USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 17
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In December, ISSO, Dr. Hawley and Miss Carrie E. Young were united in marriage. She was a daughter of George Young, who died in Georgia during the war of the Rebell- ion, going out with the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. By her mother, Sarah A. (Bickford) Young, she was a descendant of one of the first settlers of this town. Mrs. Hawley attended the Salem Normal School, after which she studied instrumental music in Concord, N.H., and then gave piano lessons until some time after her marriage. For a number of years she was the organist of the Congregational church in Centre Barnstead. She died April 7, 1897.
ONATHAN JENKINS is well known in the town of Madbury, Strafford County, as one of its most able and prosperous agriculturists. He was born Octo- ber 2, 1824, on the farm where he now resides, son of Ephraim Jenkins, and the grandson of the late Jonathan Jenkins. The latter, who bought the most of this property many years ago, spent the remainder of his life upon it,
dying in 1830, aged seventy-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mercy Varney, survived him fifteen years, dying in 1845, aged eighty-nine years. Their bodies were interred in the family cemetery on an adjoining farm, which was occupied many years by ancestors of the family, and is still held in the name.
Ephraim Jenkins, who was a farmer, spent all his active years on the homestead, a large part of which he assisted in redeeming from the wilderness. He toiled with unremitting diligence, and in course of time fields of grain took the places previously covered with trees. Here he and his good wife passed their declin- ing years. He died April 23, 1857, aged seventy-seven years; and she, June 5, 1859, aged seventy-two. They were the parents of seven children; namely, Caroline, Mary A., Hannah J., Sarah, Elizabeth, Jonathan, and Ephraim. Of these, Jonathan is the only sur- vivor. Mary Ann, who had survived her hus- band, the late Isaac M. Nute, of Dover, died January 6, 1897.
Jonathan Jenkins acquired his early educa- tion in the district schools and at the Durham Academy. Having received from his parents a practical training in agriculture, he became a farmer from choice. After the death of his father he and his brother Ephraim owned the farm together for a time, managing it in part- nership. In 1863 he bought the interest of Ephraim in the homestead property, and has since been successfully engaged as a general farmer, lumberman, and stock-raiser. The farm, containing one hundred and fifty acres of land, has been much improved by Mr. Jenkins. It is equipped with the needed machinery and implements. Its buildings are in good repair, and the estate gives every- where unmistakable indications of the skill and industry of its proprietor.
Mr. Jenkins has been twice married. By
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his first marriage, which was contracted De- cember 22, 1859, he was wedded to Miss Martha Emery. She died September 17, 1874, having borne him four children. Of these, Melvin W. died January 20, 1864; and Elmer C., on September 7, 1874. Horace W. and Herbert T. are still living. His second wife, whose maiden name was Miss Ellen F. Jenness, died January 25, 1895, leaving no issue. In politics Mr. Jenkins is a sound Re- publican, and he has taken an active interest in public matters. Besides serving as Select- man of the town in 1879 and 1880, he repre- sented Madbury very acceptably in the State legislature in 1881.
ALTER JOSEPH EDGERLY, an enterprising and successful young business man of Gilmanton, was born here September 23, 1868, son of George W. and Angeline V. (Smith) Edgerly. The father owned a large farm, and was engaged in carrying it on until his death. At one time he made a specialty of stock-raising, and owned some of the fastest horses in the State. His wife, who is a daughter of Augustus Smith, a shoemaker, had two sons - Frank and Walter J. Frank died at the age of two years. The father died in 1873. He was a member of the Free Baptist church.
When his father died Walter Joseph Edgerly was but five years old. After finishing his education, which was acquired in the district school, with a few hundred dollars as capital he opened . a grocery store in Gilmanton. Managing wisely, business increased; and he was encouraged to extend his operations by purchasing grain in carload lots. This vent- ure proved so successful that it now demands more attention than the grocery business. In 1894 he opened a livery business, with E.
Marsh as partner. In April, 1895, he took Mr. Marsh into partnership in the grocery business. Another enterprise conducted by him is a cider-mill, fitted up with the latest improved machinery, and capable of giving between thirty and thirty-five hundred gallons per day. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Granite State Soap and Fer- tilizing Company, incorporated in this State in October, 1896, chiefly for the manufacture of washing powder. According to testimo- nials already received from merchants who have handled it, this article promises to be come very popular. Since he attained his legal majority, Mr. Edgerly has been accepted as bondsman on different occasions for prominent town officials. With all his business he finds time to interest himself in his mother's farm, which contains about two hundred and fifty acres, and in 1895 yielded a thousand bushels of potatoes. Her home is filled with boarders during the summer months of the year.
