USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 50
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town. Luther W., who in early life was a farmer, and later followed the lumber business in partnership with his brother, married Alice Sherburne, of Northwood, N. H., and now re- sides in that town. Mrs. Benjamin Twombley was a member of the Free Baptist church.
Chester Ayer Twombley studied in a private school, also in the district schools. He was reared to farm life at the homestead. When a young man, he was for a time employed as clerk in a store of Lewiston, Me. This he abandoned -- for the benefit of his health, which needed out-of-door exercise - to return to the homestead and engage in agricultural pursuits. In 1885 he became associated with his brother in lumbering, under the firm name of Luther W. Twombley & Co., and has since followed that business in connection with farming. The firm buy timber lands, erect mills as near as possible to the scene of opera- tions, and manufacture lumber. On the first tract purchased by them they cut sixty-five masts, which sold profitably. In politics Mr. Twombley is a Democrat. He has received the nominations to several important offices, but his party is in the minority in this town.
Mr. Twombley married Marietta Varney, daughter of Andrew Varney, of Alton, and has three children; namely, Roger I., Helen E., and Marjorie. Roger I. graduated from the New Hampton Academy, and in 1895 entered the American Veterinary College in New York City. He is an apt student, and was awarded the first prize for scholarship during his first year's course. Mr. Twombley is a Master Mason, and belongs to Winnepesaukee Lodge, No. 75. He is a charter member of Merry Meeting Grange - the name of which he suggested - and was formerly its Overseer. His cousin, Dr. Durrell, is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard College, and Surgeon at the City Hospital, Boston. Fred M.
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Twombley, a son of Moses Twombley, is a master mechanic, takes charge of wrecking trains on the Providence Division of the Two York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, 'and was at one time President of the Rail- road Men's Club. Another cousin, Arthur Twombley, is also a master mechanic.
RS. ANNIE WENTWORTH BAER, of Rollinsford, Strafford County, N. H., was born in South Berwick, daughter of Lorenzo and Elvira C. (Wentworth) Stackpole. The family gene- alogy has been preserved, and Mrs. Baer can trace her line of ancestry through many gen- erations, both on her father's and on her mother's side. The Stackpole family is one of the oldest in the town of Somersworth. The first of the name in this part of the coun- try was James, born in 1653, died 1733, who settled here in 1710. He married Margaret Warren, of Berwick, and five of his children grew to maturity. His son Phillip married Martha, who became the mother of six chil- dren. The next in line was Joshua, a black- smith. Joshua's first wife was Lucy Baker, by whom he had two children - Samuel and Lucy. His second wife was Abagail Hobbs, who bore him ten children. Tobias, the youngest of the ten, was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Baer. He was a mariner, and made frequent voyages to the West Indies and to Liverpool, following the sea during the greater part of his life. Ilis wife, Eunice Roberts, was' the mother of eight children. Moses Stackpole, Mrs. Baer's grandfather, was born in Somersworth in 1799, and was occupied with farming. He married Nancy, daughter of John Leighton. Their three children were: Lorenzo, Thomas, and Mary Jane. Moses Stackpole and his wife were de-
vout Methodists. Lorenzo Stackpole, above named, father of Mrs. Baer, was born in 1824. He received a good common-school training, and then entered the employ of the Ports- mouth Manufacturing Company. He worked in various capacities, and remained with the company about three years. Later he pur- chased a teaming business, which he carried on for four or five years. After selling that, he bought in 1858 the farm where his daugh- ter resides, in the town of Rollinsford. About fifty acres of the farm are under culti- vation, but the chief production is milk. In politics Mr. Stackpole was a Republican, and was called upon to serve the town as Select- man. He married Elvira, daughter of John Wentworth, of Somersworth, and Mrs. Baer is the only child of this marriage now living. Mr. and Mrs. Stackpole were both members of the South Berwick Baptist Church, and were zealous and untiring workers in all movements started for the good of the community.
On her mother's side Mrs. Baer traces her ancestry back through seven generations to Elder William Wentworth, who emigrated from England, and came to Exeter, N. H. (For full account of the Wentworth family, the reader is referred to "Wentworth Gene- alogy," English and American, by John Went- worth, LL.D.) Elder Wentworth's son was Benjamin, a farmer in Dover. He married Deborah Stimpson, of Durham. The fourth in line was Bartholomew, born November 28, 1737, married to Ruth Hall, of Somersworth. Bartholomew's son was John, grandfather of Mrs. Baer, and was born January 30, 1773. He was a farmer, and a prominent man in this town, being Tax Collector and Selectman. He married Joanna Hall, his cousin on his mother's side. Mr. Wentworth died in Au- gust, 1855.
