USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 30
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ent century. Judge Knapp's grandfather, John Knapp, served as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. Daniel Knapp was borr. in Salisbury, Mass., in 1785. When fifteen years old he went to Parsonsfield, Mc., and, learning the carpenter's trade, followed it in connection with farming through the active period of his life. He died February 9, 1859.
William Daniel Knapp attended the com- mon schools and the Parsonsfeld Seminary. At the age of eighteen, with a view of provid- ing sufficient means to defray the expenses of a collegiate course, he began teaching school, and subsequently followed that occupation in Conway, Jackson, and Tamworth, of this State, and in Ipswich, Newbury, and Groton, of Massachusetts. He matriculated at Dart- mouth College in 1851, graduating in due course in 1855. At the reunion of the class of 1855, held in Hanover, N.H., June 25, 1895, in celebration of its fortieth anniver- sary, there were present of the living mem- bers one-half the number of lawyers, one-half the number of doctors, one-fourth of the jour- nalists, and one-fourth of the clergymen, repre- senting Maine, New Hampshire, Massachu- setts, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. ; and at the banquet President Dingley filled the chair, and Judges Field, Hardy, and Knapp were conspicuous on either side. After leaving Dartmouth, Mr. Knapp resumed educational work, teaching for a time at the academy in West Lebanon, Me., and at the New Hamp- ton Literary Institute. He studied law with Messrs. Wells and Eastman in Somersworth, was admitted to the bar in York County, Maine, September 22, 1858, and subsequently located for practice in Somersworth. His legal ability soon placed him in possession of a profitable general law practice. In the course of his professional life, besides con- ducting many important cases, he has settled
a large number of estates. Public affairs have profited by his interest in them. He was elected County School Commissioner in July, 1860, and served two years; was Secre- tary of the New Hampshire Board of Educa - tion from July, 1861, to July, 1862; served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for six years; and was Town Treasurer for nineteen years. In 1870 and 1871 he was a Repre- sentative to the State legislature. He was chosen a delegate to the Constitutional Con- vention in ISS9, and he has presided over the Somersworth police court since 1870. He is a Director of the Somersworth National Bank, and he has been one of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company since its organiza- tion in 1870.
On November 29, 1866, Judge Knapp was united in marriage with Susan Hale Hussey, daughter of Deacon Thomas and Susan (Hale) Hussey, of Barrington, N.H. As a lawyer Judge Knapp has long enjoyed the confidence of the community, who thoroughly appreciate his character and ability. His work in public capacities has received deserved commenda- tion, while in a literary way his historical sketch of Somersworth, which appeared in the first annual report of the city government in 1894, is an excellent piece of work, showing much careful research. He is a member of the Congregational church, is President of the Pascataqua Congregationalist Club; and in politics he acts with the Republican party.
LESTER FAUNCE, an undertaker and successful business man of Som- ersworth, Strafford County, was born February 3, 1842, in Oxford, Oxford County, Me., son of Aaron D. and Emily J. (Lennell) Faunce. The father was also a native of Oxford, where he spent the greater
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part of his life engaged in the woollen busi- ness. In 1867 he went to East Rochester, where he followed the same business. Ten years later be came to Great Falls, now Som- ersworth, and started an undertaking establish- ment, in which he was interested until his death, which occurred August 31, 1893, at the age of seventy-two years. In politics he sup- ported the Republican party, but was not an office-holder. His wife, another native of Ox- ford County, Me., died July 29, 1888, at the age of sixty-nine. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had seven children, of whom Eveline, Edwin, and Clarence are deceased. A. Lester, the subject of this sketch, Frank A., Willard H., and Charles H., and Della M., are living.
A. Lester, Faunce was an attendant of the Oxford public schools until sixteen years of age. He then went to. Amesbury, Mass., and worked in the woollen mills there for two years. At the end of that time he returned to his native town and was employed in the woollen mills there up to 1866. Then he removed to East Rochester, N. H., and worked in the woollen mills of that place until 1873. He next went to Stoneham, Mass., and was there engaged in a machine shop for a year or two. Having again returned to Oxford, he had, fol- lowed the painting and undertaking business for about thirteen years, when he sold out, came to Somersworth, and formed a partner- ship with his father. This relation continued until the death of the latter, when Mr. Faunce bought his father's interest, since which time he has carried on the business alone. On February 5, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Sibelia Garcelon, who was a daugh- ter of the Rev. Alonzo Garcelon, of Lewiston, Me. She died August 20, 1886. Two years later Mr. Faunce contracted a second marriage with Miss Alice . A. Littlewood, of Oxford.
