USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 6
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 6
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Mr. Frazier's first wife was Mary O. Fra- zier, and two sons were born of this marriage : James H., who is now deceased; and Samuel M. The second wife was Miss Ida L. Brown, of Concord, N. H. Mr. Frazier was a member of the Constitutional Convention, and has been Selectman of Danbury. He has always voted
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the Democratic ticket, and is a solid supporter of the platform of the gold Democrats. His first Presidential vote was cast in 1860 for Stephen A. Douglas.
A" NDREW J. ABBOTT, a prosperous farmer of West Concord and an ex- member of its Board of Selectmen, was born in the house he now occupies, De- cember 19, 1856, son of Simeon and Mary (Farnum) Abbott. The Abbott homestead, which has been owned by the family for five generations, was bought in 1754 by James Abbott from one of the original proprietors of Concord. James Abbott, who was a native of Andover, Mass., moved from there with his family to this land, and proceeded to clear and improve it. In 1760 he erected a frame house, which is still in use. He was suc- ceeded by his son, Amos Abbott (first), who left the property to his son, Amos Abbott (second), who was grandfather . of Andrew J., and served as a Corporal in the Revolutionary War. The maiden name of the grandfather's wife was Judith Morse.
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Simeon Abbott, after receiving his ele- mentary education in the district schools of this town, subsequently pursued a higher course in a school of Meredith, N.H. He then taught school for several winter terms, and he conducted the homestead farm during his active period. His natural ability and energy brought him into prominence in affairs, and he served as a Selectman and as Representative to the legislature. He died at the age of eighty-seven years and six months. His wife, Mary, daughter of Simeon Farnum, who represented a highly reputable family of this city, became the mother of ten children - Amos S., Rebecca C., Mary S., Abiel C., Calvin F., Stephen F., Louise G., Clara A.,
Mattie W., and Andrew J. Calvin F., Stephen F., and Mattie W. are no longer living. Amos S., who is residing in Concord, married Hattie Williams, and has two chil- dren -Hattie P. and Otis A. Mary S. mar- ried Fred G. Chandler, of Penacook, and has one daughter, Annie M. Abiel C., who lives in this city, wedded Mary Francis, and has two children - James F. and Rebecca F. Louise G. married George Capen, lives at Omaha, Neb., and has seven children -- Al- bert G., Simeon A., Stephen F., Mary L., George H., Edwin L., and Susan S.
Andrew J. Abbott acquired a district-school education, and at an early age applied himself to the regular farm duties at the homestead. Having succeeded to its ownership, he has since carried on general farming there with success. His crops are always large and of a superior quality, and he is regarded as one of the most practical farmers in his neighbor- hood. Actively interested in local affairs, he has displayed a determination to faithfully guard the general interests of the community. Politically, he is a Republican; and he cast his first vote for James A. Garfield in 1880.
ILLIAM BRECK was a prominent and wealthy resident of Claremont in his time. Born in Croydon, N. H., December 17, 1826, he was a son of Henry and Keziah (Marsh) Breck. The grandfather, William Breck, who was born in Boston, Mass., May 11, 1745, was a merchant in that city until 1792, when he came to West Claremont. Here he bought a farm of a Mr. Dickinson, the deed of which bears the date May 3, 1792 ; and he resided on the estate for the rest of his life. He was a business man of unsullied integrity, and while residing in Boston he held several responsible positions.
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He died November 22, 1819. On July II, 1771, he wedded Margaret Thomas, daughter of Dr. William Thomas, of Plymouth, Mass. She died February 4, 1820. Her children were: William, born February 5, 1775; l'eggy, who died aged one year; Peggy (sec- ond), born April 2, 1778, who died in August, 1833; John T., born March 14, 1779, who died in 1816; James, born May 8, 1780, who died October 15, 1871; Nancy, born October 3, 1781, who died March 1, 1858; Harriet, horn September 15, 1782, who died June 30, 1836; Henry, born February 26, 1786; and [ Hannah, born April 7, 1787, who died August 22, 1858. William became a sea captain, and acquired a fortune. His last days were passed in retirement at the homestead in West Claremont, where he lived as a country gentle- man, and died April 13, 1848.
