USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 2
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In politics Mr. Cloutman has remained faithful to the Democratic views since his majority. The first office to which he was elected was that of Representative to the State legislature for the year 1861-62. He was Town Treasurer and Moderator for a number of years, and State Senator for two years, 1876 and 1877. Of the Town Committee, com- posed of J. E. Fernald, Alonzo Nute, and Mr. Cloutman, that built the Opera House, he is the only survivor. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to Fraternal Lodge, F. & A. M .; Columbian Chapter, R. A. M .; and Palestine Commandery, K. T., of Rochester. For six years he was Master of his lodge. He is also a member of Woodbine Lodge and Mad River Encampment, I. O. O. F. ; and of New Hamp- shire Grange, of which he was Master for one year. The family attended the Baptist church.
ON. SAMUEL BAILEY SMITH, Mayor of Laconia, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in West Newbury, Essex County, Mass., May 11, 1837, son of Moses and Mary A. (Bailey) Smith. On the father's side he is descended from one of three brothers, who emigrated to this country from England. His parents, who were prosperous farming people of West Newbury, are no longer living. They
reared a family of seven children, two of whom are residing in Dedham, Mass; three in West Newbury, Mass; one in Merrimac, Mass; and Samuel Bailey, the subject of this sketch, in Laconia for the past thirty-four years.
After completing his education at Phillips Andover Academy, Samuel Bailey Smith en- tered on his business career. He was first employed in the cutting-room of a shoe manu- factory. Later he had charge of a dry-goods and clothing store in Lawrence, Mass. In the spring of 1862 he came to Laconia, and formed a partnership with A. G. Folsom, under the firm name of Folsom & Smith. This concern carried on the dry-goods and clothing business until 1869, when Mr. Smith bought the interest of his partner, and con- tinued the business at the old quarters in Fol- som Block, but subsequently leasing the two other stores comprising the remainder of the block. In 1882 he sold his business to the Lougee Brothers. He has been engaged in the real estate business here since 1875, fre- quently taking an active part in securing public improvements. He was a promoter and one of the largest subscribers to the stock of the Laconia Street Railway Company. In 1885 he built the Smith Block, erected a five- tenement block on Beacon Street in 1876, built a three-story business and tenement block at the corner of Beacon and Mill Streets in 1887, and in 1892 enlarged and remodelled the Tucker House, dividing it into seventeen tenements with modern improvements. Prom- inently identified with financial matters for a prolonged period, he has been a Trustee of the Laconia Savings Bank and a Director of the People's Bank since its incorporation.
In June, 1869, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Ada A. Folsom, youngest daughter of A. G. Folsom, of Laconia, and has now one son and two daughters. One of
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the daughters is married; and his son, James S., is now employed at the People's Bank. In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican, and has advocated the principles of that party since he became a voter. Although he has never sought for public office, his business ability and knowledge of finance make him especially competent for the discharge of its duties. When elected a member of the School Board, he declined to serve. Ile subsequently ac- cepted a seat in the City Council. While in this body he was its Chairman for most of the time, and was Chairman of the Committee on Sewers under the old town government. Seeking to have municipal work carried on as economically as possible, he succeeded in keeping the departments over which he pre- sided within the limit of their respective appropriations. In 1895 he was elected Mayor, and the good results expected of his administration of that office have been fully realized. While a member of the House of Representatives in 1889-90, he served upon the Committees on Banks and Labor; and he was closely connected with the building of the State Normal School in Plymouth.
EORGE E. DURGIN, Clerk of the Supreme Court at Dover, N.H., has held this position for a score of years, and during the time has discharged the duties connected with it with such eminent ability and fidelity as to command the respect and win the confidence of all concerned. He was born May 13, 1831, in the adjacent town of Mad- bury, a son of Walter and Hannah (Woodman) Durgin.
Walter Durgin was a native of Strafford County, born January 30, 1801, and was reared to farming pursuits, an occupation in which, in conjunction with carpentering, he was en-
gaged during his active life. In 1856 he removed to Epping, Rockingham County, pur- chasing a farm on which he spent his declining days. He died September 17, 1881, in his eighty-first year. In politics he was a sound Democrat, clear-headed, capable, and always faithful to his trust. He frequently served as Moderator of town meetings, was a Selectman several terms, and later was on the Board of County Commissioners. He is remembered as a man of many sterling qualities, who enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. His wife, also a native of this county, lived to the venerable age of fourscore and two years, passing away December 12, 1891. The parental household included five children, all sons, namely: George E., the subject of this biographical sketch; Charles C., who died December 20, 1861; John A., who died November 8, 1884, at Providence, R.I., where he was superintendent of locomo- tive works; Henry S., who died while in ser- vice during the late Civil War, August 14, 1863, at Cairo, Ill. ; and Walter Frank, now living on the old homestead in Epping, N.H.
