USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 58
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 58
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Samuel Davis, Jr., the father of Ora C. Davis, was born in Plainfield, February 2, 1822, was educated in the common schools and at Kimball Union Academy. After the close of his school life he began farming, and has been engaged in that occupation ever since. By industry, energy, and strictly honorable dealing in every transaction he has accumu-
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lated a fortune sufficient for his needs. He has been Chairman of the Board of Selectmen many times, and he has efficiently served in the capacities of Treasurer and Tax Collector. His political principles are those of the Re- publican party, which he stanchly supports ; and he attends religious services at the Baptist church. He married Martha J. Hersey, who was born September 4, 1824. She was a daughter of Stephen Hersey, a farmer and car- penter of Grantham. The three children of this marriage are: Emma A., Ora C., and Ella M. Emma, born in Hartford, Vt., July 17, 1845, attended the public schools of Plain- field and Kimball Union Academy, and was afterward one of the most successful public- school teachers in this part of the State. She married J. C. Willis, of Milwaukee, a rail- road man, who makes two trips weekly from Chicago to Minneapolis. They have no chil- dren. Ella, born July 19, 1850, was edu- cated in the schools of the town and at Kim- ball Union Academy. She also taught school successfully for a number of years before she married Warren B. Richardson, of Canaan. Mr. Richardson, who is well-to-do, has been Town Treasurer and Deputy Sheriff, and is now Police Justice.
Ora C. Davis received his education in the same schools as did his sisters, and, like them, became a teacher. He taught for about twenty winters, being gifted not only with unusual ability to instruct, but with superior tact as a disciplinarian. He keeps a farm, and has done a considerable amount of painting. He has been Chairman of the Republican Town Committee for many years; has been Select- man for five years, being at present Chairman of the Board; and he has also served as Super- intendent of Schools.
The second of Mr. Davis's two marriages was contracted with Almie F. Morse, daughter
of Charles H. Morse, of Plainfield. By his previous marriage he has two children - Hu- bert S. and Edna W. Hubert, born in Plain- field, November 9, 1871, who was educated in Kimball Union Academy, and became a farmer, married Mary Woodward, and has two children - Gleason and Clifford. Edna W., born January 2, 1874, is living at Plainfield. In religious belief Mr. Davis is a Baptist. He now holds the office of Deputy Sheriff, and is Justice of the Peace. Prominent in the Masonic fraternity, he is now the Master of his lodge. He is also a member of the local grange.
ON. EDMUND H. BROWN, the subject of this sketch, was born in Fisherville, now Penacook, a part of Concord, N. H., October 29, 1857. He is the youngest son of Henry Hayes and Lucretia (Symonds) Brown, and traces his ancestry di- rectly back to the early Pilgrim settlers. The late Henry H. Brown, father of Edmund H., conducted an extensive manufacturing busi- ness in Penacook for many years, and was one of the most enterprising citizens and promi- nent residents of that village in his day.
Edmund H. Brown was educated at the Pen- acook Academy and the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology, Boston. After complet- ing his studies he entered the works of the Concord Axle Company, and, having applied his efforts to a thorough mastery of every branch of these extensive works, fitted himself for the responsible position which he assumed in 1887, that of General Superintendent. He was one of the incorporators of this company, and is a member of the Board of Directors. Aside from his connection with the axle works, he was one of the organizers of and Director in the Penacook Electric Light Com- pany, and was instrumental in giving to his
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village the excellent lighting service that it now enjoys.
Early in the spring of 1897 he became associated with Mr. Charles E. Foote in the well-known house of Foote, Brown & Co., having purchased a half - interest from Mr. Stewart I. Brown. This firm carries one of the largest and best selected stocks of general merchandise to be found in the county, enjoys an enviable reputation for honesty and fair dealing, and stands high in its connections in the business world.
Mr. Brown inherited from his father those sterling qualities that go toward making the useful and respected man of affairs, and no member of the community is held in higher esteem by all classes than he.
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In politics he has been an earnest supporter of the Republican party from the day he be- came a voter, and has served the party zeal- ously in his ward organization and upon the State Committee, of which he was a member from 1887 to 1893. As a candidate for the House of Representatives in 1892, he contrib- uted his full share toward successfully redeem- ing his ward; and as a member of that body he acquired a wide reputation as a well-informed man, and won many friends by his marked social attainments. At the Republican con- vention in 1894 he received a unanimous nomination for Senator in the Eleventh Sena- torial District, and at the subsequent election was handsomely elected as the first Republican from that district. He was a prominent mem- ber and earnest worker in that honorable body, and served faithfully the interests of a large constituency.
