USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 65
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 65
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Zaccheus Davis, father of Albert P., was born near Waterloo in 1806. Like his father, he was both carpenter and farmer, carrying on his joint occupations in Waterloo during his life, which was brought to a close in 1854, at the age of forty-eight years. He married Miss Lucinda Pervere, of Sandown, who survived him, dying in 1881, at the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Albert P. ; Mary, who died in early womanhood; Charles S., a soldier in the Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry during the late Rebellion, now engaged in agricultural pursuits in Warner ; and Zaccheus, a resident of Rochester, N. H. Maternally, Mr. Davis comes from the well-known Pervere and Bennett families of Sandown, N.H.
Albert P. Davis was fitted for college, and just ready to enter Dartmouth when his father died. This affliction caused an entire change in his plans, his widowed mother, with her family of little ones, needing his care at home ; and the college had to be abandoned. He at once assumed the management of the farm, carrying it on until 1866, when he sold out, and moved into this village, bringing his
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mother to his new home. When but sixteen years old he began teaching in the winter sea- sons in the country-school districts; and this vocation he continued. about fifteen years, obtaining a fine reputation, both as instructor and disciplinarian, his services often being sought in schools in which the pupils were unusually turbulent and unruly. Soon after coming to Warner village, Mr. Davis was appointed Deputy Sheriff, an office which he filled about ten years. In the meantime he studied law with John Y. Mugridge, of Con- cord, and in 1876 was admitted to the New Hampshire bar. At once opening his office in Warner, he has since continued in the active practice of his profession, making a specialty of pension law, in which he has been particularly successful. He examines each case thoroughly, testing its merits prior to placing it before the department of pensions, and has invariably succeeded in his efforts to benefit his clients. His knowledge of law, and of the intricacies of pension law espe- cially, makes him a very efficient pension attorney.
Mr. Davis has been actively identified with the highest and best interests of the town and county since arriving at man's estate. A true and loyal citizen, his patriotism was aroused to its highest point during the progress of the late Civil War. When the papers containing the accounts of the second battle of Bull Run were thrown from the train, he and his brother Charles were in the hayfield. They at once decided that one must don the blue and go to the front as a soldier. Sitting down on the hay, they drew cuts, agreeing that one should remain at home and care for the two families. The lot falling on Charles, he at once vol- unteered his services to his country. In the advancement of educational interests Mr. Davis has labored indefatigably, doing espe-
cially good work as superintendent of the Simonds High School for two years. Mr. Davis has likewise served as Town Treasurer. He was private secretary to Governor Harri- man in 1868 and 1869; in 1889 was a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention; and from 1891 till 1893 represented this town in the State legislature, serving on the Judiciary Committee, in company with such strong members as Briggs, of Manchester; Bingham, of Littleton; Spring, of Lebanon; and Nash, of Conway. He is an ardent Prohibitionist and a close student of political economy, his investigations in this science leading him to write a series of articles on the tariff question that attracted large attention. He subse- quently wrote the "Warner Papers, " including such topics as "Warner in the Rebellion," "Warner in the Revolution," giving a full history of events in Warner during those two great wars.
Mr. Davis owns a good deal of real estate, mostly village and town property, though he has large tracts of land in both Kansas and Nebraska. He was one of the original propri- etors of the Warner Glove Factory, but sold out his interests, and in earlier life was a stockholder in the Melvin Woollen Mills, and was also engaged for a time in the lumber business. He was the projector of the system of water-works just completed in the village; and it was mainly through his untiring efforts it was established, he having secured the necessary capital from abroad and otherwise materially encouraged the enterprise. Warner has a fine public library founded through the instrumentality of Mr. Davis, who agitated the question for years, and finally secured a room in the Town Hall, beginning with a few books as the nucleus. He then interested the Hon. George A. Pillsbury, of Minneapolis, Minn., who was for some years in business here, and
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was a Representative to the General Court from Warner. Mr. Pillsbury donated gener- ously, the result being a handsome and con- veniently arranged building, stocked with five thousand volumes of choice literature, valued at about twenty-five thousand dollars.
In June, 1855, Mr. Davis married Miss Lavona Harvey, daughter of Abner Harvey, of Warner, and of Mary Fisk, of the famous Fisk family. She is a most estimable, capa- ble, and accomplished woman, deeply inter- ested in all reform movements and every other that tends to help the poor and unfortunate, who find in her a friend. She is a valued member of the Baptist church and of the W. C. T. U., but, being an invalid, is not able to do any active work in either organiza- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children, namely : Ida M., wife of Walter W. Wheeler, of Boston, Mass .; and Woodbury E., who is engaged in the grocery business in Warner.
