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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
VOLUME XXI
CONTAINING LIFE SKETCHES OF LEADING CITIZENS OF
BELKNAP AND STRAFFORD COUNTIES
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Biography is the home aspect of iiistory'
BOSTON
Biographical Review F^ublishing Company
1897
ATLANriC SIATES SERIES OF BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS.
The voluincs issuer! in this scries up to date are tlie ft)llo\vini
I. ()isi.;(;o foiMV, Ni-w VnRK.
II. Maiii.sun (.-orxTV, Nkw \-(ink.
III. liKOtlME COCNTV, NkW \cikK.
IV. COI.CNUSIA (-(JCMTV, Nl.W N'.IRK.
V. C.wfi-.A Coi'XTV, Nkw VokK.
VI. Dl-.I.AWARK rol'.VTV, XkW YuRK.
\'ll. LiVlNOTOX ANT. WVOMIN-C Col'NTIKS,
Nkw Vurk.
\" 1 1 1. C'l.i.v roN AND Essex Couxtie.-^, N e\v York..
IX. Hami'dkn (-'ounty, Massachusetts.
.\. Fkaxki.ix County, MASsACHUsErrs.
.\ I . HA-\n'SHn.:E CouNiY, MASsAiin'sKir^.
.Ml. LircuFiELi) CoUNi-\-, CoNNEC'IICUr.
XIII. York (;.iixiv, Maixk.
XIV. (."r.MiiEui.AXD CouxTV, Maixe.
XV. OxKuRi, ANU Franklin Countm.>
Maine. .\V1. (•uNn;EKLANi. Cuuntv, New Jer.sev. XVII. KccKixcHAM County, New Hami .-iinuE.
Win. I'l.VMOUrU COIFNTY, Ma.ssachusetts.
XIX. Camhex and Binu.ixoroN CouNin->
New Jer.<;ey. XX. Sac.ai.aho.. Lixcm.x. Kxox. ax
Waedi. Countien Maixe. XXI. liKiKXAi' AXi) Strafkorii CoUNriE^
New Hami'Suike.
Noll,.— .\11 the lii.: ilnrs. fiolli uh..m tlie f; u- was allowed in eai h ci 1)efurf ihc work was prii
\ few. liowever, wi
thei)
piimanly ol.t.iineil. fur theii ai.pn.v.il oi , nmxlion l.efoie going to piess ; an.l a leasonal.le return of the typewritten copies. .Most of tlicm weie returned to us witliin the time allotted, being corrected or revised; and these may therefore he regarded as reasonably accuiate. turned to us; and, as we have no means of knowing whether they contain errors or not. we
mot vouch for their accuracy. In justice to our readers, and to render this work more valuable for reference purposes, we have ic.ited these uncorrected sketches by a small asterisk {*), placed imniediate'y after the name of the subject. They will all be lul on the l,i.,t p.iges o( the book.
PREFACE.
HAVING labored with clili^cncr and with the help of many hands, as is needful in this fast-L;-i)in'_;\ news-loxinL;-, novelty-producinL;' a^e, ax'aihng ourselves of tlie material kindl_\- pi u ed at our disposal hy our patrons in IV-lknap and Strafford Counties, re|)reseiitative eiti/ens of New Hampshire, whose eordial eo-(jpera- tion has made the work possible, we are hap])\' to announec the completion of another BiccJKAPiiiCAL Rkvif.w, the twenty-first volume in our Atlantic States Series, whose puljlication we bei^an a few \ears since, have carried on without intermission, anil are still continuin;^.
The local bio_!4-ra])hci- supplements the work of the town and count}' historian, and lights up with living interest the dry names and dates dear to the genealogist, while freely conceding to the census enumerator the i)alm for longer schedules. Well-born, of reputable ancestry, sprung, some of them, from early colonists of two luuulred, yes, even of twt) luuulred and sixty years ago — for 1 )over, it must be rememljered, was the first permanent settlement in the -State — the ].)ers(}ns whose life stories are here outlined ha\e earned the right to be commemorated. The accounts here given are of used t:ilents antl opportunities, of industrv, energy, and enteqjrise, far-reaching and to goo<l ends, not of slothfulness, not of selfishness, knavery, and greed, but of fair dealing, of pul)lic spirit, patriotism, self-sacrifice. Some attention has been given to tracing lines of descent and kinship, interesting in themselves and often valuable as showing the transmission of both physical and mental traits, livery wise generation does its own work in its own way, and, writing its own records, leaves its reputation and its example as a legacy to posterity.
JOHN J. MORRILL.
BIOSRAPHIGAL
(LOXKL JOHN J. MOR- RILL, late ail esteemed resident of Gilford, N. H., was a citizen well known in public life, for many years an influential factor in the State politics. A S(Mi of Barnard Morrill, he was born in Gilford, on August 3, 1816; and he dietl in the same house and the same room on January 20, 1S9J.
Abraham Morrill, who at an early date settled in Amesbury, Mass., was the immi- grant founder of the family in New luigland. Barnard Morrill, father of John J., came from Brentwood, N.IL, to Gilmanton, now Gilford, which had then but few inhabitants. By occu- pation a tanner and shoemaker, he became a prominent citizen, and in the years that fol- lowed held all the important offices within the gift of his townsmen, being Selectman and Justice of the Peace many years. While a Jus- tice of the Peace, he sat on a majority of the trials lield, and he also devoted considerable time to other legal duties. Me married March 23, 1S09, Judith Morrison, daughter of Jonathan Morrison, a Revolutionary soldier, who was a descendant of a New England pio- neer. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard Morrill had a son, John J., and two daughters — Rhoda and Sally. Rhoda Morrill married John Davis, a resident of what is now Lakeport, N. LL, who was at one time agent for the Lake Company, and was also associated as a partner with B. J.
Cole at Lakeport, under the firm name of Cole & Davis.
John J. Morrill attended the district school in his native town, and subsec|uently received the benefit of a few terms at (iilmanton Acad- emy and New Llampton Institution. He then studied under the tuition of Dudley Leavitt,
, who was well known as the originator of Leavitt's F<ii-i/n-i-' s Aluianac. In this way Mr. Morrill acquired an unusually good edu- cation for his day. His principal business was tanning and the lumber trade. He was also engaged in farming. Energetic, ambi- tious, and capable, he was brought into pub- lic notice, and was appointed on the staff of General VVadleigh of the old State militia, with the title of Colonel. He was agent of the town of Gilford for years, and handled its
j law suits and other important legal matters. He was a delegate to the Whig Ciuivention in Baltimore in 1840, which nominated William Henry Harrison for the Presidency. The campaign which followed was one of the most exciting in the history of this country, and became known as the "log-cabin and hard cider" campaign, because the opponents of General Harrison undertook to bring up his past life against him. The Whig party, however, swept the country, and its candidates were triumphantly elected. Subsequent divi- sions among its adherents, owing to slavery becoming the leading issue, led to its dis- ruption; and, after electing Taylor in 1848, and failing to elect Scott in 1852, the North-
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV
crn Whigs became Free Soileis and by 1856 Republicans. Mr. Morrill tnuk an active part in the excitin- politics of the times, and was one of the influential factors in the organiza- tion of the Republican party in New Hamp- shire. He represented Gilford in the State legislature several years, and he was a member of Governor Straw's Council in 1873 and 1873. His abilities soon brought him into wider notice; and as the opponent of General Mars- ton, one of New Hampshire's ablest men, he lacked but a few votes of receiving the nom- ination of Representative to Congress, a posi- tion that he was well qualified to fill. He was also a Presidential elector in 1876. About the time that he was proposed for Congress he was spoken of by many as a candidate for the gov- ernorship. Six years before his death he was stricken with paralysis, which was subsequently followed by a second and fatal attack on the morning of January 20, 1892. Mrs. Nancy- Sanborn Morrill, his wife, taught school sev- eral terms before their marriage. She was born on January 27, 18 19, in Brentwood, N.H. Her parents afterward removed to Gilford, where her father, Mesech Sanborn, was for many years a prominent citizen. They had three children, namely: Stark; John Barnard, who was born December 26, 1849, and died July 20, 1852; and John U., who is now the only survivor. Stark, born on December 9, 1846, died on June 8, 1880. He was educated in the district school and at New Hampton In- stitution, and for several years before his death was associated with his father in carrying on the tannery. He was a capable and successful business man.
John B., the youngest child, was born on November 11, 1854. He attended the district schools of Gilford and the high school in what is now Laconia, then studied with S. C. Kim- ball, A.M., a noted tutor, who was at that
time pastor of the Free Baptist church in Gil- ford. He fitted for Bates College, but went instead to Dartmouth, and was graduated in the class of 1879, taking the degree of ]5ach- elor of Science in Chandler Scientific Course, and is permanent Secretary of his class. It was his intention to take a complete course in civil engineering, but the illness of his brother and an accident to himself interfered; and re- turning home he took up his father's business, lumbering, real estate, and farming. He has given considerable attention to stock-raising, trading in cattle to a large extent. Of late years he has taken many premiums for fancy teams exhibited at fairs. He keeps Hereford stock principally.
On November 9, 1882, Mr. Morrill married Miss Mary S. Rowe, a daughter of Simon Rowe, of Gilford. She completed her educa- tion at New Hampton Literary Institution, and was a teacher before her marriage.
Mr. Morrill has always adhered to the Re- publican principles loved by his father. He was at the last Constitutional Convention held in 1889, and is a member of the Republican State Central Committee. In 1895-96 he represented the town of Gilford in the New Hampshire legislature. The past three years he has been Chairman of the Board of Select- men, and has held various minor town offices. Since the organization of the Gilford Public Library he has been one of the Board of Trustees.
I':NRY KIMBALL, attorney and coun- :llor-at-law, and superintendent of the public schools of Rochester, N. H., was born in Shapleigh, Me., December 14, 1833, son of Daniel S. and Love (Wilson) Kimball. His father was born in North Bi^r- wick. Me., May 24, 1804, and his mother in I Shapleigh, April 17, 1806.
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Daniel S. Kimball was reared to agricult- ural pursuits, and the active period of his life was spent in tilling the soil of a good farm in his native town. A prosperous farmer and a useful citizen, he gained by his upright Chris- tian character the sincere esteem of his fellow- townsmen. He died April 2,S, 18X2; aiidiiis wife died May 2, 1.S93. Both were members of the Congregational church, the father act- ing as Deacon for many years.
Henry Kimball prepared for college at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, and was graduated at Bowdoin College with the class of 1863. His legal studies were pursued under the direction of his uncle, Increase S. Kimball, of Sanford, Me. ; and he was admitted to the York County (Maine) bar, June 30, 1866. He remained with his uncle for three years, and in 1869 settled in Rochester, where he has since resided. Teaching school was a favorite occupation in his yduiiger tla\s, and his in- terest in educational matters has never been allowed to die out. In connection with his law practice he has occupied his present posi- tion of superintendent of the public schools in this city, with the exception of a few short intervals, since 1871.
Politically, Mr. Kimball supports the Re- publican party, but has never taken an active part in politics, excepting such as pertains to educational interests.
fAMKS D. BARTLh:TT, senior member of the firm Bartlett & Smith, con- tractors and builders of Meredith, and an e.x-member of the New Hanipsliiie b-is- lature, was born July 2-j, 1833, in Ceiilre Har- bor, N.H., son of Samuel G. and Sally (Rowe) Bartlett. His great-grandfather was Abiel Bartlett, son of Adam Bartlett, who was a native of Beverly, Mas.s. Abiel Bartlett re-
sided in Deerfield, N. H., and died in 1816, aged sixty-five years. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Goodhue, and his chil- dren were: Abiel, John G., Josei)h, Moses, and Mary Jane. James D. Bartlett, the grandfather, was born in Deerfield. During his active period he cultivated farms in Mere- dith and Centre Harbor, and was one of the stirring agriculturists of his day. In politics a Democrat, he served as a Selectman in Centre Harbor, and died January 5, 1861. He married Olive Libbey, daughter of Sheriff I.ibbey, of Wolfboro, N.H.
Samuel G. Bartlett, father of James I). Bartlett, born in Meredith, March 2, 1807, learned the trades of a carpenter and mill- wright, which he afterward followed for ten years. Then he bought a farm in Centre Har- bor, where he resided for the rest of his life. He voted with the Democratic party; and, although not an aspirant for office, he was Supervisor and a member of the School Com- mittee a number of years. He died July 22, 1896. His wife, Sally, who was born in Gil- ford, N.H., October 20, 1803, daughter of I^zekiel Rowe, became the mother of eight children, six of whom attained maturity. These were: James D., the subject of this sketch; I<:iizabeth R. , who married Charles P. Leavitt, of Meredith, and is now deceased; Lucinda, who married John R. McCrillis, of Centre Harbor; Emily Jane, who is the wife ol Jonathan Fox, of the same town; Josiah R., who resides in Centre Harbor; and Arvilla R., now deceased, who became the wife of Joseph Howard, of Northfield, Mass. The mother died August i^, 1857. Both parents were mendiers of the P'ree Baptist church, and the father was one of its choristers for many years.
James D. Bartlett acquired a public-school education in his native town. At the age of
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
seventeen he went to Lowell, Mass., and there served an ai-iinenticeship oi three years at the mason's traile. llaviny; hecniiie well ac- quainted with brick-laying and plastering, he was for two seasons engaged as a journeyman in Boston and for the same length of time in Manchester, X.H. In 1858 he settled in Meredith, where he did general mason work until 1881. lie then formed a partnership with his present associate, and is now doing quite an extensive contracting and building business both in New Hampshire and \'er- mont. He was Chief of Police for two years, and at the head of the fire department for the same length of time. He served for four years as inspector of the check list: and he was elected to the New Hampshire House of Rep- resentatives in 1886, in which he served on the Committee on Fisheries and Game.
On March i, 1856, Mr. Bartlett married Lydia R. Hubbard, daughter of Rodney Hub- bard, of New London, N.H. He is a member of Chocorua Lodge, F. & A. M. ; is Past Grand of Belknap Lodge, I. O. O. F. : a member of Meredith Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and of Winnepesaukee Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Mrs. Bartlett is con- nected with the Daughters of Rebecca. Both are members of the P>ee Baptist church.
"IRAM SAWYER OSBORX, an ex- tensive farmer of Rochester, was born in Loudon, N.H., March 26, 1 83 1, son of Green and Mehitabel (Barton) Osborn. The Osborn family in America is of Lnglish origin. The great-grandfather of Hiram S. was one of three Quaker emigrant brothers of that name, who came to this coun- try in the early days and settled in the Massa- chusetts colony, probably driven to this step by the persecution of non-conformists in the
parent country. P21ijah Osborn, the grand- father, was presumably born in Salem, Mass. After learning the trade of a potter, while still a young man, he removed to Louiion, N.H., and settled down on a farm, although he still continued to work at his trade. His re- ligious principles were those acceptetl by his Quaker forefathers. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Green.
Green Osborn, born in Loudon, N. IL, son of Elijah and Margaret (Green) Osborn, after completing his education in the district schools of his native town, began to learn his father's trade of ])Otter. This jjurpose he soon after abandoned, and turned his attention to the cultivation of his father's farm. When about forty years of age, he took up a farm in Pittsfield, N.H., and was thereafter occupied in its cultivation for the remainder of his life. He married Mehitabel Barton, of Pittsfield, and had a family of nine children, eight of whom attained maturity. They were: liliza- beth Ann, now deceased, who married Hiram Walker, of Amesbury, Mass., also deceased; Charles B., deceased; Mary Jane, who married Nathaniel O. Sawyer, of Amesbury, Mass. ; Hiram Sawyer, the subject of this sketch, and the twin brother of Mary Jane; Margaret, who married George O. Harmon, of Haverhill, Mass., and is now a widow; Warren G., resid- ing in Dover, N.H.; Angeline A., who mar- ried Munroe Wiggins, of Haverhill, Mass. ; and David G., now living in Ixochester. Although Green Osborn was a man of a retir- ing disposition, he served in some of the minor town offices.
Hiram Sawyer Osborn received his educa- tion in the public schools of Loudon and Pitts- field, N.H., and of Quincy, Mass. In Quincy, between the school sessions, he was employed by a wealthy quarry owner. After completing his education, he learned the car-
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
pcnter's trade, and thereafter followed it con- tinuously for more than forty years. In the year 1852 he went to California, and pro- spected for gold along the Yuba and Feather Rivers with a fair degree of success. After- ward he engaged in farming for a year and a half in the valley of the San Joaquin River, and worked at his trade for about one year. In 1S61, after returning East, he bought the farm in Rochester, N.H., where he now resides. Although engaged in the cultivation of this farm for a period after, he devoted the larger share of his time and attention to his trade, which developed into the business of a con- tractor and builder. Of late years, however, he has applied himself almost exclusively to agriculture. His farm contains one hundred and twenty acres or more. He makes a spe- cialty of milk, which he ships daily to Boston, Mass. Besides wintering some twenty heatl of cattle, he cuts from forty to fifty tons of hay annually. Intermittently, between 1865 and 1885, Mr. Osborn taught plain and (irnamental penmanship. He is a good penman to-day.
The first of Mr. Osborn 's two marriages was contracted with Nancy Jane Wahh-on, daughter of Benjamin VValdron, of Rochester. By her he became the father of two children, namely: Caroline J., who married George Whiteliouse, of Dover, and is now deceased; and Annie B., who married Oliver M. Vickery, of Rochester. By his second marriage he was imited to Mary E. Ham, of Rochester. She has borne him one daughter, Nellie F., who married John L. Foss, of Dover. In politics Mr. Osborn is a Republican. He enjoys an unusual share of the good will and confidence of the townsfolk, who have elected him to their Board of .Sel(.>ct- men and to other public offices, and who would gladly place him in more important positions, could he spare the needful time from his per- sonal affairs. He is a Mason of Strafford
Lodge, No. 29, of Dover. Taking an earnest interest in the Patrons of Husbandry, he is connected with Cochcco Grange, of which he is a Past Master, with E. N. H. Pomona Grange, the New Hampshire State Grange, and the National Grange. Successful through his industr\' and sterling worth, Mr. Osborn is highh esteemed in Rochester.
^^ /ill IS p.
\XsV^ most em
EMERSON, one of the energetic young business men Alton, was born in this town, November 13, 1866, son of Charles P. and Ellor J. (Jones) Emerson. His grandfather, William Emerson, came to Alton over a hun- dred years ago, and was engaged in trade here for the greater part of his life. William lived to be about eighty-two years old; and his wife, whose maiden name was Susan Rollins, died at the age of eighty-six years. They reared six sons; name!)', Walter G. C, Seth R., Lewis, Charles P., Chester B. , and Smith. Walter was a merchant in West Alton; Seth resided in Alton; Smith was in early life a trader in this town and later station agent in Dover, N.II. All except .Smith married and reared families. Chester B. is the only one now living.
Charles P. Emerson, father of Willis P., was born in Alton, September 16, 1823. When a young man he started a mercantile business at Alton Bay, and afterward for sev- eral years had a large and profitable trade. At a later date he engaged in the manufacture of shooks. Business reverses came upon him sud- denly with disastrous effect; and he died May 30, 1882. He was an upright, conscientious man, and an exceedingly progressive business man, whose enterpiMses were very beneficial to the community; and his untimely death was generally deplored. Politically, he was a
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Republican, and his business ability naturally led him into [imminence in public affairs. He was twice elected a Representative to the legislature, and for over twenty years he was Postmaster of Alton Bay. He married Ellor J. Jones, daughter of James N. Jones, of Al- ton, and became the father of two children, namely: Mary Belle, who died at the age of twenty-one; and Willis P.. the subject of this sketch.
Willis P. limerson acquired a good practical education. But sixteen years old when his father died, his only inheritance was a busi- ness overwhelmingly in debt. The task of liquidating the many claims upon his father's old store was enough to discourage a much older and experienced person. However, the youth went earnestly to work at it, and the result attained will long remain a bright spot in the memory of the townspeople. By the closest attention to business and the exercise of the most rigid economy young Emerson gradually lessened the debts left upon his shoulders, until all the creditors were satisfied in full. The business which he so nobly and perseveringly reclaimed is now in a most flourishing condition. Modestly, but emphat- ically, he declares that his mother's guiding hand did more toward retrieving the fallen fortunes of the family than did his own efforts. Those who were in a position to know, however, do not hesitate to assert that a case has never come within their observa- tion in which a youth without business ex- ])erience displayed so much real energy and iletermination and, above all, such a steadfast adherence to the principles of integrity.
Since entering mercantile life Mr. Emer- son has rapidly advanced in [irosperity, as might be expected from a man of his character and progressive tendencies. He carries on a well-stocked store, receives a large share of
patronage, and is a popular as well as a suc- cessful merchant. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and he served with ability as Postmaster for four years. He is a member of Winnepe- saukee Lodge, No. 75, A. F. & A. M. : and of Cocheco Lodge, No. 28, Knights of Pythias, of Alton.
§OHN F. CLOUTMAN, a leading shoe manufacturer of Strafford County anil an esteemed resident of Farmington, was born in New Durham, this county, De- cember 27, 1831, son of John F. and Patience T. (Edgerly) Cloutman. The family origi- nated with three brothers, who came from Scot- land, and respectively settled in Conway, N.H., Portsmouth, N.H., and Maine. John F. Cloutman, Sr. , was a carpenter by trade, and also followed the occupation of farmer. The early years of his life were spent in New Durham and his last years in Rochester. He married Patience T. Pldgerly in New Durham. Of their nine children, three are living: John F., the subject of this sketch; James A., of Farmington; and Ellen I"., the wife of K. D. Seymour, of Lynn, Mass. The father died in Memphis, Tenn., at the age of forty-seven, of congestion of the brain.
John F. Cloutman received but a limited amount of schooling. After reaching his majority, he took up the sh(3e business, first learning to cut shoes. At the age of twenty- two he set up in business for himself at I'"arm- ington in a small way. This humble begin- ning has since developed into his present l)rosperous business. P'or twent\'-three years, commencing in 1871, he manufactured for Wallace Elliott & Co., of New York, medium grades of children's, women's, and misses' shoes. At the present time he gi\-es employ- ment to about one hundred hands, whose weekl)' pay-roll takes about a thousand dollars;
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and he sells mostly to Boston jobbers. Mr. Cloutman built the factory in which Wallace Elliott & Co. do business at the present time in I'armington. He has been twice married, on the first occasion to Amanda M. Davis, of Alton, who died in 1868, leaving no children. His present wife, whose maiden name was Ella E. Kimball, is a native of Bradford, Mass. They have two children: Nellie A., who is book-keeper for her father; and John V. Cloutman, Jr.
