USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 19
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 19
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he ran away to sea; and, after sowing his wild oats, he became an ardent religious worker and a temperance reformer. He is an able and eloquent advocate of morality, and during the past year has delivered over two hundred lectures. He is now travelling in Europe. By his marriage with Etta Bristol, of New Haven, he became the father of six children, four of whom are living. Emma E. Thrasher is an instructor of stenography in Hartford, Conn. Elmer J. Thrasher, who is a sign painter, and has travelled a great deal in the Western States, married Esther Iler, and has three children. George B. Thrasher, who died in June, 1891, was a mechanic in the employ of the Winchester Arms Company of New Haven, Conn. Nettie M. Thrasher is now the wife of Edwin Sargent, a carpenter of Rindge, N. H., and has three children.
Wallace P. Thrasher began his education in the common schools. His advanced studies were pursued at the Kimball Union Academy and the Claremont High School. Subse- quently, after teaching school for some time, he served an apprenticeship at the wheel- wright's trade. He had been engaged in that business and that of casket-maker for twenty years, when five years ago he suffered the loss of a leg by a carriage accident. He is now transacting a general legal business, is a Justice of the Peace, writes considerably for newspapers and magazines, and is actively in- terested in political affairs. He is a Demo- crat and prominent in the local organization. He has been a member of the Board of Select- men, has served as Town Clerk, was upon the School Board for seven years, and was a can- didate for the legislature in 1892. In relig- ious belief he is a Universalist.
Mr. Thrasher married Eliza E. Dickinson, who was born in Cambridgeport, Mass., Oc- tober 21, 1850, daughter of Aaron and Eliza
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(Marshall) Dickinson. The latter is a native of Unity, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Thrasher have nine children, born as follows: Weston M., January 18, 1872; Carlton W., October 8, 1873; Manton J., November 11, 1875; Annie M., June 13, 1878; Nettie E., June 4, 1881; Harry D., May 24, 1883; Morris M., June 25, 1885; Flora H., August 23, 1891; and Nina L., February 15, 1894. Weston M. is an expert wood-worker, and resides in Lewis- ton, Me .; Carlton W. is in a general store in Windsor, Vt .; and Manton J. is a drug clerk in the same town. The others reside with their parents.
ARRISON AMSDEN RICE, a suc- cessful dairy farmer of Henniker, was born in this town, June 18, 1816, son of Jacob and Lovisa (Howe) Rice. The Rices are descendants of Edmund Rice and his wife, Tamazine, who emigrated from England and settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1639. The great-grandfather of Harrison A. Rice was Elijah Rice, son of Charles and Rachel Rice. Charles was the third in line from Edmund. Elijah Rice (second), the grandfather, who settled in Henniker at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, was a carpenter by trade. He served at the battle of Bunker Hill, and. was commissioned an En- sign in 1779. He acquired a tract of land now located in the centre of the village, affording the site of the present hotel. His death occurred in 1805. In the year 1779 he married Margaret Patterson, who died Octo- ber 5, 1797. He subsequently contracted a second marriage with Margaret Stuart, a na- tive of Warner, N. H., who died December 18, 1859.
visiting the family of Thomas Brown, a neigh- boring farmer whose son Nahum was a deaf mute, Jacob learned to converse by signs with the boy. This so pleased Mr. Brown that he agreed to do well by Jacob if the latter would remain with him until he came of age. Jacob accepted the proposition. When twenty-one years old he began to work by the month. A year later, in company with his brothers, Isaac and James, he bought a farm; and for some time he assisted in its cultivation, be- sides working for others when opportunity permitted. The farm was carried on by them until the brothers separated by marrying and settling elsewhere. Jacob, who made several changes, eventually purchased of Nahum Brown, the deaf mute, for seventeen hundred dollars, the farm upon which his son, Harrison A., now lives, and where he settled in March, 1825. Although he was obliged to incur a debt in order to secure the farm, he soon freed it from encumbrance. It contained one hun- dred acres of land, lying upon the main road, within easy reach of the village. A strong and able farmer, whose industry fully equalled his strength, Jacob's activity continued almost to the moment of his death, which occurred April 14, 1879, at the age of ninety-two. In politics he was originally a Democrat. Later he became an abolitionist and a Republican. He served as a Selectman for the greater part of the time between 1820 and 1837, and was a Representative to the legislature in the years 1828 and 1829. In July, 1810, he wedded Lovisa Howe, daughter of Micah and Lovisa (Amsden) Howe. She became the mother of five children, namely : Adeline, now deceased, who married Jeremiah Foster, who was a farmer and surveyor, and is also deceased; Susan Lovisa, who married John Smith Mor- rill, and died in Nashua, N. H., two years
Jacob Rice was born in Henniker, January 23, 1787. When about seven years old, while | after marriage; Harrison A., the subject of
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this sketch; Maria Wallace, who married Obadiah E. Wilson, and died in Henniker, at the age of forty-six; and George W., who re- sides in this town. Mrs. Jacob Rice died in December, 1867, aged eighty-one years.