Mr. Davis is naturally aggressive, persist- ent, and tenacious. Once having carefully and deliberately marked out his course, he never yields to any obstacle in the way of the consummation of his plans and purposes ; and he usually succeeds in what he attempts. This determination has necessarily led him to an- tagonize others with pet plans and schemes, and has made intense personal and political enemies of men smarting under defeats and disappointments. When provoked or pushed, he wields a vigorous and merciless pen, as his enemies can testify.
. Aside from this class Mr. Davis possesses in a large measure the confidence and respect of his fellow-townsmen, who willingly credit him with great personal courage, indepen- dence, and originality, and with having bene- fited his town in his efforts to establish a free public library and a system of public water- works; by his investments in local industrial
works, to give labor at home to the laboring class; by his intense interest manifested in the educational institutions of the town; by his active support given gladly to promote and develop the moral, social, and religious inter- ests of the people; and by his active co-opera- tion with any and all movements that tend to make a healthy and vigorous community, with a community of interests and aspirations.
ANFORD RICE, late a well-known farmer of Claremont, who died August 4, 1877, was born in this town, December 2, 1805. His grandfather, Ebenezer Rice, who was one of the earliest settlers of Claremont, coming with a little colony of pioneers from Tolland, Conn., bought considerable land in the village, but afterward removed to West Claremont. He was a carpenter by trade, and framed the old Union church at West Claremont. He was a Deacon of the church, and in the absence of a minister he used to read the services. A stanch patriot, he fought for American inde- pendence in the Revolution. His death occurred April 24, 1829. His children were: Joseph; Stephen; Ebenezer; and Phebe, who became Mrs. Timothy Grannis.
His son Joseph was a prosperous farmer, a man of influence in the town, and one of the leading members of the Union Church. He married Lucy Barron, who was born June 14, 1772. He died April 24, 1829, his wife sur- viving him until August 28, 1847. They had a large family of children. Minerva, the eldest, born November 30, 1795, married Daniel Bond. Horace was born July 2, 1801. He died in Cambridge, Mass., in 1872. Franklin was born May 2, 1803; and Sanford and Danford, twins, were born December 2, 1805. Sanford was lost in the Mexican War.
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Phebe Pamelia was born January 18, 1809, and married Harvey Tolles. George Gilbert, born September 19, 1811, lived in Cambridge, Mass., and died there in 1863. Hiram Augustus, born September 27, 1814, died in Missouri. The children of Horace Rice by his wife, formerly Maria Hall, were: Joseph Henry, born February 19, 1829; John Frank- lin, born June 15, 1830; and Adeline Alberta, born April 12, 1835. The children of George Rice by his wife, Harriett Hunnewell, were: Carrie M., born in 1853; George, born No- vember 4, 1854; and D. Webster, born June 18, 1858.
Danford Rice followed his father's vocation of farming, and was one of Claremont's most useful citizens. He was a faithful member of the Union Episcopal Church. His wife, Caroline Jones, died September 30, 1866, nearly eleven years before his own departure. Their children were: Edward Barron, born October 29, 1835, who married Emma Hall in October, 1870; Caroline Isabella, born June 8, 1838; William Danford, born No- vember 21, 1843, who, it is supposed, was killed in battle, September 30, 1864; and Frances Lydia, born November 16, 1846, who died September 21, 1847. The children of Edward Barron, the eldest son, are: Marian Isabella, born in September, 1871; Edward Barron, born in December, 1875: Augustus Hall, born in 1876, who died in 1896; Emma Frances, born in 1878; and William Alexan- der, born in December, 1882.
EONARD WOOD PEABODY, M. D., of Henniker, one of the oldest medical practitioners in Merrimack County, was born in Newport, Sullivan County, Sep- tember 13, 1817, son of Ami and Sarah (John- son) Peabody. He is a descendant of Francis
Peabody, who, born in England in 1614, came to New England on board the ship "Planter" in 1635. This ancestor, after residing in Ipswich, Mass., for a while, removed to Hampton in 1638, and in 1651 settled in Topsfield, Mass. From him the line of de- scent comes through Captain John Peabody, who was born in 1642, Ensign David Pea- body, born in 1678, John Peabody, born in 1714, to Jedediah Peabody, born in 1743, who was the grandfather of Leonard W. Jedediah served in the Revolutionary War, and partici- pated in the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1781 he moved his family from Boxford, Mass., to Warner, N. H., where he resided for many years. The maiden name of his wife was Alice Howlet; and their last days were spent in East Lebanon, N. H., where they died at an advanced age. Their children were: Ami, Lydia M., Mary, Moses, Susannah, Thomas, Alice, Andrew, Frederick, Betsey, and John. Of these, one, Alice, who married Eleazar Whitney, remained in Merrimack County.
