USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 46
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Noyes, Charlotte Clara, and Clarence Herbert. In politics Mr. Sanborn is a Democrat.
OHN PARKER SMITH, a prosperous grocer of Laconia, was born February 8, 1854, in New Hampton, N. H., son of John Parker and Eliza Smith. He is de- scended from an early colonist who settled at Hampton, N. H., about the year 1640. His great-grandfather, John Smith, was a native of North Hampton, N. H., where he was engaged in farming. Parker Smith, son of John, was a native of New Hampton, and was a highly re- spected farmer. By his marriage there were six children, of whom John Parker Smith, Sr., was the eldest.
John Parker Smith, Sr., who was born in Centre Harbor, Belknap County, removed to New Hampton, where he was a successful farmer, and served the community in the capacities of Selectman and County Commis- sioner. His wife Eliza, a daughter of Samuel Potter Smith, of New Hampton, is still living at the age of seventy-three years. Her grand- father fought for the country's independence in the Revolutionary War. She had four chil- dren, of whom the present John Parker Smith was the third. The father was a highly re- spected member of the Free Will Baptist church, in which he served as Deacon and Sunday school superintendent. He died at the age of sixty-six years.
John P. Smith, the subject of this sketch, completed his school education in New Hamp- ton Academy. He was then employed for three years in a grocery store of New Hamp- ton. In 1879 he came to Laconia, and there- after worked for six years in the grocery suc- cessively owned by Wiggin & Co. and J. II. Tilton. Pending the settlement of the estate after Mr. Tilton's death in March, 1893, Mr.
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Smith conducted the store in behalf of the heirs for a few months. Then he and Mr. R. C. Dickey bought the stock, and for a short time carried on the business under the style of Smith & Dickey. The partnership was dis- solved in April, 1894, since which time Mr. Smith has been the sole proprietor. He is also interested in the Belknap Savings Bank, of which he is a Director.
In 1884 Mr. Smith married Hattie F. Greeley, daughter of George I. Greeley, of Franklin, N. H. They have had one child, a son, who died in early infancy. In politics Mr. Smith affiliates with the Republican party. His connection with fraternal organ- izations includes membership in Winnipi- seogee Lodge, No. 7, and Laconia Encamp- ment, No. 9, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Congregationalist church, in which he has officiated as Deacon for a number of years.
16 ANA P. JONES, a prominent resi- dent of New Durham, Strafford County, N. H., was born in this town, October 31, 1853, son of John L. and Ann (Berry) Jones. His father was a native of New Durham, and his mother of Alton, N. H. Samuel Jones, grandfather of Dana P., came from Portsmouth, N. H., and settled upon a farm adjoining the property now occu- pied by his grandson.
John L. Jones, father of our subject, was a lifelong resident of New Durham, and his active period was devoted to agricultural pur- suits. He was a successful farmer and promi- nent citizen, and for many years was Justice of the Peace. In politics he was a Democrat. He served as Tax Collector, and ably repre- sented this town in the legislature in 1875 and 1876. His first wife, Nancy Chamberlain, bore him two sons : George F., a resident of New
Durham; and John F., who is no longer liv- ing. His second wife, Ann Berry, became the mother of two children : Dana P. ; and Nancey M., who died at the age of seventeen. John L. Jones died in 1884, aged seventy years.
Dana P. Jones began his education in the common schools, and later completed a course of study at a private school in this town. He then learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until he was thirty years old. Suc- ceeding to the ownership of the homestead after the death of his father, he has since car- ried on the farm with marked success. He owns seventy-five acres of fertile land, and, as it is well adapted to dairy farming, he pro- duces considerable butter. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the New Durham Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He takes an active interest in all matters bearing on the welfare and advancement of the community, and was formerly Clerk of the School District in which he resides. He was also a member of the Board of Selectmen fourteen years, and acted as its chairman ten years. Mr. Jones married Fanny M. Dearborn, a native of this town, and has one son, Wilbur C. The famn- ily attend the Free Baptist church.
SCAR DUNCAN, who has followed the trade of blacksmith in Alton, Belknap County, for the past ten years, was born November 28, 1861, in Para- dise, Annapolis County, N. S., son of David and Eliza (Cole) Duncan, both of whom were natives of Chester, Lunenberg County, N. S. The father followed the sea in his younger days, but subsequently engaged in the saw- mill and cooperage business at Paradise, N. S., following it successfully up to about fifteen years ago, when he took up the nursery busi- ness. In carly boyhood he united with the
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Episcopal church, and after he attained the years of manhood he served as church warden. Eliza, his wife, bore him eight children ; namely, Norman, Fannie, Oscar, Edwin M., Sophia, Annie, Arthur, and Cliff. Norman died when two years old; Fannie is married to William F. Morse, and resides in Provi- dence, R.I. ; Edwin conducts a grocery store in Beverly, Mass. ; Sophia is the wife of Dr. Martin, now of Hyde Park, Mass; Annie mar- ried John Warwick, and her home has since been in Larenstown, N.S .; Arthur, who is unmarried, is at home; and Cliff is also at home.