Two children are the fruit of this marriage; namely, Clyde L. and Nina B., both living at home. In January, 1865, he enlisted in Com- pany F, Thirty-second Maine Regiment, with which he did guard duty at Washington until the close of the war.
Mr. Faunce is a stanch Republican. In Oxford he was Selectman for six years, and was Deputy Sheriff of Oxford County for cight years. In Somersworth he was Selectman of the Second Ward for two years; and, having been elected for a term of three years in March, 1896, he is a member of the Council and President of that body. He is a member of Paris Lodge, No. 94, F. & A. M., of Paris, Me. ; of the Edwards Royal Arch Chapter, No. 21, of Somersworth; of Orphan Council of Royal and Select Masters; of the St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar, of Dover, N. H. ; and of Prospect Lodge, K. of P., of Somersworth. He is quite prominent in Grand Army circles, being a Past Com- mander of Littlefield Post, No. 8, of Somers- worth, and Past Assistant Adjutant General of the department of New Hampshire.
ARON SANBORN CLOUGH, one of the able farmers and prominent resi- dents of Meredith, was born in this town, June 6, 1834, son of Philip and Martha (Shaw) Clough. His grandfather, Philip Clough (first), was a native of Canterbury, N. H. Philip Clough (second), also a native of Canterbury, born in 1799, was educated in a district school and brought up on a farm. When a young man he bought a piece of agri- cultural property in Meredith, where he tilled the soil successfully for many years. In poli- tics he was originally a Whig; but later he united with the Republican party. Of a studious turn, he was an extensive reader and
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well-informed upon all current topics. Subse- quently, having had the misfortune to lose his sight, the last four or five years of his life were passed with his son, Aaron S. ; and he died July 27, 1887. He married Martha Shaw, a native of Meredith, and a daughter of Sam- uel and Louisa (Sanborn) Shaw, of Chiches- ter, Merrimack County, the former of whom died when his daughter was very young. She became the mother of three children - Martha S., Aaron S., and John H. John is no longer living. Martha S., who has been three times married, is now the wife of Eli Bunker, of New Hampton, N. H. Her first husband was Ezra Avery, of Campton, N. H., by whom she had one child. Aaron S. Clough's mother died May 29, 1886. Both parents were origi- nally members of the Free Baptist church, but in their later years they united with the Sec- ond Adventists.
Aaron Sanborn Clough began his education in the district schools and advanced by attend- ing the New Hampton Institute. After com- pleting his studies, he taught school for some time. He then engaged in the cattle business, buying and selling both cattle and hogs, and making Brighton, Mass., his headquarters. He travelled through New York State and Canada, and as far west as Chicago; and he became well known in the cattle trade. Dur- ing the Rebellion, he was employed upon a hospital steamer on the Potomac River, but was forced to leave that service on account of failing health. In 1866 he bought a farm in Hammonton, N.J., which, after raising fruit on it for two years, he sold again. Resuming his former business of buying and selling cattle, he continued it for a short time, and then was engaged in the meat business in Bos- ton for two years. Returning to Meredith, he opened a meat and provision store and carried it on successfully for some years. In 1890 he
commenced to take summer boarders, which business has so increased since as to make it impossible for him to entertain all who desire accommodations at his pleasant home. He carries on general farming with profit, supply- ing his table with dairy and garden products. Possessing considerable inventive genius, he has patented several useful implements, among which are a grain sieve, a moulding board for school use, and an improved plough. He was one of the original members of the defunct Know Nothing party in Meredith, and was one of the three persons who canvassed the town when the Republican party was organized here. While he has never sought office, he has been a member of the School Board, and was one of the commissioners who directed the building of the water-works, which rank among the best in this State.
On February 15, 1852, Mr. Clough was joined in marriage with Ellen N. Knowles, daughter of Joseph Knowles, of Moultonboro, N. H. Bessie M. Clough, the only child of the union, died in September, 1892, aged fif- teen years. Mr. Clough was made a Mason in Mount Lebanon Lodge of Laconia, N. H., and was demitted to Chocorua Lodge, of Mere- dith. He is particularly interested in the development of the public library, of which he has been trustee and a member of the commit- tee on the selection of books. A considerable share of his time is devoted to biblical study.