Harrison Amsden Rice was reared and edu- cated in Henniker. After reaching his major- ity he entered into partnership with his father. In time he acquired by purchase the entire farm, together with the stock and im- plements; and since then he has carried it on upon his own account. By adding the Eli Howe farm and other tracts he now owns five hundred acres of good land. His principal occupation is dairy farming. He keeps some fifteen cows, and is now giving his attention to the breeding of Holstein cattle. Six years ago he erected a new house upon the site of the old Brown residence. He has also built a barn, ninety feet in length. His prosperity is chiefly due to untiring energy and enterprise. It is worthy of note that he was the first farmer in Henniker to purchase and use a mowing machine. He has also been engaged in lumbering to some extent.
Mr. Rice has been twice married. On Jan- uary 23, 1845, he wedded for his first wife Susan W. Foster, daughter of Zebulon Foster. She died June 2, 1867. On June 18, 1868, he married Charlotte I. Steele, daughter of Jeremiah and Irene (Felt) Steele, of Peter- boro, Hillsborough County. Born of his first union are John Jacob and Adeline Eliza. John Jacob occupies the Jacob Rice farm, and carries it on in partnership with his father. He married Eliza J. Sawyer, and has two children. The latter are: Susan Frances, born December 17, 1877; and Bertha Maria, born October 14, 1886. Adeline Eliza is now the wife of Edward Connelly, a tinman by trade. Mr. Rice's present wife acquired her education at Peterboro Academy. She began
to teach at the age of nineteen, and continued in that occupation for nearly ten years.
OMER E. GRANNIS is an enter- prising farmer and real estate owner residing in Claremont, Sullivan County, N. H., where he was for many years engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business. He was born in Claremont, July 16, 1832, son of Solon C. and Nancy (Spaulding) Grannis, and belongs to one of the oldest families in the town, being a great-grandson of Timothy Grannis, Sr, who came from North Haven, Conn., to Claremont in 1769.
For his first wife Timothy Grannis, Sr., married Sarah Sumner, daughter of Dr. Will- iam Sumner. She died June 25, 1789; and he married for his second wife Sarah Nye, of Tolland, Conn. Timothy Grannis, Sr., died May 7, 1827. He was the father of eleven children, seven by his first marriage and four by his second.
Timothy Grannis, Jr., eldest son of Timo- thy, Sr., and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Claremont, June 30, 1772. In his earlier years he taught school winters, and tilled the soil of a good farm in West Claremont during the intervening summer seasons. Possessing a good education, he was somewhat devoted to literary composition ; and, while at the top of Ascutney Mountain in 1804, he wrote some lines in blank verse commemo- rative of the occasion. He did much survey- ing for the town and for private parties, and was well and favorably known throughout this region. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen from 1821 to 1829 and Represent- ative to the General Court in 1829-32. He married Phœbe, daughter of Ebenezer Rice, and reared a family of five children, as fol- lows: Solon C., Laurens A., Homer P.,
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Sarah M., and Samuel R. Homer P. Grannis removed to Canada when young. Afterward he went South, and died in Alabama. Sarah M. Grannis married Leonard Gilmore. Lau- rens A., who was a large land-owner, died in Guildhall, Vt., in October, 1896. He mar- ried for his first wife Mary Johnson, and for his second Martha Cole. Samuel R., who married Caroline Higbee, settled in Minne- sota, and passed the rest of his life in that State.
Solon C. Grannis, father of Homer E., was born in West Claremont, August 23, 1801. When a young man he settled upon a farm lo- cated a mile north of his father's property, and for many years carried on agricultural pur- suits upon a large scale. He was prominent in public affairs, serving upon the Board of Selectmen from 1843 to 1852, being Chairman of that body for some time, and representing this town in the legislature in 1860 and 1861. He was well informed concerning the history of Claremont, as he kept a record of all im- portant events that transpired in the town. He acted as a Warden of the Union Episcopal Church for over forty years. Solon C. Grannis lived to be ninety years old, and died March 7, 1892. His wife, Nancy Spaulding, was a daughter of Abel Spaulding. Abel and his brother Joseph served in the Revolution- ary War, and tradition has it that Joseph Spaulding fired the first shot at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Solon C. Grannis were the parents of eight children, namely : Sarah, born November 16, 1824; Jo- seph S., born January 26, 1828; Martha A., born February 21, 1830, who died at the age of eighteen months; Homer E., the subject of this sketch; Martha A., born May 27, 1834; Nancy J., born April 3, 1836; Charles C., who died at the age of eighteen months; and George C., born December 10, 1842.
