USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 20
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four years. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of Charles Hodgdon, who owned a large farm, and was one of the prosperous residents of Barnstead in his day. She became the mother of three children - Charles H., Pamelia, and John. Pamelia married Jacob Locke, of North Barnstead; and John occupies the homestead.
Having acquired a common-school educa- tion, Charles Hodgdon Dow learned the shoe- maker's trade. When twenty-two years old he went to Roxbury, Mass., and was there em- ployed at brickmaking for four years. He then entered into partnership with Joseph A. Walker for the purpose of manufacturing brick. Withdrawing from that firm a year later, he was engaged in the same business alone for eight years. Returning then to his native State, he bought the York farm in North Barnstead. He also engaged in the manufacture of starch in New York State, being associated in that enterprise with Robert S. Webster for four years. During his five years' connection with starch making, he was absent in New York State during the winter season. Since his retirement from that business he has carried on general farming on quite an extensive scale, devoting his spare time to shoemaking.
Mr. Dow has been twice married. His first wife, in maidenhood Susan M. Drew, who died in Roxbury, Mass., in 1849, was the mother of one son and one daughter. The latter died in infancy. On August 13, 1854, he wedded Lydia A. Shackford, daughter of Seth and Harriet (Hill) Shackford, of Barn- stead. Mrs. Dow is a descendant of William Shackford, an Englishman, the first ancestor of the family in America. The records of Dover, N.H., show that he was a tax-payer of that town in 1660. He married Deborah Trickey, of Dover. His son, Captain Samuel Shackford, who was a highly respected citizen
of Portsmouth, N. H., married twice. Captain Shackford's son, William, by his first wife, in- herited the greater portion of his father's es- tate, and died in 1773. William Shackford is mentioned in Colonial history as having advanced money toward defraying the expenses of the invasion of Canada. He was twice married; and his son, Captain Samuel Shack- ford, who was a prominent resident of New- ington, N.H., during the Revolutionary War, was Mrs. Dow's great-grandfather. Captain Samuel Shackford's first wife had twelve chil- dren, of whom Josiah, the tenth-born, was Mrs. Dow's grandfather. Josiah Shackford married Lydia Dennett; and, of his five chil- dren by her, Seth, the fifth-born, was Mrs. Dow's father. Seth Shackford was for forty years an insurance agent and a well-known farmer. He was elected to nearly every office within the gift of his fellow-townsmen, in- cluding that of County Commissioner, and for two terms that of legislative Representative. He was a member of the Free Baptist church. His death happened in 1888, in his seventy- eighth year, and that of his wife on February 29, 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Dow have had five children - Seth, B. Frank, George, Hattie M., and Addie. George is a photographer, and re- sides in the West; Hattie M. is the wife of J. H. Thompson, and resides in Farmington, N.H .; Addie married Charles Leighton, and lives . in Haverhill, Mass. B. Frank, who was for two years a book-keeper in Boston for William H. Dow, is now engaged in photog- raphy and assists his father upon the farm. He was recently re-elected to the Board of Education, on which he had previously served for three years ; and he is a charter member of Crescent Lake Grange, No. 164. In politics Charles H. Dow is a Democrat. He has been Town Treasurer for two years, and a Repre-
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sentative to the legislature for the same length of time. While a member of the legislature he served upon the Committee on the Insane Asylums. He is a Deacon of the First Congregational Church, and Mrs. Dow is a member.
OHN H. NEALLEY, a keen and en- terprising business man of Strafford County, and one of the leading mer- chants of the city of Dover, was born August 4, 1853, in South Berwick, Me., the son of Benjamin Mason and Abbie (Pray) Nealley. He received his business education at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in Portland, Me., whither he went after leaving the public schools of Biddeford. On arriving at man's estate he entered the mercantile circle by be- coming a clerk in a wholesale and retail gro- cery and grain store in Saco, Me., in which he was employed for two years. In 1871 he came to Dover, entering the dry-goods estab- lishment of his brother, the Hon. B. F. Nealley, for whom he clerked several years. In 1893 Mr. Nealley purchased the entire business of his brother, and is now proprietor of the store in which he was so long an em- ployee. In this, which is one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in this section of Strafford County, Mr. Nealley carries a complete stock of dry and fancy goods, including the latest novelties in his line. He spares neither time nor expense in endeavoring to please his patrons, and has thereby secured a large and lucrative trade in this city and the surrounding towns.
