USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 44
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 44
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(Story) Abbott; and they had nine children - Louisa A., John W., William, Mary S., Daniel, Rachel A., Sarah A., George V., and George W. Louisa A., born August 17, 1812, died April 29, 1890. She was a house- keeper and school teacher, and lived at the homestead. John W., born February 10, 1814, died July 11, 1840. He was a printer, and became one of the proprietors and editors of the New Hampshire Statesman, published at Concord, N. H., by E. C. Flanders. Will- iam, born December 4, 1815, died February 7, 1871. He lived in Manchester, N. H., was a carpenter, machinist, and pattern-maker, was a Representative to the New Hampshire legis- lature, and served as a member of the Council of Manchester. In 1840 he married Harriet Sturtevant, of Barton, Vt., who died February 4, 1871. They had four children, of whom two died in infancy. Their son, George W., who was born February 9, 1845, and died in Somerville, Mass., February 17, 1889, married Mary A. Lane, of Suncook, N. H., in 1870. Edwin J., the only living child of William and Harriet Flanders, was born July 6, 1849. He was married in 1887 at Great Falls, N.H., to Mrs. Anna J. Brown. He is a car- penter, and lives in Lowell, Mass. Mary S. Flanders, born March 21, 1818, died August 29, 1889. She was a tailoress and house- keeper, and lived at the homestead. Daniel, born July 1, 1820, who died March 2, 1895, was a carpenter, machinist, and farmer, and lived in Manchester and Concord. He was first married June 8, 1845, to Martha Sturte- vant, of Barton, Vt., who died January 6, 1868. Their only child, Charles W., born
August 23, 1847, died May 3, 1895. On September 14, 1870, Daniel Flanders married Mrs. Emma F. Caldwell, who died April 10, 1889. Rachel A., born January 19, 1823, ยท died February 19, 1886. She was a seam-
stress, housekeeper, and teacher, and lived at the homestead. Sarah A., born September 4, 1825, married April 25, 1850, N. J. Willis, who died in October, 1893. Two of her five children died in childhood. The others are: Anna A., born January 1I, 1855; Marietta F., born September 18, 1857; and Emogene L., born March 17, 1860, who died April 15, 1876. Anna and Marietta live with their mother in Cambridgeport, Mass. Mrs. Willis is a well-known speaker at the Spiritualist Temple, Boston. George V. Flanders, born March 5, 1829, died August 24, 1831. George West Flanders received his education in the schools of Concord. Since the death of his father he has resided on the old home- stead. He has been on the Board of Alder- men for two years, and in the early sixties he was a member of the City Council for three years. He was a member of the School Com- mittee before 1860, and he has been Ward Clerk and Moderator for several terms. His political principles are Republican, and he cast his first Presidential vote for General Fremont in 1856.
AVID ARTHUR BROWN, Man- ager and Treasurer of the Concord Axle Company of Penacook, an ex- member of the New Hampshire legislature, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Attleboro, Mass., May 14, 1839, son of Henry H. and Mary Ann (Daggett) Brown. His parents were natives of Attleboro. On the father's side he is descended from an English- man who settled in Massachusetts in the year 1624. His great-grandfather was John Brown, and his grandfather was David Brown. On the mother's side his genealogy is traced. through her father, Otis Daggett, of the seventh generation, Joab of the sixth, John of
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the fifth, Ebenezer of the fourth, John of the third, and Thomas of the second, to the first John, of Martha's Vineyard, who, born in England, came to this country in 1630 with Governor Winthrop, of whom he is said to have been a relation.