Ami Peabody, born in Boxford, Mass., in 1769, was twelve years old when his parents moved to New Hampshire. When a young man he settled in Newport, N. H .; and his death occurred in that town, January 27, 1845. The first of his two marriages was contracted in Henniker with Patty Rice. She had two children, namely : Lucy, who married Leonard Wood, of this town; and Martha, who married Harvey Phelps, and moved to Crown Point, N. Y. Neither is now living. The second mar- riage was made with Sarah Johnson, a native of Guilford, Conn., and a daughter of Miles Johnson, who served in the Revolutionary War, and was among those who passed the historic winter at Valley Forge. The chil- dren of this union were: Asenath, Calvin, Reuel, Maria, Eliza, Frederick, Sarah, the Rev. Charles, Leonard W., Carroll W., Dex-
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ter, and Helen. Asenath died at the age of twenty-seven years. Calvin settled in Linn County, Missouri. Reuel settled in Illinois. Maria married Dutton Woods, of Concord, N.H. Eliza, who remained a spinster, passed her last days with her brother, Leonard W. Frederick settled in Illinois. Sarah became the wife of Henry S. Dutch, and lived in Ox- ford, Ia. Carroll W., who was a carpenter by trade, resided in Sullivan County. None of the above are living. The Rev. Charles Pea- body, who graduated from Dartmouth College in 1839, was for many years a field agent of the American Tract Society. He is now liv- ing in Pasadena, Cal. Dexter Peabody now occupies the old homestead in Newport. Helen Peabody, the youngest, who was born in 1826, and completed her education in South Hadley, Mass., in 1847, became the first prin- cipal of the Western Female Seminary in Ox- ford, Ohio, and held that position for thirty- three years. Some time ago she spent a year in Japan, visiting her former pupils. Since her return to the United States she has re- sided with her brother in Pasadena, Cal. Mrs. Sarah Peabody survived her husband ten years.
Leonard Wood Peabody acquired his early education at the Kimball Union Academy. Subsequently for a time he was a teacher at the Concord Literary Institute, of which his brother Charles was principal. After pursu- ing his preliminary studies in medicine with Dr. Timothy Hayes, of Concord, and Dr. J. L. Swett, of Newport, he attended lectures at the Vermont Medical College in Woodstock, from which he was graduated in 1844. He began practice in Henniker, where he remained for a short time. Then he located in Epsom, N. H., residing there for twenty-six years. He returned to Henniker in 1871, and was engaged in practice here until his retirement,
some two years ago. He excelled as a general physician in the treatment of disease. In the course of his professional career he was called to over one thousand obstetrical cases, usher- ing into the world six physicians, besides sev- eral ministers, lawyers, and editors. When diphtheria made its appearance in this State in 1861, he was remarkably successful in coping with that dread malady, considering the fact that there was at the time little or no knowl- edge concerning its character. A paper pre- pared by him upon the subject at that time showed that he had a correct understanding of its nature. He is a member of the State and Central District Medical Societies, having served as President of the latter. He has been a delegate to the National Medical Associa- tion, was a delegate from the State Society to the examination at Dartmouth College in 1861, and in 1867 he received an honorary degree from that institution. He is a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society and of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society. Taking much interest in the objects of the latter organization, he has contributed to its collection of antiquities, and furnished several valuable genealogical records. Some time since he presented sixty volumes of old medi- cal journals to the State Historical Library. In politics he was originally a Whig and later a Republican. He cast his first Presi- dential vote for William Henry Harrison, and he has since voted for every Whig and Repub- lican candidate up to the present time. He represented Henniker in the legislature in 1885, and has frequently served as a delegate to district and State conventions.
