USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 64
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 64
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Daniel Woodman, Alfred Woodman's father,
was born in Newbury in the year 1800. He learned the painter's trade; and, settling in Newburyport, he carried on business as a house, ship, and sign painter for many years. He acquired a high reputation in his calling, and accumulated considerable property. He died June 14, 1874. His wife was Sarah Hall, a native of Canterbury, N. H. They had five children, as follows: Sarah, born September 25, 1829; Caroline, born October 9, 1831; Alfred, the subject of this sketch; Mary, born June 17, 1837; and Charles, born April 7, 1841. Sarah died December 24, 1850. Caroline became the wife of Samuel Jones, of Newburyport, a member of the firm of Jones, Spear & Lane, dry-goods merchants, Boston. She died in 1883, leaving one son, John Henry. Mary prepared herself for edu- cational work, and during the greater part of the time for the past twenty years she has been teaching in Lisbon, Portugal. She came back to the United States some three years ago, and erected a handsome residence in Central Square, Woburn, Mass., but later de- cided to return to Lisbon. Charles is a mer- chant in Boston.
Alfred Woodman, after completing his edu- cation in the high school of Newburyport, began to learn the tailor's trade with Charles Pool & Co., with whom he remained two years. In company with several other youths he then shipped on board the "Oliver Put- nam," bound for Havre, France. The vessel sailed on Friday; and about three days later she met with a serious mishap, which damaged her to the extent of many thousands of dollars. She was finally towed into New York. Cured of his sea craze for a time, young Woodman then went to Concord, N. H., where he fin- ished his trade with Lincoln & Shaw, the future Governor Tuttle of New Hampshire being an apprentice in the same shop during
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his two years' service with this firm. The effects of the disaster which befell his first attempt to go to sea having disappeared, he was again seized with a desire to see the world; and he shipped on board the "Castil- ian " for a voyage to Peru. His experience this time was of a more satisfactory nature; and, after his return some fifteen months later, he again shipped upon the same vessel for Liverpool. He made five trips to South America on board the "Castilian."
At the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in Company B, Second Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers. He was in the battles of first Bull Run, Drury's Bluff, Will- iamsburg, Oak Grove, Yorktown, Fredericks- burg, Glendale, Fair Oaks, and Gettysburg. He was captured by the enemy, and his con- finement in Libby and Belle Isle Prisons so injured his health that he now receives a pen- sion from the government. After his dis- charge he shipped as mate of the schooner "Hiawatha," which was commanded by his cousin, Captain Disney, with whom he made coasting trips for a short time. Returning to Concord, he engaged in the tailoring busi- ness, which he followed successfully for eight years. Indoor confinement, however, proved disastrous to his already undermined health; and he was obliged to seek some open-air em- ployment. He accordingly about twenty years ago purchased his present farm in Plainfield, where he has derived much benefit from the invigorating atmosphere, and has devoted his energies to general farming. His property, which consists of about three hundred acres, is one of the most valuable estates in this town. It is situated upon the east bank of the Connecticut River in the midst of moun- tain and valley scenery, and contains a sub- stantial brick residence and well-constructed out - buildings. His principal attention is
given to raising sheep for wool, which he has found a profitable enterprise. He has no de- sire for political prominence, but as a sup- porter of the Republican party he takes an active part in town meetings and conventions ; and, if matters are not altogether to his lik- ing, he is sure to be heard from.
Mr. Woodman married Maria T. Gallup, who was born in Plainfield, July 19, 1838, daughter of Captain Thomas F. Gallup of this town. She is the mother of three children, namely: Ellen Edna, born March 5, 1868; Fred T., born June 28, 1871; and Kate K., born March 17, 1875. Ellen Edna completed her studies at the Kimball Union Academy, and is residing at home. Fred T. is a gradu- ate of the high school at White River Junc- tion, Vt., and is now studying law with the Hon. John L. Spring, of Lebanon, N. H. Kate K. was graduated from the Kimball Union Academy, and has been teaching school in Plainfield for the past three years.
Mr. Woodman is a comrade of E. E. Sturte- vant Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, of Concord. He attends the Baptist church. Upright and fair-dealing, he is re- garded with the highest esteem by his neigh- bors and acquaintances, who are always willing listeners to his narrations of adventure which his personal experience is able to furnish in abundance. In 1887 he accompanied an old school friend who was suffering from mental affliction upon a two months' trip to the Azores, and his description and his remarks concerning it are exceedingly witty and inter- esting.