On September 12, 1877, Mr. Nealley mar- ried Miss Emma C. Cushing, a daughter of the late Thomas HI. Cushing, of Dover. Po- litically, Mr. Nealley affiliates with the Re- publican party, and has been often solicited to accept responsible positions in the town or
county government, but has generally declined because of the engrossing demands of his busi- ness. He served, however, in the State legis- lature in 1889 and 1890 as Representative from Ward Three. Mr. Nealley is a member of Strafford Lodge, F. & A. M., of Dover; of St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar, hav- ing held office in the last-named body for twenty years; and a member of the Order of Elks of this city. He attends and supports the First Parish Congregational Church, of which his wife is a member.
ELVILLE COX SPAULDING, M.D., an able physician and sur- geon of Tilton, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Chelsea, Vt., May 4, 1842. His parents were the Rev. Russell H. and Lucinda (Leavitt) Spaulding, both of whom were natives of Vermont. His grand- father, Reuben Spaulding, was a pioneer in Sharon, Vt., where he erected a log house and cleared a farm. The grandfather subsequently sold his property there, and moved to Canaan, Vt., where he passed the rest of his life. Russell H. Spaulding, Dr. Spaulding's father, was born April 25, 1804; and his boyhood was spent upon a farm. He became a Meth- odist minister, and began preaching on the Ashburnham (Mass.) Circuit. He was later appointed Presiding Elder of the New Hamp- shire Conference, and resided for a time at Haverhill Corner, N. H. Being compelled by a severe throat affection to give up his charge, he bought a farm in Barnard, Vt., where he tilled the soil and preached occasionally. Upon his recovery he resumed his pastoral labors, but a short time later he was forced to retire from the pulpit by a return of the disease; and he purchased a farm in Rochester, N.H. , Six years later he sold this property,
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bought another farm in the same town, and occupied it for the same length of time. Then, having sold his last purchase, he moved to Union Village, Vt. After residing there for a year, he removed to Pittsfield, Vt., where.he died in 1859. Politically, he was a Democrat. His wife, Lucinda Leavitt, was a daughter of Nehemiah Leavitt, and a native of Royalton, Vt., born September 25, 1806. Her father was a native of Connecticut, who moved from that State to Vermont, and pur- chased the township of Royalton. In the carly days of that section the Indians made their way up White River, and burned the town, which was about four miles distant from the Broad Brook, on which Nehemiah lived. Hle was a prosperous farmer and the most prominent man in Royalton in his day. The maiden name of his wife was Polly Worm- wood. The Rev. Russell and Lucinda (Leavitt) Spaulding were the parents of six children, four of whom reached maturity, namely : Harriet, now the wife of Oliver Win- ship; Justin H., who is no longer living; Melville C., the subject of this sketch; and James R., who resides in Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Winship are also residents of Boston, but at present are staying in San Francisco, Cal., for the benefit of their health.
Melville Cox Spaulding attended the Wesleyan Academy at Canaan, N. H., and a school in Pittsfield, Vt. He read medicine with Dr. Brigham of the last-named town, and also gave some attention to music. He was able to play any brass instrument in 1861, when he entered the military service as a B-flat cornet player in the band connected with the Fourth Vermont Regiment. He did this partly for the purpose of obtaining a knowl- edge of surgery, as the army offered superior advantages in that direction. The band was ordered home a year later, after which he at-
tended lectures in the medical department of the University of Vermont, graduating there- from in 1865. Shortly after he began prac- tice in Burke, Vt., where he resided for eight years. After a winter spent in attending lectures and visiting hospitals in Boston, he practised in Bethel, Vt., for four years; in Wilmot, N.H., for six years ; and in Ashland, N.H., meeting with much success, for thir- teen years. In the spring of 1896 he came to Tilton. Here he has charge of the hospital at the Soldiers' Home in addition to a good general practice.
