USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 32
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 32
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Benjamin F. Heath completed his educa- tion at the Hopkinton Academy at the age of . nineteen, and for four years thereafter taught school in Hopkinton and Warner. He was
then employed for five years as clerk in a store in this town. This situation he gave up to accept the position of cashier and head book-keeper in the office of the Boston Culti- vator in Boston. He remained there until failing health warned him to seek a more ac- tive occupation, and outdoor exercise became imperative. Then he went West for a year, after which he returned to Warner village, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for four years, in company with Ira Harvey and H. S. Willis. From 1874 until 1887 Mr. Heath successfully carried on the business alone. Since that time he has been largely engaged in probate work, settling many es- tates, mostly in Warner. He has also often served as commissioner on estates, has been an appraiser of real estate, and has written many insurance papers. For about a year after its incorporation he was the Secretary of the Merrimack Glove Company. An unswerv- ing Republican in politics, he has attended all the conventions of the party in this vicin- ity, and has taken an active part in the man- agement of local affairs. He was a member of the School Board for a number of terms, and he served several terms in the capacities of Town Treasurer and Town Clerk. In 1896 he was elected for a term of two years to the State legislature. He has been a Trustee and the Treasurer of the Pillsbury Free Li- brary since it was founded in 1871.
On May 19, 1870, Mr. Heath married in Boston Miss Julia A. Wadleigh. She is a daughter of Philip S. H. and Rhoda W. (Kendrick) Wadleigh, of Sutton, N.H., and a graduate of the New London Literary and Scientific Institution. Their only child, Fred Harvey Heath, a bright, intelligent lad of fourteen, is now attending the high school. Both Mr. and Mrs Heath attend the Baptist church. An active and prominent Mason, Mr.
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Heath was one of the first applicants for ad- mission to Harris Lodge, No. 91, of Warner; is a member of Woods Chapter, No. 14, of Henniker, in which he has passed all the chairs, and served as High Priest; has been an officer in the Grand Lodge; and is a mem- ber of the Council of the order of High Priest- hood, whose membership included the late John J. Bell, of Exeter. The deep interest Mr. Heath has constantly taken in educa- tional matters found useful employment in the legislature of 1897, when he was an active and efficient member of the Committee on Ed- ucation. In his legislative capacity he also served on the Conference and other commit- tees, and was the introducer of several bills that passed both houses and received the sig- nature of the governor.
ON. AUSTIN TYLER, who was an extensive builder and the largest land-owner of his day in Clare- mont, was born there, January 6, 1790, son of Ephraim and Abigail (Pardee) Tyler. His grandfather, Colonel Benjamin Tyler, born at Wallingford, Conn., February 22, 1732, mar- ried Mehitable Andrews, and removed to Farmington, Conn. From that place Colonel Tyler went to Claremont in the spring of 1767, and the Town History gives the in- formation that he built the first dam across Sugar River at West Claremont, having been given a tract of land for that purpose by the town. After the completion of the dam he returned to Farmington; and in the following March, with his wife, six children, and house- hold effects on an ox sled, he started for Claremont. . In 1768 he built a grist-mill and saw-mill in connection with his dam. The blocks for the millstones were obtained from a quarry on Ascutney Mountain, worked by
him and his sons for several years, and were carried over the Connecticut River on the ice, and brought to West Claremont. Here they were finished into millstones, and supplied to mills in nearly all parts of New England, Canada, and New York. Colonel Tyler built another dam near the site of High Bridge, and a forge and smelting works in connection therewith. The ore used was brought from Charlestown, N.H., and the lime from Weathersfield, Vt. The Colonel invented and had patented a process for dressing flax. He also devised an improved bucket for a wooden water wheel with an upright shaft, called the rye fly or tub wheel, for which he was granted two patents successively, in 1800 and in 1804. When seventy-five years old he retired from active business, and was suc- ceeded by his sons John, Benjamin, and Noah. He died in Claremont, March 9, 1814, leaving eleven children, to each of whom he gave a good farm. He was Select- man in 1768 and 1769. His son, Ephraim Tyler, who died December 16, 1823, at the age of sixty-four years, married Abigail Pardee, who died March 18, 1814, aged fifty- three years. They had the following chil- dren; namely, Miles, Rebekah, Sally, Benja- min, Pardee, William, Ephraim, Jr., Austin, Sarah, Abigail, Lola, and Maria.