Mrs. Baer has always been interested in all
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the social and educational movements of her native town, and has taken special interest in the schools. For two years she has been a member of the School Board. January 3, 1871, her marriage with Mr. Bernard Baer took place. One child, Lorenzo Baer, born July 10, 1876, and now a teacher of Rol- linsford, has blessed her marriage. Her son constitutes the chief happiness of Mrs. Baer's life, and he has received from both his parents the tenderest solicitude and affection.
Mr. Baer, as his name might lead one to suppose, is of German parentage, and was born in the Fatherland, January 3, 1844. His grandfather was Meyer Baer. His father was Ezra, a native of Baden, Germany, a dealer in grain and wool, and largely inter- ested in the hotel business. Mr. Baer was educated in the best German schools, and came to America when a young man, settling finally at Dover. For many years he was in the dry-goods business, but since 1893 he has devoted his time chiefly to farming. He is a member of Moses Paul Lodge, F. & A. M., of Dover; and of Hiram R. Roberts Grange, No. 194. Mrs. Baer is a member of the South Baptist Church.
HARLES H. DAVIS, station agent at Alton Bay, Belknap County, was born in Lyme, N. H., July 7, 1862, son of Alfred and Clarinda (Tinkham) Davis. His paternal grandparents, Francis and Betsy (Stevens) Davis, lived in Londonderry, N. H .: , and are thought to have been born there re- spectively in 1796 and 1797. Cyrus and Betsy (Kemp) Tinkham, the maternal grand- parents, were born in Tinkhamtown, a family settlement in the town of Lyme, in December of the respective years 1791 and 1798. Al. fred. father of the subject of this sketch, born April 24, 1821, was a native of Dorchester, |
N. H., where he was engaged in general farm- ing and took a very active part in town affairs. On February 27, 1848, be married Clarinda Tinkham, of Lyme, who belonged to one of the oldest families in that town. She is now sixty-seven years old, being a remarkably well- preserved woman. Her husband died June 29, 1893, seventy-two years of age. They had thirteen children, of whom two died in in- fancy. The others were born as follows : Frank F., on March 14, 1849; Susan E., February 2, 1852; Clara A., January 8, 1855; Eben R. T., February 22, 1857 ; Ella J., De- cember 7, 1859; Nettie H., September 17, 1860; Charles H., the subject of this sketch ; Betsy, January 2, 1865; Irena C., November 7, 1867; George W., January 29, 1869; and John L., born August 25; 1871. Ella mar- ried. Ansil B. Cummings, of Ashland, N. H., now deceased, and died September 11, 1891. They left one daughter, Lena May Cummings. Nettie married Perly Smith, of Lebanon, N. H., where they reside. Betsy married Frank King, and they are now living in Thet- ford, Vt. Irena died December 30, 1885, at the age of eighteen years. Frank is at pres- ent living in Concord, N. H. George married Ruby Harding, of Vershire, Vt., and they reside at present in Fitchburg, Mass., where he is engaged in the railroad business. John is unmarried, and resides in Alton, N. H., with his brother Charles.
Charles Henry Davis was educated in the common school of his native town, the Thet- ford (Vt.) Academy, and the New Hampton (N. H.) Commercial College, graduating from the last named institution in April, 1886. He then went to Plymouth, N. H., where he entered the employ of the old Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad as telegraph operator. The next year he went to Rochester, N. HI .. having secured a position as freight cashier
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for the Boston & Maine Railroad. In 1888 he came to Alton Bay, taking the position of station agent, which he holds at the present time. In his politics he is a Republican, and he has always voted with that party. In 1896 and 1897 he was elected Selectman of Alton. He is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Woodbine Lodge, No. 41, at Farmington, N. H., and with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, having joined at Roches- ter and served in all the chairs. He is also a member of the Congregational church at Thetford.
On May 8, 1889, Mr. Davis married Fannie M. Stevens, daughter of Edwin B. and Mary A. (Pike) Stevens, of Thetford. The ances- try of Mrs. Davis is traced back through many generations to the early settlement of this country, and to a previous period in England. She graduated from the Fairbanks Academy of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and taught school for some years before ber marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had two children, one of whom, Mildred A., is living. A careful, quiet, and unassuming man, Mr. Davis discharges the duties of his responsible position in a manner that gives satisfaction to all concerned.
