USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 17
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
144
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the Congregational church; while his sister, Mrs. Long, is a member of the Methodist church. It is needless to say that the subject of this sketch is a popular man, both in the town and in the county.
B ARTLETT BROTHERS, comprising Erastus H. and Ai J. Bartlett, are the proprietors of the Excelsior Mills at Warner. The plant was first established by these gentlemen in 1872 as a pail, butter tub, and sap bucket factory. The original mill was destroyed by fire in 1873, entailing a loss of three hundred and fifty dollars beyond their entire assets, a grievous blow to the two young men just started in business. Nothing daunted, however, they commenced again on borrowed money. This time they engaged in the manufacture of excelsior for mattresses and furniture, in which they have since built up an extensive and lucrative business.
In making excelsior the firm uses poplar wood, which is obtained anywhere within a radius of from twenty to forty miles from the village, and costs five dollars a cord. They began on a modest scale, their output at the start being but fifteen hundred pounds of ex- celsior a day. Now they manufacture five tons in the saine length of time, or about fourteen hundred tons annually. The water-power has been used for at least threescore years, there having formerly been a wheelwright's shop here. In 1893 the present mill was erected. One of the finest in New England, it cost, with its equipments and modern machinery, about eight thousand dollars. Two other excelsior-mills that stood near by when this one was started have since passed out of exist- ence. The Messrs. Bartlett are both men of good business ability, energetic and progres- sive, strictly honest and upright in all their
transactions, and very pleasant people to deal with. They employ nine hands in their work, and are themselves busily employed all the time. They have also invested in Contoocook valley property, being interested in several houses in this vicinity, preferring to have their wealth where they can look after it them- selves.
The Bartlett family was first represented in New Hampshire by three families, who came from Massachusetts to the town of Deering, Hillsborough County, soon after the Revolu- tion, making settlements on three different hills. Parker Bartlett, a son of Stephen Bart- lett, was the father of the Bartlett brothers. He spent the larger part of his life in Deering. Later in life he came to the village of Warner, where his death occurred in 1896, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. He mar- ried Miss Eleanor Bartlett, a daughter of Daniel Bartlett, of Deering; and she survives, making her home in Warner.
On October 27, 1855, Erastus H. Bartlett married Miss Jennie E. Orne, of New Boston, which was also his birthplace. They have one child, Mary Ellen. He is a Republican in politics, and takes an active part in local affairs, having served several years as Super- visor. He is very prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to Harris Lodge. He was made a Mason in St. Peter's Lodge at Brad- ford, this State, and for thirteen years held one of the most important offices in that organ- ization, working in harmony with Colonel Mason W. Tappan. St. Peter's, which is an old and noted lodge, was visited in 1824 by General Lafayette.
Ai J. Bartlett was born, reared, and edu- cated in New Boston. He married February 4, 1880, Miss Allie Jones, of Webster, N. H., and now has three children - Fred Ai, Elmer, and Mildred Imogene. Ai J. Bartlett is a
145
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
stanch Prohibitionist and a good worker in the temperance cause. He is an active member of the Congregational church, in which he is serving as Deacon.
ILLIAM D. DOW, an influential resident of Cornish, was born here, September 10, 1857, son of Lucius
Harmon and Lucelia A. (Smith) Dow. Grandfather Jeremiah Dow, who was born in the State of Vermont, had a family of nine children.
Lucius Dow, born in Plainfield, N.H., in 1820, was educated in the common schools of that town and at Kimball Academy. After his marriage he came to Cornish, and here rented a farm, on which he spent the rest of his life. He was a leading Democrat; but, though keenly interested in the affairs of the town even up to the time of his death, he was never an aspirant for office. He was Orthodox in religion, and he attended the Congrega- tional church. His first wife, Lucelia, daughter of Cyrus and Hannah Smith, bore him five children - Abbie, William, Fred, Mary, and Martha. His second wife, chris- tened Isabella Tracy, a daughter of Edward and Alvira Nutting, is now deceased. Abbie Dow, born October 10, 1853, married William Harlow, a well-known farmer of Cornish, and has one child, Leroy H. Harlow, born July 6, 1888. Fred Dow was educated in the com- mon schools and at Kimball Academy in Plainfield. After leaving school he went into Jewett's grocery store as a clerk, remaining a year. He then went to Chicago, Ill., and obtained employment with the large commis- sion house of which he is now a partner. He married Mattie Gamble, of Chicago, and has one son. His sister, Mary Dow, is the wife of Dr. William Cain, now of Cambridge,
Mass. Martha Dow married Louis Quimby, of Unity, N.H., a groceryman, and has two children.