Sarah married Chester P. Smith, and died in 1864; Joseph S., who is a lawyer in Cleve- land, Ohio, married Eliza Harrison; Nancy never married; George C. married Annis Gil- more, and resides in Claremont ; Martha A., who formerly taught school, became the wife of Daniel N. Bowker.
EORGE E. MILLER, a prominent resident of Pembroke and a member of the firm of Simpson, Miller & Co., general merchants, was born in Deer- field, N. H., October 30, 1850, son of Eben- ezer and Mehitable L. (Dow) Miller. The grandfather, Samuel Miller, spent his early life in Chichester, N. H., engaged in agricult- ural pursuits ; and his last years were passed in Brentwood, N. H. The maiden name of his wife was Annie Yeaton; and he had a family of six children, of whom Ebenezer, George E. Miller's father, was the second-born.
Ebenezer Miller grew to manhood as a farmer. When a young man he settled upon a farm in Deerfield, where the rest of his life was spent in tilling the soil. He was known and respected as a kind-hearted neighbor and a useful citizen. In his later years he acted with the Republican party, and in religious belief he was a Free Will Baptist. His wife, Mehitable, who was a native of Deerfield, be- came the mother of four children, of whom Sarah J. and George E. are living. Ebenezer Miller died at the age of sixty-one years. His wife died in 1896, at the age of seventy-four years.
George E. Miller acquired his education in his native town. After leaving school he re- sided in Laconia, N. H., for a short time. Then he came to Pembroke, and entered the grocery and provision business as a clerk for Emery Brothers. At a later date he acquired
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an interest in the firm of Johnson & Cyr, with whom he remained as a partner for seven years. In 1886 he entered into partnership with H. T. Simpson, forming the firm name of Simpson, Miller & Co., which has since conducted a thriving business in Suncook.
On November 30, 1878, Mr. Miller wedded Nellie L. Simpson, daughter of Henry T. Simpson, his business associate. They have had two sons, namely: Walter, who died at . the age of nine months; and Henry, who lived three years and six months. In politics Mr. Miller is a Republican. Although he is deeply interested in local affairs, he has never sought for public office, and has frequently declined nominations thereto. In the cam- paign of 1896 he accepted nomination as a candidate for Representative to the legislat- ure, and was elected for the years 1897 and 1898. An able and successful business man, he is esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. A Mason of the thirty-second degree, he is a member of Jewell Lodge, No. 94; of Hiram Chapter, No. 24; of Mount Horeb Command- ery, Knights Templar; of the Consistory at Nashua; and the Mystic Shrine at Boston. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and Mrs. Miller attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
J OHN B. HOWARD, formerly a car- penter and builder, who is now living in retirement at Franklin Falls, was born in Burlington, Vt., May 13, 1828, son of Ezekiel and Nancy (Burbank) Howard. The father, who was a native of Connecticut, first settled in Shelburne, Vt., and later in Bur- lington. A carpenter and bridge builder, the active period of his life was devoted to these callings. He died in Burlington in 1832. His wife, Nancy, who was a native of
Grantham, N.H., became the mother of five children, of whom John B. and Emily are living. Emily is the wife of George B. Mathews, of Franklin. The others were: Lo- retta, who married Edward Doxey, now a resi- dent of Elgin, Ill. ; Charles H., who died in Oregon; and Maria, who died young. Mrs. Ezekiel Howard married for her second hus- band Stillman Clark, of Georgia, Vt., and passed the rest of her life in that town.
John B. Howard was educated in the dis- trict schools. While still young he learned the carpenter's trade in Burlington, and after- ward worked as a journeyman in Grafton and Worcester, Mass., and Nashua, N.H., about a year in each place. In 1854 he went to Min- neapolis, Minn., where he resided until 1871, and then returned to Vermont. He resided for a time in Georgia, from which town he re- moved to St. Albans; and in 1881 he came to Franklin Falls. Since settling here he has conducted several building operations in this village, in Northfield, and in Tilton; and he has improved his own residence, located on Franklin Street. He retired from active labor some time ago. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1892 he served with ability as a mem- ber of the Board of Selectmen.