OSEPH F. SPINNEY, of Milton, Strafford County, was born in Wake- field, N. H., August 13, 1839, son of Parker and Mary (Dearborn) Spinney. His grandfather, Captain David Spinney, followed the sea in the West India trade for the greater part of his life. Parker Spinney, a native of Wakefield, followed agricultural pursuits during the active period of his life. He died at the age of seventy-two years. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Democrat. He wedded Mary Dearborn, a native of Mil- ton, and she became the mother of eight chil-
dren, of whom the following survive: Abbie P., widow of Charles C. Hayes, of Milton ; Paul, a resident of Ipswich, Mass. ; Parker ; Nathaniel; Joseph F., the subject of this sketch; Lydia E., widow of G. W. Fellows ; and William R.
Joseph F. Spinney completed his studies at the Great Falls High School, and then entered the boot and shoe trade. He later went West, and in 1861 enlisted as a private in Company E, Seventeenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Shiloh, and was honorably discharged after serving two years. He again entered the boot and shoe business, which he followed until 1874, and in that year he opened the Agawam Hotel at Ipswich, Mass., which he carried on until May, 1896. He is engaged in the harness business in that town. In poli- tics he is Independent, but has never taken any active part in public affairs. Mr. Spin- ney married Helen A. Wentworth, daughter of Louis B. Wentworth, of Rochester, N. H., and she is the mother of two sons - Eugene N. and William R. Mr. Spinney is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias of Rochester, and a comrade of the Grand Army Post in Ipswich. Mrs. Spinney attends the Metho- dist church.
HARLES E. BUZZELL, an esteemed resident of Laconia, prominent in public affairs, and a leading mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, was born October 13, 1844, in Sandwich, Carroll County, son of John and Abigail (Marston) Buzzell. The Buzzell family, which is an old one, settled originally in Strafford County. Mr. Buzzell's grandfather was a farmer, and resided for some time in Barrington, N. H., where his son, John Buzzell, was born in 1802. John Buzzell was a carpenter by trade. He
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settled in Meredith, now Laconia, about the year 1850, and was for many years identified with the progress of the town, not only as an industrious private citizen, but as one who was always ready to aid public movements of im- portance. For fifty years he was a member of the Advent Church of Laconia, now the North Church of Lakeport, and he and four others erected the present church edifice. His death occurred in August, 1890. Of the three mar- riages he entered, the first was contracted with a Miss Hill, who bore him four children. His second wife, who was a Miss Batchelder, of Meredith, N. H., became the mother of two children. His third wife, in maidenhood Abigail Marston, a daughter of Ebenezer Marston, of Tamworth, Carroll County, died in 1872, aged sixty-eight, having had five children, of whom Charles E. was the eldest.
Charles E. Buzzell was seventeen years old and attending school in Laconia, now Lake- port, when the war broke out. He left his books to shoulder musket and knapsack, enlist- ing in Company F, Eighth New Hampshire Regiment, which was assigned to the Nine- teenth Corps, Department of the Gulf. Under General Butler's command, he was at Fort In- dependence, Ship Island, Fort Macomb, and on the shores of Lake Ponchartrain when the General was co-operating with Admiral Far- ragut in the attack on the city of New Orleans. He next went to General Weitzel's brigade at Carrollton, La., and took part in operations in lower Louisiana and in the first and second Red River expeditions. At the siege of Port Hudson he was seriously wounded, and after- ward spent six or seven weeks in a hospital at Baton Rouge. Returning to his regiment as soon as he was able, he subsequently took part in several engagements, including the battle of Baton Rouge. For a year of his term he acted as a non-commissioned officer. On re-
ceiving his discharge, December 28, 1864, he returned to his native State, and for three or four years was employed as a carpenter by the Concord & Montreal Railroad, for which he erected many passenger stations. He has now been in business as a carpenter and builder for a number of years, having executed several important contracts. The summer residence of Dr. F. E. Greene, the patentee of Greene's Nervura, and that of his brother, J. A. Greene at Long Island, N. H., were erected by Mr. Buzzell. As a member of the building com- mittee of the Laconia Court House, he super- intended the erection of that edifice. He also built the Senter House at Centre Harbor.
