USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 66
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 66
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very large and well-cultivated farms. The one where he now lives has the best appointed buildings of any farm hereabouts, and the land is under high cultivation. In politics Mr. Ellis is a Democrat. He is a member of the Grand Army, and belongs to the local grange.
YRUS O. BROWN, formerly a well- known schoolmaster and now a pros- perous farmer of Epsom, was born in Kensington, N. H., August 15, 1834, son of Abel and Ruth (Fellows) Brown. On the paternal side he is a lineal descendant of John Brown, who, born in England in 1589, is said to have been of Scotch origin. It is believed that this ancestor was reared in a seaport town, as he was a ship-carpenter by trade. It is recorded that he was concerned in the building of many vessels for the king. He emigrated to New England, and became one of the first settlers of Hampton, N. H. He was married in that town in 1640 or 1641 ; and Benjamin, the second of his three sons, was born in Seabrook, N. H. From John Brown, born in England in 1589, the line of descent comes by Benjamin Brown, born in Seabrook, in 1647; Benjamin Brown, Jr., born in South Hampton in 1684; Jonathan Brown, born in Kensington in 1718; Abel Brown, born in Kensington in 1760; and Abel Brown, Jr., born in Kensington in 1797.
Abel Brown, Sr., the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a school teacher in his younger days. Taking an active part in public affairs, he served as a Selectman, and was employed to settle many estates. He lived to the age of eighty-six years. In poli- tics he was a Whig. He married Sally Paige, a native of Kensington, and a daughter of Stephen Paige, who was a Deacon of the Con- gregational church. Mrs. Abel Brown, first,
lived to be eighty-two years old. She reared five children - Abel, Stephen, Lewis, Jona- than, and Eliza. Abel Brown, Jr., was reared upon a farm. When a young man he went to Boston, where he learned the trade of a bolt and screw maker, and subsequently worked as a journeyman for a year. With this excep- tion the active period of his life was devoted to tilling the soil in his native State. In politics he was a Whig, and he took a leading part in local affairs. For a number of years he served upon the Board of Selectmen, and was a member of the legislature for two terms. At his death he was seventy-two years old. His wife, Ruth Fellows Brown, became the mother of five children, of whom Edgar A. and Cyrus O. are living. The others were : Quincy A., Charles W., and Luetta M. Edgar A. Brown, who was born in Kensington, January 29, 1828, married Eunice Rowe, of Kensing- ton, and her children are: Harvey E., Foster H., Freeman A., and Quincy A. Quincy A. died in infancy. Cyrus O. Brown's mother died at the age of fifty-eight years. In their last years both parents were Adventists.
Cyrus O. Brown was educated at Hampton Academy and at Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts, taking a classical course in the class of 1857. When nearly prepared to enter college, his eyes became inflamed, and his physician urged him to give up all study and go more frequently into the open air. Yielding to this advice reluctantly, he aban- doned his hopes of a collegiate career and accepted the position of assistant teacher in Hampton Academy. Subsequently he fol- lowed teaching as a profession in Merrimack and Rockingham Counties for thirty-five years, in the course of which he won a high reputa- tion and had over three thousand pupils under his instruction. Since then he has resided on his farm. This property contains two hundred
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acres, of which he successfully cultivates forty.
On October 6, 1858, Mr. Brown wedded Mary E. Brown, a daughter of Newell and Mary T. Brown, of Epsom. Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus O. Brown have had five children, of whom the only survivor is M. Evangeline, born May 29, 1875, now engaged in teaching. The others were : Cora E., born July 4, 1859, who died January 20, 1880; Ruth E., born July 15, 1863, who died November 20, 1871 ; Augusta T., born April 14, 1867, who died on the same day as Ruth; and Mamie T., born November 15, 1872, who died May 10, 1879.
In politics Mr. Brown acts independently, and votes for the candidates whom he con- siders best qualified to hold office. For sev- eral years he was a member of the School Board of Epsom, and his knowledge of educa- tional affairs made him especially valuable to that department. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Free Will Baptist church. A very pleasant interruption in Mr. Brown's quiet life on his farm was the fortieth anni- versary of the class of '57, held at Andover, June 24, 1897, when all the living members were invited to Phillips' graduating exercises of '97 and held a grand alumni meeting, and when those present partook of a dinner in the spacious hall of the institution, which was fol- lowed by interesting speeches recalling old times.