George E. Durgin remained with his parents on the home farm until eighteen years old, obtaining his elementary education in the dis- trict schools. In the shoe business he worked diligently until he had saved one hundred dol- lars, when he began fitting himself for the position of a teacher, studying at a private school in Lee, N.H. He subsequently taught school winters in the towns of Lee, Madbury, Rochester, and Barrington, this State, and West Newbury, Mass., for fifteen years, and worked at farming in the summers, making his home in Lee, where he was one of the board for examining teachers. During this time Mr. Durgin held different local public offices. In 1871 and 1872 he served in the State legis- lature; and in 1874, having been appointed
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Registrar of Probate of Strafford County, he removed with his family to Dover, where he has since resided. Two years later Mr. Dur- gin was appointed to his present position, in which he is giving universal satisfaction. He is justly held in esteem by all who know him, being a man of strict integrity, and is often called upon to serve in important financial matters. He has probably settled more estates than any other person in the city, and at times has held the guardianship of as many as a dozen minors and pensioners at once.
On April 18, 1854, Mr. Durgin married Miss Lydia Ann, daughter of David and Betsey Mathes, of Lee, N.H. Mrs. Durgin was a woman of fine character, deeply imbted with a religious spirit, and an active worker in the Advent Christian Church of Dover, whose house of worship was erected and freed from debt largely through her efforts. She was noted for her benevolence and generous hospi- tality, her house and home being ever open to preacher and layman, and to the poor and des- titute as well as to those of affluence and influence ;. and her death, which occurred August 5, 1893, was a severe loss to her friends and to the community. One who had been acquainted with Lydia A. Mathes in "her school days, when a pupil of one of the best teachers this country ever knew, Moses A. Cartland, of Walnut Grove School, Lee, N.H.," who was a cousin of the poet Whittier, thus wrote of her: "From him whom she so admired she caught her deep spiritual insight and feeling which found its outlet in a formal profession of religious faith in the doctrines of the Advent Christian church at Lee in 1854, the year of her marriage. From that day until the day of her death she never fal- tered or grew faint in well doing. Her relig- ion was real and aggressive. Her thought by day and her dream by night was how best to |
serve her Master. Gifted as a school girl with a voice of peculiar power and persuasion, she became gifted in prayer and hymn ; and for thirty-nine years that voice edified and made strong many fainting, doubting hearts, and cheered and sustained many a discouraged mis- sionary and preacher."
Mr. and Mrs. Durgin had but one child, Ella Gertrude, who remains with her father. Politically, Mr. Durgin is an adherent of the Democratic party, and, religiously, is a firm be- liever in the teachings of the Advent Christian church.
ILMER STEPHEN TILTON, a manu- facturer of hosiery in Tilton, but a resident of Laconia, Belknap Coun- ty, N.H., was born in Laconia, October 11, 1869, son of George H. and Marietta (Rand- lett) Tilton.
His grandfather, Joseph S. Tilton, a worthy representative of one of the old families, was a resident of Laconia, where he was one of the originators of the hosiery business, which he carried on successfully for many years. Dur- ing the Civil War he was First Lieutenant, but served as Captain, of Company H, in the Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment, and was wounded at Chancellorsville. He married Betsy Ham, who lived near Strafford, N. H .; and they had four children. Grandfather Til- ton died in 1879.
George H. Tilton, the father of Elmer S., was formerly in the hosiery business in Laconia. In 1891 he removed the industry to Tilton, N.H., where he still manages it with excellent financial returns. He also served in the Rebellion, in Company D, Fourth New Hampshire Regiment. In the engagement before Petersburg, Va., he received a sun- stroke. His wife was a daughter of Osgood Randlett, who belonged to one of the oldest
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families in Belmont, N.H. Mrs. Tilton died when Elmer S., their only child, was but four years of age. Mr. Tilton was a Representa- tive to the legislature during 1891-92.