In jiolitics Mr. Cloutman has remained faithful to the Democratic views since his majority. The first office to which he was elected was that of Reiiresentative to the State legislature for the year 1 86 1-62. He was Town Treasurer and Moderator for a number of years, and State Senator for two years, 1876 and 1877. Of the Town Committee, com- posed of J. E. Eernald, Alonzo Nute, and Mr. Cloutman, that built the Opera House, he is the only survivor. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to Eraternal Lodge, E. & A. M. ; Columbian Chapter, R. A. M. ; and Palestine Commandery, K. T., of Rochester. b"or six years he was Master of his lodge. He is also a member of Woodbine Lodge and Mad River lMicam[iment, I. O. O. E. ; and of New Hamp- shire Grange, of which he was Master for one year. The family attended the ]5aptist church.
"ON. SAMUEL l^AILEY SMITH, Mayor of Laconia, and an e.\ -member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in West Newbury, Essex County, Mass., May 11, 1S37, son of Moses and Mary A. (Bailey) Smith. On the father's side he is descended from one of three brothers, who emigrated to this country from England. His parents, who were prosperous farming people of West Newbury, are no longer living. They
reared a family of seven children, two of whom are residing in Dedham, Mass; three in West Newbury, Mass; one in Merrimac, Mass; and Samuel Bailey, the subject of this sketch, in Laconia for the past thirty-four years.
After completing his education at Phillips Andover Academy, Samuel Bailey Smith en- tered on his business career. He was first employed in the cutting-room of a shoe manu- factory. Later he had charge of a dry-goods and clothing store in Lawrence, Mass. In the spring of 1862 he came to Laconia, and formed a partnership with A. G. Eolsom, under the firm name of Eolsom & Smith. This concern carried on the dry -goods and clothing business until 1869, when Mr. Smith bought the interest of his partner, and con- tinued the business at the old quarters in Eol- som Block, but subseciuently leasing the two other stores comprising the remainder of the block. In 1S82 he sold his business to the Lougee Brothers. He has been engaged in the real estate business here since 1875, fre- quently taking an active [lart in securing public improvements. He was a promoter and one of the largest subscribers to the stock of the Laconia Street Railway Company. In 1885 he built the Smith Block, erected a five- tenement block on Beacon Street in 1876, built a three-story business and tenement block at the corner of ]3eacon and Mill Streets in 1887, and in 1S92 enlarged and remodelled the Tucker House, dividing it into seventeen tenements with modern improvements. Prom- inently identified with financial matters for a prolonged period, he has been a Trustee of the Laconia Savings Bank and a Director of the People's Bank since its incorporation.
In June, 1869, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Ada A. Eolsom, youngest daughter of A. G. P^ilsom, of Laconia, and has now one son and two daughters. One of
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the daughters is married : and his son, James S. , is now employed at the People's Bank. In politics Mr. Smith is a I'J.epublican, and has advocated the principles of that party since he became a voter. y\Uhough he has never sought for public office, his business ability and knowledge of finance make him especially competent for the discharge of its duties. When elected a member of the School Board, he declined to serve. He subsequently ac- cepted a seat in the City Council. While in this body he was its Chairman for most of the time, and was Chairman of the Committee on Sewers under the old town government. Seeking to have municipal work carried on as economically as possible, he succeeded in keeping the departments over which he pre- sided within the limit of their respective appropriations. In 1895 he was elected Mayor, and the good results expected of his administration of that office have been fully realized. While a member of the House of Representatives in 1889-90, he served upon the Committees on Banks and Labor; and he was closely connected with the building of the State Normal School in Plymouth.
KORGK ]•:. DURGIN, Clerk of the Supreme Court at Dover, N.H., has .dtl this position for a score of years, and during the time has discharged the duties connected with it with such eminent ability and fidelity as to command the respect and win the confidence of all concerned. He was born May 13, 1 83 1, in the adjacent town of Mad- bury, a son of Walter and Hannah (Woodman) iJurgin.
Walter Durgin was ;i County, born January 30, to farming pursuits, an occupation in which in conjunction with car|)cntering, he was en
native of Strafford 801, and was reared
gaged during his active life. In 1856 he removed to Epping, Rockingham County, pur- chasing a farm on which he spent his declining days. He died September 17, 1881, in his eighty-first year. In politics he was a sound Democrat, clear-headed, capable, an<l always faithful to his trust. He frequently served as ^Moderator of town meetings, was a Selectman several terms, and later was on the Board of County Commissioners. He is remembered as a man of many sterling qualities, who enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. His wife, also a native of this county, lived to the venerable age of fourscore and two years, passing away December 12, 1891. The ]iarental household included five children, all sons, namely: George K., the subject of this biographical sketch: Charles C, who died December 20, 1861 ; John A., who died November 8, 1S84, at Providence, R.I., where he was superintendent of locomo- tive works; Henry S. , who died while in ser- vice during the late Civil War, August 14, 1863, at Cairo, 111.; and Walter Frank, now- living on the old homestead in lapping, N.H. George E. Durgin remained with his parents on the home farm until eighteen years old, obtaining his elementary education in the dis- trict schools. In the shoe business he worked diligently until he had saved one huntlred dol- lars, when he began fitting himself for the position of a teacher, studying at a private school in Lee, N.H. He subsequently taught school winters in the towns of Lee, Madbury, Rochester, and Barringtnn, this State, and West Newbury, Mass., f(U- fifteen years, and worked at farming in the simimers, making his home in Lee, where he was one of the board for examining teachers. During this time Mr. Durgin held different local public offices. In 1871 and 1S72 he served in the State legis- lature; and in 1874, having been appointed
GEORGE E. DURGIN.
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Registrar of Probate of Strafford County, he removed with his family to Dover, where lie has since resided. Two years later Mr. Dur- gin was appointed to his present position, in which he is giving universal satisfaction. He is justly held in esteem by all who know him, lieing a man of strict integrity, and is often called upon to serve in important financial matters. He has probably settled more estates than any other person in the city, and at times has heltl the guardianship of as many as a dozen minors and pensioners at once.
On April i8, 1.S54, Mr. Durgin marrieil Miss I.ydia Ann, d.nighter of iJavid and Hetsey Mathes, of Lee, N.H. Mrs. Durgin was a woman of fine character, deeply imbued with a religious spirit, and an active worker in the Advent Christian Church of Dover, whose house of worship was ei'ected and freed from debt largely through her efforts. .She was noted for her benevolence and generous hos|)i- tality, her house and home being ever open to pieacher ami la\'man, and to the poor and des- titute as well as to those of affluence and influence; and her deatii, which occurred August 5, 1893, was a severe loss t<i her friends and to the community. One who had been acquainted with I.ydia A. Mathes in "her school days, when a pupil of one of the best teachers this country ever knew, Moses A. Cartland, of Walnut Grove School, Lee, N.II.," who was a cousin of the poet Whittier, thus wrote of her: ■■l''iiim him whoiu she so admired she caught her deep sinritual insight and feeling which found its outlet in a formal profession of religious faith in the doctrines of the Advent Christian church at Lee in 1854, the year of her marriage. I'"rom that day until the day of her death she never fal- tered or grew faint in well doing. Her relig- ion was real and aggressi\e. Her thought by day and her dream by night was how best to
serve her Master. Gifted as a school girl with a voice of peculiar power and persuasion, she became gifted in ])i'ayerand hymn; anil for thirty-nine years that voice edified and made strong many fainting, doubting hearts, and cheered and sustained many a discouraged mis- sionary and preacher."
Mr. and Mrs. Durgin had but one child, I'^lla Gertrude, who remains with her father. Politically, Mr. Durgin is an adherent of the Democratic Jiarty, and, religiousl}-, is a firm be- liever in the teachings of the Advent Christian church.
,Mh:R STLPH1':N TILTON, a manu- facturer of hosiery in Tilton, but a resident of Laconia, Belknaj-) Coun- ty, N.H., was born in Laconia, October 11, 1869, son of George IL and Marietta (Rand- lett) Tilton.
His granilfather, Joseph S. Tilton, a worthy representative of one (jf the old familie^s, was a resident of Laconia, where he was one of the originators of the hosiery business, which he carried on successfully for many years. Dur- ing the Civil War he was First Lieutenant, but served as Captain, of Company H, in the Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment, and was wounded at Chancellorsville. He married l^etsy Ham, who lived near Strafford, N.IL; and they had four children. Grandfather 'I'il- ton died in 1879.
George IL Tilton, the father of l':imerS., was formerly in the hosiery business in Laconia. In 1S91 he removed the industry to Tilton, N.IL, where he still manages it with excellent financial returns. He also ser\-ed in the Rebellion, in ComiKiny D, Fourth New Hampshire Regiment. In the engagement before Petersburg, Va., he received a sini- stroke. His wife was a tiaughter of Osgood Randlett, who belonged to one of the oldest
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families in ]5clmoiit, N.II. Mrs. Tilton died when IClnier S., tiicir only child, was but four years of age. Mr. Tilton was a Representa- tive to the legislature during 1891-92.
Klmcr S. Tilton was graduated at the Laconia High School in the class of 1SS7, and has since been associated in business with his father in Tilton. In politics Mr. Tilton affil- iates w-jth the Republican party. He is a member of the Republican City Committee, and is reputed to be one of the hardest party workers in Ward Three. In 1894 he was de- feated in his cantlidacy as a Representative to the legislature by only si.x votes, and in 1896 he was elected to the office. He is also one of the Auditors for Belknap County.
In 1S92 he was united in marriage with Lilian G., a daughter of E. B. Harrington, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer S. Tilton have two sons — Charles Henry and Elmer Har- rington. Fraternally, Mr. Tilton is a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. t,2, V. & A. M. ; Union Royal Arch Chapter, No. 7, Pilgrim Commandery, K. T. : and Mount Bel- kna]3 Lodge, No. 20, K. P. — all of Laconia. He is also a thirty-second degree l\Iason, being a member of Edward A. Raymond Consistory, of Nashua. N.H. He also belongs to Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Boston, Mass.
WILLARD T. SANBORN, the super- intendent of the Dover Water Works, was horn September 26, 1859, at South New Market (now Newfields), Rockingham County, this State. His father, Rufus Sanborn, a native of lipping, N.H., was there reared, and subsequently worked there as a mechanic. Moving to Rockingham County after his marriage, Rufus continued at his former occu]-)ation, and is still residing there, being now about seventy years old. He
married Clara P. Paul, of South New Market, N.H., who died August 23, i860, after having been his faithful and devoted companion for many years. They were the parents of two children — Alice P. and Willard T.
Willard T. .Sanborn, who early showed a natural talent for mechanics, soon after gratlu- ating from the district schools, was sent by his parents to the Institute of Technology in Boston. Here he took a full course in the mechanical department, spending his vaca- tions in a machine shop. On leaving the in- stitute, he served an aiiprenticeshii^ in a machine shop, becoming an efficient machin- ist. Mr. Sanborn then secured a position as fireman on the Boston & Maine Railroad. About a year later, July 24, 1880, he was ap- pointed engineer on the same road, remaining in that capacity until January, 1886. He was then offered, and he accepted, the responsible position of superintendent of the Dover Gas Light Company at Dover, an office which he filled to the utmost satisfaction of the com- pany for seven years. On March i, 1894, he assumed charge of the city water-works of Dover, of which he is still the sujierintendent, his management being strongly characterized by good judgment and skill.
On March 17, 1S86, Mr. Sanborn married Miss limma J. Manson, of Boston, a daughter of John T. and Mary J. (Sawyer) Manson. He is identified with the Republican party, being one of the most ardent advocates of its ]5rincii)les. He was a member of the Common Council in 1890 and 1S91, serving in the latter _\ear as I'resident of the I?oard ; and in 1892 and 1893 he was an Alderman, represent- ing Ward Two. Besides being a Knight of Pythias, he is prominently connected with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the tliirty-second degree, and belongs to the Scot- tish Rite.
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KORGE U. BROWN, M.D., of Gil- manton, where he is :i popiihir and successful physician, is a native of Haverhill, Mass., born April 3, 1.S53. He is a son of Horace and Valeria (Clarke) Brown, and a grandson of Kbenezer Brown. The latter, who was a resident of .Sanhornton, N.H., and carried on farming on a large scale, served as a Major in the War of 18 12, was prominent in the .State militia, represented Sanhornton in the New Hampshire legislature, and served acceptably in some town offices. He married Susan Taylor, who belonged to an old family of Sanhornton, and who l)ore him three children — Jonathan C, Theodocia, and Horace. Theodocia first married Ehen Tay- lor, a merchant, by whom she had two chil- dren — Kate and Eveana. Eveana is now the widow of John P. Piper, and lives in New Hamilton, N.H. Eor her second husband Tlieoilocia married Charles Cawley, a large farmer of Sanhornton, by whom she has had no children. Horace Brown, the third child of his parents, after attending the schools of .San- hornton and New Hampton, went into a mer- cantile business on his own account. Subse- quently he kept the American House in Haver- hill, Mass., for many years. Erom Haverhill he went to Boston, and there continued in tlie hotel business for some time longer. Tlien he returned to the homestead in Sanhornton, and engaged in farming. His wife, Valeria M., was a daughter of Archibald S. Clarke, a mer- chant of Sanhornton. They had two children — Ella A. and George H. Ella married Jere- miah L. h'ogg, who is engaged in the meat business in Manchester, N.H.
George H. Brown was, like his sister, a student of Tilton Seminary. After leaving school he engaged in the meat business in Bel- mont. Later he drove a stage between Gilman- ton and Tilton for two years, and then con-
ducted a grocery store for an equal length of time. Influenced by his association witli Dr. Wiglit, of Gilmanton, whose friendshii) he had acquired, he gave up trade, and turned his attention to the study of medicine. After spending four years under Dr. Wight's tui- tion, he took a three years' course of medical lectures at Vermont University in ]5urlington, and there received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1882. Thereupon he entered upon his profession in association with Dr. Wiglit, and quickly made his way in the esteem of the public. Upon the latter's death Dr. Brown assumed entire charge of the prac- tice, whicli covers a circuit of some six miles around the village of Gilmanton. Much in- terested in horses, the Doctor acquired posses- sion of one which he recently sold for fifteen hundred dollars. He takes quite an active part in town affairs. He served as Town Clerk for three years, and was legislative Rep- resentative for two terms.
On December 31, 1889, Dr. Brown married Miss Henrietta Orange, of Gilmanton. Her father, Henry S. Orange, a retired merchant of Gilmanton, had an extensive business in Lowell, Mass., for many years, and was a mem])er of the city government. Dr. and Jilrs. ISrown have one child, George Clinton, now two years old.
§AMES EL1]RI1)GP: LOTHROP, of Dover, N.H., is the head of the well- known family of Lothrops, whose senior members are leading business men in New Hampshire and in Boston, Mass. He was born November 30, 1S26, in Rochester, Straf- ford County, N.H., son of Daniel and Sophia (Home) Lothrop.
The family history has been traced back to John Lowthorpe, of whom little more is known
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than that about the middle of the sixteenth century he lived in T.owthnrpe, Yorkshire, luigland. It is assumed that he derived his name, which signifies low field, from that of tlie town, in accordance with the practice of the time of distinguishing individuals by their paternity, birthplace, occupation, or some local feature associated with them. His son Thomas is known to have resided in Bur- ton Cherry and subsequently in Elton, and to have had two sons, John and Mark, who are believed to have been natives of the latter place. John, who was a minister of religion, after laboring at his sacred calling in I'^gerton, County Kent, for some time, became a non- conformist, and subsequently was pastor of the Separatist church established in South wark, London. At a later date, after suffering im- prisonment for his religious opinions, the Rev. John Lothrop and his brother Mark came in the ship "Griffin "" to this country; and he was ]iastor of the I'"irst Church in Scituate, Mass., in 1634, and of the First Church in Barnstable in 1639.
After residing for short periods in Salem and Du.xbury, Mark settled permanently in Bridgewater, Mass., where he died in 16S6. 11 is son, Samuel Lothrop, a native of ]]ridge- water, married Sarah Downer, who had by him a son Mark, also a native of that place, born September 9, 1689. This Mark, who was one of the first settlers of Easton, Mass., and died there in i///, married March 29, 1722, Hannah Alden, a daughter of Deacon Jose])h Alden, of Bridgewater, and a great- grand-daughter of John Alden, who came in the "Mayflower." Their son Jonathan, who was born in Bridgewater, March 11, 1723, and died in 1771, married on April 13, 1746, Susanna, a daughter of Solomon and Susanna (Ivdson) Johnson, of Bridgewater. Jonathan's son Solomon, the grandfather of the subject of
this sketch, born in Easton, February 9, 1761, was for some time a resident of Norton, ;\Iass., where he died October 19, 1843. His wife, Mehitable, was a daughter of Cornelius White, of Taunton, Mass.
Daniel Lothrop, son of Solomon and Mehit- able Lothrop, was born in Easton, Mass., Jan- uary 9, 1801. In 1827 he removed to Roches- ter, N.H., and there bought a farm situated on Haven's Hill. At first he worked at his trade of stone mason. Subsequently he joined his sons in a clothing business in Dover, with branch houses in Rochester and Great l<"alls, Luider the firm name of Daniel Lothrop & Sons. He was much respected in Rochester, where he took a prominent part in public affairs. He was twice married. His first marriage was contracted October 16, 1825, with Sophia Home, daughter of Deacon Jeremiah Ilorne, of Rochester. She was a descendant of Will- iam Home, who was one of the settlers of Dover in 1662, and who met his tleath in the massacre of June 2S, 1689. Home's Hill, the estate left by him, is still in the posses- sion of the family. Another of Sophia's an- cestors was the Rev. Joseph Hull, a graduate of Cambridge University, England, who in \f>62 took up his residence in Durham, N.H. ]iy his second marriage, which took place Sep- tember 24, 1849, Daniel Lothrop was united to Mary F.. Chamberlin. His children by both wives were: James l-^lbridge, the subject of this article; John Colby, born September 12, 1828: Daniel, born August 11, 1831; Matthew Henry, born January i, 1851; and Mary Sophia, born August 15, 1S53. The parents were members of the Methodist church. The father died May 31, 1S70.
James lilbridge. Lothro)^ spent the first fif- teen years of his life on the Haven's Hill farm in Rochester. His early education was ac- (|uired by attending the district school in win-
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ter. In the summer he was usually employed on the farm. On the frequent occasions that Daniel Lothnip was obliged to be absent from home in the pursuit of his calling, the superin- tendence of the farm work was intrusted to James E. , as the eldest son. Among the duties that devolved on him in this way at the age of ten was that of taking loads of wood to Dover and making sale of them in the market- place. Having finished with the district school, he attended the Rochester and Straf- ford Academies for a short time. At the age of sixteen he taught for brief periods suc- cessively in a winter school and a [irivate school in Rochester.
In the following year, abandoning his pur- pose of inu'suing a collegiate course, he went to Fall River, Mass., where his uncle, Jere- miah Home, besides attending to a lucrative medical practice, conducted a flourishing drug store. Here, learning the drug business under his uncle's instruction, Mr. Lothrop jjassed two years, in the course of which he also began to read medicine. Early in 1845 he went home to Rochester; and in the autumn, upon a capital of three hundred dol- lars borrowed from his father, he opened a drug store in Dover. A year later he gave it in charge to his brother, in order to be able to pursue his medical studies. He subse- quently attended the winter lectures at Jeffer- .son Medical College, Philadelphia, and ob- tained his medical ilegree from that institution in 1848. His plan was to follow Mr. Horne'.s e.xample by uniting the practice of medicine to the dispensing of drugs. This he found impracticable soon after his return to Roches- ter, wliereupon he tlevoted himself exclusively to the management of his store.
At this time he took his brother Daniel into partnership, and they adopted as the firm name D. Lothrop & Co. The next important
event in this firm's history was the oiiening of another drug store in New Market, N.H., under the management of Daniel. Shuitly after, a third brother, John C, was taken into the firm, and sent to New Market to learn the business. Other stores were then established in Great Falls, Meredith Village, and Ames- bury. When John C^ was duly qualified, he was placed in charge of the store in Great Falls. Subsequently the stores in New Mar- ket, Meredith, and Amesbury were disposed of; and the firm made a new departure by opening a clothing house in Great Falls. 'Lhis venture proved so nuich niore profitable than the drug store in the same town tliat the latter was abandoned in order that John C. might give the former his whole attention. The establishment in Dover, however, had been so successful that the firm were encour- aged to open another there. This was con- ducted solely by clerks until 1866, when it was sold. At the original store further help in the management became necessary; and a half-interest was disposed of to Alonzo T. Pinkham, after which the place was conducted under the style of Lothrops & Pinkham.
Later, taking their father into partneiship, the brothers formed the firm Daniel Lothrop & Sons, who thereupon opened a clothing house in Dover and branches in Rochester and Great Falls. After the death of Daniel Lothrop, Sr., Matthew Henry Lothrop, who had been employed as a salesman by the firm, bought an interest in the clothing business here, and was in charge of it until 18S0, wdien he went to Boston. Charles H. Farnham was then admitted as a partner; and the firm name became Lothrt)ps, Farnham & Co. Some time before, musical instruments had been added to the stock in trade. The business of the house has since increased to dimensions scarcely equalled in New lingland.
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In 1.S50 D. Lothroi) & Co. first engaged in the business of booksellers by purehasing the stoek of Jilijah Wadleigh, of Dover. Having carried it on with retail and jobbing depart- ments, and pulilishing now and again for some time, they decided to enter a wider field. For til is [unpose the business was removed to Bos- :on. Here their first store was located on Cornhill. In February, 1876, the Cornhill stand was abandoned for one on Franklin Street, which in turn was forsaken for one on Washington Street. In 1S90 the publishing firm was organized as a corporation, under the st\le of the D. Lothrop Comixin\-. Their advent in the wider field justified their most sanguine anticipations. As publishers they acquired a national reputation, and they prob- ably became known wherever the Itnglish lan- guage was spoken. They were especially suc- cessful with books and other ])ublications for the \'oung, for whom they employed some of the most accomplished pens and the deftest pencils. Their periodicals — Babyland, Pansy, LUtlc Mai ami Women, and Wide Awake — attained a unique degree of excellence. All this was chiefly due to the business sagacity of Daniel Lothrop.
