USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 12
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On December 11, 1851, Mr. Dalton was joined in marriage with Mrs. Sarah S. (Gil- man) Weston, daughter of Moses Gilman, of Sanbornton. By her first marriage Mrs. Dal- ton had one son - Amos G. Weston, M. D., born October 29, 1846. He studied medicine in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and Cincinnati, practised in Yellow Springs, Ohio, until his health failed, and died of consumption in For- est City, Minn., February 16, 1867. In Janu- ary, 1865, he was married in Yellow Springs to Hattie D. Chamberlain ; and he left one son -- Willie Herman, who is now a farmer in Ashland, Neb. Willie Herman Weston mar- ried Ella Vance, and has three children living. By her present husband Mrs. Dalton has one daughter - Mary Hattie, now the wife of Mar- cellus W. Bennett and the mother of five children - Harry Halford, Marshal Frank, Jean L., Leeland Wilson, and Elwood Vance.
Harry Halford Bennett, born November 22, 1873, has always resided with his grandpar- ents, and is now the junior partner in the firm of Dalton & Bennett. He married Annie S., daughter of Frank Leavitt, of Laconia. Mr. Dalton, Sr., is connected with the grange in Tilton, and is a member of the People's Chris- tian Church of Laconia, having been an or- ganizer of both societies.
ORACE T. BABB, a well-known and popular citizen of Dover, is a native of Strafford County. He was born September 8, 1842, at Barrington, on the farm on which his paternal grandfather, Thomas Babb, settled in the early part of the last cen- tury. His father, Joseph T. Babb, was a farmer, and likewise worked at the carpenter's trade, in which he was quite skilful. He was three times married. His first wife, in maidenhood Abigail Cater, died, leaving him three children, namely : Dennis A., who died at the age of fifty-six years; Martha S., also deceased; and Elizabeth J. His second wife, whose maiden name was Mary B. Tibbetts, bore him two children - Henry H. and Horace T. Henry H., the elder of the two, enlisted in 1861 in Company K, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and died, while serving in the late war, at Beaufort, N.C. Joseph T. Babb's third marriage was contracted with Abigail Kimball, who bore him three children. These were: Mary A., who died in 1881 ; and John C. and Frank H., both of whom are living. The father died May 4, 1892, in his eighty-ninth year.
Horace T. Babb grew to man's estate on the home farm, acquiring his early education in the district schools, and completing it at the village high school. While attending the latter institution, throughout the term follow-
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ing his eighteenth birthday, he walked the in- tervening distance of four miles between it and his home morning and evening. On at- taining his majority, he went to Farmington, this county, and secured work in the mills of Mr. W. W. Hayes, a manufacturer of rough lumber, carriages, and boxes. Here he re- mained three years, being foreman of the mills in the latter part of the time. After occupying a similar position in a lumber-mill at Rochester, N. H., for a while, he returned to his first employer, and worked for him a few years more. For the succeeding two years he was employed in a shoe shop of Farming- ton, whence he came to Dover, accepting an- other position. A few years later he was in business for a short time with Manny & Ahl, shoe manufacturers of Rochester. He subsequently disposed of his interest in the factory, and was employed by C. W. Thurs- ton & Co., of Farmington, and later was foreman of an upper leather and stitching room for three and a half years in Wolfboro, N. H. Having again returned to Farmington, Mr. Babb had entire charge of the lumber, box, and board mills of Mr. Hayes for four and a half years. Removing from there to Dover, he next became agent for L. W. Nute & Co., shoe manufacturers, continuing in the same position with Mr. Nute's successor, C. H. Moulton, until 1894. Since then he has lived retired from business.
Mr. Babb was married June 12, 1871, to Miss Carrie A. Nute, who was born in Boston, August 28, 1844, daughter of Cyrus W. and Elmira (Banfield) Nute. Politically, Mr. Babb is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He served most acceptably as a Representative of the town of Barrington in the State legislature in 1871, and as Alderman from Ward One of Dover in 1893 and 1894. He has been identified with
the Masonic fraternity since 1867, being a member of Fraternal Lodge, Farmington, N. H., and afterward becoming a charter mem- ber of Moses Paul Lodge of Dover. He is also a member of the Columbia Council, Farm- ington; of St. Paul's Commandery, of which he is Standard-bearer; and of the Dover Lodge of Perfection. Mr. Babb also belongs to the Odd Fellows, having affiliation with the Woodbine Lodge, of Farmington; the Royal Arcanum, of Wolfboro; the Order of Elks, of Dover; and the Dover Bellamy Club, of which he was one of the organizers.