Mrs. Clough is a member of the Free Bap- tist church, and he attends it and is a teacher in the Sunday-school.
ON. GEORGE H. EVERETT, Jus- tice of the Police Court of Laconia, is a well - known public man of Belknap County. Born in Boston, Mass., September 5, 1833, a son of George and
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GEORGE H EVERETT.
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Sarab (Elins) Everett, he is of the same stock as Edward Everett, who was a distant connec- tion of his father."
His grandfather, Aaron Everett, was one of the early butchers of Brighton, Mass., remov- ing there from Watertown; and his father, George Everett, son of Aaron, was born in Watertown, Mass., in 1799. George Everett in his early years applied himself to his stu:lies, and prepared for college with a view to adopting a profession, but changed his plans and went into trade, winning his first experi- ence in a grocery store; and he was subse- quently engaged in the sale of wall papers on Washington Street, Boston, until 1835. After that he spent a number of years on a farm in Chester, N. H., owning there an estate of fifty acres, which yielded a comfortable income. Hle sold his farm in 1870, and removed to Methuen, Mass., where he died at the age of seventy-six. His first wife, Sarah Elms, who was a native of Boston, died when her son, George H., was two years old, leaving, besides him, two little daughters. The father subse- quently married Ruth L. Underhill, of Ches- ter, N. H., who bore him five children, three girls and two boys. She also has passed away.
George H. Everett, having acquired his primary education in Boston, attended school in Chester, N. H., and was graduated at the Brighton, Mass., High School. As a young man he was employed for about two years as clerk in a grocery and provision store in Bos- ton, and then went on the road as travelling salesman for the wholesale fancy goods house of L. S. Leonard & Co., taking orders in the Western States and part of New England. In 1869 he purchased Willard's Hotel in Laconia, and until 1882 he managed a successful hotel business with livery in connection. He after- ward leased the hotel for four years, but event -.
ually converted it into a private residence for himself, and now makes his home here. Judge Everett is now in the general insurance busi- ness, representing the Royal Liverpool, the Orient of Hartford, Conn., the Fitchburg Mutual, the Cheshire Mutual, the Traveler's Life and Accident, the United Firemen's of Philadelphia, and the American Fire Insur ance Company of Boston, and other well- known insurance companies. As a clear- headed, capable business man, he was one of the five chosen to form a building committee for the Masonic Temple.
In 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah F. Gray, of Jackson, N. H., a lady of taste and ability, who has managed a suc- cessful millinery business since 1868.
Judge Everett cast his first Presidential ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has been loyal to the Republican party ever since. He was appointed High Sheriff of Belknap County by Governor Cheney, July 18, 1876, and served until 1880; was Associate Judge of the Laconia Police Court from April 9, 1892, to May 22, 1895; and since the latter date has presided efficiently as Justice of the Police Court. He was City Collector of Taxes in 1893 and 1894.
Judge Everett has held all the chairs in Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M., Union Chapter, R. A. M., No. 7, and Pythagorean Council, No. 6, Royal and Select Masters; was elected to the Grand Council, and was Grand Master of State two years; has been treasurer of Pilgrim Commandery, K. T., since it started; and belongs to Edward A. Raymond Consistory, of Nashua (thirty-second degree). As a member of the order of the Eastern Star, he has presided as Grand Patron of the State. He has held all the chairs in Aurora Lodge, No. 708, Knights of Honor, has served as Grand Dictator of the State, and
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was representative to the Supreme Lodge two years ; and he has held all the chairs in Enter- prise Lodge, No. 452, Knights and Ladies of Honor. He has been a member of Amoskeag Veterans of Manchester, N.H., for about twenty years. It is needless to say that he is a very popular member of society. The Judge is one of the trustees of the First Unitarian Church of Laconia.
UGUSTINE S. PARSHLEY, a prom- inent insurance and real estate man of Rochester, was born June 21, 1840, in the town of Strafford, Strafford County, son of John W. and Mary A. (Foss) Parshley, both of whom were natives of Straf- ford. The father spent his life in that town, where he followed both farming and carpen- try. He was an active Free Soiler, but would accept no political office. Both parents died at the age of fifty-eight years, and both were esteemed members of the Free Will Baptist church. They had five children, namely : Charles, who died in infancy; John D., who died in 1894, at Rochester; Sarah J., who married A. C. Hall, and lives with him in Georgetown, Mass. ; George C., a resident of Haverhill, Mass. ; and Augustine S., the sub- ject of this sketch.