On June 11, 1863, Dr. Spaulding was united in marriage with Mary Charlotte Lamb, daughter of Isaac Lamb, of Stock- bridge, Vt. Of their five children, four at- tained maturity. These are: Josephine, now the wife of Fred E. Goodhue, of Wilmot, N.H .; Grace L., who died some time ago; Roy H. and Harry H., now engaged in manu- facturing, and who reside in Ashland. Dr. Spaulding owns a good residence, with four acres of land, in Ashland. He is connected with Mount Prospect Lodge, F. & A. M. ; with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ashland; and he is Surgeon of O. W. Keyes Post, G. A. R., of that town. While residing in Bethel he was leader of the band. He still retains his interest in music. In politics he is a Republican. "Both he and Mrs. Spaulding are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ERBERT J. JONES, an enterprising merchant and one of the most popu- lar young men of Alton, was born in this town, September 12, 1860, son of Jere- miah and Ellen M. (Sawyer) Jones. For three generations representatives of the Jones family have been prosperous merchants in
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Alton. The business was established by James Jones, grandfather of Herbert J. James Jones, who was born in Farmington, N.H., September 6, 1794, and came to this town when it was struggling into existence, started a small country store, which was the main source of supplies for the settlers. This was the foundation of the present business. Grandfather Jones lived to be over sixty years old. He was twice married. The maiden name of his first wife, whom he wedded in March, 1821, was Polly McDuffee. She died December 23, 1848; and on April 7, 1850, he wedded for his second wife Sally R. Clough. He was the father of four children, all by his first wife; namely, Jonathan, Eleanor, Jere- miah, and Lois. Jonathan travelled consider- ably, but always maintained his residence in Alton, and was buried here; Eleanor is now the widow of Charles P. Emerson, formerly a merchant in Alton Bay; Lois, the youngest, married Seymour Brown, and moved to Winona, Wis., where she died, leaving one son, who is now practising law.
Jeremiah Jones, who was born in Farming- ton, came with his parents to Alton when he was ten years old. He acquired a good prac- tical education, and at an early age began to assist in carrying on the business. For some years previous to the death of his father he conducted the store. The store, then being . rapidly outgrown by its business, was kept in a building which was also the family resi- dence. In 1855 Jeremiah Jones erected the present spacious quarters. Since then, under his able management and owing to the in- creased population of the town, the business has developed to one of considerable impor- tance. Some time ago he was obliged to add a storehouse to the building. He was for many years closely identified with local public affairs, serving as Town Treasurer, Post-
master, and County Commissioner; and the zeal and ability he displayed in these offices were heartily commended by his fellow-towns- men. His wife, Ellen M., is a native of Alton. Her father, the late Daniel Sawyer, was one of the stirring men of his day, served as a Selectman and in other town offices, was also a member of the Governor's Council, and a Justice of the Peace for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Jones have reared two sons - Herbert J. and Percy S. Percy S., who was educated at the New Hampton, Academy, and is now connected with his father's business, is a musician of more than ordinary merit and the organist of the Free Baptist church. Some time ago he was Town Clerk, and discharged the duties of that office in a manner that gave much promise for his future career.
After attending the Franklin Academy at Dover, N.H., for a time, Herbert J. Jones graduated from the academy in New Hampton, and then took a commercial course. Subse- quently he went to Des Moines, Ia., and there for two years was receiving clerk for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Com- pany. He was then collector for the White Line Transfer Company for a year. In 1884 he returned to Alton, where he has since been in partnership with his father. It is stated that Messrs. Jones carry a larger stock of gen- eral merchandise than any other concern in this section, staple goods, such as sugar, grain, and oil, being purchased by the carload. The enterprising spirit of Herbert J. Jones has carried him into other fields of business speculation. He is the largest resident stock- holder of the Alton Water Works, and for the past three years he has been a Director of the New England Retail Grocery Publishing Com- pany. When the Alton Five Cent Savings Bank went into insolvency, he was appointed
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assignee by the Court. For some time he has been a Justice of the Peace and a Notary Public.
On October 5, 1887, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Jennie Dodge, daughter of James and Betsy (Tallant) Dodge, of Pem- broke, N.H. Edna D., their only child, born April 1, 1889, died October 5, 1891. Mr. Jones is Master of the Exchequer of Cocheco Lodge, No. 28, Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Grand Lodge of New Hamp- shire. In politics he is a Democrat and one of that party's most efficient leaders in Alton. A delegate to the Democratic National Con- vention of 1896, he proved that he had the courage of his convictions by bolting the Chi- cago platform and the candidacy of William Jennings Bryan. He was elected Selectman of Alton in 1894, re-elected in 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897; and he was Chairman of the Board for two years. In both administrations of President Cleveland he was Postmaster of Alton.