In religious and educational matters Mr. Brown has always taken an active interest. He joined the First Baptist Church, Penacook, at the age of fifteen, and has become one of its most influential members. He was President
of the New Hampshire Baptist State Conven- tion in 1893. He is a Trustee of Colby Academy, New London, and a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society.
Mr. Brown is a thirty-second degree Mason. He is a Past Master of Horace Chase Lodge, No. 72, F. & A. M. ; a member of Trinity Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Horace Chase Council, Royal and Select Masters; Mount Horeb Commandery, Knights Templar; and Edward A. Raymond Consistory of Nashua.
On October 11, 1881, Mr. Brown married M. Belle Proctor, daughter of the late well- known Dr. William Proctor, of Pittsfield, N. H. They have had three children ; namely, Helen L., Howard H., and William P. The latter died in infancy.
IDGAR A. CHURCHILL, a prominent resident of Cornish, was born in this town, August 29, 1847. His parents were Barker B. Churchill, son of Lewis Churchill and Mary (Angier) Churchill, of Cornish. The latter, who was Barker's first wife, had eight children, of whom Edgar A., Mary E., and Jennie reached maturity. Mary is now Mrs. Lovell B. George, of Newport, and has two children - Jennie and Albert. Jennie Churchill, who married William F. Waite, a pattern maker of Hubbardston, Mass., is now deceased. The father, a carpenter by trade, was in the late war, having enlisted at West Lebanon in the First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery for three years. He had served about thirteen months when the war ended, and he was honorably discharged. Shortly after he contracted a second marriage with Mary (Westgate) Britton, a widow of Plainfield, who bore him one child, Nettic B., now Mrs. Marvin B. Lindsey, of Cornish.
In his boyhood Edgar A. Churchill was
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sent to school at Cornish and to Kimball Union Academy at Plainfield. After finish- ing his education, he taught school for a while, and then learned the trade of a carpen- ter with his father. In August, 1864, he enlisted for service in the war, with his father, in the First New Hampshire Heavy Artil- lery. After serving thirteen months, he came home and began work at his trade, carrying on, also, general farming. Mr. Churchill is a loyal member of the Democratic party, and has served his native town in numerous positions in the public service. He has been Highway Surveyor and Measurer of Wood and Lumber, Selectman of the town for the past four years, and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for the last two years of that time. Upright and public-spirited, his support is always assured for any measure he believes to be for the gen- eral well-being of the community, even though it may conflict with his personal interests. His estate, situated on Davis Hill in the northern part of the town, commands a fine view of the country for miles around. His domestic circle includes a little girl, whom he has benevolently undertaken to rear. He is largely interested in stock-raising and graz- ing; and he has a large number of pet ani- mals, including canary birds, cats, and dogs, the care of which affords him much pleasure. He is a member of William H. Bryant Post, No. 63. G. A. R., of Cornish, and of the local grange.
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For years Mr. Churchill has made his home with Miss Georgiana and Mrs. Henrietta Davis, who are daughters of the late John and Hannah (Brown) Davis. Mr. Davis, born June 11, 1792, died February 20, 1867. His wife, who was born at Epsom, November 13, 1793, died December 27, 1847. Their five children were David, John H., Mary Ann, and the ladies already named. David
died in infancy. John H., born March 9, 1820, is now living with his third wife in Illinois. Of his three children two are liv- ing. Mary Ann, born September 7, 1821, married James Winn, of Vermont, and died September 20, 1891. Mrs. Henrietta Davis, born January 13, 1824, who married Henry WV. Davis, July 5, 1854, had two children, of whom Winfield Scott Davis is living, and resides in Cornish. While serving in the Civil War, her husband was exposed to so much hardship that his health was destroyed; and he died in a few days after reaching home. Miss Georgiana Davis, who was born January 14, 1828, and was educated in the town schools, has always made her home at the old homestead, which was her birthplace. Both she and her sister are very charitable. Their great-grandfather, John Davis, was born in Wales, England: The grandfather, David Davis, was born at Greenland, N.H., Decem- ber 25, 1758. He was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary War, and thereafter drew a pension from the government as long as he lived. An earnest Christian, he was a daily reader of the Scriptures. He died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. As his grand- daughters, Mrs. Davis and her sister are qual- ified to become members of the organization called the "Daughters of the Revolution."
