USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 22
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 22
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of dyspepsia and indigestion, and works like a charm upon congested liver, kidney, or bladder.
In 1881 Mr. McCoy purchased this prop- erty, which he has since greatly improved. The old hotel, the Hermitage, was built in 1858; but, it being far too small to accommo- date its numerous patrons, the present owner doubled the capacity of the dining-room, added an annex containing twenty-six sleep- ing-rooms, and built a cottage of four rooms, thus increasing the number of rooms in the hotel to seventy-five. He has also erected the spring-house, a handsome octagonal building, and a bath-house of three rooms, besides mak- ing many other substantial improvements. He reorganized the establishment on a strictly temperance plan, and keeps no help that use intoxicants of any kind, making the place an ideal resort for temperance people. Connected with the hotel is an extensive livery, and during the pleasure season he has carriages at the Bradford station on the arrival of the train that leaves Boston, via the Boston & Lowell Railway, at one o'clock P.M. The waters of the spring are in demand in many different parts of the country, and a good busi- ness is done in shipping it. Mr. McCoy's farm of sixty acres, with a dairy of ten cows, insures to guests an abundant supply of fresh vegetables and pure milk and cream.
Mr. McCoy was born July 31, 1829, in Sharon, N.H., a son of Thomas and Lucy (Sanderson) McCoy, and on the paternal side is of Scotch descent. His paternal grand- father, Gilbert McCoy, is said to have been born and reared in Scotland, whence, after learning the weaver's trade, he emigrated to New England, locating in Londonderry, this State, and subsequently marrying Lucy Stewart, of Peterboro.
Henry McCoy lived on the home farm until
of age, when he struck out for himself, his first important step in his onward career being to secure a helpmate. He subsequently en- gaged in the grocery and provision business for some years in Boston, Mass., after which for twenty-nine years he confined himself en- tirely to the sale of provisions. In 1881 he bought his present property in Bradford, as above mentioned, but continued his market for another year. His hotel business has since assumed such large proportions that it re- quires his entire time and attention.
Mr. McCoy married January 8, 1850, Eliz- abeth Sayward Crane, who was born in Wash- ington, Sullivan County, N. H., a daughter cf James and Fanny D. (Sayward) Crane. Her father was a native of Washington, the son of pioneer parents in that town, his father, Jo- seph Crane, having been born in Milton, Mass., and his mother, Deliverance Mills Crane, having been born in Needham, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have had but one child, a daughter, Ella. She married Henry M. Nichols, who was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. Both are now deceased; but their son, Bertram Henry Nichols, has always lived with his grandparents. He married Belle Strickland; and they have one child, Ella Cora Nichols.
During the late Civil War Mr. McCoy, the subject of this sketch, went South to assist the Christian Commission in caring for the wounded, bringing them home if advisable; and for some time he was in the army hospi- tal at City Point, Va. Mrs. McCoy was one of the Executive Committee for nine years of the Home for Discharged Soldiers in Boston, the sick or wounded soldiers during the war times being sent there from the front to be cared for. Mrs. McCoy rendered most willing service in any needed direction, making, for instance, not to mention many other labors,
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burial robes for nearly eight hundred soldiers, who were brought there to die.
Mr. McCoy is a strong Prohibitionist, and Mrs. McCoy has for years been an active worker in the temperance cause. She was for ten years President of the South Boston organ- ization of the W. C. T. U., and Treasurer of the State W. C. T. U., holding that office at the time Mrs. Livermore was President of the State W. C. T. U. In 1885 she organized the W. C. T. U. of Washington, N. H., and has been very active in carrying out the plans for the W. C. T. U. State fairs. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCoy united with the Baptist Church of Peterboro when young, and were afterward connected with the church of that denomina- tion in South Boston, in which he served as Deacon, and had a class of thirty-five young men, also for a time acting as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Both are now members of the Baptist church at East Washington, Mr. McCoy, who has been a church official most of the time since eighteen years old, being Deacon of the church. He is also a member of the church choir, there having been few Sundays since he was thirteen years old when his voice has not been heard with the church singers. He has likewise been quite promi- nent in the work of the Y. M. C. A., of which he was for some years the President. In his carlier life Mr. McCoy taught school for some years, beginning at the age of seventeen, and being employed in New Boston, Marlboro, Sharon, and Peterboro, N.H.
