USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 60
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 60
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No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cul- ver. Mr. Culver always supported the Re- publican party, but took no active part in po- litical affairs beyond casting his vote. He was connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Culver was highly respected by his fellow- citizens. His life was an extremely busy one, and he died lamented by all. Mrs. Culver is a member of the Congregational church.
REDERICK MYRON COLBY, of Warner, as well as all the Colbys of America, is descended from Anthony Colby, one of the Puritan colonists of Boston in 1630, who subsequently settled in Amesbury, Mass., where the house he dwelt in still stands. The second son of his father, An- thony was a lineal descendant of Sir Robert de Colebi, one of King John's knights in
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1199. The family seat was in the County of Norfolk, England. In early times the name was variously spelled Colby, Colebi, Coleby, Colebey, Colebei, Chaulby, Colbye, and Colebeye. The name of two English towns, as well as that of descendants of the family living in their vicinity, is Coleby; but the family estate in Swardest is called Colby Manor. A Danish form is Koldby. The Colby arms are "argent, a chevron engraved between three scallops, sable, the crest a plumed helm and an arm grasping a naked sword. The motto, 'Vincit amor patria.'" Anthony Colby, the American settler, had five sons and three daughters. From Thomas Colby, his fourth son, the line of descent was continued through Jacob, Valentine, Levi, Valentine, and Levi O. to Frederick Myron Colby. The following account of Mr. Colby is taken from the Twentieth Century Review for April, 1890: -
"Frederick Myron Colby, the historical ro- mancer and novelist and the most versatile writer in the Granite State, was born in War- ner, N. H., December 9, 1848. He was the son of Levi O. and Mary (Durelle) Colby. His early education was obtained in the schools of his native town and of Concord. He never attended college, but his knowledge is extensive and sound. He is a good French and Latin scholar, has a wide acquaintance with English literature, and is familiar with all the old chronicles and sagas.
"Mr. Colby's early life was passed on a farm. He has always been a hard worker with brain and muscle, and has a physique abun- dantly able to sustain much fatigue. For a number of years he was a successful school teacher in Merrimack County. He had written considerably for the local press when, in 1872, a novel of his, 'The Pioneers of Kentucky,' was published by R. M. DeWitt, of New
York. This successful venture was followed by other attempts in the same channel. The winter of 1875-76 he spent in Washington, D. C., as the correspondent of Boston and New Hampshire papers; while several historical ar- ticles from his pen, of local interest, were written at the capital for some of the leading publications of the country. Mr. Colby may be regarded as a voluminous writer, having bad published some thirty serial stories in various periodicals, quite a number of bound books, and over three hundred poems, besides num- berless sketches and stories. His most meri- torious work, from a purely literary stand- point, was a novel printed by the Methodist Book Concern, New York, in 1886, entitled 'The Daughter of Pharaoh,' which has had a large sale. Another book, a juvenile for boys and girls, entitled 'Brave Lads and Bonnie Lasses,' was recently issued by the same house. He is at present engaged on a novel describing Oriental life in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, and he has also nearly ready a story of adventure for boys.
"As a townsman Mr. Colby is a valuable citizen ; and socially he is much of a favorite, though somewhat inclined to be reserved in unfamiliar or uncongenial company. He is six feet in height, of fine physique and cour- teous manner. With a comfortable income from his pen, he lives as near, perhaps, as any one ever does the author's ideal life, in the pleasant village of his native town."
In 1882 Mr. Colby was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Maria George, daughter of Gilman C. George, a leading resident of the town. Since he came of age, Mr. Colby has been a candidate repeatedly for every office in town. He has been Town Treasurer four years, a member of the School Board six years, and Postmaster four years. He has been a Trustee of the Pillsbury Library since its es-
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tablishment. Mr. Colby is a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society, and an honorary member of the Manchester Press Club.
HARLES LEWIS PERRY, for twenty- five years a successful tailor of Clare- mont, Sullivan County, N. H., was born in Charlestown, N. H., March 4, 1823, son of Charles and Mary (Putnam) Perry. At the age of seventeen Mr. Perry came to Claremont, where he learned the tailor's trade, and then began business for himself. Devot- ing his entire attention to custom work, he became prosperous, and in 1857 built the handsome business block known as Perry's Block, where he located until obliged to retire on account of failing health. He was suc- ceeded in business by his son, Charles Eu- gene. Mr. Perry was a business man of ex- ceptional ability, scrupulously honest, a man of exemplary habits, public-spirited, a useful citizen and a devoted husband and father. He had accumulated a competency, and was look- ing forward with pleasure to a life free from cares, when he was called to leave this world, his death occurring January 15, 1876. He is survived by his wife, formerly Dorothy Blake Mitchell, daughter of Charles and Sil- via (Mitchell) Mitchell, and four sons - Charles E., Frank H., Theodore, and Arthur.
