USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 43
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 43
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Mrs. Julia A. Barnard was born May 19, 1823, at Contoocook, this county, daughter of Ichabod and Rebecca (Hazelton) Eaton. Both her parents were born in Haverhill, Mass., where they lived until after their mar- riage. Mr. Eaton was a mason by trade. In 1822, about a year before the birth of Mrs. Barnard, he came with his family to Hopkin- ton, locating on Putney Hill, in a house which is still owned by the Eaton family. Here the parents spent their remaining days, the father dying at the age of fourscore years, and the mother when seventy-five years old. They
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had eleven children, of whom Mrs. Barnard, the youngest, is the only survivor. The others were: Susan, who married Ephraim Hunt, and lived eighty years; Matilda, who became the wife of Thomas Arnold, of Plais- tow, N. H., and died at the age of fifty; Icha- bod, who spent his life on the old homestead, and died at the age of sixty-two years, leaving a daughter, Ellen Louise Eaton, now residing with Mrs. Barnard; Nathaniel, who died at Hillsborough, N.H., aged forty-five years; Richard, who settled on Putney Hill, and died at the age of fifty years; Mary, who was the wife of Samuel Wilson, and died in Nashua at the age of forty years; Clara, who died in St. Louis, Mo., at the age of fifty-three, hav- ing first married Stilson Hutchins and after his death Hiram Somerby; Elizabeth, who died in childhood; and Charles and Rebecca, who died in infancy. Julia A. Eaton devel- oped into young womanhood in the home of her parents. When sixteen years old, ambi- tious of doing something toward supporting herself, she went to Lowell, Mass., and ob- tained employment in the mills. She there met and married Isaac L. Hall, a young machinist. They settled in Lowell, remain- ing there until 1844, when his health failed. Then they removed to Hopkinton, and bought the house in which Mrs. Barnard now lives. Although Mr. Hall never recovered his health, his life was prolonged until 1851. Two chil- dren born of that union died in early child- hood, leaving the young widow without a family. In March, 1853, she married Augus- tus Barnard, above mentioned. In the care of her little farm Mrs. Barnard has the assist- ance of George M. Barnard, a brother of her late husband.
George M. Barnard was born September 30, 1843, in Tompkins County, New York, son of Thomas K. and Hannah (Frost) Barnard.
Both parents were natives of Massachusetts, born respectively in Amesbury and Methuen. The mother died when he was nine years old, leaving a large family, of which his brother Augustus was the first-born, and he was next to the youngest. His father had passed to the silent majority some years before that time, and his widowed mother had removed with her family to her old home in Amesbury. After the death of his parents he came to Hopkinton to live in the family of his brother Augustus, continuing until the breaking out of the late Rebellion. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Fourteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Robert Wilson, of Keene, and was with his regiment in many of the important battles of the South, going from New Orleans to Vir- ginia, where he served in Sheridan's army, and at the cessation of hostilities was in Sa- vannah, Ga. He was at the front in the bat- tles at Hopkins Hill, Fisher's Hill, and at Cedar Creek, carrying a musket in the ranks. He was never wounded nor detached from duty, and spent but one month in the hospital during his time of service, which fell just a little short of three years, having been dis- charged July 8, 1865, under general orders. His health, however, was undermined; and he came back to Hopkinton to the care and pro- tection of Mrs. Barnard, whom he assists by looking after her farming interests. The government gives him a pension. Mr. Bar- nard has never married. He is a man of strong opinions, and in politics a Republican.
OHN C. PILLSBURY, a prominent resident of Danbury, was born here, January 18, 1832, son of John and Nancy (Colby) Pillsbury. The grandfather, Samuel Pillsbury, was one of the early settlers
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of Salisbury and a representative of the famous Pillsbury family who originally came from Rowley, Mass. A blacksmith as well as a farmer, he followed his trade in Salisbury. He lived nearly opposite the home of Daniel Webster, and the two young men grew up together. In his later years he came to Dan- bury, where he spent his last days, dying at the age of fifty years. He was a soldier of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. His wife was a Pingaree, and a connection of Governor Pingaree. John Pillsbury, born in Salisbury, N.H., was a farmer. He took up the land now occupied by his son, and built the house which stands upon it. He spent all his days upon this place after coming to Dan- bury, with the exception of a short time during which he worked in Cambridge, Mass. His death occurred December 17, 1868. He mar- ried Nancy Colby, of Franklin, N.H., who died October 6, 1877. . Their children, John C. and Mary A., survived them. Mary, born July 17, 1839, married Smith J. Roby, and . had two children, one of whom is deceased. Her other child, Cora B., is now the wife of John Huntoon, of Danbury. Mrs. Roby died June 26, 1877.
