USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 69
USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 69
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Charles M. Babbitt passed his boyhood in attending school and assisting upon the farm. He resided at home until twenty-one years old, when he engaged in the lumber business in Enfield, N.H., remaining there for nine years. He then came to Franklin, where he conducted a boarding-house for some years. In 1873 he erected his present residence. Since his arrival in Franklin he has given his attention to the contracting and building busi- ness quite extensively. He also owns and cultivates a good farm.
On January 30, 1856, Mr. Babbitt was joined in marriage with Alvina W. Jeune. She was born in Hartland, Vt., March 29, 1836, daughter of Francis C. and Rebecca E. (Cady) Jeune. The father was a native of Hartland and a lumberman. The mother was
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born in Windsor, Vt. Mr. Babbitt is a di- rector of the Franklin Falls Company. In politics he is a Republican and quite active in public affairs. He served as a Selectman in 1887 and 1888, and was First Councilman for two years. He is connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows of Franklin, and also with the grange. Both he and Mrs. Babbitt attend the Baptist church.
HARLES H. MORRILL,* a prosper- ous farmer and lumber manufacturer of Pittsfield, was born in this town, January 14, 1829, son of Jacob and Mary (Hoyt) Morrill. His paternal great-grand- father, who was a native of Salisbury, Mass., settled in Brentwood, N.H., and resided upon a farm in that town for the rest of his life. His grandparents, Jonathan and Betsey (Gor- don) Morrill, were natives of Brentwood. Jonathan Morrill was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native town, and his last days were spent in Pittsfield. He lived to be sixty-nine years old, and his wife died at sixty-seven. They were the par- ents of five children - Amos, Betsey, Hannah G., Jacob, and Louise - none of whom are living.
Jacob Morrill, Charles H. Morrill's father, was born in Brentwood in 1802. At an early age he adopted agriculture as an occupation. When twenty-two years old he went to North- wood, N. H., where he resided for some time. In 1828 he bought a farm of sixty-five acres located in Pittsfield, and cultivated it for the rest of his active period. His wife, Mary, who was a native of Northwood, became the mother of four children, of whom Charles H., Hezekiah B., and John C. are living. Hez- ekiah married Abigail Saunders, of Strafford, N.H .; and his children are: Clarence and
Abbie L. John C. married Mary J. Kensing- ton, a native of Maine. Jacob Morrill lived to be eighty-nine years old, and his wife died at the age of forty-nine. They were members of the Free Will Baptist church.
Charles H. Morrill acquired his education in the schools of Pittsfield. While still young he began to assist in carrying on the homestead farm. He later engaged in agri- cultural pursuits upon his own account, and now owns a farm of one hundred and twenty- five acres. He also operates a saw-mill, where he makes shingles, etc., on a large scale.
On March 20, 1861, Mr. Morrill married Ruth E. Edgerly. She is a ,daughter of Ezekiel and Deborah M. (Chesley) Edgerly, the former of whom was a native of Barnstead, and the latter was born in Gilmanton, N. H. Ezekiel Edgerly followed the trade of a tanner in early life, and his last years were spent in general farming. He died at the age of eighty, and his wife lived to the age of ninety- two years. They reared a family of four chil- dren, of whom Ruth E. is the only survivor. Mrs. Morrill's parents attended the Free Will Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Morrill have three sons living - Edward S., Charles C., and Francis M. Edward S., born March 16, 1870, married Lulu Heath, of Epsom, N.H .; Charles C. was born January 1, 1871; and Francis M., October 6, 1873. In politics Mr. Morrill supports the Republican party. He is a practical and successful farmer. Both he. and Mrs. Morrill attend the Free Will Baptist church.
UMNER N. BALL,* the proprie- tor of Oak Hill Farm, Washington, was born in this town, June 3, 1854, son of Dexter and Hannah (Jefts) Ball. His grandfather, John Ball, was a native of
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Antrim, N.H., and a prosperous farmer. John married Rebecca Proctor, of Stoddard, N. H., and reared a family of seven children ; namely, Dexter, Worcester, Allen, Melvin, Nathaniel W., Rebecca H., and Rosanna. Of these Dexter and Worcester are the only sur- vivors.