The financial management of the main firm, as well as the exclusive direction of the Dover establishments, remained from the beginning in the hands of James Elbridge Lothrop. After the death of his brother, Daniel Lothrop, in 1892, he purchased the entire property of D. Lothrop & Co. in New Hampshire, but subsequently soUl that part of it located in Great Falls to his brother John C. Lothrop. The publishing house he carried on conjointly with Mrs. Daniel Lothrop for two years longer, and then became convinced that the magnitude of his interests, together with his advancing years, demanded a change. Accordingly, with tlie consent uf his late brother's wife and John
C. Lothrop, he organized the Lothrop Publish- ing Company, as successors to the D. Lothnjp Com})any, but bound to carry on the business upon the princii:)les and iilans of the original founders of the house. At the same time he withdrew from the management, and has since devoted himself to the care of his various establishments in New Hampshire. Regard- ing his other business connections it will suffice to mention that James E. Lothrop was chosen Director of the Cocheco National Bank in 185S, Vice-President in 1873, and has been its President since 1876: he was made a Director of the Cocheco Aqueduct Association in 1S71, the clerk of the association in 1872, and the President in 1875; and that he has been a Director of the Portsmouth & Dover Railroad, of the Eliab Bridge Company, of the Dover Street Railroad Company, and the Pres- ident respectively of the Dover Board of Trade and the Dover Improvement Association.
In 1852, September 29, Mr. Lothrop was united in matrimony with Mary E. Morrill, a daughter of Joseph Morrill, of Amesbury, Mass. Mr. Morrill, who was interested in the Cocheco Manufacturing Company of Dover, in the course of time acquired a large amount of
! real estate, the care of which became his prin- cipal occupation in his later years. Mr. Lothrop has been a teacher in the Methodist Sunday-school over forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Lothrop are members of the Methodist church. In politics he supports the Republicm party. In 1872 Mr. Lothrop represented Dover in the State legislature, and in 1S82 and 1S83 he was Mayor of the city. The origin of the Dover public library was largely due to his persever- ing efforts. Devotion to the public welfare has been a characteristic of Mr. Lothrop in his private capacity as well as in his official life. He has been prominent in all movements de-
1 signed for the moral elevation or material good
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of the community in wiiicli he has resided. Eminently successful in business without de- scendini; to ignoble means, and doin-j,' l;()0(1 (jn the way as the occasion served, Mr. Lothrop retiects hi-h credit iii)on the business men of New luigland.
DWIN GEORGE MORRISON, of the firm O. & E. Morrison, manufact- -ers of woollen goods in Northfield, N.H., w^as born in that town, November 2, 1S62, son of Byron K. ami Hannah (Munsey) Morrison. His great-grandfather. I-:benezer Morrison, a native of Northfield, followed the trade of a tanner and currier in addition to farming.
Thomas L. Morrison, the grandfather, was born in Northfield, December 27, 1S13. He followed his father's trade for several years, and then purchased a farm in his native town, where he became a successful general farmer and stock-raiser, and still resides. In politics he is a Republican. He married Susan Capen, and has had five children, namely: Byron K., who is no longer living; George P.; Mary; Nellie Susan; and Obadiah G. Nellie Susan married George F. Chase, of Northfield. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Mor- rison are members of the Congregational church. Byron K. Morrison, born in North- field in 1840, learned the tanner's and cur- rier's trade, and subsequently worked at it until the outbreak of the Rebellion, when he enlisted as a private in Company G, Twelfth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers. He contracted typhoid fever while in service, re- turned to Gilford, N.II., and died of a relapse soon after. He married Hannah Mun.sey, daughter of George W. Munsey, of Gilford; and Edwin G., the subject of this sketch, is the only child of the marriage.
Edwin George Morri when his father died, w maternal grandparents nuireil a district-school
nit ten months n\d rought up by his Gilford. He ac- cation, and at the
age of fourteen began work in Richard l''irth's woollen-mill, of which he is now part [iroprie- tor. After spending a year and a half in the finishing-room, he received charge of the same department of another mill of Mr. l-'irth's in Ashland, N.H., where he had been employed for five years when his health became im- paired. He was ne.xt employed in a wdiolesale paper store in Washington, D.C., for a year; and in June, 1886, he went to Los Angeles, Cal., where he stayetl until the following March. L'pon his return to New Hampshire he formed a partnership with his uncle, under the firm name of O. & E. Morrison, for the purpose of carrying on the woollen manufact- uring business. They bought a shoddy-mill in Northfield, and have prosperously conducted it since. They employ ninety hands. The mill and their woollen looms have been run- ning night antl day for the past two years in filling their orders. Their goods find a market principally in the West.
On February 25, i8gi, Mr. Morrison was united in marriage with Carrie B. Glines, daughter of James and Abigail (Chajinian) Glines. Having had no children born to them; Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are bringing up Gladys Belle Healey, a daughter of Mrs. Mor- rison's deceased sister.
Mr. Morrison is actively interested in pub- lic affairs. In 1896 the Republicans elected him legislative Representative of Tilton, where he resides. On that occasion he polled the largest vote ever thrown for a legislative candidate in Tilton, receiving a majority of one hundred and si.xty-eight, although Tilton is a Democratic town. He was made a Mason in Ashland, and is a Past Master of the lodge
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in that town. At the present time he is Wor- shipful Master of Doric Lodge and a member of St. Omer Ciiaiiter in Franklin. He is also connected with Clark Camp, Sons of Veterans, and is a charter member of Mount Belknap Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both he and Mr.s. Morrison attend the Con- gretrational church.
.B1-:RT V. SICAVICV, the junior mem- ber of the enterprising firm of J. Frank .Seavey & Co., clothing deal- ers of Dover, and well deserving the high regard generally accortled him in the city, was born December 29, 1843, in the town of Roch- ester, this county, son of Samuel F. and Eliza K. (Ham) -Seavey, both of whom were lifelong residents of that place. A fuller ancestral history will be found on another page, in the sketch of J. Frank Seavey.
Albert I'. Seavey was reared on the old homestead in his native town, receiving his education in the old Rochester Academy. During his youthful days, when not busy at his studies, he assistctl in the daily labors of the farm. Subsequently, not finding these occupations congenial to his tastes, he sought other employment. Coming to Dover when a youth of eighteen summers, he secured work in a shoe factory, where he remained four years. At the expiration of that time he and his brother, J. Frank Seavey, united their forces and funds, and established their present business. They have an extensive and lucra- tive trade in clothing of all kinds, under the s]3ecial management of the younger brother; and their store is one of the largest of its class in Dover. Mr. Seavey is likewise connected with the firm of Charles H. Seavey & Co., prominent lumber manufacturers and dealers of this city. A man of excellent judgment
and tact, Mr. Seavey has met with eminent success in his career, ami holds a high rank among the substantial men of Dover anil vicinity.
On July 31, 1S83, Mr. Seavey married Miss Marietta I<"ogg, a daughter of Charles F. and Rebecca F. (Webster) Fogg, of this city. The union has been blessed by the birth of five children — Alice F., Marion W., Harry L., Helen Grace, and Catherine. Politically, Mr. .Seavey is a stanch advocate of the princi- jdes of the Democratic party; and he has taken a prominent part in local affairs. In 1874 and 1875 he was a member of the Common C<juncil from Ward Two, he represented the same dis- trict in the State legislature throughout the succeeding two years, and in 1874 he served as a member of the staff of Governor James A. Weston. An active and influential w-orker in Masonic circles, he has taken the thirty-second degree of the order. He is also a member of Olive Branch Lodge, No. 6, K. of P., Uniform Rank; of the Knights of Honor; and of the Improved Order of Red Men. Religiously, he is not connected with any organized body, while he is a regular attendant of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member.
RTHUR H. LAMPREY, a successful farmer and prominent resident of Bel- mont, was born where he now re- sides, November 15, 1841, son of Asa and Deborah (Sanborn) Lamprey. The farm which Mr. Lamprey owns and occupies was purchased by his father in 1S28. Asa Lam- prey, who was an upright, conscientious man and a useful citizen, gained the sincere esteem of his fellow-townsmen by his personal virtues and his valuable public services, and died July 31, 1850. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen for a number of years, represented
JAMES P. OSBORNE.
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
this tdwii in tlic lcL;i,sIaturc, ami in politics supported the Democratic party. His wife, Deborah, whom he married November 25, 1830, was a daughter of Jonathan Sanborn, a prosperous farmer of Gilmanton. Ancestors of the Sanborn family were among the first settlers in this section. Mr. and Mrs. Asa Lamprey were the parents of ten children; namely, Alfred A., limily A,, l-'rances AI., George H., Laura O., Arthur 1 1., Sarah A., Mary K., Clara M., and Juliet A. Alfred A., who was for a number of years in the grocery business in Lawrence, Mass., is now Manager and Treasurer of the Lawrence Lumber Com- pany. He wedded Matilda A. Gamble, of Linneus, Me., and has had five children — Frances Kate, Alfred Edwin, Lelia Matilda, Alice l<:ila, and Clara May. Clara May died young. Emily A. Lamprey is the wife of J. W. Rice, the President of the United States Gutta-percha I'aiiU Company of Provi- dence, R.L, ami has two children. Frances M. Lamprey married .Samuel N. Weston, a reeil manufacturer of p^itchburg, Mass. George H. Lamprey servetl in Company K, I^urteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teers, during the Civil War, reaching the rank of Cajitain. He was in the grocery business in Litchfield, Mass., for several years, and died in Laconia, N.IL, in 1881. By his wife, Adeline L. (h'arrar) Lamprey, a native of Belmont, he became the father of five children — Clarence I'i., Howard A., Christina, Lillian A., and ]•:. Gertrude. Laura O. Lamprey in 1871 married A. \V. Kimball, of Lawrence, Mass., and died in 1874. Sarah A. died in Providence in 1874. Mary K. is a book-keeper for the United States Gutta-jiercha Paint Company, Provi- dence, R.L Clara M., after teaching school for some years in Laconia and Belmont, be- came the wife of Benjamin W. Gallup, who is
in the brokerage and insurance business in Providence, and has six children. Juliet A. Lamprey is em|3loyed as a book-keeper " in Providence, R.L Mrs. Asa Lamprey died October 29, 18S0.
Arthur H. Lamprey acquired a good practi- cal education. Owing to the death of his father, he was compelled to take charge of. the farm at an early age. After his majority he bought the interests of the other heirs, and by making additions to the property now owns two huntlred and twenty-five acres of excellent land. He has made various imjirovements in the buildings, considerably enhancing the value of his farm. He raises the usual crops, while making a specialty of the milk business.
On November 15, 1866, Mr. Lamprey was united in marriage with PZmma James, daugh- ter of Annis C. James, of Gilford, N.H. She has had six children, as follows: Nellie Bird, who died aged one year; liva Emma; Carleton A.; Laura B. ; Leonard A.; and Sarah K. Eva Emma, who graduated from the Laconia High School, having stood high in her class, taught school until August, 1S96, when she resigned. Carleton A. was educated at the New Hampshire Literary Institute, and is now in the milk business with his father. Mrs. Lamprey died December 5, 1895. Mr. Lam- prey is a member of the Second Free Baptist Church, and is at present acting as clerk. Always temperate in his own habits, he is a strong advocate of prohibition. His activity in religious and other matters related to the general good of the community places him among the leading citizens of Belmont.
YAMES PRESCOTT OSBORNE, M.D., I formerly a prominent physician of Til- * ton, was born in Piermont, N. H., June 1833, son of Cyrus and Sally C. (Thrasher)
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
His latlK
Ush(
N.ll., anil was re
mont. He follow
on the honiestcail, whicl
died in I'icrmont. Hi;
a native of Camli.i, beea
was a native of Candia, 1 and edneated in I'ier- lie oeenpation of farmer
fe, Sally, who was the mother of four
children, three of whom attained maturity. These were: James 1'., the subject of this sketch; Adelbert, a resident of Bradford, Vt. : and Adelaide Sarah, who married William Hibbard, of Piermont. Hoth parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the father was the steward of the society for many years.
James Prescott Osborne acquired his early education in the coaimon schools and at the seminary in Newbury, Vt. He read medicine with Dr. Watkins, of Newbury, and Dr. I'Vench, of Warren, N.I I., and was graduated from Dartmouth College with the class of 1S55. While pursuing his studies he taught scho<d in Piermont, Haverhill, and other towns. His medical practice was commenced in 1-Vlchville, Vt., where he resided for nearly ten yeais. and acquired a good business. Not content, however, became to Tilton in Novem- ber, 1S64, and subsequently was associated with Dr. H. Lyford for some time. Afterward he worked at his profession alone, having calls from all the neighboring towns, and for some years keeping an office in Franklin, which he visited daily. It is said that he was never known to refuse a call for his services on ac- count of the poverty of the patient, and many have good cause to remember his kind and charitable dis])osition. He was regarded as one of the leading physicians in this part of the State, and he was much sought for in cases where consultation was deemed necessary. He invested to some extent in business enter- prises, having been one of the incorporators of the Tilton Hosiery Com|)any ; and he was its
town Ucto
.■t t(
'resident until his decease. His upri-ht haracter, integrity, and genial bearing :ained for him the resiiect of his fellow- and his death, which occurred 1895, was the cause of sincere 1. In politics he was a Republi- can. Though tleeply interested in public affairs, he never aspired to office. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On March 18, 1855, I^''- Osborne was united in marriage with Sarah P. .Stanyan, daughter of Newell Stanyan of Wentwcn'th, N.H. Mrs. Osborne's grandfather, Jonathan Stanyan, born in 1770, died in 1805. His wife, in maidenhood Martha Hook, was born in 17G8. Newell Stanyan, Mrs. Osborne's father, was born in Chichester, N.H., March 30, 1798. After marriage he moved to a farm in Wentworth, where he followed the carpen- ter's trade and farming, and died October 9, 1 88 1. He married Hannah H. Drake, who became tlie mother of eight children, seven of whom grew uj): namely, Jonathan, David, Newell, John, Martha, James, and Sarah P. Of these Sarah P., now Mv.-i. Osborne, is the only survivor. Mrs. Newell Stanyan died December 15, 1875. Mrs. Osborne is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. She has had one daughter, Flora G., born in 1S63, who was a graduate of the New Hampshire Conference Seminary and Female College, and died in 1S88.
(S>rUGUSTUS I f^A ness man d /Jl\^ Laconia.
DOF was a successful busi-
I a i)rominent citizen of
He was born here, June
I, 180S. Being left fatherless at a tender
age, young Doe was bound out to James Hoyt,
of Gilford. In early boyhood he displayed
I the same thoughtful antl ambitious nature
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
which cliaracteTizetl his career in after life. I'oiiitinj;- uiie clay to a strip of land lyini; be- tween the lake and the Meredith highway, he told his young companions that he would own it some time: and his assertion ]3roved correct. lie remained with Mr. Iloyt in Gil- ford until released at the expiration of the stipulated time. Then he went to l^oston, and resided there f(ir some time. When the project of dredging the channel at the outlet of the lake was init into operation, he returned to Laconia, and was employed as a foreman on the work until it was completed. .Subsequent to his marriage he resided with his father-in- law, lilliott Blaisdell, whom he assisted in carrying on the farm. This property, which fell to his wife after her father's death, in course of time was increased by Mr. Doe to about three times its former size. Besides carrying on the farm, he established and con- ducted a brick-yard, engaged in handling real estate, and was one of the most energetic business men this city has ever known. fie was one of the first men in this section to champion the Abolition cause. As an active supiiorter of the Republican party from the time of its formation, he served as a Select- man for a number of years, anil acceptably represented the town in the State legislature for a period. Able in argument and well in- formed in most topics of interest, but es- pecially in finance, he frequently worsted some of the best debaters in Laconia. He was a lover of truth and justice, espoused the cause of morality whenever opportunity permitted, was a generous contributor to all worthy charities and a strict observer of the Sabbath. His influence in the community was most beneficial; and his death, which occurred August i, 1887, when he was over seventy-nine years old, was keenly regretted by his neighbors.
Mr. Doe married Mahala, daughter of IClliott Blaisdell, a well-known resident of Laconia. She became the mother of three children — Morrill B., Lydia E., and Eliza. Morrill ]5. , who met with an accident which necessitated the amputation of a leg, died from the effects of that operation, December 25, 1882, aged forty-eight years, leaving two children. Ik- was a member of Meredith Lodge, I. O. O. V. Lydia E. and Eliza were graduated from the New Hampshire Conference Seminary. Lydia ]•:., who married the late O. P. Warner, then a woollen manufacturer of Ashland, N.H., resides at the homestead. Eliza married William J. Morrison, who is now managing the business formerly carried on by the late Mr. Doe. Mr. Morrison, born in Plymouth, N.H., September 29, 1846, was educated in the district schools of Plymouth, and at the age of eighteen began life as a farmer. After nine years spent in the employment of Augus- tus Doe, he became a brakeman on the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad. P'rom this position he worked his way forward to that of passenger conductor, in which capacity he served for four years. Pie resigned in 18S2 on account of the extreme old age of his father-in-law and the untimely death of the latter's son, and took charge of the farm and brick business. The property contains four hundred acres of land. Mr. Morrison makes a specialty of the milk business. Politically, he is a Republican. lie was elected to the first City Council of Laconia, in which body he served for three years.
§AMES L. TWOMBLY, a prosperous farmer of Milton, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born June 28, 1840, in the house where he now resides, son of Lewis B. and Jane (Lord) Twombly. His great-
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
grandfather, James Twonibly, was one of the first settlers of I'armin<;t()n, N.H. Mis grandfather, James Twombly (second), came to Milton when the town was in its infancy.
Lewis 15. Twombly, father of James 1.., was born in Farmington, and accom]ianied his parents to Milton when he was two years old. When a young man he learned the stone cut- ters' trade, which he followed in Boston for ten years. While there he helped to build the wall around Deer Island. From Boston he returned to this town, where he spent the rest of his life in tilling the soil. The house he occupied, which is now ownetl by his son, is one of the oldest in Milton, and was originally the property of Lieutenant I'llijah Horn. In an ujiper room, which was then unfinished, were held the first town meetings of Milton; and for some years it was customary for the people of the North-east Parish to hold relig- ious services here on Suntla^s. Here old Par- son Hasy, of Lebanon, and Parson Haven, of Newbury Plains, delivered eloquent discourses on the Word, and taught the way to salvation. The children of the settlers and the early con- verts were baptized in this room. Lewis B. Twombly died March ii, 1S92, aged eighty- four years, five months, and four days. He married Jane Ford, a native of Berwick, Me., and by her became the father of four children, of whom the only survivor is James L., the subject of this sketch.
James L. Twombly grew to manhood as a farmer, and his education was accjuired in the comm')n schools. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Third Regiment, New Hamp- shire Volunteer Infantry, which was attacheil to Terry's Division, Tenth Army Corps. He served for thirty-seven months in the Civil War, successively in the capacities of private and Corporal. He survived the dangers of several notable battles in the X'irginia cam-
paign, including those of the Wilderness, I'"ort Wagner, and Drewry's Bluff; and he was discharged in August, 1864. After his return from the army he settled upon the home farm, which is situated upon the main ro.ul leading from Miltun to Milton Mills; and there he has been engaged in general farming since. In politics he acts with the Democratic party, but has never aspired to public office.
Mr. Twombly married Lizzie A. Downs, a daughter of Otis P. and Rebecca (Jenkins) Downs, of Farmington. He is a member of Miltonia Lodge, I. O. O. I*". ; and a comrade of Post Fli Wentworth, No. S^j, G. A. R., of this town. Both he and Mrs. Twombly attend the Consiretrational church.
DWIN H. SHANNON, a prominent wyer of Laconia, was born in Gilman- ton, N.H., :\Iarch ,S, 185S, son of James C. and Judith Webster (Ibtchelder) Shainion. The Shannon family were among the early settlers of Portsmouth. George Shannon, grandfather of Fdwin H., was a native of Portsmouth, and a su[)[iorter of the Democratic party. When a young man he settled in Gilmanton, where he spent the rest of his life uiion a farm ; and he died at the age of eighty years. He married Sally Tibbetts, a native of Alton, N.H., and was the father of nine children; namely, Ira, Stephen, George,' I'^phraim, Nathaniel, James C, John, Charles, and Ann Charles died young.
James C. .Shannon, who was born in Gil- manton, and is one of the best-known residents of that town, s|)ent the active period of hi.s life in agricultural pursuits. Although he is now seventy-four years old, he is still active. His wife, Judith, was born in Loudon, Merri- mack County, and is a relative of the famous American statesman, Daniel Webster. She
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
has had four children, as follows: Frank K. Shannon, M.D., a successful physician and a schiilar "f unusual ability, who died in Gil- nianton at the age of thirty-seven years; Edwin II., the subject of this sketch; Mary 15., whose death occurred on the same night as that of her brother I-'raiik ; and Harry, who resides with his jiarents on the home farm. The nidther is in.w sixty-two years (dd.
Edwin II. .Shannon aci|uiied his early edu- cation in the cimimon schools and at the Gil- maiitdU Academy. He studied law with Thomas Cngstell, of Gilmanton, who is now- United States Pension Agent at Cmcord ; and he was admitted to the bar in June, iSS'o. He was for a time associated with Mr. Cog- stell as a [jartner, after which he practised alone until entering into partnership with \V. S. Peaslec. At a later date this firm became Shannon, Peaslee & Blackstone. Mr. Shannon is now conducting a large and indfit- able general law business in Eaconia. He is especially noted fur his cnnnection with several inijiortant and ably contested trials, including that of defendant's counsel in many criminal cases in Strafford, Belknap, and Merrimack Counties. As an advocate he holds a high rank, while he is second to none in his knowledge of the law.
In October, [ScSj, Mr. Shannon was uuiteil in marriage with Myra K. , daughtei' (if Ira E. Ik'rry, of Harnstead, N.IE, ami nnw has two children — IClla C. and Mildred. Although his immediate relatives, like his ancestors, are Demcicrats, Mr. Shannon prefers to act with the Republican party. He is not, however, a politician, choosing to devote his time almost entirely to his law practice. He is connected with Mount Belknap Lodge, No. 20, Knights of Pythias. His religious convictions are those of the People's Christian Church, which he serves as President of its Hoard ot Directors.