Henry Breck, who was born in Boston, ac- companied his parents to Claremont. When a young man he settled in Croydon, and there kept a store. Later he opened a branch store in Cornish, N. H. Subsequently he disposed of his business in Croydon. He continued to carry on the Cornish store until 1848. After the death of his brother William he returned to the homestead and resided there until his death, which occurred July 10, 1872. Keziah Marsh Breck, his first wife, who was a native of Croydon, died June 29, 1826. On October 4, 1827, he married for his second wife Sarah Towne. She survived him, and died June 22, 1889. . His children by his first wife were : John Thomas, who lives in Lebanon, N. H. ; Hlenry, who lives in Newton, Mass. ; Robert, who died in Springfield, Mass., July 25, 1825 ; and William, the subject of this sketch. Those by his second union were: Sarah Ann, who married Reuben B. Ellis, and resided in Claremont ; Samuel, a resident of Springfield, Mass. ; Edward W., who is residing in Hel-
ena," Mont. ; Charles P., who wedded Mary, daughter of Stephen Roberts, of Medford, Mass., and now owns the homestead; and Ella M. Breck.
William Breck completed his education at the Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. He went to reside in Cornish when fourteen years old, and was Assistant Postmaster there from 1844 to 1846. He had been engaged in business with his brother John in Cornish for about four years when he was obliged to with- draw on account of a severe attack of asthma. In 1852 he went to California in search of health, and during his eight years' residence in that State he engaged in several business en- terprises, which in a short time tripled his investments. In 1860 he returned home much improved in health. He retained some of his interests in California, which yielded a hand- some income during the war. Though not actively engaged in business after his return to Claremont, he invested in various enterprises. For several years he was a Director of the Claremont National Bank, of Sullivan's Sav- ings Institution, and of the Sugar River Paper Mill Company. He was a member of the New Hampshire legislature in 1884 and 1885.
On October 7, 1868, Mr. Breck was united in marriage with Susan L. Farwell. She was born in Claremont, May 27, 1841, daughter of George N. and Sarah A. (McDonald) Farwell. George N. Farwell, one of the thirteen chil- dren of Nicholas and Susan (Corey) Farwell, was born in Claremont, February 18, 1804. At an early age he learned shoemaking, and later became the proprietor of a shoe factory, employing one hundred hands. He acquired influence in business circles; was one of the organizers of the Claremont Bank, of which he was President for some time; and he was the first Treasurer of Sullivan's Savings Institu-
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tion. He was a liberal, public-spirited man. He erected several buildings in this town. His record was that of a liberal, public- spirited man. For over fifty years he was a leading member of the Congregational church. His wife, whom he married December 25, 1827, was a daughter of Lewis and Rhoda (Rathbone) McDonald. She reared three children - James H., John L., and Susan L. Mr. and Mrs. Breck had one daughter, Sarah McDonald. Mr. Breck died at his home in this town, November 10, 1889.
ILLIAM HALL, a retired merchant of Plainfield, was born in Cornish, N. H., February 28, 1846, son of Israel and Elizabeth D. (Demming) Hall. He is a descendant of Willis Hall. His grandfather, Jonathan Hall, who was a native of Connecticut, was the first of the family to ascend the river for the purpose of settling. Jonathan, who was an extensive farmer, mar- ried Mercy Cady; and his children were: Is- rael, Sophia, Alfred, and Susan, all of whom were born in Windsor, Vt. Sophia married Sullivan Blood, of Windsor, and with her husband made the journey from Vermont to Missouri by horse and chaise. Sullivan Blood was for some years captain of steamboats of the Mississippi River. Afterward he settled in St. Louis, where he became prominent in the real estate business. The owner of many slaves at one time, he liberated them previous to the Rebellion. In politics he was a stanch Republican. He died a millionaire, and two of his four children are living. Susan always remained at home and cared for her mother, who in her later years suffered the loss of her sight. Alfred succeeded to the homestead, and always resided in Windsor. A leading business man, he was President of the Windsor
Savings Bank and of the Bridge Company. He was also prominent in public affairs. He married Catharine Morgan, daughter of Cap- tain Morgan, of Windsor, and had a family of five sons and one daughter, to whom he left a large estate.