One of the most active, enterprising, and public-spirited men of his time, Austin Tyler built the Sullivan factory and the Stone paper-mill. His enterprise included all branches of his business. The clearing of the land and the lumbering, as well as the build- ing, were personally conducted by him. He constantly employed from thirty to forty men, and he built for rent and sometimes for sale throughout his active life. He held va- rious offices of public trust, the duties of which he discharged with the utmost fidelity.
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He was Selectman of Claremont for nine years, was Moderator on many occasions, served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, was Representative to the New Hampshire legislature for eight years, and was State Senator in 1838.
Mr. Tyler married Almira Kingsbury, the only child of Esquire Daniel Kingsbury. She was born in Keene, N.H., March 6, 1799, and died December 9, 1867. Mr. Tyler died August 12, 1844. They had seven children - Henry D., Louise, Emeline, Elizabeth Bailey, Frederick Austin, Sarah Frances, and Ellen Almira. Henry D. Tyler, who was born August 13, 1815, when thirty-one years old enlisted under Captain Webster, Com- - pany A, went with his regiment to Mexico, took an active part in the war, and died at San Antonio, Tex., June 16, 1868, aged fifty- three years. Louise, born March 30, 1818, who was highly educated, became the wife of Nathaniel Westgate, of Enfield, N. H., and died March 6, 1895. Emeline, who was born April 21, 1820, married Asa T. Starbird, and died at Dover, Kan., March 4, 1876. Eliza- beth Bailey, born September 15, 1822, died in Boston, April 26, 1868, the wife of Sam- uel W. Howe. Frederick Austin, born De- cember 10, 1824, who was a prominent hotel man in his time, married Mary Robbins, and died February 11, 1890. Sarah Frances, born December 27, 1834, married Joseph K. Eger- ton, and died at Northfield, Vt., March 9, 1886. Ellen Almira, born May 29, 1827, on January 18, 1854, married John Leonard Lovering, of Hartford, Vt., who died at Fari- bault, Minn., in 1862. They had two chil- dren - Leonard Austin and Anna Tyler. Of the son the Town History says: "Leonard was born at Hartford, Vt., November 13, 1855; was appointed cadet at West Point in 1872; graduated and was commissioned Second
Lieutenant of the Fourth United States Infan- try, June 15, 1876; was promoted First Lieu- tenant of same, January 3, 1885, and Cap- tain of same, October 15, 1893. He was detailed by the War Department Assisting Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology, at the United States Military Acad- emy, West Point, 1881-85; Engineer Officer, Department of the Columbia, 1888-89; Aide- de-camp to Brigadier-general Thomas H. Ruger, of the United States Army, 1891 ; and in command of his company at Boisé City, Idaho, in 1894," He is now acting Captain at Fort Sheridan, Chicago, Ill. His sister Anna was born at Hartford, Vt., September 21, 1857. She married April 14, 1887, Charles W. Barrett, of Melrose, and has two children.