ILLIAM LEAVITT BENNETT, a prominent resident of Andover, was born in the town of Loudon, this State, January 16, 1837. His grandfather, Jeremiah Bennett, formerly of Kingston, ac-
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companied by a neighbor named Clough, jour- neyed from there to Loudon, carrying his luggage and implements on a hand-barrow. Having chosen a tract of timbered land favor- ably situated, he felled a few trees, and built a log hut. He had been a reed-maker by trade; but, after coming to Loudon, he de- voted himself to clearing his land and to till- ing the soil. He gradually placed it under cultivation; and, when he died, at the ripe age of ninety-five years, he could look with pride on a well-improved farm, won from a wilderness through his own industry and cour- age. His wife's name before marriage was Alice Courrier. Their son Amos grew up on the farm, and was from boyhood trained to agricultural pursuits, in which he was en- gaged throughout the rest of his life. A man of thrift and industry, he increased the tillage area of the farm. His wife, who was chris- tened Nancy Batchelder, became the mother of four sons and one daughter - Lucretia N., William L., Jeremiah F., True H., and Joseph Clark. True fought in the late war with the Ninth New Hampshire Cavalry, and lost his life in the service. Jeremiah lives in Rockford, Ill .; and Joseph Clark resides at Oelwein, Ia.
William Leavitt Bennett was educated in the public schools of his native town. After- ward he learned the carpenter's trade, and worked in factories at Concord and Laconia, this State, and in Springfield, Mass. For a time, also, he was night watch at a shoe fac- tory in Concord and a keeper at the Concord Insane Asylum. Later he purchased the Dr. Henry Weymouth place on Taunton Hill, Andover, and has since resided there.
On the 18th of April, 1863, he was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Captain William and Lydia (Stevens) Hun- toon, of Andover. Mrs. Bennett received her
early education in the district schools of An- dover, and then attended the Andover Acad- emy for three years. She became a successful teacher, and taught for some time in Andover, Salisbury, Boscawen, Franklin, and Concord grammar schools before her marriage. Mr. Bennett is a member of the I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Democrat, and his first Presi- dential vote was cast for Stephen A. Doug- las. He takes a keen interest in all public questions, and he has been chosen to serve as a member of the Board of Selectmen of the town.
ILI A. BOUTWELL, a farmer and lum- berman of Hopkinton, N.H., son of Samuel P. and Lydia A. (Allen) Boutwell, was born in Barre, Vt., February 25, 1833. His lineage has not been traced; but a little research would probably show that he belongs to the old New England family of Boutwells, of which the Hon. George S. Boutwell, ex-Secretary of the Treasury, is a representative. Its founder, James Boutwell, said to have been made a freeman in Lynn, Mass., in 1638 or 1639, died in 1651, leaving a wife Alice, sons James and John, and a daugh- ter Sarah. The sons married, and settled in Reading, Mass., John being the ancestor of the distinguished statesman. Some of the de- scendants of the second James, and perhaps others, have spelled the name Boutelle.
Nehemiah Boutwell, grandfather of Eli A., of Hopkinton, was a native of Vermont, and served in the Revolutionary War at the time of the raid on Plattsburg, N. Y., when the English made a naval display. He married Susannah Holt. Samuel P., his eldest child, was born in 1806 in Barre, Vt. He married Lydia A. Allen, a daughter of Nathan and Esther (Paine) Allen. She was a relative of Ethan Allen, and resided in Brookfield, Vt.
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Samuel P. Boutwell and his wife reared four- teen children, only seven of whom are at pres- ent living, most of them in Vermont. Samuel Edson lives in Hopkinton, as did Elmer, who is now deceased. Seven of the sons were in the army; and of these Luther died in Vir- ginia, and Augustus retired and died in his own State from the effects of army service.
Eli A. Boutwell, the subject of this sketch, during his early years remained at home on the farm at Barre, Vt. He received the edu- cation of the common schools of the town; and at the age of nineteen he left his native place, and went to Hookset, N. H., where he learned to make shoes. Coming to Hopkin- ton in 1853, and in 1856 removing to Mere- dosia, Morgan County, Ill., he continued in the same business, remaining at Meredosia until 1860, when he went to Berlin, Ill. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Regiment, Com- pany A, under Colonel Lathrop and Captain Henry Yates, half brother to Dick Yates, the famous war governor of Illinois. Mr. Bout- well was in service in Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, and other places. In June, 1863, he was in active service before Vicksburg during the siege; and after the fall of Vicksburg he was sent to Helena, Ark., under General Steele, also to Little Rock, Ark., the Federal forces taking possession of the city. He entered the army as private, and was promoted to Sergeant, and in July was sent to a military school at Philadelphia, Pa., where he remained for a short time. He afterward rejoined his regiment at Little Rock, Ark., and went with them to Pine Bluff, where they were stationed until the close of the war, when he was discharged, and returned to Hopkinton, N.H.