Israel Hall, William Hall's father, was born in 1792. When a young man he asso- ciated himself with a Mr. Marcy, and carried on a general mercantile business in Cornish, N. H., for a number of years. Selling out then to his partner, he engaged in the hotel business in Cornish, and conducted it for some time. He finally became a man of affairs, and his time was occupied in attending to his various enterprises. He settled estates and acted as trustee, and was guardian for minors and persons not competent to take care of property. At one time he was President of the Windsor Savings Bank and of the Bridge Company. He also carried on a farm. Prom- inent in politics, he served as a Selectman until forced to decline further nomination, represented Cornish in the legislature, was Postmaster for several years, and he acted as a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. He attended the Episcopal church, sang in its choir, and generously contributed to its sup- port. He was a natural musician, and for some years played a bass-viol in church. When sixty years old he purchased a seraphine for the use of the church. As the party se- lected to play it was unable to do so, he took a few lessons on the instrument and played it himself. Israel Hall died October 29, 1863, aged seventy-one years, leaving a large amount of property to his family. Having ยท stood high in the community as an honest, up- right business man and a faithful public ser- vant, his descendants have every reason to look upon his record with pride. The first of his three marriages was contracted with Mary
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Chase, and the second with Sarah Chase, both of whom were daughters of Israel Chase, of Cornish. On the third occasion he was united to Elizabeth D. Demming, daughter of Will- iam Demming, a prosperous farmer of Cornish. The children of this marriage, all born in Cornish, were: Charles, Israel D., William, Edward, and George. Charles died in in- fancy. George died February 13, 1863, aged eleven years. Israel D., born May 17, 1843, who completed his studies at the Windsor High School, and then took a course at East- man's Business College in Concord, is now carrying on a large general 'store in Clare- mont, N. H., is connected with other enter- prises, and is President of the Bridge Com- pany in Windsor. He has represented Clare- mont in the legislature, has served upon the School Board for a number of years, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and attends the Congregational church. He married M. Belle Redfield, daughter of S. Frank Redfield, of Claremont, and has one daughter, Alice Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. Scott, of that town. Edward Hall, who was born July 3, 1849, attended the Windsor High School. Prevented by his failing sight from entering upon a business career, he engaged in farming in Plainfield for some years, and is now living in retirement. He married Emily Lewin, now deceased, who was a daughter of Erastus Lewin, of Plainfield. Mrs. Israel Hall, who lived to be sixty-seven years old, died January 22, 1875.
William Hall acquired a good education in the common schools of Cornish and in the Windsor High School. He had intended to enter Dartmouth College, and was about to graduate from the high school, when, seeing an unusually promising business opportunity open to him, he decided to embrace it. When, by the destruction of the Windsor
Bridge by a flood, communication between that town and Cornish was cut off, he im- mediately established a general store in the latter town, and had a profitable trade until the bridge was rebuilt. He then bought a store in Plainfield, to which he moved his stock, and was in company with his brother, Israel D., for four years, when Israel retired. After carrying it on successfully for nineteen years longer he retired. He has served with ability as Town Clerk and Treasurer, and has frequently been solicited to accept other town offices, but declined.
Mr. Hall married Amanda M. Gallup, of Plainfield. She was born February 28, 1846, which is also the date of her husband's birth. Mrs. Hall is a daughter of Charles F. and Amanda M. (Kingsbury) Gallup. Her father was a leading citizen of Plainfield, and repre- sented this town in the legislature. His wife was a daughter of Asa Kingsbury, one of the early settlers of Plainfield. The name of Kingsbury is now extinct in this town, but three grandsons of Asa Kingsbury are living, namely : Benjamin C., a mine owner in Spo- kane, Wash. ; Byron F., a railroad station agent in Taunton, Mass. ; and Charles G., the superintendent of the American Express Agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are the parents of three children, who were born in Plainfield, as follows: William Israel, April 14, 1868; Halliene Elizabeth, April 7, 1872; and Charles Gallup, January 9, 1880. William Israel, who completed his education at the Saxton's River Academy in Vermont, studied art and vocal culture in Bos- ton, and is now singing at one of the large churches in Trenton, N. J. ; he married Eliza- beth Sprecklen, of New Jersey. After receiving her education in a private academy, Halliene Elizabeth studied music at the New England Conservatory in Boston, and graduated June
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25, 1894. She has since spent some time in travelling through the United States. Charles Gallup is being educated under a private tutor.
APT. JACOB KNIGHT CLARK was a farmer of Hopkinton. He was born here, April 4, 1812, son of Jacob and Betsey (Huse) Clark. His grand- father, also named Jacob, came here from Newbury, Mass. The other children of his parents were : Thomas, Prudence K., Sally F., Cyrene H., and James M. Thomas, born June 6, 1810, married Judith Lull, of East Weare, and died at the age of thirty years. Prudence K., who was born August 9, 1814, died in early childhood. Sally F., born De- cember 30, 1816, married Thomas Edwards Paige, of Weare, and died in Hopkinton, August 11, 1882. Cyrene H., born March 17, 1819, married William Plummer, resided in Henniker, and died at the age of sixty- seven years. James M., who was born May 24, 1822, went to California and died there in 1864 or 1865.