After receiving his education in the Dan- bury schools, John C. Pillsbury learned the stone-cutter's trade, which he afterward fol- lowed for about ten years. During that time he worked in various places and on many im- portant contracts, notably on the new Vermont State House. He also worked in the great quarries of Vinal Haven, Me. Upon return- ing to Danbury, he bought a farm, upon which he lived until his father's death. When that event occurred, not wishing the old homestead to pass out of the family, he sold his own farm, and moved to his father's place, where he has since resided. Mr. Pillsbury married
Miss Sarah E. Perrin, a daughter of Oel and Sabrinia (Strong) Perrin, of Royalton, Vt. Of their six children two daughters, Nellie and Mary E., died in infancy. The others are: George O .; Natt W .; Mrs. James Virtue, of Concord, Vt .; and Mrs. Fred Lov- ering, of Concord, N. H. Mr. Pillsbury has been a Free Mason and a stanch Democrat. His first Presidential vote was cast in 1856 for James Buchanan.
ON. CHESTER PIKE, a prominent citizen of Sullivan County, New Hampshire, residing in Cornish, his native town, was born July 30, 1829, son of Ebenezer and Judith (Bryant) Pike. On both his father's and his mother's side he is de- scended from distinguished ancestry, and from families that have been conspicuous, not only in the history of New Hampshire, but in the history of the nation. His grandfather Pike was born in Newbury, Mass., and came to Cornish in early manhood, the first of the name to settle here. He bought a farm and a mill on Blow-me-down Brook, and devoted himself to farming and to carrying on the mill. He married Mary Marcy, of Hartland, Vt .; and they had three children - Ebenezer, Chester (first), and Pliny. Chester, first, who never married, died in Northumberland when about thirty-five years of age. Pliny Pike was a farmer of Cornish, and died in that town at the age of seventy years.
Ebenezer, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Cornish in 1788, and died in 1862. After completing his studies at school, he purchased and carried on one of the largest stock-raising farms in the county, rais- ing thoroughbred horses for the Boston market. With the exception of Mr. Wain- wright, of Vermont, no one else of his time
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did so large a business in this line. When a school-boy, Mr. Ebenezer Pike was always alert to make a good bargain. He traded horses then as well as jack-knives and other boyish knickknacks, and this natural business ability was the foundation of his success in life. In politics he was a Whig, but was not ambitious for political honors, and did not meddle in public affairs, his large business interests being sufficient to absorb his entire time. His wife, Judith, daughter of Captain Sylvanus and Sarah Chase Bryant, of Cornish, bore him two children - Chester and John B.
The younger son, John B. Pike, was born in February, 1830, and was educated in the com- mon schools of Cornish, in Hartland, Vt., at Kimball Union Academy, and at Norwich University, Vermont. He then went West, and was engaged for a while as a civil engi- neer. Afterward he kept a hotel in Cincin- nati, Ohio, and later in Chelsea, Vt. In 1863 he was appointed Deputy Provost Mar- shal, and after the war he was for many years a mail route agent between St. Albans, Vt., and Boston. He next went into the insurance business, in which he has since continued. He married Louise Parker, of Plainfield, and is the father of two children - Chester J. and Luther Henry Pike. Chester J. Pike is liv- ing in Boston, and is general selling agent for a large rubber company. He is one of the chief promoters of one of the largest combines in New England, and was a short time ago written about as one of the five young men of this period to draw the largest salaries in New England. He married and has two chil- dren. Luther Henry Pike lives in Boston, and is a member of the well-known rubber firm of Converse & Pike. He has one child.
On his maternal side Mr. Chester Pike is descended from the Chases and Bryants, early settlers of Cornish. Three brothers - Sam-
uel, Moses, and Caleb Chase - came from Newbury, Mass., and were the first settlers in the township of Cornish. They landed at the mouth of Blow-me-down Brook; and there Moses, great-grandfather of Mr. Chester Pike, built the first house ever erected in the town of Cornish. The homestead is now owned by the Hon. Charles C. Beaman, a wealthy New York lawyer, son-in-law of the Hon. William E. Evarts and partner in the firm of Evarts, Beaman & Choate. Mr. Beaman makes this his summer home; and he has expended a fort- une on beautifying the estate, in which he takes great pride on account of its historic associations. Caleb Chase, the youngest of the three brothers, had a daughter, who be- came Mrs. Sarah Chase Kimball. It was she who founded the famous Kimball Union Academy which has fitted so many New Hampshire men and women to hold notable positions in life. Mrs. Kimball was a great- aunt of Mr. Pike. Other distinguished mem- bers of this family, were: General Jonathan Chase, Bishop Philander Chase, and Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase.
