A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 65

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.]
Number of Pages: 888

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Sullivan > A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I > Part 65

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T. JEWETT LOCKE, son of John, was in the grocery business in Keene and elsewhere, and is now (1907) in charge of the building used for the Thayer City Library in Keene.

DAVID, AMOS B., ELBRIDGE, and SALMON MCINTIRE, sons of David, were all very industrious and energetic men. David died in Marlborough. Amos B. acquired a handsome competency by produce farming in Lowell, Mass. Elbridge and Salmon were in the meat business, and both died in Lowell.

JAMES, JESSE and ELIJAH MASON, sons of Bela, left town after their mar- riages. James lived in Ontario, N. Y., and Jesse lived there and in Coldwater, Mich. Elijah lived at Vernon, Vt., and elsewhere. All were substantial men and greatly respected.

CHARLES MASON, son of Rufus, lived many years upon the homestead in Sullivan, but finally moved to Marlborough. He was one of the most influential men in both places. He was a justice of the peace and quorum throughout the state. He represented the town in the legislature and held important town offices. He was intrusted officially, as a justice, with many important duties, among which was the settlement of the complicated affairs in connection with the old tannery estate at East Sullivan. For the executive ability which he displayed in this settlement, he was especially complimented by the judge of probate.

ORVILLE MASON, a brother of Charles, lives in Vineland, N. J., which has been his home for many years.

ORLANDO MASON, another son of Rufus, was one of the most brilliant busi- ness men who have left Sullivan. He was educated in the academy at Thetford, Vt., and became a school teacher. He went to Winchendon, March 4, 1844, and entered the employ of E. Murdock, Jr., where he remained for nine years, six years in learning the practical portion of the manufacture of wooden wares, and the last three years in the office. In 1853, he went into business for him- self, buying a half interest in the saw-mill and pail-shop of Ephraim Kendall. In 1863, he became the sole owner. In 1869, his son, Dwight L., became a partner. In 1878, a partnership was formed with Morton E. Converse. The latter bought Mr. Mason's interest in 1883. That year, Mr. Mason visited

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Europe with his wife. Later he bought the Weston mill, in which were made pails, tubs, and churns. In 1890, he formed a partnership with H. N. Parker in the manufacture of bit braces. In 1903, this firm was merged in the National Novelty Corporation. He was active in forming the Winchendon Savings Bank, of which he was the president for twenty-five years. He was one of the promoters of the First National Bank of Winchendon, and one of the directors for many years. He was a prominent member of the North Congregational Church of Winchendon, and for twenty-two years the superintendent of its Sunday school. He was a trustee of Cushing Academy of Ashburnham, and a director of the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He had lived more than sixty years in Winchendon, in a handsome residence near the railway station, for many of the last years of his life. He died at the Carney Hospital in Boston, Dec. 9, 1905. His son, Marcus M. Mason, graduated at Amherst College in 1883, and his grandson, Orland W. Mason, graduated at Williams College, in 1899.

JESSE, NATHANIEL P., and LORENZO W. MASON, sons of Nathaniel, moved to other towns. Jesse was a farmer in Cabot, Vt. Nathaniel P. was a miller in Sullivan, then in Stoddard, and spent his last days in Sullivan. Lorenzo W. lived at Brighton, Me., and Embden, Me., and also last lived in Sullivan, where he died.

ALONZO, ASHLEY, and SYLVESTER MASON, sons of Joseph, all began their married life in town and all died elsewhere. Alonzo was a famous school mas- ter in his time and a man who settled many estates and managed considerable business. He died in Massachusetts. Ashley lived many years on the home- stead, but finally moved to Keene and died there. Sylvester operated the little mill that stood opposite the house of John S. Currier in Sullivan. He moved to Gardner, Mass.

LEVI F. and GEORGE W. MASON were sons of Jeremiah. Levi F. long lived upon the homestead, but died in Marlborough. George W. became an influential business man in Illinois and Louisiana. He died at Covington, La., in 1902.

LESTON E. MASON, son of Levi F., was a bright and energetic young man, who engaged in the clothing business in Keene and was highly prospered. He built a handsome house upon Main street and was master of a Masonic lodge. A fatal malady ended his career before he had accomplished nearly all that he aspired to do. He was highly esteemed as a citizen. His brother, ALMON C. MASON, is a successful farmer in Marlborough.

ALBERT MASON, son of Daniel H., inherited from ancestors a fine mechani- cal ability. After serving with honor, in the N. H. Light Battery, in the Civil War, he engaged in the business of making barometers and fine mathematical and engineering instruments, and was, for many years, at 328 Washington St., Boston. He formerly lived in Peterborough.

