USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 28
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Henry H. Tanner received his early educa- tion in Sandwich, completing the course of study in the common and high schools. On leaving the latter in August, 1862, he enlisted under Captain O. H. Marston in Company K, Fourteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Intan- try, and served in the Civil War for three years. On returning home, having been dis- abled in the army, he resumed his studies, entering Eastman's Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he was grad- uated in 1867. He spent the ensuing year on the parental homestead assisting in its man-
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agement. In 18Gg he went to Bloomington, Ill., where he accepted a position as general travelling agent for Dr. C. Wakefield & Co., his territory including the entire State of Iowa. In 1873 he again returned to Sand- wich, but did not make a long stay, as in 1875 he travelled through the West as salesman for Woodburn, Seebery & Co., of Peoria, III. . He subsequently was clerk for six months in the St. Nicholas Hotel at Bloomington, III. After that he went to Chicago, where he se- cured a situation with the firm of Job C. West & Co., for whom he travelled as commercial salesman and advertising agent for ten years, visiting the principal cities and towns of the West and South. In 1885 he came to Straf- ford County, locating in Rochester at first, but afterward going to Milton, where he lived for a year with Elder Goodwin. He pur- chased the farm where he now resides in 1889, and he has since successfully devoted his time to its improvement.
On May 24, 1876, Mr. Tanner married Miss Minnie R. McDonald, of Keyser City, W. Va., who died in Chicago, January 5, 1885, leaving two sons : Ralph G., of Farmington; and Lin- coln G .. , of Milton. In politics Mr. Tanner is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party. In the fall of 1896 he was a delegate to the State Convention at Concord. He aids all projects calculated to advance the moral and educational interests of the town. He ably served the town for three years as Chair- man of the School Board. Prominent among the Patrons of Husbandry, he belongs to the New Hampshire Grange, in which he was for
some time Outside Gate-keeper. He was made a Free Mason in Temple Lodge, of Peo- ria, Ill. ; and he is a member of General Smith Post, G. A. R., of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He at- tends the Baptist church, and takes great inter- est in the religious work of that denomination.
RS. ELIZABETH SCOBEY HUSE, a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Barnstead, Belknap County, N. H., was born in Frances- town, N. H., September 23, 1816, daughter of William and Jane (Dickey) Scobey, and be- longs to a family that is of considerable note in New Hampshire. Her great-grandfather Scobey came to America as one of a company of Scotch-Irish emigrants, presumably from the North of Ireland, and settled in London- derry, N. H. He brought over with him a considerable sum of money. Subsequently removing to Boston, Mass., he there engaged in trade and also made other investments.
His son, David Scobey, grandfather of Mrs. Huse, was born in Boston, from which city he afterward removed to Francestown, N. H., becoming one of the first settlers. He pur- chased a large tract of land, built saw and grist mills, and carried on a large business. Active, enterprising, and of sound judgment in business transactions, he soon established himself on a firm financial basis and attained a high degree of success, becoming one of the leading men in that part of the State. He was a liberal contributor to various public and private charities. In religion he was a Pres- byterian. He married a Miss McGregor, of Derry, N. H., like himself of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and they reared a large family of chil- dren, William, the father of Mrs. Huse, being the youngest son.
William Scobey was born on his father's extensive estate in Francestown, N. H. He received a good education, and was favored by nature in the possession of a fine physique and most attractive personality, to which were added a large and generous heart and genial manners. He was one of the most popular young men of his locality and was universally admired. In the local militia, he held the
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rank of Major for a number of years. He was one of the largest landholders in the State of New Hampshire, his father, while still living, having put him into possession of the immense homestead farm, only reserving the mainte- nance of himself and wife during life. A turn in the tide of his financial prosperity at length compelled William Scobey to sell his extensive farm, and he removed . to Milford, N. II., where he died when upward of sixty years of age. He married Jane Dickey, the daughter of a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and they had a family of four children ; . namely, David, Mary, Elizabeth, and Addison.
David Scobey was a graduate of Dartmouth College and of Andover Theological Seminary. He had intended to become a preacher of the gospel, but, being prevented by an affection of the throat, he accepted the position of teacher of languages in the Lowell, Mass., High School, which he filled acceptably until his decease, which took place in Lowell in 1850, when he was thirty-three years of age. He was a profound student of history and a ripe scholar in all departments of knowledge, and his death was the result of brain fever, brought on by mental over-work.