Augustine S. Parshley remained at home and worked with his father on the farm and at the carpenter's trade until after the breaking out of the Civil War. In August, 1862, he enlisted for three years in Company F, of the Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment, and afterward served until June, 1865, during which time he was promoted to the rank of First Corporal. At the battle of Fredericks- burg, he received wounds that prevented his resuming his place in his regiment for about a year, the time being spent in different hos-
pitals. When once more fit for service he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and with them was in the defences of Wash - ington. At the close of the war, he returned to his home in Strafford, and was engaged in carpentry for a time. In 1870 he came to Rochester and opened an insurance office, which he has prosperously conducted since. At present he represents twenty-one of the leading insurance companies of the country, and is doing a large business. He is also considerably interested in real estate, and has been the secretary and treasurer of the Roches- ter Building and Loan Association since its organization in 1891.
In April, 1866, Mr. Parshley married Miss Ellen Buzzell, of Strafford. By her he has three children, namely : Lillian F., living at home, who is librarian of the Rochester Li- brary; Charles A., who is associated with his father in the insurance business ; and Mary E., also living with her parents. Mr. Parshley is a stanch Republican. In 1883 he was a Representative to the State legislature. In 1873 he was elected Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and subsequently re-elected con- tinuously until 1882. For a part of that time he was Town Treasurer. Of the twelve hun- dred votes cast at the time of his re-election in 1875, he received all but forty-five. In
1884 he was again elected Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to serve for two years. Though repeatedly urged; he has declined to accept the nomination for Mayor. An item of his services that won him much favor with the people, was the fact that, although he found the town burdened with a war debt of sixty-two thousand dollars in 1873, when he relinquished its treasurership it had been en- tirely freed from debt without a special appro- priation, and it had some money to its credit.
Mr. Parshley belongs to Motolinia Lodge,
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No. 18, I. O. O. F. ; to Humane Lodge, No. 21, A. F. & A. M. ; to Temple Chapter, No. 20, R. A. M .; to Runnaawitt Tribe, No. 9, Improved Order of Red Men ; and to Sampson l'ost, No. 18, Grand Army of the Republic, all of Rochester. He is a member of the Free Will Baptist church.
REDERICK LEWIS HAWKINS, M. D., a prominent physician of Mere- dith, was born in this town, April 14, 1861, son of William H. and Helen M. (Emery) Hawkins. His grandfather was Ste- phen Hawkins, a native of Holderness, N. H. Stephen Hawkins was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the Rebel- lion, when, in spite of his advanced age, he manifested his patriotism by enlisting in the Eighth New Hampshire Regiment. Unfitted to bear the fatigue and exposure of army life, he died from disease contracted in the service. He married Jane B. Plaisted, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. She had six children by him; namely, Clara, William H., Lorenzo, James, Melissa, and Jonathan.
William H. Hawkins, born in Holderness in 1839, was educated in the district schools. After finishing his studies, he began to learn the shoemaker's trade. Before completing his apprenticeship, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Twelfth Regiment, New Hamp- shire Volunteers, and died June 16, 1863, from wounds received in the battle of Chancel- lorsville. This second life given to defend the Union was sufficient evidence to prove that patriotism has been a characteristic of the. Hawkins family. William H. Hawkins mar- ried Helen M. Emery, daughter of Jonathan Emery, of Meredith; and Frederick L., the subject of this sketch, is her only child.
The education of Frederick Lewis Hawkins,
begun in the common schools, was continued in the Meredith High School, and the Tilton Seminary. Being desirous of entering the medical profession, his evenings and summer vacations were spent at a drug store, where he read some medical text-books and obtained a good knowledge of drugs and chemicals. In 1886 he graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he completed his professional studies, having had the advantage of a course of clinical instruction in the col- lege hospital. It was not his original inten- tion to locate in Meredith ; but while spending a vacation in his native town, his professional services were in such demand as to cause him to change his mind. He opened an office here then, and has remained in the town since. His skill and reliability have gained for him a wide reputation throughout this section, and his regular practice extends over a radius of eight or ten miles. He is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, and a Coun- sellor of the Winnepesaukee Academy of Med- icine. In politics he is a Democrat, but not a partisan. He was elected Town Clerk in 1894, serving until 1897, and he has been a member of the Board of Education for eleven years.