ANTIPAS MAYNARD, who lived at 201 and 185, had several sons who were active business men in the places where they lived. Lambert lived in Boston ; Antipas, Jr., lived in Gilsum, Keene, and Ashburnham, Mass .; Asa lived in Keene, and kept a hotel in Marlborough ; and Jesse also lived in Boston.

SYLVANUS A. MORSE, born at 191, the son of James, has been a farmer and

...

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.

carpenter, in Gilsum and Keene. Starting, like many other boys, with his head and hands for a capital, he has acquired a handsome competency and owns several good houses in Keene.

WILLIAM M. MUZZY, son of Rev. William Muzzy (as the latter spelled his name), was one of the three or four richest men who were natives of Sullivan. He added an "e" to the last syllable of his name, spelling it Muzzey. He went to Philadelphia at nineteen years of age and learned the business connected with the importation of fine glass. He soon began business for himself, at 419 Com- merce St., in that city, having for a partner, while in business, his kinsman, Wm. H. Munroe of Boston. They retired from business in 1868. Mr. Muzzey had an accurate memory of faces and names, which served him well in business. He was a gentleman of the old school and a man greatly honored and respected. At his death, he left an estate of nearly or quite a million dollars. He died, Sept. 17, 1881.

ALBERT NASH, son of Charles, who lived at 202, became a railroad engineer and acquired a handsome property. He lived at Niagara Falls, N. Y.

GEORGE W. NEWMAN, son of John, who lived during his youth, at 154 and 160, settled in Gilsum and acquired a good property and had a large family.

LANMON NIMS (originally named James Lanman Nims), son of Asahel, was one of the most successful business men who went from Sullivan. He began his business career in the old mill at East Sullivan, which he purchased, March 14, 1835, of Nathaniel Mason, and sold to N. P. Mason, Jan. 23, 1838. Mr. Nims built the second house at East Sullivan village, where his first son was born. He had already learned the trade of a carpenter and builder of Dexter Spaulding. In 1838, he bought the place in the north-east part of Keene, now known as the Nahum Wright place, where he operated a saw-mill for a few years. In 1844, he moved to Keene village, into the Comstock house on School Street. The next year he built a house on Beaver Street. In 1853, he moved to the house now occupied by C. C. Buffum on Pleasant Street. In 1860, he went to White River Junction, Vt., remaining a short time. In 1861, he pur- chased the house on Court Street, where he continued to live the rest of his life.

In 1849, Mr. Nims purchased a shop on Mechanic Street, in Keene, and began the sash, door, and blind business. In 1850, he associated N. N. Sawyer & Sawyer Porter with himself, under the firm name of L. Nims & Co. In 1854, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Nims continued alone until 1856, when he associated Daniel Buss with himself, under the firm name of Nims & Buss. At the end of a year, they associated Cyrus W. Woodward with themselves, under the firm name of Nims, Buss, & Co. In 1859, he sold the business to his partners and went to White River Junction, Vt., remaining a short time, until his business plant was destroyed by fire. Returning to Keene, he operated a peg mill on Ralston St., for a year or more. In 1863, he leased and fitted the shop on Mechanic St., taking as a partner, Samuel B. Crossfield, under the firm name of Nims & Crossfield. In March 1864, the steam boiler exploded, wreck- ing the buildings, and killing two workmen. The firm then bought the property, but ill fortune again visited them, for, on Aug. 12, 1867, a fire consumed the entire plant. In 1868, the firm, to which Kendall C. Scott was added, under the name of Nims, Crossfield & Co., leased the present steam mills on Mechanic St.,

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which had been erected by the Keene Steam Power Co. In 1870, Mr. Nims again sold his interest to his partners. In 1873, he bought an interest in the same property, with Geo. E. Whitney, Nathan Whitney, and C. Willis Morse, under the firm name of Nims, Whitney, & Co., a firm which still does business under that name.

Mr. Nims was a man of indomitable energy and perseverance, which enabled him to buffet adverse fortune and ride through storms and difficulties which would have overwhelmed men of less business courage. He was a select- man, but cared little for office and usually declined all such honors which were tendered to him. He built many houses and was the builder of the town (now the city) hall of Keene. He was a man of good judgment and sound business principles. He acquired a competency and died, honored and respected, at his house on Court St., Sept. 20, 1887. For his children, see the genealogical tables. A grandson, Ralph N. Whitcomb, is a graduate of the Mass. Institute of Tech- nology and is now (1907) with J. G. White & Co., New York, and engaged in railroad construction in that state.