William D. Dow worked at farming for a year after leaving school. In 1888 he went to California, where he remained two years, engaged in farming and baling hay. He re- turned East on account of the poor health of his father and for the purpose of taking charge of the farm. Upon the death of his father he succeeded to the farm, and has since conducted it. He has never been an aspirant for public office. However, last year, when a candidate for Selectman, he lacked but two votes of election. He is a prominent member of the grange of Cornish. The first of Mr. Dow's two marriages was contracted with Hattie A. Weld, and the second, which took place November 20, 1892, with Norah E. Crosby, of Croydon, N. H. The second wife, the present Mrs. Dow, is a daughter of Gil- man and Eleanor R. (Lear) Crosby. She has a daughter, Hattie E. Dow, born August 17, 1896.
ATHAN PAGE BUXTON, a well- known resident and a prominent agri- culturist of Henniker, was born March 5, 1829, on the farm and in the house where he now lives, son of Daniel and Abi- gail (Page) Buxton. He comes of substantial New England stock. His grandparents, David and Ruth (Peasley) Buxton, came to Henniker from Newton, Mass., in 1800. They settled on the farm now owned by the Baker family, and there spent the remaining years of their long lives.
After marriage Daniel Buxton lived for a few years in that part of Danvers, Mass., now in Peabody, engaged as a tiller of the soil. In 1826 he traded with his wife's brother, Enoch Page, his farm in Danvers for the
146
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
homestead on which his son, Nathan Page Buxton, now lives. Having followed his chosen occupation on this farm until pretty well advanced in life, he bought a house in North Weare, the early home of his wife; and there both died at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife, who was three years older than he, passing away first. They had eight children, namely: Peace, now the wife of David Osborne, of Port Huron, Mich .; Lydia, who never married, and died at the age of fifty-four; Eliza, now deceased, who married William H. Gove, also deceased; Maria M., now residing in Bound Brook, N.J., who is the widow of James Denison, late of New York City; Abbie and Hannah M., both un- married, who reside in Weare; Nathan P., the subject of this sketch; and Daniel M., a house - mover of Hillsborough, N. H. Both parents were original members of the Society of Friends in Henniker.
Nathan Page Buxton, the only member of his parents' family left in Henniker, was reared and educated on the homestead. From the age of twenty-one years until his marriage he carried on the home farm in company with his brother. When ready to establish a household of his own, he bought the adjoining property. On this he subsequently resided for thirteen years, making essential improve- ments and greatly increasing the value of the estate. Laboring industriously and managing prudently, he acquired some money, and in 1876 bought the homestead from his brother. He retained possession of the other farm until about two years since. The house in which he now lives, save for a few alterations made by his father, is the same that was occupied by his grandfather. It is in a fine state of preservation, owing to the substantial quality of the material put into it. Mr. Buxton has one hundred and four acres of land, well
adapted to general agriculture. He makes a specialty of dairying, shipping his cream to Boston; and he raises his own cows, his favorite grade being the Holstein crossed with the Jersey. On the property is a fine orchard, which yields a good deal of fruit.
On April 1, 1862, Mr. Buxton married Miss Cynthia Daniels, of Henniker, who was born in Shipton, P.Q., Canada. She died three years later, leaving two sons, namely : Clinton Averill, who is a machinist and an electrician, and resides in Winchester, Mass .; and Frank Edgar, who is engaged in garment cutting in Holyoke, Mass. Mr. Buxton contracted a second marriage on August 10, 1865, in Deering, N.H., with Hannah M. Clough, daughter of Elijah and Abigail Clough, of that town. The children of this union are: Elmer E., who assists in carrying on the farm; Maurice E., who is em- ployed in a shoe factory of Auburn, Me .; and Alberto, who resides at home. Mr. Buxton has been a firm supporter of the Republican party since early manhood, and he has been a delegate to several conventions. While not an aspirant to office, he served acceptably for two years as Supervisor of the town. Still adhering to the religious faith in which he was reared, he attends the Quakers' meeting- house, which stands near his farm. Mrs. Buxton is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Henniker.