Mary Scobey, who also was a teacher in the Lowell schools, died in that city about three years before her brother, in the year 1847. Addison Scobey, who was a carpenter and builder by trade, upon the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861 enlisted in a New Hamp- shire Regiment. His death, which took place after the war, was the result of hardships endured in military service. He resided in the vicinity of Sutton, N. H.
Mrs. Jane Dickey Scobey, mother of Mrs. Elizabeth S. Huse, finding at her husband's decease that she and her family were entirely dependent upon their own efforts for support, offered herself, in company with her son
David and daughter Mary, for the examina- tions held in Milford, N. H., to test the quali- fications of applicants to teach in the public schools of that town. Mother and children passed successfully, and at one period all three were engaged in teaching in the Milford schools. Mrs. Scobey became a noted teacher in that part of the country. She was a woman of brilliant intellectual endowments, vivacious and lively, always interested in current topics, and possessed remarkable energy and force of character. She lived to be eighty-six years of age, and preserved her mental superiority and her peculiarly erect carriage of body as long as she lived. In her the spiritual seemed to dominate the material even to the end. After her husband's decease, and consequent upon the offer made her son David of the position in the Lowell (Mass. ) High School, Mrs. Scobey removed with her family to that city.
Her daughter Elizabeth became one of the pupils of the Lowell High School soon after its establishment, and while Thomas M. Clark, afterward Bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Protestant Episcopal Church, was its principal. She was a class- mate of the afterward famous General Benja- min F. Butler. After her graduation she remained for some time at home. When about twenty-one years old, she was married to Thomas M. Huse, a native of Strafford, Vt., but at that time a resident of Lowell, Mass. They had five children - Henry, Jennie, David, Mary A., and George.
Thomas M. Huse, who was by trade a ma- chinist, in course of time became the second overseer in the Lowell Machine Shop. He subsequently removed to Manchester, N. II., and for some eighteen years was the superin- tendent of the carding section of an incorpo- rated stock mill in that city. He then re- moved with his family to Barnstead, N. H.
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Together with his son, who was Captain, in 1861 be enlisted in the Eighth New Hamp- shire Volunteer Infantry; but, owing to sick- ness, he was obliged to return home, and was engaged in recruiting men for the Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment, being made First Lieutenant of Company G. So popular was he among the men, that they were most urgent that he should return to the seat of war with them. He accordingly acceded to their wishes.
During the war, Lieutenant Thomas M. Huse was at one time in charge of the Sani- tary Commission at City Point, Va. He came home in 1864 with his health so seri- ously impaired that he found himself unable to resume his former occupation; but shortly afterward, receiving the appointment of Post- master of Barnstead, he held that office for twenty years, until his death in 1881 at the age of sixty-seven years, being noted as a faithful and courteous official. The Grand Army Post of Barnstead bears his name. Po- litically, he was a stanch Republican. The possessor of a fine voice and excellent ear for music, he was the leader of the choir of the Congregational church for many years. He took a deep interest in all matters relative to the public welfare, and endeavored faithfully to perform his duty as a citizen and neighbor. In the latter part of his life it was his fre- quent practice to visit and care for the sick and suffering members of the community ; and he devoted entire days to these beneficent purposes, for which his name will long be held in affectionate remembrance. He and his wife exercised great care in the education of their children, a short account of whom fol- lows.
Herry Huse, the eldest son, after being graduated from the Lowell High School, en- gaged in the study of law in Pittsfield, N. H.
When the war broke out, he recruited a num- ber of men, and enlisted December 20, 1861, being appointed Captain of Company G, Eighth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer In- fantry. He was the youngest captain among the New Hampshire troops in the service. After two years in the most malarial district of Louisiana, he was obliged to resign his commission, and received an honorable dis- charge from the service. The preceding July, he had been promoted to the rank of a Major for his "gallant and meritorious conduct " during the protracted siege of Port Hudson. Upon his return home, he resumed his legal studies, was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in company with the Hon. Lewis W. Clark. Subsequently, retiring from this connection, he associated himself with the Hon. J. F. Briggs in the exercise of his chosen profession.