William Mitchell, Mrs. Perry's paternal grandfather, was born in Boston. He came to Claremont from Henniker, N. H., settling in the north-eastern part of the town, on Cornish Road, where he was one of the earliest farmers. He was a representative man of the county, a prosperous farmer, and a Christian of high standing. His father was a sea cap- tain, and was lost at sea. Mr. Mitchell mar- ried first Sophia Atherton, by whom he had
children as follows: William, Jr., who settled in Malone, N. Y., where he married and died; Robert, who married, and reared a family in Claremont, where he died; Horace, who also married and died in Claremont; Sydney, who married and died in Claremont, leaving one child; Louisa, who died unmarried; Lydia, who married Aaron Smith, reared four chil- dren, and died in Cornish ; Betsey, who married a Mr. Thompson; Fannie, who married Mr. Starbird, a successful tailor of Claremont ; Charles, who married Silvia Mitchell, daughter of Thomas Mitchell. William Mitchell mar- ried second a widow, who bore him three children - Thomas, Henry, and Mary Ann. He died in 1832, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a Whig and a strong advocate of abolition principles, and regarded as one of the leading citizens of Sullivan County. He died in the faith of the Episcopal church.
Thomas and Henry Mitchell, sons of Will- iam, were early settlers in Iowa; and Thomas was the founder of the town of Mitchellville. Thomas Mitchell, familiarly known as "Uncle Tom," and well described as one of nature's noblemen, was Polk County's first actual settler, building himself a log cabin there in 1844. He was born in Claremont, March 3, 1816, worked as a farm hand and paper-mill employee until nineteen years of age. He then went to Springfield, Vt., and shortly after removed to St. Charles County, Missouri, and in March, 1840, went to Iowa, settling in Polk County, as above mentioned, in 1844. It was his delight in the early days to entertain the passing emigrants, and his liberal hospitality cheered the heart of many a wayfarer. He was long one of the most honored citizens of Mitchellville, and did much for the morality of the town, being opposed to liquor and eager for the advance- ment of the town's best interests. He held
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many offices, and at the time of his death was the oldest resident of the county. He pos- sessed many traits which endeared him to the hearts of the people. He married first, in 1841, Miss Elmira Swift, of Thetford, Vt. She died in 1860; and he married in 1861 Miss Ann C. Mattern, who, with her par- ents, had come from Pennsylvania to Iowa some years previously. He died June 15, 1894, sincerely mourned by all who knew him.
Charles Mitchell, the father of Mrs. Perry, settled on a farm near the paternal homestead, where he lived and prospered. He was an honored member of the Episcopal church, in which he was a warden. His children were : Elizabeth, Ira, Jane, Dorothy (Mrs. Perry), Edwin, John, William, Abbie, Henry, Ada, Ella, and Sophia.
John Mitchell, a brother of Mrs. Perry, was born February 28, 1830. He graduated from the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H., and entered Dartmouth ; but his college course was interrupted by the death of his father. He subsequently studied law with McClure and Governor Metcalf in Claremont, and then, joining his uncle in Des Moines, was admitted to the Polk County bar in August, 1856. He established an independent practice in 1857. Four years later he was commis- sioned Captain of a company of cavalry in the State service, and fought against the Indians for three months in North-western Iowa. In the fall of the same year he was elected to the legislature from Polk County, and served two years during the exciting times of 1861 and 1862. He was made a member of the City Council and first Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and filled various offices of trust until 1867, when he was appointed Registrar of Bankruptcy in the Fifth Congressional Dis- trict. He was elected Judge of the Fifth District Circuit Court in November, 1868,
and served twelve years, twice being re-elected without opposition. His integrity as a man and his ability as a jurist were of the highest order. Upon retiring from the bench in 1881, he continued for two years in the practice of law, and in 1883 became associated with C. A. Dudley. This partnership continued until the death of Mr. Mitchell, which oc- curred December 29, 1890. No man was more respected by his townspeople, rich and poor. He was a friend to the needy, and be- loved by all, public-spirited, temperate in all things, charitable in word and deed; and Claremont may well be proud of so worthy a son. He was intimately connected with the best life of the city of Des Moines, was Vice- President of the Iowa Loan and Trust Company, Director of the Des Moines National Bank, and Director and Counsellor of the Central Loan and Trust Company. He married Re- becca Anshutz, daughter of C. P. Anshutz, of Moundsville, W. Va.
