Hinds, Roberts, Hagar, Sargent, Nay, Twitchell, and Newell.