In 1869 Mr. Boutwell left his business of shoemaking and went to farming, also engag-
ing in lumbering; and in 1872 he purchased the farm in Hopkinton where he now resides. He also at the same time purchased the mill property, which was somewhat dilapidated, and at once rebuilt it, and has since built several additions. He now has an extensive plant, and is doing a large business, having generally ten men and about eight teams. He has recently added steam, thereby increas- ing to more than double the former capacity of his mill. He handles a large amount of lumber annually, and is said to have a ready market for what he can furnish, especially in Concord. His farm contains about fifty-five acres, besides which he owns several tracts of timber land, making in all about four hundred acres. He has served the town in official capacity for many years, having been Collector of Taxes in 1874 and 1875, Assessor and ap- praiser of real estate in 1875, Selectman from 1876 to 1878, being chairman of the board. In 1879 and 1880 he served as Representative, and from 1882 to 1888 he was supervisor of the check list. In 1892 he was again one of the Selectmen.
On March 27, 1855, Mr. Boutwell married Harriet Walker Weeks, who was born in Hop- kinton, N.H., June 1, 1829, a daughter of Thomas J. and Hannah (Smith) Weeks. Her paternal grandfather, Captain William Weeks, a graduate of Harvard College, served on the staff of Washington in the Revolutionary War. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boutwell, namely: Rozella, who died at the age of two years; Harvey Lincoln; Henry Beecher Allen; Arthur Jefferson; and Ella, who died when fourteen years of age. Harvey Lincoln Boutwell, born April 5, 1860, was graduated in '1882 from the New Hamp- shire State College and in 1886 from Boston University School of Law, receiving the de- gree of Bachelor of Laws. He is now a coun-
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sellor-at-law in the city of Boston, Mass., and is also serving his third term in the State legislature. He resides in Malden, Mass. December 28, 1886, he married Nellie C. Booth. They have two children - Robert Dewey and Louis Evans. Henry Beecher Allen Boutwell lives near his father. He married Alice Montgomery in 1885, and has had two children -- Ernest Allen; and Nellie Maria, who died at the age of one year. Arthur J. Boutwell is now in business with his father, and is superintendent of the mill. April 12, 1890, he married Carrie J. Fitts. They have had three children, namely : Carrie Ella, who died at the age of four months; Earle Fitts; and LeRoy Arthur. Mr. Eli A. Boutwell has built up a large business, in which he has been successful; and he is at present taking an active part in it. He is alive to all the interests of the town, and enjoys the respect of his fellow-citizens. He is a Past Commander of Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic, of Hopkinton, N.H.
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HARLES MORTIMER BINGHAM, a former well-known merchant of Claremont, Sullivan County, N.H., was born in New London, Conn., February 22, 1804, son of Nathan Bingham. His father settled in Claremont in 1809. He was a hatter by trade, and carried on a large and successful business here. He was a musician, and played the bass-viol in the Episcopal church for years. He died at the age of seventy-eight. He had six children. His daughter Lucretia married Ralph Metcalf, who became the governor of New Hampshire. Her sister Elizabeth married Luther S. Porter, and Maria became the wife of Henry W. Galpin. Silas L., one of the three sons, was a professional voice teacher. He died in
Cleveland, Ohio. George, the only surviving member of the family, resides in Minneapolis, Minn. Both Elizabeth and Silas Bingham had remarkable voices.
In 1818, at the age of fourteen, Charles Mortimer Bingham began to fit himself for a business career by entering the employ of Josiah Stevens & Sons, dealers in general mer- chandise, his father, Nathan Bingham, having made an agreement with the firm that, under certain conditions, he should remain with them until twenty-one years of age. We copy, with a few verbal corrections, the fol- lowing well-told story of his life and charac- ter: "A typical New Englander, having com- pleted his term of service with Josiah Stevens, he struck out for himself. He left Claremont with little capital, but with a good deal of honest purpose, and engaged in business in Greenbush, Vt. From thence he went to Chester, where he did a thriving business until 1837, when he was induced by friends to return to Claremont. A copartnership was formed in April of that year with Mr. Stevens, under the firm name of C. M. Bingham & Co., dealers in hardware, dry goods, and groceries. The firm existed until the sudden death of Mr. Stevens, which occurred September 18, 1842. With the exception of three years in part- nership with a son of his former partner, Mr. Bingham continued alone until, having passed forty-one years of his life in the mercantile line, he closed up his affairs in 1871, and re- tired from active business.