Oscar Duncan received an education, attend- ing the graded schools of his native town. After spending a year learning the trade of a blacksmith with William Bath, he emigrated to Boston, Mass. During the first eighteen months of his stay in that city, he was em- ployed in a grain elevator at Constitution Wharf, owned by the Fitchburg Railroad Company. He next worked at his trade for six months, after which he went to Lower Gilman- ton, N. H., where he was employed at his trade for about a year by Charles Kelley. Follow- ing that he worked at the iron works in Gil- manton, spent a few months with a Mr. Marsh, then came to Alton to work for H. F. Muzzey. A year later he returned to Gilmanton Iron Works. In March, 1883, he started in busi- ness for himself in that place, where he re- mained four years. Coming to Alton at the end of that time, he purchased a shop here, and has since built up a very desirable busi- ness.
In January, 1883, while living at the Iron Works, and shortly before he set up in busi- ness for himself, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Nellie J. Sanborn, daughter of Charles Sanborn of that place. Mr. Duncan is a Dein- ocrat in politics. In 1896 he was a candidate
for the State legislature, but was defeated by the Republican candidate. . He has always taken much interest in town affairs. For three years he was Chief Engineer of the fire department, and he was a policeman for an equal length of time. He is a member of Woodbine Lodge, No. 41, I. O. O. F., at Farmington, N. H. ; also of Cocheco Lodge, No. 28, Knights of Pythias, being eligible to a seat in the Grand Lodge. In the society of the Second Free Baptist Church, he is a chair- man of the executive committee, and the pres- ent superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Duncan is counted among the representative men of the town.
LANSON J. STERLING, a prosper- ous and progressive farmer, owning and occupying one hundred and six- teen acres of land within the city limits of Dover, was born July 29, 1843, in Atkinson, Piscataquis County, Me., son of Ephraim and Susan (Ham) Sterling. His parents were well-known residents of that section of the Pine Tree State, his father having there been engaged in sawing lumber for many years. They reared fourteen children, of whom nine are now living, namely : Alanson J. ; Wesley B. ; Elziia, who married Henry Hope, of Low- ell; Sumner H. ; Laura, who married John Kimball, of Dover; Amanda, who married Walter Gage, of Dover; Bell married William Pray, of Dover; Truman, who is in California; and John Sterling.
Alanson J. Sterling acquired his education in his native town, studying at public and pri- vate schools, and remaining beneath the pa- rental roof until nineteen years old. Then, fired by the ambition of youth, he turned his steps westward, going by way of the Isthmus to California. After spending a time in San
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Francisco, he proceeded to Sacramento; but not finding satisfactory employment there, went to Carson City, Nev., where he worked on a ranch for the following three years. The next two years he had charge of a hay farm. Then he spent an equal length of time in the livery business, after which he drove a six- horse team for two years. After that he was employed as a salesman in a wholesale and retail store, dealing in groceries, hardware, and so forth. In 1879 he returned to New England, and soon after settled on his present farm, where he has since been industriously engaged in general farming. In connection therewith he has an extensive milk route in the city. Being a man of good judgment, honorable and upright in his dealings, he has placed himself among the leading farmers of this vicinity.
On October 17, 1874, while living in the West, Mr. Sterling married Miss Ella Blethen, of San Francisco, daughter of James E. and Lydia (Fall) Blethen, both of whom were born in the State of Maine. Of the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Sterling three children have been born, as follows: Herbert E., July 12, 1875; Fannie L., March 6, 1877; and Lillian C., July 29, 1886. In politics Mr. Sterling invariably supports the principles of the Republican party, while he has never been an aspirant for official honors. Although he is not connected by membership with any religious organization, he is a generous con- tributor to the support of the church.