ESSE WEBSTER, who was an esteemed resident of Henniker, and had been ac- tively engaged as a tailor in this town for upward of threescore years, was born June 7, 1811, in Newport, Sullivan County, son of John and Deborah (Dow) Webster. He is a lineal descendant of John Webster, who was born in Wales, August 9, 1714. This John
147
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
emigrated to America in company with his brother Ebenezer, the paternal grandfather of the eminent statesman, Daniel Webster. John was one of the settlers of Chester, N. H., in 1735. In 1750 he opened the first store in that locality. He was very active in the war of the Revolution, serving as Colonel of a regiment in the army. Colonel Webster's son Samuel, the next in line of descent, being the paternal grandfather of Jesse, was born February 15, 1757, in Chester. Early in life he began to study for the ministry, which he subsequently entered. After his marriage with Hannah Robie he was settled for several years in Goffstown, N.H. Afterward he re- moved to Newport, N. H., where he reared his family. His son John, who was born in Goffstown, at the age of fourteen removed with his parents to Newport, where he after- ward resided until his death in 1839. John's wife, Deborah, died six years before his death.
Jesse Webster grew to manhood in Chester, where his strong influence in matters of re- form, more especially in the cause of temper- ance, was early shown. Rum at that time was in general use; and he, though but a boy of sixteen, seeing its evil effects upon the men in his father's employ, took a decided stand against it, and decided thereafter to take no share in supplying it to the laborers. In the fall of that year his father went to Boston, leaving to Jesse the task of making cider from the apples stored in the cellar before his re- turn. On finding that but two barrels of cider had been made in place of the customary forty, the father made no comment ; and at the close of the haying season next summer he acknowledged that the two barrels had been sufficient, the work having been done more quickly and acceptably and with less friction than ever before.
In early manhood Mr. Webster learned the
tailor's trade of Samuel Winkley at Meriden, N. H. After spending some time in Hills- borough, he came to Henniker, August 12, 1836, opening a tailor's shop, and beginning on a modest scale. With the exception of two years, from 1864 till 1866, when he had a gen- eral clothing store, with merchant-tailoring features, in Concord, he has since continued in the same occupation. For nearly twenty years he has manufactured custom clothing, at times employing as many as three hundred girls. During his entire business career more than seven hundred girls have worked for him, turn- ing out vast numbers of ordered suits. In two families, those of Silas and Isaac Colby, he has clothed four generations. In the sixty- second year of his business career he made a suit for a child of the fifth generation. He did all the cutting for the establishment, each morning finding him at work; and he manu- factured clothing that went as far westward as Arizona and Montana. He was a man of fine physique, tall and erect, in all things being temperate, well preserved in mind and body. Having a deep sense of religion, he made a public profession of faith when a young man of nineteen years, uniting with the Baptist church; and he was a close and daily student of the Bible. Yet his disposition was social and genial, and he had a host of friends.
Mr. Webster married Susan C. Newell, of Newport, who died January 4, 1839. She left one son, Newell H. Webster, now of Helena, Mont. Besides the strong and reso- lute character which she inherited from the Newells, she possessed much personal beauty, as testified by her portrait, painted when she was twenty-two. On May 7, 1840, Mr. Webster married Jeannette W., daughter of William S. and Betsey D. Woods, of Henni- ker. After seven years of married life she also died. A year later her sister, Lovilla
148
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Woods, became the third wife of Mr. Web- ster. She died May 4, 1893, leaving a daughter, Susan L., who married Jacobs S. Whitney, January 23, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney now reside at the old homestead. The death of Mr. Webster occurred March 22, 1897, in his eighty-sixth year.
AMES MARCUS BENNETT, who was connected by marriage with two of the best known families of Claremont, was born in New Milford, Conn., December 12, 1819. . When a young man he settled in Can- ada, and by his extraordinary business ability and sterling integrity achieved a marked suc- cess. He engaged in the hotel business, be- coming the principal owner of the Tecumshi Hotel at London, Ont., the largest hostelry in that city. His business brought him into personal contact with men of prominence in public life, and, becoming a citizen of Can- ada, he joined the Reformed party. He was elected to the Board of Aldermen of London, and while in that position displayed a capacity for public affairs which placed him in high repute among his fellow-citizens. He was unusually prosperous and in a fair way of se- curing an independent fortune when a general business depression inflicted reverses upon him from which he never recovered. He paid his debts manfully, but his losses proved such a severe shock to his nervous system as to cause his death in 1866.