Dexter Ball, the father of Sumner N., was born in Antrim, and accompanied his parents to Washington when he was three years old. He grew to manhood as a farmer, and tilled the soil successfully in this town for many years. He is now living in retirement at . Washington Centre. His first wife, Hannah Jefts Ball, who was a native of New Ips- wich, N. H., died in 1886. His second mar- riage was contracted with Elizabeth Perkins, of Washington. There were eight children born of his first union, of whom three died in infancy. The others were: George D., John, Orin, Sumner N., and Arlow. John died at the age of thirteen; Orin, at sixteen; and Arlow, at thirty years. George D., now de- ceased, married Adeline Cram, who also died. They left one daughter, Lizzie, who is the wife of K. S. Nichols, of Massachusetts, and has one son, Fred.
Sumner N. Ball began his education in the district schools, and completed his studies at Tuffs's Union Academy in Washington. When twenty-one years old he went to An- trim, and for five years was there engaged in farming for ex-Governor Goodell. He was next employed in a cutlery manufactory for a year, and then purchased a job printing estab- lishment. In 1880 he founded the Antrim Reporter, a weekly newspaper, which he later enlarged. He continued as its editor and proprietor for eight years; and in 1888 he sold out to C. W. Hutchins, of Hillsborough, N.H. Returning then to Washington, he bought the John Ball homestead, containing
two hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent tillage and pasture land. Oak Hill Farm is widely known for the superior quality of its dairy products. Its proprietor is also engaged in raising sheep and cattle and the manufact- uring of maple sugar. Mr. Ball ranks among the leading farmers of this section. Actively interested in public affairs, he was Selectman for four years ; and he has served in the capac- ities of Town Auditor and a member of the School Board. He is connected with Waverly Lodge, No. 57, I. O. O. F., of Antrim; and he has been Master of Lovell Grange, No. 5, Patrons of Husbandry, of Washington.
On November 26, 1884, Mr. Ball was united in marriage with Carrie B. Brooks. She was born in Antrim, daughter of Joseph and Betsey (Whitcomb) Brooks. Her father, who was a cabinet-maker by trade, died while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have two children, namely : John S., born August 30, 1886; and Nina M., born February 27, 1889. Mr. Ball is a member of the Baptist church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for sev- eral years.
APTAIN HARRY C. FAY,* editor- in-chief of the National Eagle, a bright and thoroughly up-to-date newspaper published in Claremont, was born in Richmond, Vt., November 30, 1830, son of Captain Nathan and Polly (Colby) Fay. Stephen Fay, his great-great-grandfather, was an early settler in Bennington, Vt., and was the father of eight children. His son John kept the Catamount Tavern, which during his day became a meeting-place for many great statesmen, who formed a legislative body, and held there meetings known as "Councils of Safety." He, John, fell in the battle of Ben- nington. His son, Nathan Fay, served as a
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drummer boy in the same battle, in Colonel Warner's command. Nathan, who was a cloth-dresser by trade, removed from Benning- ton to Richmond, Vt., about the year 1781, and established there a cloth-dressing house, which he carried on successfully for a number of years, leaving a flourishing business at the time of his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-seven. He married a daughter of Colonel Safford, a member of an old and prominent family of Bennington.
Captain Nathan Fay, father of the subject of this sketch, continued the business of cloth- dressing after the death of his father; but, it subsequently becoming less profitable, he turned his attention in part to farming, and at the time of his death was the owner of one thousand acres of land. A member in early life of the Democratic party, he held office continuously for twenty-five years, represent- ing his town in the legislature at six different periods, and serving it as Selectman through- out his public career. A good penman and a close student, he possessed also a fair knowl- edge of the law, and transacted much legal business. He was the administrator and exec- utor of many estates, and, with a generosity not often seen, rarely accepted remuneration for his services. He belonged to the Univer- salist church, toward the support of which he liberally contributed. Faithful to every pub- lic and private obligation, and of rare public spirit, his death at the age of eighty-one was widely regretted. His first wife was Maria Murray. By his second wife, Polly, who was a daughter of Elliot Colby, he had eight chil- dren - Nathan M., Safford, Mary Ann, Martha, Enos C., Harry C., Elliot, and Ar- nold.