Inheriting from his father a high degree of musical taste and a fine rich voice, he was leader at different times of the choirs of the va- rious churches of Manchester, N. H. In 1882 Henry Huse received the degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College. He was ap- pointed Insurance Commissioner for the State of New Hampshire, and held it up to the time of his death, which occurred in his fifty-second year. He was chosen Chairman of the State Republican Committee for several years. He represented the city of Manchester in the legislature for several terms, and in 1879 was elected Speaker of the House of Representa- tives, and was regarded as one of the clearest and most forcible speakers that ever addressed that body. His wife, whose name before mar- riage was Irene Poole, became the mother of four children.
Jennie Huse, the elder daughter of Thomas M. and Elizabeth S. Huse, was educated in the public schools of Lowell, Mass., and of
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Manchester, N. H. When only fifteen years of age, she began teaching in Barnstead, N. H. She is at the present time residing at home with her mother.
David Huse, the second son, on the break- ing out of the Civil War, enlisted at the carly age of seventeen years. His short life was given to his beloved country. He served with the Union forces at the battle of Ball's Bluff and in the whole campaign along the Potomac River. At length he was taken sick with ty- phoid fever, from long residence in that ma- larial district ; and while in the hospital, upon one occasion, when President Lincoln was making one of his visits to the sick soldiers, he was introduced as the "sickest soldier that was ever carried into a hospital and lived." At the advice of the President, he accepted his discharge and returned home. His health im- proving, he re-enlisted, against his mother's desire, in the regiment of his father, the Fif- teenth New Hampshire Volunteers. He was ordered to New Orleans, and remained there nine months. He was present all through the long siege of Port Hudson, and at the storm- ing was one of the first to scale the walls. He died in the hospital at Mound City, Ill.
Mary, the younger daughter, began teach- ing school at the early age of fourteen, and pursued that occupation for many years, and in various parts of the United States - New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and in other lo- calities. After she had taught for a few years, feeling the need of a more thorough education, she resumed her studies, and was subsequently graduated at the New Hampton, N. H., Institute. She then went to the State of Wisconsin and resumed teaching. After having been thus occupied for twenty years, she married Elder Harmon, the pastor settled over the Free Baptist church of Meredith, N. H., continuing to teach all through the
period of his ministry. Upon her husband's death, having no children, she decided to de- vote her life to foreign missionary work. She was first sent out to the British East Indies, where she soon acquired such a thorough knowledge of the Hindoostance tongue that she was enabled to translate the Four Gospels into that language. She was afterward trans- ferred to the mission station at the Barbadocs, and from thence to Georgetown in British Guiana, where she is at present, busily pur- suing the study of the native tongue and al- ready imparting it to others. Her entire term of service in the cause of education extends over a period of thirty-two years.
George Huse, the third son and youngest of the five children, was appointed Postmaster of Barnstead immediately after his father's de- cease, but subsequently engaged in trade in the same town. Later on he went into the hotel business in Ossipee, N. H., where he at pres- ent owns and runs a very large hotel, the only one in the place.
NEZ H. FORD, M.D., who occupies an assured position among the skilled and successful physicians of Strafford County, is pleasantly located in Dover, where she has a large and rapidly increasing practice. A . typical New England woman, fully en- dowed with the mental ability and force of character that mark the true son or daughter of this corner of the United States, she carly resolved to devote her future to the science of medicine, a profession into which at that time, though but a few years ago, comparatively few of her sex had ventured. She was born July 24, 1864, in the town of Orford, N. H., a daughter of Edward and Harriet Gould Ford. She was there reared to young womanhood, and in the common schools of the hillside town
.
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laid a substantial foundation for her future knowledge. She subsequently prepared for college in the academy at Bradford, Vt., and in Mount Holyoke College at South Hadley, Mass. After spending three years in close application to her books in the latter institu- tion, Miss Ford entered the Woman's Medi- cal College at Philadelphia, Pa., from which she was graduated in 1890. The ensuing year Dr. Ford served as Interne in the Phila- delphia Hospital for Women, and was after- ward employed for a few months as a substitute in the hospital for the insane at Harrisburg, her practice in these institutions being of great value to her in many respects. In Janu- ary, 1892, the doctor returned to her native State, and coming to this county located in Dover, where she has built up an extensive practice among the leading people of this city, her professional skill, knowledge, and courtesy winning for her the confidence and good will of all with whom she is brought in contact, be it in a business or social way. In attain- ing her present position in the medical frater- nity, Dr. Ford has labored faithfully and con- scientiously, and is eminently worthy of the success which has greeted her efforts.