OHN W. CURRIER, formerly a prom- inent lawyer of Alton, was born Sep- tember 7, 1835, at Walden, Vt., son of the Rev. John and Martha (Foster) Currier. His grandfather was one of the early settlers in Vermont, and is said to have lived for some time with the Indians. The Rev. John Currier, who was known in the Methodist Conference as "Father Currier," a faithful and hard-working minister for nearly sixty years, lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years, having occupied many honorable posi- tions in connection with his denomination. He was a Democrat of the old school, and his brother fought in the battle of Bunker Hill.
The early education of John W. Currier was received in the common schools of the various towns in which his father lived. In 1850 he entered the Vermont Conference Seminary at Newbury, Vt., where he remained four years. Then, in 1854, he entered the Sophomore class in Wesleyan University, from which he graduated with high honors in 1857. During his college course he not only taught school for several terms, but commenced the study of law, so that he was able to graduate from the
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Albany Law School in 1861. In 1862 he opened a law office in Alton, and there re- mained in the successful practice of his pro- fession until he became incapable of giving it further attention. Mr. Currier was for many years Town Clerk of Alton. He was also Clerk of the New Hampshire Senate in 1869 and 1870, and at two different times he was Solic- itor of Belknap County. Each office was filled by him with great credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all. He was always in- terested in the welfare of his town, and was prominent in every good work. As an edu- cator he took great interest in the success of the common schools, and contributed largely of his time to their advancement. A cultured man, he was fond of literature, and contrib- uted to it some gems of . poetry. The touch- ing lines, written after he had been blind one year, are given in full below. He was a con- sistent Christian gentleman, and did earnest work in the capacity of superintendent of the Sabbath-school of the Congregational church. He was also a prominent member of Winnepe- saukee Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
On June 11, 1865, Mr. Currier married Louise Savage, daughter of Major George D. Savage, one of Alton's foremost citizens, who has served the community in all the more im- portant town offices. Mr. and Mrs. Currier had two children; namely, John F. and Charles L. John F., who graduated at Gilmanton Acad- emy in 1890, and is at present station agent in Alton, was Trustee of the public library for four years, and is active in politics, always voting with the Republicans. He is a mem- ber of Winnepesaukee Lodge, No. 75, F. & A. M. ; of Columbia Chapter at Farming- ton, N.H., Royal Arch Masons; and the Knights of Honor. The father died June 8, 1887. . He was a kind friend, a good neigh- bor, a good counsellor, and an able lawyer ; and
his home was a happy one. The regard in which he was held is shown in the following extract from the Currier memorial proceedings in the Supreme Court: "No one who had opportunity to observe his career as a lawyer will dispute his creditable standing in the pro- fession. He was well versed in legal knowl- edge, was a safe and judicious counsellor and adviser, and an able, and at times eloquent, advocate. He was loyal to the court, true to his clients, and courteous to his professional brethren. His word was never doubted. His promise he never failed to keep. He was so modest and unassuming in his demeanor that to one not intimately acquainted with him he might not pass for all he was worth, but to those who were more fortunate his modest de- portment lent an additional charm to the sim- plicity of his character. We are moved with sorrow that his familiar face is gone from this court now forever. We miss a genial, com- panionable, warm-hearted friend and brother. One who saw him often during his long and painful illness informs me that he was never heard to complain. The fortitude he dis- played amid his sufferings may well be called heroic. When the ravages of wasting disease admonished him that his days on earth were numbered, he calmly met the great destroyer. When he laid aside his chosen profession and its opportunities for further advancement and high honors, if he did not do it without regret, it was because he was human. As by his life he proved himself an able and upright lawyer, a courteous gentleman, and a tried and true friend, so amid sickness and death, by his patient suffering, cheerful resignation, and unwavering faith in a better life, he proved himself an exemplary and consistent Chris- tian. "
Under the date of May 7, 1885, Mr. Cur- rier wrote in his diary as follows: "The last
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day when I could recognize my wife, boys, father, or any one else."
A year of darkness and of night. A year without a ray of light. No sun, no moon, no stars I see. No fireside lamp is lit for me. No starry heavens, no azure sky, No swan-like clouds go floating by. No mountain, river, lake, or plain. No wooded hills, no waving grain. No autumn tinis of gorgeous hues,- God's grand kaleidoscopic views. No matchless painting on the skies. At set of sun or at its rise.