HARLES E. PLUMMER, of Gilman- ton, whose mature years have been successfully occupied in agricultural pursuits, was born here, October 29, 1831, son of Joseph and Sally (Lamprey) Plummer. Joseph Plummer, Sr., the grandfather of
Charles E., was born and grew to maturity in . Belmont, then Gilmanton. In young manhood he came to the portion of the town of Gilman- ton which is now the home of his grandson. He married Miss Elizabeth Norris, sister of Captain David Norris, a prominent and well- to-do farmer. They had two sons, Joseph and Samuel. Samuel married Miss Nancey Lam- prey, who had by him three sons. These were: Jefferson, who died in boyhood; Benja- min, who lived to be fifty years of age, and never married; and George, now living in Bel- mont, who married and became the father of three children, of whom Florence is living. Joseph Plummer, father of Charles E., born in Gilmanton, now Belmont, was by occupa- tion a farmer, which he began to follow in early youth. After his marriage he settled on the farm now occupied by his son, and which then contained about one hundred and fifty acres. He died suddenly of diphtheria, aged forty-five years. Six children were born to him and his wife; namely, Eliza, Sarah J., Charles E., Mary E., Martha O., and Laura A. Eliza married William Ayers, a prosper- ous farmer, after which she resided in the State of Mainc. Sarah J. died when twenty- four years old. Mary E. became the wife of Henry Marsh, and continued to live in Gil- manton. Martha married Benjamin Bryer, and afterward made her home in Mainc. Laura is the wife of Horace Drew.
As soon as he was old enough, Charles E. Plummer assisted in the farm work. Being the only son, he eventually succeeded his father in the ownership of the homestead farm. In its management since he has taken a pardon- able pride. Broad in acres, rich in pasture- age, and with its tillable land under good cul- tivation, it does credit to its owner. In years past, sheep-raising, before it became unprofit- able in this section of the country, was an im-
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JOHN H. CAVERLY.
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portant feature of his farming. Always tem- perate in his habits, industrious and economi- cal, and exercising good judgment in his busi- ness dealings, he is now able to live in com- fort, and grows more and more attached to this mode of life.
On April 7, 1853, Mr. Plummer married Mary H. Moody, daughter of Stephen Moody. She is a direct descendant of William Moody, · who came from England to Ipswich, Mass., in 1633, and settled in Newbury in 1635. The first descendant of William, of whom special mention is made, is Stephen, who graduated from Harvard College in 1790, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1793. That same year he opened an office in Gilmanton, N. H., being the first, and for some time, the only lawyer practising in Belknap County. Charles E. and Mary H. Plummer have had three chil- dren - Etta J., Carrie E., and William A. Etta J., now deceased, and who was the wife of Edwin Sanborn, of Gilmanton, had four daughters, of whom one is deceased. These are : Myrtie B., who studied at the Normal School, Plymouth, N. H. ; Carrie, who at- tended Gilmanton Academy, was afterward en- gaged in teaching, and has since married Frank Furber, of Alton, and become the mother of two children; Mabel Moody; and Josephine. William A. Plummer is a suc- cessful lawyer in Laconia, N. H.
OHIN H. CAVERLY, a thrifty and successful agriculturist of Dover, Strafford County, was born in Alton, Belknap County, June 2, 1826, son of Daniel Caverly.
The father's birth occurred January 23, 1798, in that part of Parrington now Straf- ford. He followed the several occupations of farmer, carpenter, and shoemaker. He sold
his shoes in Haverhill, Mass. In 1839 he re- moved from Alton to the town of Strafford, this county. Two years later he went to the neighboring town of Barrington, where he purchased a farm, and thereafter lived on it until his death, which happened April 22, 1891, in his nincty-fourth year. He was twice married, on the first occasion to Nancy Hill, who bore him four children. These were: Eliza, born July 21, 1821, who died March 31, 1840; Mary A., born May 13, 1823, who married John C. Peavey ; John H., the subject of this sketch; and Darius, who became a member of Company H, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and died in the hospital of a wound received at the storming of Fort Wagner. After the death of his first wife, the father married Isabella Morrison, by whom he had two children, namely : Nancy I., born August 25, 1831, who died October or November 13, 1886, at the age of fifty-five years; and Jane E., the wife of Matthew Hale, of Conway, N. H.
John H. Caverly grew to manhood in the town of Barrington, whither his parents re- moved when he was thirteen years of age. After leaving the district schools, he attended the Strafford Academy for a time, and after- ward remained on the home farm assisting his father until 1853. Then, with a hope of bet- tering his financial condition, Mr. Caverly started for California, the Eldorado of the West, going by way of the Isthmus. During the first year after his arrival in San Fran- cisco, he worked out on a farm. The rest of his stay was spent in mining, the first season being spent in the San José Valley, and the remainder in Yreka, on the Indian Creek, where he was quite successful. In 1859 Mr. Caverly returned to Barrington, and for the next six years helped to carry on the home farm. Coming to Dover in 1865, he worked
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for a year in the Cocheco Mills, and then leased the farm which he now owns and occu- pies. Two years later he bought the property, consisting of seventy acres of fertile land, and has since carried on general farming, selling the milk obtained in his dairy with consider- able profit.