"Possessed of a vigorous intellect, he early attracted the notice of his fellow-citizens, and by them was called to many important posts, the duties of which he discharged to their acceptance. He represented his town in Gen- eral Court for four years, was for many years Town Treasurer, and, save with few excep- tions, was elected Moderator at the annual
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town meetings for more than thirty years. He was one of the prime movers in 1843 in organizing the parish of Trinity Church, was the first Warden elected, which position he held continuously for thirty years, and had previously held that office in Union Church. He inherited great capabilities for music, had sedulously studied its theory, and on all occa- sions did much to encourage the science in Claremont. He was for many years chorister of his church, his sister, Mrs. Porter, singing in his choir.
"He married first Mary, daughter of George Cook, of Cornish. His second wife was Abby Fairbanks, of Charlestown, by whom he had six children - Catherine F., Charles E., Mary C., William M., John F., and Lucy F. The four last survived him. He married third Mrs. Lydia Ballou Perry, widow of Mr. Lewis Perry, of Claremont. She is a descendant of John Chamberlain, who occupies a prominent position in the early history of Westmoreland, New Hampshire.
"Mr. Bingham died March 5, 1888, at the age of eighty-four years. He was a man of kindly disposition, of unusual energy and industry, and of unblemished honor and integrity. A gentleman of the olden time, he was distin- guished for many excellent personal qualities, was of singularly pure and abstemious habits, witty and genial withal, and dearly beloved by those who had the good fortune to know him intimately. In him even old age appeared delightful. He is inadequately praised when he is named one of the best men who ever lived in Claremont."
LBON LOVERIN, a prominent farmer of Northfield, is a native of Spring- field, N.H. He was born May 24, 1851, son of Austin C. and Lavina A. (Mor-
rill) Loverin. The father, who was a farmer, died in 1868. He was twice married. The children of his first marriage were: Elijah W. and Gilbert, both of whom are now deceased. His second wife, Lavina, a native of Wilmot, bore him six other children, namely: Oliver B., who resides in Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Sarah, who is the wife of George Morgan, of Springfield, N.H .; Ara M., who is a hotel keeper of Concord; Daniel O., now deceased ; and Ida L., who lives in New London, N.H.
Albon Loverin, the fourth child of his par- ents, received his education in the common schools. After attaining his majority, he worked out on farms around Springfield and at Francestown for a time. Subsequently he was employed in Hanover eight years and in Manchester three years. Mr. Loverin came to Northfield in 1885, and bought the estate near Tilton village known as the Chase Wyatt farm, upon which he now resides. It contains seventy-five acres. Since it came into his possession he has made some improvements. Besides carrying on general farming, he keeps a dairy, which yields him considerable profit. In November of the same year he married Miss Jennie L. McDowell, who was born May 18, 1858, in Heighgate, Vt., daughter of Leonard and Winnifred (Burt) McDowell. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell, who came originally from Montreal, Canada, settled in Eden, Vt., and passed the last part of their lives in that town. Mr. Loverin's only child, Gracie Belle, is now seven years old.
In the summer season the family residence is one of the many New Hampshire homes opened to the city dweller who wishes to rest and recreate amid beautiful and healthful sur- roundings. About twenty boarders are ac- commodated here every year. The estate is now called, and very appropriately, "Mountain View Farm." Mr. Loverin is a Democrat,
DANIEL DOWNES.
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and has always stood by his party. He is well known and esteemed throughout the county.
ANIEL DOWNES, a well-known resident of Andover, was born in Salisbury, N. H., June 10, 1837. His father was Isaac Downes, who came from Maine, his native State, successively bought a farm in Salisbury and Ellsworth, lived on each for a time, and then removed to Lowell, Mass., where he kept a boarding- house until his death. Isaac married Mary A. Cilly, of West Andover; and their children were : Philip, Leonard, Priscilla, Lydia, Ann, Ellen, Daniel, and Isaac. Philip Downes, who was a soldier in the Union Army, died from the effect of wounds received in the battle of Gettysburg. Leonard was killed in a railroad accident in 1859. Pris- cilla, Ann, and Ellen are also deceased. Lydia, who resides at Franklin, is the widow of the late Mark J. Levenworth; while Isaac, a resident of Andover, is a well-known lumber merchant.