HARLES J. PIKE, the efficient foreman of the Crane Manufacturing Company in Lakeport, Belknap County, N. H., was born in Franklin, this State, January 18, 18.12, son of Samuel and Hannah (Wells) Pike.
His grandfather, James Pike, was born De- cember 13, 1752, and became one of the early settlers in Franklin, N. H., where he owned a farm of two hundred acres, which he success- fully managed. During the Revolutionary War, he voluntarily laid down his hoe for a musket in behalf of his country. He married
Alice George, and had twelve children ; namely, Hannah, Rebecca, Alice, Simeon, James, Sally, Stephen, Hugh, Samuel, Lydia, Polly, and Rufus. Mrs. Alice G. Pike was born January 18, 1756, and died October S, 1837. She was survived but a few weeks by her husband, James Pike, who died November 30, 1837.
Their son, Samuel Pike, the father of Charles J., was born on the old homestead in Franklin, November 30, 1795. He acquired a good education and brought his scientific knowledge to bear on the old home farm, on which he remained until his death on Febru- ary 24, 1867. He was a Major. in the State militia.
Samuel Pike was three times married. His first matrimonial alliance was formed with Betsy Brown, who was born February 20, 1787, and was the mother of five children --- Lydia, Almira, Mary S., Samuel G., and Washington F. She died October 2, 1836. His second wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Wells, died February 22, 1843, hav- ing been the mother of five children - Han- nah, Augusta H. E., John H., Charles J., and Polly. By his third marriage, with Polly Clark, there were three children --- Betsy A., David W., and Clara B.
Charles J. Pike, the fourth son as named above, acquired a common-school education in his native town, and remained on the home acres until he was twenty years of age. On August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Tenth Regiment New Hampshire Volun- teers; and after serving until August, 1863, he was detailed as a fifer in the drum corps, which position he held until March, 1864. He was in five or six important engagements, as follows: Orleans, November 5, 1862; Waterloo, November 10, 1862; White Sulphur Springs, November 15, 1862; Fredericksburg,
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J'Edgar MEDuffin
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December 13, 1862; siege of Suffolk, begin- ning April 10, 1863; Hills Point, April 18, 1863, all in Virginia. For fifteen months previous to his discharge, June 12, 1865, he was in the Hampton Hospital at Fortress Mon- roe, Va. On entering the hospital he was a patient for about three months, afterward being detailed as nurse, as assistant ward mas- ter, ward master, and as acting hospital steward.
Returning to Franklin in July, 1865, Mr. Pike entered the machine shop of Walter Aiken, and there learned the machinist's trade. In the fall of 1866 he came to Lake- port, where he was employed in B. J. Cole's machine shop until June, 1867. For a short time thereafter he was in the Pacific Mills in Lawrence, Mass. ; but he subsequently returned to Mr. Cole's shop, being engaged there until 1872. He then formed a copartnership with Eben F. Woodman, under the style of Wood- man & Pike in Lakeport, where they engaged in the manufacture of light machinery. In 1872 Mr. W. L. Chase was admitted to part- nership, the firm name becoming W. L. Chase & Co. They occupied a flourishing plant in New York at 93, 95, and 97 Liberty Street, and also leased a factory in Newark, N.J. Four- teen months later Mr. Pike sold out to his partners, taking the contracts to build ma- chines, continuing the enterprise until 1881. For nearly a year afterward he officiated as foreman in the salesroom of W. L. Chase & Co., his recent partners, in New York. Dur- ing that time he conducted a private swimming bath, which he sold in March, 1882. In April he returned to Lakeport; and on June 6, 1882, he entered the machine shop of J. S. Crane & Co., where he began experimenting on Charles Young's Knitting Machine, which he continued for about six months. Afterward he assembled and tested knitting machines
until January, 1890, when he was appointed foreman, which position he still retains.