IIAREES W. BICKEORD, Post- master at Rochester, was born in this town, January 20, 1.S43, son of John and Hannah M. (Uemeritt) l^ickford. Ele is a descendant of John Bickford, who emigrated from Sussex, luigland, about the year 1700, and was a prime nin\-er in organizing the town of Rochester in 1722. John ]?ickford, Charles W. J5ickford's father, wdio is a native of this town, has spent tlie active jieriod of his life in tilling the soil. An able and industrious farmer and a useful citizen, he served as a member of the 15oard of Selectmen in Roches- ter previous to its incorporation as a city. He is still residing here, and is now eighty-two years old. His wife, Hannah M., a native of Earmington, N.IE, who was of pjiglish de- scent and a representative of an old and highly reputable family of Strafford County, lived to be seventy-three years old.
After attending the common and high schools of Rochester fur the custumarv [leridd, Charles W. Pdckfor.l cmpleted his studies at the academy in Wnlfborn, N.H. When twenty-one years old he went to New York City, where he Ijccame an employee at the LInion Place Hotel, now the Morton House. There he obtained his first knowledge of the hotel business, which he was destined to foE hnv as his principal occupation up td 1894. After leaving the mctidixilis he returned to Rnchester, and was engaged in the grocery business until the store was dcstniyed by fire in 1S71. He then resumed his connection with the hotel business, every branch of which he learned by a varied experience of twenty- five years. hi this period he acquired the reputation of one of the finest stewards in this country. He has filled responsible jjositions at the I'^vans House, Coolidge House, Lfnited States Hotel, and Boston Tavern, of Boston, Mass.; at Clifford House, Plymouth, Mass.;
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Ocean View Hotel, Block Island; and the Narragansett Hotel of Providence, R. I. ; the Fort William Henry Hotel, at Lake George; Willard's Hotel, Washington, D.C. ; the Mag- iKdia Hotel, Magnolia Springs, P'la. ; the Hntel Champlain, Clinton County, New York; and he was for four years connectetl with the Hotel Ponce-de-Leon, St. Augustine, Fla., one of the largest houses in the L'nited States. In May, 1894, having returned to this city at the urgent request of his numerous friends in Rochester, through their combined efforts he was appointed Postmaster by President Cleve- land.
On May 28, i8r),S, Mr. Hickford was united in marriage with Louise Henderson, a daugh- ter of Charles Henderson, of this city. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1870 and 1871 he served as Town Clerk; and in 1895 he was elected to the City Council from Ward Five. In Masonry he has advanced to the Knights Templar degree, and is a member of Palestine Cnmmandery. He is also connected with the Hotel Mutual Benefit Association. As a member of the St. Bernard Club of America and a great lover of dogs, he has given consid- erable attention to the breeding of these ani- mals, and was awarded both regular and special prizes for exhibits at the Boston Dog Show. Mr. ]?ickford is a member of the Unity Church.
lOLOXEL GEORGE A. SANDERS
is one of the foremost men of Laconia, prominent in business, political, and social circles. He was born at Laconia, then called Meredith Bridge, December 10, 1846. His parents, Samuel W. and Serena (Ranlet) Sander.s, were natives of the Granite State, born respectively in the towns of Mason and Ossijaee. His great-grandfather, Isaiah Sanders, was one of the New Hampshire
patriots who fought under Colonel Stark at Bennington, and lived to see the young repub- lic develop into a powerful nation, dying at the age of eighty. Joseph Sanders, the grand- father, who was a cabinet-maker and a farmer of Mason, married Sarah Mansur, and had a family of six children, three of whom are living.
Samuel W. Sanders, born in Mason, learned the tinsmith's trade, and established a hard- ware store in Laconia, which he managed from 1840 to 1887. A man of enterprise and strong character, he took a leading part in the finan- cial and political life of the town. He was one of the founders of the Laconia Savings Bank and a member of its Board of Trustees from 1SG8 up to the time of his death. He was Selectman of Meredith, was one of the prime movers in setting off the town of La- conia, and was Chairman of its first Board of Selectmen. In 1S61 he was ajipoiiited Post- master of Laconia by President Lincoln, but did not receive his commission. He was sub- sequently first Associate Justice of the Laconia Police Court, serving until disqualified by age. He died January 16, 1892, aged seventy-three years. By his wife, who has also passed away, he was the father of three children, all of wdiom are living.
George A. Sanders received his education in the schools of his native town and at Gilford and New Ipswich Academies. He was after- ward employed in his father's store for a year, and then engaged as book-keeper with Priest & Marden, of l^oston. On severing his con- nection with this firm he entered the employ of Bassett, French & Co., the founders of the far-famed Boston crockery house now con- ducted by Abram French & Co., and was travelling salesman for the house some twenty- one years. On January r, 1887, he purchased his father's stove store in Laconia. Since
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
then he has so enlarged the business that three times tlie original number of employees are now kepi luisy. Since 1893 he has been a Trustee of the Laconia Savings ]5ank. His natural business ability, of which he had a consider- able amount, has been highly developed by his long and varied commercial experience and his association with successful financiers.
Mr. Sanders has been twice married. In 1872 he was united to Miss Addie Currier, of Cambridgeport, Mass., who died in 1886, leav- ing three children. The latter are: Frank C, his father's assistant in the store; Emma L., who graduated from the Laconia High School in June, 1896, and is now attending the State Normal School at Plymouth, N. M. ; and S. Gertrude, attending the Laconia High School. Mr. Sanders was again married in 1889 to Ida M., daughter of John 11 Chase, a well- to-do farmer of New Hampton, N. H. A pop- ular member of the Republican i)arty, Mr. Sanders was in the State legislature in i8Sg, serving on the Committee on Corporations, and presiding as Chairman of the Committee on Mileage. He was Colonel for two years on Governor Tuttle's staff, having been appointed in 1 891 ; County Commissioner of Belknap County for four years ; and he has been Chief ICngineer of the Laconia Fire I)e[)artment since March, 18S9. A thirty-second degree Mason, he belongs to Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 32; to Union Chapter, No. 7, of the Royal Arch; and to Pythagorean Council, Nii. 6, Royal and Select Masters; is Past Eminent Commander of Pilgrim Commandery, K. T. , Grand Standard Bearer in the Grand Com- mandery, and belongs to Edward A. Ray- mond Consistory at Nashua, N.Il. He is a member of Mount Belknap Lodge, No. 20, Knights of Pythias; Laconia Division, No. 6, Uniform Rank; is Regent of Cyprus Council, No. 1062, Royal Arcanum; and is a member
(if the Improved Or hum Tribe, No. 18, of Sachem. He attemls re Free Will Baptist church
if Red Men, Pontau-
which he was first
.•ligious service at the
HARLES A. FAIRBANKS, M.D., .vidcly known and respected citizen f Dover, which he ably serves in the capacity of City Physician, was born in Portsmouth, N.IL, December 17, 1849. He is a son of Albert A. and Lydia L. (Brock) P'airbanks. When he was two years old his parents moved to Portland, Me., in which city he spent two years of his childh.)od. Subse- quently he resided for a time successively in Mansfield and Boston, Mass. At the age of si.\ he came to Dover with his parents, and here grew to manhood. Having received his elementary education in the city schools, he entered Dartmouth College, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1871. Seeking employment after this, he secured a position as draughtsman with the National Bridge and Iron Works of lioston, Mass., and remained with them about one year and six months. He then went to East Saginaw, Mich., where he entered the service of the Flint & Mar- c|uette I-iaihdad Comjiany as mechanical draughtsman. After spending nine months in their emiiloy he returned tn Duver, and soim after was appointed station agent at this place for the Portsmouth & Dover Railroad Com- pany, being the first person to hold that posi- tion. After a service of one year as station agent he entered the office of Dr. John R. Ham, of this city, and began the study of medicine. He remained with Dr. Ham one year, and then entered Harvard Medical School, fnim which he was graduated with the class of 1877.
Locating at Fall River, Mass., he then
36
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
began the practice of his profession. He had been but a short time in I'nll River when, on March i8, 1S7S, he came to Dover, of which he has since been a resident. Later in that year he was ajipninted County Physician, ami retaineil tiie position for four years. In 1S82 he became City I'hysician, which office lie has held since. I-'rom 1878 up to the pres- ent time he has been a member of the Strafford County Medical Association, was its President in the year 1889-90, and has been its Secre- tary in every year since 1879.
On October 21, 1884, he married Miss Kmma Belle Caswell, daughter of Cornelius ]•:. Caswell, of l)(,ver. Dr. J'airbanks is not only prominent among his medical brethren for his skill, but he commands the respect and es- teem of all who know him. His large busi- ness capacity, sterling honesty, and devotion to the public interest make him a useful and valuable citizen. He was Moderator of Ward Three from 1878 to 1893, and he has been a member of the Water Commission since 1S88. Since 18S6 he has been a member of the Re- I)ublican State Central Committee. In 1S81 he was elected a member of the School Com- mittee, of which he has served as Secretary since 1884. The Doctor is also a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Mt>ses Paul Lodge of Dover; and is besides affiliated with the L O. O. 1". and Improved Order of Red Men.
§()HX ROHLRTS LLAVITT, an enter- Gilford, lielknap County, July -:,, 1836, son of Taylor and Maria (Roberts) Leavitt. His paternal grandfather, Samuel, a native of Gilmanton, N.H., was a relative of Dudley Leavitt, the almanac editor. Samuel Leavitt followed the trades of carpen- ter, joiner, and wheelwright. He removed to
Gilford, where he owned and ran a saw-mill near Lakeshore Park for many years. He was Selectman for ten years, a Justice of the Peace for a prolonged jieriod, and a Re))resentative to the legislature for several terms. In re- ligion he was a highly respected memlier of the Methodist l-piscopal Church in Gilford Village. He married Nancy Chase, of Gil- manton; and they had two sons, Taylor and Gilman, both of whom are now deceased. Gilman, who was a blacksmith by trade, served many years as foreman in Abbot's carriage shop in Concord, N.ll. Samuel Leavitt died at the age of seventy-three years.
Taylor Leavitt, the father of John R., re- moved with his parents to Gilford while yet a boy. He worked in the saw-mill with his father, and also on the farm, subsequently becoming the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land. His wife, who was a daughter of John Rnberts, of New Durham, N.H., removed with her parents to Gilford when she was but eight years of age. She had three girls and two boys, of whom the sons are living — Charles W. and John R. Her hus- band died when he was seventy-four \'ears old, and she has also passed away.
John Roberts Leavitt accpiired a common- school education in his native town, antl re- mained on the home acres until he was thirty years of age. He drove a team for (Jeorge W. Sanders in the lumber business for one year, served S. A. Piper for three years in the car- penter's trade, and was employed as carpenter in the Laconia Car Works. A copartnership was then formed with Albert D. Plummer, under the style of Leavitt & Plimimer, in the grocery business. Three years later they dis- solved partnership, and E. P. CJsgood was associated with him under the firm name of Osgood & Leavitt for the same jicriod of time. Then he and A. L. Stanyon, forming the firm
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of Leavitt & Stanyon, conducted the business for a fiirtlier three 3'ears. Since that time Mr. Leavitt has been the sole proprietor. In the fall of 1883 he built his present establishment. II is business career here so far has lasted thirty-tiiree years.
Mr. Leavitt has been twice n\arried. In September, i86[, he was married to luneline M. Carr, of Gilford. She died September 15, 1875, leaving one daughter — Annie Maria, who died in 1877, at the age of fourteen years. In June, 1879, he married his second wife, previously Jennie M. Hunker, of Tamworth, N.H. They have two adopted daughters, namely: Blanche Lllcii, who was born No- \'ember 22, i8gi ; and I'lossie Emily, who is thirteen years of age. In politics Mr. Leavitt acted with the Democratic party from the time he first \-oted until 1894, when he became a Republican. He served as Overseer of the I'oor for two years. He has succes- sively filled all the chairs in Chocorua Lodge, No. 51, 1. (). (). I'., and is a member of the Grand Lodge; and also behmgs to hjidicott Rock Lodge, Xo. 2.5, K. P., in which he has refused various offices. His religious senti- ments have led him to become a constant at- tendant of the Free Haptist Church of Lake- P"it-
• L(JNEL DANIia. HALL, attorney- -law and a distinguished political leader, occupying an honored ]ilace among the foremost men of New Hampshire, is a citizen of Dover, Straffortl County. He was born in Barrington, this State, I'Y'bruary 28, 1832, a son of Gilman and Eliza (Tuttle) Hall, and is of good old Colonial stock. On the paternal side he is a lineal descendant of John Hall, who came to Dover with his brother Ralph in 1649 fi't'in Charlestown, Mass., and was very active in the early settle-
ment of the city, a Surveyor of Land, Commis- sioner to try causes, Town Clerk, and the Deacon of the Congregational church, ha\'iug been ap]ioiuted to the latter office in 1650.
Deacon John Hall was the father of Ralph Hall, also a farmer in Dover, whose son Ralph, the great-great-grandfather of the Colonel, was a pioneer settler of Barrington. On the farm which he partly cleared in that town was b(u-n Solomon Hall, the next in line of descent, whose son Daniel, first, a lifelong farmer of Barrington, was C(donel Hall's grandfather.
Gilman Hall, son of Daniel, first, was edu- cated in Barrington and Duvei'; and when a young man he spent some years in Boston, being engaged a jjart of the time as a clerk and a part in mercantile business. Subse- quently returning to Barrington, he opened a store for the sale of general merchandise, and as a merchant and farmer there passed tiie re- mainder of bis .life,, dying on March 18, 1870, aged si.Nty years. In politics he was a strong supporter of the principles of the Democratic party; and, in addition to ably filling all the local offices of importance, he was a Repre- sentative to the General Court. His wife, whose maiden name was I'^liza Tuttle, as above indicated, was born in Dover, and died in this city, November 9, 1888. She was a direct descendant of John Tuttle, who was a Judge of the Superior Court in Dover in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Mrs. l^liza T. Hall was the mother of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The others may be briefly mentioned, as follows: Daniel is the subject of this biography: Lydia is the wife of John H. Parker, of Seabrook, N.H.: Clara married William H. Neal, of Dover; I':iiza is the wife of Joseph L. Cater, of Princeton, Minn.; Gilman is a resident of Haverhill, Mass.; Mary Esther is the wife of William
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II. H. Twombly, of Ahulhury, N.H.: and IJavid (lied Doccnibcr lo, 1S.S5, aged thirty- nine years.
The life of Daniel Hall as a boy was devoid of any remarkable events and e.xpericnces. Me first attended the district schools, then pursued his studies three terms at the Strafford Acad- emy and one term at the New Hampshire Conference Seminary in Northfield, now Til- ton, and between times assisted his father in the store or on the farm. Having ambitions far above the life to which he was seemingly bound, this persevering lad began the study of Latin and Greek by himself, spending his leisure minutes at his books, and made such judicious use of his time that in 1850 he entered Dartmouth College, where in 1S54 he was graduated with honors, and standing at the head of his class as valedictorian. He being the eldest of a large family of children, his parents were able to give him but scant help in paying his way through college; and in order to defray his expenses Mr. Hall taught school winters, and at the same time kept pace with his class in his studies.
I-"or three years after his graduation he was clerk in the New York custom-house, and while there he repaitl fiom his earnings the money previously advanced him by his father. Hy birth and breeding Colonel Hall was a Democrat; but by listening to the eloquence of such men as William Lloyd Garrison, Wen- dell Phillips, and Gerrit Smith, he had imbibed anti-slavery princi|iles, and in consecpience of publicly expressing his disapproval of the Lecompton Bill, for submitting to the peo- ple of Kansas a constitution favoring slavery, he was removed from his position. Returning to Dover, he entered the office of Daniel M. Christie, the most brilliant lawyer of his time, and in i860 was admitted to the New Hamp- shire bar. He at once began the practice of
his profession in Dover, continuing until the autumn of the next year, wiien he went to Washington as Secretary of the United States Committee on Naval Affairs.
After serving a few months in this position he surrendered this office to participate in the war, and in March, 1862, was commissioned Aide-de-camp and Captain in the regular army, being assigned to the staff of General A. W. Whipple, then stationed at Arlington Heights, and in September, at the time of the Antietam campaign, with him joining the Army of the Potomac. On December 13, iS6j, he was in the battle of Fredericksburg, and in the assault of Marye's Heights. On May 5, 1863, he stood by the side of General Whipple when that officer received the wound that proved mortal. Then appointed to the staff of General O. O. Howard, Commander of the Eleventh Corps, he was with him at the battle of Gettysburg and in later caniiiaigns. In 1864 Captain Hall was made Provost IMarshal of the First New Hampshire District, in which capacity he organized four thousand men for the army and navy, being stationed at Ports- mouth until the close of the war. Although in many engagements, he was but once wounded, receiving a slight injury at the battle of Gettysburg.
He resumed his practice in Dover after his return to civil life, but in 1867 was appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court, and the following year was made Judge of the Police Court of Dover, an office in which he remained seven years. He likewise held an official position under Governor Smyth, and later was on Gov- ernor Harriman's staff, holding the rank of Colonel. In 1874 he was elected Chairman of the Republican State Committee, he having long been a stanch advocate of the principles of that party; and he wisely conducted their campaigns for the next three years, in 1876
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being Chairman of the delegation sent by New Hanipsliire to the National Convention in Cincinnati. ]'"roni 1S75 until 1S77 he was Reporter of the Decisions of the Siqireme Court, and published volumes fifty-six and fifty-seven of the New Hampshire Rejiorts. In i<'^77 Colonel Hall received the a]iix)int- ment of Naval Ofificer at the port of ]5oston, and, being reappointed at the end of his first term, served until the 1st of January, I Si/..
Since returning to Dover at that time. Colonel Mail has been connected with various institutions in an official capacity. He is a Trustee of the Strafford Savings l^ank of Dover, of the Dover Public Library, and of the Berwick Academy. In 1S59 he was ap- pointed by the governor as School Commis- sioner for this county, and in 1S60 he was re- appointed. Colonel Hall is an acti\'e member of the Grand Army of the I^epublic, having been Judge-advocate, Senior Vice-Commander, and Department Commander, and at the pres- ent time is Trustee and Secretary of the New Hampshire Soldiers' Home, for the establish- ment of which he drafted the law. He be- longs to the Charles W. Sawyer Post, No. 17. He is likewise a member of the Loyal Legion, Massachusetts Commandery. He is an attendant of the Congregational church. Colonel Hall was married January 25, 1877, to Miss Sophia Dodge, daughter of Jonathan T. and Sarah Hanson Dodge, of Rochester, N.H. Their only child, Arthur Wellesley, born August 30, 187S, is a student at the Ik'rwick Academy.
")RGE HENRY SMITH, a success- ful dry-goods merchant of Lakeport, where he has been in business for a number of years, is a native of Moultonhoro, Carroll County, N. IL, born June iS, 1847, son of Rufus ami Nancy (Lovejoy) .Smith.
Rufns Smith, who followed the trade of a machinist for thirty )'ears, in early life worked at farming. After i8r,5 he was also engaged in lumbering and boating for a time. Then he settled in Laconia (now Gilford), where since about 1889 he has lived in retirement, being now seventy-eight years of age. Ptditi- cally, he is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a prominent member of Chocorua Lodge, No. 51, I. (X O. v., of Lakeport. He has served as a delegate to tlie Grand Lodge at different times: and when a member of Laconia ICn- campment. No. 9, he held all the diiTerent offices. His wife, Nancy, was a d.uighter of Caleb Lovejoy, of Meredith, N.H. Her ear- liest ancestors in this country came from iMig- land, and settled in Pembroke, N.H., which has been the home of the Lovejoys for four or five generations. She died in 1888. Rufus and Nancy Smith were the parents of a son and daughter: George IL; and Lucy ]., who lives at home.
George H. Smith received his education in the common school of Moultonboro, a select school, and at Wolfboro Academy. He then went to work in the machine shop of the Cede Manufacturing Comjiany, with whom he re- mained some ten years. During three of these years he was travelling for the fiiau, doing general repairs, antl putting up new work. On leaving their employment, in April, 1874, he and Horace Bugbee opencil his present dry-goods store in Lakeport, the style of the firm being Bugbee & Smith. They had conducted the store together for two and a half years when Mr. Smith bought out his ]iartner, and has since carried on the business alone. He is also interested in the Lakeport Savings Bank, of which he is a stockholder.
Mr. .Smith has been twice married. His first union was with Miss P:iiza E. Gardner, of !5oston. Harrv Lincidn, his son bv this
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marriage, and who assists in tiic store, was gracluatecl from the Laconia High School in 1896, and after a year of rest from study will enter college. Mr. Smith's present wife was before marriage Miss Carrie Alice Bryant, of Tamworth, N.II. In political affiliation Mr. Smith, like his father, is a Republican. While not an office-seeker, he has served as Town Clerk, and has been a Justice of the Peace for several years. Since he was twenty- one years of age he has been a member of Chocorua Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F., the dif- ferent chairs of which he has filled.
§01 IX \. HAIXHS, a well-known man- ufacturer of Strafford County, who owns and operates a cotton and waste mill in Somersworth, was born here, June 15, 1S48, son of John S. and Theodate (Xowell) Haines. The father, who was born in Greenland, N.H., came to Somersworth with his parents when about fifteen \-ears of age. He first worked for the Great Kails Manufacturing Company, continuing with them until 1861. Then he established the business that his son now owns, and carried it on until his death, at the age of sixty-five. He was appointed Postmas- ter of Great I'\alls (now Somersworth) by Pres- ident Lincoln, and afterward held the office for abmit eleven years. He was also a mem- ber of tiie General Court, was Count)' Treas- urer, and at various times filled several of the minor town offices. Though a poor boy when he started uijon his business career, he acliievetl fair pecuniary success, and was higiily esteemed as a citizen. His widow, Theodate (Xowell) Haines, who was born in Sanford, Me., about seventy-four years ago, resides on the old homestead in Somersworth, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which her husband was identified.
Six children were born to them, namely: John N., the subject of this sketch: Leonora, now the wife of J. W. Bates, a merchant in Somersworth; Theodate, who married Charles H. Gridley, and lives in Hlmira, X.V.: Charles S., who died when two years (.Id: Fred Sumner, who is engaged in business in Rochester, Minn. ; and Mary C, now the wife of the Rev. Sherod Soule, of Xaugatuck, Conn.