Mr. Caverly was married August 4, 1859, to Miss Susan A. Quimby, a daughter of Henry and Mehitable (Waldron) Quimby, for many years respected citizens of Dover. Mr. and Mrs. Caverly are caring for a daughter named Margaret. Mr. Caverly is a stanch advocate of the principles promulgated by the Republican party. In 1879 he was selected by his constit uents to represent the town of Dover in the legislature. His connection with secret organ- izations is limited to affiliation with the I. O. O. F., Mount Pleasant Lodge, of Dover. He is a member of the Baptist church.
TEPHEN W. SARGENT, who owns a large farm in Gilmanton, is a native of Alton, Belknap County, N. H., born August 30, 1829. His parents were Daniel and Louisa (Watson) Sargent. The father and mother of Daniel Sargent both died in the Revolutionary War, he serving as .a soldier and she, as a nurse, killed upon the field of battle by a stray shot. Louisa, the wife of Daniel Sargent, was a daughter of Jo- seph Watson, who owned a good farm in Alton, and was an industrious and esteemed citizen. Joseph Watson was twice married, and had two children, Love and Louisa, by the first union. By his second marriage he had ten children; namely, Joseph, Jonathan, John, Rosella, Mary, Jeremiah, Ann E., Susan, Lo- vina, and Jonas. Joseph is now living in Alton; Jonathan, a widower, resides in Barn- stead; and John in Gilmanton. Rosella mar-
ried for her second husband Augustus Smith, and lives in Gilmanton; Mary lives in Alton ; Jeremiah resides just outside of Manchester ; Ann E., the wife of John Foss, lives in Gil- manton; Susan, now deceased, married John Adams; Lovina, also deceased, married Charles Duntley; Jonas has been twice mar- ried; and Love, deccased, was the wife of John Willey, of New Durham. When his parents died, Daniel Sargent was adopted by Peter Bean, a prosperous and prominent citi- zen of Alton, with whom he lived for some time. After his marriage he had charge of the Cogswell farm for some years. Then, for over thirty years, he had charge of a farm near Mount Belknap, called the Sanborn farm. Daniel and Louisa Sargent had ten children; namely, Lavona, Stephen W., Charles, Mary C., Daniel F., Joseph, John, Mary L., George, and Edwin. Lavona's clothing, while she was ministering to the wants of a needy neighbor, caught fire, and she ran a distance of a mile to her home. Three days later, in the year 1845, she died from her injuries. Joseph died at the age of twenty-one years; Mary married E. B. Rollins; Edwin resides in Boston.
Stephen W. Sargent received a district- school education, after which he assisted his father with the farm work until he attained his majority. He subsequently lived for a few years in Boston, where he had charge of a place belonging to a wealthy family. He was married while in the city, and shortly after returned to Gilmanton and took charge of George W. Sanborn's place. Later on he purchased his present farm, which has been his home for the past twenty-four years. Dur- ing the summer he receives boarders. On March 30, 1860, Mr. Sargent and Miss Pru- dence Cardwell, daughter of James Cardwell, of England, were united in marriage. They
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have one child, Carrie M., who is teaching in Gilmanton. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent are at- tendants of the Free Baptist church.
HARLES G. MORSE, an active agriculturist of Durham, Strafford County, now holding the office of Justice of the Peace, was born October 16, 1833, in Warner, Merrimack County, son of Stephen and Lucy B. (Smith) Morse. Mr. Morse remained in his native town until fit- teen years of age, acquiring his education in the common schools. Then, removing to the town of Salisbury, he there grew to manhood, and until he reached the age of thirty years he was employed in different mills in that local- ity. Desirous then of becoming proficient at some trade, he went to Penacook, Ward One, of Concord, N. H., where he learned to make mouldings for all kinds of furniture. Subse- quently he was employed for twenty-two con- secutive years as foreman of the factory of Caldwell & Amsden. Resigning this position in 1885, he returned to Salisbury, which he made his home for six years. In 1891, com- ing to this county, Mr. Morse purchased one hundred and fifteen acres of land in the town of Durham. On this property he has since engaged in general agriculture, with the same persistent energy and thoroughness that char- acterized his work of earlier years.