In 1894 Mr. Edgerly married Miss Anna Cogswell, a graduate of Gilmanton Academy, and a daughter of the Hon. Thomas Cogswell, Pension Agent for the State of New Hamp- shire. In 1893 Mr. Edgerly was appointed Postmaster of Gilmanton by President Cleve- land. Although actively interested in poli- tics, he is not an office-seeker. He is a mem- ber of Crystal Lake Grange, No. 101.
EORGE S. CAVERNO, an extensive and energetic farmer, dairy man, and stock-raiser of Durham, was born in the town of Strafford, this county, July I, 1842. His father, George W. Caverno, was a lifelong resident of Strafford, where he was numbered among its most esteemed citizens. The Caverno family, which is of Scotch-Irish descent, has been distinguished for integrity,
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industry, and thrift. Its first representative in this part of New England was one Arthur Caverno, who located on the old family home- stead in Strafford between the years 1735 and 1740. This property descended in direct line to George W. Caverno. The latter married Mary Hayes, and by her became the father of George S. and Jonathan Caverno.
George S. Caverno completed his education in the academies of Strafford and New Hamp- ton. When seventeen years old, being still a student, he engaged in teaching, and subse- quently followed it for five or more years. In 1867, striking out for himself in an entirely new direction, Mr. Caverno went West, as far as Junction River, Kansas, where he succeeded in establishing a good business in stock deal- ing, in which he continued until 1874. Re- turning then to the place of his birth, he had charge of the old home farm for some years. In 1886 he came to Durham; and, purchasing the one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land contained in his present farm, he at once settled on it, and has since been counted among the foremost agriculturists of the com- munity. His farm is well furnished and stocked; and he carries on general husbandry, dairying, and stock-growing, with much profit.
Mr. Caverno was united in marriage Janu- ary 30, 1866, with Miss Ida S. Hanson, a daughter of Horatio G. and Irene Hanson, of Dover. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Caverno died in youth. During his brief resi- dence in this locality Mr. Caverno has iden- tified himself with the best interests of the place. He is a Justice of the Peace, and has served as Selectman of Durham, having been elected on the Republican ticket, which he invariably supports from principle. He is not a member of any religious organization, but contributes generously toward the support of public worship.
ALDO CHASE VARNEY, mer- chant in Alton, was born in that town, July 29, 1871, son of Allen and Esther (Chase) Varney. His great- grandfather, Thomas Varney, came to Alton from Rochester, N.H., and was a tailor by trade. The children of Thomas were: Pris- cilla, Ira, Paul, Martha, Joshua A., and Jona- than. Of these children, Martha, born Octo- ber 19, 1800, was married to Dr. Thomas Shannon, of Moultonboro, N.H. Dr. Shan- non, who was a graduate of Dartmouth Col- lege and a successful physician of high stand- ing, died in the eighty-first year of his age. Mrs. Shannon still survives him, being at the present time ninety-six years of age, remark- ably well preserved, with her memory still good and mind very clear. Quite active for one of her age, she attended camp-meeting in the summer of 1891; and at the centennial celebration of Alton in 1896 she was a promi- nent figure. Paul Varney, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, married Polly Chamberlain, daughter of Captain Jacob Chamberlain. They had five children - Allen, Paul, Lavona, Emma, and Andrew. Of these children Allen married for his first wife a Miss Perkins. His second wife was Esther (Chase) Varney, daughter of Greenleaf Chase. By the second marriage he had two children - Frank A. and Waldo C. Frank has married Carrie A. Lang.
Waldo Chase Varney, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools in Alton, and later Phillips Exeter Academy for a period of three years. After returning to his home he entered the employ of John Collins, a shoe manufacturer. He was a member of the firm Demerritt & Varney Brothers, who started in business December 10, 1896. They keep a large stock of general merchandise in a store remodelled especially for them, with ample
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accommodation; and their outlook is very favorable. Mr. Varney has been Town Clerk for two years. He has also been one of the foremost workers in the interest of the new town library, is at present one of its Trustees, and also acts as librarian at certain times, without remuneration. In politics Mr. Var- ney is a Republican, and he has constantly voted with his party. He is the Secretary of the Republican Club of Alton. Of a genial character and public-spirited to a high degree, he is one of Alton's most popular young men.