LMON W. FRENCH, of Plainfield, Sullivan County, represents the third generation of the Frenches in this town. The family is of English origin, and members of it were pioneers of New Eng- land. Its founder in Plainfield, Nathaniel French, the grandfather of Almon W., came here when about twenty-two years of age, at
the time when much of the district was an unbroken wild. Having done his part in ren- dering the place habitable, he died at the age of eighty-nine. His wife, Alice Back French, had eight children, of whom one died in in- fancy. The others were: Liman, George, Hezekiah, John, Lucinda, Betsey, and Susan. Liman, who lived in this town for the greater part of his life, following the occupation of farmer, never married. George, who was also a farmer here, married Sarah Hadley. Heze- kiah married Lucinda Hyde, and had a family of children. He lived in Plainfield nearly all his lifetime. Lucinda successively married Amos Fox and William Hadley. Betsey be- came Mrs. Hayes Kenyon, and the mother of several children; and Susan married John Hadley.
John French, the father of Almon W., born here in 1805, died in December, 1890. He worked on his father's farm until fifty-five years of age. Then he bought a farm, which he managed until about a dozen years before his death, the chief business being raising and selling cattle. He remained outside the arena of political strife, and never cared to secure public patronage. Straightforward and hon- est, he had the respect of all who knew him. He married Harriet Barry, who, born at Centre Harbor in 1809, died in 1879. Their eight children were: Almon W., John H., Russell, Charles, Melissa, George, Frank, and Sumner. John H. was twice married. His second marriage was contracted with a lady named French, who bore him one son. Russell, a prosperous farmer of Plainfield, married Ade- laide Smith, and has several children. Charles married a Miss Westgate, and resides here. George married Orena B. Spaulding, and had several children. Frank married a Miss Chapman, and has a family of children. Melissa married Titus Pierce, and had several
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children. Sumner married Miss Freeman, and was engaged in farming here up to the time of his death.
Almon W. French was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town. After leaving school, he had worked at farming for about fifteen years, when he became the proprietor of a farm by purchase. Since that time he has bought four or five others. He has always done more or less sheep-raising, but now gives his attention mainly to dairying. Industrious and enterprising, he has fully earned the suc- cess he has met with. Like his father, he has not sought political offices. In religious faith he is a Congregationalist, and he is a gener- ous supporter of the Congregational society here. Mr. French married Melissa Spauld- · ing, who was born in 1837. She died in 1870, leaving a daughter, Eva. Eva was twice married, and by her first marriage has one son, Clarence Almon Daniels. Clarence has always resided with his grandfather, Almon W. French.
ALTER KENDALL WADLEIGH, M. D.,* a skilled and popular physi- cian of Hopkinton, N. H., was born April 7, 1864, in the town of Franklin, Merri- mack County, N. H., a son of Jonathan P. and Betsey (Thomas) Wadleigh. His father, who died in the prime of manhood, was born and reared in Sanbornton, Belknap County, this State, but spent the larger part of his life in Merrimack County, where he was a large land- holder.
Walter K. Wadleigh received his elementary education in Franklin, being graduated from the high school in the class of 1881. Decid- ing upon a professional career, for which his natural tastes and talents peculiarly fitted him, he began studying medicine with Drs. I. F.
Knight and W. W. Sleeper, of Franklin. He subsequently entered Dartmouth Medical Col- lege, from which he received his degree in 1886. While in college he taught school a part of the time, thus partially defraying the expense of his education.
Soon after receiving his diploma and shortly after the death of the late Dr. Rogers, Dr. Wadleigh located in Hopkinton, and has since met with flattering success as a practi- tioner, his previous experience in hospital work having doubtless been of much service to him in his labors. He is a member of the Centre District and of the New Hampshire Medical Societies, and is an active worker in each organization. The Doctor is a close student, and keeps himself in touch with the latest discoveries in medical science. In 1895 he prepared and read a paper on the uses of strophanthus that attracted considerable attention among his professional brethren. He was popular with his classmates while in college, and for two or three years has served as President of the Dartmouth Medical Alumni Association. The Doctor is also quite prominent in local society circles, being a man of scholarly attainments, genial and courteous in manner, and accomplished in the art of music, playing well on the violin.