ASAHEL, JR., and WILLIAM NIMS, sons of Asahel, both moved to Keene. William was the father of Henry W., who lives near the east line of the city. The four sons of Asahel, Jr., Elmer A., J. Wilson, Henry M., and Frank W., and the sister of the latter, Mrs. Edward Spaulding, all lived in Keene near their father. The sons were all good business men. Elmer A. was, for some years, the superintendent of the highways in Keene. The grandchildren of Asahel, Jr., are well educated and assuming positions of honor and respectability. Some of them have been school teachers, two, E. Osgood Spaulding and Oren S. Nims, are dentists, and the others are well established in business.

E. NELSON and HENRY C. NIMS, sons of Philander, settled in Boston and engaged in the livery business. They both died in Boston, after having been in that business many years.

DAUPHIN W. NIMS, a brother of the preceding, who had been a prosperous farmer in Sullivan, on the old Zadok Nims homestead, lived the latter part of his life in Keene, and died there.

CAPT. ORMOND F. NIMS, another son of Philander, born at 164, on the spot where D. W. Wilson afterwards lived, was the most distinguished military char- acter that Sullivan has produced. From a child, he was delighted with the duties of a soldier and enjoyed the old militia drill, but left home before he had been an officer. He went into business in Boston, Mass., and was, for six years, connected with the old Boston Light Artillery, as lieutenant, captain, and major. When the Civil War came upon us, he became the captain of a famous battery, which, losing in descriptions its official number, was ever known by the name of its popular commander, NIMS'S BATTERY. This well-known battery was in some of the most terrible conflicts of the great struggle, and its efficient commander was successively promoted to the brevet ranks of major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel, " for gallant and meritorious services during the war". Capt. Nims has been in business for a half century in Boston, as a druggist, in the same store on Cambridge Street. He was married, but has no children. He is liberal and charitable, a friend of the poor and needy, to whose wants he daily ministers. He is still (1907) hale and hearty, and very vigorous, in his 88th year.

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ERNEST A. NIMS, son of Albert G., is a plumber and engaged in that busi- ness in Charlestown, N. H. His father had moved to Keene before his death, which occurred in 1894. He was living in Sullivan, at 232, when Ernest was born.

DENNIS C. and EDWIN F. NIMS, sons of Joseph N., went into business in other towns. Dennis is a good carpenter and follows that business in Hinsdale. Edwin was the assistant manager of the county farm at Westmoreland, for some years, but has returned to the homestead.

ALBERT F., GEORGE H., MARSHALL W., and FRANCIS O. NIMS sons of Frederick B., were all fortunate in business and accumulated property. Albert graduated, in 1858, from Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts. He owned an excellent river farm in North Walpole, which yielded annually a sub- stantial income. He died in 1902. George H. lives in Keene. He has been in the meat business, also in real estate, wood, and lumber business, and has been remarkably successful from the pecuniary point of view. Marshall W. has lived in Keene, Winchendon, Mass., and Concord, N. H. He was, for a time, in the meat business and, later, a meat inspector in New England, for the Swifts. His son, Harry Dwight Nims, a graduate of Williams College, in the class of 1898, is now a lawyer of much merit in the city of New York. Col. Francis O. Nims lived in Keene and was in the meat and provision business for a long time. He was afterwards in the real estate and lumber business. He enlisted in Company G of the Keene militia organization, and was promoted through all the company grades to that of captain. Aug. 1, 1889, he was commissioned Major of the 2d Regiment, N. H. National Guards. While holding that office, he was commis- sioned to command his battalion at the dedication of the Bennington, Vt., Battle Monument, Aug. 16, 1891. He was commissioned lieutenant colonel, Aug. 31, 1894. He received many compliments for guard duty and efficiency in handling troops, and was brevetted colonel. He died, Apr. 19, 1906.

LEWIS CAREY NORTON, son of Rev. T. S. Norton, is an enterprising busi- ness man of Boston, and the treasurer of the Norton Iron Company.

ELLERY A. C. NOURSE, son of R. Curtis, had become well established in Bennington, on a good dairy farm, which he owned, and he was in a paying milk business when tuberculosis ended his life, Feb. 1, 1899.

ROSWELL C. OSGOOD, son of Roswell, was a strong, hard-working young man. After his father's death, he sold the old farm in Sullivan and went to the West. He lived in various places. He was killed by a tree falling upon him in a forest, near Sand Point, Idaho, July 14, 1902.

CHARLES W. OSGOOD, son of Charles and Cynthia Osgood, resides in Indianapolis, Ind. He is in the lumber business. He has prospered and has a fine residence in a pleasant part of the city.