ARRY HILLS STACKPOLE, M. D., a skilful physician of Dover, was born in his present home, August 30, 1852. His father, the venerable Dr. Paul A. Stackpole, who has been numbered among the leading citizens of Dover for more than half a century, married Miss Elizabeth G. Hills, of Haverhill, who died in early life, leaving three children. A more extended account of the life of Dr. Paul A. Stackpole, to be found on another page, will have interest for many readers.
Having received his preliminary education in the common schools of his native city, Harry H. Stackpole completed a special course of study at the Dover High School when seventeen years of age. With a view of becoming familiar with the drug trade, he afterward became a clerk in the drug store of William H. Vickery. A few years later he went to Charlestown, Mass. Subsequently, from 1872 to 1876, he was Assistant Post- master of Everett, Mass., where he also con- ducted a drug store. Following this he suc- ceeded Toppan & Co. in their express business between Dover and Boston, and managed it for a brief period. In 1876 he was special cor- respondent for the Globe Associated Press at
the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Disposing of his express interest to Jackson & Co. in the latter part of 1877, he established himself in the drug trade in East Cambridge, Mass., and carried it on for several years. For some time after this he was engaged in managing business for other druggists in and around Boston. In July, 1886, he was ad- mitted to the medical department of Dart- mouth College, from which he graduated in the fall of 1887. Having received his degree, Dr. Stackpole returned to his home in Dover to enter upon the practice of his profession, and has since made this his abiding-place. In 1889 he went abroad and further qualified him- self for his profession by courses of study and clinical experience in the principal hospitals of Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and London. Since his return in the fall of 1890 the Doctor has continued his professional duties with renewed zeal, and built up a good practice, in a large measure relieving his father from his severe labors.
While an uncompromising Democrat and active and influential in local affairs, Dr. Stackpole has never been an aspirant for polit- ical honors. He is a member of Putnam Lodge, F. & A. M., of East Cambridge, Mass. ; of New England Lodge, No. 4, and N. E. Encampment, No. 34, I. O. O. F., of the same place; and of Prescott Camp, No. 7, I. O. O. F., of Charlestown, Mass. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Lizzie A. Mc- Daniel, daughter of Dr. David and Almira C. McDaniel. They have one child, Charlotte Elizabeth, born in October, 1878.
ILLIAM TRUE CASS, the Presi- dent of the Citizens' National Bank and Treasurer of the Iona Savings Bank of Tilton, was born in Andover, N. H.,
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BARD B. PLUMMER.
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February 7, 1826, son of Benjamin and Sarah (True) Cass. His great-grandfather was Nason Cass. The grandfather, Chandler Cass, a native of Epping, was a prosperous farmer and carpenter of Andover for the greater part of his life. Benjamin Cass, father of William T., was born in Andover in 1789. He grew to manhood as a farmer; and in 1833 he settled in Plymouth, N. H., where he tilled the soil until 1853. He then removed to that part of Sanbornton that is now the town of Tilton; and, purchasing a good farm, he occupied it for the rest of his life. He died in 1866. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife, Sarah, who was a daughter of William True, of An- dover, reared four of her children, namely : Hannah, who married Jason C. Draper, of Plymouth ; Benjamin F., a resident of Tilton ; William T., the subject of this sketch; and Sarah H., who is now Mrs. Reuben B. Locke, of Tilton. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William True Cass began his education in the public schools, and his studies were com- pleted at Holmes Academy in Plymouth. Upon reaching manhood he adopted agriculture with the intention of following it through life, and was engaged in that occupation for some time. He subsequently decided to accept the position of Cashier of the Citizens' Bank of Tilton, and relinquished farming to enter upon. his new duties in January, 1856. This bank was reorganized, and became the Citizens' National Bank in 1865; and he continued as its Cashier until elected President in 1889. The Iona Savings Bank was chartered in 1870, with Mr. Cass as Treasurer, which office he still holds. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but since the breaking out of the Civil War he has been a Republican. He served as Moderator at town meetings in San- bornton for three years and in Tilton for five
years, and he was Town Treasurer of Tilton for two years.