LVAH CHARLES FERRIN,* a re- tired contractor and builder of Con- cord, who served in the United States Navy during the Civil War, was born in Plymouth, N. H., August 13, 1835, son of Daniel E. and Mary Jane (Durgin) Ferrin. His father was a native of Hebron, N. H. ; and his mother was born in Buxton, Me. On the father's side he is a descendant of Revolution- ary patriots. His education, which was begun in the public schools of Lowell, Mass., where
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his parents took up their residence in 1841, was completed when he was about sixteen years old in Hebron, N. H., to which they went in 1842. He started in life as a farmer. After following that occupation for a short time, he went, in 1853, to Boston, Mass., where he obtained employment as an express- man. Five years later he returned to his native State, and, settling in Concord, learned the mason's trade. At this he worked as a journeyman until he became a member of the firm of Gately & Ferrin, contractors and builders, with whom he was associated until he undertook to serve in the Civil War. This event occurred August 19, 1864, when he entered the United States Navy at Ports- mouth, N. H. In January, 1865, he sailed from the Kittery navy yard on board the United States steamer "Albatross" for Mo- bile Bay, where the vessel joined the West Gulf squadron, under the command of Com- modore Thatcher, and subsequently cruised therewith until the close of the war. After he was mustered out at Charlestown, Mass., he returned home. In 1867 he formed a partner- ship with R. M. Ordway, under the firm name of Ordway & Ferrin. This firm carried on a large and prosperous business as masons and contractors until the death of Mr. Ordway, which occurred in 1885. Mr. Ferrin had been in business alone for about two years after that event when he formed, with D. C. Woodman, a copartnership that lasted for two years. He subsequently remained in business until September, 1895, at which time he re- linquished active pursuits. He is now living in retirement in Concord. During his busy career he erected some of the finest buildings now standing in this city and vicinity, which are excellent testimony of his skill as a master builder.
On May 14, 1859, Mr. Ferrin was united in
marriage with Hannah McDuffee, a native of Candia, N.H. Their only child died some time ago. In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Ferrin has reached the thirty-second degree. He is connected with Eureka Lodge, No. 70; Trinity Royal Arch Chapter, No. 2, Mount Horeb Commandery, Knights Templar; and with Edward A. Raymond Consistory of Nashua. He is also a member of Rumford Lodge, No. 46, I. O. O. F., and Tohanto Encampment ; and a comrade of E. E. Sturte- vant Post, No. 2, G. A. R. In politics Mr. Ferrin is a Republican.
NSON COLBY ALEXANDER, M. D.,* a prominent homœopathic physician of Penacook, was born in Littleton, N. H., October 10, 1855, son of Wesley and Sarah B. (Bray) Alexander. Both paternal and maternal ancestors of his served in the War for Independence. Wesley Alexander, a native of Swanzey, N. H., was a prominent resident of Littleton, and took an active part in public affairs. He was one of the original promoters of the Republican movement in this State, having formerly been a supporter of the Whig party. For more than thirty years he used his influence successfully in securing the predominance of these parties in Littleton. His wife, Sarah, was a native of Harrison, Me.
Anson Colby Alexander acquired his early education in the public schools and at the New Hampton and New London Academies. His medical studies were begun under the instruction of Drs. Daniel Lee Jones and Charles W. Rowell, both of Lancaster, N. H. He graduated from the Philadelphia School of Anatomy and Surgery in 1879 and from the Hahnemann Medical College of the same city in 1880. He also graduated from the Penn
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Hospital. He was the only New England student in many years who won the gold medal at the Hahnemann College for superior schol- arship in every department. In the spring of 1881 he began the practice of his profession in Penacook. Since then he has acquired a wide reputation as a skilful and thoroughly reliable physician. He is a trustee of the New Hampshire Savings Bank.
On June 22, 1882, Dr. Alexander was united in marriage with Fanny Goodwin, of North Attleboro, Mass. Mrs. Alexander is the mother of two children; namely, Marion and Harold Wesley. The Doctor is a member of the New England Gynecological and Surgi- cal Society of Boston. Well advanced in the Masonic fraternity, he is Master of Horace Chase Lodge, No. 72, a Royal Arch Mason of Trinity Chapter, and a Knight Templar of Mount Horeb Commandery. He is Past Grand of Dustin Island Lodge, I. O. O. F., and a member of the Knights of Pythias. Desirous of promoting the general welfare, he takes an active interest in public affairs. Po- litically, he acts with the Republican party ; and he is a member of the Baptist church.
YRUS F. DUSTIN, a respected farmer and lumberman of Hopkinton, was born in this town, January 25, 1853, son of Daniel P. and Sarah A. (Barn- ard) Dustin. He has resided here since his birth. In 1891 he married Miss Nellie S. Spalding, daughter of Dustin A. and Saman- tha S. (Putney) Spalding. Mr. Dustin is prominent in town affairs, and in 1896 was elected Representative to the legislature. He has the best interests of the town at heart, and can always be depended upon to perform his full duty as a citizen and as a representative of the people.