Charles Eugene Perry succeeded his father in business in Claremont. Frank H. Perry, after completing the study of law, went to Des Moines, and began the practice of his profes- sion, but afterward became the popular editor of the Record, a Des Moines publication. Of the two other sons, Theodore and Arthur, the younger has become a musician of note. Mrs. Perry is now residing in Claremont.
I EORGE W. WILSON, who owns a productive farm in Franklin, was born in Salisbury, N. H., July 15, 1824, son of Dr. Job and Nancy (Farnum) Wilson. His grandfather, Captain Nathaniel Wilson, who served as an officer in the Conti- nental army during the Revolutionary War, settled in Gilmanton, N. H., where he spent the remainder of his life. He was an able
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farmer and a citizen of more than ordinary intelligence and worth.
Job Wilson, M. D., the father of George W., was born in Gilmanton. After graduating from college, he began the practice of medi- cine in Boscawen. Later he moved to Salis- bury and in 1831 to Franklin, settling on the farm which his son George W. now owns. The farm was tilled by hired assistants ; and he continued to practise his profession with suc- cess until his death, which occurred in Sep- tember, 1851. He was a physician of ability, and he provided his children with a good edu- cation. His wife, Nancy, who was a native of Concord, N.H., became the mother of ten children, of whom the only survivor is George W. Their son Benjamin died in infancy. Benjamin F. died in Battle Creek, Mich. Their daughter Lucinda Conant married Thomas Eastman, and died in West Concord. Abigail died in Salisbury, at the age of seventeen years. Lydia married Grove Stevens, of Haverhill, N. H., and died in that town. Jeremiah practised medicine in Con- toocook, and died in May, 1896. Job P., who was a farmer, died in Plymouth, N. H. Thomas W., who followed a profession in Salisbury, died April 13, 1861. Ephraim F. Wilson, M. D., died in Rockland, Conn. The mother's death occurred in 1853.
George W. Wilson was seven years old when his parents moved to this town. He attended school in Franklin, Pembroke, and Gilman- ton. After remaining at home and caring for his parents during their declining years, he succeeded to the ownership of the property. Besides the home farm of eighty acres he now owns another tract of one hundred acres, which he has improved. He carries on general farm- ing and dairying. His property is desirably located. The four-story residence he occupies was erected by his father.
On June 15, 1855, Mr. Wilson married Ellen M. Sawyer, who was born in Charlestown, Mass., August 28, 1834, daughter of Stephen and Marinda (Hale) Sawyer. The father was a cooper by trade. Both natives of Hopkinton, N. H., they resided in various places, and at one time occupied the farm in Salisbury upon which Daniel Webster was born. They finally moved to South Salisbury, where their last days were spent. Stephen Sawyer died in 1861, and his wife died in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had one daughter - Emma Eliz- abeth, who, born May 25, 1856, died June 25, 1863. In politics Mr. Wilson acts with the Republican party, and he has served with ability in some of the town offices. He is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry, and both he and Mrs. . Wilson are members of the Congregational church.
R. EDWARD HORATIO FOS- TER, formerly a well-known medi- cal practitioner of Concord, was born October 13, 1839, in Canterbury, N. H., son of David M. and Sarah (Bradley) Foster. He is a direct descendant of Reginald Foster, who settled in Ipswich, Mass., in 1635. His grandfather, Asa Foster, served in the French and Indian War, and under General Pepper- ell was at the capture of Louisburg. During the Revolutionary War Asa was one of Gen- eral Arnold's body-guard at the time of the General's desertion. When he died in Can- terbury in 1862, he was ninety-six years old. His son, David M. Foster, a native of Canter- bury, followed the occupation of school teacher in his earlier days, and was greatly interested in politics. David's wife, Sarah, was born in Brunswick, Me.
Edward H. Foster attended public and pri- vate schools in his native town, and then en-
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SHERBURN J. WINSLOW.