On April 1, 1867, Mr. Buzzell was united in marriage with Jennie, daughter of Amos L. Veazey, of Meredith. They have one child living, Charles W., who is married, has one daughter, resides with his parents, and was for some time in business with his father. Mr. Buzzell was elected from Gilford on the Republican ticket to the State legislature in 1881. Here he served in the first biennial session as a member of the Finance Commit- tee, and was active in advocating the passage of the Lake Shore Bill. In Laconia he was elected to the first Board of Supervisors estab- lished by law, serving for six years, and he has been Street Commissioner since March, 1893. Among the social organizations to which he belongs are : Chocorua Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F., of Lakeport; Endicott Rock Lodge, No. 23, K. of P., of which he is Past Chancellor ; and the Grand Lodge of the same order. Since its organization in 1878, he has been connected with Darius A. Drake Post, No. 36, G. A. R., having occupied all the chairs, presiding as Commander for two years, and being at present Quartermaster of the Post. He is also a member of the National Encampment of the Grand Army. He served
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for two years as Department Inspector on the ståff of John C. Linehan; in 1893 was Junior Vice-Department Commander of the State Encampment; in 1894 senior Vice-Com- mander; and in 1895 Department Com- mander. In all these relations he is very popular, always deporting himself with dig- nity and courtesy in his official capacities.
OSEPH P. BLAISDELL, who follows the trade of an engineer in a shoe fac- tory and is a prominent Democrat of Barnstead, Belknap County, was born Novem- ber 27, 1823, in Campton, N. H., son of Na- thaniel and Annie (Burbeck) Blaisdell. His grandfather, who passed his entire life in Campton, where he was a prosperous farmer, was generous and hospitable, and took a prom- inent part in all local affairs. The grand- father was accidentally killed in the woods by the fall of a large limb of a tree. His five children were: Eliphalet, who married, re- sided in Methuen, and died in that town ; Charles, who became a custom shoemaker ; Pelletiah, who lived a few years on the home- stead estate and then sold out to his brother ; Nathaniel, the father of Joseph P. ; and Dan- iel, who died on the homestead.
Nathaniel Blaisdell, after receiving his edu- cation at the district schools of Campton, en- gaged in the saw-mill business, at first, and later on in the manufacture of clap-boards. In the winter season he carried on the busi- ness of preparing clover-seed for market. His enterprises were pursued by a succession of misfortunes, such as fires and floods, which eventually compelled him to give up all inde- pendent business and go to work for other people. He removed first to Moultonborough, then to Sandwich, and subsequently to Chi- chester. In 1841 he went to Pittsfield, N. H.,
and was in the saw-mill business there for about thice years. In 1845 he came to Barn- stead and worked in the mill here for about four years. One day, in 1849, a belt that had slipped off the machinery, caught him and carried him round in the gearing, injuring him so badly that he survived the accident only three weeks.
Nathaniel Blaisdell belonged to a type of men common in New England. Intellect- ually, he was a careful observer, a deep thinker, and a sound and logical reasoner. He was also a man of unusual mechanical ability, as was continually evidenced in his business. Morally, he was a man of strong and decided character, sober and industrious in all his habits, upright and conscientious in all his relations and dealings with others. Ordi- narily reticent as to his speech, yet when the occasion demanded he invariably rose to the emergency. He was deeply versed in the sacred Scriptures, which he made the guide and rule of his daily life. In politics he was a strong Democrat. His religious belief was that of the Free Will Baptists, of whose local society he was a member. He married Annie Burbeck, the daughter of Joseph Burbeck, a farmer of Campton, and was the father of seven children. These were: Joseph P., the subject of this article; Benjamin, who was drowned; Josiah, who was also drowned; Eliza, who married George Bodge; Evelina, of whom there is no special record; Janet, who married John Livingstone; and Nathaniel. All, except Joseph P. and Evelina, are now deceased. The mother, who survives the father, contracted a second marriage with a Mr. Webster.