David Arthur Brown was educated in the public schools of Penacook and at the acad- emy in New London, N.H., completing his studies at the age of nineteen. At intervals in the period of his school life he worked with his father in the cotton-mill at Penacook. Later he entered the repair shops, where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil War. In August, 1861, being a proficient band musician, he enlisted as a leader of the band connected with the Third Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers. After leaving this State, the regiment was quartered for a time on Long Island, New York. Then it was ordered to Washington, D.C., and later to Annapolis, Md. From Annapolis it was sent by sea to Port Royal, S.C., where it was at- tached to the Tenth Army Corps, Department of the South, and served at different times under Generals Sherman, Gilmore, and Hunter. Mr. Brown was present at several important battles and skirmishes, and on several occa- sions he voluntarily laid aside his musical instruments to shoul ler a musket. Good ser- vice was also rendered by him in removing the wounded from the field and caring for them in the hospital. He was honorably discharged at Port Royal, August 31, 1862. Upon his return from the army he fitted up a repair shop for the Contoocook mill, and conducted it for two years. In 1864 he formed a part- nership with A. B. Winn, under the firm name of A. B. Winn & Co., for the purpose of engaging in the manufacturing of wagon axles and machinery. The firm name was changed to D. Arthur Brown & Co. in the
following year; and under that style business was carried on until 1880, when the enterprise was incorporated as the Concord Axle Com- pany. Since the formation of the firm Mr. Brown has been its Manager, and he is the Treasurer and a Director of the present cor- poration. Some time after his discharge from the Federal service Mr. Brown reorganized the Fisherville Band, of which he had formerly been the leader, and as Brown's Cornet Band it became one of the best organizations of its kind in the State. It furnished music on New Hampshire Day, at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia; and it accompanied the New Hampshire legislature upon their visit to the Bennington Centennial held in 1877. He had been identified with this organization twenty-one years in all, when in 1878, on account of business cares, he retired from its leadership, and it was disbanded.
On December 23, 1865, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Susan M. Follan sbee, a native of Grafton. His only child is Henry A. Brown. In politics he is an active sup- porter of the Republican party, and he was a member of the New Hampshire House of Rep- resentatives in 1873. Well advanced in Masonry, he is a member of Horace Chase Lodge, No. 72; of Trinity Chapter, No. 2; and of Mount Horeb Commandery, of which he is Chief Bugler. He is at the present time serving as Quartermaster of W. I. Brown Post, No. 31, G. A. R., of Penacook. He has been several times elected Commander of the post, but declined to serve, as he believed his deafness would not admit of his properly filling the position. He served as an Aide- de-camp upon the staff of Commander-in-chief Rea in 1895, was Assistant Inspector General upon the national staff under General Walker in 1896, and an Aide-de-camp on the staff of Commander-in-chief Clarkson in 1897. He
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is also connected with the Third Regiment, Veteran Association, of Weirs, N. H., and has acted as its Secretary and Treasurer for the past ten years. Mr. Brown is a member of the First Baptist Church, and has for twelve years been officially connected with that society as its clerk. -
ELAND J. GRAVES, M.D., was a progressive physician of Claremont, who by the introduction of more advanced ideas in the treatment of disease aided considerably in carrying the healing art to its present high standard of excellence. It is a well-known fact that the greatest amount of good in the way of scientific development has been accomplished by self-made men, and the subject of this sketch belonged to that worthy type of American citizenship.
Leland J. Graves was born in Berkshire, Franklin County, Vt., May 24, 1812, son of David J. and Mary (Leland) Graves. The founder of the family came from England, where its printed genealogical record covers a period of eight hundred years. The original form of the name was Greaves. Thomas Greaves, who ranked as a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy, settled in Charlestown, Mass., in 1636; and his family was prominent in early Colonial affairs. His son was one of the first physicians graduated from Harvard College; and a grandson, who also graduated from that institution, became a Judge. Dr. Graves's great-grandfather was Peter Greaves. His grandfather, Luther Greaves, who resided in Leominster, Mass., was born April 20, 1749. Luther served in the Revolutionary War as a minute-man in Sergeant Samuel Sawyer's company, and was a Lieutenant in the com- pany of Captain Ephraim Harris from May, 1778, to July 31, 1779. He died in Leomin-
ster in 1790. He married Phoebe Jewett, of that town, and had a family of ten children. His widow married Colonel John Boynton, and moved to Weathersfield, Vt. David J. Graves, who was born in Leominster, October 2, 1785, accompanied his mother and step- father to Vermont, where he was brought up as a farmer. The latter part of his life was spent in Wisconsin. His wife, Mary, whom he married in Weathersfield, became the mother of four children; namely, Sereno, Le- land J., Calvin Jewett, and I. Franklin.