MASON J. OSGOOD (originally named James Mason Osgood), son of James W., became one of the two or three. wealthiest men who were natives of Sulli- van. He engaged in the manufacture of chairs at Gardner, Mass. About 1870, he went into business in Indianapolis, Ind. He manufactured brick, dealt in real estate, owned land upon which was a natural gas well, and did various other kinds of business incidental to these. He acquired a large property, estimated at several hundred thousand dollars. He was devoted to his parents and sisters,

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whom he frequently visited, while they lived, one sister surviving him. His residence on Meridian St., the principal thoroughfare in Indianapolis, was one of the finest in the city. He was a communicant in a Presbyterian church, and one of the leading men in the community.

WILLIAM HENRY PRECKLE, son of John R., lived many years in the family of William Hastings, whose daughter, Mary, he married. He is a machinist, and worked several years in the railroad shops at Keene, then moved to Olean, N. Y., where he has also been employed in railroad shops. He has been a man of good judgment, thrifty, and prudent, and is now in easy circumstances, own- ing several good houses in Olean.

WASHINGTON PROCTOR, son of James L., was an industrious man, who inherited fine mechanical tastes. He was an excellent blacksmith, doing busi- ness in Keene for a time, then, for many years, in Dublin, where he died in 1898. He was an intelligent man, respected for his integrity and skill, and a useful citizen. His business was prosperous and profitable. He left a son and a daughter. The son, Burton H., is now a physician in Boston (1907). Wash- ington's brother, JOHN PROCTOR, was a mechanic and lived and died in Keene. The latter's son, Geo. B., is a printer.

GEORGE W. RAWSON, son of Chauncy W., was another Sullivan " boy " who was eminently successful in business and acquired a fortune. He was by nature a very bright and ingenious mechanic. He resided, after his marriage, first in Charlestown, Mass., then in Cambridge, Mass. His business was near the Cambridge end of the West Boston Bridge. The firm was at first Rawson & Hittinger, later Rawson & Morrison, They manufactured boilers, coal buckets, hoisting engines, and, later, electric hoists, and made about all kinds of machinery. The business was a very flourishing plant, the buildings of which were prominent objects, always seen by passengers on the street cars going between Boston and Cambridge. Mr. Rawson died in Cambridge, at his fine residence on State Street, Oct. 17, 1893, leaving a fine estate.

EDWARD W. RICHARDSON, son of Theodore S., is a cabinet maker in Keene, and resides on Marlboro Street.

HORACE K., GARDNER H., and ELLERY E. RUGG, sons of Harrison, located in other places. Horace was in the Civil War. He has been a good farmer, first in Langdon, later in Acworth, where he now lives with his younger son, the elder living near him. Gardner was also in the Civil War. He located in the state of Illinois, and died at Carbondale, Apr. 21, 1866. Ellery E. was a black- smith, and lived for a time at East Sullivan. He is now a carpenter and lives in Keene, on Park Avenue. He has been successful and has a pleasant home and ample means. He has been very prominent in the Patrons of Husbandry. He has been master of the local grange and of the Pomona, also deputy of the state grange in his district, also overseer of the state grange. His wife, an accomplished lady, has been secretary, for several years, of the Pomona. Their cousin, C. WILSON RUGG, son of Martin, left Sullivan, and settled in Winslow, Washington Co., Arkansas, where he died, May 17, 1889.

SAMUEL SEWARD, JR., son of Capt. Samuel, was an able business man and farmer. As a justice of the peace, he did much business of a legal character. He moved to Claremont. Only one of his children reached maturity, Lestina M.,

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who married James M. Gates, Esq., a lawyer of Weathersfield, Vt., and Clare- mont. She had a son in business in Philadelphia, and another, James Seward Gates, who lived for a time with Charles Mason in Sullivan, and, later, went into business in Boston in the Globe Nickel Plate Co., on Chardon St. Mrs. Gates had a daughter who was well married in Boston.

QUINCY A. SEWARD, son of Joseph, was a merchant and did a flourishing business in ready-made and custom-made clothing, having stores in Greenfield, Mass., and Keene. At first, he made money rapidly, but misfortunes overtook him, and he lost much that he had made. He still lives in Greenfield, Mass.