On January 28, 1846, Dr. Peabody was united in marriage with Louisa Lerned Kelley. She was born in Warner, N. H., January 23, 1821, daughter of the Hon. Abner and Je. rusha (Fowler) Kelley. Her grandfather was
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the Rev. William Kelley, the first settled minister in Warner; and her father was at one time State Treasurer. Dr. and Mrs. Peabody are the parents of three daughters; namely, Elizabeth Kelley, Sarah Matilda, and Maria Antoinette. Elizabeth Kelley Peabody, who graduated at Oxford, Ohio, in 1866, married the Rev. William Wilmer, of Attica, Ind., a Presbyterian minister. Sarah Matilda mar- ried Curtis B. Childs, B. S., and resides in Henniker. Maria Antoinette, who was a stu- dent of Oxford Seminary when that institute was destroyed by fire, resided at home until November 18, 1896, when she married Charles F. Peabody, of Clarence, Ia. Besides these the Doctor has also reared and educated a nephew, Clarence Elwin Peabody, a son of Carroll W. Clarence Elwin, who resided with Dr. Peabody from the time when he was seven years old until he reached his major- ity, is now living in Boston. Dr. Peabody is a charter member of Henniker Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he has occupied the important chairs. He has also held a seat in the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. '
RANK E. DIMOND, a well-known business man of West Concord, was born on the estate he now occupies about thirty-six years ago, son of Elbridge and Jennett (Hoit) Dimond. His immigrant an- cestor came from England, and was among the first settlers of this section of the State. Nearly all the descendants of the immigrant are still living in this region. His son, Ezekiel Dimond, was great-great-grandfather of Frank E. Ezekiel had seven sons. Reu- ben, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Concord, N. H., on what is now known as Dimond's Hill. He was a farmer, and passed the greater part of
his life in Concord, dying at the age of seventy years. His wife was Mary Currier Dimond, who reared eleven children. The youngest of these died at the age of fifty, while the others lived to be from seventy to ninety years of age.
Jacob, the third son of Ezekiel, was a wheel- wright ; and he owned at first a small farm. He gradually acquired more land until at the time of his death he was proprietor of a goodly number of acres. Jacob married Rose Abbott, daughter of Ezra Abbott. Her only child, Elbridge, received a public-school training, and then worked at his father's trade. Elbridge also did considerable farming, and built some substantial farm buildings. He was one of the Board of Aldermen for two years. His wife, Jenett, was a daughter of Enoch and Mary (French) Hoit, of Concord. Besides Frank E. she had another son, Gil- man H. Dimond, who was in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Regiment for nine months during the Civil War, and later in the heavy artillery until the close of the war. Gilman Dimond married Mary E. Colby, and has three children - Irving G., Stella May, and Etta B. Elbridge was a Republican in politics, and twice represented the town in the State legis- lature. His first Presidential vote was cast for W. H. Harrison. He was a member of the Congregational church. His farm is a part of the original land, and the old residence was one of the first houses built in this section.
After attending the district schools for the usual period, Frank E. Dimond became a stu- dent at Penacook Academy. He has always resided on the farm, of which he is now the proprietor. It contains about two hundred acres, thirty of which are under cultivation. Mr. Dimond was Selectman of his ward for two years, served for two years in the Common Council, and at this writing is Alderman-elect
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of Ward Three. He is a Republican in pol- itics and a member of the grange.
On June 14, 1883, Mr. Dimond married Mattie E. Carter, daughter of Augustine and Sarah E. Restieaux Carter. Her father is a son of Abiel and Patty (Farnum) Carter, of Concord. Abiel's father was Timothy, born in Concord in 1767, and his mother's maiden name was Judith Chandler. The next in line was Ezra, born in South Hampton, who came to Concord with his father about 1750, and married Phobe Whittemore. Ezra was son of Daniel and Hannah Fowler Carter. Daniel was son of Ephraim Carter, who came to Con- cord about 1740, being the first Carter to settle there. The tradition is that, when he and his family left South Hampton, the neighbors were grieved that they were going so far into the wilderness, and wept when bidding them farewell. Reaching Sugar Ball Hill, they chained the wheels of the cart containing the goods to get it down safely. They crossed the Merrimack in a canoe, carrying their goods along with them, and causing the oxen to swim while the cart was dragged across by means of bed-cords fastened to the tongues.
AMES OTIS STRAW, a thriving farmer of Hopkinton, was born in this town July 27, 1853, son of William S. and Mary Ann (Flanders) Straw. An account of his ancestry may be found in the sketch of his father, William S. Straw, contained else- where in this volume.
James Otis Straw spent his early years on his parents' farm. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits ; and in 1890 he purchased his present home, the old Currier farm, con- taining sixty-five acres, the buildings on which were erected over a hundred years ago. Mr. Straw makes a specialty of dairying, and
also pays much attention to breeding high- grade Guernsey stock. He possesses a con- siderable amount of mechanical skill, and is expert in the use of all kinds of tools. In politics he is a free silver Democrat, but takes no active part in public affairs beyond casting his vote. January 8, 1881, he was united in marriage with Ada Whittemore, daughter of William B. and Nancy Whittemore, of Hop- kinton. Mr. and Mrs. Straw have become the parents of two children: Percy W., who was born October 21, 1881, and died at the age of three and a half years; and Clayton Bayard, born April 20, 1885. Mr. Straw is a member of Contoocook Grange, P. of H. He is an enthusiastic sportsman, and is one of the most popular residents of Hopkinton.