Elmer S. Tilton was graduated at the Laconia High School in the class of 1887, and ยท has since been associated in business with his father in Tilton. In politics Mr. Tilton affil- iates with the Republican party. He is a member of the Republican City Committee, and is reputed to be one of the hardest party workers in Ward Three. In 1894 he was de- feated in his candidacy as a Representative to the legislature by only six votes, and in 1896 he was elected to the office. He is also one of the Auditors for Belknap County.
In 1892 he was united in marriage with Lilian G., a daughter of E. B. Harrington, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer S. Tilton have two sons - Charles Henry and Elmer Har- rington. Fraternally, Mr. Tilton is a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 32, F. & A. M .; Union Royal Arch Chapter, No. 7, Pilgrim Commandery, K. T .; and Mount Bel- knap Lodge, No. 20, K. P. - all of Laconia. He is also a thirty-second degree Mason, being a member of Edward A. Raymond Consistory, of Nashua, N.H. He also belongs to Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Boston, Mass.
ILLARD T. SANBORN, the super- intendent of the Dover Water Works, was born September 26, 1859, at South New Market (now Newfields), Rockingham County, this State. His father, Rufus Sanborn, a native of Epping, N. H., was there reared, and subsequently worked there as a mechanic. Moving to Rockingham County after his marriage, Rufus continued at his former occupation, and is still residing there, being now about seventy years old. He
married Clara P. Paul, of South New Market, N. H., who died August 23, 1860, after having been his faithful and devoted companion for many years. They were the parents of two children - Alice P. and Willard T.
Willard T. Sanborn, who early showed a natural talent for mechanics, soon after gradu- ating from the district schools, was sent by his parents to the Institute of Technology in Boston. Here he took a full course in the mechanical department, spending his vaca- tions in a machine shop. On leaving the in- stitute, he served an apprenticeship in a machine shop, becoming an efficient machin- ist. Mr. Sanborn then secured a position as fireman on the Boston & Maine Railroad. About a year later, July 24, 1880, he was ap- pointed engineer on the same road, remaining in that capacity until January, 1886. He was then offered, and he accepted, the responsible position of superintendent of the Dover Gas Light Company at Dover, an office which he filled to the utmost satisfaction of the com- pany for seven years. On March 1, 1894, he assumed charge of the city water-works of Dover, of which he is still the superintendent, his management being strongly characterized by good judgment and skill.
On March 17, 1886, Mr. Sanborn married Miss Emma J. Manson, of Boston, a daughter of John T. and Mary J. (Sawyer) Manson. He is identified with the Republican party, being one of the most ardent advocates of its principles. He was a member of the Common Council in 1890 and 1891, serving in the latter year as President of the Board; and in 1892 and 1893 he was an Alderman, represent- ing Ward Two. Besides being a Knight of Pythias, he is prominently connected with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree, and belongs to the Scot- tish Rite.
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EORGE H. BROWN, M.D., of Gil- manton, where he is a popular and successful physician, is a native of Haverhill, Mass., born April 3, 1853. He is a son of Horace and Valeria (Clarke) Brown, and a grandson of Ebenezer Brown. The latter, who was a resident of Sanbornton, N. H., and carried on farming on a large scale, served as a Major in the War of 1812, was prominent in the State militia, represented Sanbornton in the New Hampshire legislature, and served acceptably in some town offices. He married Susan Taylor, who belonged to an old family of Sanbornton, and who bore him three children -Jonathan C., Theodocia, and Horace. Theodocia first married Eben Tay- lor, a merchant, by whom she had two chil- dren - Kate and Eveana. Eveana is now the widow of John P. Piper, and lives in New Hampton, N. H. For her second husband Theodocia married Charles Cawley, a large farmer of Sanbornton, by whom she has had no children. Horace Brown, the third child of his parents, after attending the schools of San- bornton and New Hampton, went into a mer- cantile business on his own account. Subse- quently he kept the American House in Haver- hill, Mass., for many years. From Haverhill he went to Boston, and there continued in the hotel business for some time longer. Then he returned to the homestead in Sanbornton, and engaged in farming. His wife, Valeria M., was a daughter of Archibald S. Clarke, a mer- chant of Sanbornton. They had two children - Ella A. and George H. Ella married Jere- miah L. Fogg, who is engaged in the meat business in Manchester, N.H.