Mr. Morse was married November 5, 1856, to Miss Lucy J. Calef, who was born in Salis- bury, daughter of Benjamin and Rachel (Blaisdell) Calef. Mr. Morse has since been the father of five children, namely: Charles A., a physician and the Postmaster at New Market, N.H. ; Alma J., the Assistant Post- master at the same place; Lucy A., who died at Penacook, May 4, 1876; Joseph, who died February 8, 1866; and Albert, whose death
occurred February 26, 1865. Always an ad- herent of the Democratic party, he has served with ability and fidelity in several public posi- tions. He was Selectman of Salisbury; Superintendent of the schools of Ward One, Concord; and Justice of the Peace there for fifteen years; and he is now filling the same office in Durham. He has been identified with the Odd Fellows for twenty-two years, belonging to Contocook Lodge, No. 26, of Ward Onc, Concord; and he is an active mem- ber of the Baptist church.
OHN S. WEEKS, who carried on a fish and lobster business in Boston for many years, was born in Meredith (now Laconia), January 21, 1808. His parents were Phineas and Mercy (Page) Weeks, the former of whom came from Greenland to La- conia, the part then called Meredith, being one of the carliest settlers. When a boy of fifteen years, John S. Weeks walked from La- conia to Boston, with a view to begin earning his livelihood. He was first employed on a farm in Swampscott, Mass., where he re- mained a short time. Then he worked a while in a brickyard, after which he learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed it for some years. Having acquired a small capital, he next bought out a fish and lobster company, with a wharf at East Boston. This proved a profitable investment, as he was industrious, and paid close attention to his business. With the lapse of time, working carly and late during the first years, he added to his wharfage at East Boston, until he owned seven acres, controlled an extensive and lucrative business, and acquired a handsome compe- tence.
Mr. Weeks was twice married, his first union being with Lydia A. Flanders, of New
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Hampton, N.H. For his second wife he mar- ried Phoebe A. Sanborn, daughter of Na- thaniel Sanborn, of Laconia. Her grand- father, Stephen Sanborn, who came from Meredith Centre, and settled in Laconia on a farm where he afterward died, had eight chil- dren - John, Simeon, Moses, Richard, Will- iam, Nathaniel, Judith, and Eliza. John re- moved to Maine. Eliza also lives there in Augusta. Simeon died in Boston, Mass. Richard resides in Belmont. William died in Bristol, N.H. Moses died when he was a young man. Nathaniel, who was a member of the Baptist church, married Sally Roberts, daughter of Joseph Roberts, and he and his wife died at the respective ages of seventy-two and eighty-two. They had four sons and five daughters; namely, Mary R., Phoebe A., Olive E., Joseph N., Charles F., Curtis W., Annie C., Fred, and Sarah Jane. Mary R. successively married John Jewell and Alvah T. Swain. Olive became the wife of Lang- don Morgan, a son of John S. Morgan, who came here from Sanbornton, N.H., and bought the estate of Uncle Reuben Morgan, an old settler. John S. and his wife, Lottie S. (Gil- man) Morgan, had three other children - Convert, Hannah, and Benjamin. Langdon and Olive Morgan had two children: Ida, now keeping house for her father; and Everett C., deceased, who married Annie May Cawley. Joseph Sanborn married first Miss Esther Stockbridge, and after her death Miss Ruth Smith. Charles F. Sanborn married Clara Gray; Curtis W. married a Miss Cook; Annie C. is the wife of Charles Davis; Fred is mar- ried and living in Baltimore, Md .; and Sarah is the wife of Daniel W. Tenney, of Methuen, Mass. John S. Weeks died April 21, 1893. Mrs. Weeks has since made her home with Langdon G. Morgan in Laconia. Mr. Weeks was a firm believer in the tenets of the Uni-
versalist creed, and a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
REDERICK A. ORNE, the Repre- sentative of Middleton in the State legislature, was born in Tuftonboro, N. H., October 4, 1837, son of Augustus G. Orne, of Moultonboro, and grandson of Isaiah G. Orne, who came from Wolfboro, Carroll County, and was the first of the family in this part of the State. Augustus Orne was en- gaged in farming, and also carried on a shoc business. The greater part of his life was spent in Middleton, where he was a resident for fifty years. His political views were Rc- publican, and he was prominent in the affairs of the town. His fitness for the public service was recognized by the community, who in- trusted him with the offices of County Com- missioner, Selectman, and Town Clerk. His signal ability and sterling qualities of heart won for him a large circle of friends. He first married Sally Caverly, of Tuftonboro, who bore him two children - Sarah and Fred- erick. By a second marriage contracted with Adeline L. Tufts, of Middleton, there were two more children - Orilla and Dana. He died in 1894, at the age of seventy-eight years.
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