On December 30, 1865, Mr. Pike was united in marriage with Mary, a daughter of Horace Carlisle, of Hartford, Vt. The mar- riage was solemnized at White River Village by the Rev. Mr. Ray. Mr. Carlisle was a farmer, and for several years a hotel proprie- tor in Quechee, Vt. He married Lucinda Morse, and had four children, of whom Mrs. Pike is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Pike have one daughter, Emma Eva Pike, who was grad- uated from Tilton Seminary in the class of 1887. Miss Pike has decided musical ability, and plays the organ in church, besides teaching music. She often plays as an accompanist here and in surrounding towns. Miss Pike has studied vocalization with Professor Dick- inson, of St. Johnsbury, Vt.
In politics Mr. Pike is a loyal Republican, but he refuses to hold any civic offices. Fra- ternally, he is a charter member of Chocorua Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F., of which he was the first presiding officer .. He has passed all the chairs, and is a member of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. He is a Past Chief Patriarch of Laconia Encampment No. 9. Religiously, he affiliates with the Free Baptists, having joined that church in June, 1867. While in Newark, N. J., he served as assistant Bible class teacher, also as teacher in the Sunday-school for four years.
EDGAR McDUFFEE. The subject of this sketch was born in Rochester, N. H., September 8, 1863, he being a son of Franklin and Mary Frances (Hayes) McDuffee, and descended from old and influ- ential families. He attended the local public schools, and was for a few months a special student at the well-known Chauncy Hall
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School in Boston. At the age of sixteen, he entered the Chandler Scientific Department at Dartmouth College, where he remained for two years.
From childhood he showed unmistakable evidence of a natural love and gift for music, and at the age of eight he began the study of the pianoforte. His first teacher was his cousin, Mary F. Whitehouse. Lessons by other local teachers followed, and for a consid- crable time he was under the instruction of James W. Hill, of Haverhill, Mass. He also pursued the study of harmony with the late Stephen A. Emery, of Boston. Without underestimating the work of teachers, much of his knowledge and development is the result of personal investigation and the comparison of methods of the great musical artists. He has improved every opportunity of listening to the best of music of every form and department, his experiences in this country being supple mented by a six months' tour abroad, during which he heard many of the great organs and organists, singers and players, of Europe.
For fourteen years Mr. McDuffee has taught pianoforte playing, and pupils come from many adjacent towns to his studio in Roches- ter. For six years he has been organist at the First Congregational Church of Rochester, and is director of its choir. He also receives pupils in organ and harmony.
Mr. McDuffee's chief ambition, however, is in the line of composition. A rhapsodie for the pianoforte, a brilliant concert piece, has met a large sale. Its publishers, the White- Smith Company, of Boston, have also issued several songs written by Mr. McDuffee, and the Miles & Thompson firm, of the same city, have published others. These productions have met with marked favor, and have been complimentarily reviewed by various critics. They are characterized by classic feeling,
thorough originality, and a happy fitness of music to words. Many songs, part-songs, piano and organ pieces that still remain in manuscript are highly spoken of by those who have heard them publicly performed .. Some of these only wait the composer's final touches in editing, to be brought out in print.
Mr. McDuffee chose music as a profession from a pure love of the art, and has pursued it on that line, aiding in nearly every important musical event in his vicinity. His influence in musical matters has always been exerted to the utmost for the upbuilding of a true taste for that which is highest and best. Through- out the State his name is familiar to musi- cians. He was one of the founders and is an honorary member of the New Hampshire Music Teachers' Association, in which he has held, at different times, the offices of vice- president, secretary, and acting treasurer, and on the programme committee has given the so- ciety the benefit of his extended knowledge of musical literature.
In other than musical lines Mr. McDuffee is influential. He has social and literary prominence. As dramatic and musical critic, his opinions published in the Rochester Courier, of whose editorial staff he is a mem- ber, and in other papers, carry weight, while his articles of travel at home and abroad are widely read. Frankness and facility distin- guish his style as a writer. He has been the executive member of the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Public Library from its organ- ization, and he holds office in various literary and social clubs in his own city and elsewhere.
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