OLONEL ABIAL ROLFE, a promi- nent resident of Penacook, was born March 29, 1823, on the estate where he now resides, son of Henry and Deborah (Carter) Rolfe. His grandfather, Nathaniel Rolfe, came here from Haverhill, Mass., when there were but few settlers in this section. Nathaniel converted a tract of wild land into a good farm, built a frame house, and carried on farming and lumbering throughout the rest of his life. His son Henry grew up on the farm, receiving his education in the Concord schools. When old enough to engage in busi- ness for himself, Henry followed the same oc- cupations that had been pursued by his father. In connection with the lumber business he controlled a water-power, and did considerable sawing. He was a very influential man in the town, took an interest in public affairs, and was a strong Whig. In the command of a militia company, he was an exacting and painstaking drill-master. He died at the age of seventy years, His wife, Deborah, a na-
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tive of West Concord, was the mother of seven girls and four boys; namely, Judith N., Jane C., Rhoda C., Phœbe W., Deborah, Lydia, Martha, Nathaniel, Timothy, Henry, and Abial.
Colonel Rolfe was educated in the private school at Hopkinton, under the famous John Ballard, and at the institutes in Pembroke and Salisbury. After completing his studies he taught school for four terms, acquiring a high reputation as a disciplinarian, and success- fully managing a school which several preced- ing masters had failed to control. Since that time Colonel Rolfe has retained a warm inter- est in public education. After giving up school teaching, he was engaged in the manu- facture of doors, sashes, and blinds, for a period of fifteen years. In 1855 he was first elected to the School Board of Concord, on which he continued to serve for over thirty years. In 1856 and 1857 he was sent to rep- resent the town in the State legislature, and in 1860 was appointed on Governor Goodwin's staff, where he served for two years, and re- ceived his title of Colonel. In 1882 he was elected Ward Assessor, which office he filled for eight years with entire impartiality. Colo- nel Rolfe is now a bank messenger in Pena- cook, and also transacts some business in insurance.
Colonel Rolfe's connection with banking and insurance has led him to become inter- ested in the various methods of computing in- terest. Recognizing the need of uniformity in this particular, he has formulated a simple and practical rule, which he hopes to have legalized as the court rule by the legislat- ure. It provides for computing the annual in- terest, which is the legal interest in this State, on interest-bearing notes covered by partial payments,' at different rates of per cent., and when there are odd months and
days. The method of doing this is published in a pamphlet copyrighted by the author, in the belief that it meets a long-felt want.
Colonel Rolfe married Sarah Elizabeth Call, who, born in West Boscawen, now Webster, died in 1881. A daughter, Lizzie E., who was for twenty-two years a teacher in the schools of Penacook, survives her. Colo- nel Rolfe is a veteran fireman, having been connected with the pioneer engine company of Penacook for thirty years. He was manager for many years of the old Merrimack County Agricultural Society. The Colonel is an es- teemed member of Horace Chase Lodge, No. 72, F. & A. M., of Penacook ; and of Contoo- cook Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In politics he is a Republican, and he cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay in 1844. His religious belief is the Congre- gational.
IRAM PARKER, Postmaster of Lempster, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, July 3, 1830, son of Benjamin and Olive (Nichols) Parker. His grandfather, Joseph Parker, moved his family from New Ipswich, N.H., to Lempster, first settling in the northern part of the town. At a later date Joseph removed to the farm now owned by his grandson. While he owned and successfully conducted a farm, he was also en- gaged in the manufacture of potash. His death occurred March 14, 1825. He married Sarah Wright, a native of Washington, N. H .; and his children were: Sally, Jeremiah, Joseph, Benjamin, Jonas, Bateman, Almena, George, and Hiram.
Benjamin Parker, who was born in New Ipswich, came to Lempster when he was three years old. He was engaged in farming; and he attained prominence in public affairs, sery-
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ing as Selectman, County Road Commissioner, and Representative to the legislature. In politics he was a Democrat and in religious belief a Universalist. He died in 1845. His wife, Olive, was a daughter of Timothy and Ann (Carey) Nichols, of Lempster, who had eight children; namely, Polly, Cynthia, Eunice, Olive, Lavina, Niantha, Timothy, and Troop. Benjamin Parker's children were : Emily L., Hiram, and Hosea W. Emily is now the widow of Ransom P. Beckwith, late of Lempster, and has two children - Walter P. and Hira R. Walter P. Beckwith, who is the principal of the State Normal School in Salem, Mass., wedded Mary Sails, of Adams, Mass., and has one daughter, Fanny. Hira R. Beckwith, now an architect and builder in Claremont, married Libbie Martin, a native of Springfield, Vt. The Hon. Hosea W. Parker, who was a member of Congress, and is now an attorney in Claremont, married Louvisa Southgate, of Bridgewater, Vt. His only daughter, Lizzie S., is now the wife of the Rev. Lee McCollester, of Detroit, Mich., and has two children - Parker and Catharine. Mrs. Benjamin Parker died March 10, 1887.