In 1856, while residing in Minneapolis, Mr. Howard contracted his first marriage with Emily Arnold. She was born in Jamestown, N. Y., daughter of Henry C. and Eliza Ar- nold, the former of whom was an artist. Both her parents are now deceased. Mr. Howard's second wife, whom he married May 13, 1882, was Arletta Hathaway, of Boston, Mass. She died March 30, 1889, leaving one daughter, Mabel A. The latter and Maria Albina, his daughter by his first wife, reside with their father. Mr. Howard is a member of the Ma- sonic lodge in Franklin and of Mount Horeb Commandery of Concord.
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OSEPH HENRY DEARBORN, one of the leading farmers and influential resi- dents of Pembroke, was born in Deer- field, N. H., April 19, 1849, son of the Hon. Joseph J. and Sarah (Jenness) Dearborn, of Deerfield. His ancestors on the father's side have for many generations resided in New Hampshire. The first of the Dearborn fam - ily of whom there is any authentic knowl- edge was Godfrey Dearborn, an Englishman, who with his family became an early settler of Boston, Mass. He afterward moved to Exeter, N. H., and was a pioneer farmer in that town. His son, Henry, married Eliza- beth Merriam. Samuel Dearborn, the next in line, wedded Mercy Batchelder; and their son, Nathaniel Dearborn, married Mary Batch- elder. Edward Dearborn, son of Nathaniel, and great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, born in 1749, died at Kensington, N.H. He married Susanna Brown, of Ken- sington ; and one of their children was Sewall, grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
Sewall Dearborn was born February 26, 1773, in Deerfield, N.H. In early manhood he settled upon a farm in Deerfield. Ener- getic and persevering, he acquired a good es- tate. In politics he supported the Democratic party. In his religious belief he was a Cal- vinist Baptist. His death occurred in Deer- field at the age of eighty-one years. He mar- ried Sarah Dow, a native of Kensington, and reared a family of five children, none of whom are living. Mrs. Sewall Dearborn lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years. Jo- seph J. Dearborn was born in Deerfield, March 8, 1818. When a young man he entered mer- cantile pursuits in his native town, and car- ried on a thriving trade for some years. He then went to Bangor, Me., and, after carrying on a hardware business for some time, re- turned again to Deerfield. His latest enter-
prise was a shoe manufactory, which he con- ducted successfully until his retirement. He died in Deerfield, at the age of seventy- two years. An active supporter of the Repub- lican party, he served the town in the capacity of Selectman, was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and of the State Senate. He attended the Congrega- tional church, was a man of unusual ability as a business man, and his character and integ- rity were beyond reproach. The first of his three marriages was contracted with Sarah Jenness, who was a daughter of Thomas Jen- ness, of Deerfield. She died at the age of forty-nine years. Of her four children the only survivor is Joseph H., the subject of this sketch. For his second wife Joseph J. Dear- born wedded Hannah G. Chadwick, of Deer- field. She bore him two children, neither of whom is living. Mrs. Phoebe Libby Mc- Intire became his third wife.
Joseph Henry Dearborn began his educa- tion in Pembroke, and fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy. At Harvard Uni- versity he pursued a classical course, and graduated with the class of 1871. Afterward he was engaged in the dry-goods business in Boston until 1880. Since that year he has followed agriculture in Pembroke. £ Politi- cally, he acts with the Republican party. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen. He served on the Board of Education for two years, and he has represented this town in the legislature. For some years past he has been a Trustee of Pembroke Academy.
On November 9, 1880, Mr. Dearborn was united in marriage with Sarah Frances Stevens, daughter of Josiah and H. Ann (Head) Stevens, of Manchester, N.H. Three children have been born of the union ; namely, Jenness S., Joseph Jewell, and Sarah Eliza- beth. Mr. Dearborn is connected with the
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Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Pembroke Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. His many estimable qualities and superior intellectual attainments are ap- preciated by his fellow-townsmen, in whose interests he has labored diligently as a public official. The family attend the Congrega- tional church.
J OHN F. DAVIS, Postmaster of Suna- pee, was born here, November II, 1835, son of Eli and Eunice (Pingree) Davis. The grandfather, Eli Davis (first), was born March 15, 1775, in Rowley, Mass. He was one of the first settlers of Springfield, N.H., where he went when quite a young man, and where he carried on general farm- ing. Later he removed to Plainfield, N.H., where he spent the latter part of his life. He married Judith Sanborn, who was born June · 6, 1776, and with her reared ten children. A prominent man, he served the town in several public capacities, including that of legisla- tive Representative. He was also an es- teemed member and Deacon of the Baptist church. He died October 22, 1848, and his wife on September 6, 1860.