George H. Brown was, like his sister, a student of Tilton Seminary. After leaving school he engaged in the meat business in Bel- mont. Later he drove a stage between Gilman- ton and Tilton for two years, and then con-
ducted a grocery store for an equal length of time. Influenced by his association with Dr. . Wight, of Gilmanton, whose friendship he had acquired, he gave up trade, and turned his attention to the study of medicine. After spending four years under Dr. Wight's tui- tion, he took a three years' course of medical lectures at Vermont University in Burlington, and there received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1882. Thereupon he entered upon his profession in association with Dr. Wight, and quickly made his way in the esteem of the public. Upon the latter's death Dr. Brown assumed entire charge of the prac- tice, which covers a circuit of some six miles around the village of Gilmanton. Much in- terested in horses, the Doctor acquired posses- sion of one which he recently sold for fifteen hundred dollars. He takes quite an active part in town affairs. He served as Town Clerk for three years, and was legislative Rep- resentative for two terms.
On December 31, 1889, Dr. Brown married Miss Henrietta Orange, of Gilmanton. Her father, Henry S. Orange, a retired merchant of Gilmanton, had an extensive business in Lowell, Mass., for many years, and was a member of the city government. Dr. and Mrs. Brown have one child, George Clinton, now two years old.
AMES ELBRIDGE LOTHROP, of Dover, N.H., is the head of the well- known family of Lothrops, whose senior members are leading business men in New Hampshire and in Boston, Mass. He was born November 30, 1826, in Rochester, Straf- ford County, N. H., son of Daniel and Sophia (Horne) Lothrop.
The family history has been traced back to John Lowthorpe, of whom little more is known
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than that about the middle of the sixteenth century he lived in Lowthorpe, Yorkshire, England. It is assumed that he derived his name, which signifies low field, from that of the town, in accordance with the practice of the time of distinguishing individuals by their paternity, birthplace, occupation, or some local feature associated with them. His son Thomas is known to have resided in Bur- ton Cherry and subsequently in Elton, and to have had two sons, John and Mark, who are believed to have been natives of the latter place. John, who was a minister of religion, after Jaboring at his sacred calling in Egerton, County Kent, for some time, became a non- conformist, and subsequently was pastor of the Separatist church established in Southwark, London. At a later date, after suffering im- prisonment for his religious opinions, the Rev. John Lothrop and his brother Mark came in the ship "Griffin " to this country; and he was pastor of the First Church in Scituate, Mass., in 1634, and of the First Church in Barnstable in 1639.
After residing for short periods in Salem and Duxbury, Mark settled permanently in Bridgewater, Mass., where he died in 1686. His son, Samuel Lothrop, a native of Bridge- water, married Sarah Downer, who had by him a son Mark, also a native of that place, born September 9, 1689. This Mark, who was one of the first settlers of Easton, Mass., and died there in 1777, married March 29, 1722, Hannah Alden, a daughter of Deacon Joseph Alden, of Bridgewater, and a great- grand-daughter of John Alden, who came in the "Mayflower." Their son Jonathan, who was born in Bridgewater, March 11, 1723, and died in 1771, married on April 13, 1746, Susanna, a daughter of Solomon and Susanna (Edson) Johnson, of Bridgewater. Jonathan's son Solomon, the grandfather of the subject of
this sketch, born in Easton, February 9, 1761, was for some time a resident of Norton, Mass., where he died October 19, 1843. His wife, Mehitable, was a daughter of Cornelius White, of Taunton, Mass.
Daniel Lothrop, son of Solomon and Mehit- able Lothrop, was born in Easton, Mass., Jan- uary 9, 1801. In 1827 he removed to Roches- ter, N.H., and there bought a farm situated on Haven's Hill. At first he worked at his trade of stone mason. Subsequently he joined his sons in a clothing business in Dover, with branch houses in Rochester and Great Falls, under the firm name of Daniel Lothrop & Sons. He was much respected in Rochester, where he took a prominent part in public affairs. He was twice married. His first marriage was contracted October 16, 1825, with Sophia Horne, daughter of Deacon Jeremiah Horne, of Rochester. She was a descendant of Will- iam Horne, who was one of the settlers of Dover in 1662, and who met his death in the massacre of June 28, 1689. Horne's Hill, the estate left by him, is still in the posses- sion of the family. Another of Sophia's an- cestors was the Rev. Joseph Hull, a graduate of Cambridge University, England, who in 1662 took up his residence in Durham, N.H. By his second marriage, which took place Sep- tember 24, 1849, Daniel Lothrop was united to Mary E. Chamberlin. His children by both wives were: James Elbridge, the subject of this article; John Colby, born September 12, 1828; Daniel, born August 11, 1831; Matthew Henry, born January 1, 1851 ; and Mary Sophia, born August 15, 1853. The parents were members of the Methodist church. The father died May 31, 1870.