Hiram Parker acquired a common-school ed- ucation. He was but fifteen years old when the death of his father made it necessary for him to take the management of the homestead farm. In 1887 he moved to the village, and engaged in business at his present stand. His store, stocked with a good assortment of general merchandise, is largely patronized, and brings him a good income. At the same time conducting his farm of one hundred and fifty acres, he is one of the busiest men in town. Politically, he supports the Demo- cratic party ; and he is a leading spirit in local public affairs. For thirteen years he has been a member of the Board of Selectmen. He was
Town Clerk and Treasurer for two years, he served on the School Board for six years, he represented this town in the legislature in .1863 and 1864, he served on the State Board of Agriculture for nine years, and he has been Postmaster for the past four years. Ac- tively interested in the Patrons of Husbandry, he was formerly Master of Silver Mountain Grange, No. 196, and is now a member of Pomona Grange of Sullivan County. Both he and Mrs. Parker are members of the Univer- salist Society, which he serves in the capacity of secretary.
On October 11, 1854, Mr. Parker was united in marriage with Helen G. Moore. She was born in Lempster, June 16, 1836, daughter of Charles and Aira (Beckwith) Moore. Her father, who was a native of Bol- ton, Mass., settled upon a farm in this town soon after his marriage. He died in 1870; and his wife, who was born in Unity, N. H., died in 1882. They were the parents of four children, namely: Harriet, who became the wife of J. N. Butler, M.D., of Lempster; George, who married Almina Weed, of Unity; Helen G., who is now Mrs. Parker; and Charles Austin, a travelling man, who married Ella Smith, of Ludlow, Vt., and resides in Rutland. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have had four children, namely: Fred C., born June 27, 1858; Frank B., born May 29, 1860, who died in 1863; Jennie L., born November 10, 1864; and Carl Austin, born April 28, 1879. Fred C., who graduated from the Agricultural Col- lege in Hanover with the class of 1880, is now a merchant in Acworth, N.H. He wedded Mary Stafford, of Lempster, who has had two children : Bertha, born in March, 1893, who died in infancy ; and Leslie Hiram, born No- vember 13, 1895, who died January 5, 1897. Jennie L., a graduate of the Claremont High School, is now the wife of Herbert F. Olm-
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stead, who is a native of Sutton, Canada, and a dealer in musical instruments in Lempster. She has one son, Percy F., born May 14, 1893. Carl Austin Parker is attending the Kimball Union Academy in Meriden.
LVIN W. SANDERS, one of the lead- ing merchants of Pittsfield, was born in this town, October 5, 1850, son of William and Adeline (Reynolds) Sanders. His grandfather, Samuel Sanders, who was a resident of Strafford, N. H., followed shoe- making and farming throughout the active period of his life, and died at the age of seventy years. Samuel's wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Cater, lived to be eighty years old. She was the mother of nine chil- dren, all now deceased, of whom William was the youngest.