EDGAR S., WILLIAM A., ERVING G., and HENRY W. SEWARD, sons of Samuel A., have been remarkably successful in life and an honor to the towns where they were born. Edgar has operated bakeries at Fitchburg, Mass., and elsewhere. The other three have all been more or less engaged in railroad business. William has been, for many years, the eastern agent for the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Steamship Company. Erving is a con- ductor on the Boston & Maine R. R. Hon. Henry W. Seward has been several times elected to the General Court of Massachusetts, from Watertown, the last time without opposition. He has served upon important committees, of some of which he has been the chairman. He has been appointed by the governor and council to several official positions of great honor. He was long the as- sistant paymaster of the Fitchburg R. R. He is now in a general railroad business of a responsible character. Their sister, Harriet L., married G. B. Rawson of Gilsum, a prosperous tanner. Another sister, Lora L., married Frank L. Hastings of Keene.

ALFRED and ORLANDO SEWARD, sons of Abijah, remained in town, for a time, upon the old Capt. Nims farm, at 149, which they cultivated together. Alfred purchased a good farm in Walpole, where he died, leaving two sons, Frank A. and Charles E. Seward. The brother, Orlando, also left the farm and became a freight-forwarder and jobber in Keene, where he recently died. His sons, O. Leslie and Geo. H., live in Keene with their mother. A daughter died unmarried. Another daughter married Herbert J. Watkins, an exceptionally bright young business man of Walpole, who died in 1904, leaving ample pro- vision for his family, which he had earned as a carpenter and builder.

DAVID SEWARD, who had spent the most of his life upon the old Dea. Seward homestead in Sullivan, moved to Keene in 1862, and died there in 1886. JAMES B. SEWARD, son of the latter, at the age of 13, for his health, accom- panied his kinsman, Gen. James Wilson, Jr., to California, and spent two years in San Francisco, returning to Keene in 1864. He was educated at the Westbrook (Me.) Seminary and the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden. He was em- ployed, for a time, in the clothing store of Whitcomb & Dunbar, at Keene, then at the furnishing goods and clothing store of Geo. Fenno & Co., on the corner of Washington and Beech Sts., in Boston, Mass. He then went to New York, where he was employed successively in the wholesale establishments of A. T. Stewart, Union Adams & Co., and Mills & Gibb. Eventually, he went into business for himself, associated with a brother-in-law, Mr. J. E. Tourtellot, and later with another partner, under the firm name of Treadwell & Seward. Hav- ing been prostrated by an attack of acute rheumatism, which disabled him for

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a long time, he disposed of his business and waited for restoration of his health, With both partners, he had imported hosiery and knitted goods and conducted a wholesale business in such articles. On recovering his health, he became connected with the house of James Jamison & Co., manufacturers' agents and commission merchants, in the hosiery line, 350 Broadway, New York, N. Y., with which house he is at present connected. His residence is in Brooklyn, N. Y. He is a capable and brilliant business man.

DAVID F. SMITH, son of Lewis H., moved to Providence, R. I., and died there. LEWIS W. SMITH, son of Geo. D., was, for a time, a butter-maker, at the Britton creamery in Keene.

CURTIS SPAULDING, son of Thomas, was a painter and lived in Keene in the latter part of his life. His death was very sudden and due, probably, to painter's colic. His sons were all mechanics. Charles C. died early in life at Lyndon, Vt. James Franklin lived at South Keene, Winchendon, Leominster, and Fitchburg, Mass., and was a good machinist. Geo. H. lived at Norwich, Conn.

ASHLEY SPAULDING moved to Keene, late in his life, upon the old Michael Metcalf farm, on the west side of the valley, where his son, HENRY O. SPAULD- ING, now lives. Another son, EDWARD SPAULDING, is one of the best carpen- ters in Keene. The latter's elder son, M. Orlan, is also a remarkably ingenious and skilful mechanic, one of the most competent carpenters and builders in Keene. The latter's brother, E. Osgood Spaulding, is the graduate of a dental college and is now practising his profession in Russell's dental rooms at Keene. Henry O. Spaulding had two sons, D. Minot, an Amherst graduate, see page 605, and Charles H., who is in business in Worcester, Mass., where he has pros- pered well as a grocer. ORLAN K., another son of Ashley, was a miller. He died in the army. See page 525.

MILAN D, and MARSHALL T. SPAULDING, sons of Dauphin, inherited the accustomed Spaulding ingenuity. Milan is a carpenter and builder, and has lived in Winchester and Fitchburg, Mass. For his marvellous army record, see page 525. Marshall was a locomotive engineer and is not now living.

CHARLES STAY was a shoemaker and worked for Hersey Wardwell, whose daughter he married. He moved to Marlborough, where he lived several years, and is now living in Greenfield, Mass. He had three sons who lived to maturity, all of whom are well settled in business.

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A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 65

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917 Publication date: 1921 Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.] Number of Pages: 888

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.]
Number of Pages: 888