Harry C. Fay was the first of this large family to leave the shelter of the parental roof-tree. At the age of fifteen he went to
Montpelier, where he learned the printer's trade in the office of Eli Ballou, publisher of the Universalist. After serving a three years' apprenticeship, he returned to school at South Woodstock and at Thetford, Vt., having pre- viously studied for a few terms at both insti- tutions. Going to Potsdam, N. Y., in 1850, he there bought out William Wallace, a printer and publisher, and edited the Courier and Freeman for eleven years. He was ap- pointed Postmaster of Potsdam, in which office he served from 1856 to 1860. When the Civil War broke out he sold out his inter- ests to his brother Elliot, who was exempt from military duty, and at the call for three hundred thousand men in September, 1861, enlisted for three years' service in the Ninety- second New York Regiment, in which he was commissioned Captain. He was wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., and became commander of the regiment after that engagement. At Petersburg, Va., he received a wound in the ankle, and in February, 1865, was mustered out of the service. He then returned to his native town, Richmond, Vt., and the follow- ing fall, in company with his brother Arnold, who had served as Captain of the Seventeenth Vermont Regiment during the war, went to Irasburg, Vt., where he was engaged in farm- ing for about two years. Subsequently sell- ing his farm to his brother Arnold, he went into the printing business at Waterbury, where he remained, however, but a short time, going thence to Burlington, Vt. After con- ducting business a while in Burlington, he sold out, and in 1872 entered the employ of the Claremont Manufacturing Company, with whom he served as foreman for seven years. In 1880 he purchased the National Eagle, and, taking upon himself the editorial duties, has been since thus engaged. The Eagle was es- tablished in 1834, under the direction of a
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committee appointed at a Whig Sullivan County Convention the year before. It has since passed through many hands, and it is worthy of note that Mr. Fay's proprietorship has already lasted longer than that of any of his predecessors. Since he took charge of it, its circulation has increased more than three- fold, and it is now upon a firm financial basis. It has a wide reputation for fairness, the cor- rectness of its news items, and its able edito- rials. In 1890 Mr. Fay took into partnership his son, Nathan W. Fay, and his son-in-law, William H. Thompson. Besides publishing the paper, the firm has a monopoly of the job printing business in Claremont. Captain Fay is said to be the oldest living publisher in New Hampshire. He has figured more or less prominently in politics, and during 1887 and 1888 was Representative to the New Hamp- shire legislature. He has for many years been a member of the Episcopal church, which he has served in an official capacity.
Captain Fay married Miss Nancy L. Skinner, daughter of the Rev. Warren Skinner, a Universalist minister and one of the early pioneers of Universalism in this section, and who served with the rank of Orderly Sergeant in the War of 1812. Cap- tain and Mrs. Fay are the parents of two chil- dren : Nathan W., who is now in partnership with his father; and Lillie. The last named married William H. Thompson, son of Sam- uel Liscom and Alsada Eleanor (Flint) Thompson. Mr. Thompson's grandfather, William Thompson, who was a successful wholesale and retail dealer in meat and pro- visions in Worcester, Mass., had two chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy. The other, Samuel L., was engaged for some time in business with his father in Worcester, but subsequently removed from that place to Per- kinsville, Vt., and thence to Chester in the
same State. A Republican politically, he was largely interested in local politics, and held various public offices, among them those of Deputy Sheriff, Selectman, and Justice of the Peace. He had eight children: Moses Waldo; Ella Maria; Harriet Alsada; Will- iam, who died in infancy; William H. ; Sarah, who died at the age of six years; Sam- 'uel Leslie; and one other, who died unnamed. The eldest, Moses Waldo, has been established in the clothing business in Boston for the past thirty-five years, being a member of the firm of Thompson, Willis & Nugent. Ella Maria married A. E. Snell, and resides in Lewis- ton, Idaho. Harriet Alsada became the wife of E. P. Mudge, Clerk of the Court in Lewis- ton, Idaho. Samuel Leslie is a druggist in the same place. At the age of twelve years William H. Thompson went to Cavendish, Vt., where he found employment in the store of a Mr. Pierce, a merchant and an ex-school- master. During his three years there he was under the tutorage of his employer, and made rapid progress in his studies. The next five years were spent with Messrs. Chandler Brothers, merchants of Proctorsville, Vt. ; and subsequently he travelled for a year as sales- man for S. Washburn Holmes, a wholesale grocer. After other business experiences he removed in 1880 to Claremont, and entered into partnership with Captain Fay, as above narrated. His services as a member of the firm have contributed in no small degree to its prosperity.
ANIEL L. MOORE,* a successful farmer of Loudon, Merrimack County, was born here, June 30, 1843, son of Archelaus and Harriett T. (Lowell) Moore, his parents also being na- tives of this town. Archelaus Moore, first, the grandfather, lived and died in Loudon,
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having followed agriculture here all his active life; and his father, the great-grandfather of Daniel L., was the first of the name to settle here. Archelaus Moore, second, followed the vocation of his forefathers, and died leaving eight children: Abigail, wife of P. L. French, of East Concord, N.H .; Lydia Amanda, who married Hugh T. Warren, a farmer of Pembroke, N.H .; Jennie, now de- ceased, who became the wife of James Rich- ardson, a carriage-maker of Pembroke; Mon- roe A., who died at the age of sixteen; Daniel L., the subject of this brief sketch; Addie, who is the widow of Alfred Dearborn, and re- sides in Concord, N.H .; Lucian B. and Etta, both of whom died young.