William Sanders was born in Strafford, and reared upon a farm. He learned the shoe- maker's trade, and afterward worked at it, and also conducted a good farm in Pittsfield. In politics he was a Democrat. He married for his first wife Abiagail Sanders, widow of William Sanders, of Strafford; and by that union there were five children, of whom the only survivor is Betsey. His second mar- riage was contracted with Adeline, daughter of John Reynolds, of Strafford; and she be- came, the mother of five children, four of whom are living - Alvin W., Martin, Clara, and George. Martin wedded Eva Noyes, of Barnet, Vt .; and Clara is the wife of Ben- jamin Rollins, of Concord, N.H., and has two children - Florence and Bertha. Mrs. Will- iam Sanders, who is seventy-two years old, is residing at the homestead in this town.
Alvin W. Sanders acquired his education in the schools of Barnstead, N.H. During the ensuing three years he was employed in vari-
ous cotton-mills in this State. Then he was connected with the New Hampshire Insane Asylum for eleven years, serving in the capac- ity of keeper for five years, and afterward having charge of the culinary department. On leaving the asylum he returned to Pitts- field, where in 1889, after working in the shoe shops for three years, he opened a general store. He deals in groceries, provisions, grain, and feed, and receives a large share of patronage.
On October 23, 1873, Mr. Sanders was united in marriage with Augusta Sanborn, daughter of Frank and Nancy (Flanders) San- born, of Salisbury, N.H. Politically, Mr. Sanders is a Prohibitionist. He is connected with Suncook Lodge, I. O. O. F., in the im- portant chairs of which he has served. Both he and Mrs. Sanders are members of the Free Will Baptist church.
OHN F. BARTLETT, Postmaster of Suncook and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Newton Upper Falls, Mass., November 15, 1836, son of George W. and Jane (Nickelson) Bartlett. His grandfather, Abijah Bartlett, who served as a sailor in the War of 1812, was a rope-maker in Salem, Mass. Abijah mar- ried Elizabeth Bartlett, of Marblehead, and reared a family of six children.
George W. Bartlett, born in Marblehead, resided in Newton Upper Falls and later in Nashua, N. H., where he followed the business of store-keeper. He died at the age of forty- five years. In politics he was originally a Whig, but later became a Democrat. His wife, Jane, who was a native of Marblehead, became the mother of eleven children, of whom Mary Ann, John F., Benjamin B., and Susan M. are living. Mary Ann married for her
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first husband Clark T. Rose, by whom she has two children - William C. and Lilly. By her second husband, Ozem Hurd, she has had no children. Susan M. is the wife of Albert F. Barney, of Laconia, N. H. ; and her chil- dren are: Henrietta and Carrie. Mrs. George WV. Bartlett, who is still living, was born. July 4, 1806, is now over ninety years old, and enjoys good health. She is a member of the Methodist church.
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John F. Bartlett attended schools in New- ton Upper Falls, Mass., and in Nashua and Hookset, N.H. After his studies were com- pleted, he was employed in a mill in Hookset for a short time. At the age of seventeen he went to Lowell, Mass., where he served an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade. After following this trade as a journeyman in Bos- ton for twelve years, he purchased a residence in Allenstown, N. H., and therein made his home. He continued in the machinist's business for several years after working in Manchester and Hookset. He then engaged in the restaurant business in Suncook, open- ing an establishment on each side of the river. Subsequently he disposed of his interest in these places and went to the mining districts of the West, where he remained for a short period and was fairly successful. Returning to Suncook, he entered the grocery and pro- vision business, which he conducted for about twelve years. Then he retired from trade, and was for some years engaged in farming. In 1894 he was appointed Postmaster at Suncook village, and is still serving in that capacity.
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On October 31, 1858, Mr. Bartlett was joined in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Gor- don, daughter of Joseph Quincy Gordon, of Kingston, N. H. They have three children - Ada, Henrietta, and George F. Ada mar- ried Dr. J. B. Pettingill, of Amherst, N. H., and has four children - Edith, George, Grace,
and Frank. Henrietta is the wife of George W. Fowler, of Manchester, N. H., and has one son, Sherborne. George F. married Viola A. Page, of Pembroke, N. H., and has one daugh- ter, Edith May. Mrs. Bartlett died August 4, 1894, aged fifty-seven years and nine months. In politics Mr. Bartlett is a Demo- crat, and he has long been a leading spirit in local affairs. He was a member of the Pru- dential Committee for three years, and of the Board of Selectmen in 1875; and he was ten- dered nomination to the latter office for the following year, but declined to serve. He was Town Treasurer for three years, and has held other offices. In 1888 he was elected a Rep- resentative to the legislature. He is con- nected with the Masonic Lodge in Pembroke, and has occupied all of the important chairs in the lodge of Odd Fellows. Mr. Bartlett attends the Baptist church.