DWARD PLUMMER PAIGE, a former legislative Representative of the town of Dunbarton, was born in Bradford, N.H., in 1857, son of Bayard P. and Louisa S. Paige. The father of Edward Plummer, who was born in Dunbarton, subsequently re- moved to Hopkinton, N. H., where he acquired his education. At the age of fourteen years he returned to Dunbarton, and entered the general merchandise store of his brother Jere- miah as clerk. Three or four years later they moved the business to Bradford, where he con- tinued to work for some time. He next en- gaged in stove-making, turning out some of the first stoves used in this part of New Hampshire. Later Mr. Paige went to Boston, Mass., where he was associated with the well-known firm, Leach & Gilmore, wholesale dealers in groceries. Messrs. Leach & Gil- more also owned and controlled a line of steamboats running between Boston and Ban- gor, which was a financially successful under- taking until William K. Vanderbilt put on a steamer in opposition. The cut rates for passengers and freight rendered the enter- prise almost profitless, and they were glad to dispose of their interest to Mr. Vanderbilt. Mr. Paige also sold his interest in the grocery, after which he removed to Montreal, Canada, where for thirty years he was successfully en- gaged in the manufacture of all kinds of farm- ing implements. He then returned to Dun- barton, and remained there during the rest of his life, dying at the age of eighty-four years. He and his wife had six children, all of whom they reared.
Edward P. Paige acquired the most of his education in the Montreal schools. At the age of sixteen he entered his father's office as clerk, remaining some time. Going subse- quently to Warner, N. H., he again entered school, completing his studies in 1881. He
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then went to California, securing a position as clerk in a furniture store. He returned home in the fall of 1884, and has since been engaged in farming on the old homestead. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Paige has been prominently identified in town affairs, serving in various offices. In 1890 and . 1891 he had the further distinction of being a Rep- resentative to the legislature.
HARLES HORACE FLETCHER, one of the prominent farmers of his native town, Canterbury, Merrimack County, was born August 3, 1837, son of John and Nancy (St. Clair) Fletcher. John
Fletcher was born in Loudon, N.H., March 16, 1795. He married Miss St. Clair, of Canterbury, born October 2, 1799, and settled on St. Clair Hill in Canterbury township, where he became a prominent farmer. His wife's father, Noah St. Clair, was, it is said, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He had ten children. Some of them spelled the name St. Clair, and some spelled it Sinclair. If the same as Noah Sinclair, in the "Revolu- tionary War Rolls," vol. iii., he enlisted in February, 1777, was a drum major, and was discharged in February, 1780.
Mr. and Mrs. John Fletcher reared four children; namely, Lozinia A., William M., John M., and Charles Horace. Lovinia A. Fletcher married Edmund D. Hill, and died at the age of sixty-five. Her husband is also deceased. William M. was born December 31, 1827, married Lucina Jane Hill (now deceased), who was born January 24, 1833. William M. Fletcher resides in Canterbury. His children are: John T., a farmer, born February 5, 1853; Charles W., a carpenter born January 12, 1855, married Miss Nettie Ordway, of Loudon, N.H., March 31, 1883,
died August 12, 1894; Albert O., born July 7, 1857; Annette D., born April 24, 1860, died April 14, 1862; Iva May, born Septem- ber 20, 1861, married Frank Chamberlin, of Loudon, professor of music; Cora Belle, born October 6, 1863, married Charles Buckland, of Concord, N. H .: George M., born January 12, 1865, married Miss Lillie Grover, of Canterbury, N. H .; Lucina Jane, born Sep- tember 23, 1868, married January 30, 1885, Frank Wells, of Loudon, N. H., a blacksmith by trade.
John M. Fletcher, born July 24, 1832, is now a practising dentist in Concord, N.H. A sketch of his career will be found on another page of this volume.
Charles Horace, the youngest child of John and Nancy Fletcher, in his boyhood went to school in Loudon. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage, and directly after that he lived for a time on Gib- son Hill and he then returned to the old homestead, where he lived for nine years. Mr. Fletcher next made his abode in East Concord, and there learned the stone cutter's trade. Again returning to the home of his boyhood, he took up farming, subsequently making several changes, until he finally set- tled down on his present estate, known as the old James farm, and consisting of about forty acres. In addition to this property he owns ninety acres elsewhere in the township. His life has been a most industrious one and, on the whole, successful. He is a man much esteemed by all who know him. He has been a Republican, but now votes the Democratic ticket. Though not eager for office, he has held several minor positions of trust.