EWELL J. ELLIS, a well-known Grand Army man and a prominent farmer of Cornish, was born at Brandon, Vt., September 5, 1840, son of Seneca and Aurilla (Bagley) Ellis. His grandfather was John Ellis, who married Mar- garet Holt, and was the father of Seneca and William Ellis. William, who was born at Shoreham, Vt., went West a number of years ago, and has not since been heard from. The family do not know whether he is living or not.
Seneca Ellis was born at sea, July 26, 1809. He was educated in the schools at Brandon, Vt., and subsequently followed the occupation of farmer in Vermont and New Hampshire. The last thirty years of his life were spent in Cornish. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Regiment, and afterward was in action at New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and in Florida. Although his term of enlistment was but nine months, he remained in the service for nearly a year. He
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came home in August, 1863, suffering from a mortal illness contracted in the war. The de- sire of seeing home faces appears to have kept him alive until it was gratified. He died a few days later, having given his life for his country as surely as if he had been shot down on the battlefield. His wife was Aurilla, daughter of Curtis and Phylinda (Downing) Bagley; and their eleven children were : William H., Julia, Annie M., Joel C., New- ell J., Jason, George, Orrilla N., Louisa J., Frank P., and Emmeline. William H., a native of Brandon, born in January, 1832, married Harriet Ellison, of Rockingham, Vt., and resides in that place engaged in farming. He has had two children, one of whom is liv- ing. Julia A., born in Canton, N. Y., August 29, 1834, first married Charles Sweatt, of Andover, N. H., by whom she had two chil- dren, of whom Annie is living. Her second husband is George D. Clapp, of Revere, Mass., a blacksmith. Annie M. Ellis, born in Canada, April 9, 1836, lives in Enfield, N. H., and has been a very successful school teacher. Joel, born in Canton, N. Y., July 29, 1837, served with a Massachusetts regi- ment in the late war, and was killed at the battle of Antietam. Jason, born February 17, 1842, at Brandon, who also served in the war, was drowned while making the voyage from New Orleans to New York with three hundred or more sick soldiers coming home for a fur- lough upon a condemned transport boat. George, born at Brandon, May 18, 1846, mar- ried Waity W. Ford, of Adams, Mass., and has one child, Etta. He was also in the war, and afterward was engaged in farming. His death occurred December 26, 1878. Orrilla N., born at Enfield, this State, October 27, 1848, first married Chester Langworthy, of Adams, Mass., by whom she had one daugh- ter, Sadie, who is now deceased. She is now
living with her second husband, William D. Spaulding, formerly of Claremont, now of Cornish, where he has a large farm. Louisa, born at Enfield, March 24, 1850, was also twice married. Her first husband was Henry Marcy, of Rockingham, Vt. ; and the second was Edwin S. Newhall, of Lynn, Mass. She has no children. Frank, born at Enfield, March 22, 1854, lives at the farm in Cornish with his mother. Emmeline, born in Cornish, January 29, 1857, has been three times mar- ried. Her first husband was Frank Pope, and she bore him three children; her second hus- band was Samuel Fairbanks, by whom she had one child; her present husband is Thomas Emery, of Cornish. Mrs. Seneca Ellis, who was born July 25, 1811, after the death of her first husband married Samuel Chase, and is now living in Cornish.
Newell J. Ellis was educated in the schools of Cornish. Since leaving school he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, with the exception of a year spent in the Civil War. He enlisted in the Seventh Vermont Regi- ment, and subsequently took part in the battle of Mobile. Mr. Ellis has served for some time on the School Committee. He has been Highway Surveyor and has acted in other public capacities. The first of his two mar- riages was contracted with Sarah M. Board- man, of Cornish, who died January 10, 1892. Her three children were : Martha, Charles, and Mabel. By the second marriage he was united to Adeline Hunt, daughter of Dr. Hunt, of Bolton. Martha Ellis, born in April, 1868, married Daniel Johnston, of Franklin, Mass., where he is employed in the manufacture of hats. Charles B., born March 5, 1872, is liv- ing at Franklin, Mass., and is a pressman in the hat business. Mabel, born August 26, 1883, is still a school girl and lives at home. Mr. Ellis has owned at different times two
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