Mr. Bennett married Sarah N. Grannis, who survives him, and who is now residing in Claremont. She is a daughter of George and Susannah (Strowbridge) Grannis, and a grand- daughter of Timothy Grannis, an account of whom will be found in a sketch of Homer E. Grannis, which appears elsewhere in this work. George Grannis, who was a prosperous
farmer and a prominent citizen of Claremont in his day, died in 1847, aged fifty-five years. His wife, Susannah, was a daughter of Colo- nel John Strowbridge, an early settler in Claremont and a man noted for his strict in- tegrity and courtesy. He married Patience, daughter of Ephraim Tyler and a representa- tive of a highly reputable family in this sec- tion. Their children were: William, John, Hiram, Nancy, Susannah, Patience, Betsey, and Jeanette. George and Susannah (Strow- bridge) Grannis had four children, as fol- lows: Susan S .; Charles E., who at an early age was drowned in the Hudson River; Sarah N., who is now Mrs. Bennett, and is the only survivor; and George H., who died at the age of eleven years. Susan S. married David Campbell, a man of wealth, who was for sev- eral years a United States government official. She died leaving three children. While re- siding in Canada, Mrs. Bennett availed her- self of the opportunity of learning the French language, with which she is thoroughly fa- miliar. She possesses estimable qualities of heart and mind, and is highly esteemed by her large circle of friends and acquaintances.
EWELL C. HUNTINGTON, an enterprising agriculturist of Henni- ker, was born May 5, 1856, on the farm which he now owns and occupies, son of the late Elijah B. Huntington. He is of English ancestry, being a lineal descendant of Simeon Huntington, who, accompanied by four sons, sailed from England for America in 1633. Simeon died on the voyage. While one son returned to England, the others - William, Christopher, and Simeon - remained in New England. The last-named son settled in Salisbury, now Amesbury, Mass., in 1640. From him the line was continued by William,
149
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
John, William, John, John, and Benjamin, all of whom were born in Amesbury.
Benjamin Huntington, the great-grandfather of Sewell C., was the first of the family to come to New Hampshire. He located in Weare, Hillsborough County, which he made his permanent home. Two of his children, Jacob and Betsey, came to Henniker. Jacob Huntington, the grandfather, born September 3, 1783, in Weare, died July 15, 1857, in Henniker. On May 4, 1809, he married Huldah Gove, also of Weare, and, coming to Henniker, purchased the farm where his son, Joseph John Huntington, now lives. He was a man of imposing presence, strong and vigor- ous, possessing great powers of endurance. Broad-minded and benevolent, he was promi- nent in the Friends' Society, which he as- sisted in establishing, and was highly es- teemed by all. His first wife died in 1819. His second wife, Mehitabel Hedding Hunt- ington, passed away in 1827. He was sur- vived by his third wife, whose maiden name was Lavina H. Breed, and who died October 13, 1859. Of the four children born of his first marriage Elijah Brown and Elizabeth at- tained maturity. Of the second wife's chil- dren three were reared - Franklin T., Huldah G., and Joseph John.
Elijah Brown Huntington, born in Henni- ker, June 15, 1811, spent his seventy-five years of life in this town, and died November 9, 1886. From his earliest years he was en- gaged in farm work, beginning as a day laborer. After his marriage he owned for a while the farm now occupied by his brother. In 1842 he purchased the homestead of his father-in-law, Richard Breed, now owned and occupied by his son Sewell C., and continued in its active management until about a year prior to his death. The main part of the pres- ent house was erected by Mr. Breed, who sub-
sequently enlarged it by adding the original house, which was built more than a hundred years ago on another part of the farm. While Elijah B. Huntington was not an active poli- tician, in his earlier life he supported the Know Nothing party, and was afterward iden- tified with the Republican party. Of his union with Mary P., daughter of Richard and Bethiah (Huzzey) Breed, there was but one child, Sewell C. She died February 5, 1864. Afterward his household affairs were put in charge of a housekeeper.