No beautiful grass of velvet green, No plant or shrub or tree I've seen. No fruit, no flowers of every hue. (Their fragrance is denied me, too.) The magic charms the seasons bring, Of summer, autumn, winter. spring. Alike take on the same dark hue, Alike are hidden from my view. All books and papers closed to me, How much I miss their company ! The beasts and birds have hid away Within the shades that round me lay. But, worse than all, this dreadful night Has buried all my friends from sight. My wife and boys, how near they are! And yet so very, very far. Have they much changed within the year ? My wife grown old with constant care ? Oh, how I hunger for a sight Of their dear faces! If I might But see them only once again. And stamp their pictures on my brain,
I'd pawn my all, I'd penance do.
I'd suffer twice what I've gone through.
But, when I strain my eye to see, Grim darkness sits and mocks at me.
My breath comes quick, my pulse beats fast, I try in vain to 'scape his grasp. Still God is good : of much bereft, A thousandfold there still is left.
My reason still remains with me,-
A boon far greater than to see.
My pleasant home, my boys, my wife, And countless blessings crown my life.
My friends, like unseen spirits come, To cheer and brighten up my home. May God grant them his benison, For all they've said, for all they've done ! Beyond this darkness and this pain, Beyond is sunshine. May I gain That heavenly land where all is bright, No sighs, no tears, no death, no night !
OSEPH H. AVERY, an enterprising business man of Milton, and an ex- member of the New Hampshire legis- lature, was born in Acton, Me., June 29, 1844, son of John and Mary (Nealey) Avery. The Avery family were early settlers in Parsons- field, Me., and Joseph H. Avery's great-grand- father was the first to break a road through the woods to that town from Rochester, N.H. John Avery has spent the greater part of his life in Acton, and has followed the carpenter's trade in connection with farming. He is now eighty-six years old, and is still active both mentally and physically. He wedded Mary Nealey, a native of Sandwich, N.H., who has borne him eight children. Of these five are living; namely, Charles, George, Lorenzo, Jeremiah, and Joseph H.
After receiving his education in the schools of Acton, Wakefield, and Milton, Joseph H. Avery learned the shoemaker's trade in this town, and followed it for four years. He next went to Boston, where he worked in a restau- rant for three years. In 1866 he returned to Milton, and since that time has had a varied as well as a successful business career. At different times he has been engaged in the grocery trade, the grain and flour business, the lumber business, the manufacture of excelsior, and to some extent in farming. He is now in the express business, and is interested in real estate. The shoe factory operated by N. B. Thayer & Co. was erected by him, and
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he constructed the dam on the Salmon Falls River which supplies it with power. His building enterprises have contributed much to the town's improvement. He now ranks as one of Milton's most enterprising and progres- sive business men. Politically, he acts with the Republican party. He was Chairman of the Board of Selectmen during the years 1886, 1887, and 1888, was Representative to the leg- islature in 1889 and 1890, and was again elected a Selectman in 1896. He has recently received the appointment as Postmaster of Milton. His official duties have always been discharged with a zeal and efficiency that have carned the hearty commendation of his fellow- townsmen.
Mr. Avery has been twice married. By his first wife, Theatah (Hanscom) Avery, there were two children: Herman, who died at the age of nine years; and Addie, who is the wife of O. W. Brown, of Sanford, an enterprising business man. His present wife, who was before marriage Emma Hanscom, is the mother of one daughter, Elsie. Mr. Avery is connected with Unity Lodge, F. & A. M., of Union, N. H. ; and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The family attend the Congregational church.
OSHUA C. PICKERING, one of the oldest business men of Barnstead, where he is engaged in the clothing trade, was born in this town, March 13, 1843, son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Roberts) Pickering. He represents the ninth generation of the Pickering, family in this country. About the year 1633 two men, who were undoubtedly cousins, bearing the name of John Pickerin (as it was then spelled), came from England to this country. One of them settled at Ips- wich, Mass. The other, from whom this
branch of the family has sprung, took up his residence at Portsmouth, where he died No- vember 11, 1668. This John had six chil- dren ; namely, John, Thomas, Rebecca, Abi- gail, Mary, and Sarah. Thomas, the second son, who died in 1719 or 1720, had three sons and nine daughters. These were: James, Joshua, Thomas, Mary, Sarah, Rebekah, Abi- gail, Hazelel, Hannah, Eliza, Martha, and Mehitable. James, son of Thomas, born in 16So, died in 1768, in Newington, N.H. He had four sons and one daughter; namely, John, Winthrop, Anthony, Thomas, and Abigail. Of these, John, who represented the fourth generation, and died in Newington in 1790, had eight children - Valentine, William, Stephen, James, John, Temperance, Sarah, and Polly. Temperance married a Hodgdon, and Sarah married a Tasker. Stephen, who was born in Newington in 1739 and died in 1825, in 1771 married Mehitable Gove, and came to Barnstead, settling on the south-west corner lot, where he spent the remainder of his days. His land adjoined the towns of Loudon, Gilmanton, and Pittsfield. Stephen and Mehitable Pickerin had ten children; namely, James, Jacob, Daniel, Andrew, Polly, Rosmon D., Abigail, Sally, Lois, and Stephen. When the father died, his children, of whom the youngest was then forty-five, were all at his bedside. He had fifty-four grand- children and fifty-nine great-grandchildren.