John X. Haines, the eldest child, attended the common schools and Great Falls High School, graduating from the latter in 1866, and then studied at Dummer Academy, By- field, Mass., for two years. Upon leaving school he went to sea, having received an ap- pointment as officer in the United States Navy on the "Plymouth," and was gone four years. During this time he visited many places of interest, including the Xorth and Baltic Seas, the South American and African coasts and the West Indies. On returning home he resigned his position, and became a clerk in a fancy-goods store in Boston. Three or four years later he returned to Somersworth, and was here engaged in the coal and wood business until his father's death in 1885. He then took charge of the mill business, which he still carries on successfully.
On January 15, 1881, Mr. Haines married Miss Matilda S. Page, of this place. He is a Republican in politics, and for some years has been an active worker foT his party. He is now serving his second term as County Com- missioner. He was Selectman in 1S85 and 18S6. His relations with fraternal organiza- tions include membership in Libanus Lodge, No. 49, F. & A. M. ; Prospect Lodge, No. 13, K. of P., both of Somersworth: and in Dover Lodge of I^lks. He was State Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias in 1885.
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iQf;^ RTllUR S. I. ADD, who mnks amung the foremost agriculturists of ]!ei- mont, was born in this town, Janu- ary 17, 1838, son of Langdon and Sylvania (Coliiy) Ladd.
The remote ancestors of the Latld family are said to have gone to England with William the Conqueror from Normandy. Daniel Ladd, a native of England, the first of the name in America, settled at an early date in Ipswich, Mass., receiving a grant of land in 1637, and later moved to Haverhill, where his son Nathaniel was born. Nathaniel Ladd settled in Ivxeter, N. H., when a young man; and his son, Nathaniel, Jr., was long a resident of that town. A brick house that he erected is still standing, and is owned by Dr. John Perry.
]':ilward Ladd, son of Nathaniel, Jr., settled in ISelmont, and cleared a farm from the wil- derness. He married Catherine Thing, daugh- ter of Samuel Thing; and their son, Colonel Samuel Ladd, was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Colonel Samuel Ladd built and owned the first saw-mill in what is now Laconia. In 1768 he married Abigail I-'Ianders, who died in 1803. lulwarti Ladd, second, son of Colonel Samuel, and grand- father of Arthur S., settled ujion what has since been known as Ladd Hill in the town of Belmont. The house in which he li\ed was built by his father, and is now occupied liy his grandson, the subject of this sketch. Grand- father Ladd died in early manhood, from the effects of a fall from his horse. He married Hannah Hoyt, of Sanbornton, N. H.
Their son, Langdon Ladd, Arthur S. Ladd's father, was born in Belmont in 181 i. He was nine years old when his father died, and when old enough he took charge of the home farm. He was an active antl imlustrious farmer, and resided at the old homestead until his death,
which occurred in 1SS7. I'ol iticall)-, lie was a Dcmociat; and in 1874 he was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representa- tives. His wife, .Syhania Colby, who was a daughter ,)f Barnard Colby, of Sanbornton, be- came the mother of nine children, four of whom died in infancy. The others were: Arthurs., the subject of this sketch; Martha A. ; Grace C. ; Allen Y.; and Emma J. All acquired a good education. Martha A., who taught school for some time, married for her first husband Charles Gale, of Massachusetts, and for her second husband, Martin W. Strat- ton. She removed to Reading, Kan., where she died in 1895. Grace C. Ladd married Joseph I'itman, of Laconia, N.IL; Allen Y. married Kate Bennett, of Gilford; and l^mma J. died April 3, 1S70.
Arthur S. Ladd acquired his elementary ed- ucation in the district school, and later began an academic course, but was obligeil to relin- quish his studies on account of liis father's failing health. He manages the farm v'vith good judgment, and asitle from general hns- bantlry has been quite extensively engaged in stock-raising. He succeeded to the ownership of the property at his father's death, and he also possesses other real estate in this vicinity.
In Eebruary, 1867, Mr. Ladd was united in marriage with I-'llen M. I'oiter. Sb.e is a daughter of Irad and Letta (Knapp) I'orter, both of whom were born in Lyman, N.IL Mr. Porter died at the Ladd homestead, aged eighty-four years. His family was of Scotch descent. Mrs. Porter was a daughter of Elijah Knapp, who settled with his family on a tract of wild land in Lyman, N.H., and lived in a log house until a frame dwelling could be erected. Mrs. Ladtl attended the academy in Haverhill, N.IL, in her girlhood, and subse- quently taught se\en terms of school in that
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vicinity. .At tiic time of licr marriage slie was res id in- in l.aconia, N.H.
Mr. an.! Mrs. I.a.1,1 have tiiree .lau-liters: namely, I'aiilh .S., I'lorenee K. . ami Candaee 1'.. all of whom have attendetl the I.aconia lli-h .School. lulith S. Ladd was graduated in 1 885, and was salutatorian of her class. .She taught school for two years in Belmont, anil is now the wife of J. Edward Phelps, of Laconia. Canilace I'. Ladd was graduated in 1893, and was the valedictorian of her class. She is now teaching in Sanbornton.
Mr. Ladd never took any active interest in politics until 1896, when he was the Demo- cratic candidate for Representative to the leg- islature, and, although the town is strongly Republican, made a good showing for his party. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Laconia, and has been a Deacon for the past ten years.
§AMI':S WALKl^R, a well-known mer- chant of East Rochester, where he is a prosperous dealer in groceries and crockery, was born in Er\-eburg, Me., August 14, 1S2J, son of Samuel Walker. His grand- father, Samuel Walker (first), who went from Concord, N.H., was one of the pioneers of Fryeburg. The father, who was born in 178S, under the same roof as James, spent his life in his native town chiefly engaged in farming, the occupation to which he was reared, and was one of the most successful farmers of his day. His homestead of seventy-five acres of land was beautifully located on the banks of the Saco River, which furnishes the water- ]50wer for so many of the busy factories and mills of that portion of the State. He was a conscientious, upright man, respected by all, and at his death, in i860, left the record of a long life well spent. In early manhood he
was identified with the Democratic party, hut later he became a Republican. He served f(U- a number of years as Selectman of Fryeburg, besides wliich he held at different times all the minor offices of the tow^n. His wife, in maidenhood Nancy Stevens, who was likewise a native of Fryeburg, reared six children, of whom James, the subject of this sketch, is the only survivor.
James Walker grew to manhood on the old homestead, obtaining his education in the dis- trict school. At the age of twenty he ac- cepted a position on the Grand Trunk Rail- way, and for the following twelve years was employed in the construction department. Then he worked for three years on the home farm, after which he resumed his connection with the Grand Trunk. In 1863 Mr. Walker went to Middle Tennessee, where he was in the employment of the government repairing railroad bridges. Two years later he returned to Fryeburg; and in 1866 he formed a partner- ship with J. A. Farrington, with whom he established himself in the grocery and di'\- goods business at Somersworth, N.H. In 1869 the business was removed to East Rochester, and in the following year the partnership was dissolved. Since then, Mr. Walker, with the exception of eighteen months' association with T. J. Manning, has carried the business on in his own name.
Mr. Walker was married in September, 1 866, to Miss Marion E. Farrington, daughter of Jeremiah Farrington, of Conwa)', N.H. His children are: Fred A., who is employed on the editorial staff of the \iostonJt>/n/i<i/, and resides in Boston; and Jessie M., a teacher in the public schools of Rochester. Mr. Walker is a liberal giver toward the sup- port of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he and his family attend. In politics he gives earnest support to the Republican party, both
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in local an.l national affairs. He is a member of Humane Lod-e, No. Ji, A. F. & A. !Vr.,uf Rochester; and of Cocheco Lo(_l,L;e, No. ]^), I. O. of O. F., of luist R, .Chester, in which he has for several years been Treasurer.
l^S. MARY A. I.OUGKF, of GU- manton, N.H., was born in this town, December 21, 1829. Her parents were Samnel S. and Mary (Dimond) Young. Her grandfather, Joseph Young, was one of the early settlers of the country; and a somewhat detailed account of his life will be found in the sketch of Jonathan Young.
Samuel S. Young was a native of Gilman- ton. After his marriage he settled on a farm one and one-half miles from his birth- ■place. His wife was a daughter of Isaac Dimond, of Loudon, N.II. They began life with a farm, two dollars in cash, a yoke of oxen, and a colt, their modest possessions, however, not being free from encumbrance. Mr. Young was by trade a carpenter; and he worked for some time in Fowell, tlius earning money to pay off their debt. Returning to Gilmanton, he engaged in general farming during the latter part of his life, and succeeded in accumulating some property. He was a man of regular habits, careful judgment, and exemplary Christian character. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Meth- odist church. They were of even disposition, kind-hearted, and believed in educating their children. They had a family of five, one son and four daughters; namely, Isaac, Judith, Sarah, Mary, and Abby. Isaac Young mar- ried Martha Dorr for his first wife, and for his second he married Judith Eastman. He has since died in Gilmanton. Judith Young died at the age of eight years. Sarah married H. A. Davis, of Laconia, and died March 20,
1896. Abby married George Davis, of I-arm- ington, N.H., and died in 1862.
Mary, the subject of this sketch, in her girl- hood attentled the Laconia Academy, and litted herself for the work of teaching, in which she was engaged for twenty-one years. On Feb- ruary 27, 1861, she married Charles H. Lougee, son of Dudley Lougee, of Gilmanton. The immigrant ancestor of the Lougees of Gilmanton was John Lougee, a native of the Isle of Jersey, who is said to have come to America in the time of Oueen Anne's War. He was taken captive by the Indians, but escaped. Nehemiah Lougee, son of John, Jr., and Molly (Leavitt) Lougee, and grandson of the first John, married Mary Marsh, and was the father of Dudley Lougee, above named. Charles Lougee enlisted in the Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment, Company B, and died in 1S63 in Washington, D.C., from a disease contracted when in the army. He is survived by his wife and one child, Abby L. , who is at present living on the homestead with her mother. Mrs. Lougee and her daughter are both members of the h'ree Will Baptist church.
f(3HN BICKFORD, a veteran agricultu- rist of Strafford County, whose farm of one hundred and se\'ent)-fi\'e acres is located on the "ten-rod road," in the part of Rochester bordering on the Farmington line, was born on his present homestead, December 22, 1 8 14. His father, John Bickford, Sr., was born in Rochester, a son of Jethro Bick- ford, who was one of the petitioners for Roch- ester's charter in 1722. The father was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits during his active years, and died on the family homestead at a comparatively early age in 1S27. He was an honest, hard-working man, de\'oted to the care of his family, and giving but little attention to
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politics, tiiougl) he invariably cast his vote for the Democratic caiuliilatcs. lie mairietl Lucy l^rown, ol Great 1-alJs; ami of their nine chil- dren, John, the subject of this sketch, is the only survivor.
John Bickford, like the majority (jf the farmers' sons of that time, attended the dis- trict schools when not needed at home. Left fatherless while yet in his teens, he was then compelled to assmne responsibilities be- yond his years. Before attaining his majority he took charge of the home farm, and was for many years extensively engaged in farming, lumbering, and dairying. Possessing much enterprise and untiring energy, he also em- barked in other industries. He owned and successfully ojierated a saw-mill for some years, also a sash and blind factory at Gonic. He has not swerved from the political faith in which he was rearetl, the ].)emocratic jxarty finding in him one of its firmest supporters. He was Selectman of Rochester for one year, and likewise served it as Road Surveyor. He belongs to Rochester Grange ; but of late years, owing to his impaired hearing, he has taken no active [lart in its meetings.
Mr. Hickford was married to Miss Hannah Demerritl, of h'armington, a daughter of Mark Demcriitt. 'riicy have five sons, namely: Charles W'., the Postmaster of l^ochester; Daniel C, of Farmington; John LL, of Roch- ester; Herbert 1'., at home; and Ltlward R., who carries on the farm with his aeed father.
/^TLS Hh:.\M.\N, who spent nearly half P>xJ a century in mercantile business in V_y Laconia, where he died October lo, '^'79. iiyc'd seventy-six years and seven months, vas born in Grafton, \'t. , March 6, 1803, a ;on of Peter and Mary (Stone) Peamnn. His larents had nine children, four sons and five
th
daughters, he 1 birth.
He attended the common schools ot Grafton. Vt., for a short time during his boyhood, but was for the most part self-educated. On leav- ing home he went to Boston, where he worked in the Exchange Coffee House five )ears as a porter. Returning to Xew Hampshire, he located in llillsborough, and, in company with his brother Alexander, embarked in the mercantile business under the firm name of Beaman Brothers. About two years later, in 1832, he came to Laconia, and was here suc- cessfully engaged in the same line of business until his death. A portion of this time, in company with his brother and a Mr. Ivastman, he w^as interested in the manufacture of cotton goods, being located for a time in the brick mill opposite Busiel's Mill.
On May 21, 1833, the year after he came to Laconia, Mr. Beaman married Jimma J. Rob- bins, daughter of Zachariah Robbins. Her father was a Revolutionary patriot, who took part in many of the principal battles during the struggle for independence. He was first a member of Colonel Prescott's regiment, and later served on the "Wentworth, " a privateer. When he left the army, after the engagement at Newburg, N.Y. , he had risen to the rank of Lnsign. }Ie was a farmer by occupation, and resided in Hillsborough, in the same neigh- borhood as the father of ex-Governor Pierce. He lived to be seventy-six years old. Mr. and Mrs. P>eaman had three children, all of whom were born in Meredith Bridge, now Laconia, namely: George Otis, wlio died June 16, 1895, aged sixty years; ICmma J.', wife of P'rank J. Osgood, residing in Laconia; and Edward ¥., who was associated in busi- ness with his father for a nimiber of years.
In political affiliation Mr. Beaman was in his early years a Whig and later a Republican.
-J^ ^
EDWARD EVANS,
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¥t)v siiiiic ycnrs he wa.s a Director in the Mere- dith Savings Bank. He was a member uf \Vinni|,isen-ee L.ulge, No. 7, I. (J. O. l'.. uf LaciHiia, joining six months alter its organi/a- ticHi, and also of the Congregational church, in which he held the office of Deacon,
;S. SARAH DAVISON, a lady ■efinement, benevolent and pub- :-spirited, and worthy of the good fortune that has come to her in life, is one of the most respected residents of San- borntoii. Born here April 9, 1836, daughter of lulwanl and I'hcebe (Morrison) Evans, she was married November 16, 1870, to Beniah Bryant Davison. After her marriage she con- tinued to live with her jiarents; and her home is still the family residence, one of the finest in Saiibornton. Mr. Davison, a son of Josiah Davison, of Rye, N.H., was born in Ilolder- ness, N.H., July 13, 1835, and was educated in the schools of that town. When quite young he went to Ixiston, where he was after- ward employed for many years. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Mas- sachusetts Lodge, No. I ; and Massasoit lui- campment, No. i, I. O. O. F., of Boston.
By both parents Mrs. Davison comes of h<.in- orable ancestry. On her mother's side she traces her genealogy to David Morrison, who is said to have been a settler in one of the early Biitish colonies south of Massachusetts. He was previously one of the Scotch settlers of the north of Ireland, who were driven under the walls of Londonderry prior to the siege of that town in 1688 and 1689. The Morrisons of Sanbornton, as well as those of London- derry and Peterboro, N.IL, are proljably de- scendants of David Morrison. David's son John, the great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Da- vison, livenl in Haverhill, Mass., and died
there in 1765 or 1766. The next in line was another David, also born in Haverhill, who came to I'.elknap County about the year 1784. and located on Salmon Brook. His first wife, in maidenhood Keziah Whittle, daughter of Thomas Whittle, who came from the Isle of W'ight, was a noted singer. David Morrison, Jr., grandfather of Mrs. Davison, born in 1765, married Sarah, daughter of David Dus- tin, a (.lescendant of the heroine, Mrs. Hannah Dust in.
Mrs. Davison's father, Edward Evans, who was born in Salisbury in 1795, received a good education. From his fifteenth year until he was thirty-two he was engaged in teaching school at Andover, Sanbornton, and Danbury. In the latter part of his life his principal oc- cupation was farming. After first settling in Danbur)' he came to Sanbornton, where he re- mained until his death, which occurred in 1872. He purchased the farm of si.xty-five acres now owned by Mrs. Davison. As a farmer he was eminently successful. He possessed much executive ability, antl would have made his mark in any line of business. While in the town of Danbury he served in a number of public capacities, and in Sanbornton he acceptably discharged the duties of Selectman, He attended and supported the First Baptist Church of Sanbornton. Prominent in busi- ness and social life, he was also held in high esteem by a large circle of friends.
Mrs. Davison's paternal grandfather was Edwaril Evans, Adjutant of the Second Regi- ment of the New Hampshire contingent in the Revolutionary War. It is sup[)osed that Ad- jutant Evans, who was of I'Jiglish or Welsh descent, was born in Sligo, Ireland, in 1736. The following account of him is taken from a local pajier: "He was of fine personal appear- ance, of medium height, rather spare built, had an excellent education, and was an accom-
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]ilishccl lin-uist. He came Xo America aliout the year 1760, settled in Chester, this State, where lie was a sehool teacher, ami kiiDwii as Master Kvans. In I/Ckj he inarrieil Sarah Flagg, daughter (if the distinguished parsuii of Chester, the i-iev. l-Ibenezer Flagg. Twelve children were the result of this marriage. I\Irs. ICvans is remembered as being a woman of marked sweetness of character, of an ami- able disposition, and well favored with natural endowments. At the breaking out of the Rev- olution Mr. Evans lived in Salisbury, and was the schoolmaster of that town. Espousing the cause of freedom for his adopted country, Mr. Evans enlisted May 2^, 1775, as a private in the First New^ Hampshire Regiment, in Cap- tain Joshua Abbot's company, under the com- mand of Colonel John Stark. Stark's regi- ment soon went into camp at Medford, Mass. ; and, on the 17th of June following, orders came to re-enforce Colonel Prescott at Bunker Hill, and ' to oppose the enemy, who were landing on Charlestown Point." In the battle that followed, the position of Colonel Stark's men was left of the redoubt, behind a rail fence. This line, protecting the flank of Colonel Prescott's troops, was the key to the position; and two desperate attacks at this point, by the very flower of the regular l^ritish army, led by General Howe in person, were repulsed. The New Hampshire men fought with the utmost bravery. Covering the retreat of Colonel Prescott, after their small stock of ammunition was exhausted, they retired from the field still nnconquered. Subsequently Mr. Evans was a jirivate in the regiments of Colonel Timothy ]5edel. Colonel Thomas Stickney, Colonel Joseph Cilley, and Colonel David Ilobart. He took part in the expedi- tion to Canada, was at Ticonderoga, and in the battles of Iiennington, Princeton, Trenton, and Saratoga.
"On the 1 8th of July, 1777, Mr. Evans was commissioned Adjutant in the .Second New Hampshire Regiment of militia. The follow- ing is the staff-ndl, July, 1777: Thomas Stickney, Colonel; Nathaniel iMiierson, Lieu- tenant Colonel ; Bradbury Richard.son, .Major; James Head, Second Major; lulward F^vans, Adjutant: William Clements, Quartermaster: Josiah Chase, Surgeon; Daniel Peterson, Sur- geon's Mate. At the battle of Bennington, fought August 16, 1777, Mr. Evans was on the staff of Colonel Thomas Stickney in Gen- eral Stark's brigade. Stark so divided his force as to attack the enemy in front, on both flanks, and in the rear at the same time. Ad- jutant FIvans led one of the detachments, en- gaging the Hessians on their right wing. The entrenchments of the enemy were taken. Colonel Baum was killed, and most of his force were made prisoners. General Stark said of this battle, 'It lasted two hours, and was the hottest I ever saw. '
"Mr. Evans served until the close of the war, and was then honorably discharged. While in service he received a wound in the ankle, which did not heal for several years. After the war ended he returned to Salisbury, bought with his Continental scrip the Buzzell farm, and built a house there. Air. F',\ans spared no pains to educate his own chiklien. They took their books into the fields, where after working for a time they withdrew to the shade of a tree, where he taught them to write, using birch bark instead of paper, and doing their 'sums ' on the same material. When 'Master ' Evans became unsuited for teaching by reason of age, he moved to Franklin on the river road, near his eldest son Josiah. Here he died May 26, iSiS, aged eighty-two years. A descendant of Lieutenant Edward Evans has recently placed a bronze marker over his grave in the Simonds Cemetery, F'ranklin.
RANSOM F EVANS
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This mark' chusetts S( lution, to our l^;v(.ll
i the cnihlciii used by the Alassa- ty, Sons of the Ameriean Revo- -nate the last rest iiiK-l'lii^'^- "f lary ])atriots. Ai the lop of a
rod is the cross of the Order of St. Louis, about one foot in diameter, back of which is a laurel wreath, all of bronze metal. Each arm of the cross contains a letter of the inscrip- tion, 'S. A. R. ' (Soldier of the American Revolution), the lower arm having the date '1775.' The centre is a medallion in which, in relief, is the figure of a minute-man stand- ing by the side of a plough, surrouiidetl by thirteen stars."
The other children of Mrs. Davison's parents were: Ransom I'"., Edward D. , Lucy Ann, Susan, George S., and Ellen F. Ran- som I'",, the eldest son, was born in 1S24. When about twenty years of age, he went to Boston, and was in the employ of his uncle on a farm for about a year. He then went to work in I-'aneuil liall RLarket for the firm of Sands & Craft. After some years the firm changed to Sands, Furber & Co., and young Mr. Evans became one (jf the partners, retain- ing that relation until his death in 1896. He was witlely known and esteemed among prod- uce dealers, being intimately identified with the market for more than fifty years. At the time of his death he was a member of the Ijos- ton Chamber of Commerce and of the Boston F"ruit and Produce Exchange. In the Handel and Haydn Society he was one of the oldest members. He was a self-made man, having begun life a poor boy, and having acquired a large property entirely through his own efforts. Always entertaining a strong affection for his New Hampshire home, he did much to improve the old homestead. Edward D. Evans is now deceasetl. Lucy Ann married Jacob Fottler, of Boston. At one time the book-keeper for Sands, h'urber & Co., when the two senior
partners died, Mr. iM.ttler was taken into the firm by his brother-in-law; and since Mr. I'lvans's death he, with two other partners, has continued the business. Susan and George S. Evans are also deceased. ICllen F, , the young- est child, who was born in 1S45, attended the New Hampshire Conference Seminary at Til- ton. Afterward, at the age of si.xteen, having previously shown a remarkable talent for music, she went to ]5oston to study with a celebrated teacher; but after a time ill health obliged her to relinquish her hopes in this direction. Later in life she became inter- ested in painting, and in that art also showed a natural genius. Her pictures in oil and water colors arc characterized by a refined artistic taste. A portrait of Mrs. Davison's father, Ivlward Evans, and one of her brother, Ransom F. Evans, accompany this sketch.