Chester Pike received his education in the schools of Cornish and of Hartland, Vt., at Kimball Union Academy, and at Plainfield; and after his school days were over he worked on his father's farm for a number of years. For several winters he taught school, and at the age of twenty-one he became an agricult- urist and a dealer in horses. He still has some very valuable stock on his farm, which occupies one of the best sites in New Eng- land, on the banks of the Blow-me-down Brook and adjoining the estate of the Hon. Mr. Beaman. Beautiful Blow-me-down Brook has its source in the cloud-curtained hills of New Hampshire and its outlet in the stately Connecticut River. The origin of its name is unknown. The estate, comprising some
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thousand acres, is diversified by rich pasture and meadow lands and beautiful groves, and in summer and autumn with luxuriant harvests. Mr. Pike had become the owner of this mag- nificent property by the exercise of his native business talents and by courteous and honor- able dealing in all transactions. He has been largely interested in wool, and was a member of the firm of Dudley & Pike, having a market in Boston.
Although having these extensive business interests, he has found time to devote to the general affairs of his native town, and has brought to bear upon questions of public wel- fare the same sagacity and keenness of intel- lect that he has applied to his personal affairs.
His fellow-townsmen have appreciated the value of his sound judgment and practical ability, and almost every office of trust and re- sponsibility in the gift of the town has been tendered him. He was for several years Selectman; in 1859-62 he was County Com- missioner for Sullivan County ; in 1862-63 he was sent to represent the town in the legislat- ure, and was on the Committee on Manufact- ures the first year, and Chairman of the Com- mittee on Banks the second; in 1887 and 1888 he was again elected to the House of Repre- sertatives, and was Chairman of the Com- mittee on Railroads. He was appointed United States Provost Marshal in 1863, to serve during the most trying days the country has ever seen; and the able and successful manner in which this difficult position was filled gained for Mr. Pike the gratitude of all his constituents. The Commissioner was the Hon. F. A. Faulkner, of Keene; and the Sur- jeon, Professor Dixi Crosby, of Hanover. In 1866 Mr. Pike received the nomination for Cancillor of the Fourth District, but declined to accept. He was subsequently appointed United States Collector of Internal Revenue,
and held this appointment until the districts were consolidated. In 1883 and 1884 he was a member of the New Hampshire Senate, and also in 1885 and 1886, when he was President of the Senate. He has been a Director in the Claremont National Bank for twenty-five years, and has been a member and officer of the Sullivan County, the Connecti- cut River, the New Hampshire State, and the New England Agricultural Societies.
In 1862 Mr. Pike married Amanda F., daughter of the Hon. Levi Chamberlin Fay, of Windsor, Vt. She has borne him four children, only one of whom, Chester Fay Pike, is living. He was born in Cornish, May 11, 1869. After acquiring his education he went into mercantile business with his uncle, Ed- mund S. Fay, in Portsmouth, N.H., where he remained for two years. He then went to Boston, and was travelling salesman for a rubber company for two years; and at the end of that time he was with the firm of Converse & Pike. After much persuasion on the part of his parents he was induced to return to Cornish, where he has resided for the past year.
Mrs. Pike was born at Reading, Vt., in 1833. Her father was much interested in military affairs, and won the title of Major. She is a direct descendant on her father's side of Governor Lincoln, of Massachusetts, and on her mother's side is connected with the celebrated Sherman family, which numbers among its members by blood or marriage Gen- eral Sherman, Secretary of State John Sher- man, ex-Senator Evarts, Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, and the late Judge Rockwood Hoar.
ENRY H. CROWELL, a prosperous lumber merchant of Hopkinton, was born in that town, July 9, 1834, son of Albert A. and Lydia (Kimball) Crowell.
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His grandfather, Joseph Crowell, came from Bradford, Mass., and settled on Beach Hill about one hundred years ago. Albert Crow- ell, who was born on the aforesaid hill, about fifty years ago settled at Ferrington's Corner, on the farm where Eli Boutwell now lives. He ran the old saw-mill of the primitive up and down style, doing a custom business; and the mill industry has been in the hands of the Crowell family there ever since. He died at the age of sixty-two. His wife, also a native of Hopkinton, now, at the age of eighty-two, lives with her son. Of their six boys Lewis E. was killed in the Civil War by a shell at Spottsylvania. Three of the others were in the Burden Sharpshooters. Henry H. served two years and nine months. He was in all the battles of the regiment from the second battle of Bull Run. Another of the brothers, O. W. Crowell, is the famous evangelist singer, now travelling, and engaged in that work. The talent for vocal music, which is not wholly confined to this son, was an inher- itance from their mother.