Sewell C. Huntington inherited the farm of ninety acres lying near the Quaker meeting- house. To this he has since added the ad- joining estate, so that his property is now one of the most valuable in the vicinity. An in- telligent, clear-headed man, he has made a success of farming, his annual crops of grain, hay, vegetables, and fruit bringing him in a fine income. He was married September 21, 1880, to Miss Georgianna Barker, who was born and reared in Hillsborough, a daughter of Elbridge G. and Mary (Goodwin) Barker. Eva Mary Huntington, his only child, is a bright young miss of eleven years. Mr. Huntington is a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 60, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Huntington has been deaf for some years; but in spite of this difficulty, which is a great drawback to her enjoyment, she is a most pleasant woman to meet, and has a large circle of friends. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church; and Mr. Huntington is identified with the Friends' church, which he has attended since a boy.
TON. ADDISON NEWTON OS- GOOD, a well-known and prominent resident of Pembroke, was born in Allenstown, this State, March 16, 1836, son
150
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
of Ira B. and Alice (Prescott) Osgood. He belongs to the seventh generation of Osgoods in this country, tracing his descent to Chris- topher Osgood, a native of Ipswich, England, who died in 1650. The first of Christopher's two marriages was contracted with Mary Ever- ett, an Englishwoman, who had one child by him. His second wife was Margery, daughter of Philip and Mary (Winsley or Winslow) Fowler. She was baptized in Marlboro, Eng- land, May 25, 1615. By her he became the father of five children. Christopher, the fourth child and the next in line, was born in Andover, Mass., in 1643. He was a mill- wright by trade. An active and prominent citizen, he was Captain in the militia, and rep- resented Andover in the General Court of Massachusetts in 1690. He died in 1725. His first wife, in maidenhood Hannah Bel- knap, of Lynn, bore him six children. His second wife, Hannah Barker Osgood, was the mother of four children. His third wife, Sarah, had no issue. His fourth and last, also named Sarah, was the mother of six. Ezekiel, son of Captain Christopher Osgood, and the great great-grandfather of Addison N., was born in Andover, Mass., November 5, 1679, and died in 1741. His first wife was Rebecca Wardwell, and the Christian name of his second was Mary. Samuel Osgood, the second of his seven children by his second wife, and the great-grandfather of Addison N., was born in Andover, May 27, 1714, and died March 16, 1774. He, too, was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Doro- thy Wardwell, bore him five children; and his second, in maidenhood Elizabeth Abbott, who died September 27, 1792, had eight children.
Christopher Osgood, the youngest child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Abbott) Osgood, born in Andover, April 25, 1769, was a miller by trade. In his early manhood he managed the
ferry between Concord and Pembroke. Sub- sequently he settled on a farm in Pembroke, and purchased extensive tracts of land in the part of the town now called Suncook. Much of this land was covered with timber at the time of purchase, and he dealt extensively in lumber in his later years. He was a promi- nent man in Pembroke, and took an active part in town affairs. In politics he was a Whig. He died October 3, 1841. His first wife died childless. His second wife, a cousin of his first wife, and whose maiden name was Annie Abbott, lived to be quite old, and reared four children. Both she and her husband were members of the Congregational church. Ira B. Osgood, the youngest of his parents' children, was born in Pembroke, De- cember 30, 1804. He was engaged in farm- ing and lumbering during a great part of his life, and he owned and managed a saw-mill in Allenstown for a number of years. In poli- tics he was a Republican. He died in Allenstown, October 29, 1869. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. Of their seven children there are living - Warren A., Charles, Addison N., and Alva L.
Addison Newton Osgood acquired his ele- mentary education in Allenstown, and studied the advanced branches at Pembroke Academy. After leaving school he spent three years in Boston. In 1860 he settled in Pembroke, and engaged in lumbering, preparing his lumber for the market on the site of the old mill owned by his father. Until 1873 he was in partnership with another gentleman. Since that date he has managed an independent busi- ness. He has been very prosperous in his financial enterprises, and owns much valuable real estate in Pembroke and Allenstown. Mr. Osgood is a man of high integrity, and is respected wherever he is known. He is an
15L
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
esteemed member of the Republican party, and he has been honored with election to a number of offices. As a member of the Pem- broke Board of Selectmen he was in office for a number of years, and he represented the town in the legislature in 1878 and 1879.
Mr. Osgood was married December 17, 1865, to Mary E., daughter of William A. and Julia (Upham) Phelps, of Pembroke. He has taken the thirty-second degree in Ma- sonry, and is a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow. He is also a Patron of Husbandry, and is affiliated with the grange at Pembroke. Both he and Mrs. Osgood are members of the Methodist church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.