ENJAMIN F. MAXFIELD, one of the farmers of Loudon township, was born in Gilmanton, N. H., March 22, 1828, son of Enoch and Sallie (Thompson) Maxfield. The father, a farmer of Gilmanton, was a native of Chichester; and
the mother was from Northfield, N. H. Their children were : Oliver, now deceased, who mar- ried Sobrina Ann Towle; Benjamin F., the subject of this article; Clearsy, deceased ; Laura, also deceased, who became the wife of Cyrus Jones; B. Jennie, who is the wife of Thomas Tate, and now lives in Rockport, Mass. ; Charles H., deceased; Hiram, deceased, who successively married Mary E. Flanders and Mary Page, both now deceased; John, who married Affiah Page, and is a farmer in Gil- manton ; Rachel, the wife of Abram Burham, a ship-carpenter of Essex, now deceased; Edwin, who married Laura J. Sanborn, and lives in Gilmanton ; and Abbie, the youngest, who died at the age of nineteen years.
Having received his education in the town schools, Benjamin F. Maxfield at the age of fifteen went to Loudon Ridge, where he en- gaged in farming for four years. He tried railroading for a short period after this, but returned to town and spent a year on the farm of Deacon Brown. His next employment was on the farm of Mrs. Mary French, which he subsequently bought. Starting as a farm hand, with but thirty-five cents that he could call his own, by the closest economy he was able to put by enough money to buy the farm and become independent for life. He and his wife now own about two hundred acres. In addition to his general farming he carries on fruit-raising and stock-raising.
On July 23, 1862, Mr. Maxfield married Miss Juliette French, daughter of Daniel S. and Ann B. (Neal) French, of Loudon. Her father, a cooper early in life, afterward settled upon a farm in Loudon, where he died August 2, 1841. He left three children: Vienna Jane, deceased; Juliette, who was born No- vember 19, 1835; and Ann Augusta. Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield had one child - Dannie F., who died in infancy. Mr. Maxfield owns
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some of the finest. houses in the township. Formerly a Democrat in politics, he is now a Republican. He has never aspired to office. Mrs. Maxfield is a member of the Free Will Baptist church, in which both take an active interest.
ILLIAM T. THISSELL, a promi- nent farmer of Goshen and an ex- member of the legislature, was born in Newbury, N. H., February 25, 1838, son of Hiram and Jane (Collins) Thissell. His grandfather, Henry Thissell, who was a native of Beverly, Mass., followed the sea for a number of years. On one occasion in this period of his life, when his ship was off the Russian coast, he with others of the crew went ashore, and on ascending a high hill they obtained a view of the army with which Na- poleon Bonaparte was invading Russia. He finally settled upon a farm in Newbury, N. H., and there resided for the rest of his life. He married Elizabeth Thissell, of Beverly, and reared a family of six children.
Hiram Thissell, father of William T., was born in Newbury, and reared to farm life. He followed agriculture exclusively for several years in his native town, and was then engaged in a mercantile business in Lempster and Washington. His last days were passed in Goshen. In politics he. supported the Demo- cratic party, and he served as Town Clerk in Washington for several years. He died Jan- uary 25, 1893. His first wife, Jane Collins Thissell, a native of Newbury, was a daughter of Richard Collins, a well-known farmer of that town in his day. She died March 27, 1877. His second wife, who was before mar- riage Jane Webster, of Acworth, N. H., died April 2, 1884. He married for his third wife Melinda Mitchell, a native of Nova Scotia. She survives him, and is residing in Goshen.
Hiram and Jane (Collins) Thissell were the parents of six children - William T., Earl A., Ambrose J., Mary Jane, Albanus C., and Ova N. Earl A. Thissell is connected with the Shaw Knitting Company, of Lowell, Mass., and is also interested in an oil and gas com- pany, doing business in Florence and Boston, Mass., and in Ohio. He married Nellie Cater, of Lowell, who is now deceased. His only son, Bertrand A., is a veterinary surgeon of Boston. Ambrose J. Thissell is a merchant and farmer in Lowell, Mass. He wedded Mary O. Clark, of Oswego, N. Y. ; and she died leaving no children. Mary Jane married Supply Barney, of Washington, N. H. She died February 15, 1897, leaving two children. Albanus C., who was a merchant, is also de- ceased. Ova N., who is in mercantile busi- ness in Lowell, married Clara V. Bawlding, of that city, and has three children.