As soon as he was able to make himself useful, Leland J. Graves began to assist upon farms in his neighborhood. He did not attend school until he was fifteen years old. An am- bition to advance developed with his mental faculties; and in April, 1829, he bound him- self to his uncle, Cyrus Boynton, with the understanding that he was to have three months' schooling each year, and that his wages were to be given to his father. That he made good use of these limited educational facilities is attested by the fact that, when he reached his majority, he was competent to teach school. He taught in the winter, and worked at farming in the summer, saving his earnings, and at intervals attending Chester, Cavendish, and Ludlow Academies. He was about to enter college when he was attacked by a severe illness, which, in spite of constant medical aid, continued for four years. The suffering he endured at this time caused him to change his plans for the future. Excessive doses of calomel, prescribed by the physicians to break up his stubborn fever, produced such injurious results upon his system that he de- cided to study medicine, with a view of ascer- taining if less dangerous and more effective modes of treatment could not be devised. Upon his recovery he entered upon a course of preliminary medical instruction under the
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guidance of Drs. Crosby, Peaslee, and Hub- bard. He attended lectures at Dartmouth College, and subsequently received his degree on his thirtieth birthday. Shortly after he entered upon his profession in Langdon, N. H. When firmly established, Dr. Graves began to depart from the usual course of treatment rec- ognized in those days. In the treatment of fevers he substituted fresh air and water for mercurial preparations. By so doing he aroused the indignation of the medical frater- nity to such a pitch that at one time he was declared an impostor and threatened with vio- lence. He fearlessly adhered to his theory, however; and, when it became known that his patients rallied more quickly under the new treatment, the wrath of his brother physicians was turned to jealousy. The introduction of his mild remedies ultimately displaced the harsh treatment formerly used, and in this locality he may be said to have been mainly instrumental in securing the much needed change. He acquired a large practice, his regular circuit including the towns of Lang- don, Acworth, Walpole, and Charlestown, and other places; and for a quarter of a century he devoted himself to his professional duties. In 1868 he decided to rest from his labors, and with a view of permanently retiring he moved to Claremont. Popular pressure, how- ever, was such as to make it impossible for him to carry out his resolution at that time; and he continued in practice here for some years afterward. He was especially noted for his charitable and patriotic disposition. The poor and needy were never turned away, and during the war of the Rebellion he steadfastly refused to accept pay for treating soldiers or their families. He was a close student of botany, geology, and astronomy, and was fa- miliar with the terrestrial formation and vege- tation of the United States from the State of
Maine to the Rocky Mountains. With the practical value of plants he was thoroughly conversant. A large collection of minerals, which he had spent years in collecting, was recently presented to Durham College by his daughters. In politics he was originally a Whig, and he became an ardent Republican at the formation of that party. He was Super- intendent of Schools in Langdon for fourteen years, and he was a member of the legislature during the years 1867 and 1868. For fifty years he was a leading member of the Baptist church in Springfield, Vt. He was a member of the New Hampshire State and Connecticut River Medical Associations. In Masonry he had advanced to the Commandery, was at one time Eminent Commander, and he was the organizer of the commandery in Claremont. He died February 22, 1891, at his home in Claremont, nearly seventy-nine years of age.
On May 24, 1843, Dr. Graves was united in marriage with Caroline E. Strow, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (McEwan) Strow, of Weathersfield, Vt. Previous to her marriage she taught in the Unity Scientific and Mili- tary School. She was a woman of superior mental endowments and noble character. She died August 29, 1885, leaving three daughters - Mary E., Harriet M., and Agnes J. Mary E., who graduated from the New London Academy in 1864, and has since been engaged in educational work, was for a time principal of the Arcadia Female Seminary, Wolfville, N.S. She is an accomplished German scholar, a devoted art student, and is now upon her fifth visit to Germany. Harriet M., who married James M. Coburn, died in Kansas City, Mo., June 21, 1886. She left two chil- dren : Mary Agnes, who is studying music in Berlin; and Grace Eleanor, who is attending Smith College. Agnes J. Graves was married on October 15, 1879, to Pascal P. Coburn.
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Mr. and Mrs. Coburn occupy the Dr. Graves homestead. She has two daughters - Eliza- beth Ames and Harriet Graves.
RANK B. KENNEY, a prominent farmer of Loudon and a son of Bradley H. and Nancy (Young) Kenney, was born in Loudon, December 19, 1854. His father, who was a native of New Hampshire, and a cooper by trade, settled in Loudon after his marriage, was thereafter occupied in farm- ing, and died May 24, 1882, on the farm where the subject of this sketch now lives. The first of the father's two marriages was con- tracted with Miss Pease, who bore him four children. These were: Mary Ann, who mar- ried Joseph A. Foster, and lives in Manches- ter, N.H. ; Clarissa, now deceased; Caroline, who is the wife of Joseph Hutchinson, and lives in Concord, N. H. ; and Charles L., who married Myra Knowles, of Penacook, and lives near Frank B. Kenney in Loudon. By the second marriage, which was made with Nancy D. Young, of Gilmanton, N. H., there were three children, namely: Frank B .; and Ellen Frances and Ella Victoria, twins. Ellen Frances is now deceased. Ella is the wife of True M. Hill, and lives near her brother.