Daniel L. Moore spent his youth on the home farm, and was brought up to agricultural life. He married first Mary Lavina Weeks, a daughter of Samuel and Abigail T. (French) Weeks, her father being a farmer and tanner of Gilmanton. After his marriage Mr. Moore carried on the home farm, also raising fruit and dealing to some extent in lumber. He now owns five hundred acres of well-improved land. Mr. Moore is a Democrat, and takes an active part in local politics. In 1891 and 1892 he represented his district in the legis- lature. By his wife, Mary Weeks Moore, he had seven children, namely: Annie; Lura; two sons who died in infancy; Josia; an infant unnamed; and Alfred T., born July 7, 1867, who is a farmer in the vicinity of the old home. Alfred T. Moore married Minnie E. Clough, who was born November 1, 1867, daughter of Lathan C. and Mary E. (Dimond) Clough, her father being a stone cutter and farmer of Groton, N. H. His first wife dying, Mr. Daniel L. Moore married for his second wife Miss Mary Anna Sleeper, daughter of Levi F. and Eliza (Wells) Sleeper, her par- ents being residents of this locality. By her
he has two children - Carl C. and Dwight E., both living at home. Mr. Moore and his fam- ily attend the Second Advent church on Loudon Ridge.
SWAIN CLOUGH, a Selectman of Pittsfield and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, April 6, 1849, son of Benjamin A. and Lydia A. (Sinclair) Clough. His grandfather, William Clough, who was born in Barrington, N.H., came to Pittsfield as a pioneer. He cleared and improved a farm, and was a prominent man in his day. In politics he was a Republican. He married Sarah Swain, who was also a native of Bar- rington; and they were the parents of nine children, none of whom are living. Of these Benjamin A., father of the subject of this sketch, was the youngest son. Mrs. William Clough lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. She and her husband were members of the Free Will Baptist church.
Benjamin A. Clough, also a native of Pitts- field, was in trade in Barrington in his younger days. Later he settled upon the old homestead, where he tilled the soil success- fully until his death, which occurred when he was about fifty-six years old. He was a Re- publican in politics, and was a member of the Board of Selectmen for some time. In his religious belief he was a Congregationalist. His wife, Lydia, a daughter of Micajah Sin- clair, of Stratham, N.H., became the mother of one son, M. Swain, and died at the age of forty-six.
The education of M. Swain, commenced in the common schools, was completed at the Pittsfield Academy. After leaving school he assisted upon the home farm until he was twenty-two years old. He then entered the provision business, in which he continued for
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ten years. In 1885 he established himself in the livery business, which he has since fol- lowed successfully. He owns some valuable real estate in Pittsfield. In politics he is a Republican, and he is prominent in public affairs. He has served as Town Auditor, has been Deputy Sheriff for the past four years, was Representative to the legislature in 1894 and 1895, and was elected Selectman in 1896.
In June, 1888, Mr. Clough was united in marriage with Jessie Harvey, daughter of Elder Joseph Harvey, of Pittsfield. Mr. and Mrs. Clough have no children. Mr. Clough is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is highly esteemed by his fellow- townsmen, both as a citizen and an efficient public official.
HARLES N. CLOUGH,* Selectman of Canterbury and a well-known farmer, was born here, January 15, 1849, son of Colonel David M. and Almira (Batchelder) Clough. He belongs to an old and prominent family. His great-grandfather, Leavitt Clough, Sr., was likewise born in Canterbury, where he also lived and died. Leavitt Clough, Jr., was a farmer and a Jus- tice of the Peace in his native town.