EORGE D. McDUFFEE, an enter- prising and energetic member of the farming community of Dover, was born January 19, 1867, on the homestead where he has since lived, son of James Y. McDuffee. James McDuffee, born in Roches- ter, this county, May 28, 1827, is a son of John and Salley ( Hayes) McDuffee. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he fol- lowed in his native town until 1849. He then came to Dover, and here purchased the homestead on which he now resides. While a capable business man, he takes an earnest interest in the growth and prosperity of his adopted town, and is ever willing to contrib- ute of his time and means to further its inter- ests. He has been Councilman besides serv- ing in various minor offices. Sincere in his
religious convictions, he is a member of the Free Baptist church. He married Abigail F. Jenness, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: John E .; Carrie E .; Stephen J .; George D., the subject of this sketch; Abbie M .; and two children that died in infancy.
George D. McDuffee was educated in the public schools of Dover, attending first the district school and afterward Franklin Acad- emy, and graduating from the latter with the class of 1885. Since that time Mr. McDuffce has been engaged with his father in farming and dairying. The farm of seventy-five acres, with its improvements and appointments, gives unmistakable evidence of the good judg- ment with which it is managed. Mr. Mc- Duffee has made a close study of the different branches of agriculture, which he carries on after the most approved modern methods. In politics Mr. McDuffee is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He has served accept- ably on the School Board for the past four years. He is affiliated with the Patrons of Husbandry, and a member of the Congrega- tional church. He was married January 19, 1888, to Miss Nellie M. Furber, a daughter of Charles and Hannah (Hatch) Furber, of Milton.
UDLEY B. WALDRON, a thriving agriculturist of Rochester, was born on the farm which he now owns and occupies, October 8, 1838, son of James Waldron. His paternal grandfather, also named James Waldron, was of English de- scent, and served as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, afterward locating in the town of Dover, N.H., of which he was a pioneer. James Waldron, Jr., the father of Dudley B., born in Dover, came to Rochester when a lad. He assisted in clearing the tract of land
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which his father bought on coming here. Succeeding to the property afterward, he car- ried on general farming and lumbering until his death, which occurred in May, 1873. He was an earnest, faithful laborer, caring but little for public life, and though an carnest supporter of the Democratic party never held office. His first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Page, died about ten years after their marriage, leaving no children. His second wife, Hannah (Roberts) Waldron, lived less than a year after the union; and their only child, James, met his death by ac- cident in a machine shop of Muscatine, Ia. He subsequently married Abigail Burnham, of Milton, and they reared three children; namely, Sarah, Mary, and Dudley B.
Dudley B. Waldron received his education in the Rochester and Lebanon schools, which he attended in the winter season until he was twenty years old. Since coming into posses- sion of the homestead, on which he has always resided, Mr. Waldron has been engaged in all the different branches of agriculture. At one time he had a large and choice dairy, and car- ried on an extensive milk business. He is still engaged in dairying to some extent. The farm contains two hundred acres of land, lying on the "ten-rod road," about two and one-half miles from Rochester. Mr. Waldron is a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations, and has served his fellow-townsmen in sundry positions of trust. Before the incorporation of the city he was Selectman and a member of the School Board. In 1891 and 1892 he was elected to the City Council, and served on some of the more important committees, in- cluding those of Public Instruction, Printing, and the Revision of Ordinances. He has been a Justice of the Peace for over thirty years.
Mr. Waldron has had a very brief wedded
life. His wife, whose maiden name was Celia Hodgdon, died in August, 1875, about three years after the marriage. Their only child lived but a short time. Mr. Waldron belongs to Motolinia Lodge, I. O. O. F., Rochester. He is very active and prominent in grange work, having been Master of Rochester Grange for two years and the Sec- retary for twelve years. He has also been Secretary of the Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange.
AZELLAH L. CRANE, a well- known manufacturer of knitting machines in Lakeport, Belknap County, N. H., was born here, April 27, 1858, son of John S. and Clara J. (Smith) Crane.
The Crane family has been a representative one throughout New England. Jasper Crane signed the "fundamental agreements " of the New Haven Colony, June 4, 1639, and was an assistant of that colony ten years and of the united Connecticut colony three years. Henry Crane settled in that part of Dorchester, Mass., that is now Milton. His descendants are nu- merous. One of them, John by name, born in 1658, settled in Taunton, Mass. He was the progenitor of the numerous families of that name in Norton and Canton, Mass. Luther Crane was a native of Canton.