Henry H. Crowell remained with his father until he was twenty-one, working out in the summers. In 1868 he bought his present mill near Ferrington Corners. He had at first a grist-mill, a clapboard, lath, shingle, and up- right saw-mill. In 1869 a great freshet car- ried the grist-mill and all its belongings down stream. He then rebuilt, and put in new machinery. His neighbors aided him in building the dam; and he now has a circular saw for lumber, besides a shingle-mill. The same plant has been worked now for twenty- eight years. With the exception of three years spent in the army Mr. Crowell has been in the mill business for forty-eight years. He often effects a profitable transaction by buying stumpage and clearing off the lumber. Ad- joining his comfortable residence is a small
farm. He is quite actively identified with social organizations, and has held public office. All the chairs of Colonel Putnam Post, No. 5, G. A. R., have been occupied by him; and he attended the Boston and Portland National Encampments of the organization. He was a charter member of Union Grange, No. 56, Patrons of Husbandry, and served in nearly all the chairs, including that of Master. In 1878, 1879, and 1880 he was Collector of Taxes; and he has been Selectman for six years. In 1876-77 he was a Representative in the State legislature, and was active in committee work. He has been a Justice of the Peace for thirty years. A stanch Repub- lican, he is interested in local politics. He cast his first vote for Fremont, and he has voted that ticket ever since. Both he and his family belong to the Congregational church.
Mr. Crowell was married in 1858 to Lu- cinda M. Currier, who died in 1874. In 1876 he married Melinda J. Burroughs, of Bow, N.H. The children of the first mar- riage were: Lewis Albert, who died in child- hood; Frank, who also died young; Etta M., who became the wife of Charles P. Goodwin ; and George H., who died at the age of twenty- eight. By the second union there is a daugh- ter, Lilian L., now nineteen years old, who is a music teacher.
AVID M. CURRIER, M.D., a suc- cessful physician of Newport, was born in Grafton, Grafton County, September 15, 1840, son of David and Rhoda (Morse) Currier. The grandfather, David Currier, presumably came from Salisbury, Mass., and located in Canaan, where he be- came the owner of a good tract of land, and died at the age of seventy-one years. He married February 2, 1797, Ruth Stevens,
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DAVID M. CURRIER.
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who died at the age of seventy-two years. They had five children : David, born February 8, 1803; Edward, born June 12, 1805; Aaron, born September 10, 1813; Dorothy, born January 28, 1799; and Hannah, born June 23, 1800. David, the father of Dr. Currier, was also a farmer. His active life was spent in Canaan and in Grafton. At a later date he moved to the farm, where he died July 2, 1862. His death resulted from in- juries from the fall of a tree upon him while at work in the woods. He married Rhoda Morse, who was born in Enfield in 1807, and died March 31, 1894. He was a Free Will Baptist. In his last years he was a Repub- lican. His children were: Rhoda M., who died when two years old; Amanda M. Hadley, who died sixty years of age; Ruth S. Leeds, who lives in Orange, N. H .; Mary Y. Dia- mond, also a resident of Orange; David M., the subject of this sketch; and William H. Currier, who is a travelling salesman, residing in South Braintree, Mass.
Having received his early education in the schools of Grafton and Sanbornton Bridge (now Tilton), N. H., David M. Currier went into the Mc Lean Insane Asylum, formerly in Somerville, Mass., as an attendant. Here he began the study of medicine under the super- intendent of the institution, Dr. John E. Tyler. He was afterward a pupil of Dr. Dixie and A. B. Crosbie at Hanover, and sub- sequently, having entered Dartmouth Medical College, graduated therefrom in 1867. His first practice was in association with Dr. Fitz at Sutton, N. H. At the end of a year he settled in Sunapee, N. H., where he was lo- cated till 1870, when he went to Boston to take a course of lectures and to visit the hos- pitals. In 1885 he took a post-graduate course at the Post-graduate Medical College of New York. When he left Boston in 1871,
he went into partnership with Dr. Swett in Newport. That connection ended after the lapse of a year, since which he has been in active practice alone.