Mr. Fletcher married first Miss Lucy Jane Peverly, who was born September 17, 1842, daughter of Nathaniel and Judith Peverly, her father being a farmer of Canterbury. Mrs.
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Lucy J. Fletcher died March 24, 1878; and on April 7, 1880, Mr. Fletcher married Mrs. Hannah Young Potter, the widow of Thomas G. Potter, of Gilmanton, N.H., and the daughter of David and Mary (Bachelder) Young. Her father was a farmer of Loudon township, N.H.
By his first wife Mr. Fletcher had four children - Annette D., Anna A., Warren S., and Nancy J. Annette D. was born January 29, 1862, became the wife of A. B. Chute, of Canterbury, and has one son, Howard; Anna A. was born November 20, 1865, married John A. Dow, and lives in Canterbury; Warren S., was born July 17, 1868, and is now living in Canterbury ; Nancy J., the youngest, was born September 25, 1870, and married John H. Meade, of Concord, N.H., and had one child, a daughter, Jenney A. Mrs. Meade died June 8, 1889. The present Mrs. Fletcher is the mother of two children: Lucy May, born May 16, 1881; and Laura E., born December 3, 1886, both residing at home with their parents.
OHN S. ANDREWS,* a thrifty farmer and stock-raiser of Plainfield, Sullivan County, N.H., was born in this town, February 27, 1853, son of Nathan and Abigail E. (Ellis) Andrews. His great-grandfather, Nathan Andrews, was the first of the family to settle in Plainfield; and Wilbur Andrews, his grandfather, was a native of this town. He followed agricultural pursuits through the active period of his life, and was one of the prosperous farmers of his day. He left a good estate. He married Orinda Ross, a native of Canada; and his children were: Nathan, Abigail, and Wealthy. Abigail be- came the wife of Joseph Westgate, of Plain- field; and Wealthy died young.
Nathan Andrews, John S. Andrews's father,
was born in Plainfield in 1826. When a young man he went West, and invested in land to some extent; but he soon returned to Plainfield, and settling upon one of his farms devoted the rest of his life to general farming and the raising of cattle. He died October II, 1888. Politically, he was an active sup- porter of the Democratic party, and, though not an office-holder, was wont to make his in- fluence felt at town meetings. He attended the Baptist church. Abigail E. Ellis, his wife, was born in Plainfield, February 14, 1833, daughter of Stephen B. Ellis, a resident of this town and a stone mason by trade. She became the mother of twelve children, namely: John S., the subject of this sketch ; Abbie O .; Charles H .; Addison W .; Sarah A .; Nathan R .; Seth E .; Emma G .; Minnie E .; Frank B .; Lillian E .; and Clarence E. Abbie O. married James A. Sloan, of Hyde Park, Mass., a carpenter by trade, who is now residing upon a farm in Ascutneyville, Vt. They have had seven children, and six are liv- ing. Charles H., who is superintendent of the hospital in Claremont, N. H., married Verona Farnsworth, of Washington, N. H. Addison W. has been in the livery business in Sharon, Mass., for some years. He mar- ried Sarah Barden, of Beverly, Mass., and has one child. Sarah A. died at the age of nine years. Nathan R., who is unmarried, resides at the homestead, and is a wealthy farmer. Seth E. married Gertie Whitcomb, of Ver- mont, and is now a miller, and resides in Claremont. Emma G. married Charles Cur- tis, a native of Cornish, N.H., who is now a teamster in Plainfield. Minnie E. died at the age of two years. Frank B., who is employed as a clerk in Sharon, Mass., married Hattie Harwood, of that town, and has had two chil- dren, one of whom is living. Lillian E. re- sides with her brother Addison in Sharon,
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Mass. ; and Clarence E. lives in Plainfield, N.H. Mrs. Abigail E. Ellis Andrews died February 28, 1893.
John S. Andrews was educated in the com- mon schools and at Kimball Union Academy. He was employed as a farm assistant for ten years, and then bought the Daniels farm on Black Hill, where he began the pursuit of agriculture upon his own account. £ Three years later he purchased of Lewis Stickney his present farm, which is one of the best pieces of agricultural property in this section, and through hard work and the exercise of good judgment has reached a state of comfort- able prosperity. He produces large crops of hay, grain, potatoes, and other staple prod- ucts, and raises some excellent cattle, sheep, and horses. Although the greater part of his time is taken up by his regular duties at home, he has found opportunity to serve the town efficiently as a member of the Board of Selectmen and in other offices.
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