Captain Clark was a well - to - do farmer and man of affairs in his town. In 1830 he was Ensign of the Hopkinton Rifles, and he was successively promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain in 1831 and 1834. In 1848-50 he was Selectman, in 1851 he was elected State Representative, and he was Town Assessor in 1854. When he and Moses Hoyt introduced machine threshing, it was popularly thought that the machine would spoil the grain or cause a fire. Captain Clark was married July 19, 1835, to Mary, daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Burbank) Straw, of Weare, and was the father of three children - Helen M., Warren, and Ellen T. Warren Clark was born in Hopkinton, March 29, 1837, and was educated at Hopkinton Academy
and at Norwich (Vt.) University. At the latter place he was Lieutenant of the Norwich Cadets. After graduating from the university in 1857, he taught military science and mathematics in Mount Pleasant Academy, Sing Sing, N. Y., and also in Randall's School for Boys in Bloomfield, N. J. He then studied law with George & Foster, of Concord, and was admitted to the bar in 1862. He lived in Hopkinton until 1863, in Henniker up to 1870, and after that time in Concord, serving in some public capacity in each place. In 1874 he was appointed Judge of Probate for Merrimack County. In Concord he was connected with the School Board for the most of his life after 1875, and he was Postmaster there after 1888. He married Fannie S., daughter of Alfred and Sophia (Worthington) Otis, of Colchester, Conn. Judge Clark died November 21, 1891.
The owner of the old Clark homestead since the death of Captain Clark, which occurred July 19, 1893, is Thomas Warren Paige, son of Thomas Edwards and Sally Felch (Clark) Paige. He was born December 13, 1853, in Lowell, Mass. There were two other sons - Orra, of Magnolia, Mass., and French, of Lowell. In 1858 the family moved to Stone- ham, Mass., where in 1861 the father died. His widow died while on a visit in Hopkinton, August 11, 1882. Thomas W. Paige was married November 1, 1885, to Minnie, daugh- ter of Gilman and Wealthy (Hoyt) Straw, of Contoocook, N. H.
G EORGE H. CILLEY, a prominent farmer of Hill, is a native of Bris- tol, N. H., born May 15, 1864. A son of John M. Cilley, of Andover, he is a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of that district. His great-grandfather cleared
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and settled Cilley Hill, a projection of Ragged Mountain. The father, John M. Cilley, was a druggist and jeweller of Bristol, where he had a store for a number of years. He married Susan Herbert, daughter of Saunders Herbert ; and the subject of this sketch is their only child. After the death of the father, the mother married Deacon Eben W. Mason, and thereafter resided on the old Mason farm until her death in 1889.
George H. Cilley has resided for some time on the Mason homestead. In his early years he served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, and subsequently worked at the case and in the job department. On December 13, 1886, Mr. Cilley married Ida A. Currier, daughter of Charles E. and Hannah (Cilley) Currier, of Andover. They have two children - Roy C. and Leon D. Being a farmer, Mr. Cilley is, of course, a member of the grange. He has also been a Selectman of the town, and he was Chairman of the School Board for two years. He is a Republican, a Good Tem- plar, and a member of the Christian Church of Hill.
Every one who goes to the Mason homestead is sure to admire the stately elm-tree with spreading branches which stands near the ap- proach to the house from Hill Centre. Over a hundred years ago a gentleman visiting the place carried in his hand a small elm switch, which he stuck into the ground. The result of that simple act is the venerable tree seen there to-day, and which offers its shade to all passers-by.
HRISTOPHER COLUMBUS GIB- SON, one of the leading violinists of America, is an honored resident of the town of Henniker, N. H., where he was born August 24, 1824, a son of John and Su- sannah (Hale) Gibson. The emigrant ances-
tor of the Gibson family was John Gibson, who was born in England in 1601, and was made a freeman in Cambridge, Mass., in 1634.