William T. Thissell was educated in the common and high schools. He remained at home until he was twenty years old, at which time he engaged in buying and shipping pota- toes. He has also peddled upon the road. Lempster was his headquarters until 1885, when he purchased his present farm of two hundred acres, situated in South Goshen. He carries on general farming and dairying, raises poultry, and sells a large quantity of eggs an- nually. In politics he is a Democrat. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen in Lempster for seven years, represented that town in the legislature during the sessions of 1873 and 1874, was a member of the School Board, was on the Library Committee, and has been a Justice of the Peace for more than twenty-five years. At the present time he is serving as Town Auditor in Goshen.
Mr. Thissell has been twice married. On the first occasion, September 20, 1865, he wedded Mary A. Nichols, of Lempster, daugh-
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ter of Timothy and Amelia (Gould) Nichols. The father was born in that town, and the mother in Claremont, N. H. Mr. Thissell's first wife died December 19, 1867. On Janu- ary 22, 1872, he married Axie L., daughter of Cyrus and Roxanna (Twist) Leach, of Newbury. She died October 9, 1896. Mr. Thissell is connected with Forest Lodge, No. 61, I. O. O. F., of Marlow; with Mount Sunapee. Grange, No. 144, Patrons of Hus- bandry, of which he has been Master and Chaplain; and with the Knights of Honor. In his religious views he is a Universalist.
G ILMAN B. KIMBALL, a resident of Hopkinton and one of the most pros- perous and progressive agriculturists of Merrimack County, comes of pioneer an- cestry. His paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Kimball, born here July 23, 1786, was the second owner of the present homestead. With the exception of two or three years spent in New London, this State, Nathaniel lived on it from the time of his marriage until his death, which occurred November 27, 1869. He and Betsey Titcomb, who was born Janu- ary 27, 1794, were married March 7, 1815, by the Rev. B. Darling. She was an active, thrifty housewife, and noted for her manufact- ures of silk, as shown on page 150 of "Life and Times," compiled by C. C. Lord. She died February 7, 1856, having been the mother of three children. The latter were : Cyrus T., born December 22, 1815, who lived but a year ; Moses T., the father of Gilman B. ; and Pris- cilla, who died at the age of two years.
Moses T. Kimball was born April 12, 1817, during the residence of his parents in New London, and died in Hopkinton, April 19, 1874. He was reared on the home farm, which became his by inheritance, assuming
its management before the death of his parents, whom he cared for during their declining years. The present house, all of which is more than one hundred years old, was built at different periods of time, both the father and grandfather of Moses having added to the original residence. One of his aunts, a sister of Nathaniel Kimball, named Hannah, was born in this house in 1773, and died within its walls in 1863, aged ninety years. Moses T. Kimball was an industrious, prudent man, wise in his business methods and sound in his judgments. He acquired quite a property. After giving a tract of land to each of his daughters, he owned at his death, in addition to the homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, one hundred acres in Hopkinton and fifty acres of pasture in Bradford. He did a good deal of lumbering in his earlier life, cut- ting logs from his own land and hauling them to the river, where he sold them. He was prominent in the town and a leader in the Democratic party, which the Kimball family have invariably supported. He was a lifelong member of the Baptist church, in which for many a year "Gransir " Kimball was one of the pillars. He was twice married. On May 1, 1842, by the Rev. S. Cook, he was united in marriage with Harriet Emerson, of this town. She died a few years later, leaving two daughters, namely : Priscilla, born Janu- ary 30, 1845, who is the widow of J. G. Highland, and lives on the old Smith farm ; and Ellen L., born March 13, 1846, who married Philander M. Lord, of Dunbarton. On November 17, 1852, Moses T. Kimball married Mary F. Smith, who was born March 17, 1820. Her birthplace was the farm in Hopkinton, on the Jewett road, now owned by Mrs. J. G. Highland, and of which her grand- father, Moody Smith, was the original owner. Her parents, Josiah and Sarah (Bailey) Smith,
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were both natives of Hopkinton, and her father resided throughout the seventy years of his life in the house in which he was born. The children of Mrs. Moses T. Kimball were: Gilman B. and Herbert M.