- ENRY HARRISON EDWARDS, a watchmaker of acknowledged abil- ity, who is now residing in Allens- town, was born in Laconia, N. H., July 28, 1840, son of Nathaniel and Rachel (Ranlett) Edwards. His grandfather, Ebenezer Ed- wards, who in his earlier years followed the sea, subsequently learned the hatter's trade, and followed it in Laconia for many years. Another source of income to him was the
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teaching of elocution. His upright character and intellectual attainments gained for him a high standing in the estimation of his fellow- townsmen. He died at the age of sixty-eight years. In politics he acted with the Whig party, and he was a Baptist in his religious belief. He wedded Martha Watson, a native of Dover, N. H., who also died at the age of sixty-eight. Of their eleven children David, William, Charles, Eben, Mary, and Pierpont are living.
Nathaniel Edwards, father of Henry H., was born in Plymouth, N. H., December 7, 1813. He learned the shoemaker's trade in New Market, N. H., and followed it for several years in his native town. Later he became assistant superintendent of the Lake Water Company. In politics he was originally a Whig, and later became a Republican. He served as Tax Collector for some time, and was Chief of the Fire Department for a number of years. In his latter years he attended the Baptist church. He died at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, Rachel, who is a native of Gilmanton, N. H., became the mother of three sons - George W., Henry H., and Frank A. George W., now deceased, married for his first wife Miss Lawton, of Pittsfield, Mass., who had no children. His second wife, Ida Mills Edwards, of Williams- town, Mass., now resides in Pittsfield, Mass., with her two children - George W. and Blanche. Frank A. married Nellie Tilletson, of Whitefield, N. H., and his children are : Frank, Nathaniel H., Louise, and Jessie. Mrs. Nathaniel Edwards, now eighty-four years old, is residing with her son in Laconia.
Henry Harrison Edwards was educated in the public schools of his native town. Subse- quently he learned the watchmaker's trade in Laconia, and followed it there as a journey- man for four years. Off and on for several
years he was employed at the Waltham Watch Factory ; and he has also worked in St. Johns- bury, Vt., Pittsfield, Worcester, and Haver- hill, Mass. His last engagement with the Waltham Company extended over a period of twenty years, ending in 1892, at which time he came to Allenstown.
On September 13, 1877, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage with Helen P. Otterson, daughter of Thomas James and Phoebe P. S. (Bryant) Otterson, late of Allenstown. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have had one daughter, Pauline L., now deceased. Politically, Mr. Edwards is a Republican. Both he and Mrs. Edwards are liberal in their religious views.
HOMAS J. OTTERSON, formerly a well-known business man of Allens- town, was born in Hookset, N. H., February 8, 1818, son of William and Betsey (Cofran) Otterson. On the paternal side he descended from William Otterson, a native of Ireland, who was drowned in Lake Champlain during the French and Indian War. William's son, James Otterson, grandfather of Thomas J., was born in Londonderry, N. H., August 19, 1757. He was the father of twelve chil- dren, of whom William (second), father of Thomas J., was the third child. The father, who was born in Hookset, October 30, 1789, reared a family of five children, of whom Thomas J. was the eldest.
Reared and educated in Hookset, Thomas James Otterson was engaged in mercantile pursuits in his native town until 1861. Then he moved to Allenstown, and entered the lum- ber business. He was very successful finan- cially, was prominent in public affairs, and served as Treasurer and Collector in Allens- town for a number of years. Highly respected for his upright character and other estimable
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qualities in life, his death on January 28, 1893, when he was seventy-five years old, was regretted by all who knew him. He left a good estate.
Mr. Otterson married Phoebe P. S. Bryant, daughter of Nathan and Delight (Nichols) Bryant. Their only child, Helen P., is now Mrs. Henry H. Edwards, of Allenstown. Mrs. Otterson died at the age of sixty-seven years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Otterson attended the Universalist church.
AMES MADISON JONES, the popu- lar and efficient station agent of the Concord & Montreal Railroad at Con- cord, was born at Deerfield, N. H., April 26, 1833, son of James and Hannah L. (Marston) Jones. Jacob Jones, his grandfather, a native of Pittsfield, N.H., kept a successful clock and gunsmith shop in his native town for many years. He had a high local reputation as a mechanic, and he lived to a good old age.