On November 29, 1868, Dr. Currier mar- ried Jennie B. Colby, daughter of Johnson Colby, of Sutton. She died September 29, 1879, leaving no children. The Doctor con- tracted a second marriage December 29, 1881, with Annie M. Converse. Her father, E. C. Converse, who is the present Postmaster of Newport, was born in Lyme, N. H., June 2, 1827, son of Theron and Miriam Carpenter. His grandfather, Joel Converse, was one of the early settlers of Lyme, a farmer and a good worker. Joel married Elizabeth Bixby, who by him had Theron, who was also a farmer. Theron spent almost his entire life at Lyme, was a member of the Congregational church, a Whig in politics, and later a Republican. He died in 1861. His wife died in the pre- vious year. He was the father of five children by a former wife, Mary Porter Converse; namely, Alpheus, Mary, Louisa, Benjamin, and an infant who died young. Born of his second marriage were: Theoron B., E. C., and Miriam. Miriam became the wife of Frank Smith, of Michigan. Mr. Converse was brought up in Lyme, where he was edu- cated and where he became a clerk in a general store. He came to Newport in 1849, and in 1859 he engaged in the drug business for him- self. This he continued unil 1893, when he sold out to take charge of the post-office of the town. In 1848 he married Amanda Tibbetts, who was born in New York State. They have had five children : Alzira, who died at the age of fourteen years; Hattie, who be- came the wife of E. B. Temple, and died at twenty-nine years; Annie M., the wife of Dr. Currier ; Sarah, the wife of David Leach; and Eleazar C., Jr., an electrician of Boston. The
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father is a member of the Congregational church at Lyme. A Democrat in politics, he has held the office of Town Clerk for two years, was legislative Representative for one year, and for many years was the Moderator of Newport. He is connected with the I. O. O. F., Sugar River Lodge, No. 45, and Mount Coit Lodge, No. 286, K. of H.
Dr. Currier has two daughters, namely : Helen M., born June 5, 1891 ; and Josephine, born June 23, 1893. Both he and Mrs. Currier attend the Methodist church. Dr. Currier votes the Independent ticket. He has been a member of the Board of Health, and he served for two years on the Water Commission for the construction of the present water sys- tem of Newport. He was on the Board of Education for three years, and has held the office of United States Examining Surgeon for the last twenty-one years. He is well known in Masonic and other secret society circles, being a member of Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 15, of Newport; Past High Priest of the Chapter of the Tabernacle, No. 19, Newport Lodge, K. of P., No. 43, of which he is a charter member and first Vice-Chancellor of the society and Past Chancellor Commander. He was admitted to the Grand Lodge, K. of P., in 1893, and in 1894 was elected Grand Master at Arms. In 1895 he was awarded to chair of Grand Vice-Chancellor ; and in October, 1896, he was elected to the office of Grand Chancellor of the State of New Hampshire, which office he now holds. On March 7, 1897, he was commissioned Surgeon of the Second Regiment, Uniform Rank, K. of P., of the Grand Domain of New Hamp- shire, He is also a member of the New Hampshire Medical and Centre District So- ciety, being an ex-President of the last named organization. He is a member of the Ameri- can Public Health Association and of the
Medico-Legal Society of New York. Dr. Currier has had a wide and extensive practice, and ranks second in seniority as a practising physician of Newport.
EORGE WEST FLANDERS, who lives on a small farm in West Con- cord, was born there, November 9, 1831. The great-grandfather was an exten- sive land-owner at Millville, and had posses- sion of the water-power privilege of that sec- tion. His residence stood on the site now occupied by St. Paul's School. At the close of his active life he left his land to be divided among his sons. His wife's maiden name was Fowler. The grandfather, Richard Flan- ders, was engaged in interests connected with a mill. Afterward he purchased a farm in the west part of the town, and became a farmer. At first he had no barns on the land, and he stacked his crops in the open air. Later he was able to build a barn, and extend his prop- erty, which his sons further increased. He was ninety years old when he died. His wife, Mary Chandler (West) Flanders, had ten chil- dren. A brother of his was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
John Flanders, the father of George, worked at the shoemaker's trade, and was also occu- pied to some extent in farming. He was especially skilful in raising fruit and grafting trees. After receiving his education in the public schools of Concord, he began life about a century ago upon the property now in possession of his son George. Here he built the old homestead, and died in 1856, at the age of seventy years. On the training days of the old militia he was fife major of a regiment. His sons subsequently played the fife on similar occasions. He married Rachel Abbott, a daughter of Samuel and Mary
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