Gilman B. Kimball was born September 23, 1854, on the farm where he now resides. Since the age of fourteen years he has virt- tually had charge of it, his father having been an invalid in the last five years of his life. He and his brother have been extensively engaged in the various branches of agriculture, and have greatly increased the acreage of the original ancestral estate by the purchase of other land, in many cases buying entire farms. They bought for eighteen hundred dollars the Charles Merrill farm of eighty acres, on which Herbert for a while resided. They owned the Colonel Colby farm of sixty acres for a time; and a few years since they bought for two thousand eight hundred dollars the large and well-improved farm of John Page, on which were buildings that cost six thousand dollars to erect. The last purchase was effected in October, 1893, when the seller was a man to whom the property was knocked down at auction for three thousand dollars, and who gave them two hundred dollars to take it off his hands. That was one of the greatest bargains of the times, the estate being one of the finest in Hopkinton or Con- cord, containing much land valuable for tillage, excellent pasturage, and a good piece of timber. Herbert now lives on that farm, where he keeps a large dairy of fifty cows and supplies a long milk route.
Gilman B. Kimball also pays much atten- tion to dairying, having twenty cows of a good grade and a profitable milk route. For nearly two years he has been somewhat of an invalid, not able to do much manual labor, employing trusty help for that, while he has general
superintendence of the farm. He has never married; and he resides with his mother, a very bright and active woman, who has contin- ued her residence on the homestead. She is a most estimable Christian woman and a con- sistent member of the Congregational church.
EXTER PEABODY, a well-known farmer of Newport, was born on the farm where he now resides, Decem- ber 14, 1822, son of Ammi and Sarah (John- son) Peabody. A carefully arranged family tree kept by Mr. Peabody shows that the dif- ferent branches of the family sprung from Francis Peabody, who was born in England in 1614. Francis had a son John, born in 1642, who had a son David, born in 1673, who had John, born in 1714, who was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Jedediah Peabody, son of the last. John and grandfather of the present Mr. Peabody, born near Boxford in 1743, was a well-to-do farmer. The first part of his life was spent in Henni- ker, and the latter in Lebanon, where he died after a long and active life. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. By his wife, Alice Howlett Peabody, he was the father of eleven children, all of whom grew up. They were born as follows: Lydia, in 1767; Ammi, in 1769; Mary, in 1771; Moses, in 1773; Susanna, in 1775; Thomas, in 1777; Alice, in 1779; Andrew, in 1782; Frederick, in 1785; John, in 1787; and Betsy, in 1789.
Ammi Peabody, who was a native of Box- ford, Mass., came to Newport in 1796, and settled on the farm where Dexter Peabody now lives. There were no roads then, and he was obliged to cut the first tree in making a clearing. He had the true pioneer spirit, however, and persevered, building a small frame house and gradually bringing order out
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of chaos in respect to the condition of the land. He owned somewhat over one hundred acres, and was an energetic and successful man. Ammi first married Polly Rice, of Henniker, N. H., who was the mother of two children - Lucy and Martha. His second wife, Sarah Johnson Peabody, born in Guil- ford, Conn., in 1780, had twelve children, all of whom lived to maturity. Both he and Sarah were members of the Congregational church. In politics he was a Whig. For the last thirty-five years of his life he was blind. He died in Newport in 1845. Four of his fourteen children are now living, namely : Charles, who graduated at Dartmouth College, and is a Congregational minister, now residing in Pasadena, Cal .; Leonard W., a graduate of Castleton (Vt.) Medical College, and a physi- cian of Henniker, N. H. ; Helen, a graduate of South Hadley, Mass., who was principal of the Western Female Seminary of Oxford, Ohio, for more than thirty years and now lives in Pasadena; and Dexter, the subject of this article. The other children were: Asenath, Carroll W., Lucy, Martha, Calvin, Ruel, Maria, Frederick, Sarah, and Eliza.
Dexter Peabody passed an uneventful boy- hood on the old home farm, receiving the ed- ucation which the town schools afforded. While his brothers and sisters one by one went away from home, he remained and took charge of the place, and cared for his parents in their declining years. After the death of both he bought out the other heirs, and settled down there, and has lived in the same spot ever since. It bears the name of Valley View Farm. A more beautiful situation cannot easily be found. The house stands on a noble height rising from a lovely valley, and a fine background is afforded by the dark blue mountains and hills. It is considered one of the finest bits of scenery in the district.