James Jones, who was born in Pittsfield, N.H., inherited his father's mechanical talent. He took up and continued the pater- nal business of making and repairing clocks and executing gunsmith work, adding thereto that of a blacksmith. In the latter half of his life he removed to Concord, where he en- tered the employ of Abiel Chandler, the clock-maker, and soon established for himself a great local reputation in that city for skill in his line of business. He could repair any sort of machine or mechanical instrument. His useful life closed in Concord, at the age of seventy-eight years. He married Hannah L. Marston, of Pittsfield. Their family con- sisted of the following children : James Madi- son, the subject of this sketch; Thomas A., who went to Chicago, Ill., and was appointed paymaster on the Chicago & North-western
Railroad; Charles E., who is an engineer on the Boston & Maine Railroad; George A., who enlisted for service in the Civil War, first at Portsmouth in the First New Hampshire Regiment of Volunteers, and subsequently for three years in Company E of the Second New Hampshire Regiment, and who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg in 1863; Frank and Eddie, twins, of whom Frank died aged two years and Eddie aged twelve years ; and Addie, who died at the age of nine years.
After receiving his education in the district schools of Concord, James Madison Jones first went to work in hotels. After that he took up stage driving as a means of livelihood, and for a number of years continued in that busi- ness, running stages to and fro between vari- ous New Hampshire towns. He first drove a stage from Hillsborough to Bradford Springs, then from East Andover to West Springfield, then the daily stage between Springfield and New London, then from Manchester to Hills- borough, and after that to Concord. At the time of the building of the Sixth Avenue Railroad in New York City he went twice to New York with a shipment of horses, remain- ing in that city on each occasion for about six months. On July 1, 1852, he entered the em- ploy of the Old Concord Railroad, and worked as brakeman and baggage-master between Concord and Boston for about eight years. Then he was promoted to the post of con- ductor, in which capacity he served the corpora- tion on various trains running from Concord, Nashua, Portsmouth, Boston, and return, for another period of eight years. In 1869 he was appointed to the important and respon- sible position of station and baggage agent, and the superintendence of trains and train- men at Concord. Upon the consolidation of the Concord and Montreal roads he was contin- ued in the same capacity, being too valuable
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and well-trained a man for the corporation to lose. In November, 1885, the new and com- modious station erected by the railroad author- ities was ready for use; and Mr. Jones was put in charge of the same, to the satisfaction of the travellers passing through the place.
Mr. Jones married Jane Maria Swan, and has two children. These are: Fred C., who has been a conductor on the Concord, Boston & Maine Railroad for about twenty years; and Jennie, who married George B. Wright, of Bradford, and is the mother of two children - Dorothy and James Jones Wright. A sec- ond marriage was contracted by Mr. Jones with Harriet M. Merrill. In politics he is a Democrat, and his first Presidential vote was cast for James Buchanan in 1856. He is an attendant at the Congregational church in Concord. He has been a member of the St. John Lodge of Free Masons of Portsmouth since the year 1861, and he also belongs to the White Mountain Lodge of Odd Fellows of Concord.
CRANK H. CHAPMAN, a leading druggist of Franklin Falls, was born in Lowell, Mass., May 29, 1848, son of Eben L. Chapman, of New Market, N. H. The father, who was born in 1807, removed to Lawrence, Mass., and was there a successful grocer for forty-one years, retiring from active business in 1860. He married for his first wife a Towle, of New Market, who died leav- ing no children. For his second wife he married Mrs. Martha J. Hilton Hanscomb, and their children were: Frank H., the subject of this sketch; and Charles, who died at the age of six years.
Frank H. Chapman received his education in the common and high schools of Lawrence, Mass. In 1864 he entered the employ of H. M. Whitney, a druggist, to learn the busi-
ness, remaining there for five years. After- ward, in Brooklyn, N. Y., he was employed in the store of Emil Heydenreich & Co. for three years. In 1875 he came to Franklin Falls, and purchased the drug store of E. H. Sturtevant, whom he succeeded in the business, continu- ing alone until 1893, when he sold one-half interest to Charles Eddy. The store is now carried on under the style of F. H. Chapman & Co. They have a full line of drugs, medi - cines, etc., and have succeeded in building up a large and successful business. Mr. Chap- man now leaves the entire charge of the store to his partner, Mr. Eddy. He is also con- nected with the well-known wholesale drug- gists, Rust & Richardson, of Hanover Street, Boston, Mass. At one time he was the Presi- dent of the New Hampshire Pharmaceutical Association.
In August, 1872, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Ella F. James, of Lawrence, Mass., daughter of T. W. James, a machinist residing in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of five children, namely : Lucy B., born in June, 1873, who is now the wife of John Proctor, of Franklin Falls; Eben L., born in August, 1876, now attending the In- stitute of Technology in Boston, Mass. ; Frank W., born in August, 1877, a student at Dartmouth College; Charles E., born in June, 1878, who attends Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass. ; and John H., born in March, 1883, now at home with his parents. Mr. Chapman was the legislative Representative of his district in 1893. He has also been Town Clerk for several years. In politics he is a stanch Republican. In Masonry he has taken the thirty-second degree, having mem- bership in the Blue Lodge and in the F. A. Raymond Consistory of Nashua, N. H. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows, Red Men, Knights of Honor, and Knights of Pythias.