On September 18, 1851, Mr. Cass was united in marriage with Mary Emery Locke, born in 1830, daughter of Samuel B. Locke, of Concord. Of their four children, two lived to maturity, namely - Mary Addic and Arthur T. Mary Addie, born March 5, 1863, is the wife of Abel W. Reynolds, of Somerville, Mass. Arthur T. Cass, who was born April 9, 1865, fitted for college at the New Hampshire Con- ference Seminary, but did not take a collegiate course, preferring to enter the banking busi- ness at once. He has practically grown up in that business, as he began to make entries when fourteen years old; and he succeeded his father as Cashier of the Citizens', National bank in 1889. On May 16, 1894, he wedded Mary W. Packard, daughter of Liberty D. Packard, M.D., of South Boston, Mass., and has one son - Kingman Packard, born April I, 1895. Arthur T. Cass is connected with Doric Lodge, No. 78, F. & A. M., and in politics acts with the Republican party. The entire family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church; and William T. Cass was formerly President of the Board of Trustees, and has been a class leader for forty years. Mr. Cass has also been a Trustee of New Hampshire Conference Seminary and Female College for over twenty-five years, and was Treasurer of the institution for seventeen years.
B ARD B. PLUMMER, a prominent resident of Milton, N. H., and ex- Sheriff of Strafford County, was born in the house he now owns and occupies, June 18, 1846, son of Enoch W. and Orinda (Ayers) Plummer. The Plummer homestead was cleared by his great-grandfather, Bard Plummer, Sr., who came here from Rochester,
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N.H. Bard Plummer, Jr., grandfather of Bard B., next cultivated the farm; and after his death his son, Enoch W., inherited the property.
Enoch W. Plummer was an able farmer and one of the leading residents of Milton in his day, serving as Representative to the legis- lature. In his latter years he supported the Re- publican party in politics. He was a Congre- gationalist in religion, and served as a Deacon of that church for forty years. For several years he held a Colonel's commission in the old State militia. He died in 1896, aged eighty-one years. He and his wife, Orinda Ayers, who is a native of Wakefield, N. H., became the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, namely: Mary B., wife of S. W. Wallingford; Sarah, wife of the Rev. F. Haley; Fanny W., wife of Dr. J. H. Twom- bly, of Milton; and Bard B., the subject of this sketch.
Bard B Plummer, after leaving the common schools, attended the Wakefield Academy and the Maine State College. When his educa- tion was completed he returned to the home- stead, and he has since given his attention to general farming. He owns five hundred acres of excellent land, which is desirably located ; and he makes it a point to avail himself of modern improvements in the practice of agri- culture. As an active supporter of the Repub- lican party he has figured conspicuously in public affairs. For five years he was a mem- ber of the School Board. He was High Sheriff of Strafford County from 1892 to 1894, during which time he had charge of the county jail in Dover, and was appointed Deputy Sheriff by his successor, James E. Hayes. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nute High School of Milton.
Mr. Plummer married Eliza D. Wentworth, daughter of John J. Wentworth, of Jamaica
Plain, Mass. They have four children, namely : Lucia C .; Fanny W .; Bard B., who is attending Durham College; and Orinda.
In Masonry Mr. Plummer is well advanced, being a Past Master of Unity Lodge, F. & A. M., of Union, N.H., of which he was Sec- retary for nineteen years; a member of Colum- bia Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Farming- ton, N. H .; and of St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar, of Dover. He is also Past Dictator of Love Lodge, Knights of Honor, of Union. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church, and succeeded his father as a Deacon.
REN NASON ROBERTS, Supervisor of Roads, Meredith, was born in this town, April 16, 1838, son of Thomas and Nancy C. (Wiggin) Roberts. His grand- father, Leavitt Roberts, who was probably a native of Meredith, passed the active period of his life in this town, occupied in general farming.
Thomas Roberts was born in Meredith, September 11, 1812. After leaving school he went to Quincy, Mass., where he was em- ployed in the stone quarries for several sum- mers. He then worked as a farm assistant until after his marriage, when he bought a piece of agricultural property in Meredith, was engaged in its cultivation for the rest of his life, and died December 3, 1886. He voted with the Democratic party, but was not active in political affairs. His wife, Nancy, was a daughter of Winthrop Wiggin, who was a prosperous farmer and a lifelong resident of Meredith. Winthrop Wiggin, a well-known man, and conversant with the current topics of the day, was a Democrat in politics. He married Hannah Cate, and had a family of five children - Betsey, Nancy C., Ann, George, and Smith. Mrs. Thomas Roberts
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became the mother of four children, as fol- lows: Oren N., the subject of this sketch ; George Smith Roberts, who resides in Chi- cago; Eben Fisk, a resident of Medford, Mass. ; and Frank, who lives in Meredith. Both parents were Second Adventists.