Eli Davis (second), born in Springfield, N.H., December 29, 1807, was very success- fully engaged in general farming, and spent most of his life in Sunapee. In politics he was a Democrat, but held no public office. In religious belief he was a Universalist. He married Eunice Pingree, who was born in Sunapee, January 15, 1807. She was a daugh- ter of Francis Pingree, who was an early set- tler, a prominent man, and a public official of the town. Her husband died on April 25, 1875; and her death occurred March 31, 1893. They had six children, of whom four are now living. They were: Ruth A., born Decem- ber 10, 1829; Permilla M., born November
12, 1831; Eunice M., born November S, 1833; John F., the subject of this sketch; Mary S., born October 12, 1838; and Julia A., born March 28, 1841. Ruth A. is the widow of James W. Trow, and at present re- sides in Sunapee; Permilla M. married Francis S. Trow, and died October 7, 1894; Eunice M. is the wife of Nathaniel Messer, and lives with him in New London; Mary S. married Levit S. Pillsbury, and died April 26, 1888; Julia A. is the wife of Hiram P. East- man, and lives in Sunapee.
John F. Davis was educated in the schools of his native town. Being an only son, he lived at home until he was twenty-three years of age. He then engaged in the man- ufacture of shoe-stiffening and other occu- pations. Later on he carried the United States mail between Sunapee and Sunapee Station, being mail and express agent for a period of fourteen years. Afterward he was in the hotel business for eight years, conduct- ing the Runnells Lake View House and the Maplewood. He was next engaged in a mer- cantile business for a while, after which he moved to George's Mills, a part of Sunapee, where he has resided ever since. He has been Postmaster here since 1893 and Tax Collector for three years, besides which he carries on the express business, and has been an under- taker for fifteen years. He also makes a busi- ness of taking summer boarders, having ac- commodations for ten guests and a livery for their convenience. In politics he is a Demo- crat. His religious views are liberal and not restricted to any sectarian creed. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, both the Sunapee and Lake Granges.
On February 14, 1858, Mr. Davis married Louisa S. Tucker, who was born in Sunapee, October 13, 1836, daughter of Joseph G. and Ruth (Gardner) Tucker. Mr. and Mrs. Davis
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have a daughter, Carrie J., born in Sunapee, April 26, 1859, who is now the wife of Charles H. Loveland, and resides in Melrose, Mass. Mr. Davis has a fine place at George's Mills, which is a beautiful summer resort at the head of Lake Sunapee.
ANA W. CALL, a prominent farmer of Franklin, was born in this town, August 27, 1847, son of Hazen H. and Mary (Thomas) Call. His grandfather, Hazen Call, who was a lifelong resident of Franklin, spent his active period in tilling the soil. The father was reared and educated in this town. He was engaged in farming and lumbering, and died October 2, 1888. His wife, Mary, who was a native of Sanborn- ton, N. H., became the mother of eight chil- dren - Joseph L., Calvin T., Helen, Dana W., Horace M., Helen V., David S., and Frederick W. Joseph L. married Ann Sever- ance, and lives in Franklin; Calvin T. mar- ried Olive B. Davis, and resides in this town ; Helen died at the age of nine months; Horace M., who died December 11, 1876, married Eldora Twombly, of Hill, N.H., who also died leaving one daughter, Helen Luella; Helen V. died at the age of sixteen years; David S., who was for some years a conductor on the Northern Railroad, and is now living with his brother, Dana W., married Inzie Straw, who is now deceased; Frederick Will- iam, born in 1855, died April 3, 1873. The mother's death occurred in April, 1890.
Dana W. Call was ten years old when he went to Andover, N.H. Here he lived with an uncle until he was sixteen. He acquired a common-school education. After leaving An- dover he entered the service of the Northern Railway Company, with which he remained steadily until 1870. For the succeeding fif-
teen years he was engaged in farming and rail- roading, kept a meat market in Tilton, and was in the grain business in Franklin Falls. In that period he bought his present farm, con- taining one hundred and twenty-five acres of excellent land, which is well improved. He makes a specialty of dairying, raises poultry, keeps an average of five hundred hens, and ships eggs to the Boston market. He also raises some fine colts. Politically, he sup- ports the Republican party; and he was a member of the Board of Selectmen for two years, besides serving in other town offices.
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