Joseph P. Blaisdell was educated in the dis- trict schools of Campton. While his father was living in Pittsfield, he learned the shoe- making trade, and he has been connected with
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that business in one form or another ever since. At the present time his occupation is that of engineer in a shoe factory in Barnstead. Hle has been twice married. By his first wife, in maidenhood Mary Shepard, he be- came the father of one child, who died in 1892, aged thirty-nine years. For his second wife he married Sephronia W. Page, of Deer- field, N. II., who died September, 1895, at the age of seventy five years. In politics Mr. Blaisdell is a strong and decided Democrat. He takes a lively interest in local politics and enjoys the distinction of not having missed a single town meeting since his majority. He has the esteem and confidence of his fellow- citizens, who elected him for two years to serve them on their Board of Selectmen, and in 1875 and 1876 to represent them in the State legislature. While in the legislature Mr. Blaisdell served on the two important com- mittees of Finance and Elections. He is a member of the Barnstead Congregational So- ciety. While prudent and industrious in his own affairs, he takes a warm interest in all that concerns the welfare and advancement of his town.
TON. NICHOLAS V. WHITE- HOUSE, long prominently identi- ficd with the business, political, and social life of Strafford County, New Hampshire, was born in Gonic (a part of Rochester), October 22, 1802, in the house now a part of the dwelling of William HI. Felker. His parents were Israel Whitehouse, born 1778, died March 1, 1841, and Olive Varney Whitchouse, born 1775, died March 10, 1839. "His early boyhood was one of pri- vation and neglect, with but little effort on the part of his father to give him the benefit that the district school of six weeks in summer and the same number in winter might have
afforded. It was work, work, from his earliest remembrance. When twelve years old he was put to work, like most boys of poor parents, either helping his father or the neighbors in such work as a boy of that age could do. After this time of life the six weeks' summer school- ing was dispensed with, and what education he obtained was from the winter term. When fifteen years old he had learned something of the shoemaker's trade, and often accompanied his father in shoemaking trips among the neighboring farmers. When but seventeen years old he walked to Boston, the journey oc- cupying two days, and found work with one 'Master Griggs,' in Brookline, Mass. Here he remained two years working on a farm for ten dollars per month and his board. At this carly age he showed a marked ability for gen- eral business matters. This, united with a genial manner and unquestioned honesty, gained the confidence of 'Master Griggs' so fully that, a month or two after being with him, he was intrusted with the driving of the market wagon into Boston every other morn- ing, and selling the products of the farm. At the end of two years he returned to Gonic. The following spring he worked in Salmon Falls in the wheel pits and foundation trenches of the factory that was then being built there. He remained at that rough work but a few weeks, as it was gradually breaking down a constitution which at this period of life was rather delicate. Again he returned to Gonic, and this time became clerk for John Plummer in the village store, a cheap wooden building which then stood on what is now the village square. Here he exhibited the same aptitude for business, the same energy and enthusiasm that characterized him all through life. When not quite twenty-three years old he built the brick store still standing (though recently greatly improved and modernized by his son),
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stocked it with the goods required at that time in a country store, and began trading for him- self. The following year he fitted up the story over the store as a dwelling, furnished it in a simple manner, and on the thirty-first day of July, 1825, did what he used to say was 'the best day's work of his life,' by marrying Susan, the daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Chesley) Place.
"For the following three or four years he was busily engaged in trading when, having trusted out much of his stock, and hard times coming on, he failed. His creditors took what remained of his stock, and in the lan- guage of those days 'shut him up.' Nothing daunted or discouraged, he began to look about · to get started again, and about this time went to New York to try for something; but, getting homesick after three weeks absence from his young wife and family, he returned. His well-known integrity, energy, and ability soon brought to his assistance friends who helped him start again, and in 1830 he was once more embarked in trade. In the fall of 1833 he closed up his store in Gonic, moved to Dover, and opened a store on 'the landing,' as it was called, in the Sawyer brick block. The surroundings being distasteful to him, or the business not proving all he anticipated, he moved back to Gonic the following spring.
" For the next five or six years he made busi- ness lively in the little village. He bought the old saw-mill and privilege, enlarged and improved that and the grist-mill attached, built an addition for making linseed oil, another addition for making plough handles and plough beams, enlarged the grist-mill, and im- proved the processes for making flour and meal, bought and operated wood lots, manu- factured lumber, and dealt largely in wood with parties in Dover, made bricks, ground plaster, and established wool-carding and
cloth-dressing. This latter business gave him reputation beyond the limits of his native town. The mill was esteemed the best equipped for those times, doing the best work of any in the county, and brought custom from every town in the county, and many beyond. It was the beginning of what was to be the leading occupation of his life, and the present Gonic Mills."
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