FORGE F. SANBORN, of Meredith, President of the Paris Night Robe Company, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, August 17, 1857, son of Dr. George and S(.)phronia (Stockbridge) Sanborn. His grandfather, Squire Samuel G. Sanborn, a prosperous farmer and a lifehuig resident of Gilford, N. H., wa.s prominent in the affairs of that town. Of his sons, George entered the medical profession ; and W. A. Sanborn be- came widely and favorably known as captain of " Steamer Lady of the Lake."
George Sanborn, M.D., the father of George F., was born in Gilford, October 27, 1820. Having completed his early education at Franklin Academy, he pursued courses at Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges, graduating from the latter with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After he had practised his profes- sion in Gilford and Sandwich for a time, he
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where he was a leading His nractice.
iiiDved tt) .Merei.: [jhysiciaii tor thirty y which extended over a eirenit of fifteen miles, kept him e.instantly busy. Respected for his high character and abilit}-, he was elected legislative Representative of Meredith for two terms. He also served with efficiency as Town Treasurer and superintendent of schools for a number of years. His wife, Sophronia B., was born in Alton, N.H., daughter of George Stockbridge His only child is George F., the subject of this sketch.
George F. Sanborn received his elementary education in the public schools. He subse- quently attended the Xew Hampton Institute and Tilton Seminary. After his studies were completed he engaged in the printing business, and established the :\[eredith Xcz.'s, a weekly pajier, which he carried on for twelve years, and which was the first one printed in Mere- dith. In 1SS3, while still publishing the .\\:,:<, he entered the drug business, which he still follows, having a thriving trade in that line. In 1896 the Paris Night Robe Company was organized and incoriiorated, and he was elected its President. Under the able direc- tion of its official head the business of this concern is developing rapidly. At present its output facilities are tested to their fullest capacity. Mr. Sanborn is also the Manager of the Meredith Pllectric Light Comi)any, and is quite extensively interested in the coal trade. Common opinion represents him as one of the most pirogressive young business men of the town.
On December ro, I.S,S5, :\Ir. Sanborn was united in marriage with Charlotte J. I'rench, daughter of John li. i'rench, of Meredith. Ik- has one child, Royden W. In politics he has voted with the Democratic party since he came of age. He served as Moderator at town meet- ings for some years. In 1S85 he was elected
a member of the Xew Ilampshin Representatives, in which he s ability for one term, and was app the Committee on Military Aff;i the Board of Water Commissioner
ouse of d with :d u|Hin When IS estab-
lished, he was elected I'resident of that body; and he still serves in that capacity.
HARLP:S ]':STI':S, a manufacturer of agricultural implements at Rochester, was born November 20, 1830, at North Berwick, Me., a son of John Mstes. He comes of English ancestry, the emigrant ancestor having been Richard Estes, who settled in North Berwick at a very early [jeriod. Jedediah, son of Henry Pastes, born in that town, was the grandfather of Charles. John listes, who was a plough-maker by trade, had an iron foundry in Berwick for many years. In 1840 he transferred his residence and busi- ness interests to Rochester, N.ll., remaining there until his death in 18S9, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. He was a man of enterprise and business ability and a valued member of the Republican party. A pillar of the Society of Friends, he was alwavs inter- ested in its welfare, and contributed liberally to its support. In his estimation there was no religious creed comparable to that of the I'riends. He married Abiah Green, of .Straf- ford, and they reared four children; namely, Charles, Edwin T., Simon G., and Albert.
Charles Estes completed his education at the P'riends' School in Providence, K.I., at the age of nineteen years. Returning then to Rochester, he worked with his father for two years, and was afterward for some years engaged in the foundry business in \-arious places, including the cities of P)over, N. IP, Lowell, Mass., Lawrence, Mass., the Charles- town and Portsmouth Navy Yards, New York,
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Fitchlnirg, Mass., and Wnonsncket and Provi- dence, R.I. Going in i S64 to the i'acific Coast, he spent si.\ months in Sacramento, Cal., and then for eight months was engaged in mining at Virginia City, Nev. He subse- quently made a short stay in Oakland, Cal., and the following year worked in the Montana mines, afterward travelling through the differ- ent States of the West for a time. In 1.S67 he returned to Rochester, took charge of his father's [ilant, and has since carried on a sub- stantial business as a manufacturer of agricult- ural implements of all kinds. Mr. PLstes is a man of intelligence and capability, upright in his dealings and promiit in his sujiport of whatever, in his opinion, is calculated to advance the welfare of the town and com- munity. He cast his first Presidential vote for John P. Hale, and since that time has been identified with the Republican party. h"or two years he served as .Selectnaan in Roches- ter. He was also Surveyor for a time, and held other offices.
Mr. Pastes was married in 1852 to Miss Mercy Varney, daughter of Israel II. and Sarah (Knowles) Varney, of Rochester. They have seven children, namely: Helen Iv, the wife of Joseph II. Clark; Charles Iv, of Providence, R. I. ; Florcllo, a [ihysician, who is now in Switzerland; Almeda, who died at the age of si.xteen ; Albert \'., who died at the age of twenty-five; John F., of Hyde Park, Mass. ; and Adaline S., the wife of William Wright, an attorney-at-Iaw, of Rochester. Mr. Estes and his family attend the religious meetings of the P""riends, of Rochester.
OLONKL georgp: w. sti-:vp:ns,
ne time a prominent lawyer of La- mia, was born at Hill, N.H., No- 18 14, son of l{ben Ste\'ens, a
farmer of Hill. His mother, who came from Hampton, li\-ed to the venerable age of ninety- five. The father continued his active life on the farm until a short time previous to his death. At one time he was a member of the State legislature. They had five children, of whom Hiram, the eldest, became a Baptist minister, and died at Meredith Village; Lo- renzo L). was a farmer of Franklin; Cutting, the third son, was Captain of a company in the Seminole War in I'lorida, and afterward .settled in the West; George W. is the subject of this sketch ; and Chase, who was connected with a Manchester woollen-mill, served as a non-commissioned officer of the P'ourth New Hampshire Regiment during the late war.
The educational advantages of his day hav- ing been limited, the schooling of George W. Stevens was confined to the short winter term in the district schools of Hill. His father, absorbed in agriculture, wished his son to take up farming life; but the boy was of a studious temperament, and was resolved to ob- tain a higher education in spite of obstacles. He studied early and late, and by persistent apjjlication to his books he qualified himself to teach school. From this he became able to commence the study of law in the office of Judge Nesmith at Franklin. Upon his ad- mittance to the bar he bought the practice of Judge Warren Lovell, of Meredith, where he remained until he came to Laconia in 1855. Here he was associated with Jeremiah Elkins, under the firm name of I^lkins & Stevens, and later with O. A. J. Vaughan. After one or two more changes he formed a cfipartnership with C. I'. .Stone, a relation which continued until his retirement from practice, June 17, 1873. He married Sarah A., daughter of Thomas Davenport, of Meredith, whose family was among the first settlers of the place. Of the four children born to them, three are liv-
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iiig, namely: Georgiaiina, whci niarricd !\I. C. lioyiiton, a dry-goods merchant of Boston ; Ella, now Mrs. M. K. Harkness, of Salt Lake City, Utah ; and George Edward, who was educated at Tilton Seminary, New London Academy, and New llamjjton Academ\-, is now married, resides in Laconia, and is the Superintendent of the Winthrop Hosiery Mills.
Colonel Stevens died October 2, 1877, two yeSrs after his wife, whose death occurred No- vember 10, 1875. They were both active workers during the Civil War. The forming of the Twelfth New Hamiishire Regiment was largely due to his untiring efforts; and Mrs. Stevens was prominent as President of the Soldiers' Aid Society, which did so much for the comfort of our brave soldiers. Colonel Stevens was President of the Belknap County Bar Association for some time previous to his death. He was one of the founders of the Unitarian Society in Laconia, and of those who took an active part in the erection of the church. A Democrat in politics, he repre- sented Laconia for a time in the legislature. Colonel .Stevens was a man of the strongest individuality. A brother lawyer, long asso- ciated with him, gives the following word por- trait of the Colonel : —
"As a lawNcr ami a neighbor I have known him since 1S59. He was a magnificent-look- ing man at his best, tall, heavy, with a Web- sterian head and a high, massive forehead. He possessed a fle.xible, agreeable voice, and was a profound thinker, being recognized as one of the ablest thinkers of his day through- out the State. No man was more impressive as an advocate or before an audience. Seen in the court-room at his leisure, he was disap pointing, and in his ordinary work he did not e.xcel ; but with the eccentricity of genius, once aroused and interested in the cause he championed, he would descend like an ava-
lanche upon his unluck)' opponents, and in a whirlwind of eloquence carry everything before him. I'lrratic, he would maintain a position with zeal in trying a case, which he would suddenly abandon; and he was ciuite likely to do his most brilliant work on cases in\d!\-- ing the smallest sums, while the most impor- tant causes would be treated with inattention. Like most men of genius, he possessed whims. He always read the dissenting opinions of the court, feeling that they had something of worth. He was a bold free-thinker, and read such authors as Buckle, Lecky, Herbert Spen- cer, and John Stuart Mill, grasping their thoughts with a mental power that carried him oftentimes far beyond the conceptions of these weighty minds. Colonel Stevens was at his best in his thirties, maturing early in life. He was public-spirited, and labored al wax's for the interests of the town. He wanted good churches, good hotels, good roads, develc;p- ment of water-power, and woiked hard to attain these ends. He had no cjuarrel with any creed. He was familiar with the Bible and the commentaries thereon, and revelled in log- ical fields. He was a man of the most upright moral character and a kind husband, though home interests meant less to him than t<.) many. His heart was in his efforts foi' the godd of town. State, and cnuntix'; and in the death of this original and brilliant man New Hampshire lost one of whum she may be justh' pruud."
ANK HOLT, a retired hosiery m; facturer of Lakeiiurt, Belknap County, N.H., was born in Leicester, Leices- tershire, England, in 1827, son of William and Sarah (Hospool) Holt. William Holt was a native of the same English town, where he was engaged in d^-eing and cleansing hosiery. He died in his native land through
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overwork, at the age of forty-nine years, leav- ing four children.
Frank Holt, who was the third child nf his parents, acquired a gnod education in I'jigland, and also learned the manufacture of hosiery.
He came to Am
at first
in Philadelphia, wdiere he worked about a year and eight months in the factories of Wiah Co.\ and Edward Wade. He then went to Vnmk- lin, N.H., where he was employed as over- seer in Thomas Appleton's mill until it was destroyed by fire in 1856. The following year he came to Lake Village, now Lakeport, finding work in another mill owned by AL'. Appleton. In 1877 he began manufacturing for himself, and three years later became asso- ciated with Mr. John Lee in the proprietorship of the Bayside Mill, the firm conducting business under the style of Frank Holt & Co. This partnership lasted until iSc;)2, when Mr. Holt disposed of his interest and retired from business.
In 1848 Mr. Holt married Anna, daughter of J.ihn and Mary (Waters) lliffe, of Inkley, Leicestershire, England. Three children are the result of their union — Mary, .Sarah, and William. The two daughters still reside at home with their father; while William is a resident of Meriden, Cnnn. Mrs. Holt died in July, 1888. In politics Mr. Unit is a Re- puldican. He is a member of Chucorua I.ndge, No. 51, I. O. O. F., of Lakeport; and he at- tends the Free Baptist church. He has been successful in acquiring a competence, and is enjoying his well-earned retirement.
I A R L E .S K. M A N S O N , a wel 1-
known and respected citizen of East Rochester, was born December 20, 1S28, in Great Falls, this State, a son of John and Caroline (Lord) Manson. His paternal
grandfather, John Manson (first), who spent his early life in Limington, York County, Me., subsequently removed to Eaton, Wash- ington County, Me., where he made his per- manent home until his ileath. Nathaniel Manson, a seafaring man, and one of the first John's brothers, in the War of 181 2 was taken on board a privateer, conveyed to I^ngland, and confined in Dartmoor Prison for some time.
John Manson, the father of Charles E., came to Rochester in 1834, and was engaged in the business of carpenter, contractor, and builder in this vicinity until his demise in 1869. A man of much force of character and quite in- fluential in local politics, he was one of the si.x men who bolted from the Whig party and formed the Free Soil party. He married Miss Caroline Lord, daughter of Benjamin Lord, of Berwick, Me. They became the parents of four children, as follows: Charles li., the sub- ject of this sketch; Sabrina, who died at Great Falls in infancy; John, whose death occurred at Port Chester, N.Y., at the age of forty-four years; and l-'rank C, of Saxonville, Mas.s.
Charles E. Manson received his preliminary education in the district schools of Rochester, afterward continuing his studies at the Roch- ester Academy until si.xteen years old. He then learned the carpenter's trade from his father, with whom he worked for five years. In 1851 Mr. Manson entered the factory of Messrs. Hall and Springfield at East Roches- ter, where he had charge of the repairs and the weaving department until the burning of the mill in 1857. Going then with I\Ir. Spring- field to Wolfboro, N. H., he was employed by him in the same capacity until 1879. In that year Mr. Manson accepted the position of superintendent of the Cocheco Woollen Mill at East Rochester. Next year he became agent for the Cocheco Woidlen Manufacturing Com-
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pany, an important office, which he faithfully filled for fifteen years. lie practically retired from active business then, although he has since been connected with the firm of Tibbetts & Hayes, lumber dealers of East Rochester. Mr. Manson cast his first Presidential vote in 1852 for General Scott, and since that time he has been a steadfast supporter of the Republi- can party. In 1885 and 18S6 he served as a Representative to the General Court of New Hampshire. He belongs to Cocheco Lodge, I. O. O. v., of East Rochester; to Hu- mane Lodge, E, & A. M., of Rochester; to Temple Chapter, R. A. M., Rochester, of which he is a charter member; to the Orphan Council of Dover; and to Palestine Command- ery, K. T., Rochester, of which he is also a charter member. Mr. Manson contributes lib- erally toward the support of the Methodist Iqiiscopal Church of East Rochester, which he usually attends.
In 1849 Mr. Manson married ]{liza A. Jel- lerson, of Rochestei;. The fruit of this union was one child, George E., born August 31, 1854. He contracted a second marriage Jan- uary 29, 1856, with Mary A. I-'oss, daughter of Henjamiii and Patience (Home) Eoss, of Rochester. l>y this union he became the fatlier of two children, namely: Mary Carrie, born June 5, 1S59; and Annabell, born -Sep- tember 17, 1862, who died September 18, ■•S64. ^^^
DN. JOHN W. BUSIER, for many ears a well-known woollen manu- ^ ^ facturer of I.aconia, N.IL, was born at Moultonboro, N.H., March 28, 1815.- His jjarents were Moses F. and Relief Busiel, and he was the eldest of a family of seven sons and one daughter. Five of his brothers are now living, namely: Albert II., Lewis F., antl William M. Husiel, of Laconia: Harrison M.
Busiel, of liast Andover, X.H.: and George H. Busiel, of Providence, R.I.
Mr. BusiePs education was obtained in the common schools at a jjeriod when country boys seldom attended school more than one term of eight weeks during the year. Mager for knowledge from the first, he made the most of his limited opportunities. He was quick to learn; and what he learned he learned thor- oughly, thus building a solid foundation for the acquirements of after years. In his early youth he decided to be a woollen manufact- urer; and he startetl out at the age of twelve years, with his scanty wardrobe tied up in a handkerchief, to walk to Loudon, N.H., where he entered the mill of his great-uncle, Lewis Zanders, who carded rolls and made flannels and cloths used in that period. A boy of ex- ceptional energy and determination, he re- mained with his uncle until he was nineteen years old, seizing every opportunity to learn the business, and at the same time proceeding methodically with his studies, while the other boys were at play. At nineteen years of age, with a new suit of clothes and one hundred dollars in his pocket, young Busiel left his uncle's roof and went tn Amesbury, Mass., where he was employed in a woidlen-mill, and completed his trade. Many tinies during his stay in Amesbury he walked home, and out of his scanty earnings assisted in maintaining the family.
After completing his ]ieriotl of service in Amesbury, he returned to New Hampshire, and in a small mill in Meredith, N.H., began business for himself. 'Phis he carrieil on for the next ten years, carding woollen-rolls for hand spinning, and finishing the cloths which it was then the custom for the farmers' wives to weave. He also began there the manu- facture of satinet cloth 'and knitting yarn. In 1846 he took the old Bean Mill at Laconia,
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and here continued to produce these articles. This mill was later called the Morrison Mill, and upon its site now stands the dyehouse f)f the firm of J. \V. Busiel & Co. During the great fire of the Strafford Mill this old one- story wooden structure was ]iartially hui'ned, and in 1S53 Mr. I'.usiel purchased the land and watei--power foi'merly used by the .Sti-afford Company. On this site he erected the first of the buildings now used by J. W. Busiel & Co. He here added to his list the manufacture of Saxony and Germantown yarns. Mr. fkisiel received a gold medal at the Cr)'stal Palace ICxdiihitiim in I.onddn, for the Ijcst mixture of cotton and wool yain. 'l"he invention of the circular ribbed knitting machine by Jonas and Walter Aiken in 1856 led Mr. Busiel to in- troduce the maimfacture of Shaker socks and underwear. At the beginning of the Civil War the production of army socks became an industi-y in which Mr. Busiel engaged; and after the war the manufacture of different vari- eties of hosiery became the sole product of the mill carried on by Mr. Busiel until the time of his death, which occurretl July 26, 1872.
On December 23, 1841, he married Julia M., daughter of Steiihen and Julia Tilton, ot Meredith. Of this union were born three sons and one daughter. The daughter died in infancy. The sons have liveil to be an honor to their father's name. The eldest is Charles A. Busiel, ex-Governor of New Hampshire. The other sons, John T. and Frank E., now carry on the business founded by their father; and all three live in I.aconia. The house in which ]\Irs. Busiel now resides was built by Mr. Busiel five years previous to his decease.
He was a strong Democrat in politics, and represented Laconia in the State legislature in the years 1870-71. Mr. Busiel manufactured the first gas burned in f.aconia, and laid the first slate used here for roofing purjioses. He
also put in the first boiler and steam heat in Laconia. He took a great interest in the wel- fare of the town, and always gave gener(uisly to public buildings and for the ]iromotion of all plans for town improvement. He w.is a Trustee of the ]5elknap Savings B.iid<. lie attended the Congregational churcli, of which Mrs. B.usiel is a meml>er, and contribute.) lib- erally to its support.
This [niblic-s[Hrited man was of a kin<l- hearted, generous nature, benevolent and un- selfishly devoted to the interests of his town. His rugged honesty, his strong antipathy to sham and false pretence, his fair and generous dealings with his employees, and his e\'er- ready help to the poor and unfortunate arc well known to the townspeople of his genera- tion. He was emphatically a self-made man. From nothing he rose to a comfortable inde- pendence in this world's goods; and in his early, sudden death the community lost a man whom it hail learned to love and to respect. His mortal remains were bui ied in the Lieau- tiful I'nion Cemetery in Laconia.
RANK ]•:. B.USIb:L, a well-known wo(dIen manufacturer of Laconia, V>c]- knap County, N.H., was born in this town, October 31, 1S52, son of John W. and Julia (Tilton) ]5usiel. His father was a native of Moultonboro, and his mother of Meredith. They had four children: Charles A.; JohnT. ; Frank !•:., the subject of this sketch; and one daughter, Julia M., who died at the age of eight months. John W. I'.usiel was a prominent woollen manufacturer, and was the first in Lac(Uiia to make use of a steam boiler.
Frank K. ]5usiel was educated in the schools of his native town and at Gilford Academy. He then entered his father's factory to thor-
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ouglily familiarize himself with the business. He vvoiketl three years as second hand, and proved so efficient that he was placed in charge of the knitting department, which position he filled until his father's death in 1872. He was then admitted to partnership, the business being carried on under the style of J. W. Busiel & Co. In politics Mr. Busiel is a Re- publican. While too much absorbed in busi- ness to give much attention to politics, he has served as Chairman of the Police Commission, to which position he was appointed in April, 1895.
r)n November 19, 1S74, Air. Busiel was united in marriage with Hattie A. Sanborn, of Haverhill, Mass. He has two children, the elder of whom, Grace, is now attending ]?rad- ford Seminary in Massachusetts.
"(IN. WILLIAM V. NASOX, Mayor the city (if Dover, N.IL, was born in Sanford, York County, Me., on the twentj^-second day of November, 1857. He is the son of Joseph T. and Susan Frost Nason. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Nason, who was born in the town of Kenne- bunkport, Me., and lived there for a goodly portion of his earthly years, was a substantial citizen, possessing ability and property, anil was engaged in ship-building and in the foreign trade. His father, Joseph T. Nason, as a young man was interested in educational matters. He spent three years as a student in Bowdoin College, and then served as principal of several of the leading schools in the State. Later in life he was engaged in navigation, and was master of vessels in the foreign trade. Mr. Joseph T. Nason died at Kennebunk, Me., in the month of January, 1884, his wife surviving till December, 1893. They were respected members of the community, commu-
nicants of the Congregational church, and ex- amples of probity.
William F. Nason attended school in the towns of South Berwick and Kennebunk: and alter completing a high-school course in the latter place he entered a law office, where he remained for two years in the study of law. He then went to Wolfboro, X. II., 'and read law with the Hon. Buel C. Carter. Being admitted to the bar in 1879, he came to Dover, his present home, and formed a law joartnership with Mr. Carter, where he has since given his time to the pi'actice of his profession.
Although ever a stanch advocate of the principles of true Republicanism, and fre- quently selected to represent his party in posi- tions of trust and responsibility, it cannot be urged that ]\Ir. Nason has courted ])olitical honors. Strong and loyal in his friendships, quick to comprehend, and fearless in his con- victions, tenacious f)f purpose, yet eminenth' fair and considerate in his judgments, he has won the universal respect of his fellow-citi- zens, and is held in the highest esteem, even by those who have found in him a professional or political adversary.