Frank B. Kenney received his education in the common schools of Loudon and in the Til- ton Seminary. He spent his youth on the home farm, which he now owns. On the estate, containing at the present time about four hundred acres, located in Canterbury and Gilmanton, he carries on general farming. He is a Republican in politics, and he has well served the community in the capacity of Selectman. On March 4, 1882, he was mar- ried to N. M. Ladd, who was born November 20, 1861, daughter of John M. and Kate H. Ladd. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney have had five
children, of whom Harry L. and Clinton J. are deceased. The others are: Katie Frances, Helen N., and Joe Frank - all still beneath the parental roof-tree. Both parents are mem- bers of the Free Will Baptist Church of Lou- don, and take an earnest interest in all church work.
OSEPH WARREN HAM, a well- known farmer of Canterbury, N. H., was born in this town, June IS, 1820, son of Joseph and Susan (Sargent) Ham. His grandfather, Joseph Ham, was born in Ports- mouth, but came to Canterbury with three brothers in 1783. He settled on a farm near where the subject of this sketch now lives, and spent the rest of his life here.
His son Joseph, a man of force and high in- tegrity, was a carpenter by trade, although he devoted himself to the pursuit of agriculture. Soon after his marriage he came into posses- sion of the home farm where Mr. Ham is now living; and he died here, after a long and useful life, at the age of ninety-three years, February 24, 1882. His wife, Susan Sar- gent, of Canterbury, a gentle and refined woman of good education, died December 6, 1875. They had five children. The eldest, Betsey Page, born November 11, 1815, mar- ried Charles C. Burnham, and died February 8, 1892. Thomas, the eldest son, born Feb- ruary 23, 1817, married Mary Elizabeth Smith, and is living in Lakeport, N. H., where for many years he has been President of the Lakeport Savings Bank. Joseph Warren, the subject of this sketch, was the third child and second son born to his parents. Charles Henry, born January 22, 1831, married to Emeline A. Hines, lives in New York City, where he serves as a member of the Board of United States General Appraisers, a court of appeals for customs cases in all the ports of
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the country. His chief title to distinction, however, is his connection with education, on which subject he lectures and writes in the intervals of official engagements, his most im- portant work being a book entitled "Manual Training," published by the Harpers in 1886, a third edition of which is now in press. The youngest of the family is Maria Gerrish, whose education was begun in one of the dis- trict schools of her native town, and completed in the Tilton Academy. She was a brilliant girl, and is an extraordinarily clever woman; but she never has married, and lives still, in the prime of life, with her brother, Joseph Warren, at the old homestead.
Joseph Warren Ham received a good com- mon-school education in Canterbury, which was enlarged by a reflective temperament and studious habits. He spent his early life upon the farm, and then went to Lawrence, Mass., where he engaged in civil engineering for ten years. At the end of this time he returned to Canterbury, and settled on the homestead farm in April, 1861. September 16, 1864, he en- listed in Company D, Eighteenth New Hamp- shire Infantry, under Colonel Livermore and Captain Greenough. He was in the engage- ments at Port Stedman and in three engage- ments at Petersburg, Va. He was discharged June 17, 1865, when he returned to Canter- bury and re-engaged in farming, which he still follows. His farm at present consists of one hundred and forty acres of good land; and the buildings, which were old, have been com- pletely restored. Owing to ill health and advancing age he has not been able to work for several years; but he employs labor, and superintends the men in his service.
He has held the office of Postmaster in Up- lands for a number of years. In politics Mr. Ham is a Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R., Laconia Post, No. 37, at Laconia.
He was married on November 29, 1849, to Mary Jane Barker, the daughter of Gardner T. and Martha Barker, of Canterbury. They had one child - Belle Maria, born September 26, 1858, who died July 1, 1863. Mrs. Mary J. B. Ham died August 1, 1881.
LVAH B. CHELLIS, a leading farmer of Plainfield and the senior partner in the well-known firm, Chellis & Stickney, was born here, January 27, 1841, son, of John Pettengill and Lucinda (Bean) Chel- lis. The first representative of the family in this country came from Wales in 1636. His son John, born in Kingston, N. H., was the great-great-grandfather of Alvah B. Chellis. John's son Thomas, born in Kingston about the year 1750, was in the Revolution together with all his brothers, and fought at Bunker Hill.