On October 19, 1889, Dr. Hawkins was united in marriage with Geneva Moses, daughter of Thaddeus Moses, of Meredith, and now has three children - Helen, Ruth, and Marguerite. He was made a Mason in Cho- corua Lodge in 1887, of which he was subse- quently Worshipful Master for three years. He is
connected with Belknap Lodge, I. O. O. F., is Past Chancellor of Meredith Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and was formerly First Lieutenant of William H. Hawkins Camp, Sons of Veterans. He attends the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Hawkins is a member.
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AMES FRANK ROBERTS, who owns and occupies the old Roberts homestead on Meredith Neck, within the township of Meredith, was born November 7, 1852, in the house where he now resides, son of Thomas and Nancy C. (Wiggin) Roberts. Both of his paternal families are well known in this town, and representatives of each are prosper. ous and useful citizens of Meredith. His grandfather, Leavitt Roberts, was a pioneer farmer of the town. Thomas Roberts was born in Meredith, September 11, 1812. In his younger days he was a stone-cutter in Quincy, Mass., and later was engaged in farm- ing. He died, December 1, 1886, upon the farm where his son, Oren N., now resides. His wife Nancy became the mother of four children, namely : Oren N., the Supervisor of Roads in Meredith; George Smith Roberts, a resident of Chicago; Eben Fisk, of Medford, Mass. ; and James F., the subject of this sketch. For an account of Mr. Roberts's ma- ternal ancestry the reader is referred to a sketch of Oren N. Roberts, which appears elsewhere in this work.
James Frank Roberts acquired such an edu- cation as was afforded by the public school system of his day, and, with the exception of two summers, his whole life has been spent at the homestead. His farm contains fifty-three acres, all of which is under cultivation, "and it yields large crops of general farm products.
On December 23, 1893, Mr. Roberts mar- ried Mrs. Avis E. (Shattuck) Ferry, daughter of the Rev. Calvin S. Shattuck, an evangelist of the Second Adventist faith. Mr. Shattuck has resided in Pittsfield, N. H., for many years. He married Phillis Gray, who bore him four children, of whom three are living. These are : the Rev. Frank Shattuck, of Roch- ester, N. H. ; Avis E., who is now Mrs. Rob- erts; and the Rev. Charles W. Shattuck, of
Lakeport, N. H. In politics Mr. Roberts is a. Democrat. He is a member of Winnepesau- kee Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
RANK D. RANDALL, a successful farmer of Lee, Strafford County, N. H., was born on the farm which he now owns and occupies, August 27, 1853, son of John and Mary J. (Demerritt) Randall.
His great-grandfather, Simon Randall, the earliest known ancestor, settled on this farm in the year 1700. Simon, grandfather of Frank D., was also engaged in farming most of his life.
John, son of Simon Randall (second), was born on the homestead in 1821. He and his wife Mary were the parents of seven children ; namely, Francis, Israel, Ellen, Martha, Frank D., Amanda, and Herbert, of whom Israel and Herbert are now deceased. Mr. Randall spent his whole life on the farm, and was a highly esteemed citizen. He contributed liberally to the support of the church. His death oc- curred in May, 1875.
Frank D. Randall acquired a good prac- tical education, attending the common school, Coe's Academy, and Manchester Commercial School. On the death of his father, he re- turned home and took charge of the homestead. Its present flourishing condition attests his knowledge of agriculture as well as his prac- tical business ability. He owns one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, and carries on general farming.
In September, 1877, Mr. Randall was united in marriage with Laura A. Chesley, of Durham, N. H. They have one son, John L. Mr. Randall belongs to the Republican party, and had the honor to serve as Representative to the legislature in 1896, winning his elec- tion against a strong Democratic ticket.
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A LONZO PERKINS, well known as a thrifty farmer and the proprietor of a summer boarding-house in Centre Harbor, was born in his present home, July 23, 1832, son of Timothy and Sally (Jones) Perkins. His grandfather, Lemuel Perkins, who was born in 1751, was a prosperous farmer of Strafford, N H.
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