Colonel David M. Clough, popularly known as "Corn King," who belongs to the third generation of Cloughs in Canterbury, was born June 9, 1805. He was educated in the district schools of his native place and at the Gilmanton Academy. At the age of eighteen he began to teach school, and he subsequently followed that occupation for several years. In 1832 he removed to Gilmanton, where he lived for the next ten years. In 1856, return- ing to the old homestead, he bought the farm now owned by his son, and there was engaged in farming and the real estate business for the
remainder of his life. He died January 31, 1886. Three times he received the nomina- tion of the Democratic party for the Gov- ernor's Council, and he was elected to this office for the first term of Governor Weston's administration. He represented the town in the State legislature for two years, and served it as Selectman for four years. He was twice married, first on October 25, 1828, to Almira Batchelder, who was born June 7, 1805, daughter of Ebenezer Batchelder. She had borne him five children, when she died No- vember 5, 1851. The second marriage, performed June 17, 1856, united him with Mrs. Caroline Gibson Towne, of Canterbury, daughter of Samuel Towne, Jr. There were no children by this second marriage. Mrs. Caroline Clough, now eighty-two years old, resides with her stepson, Henry L. Clough, in Canterbury. Colonel Clough's children by his first wife were: Elmira, Henry Leavitt, Mary S., Edwin Davis, and Charles N. El- mira, born in 1830, died August 9, 1838. Henry Leavitt, born February 17, 1837, mar- ried Belle H. Shaw, of Concord, March 31, 1887, and has one child, Elmira E., born No- vember 25, 1887. He carried on a grocery business in Concord for thirteen years; but now he resides at the old homestead, where in summer he entertains about twenty boarders. Mary S., born in 1836, died August 2, 1838. Edwin Davis, born October 5, 1843, married Eliza Jane Couch, and now resides in Con- cord, where he is engaged in the cider and vinegar business.
Charles N. Clough, the youngest child of his parents, attended the district schools and Gilmanton College. Since his marriage Mr. Clough has devoted his attention almost ex- clusively to farming. He now owns three hundred acres of well-improved farm land in Canterbury township, on the Merrimac Inter-
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vale. In connection with his farm quite a large dairy business is carried on .. He was elected Selectman of Canterbury, which office he now holds. In politics he is a Democrat, and he takes an active interest in the affairs of the town. He is a Mason of Horace Chase Lodge, No. 62, of Penacook, N.H. ; and a member of the local grange of Patrons of Husbandry, of which he was Over- seer for some time. His wife, whose maiden name was Emma T. Morrill, and who came from Brighton, Mass., has made him the father of two children. Their son, David Morrill, was born in 1879, and their daughter, Caroline G., in 1886. Both parents are mem- bers of the Baptist church at Penacook. Many old family relics which have been in the possession of the Cloughs for many years are now owned by Mr. Clough and his brother Henry.
OHN S. R. BROWN, a prominent farmer of Loudon, Merrimack County, N.H., was born in this town, May 29, 1819, son of Richard and Mehitable S. (Rol- lins) Brown. The Brown family has resided in New Hampshire for five generations. Jo- seph Brown, great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Rye, N. H., January 30, 1689, and died there, March 19, 1759. His wife, Elizabeth, was born May 16, 1693, and died January 21, 1760. Their son Joseph, who was born in Rye, September 2, 1722, had a farm in Epsom, where he spent the greater part of his life. He died April 1, 1771. His wife, Abigal Shaw Brown, also of Rye, was born October 2, 1724, and died December 4, 1785. Their son Job, next in line, was born in Epsom, N. HI., August 14, 1750, and remained in his native town until about 1791, when he moved to Gilmanton, where he engaged in
farming. He died there August 1, 1814. His wife, in maidenhood Hulda Page, of ' Hampton, N. H., was born March 10, 1756, and died December 29, 1831. They had five children, namely: David, who was born Au- gust 11, 1779, married Betsey Able, and died August 20, 1867; Joseph, who was born June 10, 1782, and died August 4, 1800; Nancy, who was born June 14, 1784, married Charles Rollins, and died in November, 1841 ; Abigail, who was a twin sister of Nancy, and died Jan- uary 6, 1786; and Richard, the father of the subject of this sketch.
Richard Brown, who was born November 17, 1787, received his education in the com- mon schools of Epsom, and at an early age was employed in assisting his father on the farm. When but sixteen years old he began to teach school, which occupation he followed successfully for ten years, besides doing some farming. At the age of twenty-six he moved to Loudon, and bought the farm on which his son John now resides. He died in Loudon, June 11, 1867. He served efficiently in the State militia, and rose to the ranks suc- cessively of Captain and a General. Richard Brown was three times married. His first wife, in maidenhood Mehitable Rollins, was born in Loudon, September 9, 1793, daughter of John Rollins, her father being a native of Loudon, and the son of Eliphalet Rollins, who was the first of the family to settle in this town. They were married August 1, 1813, and had four children, namely : Sarah Ann, born July 28, 1816, who married Thomas French, and died March 15, 1853, her husband passing away just two months later; John S. R., the subject of this sketch; Jane S. R., born Au- gust 11, 1821, who married in 1842 John S. Osborn, and now lives in Loudon; and Me- hitable A. T., born November 12, 1823, who married Hiram Wing, May 31, 1852, and
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