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tered Berkshire College at Pittsfield, Mass. He graduated from Bowdoin College, Maine, in 1866. Dr. Foster first located in Bradford, Vt., remaining one year. For three years thereafter he was located in Marblehead, Mass. In July, 1872, after spending a year on the Pacific Coast, he came to Concord, where he practised for the remainder of his life. In politics Dr. Foster voted independently. He was President of Pass Creek Ranch Company, of Wyoming, and also of the Eureka Headache Cure Company, of this city.
Dr. Foster was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Ella M. Merrill, was a native of Marblehead. She had one child - Edward L. Foster, of Concord. On September 16, 1879, he was married to Clara B. Smith, of Lowell, Mass. By this marriage there are two children - Reginald S. and Clara B. Foster. The Doctor died April 5, 1897.
HERBURN JOSIAH WINSLOW, one of the most prominent business men and influential residents of Pittsfield, was born in Nottingham, N. H., March 16, 1834, son of Josiah and Ruth (Tucker) Winslow. By both paternal grand- parents, each of whom was a Winslow, he is directly descended from Governor Edward Winslow, who came with the Pilgrims in the "Mayflower." The grandfather, Elisha Wins- low, was a prosperous farmer of Nottingham, and lived to a good old age. He was the father of six children, all now deceased.
Josiah Winslow, the second child and the eldest son of Elisha, was born in Nottingham, November 12, 1797. He was reared to farm life, but learned the tanner's and shoemaker's trades, which he followed for many years. He finally moved to Pittsfield, and his last days were spent upon the farm in this town. A
citizen of more than ordinary worth, he ac- quired a high reputation for honesty. He was a supporter of the Democratic party, and took a lively interest in local politics. His wife, Ruth, whose father, James Tucker, was- born in Salisbury, Mass., April 15, 1766, became the mother of four children, namely : Sally T., deceased; James T., deceased; Sher- burn J., the subject of this sketch; and Atilla J., deceased. James T. married Fanny Hall, of Illiana, Ill., and had one son, James Albert. Josiah Winslow died at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife lived to be sixty-seven. They were members of the Free Will Baptist church.
Sherburn Josiah Winslow began his educa- tion in the common schools, and completed his studies at the Pittsfield Academy. Subse- quently in 1856, after teaching school for sev- eral years, he engaged in agriculture upon a farm located on Tilton Hill. This property, which contains one hundred and seventy-five acres, he cultivated successfully until 1883. Some time previous to that year he became interested in lumbering, for which and other enterprises he afterward forsook farming. He has had an interest in four different com- panies at one time; and since 1887 he has been associated with ex-Governor Tuttle, under the firm name of Winslow & Tuttle. He is interested in the Exeter (N.H.) Manu- facturing Company, of which he is the treas- urer and a director; and he was for ten years the superintendent of the Pittsfield Water Works, of which he is now a director. For many years he has been a trustee of the Pitts- field Savings Bank, which he now serves in the capacity of auditor and member of the in- vestment committee. He is also one of the principal stockholders and a director of the Pittsfield Gas Company.
On March 19, 1860, Mr. Winslow was
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united in marriage with Margaret Dennison, daughter of Joseph Dennison, of Stafford, Conn. He has two daughters - Cora and Nellie. Cora is now the wife of James L. Hook, of Pittsfield, and has one daughter, Margaret L. Mr. Winslow acts with the Re- publican party, and is a member of the pres- ent School Board of Pittsfield. He takes a deep interest in all matters relating to the growth of the town and the development of its business resources, and his aid in securing these ends can always be depended upon. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity. Both he and Mrs. Winslow are Episcopalians, and he is treasurer of the church in Pittsfield.
ON. IRA COLBY, one of the leading lawyers of the State of New Hamp- shire, was born in Claremont, N. H., January II, 1831, son of Ira and Polly (Foster) Colby, both of purely English descent. Their families in the various branches number many persons of distinction. On the maternal side he is descended from Reginald Foster, who came from Exeter, Devonshire, England, and set- tled in Ipswich, Essex County, Mass., in 1638. It has been stated in an account of the descendants of Joseph Stickney, which appeared in the New Hampshire Granite Monthly of July, 1892, that the family of this Reginald is honorably mentioned in "The Lay of the Last Minstrel " and "Marmion." When Mrs. Colby was eleven years of age, her father removed with his family from Essex, Mass., to Henniker, N. H., to prevent his sons from becoming seafaring men. She there met Mr. Colby, a native of the place. They were married April 17, 1827, and imme- diately removed to Claremont, where they ever afterward lived. Mr. Colby was one of the most successful and enterprising farmers
of his town, and was honored with many posi- tions of trust. He served as a Selectman in the years 1858 and 1859 and as a Representa- tive of the town in the legislature of New Hampshire in 1872 and 1873. He died in 1873, at the age of seventy years.