He was chosen Solicitor of his adopted city in 18S3, and again in 1884, serving in all seven years in that capacity. As a member of the New Hampshire le'gislature in 1887 and 1888, he took a prominent part in all the im- portant measures of that session, winning rec- ognition as one of the most forceful speakers and ready debaters on the floor of the House. During his legislative term he served on the Judiciary Committee, and was also Chairman of the Committee on Elections. In 1892 he was prevailed upon to allow his name to be presented before the County Convention as a candidate for County Solicitor; and in the "battle of the ballots" his popularity tlirough-
WILLIAM F. NASON.
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63
out the county gave added strength to the party ticket, and secured for him a flattering majority. His services proved so satisfactory that he was returned by a phenomenal majority in 1894, and was re-elected for the third time in 1896.
At the mayoralty caucus in November, 1895, he was selected as the standanl bearer for his party; and at the succeeiling election he received the unanimous vote of the people, no opposing party candidate being presented. Again in 1896, under almost precisely similar conditions, was he chosen as the city's chief magistrate; and at the present writing, 1897, he occupies the Executive chair. His admin- istration as Mayor has been conspicuous for its practical economy and broad and comprehen- sive business methods, no suspicion of parti- .sanship attaching to his management of mu- nicipal affairs. Although manifestly averse to notoriety, desirous of avoiding all pomp and pageantry, he has, nevertheless, judiciously and becomingly fulfilled the social functions of his high office; and, in fact, no emergency has ever found him unprepared when the interests or dignity of the city required an able and worthy champion.
(HrArclR .SANBORN, a pro.sperous and ^1 well-to-do fanner of I.aconia, was born
^:jJ in Moultonboro, N. H., January 13, 1S43, son of William and .Sally (Dame) San- born. His grandfather, Jacob Sanborn, was a farmer and a lifelong resident of Gilford. He died at the age of forty -three years. He was the father of two sons — William and l-jioch, of whom the last named is living in GilfoK], at the age of seventy-eight years.
William Sanborn was born in Gilford, ami remained at home until he was thirty \ears old. He then bought a farm at Moultoidjom
Neck, where he resided until 1S50, when he returned to Gilford, and passed the rest of his life in that town. lie was prominent in church matters. His wife, Sally Dame San- born, was a daughter of Richaril Dame, who came from Tortsmouth, N.H., to Gilford. .She was a woman (jf superior education, and had taught school jirevious to her marriage. She became the motlier of two children: ]•:]- vena, who died in 1886; and Jacob, the sub- ject of this sketch.
Jacob Sanborn, after attending the district school in his boyhood, began active life as a farm assistant. He continued thus employed until 1866, when he was engaged to manage his present farm by Polly Smith, who owned the projjerty. This lady was the representa- tive of a well-to-do family; and at her death she willed the farm to Mr. Sanborn, as a re- ward for the faithful manner in which he had labored in her fiehalf. He has since enlarged the property by the inuchasing of more land, and has otherwise improved it by remodel- ling the buildings: and he has met with the natural reward of his industry and good judg- ment in a continually increasing prosperity. He owns land in Sanbornton, Meredith, and Gilford; and he has derived considerable profit from stock-raising.
Mr. Sanborn married Augusta I'erley, a sister of Louis I'erley, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn have one child, I'earl, who is now attending the high school and is prejiaring for colleoe.
p)h:VI W. ALLl'N, a retired business man of Rochester, was born March 26, 823, near the house which he now occupies, son of William and Sarah (Nute) Allen. The Aliens originally came from
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ICnijland, where tiiey were peoiile of considera- tion. Tlie American family is traced ijack to two brothers, Charles and Samuel Allen, both members of Parliament for some years, who wore sent here l:)y the luiglish government to take charge of Whitehall Swamp, a tract of land one mile wide and eight miles long, sit- uated in Rochester on the Salmon Falls ]\.iver. Mere, for a number of years before the Revolution, they engaged in getting out timber for the manufacture of masts and spars fur the use of the home government. John Allen, the great-great-grandfather of Levi \V. , came to Rochester from Durham, and was one of the pioneers of this town. He left his land to his son William, whose son, Major Samuel Allen, served in the Revolutionary War. Major Allen's son William, the father of Levi W., was the next proprietor of the homestead ])ropcrty. I^rought up to farming and lumber- ing, William continued in these occupations. In following the latter, he made a specialty of supplying the material for masts and spars. The lumber for the first woollen factory at Great I-'alls was furnished by him. ]iy his wife, Sarah, who was a daughter of Jotham Nute, of Milton, N.IL, he became the father of eight children, of whom Amasa is the onlv
After attending the district schools of Rochester in his earlier years, Levi W. Allen completed his education at Great Falls. In 1839 he left the parental home, going to Natick, Mass., where he was engaged for three years in the shoe business. Me returned to Rochester in 1S42, and for a long time after- ward can-ied on an extensive business in the manufacture of shoes and lasts, and had a large wholesale and retail store. Subsequently he transferred his business to Dover, and there successfully conducted it for twelve years. In i(SSj he returned again to the scenes of his
childhood; and on account of asthma, witli which he is afflicted, he has since lived retired from business pursuits. He was married Sep- tember 3, 1S46, to Miss Sarah Ann Furbush, of Lelianon, Me. He has always taken a great interest in local affairs, giving his hearty sup- port to the Republican party, but has not been an office-seeker. Since boyhood he has been in communion with the Walnut Grove Free Will Baptist Church, which he has served for some years as Sunday-school super- intendent.
§OHX RANDOLPH HAM, M.D., a well-known and highly esteemed physi- cian of Dover, Strafford County, N.IL, was born within the limits of this township, October 23, 1842. His father, Charles Mam, a son of bLphraim Mam, and a native of Dover, born May 10, iSoo, for many years carried on general farming in this locality, and here mar- ried Abigail D. Bartlett.
John R. Ham was reared on the parental homestead, and received his elementary educa- tion in the district schools of the neighbor- hood. He subsequently continued his studies at Franklin Academy, in Dover, after which he worked on the farm during seed-time and harvest. His winters for a time were em- ployed in teaching school, thereby earning some money toward defraying his expenses while preparing himself for a professional career. In 1862 he read medicine with Dr. A. J. II. Buzzell, of Dover, in the meanwhile attending lectures at Bowdoin Medical C(d- lege. During the following spring he studied with Dr. Levi G. Hill, of this city, and in the next winter attended lectures at Harvard Medi- cal School, afterward reading medicine with Dr. J. H. Wheeler.
In August, 1864, Dr. Ham was appointed Assistant Surjreon of the One Hundred and
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Filtcciith Regiment, lliiitcd States Colored Inlaiitry, being mustered in at Louisville, Ky. He was also medical purveyor for a time ot the Twenty-fifth Army Corps. The Doctor was subsequently iironioted to the position of Surgeon of the regiment, and with the Army of the James was present at tlie fall of Richmond. After that event he was on duty in Te.xas until March lo, 18G6, when he was honorably discharged from the service. On his return to Dover, Dr. Ham resumed his studies at Bowdoin Medical College, from which he was graduated in the following June. Since then he has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in his native city. For ten years of this time he served as Coroner of Strafford County, and for four years of it he was a member of the School Committee. In politics he is a stanch Re[iub- lican, and during the administration of Presi- dent Harrison he served as United States Pension Surgeon for Strafford County. The Doctor is an active member of the New Hamp- shire Plistorical and Medical Societies; of Charles W. Sawyer Post, No. 17, G. A. R., of which he is Past Commander; and he is a prominent Mason of this city, belonging to Strafford Lodge, No. 29, and to Iielknap Chapter, No. 8. He has been a member of the I'irst Church (Congregational) since 1S64, in which since 1.S78 he has performed the duties of Deacon. The Doctor has published "The Ham Family in Dover," "The Physi- cians of Dover," "Localities in Ancient Dover," and "The liibliography of Dover." His library contains the best private collection of local history in that part of the State.
On November 9, 1871, Dr. John R. Ham was united in marriage with Emily Caroline Hersey, daughter of General George W. Hersey, of Wolfboro, N.H. Of this union five chiklren liave been born, of whom but two
are now living — Lmily II. and Julia M. The former, who was graduated fiom Welles- ley Cidlege in the class of 1S93, is now a teacher in the Dover High .Scho,,] ; while the vounger daughter is a pupil of that iusli-
KANK LKSLIP: TOWLK, a member )f the firm of Simpson & Towle, tlealers in general merchandise. Centre Har- bor, N.H., was born in Parsonsfield, Me., August 27, i,SG8, son of James F. and luiima J. (Moulton) T.)wle. II is grandfather, J.iseph G. Towle, was a native of Porter, Me. ; and the active period of his life was sjient as a farmer. James F. Towle, father of I-'rank L., was born in Porter, .Me., and in his younger days was varicjusly emploved as an operative in saw-mills and as a clerk in country stores. He finally engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in his native town. His wife, p:mma, is a daughter of J.ihn S. Moul- ton, of Sandwich, N.H. She has had two children: Irving, who died in 1888, agetl twenty-si.x years; and P'rank L. , the subject of this sketch.
Frank Leslie Towle received a puldic- school etlucation, and entereil mercantile busi- ness as a clerk immediately after completing his stmlies. He was emplo\-ed in a store in Centre Harbor for a -year, and then went to work for Simpson & F'rench, with whom he remained for two years. He then went to Dover, N.H., where he clerked one year f.ir W. S. Wiggin, finally buying out his em- ployer. A year later he sold the business, and, returning to Centre Harbor, jjurchased Henry F3. French's interest in the firm for which he had formerly worked; and the firm of Simpson & Towle is now one of the most prosperous among the general merchants in this section of the State.
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On August 27, 1893, Mr. Towle was juincd in marriage with I'lliza S. Craves, daugliter of Joseph S. Craves, of Centre JIarljor. Mrs. Towle is the nuitiier of two ehihlren — Ruth C. and Mina ]•:. Mr. T.nvle is a member of \Vinnepesaui<ee Tribe, Improve.l Order of Red IVfen.
§().Sh;p}I N. HAYl'.S. a practical agri- culturist of the t<iwn of Rochester, was born August i, 1836, on the farm where he now resides, a son of James Y. Hayes. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Hayes, was the founder of the family in this section of New Hampshire. Prior to the Revolution he settled on the old Hayes home- .stead, and during that hard struggle for inde- pendence he contributed toward the support of the ]iatriot soldiers from the scanty productions of his farm. James Y. Hayes succeeded to the parental acres, spending his life on the farm where his birth occurred, being here engaged in general agriculture until his death. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Alice A. Hayes, several children were born; namely, Joseph X., Lydia .S., Mary A., Julia A., Clara A., Lucretia A., James C, and Benjamin F.
Joseph \. Hayes received his education in the district schools of Rochester and at the academy of Wolfboro. Then, at the age of nineteen, he returned to the homestead, and thereafter assisted on the farm until the ileath of his father in 1865. The farm, of which he has now full charge, contains one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, and is pleasantly situated on the Rochester Neck Road, about five and a half miles north-west of Dover. Here he carries on mi.xed husbandry and dairying with most satisfactory results. Pay- ing close attention to the details of his busi- ness, he is considered one of the most skilful
prosp
Ml
Hayc
I 860,
farmers of this locality, mber of the State legislature .-nting the town ot Rochester before it liecame a city. In 1870 he was again a candidate for the same office, but failed of a re-election by a few votes, his defeat having been caused by the Labor Reform [larty, then dominant in some [larts of New England. While in the legislature he worked for the best interests of his constituents, and was influential in having a bill passed for abolish- ing the district-school .system, and placing all the schools under the control of a board of education. He is a member of Wechohamet Lodge, I. O. O. ¥., of Dover; of Cocheco Grange, of Dover; and of the Good Templars Society of Gonic, having held the most of the offices of the lodge. He attends the Baptist church in the village of Gonic, which is about three miles from his home.
On January 23, iSst), Mr. Hayes married Miss Susan P. Meserve, a native of Bartlett, N.H., and a daughter of Isaac Meserve, a prominent resident of that town. Mr. Meserve was Selectman of liartlett for many years. Mrs. Hayes died in 1879, having borne her husband three children. These were : Arthur H., who lives on the home farm; P'red ]{., who died at the age of fifteen; and Alice L., who died in infancy. Mr. Hayes contracted a second marriage on April 24, 18S3, with Miss A. Augusta Trickey, of Dover.
HORGK W. MORRH.L, one of the uling farmers of Gilford, N.H., was born in this town, July 16, 1S39, son of John Dudley and Lavina (Robin- son) Morrill. He comes of a very old family, being a lineal descendant of Abraham IMorrill, who immigrated to this country with his brother Isaac in the shii) "Lion," which ar-
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rived September if>, 1632. Both joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of ISoston in 1638, the year of its charter.
Abraham Morrill was a blacksmith l)y trade, and so many of his posterity in successive gen- erations chose the same occupation that the family has been humorously spoken of as be- longing to the Tubal Cain fraternity. He was
granted a house and lot and was married June daughter of Rob( " ' Their children v
-t C.
in Salisbury in 1641, 10, iC)45, to Sarah,
jment, o"f Haverhill.
Isaac, born July 10, 1646; Jacob, born August 24, 164S; Sarah, born October 14, 1650; Abraham, Jr., born November 14, 1652; Moses, born December 2S, 1655; Aaron, born August 9, 165S; Richard, born I<"ebruary 6, 1660; Lydia, born March 8, 1661 ; Hepsibah, born January 11, 1663. Abraham Morrill died in 1662; and his will, which was probated October 14 of that year, shows him to have been a well- to-do' man for those times, the estate being- valued at five hundred and seven pounds. His wife exchanged her house lot for forty acres of u|)land on the "Great Playne " ; and on this land stand a par.sonage, a school, the town office, and other buildings. Mrs. Sarah C. Morrill, after the death of her first husband, married Thomas Mudgett, and had one daugh- ter, Mary Mudgett.
Isaac, son of Abraham, and the second in the line now being traced, was also a black- smith, and lived in Salisbury. He marrietl Phcebe Gill, daughter of John Gill. He had eleven children, as follows — by wife Phcebe: Abraham, born August 22, 1671 ; and Lsaac, born .]M-obably July 24, 1673; and (by second wife, Susanna, says Savage) Mary, born P"eb- ruary i, 1674; Sarah, born May 29, 1675; Jacob, born May 25, 1677; John, born Novem- ber 2, 1679; Rachel, born P\'bruary iS, 1682; Daniel, born P\'bruary 18, 1683; Je-
mima, tembc 24, I
their born
cemb 1705 born ber 3 Eliza born
lorn October 9, 1685; Mary, born Scp- 10, 1689; ami Rachel, born August )2. Isaac Morrill died (Jctober 17, nd his widow May 6, 1714,
■vens, and the foil,, wing is the record .,f iklren: Jonathan and Joanna, twins, ibruary 15, 1703; Abraham, born De- 22, 1703; Samuel, born Seiitember 27, oaiina, born I'ebruary 17, 1707; Ruth, cember 16, 1709; Jacob, born Septem- 711; Jeremiah, born August 7, 1713; :h, born November 14, 1715; Judith, ly 4, 1719; and Sarah, born June 22,
Abraham, son of Jacob, was the fourth in this line. His first wife, p:ieanor, died March 26, 1745; and his second wife, Mary Currier, whom he married June 30, 1747, died July 2, 1788. He was called by many P'ather or Faithful Abraham. He was a Representative to the General Court for many years. On February i r, 1757, he bought part of the iron works at Crawley's, Brentwood, N. H. His children were: William, born April 21, 1735; Abraham, born December 10, 1737; Zebedee, born August 4, 1740; laeanor, Iiorn October 30, 1742; and Jabez, born February 15, 1745.
William, son of Abraham and F^leanor, was Selectman in Brentwood in 1766, also in sub- secjuent years; and was a Deputy to the New Hampshire Fourth Provincial Congress at Exeter, May 17, 1775. He was made Justice of the Peace for Rockingham County in 1777, and was reappointed to that office in 1789 by the Council of New Hampshire. He married Lydia Trask in 1760, and their children were: Abraham, Lydia, Anna, William, Jr., Jona- than, and Nathaniel — the first three born in Brentwood. He died there January 28, 1812; and his wife died August 15, 1817. His will shows the following disposition of a jnoperty
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whicii was valued at thiitccii thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine dollars and one cent: to his son Abraham he gave ninet3-si.\ acres on which he was living, to William, Jr., two-thirds of the I'hilhrick farm and a watch, to Jonathan eighty-three acres, and to Nathan- iel the homestead of one hundred and sixty acres.
William Alorrill, Jr., the sixth in line, was born November 8, 1768, and died August 22, 1.S38. His f^rst wife, Mary Gordon, died May 26, 1799; and his second wife, Elizabeth Dudley, daughter of Samuel Dudley, died Oc- tober 12, 1S65. His children were: Nathan- iel, born July 23, 1791; Dolly, burn April 6, 1794; Zebedee, born July 10, 1796; Mary, born April 25, 179.S; Sarah, born January 3, iSoi; Samuel, born March 2t,, 1.S03; John Dudley, born July 25, 1805; Ann, born July 20, 1S07; William, born April 2, 1810; Washington, born Januarv 3, 1813; I'rederick, born August 24, 181 5.
John Dudley Morrill, the fourth son, mar- ried first Lavina Robinson, and by this union had three children: James R. ; Jolm V. ; and George W., the subject of this sketch. His second wife was Ruth Stevens, who had no children.
George W. Morrill, having completed his course of study :it Laconia Academy, engaged in teaching school in the winter and farming in the summer. b'or a year after his marriage he remained with his father; and he then bought the Franklin Weeks estate, where he has since made his home. This place con- .sisted originally of three hundred acres, and Mr. Morrill has added to it until it now em- braces five hundred acres. He has turned his attention to stock-raising, especially that of .sheep, and is now making a specialty of the milk business. Becoming interested in the massage treatment about four years ago, he
a masseur has
He uses the
has been veiy
took up its practice, and established quite a reputat M(.nroe or deep treatment, successfid in his cases, which have been among the best people of the conmnmity. Nevertheless, his farming has, by no means, been neglected. Mr. Morrill has been Select- man of Gilford for three years; and for two years he represented his town in the State legislature, while there serving on the Com- mittee on Agriculture. He is ;it present Town Treasurer. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist church, in which he has held the office of steward for the ]iast eighteen years. He is a Past Master and is now Lecturer of Mount l-ielknap Grange, No. 52. In politics he has always been an out- spoken and active Reiiublican.
Mr. Morrill was married November 26, 1863, to M. Frances, daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Hill) Weeks. Her father, who was a man of some prominence, serving as Select- man and as Representative, and also holding other offices, was born in 1816, and died in 1884. He had three children — M. Frances, S. Amanda, and Austin li. Mr. and ]\Irs. Morrill have one chikl— Leon, now married to Carrie E. Kimball.
OIIN D. OTIS, a leading representative of the intlustrial community of l''arm- ington, N.H., where he is carrying on iving business as a blacksmith and gen- in iron work, was born in this town, January 15, 1S50. His father, William Otis, a son of Micager Otis, was born in Farmington, and here spent his life engaged chiefly in agricultural pursuits. He died in i860, at the age of fifty -three years. In poli- tics he was a sound Democrat, but took no part in local affairs. His wife, whose maiden
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name was Sarah iJcalaiul, here bini eleven children, fiiur of whom survive, namely: A. I. D. Otis; Geor-e W. ; Ruxie; and John D.
John I). Otis attended the district schools of I'"arminL;ton in his boyhood, and put his hantl to the p]ouL;h in early life, workini;- until twenty-eii;ht years old as a farmer. lie then established himself as a blacksmith and car- riage repairer, and has since built up an ex- tensive and lucrative business in general job- bing, his work being noted for its durability and superior finish. Honest and ujjright in his dealings, and taking an active interest in the welfare of the town, he enjoys a wide pop- ularity, and in i8y6 was elected as a Repre- sentative to the General Court at Concord, receiving the largest majority ever cast in Farmington. In i^olitics he affiliates with the Republican party.
On 1^'ebruary I3, 1885, Mr. Otis married Miss Susie 15. Pitman, of Barnstead, N.II., a daughter of lidward and Ann S. Titman.. They have two children — Harry L. and John C. Mr. Otis contributes liberally toward the su|)port of the Baptist church, which he and his family regularly attenil.
"hlN'RY II. TIIOMl'SON, a prominent )ntractor and builder of Belmont, N.IL, and a member of the Board of Selectmen, was born in Gilford, Belknap County, November 2, i860, son of Joseph H. and Sarah A. (Bennett) Thompson. The Thompson family, it is said, are descendants of six brothers — Mo.ses, Amos, Richard, .Samuel, Jacob, and John — who were [lioneer settlers in Centre Harbor, N. H.
Joseph II. Thompson, father of Henry II., was born in Centre Harbor, N.II. He lived there and at Laconia till about 184N, when he
moved to (jilford, and there resided until his death in 1861. He was a shoemaker liy trade. His wife, Sarah A. Bennett, was born in Gil- ford, of which town her ancestors were i)io- neers and among the first tax-[xiyers. .She became the mother of two chililren, namely: Mmma J.; and Henry II., the subject of this sketch. iMiima J. married Ernest B. Veasey, a prosperous contractor of Manchester.
Henry II. Thompson was educated in the common and high schools of Laconia. After leaving school he engaged in agricultural [jur- suits for a time, and in 1888 he entered into business as a contractor and builder. He has already gained a high reputation for reliable and painstaking work, and has just completed a house and stable in Laconia, costing fifteen thousand dollars. In 18*85 he removed to Bel- mont, anil erected a large frame house on Latld Hill, where he accommodates summer boarders.
On June 18, 1S85, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Annie I{. Ladd, daughter of Harlan 1'. Laild. She was edu- cated at the Laconia High School. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, namely: Ralph II., who died young; Blanche L. ; and .Sarah Marion.
Politically, Mr. Thompson supports the Re- publican party. He has been a Selectman for the past three years, and as a member of that body has rendered valuable services to the town. He is connected with the local grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and with the United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, of Laconia, N.II.
