Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire, Part 1

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review
Number of Pages: 1124

USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 1

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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01085 8915

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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 history"

BOSTON BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY

1897

WЗІЯЯ ТАЭІНЧАЯДО18

IXX SMUJOV

ПЯТОЧНАЯТА ДИА ЗАЙНЯ СОПИЈЕ?

1628842

3-4

ATLANTIC STATES SERIES OF BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS.

The volumes issued in this series up to date are the following : -

I. OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

XIII.

YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

II. MADISON COUNTY, NEW YORK. XIV. CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

III. BROOME COUNTY, NEW YORK. XV. OXFORD AND FRANKLIN MAINE.

IV. COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

V. CAYUGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. XVI.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

XVII. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMP- SHIRE.

VI. DELAWARE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

VII. LIVINGSTON AND WYOMING COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

VIII. CLINTON AND ESSEX COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

IX. HAMPDEN COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

X. FRANKLIN COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

XI. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

XII. LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

XVIII. PLYMOUTH COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

XIX. CAMDEN AND BURLINGTON COUNTIES. NEW JERSEY.

XX. SAGADAHOC, LINCOLN, KNOX, AND WALDO COUNTIES, MAINE.

XXI. BELKNAP AND STRAFFORD COUNTIES, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

NOTE .- All the biographical sketches published in this volume were submitted to their respective subjects or to the sub- scribers, from whom the facts were primarily obtained, for their approval or correction before going to press ; and a reasonable time was allowed in each case for the return of the typewritten copies. Most of them were returned to us within the time allotted, or before the work was printed, after being corrected or revised; and these may therefore be regarded as reasonably accurate.

A few, however, were not returned to us; and, as we have no means of knowing whether they contain errors or not, we cannot vouch for their accuracy. In justice to our readers, and to render this work more valuable for reference purposes, we have indicated these uncorrected sketches by a small asterisk (*), placed immediately after the name of the subject. They will all be found on the last pages of the book.

JULY, 1897.

B. R. PUB. CO.

COUNTIES,

5-6

PREFACE.

1212280

H AVING labored with diligence and with the help of many hands, as is needful in this fast-going, news-loving, novelty-producing age, availing ourselves of the material kindly placed at our disposal by our patrons in Belknap and Strafford Counties, representative citizens of New Hampshire, whose cordial co-opera- tion has made the work possible, we are happy to announce the completion of another BICGRAPHICAL REVIEW, the twenty-first volume in our Atlantic States Series, whose publication we began a few years since, have carried on without intermission, and are still continuing.

The local biographer supplements the work of the town and county historian, and lights up with living interest the dry names and dates dear to the genealogist, while freely conceding to the census enumerator the palm for longer schedules. . Well-born, of reputable ancestry, sprung, some of them, from early colonists of two hundred, yes, even of two hundred and sixty years ago-for Dover, it must be remembered, was the first permanent settlement in the State -the persons whose life stories are here outlined have earned the right to be commemorated. The accounts here given are of used talents and opportunities, of industry, energy, and enterprise, far-reaching and to good ends, not of slothfulness, not of selfishness, knavery, and greed, but of fair dealing, of public 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. Every 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.

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JOHN J. MORRILL.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

OLONEL JOHN J. MOR- RILL, late an 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 son of Barnard Morrill, he was born in Gilford, on August 3, 1816; and he died in the same house and the same room on January 20, 1892.

Abraham Morrill, who at an early date settled in Amesbury, Mass., was the immi- grant founder of the family in New England. Barnard Morrill, father of John J., came from Brentwood, N. H., 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 held, and he also devoted considerable time to other legal duties. He married March 23, 1809, 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. H., 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 subsequently received the benefit of a few terms at Gilmanton Acad- emy and New Hampton Institution. He then studied under the tuition of Dudley Leavitt, who was well known as the originator of Leavitt's Farmer's Almanac. 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 Wadleigh of the old State militia, with the title of Colonel. He was agent of the town of Gilford for years, and handled its law suits and other important legal matters. He was a delegate to the Whig Convention 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-

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ern Whigs became Free Soilers and by 1856 Republicans. Mr. Morrill took an active part in the exciting 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 1872 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, 1819, 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 B., 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 Bach- 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.

ENRY KIMBALL, attorney and coun- sellor-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 Ber- wick, Me., May 24, 1804, and his mother in Shapleigh, April 17, 1806.

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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 28, 1882; and his wife died May 2, 1893. 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 younger days, 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.

AMES D. BARTLETT, senior member of the firm Bartlett & Smith, con- tractors and builders of Meredith, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legis- lature, was born July 27, 1833, in Centre 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, Mass. 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., Joseph, 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 Libbey, of Wolfboro, N.H.

Samuel G. Bartlett, father of James D. 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 Ezekiel Rowe, became the mother of eight children, six of whom attained maturity. These were: James D., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth 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 of 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 23, 1857. Both parents were members of the Free 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 apprenticeship of three years at the mason's trade. Having become 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, N.H. In 1858 he settled in Meredith, where he did general mason work until 1881. He then formed a partnership with his present associate, and is now doing quite an extensive contracting and building business both in New Hampshire and Ver- 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 1, 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 Free Baptist church.

TIRAM SAWYER OSBORN, an ex- tensive farmer of Rochester, was born in Loudon, N.H., March 26, 1831, son of Green and Mehitabel (Barton) Osborn. The Osborn family in America is of English 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. Elijah 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 Loudon, N.H., and settled down on a farm, although he still continued to work at his trade. His re- ligious principles were those accepted by his Quaker forefathers. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Green.

Green Osborn, born in Loudon, N. H., 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 potter. This purpose 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: Eliza- 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.HI .; Angeline A., who mar- ried Munroe Wiggins, of Haverhill, Mass .; and David G., now living in Rochester. 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

penter'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 bis trade for about one year. In i861, 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 head of cattle, he cuts from forty to fifty tons of hay annually. Intermittently, between 1865 and 1885, Mr. Osborn taught plain and ornamental penmanship. He is a good penman to-day.

The first of Mr. Osborn's two marriages was contracted with Nancy Jane Waldron, daughter of Benjamin Waldron, of Rochester. By her he became the father of two children, namely : Caroline J., who married George Whitehouse, of Dover, and is now deceased; and Annie B., who married Oliver M. Vickery, of Rochester. By his second marriage he was united 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 Select- 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 Cocheco 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 industry and sterling worth, Mr. Osborn is highly esteemed in Rochester.

ILLIS P. EMERSON, one of the most energetic young business men . in 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; namely, 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.H. 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 enterprises 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 prominence 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. Emerson 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- perience displayed so much real energy and determination and, above all, such a steadfast adherence to the principles of integrity.

Since entering mercantile life Mr. Emer- son has rapidly advanced in prosperity, 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 and 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. Edgerly in New Durham. Of their nine children, three are living: John F., the subject of this sketch; James A., of Farmington ; and Ellen F., the wife of E. 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 shoe business, first . learning to cut shoes. At the age of twenty- two he set up in business for himself at Farm- ington in a small way. This humble begin- ning has since developed into his present prosperous business. For twenty-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 gives employ- ment to about one hundred hands, whose weekly 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 Farmington. 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 F. Cloutman, Jr.

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Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire, Part 1

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review
Number of Pages: 1124