The line was then continued through the following-named progenitors: John, born in 1631; Deacon Timothy Gibson, born in 1668, who lived with Abraham Holman in Stow, Mass., and at the age of twenty-one received from him a deed of land; Captain Timothy Gibson, born in Stow, Mass., in 1702, who married in 1725 Persis Rice, and settled in Henniker in 1772; and Captain Joseph Gib- son, the Professor's grandfather, born June 8, 1750, who died May 26, 1801, from injuries received by his horse stumbling and throwing him upon the pommel. For more than a quar- ter of a century he was one of the most promi- nent and influential men of this place, serving as Selectman in 1787, 1790, 1791, 1796, 1797, and 1799. On May. 28, 1772, he mar- ried Olive Randall.
John Gibson, Professor Gibson's father, was born in Henniker, October 22, 1782, and died June 5, 1836, while in manhood's prime. He was married March 3, 1808, to Susannah Hale, who survived him, passing to the life beyond April 8, 1855.
Christopher C. Gibson exhibited his phe- nomenal musical talent at a very early age, at every opportunity seizing his father's violin for practice. This instrument Mr. John Gib- son played, as thousands of others do, for his own amusement, having never received espe- cial instruction. One of his daughters, Elvira Gibson, was a gifted musician and poetess. She was eleven years older than her brother, the subject of this sketch ; and she assisted him in his musical efforts, so that at the age of five he began to pick out melodies on the violin, and could soon read music quite rapidly, mak- ing wonderful advancement considering his limited opportunities. At the age of ten
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years he took lessons of Ostinelli, an Italian performer of great merit; and he was after- ward a pupil of Metz, a German violinist of Lowell, Mass. When he was but twelve years old his father died, and the support of the family fell largely upon him. His sister was an invalid for years, requiring much of his care. He also had charge of a young girl named Mary J. Brown, whom he subsequently married. He spent every moment he could spare from his daily labors in the study of his chosen art; and, that he might not annoy his sick sister, he took his beloved instrument to the barn, where night after night he practised many an hour that should have been given to sleep, tired nature's sweet restorer.
He was in his fourteenth year when Ole Bull, the world-renowned artist, visited this country for the first time. Young Gibson was determined to hear him; and his desire was strongly approved and seconded by his sister, who had awakened to a realizing sense of the lad's genius. Collecting all of his cash, and taking what his sister had, he set forth one bright June morning on foot for Boston, nearly one hundred miles away. He had just pur- chased a pair of new shoes, which were hard and stiff, and pinched his every toe, causing him great pain ; but despite his misery he con- tinued his walk, reaching the desired Mecca the third day. In the evening he listened to the wonderful music, so weird and strange, but so smooth and beautiful that he scarce knew if he were on earth. The following night he was again an entranced listener, being borne to the seventh heaven of delight. Probably few persons on this terrestrial planet ever came nearer to realizing the sweets of Paradise than did this raw country boy that memorable even- ing. The two succeeding evenings he was again in the audience, and then heard two other celebrated violinists, Vieuxtemps and
Artot. The great resources of the wonderful instrument were opened to him, revealing powers of which he had never dreamed. Bright and early the next morning he started on his homeward way; and, though his feet were causing him excruciating pain at every step, he walked on flowers, and his soul was expanded and filled with those celestial har- monies.
From that time on the young musician de- voted himself more assiduously to his violin, and was himself surprised at the advancement he made toward its mastery. He labored hard, availed himself of every opportunity to hear the most distinguished artists, and after years of severe labor realized that he had him- self become a finished artist. His first public appearance was made in the winter of 1853, in Tremont Temple, Boston, when his wonderful composition (which he learned from the feathered songsters in the pine woods near his home, catching their exact tones on his violin), entitled the "Bird Fantasia," created much enthusiasm. In 1860 Professor Gibson gave concerts in Albany, Troy, and other cities of New York, and also visited Washing- ton, Richmond, and Charleston, being every- where warmly received. He has since been largely occupied in concert work and teaching. He is well entitled the Ole Bull of America, and easily stands at the head of his profession in this country. He was at one time invited by Ole Bull to accompany him to his home in Norway, but his sister's long illness prevented him from going. At the World's Peace Jubi- lee held in Boston in 1872, he was the first violinist from New Hampshire, and the only American first violinist retained through the entire session. He became intimately ac- quainted with Ole Bull during one of his later visits to this country, forming a friendship for the great master that was broken only by the
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latter's death. At the Tremont House in Boston, where they were together one day, Mr. Bull gave him his photograph, and a day or two later sailed from New York for his Norwegian home. Within a month after that the news was flashed across the ocean that the soul of this grand genius had gone to the realms where celestial music is chanted by the heavenly hosts.
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