James Elbridge Lothrop spent the first fif- teen years of his life on the Haven's Hill farm in Rochester. His early education was ac- quired by attending the district school in win-
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ter. In the summer he was usually employed in the farm. On the frequent occasions that Daniel Lothrop was obliged to be absent from funne in the pursuit of his calling, the superin- tendence of the farm work was intrusted to Junes E., as the eldest son. Among the duties that devolved on him in this way at the age of ten was that of taking loads of wood to Dover and making sale of them in the market- place. Having finished with the district school, he attended the Rochester and Straf- ford Academies for a short time. At the age of sixteen he taught for brief periods suc- cessively in a winter school and a private school in Rochester.
In the following year, abandoning his pur- pose of pursuing a collegiate course, he went . to Fall River, Mass., where his uncle, Jere- miah Horne, besides attending to a lucrative medical practice, conducted a flourishing drug store. Here, learning the drug business under his uncie's instruction, Mr. Lothrop passed two years, in the course of which he also began to read medicine. Early in 1845 he went home to Rochester; and in the autumn, upon a capital of three hundred dol- lars borrowed from his father, he opened a drug store in Dover. A year later he gave it in charge to his brother, in order to be able to pursue his medical studies. He subse- quently attended the winter lectures at Jeffer- son Medical College, Philadelphia, and ob- tained his medical degree from that institution in 1848. His plan was to follow Mr. Horne's example by uniting the practice of medicine to the dispensing of drugs. This he found impracticable soon after his return to Roches- ter, whereupon he devoted himself exclusively to the management of his store.
At this time he took his brother Daniel into partnership, and they adopted as the firm name D. Lothrop & Co. The next important
event in this firm's history was the opening of another drug store in New Market, N. II., under the management of Daniel. Shortly after, a third brother, John C., was taken into the firm, and sent to New Market to learn the business. Other stores were then established in Great Falls, Meredith Village, and Ames- bury. When John C. was duly qualified, he was placed in charge of the store in Great Falls. Subsequently the stores in New Mar- ket, Meredith, and Amesbury were disposed of; and the firm made a new departure by opening a clothing house in Great Falls. This venture proved so much more profitable than the drug store in the same town that the latter was abandoned in order that John C. might give the former his whole attention. The establishment in Dover, however, had been so successful that the firm were encour- aged to open another there. This was con- ducted solely by clerks until 1866, when it was sold. At the original store further help in the management became necessary; and a half-interest was disposed of to Alonzo T. Pinkham, after which the place was conducted under the style of Lothrops & Pinkham.
Later, taking their father into partnership, the brothers formed the firm Daniel Lothrop & Sons, who thereupon opened a clothing house in Dover and branches in. Rochester and Great Falls. After the death of Daniel Lothrop, Sr., Matthew Henry Lothrop, who had been employed as a salesman by the firm, bought an interest in the clothing business here, and was in charge of it until 1880, when he went to Boston. Charles H. Farnham was then admitted as a partner; and the firm name became Lothrops, Farnham & Co. Some time before, musical instruments had been added to the stock in trade. The business of the house has since increased to dimensions scarcely equalled in New England.
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In 1850 D. Lothrop & Co. first engaged in the business of booksellers by purchasing the stock of Elijah Wadleigh, of Dover. Having carried it on with retail and jobbing depart- ments, and publishing now and again for some time, they decided to enter a wider field. For this purpose the business was removed to Bos- ton. Here their first store was located on Cornhill. In February, 1876, the Cornhill stand was abandoned for one on Franklin Street, which in turn was forsaken for one on Washington Street. In 1890 the publishing firm was organized as a corporation, under the style of the D. Lothrop Company. Their advent in the wider field justified their most sanguine anticipations. As publishers they acquired a national reputation, and they prob- ably became known wherever the English lan- guage was spoken. They were especially suc- cessful with books and other publications for the young, for whom they employed some of the most accomplished pens and the deftest pencils. Their periodicals -Babyland, Pansy, Little Men and Women, and Wide Awake - attained a unique degree of excellence. All this was chiefly due to the business sagacity of Daniel Lothrop.
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