The subject of this sketch lived at his father's, and worked upon the farm on "Bible Hill," so called, until seventeen years of age, his only schooling up to that time having been obtained at the district schools. He then entered Marlow Academy, and, while there, decided to obtain a college education. Finishing his preparatory course of study at Thetford, Vt., he entered Dartmouth College in 1853, and was graduated four years later. During the winter seasons, while at the acad- emy and college, he was engaged in teaching, first in New Hampshire and afterward in Massachusetts. The year after graduation was spent in teaching at Waukesha, Wis. In. September, 1858, he began the study of law in the office of Messrs. Freeman & McClure in Claremont. Two years later he was ad- mitted, upon examination, to the Sullivan County bar. For the past thirty-five years he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in the office where he obtained his first knowledge.of law.
In giving the particulars of his public career we quote from a contemporaneous his- tory : "He was always a Republican in poli- tics, and in the time of the Rebellion was an active and zealous supporter of the cause of the Union. He was a Representative in the legislatures of 1864, 1865, 1881, 1883, and 1887, a member of the State Senate during the years 1869 and 1870, and of the Republi- can National Convention in 1876. With the exception of two years he was County Solici- tor the entire time from 1864 to 1888. In 1889 he was appointed by the governor and
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council one of a commission of three to re- vise, codify, and amend the Public Statutes of New Hampshire. On the resignation of Judge Allen in March, 1893, he was ap- pointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, but declined the appointment. He was for ten years a member of the Committee of the Stevens High School, and has been for many years one of the Trustees of the Fiske Free Library. He has always taken a lead- ing part in public affairs, and has been an active promoter of the public welfare. In his profession he has been a hard worker and close student, and ranks among the best law- yers in the State. He has an extensive and lucrative practice, and for many years has been engaged on one side or the other of all the important causes in his county. As an ad- vocate at the bar and a debater upon the floor of the House of Representatives or the Sen- ate he ranks among the very best."
He married, June 20, 1867, Miss Louisa M. Way, daughter of Gordon Way, Esq., of Claremont, and sister of Dr. O. B. Way, of that place. Their only child, Ira Gordon Colby, is a graduate of Dartmouth College of the class of 1894, and also a graduate of the Boston University Law School, class of 1897. In religion Mr. Colby is a Methodist, as was his father before him. For many years the father was one of the Board of Trustees of his church; and the son, upon his death, suc- ceeded to, and still holds, the same office.
ON. GEORGE ASHBY CUM- MINGS, ex-Mayor of Concord and formerly a member of the State Senate, was born in Acworth, June 13, 1833, son of Alvah and Polly (Grout) Cummings. His father was a native of Sullivan, and his mother was born in Acworth. He was edu-
cated in the public schools of South Acworth. At the age of twenty years he engaged in the marble business in Franklin, N. H., where he remained until 1861. He then moved to Con- cord, where he has prosperously carried on the same business. His reputation is that of an able, energetic business man. He was a Rep- resentative to the New Hampshire legislature during the years 1870 and 1871, a member of the Board of Aldermen of Concord in 1873 and 1874, Mayor of Concord in 1880 and 1881 ; and he was in the State Senate in 1890 and 1891, being elected president of the New Hampshire Senate Association in the same year. Since its formation he has been a di- rector of the Concord Street Railway Com- pany. He is the president and a director of the Concord Shoe Manufactory, a trustee of the Merrimack County Savings Bank and the New Hampshire Orphans' Home in Franklin, a trustee and the vice-president of the Odd Fellows Home; and he has been the presi - dent of the Concord Odd Fellows Hall Asso- ciation since its organization.
On February 24, 1854, Mr. Cummings was united in marriage with Mary E. Smith, of Manchester. Of their two children Frank E. Cummings, of Haverhill, Mass., is living. Mr. Cummings is a member of White Moun- tain Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F. In that fra- ternity he has been Grand Master of the State, and he has represented this jurisdiction in the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States. He is a Baptist in his religious views, and he is the president and a trustee of the First Baptist Society.
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