The land embraces about two hundred acres, and everything is kept in the most orderly manner, and gives evidence of thrift and enter- prise. Mr. Peabody is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry at Newport. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while in politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Peabody was married in 1848 to Mary E., daughter of Jabez and Sally (Bixby) Fair- banks, and a sister of George H. Fairbanks, who is the subject of another sketch. She died October 12, 1873, leaving three sons, two of whom are now living. The latter are : Charles F., born August 14, 1849, now en- gaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Iowa; and Frank G., born December 29, 1860, also residing in Iowa, and engaged in the same business as his brother. Wilber, born August 19, 1852, died in Pasadena, Cal., in 1893. Mr. Peabody was again married September 24, 1874, to Martha S. Moore, who was born in Putney, Vt., March 21, 1841, daughter of Curtis and Mary (Dodge) Moore. There were two children by the second mar- riage - Ralph C. and Helen M. Ralph was born June 29, 1880, and is at home. The daughter, Helen, was born April 13, 1876, and died February 19, 1879. Taking a warrantable pride in his ancestry, Mr. Pea- body is an active member of the Peabody As- sociation, and attended the reunion of its members. The hospitality dispensed in the Peabody household by him and his estimable wife is of the traditional New England charac- ter, marked by a delightful freedom and abun- dance.
ILO S. MORRILL, a prominent lumberman and farmer, was born in Canterbury, January 20, 1846, son of Captain David and Sallie (Peverly)
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Morrill. The grandfather, Reuben Morrill, was a well-known farmer of Canterbury. The father was also a farmer, and largely interested in lumber. He was a Captain in the militia. His wife was the widow of John Kimball, and his children were: George P., who married Abbie Emery; and Milo S., the subject of this sketch. He died April 6, 1893.
Mr. Morrill received a common-school edu- cation. He lived at home, taking care of his parents on the old farm. Upon the death of his father he was left a sixth-interest in the homestead. Three years after he purchased the rest of the estate. The buildings on the property, which contains about five hundred acres, were erected by his father and grand- father. He also stocks a steam-mill located near his house, and where he employs a num- ber of men. Though he is a general farmer and does a small dairy business, the largest part of his income is derived from the lumber business, in which he is extensively engaged. He has never married. His nephew, Charles E. Morrill, with his wife Ida Marsh Morrill, lives with him and helps to carry on the farm. Mr. Morrill is a member of the Free Baptist church. A supporter of the Republican party in politics, he is no office-seeker. It is well known that he has worked hard for the success which has been his, and he is accordingly respected throughout the township and county.
OHN STEVENS KIMBALL, an influ- ential resident of Hopkinton, born in Boston, July 31, 1845, is a son of John Shackford and Mary (Stevens) Kimball, of whom an account will be found on another page. He was educated at the Phillips Gram- mar School in Boston, at Hopkinton Academy, and at Taghconic Institute, Lanesboro, Mass. The old Hopkinton Academy, under the prin-
cipalship of Professor Dyer Sanborn, the author of Sanborn's Grammar, was quite a famous in- stitution. Among its students who afterward became famous were Benjamin F. Butler, Salmon P. Chase, and Grace Fletcher. Grace Fletcher became the wife of Daniel Webster.
When he was but fourteen years of age, he began to earn his living in the employment of J. C. Converse & Co., Boston, Mass. Subse- quently he worked for George S. Winslow & Co. In 1861 he went to Burlington, Ia., where he was employed by his father in the business conducted by J. S. Kimball & Co. In 1866-67 he was second in charge of the notion or smallwares department of George Bliss & Co., of New York City. From 1867 to 1869 he was a member of the firm of Parker, Bacon, Kimball & Co., wholesale dry-goods dealers of Boston. In 1869, with his brother, Robert R. Kimball, he entered the small- wares and hosiery trade, under the style of Kimball & Co., locating in Winthrop Square, Boston. They were burned out in the great fire of 1872, which laid waste a large portion of Boston, losing one-half the stock and some of the light insurance they had on it through companies that failed. Mr. Kimball, how- ever, was not to be defeated. Soon after, going with George H. Pearl & Co., dry-goods commission merchants, he gradually recovered himself financially. In 1875 he came to Hopkinton, and here engaged in business with the stock of the two or three stores he and his brother had in Boston. This venture was car- ried on prosperously for six or eight years. In 1879 Mr. Kimball was elected Registrar of Deeds, in which capacity he served till 1881. In that period he arranged the index that has been in constant use since. He was sent to the legislature in 1883 to represent Hopkin- ton, and was Chairman of the Committee on Elections. In politics a Republican, he takes
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an active interest in affairs. He has been Secretary of the Hopkinton Republican Club for twenty-five years; and he has long been a prominent figure in both State and county con- ventions, often serving on committees.
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