The grandfather, Thomas Chellis, Jr., who was born at Salisbury, this State, March 24, 1785, died February 19, 1849. He and his father were the first of the family to settle in Plainfield. He was a farmer on an extensive scale, and a drover of cattle and dealer in horses. He was very wealthy, and very active in town affairs. He was in the legislature, was Selectmar for many years, and he served in various other important offices. In relig- ious belief he was a Congregationalist and a liberal supporter of the Congregational church. His wife, in maidenhood Abigail Morgan, daughter of Nathaniel and Miriam (Pettengill) Morgan, bore him nine children - Abigail, John P., Enoch F., Betsey M., Miriam, Otis H., Mary E., Sarah, and Andrew J. Abi- gail, born April 30, 1810, married Isaac Saw- yer, of Salisbury, N. H., a breeder of Merino sheep on an extensive scale. Enoch F., born August 8, 1815, who was a prosperous farmer
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of Cornish, N.H., married Mrs. Sarah Chase, and had one daughter, Marian V. Betsey, born November 9, 1817, died August 6, 1834. Miriam, born June 26, 1819, who died August 19, 1880, was unmarried. Otis H., who, born May 15, 1821, died June 30, 1894, was a farmer, carpenter, and merchant, and was for a short time in the fruit business in New Jer- sey. He successively married Martha P. Kinsman and Betsey M. Sargent. The latter bore him four children - Martha M., Frank O., Eloise, and Kate M. His sister, Mary E., born August 23, 1823, died April 19, 1884, unmarried. Sarah, born June 22, 1825, died August 17, 1837. Andrew J., born Sep- tember 13, 1828, who was a very prosperous and prominent resident of Plainfield, died October 15, 1878.
John P. Chellis, father of Alvah B., was born December 26, 1812. After finishing his education at Kimball Union Academy, he taught school for about twelve winters. There- after, throughout the remainder of his life, he was engaged in farming, giving special attention to sheep-raising, and acquiring -a handsome fortune. He was active as a citi- zen, and was chosen to fill the offices of Selectman, Town Treasurer, and Town Clerk. He was also State Senator for a time, and was High Sheriff of Sullivan County for nearly ten years. His wife, Lucinda, a daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Smith) Bean, was born August 31, 1816. Their children were: Alvah B. and Mary L. Chellis. Mary, who was born January 29, 1846, graduated from Kimball Union Academy, and then taught school for some years, principally in Lebanon and Newport, being very success- ful, and considered a ' fine disciplinarian. Both the parents died in 1888.
Alvah B. Chellis also taught school for many years, and, like his father and sister,
was a skilful and successful instructor. Be- sides teaching he served in the capacity of clerk for the Provost Marshal at West Leba- non in 1863 and 1864. His home has always been here, on the farm formerly owned by his father, and of which he has had the manage- ment during the greater part of his life. He carries on general farming, and formerly raised large numbers of sheep. The store at Meriden, conducted by Chellis & Stickney, is very prosperous, and has a growing business. The post-office has been located there since the present firm started in business. Mr. Chellis has taken an active part in all questions of im- portance that have come before the town, both in his private capacity and that of Selectman. He has taken much interest in the public schools, and has repeatedly served on the School Board. In Masonry Mr. Chellis is Sir Knight, having membership in Franklin Lodge of Lebanon, and in Sullivan Com- mandery of Claremont. In these bodies he is very popular, and has held all the offices. His religious views agree with the creed of the Congregational church, and he is a generous supporter of the church society. He is fond of music, and has a fine voice; but he sings only for the pleasure of his family and immediate friends.
On October 13, 1870, Mr. Chellis married Harriet L. Rossiter, of Windsor, Vt., daugh- ter of Chittenden and Charlotte (Converse) Rossiter. Mr. Rossiter was born in Clare- mont, March 22, 1817, and died May 8, 1892. Mrs. Rossiter, who is a daughter of a clergy- man, and was born December 27, 1817, is still living at Windsor, Vt., in the home which has been hers for over fifty years. She is in good health, and her mental faculties are undimmed. Mr. and Mrs. Chellis have been the parents of two sons - James Bean and Converse Alvah. James, born May 16,
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1879, died April 20, 1891. Converse, born at Plainfield, March 22, 1884, is attending school. As he has manifested a marked talent for music, he will probably pursue a course of musical training.
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