Daniel Downes received his education in the town school of Lowell. Then he went to work in one of the mills, and later was engaged in teaming for three years. At the expiration of that time he came to Andover and hired a farm on Taunton Hill, which he afterward conducted for about four years. After this Mr. Downes did teaming for the peg mills, furnished wood for the Winnepesaukee Paper Mills and other corporations, and was at the same time running a saw-mill and working up a lumber business for himself. He also opened a general merchandise store in the village of Potter Place, where he built a fine set of buildings about fifteen years ago. Mr. Downes is a self-made man. Always active and enterprising, prosperity has crowned his efforts.
Mrs. Downes was before marriage Jane Kenniston, daughter of Calvin and Elizabeth (Hoyt) Kenniston. Her children - Edward, Ida J., Fred E., Marcilla M., Jessie M., and Bert W .- are all married; and there is a rising generation of fifteen grandchildren. Mr. Downes is well known as an active mem- ber of the social and benevolent organizations of Andover. Also interested in the adminis- trative affairs of the town, he has been Select- man and Road Agent; and in 1893-94 he was its Representative in the State legislature. He has served on the School Board at Cilley- ville, and is a member of the grange. In pol- itics he is a Democrat, and his first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. He is one of the most active members of the Uni- versalist society here, which relies on him for generous support when necessary.
IRAM C. ELLENWOOD,* a carpen- ter and undertaker of Charlestown, N. H., was born in Woodward, Vt., November 26, 1826, son of Cyrus and Sally (Draper) Ellenwood. His grandfather, Jo- seph Ellenwood, was a native of Greenfield, N. H., where he also resided during the greater part of his life, engaged in general farming. He married Mary Punchard, who became the mother of nine children. Their son, Cyrus, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Greenfield, N.H., in 1782. He was a shoemaker by trade, and removed to Charlestown at the age of fifty years. In 1811 he married Sally Draper, and they had seven children - Sally, Harvey, Simeon, Frances, Hiram (the subject of this sketch), Warren F., and Sarah.
Hiram C. Ellenwood spent his school days in Acworth, N. H., where he stayed until he was twelve years of age. He then went to
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Charlestown, and worked on different farms outside the village. When he was twenty years old, he began to learn the carpenter's trade, serving as an apprentice for three years. He afterward went to Boston, where he worked at his trade for two years. On his return he continued as a carpenter ; but, becoming sexton for the Unitarian church, he entered also into the business of undertaking, which he has continued for thirty-five years. He is one of the prominent Democrats of Charlestown, and has served on public committees on several occasions. He was appointed Town Sexton in 1861, which position he has since held. In October, 1855, Mr. Ellenwood married Martha Clark, who was born in Newbury, Vt., a daughter of Moses Clark. They had one son, Simeon, who died in infancy.
LBERT P. DAVIS, attorney - at - law and one of the most active, prominent, and pushing citizens of Warner, was born May 2, 1835, in the village of Waterloo, Merrimack County, N.H. The Davis family originated in Wales, from whence the first ancestor in this country emigrated in 1638, settling in Amesbury, Mass.
Gideon Davis, the great-grandfather of Albert P., and a nephew of Francis Davis, who led in the early settlement of the town, was born in Amesbury, where he lived until after his marriage with Mary Cheney. In 1784 he came to Warner, and, taking up a large tract of timber land, engaged in manu- facturing, in the winter months, oars, selling them in Salem and Boston. He was also a skilled mechanic. He reared a large family, his son John being the next in line of descent. John Davis, born in Amesbury, Mass., in 1775, was a lad of eight years when he came with his parents to Warner. He was a natural
mechanic, one of the best of his times, and as a carpenter framed nearly all the ancient buildings now standing, and for sixty years was the master mason and builder of Warner. He bought land about one mile from the village of Waterloo; and, after he gave up mechan- ical pursuits, devoted himself to farming, living there until his death in 1865. He was a well-developed man, both physically and in- tellectually, having the broad shoulders and stocky build characteristic of the Davis family. He possessed great force of character, a firm and resolute spirit, and a personality that made him a leader among men. He reared eight children, of whom but one is living, Eleazer, who resides on the old homestead.
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