James Pickering, the eldest son, represent- ing the sixth generation from John of Ports- mouth, married Mary Philbrook, who bore him nine children. These were: John, Jacob, Jon- athan, Samuel, Nancy Ann, Sally, Mehitable, Betsey, and Levi. The mother lived to be over ninety years old. John, the eldest son, married Patty Pease, and had three children - John, Mary, and Olive. Mary married Thomas Randall, and had two sons and two daughters
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- John, Frank, Olive, and Evelinc. Her sister Olive married Timothy Nutter. Jacob, the second son of James and Mary (Philbrook) Pickering, married Rebecca Avery, who bore him six children; namely, Monroe, Charles, Levi, Henrietta, Irene, and Mary Jane. Jon- athin Pickering, the younger brother of Jacob, married Eliza Foster, and had eight children, three sons and five daughters. These were: Charles H., Elbridge, Christopher, Ann, Lucy, Sarah, Rosina, and Mary. Nancy Ann, the eldest daughter of James and Mary Picker- ing, married a Mr. Perkins, of Portsmouth, and had two sons - Joseph and William. Her sister Sally successively married James Avery and John Sanborn, and had two children - Eunice and Sarah. Mehitable and Betsey re- spectively married John Foye and Dudley Colbath, and both had children. Samuel Pick- ering, the seventh lineal descendant in this branch of the family, and the grandfather of Joshua C., married Polly Avery. She bore him seven children, of whom three died in infancy. Caleb, Joshua, Clarissa, and Caro- line attained maturity. Clarissa married William Roberts, and had four children - Charles, Caroline, Polly, and Betsey. Caro- line Pickering married Caleb Webster, and had three children - Emma, Clara, and Horace. Joshua died in 1852, aged thirty-five years.
Caleb Pickering was engaged in farming with his father until the latter's death, when the homestead fell to him. Born in 1812, he died in February, 1894, fourscore years of age. Elizabeth (Roberts) Pickering, his wife, who was a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Foss) Roberts, bore him four children - Tobias R., Joshua C., Mary J., and Sarah E. Tobias R., who married Ada Evans, had two daughters -- Ethel and Mary. Mary J., who first married Daniel Wright, and after his
death Eben Hanson, of Alton, died in March, 1896. Sarah E. is the wife of William Lock, and has three sons and a daughter; namely, Frank, John, Wayland, and Rosa.
Joshua C. Pickering acquired his education in the district school and at Pittsfield Acad- emy. He learned the trade of a clothier with Joshua M. Babcock, with whom he was associ- ated for twenty years. For seventeen years of that time he was a partner of Mr. Babcock. Upon Mr. Babcock's decease in 1881 he un- dertook the business alone, and has carried it on successfully since. While Mr. Babcock was living, the firm conducted a saw-mill for a time in addition to their other business. In May, 1865, Mr. Pickering was married to Miss Ellen M. Grace, a daughter of Moses Grace, of North Barnstead. The union has been blessed by the birth of five children - Albert C., Grace A., Bettie J., Fannie P., and Fred R. Albert C. is married, and has two chil- dren; Grace is the wife of George Hillsgrove, and has two children; Bettie lives at home; Fannie P. is the wife of Fred Hillsgrove; and Fred is attending Pittsfield Academy. Joshua C. Pickering represented the town of Barn- stead in the New Hampshire legislature in 1873 and 1874, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. In the legislature he served on the Committees of Roads and Bridges and Education.