I'lNRV K. C1IAMBI':RLAIN, of New Durham, who enjoys the distinction being the first Republican Rep- resentati\e to the legislature from this town, was born in Alton, N.IL, November 20, i S46,
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sun of Durrcll S. and Lucy (Ihakins) Cham- berlain. His father was a native of Alton, as was also his grandfather, John Chamberlain.
Durrell S. Chamberlain has always resided at the homestead in Alton, situated near the New Durham line, and is an active and pros- ])L'rous citizen. In ])ol!tics he supports the Republican party. He married Lucy Huck- ins, a native of Alton, and has three children: Henry E., the subject of this sketch: Ida C. ; and Ella, wife of Erank I?, Foss, of l-"arming- ton, N.H.
Henry E. Chamberlain attended school in New Durham and Alton, and on the comple- tion of his studies he learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1868 he bought the J. 15. Young farm, where he has since resided, and, having made various improvements upon the land and buildings, now has one oi the most valuable pieces of agricultural property in this locality. He has availed himself of all modern machin- ery and appliances for general farming and dairying, and his success is the result of his progressive tendencies and excellent judgment.
Mr. Chamberlain married Sarah Tucker, of I'enacook (apart of Concord, N.H.), and has three children: Stella, wife of Harry C. Knowlton, of Haverhill, Mass.: Arthur D., who is attending the New Hampton Literary Institute; and Lucy, who is now a pupil at the seminary for girls in E.xeter, N.H. Eor several years Mr. Chamberlain acted as Road Commissioner. His election to the House of Representatives in 1896 was considered a notable event in this vicinity, as the Demo- cratic party had succeeded in electing its leg- islative candidate for the past fifty years; and it is predicted that the new Representative from New Durham will do honor to his town, as well as to his party. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain are Adventists in their religious views.
ON. JOHN G. JICWI'ITT, of Laconia, has served the public in various offices of trust, and is one of the best known public men of Helkna[) County. He is also prominent as an officer in some of the leading fraternal organizations of the day. A son of Smith and Statira (Glines) Jewett, he was born September 4, 1829, in Laconia, at that time known as Meredith Bridge.
His grantlfather, Samuel Jewett, was the first permanent settler in what is now Laconia, coming here in 17S2, when the coimtry here- about was covered with heavy timber, and game of all kinds was plentiful. He owned more than half the land in what is now Ward Five, his property extending along the east side of the Winnepesaukee River from far above Main Street to some distance below; in fact, he had so much land that he could almost afford to give it away, and he sold the water privilege on this side of the river and seven acres of land for seven dollars. A part of his estate is still owned by the famil)'. His first dwelling was built near the site of Judge Jewett's present residence. .Samuel Jewett was a small man, but, like Captain Myles Standish, his courage was greater than his stature. He offered his services at the breaking out of the Revolution; and, being obliged to pass luider a pole to see if he was of the requisite height for military duty, he raised himself to his tiptoes, and passed the examination. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and served all through the war. Though not a church member, he was commonly known as "Deacon Jewett." He married Alpheus Smith, and had a family of three sons and five or si.x daughters.
Smith Jewett was boi'n on the homestead in Laconia, and spent his life in this place, working at carpentry, and also following agri- cultural pursuits. He died at the age of
O")
'a-^.
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scvuiity-five. His wife was a native nf Ndrtli field, N.II. Their lamily consisted of tiv hoys and five !j;irls.
Jdhii Ct. was the sixth child born to hi
In his
he attende
the
public schools of I.aconia and Gilford Acad- emy. After finishiiiL;- his studies he taught school more or less for ten years, also working at the carpenter's trade. In 1855 he went to South America, where he remained about six- teen months, returning in March, 1S57. He was subsequently employed for eight years in the Laconia Car Works. In 1S76 he was ap- pointed Justice of the Police Court of La- conia; and for nearly sixteen years he attended to the iluties of his (jffice, presiding with dig- nity and impartiality. In 1891 he resigned; and in April of that year he assumed charge of the post-office in Laconia, having been ap- pointed Postmaster by I'resident Harrison. He resigned this oflice in May, 1895, and since that time has been retired from public life. Judge Jewett was Registrar of Probate for two years. He began to serve the public nearly forty years ago, being appointed super- intendent of the School Committee of Gilford in 1S5.S. In 1859 '1^' was Collector of Taxes, the three years following he was Selectman of (iilford, antl in 1863 he was recruiting officer in that town. He was in the State legislature in isr./ and iSr,8, elected from Gilford, and while in the House served on the Committee of Belknap County to apportion the State tax. Judge Jewett was a member of the Laconia Boaril of ICducation some twelve years.
In December, 1855, he was married to Car(.)line E. Shannon, a native of Harnstead, N.IL, and at the time of her marriage a resi- dent of Gilmanton. Mr. and Mrs. Jewett have three children: Stephen S., a ])rominent lawyer of Laconia; John P. ; and Katie H. — all married. The Judge has been a Free
Mason for over thirty years, having joined Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 32, of Laconia, in iSr,4; and he is a Past Master of this lodge. He is High Priest of Union Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M. ; and belongs ti) Pilgrim Command- ery. Knights Templar. Though not a profess- ing church member, he contributes liberally to the sui)port of the Congregational chLU-ch in Laconia.
ON. BENJAMIN JAMES COLE, a
;nerable anil esteemed citizen of Laconia, N.IL, for sixty years a leailing business man and manufacturer of Lake[)ort, was born in P'ranconia, Grafton County, this State, SeiHember 28, 18 14, the son of Isaac and Hannah (Atwood) Cole.
His parents had twelve children, and he is now the only survivor of the family. Several emigrants from lingland having the name of Cole settled in Massachusetts in the seven- teenth century, among them Thomas, the pro- genitor of this branch of the family, who was living in Salem in 1649. It is thought that he came in the "Mary and John" in 1634. His son John removed from Salem to Maiden, Mass., and later to Lynn, where he died in 1703. John Cole's son Samuel settled in ]5ox- fortl, Essex County, Mass., in 171 7, becoming a farmer in the West Parish.
In the early part of the eighteenth century Samuel Cole's son, Samuel Cole, Jr., the great-graiulfather of Benjamin James Cole, was well known in Rowley and ]5oxford as a man of solid worth and property. Among his numerous children was Solomon, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, born in 1743. The family was intensely patriotic; and Solo- mon and his brothers — Daniel, Benjamin, Eliphalet, Phineas, .Samuel, and Simeon — it is said, i)erformed all together twenty-seven years of service in the Continental army dur-
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iiig the Revolutionary War. Solomon was en- i;ai;e(l in military service tliroughout the great struggle, lie took part in the battle of Hunker Hill anil nunieious other engagements, and was wounded in the Ijattle of Chipjjewa Creek. The house in which he lived is still standing in Rowley, and is occupied by one of the name, Caleb Cole. .Solomon Cole married a Miss Barker, and had eight sons — Timothy, John, Kimball, Isaac, l^enjamin, .Solomon, Samuel, and Asa. He was one of the stalwart men to whose patriotism, devotion to duty, and strong religious faith so much of our modern prosperity is due. He lived to the age of ninety-three, spending the last years of his life with his son, the Rev. Samuel Cole, in Lisbon, N.H. .Samuel Cole was a preacher (jf the gospel for forty years; and his son, the Rev. Moores Cole, has been in the Free Bap- tist ministry for forty-eight years.
Isaac Cole, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Rowley, Mssex County, Mass. In his young manhood he learned the trade of a cooper and later that of a cariienter. He married H.mnah Atwood when he was about twenty-three, and settled in Chester, N.H. Mrs. Cole was a woman of deei) relig- ious iirinciples, and carried her creed into daily practice. She was a native of Atkinson, N.H., and a cousin of Harriet Atwood, who married the Ivev. William Newell, and was the first woman missionary to go from the United States to India, about 1S20. Air. Cole lived in Chester for a few years, when he purchased some land in Landaff, Grafton County, and removed thither, giving his name to Cole's Hill, As he did not incline to agriculture, he went to i-'raneonia to assLune llie superintendency of the wootl-working de- partment of the New Hampshire Iron Manu- facturing Comp.my located in that place. He remained in this i)osition for eight years, and
at the expiration of that time removed to .Salisbury, now I'ranklin village, where he constructed one of the first foundries built in New Hami)shire, and carried it on for six years. In 1S27 the great advantages alforded at Batchelder's Mills, now Lakeport, induced him to remove to this place. Here he estab- lished and conducted for nine years the small foundry which was the germ of the present ex- tensive iron works of the Cole Manufacturing- Company. Mr. Isaac Cole was a very alert and intelligent business man, and had great mechanical aptitude. He was a valued mem- ber of the Free Baptist church fur many years.
Benjamin J. was seven years old when his father removed to Salisbury; and he obtained his education in the schools of that town anti in tiie Noyes School and Sanbornton Acad- emy. In 1836, after an enforced idleness of a year and a half on account of poor health, he, with two brothers, assumed control of his father's iron foundry at Lakeport, under the firm name of Cole & Co. Ten years later the name was changed to that of Cole, Uavis & Co. ; and at the close of another decatle Mr. Cole became the sole proprietor of the jjlant. In 1S73 the manufactured products of the busi- ness were in such great demand as to necessi- tate the erection of additional buildings, the intiuductioii of new machinery, and a large increase of capital. The Cole Manufacturing Company was incorporated, having a capital of sixty thousand dollars. All the stock, except- ing about eight per cent., was owned by Mr. Cole and members of his family.
This conijjany has carried on a \'ery exten- sive Inisiness. Its annual product has ranged as high as one humlred ami twenty-live thuu- ,sand dollars, and a force of one hundred and sixty men has lieen employed. Under the present business ilepression the i)roduct reaches
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iixty thmisand ilnl irc cni|)l(i\'e(). M:
sixty
During ami since the Civil War one hundred thousand dollars' worth of looms have been made in one year. The company also makes a specialty of manufacturing water-wheels. In their forge and foundry they make car axles, agricultural implements, and stoves, liight sets of machiner}', which were the first set up in the .State of California for the manu- facture of excelsior, were made here. Mr. Cole was Trcasui-er and .Superintendent of the corporation until 1S83, when, upon his resig- nation, his son-in-law, Colonel Henry li Ouinby, was elected to succeed him. This establishment has done all the castings for the B. C. & M. R.R. since the road, of which Mr. Cole was one of the projectors, was built. The total product from this one line aggre- gates from ten thousand dollars to thirty thousand dollars ]icr year. The power for this vast machinery is furnished mostly by water, of which there is tw^o hundred horse-power. For only a few months" time in forty years has it been found necessary to use steam.
Mr. Cole was one of the incorporators of the Winnipiseogee Steamboat Corporation, for which lie, together with the late Captain Will- iam Walker, built the '"Lady of the Lake." lie is an incorporator of the Lake Village .Savings liank, of which he was ten years Pres- ident; incorporator and for ten years Director of the Laconia National Bank; and incorpo- rator, and until recently President, of the Wardvvell Needle Company. P"or more than half a century Mr. Cole has been immediately connected with the growth and prosperity of Lakeport and one of the vital factors in its flourishing condition.
On June 17, 1S38, Mr. Cole was united in
marriage with Miss Mehitalile, daughter nf Nathan and Peace (Clifford) Ratchelder, of Lakeport. 1^'ive children were born of this miion, three dying in infancy; anil two daugh- ters — ICllen A. and Octavia — are now living. Mrs. Cole died on July 15, 1S93. On her father's side she was descended from the cele- brated Rev. Stephen Bachiler, the founder of Hampton, N.H. ; and on her mother's side she was allied witli the olil English family of Cliffords, who belonged to the nobility. Gen- eral R. N. Ratchelder, Mrs. B. J. Cole's lirother, having serveil through the Rebell- ion, was appointed a Quartermaster in the regular army, and advancing through the sev- eral grades became Quartermaster -general. He was retired July 27, 1S96, during the ad- ministration of President Cleveland, having reached the limitation age of sixty-four }'ears. LIntil the breaking out of the Civil War Mr. Cole had always been a Democrat. Since that time he has voted the Republican ticket, and has held many positions of trust and honor in the public service. In 1849-50 he repre- sented Gilford in the .State legislature, and in 1S66-67 he served on the Governor's Council for the Second Councillor District. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1868 and to the National Republican Conven- tion which renominated Abraham Lincoln in 1S64. He is a member of the Free Baptist church and a Trustee of the New Hampton Institution, and is always ready to devote time and money to the furtherance of works of benevolence or projects caculated to promote the welfare of the general public. P'or many years he was clerk of the church; and together with Mr. Davis, his former pastor, he built the chajiel, and helped to buikl the first churcli in Lakeport, as well as the present church, which is more costly, and has a larger society than any other in this count)-.
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I'.ORGI': A. SIMPSON, senior nicm- her of the firm of Simpson & Towie, leral mercliants of Centre Harbor, was l)orn in Rumiiey, X.H., Octoljer 25, 1863, son of Tiiomas and Adell Graee (Merrill) Sim])son. The grandfather, George W. Simp- son, was a native of West Rumney. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he fol- lowed in addition to farming, and resided in Oxford, N.ll. He was a man of considerable local prominence, and servetl as a Selectman for two or three years. His wife, in maiden- hood Mary Savage, was a native of Oxford.
Thomas Simpson was born in Oxford, March 7, 1835. At the age of sixteen he left the homestead, and for several years was em- ployed upon a milk farm in the vicinity of lioston. He then returned to Oxford, and, purchasing a dairy farm, carried it on for some time. Selling his property, he removed to Rumney, where he bought a farm and a saw- mill. After carrying on quite an extensive business here for a few years, he sold the mill, and worked as foreman for three or four years in tlie employment of the purchaser. At the enil of that time he sold his farm, and removed to Rumnev village. .Some four years later he engaged in the tinware business, which he fol- lowed successfully for sixteen or seventeen years, driving a well-stocked cart, and for eight years making his head<|uarters in I'lyni- outh, N.H. He finally settled in Centre Harbor, and is now engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife, Adell, who is a daughter of (ieorge L. i\Ierrill, of Rumney, has had three children, two of whom are living, namely: George A., the subject of this sketch; and Austin G., a resident of Campton, N.H. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas .Simpson are members of the Baptist church.
George A. Simpson obtained his education in the public schools of Rumne\- and at the
New Hampton Institute. He commenced his business career in Plymouth as a clerk for Plummer b'ox, with wdiom lie remained five years. He then came to Centre Harbor, where, in company with Henry K. French, he started a general mercantile business, under the firm name of Simpson & I'rench. On May i, 1S94, his partner sold his interest to I-'rank L. Towle; and the jiresent firm of .Simpson & Towle are conducting a thriving trade. ( )n December 7, i88fi, Mr. Simiis.m was united in marriage with Mabel L. Wyatt, daughter of George Wyatt. Mrs. Simpson is the mother of four children; namely, Percy G. , Leon W., p:arl T., and Marian G. In politics ?^Ir. Simpson is a Republican. He served the town as Postmaster for four years, and he was elected Moderator at town meetings in 1896. He is connected with \Vinnepesaukee Trilie, Improveil Order of Red Men, in which he is Collector of Wampum.
RKI".MAN A. HUSSl'LV, proprietor of
the principal bakery in Somersworth,
N.H., is a native of tliis place, born
January 23, 1852, son of John and .Mary
(Locke) Hussey.
He spent his boyhood and youth in the parental home, and obtaineil his elementar)' education in tlie comuion schojls of the vil- lage. When about nineteen years old he began to learn the baker's trade, working in the same shop about eight years, or until May, 1879, when he bought out his employer, and has since conducted the business in his own name. He has one of the largest and best equipped bakeries in Straffortl County, and employs four or five men the greater part of the time. Having a thorough practical knowledge of the business, he is able to super- intend it in all its various departments.
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On October 23, iS-S, Mr. 1 Iiissey married Miss Cclia A. I".. I'all, of Somcrsworth, a (laii.L;Iitcr of Noah I., ami Aniamla (jamcs) I'-all. 'riicy have two cliiklren: Lcona Iv, horn May 5. 1S80: and lulith A., born July 17, 1S82.
Mr. llussey is a stanch Republican, and has been quite active in jiolitical matters. In 18S7 anil iSSS he was a member of the I'oard of .Selectmen, and is now serviiiL;' his third term as Alderman from Ward Three. He belon-s to Libanus Lodye, No. 49, V. & A. M. ; St. Paul Commandery, K. T. ; and Washington Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F. , of Somersworth. He is an active member of the l-'rcc Baptist church, in which he holds the iiosition of church warden.
KLSON J. CHASI-:, a rising young farmer of Meredith, Ikdknap County, N.H., was born in this town, De- cember 22, 1869, son of William and Melvina Chase. His grandfather, John Chase, who was born in Meredith, September 22, 1786, married Sally Leavitt, born March 2f', 1790, and his children were: Luther M., Aaron R., William, John W., Stephen L., Wealthy, Maria, and Hosca.
Luther M. Chase was born in Meredith, April 26, 181 1. With the exception of two or three years spent in Newton, Mass., he has always resided upon the homestead, wliich was improved by his father. He is an iiulustrious and successful farmer. For his first wife he married Roxanna Gordon, and by that union had two sons — Albert A, Chase, M.D., and Noah H. Albert A. was graduated from Dartmouth College. He entered the volunteer service as Assistant Surgeon of the Twenty- eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, and died in the army during the Civil War. He
was unmarried. Noah H. Chase is residing in Meredith.
William Chase, father of Nelson J., was b(n-n and educated in Meredith. He followed agricultural pursuits in this town until his deatli, which occurred in 1871. He wedded Airs. Melvina Smith Taylor, daughter of William Smith, of Holderncss, N.H. (An account of her parents and ancestry will be found in a sketch of Curtis h". Smith, which appears upon another jxigc of the Ri:vii:\v.) Mrs. Chase, by her union with David Taylor, her first husband, had two children: Frank, who is no longer living; and Frank S. 15y her union with Mr. William Chase she had four children, namely: Flora E., who marrieil George H. Mooney, of Lakeport, N. H.; Clara M., who died in infancy; Abbie M., wife of Harry Perks, of Everett, Mass.; and Nelson J., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Melvina Chase, after the death of her second husliand, married his brother, Luther M. Chase.
Nelson J. Chase is a young man of untiring energy and much natural ability. Heacquircd a good practical education in his boyhood, and is now carrying on general farming with gratifying success. Politically, he acts with the Republican party.
ISRAI'lL HAYES, a veteran shoe manu- facturer of I'armington, and one of its most venerable a)id honored citizens, was born May 9, 1816, in Milton, N.IL, son of Ichabod Hayes. The Hayes family was one of the earliest to settle in Strafford County. Ichabod Hayes, born and reared in Madbury, this county, and familiar from boy- hood with the pi(meer labor of clearing anil improving the land, removed to Miltim, where he was engaged as a tiller of the soil for the most of his life. In 1830, at the age of three-
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score years, he was accidentally killed on the dra\vbri.(lj,'e at Sawyer's Mills in Dover, as the result of being thrown out of a wagon by the collision of another. Ills first wife, in maid- enhood Miss Wentworth, of New Castle, N.H., died a few years after their union, leaving three children — ICphraim, Sarah, and Lydia. He afterward married Miss Sally Canl, and of their eight children but two survi\c: Israel, the subject of this sketch; and William, who resides in Stoneham, Mass.
Until he was about twenty )-ears old, Israel Hayes worked on the farm in the summer sea- son, and attended tlie district schools of Mil- ton or Alton in the winter. He was afterward employed for a short time at the shoemaker's trade in Alton, and then went to Natick, Mass., for a short stay. In 1840 he estab- lished himself in business in Farmington as a manufacturer of custom shoes, continuing for some years on a rather modest scale. In i<S53, encouraged by the success he had met with, he erected a factory, and for a year manufactured shoes in company with II. B. Edgerly. .Since that time he has continued the business in company with his son, making a specialty of manufacturing brogan shoes of a medium grade, and has built up an extensive and flourishing trade. At the present time, however, only a part of the building is occu- lted. In politics he is a firm supporter of the principles of the Repuljlican party. He has never cared for public office, although he did serve for one year as Chairman of the Hoard of Selectmen.
Mr. Hayes has been twice married. His first marriage was contracted with .Sarah Rich- ards, of Dover, who ilied soon after, leaving a daughter, named Sarah. In 1848 Mr. Hayes was married to Miss Ann !•'. Kdgerly, who died November 12, 1S89. I'ive children were born of this union, foiu' of whom are now liv-
ing; namely, Edward W., Martha A., P'rank C, and Mary K. Martha is the wife of j. V. Safford, of this town; "and Mary is the wife of E. F. Cummings, of Beachmont, Mass. Mr. Hayes and his family attend and sujiport the Congregational church, of which he has been a Deacon for twenty years.
§OHN ALEXANDER MacDONALD, the superintendent of the John D. Bates estate at Centre Harbor, and an e.\- member of the New Hampshire legislature, is a native of Prince Edward Island, and was born July 19, 1856. He is a son of Alexander and Catherine (Gillis) MacDonald, who are respectively natives of Scotland and I'l'ince Edward Island. The grandfather, John Mac- Donald, born in Glasgow, Scotland, learned the ship-carpenter's trade in that city. After marriage he emigrated to Prince P^dwanl Island, where he was for many years engaged in building fishing-vessels and in farming.
Alexander MacDonald, father of the subject of tliis sketch, emigrated with his parents when he was a boy. At the age of twenty-one he received from his father a farm locatetl upon the seashore, wliich he has since suc- cessfully conducted. He has been quite ac- tive in local politics, and is identified with the Liberal party. His wife, Catherine, who is a daughter of Laughlin Gillis, of Prince lulward Island, has had three children, namely: John Alexander, the subject of this sketch; Joseph, who is now deceased; and Mary Ann. Both parents are Roman Cath- olics.
John Alexander MacDonald resided at home until he became of age, receiving his eiluca- tion in the i^ublic schools. He then went to Boston, and soon after his arrival there ob- tained emi)lo\-meiit on the Adams estate in
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Watertowii, Mass., where he remained a year. He next worked upon tlie I'hillips estate in ]?everly, Mass., for a year, and tlien became superintendent of the John I). ]?ates estate at Centre Harbor. This property, whicli is one of the finest rural establishments in New Kng- land, contains two hundred acres, has a deer ]iark, trout pond, and large greenhouses. Blooded cattle and sheejj of standard breeds are kept, and its stable contains ten fancy horses. On March