LBERT S. WAIT, of Newport, the oldest lawyer in active practice in Sullivan County, was born in Ches- ter, Windsor County, Vt., April 14, 1821, son of Daniel and Cynthia (Reed) Wait. His grandfather, John Wait, was among the early settlers of Mason, N. H. John moved to Wes- ton, Vt., and was a sturdy farmer of that Green Mountain town and a highly respected member of the community. He died in Wes- ton at a good old age. His children were : James, John Sumner, Daniel Amos, Lucinda, and Mrs. Davis.
Daniel Wait, who followed the trade of blacksmith, was a Brigadier-general in the State militia and in his last years a Justice of the Peace. He first settled in Chester and afterward in the village of Saxton's River, Rockingham, Vt. He was grand juror of the town of Rockingham, which is an office pe-
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culiar to the State of Vermont. A man of good judgment, he had the esteem of his fellow-townsmen. In religion he was a Uni- versalist. He was a Democrat in politics, and one of two men in Chester village who voted for Andrew Jackson. He died in 1856 or 1857, at the age of seventy. His wife, who belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, died when ninety-two years of age. Their children were: Martha E. Spaulding, who lives in West Springfield, Mass. ; Sarah A. Spaulding, now deceased; Otis F. R., who was a prominent man of Claremont, an historian and Justice of the Peace, and died in 1895; Albert S., the subject of this sketch; and Daniel H., who died at the age of nine years.
Albert S. Wait spent his boyhood in Ches- ter and Rockingham, Vt. His early educa- tion was obtained in the schools of Chester. He began the study of law at the village of Saxton's River, in the office of Judge Daniel Kellogg, and was admitted to the bar in 1846 at Newfane, Windham County, Vt. He first located in Alstead, N. H., remaining there untilthe year 1857, when he removed to Newport. Here he was in partnership with the Hon. Edmund Burke for ten years. Since the termination of that connection he has been in practice alone. He is to-day the oldest lawyer in the county in active practice.
Mr. Wait has been married three times. His present wife, formerly Miss Ella O. Eno, of Westfield, Mass., has one daughter, Minerva S. Wait. His religious creed is the Congregational. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and he is a member of the Board of Trus- tees of the State Industrial School. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity by membership in Mount Vernon Lodge, of which he has been Master. He has also been Dis- trict Deputy Grand Master. He is likewise a member of the New Hampshire State His-
torical Society and an honorary member of the Naval Order of the United States. Mr. Wait ranks among the leading men of his profession, and is mentioned in English law books as an authority on fine points of law.
HARLES L. KENNEY, a prosper- ous farmer of Loudon and son of Bradley H. and Rebecca (Pease) Kenney, was born in this town, July 9, 1844. His grandfather, Joseph Kenney, was one of the early settlers of the town, where he was engaged in farming. Joseph went West in his later years, and died in Minnesota, at the home of his daughter. His son, Bradley, a cooper by trade, who was also engaged in farming, died in May, 1882. Bradley's wife, Rebecca, who came from Barnstead, N. H., died in 1844. They had four children: Mary Ann, who is the wife of Joseph A. Foster, and lives in Man- chester; Clarissa, who died in April, 1895; Caroline, who married Joseph Hutchinson, and lives in Concord, N. H. ; and the subject of this sketch. All received a good common- school education, and the daughters went to select schools.
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