Luther Crane, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was by trade a hatter. Naturally ingenious and with a turn for mechanics, he set up the first cotton loom ever used in the city of Lowell. He was there employed as a spinner in the Hamilton Mills. He lived to be eighty-five years of age. Only two of his five children survive.
John S. Crane, the father of Mazellah L., was born in Ware, Mass. He learned the machinist's trade at Salmon Falls, N.II. ; and he worked also in Lowell and Lawrence,
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Mass., and Manchester, N.H. In 1855 he went to Franklin in this State, where he had his first experience in connection with knit- ing machines. In 1856 he became interested in the manufacturing industries at Lakeport, being here first employed by B. J. Cole to build knitting machines for Thomas Apple- ton. Step by step he became master of the trade, until in 1873 he designed and per- fected a machine on the same principle for making shirts and other underwear. In 1875 he was Representative to the legislature from Laconia and in 1878 from Gilford. Since 1872 he has been engaged in the manufacture of knitting machines.
Mazellah L. Crane, the only child of his parents, attended the common schools and New Hampton Institute, after which he learned the machinist's trade in his father's factory. In 1885 he became associated in the business with his father, under the firm name of Crane Manufacturing Company, of which he is the efficient Secretary and Treasurer. They are men of recognized commercial ability, and are on a good financial basis. On February 5, 1896, Mr. Crane was united in marriage with Fannie E. Taylor, of Laconia. There are two daughters by a previous marriage. Mr. Crane is a member of Endicott Rock Lodge, No. 20, K. P., of this town.
AMUEL S. PARKER, an able and successful lawyer, actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Farmington, was born May 9, 1855, in Wolf- boro, N. H., a son of Harry S. and Hester A. Parker. He is a direct descendant of one William Parker, who settled in Portsmouth, this State, in 1698. William's son, also named William, born in Portsmouth, N.II., was Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature,
Surrogate Judge of Admiralty, and for several terms a member of the Colonial Assembly.
Matthew Stanley Parker, a son of Judge Parker, was the first of the family to locate in Wolfboro, where he was numbered among the influential farmers of the community. Mat- thew's son, Henry R. Parker, through whom the line was continued, spent his entire life in Wolfboro, chiefly engaged in farming. Samuel S. Parker, son of Henry R. and grand- father of the subject of this sketch, also spent . his life in the town in which he was born, va- riously employed as teacher, farmer, and mer- chant. Harry S. Parker removed from Wolfboro to Farmington in 1867, and has since been identified with the town's agricultural and industrial interests as a farmer and merchant. Possessing much force of character, he natu- rally occupies an influential position in the community. He has been twice elected to the State legislature from Farmington. Under President Cleveland's first administration he was appointed Postmaster of this town, and subsequently held the office for four years.
Samuel S. Parker began his studies in the common schools and academy of Wolfboro. From Wolfboro, when a lad of twelve years, he came to Farmington with his parents, and was subsequently a pupil in the Farmington High School. Afterward his education was continued at the New Hampton Literary and Scientific Institute. From 1882 until 1887 he was engaged in the shoe business at Haver- hill, Mass. Returning then to Farmington, he entered the law office of George N. East- man. Later he pursued his law studies with the Hon. J. G. Hall and Judge R. G. Pike, of Dover, N.H., both lawyers of eminence. In July, 1890, Mr. Parker was admitted to the New Hampshire bar. Next month he opened an office in Farmington, where he has already built up a lucrative and extensive practice.
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He has a sound knowledge of law, a decided talent for business, is honorable in his methods, and he stands well with his brother lawyers and clients. He is one of the trus- tees of the Hiram Barker estate. For the past three years he has been President of the Public Library Association. A member of Woodbine Lodge, No. 41, I. O. O. F., of Farmington, he works earnestly to advance the interests of the order.
On May 10, 1879, Mr. Parker married Miss Mary E. Horne, of this town, a daughter of Jacob and Amanda Horne. Their pleasant home is a favorite resort for their many friends, to whom they extend a generous hos- pitality. Mr. and Mrs. Parker hold liberal views regarding religion, and attend the Con- gregational church.
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