Oren Nason Roberts acquired a public- school education, and then went to Brighton, Mass., for the purpose of learning the butch- ering business. After remaining there eight years, he spent the succeeding six years in Medford, Danvers, and Boston, Mass. Upon his return to Meredith he became associated with his brother George, and Simeon Wad- leigh, in the manufacture of ploughs, under the firm name of the Wadleigh Plough Com- pany, a connection that lasted four years. In 1874 he bought his present farm of sixty acres, which he has since cultivated. For several years past he has been Supervisor of Roads. He was supervisor of the check list for two years, and served with ability for the same length of time as a member of the Board of Selectmen. In politics he is a Democrat.
On May 29, 1864, Mr. Roberts wedded Julia Ann Smith, daughter of Clark Smith, of Brighton, Mass., and now has five children. These are: Fred S., a resident of Laconia; Emma N., the wife of Wilbur W. Ballard, of Meredith; Charles N., of this town; Harry F., who resides in Allston, Mass. ; and Bertie C. Mr. Roberts is connected with Winnepe- saukee Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. He and Mrs. Roberts are members of the Baptist church, and for several years he has acted as the clerk of the society.
AMES CORSON, a practical and pro- gressive agriculturist of East Roches- ter, was born February 15, 1845, in Ward One of this township, son of Michael E.
Corson, and grandson of Joseph Corson, who was the founder of the family in this locality. Michael E. Corson was born in Rochester in 1808, and here spent his fourscore years of life, dying in 1888. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and did his share in clearing the land. He married Mary Butler, who was born and reared in Berwick, Mc. She bore him four children, namely: John, of Haverhill, Mass. ; Hiram, of Rollinsford, this county; James, the subject of this sketch; and Nahum, of Rochester, N. H.
James Corson was reared to man's estate on the home farm, in the winter season being a regular attendant of the district school. Ile labored on the farm during seed time and harvest throughout his boyhood. On reaching man's estate he embarked in business on his own account, establishing himself as a general farmer and lumberman. From time to time he made judicious investments in land, and is now the possessor of eight hundred acres, lying in Strafford County. He is engaged to some extent in stock-raising, having now about forty head of cattle; and he makes a specialty of hay, of which he cuts about one hundred tons annually. In politics he is an active supporter of the Republican party, with which he has always been identified. For two years he served as Selectman, and for a num- ber of terms he was Surveyor of Rochester.
Mr. Corson was married March 3, 1877, to Mary E. Curtis, daughter of Cyrus K. Cur- tis, of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have seven children, five of whom are living. These are: Freeman, born January 3, 1878, a student at Dartmouth College; Edna, born May 31, 1880; Grace, born August 15, 1886; Nellie W., born April 2, 1888; and Bertha L., born January 24, 1893. Woodbury died October 6, 1885, and Lilla May died Decem- ber 2, 1896. Mr. Corson and family attend
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the Baptist church at East Rochester, and con- tribute liberally toward its support.
EORGE ANDREW PHILBRICK, the proprietor of the Philbrick House, East Tilton, was born in this town, December 17, 1850, son of Andrew and Ruth H. (Philbrick) Philbrick. The Phil- bricks are descendants of Thomas and Eliza- beth Philbrick, natives of Lancashire, Eng- land, who emigrated with their children to Naumkeag (Salem, Mass). This family after- ward moved to Watertown, and finally settled in Hampton, N.H., where the will of Thomas Philbrick was probated August 8, 1667. James, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Phil- brick, married Ann Roberts, of Dover, N.H. He was drowned in the Hampton River. James Philbrick (second), who was a mariner, wedded Hannah Perlsine, of Hampton. Nathan Philbrick, born August 19, 1697, mar- ried Dorcas, daughter of James Johnson, and died April 23, 1794, being then ninety-seven years old.
Benjamin Philbrick, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Hampton, and one of seven brothers who settled in this section. He resided here for the rest of his life, and died January 23, 1808. On December 15, 1757, he married .Sarah, daughter of Shubael Page, of Hampton; and she died July 19, 1831, aged ninety-seven years. Josiah Philbrick, the grandfather, also a native of Hampton, born March 12, 1777, was a fisherman previous to settling in San- bornton, where he followed the trade of a blacksmith in connection with farming for the rest of his active period, and died January 18, 1868. He wedded Mary Elkins, who was born in Rye, N. II., June 25, 1781, and died De- cember 13, 1867.
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