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Mr. Chapman is one of Franklin Falls' most highly esteemed citizens, and has been emi- nently successful throughout his life. His home is one of the finest residences in Frank- lin Falls, and he has surrounded his family with many of the luxuries of life.
OSES H. FARNUM, a prominent resident of Concord, was born in Concord, February 3, 1811, son of Moses and Esther (Carter) Farnum. The family is of Welsh origin. Ralph Farnum, the first of the name in this country, came from Wales and settled in Andover, Mass. He subsequently removed to Concord, N. H. ; and his descendants have continued to hold and occupy his original land purchase in that town up to the present time. Ephraim Far- num, son of Ralph and the great-grandfather of Moses H., born on the paternal estate, re- sided thereon throughout his life. His son, also named Ephraim, was born on the same estate, passed his life in its cultivation and improvement, and died at the age of ninety- four years. The maiden name of Grand- father Farnum's wife was Judith Hall.
Moses Farnum, son of Ephraim and the father of the subject of this sketch, was also born on the paternal estate, and passed his life there as a farmer. A portion of his house is still standing. He served his town as Selectman for a time, and he at- tained the age of seventy-one years. The second of his two marriages was contracted with Esther Carter, a sister of his first wife. He reared a family of six children.
Moses H. Farnum received his education partly in the district schools and partly in a private school of Concord. He has passed his long life on his patrimonial estate, devoting his time and attention to its improvement.
Reduced by subdivision, the property now con- tains one hundred acres. In 1870 he erected on it a fine set of new buildings. Prior to the incorporation of Concord as a city Mr. Far- num served it as Selectman for a number of years. Afterward he was several times elected by his townsmen to represent them in the city government. He also held the office of As- sessor of Taxes in his ward for a number of years. In 1883 he was elected to the New Hampshire legislature.
Mr. Farnum has been twice married. By his first wife, Judith A. Kilburn Farnum, his children were: Frank B., residing in Con- cord, who married Sadie Brown, of Boscawen, and has two children; Anna L., who married Charles Farnum, and resides in the neighbor- hood; and Edward E., who married Mary Larthard of P.E. Island, has one child, Judith H., and lives on the homestead. For his second wife he married Ann Hale, the widow of Asa L. Pervier, and a daughter of Isaac and Betsy (Pearson) Hale. Born of this marriage is one son - Ralph Perley Farnum, who lives at home.
In politics Mr. Farnum is a Republican. He cast his first Presidential ballot for Martin Van Buren in 1836. Both he and Mrs. Far- num are members of the West Congregational Church of Concord. He has the satisfaction of looking back over an unusually well-spent and useful life, and that brought by the con- fidence and respect of all who know him.
ANIEL F. WYMAN, a successful lumber dealer of Henniker and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in the southern part of this town, November 29, 1826. His maternal ancestors were early settlers in New Hamp- shire. Moses Harriman, his great-grand-
CYRUS E. BAKER.
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father, was born in Plaistow in 1736. His grandparents, Eldad and Lydia (White) Har- riman, who were industrious farming people, lived to be eighty-four years old. Daniel resided with his grandparents until he was sixteen or seventeen years old. Then he learned daguerreotyping; and, after following it for a time, he sold out his apparatus and became a clerk for James Peverly in Concord. A year later he was employed in the same capacity in Henniker. Subsequently Mr. Wyman visited Ohio for the purpose of seeing the country. In 1849 he formed a partner- ship with Jonas Wallace, the father of Judge Robert M. Wallace, of Milford, and for some years was engaged in a general mercantile business in Henniker. He then returned to the farm for the purpose of managing the property and caring for his aged grandparents and mother. After the death of the former he settled the estate. He then took up his residence in Henniker village, bought timber lands, and established himself in the lumber business, which he has since successfully fol- lowed. He erected houses in Henniker and Manchester with lumber which he cut and sawed. He has invested to a considerable extent in city property in Los Angeles, Cal., which he visited eight years ago, spending several months in sight - seeing upon the Pacific slope. He spent the winter of 1875 and 1876 in Florida. In politics he is a Re- publican. He has been quite active in local affairs. He has served as Supervisor; and he represented this town in the legislature of 1883, serving upon the Insurance Com- mittee.
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