AVID B. STORY, the landlord of Story's Tavern at The Weirs, La- conia, was born in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, January 19, 1836, son of James K. and Sarah Story. Nathan Story, the great-grandfather of David B., was one of the early settlers of Hopkinton, to which he went from Essex, Mass., travelling on horse- back with his wife and one child. At that
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time the country was nearly all a wilderness. Arriving in Hopkinton, he took up a tract of land containing one hundred acres, and on it built a log hut, which was afterward replaced by a frame house. He lived to be over eighty years of age. Five of his six children were born in Hopkinton; namely, William K., Lydia, Hannah, Sarah, Elenor, and Mary.
William K., the grandfather of David B., remained all his lifetime on the homestead, living to be eighty-six years of age. Besides conducting the farm, he worked at shoemak- ing. He married Lydia Knowlton, who lived to be eighty-five. They had four children James K., William, Sarah, and Eliza. Will- iam, when young, removed to Newton, N. H., where he married and lived until his death. Sarah married Samuel H. Gale, who died in Newton, N. H. She now lives in Hopkinton. Eliza married Luther M. Tussell. The care of the homestead farm fell to James K., who still lives there. The residence is the first two-story house erected in the town, having been built in 1760. While he conducted the homestead, his chief occupation for forty years was that of wholesale cigar dealer, having a route between Cambridgeport, Mass., and Hopkinton. His political allegiance is given to the Democrats. In addition to serving the public in a number of minor town offices, he represented Hopkinton in the New Hampshire legislature in 1856 and 1857. Sarah Story, his wife, is a member of the Congregational church. They have had five children ; namely, David B., John, James H., George M., and Annette. . John died in infancy, and James H. died in boyhood. George M., living in Goffs- town, N. H., is a veterinary physician. An- nette, the wife of C. H. Sanborn, lives in Watertown, Mass.
David B. Story attended the district schools of his native place and Hopkinton Academy.
Finishing his academy course in 1855 at the age of nineteen years, he went into the meat business in Concord, and remained in trade there until 1864. He then purchased the Perkins House at Hopkinton, which he con- ducted until it was burned in 1872. After that he bought the Mount Belknap House in Lakeport, N. H., where he remained four years. In 1876 he came to Laconia and bought the City Hotel, of which he was pro- prietor for four years. He purchased Hotel Weirs in ISSo, and conducted it until 1890. Since then he has had Story's Tavern at The Weirs. He has been very popular in both his business and social relations.
On February 4, 1857, Mr. Story and Miss Sarah J. French were united in marriage. She is a daughter of Benjamin French, of Boston. Of the five children born to them, James H., Fred W., Charles F., and Benjamin F. are living, and are successful business men. Charles F. is a paint and oil dealer in Laconia ; James H. is in the drug business in this city; and Fred W. has a variety store here in La- conia. Benjamin, a paper-hanger and deco- rator, is in Boston, where he does a contract business, and employs from fifteen to twenty- five men. Ada, the only daughter, died when eighteen years of age. In politics Mr. Story is a Democrat. For a number of years he was Deputy Sheriff of Merrimack County. In 1872 he was appointed to the same office in Belknap County, and therein served continu- ously until 1888. From 1882 to 1886 he was also High Sheriff of Belknap County. While occupying this office it was his unpleas- ant duty to execute, by hanging, Thomas Saman, the triple murderer of Laconia, he being the only man ever hung that was sen- tenced by the courts of this county. In 188.1 and 1882 he was Selectman of Laconia. In 1896, though a Democrat, he was elected to
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the State legislature from a Republican ward. He is now serving in the Laconia City Coun- cil. A number of times at the meetings of Ward One he has acted as Moderator. Mr. Story is a member of Chicora Lodge, No. 51, of Lakeport, Laconia Encampment, and Can- ton Osgood, of Laconia, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor and of The Weirs Grange, No. 248, in which he is now Worthy Master.
AMES A. MILLER, who has figured prominently in the public affairs of New Durham for a number of years, was born in Milton, N. H., in 1833, son of Richard and Paulina (Bussell) Miller. His great-grandfather, Mark, and his grandfather, Henry Miller, were both born in Newington, N. H., and both settled in Milton. The latter served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
Richard Miller, father of James A., was born in Milton, and reared to agricultural pur- suits. For many years he owned and culti- vated a good farm in New Durham; but the last five years of his life were spent in Farm- ington, N. H. In politics he voted with the Democratic party. He married Paulina Bus- sell, a native of Acton, Me., and reared a family of six children, all of whom are living. Richard Miller died at the age of ninety years, four months, and twenty-one days.
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